Bambi`s Retirement Resort

Miyajima - September 24th

Took the ferry over to the island of Miyajima – one of Japan`s “3 Most Beautiful Spots”. It really was amazing, especially considering we were greeted by wild deer that would eat paper and clothing if you let them. I let one of them have a lick of my ice cream, and it got all over his nose! I swear these deer have no table manners! It was hellacute though.

The island is famous for the Itsukushima Shrine and O-Torii, which were both built in the late 6th Century on the water, so when the tide is in, the Torii looks as though its floating.

In the afternoon we took a 2 hour hike up Mt. Misen, 530m above sea level. No monkeys were spotted this time, but I couldn`t help but feel that we were being watched by something…or someone…By the time we reached it to the summit, the view was amazing! It was totally worth the leg and ass cramps. How did the deer get all the way up here with a diet comprised of newspaper, some kids`s shorts and icecream, I wondered?