This morning was my earliest yet - up at 5:15 and on my first out of 9 modes of transport that day. Yes, it takes that many transfers to make it across the tateyama mountain range in the Japanese Alps which run east to west. I started in a town called Matsumoto - from where I took a local train and then a bus to oghizwa- from where the alpine route started with a cable car ride up to kurobe dam. Here I was to be amazed at our fist view of the snow covered Alps with lush green forest backdrop and green blue lakes at the bottom. And then , rainbows after rainbows , flourishing all around the waterfall. At one point there were double rainbows too and rainbows over the lush green trees where the most frPm the waterfall fell. I forgot to breathe it was that beautiful. Then a cable car ride later we were at daimonji - where the mountain ranges began to look more closer and bigger, the temperature began to cool down and we were taking in the wonder at the sheer size and power of the enormity and magic of the mountain ranges around us.
Onward to our highest point , murodo, which was breathtakingly stunning with the volcanic gases from the middle earth meeting the snow capped mountains to create such startling natural wonders that one was left gaping. Colorful minerals overlaying on each other to create wonderful vistas and deposits , rich hot springs where people could choose to bathe in ( a bit smelly for me) and beautiful trails around the mukurigaike pond - which was navy blue in color due to its depth and had blocks of ice around and in it, creating a stunning visual nestled in the center of the mountain range. After a couple of hours of serene hiking, we headed over and down towards the west to the wetlands , where as temperatures started to rise and rain was frequent , there was lush greenery and lots of wild plants and flowers. Got a peek of the showmya falls and then down to the cedar forests for another quiet , introspective walk around the majestic cedars which had been witness to many many generations of human being passing them by.
And with that , made my way down the last cable car to Toyama and a train ride to Takayama to begin my adventures there the next day.
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