Day Four woot! So yesterday I wrote from the shinkansen after the very stressful morning. We then got off the train, but our baggage in coin lockers and met up with Sensei-sama’s former student Vera and went to have lunch. We ate at this little place on the main street next to Beppu station, very good. Then we met up again and took a bus to the hotsprings! It was called the Rounds of Hell. There were six but we only went to three. However we did get to see a zoo!!! It was kind of sad though because the animal cages were rather small and not original habitat-looking. It was tiny too, there was one hippo, a few flamingos, three baboons, two llamas, and an elephant.. Haha it was great. The hotsprings were really cool though, the way the clay and stuff boils. We also passed a couple places (and stopped at one) where you can take off your shoes, roll up your pants, and put your legs in the hotspring. It was a little too hot for me and my jeans didn’t roll up that far, so I passed on that. But all around it was really cool. After that we went to a sand bath. About six of us went with sensei-sama walking to the place, the other half went with Vera on apparently a different route. They were really far behind so I just assume.. plus they got there before us so.. We accidentally went the wrong way a couple times, but got there in the end! Oh and it was pouring rain, so that was interesting. Actually it was really fun. So for the sand bath, we got there, put on yukata (summer kimono), took all our clothes off and then went out side where they buried us in naturally hot sand and we relaxed for fifteen minutes under the mound. It was really great. Then, much to Juliana and my dismay, we went into the ofuro where you must be without clothing. So we were awkward, but sam and anna weren’t hahaha. That was okay though. Then we took a bus back to the station, grabbed our bags, and took taxis to the inn! We had the banquet dinner then went and did karaoke!!!!!! It was so much fun! Contrary to popular belief, you and the people you go with get your own room and just have a blast. We sang Disney and maroon five and all sorts of things, it was so much fun! Then we came back hung around before going to bed. What a great day. Now we’ve left the hotel and I’m sitting on a train taking me to…. Aso I think were we’re going to the top of a mountain. Woot!

Jya~