Service in Service Station

Now I understand why Yumiko didn't know what how to refuel a car in Finland. In Finland you always have to do it by your self. In Japan, however, things are different.

When you drive in to one of these gas stations all you have to do is open and close you wallet, other than that everything is done for you. At first, the staff signals and guides you to drive in the right spot, where after they come and open your door and inquire your needs. They even ask for any disposable trash. Basically everything is in their consideration.

Service is in two words, all encompassing. But naturally those self-service stations have lower prices than those of full service, which both can be found in Japan.

This concept of high degree service doesn't exist in Finland, so I ask, Which one you prefer: pay extra in your petrol bill, or rather have it done by your self and cheaper?

The photo above holds a nice detail that may be one of its own to save space. The petrol hoses are hanging down from the sealing.

蜂蜜 - Jar of honey

-"Luscious and flavorful honey from the flower-fields of Yufuin", I thought when I bought a jar of honey from an idyllic store in Yufuin-city.

After the reading label more carefully during breakfast, the truth came up. Content is actually a mix of Canadian and Argentinian honey! Not quite from Yufuin, as I first had assumed. Never the less delicious it was and cheap too!

Any business travellers to Beppu?

Need a place to stay? If you're heading to Beppu for a meeting or conference there is a lovely looking business hotel right in front of the main station.

...probably affordable for my budget.

大分みのりフェスタ Oita harvest festival

On Saturday I'd say one thousand Japanese packed to one park in Beppu to take part in Oita harvest festival. The mass event promoted regional seasonal products.

Why it was great festival? For two reasons. Firstly, fresh fruits, vegetables and fish with half of the price of that in supermarkets, and secondly, lots and lots of tasting-spots to try out new foods! There we've got to know Dango-jiru（だんご汁）, a tasteful but quite vegetableish broth soup that is typical to Kyushu.

On the way to Beppu. We met a chipper fisher man, who taught us phrases of Oita dialect. Many of them I don't remember, but these two I do:

どげんしちょんのかえ。- How are you?
よだき。- I'm tired

佐賀関 Saganoseki

この前の木曜日、突然、Ｌａｕｒｉの留学生仲間と関崎灯台へ行くことになりました！Ｌａｕｒｉは授業があった為今回はパス。
Viime torstaina yhtäkkiä päätin mennä Sekizaki-majakalle Laurin vaihtoystävien kanssa! Laurilla oli koulu, siksi hän ei päässyt mukaan...

大分駅から幸崎駅まではＪＲで、それから佐賀関駅まではバスで行きました。そしてそこから灯台までは…なんと歩いて行きました！！約５キロの道のりです。
Oitan asemalta menimme Kouzakiasemalle junalla, sen jälkeen jatkoimme bussilla ja sitten me kävelimme 5 km majakalle!


途中には、こんな実や、 Reitin varrella oli tämmösiä söpöjä hedelmiä...


こんなかわいらしいお花があったりして思わず写真をパチリ☆ ja tommosia kauniita kukkia!!


関崎海星館の前から、海を眺めると四国がよく見える！！ Voisimme nähdä hyvin Shikokun-saaren!!


灯台の近くにはビーチもあって、きれいなブルーに惹かれてみんなで海岸におりてみました。
海の波の音が素敵☆☆
Majakan lähellä oli kaunis ranta ja sininen meri! Me menimme sinne alas. Meren kohina oli rentouttavaa!


もう日も沈みかけていたので、もっとゆっくりしたかったのですが、帰路に就くことに。
帰りは距離が長くなってしまいますが、海岸沿いの道（約６キロ）を行くことにしました。
ここから見た夕焼けが素晴らしかったです！！
Me halusimme olla enemmän aikaa siellä, mutta aurinko oli laskenut aika paljon, siksi lähdimme pois. Me päätimme mennä meren rannan reittiä vaikka se kesti kauemmin (6 km). Auringon laskun aika oli ihana!!

途中で日が沈んで真っ暗になってしまいましたが、充実した午後を過ごせてよかったです☆
Paluumatkalla aurinko laski ja tuli aivan pimeää, ja tämä iltapäivä oli tehokkaasti käytetty!