Hiking along Mau Ping ancient road 茅坪古道

 

 

I like to hike these old road, paved in stones in the old days to join one village to another and to the nearby town.

 

 

This is the first time I hike this trail to Mui Tse Lam 梅子林, the path is beautiful, going through forest, along a stream, with big stones around, and abandoned terraces on the slope. 

 

At Mui Tse Lam exit, there is a vegetable farm, very tidy and well planned, and a number of beehives.  They sell their produce on the spot.

 

It is quite a long walk along the road to go to Ma On Shan to get transport back, not a good ending.

Hiking at Tap Mun 塔門

 

I have not been to Tap Mun for many years, curious to see how it is now. Quite a bit of effort to get there, bus from Saikung to Wong Shek Pier, then ferry to the island.

 

The path is very well laid, a bit too concrete, and not very long, just an hour and a bit will get round one side of the island. Lucky with sunny weather, the water so blue. With nice big grass field, it is a popular spot for camping. Met some wild boars too, they are not afraid of human beings, just walk leisurely around looking for food.

 

There are a few restaurants to choose from near the pier, I just had local deep fried squid and cuttlefish balls, fresh and delicious.

Shikoku Japan 日本四國 tour - sake 12/12

 

sake list

Sake is becoming more popular, and I always wish to know more about the flavour dimension.

It’s a great opportunity to do so in Japan, especially in Izakaya restaurants, they have a selection to choose from, in small quantities like 180ml or 300ml.

 

After the tour in Shikoku, I must have tasted 20 plus brands, and finally get to know what to expect.

My favourite is pure rice sake 純米吟釀 with 50% polished rice, raw and or unfiltered, both have a lot mor flavour.

Spicy 辛口sake is nice too, with a bit of a kick, for stronger tasting dishes.

Pure rice big sake 純米大吟釀  is more rounded and sweet, great with dessert, a bit too sweet for me.

Shikoku Japan 日本四國 tour - Izakaya 居酒屋dinners 11/12

 

 

yellow tail jaw grilled

tofu cold and fried

tempura shitake

clam in sake

fried river prawns

The yen exchange rate is exceptional favorable, it is the first I feel that eating in Japan is very affordable, relative to HK and Europe.

 

potato chips

dumpling

stewed beef tendon

tempura tofu

pork with ginger

We ate in a number of Izakaya restaurants, mostly small size run by a couple or family. Simple one page menu listing dishes using local and seasonal ingredients, every chef has his specialties.

 

savory moist omelette

tempura tofu

tempura ginger

tempura seaweed

ginger and pork floss spring roll

The dishes are small, we like to pick whatever sounds interesting, most nights over 10 dishes, great for sharing and taste more local cooking, wash down with sake. 

 

moray eel sashimi

tempura oyster

prawn in sake

fried gingko

savory moist omelette

 

Shikoku Japan 日本四國 tour - Tokushima 德島, Naruto whirlpool 鳴門漩渦 10/12

 

The whirlpools, forms as 2 opposing currents meet at that area of the sea, a special natural phenomenon.

 

It is near a bridge that joins Shikoku near Tokushima to another island, on the way to the mainland. A walkway is built below the bridge for viewing this whirlpool, or join a boat trip. 

the coast from Kochi to Tokushima

the coast from Kochi to Tokushima

 

We do not see a big whirlpool, but it is wonderful to walk on such structure for the viewing, and on a bright sunny day.

Shikoku Japan 日本四國 tour - Kochi 高知市, Umaji 馬路村 Yuzu orchard 9/12

A few years ago, I started to notice yuzu fruit zest being used in French restaurants. It has a unique citrus fragrance, beautifully refreshing and memorable. I have since trying to know more about this fruit, get hold of a fruit or a tree. 

 

yuzu, lot of seeds, and big seeds

While researching for this trip, so happy to learn that Umaji village, one of the smallest in Japan, is a key producer of yuzu, one of only a few places in Japan. The orchards are planted on terraces all around the village.

 

Yuzu is a slow growing hardy tree, can withstand cold weather, and is true from the seed, making it possible to have a chance to grow one at home.

 

Even though the main harvest is in November, I made sort of a pilgrimage to see this village, where yuzu is native in the area.

 

A beautiful clear river greets us as we enter the village, yuzu tree can grow very tall and have serious long spikes. I manage to pick up a few fruits to collect the seeds, dreaming that one day they may bear fruit in wherever I planted them.

 

The fruit is turned into juice, jam, sauce, vinegar, dry peel, spice mix, candy, icecream and biscuits, very creative.

Shikoku Japan 日本四國 tour - Kochi 高知市, Nakatsu Gorge 中津溪谷 8/12

 

Inland north of Kochi is this famous Nakatsu Gorge, with a well arranged trail along the gorge and leads to a few viewing platforms

 

The water is crystal clear, the gorge is deep with dramatic rock formations. It is great pleasure to make the effort to come here, to be inside area of such natural beauty.

 

At Kochi, it is bright sunshine and 8 degrees, wonderful weather for hiking, The temperature drops as we headed into the valley. Half way into the trail it starts to snow, very powdery snow, quietly falling down. The snow is so light that when it touches the river, no ripple is formed.

 

 

We keep walking a bit further to one of the viewing platform high up from the riverbed, the trees, the view, the fine snow shower, a surreal feeling. 

 

 

 

As the snow starts to cover the ground, it is time to leave to get out of possible trouble. It is sad to miss the rest of the walk, but it is important to know when to stop.