Japan and a Windy trip around the British Isles.

[drron]

The last of nemophilia hill.
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Also examples of old Japanese housing.
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The rapeseed was at the end of it's flowering whilst the sunflowers are just being planted out.
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And I'm not sure of this.
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[drron]

We are now walking our way back to the main entrance.
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Lots of spider webs in places.Then an area with mixed white and blue nemophilia.
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And this was the daffodil field.Would have been spectacular.
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You could have your photo taken with the nemophilia in full bloom.Picture was free but you had to pay for a frame!
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But there was another area where you could take your own.
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We didn't see any of those large flowers!

 

[love_the_life]

The last of nemophilia hill.
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Also examples of old Japanese housing.
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The rapeseed was at the end of it's flowering whilst the sunflowers are just being planted out.
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And I'm not sure of this.
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I bought flavoured vinegar last time I was in Tokyo - Ume flavoured. Just a small bottle and I have just finished the last of it, The lass who was doing the tastings in the department store said it should be mixed with soda or even beer to make a long drink. I didn't use it like that though and usually poured a little over fresh oysters. There were heaps of different flavours; my friend bought an orange flavoured one I think. They were all very nice to taste.

 

[OATEK]

I wonder how many on here know what OC was (is?)? I went to Sutherland for 5th and 6th class.

Well now you have the Opportunity to go to the top of these Class by telling everyone!

Talk about flowers galore @drrons!

 

[love_the_life]

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Lots of people taking their dogs for a walk in a pram.
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A little bit of white crept into that last one.
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Still practicing our selfies!
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NO black eye yet? Either that or made a great recovery (or make up job)

 

[bPeteb]

Well now you have the Opportunity to go to the top of these Class by telling everyone!

Talk about flowers galore @drrons!

completely off topic but there was of also OD and OA, OD in our school and OA across President Ave (?)

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

NO black eye yet? Either that or made a great recovery (or make up jo b)

No it happened the next day - Rons TR is not live ! he is always a few days behind

 

[drron]

l_t_l not up to the black eye incident yet.

 

[drron]

Walking back to the entrance we were surprised to find that some of the tulips were still in flower.
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[drron]

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[drron]

This variety was only starting to flower.
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Time for a rest.
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We then passed the rose garden which is meant to be a show now but only 1 or 2 blooms.The poppies also meant to be at peak but still a little behind.
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[love_the_life]

It’s so hard to time visits so that things are in full bloom with the vagaries of climate and weather. Those tulips look wonderful though. One of my favourites but such a short flowering season.
Are the taller ones lupins?

 

[drron]

Yes l_t_l I believe the larger ones are lupins.
Yes flower tourism is a problem as each year can be different.When we came in Cherry blossom time we thought we would be 2 weeks too early for cherry blossoms in northern Honshu but in fact they were at peak blooming and the best of our visit.
This year for the nemophilia and tulips the best time would have been late April and the first couple of days of May.Next year-who knows.

So the last of Hitachi park.A good floral isplay at the entrance.
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We then drove to the nearby port with impressive new industry.An enormous new Hitachi plant for industrial machinery and this impressive building.
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We then drove south along the coast.Quaint fishing ports and hotels being refurbished for the season.
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A bit further on we came across a larger fishing port with a large seafood market.Unfortunately it was the weekend.Huge crowds and no parking so we headed back to Mito and an Aeon Mall.

 

[drron]

So this is one tip if you are outside the major Japanese cities.It is always worthwhile going to a major train station or an Aeon mall.Both tend to have restaurant floors and you should be able to get something you like.Also if a restaurant has a lot of chairs outside it means it is popular at times and the chairs are the queues to get in.

We found a chain Shabu Shabu restaurant that we have been to before.They also do sukiyaki which is one of our favouries.You pay for your meat selection and can then have unlimited veggies to add.We go for lots of mushrooms and noodles.
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As a granddaughter once said-Why do they call it sukiyucky,it should be sukiyummy.
The department store had a great selection of flowers for Mother's day.Mrsdrron loves hydrangeas and the Japanese have a great selection.
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[drron]

I am more of an orchid and veggie person.
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A beautiful miniature rose specimen on display in the mall.

Now when I was young my father told me to avoid Clip joints.But which one?
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Alas the bogans have invaded Japan.
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We have all felt this at times.
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And just what sort of Holics are Americans?
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[drron]

The next morning starts with the Mito station staff getting a pep talk.
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And a forgettable brekkie at the Japanese restaurant.
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I had done a bit of study and found a Peony garden that wasn't too far away and billed itself as Japan's largest.Unfortunately our GPS didn't know it existed.I attempted to go to the nearby city but the GPS took us in circles so I aborted and headed for The Ashikaga Flower park.Even from the expressway there were some nice views.
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And here we are.
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[drron]

My computer likes to play tricks on me.I downloaded both my and mrsdrron's photos from today.Usually they will be in order and I can separate the 2 lots.This time however Picasa decided to download them in random order so these postsmay lack a little consistency but I will try hard.
At this time of year the Ashikaga flower park is noted for it's wisterias.Park entry prices go up for this.Again probably past peak viewing time.Everything though is wisteria so first we started with a wisteria ice cream.
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Now for some wisteria.Some are obviously quite old.
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[drron]

Next Rhododendrons.They were meant to have finished flowering but were only approaching full bloom.The azaleas were meant to have been in full bloom but were basically finished.
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[drron]

Now clematis,
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[craven morehead]

I found the chair quite relaxing.The room was quite clean so apart from the mattress was OK.Our next hotel though-but you have to wait for that.

Was there only the dreaded Shub in the bathroom @drron ?