Alexis in Laos: We saw nothing, We did everything!

Our goal leaving Sendai was to drive down the coast until we got to Mito about 2 hours away on the highway. We knew it would take a little longer because we were taking backroad instead of the highway. Mito is home to one of the third most beautiful gardens in Japan. I would not know though because we never made it there....

Our plan was to stop when we were hungry or saw something interesting. We also planned to visit a cave that Vicki had seen on the map but that didn't end up happening either. The best laid plans of mice and men.....

Along the way, we came upon this lovely, near deserted beach.

Perfect time for a group photo: John, Me, Vicki and David

This also seemed like the perfect time to try one of those cool jumping shots that seems to be so popular with the kiddies these days.

We tried.....

But we never succeeded in catching all of us mid air.

Back in the car we went, having already abandoned the idea of visiting the cave. Mito, here we come!

But then we came across what might be the COOLEST playground that you have ever seen in your life. The photo does not do it justice- this slide was the longest slide that I have ever seen and really REALLY fun.

Trampoline

After taking our turns on the slide, we hopped over to the trampoline. Picture it: Sleepy countryside Japanese town, quiet playground, invaded by FOUR ENORMOUS foreigners! We were the hit of the whole place! I have so many 4 year old Japanese friends now. And everytime John bounced, the shock waves catapulted hordes of children into the air. The smallest kids just laid on the ground as the vibrations from us bouncing was enough to send them airborn!

Last but not least was the ropey climby thing. There is NO WAY this playground equipment would be allowed in the US.

Once we had thoroughly exhausted ourselves sliding, bouncing and climbing, we got back in the car to finish our drive to Mito.

But wait! After a few minutes of driving, we came across this pebble beach with some lovely rock formations and a little red tori gate out in the water. We had to stop for this- this IS Japan. We take a walk along the beach, OUR beach, because there is not another person in sight. We decide to nix the Mito plan and try to stay there for the night. John, the frightfully fluent foreigner, goes into Ibuki restaurant for a hotel recommendation and ends up calling the hotel next door. "Gaijin wa chottoooooo......" the lady on the other end of the phone says. (Which basically means "Foreigners are...wellll" read: PROHIBITED.) "Why?"
John asks in his crazy direct foreigner way. The lady says she will ask her supervisor and call back. When she calls back a few minutes later she says that there is indeed room and that we are welcomed. (I should hope so, I think we were the only ones in the hotel that night.) We check in and then were off to Ibuki to patronize the restaurant that helped us.

Our beach

Searching for the perfect pebble

This picture does not do it justice.

Beach

Nighttime

Out on the rocks

Back in Sendai, we had had a plan to roast marshmallows on the beach in Mito. We found a foreign food store and stocked up on chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. At dinner we asked Mr. Ibuki where we could get some firewood. He scurried into the back of the restaurant and brought out some firewood for us! We invited him and the other people in the restaurant down to beach to enjoy some smores with us. Mr. Ibuki was not able to go but there was a brother and sister eating in the restaurant who decided to join us. Turns out the girl works at the hotel where we are staying. So basically an hour ago, we were not allowed to stay in the hotel because we are foreigners and now she is joining us on the beach for smores. Internationalization at its best! The next group of foreigners who want to stay there can thank us for breaking down barriers. I felt like a pioneer.

We head to the convenience store to pick up supplies. I suggest purchasing some matches- crazy thought since we plan to start a fire. No no, John and David assure me that we will be able to start a fire with this knife, flint, a set of keys, a pair of socks and bar of soap that they have. I don't really see McGuiver anywhere in the vicinity but I go along with it.

John tries hard. David tries hard. In the end, amazingly, they are unable to start a fire with these tools and one of our guests heads into the hotel to get some matches.