Nakagomi Orchard Day 3/7

Today our task was to remove the silver sheets from the grounds of the peach trees. 

Do you know why there are silver sheets? Because the sheets can reflect sunlight to the bottom of the fruits!!! Ingenious;)

Unfortunately the weather was not too good and it rained all the way. It wasn't too heavy so we continued the work. We still had fun anyway!

When the sky finally cleared it was such a clear blue sky and we were so grateful!!!! (it's typhoon alert in other parts of Japan, so Tokyo was very rainy, and rain in Tokyo means rain whole day).

Enjoying the sun!

We ate lunch and because we didn't have enough hot water for instant noodles after refilling the tea pot I playfully added green tea into Renma's noodles. Not like he noticed any difference! Haha!

We also tried dried persimmons (btw I haven't had dried persimmons like that before, sweet and nice!)

We hung our clothes to dry and by the time we finished lunch the clothes were almost dry! The weather was really really good!

Favourite shots :)

We went back to the peach grounds and continued our work. Kind of miss the rain because it's a little warm.. LOL

All the fruits in the world to eat :)

Took the lorry back to the volunteer house. Breezy ride with Renma and Joji shouting away. 最高の夏だ～！

The day ended with Onsen again. Not complaining! :P

Renma and Joji had to return to Tokyo this evening. I will miss them very very much ;'(

Nakagomi Orchard Day 2/7

20150908 rainy day !! We should have cycled to Yoko san’s house but it was raining so we had to set off early as the walk takes about 20 mins…

We did weeding today and boy, was it tiring …..

Lunch was curry rice, chicken karaage and potato coquette..

Tea break and story-telling time :)

Work and more work until we were rewarded with this crazy sumptuous dinner!!!!! Kimchi fried rice and Oden! *tears of joy*

The Nakagomi Family!

After dinner we played with the two princesses of the Nakagomi Orchard..

And finally to end the night, onsen hot spring! it's not a big one with many pools, just one, but it's said to be filled with minerals. And milk after onsen, is SHIAWASE :)

Went back and had some info session with Renma and Joji on Japan. Lovely people :)

We went for a late night cycle too!!

I am really bad with darkness and they made me cycle across this stretch of sakura trees T.T on the way back.. 

But it was fun :D

Nakagomi Orchard Day 1/7

20150907 Yamanashi 

stayed at Joyce’s place the night before to go to Shinjuku together to catch the Chuo highway bus to Yamanashi. I went to the Shinjuku bus terminal the day before to purchase the bus tickets! The bus terminal location is a bit confusing, it’s near Yodobashi camera.. (Luckily went there once before when we wanted to purchase tickets to Lake Kawaguchi)

We boarded the bus at 7:50am and off we go! to the countryside. 

We were welcomed by Kazu san at the Shirane IC (Inter) West interchange. There were 2 guys on the same bus as us, and to our surprise, they were heading to Kazu’s place with us too!!! They are Renma and Joji :)

We arrived at Nakagomi Orchard by Kazu san’s car, and for the first time I saw grapes hanging from their vines upclose :D YAY had a chat from Nikkei (meaning Japanese, but grown up in America, and do not speak Japanese) Japanese family while listening to Kazu explaining the fruits..

We moved on to the volunteer house and dropped our baggage. After briefing we helped to set up BBQ area for the customers… also played with the hammock, I thought I was about to fly out since they swung it so hard.. LOL then we ate lunch! the chicken drumstick was especially delicious…. (bone was given to Boss’s dog Tarou)..

Went to clean the “umbrellas” of the grapes (the white plastic sheets) while Renma and Joji fixed the wooden signboard by the road. Ate grapes, peaches, figs (looks a bit disgusting though but it tastes not bad!!) before returning to the house. 

Played soccer (Joji and me versus Renma and Joyce) and had dinner at Yoko-san house… Japanese are really homely people… The sun sets really early and so we had a early night since we were tired anyway… :) zzzzz I could get used to country life…