An Unexpected Journey

 Yesterday Yuko and I planned to see some waterfalls.  We got a little turned around, and had an adventure in the mountains.  Her stated goal for taking me somewhere was so I could "make a good memory" about my trip.  It was very fun, and I will not soon forget it.

We went south of the city, and that was all to plan.  However, we missed a turn.  Probably because I was talking and asking questions.  Our drive ended up on a single car width, torn-up, pothole filled, 15-20% grade, winding path with falling rock warnings.  When it opened up, there were 4 or 5 opaque white, plastic film greenhouses being watered down on the outside.  It's clear they were trying to keep whatever was growing inside cool.  Given the remote nature of things, my guess is they were growing something they probably shouldn't be growing unless they are properly licensed in some states in the US.  If you take my meaning.

In any case, we did see a "waterfall" of sorts.

I give you the world's second smallest waterfall.  There was a smaller one a bit upstream from this.  I also saw this cool spider.

We considered trying to find our actual goal, but decided shaved ice in Tokushima city made more sense.

Matcha flavored shaved ice with sweet red bean paste under the ice mountain (氷山).  I suggested Yuko could open a shaved ice shop and now there is a name.  The picture above is from Yuko.  She had the wherewithal to snap a photo before she ate.

We finished the day with shabu-shabu, or hotpot.  That's an onomatopoeia for the sound of swinging something around.  In English we'd say "swish-swish."   You're brought a two chamber pot with broth in it.  It's placed on some heating element so you can bring it to a boil.  Ours had an induction cooktop built into the table.

On the right is a traditional broth based on soy sauce, sake, and sugar.  On the left is a spicy broth that has Korean flavor.  The large chopsticks are what you use to add or remove ingredients in the communal pot.  The two ladles are used as ladles.  What you do is add vegetables to the broth to make soup.  We also had crab legs we could add.

Once things get back to boiling you choose a thin slice of meat (beef or pork in our case) and shabu.  Here is the beef and pork.

The meat cooks in a few seconds.  You don't really need to let it go at all.  Lift it out and add it to one of your small bowls.  Then add some broth/soup.

It's really good.  If I can figure out how to pull it off at home, I want to try it with the family.  The broth is added via ladle.  There are also flat noodles that you can add.

The aftermath.

One thing I find interesting here is how many restaurants have tablet ordering.  It's something of a novelty in the US, but here it seems like 50% of the sit-down places have a variation on this.

Sushi, izakaya (bar or pub), shabu-shabu.  Nearly every place with a server as a call button.  In the picture it's on the lower right.  Press it and someone comes to help.

Today I need to pre-pack and check the status of souvenirs.  I'll have a chance to get any last minute things.  My last week will go very fast, but will also probably feel kind of long at times.