DiStar Wears The Rose: Chapter 4

We spent two nights in Hiroshima, which is such a welcoming city with cool streets and pretty views. Had Okonomiyaki (Hiroshima's version of soul food, which was ok but not on par with a Katsu curry!) and watched rugby at a Molly Malone's (obv). We spent a sobering afternoon at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, followed by a visit to Hiroshima Castle.

Hiroshima's tram system is very cute

Hiroshima Highlights:

1) The Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Park

On 6 August 1945 at 8.15am, the US Army Air Force dropped an atomic bomb targeted for the port town of Hiroshima. The 'A-Bomb' detonated 600m above the ground in the centre of the town, blasting, burning and radiating 66,000 people, most of which were civilians, with its Uranium-235 fission reaction. It generated a blast yield equivalent to 16 kilotons of TNT. I remember these stats because the museum repeats them as it tells the story of this awful event.

Sadly, it also has to show how history repeated itself because days later, a larger A-Bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The museum also highlights ongoing nuclear proliferation in the decades since, and has a peace clock, which is reset everytime a nuclear weapon is tested. It was reset only in February this year following a US nuclear test. My take away is, if climate change ain't gonna get us first, then nuclear war will!

The Hiroshima Peace Park surrounding the museum contains many monuments to bring peace to the families affected by losing loved ones due to the A-Bomb, many of whom died years later from cancer relating to radiation exposure.

Children's Peace Monument

Flame that will stay lit until the last nuclear weapon is disarmed

Bell of Peace

Before and after of the A Bomb Dome, left standing as a reminder of the devastation that hit the town in 1945.

2) The Hiroshima Castle

This castle is a replica of the real thing as the original was destroyed by the aforementioned A-Bomb, which was dropped by the USA, in 1945. It has a cute museum inside including Sumurai swords and battle gear. Views from the top of Hiroshima were particularly lovely (at sunset, timed perfectly by yours truly).

3) Okonomiyaki

Cooked on hot a sheet in front of you, Okonomiyaki must be something born out of a mish mash of leftovers like bubble n squeak! It is pancake, beansprouts, meaty or fishy fillings, noodles, egg, cheese, sticky tangy sauce, mayo. It is quite messy to eat, interesting yet at the same time not very tasty. I put on salt and chilli, and ate with pickled ginger, and only then did it taste of something! I am not in a hurry to eat it again.... These photos are from one of Hiroshima's top rated Okonomiyaki restaurant, Hasset. Great ambience, lovely service and we tagged our visit on their wall with marker pen!

PS: The cheese is optional on the menu, but non-optional to me! I had a bacon Okonomiyaki with fresh spring onions on top.

4) Rugby watching at Molly Malone's

Good international and local crowd for Russia v Tonga. The fish n chips was perfect because the chips were essentially long, thick, crisp roast potatoes.

5) Grand Prince Hotel on the peninsula

Although not centrally located, the hotel was good enough for us as we drove straight to it. It was simple enough to use public transport in Hiroshima to get about. The hotel had a touch of much-missed luxury (basically, a shower and a bed) that I was deeply in need of after the first two nights spent in the campervan.