Well, glorious day it must be said. Sunshine, not a cloud in the sky (well maybe one or two) and a pleasant drive to the countryside to pick strawberries.
A few weeks ago we helped Hideo with his PhD studies into English Linguistics. As his family has a small strawberry farm he said that as thankyou he would take us out there. Unfortunately there was only room for 4, but we were lucky enough to get on the trip.We were picked up around one and began making the hour trek out into the countryside. Hideo said "Let me take you down, cause 
I'm going to Strawberry Fields." Actually, that part is fake but the other stuff has been completely true!!! After a couple of nervous moments (unfortunately he hadn't learnt that eye contact is not necessary when you are driving!), we had wound our way through the trees and rolling hills to the family home.
I'm going to Strawberry Fields." Actually, that part is fake but the other stuff has been completely true!!! After a couple of nervous moments (unfortunately he hadn't learnt that eye contact is not necessary when you are driving!), we had wound our way through the trees and rolling hills to the family home.After a quick peek into the house (quite spectacular i must say) we headed out to the fields. We had each been armed with a bowl or tray to collect. There were heaps of ripe strawberries to be picked. We spent about twenty or thirty minutes out there picking.
I'm not sure if it has previously been mentioned but if there was a Miss Universe Parade for Strawberries Miss Japan would win both the evening gown section and the swimsuit. There would be no need to answer that she hopes for World Peace and wants to be a marine bioligist... We already know she is sweet... Not that I have too much experience here but Miss Japan has my vote all day every day!
After picking we headed into the house, where Hideo's mum had been cooking all day... At first we ate some of the strawberries with a choice of yoghurt or icecream... The health conscious amongst us (those wanting to look like Miss Japan for real!) took yoghurt, but those with a sweeter tooth took to the icecream like a duck to water. One could have been forgiven for over indulging on just the strawberries... But it just kept coming... Some home made sweet bean cakes (manjee (spelling could b wrong!)) with the additional twist of having strawberries in the middle. Some Weird celebratory rice concoction and some green tea. It was some sort of a feast.
We had a great time trying to work out what was being said and having them trying to work out what we were saying. Thankfully Hideo is quite fluent in English so that was very helpful.
After a while, armed with a mass tray of strawberries it was time to hit the road, wind our way back through the hills and back to little old Himeji, where nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields Forever!
