Thursday, September 24, 2009

Hokkaido!... Lake Mashu

DSC_2566_7_8Enhancer

Heading East:

Hokkaido 4
The roads: 274 -> 134 -> 242 -> 241 -> 243 -> 52 -> 243 -> 391 -> 52 -> 243

The first lake was Akanko.

DSC_2444_5_6Enhancer

This is, of course, the birthplace of Marimokori, the character who has almost surpassed Hello Kitty in cell phone strap attachment popularity. What is a Marimokori? Lets examine the Japanese. A marimo is an algae ball formed in this particular lake in Hokkaido. The gentle lapping of the lake, along with what I can assume is ideal algae making chemistry results in small green spheres.

DSC_2447

Combining marimo with mokori we get Marimokori. What's a mokori? Well, its a big hard cock! This is official business here, and in any tourist spot in this fine country you can purchase a Marimokori celebrating the local area to hang from your cell phone for $4. You think this is some sort of pervert joke, but hella my Junior High and High School students have Marimokri things.



Also there is official marimo (kori?) ice cream.

DSC_2449

DSC_2451

Found a nice camp spot on the shores of Kussharoko, another lake in the area. Can't beat this!

DSC_2480

DSC_2490_1_2Enhancer

DSC_2493_4_5Enhancer

DSC_2496_7_8Enhancer

These lakes are all volcanic craters, which means plenty of onsens. This one is on a beach. Dig into the sand and the hot water bubbles out.

DSC_2509

DSC_2506

Check out this one. Left is for the ladies and right is for the boys. Privacy, shmivacy.

DSC_2502_3_4Enhancer

This one is a disgusting marsh-hot spring. It remained un-entered.

DSC_2580_1_2Enhancer

This beautiful artwork is native to the area, and part of the Ainu culture.

DSC_2516_7_8

There were two old guys selling it, and we started talking. They asked if my tattoos present a problem when I teach in High School in Tokyo. I told them that I always wear long furosode. A slip in the language, as sode means sleeves, but furosode are the special sleeves on Japanese kimonos. His response, and remember this is some random dude I just met, was something like, "You know whats totally awesome about furosode? Because the cuff is so huge, you can slip your hand in, sneak it up, and then grab a giant handful of bare tits. Wouldn't you agree? My friend here knows what I'm talking about. I love me some titties!"

DSC_2525

More local volcanic fun. Wicked!

DSC_2532_3_4Enhancer

DSC_2535_6_7Enhancer

Hungry?

DSC_2524

Selling eggs. Probably been selling eggs for the past 40 years.

DSC_2548

And more local ice cream. Scrumptious!

DSC_2551

Then it was off to Lake Mashu. An iconic lake in Hokkaido, there are no rivers into or out of it's basin. The water remains at a constant level, and the sharp edges prevent access. I heard later that it is covered in fog almost every day.

DSC_2554_5_6Enhancer

Had a nice soak in a foot onsen at the station with some new friends. We talked about Disneyland for 15 minutes.

DSC_2572

DSC_2573

Back to the camp site for a midnight dip into the onsen.

DSC_2590

The next day I took a walk around the peninsula I was camping near.

DSC_2465_6_7Enhancer

All kinds of sulfur leaking out. There has gotta be a hot spring.

DSC_2474_5_6Enhancer

Someone built this hidden onsen into the lake. Some other dude was there, and we were just chatting when I see this furry black thing walking along the bank of the lake. It was a massive black ferret, just minding the fuck out of it's own business, while scaring the shit out of a couple of naked dudes.

My Japanese language ability is no where near what I'd like it to be, but when in one day you have a conversation about how a ferret is more interested in bugs than naked dudes, a conversation about how kick ass Disneyland is, and a conversation about feeling up girls through their festive, traditional clothing... well maybe my Japanese is just where it needs to be.

Next time: Off to Shiretoko, where deer and bears roam free.

3 comments:

lordkaosu said...

I love these trips you take, thanks for all the excellent photos. Makes me want to get out on my scooter some more for some trips.

Ramen Adventures said...

Thanks Lord K. Get out there on the scooter and have some adventures, it'll make for good stories on your podcast.

Kurt Mifsud Bonnici said...

"Mokkori Pantsu!!" .. staple Ryo Saeba (City Hunter) quote.