turning japanese… I really think so

Driving along the coast to Newquay I took at detour to St. Columb Major as very distant relations  on my mother’s side of the family were from this town. Small tiny roads and nothing much on offer apart from in the Co-op where they had a corn fritter sandwich with pineapple chutney. Seasonal summer delights. With the roof down on the car and the wind in my beard I ambled up and down the hilly winding lanes of coastal Cornwall. Suddenly a small brown road sign caught my eye and I flicked the indicator on, swung a right turn and cruised down a craggy valley to my new surprise destination.

The Japanese Garden in St. Mawgan. What a treat. The personal project of a husband and wife with a life long obsession with bonsai trees that had over time turned into a small family business.

Rich and soft green mosses cling to fallen but still living trees, some supported by stilts that created gateways to secluded corners. A myriad of maples swayed gently at every turn. Ponds, streams, bridges, trickling waters and wooden structures were surrounded by high borders of bamboo that cloaked the Cornish countryside from view. Gravel crunched under foot and fat bamboo fences were knotted together with thick black chords.

The greens, bronzes and deep purples were accented by soft silvery blues and greys. Statues and sculptures appeared in tiny pockets as the many paths weaved around the garden.

Back in the car I headed to Newquay to my next hotel destination. I had a notion that Newquay would be like Britain’s Bondi beach. All sun kissed youth and wax boards.

Reality is a wee bit different. That surfing side is here but my hotel is all mobile commodes and Bovril consommé. With wifi only available in the lounges on the ground floor I had to search for a plug where I could sit down and write my blog. All the plugs you see were being used to charge mobility scooters. I sat in the bar/ballroom while the coach parties dined. Then as they began to grab their tables near the front of the stage for the cabaret I decided to move to a corner through the forest of Zimmer frames. It really is like a cruise liner with no destination.

Off into town I found a superb new sushi bar with dishes that slid round the conveyor belt quicker than all the guest in my hotel as they crawled to the bingo.

Safu is brand new. Dave a professional surf instructor and his mate Shah, the chef started it a week or so ago.

I popped in partly to keep up with my Japanese day but also as serves lots of vegetarian options. They also have a green leaf sticker on domed plastic covers making it so easy to pick the veggie choices and an extra tick for vegan dishes. It’s not just tasty food but it is so unbelievably beautiful. Baby shoots in greens, reds and purples are scattered on the dishes along with punches of vivid oranges and blues from edible petals.

I ate far too many plates hahaha. Great food will do that. If you are this way you must pop in and enjoy their really great food.

Even the wasabi and pickled ginger is divinely presented.