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Beppuuuuu!! as the lady shouted on the train as we got off with an octave tone. We're here, the place that is famous for hot springs and fugu.
We arrived at the Kaosan Hostel and immediately met a cool Australian couple, a guy from Norway and another from New York. We proceeded to play Jenga late into the night getting a 31 row Jenga by the end of it, not a bad first night. The next morning we woke up and decided to try a hot spring. The first one we went to was a mud bath called Hoyland Hotspring. We had to take the bus 30 minutes into the mountains until we arrived at our destination. No one there spoke a bit of English and all we knew how to saw was hello and thank you. Somehow we managed to pay, put on the proper slippers and make our way to the changing rooms. We had quite a hard time finding the mixed bathing area so that we could bath together, a few akward conversations later we were in, bathing in ewwww mud! After a while I got pretty used to it and found it quite relaxing.
The
next morning we researched a place called Mt. Takasaki National Park that consisted of many many monkeys. A 10 minute bus ride later we were there not quite sure what to expect. A very clear sign said not to feed the monkeys, pet the monkeys or look them directly in the eye (the last one being key as we would soon realize).
There were tons of Monkeys all around hanging out in many fashions. Tons of opportunities for beautiful pictures. A few times I stood next to some monkeys and they would start to show their teeth so I had to quickly move away, one time a monkey even jumped out at me and started screaming at me feeling threatened, scared the crap out of me!
After we had our fill of monkeys we took a local bus back to the hostel and researched another onsen to try out. There just happened to be a sand bath 10 minutes walk from the hostel so we headed over there. 1000 Yen each got us quite an experience. Basically there are shovel ladies that dig ditches in hot sand which you then lay down in in a robe. They then
proceed to cover you up to your head in sand..hot sand for 10 minutes. I found it to be quite relaxing although close to the last minute I was getting a bit anxious wondering if I would pas out before they dug me out.
Next stop Mt. Aso Volcano area for intense trekking
Beppu Hostel Info:
http://www.khaosan-beppu.com/] Khaosan Beppu *Great staff
*Very close to the station and Beppu "night life"
*Walking distance to the Sand Onsen which is a must!
*10 minute bus ride from the Monkey Park also a must
*Very comfortable Japanese style rooms
*free AC
*free internet
*free Sake in common area at 8pm every-night
*right next to a place that is renown for Fugu (blowfish) if you have the $$ and balls to try 😊
*great recommendations on Onsens and restaurants
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Chris and Nikki
Chris
Great picture.