Guided a father, Terence-san and a son, Zachary-kun from Singapore for 5 days. I was also taught a lot from Terence-san because he was very knowledgeable about Christianity and languages and so on.
He came to Japan many times so he was very interested in Japanese history and culture.
【Day 1】Takijiri-oji to Takahara Kumano Shrine
I was surprised when I saw his son, Zachary-kun was 180 cm tall for his age (his 16 yeas old).
This day was supposed to be rainy from the evening, I tried to take them earlier as long as we could. We eventually could arrive in Takahara before the rain got heavy as we skipped paying a visit at Takahara Kumano shrine to go there the following day.
【Day 2】Takahara to Chikatsuyu Oji
We started with Takahara Kumano shrine we skipped the previous day.
We did not have to be hurry this day because the accommodation of this day was near the ending point and was supposed to be sunny all day. Terence-san told me that the accommodation of the previous day was very nice and they had enjoyable conversations with the owner using an translation app.
【Day 3】Hosshinmon-oji to Hongu Grand Shrine
This day was sunny as well, we could enjoy walking this day.
Terence-san could speak Malay because he was originally from Malaysia, he told me grammatical difference of Malay and English, I told him the characteristics of Japanese grammar. Since he remembered many things that he learned from guides at different areas in Japan, I was able to tell deeper stories.
Terence-san was interested in Minachi-gasa, the traditional hat of Kumano pilgrims so I introduced a shop selling it. But he was worrying about conveying it when they use the luggage shuttle service, I suggested to keep it and get him on the last day.
【Day 4】Hayatama Grand Shrine and Kamikura Shrine in Shingu
When I asked them what to have for lunch, Zachary-kun answered to have Unagi (eel) but unfortunately I did not know the Unagi restaurant in Shingu city so I asked again to have other meal, he answered Yakiniku, grilled meat. But the restaurant was a little far on foot, so took a bus.
After having lunch, we visited Kamikura shrine.
Zachary-kun had a kind of ‘uphill allergy’, since we walked the hilly sections until this day but he bravely climbed up the steep stairs to the shrine.
【Day 5】Daimonzaka to Nachi Falls
We were supposed to meet at Daimonzaka parking lot in Nachikatsuura town but I had to get him the hat, we changed the meeting place into Kii-Katsuura station.
They were enjoying taking pictures at Daimonzaka.
They used the cameras using films and they had to focus manually so it took longer time to take than the present cameras.
But the quality of the pictures he showed me was as well as the ones taken by the present cameras.
We eventually could take the 11:06 bus and had lunch together at a restaurant near the station.
He gave me nice presents when we said good bye and I was impressed by a message written in Japanese saying God would bless you from his daughter.
