tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49120024775174585952024-03-12T18:37:34.150-07:003yrsinjapanAllan and Elizabeth Schreiber set out for a three year posting with the Dept. of Defense in Yokosuka, Japan. This is a journal of that trip and the experiences and discoveries they make there.3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-56239990134666357692011-09-10T02:31:00.000-07:002011-09-10T02:32:00.416-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We have moved!!! All postings prior to August, 2011 will remain at this site. To view newer posts, click here:</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-74492798153093207422011-08-18T04:13:00.000-07:002011-09-03T04:23:40.912-07:00Goodbye to friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxbpmZDljdj3nK5WxxJAXFY_ITg3qKralMmmyGD7Vx1b9tbhyE5lTjX-8aynlPnfmcLr1uUSSfxkV2N3szd7A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Friday night we had Thai food and said goodbye to friends that arrived in Yokosuka at the same time as us. Randy and Chris Christ headed to Seattle, so Chris could have some medical treatment that isn't done at the Yokosuka Hospital. They'll return in a few months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Saturday night we had beach food. Our friends Capt. Rex Guinn and Capt. Treyce Knee are both retiring and settling with their two boys, Jason and Joshua in Virginia. Rex was with the JAG Corps. and Treyce is an Endocrinologist who was, of course with the Medical Corps. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We went to Zushi Beach and had tacos and beer. Two tacos and two beers for almost $40. Eek! But, we got a show. Rex recorded this with his I-phone. Click the <em>full screen</em> button on the lower right. The guy in front has a crystal ball and it looks like he's levitating it. Enjoy.</span></div>
3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-87061408000889464402011-08-15T22:11:00.000-07:002012-02-28T20:49:14.161-08:00The General Patton Tour of Japan<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: georgia;">I made a run to Narita Airport on August 3rd and returned with Bill and Elaine Schreiber. Over the next seven days, we saw 8 Japanese cities. They requested what we call the "General Patton Tour", up everyday at 0-dark:30, hiking with a backpack for ten hours and falling down exhausted at night. Then you get up the next day and do it all again.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulSLsQ8Pbyo/TljcSJOQ9uI/AAAAAAAABhU/cfrHfoBCsis/s1600/Aug%2B010.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645504337180423906" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulSLsQ8Pbyo/TljcSJOQ9uI/AAAAAAAABhU/cfrHfoBCsis/s400/Aug%2B010.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here are the Schreiber boys on the Japanese Battleship Mikasa. This day, we started at the base. It's almost 600 acres on Tokyo Bay, is homeport to 11 ships, and almost 30,000 Americans. We took a car tour, then parked and left the base on foot to exchange some money. The exchange rate is 75 yen per dollar <strong>$#*//@!!</strong> (that's me cursing). This is a real issue to those of us who live off base. Anyway, we hit the Mikasa before heading to Hase to see the big Buddha.</span><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643197045412311394" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oM7w7V2ELn8/TlCp0FlVsWI/AAAAAAAABhE/3qHkiaHojlA/s400/Aug%2B011.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">As is the custom, Elaine and I washed our hands and mouths prior to enter the sacred ground. And there she is with the big guy! You've seen him before, but he's pretty impressive.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYL7BxvxQ8Q/TlCpwHXzkkI/AAAAAAAABg8/zu6BqYyFcV0/s1600/Aug%2B013.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643196977172943426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYL7BxvxQ8Q/TlCpwHXzkkI/AAAAAAAABg8/zu6BqYyFcV0/s400/Aug%2B013.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kamakura was our next stop. We had heard good things about a new Italian restaurant, but couldn't find it, so we hit the Hachimango Shrine. The others walked up to the shrine, but since it's at the top of those steps in the next photo, I haven't made it in my 5 trips to Kamakura. Actually there are about 3 times as many steps as shown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643196885294549410" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y7lSc1DXIGk/TlCpqxGSiaI/AAAAAAAABg0/rCr5ryLOzfw/s400/Aug%2B022.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We did see a Shinto wedding. This was lunchtime on Thursday. The Japanese calendar has good days, lucky days, unhappy days... This was definitely a good marriage day. The ceremony wasn't attended by many family members or friends. That will probably happen later, when the couple has a civil wedding or maybe just a party.</span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3JXTpqQ2vHc/TlCpmRfOTUI/AAAAAAAABgs/jmFWg9QEFcg/s1600/Aug%2B024.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643196808089718082" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3JXTpqQ2vHc/TlCpmRfOTUI/AAAAAAAABgs/jmFWg9QEFcg/s400/Aug%2B024.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">These guys sounded very oriental. Ha ha, but you know, harp and flute sounds, the gong, it's all very Asian.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">We did finally stop at a ramen house Allan and I like very much. Bill and Elaine liked everything they ate during the trip. We had yakiniku, sukiyaki, sushi, tempura, bar food (tapas) and even Italian food (or the Japanese version of same).</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">On our way back to pick up the car, we stopped just outside the base at a pretty fancy Japanese grocery for some prepared foods, which we ate at home before going to bed early. Remember Bill and Elaine's bodies were still pretty much on New Jersey time.</span> </div>
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<em><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643196078144020754" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-coBu2Initn0/TlCo7yOm4RI/AAAAAAAABgM/2Db2PKjbX7A/s400/Aug%2B096.jpg" style="float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 300px;" /></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">So ends our time in Yokosuka, for the next few days at least. We took the bullet train to Kyoto. Apparently there's no superstition about the number 13 as that's the number of our train car. <br /><br />We dropped our luggage at the hotel and went to the local mall food court for brunch. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Next was a visit to the Golden Pavillion, a Buddhist Temple which happens to be covered in gold foil. </span></div>
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<em><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643195884089894146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bBOGxToP-R0/TlCowfUf5QI/AAAAAAAABgE/qypdexkTQ8k/s400/Aug%2B033.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">Then off to the Imperial Palace. As Kyoto was once the capital of Japan, its Emperors would have lived there. <br /><br />Have I mentioned yet that it was hot? The Schreibers have a new expression - <em>Kyoto hot</em>, which is not just hot beyond any other region we've experienced thus far, but so humid you can almost drink the air. We got back to the hotel to check in, shower and nap, with plans to meet at dinner time. Bill had a treat from a vending machine - a single of Chivas Regal, believe it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">Pontocho is a lovely area that I had not seen during previous visits, but now I'm sorry I missed it. We walked down an alley filled with restaurants, and we couldn't choose between them. Dinner was a great end to our day in Kyoto.</span> </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643195730545714178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWLiQPPseCE/TlConjUtpAI/AAAAAAAABf8/WRIrcC44WGo/s400/Aug%2B047.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Early to rise again, we headed to Nara and the Todai-ji (temple). It's the largest wooden structure in the world, with the largest bronze Buddha. The original was 30% larger, but it burned down and this one went up in 1709.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">The path from the Nara station to the temple is nice too, lots of deer. You can pet them. If you have food and don't feed them fast enough, they'll bite your ass. Oh yeah! </span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643195497372617794" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZMLeJgM5xg/TlCoZ-r6jEI/AAAAAAAABf0/bH8KSs2Qb_U/s400/Aug%2B065.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's the temple. It is big! Impressive...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643195339111095074" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOLrjGRRrA8/TlCoQxHbWyI/AAAAAAAABfs/aqc1rDYrCK4/s400/Aug%2B076.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the temple, we hopped a train to Osaka. I thought we'd be exploring the town, but we only went to the Osaka Castle (above). This castle was the home of Shogun Tokugawa when William Adams landed in Japan in 1600. Of course, he was held captive by the shogun and they had a history. Thus the book by James Clavell... Shogun. </span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643194718270025458" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DC1ISh-UW8/TlCnsoTYbvI/AAAAAAAABfk/zrzgg8MVQzM/s400/Aug%2B083.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">That night we headed to Gion corner for a show. We saw 5 different forms of Japanese culture and entertainment... a tea ceremony (we only saw a short part of it since the show was just an hour and the full tea ceremony is quite long), then these ladies played the koto, or Japanese harp.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I62BvZ7R6rY/TlCnloAdRLI/AAAAAAAABfc/dUGLrNlB2uY/s1600/Aug%2B089.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643194597931566258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I62BvZ7R6rY/TlCnloAdRLI/AAAAAAAABfc/dUGLrNlB2uY/s400/Aug%2B089.jpg" style="display: block; height: 231px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">These maiko were next. A maiko is a geisha in training. They are young and can be seen around Kyoto in kimono. After the maiko came a play which we understood only because we had been given a synopsis in English. Last was this puppet show. We loved this part of the trip.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OJ3PrBKi6hc/TlClFLri93I/AAAAAAAABfU/XbUVXIZoC6U/s1600/Aug%2B092.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643191841548597106" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OJ3PrBKi6hc/TlClFLri93I/AAAAAAAABfU/XbUVXIZoC6U/s400/Aug%2B092.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Afterward we walked to Pontocho and tonight we chose sukiyaki. It was dee-licious! We needed a walk to help digest dinner, so we headed back to the cruised to the shopping area. It was bustling and we ended the night there. Well, not really. We went to the hotel. <br /><br />Our Sunday was a bit more relaxed, breakfast at the train station/food court, then a visit to Sanjusangendo. It's a temple with 1001 carved Kannon - these are non-gendered Buddhist dieties. They look female, but word is they aren't boys or girls.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">The larger train stations in Japan have shopping and we did some shopping at the Kyoto station prior to boarding the Shinkansen (bullet train) back to Tokyo, then switching to the train that takes us home. Allan made pizza and we took some much-needed quiet time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643191645444392802" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyQHNDJKvsY/TlCk5xIqR2I/AAAAAAAABfM/BciubZYmcZI/s400/Aug%2B103.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">As temples and shrines abound in these parts, we made a stop at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. That's where we saw this Shinto wedding. It was still very hot back in Tokyo. We did a little walking tour of the Harajuku and Shibuya districts. There's good shopping (we picked up a few things), and it's a very nice section of town. We ate at a sushi-go-round where Allan and I had eaten with Jory Ramer during one of his visits. We enjoyed it, and in addition to sushi, Bill and Elaine tried takoyaki. Sounds like a Mexican dish, doesn't it? Well, it's a little fritter with grilled octopus inside.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1NxVA7p4Xo/TlCk0OnvlbI/AAAAAAAABfE/siRFceQpj0w/s1600/Aug%2B110.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643191550280177074" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1NxVA7p4Xo/TlCk0OnvlbI/AAAAAAAABfE/siRFceQpj0w/s400/Aug%2B110.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Tell me you recognize this place from previous blogs. Yep, it's the Tokyo fish market. It's Tuesday. It was no accident that the fish market was scheduled on the day I was scheduled to teach English. They came home with a story about seeing and octopus gutted. What fun</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lAfT8bNf10/TlCkaFWFp_I/AAAAAAAABe8/Q6ZuFnCd7j4/s1600/Aug%2B114.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643191101113608178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lAfT8bNf10/TlCkaFWFp_I/AAAAAAAABe8/Q6ZuFnCd7j4/s400/Aug%2B114.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">There's always another temple to see, but this one is surrounded by a pretty extensive tourist shopping area. I've picked up a few things there, I admit it.</span> <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-waCei_XZ2z0/TlCkK_EcSDI/AAAAAAAABe0/KXfpTGH_YK4/s1600/Aug%2B113.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643190841730943026" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-waCei_XZ2z0/TlCkK_EcSDI/AAAAAAAABe0/KXfpTGH_YK4/s400/Aug%2B113.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a> <span style="font-family: georgia;">At the end of this row of shops is the famous Senso-ji. It's probably the oldest temple in Tokyo, at least this site is the oldest. The first temple was built here around 700 A.D., and very few structures from that far back still exist. Since they are wooden, they usually succumb to fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">So, when someone says 'Japanese tourist', what image pops into your head? A guy with a camera hanging around his neck or up to his eye...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3GDjH82lXA/TlCjz6dq1ZI/AAAAAAAABes/Q_KvfTWEjiY/s1600/Aug%2B115.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643190445357585810" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3GDjH82lXA/TlCjz6dq1ZI/AAAAAAAABes/Q_KvfTWEjiY/s400/Aug%2B115.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">I guess that street runs east <em>and</em> west. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q5zYMTDAWg/TlCdGdHv1jI/AAAAAAAABek/hQ6Uuc3TWUM/s1600/Aug%2B121.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643183067317130802" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q5zYMTDAWg/TlCdGdHv1jI/AAAAAAAABek/hQ6Uuc3TWUM/s400/Aug%2B121.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oops! Looks like Bill got a bad fortune. Still at the Senso-ji here. You select a paper from one of many drawers, then read the top first - if it says "Bad Fortune", tie it here and walk away, otherwise, read on. I hope Elaine got to read on. <br /><br />The last thing on today's agenda was a ride through Tokyo down the Sumida River with a Japanese language tour. There are recorders with headphones if you want to pay a few yen to hear the English version. </span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1jk0cmiMqNA/TlCc_rn3tmI/AAAAAAAABec/myY-tU0bqOE/s1600/Aug%2B128.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643182950950876770" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1jk0cmiMqNA/TlCc_rn3tmI/AAAAAAAABec/myY-tU0bqOE/s400/Aug%2B128.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Day 3 in Tokyo. There's really so much to see, like the currently occupied Imperial Palace. Well, you can't actually see the palace, but here's the guard house and one of the out buildings. This is the single most expensive piece of real estate on the planet.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">We went shopping in Ginza, and took a trip through Mikimoto, the Harry Winston of pearls. Elaine and I made a few purchases in less expensive shops before we headed to Yokohama, about a 30 minute train ride to Queen's Tower. We paid to go to the 69th floor of the Landmark Tower. After buying our tickets, a young woman escorted us to the elevator, where another guide talked about the tower during the very fast ride to the top, where yet another guide welcomed us. Westerners are so impressed by the Japanese peoples' attitude about their job. They are immaculate in their dress and enthusiastic about their duties.</span> <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QeZt4c75mIk/TlCc6AuRMCI/AAAAAAAABeU/mi2TCJlbBs8/s1600/Aug%2B132.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643182853535641634" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QeZt4c75mIk/TlCc6AuRMCI/AAAAAAAABeU/mi2TCJlbBs8/s400/Aug%2B132.jpg" style="float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 342px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the top, we had a drink and saw the entire city. Each large viewing window had a legend and we saw Yokosuka on the southwest side.</span> <br />
<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We headed for Chinatown (still in Yokohama) and took a quick tour. While scouting for dinner, we saw a burning building. This area is so crowded with tall buildings, a fire could spread and really cause a disaster. There was a flash straight up from the top floor, but it was short lived and 6 fire trucks showed up to handle the blaze.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">The day ended with Bill and Elaine preparing for the trip home. The following morning, we drove to the base and checked in for the shuttle to the airport, then went over to Allan's office to meet his co-workers and say goodbye. I think it was a fun adventure for them and hope they have many lovely memories of their trip, including this one.</span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-82306783786617236382011-06-25T04:30:00.000-07:002011-08-24T23:57:17.515-07:00That little ole Ume Shu maker...<div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZL0sNWacic/TgxfCGDxmmI/AAAAAAAABds/oBhWJ-Ps5oU/s1600/UmeShu%2B01.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623974524269730402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZL0sNWacic/TgxfCGDxmmI/AAAAAAAABds/oBhWJ-Ps5oU/s200/UmeShu%2B01.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Oo-meh shoo - Plum wine. I made it just a few days ago. A student gave me the recipe, and I put it together. </span></div>
<br /><div align="justify">Y<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ou need a large jar. I bought a 4 liter jar at the local home store. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then you get some plums.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Japanese plums are a bit different from the ones you're used to. They're much smaller, about the size of a golf ball, quite hard, and bitter tasting.</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">
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<br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vr2TBBhS0_Y/Tgxe9Kq6oGI/AAAAAAAABdk/53qV-h-9IKY/s1600/UmeShu%2B02.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623974439608295522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vr2TBBhS0_Y/Tgxe9Kq6oGI/AAAAAAAABdk/53qV-h-9IKY/s200/UmeShu%2B02.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan picked the plums from a tree in our yard. It wasn't quite enough, so I bought a 1 kilogram bag.</span>
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<br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I thought I was supposed to soak the plums overnight, but that's only if you're planning to make pickles. Oops! I considered making jam with the soaked batch, then decided I'm not really a jam maker.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">
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<br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623974161998775970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVEZGYO2QDs/TgxetAfphqI/AAAAAAAABdU/Ug0FqEAN3NQ/s200/UmeShu%2B04.jpg" /></span>I bought more plums, (having ruined the first batch), mixed the other ingredients and VOILA!!!</div>
<br /><div align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Now I just wait 1 year - ONE YEAR!!?? Yes, that's the bad part. The good part is that I can buy it in any number of places.</span>
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<br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, in addition to making alcoholic beverages, I was interviewed today by two prospective students. I have a few openings I'd love to fill.</span>
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<br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Now it's 4th of July weekend, and we will be going to a picnic. I'm ready with my 'Stars 'n' Stripes'.</span>
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<br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVWekSY_PqQ/TgxelXmritI/AAAAAAAABdM/bWDYLmXtE3Q/s1600/011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623974030763330258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVWekSY_PqQ/TgxelXmritI/AAAAAAAABdM/bWDYLmXtE3Q/s400/011.jpg" /></a></span> 3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-5609751526877457642011-04-30T18:01:00.000-07:002011-06-01T16:37:40.652-07:00Bali... Bali... Bali...<div align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605409182480983058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nC1YT9hz9eY/Tcpp8-Z95BI/AAAAAAAABc4/_JNnCal3pSI/s320/Bali%2B001.JPG" /><span style="font-family:georgia;">W</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">ho saw The Bucket List? Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman leave town for a last hurrah. Jack brings his Admin, who schleps an espresso machine and Jack's special blend of coffee. Yeah, you remember, so hold that thought.<br /><br />Our China trip became our Bali trip shortly after some friends gave rave reviews of their trip into Indonesia. The flight was uneventful, but our luggage was strapped with security tape in Jakarta and we went through security so many times, I ran out of fingers.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then we arrived at our villa and this was part of my welcome. Those are rose petals floating in a bubble bath. Not too shabby.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-33EUuqh7Evo/Tcpp1RFQiKI/AAAAAAAABcw/PAb1OQ6LAjE/s1600/Bali%2B002.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605409050055444642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-33EUuqh7Evo/Tcpp1RFQiKI/AAAAAAAABcw/PAb1OQ6LAjE/s400/Bali%2B002.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I always say that being on vacation with Allan is like marching across Europe with General Patton. He tends to be a man on a mission, so when he said this would be a relaxing vacation, I admit I was skeptical. But on our first day, not only did we not leave the villa, but a massage therapist stopped by to give me a massage and facial. </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdNGpydTHPk/TcppkcbFD4I/AAAAAAAABco/YbcTCYNDkVY/s1600/Bali%2B010.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLYhdcpCbZU/TcppZ5yZzJI/AAAAAAAABcg/VNjLeObe4IY/s1600/Bali%2B012.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605408579945876626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLYhdcpCbZU/TcppZ5yZzJI/AAAAAAAABcg/VNjLeObe4IY/s400/Bali%2B012.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">It wasn't necessary to go out for food, oh no. Our butler gave our personal chef instructions of what and when we would eat. Then our driver took us where we wanted to go. The driver was a necessity. You do NOT want to drive in Indonesia. There is no speed limit, and there are 10 motorcycles for every car, and there are three lanes of cars on a two lane road (one row drives on the center line).<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNlwmsDEIds/TcppO2RuCvI/AAAAAAAABcY/tCBbdd9YqOA/s1600/Bali%2B015.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605408390024923890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNlwmsDEIds/TcppO2RuCvI/AAAAAAAABcY/tCBbdd9YqOA/s400/Bali%2B015.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This rice paddy was on the road to Tulamben, where we dove the U.S.S. Liberty. The Japanese torpedoed the ship in 1943, and when the crew couldn't pump the water out fast enough to save it, they ran it up on shore. It shifted during a volcano eruption in the 70s, and now is 40 meters offshore. We dove a wall also and went down to 30 meters, but didn't see the bottom.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gqleY0HuGk/Tcpo6xtI9WI/AAAAAAAABcI/-4YTsVd7HQo/s1600/Bali%2B025.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605408045200373090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gqleY0HuGk/Tcpo6xtI9WI/AAAAAAAABcI/-4YTsVd7HQo/s400/Bali%2B025.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">On the ride back, we stopped so that Welmoad and Michel, a very interesting couple from The Netherlands could buy a small sculpture made from black stone mined at volcanoes. Good souvenir. Allan is helping them pick it out.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HboKfmDecG0/Tcpow9o5QpI/AAAAAAAABcA/A8gUWzgWsss/s1600/Bali%2B031.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605407876605100690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HboKfmDecG0/Tcpow9o5QpI/AAAAAAAABcA/A8gUWzgWsss/s400/Bali%2B031.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We saw no other Americans in Indonesia (plenty of Australians), but English was spoken everywhere. Also on the dive trip, we met a British soldier and his wife, as well as a couple from Kazahkstan.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Above is a private Hindu Temple in Ubud. I don't think you can <em>own</em> a temple, but I suppose you can build one next to your house. On many corners, there are small temples where people make offerings twice daily. This country is full of small cardboard trays with rice and flowers.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I first saw these two men, I thought they were relaxing and chatting. They are in fact, hand stitching shoes. I bought three pair of shoes in Bali for under $20. Not each - three pair for under $20.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There were plenty of bargains to be had, but I never get to spend as much time as I need. Allan's an old fuddy-duddy, and he makes me stop before I've run out of money!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-362Jui1Es1A/TcpoUYqhyCI/AAAAAAAABbw/nTCgPRtDvXw/s1600/Bali%2B035.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605407385643501602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-362Jui1Es1A/TcpoUYqhyCI/AAAAAAAABbw/nTCgPRtDvXw/s400/Bali%2B035.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We found a open air restaurant, and stopped for a beer and a nosh. I just love the dress here. All the servers (male and female) wore sarong skirts. I have to have one. To go with my new Bali shoes, of course.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54roS-RNQTA/TcpoH0XIeRI/AAAAAAAABbo/sUkpSs4e3PI/s1600/Bali%2B037.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605407169740044562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54roS-RNQTA/TcpoH0XIeRI/AAAAAAAABbo/sUkpSs4e3PI/s320/Bali%2B037.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Bali is a poor country. The roads are full of potholes, the sidewalks are cracked, buildings are dilapidated, but I noticed that there were no old cars anywhere. All the cars on the road were very new. I suppose that very few people privately own cars, they ride motorcycles. Then we saw this - a 1963 Chevy Impala.<br /><br />We just had that one day in Ubud, but if you go to Bali, it's worth a little more time.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KrDDNVR8_Ow/TcpnzazcpFI/AAAAAAAABbg/74NjYZl_Ps8/s1600/Bali%2B041.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605406819282101330" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KrDDNVR8_Ow/TcpnzazcpFI/AAAAAAAABbg/74NjYZl_Ps8/s320/Bali%2B041.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Bali is 90% Hindu, so it's people are pacifists, unlike a lot of Indonesia, which has a larger Moslem population.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here Allan and I are with a performer from the Barong dance, based on a Hindu story about the struggle between good and evil. The play is performed every day at 9:00 AM, so you can stop by any day. The stands were packed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I'm happy to report that peace and order win out over chaos and evil. The band accompanied with drums and wooden flutes.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pNu-S147Gb4/TcpnnzVuHoI/AAAAAAAABbY/lONKwQOJmOE/s1600/Bali%2B042.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605406619709873794" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pNu-S147Gb4/TcpnnzVuHoI/AAAAAAAABbY/lONKwQOJmOE/s400/Bali%2B042.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> One of these (below) is the devil. Can you guess which?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After the show, we took a ride to the top of a volcano. During the ride we were pulled over by the police. We were warned that we might get stopped, but bribe money was ready. It's cheaper to pay a bribe than registration.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605264593475477138" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EY2C2dilQwI/TcnmcyYuHpI/AAAAAAAABbQ/8JbXGY4vTzQ/s400/Bali%2B045.JPG" />Close to the top, we stopped for a little roadside shopping overlooking more rice paddies. At the top, we had a buffet lunch with a great view.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605264478654134850" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pIo7Hg9DDlI/TcnmWGpLekI/AAAAAAAABbI/FeBLRg4UPc4/s400/Bali%2B054.JPG" />There's a lake at the far side of the volcano's center. We didn't get to ride over, or take the boat across. Katut, our driver said the road was worse than average and the boat was not running.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtgXMy-lIKU/Tcnl3204wsI/AAAAAAAABbA/TOaytgw8Szw/s1600/Bali%2B063.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605263959012197058" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtgXMy-lIKU/Tcnl3204wsI/AAAAAAAABbA/TOaytgw8Szw/s400/Bali%2B063.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> What better way to follow lunch than with some gourmet coffee? We did that at a coffee plantation.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql7dlQX6v0o/Tcnku3szzCI/AAAAAAAABaw/rCkKC7f4ASg/s1600/Bali%2B069.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605262705116302370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql7dlQX6v0o/Tcnku3szzCI/AAAAAAAABaw/rCkKC7f4ASg/s320/Bali%2B069.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Ah, now the end of the story... Jack finds out the process used for making his coffee. A small animal called a luwac ingests the bean. It is <em>marinated</em> in the animal's digestive system and then <em>released</em> covered in luwac poop.<br /><br />The beans are collected, cleaned and roasted in the traditional way, shown here.<br /><br />After a short tour, we were given a flight of coffees (hot chocolate for me). Allan tasted several varieties other than luwac, which we purchased as gifts. And yes, he paid $35 for 100 grams (about 4 ozs.) of luwac to try at the office.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It wasn't a big hit.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kehkbFOqDGo/TcnkEVuhYXI/AAAAAAAABao/P90dzn1cP0A/s1600/Bali%2B075.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605261974442172786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kehkbFOqDGo/TcnkEVuhYXI/AAAAAAAABao/P90dzn1cP0A/s320/Bali%2B075.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We stopped here at my insistence. I had to have a picture of the furniture at this shop. I'm sure this is where I lost my glasses.<br /><br />Most wooden items in Bali were carved deities, animals - mythical and otherwise, and oddly I thought, the male copulatory and urinary organ in a variety of sizes.<br /><br />Another stop put us at the beach, where locals had shops selling souvenir shirts, hats, more shoes and the usual tourist stuff.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">All that walking made us hungry.</span> </div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HtT1PqMPj30/TcnjnxjL0vI/AAAAAAAABaY/D1ieQ38mDaI/s1600/Bali%2B079.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605261483694609138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HtT1PqMPj30/TcnjnxjL0vI/AAAAAAAABaY/D1ieQ38mDaI/s400/Bali%2B079.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This was dinner out. I like the cuisine in Indonesia, the spices and flavorings. But I got really tired of fileting my own fish. I carefully separated the bones, but most bites I ended up with at least one in my mouth. But the drinks were good!<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnb-Wf0AWyM/TcnjdIEj46I/AAAAAAAABaQ/X7TwndldGiI/s1600/Bali%2B081.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605261300761617314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnb-Wf0AWyM/TcnjdIEj46I/AAAAAAAABaQ/X7TwndldGiI/s400/Bali%2B081.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> This is Taneh Lot, a temple built on rock about 100 meters off shore. During high tide, it's surrounded by water. We visited in the afternoon, during low tide, like all the tourists.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2pSsLC0tsBw/TcnjQG6v8YI/AAAAAAAABaI/P7XdMH9QrOE/s1600/Bali%2B091.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605261077113729410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2pSsLC0tsBw/TcnjQG6v8YI/AAAAAAAABaI/P7XdMH9QrOE/s400/Bali%2B091.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> To reach the temple, you pass dozens of... you guessed it, souvenir shops. We reached the Holy Spring, but people weren't touching the water, which surprised me a little. (Don't you need to touch it for affect?)<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ucr_V8GkDF4/TcnjEC3c77I/AAAAAAAABaA/t2-Ji9WGFuc/s1600/Bali%2B105.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605260869867728818" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ucr_V8GkDF4/TcnjEC3c77I/AAAAAAAABaA/t2-Ji9WGFuc/s400/Bali%2B105.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> We couldn't walk up these steps, but we walked pretty much around the structure. Then up some steps nearby for some rest and relaxation, and some people watching.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PC30VBFfI1I/TcnhmGKY-GI/AAAAAAAABZ4/J8gInmYX5PU/s1600/Bali%2B107.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605259255844763746" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PC30VBFfI1I/TcnhmGKY-GI/AAAAAAAABZ4/J8gInmYX5PU/s400/Bali%2B107.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> We stayed right here until sundown to get a nice shop of the temple with the sun setting behind it. And the beer (Bientang - the local brew) wasn't bad either.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuBflMy4ZCs/TcnhajEUXBI/AAAAAAAABZw/y0wZsNjEh2k/s1600/Bali%2B116.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605259057445493778" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuBflMy4ZCs/TcnhajEUXBI/AAAAAAAABZw/y0wZsNjEh2k/s400/Bali%2B116.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> These two were interesting - monk photographers. One spent a little time doing glamour shots for a western woman in jeans and a pink shirt. Allan and I had fun speculating about that threesome.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TAfEipj9Sc/TcnhKk1Bk9I/AAAAAAAABZo/ZFoyQjGZdQI/s1600/Bali%2B121.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605258783040312274" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TAfEipj9Sc/TcnhKk1Bk9I/AAAAAAAABZo/ZFoyQjGZdQI/s400/Bali%2B121.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Though we had most of our meals by the pool at the villa, we always have one dinner at a nice restaurant, so we ate outside at one called the Living Room.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn4ABp1tBus/Tcng_smn97I/AAAAAAAABZg/INleYwWiar4/s1600/Bali%2B126.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605258596148836274" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn4ABp1tBus/Tcng_smn97I/AAAAAAAABZg/INleYwWiar4/s400/Bali%2B126.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The last full day we did some horseback riding. Indonesian horses are a smaller breed than we're used to, but they didn't have any trouble carrying the two big Americans along the beach on the Java Sea.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P26CGhJkpBo/TcngyaOVUPI/AAAAAAAABZY/yxD6WN1jO5Y/s1600/Bali%2B136.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605258367876813042" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P26CGhJkpBo/TcngyaOVUPI/AAAAAAAABZY/yxD6WN1jO5Y/s400/Bali%2B136.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I had another massage the morning we left, this time with a body scrub and a bubble bath. It's a pretty great way to end a week in Bali. I could go back. Wanna come? </span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-54432294332876791252011-04-14T16:50:00.000-07:002011-04-28T23:00:53.052-07:00Takatori Yama<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today is our anniversary - 27 years. We've had some great fun and seen alot. We'll be heading to Bali in a few days. Good thing for us we both like to travel.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGDK3y8xKBo/TaY6G6aJN4I/AAAAAAAABZQ/dWf6qvGVGB4/s1600/Yama%2B01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595223477486958466" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGDK3y8xKBo/TaY6G6aJN4I/AAAAAAAABZQ/dWf6qvGVGB4/s400/Yama%2B01.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We live in Yokosuka, but our section of town is called Shonan Takatori, and the ground is primarily rock. A few days ago, we took a hike up Takatori Yama (Mount Takatori to you). My student and friend Kimiko Ito introduced me to the area which can be reached by climbing a set of steps (sound familiar) just a 5 minute walk from my house. </span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595223378223079218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypBSZqcY7Vc/TaY6BInynzI/AAAAAAAABZI/kywvJFdrBR4/s400/Yama%2B02.JPG" /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's cherry blossom season. The trees are covered with pink blossoms for ten days or so. They don't stay on the trees long, but are enjoyed tremendously while in bloom. </span><br /><p align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595222944277593650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eE7LnHql3Mo/TaY5n4DH_jI/AAAAAAAABY4/tPFGEYYB0co/s400/Yama%2B07.jpg" /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is a good hiking area, so we passed young mothers with toddlers, couples with backpacks, and even came across a few American guys grilling.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Since there's plenty of rock here, there are rock climbers. The average age of the climbers surprised me. They aren't teenagers and as many women as men were climbers and spotters, or whatever the correct term is for the guy handling the ropes.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYZNq3f7IXc/TaY5fTfYtdI/AAAAAAAABYw/lSEEU3ivkjQ/s1600/Yama%2B09.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595222797025064402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYZNq3f7IXc/TaY5fTfYtdI/AAAAAAAABYw/lSEEU3ivkjQ/s400/Yama%2B09.jpg" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's no accident that the rocks are flat vertically. They've been cut and the blocks used in foundations for houses.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The tower peaking out at the top of this photo is our destination. We will however, take a different route. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr5Pq66BqRQ/TaY5SP7osQI/AAAAAAAABYo/qRqlBqaVLSs/s1600/Yama%2B12.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595222572731511042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr5Pq66BqRQ/TaY5SP7osQI/AAAAAAAABYo/qRqlBqaVLSs/s400/Yama%2B12.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan loves to take photos wherever we go, and he's pretty good at getting the shot.</span></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ji0sqIV7uFw/TaY4E81JjfI/AAAAAAAABYY/D3bbm7UdFko/s1600/Yama%2B16.JPG"><br /><p></p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595221244754103794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ji0sqIV7uFw/TaY4E81JjfI/AAAAAAAABYY/D3bbm7UdFko/s400/Yama%2B16.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We made it to the top. You can see Mt. Fuji from here, IF the skies are clear, which they weren't this day.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-796hIA2HD9U/TaY3aM2Yr8I/AAAAAAAABYA/FJcvUlXNPg8/s1600/Yama%2B15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 348px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595220510319882178" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-796hIA2HD9U/TaY3aM2Yr8I/AAAAAAAABYA/FJcvUlXNPg8/s400/Yama%2B15.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The first two photos are of a rock carving of a Buddhist deity. Here it is from the observation tower. It's a kannon, which is neither a he or a she.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_FHzydOvlI/TaY3BzxQBMI/AAAAAAAABXw/0pTiBeVw8Qk/s1600/Yama%2B22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595220091270595778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_FHzydOvlI/TaY3BzxQBMI/AAAAAAAABXw/0pTiBeVw8Qk/s400/Yama%2B22.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">These last two carvings or paintings are ones I can't identify, but definitely religious. Actually, we would call these friezes.</span></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSPAGu_zSiQ/TaY254bFOJI/AAAAAAAABXo/7OAAuzbFq1Y/s1600/Yama%2B30.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595219955080837266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSPAGu_zSiQ/TaY254bFOJI/AAAAAAAABXo/7OAAuzbFq1Y/s400/Yama%2B30.jpg" /></span></a>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-71802515317949300732011-04-04T00:33:00.000-07:002011-06-02T03:29:20.531-07:00Almost Normal<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Twenty-four days after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami and nuclear reactor meltdowns, things are fairly normal again. Well, normal for Japan. Train service is limited, stores are dimly lit and have shorter hours, and many areas have rolling brownouts (to conserve electricity). We have not had any loss of power since the beginning.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ye_JKQFBLjg/TZrxLmhHiqI/AAAAAAAABXg/frieaDCYlVo/s1600/020.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592047068954200738" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ye_JKQFBLjg/TZrxLmhHiqI/AAAAAAAABXg/frieaDCYlVo/s320/020.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">March 17th marked our halfway point in Japan. Allan's contract ends Sept. 16, 2012, but we may stick around a little longer to see if another position opens up. What do you think about Italy or Spain?</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Everyone should travel abroad. You never know what you'll see... like a monk on a corner. Or what you'll learn about the culture. March 3rd is Hina Matsuri (festival for girls). There's a festival for boys as well on May 5th. No mother's, father's or secretary's day, but two celebration days for children. </span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">For girls' festival, Hina ningyo (doll) is displayed and the house is decorated, although I'm not sure what that entails.</span> </div><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBxvw_D-8dg/TZrxFiMxOWI/AAAAAAAABXY/5Z5A3Uf7s_c/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592046964715895138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBxvw_D-8dg/TZrxFiMxOWI/AAAAAAAABXY/5Z5A3Uf7s_c/s400/001.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The decorations are promptly removed at the end of the celebration, else the daughter may not marry. I can't explain chocolate rabbits for Easter, so don't expect me to explain this.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:0;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592046864901634402" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0Yf2wY-N7c/TZrw_uXMeWI/AAAAAAAABXQ/14lpXEN6v2Q/s320/025.jpg" /></span>I've said before, students wear uniforms through high school. And colleges have some dress restrictions as well. This was last Sunday when Allan and I went to Kamakura on the train. These girls may have been to <em>cram school</em>, or something like Sylvan, private tutoring. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">They study English and one other language, with Japanese teachers who usually cannot pronounce many English words correctly. Then when the students try to communicate with westerners, it's next to impossible.</span><span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5mKIcSV3pkA/TZrw24H-67I/AAAAAAAABXI/x6dsAqIFxog/s1600/031.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592046712903363506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5mKIcSV3pkA/TZrw24H-67I/AAAAAAAABXI/x6dsAqIFxog/s400/031.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwUKL_13xyE/TZrwtbMqN_I/AAAAAAAABXA/PHHQoTrDAIs/s1600/034.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592046550519527410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwUKL_13xyE/TZrwtbMqN_I/AAAAAAAABXA/PHHQoTrDAIs/s320/034.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Japan is a cash society. I pay our electric, water and gas bills at the 7-11, and the phone bill is paid at the business office, which is close to base. As far as the rent, I walk to the agent's office every month with 290,000 yen in cash. That's a lot in any currency.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Speaking of the house, some houses are built in strange places, like this one over a tunnel or on such a steep hill there is no vehicle access. You can only reach it by foot, and it's usually quite a climb. Would you want to lug a stroller up those steps? </span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591329311660960290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inXs-MlOt_o/TZhkYoPH6iI/AAAAAAAABV4/wijbECw8Qlw/s320/023.JPG" />Here's my washer/dryer. They hold 1/2 of what yours do. The washer has no hot water, so Allan devised this hose from the sink using a waterbed attachment. It takes about 4 hours for the average load to dry, so I partially dry my laundry outside, then finish in the dryer. It's a bit of an inconvenience, but it's the price we pay.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's a common site on a sunny day. The Japanese say mother is always busy when the sun shines.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JhnhaLZNWvw/TZhkSP_KcFI/AAAAAAAABVw/RY39e6cMU2k/s1600/024.jpg"></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591329202072350802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JhnhaLZNWvw/TZhkSP_KcFI/AAAAAAAABVw/RY39e6cMU2k/s400/024.jpg" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tubs are for soaking after you've showered, and the water recirculates through a heater, so no soap in the tub. Nothing browns in the oven, which turns off when it's open. <span style="font-family:georgia;">Sometimes it</span> will come back with the start button, but most times you cancel and reset it. If you have an oven, it's very small, but everyone has a fish grill.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591328718352111602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcmnuHsluaQ/TZhj2F_RV_I/AAAAAAAABVo/_rpo4OlBM2I/s320/IMG%2B035.jpg" />Houses have shutters, which are traditionally closed every night, but most are only closed when the house is empty or during very bad weather. My student Kimiko was shocked to see my shutters open when I was away for a week. Oops!</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not all rooms are air conditioned. We have a unit in each bedroom and two in our main room. We keep that door closed. </span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Your mailbox is public domain. Anyone who wants can stick something in your mailbox. So I guess it's not a federal offense to take something out. I wish someone would take my junk mail, please.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">In Japan, we drive on the left, and people are very cordial. If you're driving on a 4-lane road and you need to stop, just pull to the left and take care of whatever. People will go around you without shouting obscenities, honking, or giving you the finger. </span><br /><br /></p><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl8O2BJ8dcs/TZgkpjWXyXI/AAAAAAAABVY/nZpmov8Ui20/s1600/006.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591259233662781810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl8O2BJ8dcs/TZgkpjWXyXI/AAAAAAAABVY/nZpmov8Ui20/s200/006.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's okay to slurp your soup. I don't think parents insist their kids slurp, but it's very normal to make noise. You can inhale over food, but don't blow on it. The rule is; in is good, out is bad. So don't blow your nose. You <em>can</em> smoke in a restaurant, but not on the street. Why? Because restaurants have ashtrays, so it's more about cleanliness than health. If you can find one of these, feel free to stand next to it and smoke. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jYAt1XW0f-g/TZgj6ewMwnI/AAAAAAAABVI/ul9PD_BnlbE/s1600/003.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591258424975082098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jYAt1XW0f-g/TZgj6ewMwnI/AAAAAAAABVI/ul9PD_BnlbE/s320/003.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Shoes that tie also have zippers. If you remove your shoes whenever you go into a residence and some restaurants, it's just easier. </span></div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCUwv1XFVJ0/TZgjxOuc3zI/AAAAAAAABVA/uv9SSEFFC7U/s1600/002.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 211px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591258266053959474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCUwv1XFVJ0/TZgjxOuc3zI/AAAAAAAABVA/uv9SSEFFC7U/s200/002.JPG" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The</span> only sign for the girls' department in this Japanese store is in English. That's just weird. Signs are usually in Japanese first and English second. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">This really isn't the <em>paper bag</em> section, but close counts and it's like a puzzle figuring out what a sign means. This one is easy, but some, you never get.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591258019610905522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wOd8O85rJB8/TZgji4p2S7I/AAAAAAAABU4/uIGizDMXel4/s400/022.JPG" /></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Handicapped and elderly people are accommodated on public transportation. A person in a wheelchair will get assistance from the driver, who will stop the bus, pull out a ramp and after folding seats to make room, wheel the rider onto the bus. He finds out the person's stop and does the reverse at that point. Any healthy rider will give up a seat to an elderly person or pregnant woman, or just someone who seems to be having difficulty.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JvqWD0JXYsc/TZgjUTl7KPI/AAAAAAAABUw/LHHT9-LK800/s1600/Sweat.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591257769144166642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JvqWD0JXYsc/TZgjUTl7KPI/AAAAAAAABUw/LHHT9-LK800/s200/Sweat.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">A student gave me a 'Japanese towel' that I keep in my purse. It's smaller than a washcloth. Since public restrooms don't always have papertowels or dryers, they're pretty handy to have. I've needed it more than once.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you want cream or a substitute for your coffee, you might get a product named 'creepy, so you can have creepy coffee or you could just drink sweat. Brian had this one. I must say '<strong>eeuw</strong>'. </span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591257548954107602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXjaD54xi1A/TZgjHfUhftI/AAAAAAAABUo/XdaGsOeJeBQ/s320/004.JPG" />Speaking of creepy, most alleys aren't. Lots of good restaurants and shops can be found in alleys.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I walked down my first alley in Yokosuka (it was nighttime), I admit, it was with some trepidation, but now I cruise along like I'm on a national park trail.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This alley leads to our favorite restaurant, Watami. It's an izakaya, a bar that has food. It's like tapas, small plates so you buy lots of different dishes. </span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxviow5tUTU/TZgjAvw3s_I/AAAAAAAABUg/pYiiNT2DsYg/s1600/005.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591257433108886514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxviow5tUTU/TZgjAvw3s_I/AAAAAAAABUg/pYiiNT2DsYg/s320/005.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">And sometimes you find a yakitori stand. Yaki means grilled and tori means chicken. This booth has grilled chicken skin, chicken cartilage, pork heart, pork liver, pork tail (again <strong>eeuw!</strong>) and probably some beef.</span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I've tried many new things here, but I draw the line at standing in an alley eating only meat. Give me tablecloths and a nice bottle of Italian red. Yeah, that's the ticket.</span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-54708976874369315322011-03-19T23:44:00.000-07:002011-04-03T01:11:00.194-07:00No nukes is good nukes<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have you seen tee shirt that says "I'm with the bomb squad. If you see me running, try to keep up"?</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We've had loads of e-mails and phone calls over the last 10 days. People here and in the states are worried, especially about radiation coming off the Fukushima power plant. My husband is a public health expert. When I see him running, I'll keep up.</span> </div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOw_anLv0JI/TYWiTP6R-0I/AAAAAAAABUY/1F5rwuZThPU/s1600/JapanMap"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586049364395162434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOw_anLv0JI/TYWiTP6R-0I/AAAAAAAABUY/1F5rwuZThPU/s400/JapanMap" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's a map of Japan (sans Okinawa) that shows all the U.S. facilities and the epicenter of the quake. Yokosuka is south of Tokyo and 176 miles from Fukushima.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today, we heard the first stories of food contamination. I know the military can easily arrange food shipments from the states, so still, I'm not concerned. However, I am staying prepared for evacuation, as instructed. I am doing laundry daily, we are not buying perishables or any other foods, since our freezer is fully stocked, and our bags are packed. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Word from Fukushima is encouraging, but in the long term, I suppose it's anyone's guess. Our friends are leaving or sending their children stateside. Word has gone out that the school year would continue, but more than one of our friends have already gone because school was <em>closed until further notice</em>.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">While I was sweating in the cardio room this morning at 7:20, an attendant came in to announce that the gym would be secured in 10 minutes. I had that much time to shower, dress, pack up my clothes and get out. Speculation around Allan's office was that it may be used for processing the hordes who would be evacuating.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">According to Stars 'n' Stripes, 4083 dependents have signed up for travel assistance. That doesn't include people who took commercial flights. Over in the building where I teach English on Monday, it's business as usual. But the base population has diminished. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tonight we had dinner with friends. It's a department custom to celebrate the completion of a large project with a beer after work. Allan finished the <em>Ship Repair Facility</em> report. He did the survey last June and finished the report Friday. A beer just wouldn't do, so we went to Watami, our favorite restaurant.</span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-71299179086227673472011-03-18T00:03:00.000-07:002011-03-18T12:40:09.343-07:00Possible mandatory evacuation for Americans<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">On March 17th, the Dept. of Defense published information that they will assist in <em>voluntary</em> evacuation of military and civilian families from Japan. This would begin within 24 hours.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>><br /></span>People will likely be moved to Korea, where they will be processed and await transportation to the states. Some, like our friend Chris are leaving from Narita on commercial flights, but we will remain here unless the situation takes a sharp turn.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Efforts to cool the reactors have been ongoing since the plant was damaged by the tsunami. What has not been said is how much progress has been made. After 7 days, perhaps the best case scenerio has not been realized, but has there been any progress? I don't know.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today, Friday, March 18th at 7:30 am, Allan attended a department meeting where the possibility of <em>mandatory</em> evacuation was announced. We spent the day gathering information and filling out forms. We aren't expecting it to happen, but if the decision is made, it may happen this weekend, and we will get a call and report to base with the correct documentation and our limit of luggage.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Around base and in town, restaurants and stores are limiting hours in an effort to reduce power usage. We have been expecting brownouts at home, but so far, it hasn't happened.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The D.O.D. school year has been called, as of March 17th. Grades accumulated to date will be final. Our friend Karen is taking her son to Ohio to finish his junior and senior year.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Those who will not be evacuating, namely the Japanese, are handling things well. The radiation threat is monopolizing the news, but the rescue efforts and the rebuilding are still very important.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our only chore now is to watch and wait. </span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-51538733235533264962011-03-16T02:24:00.000-07:002011-03-16T22:50:26.416-07:00Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Day six of disaster watch in Japan.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This earthquake produced 464 aftershocks in the first 4 days.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is the big issue. Allan is not overly concerned right now, but I'm not making any promises. We have CNN, so alot of our information is exactly what you can see in the U.S. The difference being that <em>you</em> also have Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, so you might know more than me.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We have received a message from the U.S. Ambassador. The nuclear situation is being</span> monitored, etc.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Locally, the trains schedules are limited, which is a great hardship. Allan's friend Takagi-san waited until 10 am or so for the train to leave Yokohama. He was a bit late for work. Gas is an issue. I'm not sure if there is a shortage, or if people are just being cautious, but yesterday Allan and I passed a line of 37 cars waiting at a station. But the Japanese take it in stride.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Businesses are using reduced lighting, and it's kinda nice, the glare is missing. Grocery stores have empty shelves, so we're happy to have a fully-stocked kitchen.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan's work is not affected, but I've had a few cancellations in English classes. My only male student, Ichiro told me today that his son was in Sendai City during the earthquake. He was able to send a text and received a return text from his son saying that he was fine. He was not on the coast, so was away from the tsunami area. Whew...</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We might limit our movement for a few weekends - gas shortage, reduced train schedules, radiation exposure, all that stuff. But it's not too bad. I finally got my birthday dinner last night at the Officers' Club. It was Mongolian Buffet with a game. Fill a bowl with raw meats and vegetables, then guess the priced at 75 cents per 28 grams (28 GRAMS!!! could they make it more complicated)? If you come within 5 cents of the total, your dinner is free. Guess who had a free birthday dinner! Then, since Tuesday is $1 movie night and we saw 'Green Hornet'. What were those guys thinking?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">BTW: tomorrow is our half-way mark. We've been in Japan for 18 months. Can you believe it? If you're planning to visit, times a runnin' out. We're looking for a new post now, so who knows where we'll land? Keep watching.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, how's everything with you?</span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-44892943890795341362011-03-13T16:49:00.000-07:002011-05-31T18:15:58.121-07:00Whole lotta shakin' going on<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">At shortly before 3 pm last Friday, yes - March 11th, my birthday, a fault line off the coast of Northern Japan shifted causing an 9.0 magnitude earthquake (jishin). Shortly afterward, as the epicenter was in the Pacific, a tidal wave (tsunami) hit the coast. Three hundred miles away, the quake was felt by Allan and me. He was in his office and I was at the base library on the first floor of a 4 story building. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Quakes are common enough in Japan that I went about my business for a while. Once it reached the 30 second mark, I thought I might go outside and wait it out. I was joined by a crowd of others. During the 7-8 minutes that the tremor lasted, most of us agreed this was the largest tremor we had experienced. Some of those people have been in Japan for more than 20 years. </div></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Back in the library, about 25 minutes after the first tremor, we felt what I hoped was an aftershock (yoshin), and not a separate quake. Outside again, one of the men from the building told us there had been a tsunami, but we did not anticipate the depth of destruction that was taking place while we stood on the sidewalk. The wave was over 20 feet high in some areas and came ashore for 2-3 kilometers.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There was a short third tremor shortly after the second subsided. About 40-60 minutes had passed. By 4 pm, things were being shut down around the base, especially along the perimeter by Tokyo Bay. Allan and I had plans for a birthday dinner, but we could easily postpone that. Since the trains and buses had been shut down for the night, we offered to take a friend home. He lives in Yokohama and depends on the train, as do thousands of others<br /></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Since a local elevated highway was closed as well, there was gridlock on local roads and hundreds of people filling the sidewalks. Three hours later, we arrived home, our friend decided to walk rather than have us continue to Yokohama, as it would take around the same time either way.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Luckily, we had electricity when we arrived home and there was no damage.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We have been watching CNNj (j for Japan). But there is no local tv news in English, so we were unable to find out how Yokosuka would be affected. The following day, we cancelled plans to go to Kamakura, which is a cute town close by with shops, restaurants and beautiful cherry blossom trees. Winter is ending, and we were anxious to get out, but that can wait. We didn't know what was happening with the trains.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Knowing that family and friends would be waking up soon, we tried to send an email that night, but were unable to phone or get a message out. I woke up early on Saturday and put together a short message.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Train service has not been fully restored, and shops and restaurants are limiting hours or staying closed. Several of my students cancelled classes, since there is a shortage of gas, and very long lines at the stations. Today, a schedule of blackouts was made public. We are scheduled to be without power twice today for a total of about 5 hours. It is necessary, since five nuclear reactors have been shut down. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A plant in Fukushima had a partial meltdown Saturday and a 2nd today, but emergency measures have been taken since the beginning. One hundred, seventy thousand people were evacuated within a 15 mile radius of the plant. If I were in the area where something like this is happening, I would want the Japanese handling it. They are by nature very cautious, not likely to cut corners where safety is concerned.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan and I are well and safe. The Navy has deployed (moved) several of the ships located at Yokosuka to the affected area. Japan will recover. Volunteers from 45 countries are helping with the effort.</span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-44597780147168204842011-02-15T03:28:00.000-08:002011-03-02T15:43:02.674-08:00Diego Garcia isn't a Spaniard<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2gTf2wZMnWU/TWeZW3qCzxI/AAAAAAAABUQ/dQbCfW0UB2E/s1600/Footprint.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577595281698115346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2gTf2wZMnWU/TWeZW3qCzxI/AAAAAAAABUQ/dQbCfW0UB2E/s400/Footprint.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">After traveling to, and hiking around Singapore for 3 days, finally, I could sleep late. Liz had to get up early to catch her flight back to Japan. My flight leaving Singapore was at 2 pm, while hers was 7:30 am.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">The flight to</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kC6GV8EtRvA/TWeZRvr9QuI/AAAAAAAABUI/CmxuL6FPtBU/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577595193659310818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kC6GV8EtRvA/TWeZRvr9QuI/AAAAAAAABUI/CmxuL6FPtBU/s200/IMG_1973.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Diego Garcia was on a DC8. This is an old plane that is in frequent need of repair.<br /><br />Diego Garcia is an atoll (coral reef surrounding a lagoon) 7 degrees south of the equator. It's 42 miles long if you follow the strip of land around. It's a <em>British Indian Ocean Territory</em> or B.I.O.T. You'll see those letters on a sign further down.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8tnwt7DKeU/TWeZK5OUj3I/AAAAAAAABUA/zS4FSTgEnfw/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577595075960278898" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8tnwt7DKeU/TWeZK5OUj3I/AAAAAAAABUA/zS4FSTgEnfw/s400/IMG_1944.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The island is very tropical with thousands of coconut palms, coconut crabs, donkeys, lots of birds and no snakes or poisonous animals or insects.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></p><p align="justify"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6sQzAEtdXo/TWeZEKXTYPI/AAAAAAAABT4/zfhYmQo-NYY/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577594960302268658" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6sQzAEtdXo/TWeZEKXTYPI/AAAAAAAABT4/zfhYmQo-NYY/s400/IMG_1932.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">There are about 2500 people on the island, 2000 Filipinos, 400 Americans and only about 40 British. </span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Since I found I was going to Diego Garcia, I was curious why it was named like a Spanish sailor. The island previously had a coconut plantation, managed by Diego Garcia. And the donkeys, which were probably used on the plantation, are protected by the British. </span></p><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FT-_a0LLv3o/TWeX3RLPTmI/AAAAAAAABTw/trtME06fJzQ/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577593639280791138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FT-_a0LLv3o/TWeX3RLPTmI/AAAAAAAABTw/trtME06fJzQ/s400/IMG_2004.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I made a lot of friends and enjoyed lots of Filipino food, including pancet (like pasta) and lumpia (a sort of eggroll with fish).</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577593530439410834" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d1fZVZc4eok/TWeXw7tbpJI/AAAAAAAABTo/9Yc-pqoUP5U/s400/IMG_1977.JPG" /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's the highpoint of the island, the pool (above), six feet above sea level. Below, are my host Dave, his friends Ray and Nani, who was the lumpia chef, and me on the left.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W03DQlLQLQQ/TWeXcb-3xRI/AAAAAAAABTg/AT-ZZL83-p4/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577593178325239058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W03DQlLQLQQ/TWeXcb-3xRI/AAAAAAAABTg/AT-ZZL83-p4/s400/IMG_1972.JPG" /> </a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WM3aaEOrx7U/TWeW5e6aoaI/AAAAAAAABTY/-32ZQgaqpy4/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 218px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577592577816437154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WM3aaEOrx7U/TWeW5e6aoaI/AAAAAAAABTY/-32ZQgaqpy4/s200/IMG_1900.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> We went deep-sea fishing on Saturday and had a blast. It was my first fishing trip in the Indian Ocean. We made a good catch and cooked most of it for dinner. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I caught this wahoo, 3 grouper and a few snapper. Transportation for our catch is a wheelbarrow.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">> </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rRAsYDUSHEs/TWeWy-wCNdI/AAAAAAAABTQ/tjWzO81wA7A/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 189px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577592466103743954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rRAsYDUSHEs/TWeWy-wCNdI/AAAAAAAABTQ/tjWzO81wA7A/s200/IMG_1911.JPG" /></span></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yxi-_-dzZUg/TWeWuJFOvfI/AAAAAAAABTI/2Y0lwiUrouY/s1600/IMG_1925.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 207px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577592382977654258" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yxi-_-dzZUg/TWeWuJFOvfI/AAAAAAAABTI/2Y0lwiUrouY/s200/IMG_1925.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">><br />><br />><br />><br />><br />><br />><br />><br /></span>We played golf on Sunday and had a picnic afterwards near the ruins of the old plantation house.</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzPbS-1BphY/TWeWmxkLImI/AAAAAAAABTA/2A3hYns_JGU/s1600/IMG_1929.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 222px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577592256405906018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzPbS-1BphY/TWeWmxkLImI/AAAAAAAABTA/2A3hYns_JGU/s200/IMG_1929.JPG" /></span></a></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I looked around the ruins. It's too bad the island is off-limits to anyone not working for the British or U.S. government. It would be a nice quiet family vacation spot.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I arrived on the island on Monday evening. At lunch on Tuesday, a dive instructor overheard my conversation about wanting to dive. Jason offered some of his gear and I made a dive in the lagoon on Thursday after work (mostly to get my buoyancy adjusted). </span></p><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EWoDO_2MGg/TWeWaa-F8CI/AAAAAAAABS4/wztIVzMtwzU/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577592044182171682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EWoDO_2MGg/TWeWaa-F8CI/AAAAAAAABS4/wztIVzMtwzU/s400/IMG_1993.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I went diving in the Indian Ocean (again a first) after work on Friday. We were in about 10-15 feet of water when we spotted a shark, who you will see in a video at the bottom of this posting. </span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's a coconut crab. They hide in the bottoms of trees and obviously like to climb.</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsv_QaINMAk/TWeVzqvbdvI/AAAAAAAABSw/yLk0okFsOos/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577591378400737010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsv_QaINMAk/TWeVzqvbdvI/AAAAAAAABSw/yLk0okFsOos/s400/IMG_1934.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">The turtle is in the lagoon, where I did a short dive Thursday. Water's pretty clear, isn't it?<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eShHf-4slmE/TWeUwAM56JI/AAAAAAAABSo/zxLHIRtlXOY/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577590215930407058" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eShHf-4slmE/TWeUwAM56JI/AAAAAAAABSo/zxLHIRtlXOY/s400/IMG_1965.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Jason photographed this lobster (very unusual color) and the video of the shark.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C62XO3NTg3Q/TWeUS8Jk35I/AAAAAAAABSY/8zo02yOoLCs/s1600/PICT0006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577589716626497426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C62XO3NTg3Q/TWeUS8Jk35I/AAAAAAAABSY/8zo02yOoLCs/s400/PICT0006.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I played in a golf tournament on the island with Dave, Ray and Mr. Kim. I played terrible but considering the course, I had fun. The fairways are on limestone (think coral atoll) and one of my shots hit in the middle of the fairway took a 30 foot bounce and flew the green, a tiny carpet covered green.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N52e8xZvbBU/TWeTEVnmfkI/AAAAAAAABSI/VMKw7oClRfU/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577588366253653570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N52e8xZvbBU/TWeTEVnmfkI/AAAAAAAABSI/VMKw7oClRfU/s400/IMG_1974.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> This sign is in front of the ship's store, so called because it's a navy store. As you can see, the island is pretty far from everywhere. And who knows where St. Cloud, Florida is anyway?</span><br /></p><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Upkik5-bROk/TWeSvxCAxAI/AAAAAAAABSA/hXJaXInLgEw/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577588012834931714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Upkik5-bROk/TWeSvxCAxAI/AAAAAAAABSA/hXJaXInLgEw/s400/IMG_1983.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">As promised, here's a video taken by Jason, the dive instructor. We were in about 10-15 feet of water and the shark was just checking out the unusual fish (us). The remora attached to the shark is about 2 feet long, making the shark about 8-9 feet. In the video you'll notice a lot of tropical fish, a large snapper towards the middle of the video on the bottom, and near the end of the video, far in the distance some dark objects (these are large grouper).<br /></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzx5KxrQa7ftREeZwhek7h0cn_j30g_WiWIsiwpDekTdko3Au4XD_PE7-7EJ9t6gelw14ETb4Eh1kzNhzY0xA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">My flight was delayed because of mechanical issues, so I caught a C17 back to Japan. If you do not know what it's like to fly 13 hours on a cargo plane you don't know what you're missing!! It was loud, uncomfortable, cold and long (really long). And who makes these flight arrangement? I left a 1:00 am!I made it back to Yokota Air Base and Liz met me. A shower, dinner and some sleep was all I needed to get back to my happy old self. Thank you Liz for being there when I needed you. You're the best.</span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-75487675688452238042011-01-31T04:50:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:01:42.012-08:00My Singapore Weekend<div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XEuuI3bOXY/TVeqsn9ynmI/AAAAAAAABR4/eG90DDm0Tbo/s1600/Singapore%2B001.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573110747513396834" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XEuuI3bOXY/TVeqsn9ynmI/AAAAAAAABR4/eG90DDm0Tbo/s320/Singapore%2B001.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I love vacations. Who doesn't? But lately it seems like mine always start in the middle of the night. Here's Allan loading luggage into a taxi a few minutes before 6 am. </span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan and I spent last weekend in Singapore, as he was on his way to Diego Garcia, an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. You could Google it, but Allan will be posting his adventures pretty soon.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573110595354094626" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GpFcgILGIxQ/TVeqjxIL7CI/AAAAAAAABRw/557y_dOTUuU/s400/Singapore%2B072.JPG" /> It was a full travel day. Allan bought my ticket and requested, but didn't get,</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> that flight for himself. His ticket was purchased by the DOD. So we met up at the Singapore airport. On the drive to the hotel, we saw this structure.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>> </span></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I first saw it, I thought there was an iguana on top. Well, considering... tropical Asian harbor city, pointy front, so iguana.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Well, the architecture in this part of the world is certainly interesting. Did you see my Hong Kong blog? </span></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The next day, I got a view from another angle and voila - it's a ship.<br /><br />I've been told that this is a hotel and that the 'ship' on top is where the pool is located.</span> </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573109736413397698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcSyQtMAhWs/TVepxxUxAsI/AAAAAAAABRY/OxSvO_NeUs0/s400/Singapore%2B068.JPG" /> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Singapore is tropical, (85 miles north of the equator) and very inter- national. You can see that before you leave the airport. There are four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil (an Indian dialect). It's also very clean. You get fined for chewing gum, littering, smoking, and a host of other infractions. AND... the immigration form has this printed statement</span>: </span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">WARNING</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS UNDER SINGAPORE LAW</span> </span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573109618317433058" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2aOrKl0XL4/TVepq5YfmOI/AAAAAAAABRQ/HHo4007968w/s400/Singapore%2B077.JPG" /> <p align="justify"></span>Since we arrived late in the day, we took a walk to look for food. Word is Singapore is great for 2 things - shopping and eating. I happen to have a very cordial relationship with Asian cuisine, and our first meal was Thai food. I ordered a cellophane noodle salad, which was hot - temperature hot and spicy hot. We had several other plates and didn't leave any evidence as to their contents.<br /></p><p align="justify">Returning to the hotel, we stopped at the open air stage (above) to listen to Greek music.</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573109468226380786" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-B1N-9ObCs/TVepiKP_4_I/AAAAAAAABRI/Y-iQEqR_0rI/s400/Singapore%2B076.JPG" /><br /><p align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We got a late start Saturday, because vacation or not, I am not a morning person. We walked toward Chinatown, started to get our bearings and I got hungry. Allan likes to plan everything, as in: <em>"let's check out this area and then go over there and maybe we'll see a place for lunch".</em> Yeah, like that will work. When I'm hungry, we eat. </span><br /></p><p align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573109363570773186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBNI-z35lrc/TVepcEYKDMI/AAAAAAAABRA/YsYd4YIjAcw/s400/Singapore%2B081.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> After a quick stop for fish 'n' chips, we ended up in the Arabic section, which turned out well. I wished that I had a prom to attend, because I saw incredible beaded fabrics that would have made a great dress. I couldn't resist altogether, so I bought one of the plainest pieces I could find and I intend to make a sundress. There were great shops for rugs, and we found one we wanted. There was some haggling and we left with our purchase folded and packaged. </span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573109252712261298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VuICloY9ZHo/TVepVnZbZrI/AAAAAAAABQ4/Tb4cbQR75L0/s400/Singapore%2B022.JPG" /> <p align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan saw a sign for scents and aromatherapy items, and insisted we stop. The walls of the shop were lined with bottles. You had only to describe the scent you wanted, floral, spicy, musky, earthy, and a bottle was chosen for you to try. Then you custom mix your fragrance. My nose overdosed, so I took unmixed scents, one mildly floral and one spiced.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04G-bVC8qCI/TVen_ZMCsoI/AAAAAAAABQg/R-dMwdAJpG0/s1600/Singapore%2B020.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573107771429270146" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04G-bVC8qCI/TVen_ZMCsoI/AAAAAAAABQg/R-dMwdAJpG0/s320/Singapore%2B020.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our shopping ended earlier that I liked. We walked for hours and had the rug to schlep back to the hotel, as well as the fabric and perfumes. I asked about shipping the rug home, but the guy at the shop convinced me I could carry it, which I did, all the way to Yokosuka.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">The airports here supply luggage carts without a fee, so it wasn't a problem until I reached base. Once at base I had to get it to the train station, then home.</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After some down time, we went to Raffles Hotel with the purpose of having a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, where it was created in 1915. You learn all kinds of stuff right here. </span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The bar was filled with people who didn't mind the price of 25 Singapore dollars (about US$20) for a overly sweet concoction that was created specifically for ladies. No self-respecting 1920s male would have been caught having this feminine drink. It did <em>not</em> appear to be an issue in 2011.</span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573107624622331010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAPab-9JHYI/TVen22SilII/AAAAAAAABQY/hz4sDhyJgFU/s400/Singapore%2B060.JPG" /> <p align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">It rained all day Sunday, so we stuck to the indoor malls, rather than the boutique stores. And look who's <em>also</em> famous in Singapore. We also passed Body Shop, Starbuck's, and a few familiar fast food spots. McDonald's is everywhere but what it's doing in Singapore is anyone's guess.</span></p><p align="justify"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBW9hldToBk/TVenq2-rE0I/AAAAAAAABQQ/F69udnBIKL4/s1600/Singapore%2B084.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573107418649006914" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBW9hldToBk/TVenq2-rE0I/AAAAAAAABQQ/F69udnBIKL4/s320/Singapore%2B084.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I had to take this photo. You're expecting moyel jokes, even this spelling. No, I leave it to you - say what you will.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There's a Japanese restaurant in Lakeland called Shin-getsu. That could mean <em>big breasts</em> or <em>proctologist</em> for all you know. Nah... it means <em>new moon</em>.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xR_4_SiI9e0/TVendMeNsrI/AAAAAAAABQI/G807MDYXRFg/s1600/Singapore%2B059.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573107183900275378" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xR_4_SiI9e0/TVendMeNsrI/AAAAAAAABQI/G807MDYXRFg/s320/Singapore%2B059.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's Singapore's version of the 'food court'. Sunday, I chose Japanese for lunch. Allan said it was odd to buy Japanese food in Singapore, since we live in Japan. Not so much. We eat Chinese, Korean and Indian food routinely in Japan, so why not eat Japanese food here?<br /><br />It was decorated with wallpaper that looked like leather bound classic novels in some British Lord's private library. You can see it along the top of the wall below.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPyNKABKtz4/TVenGR9IH8I/AAAAAAAABQA/FQAq7iD4CGM/s1600/Singapore%2B029.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573106790235119554" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPyNKABKtz4/TVenGR9IH8I/AAAAAAAABQA/FQAq7iD4CGM/s400/Singapore%2B029.JPG" /></span></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Otherwise, it was Asian fast food. Everything looked good. We stopped here another time for some dim sum which you could buy on small plates, one or two pieces. It was close to the hotel, and we wanted something light.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_oWY4C0s_w/TVem4KAur5I/AAAAAAAABPw/Mpucnh1gRg8/s1600/Singapore%2B073.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573106547584577426" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_oWY4C0s_w/TVem4KAur5I/AAAAAAAABPw/Mpucnh1gRg8/s200/Singapore%2B073.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you care to, you can dine on stingray.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's not all raw fish and rice here. We didn't try the stingray, maybe another time, but probably not. </span></p><p align="justify"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uz1tIkptiGc/TVemhTiMR7I/AAAAAAAABPo/dt_wqGh6rwk/s1600/Singapore%2B051.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573106155003856818" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uz1tIkptiGc/TVemhTiMR7I/AAAAAAAABPo/dt_wqGh6rwk/s320/Singapore%2B051.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Signs are commonly printed in English and Chinese, depending on the area of town. This sign is more interesting because of it's content rather than it's language. We didn't hear harmonica music. That would have been interesting. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Chinatown is the same everywhere. Red is the color of the torii, the gate leading to a Shinto Shrine, and I think the entrance to every Chinatown on the planet is decorated with a red gate.<br /></p></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F00B-sBxK9I/TVemUsO2vpI/AAAAAAAABPg/ouZSl1rzxng/s1600/Singapore%2B044.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573105938295340690" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F00B-sBxK9I/TVemUsO2vpI/AAAAAAAABPg/ouZSl1rzxng/s400/Singapore%2B044.JPG" /> </span></a><p align="justify"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GplNszdtzvc/TVelaraMCTI/AAAAAAAABPI/3F_7l98_p04/s1600/Singapore%2B004.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573104941642025266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GplNszdtzvc/TVelaraMCTI/AAAAAAAABPI/3F_7l98_p04/s200/Singapore%2B004.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">When we got to this Chinese pharmacy, the owner was an enthusiastic salesman and very proud of his shop. I was </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">contemplating buying the insomnia cure, but Allan moved on to a fruit stand, and I didn't want to lose him.<br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573104723396716802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8__9qPFu3Q/TVelN-Yc6QI/AAAAAAAABPA/tECMFsORnis/s200/Singapore%2B057.JPG" />These ladies appear on the subway platform and on the cars. I don't really remember what the message was. Maybe it was "Hey, we're ladies, let us have the seat". People will give up a seat to an elderly or handicapped person, but men do not feel obliged to offer their seat to a lady or let her have a seat that is vacated. Whomever is closest (and fastest) get the seat.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We ended our trip heading in different directions. Allan has temporary duty, so I'll have 11 days alone. </span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-30737603729617628782011-01-17T19:52:00.001-08:002011-01-25T22:43:51.182-08:00Talk about powder!!!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;">0450</span> - and yes, it's dark - that's no time to start a vacation! We took a cab from our house at 4:50 <em>in the morning</em> on Friday, January 14th for a 4-day MLK weekend to Niseko, Japan. If you're looking for good powder skiing, this is the place. We spent 8 hrs. on public transportation and hit the slopes at 1:30 pm. It was <em>COLD</em>, about 5 degrees fahrenheit. </span></div><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUyudKqLrI/AAAAAAAABO0/LD_OOsZhbIs/s1600/Niseko%2B001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563408688370822834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUyudKqLrI/AAAAAAAABO0/LD_OOsZhbIs/s400/Niseko%2B001.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our hotel (above) was ski in / ski out. Better than that, when you ski in (tired and cold) the <em>'Ski Valet'</em> meets you at the door and takes your skis and poles to storage, then exchange ski boots for apres-ski boots and you're on your way. NTS - (Not too shabby). Starting late the first day, we didn't hit much powder. But there were powder patches just off the groomed trails. I like to veer into it for a short ride, then get back to the groomed. </span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Though we got a late start, we had enough skiing for the first day. The lifts stay open later in Japan than U.S. resorts, and night skiing was available. To avoid yet more public transportation, we found a buffet in the hotel for dinner.<br /></p></span><br /><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUymkMwlFI/AAAAAAAABOs/738rh0BvH7g/s1600/Niseko%2B009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563408552819725394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUymkMwlFI/AAAAAAAABOs/738rh0BvH7g/s400/Niseko%2B009.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Since breakfast was part of our package, we enjoyed a leisurely meal and were back on the slopes by 8:30 the second day. We traveled a little and tried a different set of slopes that led to Hirafu, another resort village. Now we had powder, and we skied together the whole time. I did better after getting my ski legs under me the first day. Try using muscles you last used a year ago. </span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Every day we had our chocolate break and our lunch break to relieve our fatigue and frozen fingers. Let me say again - 5 degrees! </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Saturday night we met up with 5 other Yokosukans at a hotel bar/cafe. We had burgers, pizza, tapas and since it was a bar, beer and sake (Allan's fave) and other libations. The room had a great view of an ongoing blizzard. I don't know what else you call heavy snow blowing sideways. I was knee deep in powder Sunday.</p><p align="justify"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUyLqetnqI/AAAAAAAABOk/_xZOWuVaJmE/s1600/Niseko%2B027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563408090649173666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUyLqetnqI/AAAAAAAABOk/_xZOWuVaJmE/s320/Niseko%2B027.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan hit the onsen (natural hot springs) every night. Hotels in Japan are built around onsens, and this one had both indoor and outdoors onsen areas. Robes and slippers are supplied, so every time you got on the elevator, there was some guy in a robe headed to the onsen. In Japan, onsen attire is... well - nothing, nada, nude, nekked! Me - I took a hot soak in my room.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUyCmXRNOI/AAAAAAAABOc/Tnql9GfARfw/s1600/collage.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 178px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563407934925386978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUyCmXRNOI/AAAAAAAABOc/Tnql9GfARfw/s400/collage.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Allan took a few shots of me coming down the trail. I fell more this year than last, but I blame the powder.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The ski trails are marked green (easy), red (intermediate) and black (OMG!!). Intermediate trails are blue in the states, so if you wear yellow googles (like I do), it's a little tricky to distinguish between green and blue. Am I the only person who thinks so? Surely not. But it makes sense that the Japanese have a better system. Don't get </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">snippy, it just does.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">No language problem here. Everything is written in Japanese and English, but it was amusing that announcements were made with an Australian accent. Americans were outnumbered 4 to 1 by Aussies, some vaca- tioning, some working at the resort. We spoke with lots of them on lifts and in restaurants.</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUx71PaLgI/AAAAAAAABOU/hWq_SrK7U4U/s1600/KevinErica.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563407818659868162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUx71PaLgI/AAAAAAAABOU/hWq_SrK7U4U/s400/KevinErica.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Speaking of our friends from Yokosuka... Last year on our ski trip to Zao Onsen, we met Kevin and Ramon, who became Allan's poker buds. I think they're stalking us, because here they are again. Erica, Kevin's wife (above in red) made it this time. They found a little ramen place for lunch. Hot soup with noodles is soooo good when you're a Floridian in sub-freezing temperatures. Just why was I there? I keep asking myself.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUx1D-aj8I/AAAAAAAABOM/LXqId8K1mNs/s1600/Niseko%2B024.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563407702356037570" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUx1D-aj8I/AAAAAAAABOM/LXqId8K1mNs/s200/Niseko%2B024.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Taking a short break at the top of the last run before lunch, I spotted some snowboarding lunatic coming directly at my beloved husband. Eek! I thought he was going to hurt Allan, and I would have to take him down. It turned out to be this snowboarding lunatic, Ramon Perez.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our last night in Niseko, we did the town, dinner at Abu Cha, where we ate seafood appetizers and 'hot pot', beef & veg, salmon and veg, spicy chicken and veg that were cooked by us, at the table. Why do we cook our own food in restaurants? It's surely a puzzle. But you couldn't argue with the results. Yum!</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This photo is lunch at the ramen restaurant.</span> </p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUxiK5YYzI/AAAAAAAABN8/lIkDL_0_z6A/s1600/Niseko%2B026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563407377796457266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TTUxiK5YYzI/AAAAAAAABN8/lIkDL_0_z6A/s400/Niseko%2B026.JPG" /></a></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Ramon and Allan wanted to hit an 'ice bar' after dinner. A sauna bar would have been my choice, but as that was not an option, three of us headed for the ice bar. As advertised, it was an ice structure with a bar made from frozen water, complete with luge (a small crevice used to pour alcohol directly from bottle into the waiting mouth of a willing patron). People stopped by with the kiddies to drink from glasses also made of frozen water. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan was in charge of the camera and it was elsewhere, so you'll have to imagine us there.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan skied for two hours on Monday morning. He went to the top of the mountain on a tow rope, looking for 'Niseko's best powder'. Snow was dropping hard and the visibility made it difficult and dangerous, so he stopped a bit earlier than planned, but spent the time in the hot springs. Four days goes so fast when it's vacation time, but you know you had fun if you don't want it to end.</span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-31676828538506423332010-12-26T17:13:00.000-08:002011-01-08T20:11:56.541-08:00A day's outing in Tokyo with friends<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Much as I hate it, sixteen months after starting my blog, I find it necessary to print my first retraction. Yuck! Previously, I've written that the building below is the residence of the Emperor's family - WRONG! It's just a building on the palace grounds.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaaRmSnuTI/AAAAAAAABNg/dVq5n_Fjz1o/s1600/Tokyo%2B44.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554796817535187250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaaRmSnuTI/AAAAAAAABNg/dVq5n_Fjz1o/s400/Tokyo%2B44.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Two days ago, a group including Allan, five co-workers and their families (20 in all) toured the Imperial Palace grounds. We met at one of the eight entrances to the grounds, which is considered the most valuable piece of real estate on the planet.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaZdiWlR4I/AAAAAAAABNY/2jgSSTmStsY/s1600/Tokyo%2B03.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554795923124864898" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaZdiWlR4I/AAAAAAAABNY/2jgSSTmStsY/s400/Tokyo%2B03.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> When the tour began, we got small recorders with the tour information in English. The Japanese guide spoke enough to tell us which number to listen to at each site. We were also instructed to stay in four lines, which is a bit of a joke. Who thinks that people are actually going to stay in line while wandering around gardens and buildings listening to the history of the Japanese Empire?<br /></span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaZLgrzFHI/AAAAAAAABNI/DS-a12TVV_A/s1600/Tokyo%2B08.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554795613439333490" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaZLgrzFHI/AAAAAAAABNI/DS-a12TVV_A/s200/Tokyo%2B08.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The buildings on this site were built and paid for by several 13th or 14th century Shogun and their men. To mark the areas built with their money and men, an identifying symbol was carved into a wall. Can you see the little circle with the lines across it?</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaYwrWNCpI/AAAAAAAABM4/cCTf-JTEPUk/s1600/Tokyo%2B14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554795152445082258" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaYwrWNCpI/AAAAAAAABM4/cCTf-JTEPUk/s400/Tokyo%2B14.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There were lots of buildings with lots of purposes, historic and current, but we didn't actually see where the Emperor's family lives. I just know that you can't see it from outside the gates.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaYU3YmlYI/AAAAAAAABMo/ZdNrOK9X4to/s1600/Tokyo%2B33.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554794674640033154" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaYU3YmlYI/AAAAAAAABMo/ZdNrOK9X4to/s400/Tokyo%2B33.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Raeni Russell and I are on the bridge that you can see again in the next picture. The tour took about an hour and a half. Afterwards, some of the group went to other sites in Tokyo, and we continued on to a great Chinese lunch on the 27th floor of a downtown building - great view.<br /></span><br /></p></span><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaXvg8CvHI/AAAAAAAABMY/rjIqB7m5u_Y/s1600/Tokyo%2B47.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554794032959503474" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaXvg8CvHI/AAAAAAAABMY/rjIqB7m5u_Y/s400/Tokyo%2B47.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">LCDR Veronica Demaio, Allan, Gene Russell, Tom Takagi<br /></span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaXnKT4HFI/AAAAAAAABMQ/4a7QreroD-k/s1600/Tokyo%2B49.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554793889446501458" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaXnKT4HFI/AAAAAAAABMQ/4a7QreroD-k/s400/Tokyo%2B49.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our destination after lunch is the building shown here. It's the Diet - pronounced just like <em>diet</em> coke. It's the Japanese parliament building. There's a House of Representatives and a House of </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Counselors, which we toured.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaXbZlXMUI/AAAAAAAABMI/FMO-20arJ3Q/s1600/Tokyo%2B55.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554793687387943234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TRaXbZlXMUI/AAAAAAAABMI/FMO-20arJ3Q/s200/Tokyo%2B55.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The day with the group ended after the second tour and Allan and I walked to Ginza. Ginza is the 5th Avenue of Tokyo, great shopping. Allan didn't buy me the $3,000 coat that I really liked.<br /><br />We were looking for dinner when we saw this guy. It was December 24th. He was cooking in one of the cafes in the path to the train. We dubbed him 'Ninja Santa'.</span> </div></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-60292832422019846292010-12-18T19:30:00.000-08:002011-01-09T22:02:54.362-08:00Hakone... or ha COLD eh<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last week, Allan and I took and MWR (<span style="font-size:85%;"><em>morale, welfare and recreation</em></span>) trip to Hakone. We've seen some areas of Tokyo multiple times, so we're searching for new attractions for day trips. When you visit, we'll have good places to take you. This qualifies as a day trip, albeit a long one. We left the base on a luxury bus at 0600 - early.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19p_rA-GI/AAAAAAAABL8/jJSBjWgNfIU/s1600/Hakone%2B004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552232076037650530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19p_rA-GI/AAAAAAAABL8/jJSBjWgNfIU/s400/Hakone%2B004.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Drivers are required to stop every two hours, so we had a bit of breakfast, then around 9 am, arrived at the Hakone Open-Air Museum. There were some indoor exhibits and since the weather was very cold, indoors was good. I think this beautiful lady is the best example of outdoor art.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19lYnR8xI/AAAAAAAABL0/jhw_uVJ9QIc/s1600/Hakone%2B013.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231996833526546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19lYnR8xI/AAAAAAAABL0/jhw_uVJ9QIc/s400/Hakone%2B013.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Next was a cable car ride. This is the third cable car I've ridden in 6 months! Hong Kong, Australia and now Hakone. People in this part of the world see alot from high up.<br /></span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19b2gs_JI/AAAAAAAABLs/1-zTuU1fSPY/s1600/Hakone%2B022.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231833060310162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19b2gs_JI/AAAAAAAABLs/1-zTuU1fSPY/s400/Hakone%2B022.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Riding over, we could see volcanic steam rising from vents in the ground. Hey guys, there's a volcano under your town. Haven't you heard of Pompei?<br /><br /></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19S1k8g8I/AAAAAAAABLk/NCFAph40tB8/s1600/Hakone%2B027.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231678190846914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19S1k8g8I/AAAAAAAABLk/NCFAph40tB8/s400/Hakone%2B027.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Hakone's claim to fame is their hot springs and black eggs. The eggs are black because they are boiled in the onsen (hot springs), something about sulfur. It's just the shell that turns black.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19KulziVI/AAAAAAAABLc/dRmqC7NCYjQ/s1600/Hakone%2B030.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231538876451154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19KulziVI/AAAAAAAABLc/dRmqC7NCYjQ/s400/Hakone%2B030.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> This fellow has a basket full of black eggs. I can't say that they taste any different, as neither of us tasted one. They were sold in every shop in town, but I didn't hear that anyone on our tour tried one.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19EHrbC3I/AAAAAAAABLU/fVOBmF5817s/s1600/Hakone%2B035.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231425351814002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ19EHrbC3I/AAAAAAAABLU/fVOBmF5817s/s400/Hakone%2B035.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Another part of the tour was a 40 minute boat ride across a volcanic lake. We were late getting to the dock, so all the inside seats were taken, and it was <strong><em>cold</em></strong> on deck. Our destination was a Shinto shrine. Yeah, another day, another shrine.<br /><br /></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ188iYWLuI/AAAAAAAABLM/SLfRSYV2ur8/s1600/Hakone%2B037.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231295080607458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ188iYWLuI/AAAAAAAABLM/SLfRSYV2ur8/s400/Hakone%2B037.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">See the little squares at the bottom of this photo? There is a close-up below. You write your prayer and leave at the holy site. Most people prayer for peace and happiness in the world. Shinto and Buddhism are pacifist religions that revere nature.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ183VrQjxI/AAAAAAAABLE/LOmfWq5WU_k/s1600/Hakone%2B042.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231205770923794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ183VrQjxI/AAAAAAAABLE/LOmfWq5WU_k/s400/Hakone%2B042.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> There isn't a Japanese letter that equals an 'S', so they write it 'sumile'. The 'u' is silent. The date H.22.11.28 on the Japanese calendar indicates the Heisei era, twenty-second year, eleventh month, twenty-eighth day. Heisei is the period of the current emperor.</span><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ18sBa6YtI/AAAAAAAABK8/ZYucw3wfEBo/s1600/Hakone%2B045.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552231011355091666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ18sBa6YtI/AAAAAAAABK8/ZYucw3wfEBo/s400/Hakone%2B045.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Shrine's have a place to wash your hands and this one is rather fancy. It's traditional to clean you hands here after you've passed through three torii gates, cleansing your mind, body and soul. You can arrive by boat and pass through this gate.</span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ18n9AYhAI/AAAAAAAABK0/DDkTriuCcjU/s1600/Hakone%2B050.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552230941450601474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TQ18n9AYhAI/AAAAAAAABK0/DDkTriuCcjU/s400/Hakone%2B050.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The trip to Hakone took over 12 hours. The hot springs is the big attraction for the Japanese. They go <em>au naturale</em>, which is less appealing to Americans. There are many other sites, closer and more interesting, so I can't get too excited about this one. But, if I had a 'bucket list', I can now check this off.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Next is... nah! I don't want to spoil it, so stay tuned.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-74899815808363287682010-11-24T01:28:00.000-08:002010-12-20T03:30:57.486-08:00Bo-Taoshi (Pole Pull-down) written by Allan<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_39WEntI/AAAAAAAABKs/6pFpe3XA1RM/s1600/JDF%2B002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547871652815347410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_39WEntI/AAAAAAAABKs/6pFpe3XA1RM/s320/JDF%2B002.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last week I went to the Japan National Defense Academy with four of my Japanese friends.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is Tom Takagi and his wife, Naoko. Tom works with me at the base.</span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_xLpjRTI/AAAAAAAABKk/KL1Mb9MxFH0/s1600/JDF%2B001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547871536396059954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_xLpjRTI/AAAAAAAABKk/KL1Mb9MxFH0/s320/JDF%2B001.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is Hiroko and her son, Hugo. Hiroko works in the Public Health Department too. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Liz was unable to to join me. She had an appointment to meet with two new students.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></div></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_mdnthxI/AAAAAAAABKc/EmuVTp9bjWA/s1600/JDF%2B003.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547871352241620754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_mdnthxI/AAAAAAAABKc/EmuVTp9bjWA/s400/JDF%2B003.jpg" /></span> <p align="justify"></a></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is the only military academy in Japan and is located very close to the Yokosuka Naval Base. I went by train and met my friends at 10 a.m. When I got off the train, there were so many people waiting for the bus or taxi, we decided to walk about 20 minutes uphill. Great exercise!<br /><br /></p></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_e6rVfBI/AAAAAAAABKU/fDRb8IlvQbk/s1600/JDF%2B007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547871222602497042" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_e6rVfBI/AAAAAAAABKU/fDRb8IlvQbk/s400/JDF%2B007.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> When we got to the Academy, which is only open to the public this one weekend every year, the cadets were standing in formation on the parade ground.<br /><br /></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_YB-MncI/AAAAAAAABKM/7b9W73JOgzM/s1600/JDF%2B006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547871104301571522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_YB-MncI/AAAAAAAABKM/7b9W73JOgzM/s400/JDF%2B006.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Following the opening ceremony, we had lunch and watched some marching and formation flying while waiting for the big event - Bo-Taoshi.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_SPxg02I/AAAAAAAABKE/GCj9ttVcDJE/s1600/JDF%2B027.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547871004927251298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_SPxg02I/AAAAAAAABKE/GCj9ttVcDJE/s400/JDF%2B027.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Let me explain this simple game. The idea is to pull the pole down, or at least to a certain degree.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_LbPrZUI/AAAAAAAABJ8/7DAof5ShvlY/s1600/JDF%2B010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547870887747478850" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_LbPrZUI/AAAAAAAABJ8/7DAof5ShvlY/s400/JDF%2B010.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There are 150 men on each team. Seventy-five men defend their team's pole, while seventy-five try to pull the opponents pole down.<br /></span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_EWkQwaI/AAAAAAAABJ0/o8lijPo7feQ/s1600/JDF%2B011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547870766232551842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_EWkQwaI/AAAAAAAABJ0/o8lijPo7feQ/s400/JDF%2B011.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> It's a simple game that I think would work well in the U.S. When the gun goes off, the seventy-five man offensive attacks the free standing pole held up and defended by the seventy-five man defense.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_AISiAEI/AAAAAAAABJs/CqQxYDVL6XA/s1600/JDF%2B019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547870693680611394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3_AISiAEI/AAAAAAAABJs/CqQxYDVL6XA/s400/JDF%2B019.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Easy, but wow, what ensues is a spectacle. We each chose a team, with Tom's team (green) winning.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3-7HyJOXI/AAAAAAAABJk/YSeDevNpeyQ/s1600/JDF%2B038.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547870607645423986" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3-7HyJOXI/AAAAAAAABJk/YSeDevNpeyQ/s400/JDF%2B038.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> What a wild time. I intend to go again next year</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3-0ztpbmI/AAAAAAAABJc/IHJgnWYH1Ss/s1600/JDF%2B021.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547870499178638946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TP3-0ztpbmI/AAAAAAAABJc/IHJgnWYH1Ss/s400/JDF%2B021.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-47928003068896341092010-11-08T22:14:00.000-08:002011-01-26T15:37:16.601-08:00Yokoso Nihon - Welcome to Japan<div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOuj7Ubj7SI/AAAAAAAABJM/v1d-otgxxkM/s1600/Elie%2B007.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542704005901446434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOuj7Ubj7SI/AAAAAAAABJM/v1d-otgxxkM/s320/Elie%2B007.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The D.O.D. does some good stuff for its military and civilian employees. When the Elies visited us recently, the airport shuttle was pure heaven. We took a bus from the airport to the base with no stops. Once on base, you're on your own. </span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">For other travel, I introduced Joe and Vicki to the train system. It's about as simple as it could be, which is still tricky at times. Their first full day in Japan, we took a bus and train to town to a restaurant that serves Japanese home-style cooking. </span></div><p align="justify"><br /></p><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujxu7ObaI/AAAAAAAABJE/Rbw5amuzysE/s1600/Elie%2B190.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542703841214885282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujxu7ObaI/AAAAAAAABJE/Rbw5amuzysE/s400/Elie%2B190.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Allan joined us for lunch, and after a stop to buy some yen, we toured the 568 acres that is Yokosuka Naval base. These three submarines are part of the Japanese Defense Force. The base has both Japanese and U.S. ships and workers.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujk08nh9I/AAAAAAAABI8/bGuRvEmZZ0s/s1600/Elie%2B191.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542703619493038034" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujk08nh9I/AAAAAAAABI8/bGuRvEmZZ0s/s320/Elie%2B191.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We stopped by to meet the gang at Allan's office, the checked out the U.S.S. Blue Ridge, flagship of the 7th Fleet. It's currently in dry dock and painted a very drab burgundy. Allan told me it's the primer color. I knew that, I saw <em>Operation Petticoat</em>!<br /></span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujQitjLdI/AAAAAAAABI0/Y8Kn8XUMjGs/s1600/Elie%2B011.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542703271000616402" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujQitjLdI/AAAAAAAABI0/Y8Kn8XUMjGs/s320/Elie%2B011.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">While Allan worked the next day, I took Vicki and Joe on a short tour of Tokyo.</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">What is it about a fish market that's so appealing? I give up, but people find it very interesting, so here we are at Tsukiji, looking at slimy, stinky ugly sea creatures. Look at this stuff! It's not very appetizing.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujG4_74KI/AAAAAAAABIs/jV_acdZdiVE/s1600/Elie%2B014.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542703105184620706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOujG4_74KI/AAAAAAAABIs/jV_acdZdiVE/s320/Elie%2B014.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Does this picture look like Joe and Vicki are in Japan (or China)? I'm glad you think so, 'cause that's exactly what we were going for.</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We escaped by train to Ginza, then walked to the Imperial Palace in a drizzle. I've learned alot about Japan over the last 14 months, but some things defy explanation. I couldn't tell the Elies why a man was out in the rain, doing Tai Chi, on the sidewalk in front of the palace. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOth3l6TMcI/AAAAAAAABIM/m0ZSS-MsfVY/s1600/Elie%2B042.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542631374106866114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOth3l6TMcI/AAAAAAAABIM/m0ZSS-MsfVY/s320/Elie%2B042.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Already wet, we cabbed it to the Senso-Ji, a seven hundred year old Buddhist temple where Vicki purchased a fortune.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here's how it works. You pay 100 yen, pour a long stick out of a hole in the top of this box. Then match the Chinese characters on the stick to a drawer, pull out your fortune and hope for the best. If you see 'bad fortune' at the top don't read any further, but tie it to the available pole and walk away. Vicki kept hers.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtha7CEHwI/AAAAAAAABH8/JPYiThw0BCs/s1600/Fortune.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542630881560370946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtha7CEHwI/AAAAAAAABH8/JPYiThw0BCs/s400/Fortune.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Allan took Friday off for our three days in Kyoto. We took the Shinkansen (bullet train) and arrived with enough time to visit 3 important sites.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtg_C1ab6I/AAAAAAAABHs/Jy6iTAxPmVU/s1600/Elie%2B057.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542630402618453922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtg_C1ab6I/AAAAAAAABHs/Jy6iTAxPmVU/s320/Elie%2B057.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is a view from the bullet train. I like that twisted building. Normally you can see Mt. Fuji, but we were on the wrong side of the train going to Kyoto and there was too much fog during the ride back. That's too bad, because it really is a tourist attraction.</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtg2oQL4OI/AAAAAAAABHk/Wp7Uybd2IMc/s1600/Elie%2B063.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542630258044035298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtg2oQL4OI/AAAAAAAABHk/Wp7Uybd2IMc/s320/Elie%2B063.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We stopped at tourist infomation in the train station and got a map and step-by-step instructions to get to our three destinations, complete with travel times by bus.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We went to the Golden Palace. Since Brian and I made this stop in March, you've seen photos of this in the blog, but Vicki took this pretty good shot of Allan and me.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here we are walking one of the trails in the palace gardens.<br /></div></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542628938364554258" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfp0EFDBI/AAAAAAAABHM/WI2LuKS0RxQ/s400/Elie%2B073.jpg" /><br /><p align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">After Kinkakuji (Golden Palace), we took a walk through Gion, a traditionally built and maintained area within Kyoto. I believe Kyoto itself is a fairly traditional Japanese city, definitely more so than Tokyo.</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">On our way to Kiyomisu, we came across this young Maiko. She's a Geisha trainee. There were three walking together very slowly. It's very feminine movement, plus the shoes make it difficult to move too fast.</span><br /></p><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfhydzpXI/AAAAAAAABHE/ZMr6BxmUfAA/s1600/Elie%2B090.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542628800496641394" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfhydzpXI/AAAAAAAABHE/ZMr6BxmUfAA/s320/Elie%2B090.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Did I mention that Kiyomizu is at the highest point in Kyoto? And there are no vehicles up there. You climb for about 30 minutes, longer if you shop at the bottom, but I saved the shopping for the trip down. Who wants to carry souvenirs <em>up</em> a hill?<br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfX5QvnoI/AAAAAAAABG8/KU0nhzGXeNM/s1600/Elie%2B093.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542628630522207874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfX5QvnoI/AAAAAAAABG8/KU0nhzGXeNM/s320/Elie%2B093.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The country is filled with temples and shrines, though there are considerably more temples, meaning there are more Buddhists.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here Vicki is waving some incense smoke on herself. I don't know why, she sure looked silly.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Just kidding, everyone does it. It cleanses your soul, gives good luck or wards off evil spirits, something like that. Anyway, who couldn't use a little extra good luck?</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfN9udAPI/AAAAAAAABG0/7_l2Md_HKKU/s1600/Elie%2B103.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542628459921866994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfN9udAPI/AAAAAAAABG0/7_l2Md_HKKU/s320/Elie%2B103.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Vicki couldn't resist this monk. They stand like a statue, with a tiny bowl in one hand. This is the most face I've seen on a monk who was collecting. The hat is usually tilted down more.<br /><br />Back at the bottom, after some browsing, we came across these Japanese girls in kimono, and knew we needed a photo with Joe. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">He spent some time every day pointing out pretty girls, and about every fifth one that we passed got the nod from Joe. Allan was happy to look, but just for corroboration.</span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfDyZHbnI/AAAAAAAABGs/JhJV2MW2ufo/s1600/Elie%2B104.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542628285080890994" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtfDyZHbnI/AAAAAAAABGs/JhJV2MW2ufo/s400/Elie%2B104.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The oldest city in Japan is Nara, about 40 minutes from Kyoto by train. The oldest wooden structure in Japan is the Todai-ji (temple) in Nara</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">.<br /></div><div align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOte4EduqXI/AAAAAAAABGk/BqYCMuwLXnQ/s1600/Elie%2B108.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542628083773647218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOte4EduqXI/AAAAAAAABGk/BqYCMuwLXnQ/s320/Elie%2B108.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">That's where we were headed when we were waylaid by at least one hundred deer wandering the streets and doing what can only be called panhandling. They are looking for handouts, and there at the left is a vendor selling cookies. The deer are your best friends if you have cookies.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The town seem to be pretty proud of their deer as you see by the manhole cover below. In Yokosuka, we have things like trumpets and ships. It's a port town, but the public art is very musical in theme. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtey-Sn2tI/AAAAAAAABGc/bUlKoQ0sHDo/s1600/Elie%2B107.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542627996217105106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtey-Sn2tI/AAAAAAAABGc/bUlKoQ0sHDo/s320/Elie%2B107.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">With the deer for company, we walked about 2 km. to the temple, and look at the size of it.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Inside was one large area with no division.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There is a big Buddha and some wooden statuary, mostly warriors, samurai and a few female deities.<br /></div><br /><p align="justify"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtemPmxAqI/AAAAAAAABGU/VWmP4noB9SM/s1600/Elie%2B124.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542627777526694562" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtemPmxAqI/AAAAAAAABGU/VWmP4noB9SM/s400/Elie%2B124.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Up close, some of it looked worn, but it's in great shape for it's age. The trip took the better part of a day, since we petted and fed the deer and stopped for lunch, Japanese style Italian. Then a quick stop in a shoe store that had black boots in the window.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtefD9qCMI/AAAAAAAABGM/X_aTvoHto9s/s1600/Elie%2B127.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542627654142396610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtefD9qCMI/AAAAAAAABGM/X_aTvoHto9s/s400/Elie%2B127.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">See what I mean? They aren't just friendly, they're like your family pet. People can't resist them.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOteRD8I6qI/AAAAAAAABGE/AsFK_PTsKnE/s1600/Elie%2B139.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542627413617863330" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOteRD8I6qI/AAAAAAAABGE/AsFK_PTsKnE/s320/Elie%2B139.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Japanese students take alot of field trips. They are pretty regular visitors to historic sites. And of course they are in uniform. These girls could be from any city in Japan. I do like that they don't worry about wearing somthing as cool as their friends.</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtd6WJZeKI/AAAAAAAABF8/zC8eyCnJ8W4/s1600/Elie%2B140.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542627023368321186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtd6WJZeKI/AAAAAAAABF8/zC8eyCnJ8W4/s320/Elie%2B140.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We had Sunday breakfast at the train station. It's not strange, most train stations have food, and this one was like a mall, plenty of choices for shopping and eating.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Okay, I'll give you one guess where we went after breakfast. Sanjusangendo, right! We saw it Japanese style, stocking feet, and we weren't able to take photographs inside, temple.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdzHcumJI/AAAAAAAABF0/pEMSqWr46xU/s1600/Elie%2B144.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542626899163781266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdzHcumJI/AAAAAAAABF0/pEMSqWr46xU/s320/Elie%2B144.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The temple was crowded, but fairly quiet. There are 1001 wooden statues of female Buddhist deities. I'm not sure some of them weren't duplicates. I don't know exactly how many deities there are, but 1001 seems excessive.<br /><br />About 1/2 way through, we came on a Buddhist wedding, very traditional by the look of it. There were 8 monks. The head monk wore a black costume, and four others were wearing green and orange kimono.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I hate not getting photos of great stuff like that but, alas I don't want to be and ugly American. On to the Nijo Castle, shown here with the Elies and their local guide. It is a shogun castle with lots of acreage, which shows that he was a very important man (lots of property).</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdU-vrjzI/AAAAAAAABFk/T0hdGy0FU7U/s1600/Elie%2B165.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542626381431279410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdU-vrjzI/AAAAAAAABFk/T0hdGy0FU7U/s400/Elie%2B165.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> That's it for Kyoto. We hit the bullet train for home. We're all starting to drag a little. It's been a busy week, which is why Joe went on strike.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdGL1d2gI/AAAAAAAABFc/dV37RBQ441U/s1600/Elie%2B175.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542626127247170050" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdGL1d2gI/AAAAAAAABFc/dV37RBQ441U/s320/Elie%2B175.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">He stayed home on Monday, and Vicki and I went to the base to teach English. We had lunch after class with a few of the students at the Officers' Club. Everyone finds a local food item that they favor. Vicki likes yakisoba, a noodle dish.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The next day, we went to Hase. The sole attraction (other than ice cream stands and a few touristy shops) is this giant Buddha. He <em>is</em> pretty impressive, over seven hundred years old and about 40 feet tall.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdAI5mNII/AAAAAAAABFU/oPbH9x09v74/s1600/Elie%2B178.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542626023379973250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtdAI5mNII/AAAAAAAABFU/oPbH9x09v74/s200/Elie%2B178.jpg" /></a></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then off to Kamakura, which was once the capital of Japan, but is now a cute shopping town. It has one very large shrine with lots of steps. Remember shrines are Shinto, temples are Buddhist (and Jewish of course).</span> </p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;">With one full day left, Vicki took advantage of the shops and picked up some souvenirs.</span> <p></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtc5Ox-azI/AAAAAAAABFM/pNttBRIDsZI/s1600/Elie%2B184.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542625904699534130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtc5Ox-azI/AAAAAAAABFM/pNttBRIDsZI/s320/Elie%2B184.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There are usually sake casks by a shrine, but here you get that plus chrysanthemums and kimono. A real Japanese site.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">That night was the all American dinner-and-a-movie at base. We saw Secretariat.<br /><br />We're winding down and it's the last full day for Vicki and Joe. Allan got off early, so we waited and went to Yokohama for dinner and a stroll in Chinatown. Chinatown looks the same wherever you go.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Vicki couldn't resist some of the shopping there, and I bought a few Chinese perfume bottles. They have scenes painted on the inside, and I love them.</span></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtb57WFoUI/AAAAAAAABEs/wmzmCyM1nMg/s1600/Elie%2B185.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542624817150533954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOtb57WFoUI/AAAAAAAABEs/wmzmCyM1nMg/s400/Elie%2B185.jpg" /></span> <p align="justify"></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">On November 4th, the Elies left from the base on the Narita Shuttle. I hope they had a good time in Japan.</span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-59233468468678748302010-10-24T05:29:00.000-07:002010-11-17T17:12:57.979-08:00No greater loss...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">As a fourth grader, in September of 1961, I was the oldest of the three Carew children at Merritt Island Elementary School. In the mornings before school, we ran from the bus to the playground for the short time before the bell would ring, calling us to class. Then it was my job to get my first grade brother Danny, to his classroom.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After the first few weeks, I was sure he could find his own way, so I told him to go on without me. He wasn't comfortable at all with this idea, and pleaded for me to walk with him to his class. Another boy in first grade had an older sister for an escort, so I said "just follow them, you'll be okay". Reluctantly, he did just that and after a few days, I realized that while the other boy still depended on his sister, my brother no longer needed me. It didn't give me the satisfaction I'd expected. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOPgJxYanYI/AAAAAAAABEk/ynYpZWlbfoA/s1600/Danny.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 282px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 374px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540518425075031426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TOPgJxYanYI/AAAAAAAABEk/ynYpZWlbfoA/s400/Danny.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I hadn't thought about that story for 30-40 years. Last year, it surfaced when he became ill.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He was always the most lowkey of my parents offspring. He grew up, married, had two daughters, three sons, and assorted grandchildren. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He passed away yesterday, after a long illness. Most of his family was with him. </span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Daniel Lee Carew</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">June 29, 1955 - Oct. 23, 2010</span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-75244741367240537112010-10-19T23:23:00.000-07:002010-11-18T01:59:39.092-08:00Awe-sie Holiday<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">At the age of seven, I moved with my family from Virginia to Florida. Everything was different, the weather, the geography, even the rules of living. We wore such casual clothes and went to the beach almost year 'round. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I suppose it was natural that I developed a desire to see more new places.</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">In my child's mind I could only travel where English was spoken. After all, how could I buy food or ask where the toilet was if I couldn't speak the language? I must have taken a geography class and discovered that such a place existed in the southern hemisphere. That was it. Canada and England were too ordinary. I wanted to go to Australia.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODL1qxylhI/AAAAAAAABEU/2UcH58-IERc/s1600/AUS%2B083.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539651664542340626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODL1qxylhI/AAAAAAAABEU/2UcH58-IERc/s400/AUS%2B083.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, at 6:00 am on October 10, 2010, Allan and I arrived in Cairns (pronounced cans), Australia. After clearing customs, a cab ride to the Hilton took about 15 minutes. We were seven hours early for check-in, so we went out scouting for breakfast. To fill up the <em>other</em> six hours, we walked around town and along the marina to check out the dive boats. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once in our room, our priority was a nap. We were scheduled for a dive trip the next day, and that requires energy.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODLwaxSnOI/AAAAAAAABEM/egrkoFSAmFQ/s1600/AUS%2B086.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539651574345932002" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODLwaxSnOI/AAAAAAAABEM/egrkoFSAmFQ/s400/AUS%2B086.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was close to dinner time when we headed out and found this lovely restaurant for an 'Aussie steak'. Sirloin of kangaroo anyone?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We opted for Asian cuisine, so I tried Malaysian. I don't remember having it before, but it was no surprise that I liked it. We ate outside and were serenaded by very loud parrots from a nearby tree. Think the Tiki Birds at DisneyWorld, hard rock loud.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJ-6BERfI/AAAAAAAABDs/SpX7Tnc39nk/s1600/aerialreef"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539649624228513266" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJ-6BERfI/AAAAAAAABDs/SpX7Tnc39nk/s400/aerialreef" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Early the next day was our dive trip. Moo! yep, a cattle boat, but hey, great lunch.<br /><br />We did two short (35-40 minutes) dives with a guide. It wasn't more than 12 meters deep, so any certified diver should have been comfortable. I thought maybe the guide was required to protect the reef from stupid foreigners.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">They are very protective of the environment in Australia, which is nice to know.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJ4dPnaFI/AAAAAAAABDk/i6514Hm2zNk/s1600/coral"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539649513425692754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJ4dPnaFI/AAAAAAAABDk/i6514Hm2zNk/s400/coral" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">As for the dives, we saw anemone, clownfish, a giant clam and Allan saw a large sea turtle.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then there was the Great Barrier Reef. It is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and that's no wonder.</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJwmCfu2I/AAAAAAAABDc/53EjBQk9av0/s1600/redcoral"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539649378347629410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJwmCfu2I/AAAAAAAABDc/53EjBQk9av0/s400/redcoral" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">How many types of Pacific coral exist? I don't know, but I couldn't count the different textures and colors I saw. The reef is 2600 kilometers long. It was like a wonderous sculpture, full of color and texture.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJZevv3kI/AAAAAAAABDM/0uJkF_p_W9Q/s1600/turtle"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539648981252955714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TODJZevv3kI/AAAAAAAABDM/0uJkF_p_W9Q/s400/turtle" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Having no words to do it justice, I'll emulate Joyce Kilmer and say "blogs are made by fools like me, but only G-d can make a reef". </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;">He was inspired when he made this one.<br /></span><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Day 3 was tour day and we were picked up by this giant bus. It made the rounds of hotels and collected a very international tour entourage.<br /></p></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531160447489145666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKhHyRH-0I/AAAAAAAABCo/5U0ksItGn6U/s400/AUS+005.jpg" /> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">As the guide checked the names on his list, he asked 'where is home?'. We said Japan and got a strange look. But that's where we live.<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531160334169373746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKhBMHlfDI/AAAAAAAABCg/78pwnUzgACk/s400/AUS+006.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">The skyrail travels over the rain forest to the east(?) of the Barron Gorge, which is Australia's Grand Canyon. Our destination was the Kuranda Aboriginal Village. We saw very few natives in Cairnes, and though this was a traditional Aboriginal home, it was very touristy.<br /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531160129365545666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKg1RKjEsI/AAAAAAAABCY/udehtfVZJZw/s400/AUS+017.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are some views from the gondola. We made two stops along the route at areas where walking paths wound through the forest and the flora was surprisingly like Florida.<br /><br /></p></span><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKgo6Fa6jI/AAAAAAAABCI/3hkJD5u013w/s1600/AUS+018.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531159917011593778" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKgo6Fa6jI/AAAAAAAABCI/3hkJD5u013w/s400/AUS+018.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> We always do alot of walking on vacation, and this was a great area for it. The paths lead around through the forest and back to the gondola entrance. </span><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKgghf5gFI/AAAAAAAABCA/LuIlMKu6Cu8/s1600/AUS+021.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531159772972810322" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKgghf5gFI/AAAAAAAABCA/LuIlMKu6Cu8/s400/AUS+021.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our first stop in Kuranda Village was the 130 year old Hotel Kuranda. It looked like a John Wayne movie set, except maybe for the Irish bar.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKf-97WzwI/AAAAAAAABBw/0ba4P4CLucU/s1600/AUS+032.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531159196488617730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKf-97WzwI/AAAAAAAABBw/0ba4P4CLucU/s320/AUS+032.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">After a tough gondola ride, Allan ordered a half pint, but I went for the full Irish - a pint of beer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We heard the cracking of the whip before we saw the <em>Man From Snowy River</em>. (That's actually a Bonanza type Australian TV series.)</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He gave the young boy a few tries with the whip.<br /><br />A walk from the hotel was the tourist area, complete with tee shirt shops (yes, I got one each for Brian and Cameron). I also bought Brian a boomerang in Cairns.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531159022190003906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKf00nVBsI/AAAAAAAABBo/zn9jOj1FDhc/s400/AUS+035.jpg" /> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not far from the tee shirt shop, a crowd was gathered for this performance. The guy on the right is playing a digeridoo. There's a better shot of him below.<br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531158931049697762" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKfvhFyUeI/AAAAAAAABBg/HmFXG3uwpUc/s320/AUS+033.jpg" />A traditional digeridoo is made from a eucalyptus tree. I don't know how they manage to bore out the center of such a long trunk, but I heard that sometimes termites will do it. Then the Aboriginals come along and do whatever it takes to finish the job.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I think they just hum into it. The sound that came out when this guy played was sort of a echoey (or is it echo-ee?) moaning.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We rode this antique train back.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKflLHfPSI/AAAAAAAABBY/wdkQa8a98Ik/s1600/AUS+049.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531158753352564002" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKflLHfPSI/AAAAAAAABBY/wdkQa8a98Ik/s400/AUS+049.jpg" /></span> <p align="justify"></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">It took 15 years to complete these tracks, and seeing the landscape, it was hard to imagine doing it with 19th century tools and technology.<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKfR2h8WTI/AAAAAAAABBQ/-ggerrXIbh8/s1600/AUS+043.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531158421408864562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKfR2h8WTI/AAAAAAAABBQ/-ggerrXIbh8/s320/AUS+043.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />We returned on the west side of the Barron Gorge. It was a pretty nice day. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">At night, when we walked to dinner, Allan tried to see the southern cross (southern hemisphere constellation). I don't think he ever did identify it. I'm not sure he knew exactly what to look for, but looking up, we saw the sky filled with bats the size of crows above the local casino.<br /><br />We're flexible when it comes to food. That night for dinner, we ordered pizza and what we thought was salad, but we got something like nan (Indian bread) with cheese and sausage. The 'salad' was a bowl of steamed vegetables. Tasted okay.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKe_rGRj-I/AAAAAAAABBI/jGe_ZuT7mCo/s1600/AUS+085.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531158109102378978" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKe_rGRj-I/AAAAAAAABBI/jGe_ZuT7mCo/s200/AUS+085.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Ever seen one of these? Hint: a kangaroo gave up his manhood, so some tourist could own this unusual item. Yep, kangaroo testicles. Who thinks up this stuff?<br /><br />Day 4, we were picked up early for a 'Food Trails Tour'. We had 'morning tea' at the first stop, Maloberti's coffee plantation. I had tea and everyone else had coffee and cake.</span></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKe2a_Gb4I/AAAAAAAABBA/KGPY7xdU-GU/s1600/AUS+056.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531157950158499714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKe2a_Gb4I/AAAAAAAABBA/KGPY7xdU-GU/s400/AUS+056.jpg" /></span> </span><p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Coffee beans are grown, dried, roasted, packaged and sold by Maria, who's making cappucino here, her 80-something parents and one equally aged hired hand. Allan liked the coffee enough to carry a bag home. He also bought chocolate covered coffee beans for himself and Andy Perez.</span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p align="justify"><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKeqZWIwtI/AAAAAAAABA4/X3TzyJ9VuuE/s1600/AUS+060.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531157743559819986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKeqZWIwtI/AAAAAAAABA4/X3TzyJ9VuuE/s200/AUS+060.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then to a winery for a tasting of fruit wines (mango, blackberry, lychee, cherry) and a few coffee liquors. After which, we had a lesson in macadamia nuts - how they're grown (on trees), harvested (scooped up like golfballs on a driving range once they've fallen off the tree), then processed for different uses including pressed into oil which has NO cholesterol, NO carbs and NO sodium, too right!</span></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></p></span><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKc2PsmEUI/AAAAAAAABAw/YoAAU1bHxQs/s1600/AUS+085.jpg"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKVLD3nY2I/AAAAAAAAA9o/dBW1lWQyjcw/s1600/AUS+062.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531147309614064482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKVLD3nY2I/AAAAAAAAA9o/dBW1lWQyjcw/s400/AUS+062.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Nothing weird about our delicious, relaxed lunch at a rustic old hotel. And our last promised stop was a dairy that made cheese, milk chocolate and ice cream, which I resisted. I bought a sasparilla - that I couldn't resist.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">During our drive from place to place, the guide talked about the history and geography of the area. He'd talk for a while, and when he got to the climax of the story, he'd casually point out the window and say "and right there is where...". We were with him for 10 hours and were never bored, or hungry!</span></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKU_hNa7kI/AAAAAAAAA9g/9ikLyYGeX9A/s1600/AUS+069.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531147111331720770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKU_hNa7kI/AAAAAAAAA9g/9ikLyYGeX9A/s400/AUS+069.jpg" /></span> <p align="justify"></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Afternoon tea is seen here. Scones with jam, overlooking a pristine lake. This country has ALOT of old hotels. The one with this cafe has been owned by the same family since 1920.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKUsJ4tqII/AAAAAAAAA9Y/3cw2oCtIRGE/s1600/AUS+074.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531146778653337730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKUsJ4tqII/AAAAAAAAA9Y/3cw2oCtIRGE/s320/AUS+074.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">During a walk through a wooded area, we saw the 'Cathedral Fig'. These vines grew up around a tree, squeezing the life out of it in the process.<br /><br />Eventually, the tree died and rotted away, but by that time, the vines were strong enough to stand alone. Does this look a bit like something from 'Avatar'? I'm not sure anyone can guess the age of this thing, but since the original tree is gone, I'd say real old.<br /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKUP4nYgHI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/WxO7LiNSj5c/s1600/AUS+075.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531146292980908146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKUP4nYgHI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/WxO7LiNSj5c/s200/AUS+075.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Another full day, and we weren't finished yet. We went to dinner (can you believe it, after all we ate?) but even though we went light, neither of us finish the meal.<br /><br />Our last active day was another dive day. What we gave up by way of fancy lunch, we gained in two great dives together, then I asked one of the crew if they could arrange another partner for Allan, so I could stay onboard. Lucky for him, they did a special drift dive in a place called 'Wildside', which began about 100 meters away from the group. It was his best dive.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">My favorite part was the crew helping us get our gear on and actually put on our fins on the platform. And when we returned, someone was there to grab your fins off and help you stand up. I felt like Cinderella.</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKT9BeiDHI/AAAAAAAAA9I/a91p993XDCo/s1600/AUS+076.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531145968942189682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKT9BeiDHI/AAAAAAAAA9I/a91p993XDCo/s400/AUS+076.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This public pool is open to the Esplanade, and it's close to an acre. You walk right along the edge of it and can jump in any time, no lifeguards, no fence, no hassle. Are these people crazy? Aren't they worried about liability?</span></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><p align="justify"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKQgtq93OI/AAAAAAAAA9A/7Au9QVk0Wzc/s1600/AUS+087.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531142184054414562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TMKQgtq93OI/AAAAAAAAA9A/7Au9QVk0Wzc/s200/AUS+087.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our last day, was a free day, which is perfect at the end of a busy vacation. And why do we think running from dawn to dusk is a vacation? As usual, I needed a rest after this vacation. </span></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Walking around on our last night, we found this in an 'herb shop'. I guess it's holistic viagra. </p></span>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-35066550756570776012010-10-08T06:28:00.000-07:002010-11-03T16:18:02.463-07:00Scat about town<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We leave for Australia tomorrow! We'll be eating vega-mite by noon Sunday. Oh, why not? We don't have a problem eating raw tuna on rice with a little wasabi kicker, how bad could vega-mite be? I'll find out and tell you next week.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8e3otWprI/AAAAAAAAA84/aFGGNAeFqT4/s1600/IMG+017.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525669208976172722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8e3otWprI/AAAAAAAAA84/aFGGNAeFqT4/s400/IMG+017.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> These three lovely ladies are all students of mine. Yuka, Mani and Tomoko were standing at the ID check in the Navy Exchange today when I went in for a card. Unfortunately, they don't make it to class much now that they are all working, but they still have a smile for the teacher. </span></div><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">We just got good news from Florida! Our renters signed another 1 yr. lease. That's a relief.</span><br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8eq0M6reI/AAAAAAAAA8w/tFxnMcCqsHg/s1600/IMG+003.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525668988723047906" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8eq0M6reI/AAAAAAAAA8w/tFxnMcCqsHg/s400/IMG+003.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last Saturday, Allan hosted a poker night, which actually began at 3pm. I'm glad he had the insight to start early, because they played for 7 1/2 hours. I was the designated driver, which meant several trips to the train station. Anyone who drinks anything doesn't drive.<br /></span><br /></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8eedzmHEI/AAAAAAAAA8o/sv3tL4EkElU/s1600/IMG+004.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525668776552832066" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8eedzmHEI/AAAAAAAAA8o/sv3tL4EkElU/s400/IMG+004.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sunday afternoon was Oktoberfest. It was the same as last year, except the band didn't have as much Oompah. They actually tried to sing popular American songs, but probably shouldn't have.<br /><br />That brick warehouse-looking building in the 2<span style="font-size:85%;">nd</span> photo, well it actually <em>was</em> a warehouse. Now it houses one good reason to go to Oktoberfest, a chic mall. I didn't buy alot, but did get a cute keyring cat that 'meows' when I push the button on his head. He's solid black like Joey.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8cu4mN83I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/_PSbHcMQnLw/s1600/IMG+018.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525666859599131506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK8cu4mN83I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/_PSbHcMQnLw/s320/IMG+018.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">And this afternoon, the hospital had a 'hail and farewell' for about 15 people. <em>Hail</em> for those coming, and <em>farewell</em> for those going.<br /><br />Lots of people move through this place during the summer months. This Corpsman is taking the oath of allegiance as she re-enlists. First she is given an honorable discharge, then she commits for another tour of duty.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;">I thought they just signed a paper.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">See you when I'm back from Down Under.</span> </p><div align="justify"></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-1915051421411597542010-09-27T00:52:00.000-07:002010-10-08T18:46:40.681-07:00Anjinzuka... pilot grave<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our second year is so far, a repeat of our first. The weather is cool and often wet, a distant typhoon causing high winds a few nights ago kept me awake, while Allan's even breathing meant he was in dreamland. The Mikoshi Parade on the 19th, annual anti-nuke demonstration on the 25th and the Oktoberfest beginning in a few days reminds me of the time we spent living on base.</span> </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK59ueGuj7I/AAAAAAAAA8I/vx_Fs_0rUwo/s1600/IMG+025.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525492030138912690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK59ueGuj7I/AAAAAAAAA8I/vx_Fs_0rUwo/s400/IMG+025.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Interpretation: No Nukes!</span></strong><br /></span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK59m3N8MWI/AAAAAAAAA8A/fEC4W0W7dqY/s1600/IMG+023.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525491899441099106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK59m3N8MWI/AAAAAAAAA8A/fEC4W0W7dqY/s320/IMG+023.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is different, pancakes in a can? Actually, I think it's sweetened milk. I asked a young Japanese woman who looked with some amusement at the photo, but she had never seen it either.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">While reading in the lobby of the Family Services Center a few days ago, I heard "Attention on deck!" and two young sailors snapped out of their seats. An Admiral strolled by and said "as you were". It was like watching JAG (the tv show). So there <em>are</em> still some experiences I've yet to have.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">On Sunday Allan played golf. He shot a 43 and 45. He is very proud. Since we'll be diving the Great Barrier Reef in a few weeks, I opted not to play. Three things irritate my right elbow, ironing, vacuuming and golf. I had given myself a lifetime pass on the first two, and I might have maintained it if I didn't mind looking like I slept in my clothes. !*%@*#&?!</span><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">If my arm gets sore, it can last a month or more, and Australia is too big a deal to take the chance. There'll always be more golf. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525491698060483250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK59bJBD2rI/AAAAAAAAA74/4y1Bs752Ywo/s400/IMG+015.jpg" /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><strong>The view from Miura Anjin Park</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I recently decided I needed to visit Miura Anjin Park. Read on... you'll see why. Our friend Mark was to take me, but several tries didn't pan out. Yesterday I took the train to Anjinzuka and was given a map by the station attendant that couldn't have been less helpful. I stopped at a Koban (police box) and was pointed west (I think).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Knowing the park is at a high point, I walked up every hill and set of steps I saw. After an hour and several helpful passers-by, I was ready to head back when I saw a gentleman strolling, so WTH, I gave it one more try. He walked a short way, then pointed to a long set of steps (of course). With my final trudge, I fulfilled my quest! See below... </span><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525098184390058354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK0XhoW5oXI/AAAAAAAAA7g/tbyaBs5NSrg/s400/IMG+017.jpg" /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>Direct from Lizipedia:</strong> If you've read Shogun, or seen the mini-series starring Richard Chamberlain, you might already know that the main character (Blackthorne) is based on a british sailor named William Adams who landed in Japan four hundred years ago. </span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The ship Liefde, was in distress when it arrived in Kyushi. The crew was taken by the local Shogun, who was interested in Adams. He'd learned to build ships in his younger days, so the Shogun sent him to the Miura Peninsula (where we currently reside) to build ships. He became wealthy from trading with the Dutch and Chinese. He stayed in Japan, even married a Japanese woman.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He was given the name Miura <strong>Anjin</strong> (anjin means pilot). He died in Hirado close to Nagasaki, but a bone fragment from his body and that of his wife, Oyuki are buried overlooking Tokyo Bay. The Japanese word for grave is <strong>zuka</strong>, and the village that grew up around the site is called Anjinzuka. It's about 3 km from our house.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></div></span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK0XXw1vEOI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/kMScym-jjgg/s1600/IMG+019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525098014868181218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TK0XXw1vEOI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/kMScym-jjgg/s400/IMG+019.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> Lizipedia makes no claim to factual content, but is instead filled with conjecture, inuendo and supposition. You may also find merriment, hoopla and tomfoolery. The goal of Lizipedia is to amuse the writer, namely me.</span></span></div>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-9188611082163506722010-09-16T17:58:00.001-07:002010-09-19T17:24:32.591-07:00Ending Year One...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today ends our first year in Japan.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was a slow day for me, one English student at 10 am, then at 5 pm I met three of my students from the base for dinner in Chinatown. We had Brazilian barbeque. Um-huh, Chinatown - Brazilian food, you heard right.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518138875517740114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJReEiiCJFI/AAAAAAAAA7I/8MdR4L-zHig/s400/IMG+032.jpg" /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Jihae (Korea), Emiko (Japan), Elizabeth (US) & Rosanna (Brazil)</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A few weeks back, Rosanna, my student from Brasil, told me about the restaurant. I hadn't been able to find anyone to go with, so I was thrilled when she and two other students agreed to go. We did a little shopping as well. I found out that there are also three Greek restaurants in Chinatown.</span><br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518138752264979698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRd9XYSRPI/AAAAAAAAA7A/oNpfyMDEmG0/s400/IMG+003.jpg" /> <p align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Over Labor Day weekend we had company from Yokota Air Base. Ace and Pam Tubbs lived in Yokosuka 15 years ago, when Pam was a captain in the navy, (rank just below Admiral). They arrived Friday afternoon. Allan was suffering from something akin to the flu, so he did not join us that night. Our usual Friday is religious services at 6 pm, then dinner in town - somewhere different every week. They were game so we had an evening out while Allan convalesced.<br /></span></p><p align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">They have friends in Yokosuka who had us over for a barbeque on Saturday afternoon. This barbeque included rice balls, grilled squid and yes, plenty of regular American barbeque food. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sunday, we brunched at the Officers' Club. This was our first time for the brunch, too much food, but it sure was good.</span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRd1zstHjI/AAAAAAAAA64/TxLd9uWebPs/s1600/IMG+024.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518138622427864626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRd1zstHjI/AAAAAAAAA64/TxLd9uWebPs/s400/IMG+024.jpg" /></a><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We took a tour of the base and later went to one of my favorite places, Kamakura. It's a cute town close by, but I hadn't been to this Buddhist Temple before. It's off the beaten path and set in a bamboo forest, uh grove, uh orchard. You know, lots of bamboo trees.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRdEzldqsI/AAAAAAAAA6o/EbIwCu-HQwI/s1600/IMG+012.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518137780583901890" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRdEzldqsI/AAAAAAAAA6o/EbIwCu-HQwI/s320/IMG+012.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We walked the path to the temple and passed this very special tree. It must be special, because it's really crooked and split down the trunk, yet it hasn't been cut down for firewood. It's lovingly propped up and cared for like a tribute to willpower. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The little guy below is a special angel, saint or god for children, although I'm sure none of those names fit. Isn't that sweet? Children get their own angels with red bibs and caps.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRc7iWlbbI/AAAAAAAAA6g/4vR049Yr6_Q/s1600/IMG+028.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518137621339270578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJRc7iWlbbI/AAAAAAAAA6g/4vR049Yr6_Q/s320/IMG+028.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We've had great fun during this year. We arrived the day before Rosh Hashanah, and now we are in the middle of the holidays again. People come from other bases to Yokosuka for the holidays. I met a young man who flew in from Korea. It's still a mighty small group.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The summer ended abruptly after a rainy day earlier this week. Suddenly the weather is cool and breezy. The Mikoshi Parade is this Sunday. We were living on the base during last year's parade, but if we attend this year, we'll be fighting for a parking space. </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJK9g_WJRSI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/4MAh5C9HHIo/s1600/IMG+021.jpg"></a></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJK9g_WJRSI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/4MAh5C9HHIo/s1600/IMG+021.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517680867940058402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TJK9g_WJRSI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/4MAh5C9HHIo/s400/IMG+021.jpg" /> </a><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So tomorrow starts year 2 in Japan. It's going quickly. We go to Australia in three weeks and expect guests in late October and again in March. Hopefully, Brian will come again soon, so we can go to Beijing and Xian, China.</span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-22728854493437458962010-08-23T22:49:00.000-07:002010-11-02T04:50:09.969-07:00Hachi, Akihabara and the last days of summer<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is Hachi. If you don't know about him, rent the movie <em>Hachi, a dog's tale</em> with Richard Gere. My sister-in-law, Carla told me about Hachi and after seeing the movie, I had to go to Shibuya station to see the bronze.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSw8gk8aBI/AAAAAAAAA6E/YiYml7LodNo/s1600/Hachi.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509222797764487186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSw8gk8aBI/AAAAAAAAA6E/YiYml7LodNo/s400/Hachi.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Hachi belonged to a college professor in Tokyo and they walked together to the Shibuya station every morning. In the afternoon, he would wait outside the station entrance for his master's return. When the professor died in 1925, the dog continued to wait every day at the same spot until his own death nine years later. People around the station fed Hachi and he was a mascot of sort for the commuters. </span><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSw0f6x7MI/AAAAAAAAA58/0XffJ-FAd08/s1600/A+030.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509222660148686018" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSw0f6x7MI/AAAAAAAAA58/0XffJ-FAd08/s200/A+030.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This station exit is named for Hachiko. Hachi means <em>eight</em>, so maybe he was the eighth puppy born in the litter. The <em>ko</em> is an old-fashioned endearment attached at the end of a pet's name. </span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was difficult to get a shot of him. People were crowded around to see the statue and pose for photographs.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Two weekends ago, a group from Allan's office went to the zoo or <em>dobutsuen</em>. It was pretty much the same group of people who went to the aquarium a month previous.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></div></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSwp8o2teI/AAAAAAAAA50/gbzBaSxDQaw/s1600/A+001.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509222478879569378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSwp8o2teI/AAAAAAAAA50/gbzBaSxDQaw/s400/A+001.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> These two guys are additions to the group. Alex and Sean are the sons of HM1 Hood. HM1 represents his job and rating. Their mom, also HM1 Hood, is on the USS George Washington, (an aircraft carrier) so she's not always in port.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSwiLlspII/AAAAAAAAA5s/a4V5wTjGOjU/s1600/A+008.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509222345453905026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSwiLlspII/AAAAAAAAA5s/a4V5wTjGOjU/s400/A+008.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are two of the inmates. These elephants (<em>zo</em> in japanese) had an area not much larger than your yard to walk around (and around and around) all day, every day. Rhinos, giraffes & kangaroos were equally cramped. BTW... the Japanese word for giraffe is kirin, like the beer. This zoo also had several insect exhibits... odd.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSwGFIQeOI/AAAAAAAAA5k/eHZ-o9D8ybs/s1600/A+010.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509221862683474146" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSwGFIQeOI/AAAAAAAAA5k/eHZ-o9D8ybs/s400/A+010.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> This is all the males in the group. The three ladies worked as photographers.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSv88BhH6I/AAAAAAAAA5c/qEax2wIfOc8/s1600/A+012.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509221705620463522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSv88BhH6I/AAAAAAAAA5c/qEax2wIfOc8/s320/A+012.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Yokosuka is a rockin' town (apparently). These two are selling tequilla shots on the street for 500 yen. I should mention that while driving while under the influence will get your license revoked for life, walking while under the influence is a non-punishable offense.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></span> </div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's been a busy time for TADs. There have been four (that I've met) naval personnel on <em>temporary duty</em> with the Public Health Dept. in the last eight weeks. Last week these two sailors from Diego Garcia were in Yokosuka for training.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSv18gqk_I/AAAAAAAAA5U/9cKslOBjXMc/s1600/A+015.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509221585492022258" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSv18gqk_I/AAAAAAAAA5U/9cKslOBjXMc/s320/A+015.jpg" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Diego Garcia is a teeny little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean with about 500 members of the U.S. military stationed there. You should google it.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">They took us up on an offer to show them around Tokyo. We hadn't been to the electronics district (Akihabara) and thought they might enjoy it. This store was seven floors and took and hour for just a cursory look. It was like being in a Pachinko parlor (noisy).<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSvg_rlvRI/AAAAAAAAA5M/-kAkJwJ5n3g/s1600/A+017.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509221225565895954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSvg_rlvRI/AAAAAAAAA5M/-kAkJwJ5n3g/s320/A+017.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I shopped for an hour and came away empty-handed.<br /><br />A short subway ride to Asakusa and we took a boat tour. It was the first time I've been anywhere in Japan, where there was no English. I recognized about 10 words, but Allan had his Japan tour book, so we recognized this as the Asahi beer building. I think the symbol on top looks like a jalapeno pepper, but Allan agrees with the book that it resembles something a bit less savory. UCK!!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is what our boat looked like. And here is the Tokyo skyline. Have I mentioned that Tokyo is <em>the</em> most expensive city in the world to live in? With the dollar/yen exchange rate, Yokosuka is getting pretty expensive as well.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509221068341017250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSvX1-QeqI/AAAAAAAAA5E/Ghin6NV5x_I/s400/A+022.jpg" /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There's no shortage of unusual architecture in Asia. This building was not in the tour book, but it looks like something Brian might have built with an erector set. After the ride, we found a restaurant and had great Chinese food. Thinking that Trey and Alex might want to stay in Tokyo when we headed back, we jumped on a train and headed for Shibuya (where we saw Hachi). We stopped in Starbucks overlooking a busy shopping area, for some people watching.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSvQYNoQYI/AAAAAAAAA48/vl2ysAtplhM/s1600/A+023.jpg"></p><p align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509220940093342082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/THSvQYNoQYI/AAAAAAAAA48/vl2ysAtplhM/s400/A+023.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We're coming to the end of our first year in Japan. There's still plenty we haven't seen and done. Our list is pretty full, but when someone we know returns from an exotic place with a great story, our list gets longer. For now, we're sticking close to home.</span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912002477517458595.post-65001632199800581582010-08-02T18:12:00.000-07:002010-08-05T19:31:50.335-07:00Odawara - Okay<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Allan is enjoying the pace of work at the base. Prior to his arrival last year, the Public Health Dept. was understaffed, and remains backlogged. But he and Gene are happily plodding along. I'm teaching English Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, having given up my Sunday night class. My students were lax about showing up and I prefer not to teach on the weekend.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This</span> weekend we took the train to see Odawara Castle. Allan heard about the castle at the base.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFduDmn5f2I/AAAAAAAAA40/gMnvqVqgb2o/s1600/July+002.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500986478042906466" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFduDmn5f2I/AAAAAAAAA40/gMnvqVqgb2o/s320/July+002.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">It took about an hour on the train to get there, and then a walk to the castle park, but we stopped on the way to do our favorite thing - eat. I had a rice bowl with tempura shrimp and vegetables. Allan got a set, which included a smaller version of my bowl, soup, pickles, some soba noodles and dessert.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The castle is a tourist site, so it was easy to find. It has a history that goes back to 1417. Unfortunately, the structure was completely destroyed in the late 19th century.<br /></div></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdt2ZDXnJI/AAAAAAAAA4s/V_69CLrTBWQ/s1600/July+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500986251061730450" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdt2ZDXnJI/AAAAAAAAA4s/V_69CLrTBWQ/s400/July+006.jpg" /><br /><p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The old castles, palaces and stuff like that here have great doors. It's a replica, but still great. Once inside the outer door, you're still not through the main gate, which is shown below. This leads to a courtyard, which leads to a park. There are some out buildings and originally a stable, (15th century, no cars).</span><br /></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdtvxR9fzI/AAAAAAAAA4k/rzAfQvtEKa0/s1600/July+009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500986137306300210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdtvxR9fzI/AAAAAAAAA4k/rzAfQvtEKa0/s400/July+009.jpg" /><br /><p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The tops of older buildings have statues, and in the case of this building, that statue is a fish. The ocean is important to life here, there is even a holiday called <em>Sea Day</em>. According to some of my students, <em>Sea Day</em> is a rather new holiday, created because they needed a holiday in July. Since they eat as much seafood as beef, pork and chicken combined, it makes sense.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdtodZzJjI/AAAAAAAAA4c/oXDMIW5BJZA/s1600/July+014.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500986011711383090" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdtodZzJjI/AAAAAAAAA4c/oXDMIW5BJZA/s200/July+014.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The castle is a replica, and the inside is a museum filled with military equipment. No matter where you go in the world, museums are filled with the paraphernalia of past wars.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There were suits of armor, spears, swords, shields, helmuts and a little artwork. I hoped it would be a good place to take visitors, but I think I'll stick to the big Buddha and the sites in Tokyo. The distance is about the same. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Where Allan is standing, a vendor will photograph you in traditional Japanese attire, which they supply. I couldn't imagine putting on a kimono in that heat.</span></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdtgHneGdI/AAAAAAAAA4U/kr3OHFVbLYc/s1600/July+024.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500985868424190418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WPHI296hEKk/TFdtgHneGdI/AAAAAAAAA4U/kr3OHFVbLYc/s400/July+024.jpg" /><br /><p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">When we left the castle, we had a lot of sunlight left, so took a walk through town. We did some shopping, but the heat and humidity was stifling. Going into the shops was cooler than being on the street, and we picked up some baked goods before returning home. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">On a funny note: Hiromi, our Japanese teacher, gave Allan a book called "Making Out in Japanese". We have enjoyed reading the phrases like "Your tool is small", "Are you on the pill?", "Is this your first time?", "Do that same thing again" and my personal favorite - "Aishiteru-kedo kekkon wa dekinai" or "I love you but I can't marry you".</span></p>3yrsinjapanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044243795139054135noreply@blogger.com0