Our day started with a drive around part of the harbor area. As would be expected in a seaside city, fishing is an important industry in Monbetsu. The primary catch of the area are cod, scallops and crabs.
Monbetsu is on the Sea of Okhotsk which has some interesting characteristics that we will learn about when we visit the Sea Ice museum. Below are pictures of fishing boats in the harbor.
Because of the amount of fresh water running into the Sea of Okhotsk, it has a lower salinity than the ocean and as a result it freezes over in the winter. The vehicle on the right is called a Garinko. It is used to take tourists out on the ice during the sea ice season. The boat actually augers its way through the ice.
After the Sea Ice Museum visit, it was back to the house via the fish store. This is not like any fish store we see in the States as you can see from these pictures.
This afternoon was a treat. We went to visit a friend of Yasuko - also named Yasuko. They are Koto companions. The two Yasukos are going to give a Koto concert in October and they wanted to have a little practice. I have videos of the practicing but that will have to wait until I relearn how to edit and put together a short video show. In the meantime, regular pictures will have to suffice.
<---- The two Yasukos
Koto music ---->
<--- Ready for a Koto Trio
Close-up of Bridges of Koto --->
This part of Japan is very close to Russia. In fact there is a dispute over the ownership of a number of the islands off the coast. So, it is not unusual to have Russian boats unloading their catch here. The boat below is a Russian boat that was unloading a catch of crabs. They weren't very happy that I was taking pictures.
The picture below right is one BIG pile of scallop shells. Makes you wonder what was done with all the scallops.
The only picture I have from the Sea Ice Museum is this one Randy took of Granny and me in the special room that simulates -20 degree temperature. It is COLD!
