A&C 2010 koitrip to Japan
Part 1 -
Part 2 -
Part 3 -
Part 4
And again I have to say it was a long journey that took as usual many hours by car, train and plane. Lucky I was not alone I was accompanied by Carina from Belgium who, together with her husband Mark, runs a Koi business named "het Steegske". We know each other already for many years and have since build a good friendship.
So I think that we will have a good time here and I am happy that we as colleagues amongst each other can enjoy our beautiful hobby. It was extra enjoyable because I was collected at home and therefore we started our long trip together from the start. From the moment that you leave home it is approx 24 hours before you arrive in Japan and you get the key to your room.
Tired and still awake you get your key and take the elevator to the 4th floor. This time I room 410 will host this foreign visitor from the Netherlands.
By the way, a nice hotel in Okayama and as usual in the Japanese hotels a heated toilet and of course the gigantic both bath. The picture tells its own story and you can see that we are in a country where shoe size 45 is not something that you normally see here. Japanese Koi breeders can balance on pond borders where we need to put a lot of effort for just walking on them. This seems however logical having a look at their toilets. For them the small pond walls are the same as our board walks.
As
always I experience that unmistakable and unforgettable atmosphere that
you're breathing in when you are in Japan. It remains to be a country
where become very happy. The atmosphere, the people and their way of
helping you is really characteristic of this country. Therefore it is
always take some time to getting used to when you're home. Needless to
say that you feel right at home when you are here.
As you know I am from Holland and therefore have some standard requirements and properties and thus have top bring a small part of the Netherlands to the land of the rising sun. Things that we really need to get trough the day. From these I have made a picture so that you can see these essential ingredients. A small part of the Dutch culture in Japan.
By the way, it is a big city where we are, more than 600,000 people in a bunch. I have to say that I am glad to live on my own piece of land in The Netherlands where I can feel at home without being in such hectic place. I am really not a person for big urban city; all those neon signs and shops are really something for my wife and daughter to see. However this could the purchase of Koi a quite different matter. So I just keep on saying that fish full day is nothing for them. Unfortunately, I this not bring smilies with me otherwise I should have posted one here.
For today I have to close this first part of the report because down in the lobby they are waiting for me to take us to an unforgettable Japanese meal and since I do not want to have them waiting for I close in the hope that the next days will bring many fine pictures and here and there some Koi "that would like to come with me to the Netherlands", more...