Hiroshima

Our second morning in Fukuyama was lousy, it was raining so the plan to visit the castle across the street was thrown out of the window. Instead we spent the whole morning doing what city folks do - shopping ... Sofia and I hit the mall at the train station, enjoying the fashion display, toys, etc ... Our hands were definitely itching in our pockets but the dangling price tags do serve their purpose well. They are just like the mosquito repellents placed strategically back home to keep away the bugs, but here, the price tags repels my hands very effectively!

Daddy got back late in the afternoon and we made our way to our next stop - Hiroshima, via the bullet train. Sofia was all excited to take the train (again!) and indeed, she was very well behaved. We guess it could be due to the cold weather, she would obediently let me put on all the layers and sit quietly in the stroller. She probably realised that sitting in there will keep her warm.

This is Japan savoury pancake, Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き). It is very popular in Osaka and Hiroshima and the way it is made differs between the two cities. This is the first time we are trying the Hiroshima pancake and Sofia loves it. Well, she just love anything that is SWEET.

The next morning, we headed to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The museum exhibit presents the facts of the atomic bombing, with the aims of contributing to the abolition of nuclear weapons throughout the world, and of promoting world peace. The Peace Memorial Museum collects and displays belongings left by the victims, photos, and other materials that convey the horror of that event, supplemented by exhibits that describe Hiroshima before and after the bombings and others that present the current status of the nuclear age. Each of the items displayed embodies the grief, anger, or pain of real people. It was heart-wrenching to walk through the museum, looking at the exhibits and to learn that many of the victims were children at school.

We could not spend as much time as we would have liked at the museum as Sofia was super bored. No games, nothing interesting (to her), everyone was solemn and quiet, except her. Once we exited the museum and entered the park, she was overjoyed.

Here are some photos taken while we were running around at the park:

Sofia outside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

An accidental photo of us taken by Sofia at random, I am surprised it turned out well!

A "tiger" set free at the park.

Sofia and "her" fountain.

The atomic bomb dome.

A huge train engine replica at the park.

We ended the long day with a beautifully cooked omerice which tasted just as good.