Before chitchatting about our experiences in Okayama, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZAN!!!!! Since I`m a real gentleman I won`t tell you guyz Suzan`s age. Then again being the immature guy I am and because nobody ever said anything about not typing ages…… she has become 32! 
Our first day in Okayama John and I went on a bike ride in the area surrounding Okayama city. It was good to be able to do some exercise again. The bikes were Japanese size, which more or less meant my knees extremely close to the steer and not being able to stretch my legs while cycling. The nice thing about the Japanese bike though is the fact that almost all bikes have little baskets in the front. Since I use saddlebags on my bike in The Netherlands I felt right at home. The bike ride took us past several temples, shrines and other stuff which I usely aren`t (and also this time wasn`t) remotely interested in. It was nevertheless a great way of seeing the outskirts and some countryside of a Japanese city.
After the bike ride we took the train to Kurashiki. There were some pittoresque houses there from the Edo-era. All black-and-white walled merchants` homes and storehouses.
Today we went to Korakuen. According to all the guidebooks one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Although it was interesting to see, it wasn`t as spectacular as I expected. There was too much grass and not enough plants, flowers and trees. The Japanese garden in Clingendael (The Hague) made more of an impression on me. Probably the other two gardens are great, but Korakuen is in my opinion `just nice`.
Our next stop is Kyoto where we will stay for 3 days of which one in Nara.
More photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_dude_in/sets/72157602444594515/
You can also take a look at John’s blogpost on Okayama:
http://www.oldenhuizing.com/2007/10/16/japan-okayama/
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Ha Jeroen en John,
Leuk om te lezen dat jullie je goed vermaken. Met de foto’s en filmpjes krijg je een aardig beeld van Japan. Heb trouwens nooit geweten dat de Japanse dames zo luidruchtig zijn, als je je ogen dichtdoet lijkt het wel of er een bergkoe voorbij wandelt! Hoop dat jullie haar niet te lang gestalkt hebben…
Have fun verder! Kus uit een zonnig Holland.
[...] Meer foto’s: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndog/sets/72157602441621394/ Jeroen’s post: http://jeroenuittenbogaard.wordpress.com/2007/10/16/i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle-i-want-to-ride-my-bike [...]