Tag Archives: fauna

Morning Markets – Part 1

The next morning Obaasan greeted us with a hearty (but not excessive) breakfast in our room – after the bedding was put away, of course.

Sumiyoshi

Then it was off to explore Takayama proper. First up was a visit to the Miyagawa morning markets across the river.

Sumiyoshi

Around Takayama

Around Takayama

The river was running fast, and the ‘koi’ (or Japanese carp) were feasting on whatever morsels they could find.

Around Takayama

Around Takayama

The temperature was around freezing that morning – so different from the last time I visited nine years before when the weather was much milder.

Feeding the carp

From the Forest to the Sea – Part 2

The coast line that greeted us was a dramatic one, even on an overcast day. Here, the forest and the ancient lava flow met the Pacific Ocean.

Jogasaki Coast Walk

Jogasaki Coast Walk

The basalt column cliffs were formed from lava flows from Omuroyama, about 4000 years ago. In geological terms, that’s all very recent. The flows went on for miles, and it’s a great place to walk along.

Jogasaki Coast Walk

The Jogasaki Coast walk was 9km long, but we didn’t need to walk such a long way to get some great views.

Jogasaki Coast Walk

Jogasaki Coast Walk

There was even a 60 metre suspension bridge (suspended 18 metres above the sea) from which to appreciate the scene.

Jogasaki Coast Walk

We weren’t the only ones enjoying the morning walk. This couple were walking a pair of beagles along the bridge. I must say that our beagle, Bridie, wouldn’t be so daring as these little guys.

Jogasaki Coast Walk

Monkeying Around Again

By the time we reached the top of Iwatayama, we saw that we were quite high above it all.

View from Iwatayama

And it’s at this altitude that we find the Iwatayama Monkey Park, a sanctuary for Japanese macaques (or snow monkeys). I’ve met these monkeys before, at Jigokudani near Nagano. This sanctuary might not have hot springs, but the monkeys still run wild and free.

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Because the monkeys are wild, humans aren’t allowed to approach, feed or make eye contact with them in the open. So for those who really want to get up close, a cage is provided to keep you safe!

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Still it’s all ‘kawaii’ (cute) and it’s interesting how they all interact with each other – and with us.

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Running Waters – Part 5

After my post about swag camping, I was asked whether I had concerns about snakes. We asked our hosts that question very early on, and the answer was that in mid-winter, when nightly temperatures fell to freezing, snakes (or indeed most other critters) weren’t active at all. During the day, we’d fold up the swag to ensure that we had no surprises come nightfall.

We did however have other nightly visitors. We certainly heard plenty of dingoes, although we didn’t often see them in the camp. When they came (and they did explore since I saw their paw prints about camp), they came in stealth. I can report that the dingoes did not steal anything from camp (much less babies).

It was the domestic animals that provided much of the midnight entertainment. Being on a pastoral property, there were cattle roaming about at will. One bull was so curious that he visited us on most of the nights and refused to go! Other visitors were the brumbies (a.k.a. wild horses), who were less confident, but no less curious. We got a good glimpse of them early one morning.

Running Waters

Running Waters

Cat Alert!

Bridie Beagle might be the only beagle on the block, but there are plenty of naughty kitties around. Usually they roam about at night, but this one was particularly game.

Cat Alert!

Bridie was soon on its case. Lots of loud barking and very alert posture and tail.

Cat Alert!

Kitty ran off very quickly indeed. All was right again in the world.

Cat Alert!

Spring Seaside Getaway – Part 1

We took a longer long weekend down by the sea, heading south past Kiama, Nowra, Jervis Bay, to the north-side of Lake Conjola. The village of Manyana, to be exact. It really is just a village of beach houses – it doesn’t even have a general store. What it does have are beaches. Manyana beach is a mile length of sand, with Green Island connected by a sand bar.

Manyana Beach

Despite all the beach houses, the village was surrounded by bush and water. Bridie Beagle, a great lover of beaches, was ecstatic to be roaming again by the sea. And so were we.

Manyana Beach

Sawtell

One last beach to visit on our trip to the Mid North Coast. Boambee Beach stretches north from Sawtell all the way to Coffs Harbour, almost 6km away.

Sawtell

Once again, it was a leash-free beach, so Bridie enjoyed another scamper through the sandbanks. She certainly was spoilt by all the leash-free beaches on this trip.

Sawtell

There were many sniffs, but she behaved well, unlike a beagle x poodle dog we saw, who stole a lady’s chips while she sunbathed! Thankfully, Bridie was happy just to feel the wind in her ears.

Sawtell

That’s the end of our Northern NSW journey. We’ll once again go closer to home next time.