Land of the Rising Burp

I'm giving my tum tums a good rub-down after a sumptuous kaiseki meal. Ah, such is life in a ryokan - a must-do when in Japan.

The dinner was a 12-course. Sashimi, shabu-shabu, chawanmushi, etc - on fancy plates and with fancier names - we had it all tonight.

The first eight courses were already set on the dinner table when we entered our private banquet room. Very impressive. After spilling out the uncontainable oohs and ahhs, a long silence followed. We were so busy exploring each and every dish, for the first time during our trip, nobody really bothered with the sake.

!

I'm really stuffed now and I don't think I should be eating too much in the next couple of days. But I've been saying that after every meal this trip.

And there's still kaiseki breakfast to look forward to tomorrow.