Hello 日本

So yesterday I went on my school ensoku, or trip. The 1 A-C classes all went to Asuka, which is a small town nestled between rolling hills in Nara prefecture.
It took about an hour to get there by bus, and then we rented bicycles and went off in our respective groups.
My group was kind of a compilation of two groups, so there were quite a few of us. Maybe 8 or 9.
We started by biking up a big hill, and when we arrived, sweaty and tired at our destination, we discovered it was closed!!
So then we biked back down the hill and turned right somewhere by some vending machines and up this old bumpy road.
We found our way to some sort of park in the hills, where we were forced to get there by walking on this super narrow path with our bikes, which was semi-scary. Anyway, we parked our bikes and then walked up a hill. When we got to the top, we discovered that we were in the completely wrong place, so we just sat down and ate lunch instead.
After lunch, we went back down the hill and discovered a nearby museum. It only cost $1 to get in, which was good because it was only one room! There were some semi-interesting wall murals in there, but that’s about it.
Then we left the museum and got yelled at for parking our bikes in the wrong spot. Oops.
After that we biked up and down another hill, across a field, and across the street to another park. We also visited another boring one room museum. This one had a light-up foam model of the area.
Before leaving the second museum, we stopped for an icecream break.
Next, we attempted to find our way to a famous rock. It required many crossings of the road and then asking for help. Eventually, we found the right way and biked up a MASSIVE hill to see the “Demon’s Toilet”. It’s something about local legend that demons used the big rock to poop out the humans they ate! Yum! And after that we saw the “Demon’s Cutting Board” too.
We biked a little farther and came to a big rock that was shaped like a turtle. Apparently Asuka is famous for it’s rocks.
Next, we went to a shrine, which was probably the most interesting part. We got there by walking through fields. After going through the entrance, I was instructed to wash my hands. I was told to get water from the dragon fountain’s mouth in a little metal cup. Then I was to pour a little water to wash my left hand and then my right. Then I was told to put water in my left hand and then in my mouth. So naturally, I drank the water. Then Mai is like, “OH MY GOD NO!!!! ANJE DON’T DRINK THE WATER!!!” and I was like, “OH MY GOD!!!!!! I DIDN’T KNOW!!!” and then everyone burst out laughing because the stupid gaijin drank the water. But actually it was pretty funny. Anyway, I tried again, this time spitting out the water like I was supposed to. Then I had to wash my left hand again and pour the remaining water out a certain way.
After that we went up to the main building of the shrine, where there was a big bell with a big, long rope attached. One of my friends showed me how to ring the bell with the rope and then make a wish.
After that, we all bought our love fortunes. Me and Mai got the best fortunes, “big love”. I’m not really sure what else my paper said, but it was something along the lines of having good love, a long-lasting marriage, and not to have an affair (during which I freaked out because I thought Mai told me I was going to have an affair and she was like, “NOOOO!!!!!”).
After the fortunes, we explored the shrine a little. There was another big bell to ring, expect you rang it with a big pole with a rope attached. It was cool to touch the bell and feel the vibrations after you rang it.
Then we went into a sort of museum room that had some statues displayed and another building that had a bunch of beautiful flower paintings on the ceiling.
I actually ended up praying around 3 times in that shrine, and everytime you have to pay money. I think that shrines are expensive!!
After the shrine, we decided to try and find our way back to the bus. We met up with a bunch of other girls, so we all went up a HUUUUGE hill. Then, at the top, we didn’t know where to go. So Mai called Oka-Sensei and he told us to go back down the hill. So we went back down the hill. When we got to the bottom, we met up with Oka-Sensei, WHO TOLD US TO GO BACK UP THE HILL!!!! So we biked all the way back up, and then followed Oka-Sensei back to the bus.
We dropped off our bikes, boarded the bus, and then went back to school!
It was a very fun day, and the weather was perfect But I am so tired now! …Although surprisingly not sore.