Allergic to Wasps

"A landfall on the island of Kyushu near Kagoshima is expected to occur early Monday, local time, as Vongfong begins to accelerate northeastward."


I'm now in Tokyo and as I write this part, it's early Monday. Having always been allergic to wasps, the wisdom of avoiding them is second nature. Hence I decided to move as far away from typhooney Vongfong (Cantonese for wasp) as possible. I'd planned to stay on Shikoku - in the orangey bit not far up from Kyushu- and bob about on boats.......but now I'm in a cosy hotel (with my own mini kitchen and washing machine!) near the famous fish market in Tokyo. 

I got up - or rather lurched up - at 4.30 this morning to take photos of this fishy world wonder only to find it was a public holiday! Ah well, tomorrow.....

I spent the weekend with Louise and Kouichi; Saturday Lou and I  travelled back from Gujo to Gifu and picked up things from her apartment (now I can picture her there)  before going on to Gamagori where Kouichi picked us up. We had a scenic driving tour and visited the island off the coast which is reached by bridge, just as the sun was sinking. We watched huge birds of prey wheeling overhead in the strengthening wind - a precursor to the typhoon.....
Then it was off to visit his father in hospital, briefly, before popping in on the family home just nearby. Both Kouichi's parents were very welcoming and later, his mother organised a feast of sushi which we shared with Kouichi's sisters, Akiko and Sachiko, and his niece and nephews in the family 'villa' - another property that was an old style guest house on a bosky slope, handily situated by the local shrine and the tennis courts. They were all extremely jolly and had a good stab at speaking in English. And Lou, Kouichi and I had the place to ourselves for the night - the deep wooden soaking tub was wonderful. Being given the only bed - I slept like a top for nearly 9 hours!
Sunday I sat and did a drawing of part of the house and watched a festival procession ( plenty of firecrackers!) while I waited for the young to surface....Then it was off for ramen at a particularly good little place. I still haven't got the hang of the slurp you need to do to be a true noodle eater!

It's now 5.30 pm and I've been out much of the day, latterly travelling back in rain which has arrived on the tail end of the typhoon....not at all bothersome. I've just checked reports and apparently there was a storm and high waves where I would have been...Lou's just messaged to say the typhoon has arrived with her and her lessons were cancelled.

The public holiday may have kyboshed the market trip but it worked in my favour for the museums, which are normally shut on Mondays. So I've mastered the subway (different line operators need different tickets...) and been to the Tokyo Edo Museum - mainly to see ukiyo-e prints (woodblock) but found it fascinating on all sorts of levels; there was also a music recital whilst I wandered.

After, more subway and a bit of a walk to the Contemporary Art Museum - which was amazing just for its architecture. But I enjoyed a lot of the exhibits too - particularly an artist called Naoko Sekine; she does contemplative pieces in pencil, with a high degree of craft. 

So, a little stroll to the Ginza before I think of food and settle to an early night before a second stab at the fish market.

Tomorrow I should be staying with some residents of Tokyo who also have a place in Sheepstead....! Just waiting to hear.......