Park Day

Today I went with the Park's and Greenery Board. It was fun because we toured the local parks and sport center. That included one very quick lesson in Japanese archery. . .
There is also an Iris Festival going on at the local Higashi-koen. I had no idea that there are over 89 different breeds of irises! They are all displayed at this park. . .

They park also houses a small zoo with an elephant and a donkey( named Ipiki 2) donated by a Chinese mayor during a Sister City exchange. Ipiki 1 died so the Chinese city sent another Ipiki.You can feed the elephant via a conveyor belt. The elephant moves the conveyor belt herself with her trunk, you just put the food on the belt. Afterwards, if you quit feeding her she gets pissed! I was standing there with a bunch of "suits" and the elephant sprayed nasty "spit water" all over us because we stopped feeding her.


We also visited a beautiful ancient manor formerly owned by a shogunate family. It has now been restored and is used as a local park and tea house. It is absolutely beautiful. The ponds are full of fish and the garden is full of little critters. One lizard was nice enough to hold still for a picture. . .



Until next time. . .