The view from our bedroom window...


... and to prove it!





In the photo above, you can see what remains of the road, buildings,
signposts etc. after having been submerged under a lake that was formed
following the year 2000 eruption of the (still-smouldering) volcano
behind. ("Can you see it?!"). And as it was...




A close-up, in the photo above, of the devastation (see the roof?!).
Amazingly, new houses have been built next to this lake (supposedly for
mad researchers, the kind of which we partied with in Hokkaido
University on Nov. 4th).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff has always thought of writing a book (more of a photo journal really...
no, perhaps even a coffee table book?!) entitled, "Loo with a View". The
following couple of loos would be in the Top 10, that's for sure!

"A new entry, straight in at Number One, the Ladies at The Windsor
Hotel, Lake Toya, Hokkaido, Japan." Or...

... "María enjoying a number two at the Number One!"






"Remarkably, another new entry, the Gents at The Windsor Hotel, Lake
Toya, Hokkaido, Japan." Not sure if this would make Number Two,
however, as the public Gents urinals overlooking the Giants Causeway in
Northern Ireland were pretty spectacular, if Jeff remembers correctly...


Not to be outdone, the Lobby at The Windsor Hotel had a pretty nice view
as well. There, we were treated to a harp recital.







Fresh snow and winter scenes.





Again, a view from The Windsor Hotel (our budget didn't stretch to
staying there, in case some of you are wondering, although we did
consider sharing a croissant from the hotel bakery). Our hotel (and, ok,
we can't complain with the view we had!), is in this photo, as indicated
above... as we slept soundly last night, we were unaware of the
groaning, spewing, volcanic mass, on whose back we were lying!





María looking a shade nervous as the snow continued to fall and we
continued to climb.


Jeff, in the meantime, enjoying himself!





Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a bubbling, steaming and rather smelly
landscape.









"Quick, someone turn the kettle off!"


Finally, two differing calderas, the first, above a hot water lake formed by
the eruptions of the volcano behind, and secondly, below, a classic (now
cold water) caldera, formed from the cone of a now dormant volcano.