To the beach!

Mina's brother, (Ken-san) as well as having a really cool house, to be a really cool guy, friendly and down to earth, and with a real love of speed. He used to be really into racing, and has a drift car parked on his drive waiting for a new Engine, he also has moved onto Jet Skiis to get his kicks until his car is back on the road.

He offered to take us out for a spin, and we readily accepted.

It turns out that her brother has a drift car, a Prius for day to day driving, a minivan parked on his drive to sell to Mina's sister, and also has a really cool tiny little van. It probably has the footprint of a mini, but is built like a box, with a tiny engine, needless to say I instantly wanted one, much to his surprise!

We got into his tiny van towing his JetSkii and went off to his club. At the club there was a launch ramp, a forklift, a terrace bbq area, and lots and lots of JetSkiis! I never knew it was so big over here!

We got changed into stuff we could get wet in, and he offered to drive us over to a beach on a nearby island, we could stay there for an hour then he would come and pick us up again, giving him some time alone with his friends.

We agreed and he drove us out (3 up) to this nice island, dropped us off in the shallows and went back, leaving us there with a few other people. It was a lovely beach, not as clean and nice as Okinawa but still lovely, and had a tower built out in the water for people to jump off, I swam out and left Mina relaxing on the shore and proceeded to climb up and jump off, soon I was joined by some friendly Japanese locals who promptly (and good naturedly) pushed me off, I climbed back up and in equal good humour pushed them off the top, they loved it and soon we were diving and jumping off together into the warm sea, Mina swam out after a while and we took turns jumping off and swimming around before it was time to go back to the meeting point to meet our jetskii.

Mina's brother came to pick us up and said that he would like to give me a drive, but you need a license to drive them in Japan, and you need to take a test, which I obviously don't have.. However on the 15minute ride back he stopped half way and offered me a go, which I of course accepted! I started easy, worried he would be annoyed if I gunned it, motoring along nice and gently, however he had a need for speed and so with his urging I gunned it full throttle, flying across the wavetops even three up, this thing was fast! Great fun too! As we neared the coast he motioned that the people on shore shouldn't see me drive, so we swapped back and headed in for a break.

In this time lots of his friends had arrived, who all didn't speak English, but were very nice. One guy especially, a bit older, but was very very friendly.

We ate bbq food and drank a few beers, then the friend suggested I try wakeboarding! A little drunk by this point I agreed anyway, never having done it before they took me out and then, since it was just me and the guy, he explained by motions what to do and I gave it a try, I was towed behind ok but when he gunned it I just couldn't stand up. I'm sure there was a secret tip (possibly linked to me weighing twice what they did) about how to do it but after many tries I couldn't get it, damnit! Next time… I will have to take a lesson in the UK so they can explain the technique then I am sure I could give it a good go!

We went back in after half an hour of playing around for a few more beers, the last of the good, and then we packed up and headed back. When we got dropped off another of Mina's brothers came over driving his giant white hummer, needless to see Mina and I had to go out and take lots of stupid pictures with it, fun!

I was shattered and had an amazing shower before hearing about a festival in the town, we walked out from the house and up the small main road and found lots of food and stalls set up for a small local festival, we had a nice walk around but didn't stay out too late, we were so tired after the days exercise!