Ikebana and Exploration

This morning I had my second Ikebana class, see the arrangement pictured below! After taking the flowers home and eating lunch I set out to explore more around my town. While driving down some roads I came upon a gorgeous temple nestled within a bamboo forest. It was actually really large, with a garden in back complete with a coy fish pond, and also a pretty big graveyard. 

After leaving the shrine, I drove into the next and largest village in my town, to check out main street. I walked up and down the street and went into the various shops there. I found a store that sells Japanese sweets, which are usually like jellies with natural flavors like fruit or sweet bean. I also found a store that sells random teas, juices, and vegetables but also has a little juice bar and cafe in the back. When I went in I talked to the little old lady working there and asked her what she serves in her cafe. She mentioned goya juice, so immediately I wondered how that tasted since the goya fruit is very bitter. So she made me a glass of it and it was actually slightly sweet and quite tasty! She also served me some dried, sugared butterbur and plum juice- both that she made herself from scratch! It was actually very good and I am sure very healthy. Also she hardly charged my anything for the refreshments, she borrowed 200 yen from me to give change to another customer, and then wouldn't let my pay any more than that! (200 yen is like two dollars). But I will certainly go back and visit her again and have some more healthy snacks!