Deer, Deer & More Deer!

After deployment Colin wanted nothing more than to get in the car and drive. So we decided to visit Iwakuni, Hiroshima and the island of Miyajima shortly before we went to Korea. Colin had a four day weekend so we were able to stretch out the trip a bit and enjoy our time up there. There is an air base in Iwakuni that provided a nice place for us to stay.

We checked out Miyajima on the first day. Colin visited this island several years ago during a deployment. All I remembered was the story of four guys (Colin being one of them) sitting around a map of the island when a deer walked up and ate the map. If it weren't for the pictures there is no way I would have believed them. So I was pretty excited to come and see these map eating deer. It didn't take long. Two minutes after we walked off the ferry a deer walked up to us and ate the baggage tag off Elin's stroller. I guess the legend is true!

Seriously kid, a pebble? We dine on paper products only thank you. 

The deer are pretty friendly. So friendly in fact, they walk right up to storefronts looking for friends...or food perhaps. 

So uh, are you gonna finish that? 

There were some beautiful views from the island. It's a very idyllic place, if it weren't necessary to get back to the hotel for a certain toddler's nap, I think I could have sat on the beach all day and enjoyed the absolutely perfect weather we had!

Miyajima is known for their handmade rice scoops.
Elin and I decided to pose in front of a Big Foot sized scoop. 

Of course no trip to a Japanese tourist spot is complete without a food story. We saw a stand selling steamed buns and remembering the amazing dim sum steamed buns we had in Hong Kong a few years back we just had to try them. We opted for the meat filled buns over the squid filled buns. No surprise there. They were pretty much bread heaven. Even Elin enjoyed them. It was filled with a saucy minced meat mixture with a slightly sweet flavor. If they weren't $5 a piece we would have had another! 

Not feeling completely full my pregnant self wanted to try this bread on a stick that I saw people snacking on. I'd say this was my first foodie mistake since we arrived. While I'm still not sure what it's called or what sea creature it might have come from, it definitely wasn't bread. I'd say it was more along the lines of gelatinous squid on a stick. 

To cleanse our palates we indulged in some ice cream. It even came with a rice scoop shaped waffle crisp! 

After nap time we drove over to the Kintai Bridge not far from our hotel in Iwakuni. The bridge was constructed entirely of wood and is open to pedestrians only. Elin had a blast going up and down the "humps" singing "Alice the Camel."

Father and daughter enjoyed some good bonding time. 

Elin schooled Colin on the art of skipping rock. 

Then it was time to go. Someone wasn't game. 

We also drove up to Hiroshima to check out the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. Very similar in nature to the Nagasaki Peace Park & Museum we found it very well done. They have done a great job of preserving this building at the hypocenter.

 

Overall it was a great trip. We decided Iwakuni is about the furthest we are willing to drive in Japan. The toll road was pretty nice but we still only maintained about a 45-50mph speed which can drag over 4 1/2 hours. Still the $150 in tolls beat the cost of train tickets and cabs, something we are always juggling in our new country! The toll roads here do have some really nice rest stops. We stopped at a diner under the toll road bridge that connects the islands of Honshu (main island) and Kyushu (our island). It was no Denny's however, we were impressed with what we were served for very little yen. Elin even enjoyed her kids meal!

Matane,

Caitlyn