Sunday 13 April 2008

Hiroshima


We got up early, and had a minor disaster on our hands as I'd forgot to put the milk in the fridge last night, and Emma wouldn't have been able to have her coco pops. Disaster was averted when I found a 7-11 with milk less than 300m from the hotel. We had been buying it at Kyoto station !


We left the hotel 7.30, so we could get a Bullet train to Hiroshima at 8.22am. We had booked a Taxi for 7.40 and as we have come to expect in Japan, it was there right on time. 


The cab driver was very friendly, spoke a little English and gave us a mini tour of Kyoto on the way to the station. He pointed out the supposed restaurant where ramen noodles were first created. He was quite astounded (and happy) that I gave him a $2 tip. Tipping is definitely not expected here in Japan. This is the way the world should operate.


At the station Emma again was mobbed by a crowd of teenage girls, but loved it as she always does.


We got to the train station with heaps of time to spare (sort of a miracle for us) and we discovered there was an earlier train to Hiroshima that was going in 5 minutes. We got on that and arrived in Hiroshima much earlier than expected.


This Bullet train had a 200watt power outlet for each seat to plug in a computer of phone. Not sure what would happen if you tried to plug in your toaster ! 


Each seat also had a leaver, not sure what it did, but found out when I pulled it, it made sharon give me "the look". The leaver moved the seat around and her pen slipped across the journal she was writing. Oops ! 


I've discussed the toilets here before, but on the Bullet train, there was a button on the wall to lower and raise the seat, so you never have to touch the toilet with your hand.


When we got to Hiroshima, we couldn't check into the hotel yet as it was too early, so we dumped our luggage at the hotel and caught a tram to the Atom Bomb Dome and peace park. The Hotel New Hiroden is right near the station and tram terminal, so everything is close.


After looking at the A-Bomb dome (the building directly under where the bomb exploded at 8.15am) we walked to the museum. There is a very interesting "T" shaped bridge just opposite the A-Bomb dome, which is apparently what the crew of the Enola Gay were aiming for. They didn't miss by much at all.


Entry to the museum was only 50yen (50 cents!). It was very interesting but also horrifying. I took many pictures, but some of the stories and pictures in there were far to horrifying to photograph. I'm glad we didn't take Emma inside, she can live in a world of princesses, fairies and mermaids for a few more years before she learns about horrors like that.


As we were walking through there was a mentally disabled man who the guards were trying to remove from the building making these loud moaning sounds, much like someone in massive pain. Quite freaky and added to the ambience of the place in a most horrible way.


The Museum presented a reasonably balanced account of the Second World War, Japan's role and actions within the war before the bombing were discussed quite openly. After an hour I was quite happy to get out of there and go and look at something else. I'm glad we went though, as its something I've wanted to see for a very long time. Even though its sad and at times stomach turning, I would highly recommend it.


We went to the hotel and checked in, the room is fantastic, lots of room and again free internet.


You can read more about the bombing at  :-


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki


Photo's from today :-


http://flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604512231840/


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