tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47883074753908042172024-02-07T23:42:50.331+09:00sophie in akitasophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-75152152092138189672008-11-11T13:27:00.004+09:002008-11-11T13:37:39.959+09:00I've moved!I've moved this blog to a new site: <a href="http://sophiesaffron.wordpress.com/">http://sophiesaffron.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />Please visit it and enjoy! and update your rss and links!<br /><br />Goodbye blogger!sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-35178796250510034782008-10-20T10:15:00.010+09:002008-10-20T15:44:28.918+09:00koyo<div align="left">So I guess a few interesting things have happened since I last wrote here.<br /></div><div align="left">My school had their annual school festival, and I decided to not bring my camera this year, figuring it would be similar to last year where I took tons of photos. There was a lot of the same, but I did sadly miss shots of one of the students dressing up as the popular young (African-American, or according to my students, 100% Japanese) enka singer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jero">Jero</a>, including doing <em>blackface</em>. There was also a pretty terrible student rock band named "Silly God Disco Stardust", and a funny moment when all the 3rd grade homeroom teachers got up to sing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo">Ponyo</a> song (possibly awarded most annoying song ever, after listening to the school orchestra practicing it daily for weeks) accompanied by the school band. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left">It was a fun day, this time around I specifically asked for a job to do, as all the teachers and students had one, and I was given the job of yelling "Irrashiamase!" and "Arigato gozaimashita!" at the door to the "flea market" classrooms. I know now a little more about what it would be like to work at a Lawson's convenience store, although I kept my voice deep and did not let it get several octaves higher as the female conbini employees often do. The theme to the festival this year was "Join us!", a little brainwashy-sounding but certainly better than last year's non-sensical "Shining true flowers". At lunch I went outside as it was a nice day but was immediately struck by the scary entering-the-school-cafeteria-alone feeling, worriedly contemplating where and with whom to sit, but thankfully I was saved by a gaggle of third-grade girls from my elementary school, who dragged me over to their picnic area and offered me cookies and invited me to go to the haunted house with them. I love my elementary schoolers who just treat me like another 8-year old, and are so willing to be incredibly patient with my Japanese, explaining what they are trying to say to me 15 different ways until I get it. </p><div align="left">Honjo also just hosted, fairly inexplicably, the World Championships for Women's Roller Hockey. I only got to see the last day of the competition, but it was so much fun! Not only to see a diverse group of gaijin, but the game itself was very exciting to watch! Spain won 1st, with I think Portugal 2nd and Argentina 3rd. The US, France, Germany, South Africa, England, Macau, Chile, and a few other countries sent teams and the night after the finals we ran into some of the American team and Chilean coaches out on the town, which was fun! I feel sorry for them - trying to find a place in Honjo to celebrate was difficult!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left">The next week was another sports competition, cricket! Phil had organized an Akita team and invited Sendai's team down for a tournament. I watched about 5 hours of it as I was catering as a fundraiser for Room to Read and must say, you know, it's not really an interesting sport to watch. But making hamburger patties kept me busy and the Sendai team was fun to meet. </p><div align="left">And this past weekend I did a lot of <em>koyo</em>, viewing of the changing leaves. I love how Japan makes the changing of the seasons into important events. Jez, Matthew and I headed up north to Appi, the big ski resort, where I talked with some pension owners about a possible future group trip there (also a fundraiser for Room to Read). The leaves were I think in their peak time in the area, stunning. We then went down to the Yuzawa area. After hanging out with a local JET for his birthday party, we went to a udon factory, which was less interesting than it sounds, had a picnic with our Japanese class, and then to a canyon with natural sulfur springs steaming out of the rock face. I wanted to jump in but I guess that might have been frowned upon.</div><div align="left"> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOlcHqp-OQ8LpVNJkxPotZvqAacNixH4h9I_q9DB7ft-WlXYGNgDLEk7a-VrH7INdbieRJFFAe7x5fkYutEhLLAqdk_76pV2GLeZkj3huFm22O616nRNz7ENMT_e8sU-9SPfVTepdDrvr/s1600-h/IMG_6519.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259081885250130018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOlcHqp-OQ8LpVNJkxPotZvqAacNixH4h9I_q9DB7ft-WlXYGNgDLEk7a-VrH7INdbieRJFFAe7x5fkYutEhLLAqdk_76pV2GLeZkj3huFm22O616nRNz7ENMT_e8sU-9SPfVTepdDrvr/s320/IMG_6519.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p>This was taken from a weird parking lot on the side of a narrow mountain road near Lake Tazawa. After we had pulled in and started taking pictures, a cop car pulled in behind us. The cop got out of his car and started walking towards us and began to pull something out of his pants pocket. We were very afraid and started back towards our car, looking to make a get away. But what did he pull out? His keitai - he wanted to take pictures of the pretty leaves too. <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8dZ7mLA5DVwBdZ7nZrnMzo11aRNN-ioiI-1HYiiwYk9CkMX-cNtp-scK4KP5NjtaLpyYfeEo8FI3v-lTO_RqfPThDKYCCtaJq6sQRdF2w0P51x58G0_eVB4yTZGkmUdc9Ogs3CZGGVLi/s1600-h/IMG_6523.JPG"></p></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259081889490216914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8dZ7mLA5DVwBdZ7nZrnMzo11aRNN-ioiI-1HYiiwYk9CkMX-cNtp-scK4KP5NjtaLpyYfeEo8FI3v-lTO_RqfPThDKYCCtaJq6sQRdF2w0P51x58G0_eVB4yTZGkmUdc9Ogs3CZGGVLi/s320/IMG_6523.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzYlcWHrMlWmxBRs0PkNNQ8dds_g79HExj9GexlCVLLV-o6dfGBb6wgD891_My5vJswvPv1TWRVYaYmDRWORQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center">This was at a michi-no eki on the mountain road where they were having an all-out autumn festival including pounding rice into mochi. In the video you can see where some of the glutenous stuff flew out onto my camera lens! Yum.<br /></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg0z3tozXVQ4TdwaFfy923Fv1Hvu9Z-6_uixlDkxJl46e5lzi_VuxYJQHCDNM6d8V6ih-9eIdNy0hz1OXbwpISlVQPKwCcMifYYuQqNDxdWW5llYfQgKFK5Eb8DDcptRwL30-B21pcwBE/s1600-h/IMG_6536.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259081893362195314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg0z3tozXVQ4TdwaFfy923Fv1Hvu9Z-6_uixlDkxJl46e5lzi_VuxYJQHCDNM6d8V6ih-9eIdNy0hz1OXbwpISlVQPKwCcMifYYuQqNDxdWW5llYfQgKFK5Eb8DDcptRwL30-B21pcwBE/s320/IMG_6536.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQTXhBBbFAkY7JG5ofrf4f4X5h7IFfg93xFb3cjxOVXOdYwDwU-nGj0Yh06OVSRheWkohk6FN9fU8QoK5JYBSkpAGviclOltmEGS0RNDaymAytswmL2eqaqwVSY1Q4TolSy9kLkn4qOua/s1600-h/IMG_6542.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259081902272544434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQTXhBBbFAkY7JG5ofrf4f4X5h7IFfg93xFb3cjxOVXOdYwDwU-nGj0Yh06OVSRheWkohk6FN9fU8QoK5JYBSkpAGviclOltmEGS0RNDaymAytswmL2eqaqwVSY1Q4TolSy9kLkn4qOua/s320/IMG_6542.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH5B4KSs9eMnvCgzAw0QNKgEnZXb2E6Q40jKtVfirs2xSY8ADakCHfQPZWJVQ40-2ZuUH6A7ebqXYsqKDDcnjnwbjgo18m4SrCxcCJpMSp_b7qdJWT4Iz-nvsOmOF52ROrAsl3z6Sypoq/s1600-h/IMG_6545.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259081906845083346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH5B4KSs9eMnvCgzAw0QNKgEnZXb2E6Q40jKtVfirs2xSY8ADakCHfQPZWJVQ40-2ZuUH6A7ebqXYsqKDDcnjnwbjgo18m4SrCxcCJpMSp_b7qdJWT4Iz-nvsOmOF52ROrAsl3z6Sypoq/s320/IMG_6545.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOaJavX9ppHsnce6q-FfgWBh0KyG3h1qGfrL95krUEQI_vRebChgVp1kR_u6i_HC-bLPeIr-ABH55Y7zcx9HFbXOEj7X5EJJ_30D0JGQuYpRReYdVdkhGA_ytSik7TdDy0PCM3QdB3hFN/s1600-h/IMG_6549.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259084121084485362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOaJavX9ppHsnce6q-FfgWBh0KyG3h1qGfrL95krUEQI_vRebChgVp1kR_u6i_HC-bLPeIr-ABH55Y7zcx9HFbXOEj7X5EJJ_30D0JGQuYpRReYdVdkhGA_ytSik7TdDy0PCM3QdB3hFN/s320/IMG_6549.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPWurGTdM1J8HtYk6GWBcaJUr-Itl0nD3UQdnDY-k7kLObuyHFKu7aglIIRRps0OtQzK0v4QyfVPHu095l1MaunttML0ry9vn4P3GKDtulZiMCn10fwfq6HNyYTdCLHagsMHEW3cpecTT/s1600-h/IMG_6553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259084127788221922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPWurGTdM1J8HtYk6GWBcaJUr-Itl0nD3UQdnDY-k7kLObuyHFKu7aglIIRRps0OtQzK0v4QyfVPHu095l1MaunttML0ry9vn4P3GKDtulZiMCn10fwfq6HNyYTdCLHagsMHEW3cpecTT/s320/IMG_6553.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTSlSVGUZStYWYTqu8stcn4iPrHOzIwTcjpe5mJUQpNcwIbRKi9yAXC4T6C01-WcZWry_N7tWY9ntfsXKlTczbT59uTMoSZgWTkkQ9OE3v1eY8zOig1MFq0Cv37185Yk4libBjc38AE1u/s1600-h/IMG_6557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259084134175483314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTSlSVGUZStYWYTqu8stcn4iPrHOzIwTcjpe5mJUQpNcwIbRKi9yAXC4T6C01-WcZWry_N7tWY9ntfsXKlTczbT59uTMoSZgWTkkQ9OE3v1eY8zOig1MFq0Cv37185Yk4libBjc38AE1u/s320/IMG_6557.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">In Appi pension village, possibly one of my favorite places in the world</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXkp6wZcCyCMu_3gqV1b3dqJ1QBTAvKDN4-B_bYqiz_INHgEUv-HFz3P0Y7GeP9FGGsYlzg2ATko_MPFdx2yhLVBoGpwwfqRswwNaVcpVpGh8FDTIE-LzjqmQe7Y1awnLXXGs_KiuL029/s1600-h/IMG_6560.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259118324049537346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXkp6wZcCyCMu_3gqV1b3dqJ1QBTAvKDN4-B_bYqiz_INHgEUv-HFz3P0Y7GeP9FGGsYlzg2ATko_MPFdx2yhLVBoGpwwfqRswwNaVcpVpGh8FDTIE-LzjqmQe7Y1awnLXXGs_KiuL029/s320/IMG_6560.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>At Appi ranch...this is what I think heaven looks like.<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1T13L6ttcY9bKb9uodOyrpzmpdHf7Apjv6mPjrvxpiqOdjxrZT_4ymOYLXb6NAZY_tqecOfjXABn_f-mZgWeUoFD0iHT_ZexvAJ5p5FMFo1Y5aUnaV9N0TRTgs_VEm4T7xgiNc2nEaTE/s1600-h/IMG_6561.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259084142013341426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1T13L6ttcY9bKb9uodOyrpzmpdHf7Apjv6mPjrvxpiqOdjxrZT_4ymOYLXb6NAZY_tqecOfjXABn_f-mZgWeUoFD0iHT_ZexvAJ5p5FMFo1Y5aUnaV9N0TRTgs_VEm4T7xgiNc2nEaTE/s320/IMG_6561.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0Z8TXLhVIhZc9RoHuDVvBC4M17kV0JmnjD9HiL4N45-uF6kVb8tKrVyLOumJJnpIlWyp05DSZ-MzifPW5pan1ClEOachjPqmXfHKVRFBt2fvf7W5LR2YFKSWF4oalJmwNjSfihJMJhbz/s1600-h/IMG_6563.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259086357544973330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0Z8TXLhVIhZc9RoHuDVvBC4M17kV0JmnjD9HiL4N45-uF6kVb8tKrVyLOumJJnpIlWyp05DSZ-MzifPW5pan1ClEOachjPqmXfHKVRFBt2fvf7W5LR2YFKSWF4oalJmwNjSfihJMJhbz/s320/IMG_6563.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjZb3VnocWed2_boUNeaFh37EVSB8Sf_OBFyv3ho7GkcK3bVf6SKDejN41oXdX_ZjYt9TvLzStPgH-wOX7YF3pOwjzVdcW6HaMeFwGGciDl9tVGXCFPUwZGr1FZ0kGG3x6hY7ALbC55HG/s1600-h/IMG_6565.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259086362309797474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjZb3VnocWed2_boUNeaFh37EVSB8Sf_OBFyv3ho7GkcK3bVf6SKDejN41oXdX_ZjYt9TvLzStPgH-wOX7YF3pOwjzVdcW6HaMeFwGGciDl9tVGXCFPUwZGr1FZ0kGG3x6hY7ALbC55HG/s320/IMG_6565.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the ranch they were having pig races</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla_4wdCzWlLM-SbYDEU69s1E-O4xAio4R9VNefttv1trmpEHvERh-O0L5IemNDUUbU_NacGV5KgivIXAy2kbIqsCggiacRqCYCjVsHzr1D1tfsbT4ymiP1ihykTOQCn7oSdiUa96s2RQH/s1600-h/IMG_6569.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259086363667389586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla_4wdCzWlLM-SbYDEU69s1E-O4xAio4R9VNefttv1trmpEHvERh-O0L5IemNDUUbU_NacGV5KgivIXAy2kbIqsCggiacRqCYCjVsHzr1D1tfsbT4ymiP1ihykTOQCn7oSdiUa96s2RQH/s320/IMG_6569.JPG" border="0" /></a> They also had a goat kid and cow for petting</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIONC3OciRqzlSiQgSbu0mwDvtI197WP0YZESesdyzIsYtUa9z8qjaUTRjyfOXbZdFYzz_9XRDpe74cCey5BXRixe6XecMaD8ysN2gYkblp6AQwh2VsBJtqaPrUtkoNA1mwZp3f9egpMe/s1600-h/IMG_6572.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259086370411274066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIONC3OciRqzlSiQgSbu0mwDvtI197WP0YZESesdyzIsYtUa9z8qjaUTRjyfOXbZdFYzz_9XRDpe74cCey5BXRixe6XecMaD8ysN2gYkblp6AQwh2VsBJtqaPrUtkoNA1mwZp3f9egpMe/s320/IMG_6572.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr8nrWczvTeNEhE8UIGlVv0VTuqSLLiA6oVpJhLPW6079Ox6KgLCIaoBERfhYu_rol8IU5Lwuz49B9t3D7opvu0silCiGqlt5oewjy3tBovDdHIkSVXihKBGOrtm8dmNx4MHddKZM39Nt/s1600-h/IMG_6578.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259086376735439826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr8nrWczvTeNEhE8UIGlVv0VTuqSLLiA6oVpJhLPW6079Ox6KgLCIaoBERfhYu_rol8IU5Lwuz49B9t3D7opvu0silCiGqlt5oewjy3tBovDdHIkSVXihKBGOrtm8dmNx4MHddKZM39Nt/s320/IMG_6578.JPG" border="0" /></a> These was taken from a bridge described as the best <em>koyo</em> spot in Iwate-ken<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuDZ_QFDLMBomTprjMQVwgzRrfnUrc7WuqdwKIOzTOi3VHWPRwlGctM9iZwdSui9_xn_T1aGyvvbumo55vRpRe6lmg977Y5dtg-ESKX7nlrFzyQFqwlRCLycEsJ5srw38LKzKdrphDcPs/s1600-h/IMG_6586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259088261172390450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuDZ_QFDLMBomTprjMQVwgzRrfnUrc7WuqdwKIOzTOi3VHWPRwlGctM9iZwdSui9_xn_T1aGyvvbumo55vRpRe6lmg977Y5dtg-ESKX7nlrFzyQFqwlRCLycEsJ5srw38LKzKdrphDcPs/s320/IMG_6586.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83ugrzpV4TDCqAmSIGjJ7FaJI28i_6ynyepM6bO66lrHNQu3ghBP6cqRnjwZOQ1cHRVjeEl8lPwNo8ce4X2aXYqoZIhzn7xktN6TO5cBWTiNgnt-qSTJiENxCEEQu4-e85GIaDLH0aZBP/s1600-h/IMG_6587.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259088262068372370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83ugrzpV4TDCqAmSIGjJ7FaJI28i_6ynyepM6bO66lrHNQu3ghBP6cqRnjwZOQ1cHRVjeEl8lPwNo8ce4X2aXYqoZIhzn7xktN6TO5cBWTiNgnt-qSTJiENxCEEQu4-e85GIaDLH0aZBP/s320/IMG_6587.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcPobkzZqbwlXiHBD7Lw0TX__KNr3bWWcMA56yRXTFS8KII4X09ARVtMeinMqJc8Nhh_BzZdBnoph2V5END3gb9eqCN49FZWZ4oRi4YgMGZ9HDIrqKhx67gIsFgQVv-nbVPDyXWs3x1dT/s1600-h/IMG_6588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259088269847630226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcPobkzZqbwlXiHBD7Lw0TX__KNr3bWWcMA56yRXTFS8KII4X09ARVtMeinMqJc8Nhh_BzZdBnoph2V5END3gb9eqCN49FZWZ4oRi4YgMGZ9HDIrqKhx67gIsFgQVv-nbVPDyXWs3x1dT/s320/IMG_6588.JPG" border="0" /></a> Matthew, me and Jez<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_oKHh0MtKG10Uz6yZmung2T3MQ-kpJCpWHMyA6wveXT6a-rqjG_Ftb5qD5XFCysCRmKTyJRookqMzWCOkcoy-46liGYTXMX7db-mC3Kam4r9s9_uE7TBs-2eY0srYK6vmlN9zAcQpE9H/s1600-h/IMG_6591.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259088276531052466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_oKHh0MtKG10Uz6yZmung2T3MQ-kpJCpWHMyA6wveXT6a-rqjG_Ftb5qD5XFCysCRmKTyJRookqMzWCOkcoy-46liGYTXMX7db-mC3Kam4r9s9_uE7TBs-2eY0srYK6vmlN9zAcQpE9H/s320/IMG_6591.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8aONUjBTCnL5rqM6NcBc_axMbEWPyLaJv_syd8PYUynmpRNvw8N1ragymn_tTQ7TyJwOhSNrMuKrCqZGIRC4wCRW26omwPkwr4J3GbjfAqpMlwucyhmPEYjCLB6RvhZ7j6wP4-jTsyXM/s1600-h/IMG_6592.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259088279042731858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8aONUjBTCnL5rqM6NcBc_axMbEWPyLaJv_syd8PYUynmpRNvw8N1ragymn_tTQ7TyJwOhSNrMuKrCqZGIRC4wCRW26omwPkwr4J3GbjfAqpMlwucyhmPEYjCLB6RvhZ7j6wP4-jTsyXM/s320/IMG_6592.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbop3nIPQG30Q0-2Nbvw4FJb4NjU3mlB0DBfVdXmzYMcc9xkrD452mRd-fQGGLhuBHO9s6JZSpL3g3blZAl8Dd4zeBrvACDE4GPSz4uyxQekHHE-IVORq_kDD8kIlRPuQ9-0bc35X-VDmR/s1600-h/IMG_6593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259102565745808450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbop3nIPQG30Q0-2Nbvw4FJb4NjU3mlB0DBfVdXmzYMcc9xkrD452mRd-fQGGLhuBHO9s6JZSpL3g3blZAl8Dd4zeBrvACDE4GPSz4uyxQekHHE-IVORq_kDD8kIlRPuQ9-0bc35X-VDmR/s320/IMG_6593.JPG" border="0" /></a> The next day at a picnic with our Japanese class fellow folk - since we were further south the leaves were just starting to change</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTZ7fUuAsSrdDmnZA7zpd5wfOqS9mDktReRC8jg-HUOxMt9dqJ-G83hz2lnmwB4B_fifvcz04eiNqlm8oECWfpxlZzBqMRq5d30Da1m2tQOSIzB4OYcYSKctM_eaGFk5iKuPJ9RuwJeFh/s1600-h/IMG_6595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259102576159757842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTZ7fUuAsSrdDmnZA7zpd5wfOqS9mDktReRC8jg-HUOxMt9dqJ-G83hz2lnmwB4B_fifvcz04eiNqlm8oECWfpxlZzBqMRq5d30Da1m2tQOSIzB4OYcYSKctM_eaGFk5iKuPJ9RuwJeFh/s320/IMG_6595.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xhu1Yg5DkRcVccUInLUERQqk1SZWp6I59YDtZJJjbx_ZzXYOF-EABGVlZpFlchF7VGVCVxLwy6PFt3QzK9Fvsq1uYEINio9ZKvhZDFqoCTX-4PdwfjAd8AJw_Ua6Y39weP4PNRmHKzUC/s1600-h/IMG_6599.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259102578804711362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xhu1Yg5DkRcVccUInLUERQqk1SZWp6I59YDtZJJjbx_ZzXYOF-EABGVlZpFlchF7VGVCVxLwy6PFt3QzK9Fvsq1uYEINio9ZKvhZDFqoCTX-4PdwfjAd8AJw_Ua6Y39weP4PNRmHKzUC/s320/IMG_6599.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CFAY_83-e1q4RvZQvphh4xfiDYW23Bc5UEFBlGg1qO2M-EoIZ0pN0eGSaDOnYh4qGwGYhZsqBBILdJxhudkomMNvJPUNcR1_Y8b1ME2TBCkacCv5FJgjCTTxFnwOKQc7OeRDVRlUfwOl/s1600-h/IMG_6603.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259102582855543906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CFAY_83-e1q4RvZQvphh4xfiDYW23Bc5UEFBlGg1qO2M-EoIZ0pN0eGSaDOnYh4qGwGYhZsqBBILdJxhudkomMNvJPUNcR1_Y8b1ME2TBCkacCv5FJgjCTTxFnwOKQc7OeRDVRlUfwOl/s320/IMG_6603.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFT_A4ac6e1o8Qj8DpSL6PAeVrICsrSvPo6VhNeAyPUouv1VFjV2xsnQB59Rfp2k6Nl4fIjU0-4w_s_NWk590JJ093Jlfj9qJfSzTVSd8ZYQbSctWj_atS6U4y2fWr4lm4k412sTOvL9YH/s1600-h/IMG_6604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259102588396527474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFT_A4ac6e1o8Qj8DpSL6PAeVrICsrSvPo6VhNeAyPUouv1VFjV2xsnQB59Rfp2k6Nl4fIjU0-4w_s_NWk590JJ093Jlfj9qJfSzTVSd8ZYQbSctWj_atS6U4y2fWr4lm4k412sTOvL9YH/s320/IMG_6604.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w-2cijdFJiVCMuOubcrSLpOy0FRPI-aws0MKC_SpsyjurPfO3R-myj-F8HGrHMyp33RmwdBi2viRogrwvkw36SN2vAbYWXHC57NImOt7tZEgZrpJIrEUI9pjdeooISrnsWf3kfP0suv1/s1600-h/IMG_6605.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259103379712340242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w-2cijdFJiVCMuOubcrSLpOy0FRPI-aws0MKC_SpsyjurPfO3R-myj-F8HGrHMyp33RmwdBi2viRogrwvkw36SN2vAbYWXHC57NImOt7tZEgZrpJIrEUI9pjdeooISrnsWf3kfP0suv1/s320/IMG_6605.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9uhmK2n8-uOQksHeG-0US5Ha5VhPsqkscl-L__ctbTyRfiA-p-aiwtullqBxhxbuYZbP8hbN732GNhp8IGFLq3LVOcVJCaLiOGGyyg9ep9ZdRxY2hoekZ3oxiXr0syx9_LZ68QDeZ_Zs/s1600-h/IMG_6606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259103381301330418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9uhmK2n8-uOQksHeG-0US5Ha5VhPsqkscl-L__ctbTyRfiA-p-aiwtullqBxhxbuYZbP8hbN732GNhp8IGFLq3LVOcVJCaLiOGGyyg9ep9ZdRxY2hoekZ3oxiXr0syx9_LZ68QDeZ_Zs/s320/IMG_6606.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9Jx1bwrtdP0gQf79V4TL-lmM6pGDl8KOHEywn2tH4WcoVmAq4Aognpv9K3-KX3gotC3idY1_MjesdMfsGTsOusya5G78WuEnRVd3GjHISKnPB3U4YFFRlJJQz2zmQyg4QF_UkiDcE0M/s1600-h/IMG_6608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259103386910954018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9Jx1bwrtdP0gQf79V4TL-lmM6pGDl8KOHEywn2tH4WcoVmAq4Aognpv9K3-KX3gotC3idY1_MjesdMfsGTsOusya5G78WuEnRVd3GjHISKnPB3U4YFFRlJJQz2zmQyg4QF_UkiDcE0M/s320/IMG_6608.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiin1xU2N_iG8rUcEhCLtoYgsraOluY1JotyXHKJL4xmebsOxm2pubz3KjOg_3fBha_CkOEWRx4RTxjStOpSNaCC5pXz2NuvPCw3XL1TCteo-8NYG5NBaExvFjeGLIE4YiCT3cJR3fT29/s1600-h/IMG_6609.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259103395283644290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiin1xU2N_iG8rUcEhCLtoYgsraOluY1JotyXHKJL4xmebsOxm2pubz3KjOg_3fBha_CkOEWRx4RTxjStOpSNaCC5pXz2NuvPCw3XL1TCteo-8NYG5NBaExvFjeGLIE4YiCT3cJR3fT29/s320/IMG_6609.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And last but not least, I'm almost out of space on this blog, so I'm thinking of either moving this over to wordpress or creating a new blogger one ie. sophie in akita 2. I've looked a little at wordpress but am not too crazy about it, but it might just be because I'm so used to blogger now. But that 3 G of space is incredibly tempting! I'll let you know what I decide.</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-24856429739936581402008-10-09T09:24:00.045+09:002008-10-09T16:41:43.117+09:00autumn trip<div align="center">So, I've seen golden temples in Kyoto, been stared down by monkeys in Arashiyama, bitten by deer in Nara, went down a funnel-shaped waterslide in a indoor waterpark, walked through the floating shrine of Miyajima, and was spoiled by getting to spend hour after hour with my best friends, and I think it's time you all heard about it.</div><div align="center"><br />Gina, Margaret and Noura came from NYC for an extended visit to Japan, and we had a really amazing time together, in Akita as well as exploring some of the rest of the country. First up was Akita, and I really enjoyed showing them around my favorite places and having them get to know my friends here.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV80HX5ewmoWMxgpd_xyCByF3EVyplKN8vYcShY41BPcLpIVTbrdI9edh3qUIH6JdBFix9vRRZLbfRwHPl5lDMODGE2YQozvX_FRG5s37pU_J7spRhbkzBaizfIlCg9JTnLoJrY7zfwGUm/s1600-h/IMG_5689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254947386364444706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV80HX5ewmoWMxgpd_xyCByF3EVyplKN8vYcShY41BPcLpIVTbrdI9edh3qUIH6JdBFix9vRRZLbfRwHPl5lDMODGE2YQozvX_FRG5s37pU_J7spRhbkzBaizfIlCg9JTnLoJrY7zfwGUm/s320/IMG_5689.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Margaret in the balloon pit at Round 1, one of the first and probably my favorite pic of the trip</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254947391286985490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB74HM2wrCoK25rNxT8UVfA2XgLzO-i2HBVWTU9bkMpuiYmlLADhcVZyBZMfSq6K1M0JD8bJ6ZA4x19ItzT7oxMbd2-lXVG6o0gZjkSHiMOmGskgKWQdYzbSR6VUJ61c5IffD3Sp2-EIFC/s320/IMG_5701.JPG" border="0" /> Cathy and Gina bonding at the izakaya<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpTPqVDYlcKYTROEQS0LQk1bpwTVj814wKuLexeBoR7aV96yZDJvdYjL94tMNAN2NmDxiyBKsuRhrUimIsCum42oj3K-bYwOstOy6j4IV-9pTfIKDZY7Gck3y6JL0Mn12fkH13oZ2W-r0/s1600-h/IMG_5702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254947397561751490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpTPqVDYlcKYTROEQS0LQk1bpwTVj814wKuLexeBoR7aV96yZDJvdYjL94tMNAN2NmDxiyBKsuRhrUimIsCum42oj3K-bYwOstOy6j4IV-9pTfIKDZY7Gck3y6JL0Mn12fkH13oZ2W-r0/s320/IMG_5702.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Phil, Jez, Margaret and Noura</p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqF2jplvg2vDB_KpCT2jW3NfqoJWNWr863zeiGY7kWNEKECEM_l7TARYUfoKrc4WOYDWFTFZvynsNajU1IiYw9AQJJPnKDPZ-zgxIIjsY-xcboPy9eSe3wCSTpNvf1IhBmMvjFQRik9BT/s1600-h/IMG_5714.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254947393988323506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqF2jplvg2vDB_KpCT2jW3NfqoJWNWr863zeiGY7kWNEKECEM_l7TARYUfoKrc4WOYDWFTFZvynsNajU1IiYw9AQJJPnKDPZ-zgxIIjsY-xcboPy9eSe3wCSTpNvf1IhBmMvjFQRik9BT/s320/IMG_5714.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Margaret and I at Castaway's - had to properly introduce them to Honjo by way of our favorite karaoke bar!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOgQzKBsSTwWE-L2c05uA32Viykuu7rYgmwM8wgIp2Gje3lCyFQdkcEcc87ZoIRUyUDmwqMr-b_DKaREn1qxtKZnx89hWZ2fWXBk1Zs9vwl-FXsDpouNkU-T7a9nBPy_U4YiV4f8ALkDG/s1600-h/IMG_5728.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254948950550376818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOgQzKBsSTwWE-L2c05uA32Viykuu7rYgmwM8wgIp2Gje3lCyFQdkcEcc87ZoIRUyUDmwqMr-b_DKaREn1qxtKZnx89hWZ2fWXBk1Zs9vwl-FXsDpouNkU-T7a9nBPy_U4YiV4f8ALkDG/s320/IMG_5728.JPG" border="0" /></a>at Akata-no daiboutsu with Jesse<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcvPfo7bG-xNu7KSEc-jTDrWdbiO6JKu_0kZxgFaJxgwu_Ax_q7gkH3-szl7gr-et2xxYCh1QT5R6r-PYcyNb-JoBdwCljC1h3cOpOezZEpI0hKR2RYL0MyUSBj8MeIlkczX6mc7-xmMx/s1600-h/IMG_5730.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254948956854254658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcvPfo7bG-xNu7KSEc-jTDrWdbiO6JKu_0kZxgFaJxgwu_Ax_q7gkH3-szl7gr-et2xxYCh1QT5R6r-PYcyNb-JoBdwCljC1h3cOpOezZEpI0hKR2RYL0MyUSBj8MeIlkczX6mc7-xmMx/s320/IMG_5730.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN8082AzfO5JFkJNIHzbVSseXc86rbI35HSNiZmOkcFYd3QvIIrgZPCXJ4URHWrqkAnwp_9cuPjYyUh-J9eB6P7P-8_0mDOpQgOFELCnvIqQfc5RLIXKRnbmVowOtKab-Fsl46ZlbyS-J/s1600-h/IMG_5733.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254948958223046578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN8082AzfO5JFkJNIHzbVSseXc86rbI35HSNiZmOkcFYd3QvIIrgZPCXJ4URHWrqkAnwp_9cuPjYyUh-J9eB6P7P-8_0mDOpQgOFELCnvIqQfc5RLIXKRnbmVowOtKab-Fsl46ZlbyS-J/s320/IMG_5733.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Gina at Akata-no taki</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBPwWVsRNNFwSkztiL1e7WBtI4oooDi_O-GtakN82L3Xf2N-1rstvoprrFAh6qY1I9GB-q_hJTlx-MBO-ITjYgLvNXoujXMh2fjDlLqtN8YLGyszJk47Uu7Es9BcP-gxAb-sEVsagCrhu/s1600-h/IMG_5744.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254948961854742098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBPwWVsRNNFwSkztiL1e7WBtI4oooDi_O-GtakN82L3Xf2N-1rstvoprrFAh6qY1I9GB-q_hJTlx-MBO-ITjYgLvNXoujXMh2fjDlLqtN8YLGyszJk47Uu7Es9BcP-gxAb-sEVsagCrhu/s320/IMG_5744.JPG" border="0" /></a> From the top of 1000 statues up the hillside<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AO0keSwcAj7mArjpKPyodOgibBzGLTuWWMXzdX7Vn3sUn-LlPPGPbpiPh3rZb_FYgjiBt0YvkDnVGHH_Sn_7tZTfxsXuo4qJCHwP1RX0A4squ6e5CjcJYrxgEOhP3hktG3hWeRasaNLk/s1600-h/IMG_5746.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254949887579079634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AO0keSwcAj7mArjpKPyodOgibBzGLTuWWMXzdX7Vn3sUn-LlPPGPbpiPh3rZb_FYgjiBt0YvkDnVGHH_Sn_7tZTfxsXuo4qJCHwP1RX0A4squ6e5CjcJYrxgEOhP3hktG3hWeRasaNLk/s320/IMG_5746.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8IJeLW-RwDrnygLoSla3CeUhAFNLZaHXl6XgI_PdYuSXbAQJ6rf1ML8TjudkMJHDFCKrhWXQFXz6MujVeMcXkJVls1v8hylUsndiwYsLYYQCH-LfkNPDymkSNuHptbNSJzzV33AgVQF3/s1600-h/IMG_5751.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254949888938180546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8IJeLW-RwDrnygLoSla3CeUhAFNLZaHXl6XgI_PdYuSXbAQJ6rf1ML8TjudkMJHDFCKrhWXQFXz6MujVeMcXkJVls1v8hylUsndiwYsLYYQCH-LfkNPDymkSNuHptbNSJzzV33AgVQF3/s320/IMG_5751.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJB-3chfeI2JH8W1cfLzsFCfi71HJFzzP23XqeXjLIn1_oegf5UIC63M24vgvBIlK0E0jzkKdQCjMFAvvpL1Pw3jZ60oIYsryFjRKOWXVmfG9E8imqAE4HtRGUT-OqFgPoDht8XNLQDlYP/s1600-h/IMG_5753.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254949893127851506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJB-3chfeI2JH8W1cfLzsFCfi71HJFzzP23XqeXjLIn1_oegf5UIC63M24vgvBIlK0E0jzkKdQCjMFAvvpL1Pw3jZ60oIYsryFjRKOWXVmfG9E8imqAE4HtRGUT-OqFgPoDht8XNLQDlYP/s320/IMG_5753.JPG" border="0" /></a> We went on a mini (one night) zen meditation retreat at the zen-do I visited with my parents, run by the Sato's. I really liked the meditation although it was hard on my joints and difficult with a runny nose! The next day we had breakfast with Sato-san the monk (or as he refered to himself, probably more correctly, the abbot) and tea with him and his wife at their temple.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM3vzXUiGS6e5JYctG8XWAz98PTMZrEl84lbia0H6kNMe5vJfQq4G5s2qiw9SvDP9Vr1BHUwwvTI6GLyoYpcNVMgcvObuORArdtX8OBUz497GEcgMy7uGSdndUButMapAPdxe-gtPaf73/s1600-h/IMG_5756.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254949895022703410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM3vzXUiGS6e5JYctG8XWAz98PTMZrEl84lbia0H6kNMe5vJfQq4G5s2qiw9SvDP9Vr1BHUwwvTI6GLyoYpcNVMgcvObuORArdtX8OBUz497GEcgMy7uGSdndUButMapAPdxe-gtPaf73/s320/IMG_5756.JPG" border="0" /></a> The view of Chokai from the zen-do, a little rainy and misty but still beautiful</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdrUVsC61Eoqogd_aBc0ua0qJrpZ4R_e5Su1vek1-aX3MsmfdEiT8nEDfSuthJ2BktuCujAzgd1f4kQnUZUF3cdktr0x_YHryH0VkC3S1nRlUNcjmBPTm1sB0LGvsVcv32uu8gdZd4MIq/s1600-h/IMG_5764.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254951492719893922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdrUVsC61Eoqogd_aBc0ua0qJrpZ4R_e5Su1vek1-aX3MsmfdEiT8nEDfSuthJ2BktuCujAzgd1f4kQnUZUF3cdktr0x_YHryH0VkC3S1nRlUNcjmBPTm1sB0LGvsVcv32uu8gdZd4MIq/s320/IMG_5764.JPG" border="0" /></a> Of course we had to visit I think my favorite place in Akita, Lake Tazawa</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOksl2sBJmG0qKotdaVolPzHu15n2BAivJqDzpkCDa2A09gxj_EekspiCkpip0T2x7HphuHIIMwhIDhFYG1VIIYXyXh6HFFZBfArt9XJDtKgjXY6-KKuxnWCLjDqSAQxtA4AS_Sh59NsO8/s1600-h/IMG_5766.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254951495408936866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOksl2sBJmG0qKotdaVolPzHu15n2BAivJqDzpkCDa2A09gxj_EekspiCkpip0T2x7HphuHIIMwhIDhFYG1VIIYXyXh6HFFZBfArt9XJDtKgjXY6-KKuxnWCLjDqSAQxtA4AS_Sh59NsO8/s320/IMG_5766.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaMC3eqaYYd0uAQDFpSHKN5EU_Ls-7iTc5c4PN8ZWRXsyO-VJX7IPgLoobz-gUzMaXFZQbyyY7NjnpygVfwzLzfKo5nC8bPH0d1yV7G415ZiKIQ6teH_vYhMeOLplDuJtXqeVdUe3-Nar/s1600-h/IMG_5772.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254951500007218274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaMC3eqaYYd0uAQDFpSHKN5EU_Ls-7iTc5c4PN8ZWRXsyO-VJX7IPgLoobz-gUzMaXFZQbyyY7NjnpygVfwzLzfKo5nC8bPH0d1yV7G415ZiKIQ6teH_vYhMeOLplDuJtXqeVdUe3-Nar/s320/IMG_5772.JPG" border="0" /></a> And of course, we had to go on the swan boats</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_QWqWHfSmh7esgVUXjpzY_jIjpyT24qRc1QwHSFM6XIKT75uaHvyRztylGCZnqxJaMbWjJLXwzU1bt88vWMy0uCl738BW7StTXdu7mkdzx6GGCjKU6QaRGo-sWVQ0CyLJ_Bi1ZNSK_nG/s1600-h/IMG_5778.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254951499884418514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_QWqWHfSmh7esgVUXjpzY_jIjpyT24qRc1QwHSFM6XIKT75uaHvyRztylGCZnqxJaMbWjJLXwzU1bt88vWMy0uCl738BW7StTXdu7mkdzx6GGCjKU6QaRGo-sWVQ0CyLJ_Bi1ZNSK_nG/s320/IMG_5778.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h9MoN7gVml8nGOonw_ZF6bZnsGrPfcxhbt7U69YIJEuhDb1UN4VAGIbcfBCHm2IA4STHtGYFVGI7dPEnc-DsQ0YfBqnNInjE1qlsXXBlgvz0PxFEQRIH7VxEPFF713R0iX5jrE0n03Gh/s1600-h/IMG_5790.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254953649541015218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h9MoN7gVml8nGOonw_ZF6bZnsGrPfcxhbt7U69YIJEuhDb1UN4VAGIbcfBCHm2IA4STHtGYFVGI7dPEnc-DsQ0YfBqnNInjE1qlsXXBlgvz0PxFEQRIH7VxEPFF713R0iX5jrE0n03Gh/s320/IMG_5790.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">at the torii on the lake, no relation to Spelling</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZHfMQhcOrF__i8k9khbUspwddKHhpKfmFDnrZNTYd_rfc6k_Z2QyhwCSXh7BGhm5pNyrwLkFI-wNFLI4LptJeM_kHdfUyqBGiuN5KPWd2r5cQevM24gJGNUZZwRrgXCZO0SGRMFB405b/s1600-h/IMG_5801.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254953655795177362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZHfMQhcOrF__i8k9khbUspwddKHhpKfmFDnrZNTYd_rfc6k_Z2QyhwCSXh7BGhm5pNyrwLkFI-wNFLI4LptJeM_kHdfUyqBGiuN5KPWd2r5cQevM24gJGNUZZwRrgXCZO0SGRMFB405b/s320/IMG_5801.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEhYi1E_rkKtAtpQA24ajz_gFBnVAjyfsl539ryPXQixOaefrsLTJ6NZl9AhclXKiMUninamoY8yLMEmQh1rbtL175wK2VoU6Lz46Xsp7UeNXcOQVFRQCYU9Sx7Ok-bGipmAdDQdeoSPG/s1600-h/IMG_5802.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254953656961814738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEhYi1E_rkKtAtpQA24ajz_gFBnVAjyfsl539ryPXQixOaefrsLTJ6NZl9AhclXKiMUninamoY8yLMEmQh1rbtL175wK2VoU6Lz46Xsp7UeNXcOQVFRQCYU9Sx7Ok-bGipmAdDQdeoSPG/s320/IMG_5802.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRQqgc9ZmSJugpLhxpNNXldgd5GQbXMjc12Q5bSvaU2ba4sLvVnIZSvwnwiNrzeAADohInxwi1lg9wJJItgvyW021YAYU5GVlKpBFbwXAQQrnaxZ0Z9d6DNoNp7BUUERQgqVSphmjaHi-/s1600-h/IMG_5805.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254953662206445474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRQqgc9ZmSJugpLhxpNNXldgd5GQbXMjc12Q5bSvaU2ba4sLvVnIZSvwnwiNrzeAADohInxwi1lg9wJJItgvyW021YAYU5GVlKpBFbwXAQQrnaxZ0Z9d6DNoNp7BUUERQgqVSphmjaHi-/s320/IMG_5805.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm4ZkxbTEYKZ2OxLzat3tbA_NZVQx2992oi4Pa-NErb0kWzLcMt9u6kKQw68P1P8fYxZjPZnkW1NIkmLYwn8zhakopRzk869Em4pfyQwUfUYs-A3VkWZXeyjN-kg73jTRtTuMQrehBylF/s1600-h/IMG_5807.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254953666346143554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm4ZkxbTEYKZ2OxLzat3tbA_NZVQx2992oi4Pa-NErb0kWzLcMt9u6kKQw68P1P8fYxZjPZnkW1NIkmLYwn8zhakopRzk869Em4pfyQwUfUYs-A3VkWZXeyjN-kg73jTRtTuMQrehBylF/s320/IMG_5807.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0m2rvssFjE4y2y5QGTuurxKF1QvOuRH-6yGPKqpJ4SsfDobnwsPqI_BCcQHdgVByQwtnKvkmPHvcBiP1X7Xv-c4Rwck8_Y-CqudFQtNmM57uyFFMRmNtMJMaYTFSA9Si5BR2W4orlgkj/s1600-h/IMG_5810.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254954732282752034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0m2rvssFjE4y2y5QGTuurxKF1QvOuRH-6yGPKqpJ4SsfDobnwsPqI_BCcQHdgVByQwtnKvkmPHvcBiP1X7Xv-c4Rwck8_Y-CqudFQtNmM57uyFFMRmNtMJMaYTFSA9Si5BR2W4orlgkj/s320/IMG_5810.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV32O5UIAs3NRHzWGeePpiRjVANLrD3Qe6Jm_2qegRE9JyolBNE5RuOjGR3sOKGlgXF1xHKWjK7S2uFtbhV8fwjHcSZiSuFNDTN2r02cAM7SVr-0TQx8GBWx_YPn8j7T4C8CH-TqovxGq/s1600-h/IMG_5825.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254954731692357010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV32O5UIAs3NRHzWGeePpiRjVANLrD3Qe6Jm_2qegRE9JyolBNE5RuOjGR3sOKGlgXF1xHKWjK7S2uFtbhV8fwjHcSZiSuFNDTN2r02cAM7SVr-0TQx8GBWx_YPn8j7T4C8CH-TqovxGq/s320/IMG_5825.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBjhTjq3nA98uUTEe1h3um7G-3nlnC_numczGtWSADK35dZJJIbJqLcytHbhddRcMNwxhQmRYZV2O5os-eJi4NxSdAXrA33RWTb83fWzty_Lm19GA7sv5DQYmWA1P45bkX2ne0ZCgf7Cy/s1600-h/IMG_5839.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254954737149562306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBjhTjq3nA98uUTEe1h3um7G-3nlnC_numczGtWSADK35dZJJIbJqLcytHbhddRcMNwxhQmRYZV2O5os-eJi4NxSdAXrA33RWTb83fWzty_Lm19GA7sv5DQYmWA1P45bkX2ne0ZCgf7Cy/s320/IMG_5839.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">This was near the honey-ice cream place near the lake. Yum!<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglPfzkhF2N7ToRAfiIEYEPzNZNPPFCnyWnpp5c-_XUbS288dIXHN-AKKHkKiYQY7NidHFjyETtKWq61RlyszLzSs_eQ7xd8XQrwHEFQzJKRy_GiD407njpL_954HvHQ6DSlT87n0YwbbK/s1600-h/IMG_5841.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254954738227133858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglPfzkhF2N7ToRAfiIEYEPzNZNPPFCnyWnpp5c-_XUbS288dIXHN-AKKHkKiYQY7NidHFjyETtKWq61RlyszLzSs_eQ7xd8XQrwHEFQzJKRy_GiD407njpL_954HvHQ6DSlT87n0YwbbK/s320/IMG_5841.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Matthew and Gina</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">And then it was off to Kyoto! I beg to differ with the people who described it to me as "like a small village", this was more of the sprawling metropolis variety. Our first stop was a flea market at a shrine in northwestern Kyoto. I bought two beautiful old silk obis there for 400 yen!</p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim70MvebY6EmCSq177v9e9TNsjeJjSI-5jo3swqawx2wCqudGDUXV1sP8_IAI3KVj9GnKDV5YBvdH-c8KyJrPGvCwwOt373tZSbqQbG5Ibg3Oi5vdOeL2KWduIwkDPmQq5u1-CCULHcwsX/s1600-h/IMG_5850.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254961408727297458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim70MvebY6EmCSq177v9e9TNsjeJjSI-5jo3swqawx2wCqudGDUXV1sP8_IAI3KVj9GnKDV5YBvdH-c8KyJrPGvCwwOt373tZSbqQbG5Ibg3Oi5vdOeL2KWduIwkDPmQq5u1-CCULHcwsX/s320/IMG_5850.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73xDyJh9KCyzlMfYrDhjPUiJNCiOrDlOsH01hn4BfhGzoGotdwRVnHF3NhTiiz1AriAjAz39xln9oQ2YnHybpmk_mCw-v3tbm23RQ8e4-F2lIAiy3yUAPoqAVESbBI1YeincGSf8Od3cz/s1600-h/IMG_5853.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254961414235179218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73xDyJh9KCyzlMfYrDhjPUiJNCiOrDlOsH01hn4BfhGzoGotdwRVnHF3NhTiiz1AriAjAz39xln9oQ2YnHybpmk_mCw-v3tbm23RQ8e4-F2lIAiy3yUAPoqAVESbBI1YeincGSf8Od3cz/s320/IMG_5853.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP1p1UZk16XKJBkHj2zN75G8fXEatslRDRzKeymfoYCyY1CczURIZaqWZ8BCYIAP-EHK8NS6qCYTluWNcWqHySRd9eUbHd1E_QBPnlFyE1PwEubhJM-IycOlsh4kfGhO7MI9MJ0wwXA0h/s1600-h/IMG_5857.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254961419811254434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP1p1UZk16XKJBkHj2zN75G8fXEatslRDRzKeymfoYCyY1CczURIZaqWZ8BCYIAP-EHK8NS6qCYTluWNcWqHySRd9eUbHd1E_QBPnlFyE1PwEubhJM-IycOlsh4kfGhO7MI9MJ0wwXA0h/s320/IMG_5857.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KTSTlIdehZig43fOV53jj766wL_IPpB-OcFDnLmX2iBwhKzB4udDXjPk3zrJxTD3jyStyMbuWbAGnTYj8r50yDHkEd56r0GSoybCFYyrQj-7gcLIfCx9CFPIJNxwZF13MQzUDsA5Ki24/s1600-h/IMG_5861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254961420235384146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KTSTlIdehZig43fOV53jj766wL_IPpB-OcFDnLmX2iBwhKzB4udDXjPk3zrJxTD3jyStyMbuWbAGnTYj8r50yDHkEd56r0GSoybCFYyrQj-7gcLIfCx9CFPIJNxwZF13MQzUDsA5Ki24/s320/IMG_5861.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Kitano Tenmangu shrine<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9639KDGlHStl8LbBKLc7XlOuy28e9f6ns1rq-5-GfiNseReCcDiyamxFlNC9QEWKjVyqM0cZjEVv9MGWuNQwq7Q6VdhjWJ48X4lsjwXpHxnTs5LYf-3015qJ_NcHAfl1ENdw05Eop2QMw/s1600-h/IMG_5864.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254963180417916322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9639KDGlHStl8LbBKLc7XlOuy28e9f6ns1rq-5-GfiNseReCcDiyamxFlNC9QEWKjVyqM0cZjEVv9MGWuNQwq7Q6VdhjWJ48X4lsjwXpHxnTs5LYf-3015qJ_NcHAfl1ENdw05Eop2QMw/s320/IMG_5864.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGsGOU7Y4hgnDS19cvjUSfzrNClf4VUdRTP0YBZyn5Mgk1l_e-sIEN8IBsTCAE2JNqbDBNLzIY2-Jnr4HU-o09f9l2D5k4IWz0QiJcoIdJYBDbo0aGR0GzxB9EYC9e5Pgkl5fYPugc_bd/s1600-h/IMG_5868.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254963180526243202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGsGOU7Y4hgnDS19cvjUSfzrNClf4VUdRTP0YBZyn5Mgk1l_e-sIEN8IBsTCAE2JNqbDBNLzIY2-Jnr4HU-o09f9l2D5k4IWz0QiJcoIdJYBDbo0aGR0GzxB9EYC9e5Pgkl5fYPugc_bd/s320/IMG_5868.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHM2tGhr_GOMMM107oAnUu6LAE72O7znQmMK1y3VqjWJ_9dX2VEVuxcuar5sD77L1Ttir50FLhQO8l0fgpj_9NpzpGh5ykV694LgZfnbyJycqQGAkp8eCmKHLlEH6VL2SjD_c6-2cZSnQ/s1600-h/IMG_5871.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254963185648996114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHM2tGhr_GOMMM107oAnUu6LAE72O7znQmMK1y3VqjWJ_9dX2VEVuxcuar5sD77L1Ttir50FLhQO8l0fgpj_9NpzpGh5ykV694LgZfnbyJycqQGAkp8eCmKHLlEH6VL2SjD_c6-2cZSnQ/s320/IMG_5871.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxikWwYVX3XTUqWY4qZsGsgu7wAUELnvp8DCePSzvUKob0oq59JCiJf-DlOOXHK6pgLn1v6A0EBQhr2daZafZxshFtTMy5JMpQnJUMC87WzXvtNUCTALIvGkrC9geIH5Tlp6GXgtvUC_6/s1600-h/IMG_5879.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254963187384350466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxikWwYVX3XTUqWY4qZsGsgu7wAUELnvp8DCePSzvUKob0oq59JCiJf-DlOOXHK6pgLn1v6A0EBQhr2daZafZxshFtTMy5JMpQnJUMC87WzXvtNUCTALIvGkrC9geIH5Tlp6GXgtvUC_6/s320/IMG_5879.JPG" border="0" /></a> An entrance to a lovely looking home in northwestern Kyoto</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-oS0mH22A2SLQiHSjlAYc81nRb91SW5rt-p0BzfMGPmx3cYJIViEYi0FIOIhqjeiuuopL_8EnrJa5Ny0rczIc5i7t9sEQYxy29eQnztZ-tEdDuQWucucjg2EL780oTCNneq8uW7DF6Qs/s1600-h/IMG_5886.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254964343039928370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-oS0mH22A2SLQiHSjlAYc81nRb91SW5rt-p0BzfMGPmx3cYJIViEYi0FIOIhqjeiuuopL_8EnrJa5Ny0rczIc5i7t9sEQYxy29eQnztZ-tEdDuQWucucjg2EL780oTCNneq8uW7DF6Qs/s320/IMG_5886.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The famous Kinkaku-ji. Beautiful, and still easy to appreciate despite the crowds<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWlVI9uP1gulqJpyWFFQ8gmODQcsvcOjM0rmmMYjmMdFH7-Sd4YNmSUDIZ2eJXuYsHDegavVujHaMKUYhOM9KtklDoXmN5LK7h2Bt3JQdxFU5_s3Hl1DOtmEm87-kvIoyzBGvXnxaKPrO/s1600-h/IMG_5887.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254964350250567538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWlVI9uP1gulqJpyWFFQ8gmODQcsvcOjM0rmmMYjmMdFH7-Sd4YNmSUDIZ2eJXuYsHDegavVujHaMKUYhOM9KtklDoXmN5LK7h2Bt3JQdxFU5_s3Hl1DOtmEm87-kvIoyzBGvXnxaKPrO/s320/IMG_5887.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzB8AZeVC1o7dFs1h1yiiZJtPZtd24RHykgRykRjTv_bNH-QeyrtwJRs1STe-W4ZrHMe8E5yY7dUbeybNYOkkEN8bh2GEljhml5SMAQjIaXkY-UH809PV9uRZ8B2ZrxAHzEYKjMw1JKo4/s1600-h/IMG_5890.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254964357283380178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzB8AZeVC1o7dFs1h1yiiZJtPZtd24RHykgRykRjTv_bNH-QeyrtwJRs1STe-W4ZrHMe8E5yY7dUbeybNYOkkEN8bh2GEljhml5SMAQjIaXkY-UH809PV9uRZ8B2ZrxAHzEYKjMw1JKo4/s320/IMG_5890.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Surely this would be the nicest place to live in Japan?<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmPJ8NJgX8-KWIwSEIakbxU0cAMyJulVXBwsXUkvrRCEEG8kXdkvdtLTlbd7QggGVr3f3_uF89asNw5Rn2QdMDR2vVilFGqvhQCtBiNQBJHaicPXM-IrVDHJ70H5GEJp1MEhV7ByTRaJ1/s1600-h/IMG_5894.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254964362441480130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmPJ8NJgX8-KWIwSEIakbxU0cAMyJulVXBwsXUkvrRCEEG8kXdkvdtLTlbd7QggGVr3f3_uF89asNw5Rn2QdMDR2vVilFGqvhQCtBiNQBJHaicPXM-IrVDHJ70H5GEJp1MEhV7ByTRaJ1/s320/IMG_5894.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">School groups abounded</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoCqBEG49zQSusHLNWJJ2bLeJrkEolyLd4weZil6rmxzhitXgBo4_DsavBDMCunhHiqClqZDEINdJnHRsaAl0KkRdoSJoDC0Ul1fYiAblMqJ702OuTe0hDq2Zr0F7F1VB6-keoiLc0FqE/s1600-h/IMG_5889.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254966196860592498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoCqBEG49zQSusHLNWJJ2bLeJrkEolyLd4weZil6rmxzhitXgBo4_DsavBDMCunhHiqClqZDEINdJnHRsaAl0KkRdoSJoDC0Ul1fYiAblMqJ702OuTe0hDq2Zr0F7F1VB6-keoiLc0FqE/s320/IMG_5889.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The pond in front of the temple</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwMvwtZrTj-uRb8pQZ_KZSmE4V8_wQwiw7wUCtGcXI1q7zhI1scv8naGg38qScMCMX91UVtf3f0fQE90cHSJdFqg__0PMbh8IwVjICAaV6X1S9Z6W5O_G-_pltOvehFmsBRZHejpyTuGc/s1600-h/IMG_5900.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254966199083987570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwMvwtZrTj-uRb8pQZ_KZSmE4V8_wQwiw7wUCtGcXI1q7zhI1scv8naGg38qScMCMX91UVtf3f0fQE90cHSJdFqg__0PMbh8IwVjICAaV6X1S9Z6W5O_G-_pltOvehFmsBRZHejpyTuGc/s320/IMG_5900.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4-VwvpBJNQ9Zlfc-ngjoO9O1pmasF84QK1_V7duIQ1uYKLLbv1ta8VuPshcW5HUGDv3APYDhDs2xKfUzf2XORkdqx1X8vjyhJAfPxQyed5mhs5OLUv6zxQOl7_XRQNBlfO5VfjeUR5pY/s1600-h/IMG_5906.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254966204267977842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4-VwvpBJNQ9Zlfc-ngjoO9O1pmasF84QK1_V7duIQ1uYKLLbv1ta8VuPshcW5HUGDv3APYDhDs2xKfUzf2XORkdqx1X8vjyhJAfPxQyed5mhs5OLUv6zxQOl7_XRQNBlfO5VfjeUR5pY/s320/IMG_5906.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-6V9deX_HKY99PAMzmLcm1y9cCfUpqEmQm2JXEb87bre1OW67C9YMHLG4rbt6hs9X4Q2SykyR6VdRFfsmOm4PfutPV_AAcVlp2CCAlnSp2PNXvat64PylHPj-bQZQg8vpfd4wqMB4JcB/s1600-h/IMG_5914.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254966208774516130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-6V9deX_HKY99PAMzmLcm1y9cCfUpqEmQm2JXEb87bre1OW67C9YMHLG4rbt6hs9X4Q2SykyR6VdRFfsmOm4PfutPV_AAcVlp2CCAlnSp2PNXvat64PylHPj-bQZQg8vpfd4wqMB4JcB/s320/IMG_5914.JPG" border="0" /></a> We got kind of lost around the Daitoku-ji, but this little street was as nice as the Washington Mews. And we found a delicious French cafe nearby. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddrAmkyuE2gIj-J7Cw-BfmYeluQKWai9YDMTCx68VoRAeJnJ4CpuDqwlmyo5vPdgkhZTtcLA0_V-b7xRUzc-_pL5Pj7UJUnvkUoJjLNgUYa7T5QTWFVVmzi05qOXEUcWTR1KGRnVjicJB/s1600-h/IMG_5916.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254966213850931874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddrAmkyuE2gIj-J7Cw-BfmYeluQKWai9YDMTCx68VoRAeJnJ4CpuDqwlmyo5vPdgkhZTtcLA0_V-b7xRUzc-_pL5Pj7UJUnvkUoJjLNgUYa7T5QTWFVVmzi05qOXEUcWTR1KGRnVjicJB/s320/IMG_5916.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUI5lOpE29te4v4fVv0VJNm7ZTQUcyUY-zk6S6pzH7n0ggWM7y8hGz1O11Shyphenhyphen0ff9vjUgUuK0N3q8xJN1Yxms8Ih9STNgoZYUjpbaJX2Nug7T3R5Wu6yVQt34GLuSEj0kQSoYbnwwA5Lb/s1600-h/IMG_5919.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254967987984468626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUI5lOpE29te4v4fVv0VJNm7ZTQUcyUY-zk6S6pzH7n0ggWM7y8hGz1O11Shyphenhyphen0ff9vjUgUuK0N3q8xJN1Yxms8Ih9STNgoZYUjpbaJX2Nug7T3R5Wu6yVQt34GLuSEj0kQSoYbnwwA5Lb/s320/IMG_5919.JPG" border="0" /></a> An enclosed bamboo forest..we couldn't find a way in :(</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoabnu9LtnV3YR7J7y4em2B4Yl8p1pOY91YSfw7hKuegZSnvEBeIeHbpNky8zRI9xoTN9GeHPElTGgfDqdFnAZm6cQTTox65KDC3TI4jtVjwo_2IJ_WuSPIe_IUtd8dmwb5QeTBUB5IiO/s1600-h/IMG_5929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254967993266989346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoabnu9LtnV3YR7J7y4em2B4Yl8p1pOY91YSfw7hKuegZSnvEBeIeHbpNky8zRI9xoTN9GeHPElTGgfDqdFnAZm6cQTTox65KDC3TI4jtVjwo_2IJ_WuSPIe_IUtd8dmwb5QeTBUB5IiO/s320/IMG_5929.JPG" border="0" /></a>A typical scene at our home away home the Sparkling Dolphins Inn. Margaret is drinking umeshu from a tupperware container, which I found endlessly amusing for no good reason</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL00ucYm96BsHNAvaY7rwLvf27vA7YI-HQ430zgIgxtY2IXe0W9dJnCOORdoL83a7hZMq95s0IO7MUH8cA9vIeXry3RFeNcTezWkVnBgeXeW2tZnm2kuxUgL4TcPtPH2CozY_UxE60aNs/s1600-h/IMG_5932.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254967998964653938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL00ucYm96BsHNAvaY7rwLvf27vA7YI-HQ430zgIgxtY2IXe0W9dJnCOORdoL83a7hZMq95s0IO7MUH8cA9vIeXry3RFeNcTezWkVnBgeXeW2tZnm2kuxUgL4TcPtPH2CozY_UxE60aNs/s320/IMG_5932.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Yakiniku!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_otmxS5gK0q3bNeKr2Q3wFXoUybRLCmkwLw4pCFLoxm7_hLtgra1HQ11A-_XYXOW7Fd9E4GqD9pt0LxLRG1Wjyl6xMuiq1Cuk4e4oRQS6mIHp8fQdrdFpbCXaP1v90ISSrqbliORGHmGY/s1600-h/IMG_5947.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254968000130254562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_otmxS5gK0q3bNeKr2Q3wFXoUybRLCmkwLw4pCFLoxm7_hLtgra1HQ11A-_XYXOW7Fd9E4GqD9pt0LxLRG1Wjyl6xMuiq1Cuk4e4oRQS6mIHp8fQdrdFpbCXaP1v90ISSrqbliORGHmGY/s320/IMG_5947.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8uoQz_Eu-67q-vRCeegneP54ycTniTUQYcihbXlLXFQr9Szts038n7sqCZOpUyXjEELGO21-mO1h7BrSkPvhv6e5evixkn8ILBYlTqU8VeMrZpjGnD3oKGlqm4wlA86x7mNVoqLkMwmg/s1600-h/IMG_5950.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254968001667295698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8uoQz_Eu-67q-vRCeegneP54ycTniTUQYcihbXlLXFQr9Szts038n7sqCZOpUyXjEELGO21-mO1h7BrSkPvhv6e5evixkn8ILBYlTqU8VeMrZpjGnD3oKGlqm4wlA86x7mNVoqLkMwmg/s320/IMG_5950.JPG" border="0" /></a>Walking up to the Kiyomizu-dera. Noura confused its name with House of 1000 Corpses </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOmqODsLS0s5xnyQdnTKNTQkqdwDemFAeW_MYfBvvZuIh5uK_8pKjSi-tq4-Pq-yk9XVMoVJoxcJoibRT2LqBrSMSpWeQtzKkb_okxdB2101g_1f7S28Dpikn-0A5WCvMQwMe-31r04gY/s1600-h/IMG_5955.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254970571367021026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOmqODsLS0s5xnyQdnTKNTQkqdwDemFAeW_MYfBvvZuIh5uK_8pKjSi-tq4-Pq-yk9XVMoVJoxcJoibRT2LqBrSMSpWeQtzKkb_okxdB2101g_1f7S28Dpikn-0A5WCvMQwMe-31r04gY/s320/IMG_5955.JPG" border="0" /></a> Some interesting graffiti</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNlFzMkkJOJVXLw4phqZfmkp25HpD7vwtQQ11lp4YsP3_iYga6ipUMIJcYwz0rLb9nCOOSYHn-siIQD0NjmSscnNNsY-UjDwL2A6oFVxDeYEkSvph59S9xbUyhFS2umCJY3PSELafmFS_/s1600-h/IMG_5961.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254970576931082706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNlFzMkkJOJVXLw4phqZfmkp25HpD7vwtQQ11lp4YsP3_iYga6ipUMIJcYwz0rLb9nCOOSYHn-siIQD0NjmSscnNNsY-UjDwL2A6oFVxDeYEkSvph59S9xbUyhFS2umCJY3PSELafmFS_/s320/IMG_5961.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We caught this geisha photo shoot going on on a back road<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HR7BifyrjpMHHH9OMOeHWa9CPtMndaRLSIyBJF2Z2HIsaPTz5lKUEe8zfV0dwKEKBwmoYm65BWY0HoLlllHQy5Z2MZ-DbjHx6HfD5bEIs_iJziXefAAQN85S614EgxTSXNuRaA2s690Z/s1600-h/IMG_5967.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254970581938694898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HR7BifyrjpMHHH9OMOeHWa9CPtMndaRLSIyBJF2Z2HIsaPTz5lKUEe8zfV0dwKEKBwmoYm65BWY0HoLlllHQy5Z2MZ-DbjHx6HfD5bEIs_iJziXefAAQN85S614EgxTSXNuRaA2s690Z/s320/IMG_5967.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>These hanging decorations were all over Kyoto. They're made to look like little acrobatic men.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeLZo47-JpXtgvK9s-GAi89CLTzKig5xPtM0LHw8_-6kUic8w09hQBqe2i_P5DVC2Wh8ewtq_TmazAdmU6BvKTrEcHOrmSJMmP75PBkllh6fSXX4skfPPFjIle-vQUMq8hvGYUsZebjcv/s1600-h/IMG_5969.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254970581051075474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeLZo47-JpXtgvK9s-GAi89CLTzKig5xPtM0LHw8_-6kUic8w09hQBqe2i_P5DVC2Wh8ewtq_TmazAdmU6BvKTrEcHOrmSJMmP75PBkllh6fSXX4skfPPFjIle-vQUMq8hvGYUsZebjcv/s320/IMG_5969.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The entrance to Kiyomizu-dera with plenty of school groups<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeb_HDilfMD5rFuAbltwXSaEo3TfdqSYiRbUUgKgeBNCSwUZK6_dNSN1eOXjtk4QCzc71i1SMx9eEdcW1Z0TJjE-yk8ic8rkksViEoszpTZ_ntFSvdwHbFz1y9Iloj_QZzU_4B23MbccF/s1600-h/IMG_5971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254970585676151650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeb_HDilfMD5rFuAbltwXSaEo3TfdqSYiRbUUgKgeBNCSwUZK6_dNSN1eOXjtk4QCzc71i1SMx9eEdcW1Z0TJjE-yk8ic8rkksViEoszpTZ_ntFSvdwHbFz1y9Iloj_QZzU_4B23MbccF/s320/IMG_5971.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">A pagoda hiding in the woods</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT22VBAlTWbEOs_7n8iHPUlyu4z1nW8sP0vHzv4lBsK-M6EzfXRmdswpMzH8X2bw_Y0qxuXOcBbXn02qknmRoNYMTrRvP-PoAs9SCP_LhI8ckp5RgdFfH1os-o7jpLzaO21QfJhGq9EBl9/s1600-h/IMG_5974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254971628690057618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT22VBAlTWbEOs_7n8iHPUlyu4z1nW8sP0vHzv4lBsK-M6EzfXRmdswpMzH8X2bw_Y0qxuXOcBbXn02qknmRoNYMTrRvP-PoAs9SCP_LhI8ckp5RgdFfH1os-o7jpLzaO21QfJhGq9EBl9/s320/IMG_5974.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5Cy72_qrEAQEy691sxhBqEdiJpAKmKGp6yWttibcK8lqND8Tk1QqDh5IJU6xE1ceCES0A2jPh2Jwwk4f7B_KZeimxaCB6HG0O3sXyqzKclsNIeG_EcmzWw1w3DvL8vdhp_9tE0brxaku/s1600-h/IMG_5976.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254971631892038818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5Cy72_qrEAQEy691sxhBqEdiJpAKmKGp6yWttibcK8lqND8Tk1QqDh5IJU6xE1ceCES0A2jPh2Jwwk4f7B_KZeimxaCB6HG0O3sXyqzKclsNIeG_EcmzWw1w3DvL8vdhp_9tE0brxaku/s320/IMG_5976.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEjTfJ1zw-72MzrdDH7Dss77YLOxjsL3sL7ub154JwORKtMuA2CuhNjaf2LLS14wP80P2u-XN3S-sdUhvDlE9nrAEihW1O2IuijuaYTg6kOpFaut3FeGMIAyLJl92xt3V25UkUeOUSdo-/s1600-h/IMG_5977.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254971637845069730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEjTfJ1zw-72MzrdDH7Dss77YLOxjsL3sL7ub154JwORKtMuA2CuhNjaf2LLS14wP80P2u-XN3S-sdUhvDlE9nrAEihW1O2IuijuaYTg6kOpFaut3FeGMIAyLJl92xt3V25UkUeOUSdo-/s320/IMG_5977.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvpzj-mGyn1MsKm-PH2R1Sc6E_LVT1u9WXyVeOAYQEz9ijosiQTrwxeRhRl4NxWw-5mZU-4UNWF2uU_pFpjpQZ9pcMKWiqXsxufWY6nRwNyKH7UmdS8_4cdzMvg-NOs1whDRLx1n8ZRRS/s1600-h/IMG_5981.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254971642354645554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvpzj-mGyn1MsKm-PH2R1Sc6E_LVT1u9WXyVeOAYQEz9ijosiQTrwxeRhRl4NxWw-5mZU-4UNWF2uU_pFpjpQZ9pcMKWiqXsxufWY6nRwNyKH7UmdS8_4cdzMvg-NOs1whDRLx1n8ZRRS/s320/IMG_5981.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RFQ5BHH2eaOQYx1Qbpj-i0XCLTLjop3PQIcmlnQDVWzD2Xf2WJH5YE9hfwGyDjJHhp6hbs5Qz5E3NtAcMZfvwi38abC3AjCnWNv7VXjDwmdY9BjuINMqQbOD-iSnC7iVlmn0Ufb1qHvT/s1600-h/IMG_5983.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254971640290803602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RFQ5BHH2eaOQYx1Qbpj-i0XCLTLjop3PQIcmlnQDVWzD2Xf2WJH5YE9hfwGyDjJHhp6hbs5Qz5E3NtAcMZfvwi38abC3AjCnWNv7VXjDwmdY9BjuINMqQbOD-iSnC7iVlmn0Ufb1qHvT/s320/IMG_5983.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Another one of my favorite pictures from the trip.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9CxZSu5OC6TdbfxJnFHw_obBZirc0w80kPnVfBfddAvDD8q7HNHdew2jl-NTTFrMDTnpfaaugmMBTZOk1L9KnPKnHKSG6NHnrbUNVenBMHbySqohC0ufHIY47jgKKDqFnXfv5J3tbeAu/s1600-h/IMG_5984.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254972530978522114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9CxZSu5OC6TdbfxJnFHw_obBZirc0w80kPnVfBfddAvDD8q7HNHdew2jl-NTTFrMDTnpfaaugmMBTZOk1L9KnPKnHKSG6NHnrbUNVenBMHbySqohC0ufHIY47jgKKDqFnXfv5J3tbeAu/s320/IMG_5984.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oH6Ugr8ccbaYUjIlBZN7jUxJsEQ5A3PrNFYgithKsi51AR-NQIqx_kUtXSj4ovgGjGBFJp1ogY5T0CkMOfCkuUvOPV-VqjuQC-NPsSvu1JDjNG9bVHx45IIQ8CkRqNj8LKcWOm34Psi8/s1600-h/IMG_5987.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254972534073509650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oH6Ugr8ccbaYUjIlBZN7jUxJsEQ5A3PrNFYgithKsi51AR-NQIqx_kUtXSj4ovgGjGBFJp1ogY5T0CkMOfCkuUvOPV-VqjuQC-NPsSvu1JDjNG9bVHx45IIQ8CkRqNj8LKcWOm34Psi8/s320/IMG_5987.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw0mAmsG8D34GVtp_FLcjZQzVPWOYG34LNQ8vmgWG50nDdiorN3mee_lTBhzOn1qOoddf12FIWaSiVVe9wY7jHf54xejpIerGgPQi_YO94dowkWN4-KeuZI17tW1ztWcL0g5tvDOivucK/s1600-h/IMG_5991.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254972540145373474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw0mAmsG8D34GVtp_FLcjZQzVPWOYG34LNQ8vmgWG50nDdiorN3mee_lTBhzOn1qOoddf12FIWaSiVVe9wY7jHf54xejpIerGgPQi_YO94dowkWN4-KeuZI17tW1ztWcL0g5tvDOivucK/s320/IMG_5991.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"> The temple had great views over Kyoto<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS-TUmG_Di_dHuD0Zdk9bf20hlp0pB84361Tyk5knr6_Dpd026G_pKkS16a1ieuUWMhBcF_lWwUqVjy8ovcWUWO0meJDr06mNBmIXW6gfJ5MrkKLrHocRwOeQJDafMBD5B_RouXN5lbvY/s1600-h/IMG_5982.JPG"></a><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgyFiJkKGq37Qdd6HKjld9fe2F3rp3PfkOwamIF6oY5AVXn6JlAX3Ok8CTpg3LlYI05bPI2RblwqomaPinsx39-mtaqrTIdMq4rjl-YnouSZ8NOHy8eRv48e6vhtqzYJhBI34kYbDnxvs/s1600-h/IMG_5994.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254972546280202162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgyFiJkKGq37Qdd6HKjld9fe2F3rp3PfkOwamIF6oY5AVXn6JlAX3Ok8CTpg3LlYI05bPI2RblwqomaPinsx39-mtaqrTIdMq4rjl-YnouSZ8NOHy8eRv48e6vhtqzYJhBI34kYbDnxvs/s320/IMG_5994.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYPpsKrDvRwZSBgvC4Hz_G4ZR7Nnj-aD5WGSQXi4jCqu41xO7_J9cH_zVNlw4EQyN1vq6lYBGWQDlX6Ix8mVtzvY5TBwlGTXBEEA0D6e468CXyeWMSlKze_rRgJId8TLuC8sF6KjStZGs/s1600-h/IMG_6000.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254974104714354770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYPpsKrDvRwZSBgvC4Hz_G4ZR7Nnj-aD5WGSQXi4jCqu41xO7_J9cH_zVNlw4EQyN1vq6lYBGWQDlX6Ix8mVtzvY5TBwlGTXBEEA0D6e468CXyeWMSlKze_rRgJId8TLuC8sF6KjStZGs/s320/IMG_6000.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Drinking the water from this "waterfall" was supposed to be a cure-all, I think</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBBY4FACpptUWN2V5OCoU1njjJC1a0KEPjU31QDR4H3T6zi9Lh3CfnShCg-mhpDWWQyIuu4if_V7ebvU1A1pIQoZPamGUtfoDNoa7jtHKJY4xv1MRn7tlLHWVoJ1o0mm3IgjedXpCa2YH/s1600-h/IMG_6004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254974108873990514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBBY4FACpptUWN2V5OCoU1njjJC1a0KEPjU31QDR4H3T6zi9Lh3CfnShCg-mhpDWWQyIuu4if_V7ebvU1A1pIQoZPamGUtfoDNoa7jtHKJY4xv1MRn7tlLHWVoJ1o0mm3IgjedXpCa2YH/s320/IMG_6004.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Some autumnal red spider lilies</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc4mEYa8KblB4P9YRUhD-pwZW2aWeeTq2fGAvBD3K20wTmIZnBw3nzYUjyqsnGojXxrRaoD1lpeSvwZVSVp0tIDyXwttjZOGroCE09sByhGyM9pWrBYldFk5qQ1FK1xIbXiaZC_nKZcet/s1600-h/IMG_6009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254974113564178402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc4mEYa8KblB4P9YRUhD-pwZW2aWeeTq2fGAvBD3K20wTmIZnBw3nzYUjyqsnGojXxrRaoD1lpeSvwZVSVp0tIDyXwttjZOGroCE09sByhGyM9pWrBYldFk5qQ1FK1xIbXiaZC_nKZcet/s320/IMG_6009.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We did a lot of shopping on the small streets around Kiyomizu, including at an awesome metalworking collective, but this store won for best storefront with random tiny ceramics and a fishbowl on the street below the display window<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yPN4T2BQcJkZse__TFviZY_N_LT7WrrwTAvKBqV_QEeI5emX5eqYZruX2ma_4dRa74XXKCpXSMTi4i0SHBzrzyR8vI8Pu98CrgbVvxgfRwTNc5Y332DnjdVBE7uPyupvyXQ-YHo2vv9F/s1600-h/IMG_6015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254974114583751442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yPN4T2BQcJkZse__TFviZY_N_LT7WrrwTAvKBqV_QEeI5emX5eqYZruX2ma_4dRa74XXKCpXSMTi4i0SHBzrzyR8vI8Pu98CrgbVvxgfRwTNc5Y332DnjdVBE7uPyupvyXQ-YHo2vv9F/s320/IMG_6015.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Our next stop was Arashiyama, where I had heard there were, and was slightly worried about, monkeys.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSK5rfcYNHZ15fABHW6EOrPOJjVywLMmw1JKK1P5ZLDIn1KfSiXd-Kc-CX7heGsFyaKEAW1Qt-XeK-o1MwVLKJ8Z4k_6U3kTwtuO9EY6rTz886V6fhOOh9SRikEm0vrVv339DG8Ix8xv6/s1600-h/IMG_6020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254974120097421938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSK5rfcYNHZ15fABHW6EOrPOJjVywLMmw1JKK1P5ZLDIn1KfSiXd-Kc-CX7heGsFyaKEAW1Qt-XeK-o1MwVLKJ8Z4k_6U3kTwtuO9EY6rTz886V6fhOOh9SRikEm0vrVv339DG8Ix8xv6/s320/IMG_6020.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The riverside area was quite nice.</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfMTqh0apzOSFX5DJcf45SnMMExulV_8b4Dbs2VW03COoSK7yQwK-HzcbyISRqNqHbmhafqFkn5xDRfMUGPULm4DLv6QNtdBtsO5Ydup8OPQZemYna3ljtI32sWJMQO-i4kH3UkaSlkWW/s1600-h/IMG_6022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254976021226881650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfMTqh0apzOSFX5DJcf45SnMMExulV_8b4Dbs2VW03COoSK7yQwK-HzcbyISRqNqHbmhafqFkn5xDRfMUGPULm4DLv6QNtdBtsO5Ydup8OPQZemYna3ljtI32sWJMQO-i4kH3UkaSlkWW/s320/IMG_6022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZupdJW26xkwVlfwVa9QARWLGbybJCV9erUYZNR6WBhZ3mosfYmK8vteSOTrw1ODT2TGLvxGx0-Cs1-VJ9eqZcmKct6nEWJN_WEfuSsI7R2gM_2bQEUFEeeWhFH1_vzuxnby6cksLPDH3/s1600-h/IMG_6023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254976025989758450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZupdJW26xkwVlfwVa9QARWLGbybJCV9erUYZNR6WBhZ3mosfYmK8vteSOTrw1ODT2TGLvxGx0-Cs1-VJ9eqZcmKct6nEWJN_WEfuSsI7R2gM_2bQEUFEeeWhFH1_vzuxnby6cksLPDH3/s320/IMG_6023.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We entered a monkey park, where we had a short hike up a hill, through wild monkeys, to a small building on the top with lovely views of the city and hungry monkeys swarming around it. Thankfully it was fenced-in. <br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHNtqJrKNGu6H_KsYv33Penbq_SJwASB7z7c1z-YguEYyNc2gVPb9S5Dw_LZ8UkQnNFbjeQb5TbieIl4bWdMA29N9uQIu8gALfOb9_gudp6UEOtOYKqIv3TQOJANNPV3rr8O-MGRv0cbB/s1600-h/IMG_6025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254976029160974578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHNtqJrKNGu6H_KsYv33Penbq_SJwASB7z7c1z-YguEYyNc2gVPb9S5Dw_LZ8UkQnNFbjeQb5TbieIl4bWdMA29N9uQIu8gALfOb9_gudp6UEOtOYKqIv3TQOJANNPV3rr8O-MGRv0cbB/s320/IMG_6025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMuJ6fA9wSqobte7zMHqP7n-6KlkJPltGzU5aILEqgH3euh9-wi1KzEX8ya-J8ToE8lPt_M3WrsEUB3bTJ1mmdzltowI4cWXeFYVNXi-7o2BRxs3Crh1f6GJuemqzMaLAV6PuxCTW6jWa/s1600-h/IMG_6038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254976032668270418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMuJ6fA9wSqobte7zMHqP7n-6KlkJPltGzU5aILEqgH3euh9-wi1KzEX8ya-J8ToE8lPt_M3WrsEUB3bTJ1mmdzltowI4cWXeFYVNXi-7o2BRxs3Crh1f6GJuemqzMaLAV6PuxCTW6jWa/s320/IMG_6038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePqi4CzEE9cHcPK_lR0N5jRX2nze8UaVjK5frtLa1C_LQCxq6QFDjed8eap-6JIFSI8xseBWFDUO6tlOCimULr6KSJJnL-DB8FD6y9sg3ZkJe5Hp_GLnRS0DE87Ef-MrViO-uIjCojKxy/s1600-h/IMG_6039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254976032920307410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePqi4CzEE9cHcPK_lR0N5jRX2nze8UaVjK5frtLa1C_LQCxq6QFDjed8eap-6JIFSI8xseBWFDUO6tlOCimULr6KSJJnL-DB8FD6y9sg3ZkJe5Hp_GLnRS0DE87Ef-MrViO-uIjCojKxy/s320/IMG_6039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5ivEMvumhGaXbmEQAXspdGYSF98G2JvhrrJevfCyEu6QV0J16SCggGIBEBrPFxr_4No8PauIqSN40FFjsP9seZypnM9JiB-422Rt5H2ODqQULGzHcHB8DssNdgIZnmTl-rESFnBlP5Ue/s1600-h/IMG_6040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254977132407264610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5ivEMvumhGaXbmEQAXspdGYSF98G2JvhrrJevfCyEu6QV0J16SCggGIBEBrPFxr_4No8PauIqSN40FFjsP9seZypnM9JiB-422Rt5H2ODqQULGzHcHB8DssNdgIZnmTl-rESFnBlP5Ue/s320/IMG_6040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciKY_jg-L6iWVE4wDYoJNSvrfxzG-DpkU59TbKLfbEPClBi3MFuFo0LfL8uz7YbozG_0iZShBBtFnlDx-rlQGVsi2ZnZT1gDyNDK7kTqyUmCH8_nOU65YD7zZRE9FaUISSIwwjFgKd2xB/s1600-h/IMG_6050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254977138957275618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciKY_jg-L6iWVE4wDYoJNSvrfxzG-DpkU59TbKLfbEPClBi3MFuFo0LfL8uz7YbozG_0iZShBBtFnlDx-rlQGVsi2ZnZT1gDyNDK7kTqyUmCH8_nOU65YD7zZRE9FaUISSIwwjFgKd2xB/s320/IMG_6050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4cvNlnNqys8YPf4WC-NQSkC43Qjz5pcmeb0g7G7EDsqq-On-aMrS_sm9ajnmLQ8iY7UWq68lT59Q8w5UGKnFZrDusuqaq-i4GbhD-pkayC3050Hf66qqPz4VSP7gdRsNhgoYSE4HIWs5/s1600-h/IMG_6054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254977140748353250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4cvNlnNqys8YPf4WC-NQSkC43Qjz5pcmeb0g7G7EDsqq-On-aMrS_sm9ajnmLQ8iY7UWq68lT59Q8w5UGKnFZrDusuqaq-i4GbhD-pkayC3050Hf66qqPz4VSP7gdRsNhgoYSE4HIWs5/s320/IMG_6054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCQ4fFiDeGJ7pFqq3DOvOJYqb2cfdTGVQmejEEMsbhQHolY2E4UNKddrGoEepSDV_MPm7rJR5G7S0XsI3vPghrUxItLRGu12T6gbiXQSqrRYYI5Gr7G8ihYsur8s1n1drQb_qNtHvar7T/s1600-h/IMG_6065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254977142761610386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCQ4fFiDeGJ7pFqq3DOvOJYqb2cfdTGVQmejEEMsbhQHolY2E4UNKddrGoEepSDV_MPm7rJR5G7S0XsI3vPghrUxItLRGu12T6gbiXQSqrRYYI5Gr7G8ihYsur8s1n1drQb_qNtHvar7T/s320/IMG_6065.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXViTXmxBqeiJeZOyWe9OV-hinVpwlxCD0FWZyj3flbRxUdWGgFhgrktKyA0trclErIy84NEYkUOlkVm1N0BrM1lJ_kr8IO9lShV1W0ICTMh5VmgIhVifjFm4GSoUoqKKZavasadKia9w/s1600-h/IMG_6066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254977148563160178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXViTXmxBqeiJeZOyWe9OV-hinVpwlxCD0FWZyj3flbRxUdWGgFhgrktKyA0trclErIy84NEYkUOlkVm1N0BrM1lJ_kr8IO9lShV1W0ICTMh5VmgIhVifjFm4GSoUoqKKZavasadKia9w/s320/IMG_6066.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The monkey keeper bribed the monkey in front to pose with us with some apple slices. I am holding on to Gina for dear life.<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeBlYC6zzAcnd87rZRnV9WGEqg2bsho8zRFbUmpJXEyLx9KzWeYThNNQkVYks47Ej06XZtiUJa7YkBxew0iHYvv28Mk9Y9wZgRR3Sjmz5NW6wEJnjSzooOPcHivlMLDgVXF_mb_uHHIdS/s1600-h/IMG_6068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254978361886642178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeBlYC6zzAcnd87rZRnV9WGEqg2bsho8zRFbUmpJXEyLx9KzWeYThNNQkVYks47Ej06XZtiUJa7YkBxew0iHYvv28Mk9Y9wZgRR3Sjmz5NW6wEJnjSzooOPcHivlMLDgVXF_mb_uHHIdS/s320/IMG_6068.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0QlVAnH1S9PV-CFw3k6dJIyp5Sg5gUq2985eVYwspwHT3JNxlk_PhSlD53tvAiXI8UbiBBe7QI3bSKoiWUTsUbjVJNcZSPKvo-NKzzhP4WfyakJ5qKT67I94fuvFhdzpvjNquNm4e8IP/s1600-h/IMG_6072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254978363053967538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0QlVAnH1S9PV-CFw3k6dJIyp5Sg5gUq2985eVYwspwHT3JNxlk_PhSlD53tvAiXI8UbiBBe7QI3bSKoiWUTsUbjVJNcZSPKvo-NKzzhP4WfyakJ5qKT67I94fuvFhdzpvjNquNm4e8IP/s320/IMG_6072.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Back to the monkey-free area. </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">The next day was NARA! Needless to say, I was ridiculously excited for the deer.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12toselUYmDMH1oQvULubbdDW73TuASSJJ5viOvyJMUV7DqBXNdBTJDTMLCq19ygvpcxxBh-Idbsyf1bAkhMpAyIUSiJzJuv8cU20IDirT3V4Ohh-WtxbYozgeuqDvwPlsLMm9ePyFOVr/s1600-h/IMG_6074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254978364595590066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12toselUYmDMH1oQvULubbdDW73TuASSJJ5viOvyJMUV7DqBXNdBTJDTMLCq19ygvpcxxBh-Idbsyf1bAkhMpAyIUSiJzJuv8cU20IDirT3V4Ohh-WtxbYozgeuqDvwPlsLMm9ePyFOVr/s320/IMG_6074.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">This was the first one we saw!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBojTQAsf_Z1saIrlwVJVdSyf-enh37hXT7P1i4-9sDiFboKEXE8V7-8InwhHE_drggQ_YKAs5fx_uitqsw1-J25UiAgHoovHnofV-QlgLd18Tv7wvdk1dclCUsZ1K2r3Fc0tvBiB5vDn8/s1600-h/IMG_6081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254978369102834290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBojTQAsf_Z1saIrlwVJVdSyf-enh37hXT7P1i4-9sDiFboKEXE8V7-8InwhHE_drggQ_YKAs5fx_uitqsw1-J25UiAgHoovHnofV-QlgLd18Tv7wvdk1dclCUsZ1K2r3Fc0tvBiB5vDn8/s320/IMG_6081.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">I think this fashionable little boy got knocked over and chased by the deer a few times but that did not seem to deter him.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lzhGGJ2C-yeFQc-5gYqg_FRT4CRcuPDhaTKYom2n8AfnxMHJ9aFkzXeqCgvIyUYQ_kIG8CTZ9WYuXUvwhjV42txC9wvfbcow49kEzTQbElhluMieGLw82agVe06vZRaMAYpQgphRByRS/s1600-h/IMG_6085.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254978377080652898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lzhGGJ2C-yeFQc-5gYqg_FRT4CRcuPDhaTKYom2n8AfnxMHJ9aFkzXeqCgvIyUYQ_kIG8CTZ9WYuXUvwhjV42txC9wvfbcow49kEzTQbElhluMieGLw82agVe06vZRaMAYpQgphRByRS/s320/IMG_6085.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn3gppYkCE8s_iXkWPrXKbMxPHKPvxwRAft8fUlEQ5CZD4sOtMNxO2uoHJFqAAMi37mCJO9SLjCzStqP-gdZP08FcM1nMAeDuRnTVeqGzpscJ6MyuVAGcD3DS7e5iBLPfOEcWZn1-bZwC/s1600-h/IMG_6089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254980057923118658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn3gppYkCE8s_iXkWPrXKbMxPHKPvxwRAft8fUlEQ5CZD4sOtMNxO2uoHJFqAAMi37mCJO9SLjCzStqP-gdZP08FcM1nMAeDuRnTVeqGzpscJ6MyuVAGcD3DS7e5iBLPfOEcWZn1-bZwC/s320/IMG_6089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ycy3vF3RVC2FY6mjdOK89j8ohyphenhyphen75Uf4IqoNuhmmM3_HgaRyIEoOqHgeOU-6ojAfBo9C_xfCRr2ZjpK48ldRLMDXR-iQspDJpuVbYz4Lb7nrNskROxRFZNRemqSns9Mfb9wHxn523u1wr/s1600-h/IMG_6098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254980056888630754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ycy3vF3RVC2FY6mjdOK89j8ohyphenhyphen75Uf4IqoNuhmmM3_HgaRyIEoOqHgeOU-6ojAfBo9C_xfCRr2ZjpK48ldRLMDXR-iQspDJpuVbYz4Lb7nrNskROxRFZNRemqSns9Mfb9wHxn523u1wr/s320/IMG_6098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcgr__Cy4FJ-0T1PktA105BofNVEFElwV-w6vVIGkI4s_KU67AY9vbI3cw9pHKC6vxhF8et3zVITTUXYI5mPcv7NiH1l-ifMtZRi__8UCY_PA0j55DKHxrEDrWw9Ju6b8C0wIYZdV3SZ3/s1600-h/IMG_6102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254980064963992258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcgr__Cy4FJ-0T1PktA105BofNVEFElwV-w6vVIGkI4s_KU67AY9vbI3cw9pHKC6vxhF8et3zVITTUXYI5mPcv7NiH1l-ifMtZRi__8UCY_PA0j55DKHxrEDrWw9Ju6b8C0wIYZdV3SZ3/s320/IMG_6102.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Margaret gets attacked with the deer sembei</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLkZa9c3vGvPjnAiJ77QTI_rFkYezlzDIzM2Z7MEQjf4NJLDlqnx1rWsxiyKsKcbsTfRgjCUZE5eVdKVcT0xtkMabsby6lK5z_PJKJXae7Gwqbxjk80QP-0YWHS3gB4uK5NS1jSENAGXg/s1600-h/IMG_6104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254980067127334786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLkZa9c3vGvPjnAiJ77QTI_rFkYezlzDIzM2Z7MEQjf4NJLDlqnx1rWsxiyKsKcbsTfRgjCUZE5eVdKVcT0xtkMabsby6lK5z_PJKJXae7Gwqbxjk80QP-0YWHS3gB4uK5NS1jSENAGXg/s320/IMG_6104.JPG" border="0" /></a> ...and so did I<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL3Z1oLqz4cwkFTmUSSbf7uz2bD5yIV8k7gN2kT0YU5ALSbOtPELMnttIozTA0Ea2aUhhB53USM5EfAd9yfg9MeULfsSNknTi27-nWlikbIhDdjemlF5FJtouCYIarh9y-zaysuINrRXO/s1600-h/IMG_6105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254980071992734882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL3Z1oLqz4cwkFTmUSSbf7uz2bD5yIV8k7gN2kT0YU5ALSbOtPELMnttIozTA0Ea2aUhhB53USM5EfAd9yfg9MeULfsSNknTi27-nWlikbIhDdjemlF5FJtouCYIarh9y-zaysuINrRXO/s320/IMG_6105.JPG" border="0" /></a> When I had the sembei, one deer kept biting my hipbone, another headbutting me in my butt, and so eventually I just had to throw the sembei away from me for fear for my life. Who knew deer could be so vicious!</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjujNWi2nBbbvbf7U9i-YnYUeaPd9bg7KejYf1hjPy1xpP8gX4FAwXWvIIdpIapxQaPlTchjIt2I2tte-NDXNgSpOoA7wqF8N43H-n7d1Ntxlusloy8LQwrpmr6j-RdcZ-xGqUnO2qec-/s1600-h/IMG_6108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254981578280193826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjujNWi2nBbbvbf7U9i-YnYUeaPd9bg7KejYf1hjPy1xpP8gX4FAwXWvIIdpIapxQaPlTchjIt2I2tte-NDXNgSpOoA7wqF8N43H-n7d1Ntxlusloy8LQwrpmr6j-RdcZ-xGqUnO2qec-/s320/IMG_6108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN8F1zURRDDfe046TCRlPEKWRqP6Yam8d-nJ__ZcZpjX8ITyZVtm0zwxhHibCmBqF5eYd77ZeQZGy8vmQpek95lMXQbSRBGX1tiLvXs2HIik24ETXIt6Hd7moCe5sQR8kc8GD1SjTP209/s1600-h/IMG_6116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254981585087391026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN8F1zURRDDfe046TCRlPEKWRqP6Yam8d-nJ__ZcZpjX8ITyZVtm0zwxhHibCmBqF5eYd77ZeQZGy8vmQpek95lMXQbSRBGX1tiLvXs2HIik24ETXIt6Hd7moCe5sQR8kc8GD1SjTP209/s320/IMG_6116.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>After the sembei were gone, though, everything became a little more docile</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpSPJluiO3a24diYx5aV26cen4_0X6t486_WKn3CxjcNvhaEqVtBi7PCCO6QYpXmQNX4dmajjLHf51nRs-bkh843EnpWKXzuks6ESBDHPmj9MbJ3kHKZ_QsixLiaWbolvWOhFJA6lEPV6/s1600-h/IMG_6121.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254981587814052946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpSPJluiO3a24diYx5aV26cen4_0X6t486_WKn3CxjcNvhaEqVtBi7PCCO6QYpXmQNX4dmajjLHf51nRs-bkh843EnpWKXzuks6ESBDHPmj9MbJ3kHKZ_QsixLiaWbolvWOhFJA6lEPV6/s320/IMG_6121.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3IKwmfq5VW1S2cF2n0gv771hXV4lqu-f4NzJTNgt-fl6z3Re9oVXJbcuhGUqwDibN8J3AnuzATZDlGDVMXy6VHhrBFiPfC54hIO7V9UVAnA7gLamx6DmjlL9pxHNzl2x-Au40P2rNyrr/s1600-h/IMG_6122.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254981591580610498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3IKwmfq5VW1S2cF2n0gv771hXV4lqu-f4NzJTNgt-fl6z3Re9oVXJbcuhGUqwDibN8J3AnuzATZDlGDVMXy6VHhrBFiPfC54hIO7V9UVAnA7gLamx6DmjlL9pxHNzl2x-Au40P2rNyrr/s320/IMG_6122.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5PqQTbGu_PdyW7QPNaxyDRkaTskUw7RrT-_WVBkiS4SAbvqA0QOxFuWUvIP_0c-nCYQtlyZaQQ8CVvJ47h1q3JFYj_l7KmljSHD_h-ZdKmM-X2z7euRImr5CoYft1Pn2Qv28Q0M0voET/s1600-h/IMG_6134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254983376515033794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5PqQTbGu_PdyW7QPNaxyDRkaTskUw7RrT-_WVBkiS4SAbvqA0QOxFuWUvIP_0c-nCYQtlyZaQQ8CVvJ47h1q3JFYj_l7KmljSHD_h-ZdKmM-X2z7euRImr5CoYft1Pn2Qv28Q0M0voET/s320/IMG_6134.JPG" border="0" /></a> Noura coaxing a baby deer out of a gaijin trap (ditch)</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeSfo0LvYs4Ju6WzQ43lDrgnr9Jo86KpjDxTScpRvbOTvFnoK0PBeZSgB5hGjmpn__Mw2fKx0OeyFzmLVkAcQ7wUyL8P63OQAMHHhIzuot_2hi5R_XqYyEgDGPjkyF1sgvJRiweoc7IA8/s1600-h/IMG_6154.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254983373138347474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeSfo0LvYs4Ju6WzQ43lDrgnr9Jo86KpjDxTScpRvbOTvFnoK0PBeZSgB5hGjmpn__Mw2fKx0OeyFzmLVkAcQ7wUyL8P63OQAMHHhIzuot_2hi5R_XqYyEgDGPjkyF1sgvJRiweoc7IA8/s320/IMG_6154.JPG" border="0" /></a> Their ears were so soft! Some of them let me gently hold on to their ears for a long time. Reminded me of my favorite dog, a friend's dog named Gramps. He lets me hold onto his tiny paws for as long as I like. I really need a pet.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXA_dljV6wCwXgmXkWdsYM6a2pzk2TDLQ4bMNtniuY3h4xFQXyw-J4LIGml7SjKl0DVeCloWh172N1_CZtxf0gEHYdwo3L-1fPqBkeYn4vf_alS8IY4jiE4LOkRQfpdoum3g8C09fpjM71/s1600-h/IMG_6163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254983383880677682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXA_dljV6wCwXgmXkWdsYM6a2pzk2TDLQ4bMNtniuY3h4xFQXyw-J4LIGml7SjKl0DVeCloWh172N1_CZtxf0gEHYdwo3L-1fPqBkeYn4vf_alS8IY4jiE4LOkRQfpdoum3g8C09fpjM71/s320/IMG_6163.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu7ebyqIOqHLJKAnJR-zugXmhRXMGLlrV4ru0gaJV-7vDmvkX8-KYBiiwmjD1OZabs_Q5rFGXsd_XeZ5ZUzgrh9PqDsU-lbMS2ZrfEuDTmO1qwLPKmzSXDekW4AKrxxYPw6TwmlQmAddH/s1600-h/IMG_6169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254983385729809778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu7ebyqIOqHLJKAnJR-zugXmhRXMGLlrV4ru0gaJV-7vDmvkX8-KYBiiwmjD1OZabs_Q5rFGXsd_XeZ5ZUzgrh9PqDsU-lbMS2ZrfEuDTmO1qwLPKmzSXDekW4AKrxxYPw6TwmlQmAddH/s320/IMG_6169.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ02hLft1ALz67iwEFhYGTs6VH2iKobBaPSvP6hIjR7WcFC0RqGxTdwrUHeNXPhZ5fgi3J9FBQDEEs_3M2PT8Zt8rZhi6KnqMILzLsycjpMqRteZgkwCPiXt7VWTym_VBEk5nvdZ26T81/s1600-h/IMG_6171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254983390122775122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ02hLft1ALz67iwEFhYGTs6VH2iKobBaPSvP6hIjR7WcFC0RqGxTdwrUHeNXPhZ5fgi3J9FBQDEEs_3M2PT8Zt8rZhi6KnqMILzLsycjpMqRteZgkwCPiXt7VWTym_VBEk5nvdZ26T81/s320/IMG_6171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWeMqNb6J_RfjGXxPFSPHALcYKSHyH5nu8cd_x_HIAA4_PuXM5DvaLf9eqPeqEzrt_avK8xSJjTJ5MXDNiAkOEKQrMhhvwpWkLDy2K-Va8oxPCXyKjOaRismOe7VAmHy_KNOw0-tP5fgV/s1600-h/IMG_6174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254984679386051730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWeMqNb6J_RfjGXxPFSPHALcYKSHyH5nu8cd_x_HIAA4_PuXM5DvaLf9eqPeqEzrt_avK8xSJjTJ5MXDNiAkOEKQrMhhvwpWkLDy2K-Va8oxPCXyKjOaRismOe7VAmHy_KNOw0-tP5fgV/s320/IMG_6174.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">A deer following Gina, Noura, Margaret towrds the gate to Todai-ji<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb86ET9ohgSLHFtPv5417RXAoUVIVamrztXiEkB_Y5mVLIqIShnURC20EsNtYVlOw0HPCRVYSCYzSYnrAbDp0DCsks12r6YbM4fInuUR3y0TsSkM6YGBFddDfsC382eBLbb_l7zij9F61K/s1600-h/IMG_6176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254984683922345602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb86ET9ohgSLHFtPv5417RXAoUVIVamrztXiEkB_Y5mVLIqIShnURC20EsNtYVlOw0HPCRVYSCYzSYnrAbDp0DCsks12r6YbM4fInuUR3y0TsSkM6YGBFddDfsC382eBLbb_l7zij9F61K/s320/IMG_6176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKaIbT5lkCHFZp-MIryD3-ZhxcRR7QegLWkb-cNliGXLSQzTD7UbYbsbeArpTK5kOtzB_fkv0dljt0ctHhd51D4kJKUZpOBKRkbCmbQLWRf7ZBupMRWne6YRDzbLCFZ5C1oIYESD1UEsb/s1600-h/IMG_6179.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254984690543457538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKaIbT5lkCHFZp-MIryD3-ZhxcRR7QegLWkb-cNliGXLSQzTD7UbYbsbeArpTK5kOtzB_fkv0dljt0ctHhd51D4kJKUZpOBKRkbCmbQLWRf7ZBupMRWne6YRDzbLCFZ5C1oIYESD1UEsb/s320/IMG_6179.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMdzBUIFLnlrZJoFimp-0ZIaL9Dfb1dhV2QdD6dNY-OYvVKdHB3-OhQ_DHbFTx9fB2EXMjka8TuTKLFM-oqjNWQlGtBHjhyKmj4uxPNP3A9zwPTweMXnHPLCOxLRLf3xn1ZZcLDhjVriZ/s1600-h/IMG_6184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254984692870896722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMdzBUIFLnlrZJoFimp-0ZIaL9Dfb1dhV2QdD6dNY-OYvVKdHB3-OhQ_DHbFTx9fB2EXMjka8TuTKLFM-oqjNWQlGtBHjhyKmj4uxPNP3A9zwPTweMXnHPLCOxLRLf3xn1ZZcLDhjVriZ/s320/IMG_6184.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Todai-ji temple, the largest wooden structure in the world!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5tsG4-QEWIQfhH3ckWNkCXtwqhTTsX-HwSQ1kAa02N6bJwTpRs3JJZX88dskchWC1OF9etWbS9oogaIk9qgtsh3Zec1wQTokEZM306wnRMNdJQuGsuabm7NmYXVJk5May8fOhLDM0OBG/s1600-h/IMG_6193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254984693245460930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5tsG4-QEWIQfhH3ckWNkCXtwqhTTsX-HwSQ1kAa02N6bJwTpRs3JJZX88dskchWC1OF9etWbS9oogaIk9qgtsh3Zec1wQTokEZM306wnRMNdJQuGsuabm7NmYXVJk5May8fOhLDM0OBG/s320/IMG_6193.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrSYHZ58qOfTWl-tcPhMULj3lUUt-2DPJw_o-EZXE8MpFP48_iKgyrWaKV2j4_D5TT_usbn3C7plYlZQ3oWSX8Y790GNMEbH5ISqwVqz4a_U-R9hm_czwslEuC1OJqgVcL6x-4WEpDLK1/s1600-h/IMG_6195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255000342713423618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrSYHZ58qOfTWl-tcPhMULj3lUUt-2DPJw_o-EZXE8MpFP48_iKgyrWaKV2j4_D5TT_usbn3C7plYlZQ3oWSX8Y790GNMEbH5ISqwVqz4a_U-R9hm_czwslEuC1OJqgVcL6x-4WEpDLK1/s320/IMG_6195.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0tkGyz29rKhzFTb59VAYzIqJVP6Bfr0TzhPL2a0CJI5yOx3nS84boyI9bguBMExWVohoMbi3HSRNZKluroyFhtLqd4eRiFcAkgqf1zmFLDrAU1GxNhBYB5Fo-OTkC5HJdTIgVyciwQji/s1600-h/IMG_6197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255000350359109666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0tkGyz29rKhzFTb59VAYzIqJVP6Bfr0TzhPL2a0CJI5yOx3nS84boyI9bguBMExWVohoMbi3HSRNZKluroyFhtLqd4eRiFcAkgqf1zmFLDrAU1GxNhBYB5Fo-OTkC5HJdTIgVyciwQji/s320/IMG_6197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoftPHUY3h1-zwUj1luc3FoqMEgXf8nTh9iQLTdJM3FcoDsTcVi-9AGuROUNwKAusYsAfctqjgEEdfJcjAJGVMrzq-WBlzmUmS4bZJHws_kgPxWBKMSi3hwjjfDOsMm6jYJVTmRBPA_eE/s1600-h/IMG_6198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255000350924743090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoftPHUY3h1-zwUj1luc3FoqMEgXf8nTh9iQLTdJM3FcoDsTcVi-9AGuROUNwKAusYsAfctqjgEEdfJcjAJGVMrzq-WBlzmUmS4bZJHws_kgPxWBKMSi3hwjjfDOsMm6jYJVTmRBPA_eE/s320/IMG_6198.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXC6JQK8jkw9yzx0TecRzf315EunswPdddVaANkQ6EBWOU4mJW3AQwqkqY-8I_rAcbqvI4R2jSDeuVPohDiGGwutEFadHKRSxGtbbzsvmQECnL8Ju4IAqukagALbEZqBsMAr0ZG6cHjJm/s1600-h/IMG_6200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255000356930607058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXC6JQK8jkw9yzx0TecRzf315EunswPdddVaANkQ6EBWOU4mJW3AQwqkqY-8I_rAcbqvI4R2jSDeuVPohDiGGwutEFadHKRSxGtbbzsvmQECnL8Ju4IAqukagALbEZqBsMAr0ZG6cHjJm/s320/IMG_6200.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-nq0UvToU9wJ8wkFZMkzP9QYSFZURh2de6jJrMXcdCl_J8wOHqltoJuIPtLkvO2Wc83RdUKhQy20cmJKcjPR2XPIiwkCrFeMCGhLX5rKbaAIwgNOahKz4MgdU1P35YoNgdCYWppBVFMg/s1600-h/IMG_6206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255000362901960642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-nq0UvToU9wJ8wkFZMkzP9QYSFZURh2de6jJrMXcdCl_J8wOHqltoJuIPtLkvO2Wc83RdUKhQy20cmJKcjPR2XPIiwkCrFeMCGhLX5rKbaAIwgNOahKz4MgdU1P35YoNgdCYWppBVFMg/s320/IMG_6206.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The word on the street was that if you could pass through the hole in this wooden beam, you could attain paradise. There were a lot of moms pushing and pulling their babies through. One lanky Italian guy tried and failed.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8K1fBS1QTPpJf492_pxwwAee4BQ-nW8RjFdBgxzJ4Wpb7-G2txojSHQIutQj3ThB8Yy3XKvKmtnWhIGjhGL56P3J6ZBGXXTgar1nSoSut-ezAANOWuIDQq897Ag7_AxhWnGo4ZioR5oR/s1600-h/IMG_6213.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255001280011706018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8K1fBS1QTPpJf492_pxwwAee4BQ-nW8RjFdBgxzJ4Wpb7-G2txojSHQIutQj3ThB8Yy3XKvKmtnWhIGjhGL56P3J6ZBGXXTgar1nSoSut-ezAANOWuIDQq897Ag7_AxhWnGo4ZioR5oR/s320/IMG_6213.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9TzvLvJHd0IEILjdHBgCIpytD4h6CYJR8s0p-5ZIZLOuRglYIGc2bZgDBVmTxkmRAHKdm8-QES13l3peJzzkEjOBVBJORndJSUvfIcBoXlF0izkC04IunwwqP2sJN2kcmnljS682PHv4/s1600-h/IMG_6217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255001285617938530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9TzvLvJHd0IEILjdHBgCIpytD4h6CYJR8s0p-5ZIZLOuRglYIGc2bZgDBVmTxkmRAHKdm8-QES13l3peJzzkEjOBVBJORndJSUvfIcBoXlF0izkC04IunwwqP2sJN2kcmnljS682PHv4/s320/IMG_6217.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The bumblejack!</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QFHiMnwAvtzI7Ry0J0mGTuC_J6lmC-QTRph_LuTTrqz7SDW9tQabDHif9-31df4OmPG-AI6Db-UseC4xixsCXD30LUQ-cfR2JBh8RmLpgWGJaUslV1peMjK99keiEJsZMkrv84WpVpNb/s1600-h/IMG_6218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255001293188429698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QFHiMnwAvtzI7Ry0J0mGTuC_J6lmC-QTRph_LuTTrqz7SDW9tQabDHif9-31df4OmPG-AI6Db-UseC4xixsCXD30LUQ-cfR2JBh8RmLpgWGJaUslV1peMjK99keiEJsZMkrv84WpVpNb/s320/IMG_6218.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kNduUunheiuZHK7Mog-DSjITHNnqEThXfNode_0npD_IzBz7nfLGqPt66M0weFzdSXUa2FgPXRRUNNwxJs2uuiS99cgD2FUv1oqzHq0DLHcxryWjYnm8Kc1Y9B4-9c47_KdRLXaLMk_L/s1600-h/IMG_6220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255001295247937618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kNduUunheiuZHK7Mog-DSjITHNnqEThXfNode_0npD_IzBz7nfLGqPt66M0weFzdSXUa2FgPXRRUNNwxJs2uuiS99cgD2FUv1oqzHq0DLHcxryWjYnm8Kc1Y9B4-9c47_KdRLXaLMk_L/s320/IMG_6220.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We headed out for a night on the town via our favorite mode of transportation, the bus, to Gion and the potoncho area by the canal<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoMLKeZokvYRHv2Ue4pdQ5uHjSbfMCWBf9ljONdJ5JRUzmAO8UsFaLfATDIhVMOxaximmr6xXWHAhFuqN0eBGr0dVbLTp-0dxTnmrOzOLC66JMjoSfxWA5hNl2XGY-2zFOO8-q4shcOvJ/s1600-h/IMG_6221.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255001299295383634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoMLKeZokvYRHv2Ue4pdQ5uHjSbfMCWBf9ljONdJ5JRUzmAO8UsFaLfATDIhVMOxaximmr6xXWHAhFuqN0eBGr0dVbLTp-0dxTnmrOzOLC66JMjoSfxWA5hNl2XGY-2zFOO8-q4shcOvJ/s320/IMG_6221.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDb0I8Zv_yBeozJ1xPoLLwoNcrf1HSdSDE1ex-oNW4e2Bb4b5BFyinsZSf3cFlMm2wXO0iDOOs0fLBgAlA3n_7QesDKA3NL4YY8p7V6YHRiZyXqTvbd1VKp74r-Kp9MOUkZar6-zQzClaH/s1600-h/IMG_6224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255002289767464706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDb0I8Zv_yBeozJ1xPoLLwoNcrf1HSdSDE1ex-oNW4e2Bb4b5BFyinsZSf3cFlMm2wXO0iDOOs0fLBgAlA3n_7QesDKA3NL4YY8p7V6YHRiZyXqTvbd1VKp74r-Kp9MOUkZar6-zQzClaH/s320/IMG_6224.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7I1ZjX62FmmVTcqyPUmwbms9QIycnQoKlYkQZwurmW7wuz2sUHxF1C2qJuG3Wd6zL-_JEhfHZTDwmxLmEruo-cI4oqWS4LJqWk53Lc8FdISkEvMA0-57XvHfv-BM6SqmCB9_LXZOSLjq1/s1600-h/IMG_6227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255002292054485874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7I1ZjX62FmmVTcqyPUmwbms9QIycnQoKlYkQZwurmW7wuz2sUHxF1C2qJuG3Wd6zL-_JEhfHZTDwmxLmEruo-cI4oqWS4LJqWk53Lc8FdISkEvMA0-57XvHfv-BM6SqmCB9_LXZOSLjq1/s320/IMG_6227.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We found a nice restaurant by the canal that was Cook your own, but over actual burning logs that they brought to your table. We cooked a delicious mackerel, amongst other things<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiPHfZx9QTtPNycvEHx7vQDAS78QH6nfRpyKZT2hXdXhTeZSe5T_xbGsuZzjuErB_vL8fUBxsD67A8C-8gTpnUw6gy-Tqi0N1gFVqylywdS1Seo7dA2eqipeMFsnjVC9gm7pAyMvKlTV6/s1600-h/IMG_6229.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255002294482063586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiPHfZx9QTtPNycvEHx7vQDAS78QH6nfRpyKZT2hXdXhTeZSe5T_xbGsuZzjuErB_vL8fUBxsD67A8C-8gTpnUw6gy-Tqi0N1gFVqylywdS1Seo7dA2eqipeMFsnjVC9gm7pAyMvKlTV6/s320/IMG_6229.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1RjwvGEgdMdBiB1Y15gcZi2oXEWcOaNQeqps_oxq6Wya5ZOr82kQ6RyPILKfxWWtus97xdX6eU7lRT5MSV_qeIsmjHkg2XU5rzl0GLE9OiBerBdriVgbcBgIAEOqGAFGQiK0WJvzYu70/s1600-h/IMG_6236.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255002298986567922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1RjwvGEgdMdBiB1Y15gcZi2oXEWcOaNQeqps_oxq6Wya5ZOr82kQ6RyPILKfxWWtus97xdX6eU7lRT5MSV_qeIsmjHkg2XU5rzl0GLE9OiBerBdriVgbcBgIAEOqGAFGQiK0WJvzYu70/s320/IMG_6236.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jKrldt-zhlhMNZNyA_3L2PymhCrVH-3zXuUXD4uV-HR8DU68I7irgONLSigpMBF27MAlgC-Y5PE_ZbuoXjTNCiiiyhfbsbzUjliQBeG-kc2JOQG57HrhKhUwr8PHjMqcnvqdaH2wtwGQ/s1600-h/IMG_6237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255002300449421282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jKrldt-zhlhMNZNyA_3L2PymhCrVH-3zXuUXD4uV-HR8DU68I7irgONLSigpMBF27MAlgC-Y5PE_ZbuoXjTNCiiiyhfbsbzUjliQBeG-kc2JOQG57HrhKhUwr8PHjMqcnvqdaH2wtwGQ/s320/IMG_6237.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Cool sake decanter<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2u9sEcMyDTLOB_XIlIvvbviZN1jccCxjDFlqOeZaUvqO1FozoKwAM5f5bd0x8_9XHjCDyvr_QhlUhMl4pKAGJG4H-d5Nd62JBTmiBie4Y17dt8I4gQuzAWpAXVrwrmKrHevIcO57aUXNE/s1600-h/IMG_6238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255003467225013250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2u9sEcMyDTLOB_XIlIvvbviZN1jccCxjDFlqOeZaUvqO1FozoKwAM5f5bd0x8_9XHjCDyvr_QhlUhMl4pKAGJG4H-d5Nd62JBTmiBie4Y17dt8I4gQuzAWpAXVrwrmKrHevIcO57aUXNE/s320/IMG_6238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RA6C_JTdb_tu40PxypzrTHR_hlPleFLJUTmiwLk56wr5oPdLaLjJBhPFQT9aby9YIDcukVZYpggAQqxzzQuoU_Q0vPUBUcbh-8807qnhsFQfEpwoGA6lNdGVe5kDE9vqABYqCbpyqCTp/s1600-h/IMG_6252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255003469807529970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RA6C_JTdb_tu40PxypzrTHR_hlPleFLJUTmiwLk56wr5oPdLaLjJBhPFQT9aby9YIDcukVZYpggAQqxzzQuoU_Q0vPUBUcbh-8807qnhsFQfEpwoGA6lNdGVe5kDE9vqABYqCbpyqCTp/s320/IMG_6252.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We went out to a tiny tiny bar in the same neighborhood afterward called "Soul Bag", and then hung out by the canal for a while.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_fUkQU-YY67OJzLMWggALe-I907HzGoSwS5gyiXz2zLVy_fq-sS9Om7F7u4k3FVYvJMC1_M-R-jGjqZgg2VD79If82LNUEg9svZyb-n7ZC9CyaCyqRXuesKgCXqWx6KR85-U1T2hgQLl/s1600-h/IMG_6256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255003788818222754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_fUkQU-YY67OJzLMWggALe-I907HzGoSwS5gyiXz2zLVy_fq-sS9Om7F7u4k3FVYvJMC1_M-R-jGjqZgg2VD79If82LNUEg9svZyb-n7ZC9CyaCyqRXuesKgCXqWx6KR85-U1T2hgQLl/s320/IMG_6256.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWT4cnuyR65nSHC0qeyW4aIvMSIizlj9ibYRRA9h5Mfrwt0XRHVIRjQpe6JeQiXFr-Q0AcMHtbe8S-5jO9nH-mX8PZUn_OiqAMzwNF5y1GABvaoBuMO4n0eYEukJz6__ldoJ-rXb2PkOp/s1600-h/IMG_6268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255003474230619282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWT4cnuyR65nSHC0qeyW4aIvMSIizlj9ibYRRA9h5Mfrwt0XRHVIRjQpe6JeQiXFr-Q0AcMHtbe8S-5jO9nH-mX8PZUn_OiqAMzwNF5y1GABvaoBuMO4n0eYEukJz6__ldoJ-rXb2PkOp/s320/IMG_6268.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">I really wanted to see a couple more things in Kyoto before we headed off to Osaka so I woke up early the next morning and headed to the "Philosopher's Path" in northeastern Kyoto<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWr9G405O7c__JZtPVIbBa2HzM1GE2HQnqjIrwMbYn-FoS-cO_E2rGt-f4Qa9CQ3SqhYt_Hl4QHHG-OsAulwlrOvymGd-3Ax_ci6Ppoh3X0fKoT4ozn42FTrSPTfQhxwDii4gor58ylHN/s1600-h/IMG_6269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255003480451538962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWr9G405O7c__JZtPVIbBa2HzM1GE2HQnqjIrwMbYn-FoS-cO_E2rGt-f4Qa9CQ3SqhYt_Hl4QHHG-OsAulwlrOvymGd-3Ax_ci6Ppoh3X0fKoT4ozn42FTrSPTfQhxwDii4gor58ylHN/s320/IMG_6269.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The small canalside path was lovely and perfectly empty<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U5K87mp4RxcEbNqQaB4MvatXsSUD3yayMb4YbW3Od1N_o_5GlacsmC6gA1z_AzddyosLvcvN7_qLjBACMwadSfIDhjfzZZsbzhyphenhyphenCrtAy4MkFKBQKsMCAlOaeZoM65i-i5lwlP5eS05An/s1600-h/IMG_6270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255006025441008258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U5K87mp4RxcEbNqQaB4MvatXsSUD3yayMb4YbW3Od1N_o_5GlacsmC6gA1z_AzddyosLvcvN7_qLjBACMwadSfIDhjfzZZsbzhyphenhyphenCrtAy4MkFKBQKsMCAlOaeZoM65i-i5lwlP5eS05An/s320/IMG_6270.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLz5GcFV7dHv9_aC8gIHzv0D6IiyVIg5OQ-Qju7vX9vX30K8h5opnWoxdZkx-IylnaEyheh-_hQE83r8aUOZbEGb-vACF3dT-WLvTm5_f_vilevDvoi3ZYKa4tyPaQNM9bEgWp-QN4tpe/s1600-h/IMG_6271.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255006030090278610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLz5GcFV7dHv9_aC8gIHzv0D6IiyVIg5OQ-Qju7vX9vX30K8h5opnWoxdZkx-IylnaEyheh-_hQE83r8aUOZbEGb-vACF3dT-WLvTm5_f_vilevDvoi3ZYKa4tyPaQNM9bEgWp-QN4tpe/s320/IMG_6271.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz5P7oJN1AqqVNShWEtVZAVE1aUmuJt4X1QermWEYsFiVSQSdU1GpKaenH_bh330L3oolOkbwba5jBKT1nWWEgD8A2jOL7_NgWlOKGe36GyjfAOutVo_H6wTEFLJZUiCQHJtm49sqvZtL/s1600-h/IMG_6272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255006033428821698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz5P7oJN1AqqVNShWEtVZAVE1aUmuJt4X1QermWEYsFiVSQSdU1GpKaenH_bh330L3oolOkbwba5jBKT1nWWEgD8A2jOL7_NgWlOKGe36GyjfAOutVo_H6wTEFLJZUiCQHJtm49sqvZtL/s320/IMG_6272.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>There were also many cute coffee shops along the way, like this Coffee Maple.</p><p align="center">I arrived at the Ginkaku-ji (Silver Temple) to find it had been burned and was under scaffolding. Thankfully the gardens were actually worth seeing on their own.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0f82uIk6-YvcnlYHvI9ShC3DDsZIsALA8rf9pJai6thr5QYURogwbG1Izjz1T5IcxN-La0moC48JT3ji7IAw283Nb3TvGOw3he8hoZeq1qffsbYby1wOGBgz4-vq5-Ko_li6dEfpe62rh/s1600-h/IMG_6280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255006038179097266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0f82uIk6-YvcnlYHvI9ShC3DDsZIsALA8rf9pJai6thr5QYURogwbG1Izjz1T5IcxN-La0moC48JT3ji7IAw283Nb3TvGOw3he8hoZeq1qffsbYby1wOGBgz4-vq5-Ko_li6dEfpe62rh/s320/IMG_6280.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>A strange silver sand cone in the middle of the sand garden<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6KLL3Z4P_kV-i0dHkePXFVPON7Mf43ja7ozLb8gFoAQpRGvPiVucmBvMAH17Z-GPJ7GjbtRqJ91WmFfY6T6cdz67sARHrcbN-EoXSjH0ijz_jl-qB0EcihL4CRfeY7bu8xXeCUmj_7uC/s1600-h/IMG_6282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255006042683872338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6KLL3Z4P_kV-i0dHkePXFVPON7Mf43ja7ozLb8gFoAQpRGvPiVucmBvMAH17Z-GPJ7GjbtRqJ91WmFfY6T6cdz67sARHrcbN-EoXSjH0ijz_jl-qB0EcihL4CRfeY7bu8xXeCUmj_7uC/s320/IMG_6282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhFmCLLiDFdeKwYG4aLQdbJlF-MoWS2dJi9xx6ijr2Gc5XDZTsny34S_IC0y4TNEgpSpwwrbY3qUhstjjuZv-uf5e6e-ga9IUryhI3cpf_UG4CxS0KhXMu_cfSK1xKMCc8eJny9QEmdpI/s1600-h/IMG_6283.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255007469259439954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhFmCLLiDFdeKwYG4aLQdbJlF-MoWS2dJi9xx6ijr2Gc5XDZTsny34S_IC0y4TNEgpSpwwrbY3qUhstjjuZv-uf5e6e-ga9IUryhI3cpf_UG4CxS0KhXMu_cfSK1xKMCc8eJny9QEmdpI/s320/IMG_6283.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh_au9ASiQwo_H6HtsFw0T1LlJbrG_lxT20uQTbSu8SGvpWOEck54IVy2V3A20tbtxlGhBA0_JsRrByJwLUwyKCLRMaAafnmeT55ypZIyAYqo9A0E75aM0Q5fLxdAbR_fPUwjXtZv1Pxe/s1600-h/IMG_6286.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255007468629645634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh_au9ASiQwo_H6HtsFw0T1LlJbrG_lxT20uQTbSu8SGvpWOEck54IVy2V3A20tbtxlGhBA0_JsRrByJwLUwyKCLRMaAafnmeT55ypZIyAYqo9A0E75aM0Q5fLxdAbR_fPUwjXtZv1Pxe/s320/IMG_6286.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Engrish shows up in the strangest of places!<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfgtjatnr7IIHXnvjLTwN-1d3PqthfjmAwR5LJ1LtywXKxw9ttrjC1xq0W8KFFCPF_nwBtM0aOM4x9DdeyrieZJYC3fPKg_i1ESh5xYEhhsf3wxV9bjq6NwUqfLNwKW4RkUZwq7I0Uq3k/s1600-h/IMG_6287.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255007472018768050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfgtjatnr7IIHXnvjLTwN-1d3PqthfjmAwR5LJ1LtywXKxw9ttrjC1xq0W8KFFCPF_nwBtM0aOM4x9DdeyrieZJYC3fPKg_i1ESh5xYEhhsf3wxV9bjq6NwUqfLNwKW4RkUZwq7I0Uq3k/s320/IMG_6287.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdVA6y5zSR-4pzT9__W6Lc8WzR1zDzLgIFJdEQKUQcK2QTnxeNHIc7vfLN4pO3UdJDOdCpOA-QewRzKhNSYZU_N_lgNzgeFk3C8epqMKLSlG2Z020Xu_JEomKCOKl4uGeBRyrVqfgD03N/s1600-h/IMG_6288.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255007479697532402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdVA6y5zSR-4pzT9__W6Lc8WzR1zDzLgIFJdEQKUQcK2QTnxeNHIc7vfLN4pO3UdJDOdCpOA-QewRzKhNSYZU_N_lgNzgeFk3C8epqMKLSlG2Z020Xu_JEomKCOKl4uGeBRyrVqfgD03N/s320/IMG_6288.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgnNXzLad4vOw9SFAAhgWTcOVQdnHdjcpdcMMGNfl06Mron6s9DogUdiIDQ7lo95Pd9BD1efIxMXmfsCVRWB2Ku2AP3MD3JMLQkcynXy-i1ppbrkf3wpJIsz8fEYu9-_5C-yUX3yQUWHT/s1600-h/IMG_6289.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255007481642102610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgnNXzLad4vOw9SFAAhgWTcOVQdnHdjcpdcMMGNfl06Mron6s9DogUdiIDQ7lo95Pd9BD1efIxMXmfsCVRWB2Ku2AP3MD3JMLQkcynXy-i1ppbrkf3wpJIsz8fEYu9-_5C-yUX3yQUWHT/s320/IMG_6289.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ0qm8Rbh03j7Fsgh4RFGHSn7Z1AEYaPKxI3NmRBGrYB9Ix6pabw7CzVieUHxwJLdRaoMVQLhl2bTqYOdxWOL0STWKmY5RURh39wux03lqNVu4FBNFIiqMSVXwMX2m3hgKFBBJaoLEpx0/s1600-h/IMG_6290.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255008750964435138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ0qm8Rbh03j7Fsgh4RFGHSn7Z1AEYaPKxI3NmRBGrYB9Ix6pabw7CzVieUHxwJLdRaoMVQLhl2bTqYOdxWOL0STWKmY5RURh39wux03lqNVu4FBNFIiqMSVXwMX2m3hgKFBBJaoLEpx0/s320/IMG_6290.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uf0ZEpdxvlTGMxZ12y833CCrSMPNt57nBKhhoy_Z9qzPtmKao7Y6rIjAiUGRQC6Dwt5jnabjqf5D7Xlau_rNsm97HFpOnrV4ljSQApfkGfSm1y8RTV3sqKkRVqDZUDYOZWmYfRJp0qXh/s1600-h/IMG_6296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255008753299839986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uf0ZEpdxvlTGMxZ12y833CCrSMPNt57nBKhhoy_Z9qzPtmKao7Y6rIjAiUGRQC6Dwt5jnabjqf5D7Xlau_rNsm97HFpOnrV4ljSQApfkGfSm1y8RTV3sqKkRVqDZUDYOZWmYfRJp0qXh/s320/IMG_6296.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUq2f7jzpA8EeB0OBroysC3MWUz5L5TSZGzQXgRvRafhR7r2Y76OeTMniHpShZsUR-VahL24KANm7uNXCsfVLfatgtQBiJ908la89djwxxoS6M2PxlGIvaDHhh7WEzXkakh2qDtkFPaPw/s1600-h/IMG_6297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255008758360506146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUq2f7jzpA8EeB0OBroysC3MWUz5L5TSZGzQXgRvRafhR7r2Y76OeTMniHpShZsUR-VahL24KANm7uNXCsfVLfatgtQBiJ908la89djwxxoS6M2PxlGIvaDHhh7WEzXkakh2qDtkFPaPw/s320/IMG_6297.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here you can see the scaffolded temple</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_NoFmAdmCRDUKLLSWJEvdmBoLiygMPUtKYti2cK75zj1MD_g97YVqrKtvKUZWbtjIqK6Owhk69xNv_tvMdbvLZXYRJMSF-z-PHSYAC6rK_ZSCxCpg-Ev9Fz6gN5TVbkvsWew130kcmAu/s1600-h/IMG_6299.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255008763587318658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_NoFmAdmCRDUKLLSWJEvdmBoLiygMPUtKYti2cK75zj1MD_g97YVqrKtvKUZWbtjIqK6Owhk69xNv_tvMdbvLZXYRJMSF-z-PHSYAC6rK_ZSCxCpg-Ev9Fz6gN5TVbkvsWew130kcmAu/s320/IMG_6299.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The leaves were just starting to change in the garden<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5q0fFWJijLlbGNJa2zPumSUqzjNAmlKIDRqLlm4b-cJ9lrmJ6VlenYaFeRuicIpjVAmdqrXZJopBEm-GE5o_GCtnv_o6-OYdnq_6dzrSafNJxig9KlHpVQkZ9cUb__aFY9Nd22b6QEn6/s1600-h/IMG_6302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255008760152314450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5q0fFWJijLlbGNJa2zPumSUqzjNAmlKIDRqLlm4b-cJ9lrmJ6VlenYaFeRuicIpjVAmdqrXZJopBEm-GE5o_GCtnv_o6-OYdnq_6dzrSafNJxig9KlHpVQkZ9cUb__aFY9Nd22b6QEn6/s320/IMG_6302.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43d_RncoV6Yc0tVSyPjC4b3_pCc4qHe-JUMToU8RBzfeasAE7gmj5gOO2REtF41ry2O3vnARg5k2nia7ckod9nNPFNk4z7wdHC9EGSU5cddsDiSKbNLpeKdcaokHYAxN0EXBl4R-xu1eq/s1600-h/IMG_6307.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255010091563411874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43d_RncoV6Yc0tVSyPjC4b3_pCc4qHe-JUMToU8RBzfeasAE7gmj5gOO2REtF41ry2O3vnARg5k2nia7ckod9nNPFNk4z7wdHC9EGSU5cddsDiSKbNLpeKdcaokHYAxN0EXBl4R-xu1eq/s320/IMG_6307.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQd1eOnJlrRpwlp18x5rSz9U3iz4TJ8V5zAYcogkCSr877jD0ICc4poWI5LWCBo7zLSVXHikT0BqpApAuTuQbOtFoH5I91wwHAN5zOEBZxN_9-TWSy-Ox_cAm61Fdtg0dkOY4aJ1y4Qla/s1600-h/IMG_6310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255010100893490898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQd1eOnJlrRpwlp18x5rSz9U3iz4TJ8V5zAYcogkCSr877jD0ICc4poWI5LWCBo7zLSVXHikT0BqpApAuTuQbOtFoH5I91wwHAN5zOEBZxN_9-TWSy-Ox_cAm61Fdtg0dkOY4aJ1y4Qla/s320/IMG_6310.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aiTig1nVqW8ujoAjdBFkq5iZTen1iv7WE3EwmeCgndID0Cqon0eORhapTzx5h2vHIdTXMulgL98tTLkVzbr7WQdfZrtUgvHADFZhRWd5WcsEIUAwSOlesqe0P2DdWErE3oaZW2AVJfZu/s1600-h/IMG_6311.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255010101451193154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aiTig1nVqW8ujoAjdBFkq5iZTen1iv7WE3EwmeCgndID0Cqon0eORhapTzx5h2vHIdTXMulgL98tTLkVzbr7WQdfZrtUgvHADFZhRWd5WcsEIUAwSOlesqe0P2DdWErE3oaZW2AVJfZu/s320/IMG_6311.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">In Osaka we went to the ridiculously awesome Spa World, which is a giant half-waterpark/half -themed onsen. We happened to be there on a discount day, so it was quite crowded, but the waterslides certainly kept Margaret and I entertained. One was funnel shaped - we only saw from the top that there was a worker inside the funnel whose job it was to make sure no one gets caught up in there "Augustus Gloop-style". We thought he must be the only person in the world to take a waterslide to and from work. Another one shot you down a long drop and then up a 70 degree wall, which you would fall back down after that terrifying weightless period. It was really fun, to say the least. Then we went to the onsen portion, which was really quite the crash course in onsening - a huge complex of many many themed baths, mostly on European countries. "Spain" was outside with an overhead waterfall, and "Norway" had a log cabin sauna and freezing cold pool. There was also a cavelike "Blue Lagoon" bath and a restaurant where you could sit and have a beer with your friends, nude, while your feet dangled in a special foot bath. It was quite an experience. Afterwards we met up with my friend Ryo who lives in the city and went to an izakaya in the Dotomburi neighborhood. Then it was on to Hiroshima!</p><p align="center">From our hotel we walked toward the Peace Park on a T-shaped bridge I didn't realize was basically the center of the atomic bomb dropping called the Aioi bridge. As we were looking at the "A-bomb dome" a building which survived the bomb skeletally, kept as is as a reminder, a high school group approached and had their pciture taken in front of it.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wABLYCA2jD9xCCZu0wkzwYATacYyS7tXfCYz21JIof9WcuT5d5n8sknEfqwbavt-SS0BQgqvAhb8l9s4HUPivWTuolN6NGpHXjc2efXhjqg-2H4bjYYYFRD5SZ7wH06sqb58ui0ECexH/s1600-h/IMG_6324.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255010108569727458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wABLYCA2jD9xCCZu0wkzwYATacYyS7tXfCYz21JIof9WcuT5d5n8sknEfqwbavt-SS0BQgqvAhb8l9s4HUPivWTuolN6NGpHXjc2efXhjqg-2H4bjYYYFRD5SZ7wH06sqb58ui0ECexH/s320/IMG_6324.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnUEIIp0UP3oBfWZ0Tr4xw9_5Tnv4dmEnXPPc8TywwXnkNTPwNWzp3CWOVVOt41sxr9pc-B7NNx7lVX8NjMXi8hEQJ6iZgSHIGXaCXduzBnIh2c5ZvRkN0B3O0iQB5gabv8eoIisqvoF6/s1600-h/IMG_6325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255010110364163730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnUEIIp0UP3oBfWZ0Tr4xw9_5Tnv4dmEnXPPc8TywwXnkNTPwNWzp3CWOVVOt41sxr9pc-B7NNx7lVX8NjMXi8hEQJ6iZgSHIGXaCXduzBnIh2c5ZvRkN0B3O0iQB5gabv8eoIisqvoF6/s320/IMG_6325.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Noura and Margaret looking at paper cranes at the Children's monument.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI4Ht6lxn5FbaQ0tWnUsenPN1q1hB_7lXPfHxgcT6kWq_joIXU4X3Z_JHvBB5uN3p5FaougGontupbkw9VHMmfzoaw5EoLjG0ro_LwsBssDZJ0pasbd1ceoRzHgmiKJDytzmji3Ff4bYg/s1600-h/IMG_6328.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255011447901450226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI4Ht6lxn5FbaQ0tWnUsenPN1q1hB_7lXPfHxgcT6kWq_joIXU4X3Z_JHvBB5uN3p5FaougGontupbkw9VHMmfzoaw5EoLjG0ro_LwsBssDZJ0pasbd1ceoRzHgmiKJDytzmji3Ff4bYg/s320/IMG_6328.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGJmvoUZutdw4G-eSc__CmIzolEcNI0QwUpSemW54eOLikd_paF1IFF-LUl-0UPZVyPGojRfz5Rml2ccBqOy8uWFTEn9xjKUgdYgIzfXc-7yWLBjqeUIRAnBgCjM1EHo1Om01ovJkPmGe/s1600-h/IMG_6333.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255011452184168338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGJmvoUZutdw4G-eSc__CmIzolEcNI0QwUpSemW54eOLikd_paF1IFF-LUl-0UPZVyPGojRfz5Rml2ccBqOy8uWFTEn9xjKUgdYgIzfXc-7yWLBjqeUIRAnBgCjM1EHo1Om01ovJkPmGe/s320/IMG_6333.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7UWtTQwD60LKQSpvp4CbuWa1A9zXHaPW6XniBG4VG9DsRRhdkyaaJrqYuC-rTgGWIMeYkEYF5f4dF4JL3gaeLXEkflKmuFSTxGY8PP0R9pDuU-hNv4qZgA3wDhD10R2VZyofYUOBMU5T/s1600-h/IMG_6334.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255011453084336130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7UWtTQwD60LKQSpvp4CbuWa1A9zXHaPW6XniBG4VG9DsRRhdkyaaJrqYuC-rTgGWIMeYkEYF5f4dF4JL3gaeLXEkflKmuFSTxGY8PP0R9pDuU-hNv4qZgA3wDhD10R2VZyofYUOBMU5T/s320/IMG_6334.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2-JmZMYWJmctlbNaZ8hrAzsGXDgG5Adov0fAxZLnzJmwU7DBn_26gcZ0D7XkhElmn3mX_nw-ZavWnvhVVY4ZP3fuge-r2ErCa06B3Fu8hKJqwbMLqAjL5-MmksHGwSRsWPNXnufrptM2/s1600-h/IMG_6337.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255011455685958946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2-JmZMYWJmctlbNaZ8hrAzsGXDgG5Adov0fAxZLnzJmwU7DBn_26gcZ0D7XkhElmn3mX_nw-ZavWnvhVVY4ZP3fuge-r2ErCa06B3Fu8hKJqwbMLqAjL5-MmksHGwSRsWPNXnufrptM2/s320/IMG_6337.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyQ42Y59-b6UhngokC36xB7VAX_X0UUGMxpH17_xhG8ZD31JOoDe11bzn5LEvvO9OgTPkwVrV9O8ySZCCH8prn2pf7lGn8KLkT-d2ij8AD0S8z93eIQ6OhxQsbFBbIf47L_m2QbHoNf9Q/s1600-h/IMG_6342.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255011464221678898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyQ42Y59-b6UhngokC36xB7VAX_X0UUGMxpH17_xhG8ZD31JOoDe11bzn5LEvvO9OgTPkwVrV9O8ySZCCH8prn2pf7lGn8KLkT-d2ij8AD0S8z93eIQ6OhxQsbFBbIf47L_m2QbHoNf9Q/s320/IMG_6342.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> The actual museum of the atomic bombing was intensely interesting, it took us a few hours to get through it as it seemed every exhibit had long passages worth reading. Especially tear-jerking were exhibits of children's belongings, like a burned tricyle a little boy had been riding, which his father had buried him with in their backyard, before donating it to the museum.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHN8VQn67UK7M4VRi0Bjr36YrHaxGLLfFPvI54EIvpNTxJLXOeYlII7PNRYOc_kbqoX40oHH9CFiaYVR45JSqqvVtIoynSA9Z04UlecYiqgqYLzMlpFppp-9idUYzHf7wj0zQDD0VsBSV/s1600-h/IMG_6343.JPG"><p align="center"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1YXLxhc82RF1l2QBzp2S-uyDU1oCuHM7EhhyJ8pi6QalUfItLAeBNK53MAYH5hWux1bA1HcyFLLl83BYL5Pt9DL2zvLdTtaRBKoojHF4s5zPcLeN9OcqOl8tIe0i8MTDcUMdnYw6BOkQ/s1600-h/IMG_6345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255012447033596930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1YXLxhc82RF1l2QBzp2S-uyDU1oCuHM7EhhyJ8pi6QalUfItLAeBNK53MAYH5hWux1bA1HcyFLLl83BYL5Pt9DL2zvLdTtaRBKoojHF4s5zPcLeN9OcqOl8tIe0i8MTDcUMdnYw6BOkQ/s320/IMG_6345.JPG" border="0" /></a>The view from our hotel balcony, which included Hiroshima castle</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazHz4VpSwkibpyjN9FNoKdzu6K4pRlEDnGvsGyN2un2M4bNjU3Sjbw98Zvb6n9jIsy4KWbsHwTLRcRS4X1RAEA5Qe0zAtUXDibD1az98jYfG-8avsHjmW36qugrSw8OMkcZW_rixB5vkj/s1600-h/IMG_6346.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255012450904834946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazHz4VpSwkibpyjN9FNoKdzu6K4pRlEDnGvsGyN2un2M4bNjU3Sjbw98Zvb6n9jIsy4KWbsHwTLRcRS4X1RAEA5Qe0zAtUXDibD1az98jYfG-8avsHjmW36qugrSw8OMkcZW_rixB5vkj/s320/IMG_6346.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center">The next day we visited Miyajima, an island near Hiroshima.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2ubx-mrvDb09_y4DmUryeJHo5-2o0F7887dSyXEAuGPBqAMpaeEnOnOSjrIYMZAw9kwZMgsxyE4LhfXAvHwS7mEo7tgj7ZB_d1hFYxyIOCW8mtdPnwHtbEPktyksHEj7i_SPkzwDVB5A/s1600-h/IMG_6356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255012457947251986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2ubx-mrvDb09_y4DmUryeJHo5-2o0F7887dSyXEAuGPBqAMpaeEnOnOSjrIYMZAw9kwZMgsxyE4LhfXAvHwS7mEo7tgj7ZB_d1hFYxyIOCW8mtdPnwHtbEPktyksHEj7i_SPkzwDVB5A/s320/IMG_6356.JPG" border="0" /></a> The famous "floating" torii and Itsukushima-jinja shrine</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B2fdszcpY-SIDtwnUp8QkW4R0ho1uzK1IqGaKNr8aFQ6Ua9mealGSG1ioJxQRaCA4EcnVn1yPrqwdfqtyfl8ay5kJR6bqudm2QJE-8SZsbj4ob35nqWbi8Djk1ftzKuiBfMC5prbs2Rw/s1600-h/IMG_6359.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255013694446442850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B2fdszcpY-SIDtwnUp8QkW4R0ho1uzK1IqGaKNr8aFQ6Ua9mealGSG1ioJxQRaCA4EcnVn1yPrqwdfqtyfl8ay5kJR6bqudm2QJE-8SZsbj4ob35nqWbi8Djk1ftzKuiBfMC5prbs2Rw/s320/IMG_6359.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA13vjXEFZkkOh6kB3gkL7nzUoM-7Rey8RylHBG1LEqirKAWtS2N2M8MKG7Ljm8w29PVCDtZ_f4RMs0pgeD563EUWO5rycMQuXmy0jYq4C9hM_k_xMhiGDx9V7HU62OcD7f448SfBufgyr/s1600-h/IMG_6361.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255013694827490514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA13vjXEFZkkOh6kB3gkL7nzUoM-7Rey8RylHBG1LEqirKAWtS2N2M8MKG7Ljm8w29PVCDtZ_f4RMs0pgeD563EUWO5rycMQuXmy0jYq4C9hM_k_xMhiGDx9V7HU62OcD7f448SfBufgyr/s320/IMG_6361.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVr3fFl2I2Iyy63gx9Vp4RTdAAhkk0af4Sf_zCE7S33_bdkQdV5COpwWKXuc_RDMdih2x3K2L4MyFArmS1RsvB7TbTXXolewMGfDQ_hdHUHXP5Ul2QwUv-Vlwan7W51cd_ocX_ZdkPppF/s1600-h/IMG_6364.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255013702472869682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVr3fFl2I2Iyy63gx9Vp4RTdAAhkk0af4Sf_zCE7S33_bdkQdV5COpwWKXuc_RDMdih2x3K2L4MyFArmS1RsvB7TbTXXolewMGfDQ_hdHUHXP5Ul2QwUv-Vlwan7W51cd_ocX_ZdkPppF/s320/IMG_6364.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRvKZRYfCh2jTq2tVEOsRgCZuQH0BLwjk_RIDtdCscvjzkWXzoMSf1pEP4aAVRxgkfDjbul3k0o4xSOQ6lIe25OP9qrqsj6UiesHScXaoFzqXmsXxINiIdBIHXhRqVn1LAifM02MclQbp/s1600-h/IMG_6367.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255013702628042738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRvKZRYfCh2jTq2tVEOsRgCZuQH0BLwjk_RIDtdCscvjzkWXzoMSf1pEP4aAVRxgkfDjbul3k0o4xSOQ6lIe25OP9qrqsj6UiesHScXaoFzqXmsXxINiIdBIHXhRqVn1LAifM02MclQbp/s320/IMG_6367.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDE3z01hcSLB12pJbXRQxm7sjwrOBvK5j4UT4lsgQ6WXNjWEAcok5ctkbxargAydMNWj1_lqlyebHfFBUgdgDHhgU5wbyu_cmFJ_j8XNA766a9kF87kjWuxFhyphenhyphenLOWpfqLWt2bZbh_lOpd/s1600-h/IMG_6373.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255013706102275986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDE3z01hcSLB12pJbXRQxm7sjwrOBvK5j4UT4lsgQ6WXNjWEAcok5ctkbxargAydMNWj1_lqlyebHfFBUgdgDHhgU5wbyu_cmFJ_j8XNA766a9kF87kjWuxFhyphenhyphenLOWpfqLWt2bZbh_lOpd/s320/IMG_6373.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Yay! More semi-tame deer!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z2rd0dE5KdY8HlHby15eaqLZs4qpJ4HUoX8uTATYAyFmv7EU51LZ7-bxCxo6saqV1sd-rUXZqEyvPdi0VTmrNVvf3rPMOAiaE9j_Iw83GDiXsUF-KuqEvj17cIO_h6mUsu6WPAg9SXjA/s1600-h/IMG_6375.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255014799167102626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z2rd0dE5KdY8HlHby15eaqLZs4qpJ4HUoX8uTATYAyFmv7EU51LZ7-bxCxo6saqV1sd-rUXZqEyvPdi0VTmrNVvf3rPMOAiaE9j_Iw83GDiXsUF-KuqEvj17cIO_h6mUsu6WPAg9SXjA/s320/IMG_6375.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvT7G2PThLYJROHGJSZCIITbynwdxGp_K061AAEPTAap5zvZOZIc_xvZD-puDFTtHbtZ70RTV6wC1WdkctgKhnHx6cLQ76TJrPNBfeusgS2Bw5yhq_E7DRhKexyYzHZ9e4WA-tHCs0BC7/s1600-h/IMG_6377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255014803594569474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvT7G2PThLYJROHGJSZCIITbynwdxGp_K061AAEPTAap5zvZOZIc_xvZD-puDFTtHbtZ70RTV6wC1WdkctgKhnHx6cLQ76TJrPNBfeusgS2Bw5yhq_E7DRhKexyYzHZ9e4WA-tHCs0BC7/s320/IMG_6377.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DxkDo6XldV66595L9l29QM1nLyYLVF1ORK9JBymOfu7h6gb7N81HpfjN6K6s2Mb-pXcqwdmLJi6zRFWaz67_ew4o5S3dJzkd5qTBm5U1EYMXNr0K-IfiXMZi90ysbrw06y40IDJjr4kW/s1600-h/IMG_6379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255014803151627410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DxkDo6XldV66595L9l29QM1nLyYLVF1ORK9JBymOfu7h6gb7N81HpfjN6K6s2Mb-pXcqwdmLJi6zRFWaz67_ew4o5S3dJzkd5qTBm5U1EYMXNr0K-IfiXMZi90ysbrw06y40IDJjr4kW/s320/IMG_6379.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oJpjyeWxYociDuEiS1H0pLdyjvcaqw0ZnTtiB0T1O-38HzL6fpjVgupRCXA_RJ7fbWLLj0PhydhZiMWpWyFBK6aofawRzbfiVHII4ISjuVdlcNjGsnHscEcZtxohPT-eZ8v-FmCzcpdo/s1600-h/IMG_6381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255014809801300002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oJpjyeWxYociDuEiS1H0pLdyjvcaqw0ZnTtiB0T1O-38HzL6fpjVgupRCXA_RJ7fbWLLj0PhydhZiMWpWyFBK6aofawRzbfiVHII4ISjuVdlcNjGsnHscEcZtxohPT-eZ8v-FmCzcpdo/s320/IMG_6381.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtq7hj3NS0JDlpnIC9Cqa1WzNJ-dUjqyzqYqkk1rH4pf7hdFs6c-rwYXpcMo5X0R9PEHiQ3du3kUHd00v_whZog1aSw8-nFbvxN1uyQMWaCxlnPWWfkCS4H1LAZnu-4WW2qA_hGee_0NC/s1600-h/IMG_6382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255014815724184962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtq7hj3NS0JDlpnIC9Cqa1WzNJ-dUjqyzqYqkk1rH4pf7hdFs6c-rwYXpcMo5X0R9PEHiQ3du3kUHd00v_whZog1aSw8-nFbvxN1uyQMWaCxlnPWWfkCS4H1LAZnu-4WW2qA_hGee_0NC/s320/IMG_6382.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEtuIDOoOu1UpuxqJ9QveDU78u67KkzIcGqslcePsjKfY18NJZdzYh1N-ekPOdk-8JSYlkrZZDDPHPRgRItulH7TAnyGTqFNU4gU0WS8c9Ht8WEXqCov2fobtBcHQQzjFO_Cj8l-6QOCC/s1600-h/IMG_6386.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255016744162418914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEtuIDOoOu1UpuxqJ9QveDU78u67KkzIcGqslcePsjKfY18NJZdzYh1N-ekPOdk-8JSYlkrZZDDPHPRgRItulH7TAnyGTqFNU4gU0WS8c9Ht8WEXqCov2fobtBcHQQzjFO_Cj8l-6QOCC/s320/IMG_6386.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLL_NA7IHvGf4BDsShHTnnd6SkihQ97UxorOQ2U1Xk2-Eb5kCcdwmwZWAsl6XVlzndzAO_EGengEutW0aivETx2Szrc24cRwGjH3bQEEMpk4V_miPFZg11YLdMVCho_EiTQk6oMOgPjvB/s1600-h/IMG_6389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255016745073337554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLL_NA7IHvGf4BDsShHTnnd6SkihQ97UxorOQ2U1Xk2-Eb5kCcdwmwZWAsl6XVlzndzAO_EGengEutW0aivETx2Szrc24cRwGjH3bQEEMpk4V_miPFZg11YLdMVCho_EiTQk6oMOgPjvB/s320/IMG_6389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kbNrEKGjMVTLJ6SoxoTlo5upj46a7Zvbo_zWezZBg5jMHkn986Nvu_44xnF_ivMrGzQrG4kSID4D6Ui9KCUOAvOz1N7zecYtSbbT1HqUMVr6fn9I4WEcQ0drIjY8e9hkkblxftcFGT2N/s1600-h/IMG_6391.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255016754864074866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kbNrEKGjMVTLJ6SoxoTlo5upj46a7Zvbo_zWezZBg5jMHkn986Nvu_44xnF_ivMrGzQrG4kSID4D6Ui9KCUOAvOz1N7zecYtSbbT1HqUMVr6fn9I4WEcQ0drIjY8e9hkkblxftcFGT2N/s320/IMG_6391.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj637uPs679SCLegPuizF2bMYeUqXEJpktzxCbq_rtyJiPI89gHLrx1eSUd3_5UZapgKj8aYzWGcTVEmHpackmTJ4pFqRKrIZXxp31P5l1cSlKBmcYhyphenhyphen51jzte7hpzJbUNUM8Cc8ja1A_AR/s1600-h/IMG_6392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255016757854253826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj637uPs679SCLegPuizF2bMYeUqXEJpktzxCbq_rtyJiPI89gHLrx1eSUd3_5UZapgKj8aYzWGcTVEmHpackmTJ4pFqRKrIZXxp31P5l1cSlKBmcYhyphenhyphen51jzte7hpzJbUNUM8Cc8ja1A_AR/s320/IMG_6392.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzYZofvr7-sJnDLzgnT_L6LTT0EJ0_-r8SSjcnqNhWunVXjRs1Q3rD8imrm8N9E8VHd8nAHUxevnzfz1lZtr2rSj_Kw9vVtqaS3Zjcx4zxrwP1qpYZw1ZvM7g-uk67LNYNmimtctl7DNi/s1600-h/IMG_6402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255018325010036898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzYZofvr7-sJnDLzgnT_L6LTT0EJ0_-r8SSjcnqNhWunVXjRs1Q3rD8imrm8N9E8VHd8nAHUxevnzfz1lZtr2rSj_Kw9vVtqaS3Zjcx4zxrwP1qpYZw1ZvM7g-uk67LNYNmimtctl7DNi/s320/IMG_6402.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuNAUrQQOdBfOnuk57HHeM9sxXbwW7D4XQ7gwls-pIcCwsPsH-Ucl3zbfAWYT1ZCLh85FeeqoispUHE1CzImNhlQtfe2BwUaM2rg5_Gg1iX9JdyZ_yUG27gAMKAH2B8c65F0R8vSt_he4/s1600-h/IMG_6405.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255018333337439890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuNAUrQQOdBfOnuk57HHeM9sxXbwW7D4XQ7gwls-pIcCwsPsH-Ucl3zbfAWYT1ZCLh85FeeqoispUHE1CzImNhlQtfe2BwUaM2rg5_Gg1iX9JdyZ_yUG27gAMKAH2B8c65F0R8vSt_he4/s320/IMG_6405.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The mandatory group photo in front of the torii, too bad it started raining!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiwhRDMnD0cofZ2U6UppmiFhVhUwgWMkHlXjTn1K9DErETSwoa7MrOyVVcZEGki_YAcOEGI6r-NPn7s6dS4nT-z8tuuZ921PfVELVBhuHt2n0RIvcc48x66Y5gVO9rcn7vNHfe_cv9D1D/s1600-h/IMG_6406.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX-s9n4lx2w9j6VpS22qwtqmXSgnlX2db8W5eJXK1BGLbc1kleXuyA-fHuZlS41M7isT1VD5MtcGPfAmvesN4-8c2Z9OsySdGAyHzjdYwfF6xolgOn9aFWo4MuAWcuO4IjAY0HYTm7q1j/s1600-h/IMG_6407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255018334586443138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX-s9n4lx2w9j6VpS22qwtqmXSgnlX2db8W5eJXK1BGLbc1kleXuyA-fHuZlS41M7isT1VD5MtcGPfAmvesN4-8c2Z9OsySdGAyHzjdYwfF6xolgOn9aFWo4MuAWcuO4IjAY0HYTm7q1j/s320/IMG_6407.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">For a price, this man would make his deer pose with you and take your picture by the torii<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMNp2I8aeY25fBiSF_lp_BvAzwWIhsogW0ldWdqRdR-lrnSgPWxa-B1qFFsgx0GYHg3nZ-JOl_ZnnIcwqk3V9jgxIxLo3utkP7YStoumKfwQcksbA31X2uumFyQ13PWj64HRai_TFk1w3/s1600-h/IMG_6411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255018340195406626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMNp2I8aeY25fBiSF_lp_BvAzwWIhsogW0ldWdqRdR-lrnSgPWxa-B1qFFsgx0GYHg3nZ-JOl_ZnnIcwqk3V9jgxIxLo3utkP7YStoumKfwQcksbA31X2uumFyQ13PWj64HRai_TFk1w3/s320/IMG_6411.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnMEwOrSpwGmYzgNHOn_jgX1C0DvxwCp6TtkBzMhinNDfhcrmqxda7xxOwyxSvsWNP199urvw5lQedteeJ71_R29XT1X_RWIm7e3ZZSLWyydvuC05puvD8v5XQCpYcBBh87s-21FW9lbA/s1600-h/IMG_6415.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255019627178071074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnMEwOrSpwGmYzgNHOn_jgX1C0DvxwCp6TtkBzMhinNDfhcrmqxda7xxOwyxSvsWNP199urvw5lQedteeJ71_R29XT1X_RWIm7e3ZZSLWyydvuC05puvD8v5XQCpYcBBh87s-21FW9lbA/s320/IMG_6415.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We were glad to get in under the roofs of the shrine and out of the rain. At this point it was high tide, said to be the best time to see the shrine. But as we walked through the water quickly drained back to low tide, leaving less-pretty mud.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR45JVLdE72OgczOt60ib6SsD-wA2a7AjvxrcveUEWm7QqChnTWNN1EReZCXhxVumtgeA2yxKftdXOpsIlaaocAVzoH5L-fbOJ7L3x2BMQAkTCBAV8chOCr-cPTnQoSCMvJVJgQrS08qL/s1600-h/IMG_6421.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255019630747437794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR45JVLdE72OgczOt60ib6SsD-wA2a7AjvxrcveUEWm7QqChnTWNN1EReZCXhxVumtgeA2yxKftdXOpsIlaaocAVzoH5L-fbOJ7L3x2BMQAkTCBAV8chOCr-cPTnQoSCMvJVJgQrS08qL/s320/IMG_6421.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDboCmKPU25P6GsD_kDRuYa2znpP_PSS2Lw1UKsXnAV3jAGaoYx3a_9eWFPJ54x1ijo5J0ykWVEtAl9r_j5io7aFfwi5pwg1C6e1eI-xBCfrC0UZn1dOqK6Ea8AodzVKpCOjVYQeKq-fqc/s1600-h/IMG_6422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255019634099401746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDboCmKPU25P6GsD_kDRuYa2znpP_PSS2Lw1UKsXnAV3jAGaoYx3a_9eWFPJ54x1ijo5J0ykWVEtAl9r_j5io7aFfwi5pwg1C6e1eI-xBCfrC0UZn1dOqK6Ea8AodzVKpCOjVYQeKq-fqc/s320/IMG_6422.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08wTsoH-Th15HixtNMO790314cmulQBlDtfjTl6IbwRw-rlz9bpFi3Q15EOyRuEyzmjbOj3H0t-n3ip-WDxMSbRF0SwH5cpLvxP2JzZhYQArhIPAL3PD7MkYCxS2gb-OXmnUql2l3DfMw/s1600-h/IMG_6429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255019636730797618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08wTsoH-Th15HixtNMO790314cmulQBlDtfjTl6IbwRw-rlz9bpFi3Q15EOyRuEyzmjbOj3H0t-n3ip-WDxMSbRF0SwH5cpLvxP2JzZhYQArhIPAL3PD7MkYCxS2gb-OXmnUql2l3DfMw/s320/IMG_6429.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH7ScVlnT4gYiO9jADnfAcMCNhkXixYASmoroPdrG0X9N7D1o_dQPbJHNo9OC6GT3z9MHxazRJKRrP5MBZO6yK9ZX9mUhQCnBwUsrJ3JcIexGuew7ekxWG-mlKmsOP3VjxaiK6CKV-eAh/s1600-h/IMG_6431.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255019641690628578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH7ScVlnT4gYiO9jADnfAcMCNhkXixYASmoroPdrG0X9N7D1o_dQPbJHNo9OC6GT3z9MHxazRJKRrP5MBZO6yK9ZX9mUhQCnBwUsrJ3JcIexGuew7ekxWG-mlKmsOP3VjxaiK6CKV-eAh/s320/IMG_6431.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We were surprised by a wedding party in the shrine<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGraF8WhZ_cEADlS95YBFADjWS1pd6djVyyDSfTYCKDwGXlvPOZuePuj9HQS5T02tG2iWhZXtWR2JPpSYVQRDiqOygSahN9zed0zxABKAmRNy_RjnWjWuh8jfh3ohnLp9tUq3zfeuCav2t/s1600-h/IMG_6440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255021057122726450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGraF8WhZ_cEADlS95YBFADjWS1pd6djVyyDSfTYCKDwGXlvPOZuePuj9HQS5T02tG2iWhZXtWR2JPpSYVQRDiqOygSahN9zed0zxABKAmRNy_RjnWjWuh8jfh3ohnLp9tUq3zfeuCav2t/s320/IMG_6440.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVv7WO2wxd0RI8fmxopsT2VAe8iiCkS1L__OOBc_tkrB0yX3ztArTqUP8QJHJ1Vjkkuf07dsKW7IUCquyYK-niTrf0Kk4yn6ZIXO7C79XpqsDuhIFy1MWO6L5S5MsgvW9w6nT7ULqx1Hb/s1600-h/IMG_6443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255021059078516002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVv7WO2wxd0RI8fmxopsT2VAe8iiCkS1L__OOBc_tkrB0yX3ztArTqUP8QJHJ1Vjkkuf07dsKW7IUCquyYK-niTrf0Kk4yn6ZIXO7C79XpqsDuhIFy1MWO6L5S5MsgvW9w6nT7ULqx1Hb/s320/IMG_6443.JPG" border="0" /></a> The happy couple</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xILobaBd4Y0uoGypW6Y8k_8Z1J4g4v2LdvqLb-wpIa98vxIacTCDqqxq2ce9wLbr9W_5DnGZEueBlKYV3H_0foy9wspBXSnkMlmkArotNjNTMfVH6hVRR8oCPqfhlkwvTR-d8ReTdAq8/s1600-h/IMG_6445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255021063217555554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xILobaBd4Y0uoGypW6Y8k_8Z1J4g4v2LdvqLb-wpIa98vxIacTCDqqxq2ce9wLbr9W_5DnGZEueBlKYV3H_0foy9wspBXSnkMlmkArotNjNTMfVH6hVRR8oCPqfhlkwvTR-d8ReTdAq8/s320/IMG_6445.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvbmKy4S5MmH-P7SWKZx0-cof9AQMT4sgH4QiQ-rTLGnrKfzJ9EssFwhSONl0zUrKrBpY4hMYeC-EXujDoRW-NX4fYn7yTkUG4sJ4oJRaZq0VYUtRQmfAEvT82thUPSTR71dc3I6njKYr/s1600-h/IMG_6451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255021067939029474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvbmKy4S5MmH-P7SWKZx0-cof9AQMT4sgH4QiQ-rTLGnrKfzJ9EssFwhSONl0zUrKrBpY4hMYeC-EXujDoRW-NX4fYn7yTkUG4sJ4oJRaZq0VYUtRQmfAEvT82thUPSTR71dc3I6njKYr/s320/IMG_6451.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAwpWsyFExqQ3K1AZ09KZzjdjwHOfzxMZMr0ckx_YVg0uSVaYoLv2QyIk-cWZ7HVMcmVAup9hw0Gbpo3EF8ThAcU_zie0vNeiSGLfIzAABa81Fs6DufzEo0Xz3tCPCDpanMfv3EUH0854/s1600-h/IMG_6453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255021065608817458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAwpWsyFExqQ3K1AZ09KZzjdjwHOfzxMZMr0ckx_YVg0uSVaYoLv2QyIk-cWZ7HVMcmVAup9hw0Gbpo3EF8ThAcU_zie0vNeiSGLfIzAABa81Fs6DufzEo0Xz3tCPCDpanMfv3EUH0854/s320/IMG_6453.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUUr1hxiVvTVTd75AVj_iha7Olm-rF1Ki3tPNHBxhsuR58-6ihmN8qhIS1fEv2_KgWu888wDmxSvjHJjjNCD-H9SWoKeq6ZuhTKqf-WwgvfIUdQUtlV8EXB9P26sTbs4mmGPUfasMHikR/s1600-h/IMG_6455.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255022360543313970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUUr1hxiVvTVTd75AVj_iha7Olm-rF1Ki3tPNHBxhsuR58-6ihmN8qhIS1fEv2_KgWu888wDmxSvjHJjjNCD-H9SWoKeq6ZuhTKqf-WwgvfIUdQUtlV8EXB9P26sTbs4mmGPUfasMHikR/s320/IMG_6455.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwL_Ttg84SpfC7iRNMkhvBJVcZGcmN4wKfpfcDhd-ulPDQ0FyXZsBUoxF78phZUvAb57EfN90VTw8Za_C8hD5OY2DXuTaoIJnlmEUYqzHwEG8Gj8dmuovouRoAu4cfogmXJPYjbGJeRwz/s1600-h/IMG_6356.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b_i8YP2gIMfBhUGk8vhnGLKohvUPUIuPdlrBwsd73DqbUoCh7yHXYHrGSptIJB16oU0qDIzgDCnucc799xDJ0bYOSevqojxVTMS8W0Um43af-cq9fFu43DieWjKloWMee1pOzCSJuB_P/s1600-h/IMG_6464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255022369618896466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b_i8YP2gIMfBhUGk8vhnGLKohvUPUIuPdlrBwsd73DqbUoCh7yHXYHrGSptIJB16oU0qDIzgDCnucc799xDJ0bYOSevqojxVTMS8W0Um43af-cq9fFu43DieWjKloWMee1pOzCSJuB_P/s320/IMG_6464.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The incense ash was fun to touch<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7q3ueMt3UQF2BJDmXVUeV6QdIhIAxgW3E1h5ithlWC8A4vuql2O4TY5HqKGH26qnCuxTEfchoe4tre2GP9UghwOzdJPT9nRleNTa5BmdtTriAVqYT9z8_dN3TLyhQzWE4qp-9NQ0Ln_e/s1600-h/IMG_6473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255022372718573346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7q3ueMt3UQF2BJDmXVUeV6QdIhIAxgW3E1h5ithlWC8A4vuql2O4TY5HqKGH26qnCuxTEfchoe4tre2GP9UghwOzdJPT9nRleNTa5BmdtTriAVqYT9z8_dN3TLyhQzWE4qp-9NQ0Ln_e/s320/IMG_6473.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8B_Sgo7rrepR247VuGJf5DojDHq3TlvUoWy6qV3G34pBma1Yt9nGY1MFP4HbToF1qUOUR4MMKhVFIOtSyMIgjvmb17oqsISAhxkYYuNyzFqoGnmVqbR4W_ArroGL8D1fJcKWsdVmNDnEO/s1600-h/IMG_6481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255022378127927794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8B_Sgo7rrepR247VuGJf5DojDHq3TlvUoWy6qV3G34pBma1Yt9nGY1MFP4HbToF1qUOUR4MMKhVFIOtSyMIgjvmb17oqsISAhxkYYuNyzFqoGnmVqbR4W_ArroGL8D1fJcKWsdVmNDnEO/s320/IMG_6481.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">A machine making momiji manju, the special treat of the island<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmMzlbxDNwpFFy-pAbGpbtZZcbMHQqnxEreDOlzMm7Zzi0_8vEwhTYLA8UTNeezbOaS0CAj4HUcVsUq24y03F5nX4MvIuJkHf4z9yLXyoZpfzDAYpLh5fRfL3HGbbED0VrixctcLlKDai/s1600-h/IMG_6483.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255023573968148722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmMzlbxDNwpFFy-pAbGpbtZZcbMHQqnxEreDOlzMm7Zzi0_8vEwhTYLA8UTNeezbOaS0CAj4HUcVsUq24y03F5nX4MvIuJkHf4z9yLXyoZpfzDAYpLh5fRfL3HGbbED0VrixctcLlKDai/s320/IMG_6483.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Goodbye Miyajima!</p><p align="center">From Hiroshima I said goodbye to head back to school for a few days, and then met back up with them again in Tokyo. There we had a tried but failed attempt at going to H&M in Omotesando, which hadn't opened yet, as well as a failed attempt at going to a love hotel in Shibuya- we were rejected from all of the (few) ones with vacancies because of our foreigness and shared gender! Too bad, because a few of them looked really fun decorated. We also headed to the more feminine-minded version of Akihabara, Otome road in Ikebukuro. We found the manga we were looking for, but not a (male) maid cafe in sight, as we had hoped.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn03tU929_eIOr4bkC5insorpCTbPIxh7OUuhWshtYKBJkJdcUzSFf2EZxMNFkh0dksmZ8ansOQ0OiAVm3o26iTfRxiR-IA0yLvsL6WaZgzkMMVlNk812AcJe7y0zc_CtI8ytMJgk0Peuu/s1600-h/IMG_6494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024407437306146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn03tU929_eIOr4bkC5insorpCTbPIxh7OUuhWshtYKBJkJdcUzSFf2EZxMNFkh0dksmZ8ansOQ0OiAVm3o26iTfRxiR-IA0yLvsL6WaZgzkMMVlNk812AcJe7y0zc_CtI8ytMJgk0Peuu/s320/IMG_6494.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We had a nice dinner at the lovely and delicious but possibly too gaijin-friendly Gonpachi Sushi, and then headed to a nearby club I had gone to with Edel and Cathy last year (remember the ridiculous hairdos given to us by the free in-club salon?). It was a rainy Monday night, so basically empty but the DJ was fun, and as if she knew we were coming played Mariah, TLC, and Mya, so of course we had to dance.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazdJS9geS9DkYr7qSQlWo3yuZWYsNf2RR9ZpqU1c5FlWQUhSkBf3XzpR4OK3g2KGUQ3JVMDNvDoCqdp9hoX1OyWTwD7ACwFtjsE-4-w0hhn67w820takuIkcTgAd2mhVftttbzEYmtenO/s1600-h/IMG_6501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255023580895223058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazdJS9geS9DkYr7qSQlWo3yuZWYsNf2RR9ZpqU1c5FlWQUhSkBf3XzpR4OK3g2KGUQ3JVMDNvDoCqdp9hoX1OyWTwD7ACwFtjsE-4-w0hhn67w820takuIkcTgAd2mhVftttbzEYmtenO/s320/IMG_6501.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The next day we went to Studio Ghibli museum in Mitaka. It was wonderous, even for me, someone not interested in animation, so I can only imagine how fun it was for children or Ghibli fans. The architecture of the museum was really cool, very fantastical and all wood and glass.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmtHmuAY_qc9YJqZEnkj9SHtXx49uTKxqH15s6637xCcQiSg8sks-QZxxxaBeoMbpUKulMyudXAF6nHf2rc0gl1KYY0NTjo5S9Vex6BcB570OROdSfE1MzsazhFG2DztdU5_N8u9ZtqY8/s1600-h/IMG_6503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255023581978276978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmtHmuAY_qc9YJqZEnkj9SHtXx49uTKxqH15s6637xCcQiSg8sks-QZxxxaBeoMbpUKulMyudXAF6nHf2rc0gl1KYY0NTjo5S9Vex6BcB570OROdSfE1MzsazhFG2DztdU5_N8u9ZtqY8/s320/IMG_6503.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWYBEKr_8rVPZxbpa7gF5qq58vEuP_yfJPkYLB9BZXE_5qSuxotGS6kIjDf7DXG5e7nUnu01Qg_GpyDvD2-GyFvWNa3RDyj3_k7iQa__3WjwqYYhjUy8bsmwyc9nX8kOc6IJnOZAvJXFg/s1600-h/IMG_6506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255023588786336258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWYBEKr_8rVPZxbpa7gF5qq58vEuP_yfJPkYLB9BZXE_5qSuxotGS6kIjDf7DXG5e7nUnu01Qg_GpyDvD2-GyFvWNa3RDyj3_k7iQa__3WjwqYYhjUy8bsmwyc9nX8kOc6IJnOZAvJXFg/s320/IMG_6506.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1j1pS9uIB9WlPNVdnzf8h_MgWuQLzVImFaxmF1h1VRuL_TpFlpCOozqlYXbZVJ1f4rdUoZhimq6oF9ur7vVICEZsddhybJvJ_IDhujqdDP6Jdm2rj1wLqwKwoeZAi8i0oT51NzgWPWPN/s1600-h/IMG_6507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255023592538066754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1j1pS9uIB9WlPNVdnzf8h_MgWuQLzVImFaxmF1h1VRuL_TpFlpCOozqlYXbZVJ1f4rdUoZhimq6oF9ur7vVICEZsddhybJvJ_IDhujqdDP6Jdm2rj1wLqwKwoeZAi8i0oT51NzgWPWPN/s320/IMG_6507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVG1I_9ziM_PH9nvOhhd-ZEROwDDUL_lH1C506_XfObSOgT110qTK4QtYhbeslatMdYEP9iaGzRGaUelwZ0p95xmRbrR6n30O3qAaie-hE75shDSIy-KblYKvCgg6LIytAyke96Ui5zeG/s1600-h/IMG_6509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024411458988514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVG1I_9ziM_PH9nvOhhd-ZEROwDDUL_lH1C506_XfObSOgT110qTK4QtYhbeslatMdYEP9iaGzRGaUelwZ0p95xmRbrR6n30O3qAaie-hE75shDSIy-KblYKvCgg6LIytAyke96Ui5zeG/s320/IMG_6509.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Our last stop before saying goodbye was karaoke and bithday cake loaf of bread! near our hotel in Ikebukuro.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CHLIX8i_0xnN_JqBIL9WuyilFz5FbqLKh5dE0-yPKaPLNnmT5nU-NQ-1Cmg5JooVaAnf1BBxf4E8PmvjILabUSIW_l4ddyPFA46tt6j1OwSE_XhYT0a31y1BkLSxDUbZ5vfXJC5X2OFP/s1600-h/IMG_6512.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024419444404530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CHLIX8i_0xnN_JqBIL9WuyilFz5FbqLKh5dE0-yPKaPLNnmT5nU-NQ-1Cmg5JooVaAnf1BBxf4E8PmvjILabUSIW_l4ddyPFA46tt6j1OwSE_XhYT0a31y1BkLSxDUbZ5vfXJC5X2OFP/s320/IMG_6512.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj59vDH01sA9NAi2ZqUCpFW87K4oHsJbK75Y1lZr8MOc_H68RSbl2V-myz8S59EqfHxdC6ga8y7qeI9hK_tObYJ3Jwz8biO3raMsUdv0_ceV3qmDwe81C5Ei8NFn93ljdQrNlY58SIFV9C/s1600-h/IMG_6516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024415988876002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj59vDH01sA9NAi2ZqUCpFW87K4oHsJbK75Y1lZr8MOc_H68RSbl2V-myz8S59EqfHxdC6ga8y7qeI9hK_tObYJ3Jwz8biO3raMsUdv0_ceV3qmDwe81C5Ei8NFn93ljdQrNlY58SIFV9C/s320/IMG_6516.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjG192Nb5MFF1WQ1INPPFEeAx2d1q-FDUrfTiW1MZTD4_nmykE6_6nCb55CmHxkw_n3dVnlOdKOvS1DGQ1U02UJ0mwGHHD7Pu8jPxsGYKEidBVvFUJNBeslj7NKiXFbQmVbweIswJs8eW/s1600-h/IMG_6514.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024967603118738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjG192Nb5MFF1WQ1INPPFEeAx2d1q-FDUrfTiW1MZTD4_nmykE6_6nCb55CmHxkw_n3dVnlOdKOvS1DGQ1U02UJ0mwGHHD7Pu8jPxsGYKEidBVvFUJNBeslj7NKiXFbQmVbweIswJs8eW/s320/IMG_6514.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFaqANaNEJXta8ynZsRswsyhIrtltWvF5E01eiFSwF9stKYMXYRsu2J5jNYR8GAqo5sRcYZsO7zz2WkkjIsNjXQhd0ZxYcrUqtaTUgIxtntpyDwA5qrEwPaYWYhvJA7nOQhRvB2YBouZC/s1600-h/IMG_6515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024968708588162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFaqANaNEJXta8ynZsRswsyhIrtltWvF5E01eiFSwF9stKYMXYRsu2J5jNYR8GAqo5sRcYZsO7zz2WkkjIsNjXQhd0ZxYcrUqtaTUgIxtntpyDwA5qrEwPaYWYhvJA7nOQhRvB2YBouZC/s320/IMG_6515.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96eB7yBoD8NA2NKxSVDxOejJpmN9fZw6D5S3H0GzTctdNYOZHlK076GBnjRtBvMMMpPjyO_EPMT-_2f0V0DOUTzFJLt8m7AWATEAuozblUUP6laoF9JYsvQ7o5bV0wxRC1r8gxfqjJ1sB/s1600-h/IMG_6517.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255024970569510754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96eB7yBoD8NA2NKxSVDxOejJpmN9fZw6D5S3H0GzTctdNYOZHlK076GBnjRtBvMMMpPjyO_EPMT-_2f0V0DOUTzFJLt8m7AWATEAuozblUUP6laoF9JYsvQ7o5bV0wxRC1r8gxfqjJ1sB/s320/IMG_6517.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Bye guys! Thanks for visiting, I had the best time and hope you did too!<br /><br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-30829970100524723882008-09-16T10:46:00.011+09:002008-09-16T13:32:37.648+09:00tazawa and rowing<div align="center">This weekend was an annual Akita JET camping trip to Lake Tazawa, that I had a hand in organizing as a Room to Read fundraiser. Fun times! </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sk1lBuea0pGO7j6547UtfE6QZzf0Iv8Ix6N2s_1zg5Es5Y-_H8QWS7zu1WJ-RYMpWj0paIo2NQ6zBnpV8YhL_RiC9ceBgat5tf1ZlrYVxhdE0zdDHheHwlAqTQgtkJOesXiAsJdR6Qrq/s1600-h/IMG_5584.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431343145493666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sk1lBuea0pGO7j6547UtfE6QZzf0Iv8Ix6N2s_1zg5Es5Y-_H8QWS7zu1WJ-RYMpWj0paIo2NQ6zBnpV8YhL_RiC9ceBgat5tf1ZlrYVxhdE0zdDHheHwlAqTQgtkJOesXiAsJdR6Qrq/s320/IMG_5584.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">The new Honjo girls - Jez and Abby, and me!<br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WMDz8lPO0gBXcfTtbhb3xLAj7cWAIGxi_ykF7gLhXvlXHQnVQHDyelBfqL0r7ekCzY7XokbH9vIXXLWwfFNupwzcxbz_qb3EFdyfjCVHp6y6R-Q0FfJTyDgX48Mz0eMKI15ymcq2-uK3/s1600-h/IMG_5585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431355123445058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WMDz8lPO0gBXcfTtbhb3xLAj7cWAIGxi_ykF7gLhXvlXHQnVQHDyelBfqL0r7ekCzY7XokbH9vIXXLWwfFNupwzcxbz_qb3EFdyfjCVHp6y6R-Q0FfJTyDgX48Mz0eMKI15ymcq2-uK3/s320/IMG_5585.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">The blue blue waters of Lake Tazawa<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqObl4Z2VxNntdk7GmXW10mUFgzo1An6sPt2vbHRj_r8CuMekUqnBxskoF9DM4jsAyZLc67JMMhJCoHf92DoI46DUl9xrui_nL7ZmAVz_KR5cWVHS5gZ4E4W9F9tXunTAYyCjxA8NijkEL/s1600-h/IMG_5586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431363569443122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqObl4Z2VxNntdk7GmXW10mUFgzo1An6sPt2vbHRj_r8CuMekUqnBxskoF9DM4jsAyZLc67JMMhJCoHf92DoI46DUl9xrui_nL7ZmAVz_KR5cWVHS5gZ4E4W9F9tXunTAYyCjxA8NijkEL/s320/IMG_5586.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">One of the few places on the lake I had never visited before<br /></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwvMeAycrn_wlmW_PDcgTGDEDR-IHMVFaAwlJk0okxOLLpTRWKYu-0asZ9OWa-1dS1NDjIueNrS6I96_d5K10vGE4wJiffRxQMUnLjK9Lt1qdWGPvdtcjhHn1XlxBbnX2rMFwfCLat8Ia/s1600-h/IMG_5590.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431369062444450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwvMeAycrn_wlmW_PDcgTGDEDR-IHMVFaAwlJk0okxOLLpTRWKYu-0asZ9OWa-1dS1NDjIueNrS6I96_d5K10vGE4wJiffRxQMUnLjK9Lt1qdWGPvdtcjhHn1XlxBbnX2rMFwfCLat8Ia/s320/IMG_5590.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8CFFtBIZRshD0DU2HswPJ11qLAeM51mTjgPz5tXGQzgfYb5iBA5po7uamwpRUKRFQ3vKmRZ9hpFt3oMAKCJvT_eTL-sgQq2jaLOZ406tjGSU_APU9YtKA15F-vloo_k-SenwcsVtlbHF/s1600-h/IMG_5591.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431377746074930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8CFFtBIZRshD0DU2HswPJ11qLAeM51mTjgPz5tXGQzgfYb5iBA5po7uamwpRUKRFQ3vKmRZ9hpFt3oMAKCJvT_eTL-sgQq2jaLOZ406tjGSU_APU9YtKA15F-vloo_k-SenwcsVtlbHF/s320/IMG_5591.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCQNzXt49SzWgYGZoFCFK1HXiJ6UEMNfozTd53ZS-FivOO53bvf8h4Km12x3bh-WNR87sg2abdmgJ7_Q0hpKJxxp6MrfGNWTbUVWvUROEuNb6Iv3GEfTztKsqDj3cgUI2H6QVzf3lGIKj/s1600-h/IMG_5593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431722442672322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCQNzXt49SzWgYGZoFCFK1HXiJ6UEMNfozTd53ZS-FivOO53bvf8h4Km12x3bh-WNR87sg2abdmgJ7_Q0hpKJxxp6MrfGNWTbUVWvUROEuNb6Iv3GEfTztKsqDj3cgUI2H6QVzf3lGIKj/s320/IMG_5593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN75IdtzcyTtwwuWTD48oyknXYoDy0OHe7V3mlc-TeHyyE61gesPllOUGhqTcT5dRTALsnrY6dvpuuH9664hE5WrG6DeHW-RpgKzP-ZzSh7n4WKHUZ7U8bI4YsecRMU8v1456YHEmQ52cU/s1600-h/IMG_5594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246431730927126466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN75IdtzcyTtwwuWTD48oyknXYoDy0OHe7V3mlc-TeHyyE61gesPllOUGhqTcT5dRTALsnrY6dvpuuH9664hE5WrG6DeHW-RpgKzP-ZzSh7n4WKHUZ7U8bI4YsecRMU8v1456YHEmQ52cU/s320/IMG_5594.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Walking the riverside sakura path in Kakunodate</p><br /><br /><p align="left">Yesterday was the annual regatta in Honjo, the same one I competed in last year, this year we had more professional uniforms and even a few nihonjin on the team. We rowed for a team put together by the city sports department, called aburakouji for the neighborhood where the building where they work is. We got to practice way more times this year, which I was thankful for, and it showed in our results! We got first by a long way in our first heat, and first in our semi-final heat. So we made it to the finals, against 3 other teams I believe were all finalists last year. The finals were a very close race. We came in fourth but second and third barely gained a boat length on us the entire race. If we had won, we would have gone to Nagano for national competitions!</p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lVcHiilZ3gIz5flI-PBOfpS4zVcrkaBYj0i_tKQG6Aw03Tr2WnYML99ecCS53jrR4yK4OY_YUaDQvjv5MKn40kTfNcTGfJC7YYHEsYuiuqoaiISrZgX90F-KAN8GTnGxomxYPeIsSvJZ/s1600-h/IMG_5597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246463119180732578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lVcHiilZ3gIz5flI-PBOfpS4zVcrkaBYj0i_tKQG6Aw03Tr2WnYML99ecCS53jrR4yK4OY_YUaDQvjv5MKn40kTfNcTGfJC7YYHEsYuiuqoaiISrZgX90F-KAN8GTnGxomxYPeIsSvJZ/s320/IMG_5597.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Amelie had the great idea for our uniform shirts to have riflery sugichi (the tree mascot of the Akita games national sports competition last year)! Can't believe they actually made them for us!</p><p align="center"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihE1MMyZghRUtz02PhMi6upWN4ZVkInhQIiWwWbYD2rJ9-l-MtsIt2s7XGqYNNozgs3k70VvVT6EvV_3K9xRfGWDyrisPK7U7X_qVxojkeAqjxjoXs2x8TaJJ0NTCAdxmG_83xxTBa3GzP/s1600-h/IMG_5600.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246463120406131330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihE1MMyZghRUtz02PhMi6upWN4ZVkInhQIiWwWbYD2rJ9-l-MtsIt2s7XGqYNNozgs3k70VvVT6EvV_3K9xRfGWDyrisPK7U7X_qVxojkeAqjxjoXs2x8TaJJ0NTCAdxmG_83xxTBa3GzP/s320/IMG_5600.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhte54wEyx7B-s2HszNNUHGcHvZ4TDhdXj4J5nGrpkEGqLkQ2o6U83wE33DV1F5uKuhZBuIlWT6RUFrPl31bOHaYono3upFojddwtaStekKv71EYIOyT9IXk-dL-2jNFvavp0yW7-W4Ssh-/s1600-h/IMG_5601.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246463124155486898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhte54wEyx7B-s2HszNNUHGcHvZ4TDhdXj4J5nGrpkEGqLkQ2o6U83wE33DV1F5uKuhZBuIlWT6RUFrPl31bOHaYono3upFojddwtaStekKv71EYIOyT9IXk-dL-2jNFvavp0yW7-W4Ssh-/s320/IMG_5601.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our fans! Matthew Abby and Jez</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuemk4wbmJbqZhedB4ltIoEP1Vuan5unI2WjV3mNGCHF4Lczl-WIGgWFlEyN_IL3vcYClTt1Pd77tK6RXbS1JDozf-ZsPQsXeGC8RrOxZfNmUhpQDhYTJFXt8cglKtRAW0GRI40neBboaj/s1600-h/IMG_5603.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246463134897547986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuemk4wbmJbqZhedB4ltIoEP1Vuan5unI2WjV3mNGCHF4Lczl-WIGgWFlEyN_IL3vcYClTt1Pd77tK6RXbS1JDozf-ZsPQsXeGC8RrOxZfNmUhpQDhYTJFXt8cglKtRAW0GRI40neBboaj/s320/IMG_5603.JPG" border="0" /></a> The guys' team: Takafumi, Owen, Jon, David and Brett</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqWZ9ZaWp6Ivddk1nfN-yII-bR4mMSpxzx3QRRbOYjp78Z7PmTP7p8J-Bk4JckClicpfNZoArsnhz19oghzKCm-L2clSWaiVwYT2spqCQUrZuTT3yV0ogJ0WvsgJax53AW8HwBJgEdtrx/s1600-h/IMG_5608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464275666333554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqWZ9ZaWp6Ivddk1nfN-yII-bR4mMSpxzx3QRRbOYjp78Z7PmTP7p8J-Bk4JckClicpfNZoArsnhz19oghzKCm-L2clSWaiVwYT2spqCQUrZuTT3yV0ogJ0WvsgJax53AW8HwBJgEdtrx/s320/IMG_5608.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsHxw1NHLjkL_SJ-C2JXNbuMzCmugbEGPJqPKrem-8JWlanc-IZGfGuImbssrRBPW-zkXED7xCvMxQc7xsTimMCPwHDlDw2wwPN6jBbwnYndJNYW9DCqGkAY6LjkQT6kbarU2NeVsqpMc/s1600-h/IMG_5615.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464284518205026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsHxw1NHLjkL_SJ-C2JXNbuMzCmugbEGPJqPKrem-8JWlanc-IZGfGuImbssrRBPW-zkXED7xCvMxQc7xsTimMCPwHDlDw2wwPN6jBbwnYndJNYW9DCqGkAY6LjkQT6kbarU2NeVsqpMc/s320/IMG_5615.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The guys rowed very well, although they didn't advance past the first heat, they also rowed well in their consolation races!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuX-K3UPDg3w2NDOtjqOq-LQdmkcNLYr8-9dXNCxqF9lGAH2aQTwMpWUYtfISYAfN-QFdKp_EZX8buzZXCM1qBiAq7OnbFMZVtN1Ciolh3l_4eK8dQ3y3j3U08ONXlMEZKsQb_7XQoWIu/s1600-h/IMG_5617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464292348024978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuX-K3UPDg3w2NDOtjqOq-LQdmkcNLYr8-9dXNCxqF9lGAH2aQTwMpWUYtfISYAfN-QFdKp_EZX8buzZXCM1qBiAq7OnbFMZVtN1Ciolh3l_4eK8dQ3y3j3U08ONXlMEZKsQb_7XQoWIu/s320/IMG_5617.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The sports dept. men's team who also made it to the finals!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh584ue47jAlnUT8XQNvizCzUIFIPyoTS3rljVixszWXhXnvdOMpR0eRANNBFyfwuKsVeBLoHOQCsF9Q8Zo486c4KPYNBT9YlKj4KgA26xLykLijKMxHFMSTDx5dM6bmXQNKXwEpiVpgpqw/s1600-h/IMG_5619.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464302185644658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh584ue47jAlnUT8XQNvizCzUIFIPyoTS3rljVixszWXhXnvdOMpR0eRANNBFyfwuKsVeBLoHOQCsF9Q8Zo486c4KPYNBT9YlKj4KgA26xLykLijKMxHFMSTDx5dM6bmXQNKXwEpiVpgpqw/s320/IMG_5619.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Guys team. I was a proud coach!</p><p align="center"> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnv8A1DHwKbySlc1-HWLVrWorrLWOivx5HUg6CPbPVdwWLOCLOvYffZhqPjyM3AI04jDuGLLFefgcjt7DQTUCSTwy8QupO1wUAEqEPETlJl4skyGf4L6-DFfMo8B9_5Hx7n4Mo2fqiRka/s1600-h/IMG_5622.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464308358684434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnv8A1DHwKbySlc1-HWLVrWorrLWOivx5HUg6CPbPVdwWLOCLOvYffZhqPjyM3AI04jDuGLLFefgcjt7DQTUCSTwy8QupO1wUAEqEPETlJl4skyGf4L6-DFfMo8B9_5Hx7n4Mo2fqiRka/s320/IMG_5622.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3GQCV8XMCdCqL5OeJ71JeFdnfvn-QtYHgL6uhnTLBgKbwaAxT4tHuKMYEbSke_KdfcRTCjhBTgZgfMpEIu2WstA0YXOBvOZ5p_oqoTg1SCMpiutGGtaUT9Q4GwvCar8M4amP-1nzgUoW/s1600-h/IMG_5629.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464904186183266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3GQCV8XMCdCqL5OeJ71JeFdnfvn-QtYHgL6uhnTLBgKbwaAxT4tHuKMYEbSke_KdfcRTCjhBTgZgfMpEIu2WstA0YXOBvOZ5p_oqoTg1SCMpiutGGtaUT9Q4GwvCar8M4amP-1nzgUoW/s320/IMG_5629.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Us pulling ahead in our first race!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dVYvWgwr6iOHtWKulbNgmEraX67LwlmnFG7s14807778oaANyVKpXY0BA6DEbfSGS8G0uYAeB_kXeXfOzWuoPHQua4fg_cNWMCjzrsT0L-P9JmCFi95MtMNKfB6nk_WQP7og2o54dBfH/s1600-h/IMG_5642.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464907734760546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dVYvWgwr6iOHtWKulbNgmEraX67LwlmnFG7s14807778oaANyVKpXY0BA6DEbfSGS8G0uYAeB_kXeXfOzWuoPHQua4fg_cNWMCjzrsT0L-P9JmCFi95MtMNKfB6nk_WQP7og2o54dBfH/s320/IMG_5642.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Look at that extension!</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycAC4n64b_FMBeK5PI1B9sQkPBgcDf-oLlzcN7K0wNLYskwcsdw_uAB14BvnEJA6DhOKPDeaE-EwBszKuY1bQbvejyptbW5iHwVWQdCiB3NsdWnhbomXn5aXkfYqe8nSaga9Nj6BjTKTc/s1600-h/IMG_5652.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464916003437954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycAC4n64b_FMBeK5PI1B9sQkPBgcDf-oLlzcN7K0wNLYskwcsdw_uAB14BvnEJA6DhOKPDeaE-EwBszKuY1bQbvejyptbW5iHwVWQdCiB3NsdWnhbomXn5aXkfYqe8nSaga9Nj6BjTKTc/s320/IMG_5652.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Happy rowing back to the dock<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigj7-z0LUVYcLY31cnp4eJEvSRWRzIJWGifLqpPNhiKS9bhyOfENDdT5winrhn37HT07zGAK0npjk3JYYFMqWRHeliMlQZHYxnjTAC-mt0c5D6nQuvXPTOnwMZPCTpG0CsXHkV24AzkkI/s1600-h/IMG_5654.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246464927518793570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigj7-z0LUVYcLY31cnp4eJEvSRWRzIJWGifLqpPNhiKS9bhyOfENDdT5winrhn37HT07zGAK0npjk3JYYFMqWRHeliMlQZHYxnjTAC-mt0c5D6nQuvXPTOnwMZPCTpG0CsXHkV24AzkkI/s320/IMG_5654.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Me, Amelie, Sachiko, Satomi and Ayako, citing our #1 finish<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW0EfDWcWCrdYIWt_mJ58hCJI1n7L-tDvKl26crU107q7W6xx31kA6vW04dy-FSLx_fD7iL_DgWvs6ZbnarTI4xihZLHiJ3GOuOGfko2sNcLaUdoLzmpQtQrIzffiOkdD6kdklUVvQ-F0/s1600-h/IMG_5655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246465734253385538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW0EfDWcWCrdYIWt_mJ58hCJI1n7L-tDvKl26crU107q7W6xx31kA6vW04dy-FSLx_fD7iL_DgWvs6ZbnarTI4xihZLHiJ3GOuOGfko2sNcLaUdoLzmpQtQrIzffiOkdD6kdklUVvQ-F0/s320/IMG_5655.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8lZ4xFLeeQ0JKH-bEvTxyZVxxAZ9JIrSKwel3bGyLynFXddO_9jQQLFezM8g68b024SKPL7LM6quV3vAlHHSD5wuGy3QsTpKQ-CD8PrmSvuclitwkR0L0fTw9_m4gPxWhJGvhRjGFWXT/s1600-h/IMG_5658.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlaB43lEpu7VfDJB9q92ehx768lp_cfHFXimn8v5gYtQXb7rL8xxkbrtDGeaWxPVKPB44yyVNnVvidTUOJ5G7Stem-8ZGdBZCCrpAbN8aij70C96fxu9u5fyX8YPswqdSLbpd3vO7Vt2L/s1600-h/IMG_5669.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246465754537998322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlaB43lEpu7VfDJB9q92ehx768lp_cfHFXimn8v5gYtQXb7rL8xxkbrtDGeaWxPVKPB44yyVNnVvidTUOJ5G7Stem-8ZGdBZCCrpAbN8aij70C96fxu9u5fyX8YPswqdSLbpd3vO7Vt2L/s320/IMG_5669.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Our semifinal victory</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtThacZ8eOcM35et0D2PuOYzGDC4UzQfuCJaAx8EKZAjDWQ1IPs4yPXVpVW8ZSfQiPmVjPgOglYLOGtaTyBz9wp4cKW4D0SBQojvrxzXJMovmAiv-GRtjtlmcE42brrjYmV60DebCRje1/s1600-h/IMG_5673.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246465764662649938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtThacZ8eOcM35et0D2PuOYzGDC4UzQfuCJaAx8EKZAjDWQ1IPs4yPXVpVW8ZSfQiPmVjPgOglYLOGtaTyBz9wp4cKW4D0SBQojvrxzXJMovmAiv-GRtjtlmcE42brrjYmV60DebCRje1/s320/IMG_5673.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgMlc9x50trpcbSHjQ1Q1-8EeKJfssCXQnP_AJWQNhjUoWpExial1RQH-bRqCKAFQhS_QM8ULWWk4HRFi3Uym0s6065IGjJysZGoHMXaUMNQzpmism9ojRKoI1f4J0LZmarTNkBabRO3q/s1600-h/IMG_5677.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246465767171941554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgMlc9x50trpcbSHjQ1Q1-8EeKJfssCXQnP_AJWQNhjUoWpExial1RQH-bRqCKAFQhS_QM8ULWWk4HRFi3Uym0s6065IGjJysZGoHMXaUMNQzpmism9ojRKoI1f4J0LZmarTNkBabRO3q/s320/IMG_5677.JPG" border="0" /></a> Aburakouji team photo<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1NuPIXRpi5EygFtmhe-ZwHZG4TEn4HH7-YCifnfbJoi1M_bXpc9pL9BA4TB-jZqS4Fq8q-0vjoRUXbU_mrhB-PBEq0yqzBPq1KVWX8GZd4T2LCt4g08-j6seFaSz4bX1Q3l94YgibIeq/s1600-h/IMG_5678.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246466223969583170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1NuPIXRpi5EygFtmhe-ZwHZG4TEn4HH7-YCifnfbJoi1M_bXpc9pL9BA4TB-jZqS4Fq8q-0vjoRUXbU_mrhB-PBEq0yqzBPq1KVWX8GZd4T2LCt4g08-j6seFaSz4bX1Q3l94YgibIeq/s320/IMG_5678.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our team, now referencing our 4th place standing...</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27yeGva4u209EHf5k4zUDaEDkF5idy1mJfO880SgA8nKAtwwtMPPu7ftmleMzzJcik6V3wea5miluZ_Y6GsPNcILfL7CphMgL7liACOWQC1YxZrU0S_g5H-ryfCuGI-3SJDybkC8j81U9/s1600-h/IMG_5679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246466225093292178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27yeGva4u209EHf5k4zUDaEDkF5idy1mJfO880SgA8nKAtwwtMPPu7ftmleMzzJcik6V3wea5miluZ_Y6GsPNcILfL7CphMgL7liACOWQC1YxZrU0S_g5H-ryfCuGI-3SJDybkC8j81U9/s320/IMG_5679.JPG" border="0" /></a> ...and paying homage to riflery sugichi</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBucL5wiOAcQztlGzb0Z-nEGGW4RcBxiWH7EuEO_awOVhZtcp_m21UzW4KqJcBYEzrWAkuOT9NwwBMKDJbnNpqNaybFL-cKo0dcd2hnvCzY_kuW3B85LaglCvNV7V0IGM6XxA-_WtIrRt/s1600-h/IMG_5680.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246466237087574930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBucL5wiOAcQztlGzb0Z-nEGGW4RcBxiWH7EuEO_awOVhZtcp_m21UzW4KqJcBYEzrWAkuOT9NwwBMKDJbnNpqNaybFL-cKo0dcd2hnvCzY_kuW3B85LaglCvNV7V0IGM6XxA-_WtIrRt/s320/IMG_5680.JPG" border="0" /></a>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-4413781279981607792008-09-16T09:44:00.010+09:002008-09-16T10:45:41.402+09:00jinego festival and some traditional sports<div align="center">Last weekend I went to a summer festival in the tiny village of Jinego where Doug lives. It was small and cute, and probably my last summer festival of the season. A little gaijin girl was running around the festival quite strangely, she's in one of the videos.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32piyAyLa3iJJeHZOUZ7SUMt0PDKEollmqb-f825heTjSkIhWuytfWflssRxbrf664Xl3vJkafr8YKUS1oXGm5sN89yIIZE0ApWs1_wTUuphn7MFYiQeUiZmiRgiS2XH2i3_TNmV2KyC3/s1600-h/IMG_5507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246426685595870290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32piyAyLa3iJJeHZOUZ7SUMt0PDKEollmqb-f825heTjSkIhWuytfWflssRxbrf664Xl3vJkafr8YKUS1oXGm5sN89yIIZE0ApWs1_wTUuphn7MFYiQeUiZmiRgiS2XH2i3_TNmV2KyC3/s320/IMG_5507.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>I love this pic!<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkZV-mRm4_Xrl_VQBfYVf7r5tzoXu_TlbYls2NK1Zbi7uquO0IE7hHXTxRyjL_VN_sk7zEKXZzT3fBDPppwjFXNCGYA7dZ3nBzhzULY2M11KStBd0iub0kKv2RZ8HMKPptjrcVbwRTqOO/s1600-h/IMG_5516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246419351967732770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkZV-mRm4_Xrl_VQBfYVf7r5tzoXu_TlbYls2NK1Zbi7uquO0IE7hHXTxRyjL_VN_sk7zEKXZzT3fBDPppwjFXNCGYA7dZ3nBzhzULY2M11KStBd0iub0kKv2RZ8HMKPptjrcVbwRTqOO/s320/IMG_5516.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Doug helped with the carrying (or haphhazard hurling, rather) of small wooden structures towards the shrine<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZdcNe2XL_X5r6wjf5aqQJ2ec2CZFh3k9Oz0birvvU903A02mq0LVq3Y1R4qQ1hJB38n_J50YO-rM0Tg2gZWavMJXI_zXPhaWYu5jlm0nizOKZ8qKh7MMrd-bTSgn7mYlmD0IzI2VEK8i/s1600-h/IMG_5486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246419359095123490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZdcNe2XL_X5r6wjf5aqQJ2ec2CZFh3k9Oz0birvvU903A02mq0LVq3Y1R4qQ1hJB38n_J50YO-rM0Tg2gZWavMJXI_zXPhaWYu5jlm0nizOKZ8qKh7MMrd-bTSgn7mYlmD0IzI2VEK8i/s320/IMG_5486.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Lady serving sake to the men participants</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXb1dcVfIVi3ShkFMXvmJo-4pS0xddjLhN0opPH6WumKMe-E76MmBmhFL-hZqDo5KOcQUm_nNKcvvxZBYBz_GoxIpVSHbFf8U8SOnvpk8RpDSowh-BBncfDFOSLKVyxfJI9cje9GwIjiQ/s1600-h/IMG_5522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246419366011079010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXb1dcVfIVi3ShkFMXvmJo-4pS0xddjLhN0opPH6WumKMe-E76MmBmhFL-hZqDo5KOcQUm_nNKcvvxZBYBz_GoxIpVSHbFf8U8SOnvpk8RpDSowh-BBncfDFOSLKVyxfJI9cje9GwIjiQ/s320/IMG_5522.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqBBOXjVnaU0bgxhsTqxJDgNNmUd2e2NFC2b69bB5lnliskhRKah7aUA9zPYWT0e4tS28mcs1NAv8kaOHnI63y55wpVk6bnBYoYt_k2LoPrfX3-m9s7LnLfGOftYGcEwmFIeTtURCuwIw/s1600-h/IMG_5539.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246419372620782178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqBBOXjVnaU0bgxhsTqxJDgNNmUd2e2NFC2b69bB5lnliskhRKah7aUA9zPYWT0e4tS28mcs1NAv8kaOHnI63y55wpVk6bnBYoYt_k2LoPrfX3-m9s7LnLfGOftYGcEwmFIeTtURCuwIw/s320/IMG_5539.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRmma5hsZ_HOBZ0XmxSskwzLbRCl0DKtTzcXAjRX48qcgZn6ddkw6bdjdTxYg6tV-7LRISDXiTXlYvMiBeTUm8EM0dzlGMdAEgI-f_YIqHK5X3Dp467F1pzCBKKzYFDXnjCVdp0__cbJs/s1600-h/IMG_5544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246419664301590818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRmma5hsZ_HOBZ0XmxSskwzLbRCl0DKtTzcXAjRX48qcgZn6ddkw6bdjdTxYg6tV-7LRISDXiTXlYvMiBeTUm8EM0dzlGMdAEgI-f_YIqHK5X3Dp467F1pzCBKKzYFDXnjCVdp0__cbJs/s320/IMG_5544.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGFr5EfvkG9l74o2JIYYg0dQWngNGsxz8Btg7UO-8t9BBuTfXTFy1yhnoLV1DxuhI6-PZrozlndPaRNMDgEA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3iVJjBfg7p0Gi0IhlPE2tZDHErZ_yFlzxOQk9X1ZUaDLNzIGJsoDFsRB05KRZyno-vAX1CwxmN9GvMtXhRw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">I also stumbled upon Brett's kyudo practice during Doug's karate tournament. So I tried out kyudo and liked it. After both we checked out some waterfalls.</p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04hTQlO2vGbJ3t5M6WB4wKeMVKOI_nWXeqY1iOOubJIoiVKPqVkqh1iPDNAKTp-j7ESJ637sSiUFR6hF55fzHy6UaFEsUKBqxQdduqMEvmphoLMyt3e1Ui2F1mqehD3Z9SoiIVY0dSkkd/s1600-h/IMG_5548.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246424557549398802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04hTQlO2vGbJ3t5M6WB4wKeMVKOI_nWXeqY1iOOubJIoiVKPqVkqh1iPDNAKTp-j7ESJ637sSiUFR6hF55fzHy6UaFEsUKBqxQdduqMEvmphoLMyt3e1Ui2F1mqehD3Z9SoiIVY0dSkkd/s320/IMG_5548.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Brett demonstrating his superior kyudo skills</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY_zb3PLOiKOv-sy_LdTSUI9E7DjEViPNZJW2d7lbOIUZTdKzF0QTCMgTjHmGFCfw0DHFXMGgOe_tfOjbTxXgqgc9lomuQNVX7jJ1TRo7VMphsBkjc9sAoVR_P48ZYjTRgpXAiZc_D7GS/s1600-h/IMG_5549.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246424562945569442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY_zb3PLOiKOv-sy_LdTSUI9E7DjEViPNZJW2d7lbOIUZTdKzF0QTCMgTjHmGFCfw0DHFXMGgOe_tfOjbTxXgqgc9lomuQNVX7jJ1TRo7VMphsBkjc9sAoVR_P48ZYjTRgpXAiZc_D7GS/s320/IMG_5549.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jez trying it out</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVr6OuaIuRhPOe9m4CgMEq-ejUGrfoXc2_ZZSKG7CjArrWpynaRSKR66aR5lKcnvHkZPvBfEUkKJaV9HMoJQxQTXEyuPFqd8LvMk0Hn6sBRpMHrUE_txCjlm68dzqgBbeMuYYsmPEbhS8/s1600-h/IMG_5554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246424569498588546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVr6OuaIuRhPOe9m4CgMEq-ejUGrfoXc2_ZZSKG7CjArrWpynaRSKR66aR5lKcnvHkZPvBfEUkKJaV9HMoJQxQTXEyuPFqd8LvMk0Hn6sBRpMHrUE_txCjlm68dzqgBbeMuYYsmPEbhS8/s320/IMG_5554.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the karate tournament</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfARfXRKASmzm4UxbBHIXAqzlsNIEks1xc-Li384p0iiII88IDFvHGOF5UrBpWJoW0Ugtv8CGdPL4cmNPrMCG_MKNSmerKZWDYojYiAgY45cBh_VjzakMSyTF7LgEwN0RiKAyl4iJe7Ea/s1600-h/IMG_5557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246424576571531842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfARfXRKASmzm4UxbBHIXAqzlsNIEks1xc-Li384p0iiII88IDFvHGOF5UrBpWJoW0Ugtv8CGdPL4cmNPrMCG_MKNSmerKZWDYojYiAgY45cBh_VjzakMSyTF7LgEwN0RiKAyl4iJe7Ea/s320/IMG_5557.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM85P08-CmOzc7mgYwWx8oKR2EP6V5nucF7q6kQc4aUAl79350dBJ_B8iDAbQiT-i-WBFmaBNSjHuLonK1pg-00EcBc9fFId6K389OUpEA6dT6uf3E4enNWxLhJw9OH-Yp8VK0JBcSF82/s1600-h/IMG_5558.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246424582940029426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM85P08-CmOzc7mgYwWx8oKR2EP6V5nucF7q6kQc4aUAl79350dBJ_B8iDAbQiT-i-WBFmaBNSjHuLonK1pg-00EcBc9fFId6K389OUpEA6dT6uf3E4enNWxLhJw9OH-Yp8VK0JBcSF82/s320/IMG_5558.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzsvU3evgttAB4020dVYjOE6GmdV1I0GwWc8SDEoLQWgtjn6iVDzndEFuy2Nuet1MIFVDeF-FnAVPx_UH0igK8u8bSeH4-pRJrP_gNM-pRoG05mVNcwpJbWDySAA8Eh6CzyZknPEHnOWy/s1600-h/IMG_5563.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246425565879469362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzsvU3evgttAB4020dVYjOE6GmdV1I0GwWc8SDEoLQWgtjn6iVDzndEFuy2Nuet1MIFVDeF-FnAVPx_UH0igK8u8bSeH4-pRJrP_gNM-pRoG05mVNcwpJbWDySAA8Eh6CzyZknPEHnOWy/s320/IMG_5563.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Matthew and Doug pose like junior high school boys<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRjkGxvgfhi0P5Cvioc8cqNNQfxDNI-XUirpq6hChKc37zXO3QZ6ZqwFKeveH1xIev8hYji0arkcwu8P3_YKj2vRYyzJGd7HyN4TYMxwfbnOsfjtpA09Ybv5ruHNuf7ZUtOWmwzwCRMaF/s1600-h/IMG_5567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246425570202891906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRjkGxvgfhi0P5Cvioc8cqNNQfxDNI-XUirpq6hChKc37zXO3QZ6ZqwFKeveH1xIev8hYji0arkcwu8P3_YKj2vRYyzJGd7HyN4TYMxwfbnOsfjtpA09Ybv5ruHNuf7ZUtOWmwzwCRMaF/s320/IMG_5567.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6d0ebWqqlOw5ohVK3EYnvjavooO0DXd2gtzaLajnaPDpim8gwIYq8_IppJFWU0fRax5zTmYx3e9toULROB4La-vk9ljNLuoUwSBxhIi9uYHt_EGPq-2HjQ4R8ZBGaVPxxkEGQ08APNsX/s1600-h/IMG_5568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246425577560993890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6d0ebWqqlOw5ohVK3EYnvjavooO0DXd2gtzaLajnaPDpim8gwIYq8_IppJFWU0fRax5zTmYx3e9toULROB4La-vk9ljNLuoUwSBxhIi9uYHt_EGPq-2HjQ4R8ZBGaVPxxkEGQ08APNsX/s320/IMG_5568.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvNxSVCxFxKLBZKofe2BGLqmyYjHyNV1oIr2tUtEM-Z3YR-E24uvbXH4oQ2MpXU749qNFLgDmZ46l8s2NANan6BAu_Yly9CnLEGALwOY2fCpc0yDhBeo5Fjl-Fqu2jPh5W_UzKN_OhdLd/s1600-h/IMG_5572.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246425583960418098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvNxSVCxFxKLBZKofe2BGLqmyYjHyNV1oIr2tUtEM-Z3YR-E24uvbXH4oQ2MpXU749qNFLgDmZ46l8s2NANan6BAu_Yly9CnLEGALwOY2fCpc0yDhBeo5Fjl-Fqu2jPh5W_UzKN_OhdLd/s320/IMG_5572.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-VMI56cIxZ8p6irRiULIrZbxgBoLt2Xi20dMq-Sz9cySjg5zHD4StrN89kOA2R0O_HOFCZNwLrvg4pE6Tnl_6OFeKr9Z8tpRUfUa6RQR0kylWUjTrkVCeoMZhpZYtDO60SIZQZcz42UU/s1600-h/IMG_5575.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246425590478614818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-VMI56cIxZ8p6irRiULIrZbxgBoLt2Xi20dMq-Sz9cySjg5zHD4StrN89kOA2R0O_HOFCZNwLrvg4pE6Tnl_6OFeKr9Z8tpRUfUa6RQR0kylWUjTrkVCeoMZhpZYtDO60SIZQZcz42UU/s320/IMG_5575.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxPaevqhBP8pfms4ZwZCKp6KKKtll4aIjhV802XykhiOu1CbCHzr7fSUs5svRDM88-cNlylqn19Rh8N3Aq9hW9hLILdcUPHkp8l8cOyEO5hVqANRpZToM_yxLS1xXDScrp_b9vDAoaz5c/s1600-h/IMG_5576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246426240626876066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxPaevqhBP8pfms4ZwZCKp6KKKtll4aIjhV802XykhiOu1CbCHzr7fSUs5svRDM88-cNlylqn19Rh8N3Aq9hW9hLILdcUPHkp8l8cOyEO5hVqANRpZToM_yxLS1xXDScrp_b9vDAoaz5c/s320/IMG_5576.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Bears are dangerous and so is garbage!</p><p align="center">Last Friday was the annual regional English speech competition that my students had been practicing for quite hard, with me as their coach! (Another traditional Japanese sport - speech giving!) They both did extremely well. One of them, who recited a tragic Hiroshima story, won a second place prize!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ7baJ9xDRCYT0CnMB4AQoTliHO3HHka2nzl9Seq8rXRfYlZDXsymRCFdIxWKabHxqCfVWpL5bUw6Q3enrCTOrLtDWLu75hqc-dgft1GVb0DUGV6l-TYYK6oDo9AZuDpaMYSuJ6d5UuTk/s1600-h/IMG_5577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246426244405633250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ7baJ9xDRCYT0CnMB4AQoTliHO3HHka2nzl9Seq8rXRfYlZDXsymRCFdIxWKabHxqCfVWpL5bUw6Q3enrCTOrLtDWLu75hqc-dgft1GVb0DUGV6l-TYYK6oDo9AZuDpaMYSuJ6d5UuTk/s320/IMG_5577.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEpbIIIEe_V48MAYisLf2x7qWWs_GzKOmipWaZLVr_kUTlpo9p2P4bsj-wu-_pTh02GQiaIWLEU5r4NYF7QuylkGIcsdl297npGNyYMha16Udjkx5fsBOTpYaou1ocBKKxGlGDFbQB8m5/s1600-h/IMG_5580.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246426259672041074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEpbIIIEe_V48MAYisLf2x7qWWs_GzKOmipWaZLVr_kUTlpo9p2P4bsj-wu-_pTh02GQiaIWLEU5r4NYF7QuylkGIcsdl297npGNyYMha16Udjkx5fsBOTpYaou1ocBKKxGlGDFbQB8m5/s320/IMG_5580.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Kenta (looking less than thrilled with his "good" certificate), Masaki with his prize, me and one of my fellow English teachers<br /><br /><br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-51396362674633610102008-09-01T15:10:00.004+09:002008-09-01T15:32:02.057+09:00<div align="center">Please excuse the low quality pics, just wanted to share some students' stuff. The first is "What did you do during your summer vacation?" short essays - the 2 most popular answers.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93lG3Ththjqtf5Bfnam4-FRm1uKuIaNuYSYK1Dj001rYGfM_X2bN720YzaTjanOK-AeZ2kr-vuNqfgvUsL-2qJkQDpJLbpOrznJEB5l9Vi8pwb68sy9ohiIYSWgsYGohTfZ0g6X3CiKr9/s1600-h/summervacay1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240931965749010162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93lG3Ththjqtf5Bfnam4-FRm1uKuIaNuYSYK1Dj001rYGfM_X2bN720YzaTjanOK-AeZ2kr-vuNqfgvUsL-2qJkQDpJLbpOrznJEB5l9Vi8pwb68sy9ohiIYSWgsYGohTfZ0g6X3CiKr9/s320/summervacay1.jpg" border="0" /></a>"I went to my grandfather's house in August. I visited grave. I looked ghost. I had a good time."</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjh6mNd6lDm_T4xktLjPH59BVN43iIkyaYRRs8o9Heb3fUST8bQIPrqTXV04d-PFqQ6rUJ_0giIgpwOogdkO4EAH6AiiTIyZlUNYb3CyBECwakmAEUxErMcgcQ1mCmycs_Mn-vAGBbaYM/s1600-h/summervacay2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240931969113582402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjh6mNd6lDm_T4xktLjPH59BVN43iIkyaYRRs8o9Heb3fUST8bQIPrqTXV04d-PFqQ6rUJ_0giIgpwOogdkO4EAH6AiiTIyZlUNYb3CyBECwakmAEUxErMcgcQ1mCmycs_Mn-vAGBbaYM/s320/summervacay2.jpg" border="0" /></a>"I study homework in August, then reading a book. It was very tired."</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center">The kiddies have a cumulative test in every subject the day they get back from each vacation. So, they have to spend a significant part of each vacation (summer vacation was about a month) studying. The average for the 2nd grade english test was around a 46 - and it's pretty usual that test score averages are less than 50 (yes, out of 100). I can't work out the benefit of this, but perhaps there is one? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obon">Obon</a> is also during summer vacation, when families visit relatives' graves.<br /></p><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtM3fp6m3IjXqWoUqGsIWfKAvKjlftFsRKP7VT_CqKqQ0hC16Zypfdqx2arsYALf2XPvFovQd0PyIF793aB-UEQFTKV948l_B0Ircsm2fHNYOmzr2jxexgUVZix_fRl05pRx5idrttWpkz/s1600-h/riceharvest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240935919845798002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtM3fp6m3IjXqWoUqGsIWfKAvKjlftFsRKP7VT_CqKqQ0hC16Zypfdqx2arsYALf2XPvFovQd0PyIF793aB-UEQFTKV948l_B0Ircsm2fHNYOmzr2jxexgUVZix_fRl05pRx5idrttWpkz/s320/riceharvest.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>In addition to the tests, the 3rd graders were also greeted back at school with the manual labor task of harvesting the special rice that had been planted in a "WE CAN!!" pattern into the field outside the school. It looked like fun! Here you can maybe make out the "AN".<br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-65407161389336125682008-08-25T11:42:00.008+09:002008-08-25T12:21:54.787+09:00chokai from haraikawa<div>This weekend I passed on the biggest fireworks festival in japan (and possibly the world?) that I went to last year to hike Chokai once again. It has suddenly turned to fall here so the weather was nice and cool for the hike, though rainy on the descent. I went with Doug, Megumi, a girl Edel met at the local gym who's been a "special advisor" on our rowing team, and Kato, Doug's friend from karate. I had wanted to do more hiking this summer, but weekends filled up fast and have so far managed just this one. It was from a different approach than I've taken the last 2 times I did chokai, on a shorter and much steeper trail. Megumi and I took a leisurely pace, as is my style, the view from this side of the top was pretty cool, as you could see the other 2 peaks clearly, the one I ascended before very clearly looking like a giant pile of boulders, with hikers hanging on for dear life to the summit boulders. The peak I arrived at this time seemed much less perilous, and we also had a cool view over the cloud cover.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7SpdmTjfq5pRu2ecfomd8X0O26Q4Jk2D0Dx7ipC6uw1jRlMJk3dZoDAwYixoMyr1c7bySvQr4h-tnmqCahdGEgCPeTztQktfWVmakAHgIQsRyar79NPmKHS7-43_PdK2q9c1x6HrT3j_/s1600-h/IMG_5441.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238286725807059282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7SpdmTjfq5pRu2ecfomd8X0O26Q4Jk2D0Dx7ipC6uw1jRlMJk3dZoDAwYixoMyr1c7bySvQr4h-tnmqCahdGEgCPeTztQktfWVmakAHgIQsRyar79NPmKHS7-43_PdK2q9c1x6HrT3j_/s320/IMG_5441.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgSR7CVLjSrk8iVqhIn6pcSzw646WDNS6nLfRG7-4bL-9e7Is9tnP3d3ghlZKpUZOOU08Bl3w8lrocazjHALO17HqEM5vn-9jYUKr2VLn4KfQaxpQvKkItIc9-Ey2G9-v-b5AAWIBJGMf/s1600-h/IMG_5444.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238286737488606386" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn2FvhoTovYJk8sVSzhClL2t7UC6ZIXMRgVplqjY-3ViYJlSQeu8sI02QVHiSJoE7k_uURaD7ecx2XYHZPRO6G67RF2wrY04PT_hIXbOKRQwg6dAbcnx8e5UlbE_NQGAiELGxIYa8B96M/s320/IMG_5477.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHcmbN8Jk2ATQFkc9JLd5w8CVQqC11OnDyXpVE4JBcKiOy_FBZ2BoqO4K0EbsLFTssn4M1BKUlkpN_iU6-grmKuxRKXgtGmWDNSgwRO81SdLVVcm5BBvu3lnJlsNlkTLxleVlG2Bfsj4Y/s1600-h/IMG_5478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238289683021864818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHcmbN8Jk2ATQFkc9JLd5w8CVQqC11OnDyXpVE4JBcKiOy_FBZ2BoqO4K0EbsLFTssn4M1BKUlkpN_iU6-grmKuxRKXgtGmWDNSgwRO81SdLVVcm5BBvu3lnJlsNlkTLxleVlG2Bfsj4Y/s320/IMG_5478.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_k1gqb-oBd8-Ckubot8-VlkTlNEeP5Qn6tV5Swi7eIO2YgNL84m3pnsyzQiZL2giu-yBG5blfI9XtvjjNC3dHQydyvs9MHv2C0U6TW06fBn4mP0eXpI21Sy-8VFtupfxU9CD-dm8IRef/s1600-h/IMG_5479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238290021555551842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_k1gqb-oBd8-Ckubot8-VlkTlNEeP5Qn6tV5Swi7eIO2YgNL84m3pnsyzQiZL2giu-yBG5blfI9XtvjjNC3dHQydyvs9MHv2C0U6TW06fBn4mP0eXpI21Sy-8VFtupfxU9CD-dm8IRef/s320/IMG_5479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyYirxY8fNqt-O7rbre0rLWNyQiyw16DeR6D80lDC5XQP6TeD2vaPOUzqz3mcYbPyVXpXnfpOHSNFtxVSCoABJed4afyR6GwHSZtQxD4hV5EwAdddf2pTkjgbAI2gL2cccB97YmSdeGMi/s1600-h/IMG_5480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238290032067903394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyYirxY8fNqt-O7rbre0rLWNyQiyw16DeR6D80lDC5XQP6TeD2vaPOUzqz3mcYbPyVXpXnfpOHSNFtxVSCoABJed4afyR6GwHSZtQxD4hV5EwAdddf2pTkjgbAI2gL2cccB97YmSdeGMi/s320/IMG_5480.JPG" border="0" /></a>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-61491577161279919362008-08-18T14:22:00.004+09:002008-08-18T14:33:50.822+09:00o-bon-bon<div align="center">this is some sort of entertainment spot in Honjo.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeTcPqE70RMWzGxjv9lXMhITg8nA7wthgdQVogDlF0Kwsj4Fi7U3KWT2qeTyyRUV88Ja5UKDo2zPrCAUwmP_MdIFPU6ft_B7rXrhmbR8r1TG_g_Oqe3H5Fb-O7b3fJvzxp53MNThFH_kD/s1600-h/entern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235726152168344018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeTcPqE70RMWzGxjv9lXMhITg8nA7wthgdQVogDlF0Kwsj4Fi7U3KWT2qeTyyRUV88Ja5UKDo2zPrCAUwmP_MdIFPU6ft_B7rXrhmbR8r1TG_g_Oqe3H5Fb-O7b3fJvzxp53MNThFH_kD/s200/entern.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center">this is an evening at nishime beach with the jellyfish.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVCgTTnYNSrUz-GDUzA0Ll48zEwu1NNsqpakgjPM9PYHV59nTJOZfjLsvgJnJZGuOCi5idrFdDKNFs024XjsaRoWscdy1uyMnQAYgQ9s1rBhE_LgP6CDdEJe7BKLb-g_09NrzB8fpW7Jy/s1600-h/nishime.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235726153707955906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVCgTTnYNSrUz-GDUzA0Ll48zEwu1NNsqpakgjPM9PYHV59nTJOZfjLsvgJnJZGuOCi5idrFdDKNFs024XjsaRoWscdy1uyMnQAYgQ9s1rBhE_LgP6CDdEJe7BKLb-g_09NrzB8fpW7Jy/s200/nishime.jpg" border="0" /></a>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-7366705364184017352008-08-12T23:37:00.006+09:002008-08-14T10:11:57.965+09:00nobody said it was easy...<div align="left">Well after a whirlwind trip to Osaka I came back to the departure of Jeff. He left first thing this morning on the train, so it's been quite a hard day. I don't think Edel's leaving hit me at all till now either (she's only in China! she could come back at any time! is what I think I keep telling myself), and I'm now really feeling the effects of having lost probably my 2 closest friends here in Honjo. It is amazing how much this shared experience brings people together, people you never would have met otherwise and you become so close so fast with. I now know how Amelie must have felt last year, dealing with split emotions of saying goodbye to friends while trying to be friendly-genki to us new folk, changing the relationships you're investing in so abruptly, and she was doing it ten-fold! Anyway, I'll miss Edel and Jeff, but I wish them the best of luck in their new lives; I know I'll see them again someday soon enough.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">And thanks to Coldplay for the song that made the title of this post, which has really set the mood of the day, and probably at least a few more days to come. As a carrot-treat which has been keeping me somewhat upbeat, I got a new car yesterday!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">And oh yeah, summersonic. My first music festival. In truth, I don't think I'll ever go to one ever again. Well, maybe. It was excellent for hearing and getting hooked on new music, possibly a refreshing change from the same 10 or so bands that I've been listening to for years. It was a scorching hot day, and I was pretty terrified of getting heatstroke and passing out unnoticed somewhere, so I concentrated on staying hydrated and in the shade. But the festival did give me a newfound respect for Japanese pop artists, and Alicia Keys, who was probably the best performance I saw all day, although she spoke continuously throughout her set in English, which did not impress the crowd too much. In general Japanese concerts seem to be a little less fun than what I'm used to, no singing along and basically no dancing. A favorite band from New York was there and they tried to do a little repeat after me action on a song, which failed miserably. I also stopped by Fatboy Slim - had no idea what a weird guy he was. Of what I saw, he spent most of his time sitting on the edge of the stage dangling his legs and leering at the audience, or alternatively lying flat on his back motionless on the stage. Coldplay was a real crowd pleaser, Chris Martin making practiced comments in Japanese at almost every break. At one point they broke away from the main stage to a smaller side stage closer to where I was, very exciting indeed. Here are some low-quality pics I illegally snapped with my phone (they didn't allow cameras).</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHyxmNStMH8D22ICrEKxz5o9njdEzqM7o-XT83p6JUSaor5zdmBqgycFdB3oh0gS31arpJU0A8EpTut1_7S8PfwZqg_eojS2pqlt4z06qVLxptvGNvQGHpM1KNq7g_GpOxUxKDjlrPgx6/s1600-h/newyoungponyclub.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234142787203402722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHyxmNStMH8D22ICrEKxz5o9njdEzqM7o-XT83p6JUSaor5zdmBqgycFdB3oh0gS31arpJU0A8EpTut1_7S8PfwZqg_eojS2pqlt4z06qVLxptvGNvQGHpM1KNq7g_GpOxUxKDjlrPgx6/s320/newyoungponyclub.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP2d7UK2uu_TZ2W5BIYPaYk_FOrGvi4jrHVO3u6pVhPNYAFZ4epDIstJg_vvhuaofXrc0-p9gDBoomHkg6ua3EHmH1xX6hZDfulG9-9sNYGCcxZDpJ1g4BWBBlYOWeO-6IEKiSqHk44mX/s1600-h/coldplay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234142788203869730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP2d7UK2uu_TZ2W5BIYPaYk_FOrGvi4jrHVO3u6pVhPNYAFZ4epDIstJg_vvhuaofXrc0-p9gDBoomHkg6ua3EHmH1xX6hZDfulG9-9sNYGCcxZDpJ1g4BWBBlYOWeO-6IEKiSqHk44mX/s320/coldplay.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>coldplay, really close to me</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggERi8kgIrjqgdT2RFxigALg7Usuyjmt13_UBxFWj53hMcaC9QI85dVKBAubwzsDH3Pu4meIbrGJaT7-Op2RwDO785kvNV_XWVS7eUUc9SI6kdZD-rfEozuD_2gznMeXFvH3-DLPlUaOHQ/s1600-h/summersonic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234142793177568978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggERi8kgIrjqgdT2RFxigALg7Usuyjmt13_UBxFWj53hMcaC9QI85dVKBAubwzsDH3Pu4meIbrGJaT7-Op2RwDO785kvNV_XWVS7eUUc9SI6kdZD-rfEozuD_2gznMeXFvH3-DLPlUaOHQ/s320/summersonic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The following day I explored Osaka and met up with a seriously old friend I hadn't seen since junior high school, Ryo. We were in school together in Germany, pretty random. Although we easily recognized eachother from afar, and both said we didn't think the other had changed too much (except of course Ryo is now a fluent English speaker). He brought us to an excellent restaurant to sample the famed local culinary attractions, and we had all the yaki - takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and yakisoba. Delicious, and indeed better than in Akita. Afterwards we visited the Osaka Castle Park which was lovely but unfortunately our energy was already zapped for the day and we had a long trip back to Honjo ahead of us. I'll be seeing Osaka again in September; I'm now eagerly planning out Gina, Marge and Noura's visit. :))))<br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i85XoCvLW7aWq_-D6cRr3AefCjIXCSqOG0Q8b8FAjpnIu_vwVk5xVIIvpQngMxmZnka0xufr4xzT8DxWft6qFFlASKJB5akDSyQKCBEftUcmcjH_1KGvIO8GZqKcPzdI-spPs0SkR9E3/s1600-h/IMG_5410.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234142801942248498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i85XoCvLW7aWq_-D6cRr3AefCjIXCSqOG0Q8b8FAjpnIu_vwVk5xVIIvpQngMxmZnka0xufr4xzT8DxWft6qFFlASKJB5akDSyQKCBEftUcmcjH_1KGvIO8GZqKcPzdI-spPs0SkR9E3/s320/IMG_5410.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">ryo and me<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiUut4WB6gDfrVKTtxz-7QNsIl2YJ5y75hvsc4u3jA8uxkH2fruDipe5HdZE8xDRV9PGZlsXCBkM3kNDvwoFKUrJ8NeYGFLK8MCK3ivQyA667uxJz-TJcu12_0PQIaKRvE5I0Kj_G7dAp/s1600-h/IMG_5413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234142817062542354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiUut4WB6gDfrVKTtxz-7QNsIl2YJ5y75hvsc4u3jA8uxkH2fruDipe5HdZE8xDRV9PGZlsXCBkM3kNDvwoFKUrJ8NeYGFLK8MCK3ivQyA667uxJz-TJcu12_0PQIaKRvE5I0Kj_G7dAp/s320/IMG_5413.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>yaki, yaki, yaki!<br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZkDa5GTmoiI6dgIvW-WmwlYBjwK0Lmc5swzeG_QEP_egNs3HW6OJk1jHgtYtAmlnnOQUoWx0gcGfvdSD-Apge6-nvitFo0_peaIUGZgoja2g24_vNQSNPH86kfeSKX0dwcDquLtZ9as6/s1600-h/IMG_5414.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234144709962701538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZkDa5GTmoiI6dgIvW-WmwlYBjwK0Lmc5swzeG_QEP_egNs3HW6OJk1jHgtYtAmlnnOQUoWx0gcGfvdSD-Apge6-nvitFo0_peaIUGZgoja2g24_vNQSNPH86kfeSKX0dwcDquLtZ9as6/s320/IMG_5414.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">dotombori<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwdc6ZPoDxWkLWZYQlxQ8e4HBnvQm0V_xJIj4jiUCGJUkNlUzQufY295XRo29Rmtv8-5QDDALDu3zyfh81Y7GJ8-FckWXk0GiXI2b8-L0-N0XT9OQXO_vbUPbZJDJGAsnguyvLDAIR996/s1600-h/IMG_5416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234144722834384610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwdc6ZPoDxWkLWZYQlxQ8e4HBnvQm0V_xJIj4jiUCGJUkNlUzQufY295XRo29Rmtv8-5QDDALDu3zyfh81Y7GJ8-FckWXk0GiXI2b8-L0-N0XT9OQXO_vbUPbZJDJGAsnguyvLDAIR996/s320/IMG_5416.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>a famous giant crab</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yoTaIRerzRoS5CfPjuIgK-HdxjaeiCqIhEcQTPEGXnHsnUKxvMAdbnGwqp33mJvE7HaG8uh_x20OPreSB1b1BIk6NUw1Q2vRDHIcVI_nUxdxvvmuv8QsAo2utCqJgYfsvoBjDlb6JknU/s1600-h/IMG_5418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234144738920405234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yoTaIRerzRoS5CfPjuIgK-HdxjaeiCqIhEcQTPEGXnHsnUKxvMAdbnGwqp33mJvE7HaG8uh_x20OPreSB1b1BIk6NUw1Q2vRDHIcVI_nUxdxvvmuv8QsAo2utCqJgYfsvoBjDlb6JknU/s320/IMG_5418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSAydk6aNtSpc1I4wbSjFzS5AnC7wJWaTE0txr5puvvWk5Sxv2-RNDeMkLjutvqiXof88epq3dQbDgNcnRuk8XFBzIPgdjoST29aFCuMMBfdKIKTLBhjsunui7e7WIID3AqZXcaBZYlv0/s1600-h/IMG_5419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234144766859167570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSAydk6aNtSpc1I4wbSjFzS5AnC7wJWaTE0txr5puvvWk5Sxv2-RNDeMkLjutvqiXof88epq3dQbDgNcnRuk8XFBzIPgdjoST29aFCuMMBfdKIKTLBhjsunui7e7WIID3AqZXcaBZYlv0/s320/IMG_5419.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>an Osaka Castle Park band with lots of fans<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNDv4lpJkSAsb3cY_x0D7r0Iw0Wsk3BgGPr_Ynp-AriPZok6iqNm7G9VQ2EFtdSk9Mt1DASjZyzvhTgMtr4zcAdPKONwiIJBEgQMoRKeHTGosKh8tD8I6rzn70tlACj-O_vNNXXeUjBpR/s1600-h/IMG_5424.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234144775614318818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNDv4lpJkSAsb3cY_x0D7r0Iw0Wsk3BgGPr_Ynp-AriPZok6iqNm7G9VQ2EFtdSk9Mt1DASjZyzvhTgMtr4zcAdPKONwiIJBEgQMoRKeHTGosKh8tD8I6rzn70tlACj-O_vNNXXeUjBpR/s320/IMG_5424.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HkSljTNMyp_QhSOehcdsd_EveeAWNrKIf2tRFZhddq_SrLiMV-H_PgpXgcF2J7JnPCGlcXte14qEzIvdwW7Nbs5WFKNnBYo4vPx70z8ExkFc4MJjR9F14YFEvBQo9DKV9KU0T_tjuw07/s1600-h/IMG_5426.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234146897564631954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HkSljTNMyp_QhSOehcdsd_EveeAWNrKIf2tRFZhddq_SrLiMV-H_PgpXgcF2J7JnPCGlcXte14qEzIvdwW7Nbs5WFKNnBYo4vPx70z8ExkFc4MJjR9F14YFEvBQo9DKV9KU0T_tjuw07/s320/IMG_5426.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Ryo and my elusive traveling partner, Jon. Check out Ryo's Manhattan Portage bag - he knows what's up.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS71QeOgFNysQP3klOTTFAddWwRqswgfP6px70f1OLroHcdVdSQ7b2F9V-2lEHuOYvWT0CSzxUnDwkTGOD26qmLIs_ryFP_oRZFMnLuXqqbj-gj4WrAA8QOMc0QDsBq0KWlokn4w84JN7/s1600-h/IMG_5431.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234146909137046546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS71QeOgFNysQP3klOTTFAddWwRqswgfP6px70f1OLroHcdVdSQ7b2F9V-2lEHuOYvWT0CSzxUnDwkTGOD26qmLIs_ryFP_oRZFMnLuXqqbj-gj4WrAA8QOMc0QDsBq0KWlokn4w84JN7/s320/IMG_5431.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVY4P9vO4FOyRgrIgkNJxCF9m5T77u1rLHi6-0uNHYbFnFd_J-iPWj0cmNcATCoYqjHcE_D8YtnBpqHOTV3DT7sWwRJ6WwyVoFvxDSlCxJq3A6ufjIohO2QWgSJ3c6bGH_E31-pLyo3pf/s1600-h/IMG_5433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234146910161918690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVY4P9vO4FOyRgrIgkNJxCF9m5T77u1rLHi6-0uNHYbFnFd_J-iPWj0cmNcATCoYqjHcE_D8YtnBpqHOTV3DT7sWwRJ6WwyVoFvxDSlCxJq3A6ufjIohO2QWgSJ3c6bGH_E31-pLyo3pf/s320/IMG_5433.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IMeP66g32i0vzjCezwIZtKfaQ5Y8tGwDWCm7GeB8YJcAs25fUdtFjVDWriRL01R7Tm0qvP-PP0rJWt_ALdbPrb5DFG17T4AT32YiCr5LZgfiWo649UiGkjx97dcc81G2yZuzYXp59yfR/s1600-h/IMG_5436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234146922093363058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IMeP66g32i0vzjCezwIZtKfaQ5Y8tGwDWCm7GeB8YJcAs25fUdtFjVDWriRL01R7Tm0qvP-PP0rJWt_ALdbPrb5DFG17T4AT32YiCr5LZgfiWo649UiGkjx97dcc81G2yZuzYXp59yfR/s320/IMG_5436.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6coCgaj5cMywzFWbZu4N6-2AOY-7LJg4YpyR44D83fnHW0jqG7O3tnAwj1IcONqWUp2hkrIk_G9kUORxzfQIHOoyB_AEBr9MdYdfh2gLc8vZmUer2LA_8hNiQZSfN6J9XP5zA3CXVjPl/s1600-h/IMG_5440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234146930309095106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6coCgaj5cMywzFWbZu4N6-2AOY-7LJg4YpyR44D83fnHW0jqG7O3tnAwj1IcONqWUp2hkrIk_G9kUORxzfQIHOoyB_AEBr9MdYdfh2gLc8vZmUer2LA_8hNiQZSfN6J9XP5zA3CXVjPl/s320/IMG_5440.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>This guy is some famous character on a billboard. Of course his head is in omiyage lollipop form!<br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-29181449144719415772008-08-08T17:21:00.008+09:002008-08-08T18:28:07.682+09:00kanto take two<div align="left">Aren't most things better the second time around? Well, this year kanto was no exception. Perfect weather, and this time including a pre-show of traditional dance (Amelie was one of the dancers but unfortunately her group did not make it past where Doug and I were sitting). New pics and now, video! I LOVE the song played during the festival, on taiko drums and wooden flutes. </div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyr0IO8JiQ46PUNhSmrtN8sk2J8-H5BXxto-Wg_5eTLhx1qyDbaCC9b7meZ1mMcwXVpU_273kNd4WnX7QFWYA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3r0TviQni69xc83w41MWnYJXXamRK0Z_KiPLyVkHvx-q8VibM5FxzEqkYOWVrb_oET6Z6mYLDxLaz-wZBeB9EKlxExsWOGGt5XOt0GJdLYvHyoxP_sVWejF7xR1Jf9lA0N9qovMuUFke/s1600-h/IMG_5356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232063328358785858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3r0TviQni69xc83w41MWnYJXXamRK0Z_KiPLyVkHvx-q8VibM5FxzEqkYOWVrb_oET6Z6mYLDxLaz-wZBeB9EKlxExsWOGGt5XOt0GJdLYvHyoxP_sVWejF7xR1Jf9lA0N9qovMuUFke/s320/IMG_5356.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9oEFohj0rqIbrRYz1Bct7zDAf-_R-0ho4lBTFQdKCT9dkyuBMtZRYWPYNYMY67eAPTbTEmowQzzVjBLuXV6mD3TgGAwuGVWcglg03otMsM0ReM52HfiQDAt2JnE7pUPvoq2HoovTZ-lJ/s1600-h/IMG_5363.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232063334424488370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9oEFohj0rqIbrRYz1Bct7zDAf-_R-0ho4lBTFQdKCT9dkyuBMtZRYWPYNYMY67eAPTbTEmowQzzVjBLuXV6mD3TgGAwuGVWcglg03otMsM0ReM52HfiQDAt2JnE7pUPvoq2HoovTZ-lJ/s320/IMG_5363.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1rzS_8boZoHyNdDx9ylTaEplCnPgX7oj7ndk6hGdRtB7AWzMyx41JEhXzPwLfcOpThGivu3ou5nZFQEw8QGbxDXIxUqIrG1amSySGFx6ZiW2-jTRJ1NuGoZlCkWDdzEoaacqU9aPfshW/s1600-h/IMG_5366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232063336496781010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1rzS_8boZoHyNdDx9ylTaEplCnPgX7oj7ndk6hGdRtB7AWzMyx41JEhXzPwLfcOpThGivu3ou5nZFQEw8QGbxDXIxUqIrG1amSySGFx6ZiW2-jTRJ1NuGoZlCkWDdzEoaacqU9aPfshW/s320/IMG_5366.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYeiYgobKeN6-cjSWNinyVl8F_O3m_uTpk22MgTzsXd1WNp1rMNiN4omMjhqAGZfUUmTZijQ7TovhcO7GtdF3ybpVDwUUX4AqOxj4NHAqMrNw2sAsT5qScIwJYfi9wtuDVPJLwfGDam-Q/s1600-h/IMG_5371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232063341471898578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYeiYgobKeN6-cjSWNinyVl8F_O3m_uTpk22MgTzsXd1WNp1rMNiN4omMjhqAGZfUUmTZijQ7TovhcO7GtdF3ybpVDwUUX4AqOxj4NHAqMrNw2sAsT5qScIwJYfi9wtuDVPJLwfGDam-Q/s320/IMG_5371.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQd_GZsAKvtGe-G1lurclbkIOl8MmNxRs9QqgzxJ8nHOmwMkYWFAPfjkhLmvJhs-GK-iVIBlKvSXezpivAmQJ7CWcE1ze6108M6T6mkITSQvU3_RNCSB9WlwDzkhHLxVWFQlOnzqtBaEU/s1600-h/IMG_5378.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232063345096502530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQd_GZsAKvtGe-G1lurclbkIOl8MmNxRs9QqgzxJ8nHOmwMkYWFAPfjkhLmvJhs-GK-iVIBlKvSXezpivAmQJ7CWcE1ze6108M6T6mkITSQvU3_RNCSB9WlwDzkhHLxVWFQlOnzqtBaEU/s320/IMG_5378.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FhvwMjjenLUjpn5Xy1irMfftvzPRdUJnUYqsD0sMh1SA1dOMf2SxVT4ZzIh9pTvhakk3EUJ5J188LbtG_2E3V9KSTXxifxUAnmre2_xQGZS0FYjryndRhd4myVOpv6qR03sR_dOiwp2d/s1600-h/IMG_5381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232068135948005602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FhvwMjjenLUjpn5Xy1irMfftvzPRdUJnUYqsD0sMh1SA1dOMf2SxVT4ZzIh9pTvhakk3EUJ5J188LbtG_2E3V9KSTXxifxUAnmre2_xQGZS0FYjryndRhd4myVOpv6qR03sR_dOiwp2d/s320/IMG_5381.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUoQmjbQwpSn8zABfqi6DliHsY8APQpITRxqO1uFRcmeDUAV7w26xgNWcnEmmeRbPJA1eNEBqZLH5lFQFEW3B6tdLii4QRagzGbk1u68kT0kOQr_hDFiuFedo4MhoKzzF0lW_lhToLxoK/s1600-h/IMG_5385.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232068138460802578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUoQmjbQwpSn8zABfqi6DliHsY8APQpITRxqO1uFRcmeDUAV7w26xgNWcnEmmeRbPJA1eNEBqZLH5lFQFEW3B6tdLii4QRagzGbk1u68kT0kOQr_hDFiuFedo4MhoKzzF0lW_lhToLxoK/s320/IMG_5385.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKzQ7POkM_WHUhVrNWrM39qw_sBHEbjPMqsrBumZGXU48-bjS7ID7UJbHfK-fv7hwNh7YfSGxBR5UKrlmTPKOk8roEYw_qhgGri3tcmumzFLr76ukGUCadhPMMJL16ASUQTJonpADW_mR/s1600-h/IMG_5393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232068142923519090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKzQ7POkM_WHUhVrNWrM39qw_sBHEbjPMqsrBumZGXU48-bjS7ID7UJbHfK-fv7hwNh7YfSGxBR5UKrlmTPKOk8roEYw_qhgGri3tcmumzFLr76ukGUCadhPMMJL16ASUQTJonpADW_mR/s320/IMG_5393.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VDtTkpTnZMzWHH5BD4JgaLbUdyELv3LaerLTcykQs2DskZDc2KRXBmMOmSUJs19cL4eTTfnA5QzhyRmnbb8PFd-1Op_I2wrBk5WRfjlIC80CUkqRPG6qK81D0qzCp3S078QoXpiafQGQ/s1600-h/IMG_5395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232068146296395682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VDtTkpTnZMzWHH5BD4JgaLbUdyELv3LaerLTcykQs2DskZDc2KRXBmMOmSUJs19cL4eTTfnA5QzhyRmnbb8PFd-1Op_I2wrBk5WRfjlIC80CUkqRPG6qK81D0qzCp3S078QoXpiafQGQ/s320/IMG_5395.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UyoMvMydTES7SGsnRwwuxvUeKJSIFtgobeLS0SRAgzeWsZYkg7ALoNrF3w6_vjnNEMMNzZJeZ4hSWCZSeahO2Z_cfUlqYIO67A2iK3C55bN7eNS-Y1ykWhfnE5_e_W_tAnTKGSrRlCyB/s1600-h/IMG_5401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232068153824388322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UyoMvMydTES7SGsnRwwuxvUeKJSIFtgobeLS0SRAgzeWsZYkg7ALoNrF3w6_vjnNEMMNzZJeZ4hSWCZSeahO2Z_cfUlqYIO67A2iK3C55bN7eNS-Y1ykWhfnE5_e_W_tAnTKGSrRlCyB/s320/IMG_5401.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-JHSbRFR6dAHvrWd64snv6XtnCkyYVjx-HntC51yC63Vl2C6fZlkEC55QXZ_rbhuFXlrLub5YWfMnLtqB9ENY0ozrqknaAQMPToX5cJk0pxUayzIi1NlRFtms0TgYntJl7jtx7jS6pS4/s1600-h/IMG_5407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232068554904304066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-JHSbRFR6dAHvrWd64snv6XtnCkyYVjx-HntC51yC63Vl2C6fZlkEC55QXZ_rbhuFXlrLub5YWfMnLtqB9ENY0ozrqknaAQMPToX5cJk0pxUayzIi1NlRFtms0TgYntJl7jtx7jS6pS4/s320/IMG_5407.JPG" border="0" /></a> <p align="center">Heading to Osaka tonight for <a href="http://www.summersonic.com/">summersonic</a>!</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-59563880648342695542008-08-04T13:54:00.012+09:002008-08-04T22:24:31.381+09:00weekend of jerseyites and yukatas<div align="left">Well, the Honjo High School baseball team just lost their final game - they had made it to national-level competition and we watched the entire game in the teachers' room as the highlight of today's day of "work", sad frowns forming on everyone's face watching the evil Naruto High School's players with smug grins on the screen. It was also especially sad for me knowing that Edel was there at the game (which took place down near Osaka at Koshien stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers play) and will be leaving the country on Wednesday! I've enjoyed the baseball season here, with all the fanfare and cheering, watching my own school's team and later Doug's school's (who fared better than mine in the regional competitions), and now following Honjo HS's. Anyway, I've had a fairly productive day, mostly working on a new english bulletin board for the school - the subject of which being Tintin, after a highly productive weekend.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">On Friday was a local Honjo dance festival, the Shoubu (iris) Carnival. This was my first event I was experiencing for the 2nd time around - it was fun to show our new kohai in town, Jez, a night of the usual festival debauchery, inevitably followed by karaoke at Castaway's. It was also my first night to wear my new yukata!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaXIdL05U1DHo877WE9lR77ftB4_PSXtDpJlqzm9s85unUo6WPhbEdmf8_GTK_11UVYwYMY9LnqLsgnZHA-OOIQ2p0otMDgj9Cvqdr3L8VmZ_DqqvtwGUT5Ff-Q64rhKkyOY1S0kkuUCi/s1600-h/IMG_5158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230627787298365042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaXIdL05U1DHo877WE9lR77ftB4_PSXtDpJlqzm9s85unUo6WPhbEdmf8_GTK_11UVYwYMY9LnqLsgnZHA-OOIQ2p0otMDgj9Cvqdr3L8VmZ_DqqvtwGUT5Ff-Q64rhKkyOY1S0kkuUCi/s320/IMG_5158.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Amelie, her visiting friend Julie, and me! </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7zM6Pfqgp604IiRZew6EeK2EJy1iwhNqewtoQ0SZfjefLHXDC5xFc0My38qKNdjAZK3KEnNdwoY7wIkAUtJqxrEQ8LPetL35Q7D8XNDI1e3JtHX88dU3ZpOv4NgAKnEB8i_Nn0CH8XUQ/s1600-h/IMG_5162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230627797208010066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7zM6Pfqgp604IiRZew6EeK2EJy1iwhNqewtoQ0SZfjefLHXDC5xFc0My38qKNdjAZK3KEnNdwoY7wIkAUtJqxrEQ8LPetL35Q7D8XNDI1e3JtHX88dU3ZpOv4NgAKnEB8i_Nn0CH8XUQ/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" border="0" /></a> A weirdly lit shot of me and Amelie with some of my supercute higashi chu girls<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijALnedJvEmCzU7p6AlBCiJ0raVvJv3_eCNNEGk-DwlfvAdF5DT-5FEWD11Ur6IGLZr03x0vbj9rQcMbgrHyxDzjdW_u20tZE-A34KhCxRsRpQl30bErlbLdMvu82FfQCTOEIJ7NalkyYO/s1600-h/IMG_5166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230627800232710194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijALnedJvEmCzU7p6AlBCiJ0raVvJv3_eCNNEGk-DwlfvAdF5DT-5FEWD11Ur6IGLZr03x0vbj9rQcMbgrHyxDzjdW_u20tZE-A34KhCxRsRpQl30bErlbLdMvu82FfQCTOEIJ7NalkyYO/s320/IMG_5166.JPG" border="0" /></a>Amelie, me and Satomi, from our rowing team! Satomi was an official dancer at the festival - check out her iris yukata!</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMkeij3qqG3P9z5vJNQMxd7TvHWvFfE0dcYWXSkKQ9VHXsL-mZ9xx012P3T8aka9TkrGrKvMTHHBlP4x6yPY3ZmP3uRIC8ttJTdl73o7FvbtmTf2pvEOPrsd8AuZGugdLd1Shv8uNur_3/s1600-h/IMG_5188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230627807550798498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMkeij3qqG3P9z5vJNQMxd7TvHWvFfE0dcYWXSkKQ9VHXsL-mZ9xx012P3T8aka9TkrGrKvMTHHBlP4x6yPY3ZmP3uRIC8ttJTdl73o7FvbtmTf2pvEOPrsd8AuZGugdLd1Shv8uNur_3/s320/IMG_5188.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVD7HJFf3dOVVftAXJwD2VG0M-_PX5xHAJ268P2J9jmiZ3uI6FTtxPNV9FelfCunzXBRmM-OD_ljUAgiFI6Gf2OY1hS0ciex9y6tCPmrrl7sYIID2OALfXEHwGT8Vb2Pmz1in3caPDOkN/s1600-h/IMG_5190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230627812666314946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVD7HJFf3dOVVftAXJwD2VG0M-_PX5xHAJ268P2J9jmiZ3uI6FTtxPNV9FelfCunzXBRmM-OD_ljUAgiFI6Gf2OY1hS0ciex9y6tCPmrrl7sYIID2OALfXEHwGT8Vb2Pmz1in3caPDOkN/s320/IMG_5190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3c27IVpfGrhZG_Ow4C7N6pgIe6rd7l5caq6LcLRdwyqpVGFo_4bGQhL1tpnZKQTJkrghqs-iPNVyyF0qnG2BeV9Li_PUrB0hWZhvYAuNMSfj9cQJfEIwwyHuXGtoqm3WNQkdjx2fjtK6/s1600-h/IMG_5196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230628864730938978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3c27IVpfGrhZG_Ow4C7N6pgIe6rd7l5caq6LcLRdwyqpVGFo_4bGQhL1tpnZKQTJkrghqs-iPNVyyF0qnG2BeV9Li_PUrB0hWZhvYAuNMSfj9cQJfEIwwyHuXGtoqm3WNQkdjx2fjtK6/s320/IMG_5196.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqt_p9VKSm-ujKgDi7YJJ2OBZAQNYYuKJQa5AmbEs0EW2Yd6m43YZy1RFrVemW_a3pZPtvNXkdfZNGDtEVim1SIR53XwWYEyRSxzpvB3Yc6mkU-_MNWFsDITTfykIYl4BPwQHDCxWZDMX/s1600-h/IMG_5197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230628872961615714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqt_p9VKSm-ujKgDi7YJJ2OBZAQNYYuKJQa5AmbEs0EW2Yd6m43YZy1RFrVemW_a3pZPtvNXkdfZNGDtEVim1SIR53XwWYEyRSxzpvB3Yc6mkU-_MNWFsDITTfykIYl4BPwQHDCxWZDMX/s320/IMG_5197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-6dusptI27tCSsRZ9NQtn2WD-rmcRIikVuMYWf-PXYre7-X5S9WcI-5B67Zx7U2FNj2EGOKE-ZpOsSDrfTVhtR-CKAXpUtk4lu3hZ1Pu12wDongyrcwJuzQ-fNTs88YCPuZzEfOcu1yw/s1600-h/IMG_5209.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230628881640755922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-6dusptI27tCSsRZ9NQtn2WD-rmcRIikVuMYWf-PXYre7-X5S9WcI-5B67Zx7U2FNj2EGOKE-ZpOsSDrfTVhtR-CKAXpUtk4lu3hZ1Pu12wDongyrcwJuzQ-fNTs88YCPuZzEfOcu1yw/s320/IMG_5209.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6brBEiQYpQ1xMpLi_uEa14kR1rImcIKQdHexpskLJGoZn3aG6iYvkrGl6ihvC2k731UVMfliaGVJibFEYxN-gFwVVSbgMywpRMxry8TdqbozzGm-VBVfFdGujJ2PmWswoX4zDYgLya33/s1600-h/IMG_5212.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230628893347434338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6brBEiQYpQ1xMpLi_uEa14kR1rImcIKQdHexpskLJGoZn3aG6iYvkrGl6ihvC2k731UVMfliaGVJibFEYxN-gFwVVSbgMywpRMxry8TdqbozzGm-VBVfFdGujJ2PmWswoX4zDYgLya33/s320/IMG_5212.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Jez's first night at Castaway's!<br /></p><p align="left"><br />On Saturday I welcomed some visitors from New Jersey (one was a former JET I had met at the NYC orientations who had lived near Hiroshima). I took them, along with Jez, to the "best of" Yurihonjo, inc. the big buddha, akata waterfall, the tiny statues up the mountainside, and of course, the beach, with some special blueberry ice cream thrown in for good measure. That night Honjo held fireworks at the river, for which I yukata-ed up again. It was cute to see some of my students yukata-ed as well!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtSEsEBzDxzgw6OC8tQZDkCVJhEgoHHNb0_pSdnXxkaCFAWNbKAkhvtXioStP0TxJtYjmeBzqljFweGMKiHUn3b9PVs7PxuRvogKyjzl0s6HpkBJifupzNldSZaVuNqRNTMoxFBZ3mzLL/s1600-h/IMG_5214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230630043666680322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtSEsEBzDxzgw6OC8tQZDkCVJhEgoHHNb0_pSdnXxkaCFAWNbKAkhvtXioStP0TxJtYjmeBzqljFweGMKiHUn3b9PVs7PxuRvogKyjzl0s6HpkBJifupzNldSZaVuNqRNTMoxFBZ3mzLL/s320/IMG_5214.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Jez fording the stream </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGHz8k5SrXG8NPQ8Jie13FDzi_j9uGmqjpzLCmkA-BWAfEtfdihfNvepn96Jf2x_Ewtuelekttw486wKCgxjdL9djwrm15wL09IT2TE8upKDngIRgUFhR4YBh8XGRyhPnW5kQE7JAXYF6/s1600-h/IMG_5217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230630052947974994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGHz8k5SrXG8NPQ8Jie13FDzi_j9uGmqjpzLCmkA-BWAfEtfdihfNvepn96Jf2x_Ewtuelekttw486wKCgxjdL9djwrm15wL09IT2TE8upKDngIRgUFhR4YBh8XGRyhPnW5kQE7JAXYF6/s320/IMG_5217.JPG" border="0" /></a>The gorgeous akata-no-taki</p><p align="center"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfecG1GAyT_U99ZhgDGjqagXqn2kZ6sWpgIxmSqtzpE77lnVvx4Klw_Lkw4Rq0jLAkxDPmNXl-FrXYGS1saq0VzseCahFZFlqluQ2sBiEZ4tdC3_TCFkQDWhI_V-kgmdp5XPV3HqFJzKPI/s1600-h/IMG_5220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230630055010256642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfecG1GAyT_U99ZhgDGjqagXqn2kZ6sWpgIxmSqtzpE77lnVvx4Klw_Lkw4Rq0jLAkxDPmNXl-FrXYGS1saq0VzseCahFZFlqluQ2sBiEZ4tdC3_TCFkQDWhI_V-kgmdp5XPV3HqFJzKPI/s320/IMG_5220.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dan, Chris, and Jez</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzTOftjKjqZT9nCizBCLdzt_-48kKGNEzlALgXoeYTt_NY_JCN9aXZd7_-L-Ge_aTK7PZanmkqxidwUSiuQ5YuGZXxPiIENY5RSC-_IPEtCa_4EfHKCy1ZW5lp-LWECWP2o7uVsn_9E3u/s1600-h/IMG_5222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230630061927006578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzTOftjKjqZT9nCizBCLdzt_-48kKGNEzlALgXoeYTt_NY_JCN9aXZd7_-L-Ge_aTK7PZanmkqxidwUSiuQ5YuGZXxPiIENY5RSC-_IPEtCa_4EfHKCy1ZW5lp-LWECWP2o7uVsn_9E3u/s320/IMG_5222.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZN8_UGKicFpX8ZRd2WEEIZF3WLdXW9U1d8D0jBLAIW4qQs3Jz_w2uDMHCMAcIDsA9-Iofh-Wmak1ALrbKT7BbzqTPWXHjVnQmwlqxQBD7UQjA_Vxuzjs07RkhKT3JmSpbIsMZaVLE31a/s1600-h/IMG_5225.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230630067252995474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZN8_UGKicFpX8ZRd2WEEIZF3WLdXW9U1d8D0jBLAIW4qQs3Jz_w2uDMHCMAcIDsA9-Iofh-Wmak1ALrbKT7BbzqTPWXHjVnQmwlqxQBD7UQjA_Vxuzjs07RkhKT3JmSpbIsMZaVLE31a/s320/IMG_5225.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Chris gonging at the mountain<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt3TPcgt-aEW7VQSf931jZpNNdBnpKZZQduwaro40ccpBZFk0JIsDlcQ1Gdg5N4R349eD4YTNVxpRqcBOAFgsS5EJvCYVndF_-iaFDtL0dxqYwRag0BJMWppj7wttOOdtxLr0hpFb9EDM/s1600-h/IMG_5227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230632150726892370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt3TPcgt-aEW7VQSf931jZpNNdBnpKZZQduwaro40ccpBZFk0JIsDlcQ1Gdg5N4R349eD4YTNVxpRqcBOAFgsS5EJvCYVndF_-iaFDtL0dxqYwRag0BJMWppj7wttOOdtxLr0hpFb9EDM/s320/IMG_5227.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> The tiny statues up the mountain, used to pray for good luck for children and families<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlLH4d7belBxroQ_gpTbXGpam9ekrl4nxO0MeX3f4LwYUMSmLKgkuJYHYDfSkHy0LXdZYya8leIf0dhowIkxWTRyb2-dJ0wnIpTPidBjquefRQhEC7YIiSzFK0fjj-9iM2-YEUqjJcGvt/s1600-h/IMG_5230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230632166009829394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlLH4d7belBxroQ_gpTbXGpam9ekrl4nxO0MeX3f4LwYUMSmLKgkuJYHYDfSkHy0LXdZYya8leIf0dhowIkxWTRyb2-dJ0wnIpTPidBjquefRQhEC7YIiSzFK0fjj-9iM2-YEUqjJcGvt/s320/IMG_5230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaPl2v96G6iIzxBkIjs_eLvBFvIRkWbGCpVhuhxUF9j2ovJ2EFnAh8jFu11dBM17nBkaZdlq49vRLIoBUaQxiJiIZsfazNTxCKJ_lUoU8VgB6euIou4eac_va_NKsE2Z4Kd_xT5SIvxy1/s1600-h/IMG_5232.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230632169400781490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaPl2v96G6iIzxBkIjs_eLvBFvIRkWbGCpVhuhxUF9j2ovJ2EFnAh8jFu11dBM17nBkaZdlq49vRLIoBUaQxiJiIZsfazNTxCKJ_lUoU8VgB6euIou4eac_va_NKsE2Z4Kd_xT5SIvxy1/s320/IMG_5232.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRbMocM8mtIXCZi9CSXEIq8-_B0h0uErd4PXvTqDW-03WqGNGp4nL6HbXN5d1KmhWn0p-_CUfpKNgcS2HPoatj8pxi_iSpJuEg8d1BGnurORfUoRgLdQZNGh5qTefcJO3cmRsC77QouCl/s1600-h/IMG_5235.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230632178763853634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRbMocM8mtIXCZi9CSXEIq8-_B0h0uErd4PXvTqDW-03WqGNGp4nL6HbXN5d1KmhWn0p-_CUfpKNgcS2HPoatj8pxi_iSpJuEg8d1BGnurORfUoRgLdQZNGh5qTefcJO3cmRsC77QouCl/s320/IMG_5235.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn7zAocUh_QGhRjDAV554iuCo7iMXu0IxsvKkd_5BcYb_ImEN1n5c54TzMoBgUNIWpK2n2528RDdADZtBn77WpsH74uk5VxmiYQmh9pYgITspjXyO9AzpEFkqThObxOz4oW8wuCyhZwmq/s1600-h/IMG_5238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230632182126628626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn7zAocUh_QGhRjDAV554iuCo7iMXu0IxsvKkd_5BcYb_ImEN1n5c54TzMoBgUNIWpK2n2528RDdADZtBn77WpsH74uk5VxmiYQmh9pYgITspjXyO9AzpEFkqThObxOz4oW8wuCyhZwmq/s320/IMG_5238.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>view from the top!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKa1CHZUEjzRH2hTjjp71r9r7PvFqXx5YJdUpTTgj0RHqPWNERzNfhYsJYQQ74X9V5Tam5vcNIioqwTmuGvE6abV6jlOH4j9yLUknA2k3_EGXFwiniQYZ41uQAqTOnf5mvGaEeyN7n-MI/s1600-h/IMG_5240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230633219082708738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKa1CHZUEjzRH2hTjjp71r9r7PvFqXx5YJdUpTTgj0RHqPWNERzNfhYsJYQQ74X9V5Tam5vcNIioqwTmuGvE6abV6jlOH4j9yLUknA2k3_EGXFwiniQYZ41uQAqTOnf5mvGaEeyN7n-MI/s320/IMG_5240.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDvAj7JQ00tx_Fj4qx2BGT4aEkpG2rj7RMLkAH6LhwXqX5EFBvzvCJUHAmREowhXAVx0cNMVZv272uRz5lyuBNRRW3vff5NHuetPKN710juKCEuSxft7VYmviJtv9rNcuGzvQ_llW_Gf0/s1600-h/IMG_5242.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230633230294330978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDvAj7JQ00tx_Fj4qx2BGT4aEkpG2rj7RMLkAH6LhwXqX5EFBvzvCJUHAmREowhXAVx0cNMVZv272uRz5lyuBNRRW3vff5NHuetPKN710juKCEuSxft7VYmviJtv9rNcuGzvQ_llW_Gf0/s320/IMG_5242.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjGUC5K4h-xJT_IB4mJBhkruC0e2R9PW_KYkotvJa28z1nsycSVkT1P_WslN5_qGA6SPUqsXBKYpBpQwzimp9F8vqq2k1KdVmV_wUdL0tJU0Y6I5XflQzPTFP2B6KD6izLugHE2uSoIUv/s1600-h/IMG_5243.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230633234004681298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjGUC5K4h-xJT_IB4mJBhkruC0e2R9PW_KYkotvJa28z1nsycSVkT1P_WslN5_qGA6SPUqsXBKYpBpQwzimp9F8vqq2k1KdVmV_wUdL0tJU0Y6I5XflQzPTFP2B6KD6izLugHE2uSoIUv/s320/IMG_5243.JPG" border="0" /></a> at the beach...</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCDvglQ__5WY9vq0fUDF-jiXW7JexictUlwXEWuUWdIgPgE8BDhJWkmfmuaZf7TCIG5IzeVX7XIOmL7CZjM66-T3xWbRSDSqPcY9_5w9wiUWjj2ZgsOoAq8EGtDeXhaQXy0VA815FNTN3/s1600-h/IMG_5249.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230633241178553874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCDvglQ__5WY9vq0fUDF-jiXW7JexictUlwXEWuUWdIgPgE8BDhJWkmfmuaZf7TCIG5IzeVX7XIOmL7CZjM66-T3xWbRSDSqPcY9_5w9wiUWjj2ZgsOoAq8EGtDeXhaQXy0VA815FNTN3/s320/IMG_5249.JPG" border="0" /></a> honjo hanabi!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNy0c1L5xRmAbHOuSrupTg5GwrdEtOTOpTMZcF2PD3T3YCxQq8CZwntmn7ajf0sJEH0tFK0PNACqiDRfd_laV5Vk2i1fJS9yMvN88EAf6SvylRpC5_C7MdVa5JmdDtEvClAceOmd27HQbs/s1600-h/IMG_5252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230633252795946098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNy0c1L5xRmAbHOuSrupTg5GwrdEtOTOpTMZcF2PD3T3YCxQq8CZwntmn7ajf0sJEH0tFK0PNACqiDRfd_laV5Vk2i1fJS9yMvN88EAf6SvylRpC5_C7MdVa5JmdDtEvClAceOmd27HQbs/s320/IMG_5252.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><br /></p><br />Sunday was once again Kanto time! Despite the drizzle I thoroughly enjoyed watching the men perilously balance the giant lattices of lanterns on their hips, foreheads, etc, while twirling umbrellas, fans, etc. for our entertainment. We were lucky to have some young kanto-balancer apprentices by us at the end of the night's festivities. They were so cute I could totally forgive them for dropping their mini-lantern lattice on my shoulder (thank god our umbrellas were protecting our heads!). Chris filled me on the symbolic meaning of kanto - the lattices represent the rice, with the lanterns as seed pods. They are hoping for hefty harvests with the top heavy stalks. An epic weekend indeed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ92v_b7SPNuq0mG_I3C3qwHBuMyz-v8TGJr3nRK2nTUFQWGhX5CxodWiURoXehGXcStgTaQmr5gUCJeSZ61VT5sgnjvEw3-Ntt_hWDK1UgkCCze2AKVLnNaUBuF2omKHm6hdXDbqhav61/s1600-h/IMG_5266.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230636186504525522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ92v_b7SPNuq0mG_I3C3qwHBuMyz-v8TGJr3nRK2nTUFQWGhX5CxodWiURoXehGXcStgTaQmr5gUCJeSZ61VT5sgnjvEw3-Ntt_hWDK1UgkCCze2AKVLnNaUBuF2omKHm6hdXDbqhav61/s320/IMG_5266.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdQraLa1EQjJvGsTh3r0mhDJ9hn-Ye0hr9xpZKt3nmwLpLF1Sw4TbVk6insf5L1-ZZ7D7RxEFbyIkqPLs6QfUysVKBIq6RZPzPnKjv0SEhQhJ8fIrdQF81H60Gy2fzBDNORczxELdf47Y/s1600-h/IMG_5273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230636194589725874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdQraLa1EQjJvGsTh3r0mhDJ9hn-Ye0hr9xpZKt3nmwLpLF1Sw4TbVk6insf5L1-ZZ7D7RxEFbyIkqPLs6QfUysVKBIq6RZPzPnKjv0SEhQhJ8fIrdQF81H60Gy2fzBDNORczxELdf47Y/s320/IMG_5273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqVC3sV7QhgBFMzYeqEzR9UZlRgAhvkLrmSxPRjdohYr3h0e7Llq7CAODnNJnKE_mVYtE_Cm-BIdTMOaoXjsPK7RpslW8bmHd08BanPwUiiRzwAkfODEcTwLJEFaAru-dj_9YPBC1-SD1/s1600-h/IMG_5279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230636200517162050" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6kP1Lush25COOe_Sv011hNv8Ou6O8glxmTZyGrbHd1fw98Q5FOTUmLIp_qLKw8olMAkW9R4Ny6UMSy5Sb-lzBshRvX7yb917SoAUc_AENOECnXoItxH76NIBX_VEHDtjubEWM0edFqLy/s320/IMG_5349.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseTvNxzwCT89T_MypR2G8TgmMVBlH4kPsNykAs4IY4PDEOfSRATXK5eBKBe69I6TU35az-WzYJrQGAQmilQ20oy9kV3Mn9SKBuYKG0GeT3fF_TM3nWHF6SSmKHuEM_VSkH0ilmr8kh3wn/s1600-h/IMG_5350.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230642350404549266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseTvNxzwCT89T_MypR2G8TgmMVBlH4kPsNykAs4IY4PDEOfSRATXK5eBKBe69I6TU35az-WzYJrQGAQmilQ20oy9kV3Mn9SKBuYKG0GeT3fF_TM3nWHF6SSmKHuEM_VSkH0ilmr8kh3wn/s320/IMG_5350.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Jez making friends with the apprentices<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW5EN4r4564gBTN5VSXJb5BaU0unIX5zqd_AjpmlRAWYXjNW-AuR_fsa5mtZuihlDR42BzncfD60ADQlGeqQSSsURqB7favB6iFIE1-YyxFqTBqUCjwwlQQEGu0g_4r-PapZ6d5z-10vc/s1600-h/IMG_5353.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230642367695342450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW5EN4r4564gBTN5VSXJb5BaU0unIX5zqd_AjpmlRAWYXjNW-AuR_fsa5mtZuihlDR42BzncfD60ADQlGeqQSSsURqB7favB6iFIE1-YyxFqTBqUCjwwlQQEGu0g_4r-PapZ6d5z-10vc/s320/IMG_5353.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-33578610707793448472008-07-30T14:17:00.005+09:002008-07-30T16:41:51.959+09:00sorry, momI've been quite busy since coming back from my trip home and haven't had too much time to post things. Despite school being out (though I still have to "work", as it were) several things have been keeping me busy - amongst them: trying to get a japanese driver's license (this process is pretty much eating away at my soul, hopefully it will finish successfully soon), buying a new car (a hott black Nissan Cube), taking over the Akita JETs' pet charity, now a partnership with <a href="http://www.roomtoread.org/">Room to Read</a>, and making it national for JETs throughout the country, saying goodbye to friends (Edel left on Sunday :( and hello to new ones (the first of our two new Honjo people arrives today!), converting my students` musings (example: "What put in question is not understood only from it") into meaningful English for an upcoming speech contest and, oh so happily, rowing again! This year the existing town government team has integrated us much more readily, Amelie and I are rowing with 3 Japanese girls for our "Ladies" team, and I've also been helping to coach the gaikokujin "Guys" team. With so much more practice time as compared with last year, I predict success! And of course most of my spare time in this sticky weather is spent floating in my new floaty tube at the beach. In the words of the next friend I have to say goodbye to, "Buoyancy is my favorite human attribute!" No new pictures right now but I am sure to have some great ones after this weekend, which will include a traditional dance festival, fireworks, and Akita's Kanto festival, all in my new yukata!sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-70283626457486110562008-07-16T19:46:00.006+09:002008-07-17T11:33:23.806+09:00kameda festival<div align="center">A town to the north of Honjo, Kameda, just had a lovely festival on Sunday, featuring the town's children in various traditional costumes dancing down the streets.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV843AVgZzU7_JJPK0OwjMleRxiHh5-GwiVQ_ZtDsoItqvc30IPhMdGKbhHX8WGN4PWxBfU53KUOZnjrF0BaxiqoTdlVLQyxekVeqPkh-eqBU6FGXnkEeLgHdLPv2oeT8YkArLH3r_HIE/s1600-h/IMG_5039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223761479072815058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV843AVgZzU7_JJPK0OwjMleRxiHh5-GwiVQ_ZtDsoItqvc30IPhMdGKbhHX8WGN4PWxBfU53KUOZnjrF0BaxiqoTdlVLQyxekVeqPkh-eqBU6FGXnkEeLgHdLPv2oeT8YkArLH3r_HIE/s320/IMG_5039.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a>Stopping for a seaside Lawson's break on our way there</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4y4O4NflQcsFfTALOsHVmv6CLIOPW6gkrOgwEIu6ExOkIFTYMQPk44guQy75ZTnZnCtDMdD-118RUqKnQ_t952N1W_caslx6Kq6jfMCANGjVjx5_KALnmm0D6-oThbqUQBmVqTI_dLFK/s1600-h/IMG_5048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223565726920133906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4y4O4NflQcsFfTALOsHVmv6CLIOPW6gkrOgwEIu6ExOkIFTYMQPk44guQy75ZTnZnCtDMdD-118RUqKnQ_t952N1W_caslx6Kq6jfMCANGjVjx5_KALnmm0D6-oThbqUQBmVqTI_dLFK/s320/IMG_5048.JPG" border="0" /></a>the dances involved a lot of standing on one foot </p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93lqzdc-9_X6TZyQfK7R3aZlffahUiUdxJefsJp1GzPRYzas2V3zBb3YuyjrlL0UpkqKF8AtFlodqRWh7dJl2_Kuz3gi4Zz_Zi1TaNbn-wYmjGYiPRrO4RnozFJy_AxLEYjEE0_7lwk0R/s1600-h/IMG_5050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223762359256070450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93lqzdc-9_X6TZyQfK7R3aZlffahUiUdxJefsJp1GzPRYzas2V3zBb3YuyjrlL0UpkqKF8AtFlodqRWh7dJl2_Kuz3gi4Zz_Zi1TaNbn-wYmjGYiPRrO4RnozFJy_AxLEYjEE0_7lwk0R/s320/IMG_5050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQxeuHCof5TFK8gircv9CeQ17r4OBw6Igduke0csQYGOXZs2M7w2lK1X7_28bAX7lbS5RpeblfmgjTegW_lVEMufvNNCRrT-ZEHXtXa-KEZug6Ml7jVGNBZFuYPK9vbUyW0DItk1Gpnk9/s1600-h/IMG_5052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223565743624445346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQxeuHCof5TFK8gircv9CeQ17r4OBw6Igduke0csQYGOXZs2M7w2lK1X7_28bAX7lbS5RpeblfmgjTegW_lVEMufvNNCRrT-ZEHXtXa-KEZug6Ml7jVGNBZFuYPK9vbUyW0DItk1Gpnk9/s320/IMG_5052.JPG" border="0" /></a> little komachi girls!</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZWqqIyeds2EXW5dy5J3BF0Q2yjZylNTpNeAvQBCQKfwnvWX3eOmJA0jOvHbscWUDoj5x05Vavh_L_zagr3iZib26SitXk7KZOtDKBbF7EXZb5JhzVN_rmT3fpYuGZ98zAhxFv7hF68pV/s1600-h/IMG_5055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223565761636910882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZWqqIyeds2EXW5dy5J3BF0Q2yjZylNTpNeAvQBCQKfwnvWX3eOmJA0jOvHbscWUDoj5x05Vavh_L_zagr3iZib26SitXk7KZOtDKBbF7EXZb5JhzVN_rmT3fpYuGZ98zAhxFv7hF68pV/s320/IMG_5055.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qYu5NsdbQA5nsD48gqDgSbUEVHz3NBTA-jRjHmjbD9VwtPs8U2yeJ344A7nK5CA6BiuE2UoVofU7L-2GR4rCg6lIAjTf-4_ypw4fWzp13tHRYUdFUvDPNP4JvvP0E6Z2msxeigN_qFDx/s1600-h/IMG_5063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223567920078572066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qYu5NsdbQA5nsD48gqDgSbUEVHz3NBTA-jRjHmjbD9VwtPs8U2yeJ344A7nK5CA6BiuE2UoVofU7L-2GR4rCg6lIAjTf-4_ypw4fWzp13tHRYUdFUvDPNP4JvvP0E6Z2msxeigN_qFDx/s320/IMG_5063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7aWguABbUUQBx3YIPnMahGqPGKYCfCsmpfuwzwcWxPPuf2ZFpwJl_Q1K5aX4O0YSxHAy5aCk5zie6gONBZsnSdyv9mspjFOMIh1MMyr98kwPffqDbxeeISf3A5MHDfk6TbVliXlfDv6t/s1600-h/IMG_5066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223567929776486578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7aWguABbUUQBx3YIPnMahGqPGKYCfCsmpfuwzwcWxPPuf2ZFpwJl_Q1K5aX4O0YSxHAy5aCk5zie6gONBZsnSdyv9mspjFOMIh1MMyr98kwPffqDbxeeISf3A5MHDfk6TbVliXlfDv6t/s320/IMG_5066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eEDpHW507xjD3_tyC6OnLFyJoXgemRi4F9uXaxaoqGlbiATF-KW_WOWg75DdSu4O_e1r8FtptoH7B_11yOW2d8dWZzEKQ9GlQoKZw7_wONCltDdpGmVGsLRnPIPwZ1Q9-_Y1N5knNeRT/s1600-h/IMG_5068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223567934026579490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eEDpHW507xjD3_tyC6OnLFyJoXgemRi4F9uXaxaoqGlbiATF-KW_WOWg75DdSu4O_e1r8FtptoH7B_11yOW2d8dWZzEKQ9GlQoKZw7_wONCltDdpGmVGsLRnPIPwZ1Q9-_Y1N5knNeRT/s320/IMG_5068.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4xOeGNxogYX-1qZPCgtFyJIDVv7AXvAnlbCWIKpHgoiFGTJfeZGsKfn0wuhMepiL3y6Vapo2TnInNEzCBPFhwVM6o65p8tG3_Mac1BYiDA4rcY7EF9u3eJnvY8noDLcdEzHVjbFnppYX/s1600-h/IMG_5073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223567941989706562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4xOeGNxogYX-1qZPCgtFyJIDVv7AXvAnlbCWIKpHgoiFGTJfeZGsKfn0wuhMepiL3y6Vapo2TnInNEzCBPFhwVM6o65p8tG3_Mac1BYiDA4rcY7EF9u3eJnvY8noDLcdEzHVjbFnppYX/s320/IMG_5073.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Edel in her lovely yukata outside the kameda castle</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FOugK_260WtqJHJXzyfiz5kolE5d7oHzDHNp5JUvHO6YAYD3xcQEjMP9KdWS6XnwAHXXSdGoRA2T0zzvFhX-fpI-0Vi9lLxuVYgguhRZudpEs334VzkamSq8e5kemo9JOaBLzyybFZrN/s1600-h/IMG_5074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223567946537133234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FOugK_260WtqJHJXzyfiz5kolE5d7oHzDHNp5JUvHO6YAYD3xcQEjMP9KdWS6XnwAHXXSdGoRA2T0zzvFhX-fpI-0Vi9lLxuVYgguhRZudpEs334VzkamSq8e5kemo9JOaBLzyybFZrN/s320/IMG_5074.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>at the top of the castle, overlooking Kameda<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjintmjAC2YHA4Ouy7Cmxxpv2Ht_bs2T-qDPlwiPMp_liNJSiQ5vu_Rytb7zISOUKj9NBmPhl6Kz4eqNRwF_X6P8jCKXHj06TjTB8hCP1titDq_PpR1QusBXykMfiksLoNLl1UZIO_mj3N9/s1600-h/IMG_5077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223570740676643442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjintmjAC2YHA4Ouy7Cmxxpv2Ht_bs2T-qDPlwiPMp_liNJSiQ5vu_Rytb7zISOUKj9NBmPhl6Kz4eqNRwF_X6P8jCKXHj06TjTB8hCP1titDq_PpR1QusBXykMfiksLoNLl1UZIO_mj3N9/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSDwDq2LhHibAJKZxj-MD7PV6WjEB_SlR6ed98ozNm-KgnjZGqABmURaTzMEPHiqcw3GZxGszO2SGTdZvAmklmYY4HbPyVeZjmfUV1GWCrXmzLW89fDWmuCp6VPzUoC6M76cV7UNyXXcT/s1600-h/IMG_5078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223570751281464418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSDwDq2LhHibAJKZxj-MD7PV6WjEB_SlR6ed98ozNm-KgnjZGqABmURaTzMEPHiqcw3GZxGszO2SGTdZvAmklmYY4HbPyVeZjmfUV1GWCrXmzLW89fDWmuCp6VPzUoC6M76cV7UNyXXcT/s320/IMG_5078.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWY_pXqWl8BP4vLT9ERqn_SooN1gQFeio9yp8CAzBUbPDirha9Yg6usCgugYp9dCuYkDbB4pWZbKv5Kfo7eozpuitEqqRdypyybKbhJWiVAfVHg7gtGgBCHHjoCI4bBNET0_7PjNIxTeW/s1600-h/IMG_5080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223570758733596050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWY_pXqWl8BP4vLT9ERqn_SooN1gQFeio9yp8CAzBUbPDirha9Yg6usCgugYp9dCuYkDbB4pWZbKv5Kfo7eozpuitEqqRdypyybKbhJWiVAfVHg7gtGgBCHHjoCI4bBNET0_7PjNIxTeW/s320/IMG_5080.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>a scary and strange float. You can see the Yurihonjo (my conglomerated city) symbol- a lily (for <em>yuri</em>) on the backs of these guys' jackets<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIQKZnCilHuV75qncOkartr7mgXALf-8E0OEGQX5BbNbgzSxVL-SHss1Am_SZYEl8xAxclxjKycz2u4pwH-VuiYAPm5apX0pt6gNQ6sAyzAC4oggn5V0gJl99-3m3mTLSmLjHhe8uWBVG/s1600-h/IMG_5083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223570767246535490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIQKZnCilHuV75qncOkartr7mgXALf-8E0OEGQX5BbNbgzSxVL-SHss1Am_SZYEl8xAxclxjKycz2u4pwH-VuiYAPm5apX0pt6gNQ6sAyzAC4oggn5V0gJl99-3m3mTLSmLjHhe8uWBVG/s320/IMG_5083.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>These dancing ladies were from another prefecture called Fukushima<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2b83DPew115QUoNvNVJi32tybXf9als9zwdIVwxc_HTjcpOQ_rntrg5kOoFqGKqO4TQTIAvbQEIaxUwpXcehpbecPNuFHrcnXJFd-trMIKF7lIkew3ZgJuZbXjwXvDmhcdTc_6XN8N-d/s1600-h/IMG_5093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223570773484869394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2b83DPew115QUoNvNVJi32tybXf9als9zwdIVwxc_HTjcpOQ_rntrg5kOoFqGKqO4TQTIAvbQEIaxUwpXcehpbecPNuFHrcnXJFd-trMIKF7lIkew3ZgJuZbXjwXvDmhcdTc_6XN8N-d/s320/IMG_5093.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>I think these guys were my favorite - the mustacioed chimney sweeps<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ptxDWwPns_gpFpy1AwhIlFKi2JMdF2f7EjmF9veTvOtXzmwRRPDhlwO_FoH-wCviaBqZYwkGYML7YmYHrQFubD2nGiT5URcsmdKgPpLCzeQVxbPamb_BZPrkgU3rl4sSy_9RYC9T0nQO/s1600-h/IMG_5100.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223571754182275426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ptxDWwPns_gpFpy1AwhIlFKi2JMdF2f7EjmF9veTvOtXzmwRRPDhlwO_FoH-wCviaBqZYwkGYML7YmYHrQFubD2nGiT5URcsmdKgPpLCzeQVxbPamb_BZPrkgU3rl4sSy_9RYC9T0nQO/s320/IMG_5100.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXrRqme5GNdltSob_y5NNUeSFrBuege7gKTQKRE7Sj2OKQpf-ZIcgGZ8Vpia_HY58-Aoi6zJtpmR4D3SmHNueEYO68x_awgv6gbz6_hbWYJGK06EgJigJWika732joKIgCbd53a15TBZY/s1600-h/IMG_5104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223571757204979826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXrRqme5GNdltSob_y5NNUeSFrBuege7gKTQKRE7Sj2OKQpf-ZIcgGZ8Vpia_HY58-Aoi6zJtpmR4D3SmHNueEYO68x_awgv6gbz6_hbWYJGK06EgJigJWika732joKIgCbd53a15TBZY/s320/IMG_5104.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Kameda castle</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEo7XKrZrTusLe0raXghV3kPKQROCG8XQalOlWOOYO_CdlH4E_mIwGpPkqNBYgdsU855iHEbg8vA8XyS0Aovydx4M3szgcpjnIo3p-C2b2v-eOUNgFhGbIOlttnvNLRPQxlwI3iFmghSR/s1600-h/IMG_5031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223571765190262194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEo7XKrZrTusLe0raXghV3kPKQROCG8XQalOlWOOYO_CdlH4E_mIwGpPkqNBYgdsU855iHEbg8vA8XyS0Aovydx4M3szgcpjnIo3p-C2b2v-eOUNgFhGbIOlttnvNLRPQxlwI3iFmghSR/s320/IMG_5031.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>These are actually from the day before, a trip to Nishime beach, where a Chinese rooster balloon was found and subsequently abandoned<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc1qjyRhmorJnqK_WpUgaX3pd5hUaApAeONK9Kyirh6UlOMo-l4N0S0PFR2Pku7_9AnuOWxq-IDBuYtsOvFBnSR75_P-Z4BlC68Pby69QT6tF6GJbcQWCWYNdZjnvR-_ZrrBy3FI96huF/s1600-h/IMG_5033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223571773364910498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc1qjyRhmorJnqK_WpUgaX3pd5hUaApAeONK9Kyirh6UlOMo-l4N0S0PFR2Pku7_9AnuOWxq-IDBuYtsOvFBnSR75_P-Z4BlC68Pby69QT6tF6GJbcQWCWYNdZjnvR-_ZrrBy3FI96huF/s320/IMG_5033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwFnCfimJb7XCkTDPJ7SggCmdTwN0oldhgz4psHEmPqRGepTxOpXH-d6AuxG0kM9Fnlj08pMgnfaqPeUzO7OiRnzU3kB6OeptJexsgxVXo3OVI8Ze1hM2iDbS05lb7DBvEf2zY0o_W0gc/s1600-h/IMG_5035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223571788854943410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwFnCfimJb7XCkTDPJ7SggCmdTwN0oldhgz4psHEmPqRGepTxOpXH-d6AuxG0kM9Fnlj08pMgnfaqPeUzO7OiRnzU3kB6OeptJexsgxVXo3OVI8Ze1hM2iDbS05lb7DBvEf2zY0o_W0gc/s320/IMG_5035.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Fields of flowing lavender at Herb World, where they also have delicious lavender soft-serve ice cream!<br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-79608535915602210152008-07-15T14:35:00.006+09:002008-07-15T22:38:25.340+09:00my trip homeI was so happy to go home, even if for only a short time, to see my family and friends this summer. I had a great time in New York and Cape Cod, with plenty of activities jam-packed into just a little over a week. I am trying to avoid making this sound like the presentation I gave on the trip to my 1st and 2nd graders when I returned, but it may be unavoidable, as I did it 4 times today. Anyway, in New York I got to see friends and my sister, and it turned out to be a very culinary trip, as I was desperate to eat my fill of non-Japanese food. The 4th was spent in Cape Cod, celebrating with lobster and fireworks on the beach. It was great to see a production of La Cage Aux Folles while I was there, one of the things I really miss here in Japan is a variety of entertainment options, particularly nighttime ones, and I was reminded of this when I probably spent almost an hour debating what to do one night in nyc with my friends, the possibilities being more or less endless. A lot of people asked how it was to be home, how I felt and the answer became "It's weird because it's not weird". I think because I left in the summer, spending the time right before I left doing things very similar to what I did on this trip, it felt like no time had passed at all, like I had just entered some kind of time warp and was right back in last summer. And I was glad it was easy to say goodbye to friends because a few are coming to visit in September. So soon!<br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSFN36P6pMtPfc70d_vcTD9V1aEYmp_8OEBmu7CSSvzboh_RewCifj3byBSnFbisn2OImsgybrEf7BtDploYFh9LFymdaRekffQkRDEUMsiaZI9uCKAUzexWwtfXBpNDc26bP-SjC4del/s1600-h/IMG_4952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223217323860136738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSFN36P6pMtPfc70d_vcTD9V1aEYmp_8OEBmu7CSSvzboh_RewCifj3byBSnFbisn2OImsgybrEf7BtDploYFh9LFymdaRekffQkRDEUMsiaZI9uCKAUzexWwtfXBpNDc26bP-SjC4del/s320/IMG_4952.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Noura and Mr. Franklin</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOBvYQL3eiKeL7nY_sduXpu7EyvYMpM1SY_BYUfQ0dQvqm7vIaPBn2sYBYkhFqyQfzSdMulRPNOD04ceTTDwRuozlMNHQJnAMP465ZIfE1P_1ibwgH1GOhQFRdjOQs9mtmiYsXy7aAUB2/s1600-h/IMG_4955.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223217330892628034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOBvYQL3eiKeL7nY_sduXpu7EyvYMpM1SY_BYUfQ0dQvqm7vIaPBn2sYBYkhFqyQfzSdMulRPNOD04ceTTDwRuozlMNHQJnAMP465ZIfE1P_1ibwgH1GOhQFRdjOQs9mtmiYsXy7aAUB2/s320/IMG_4955.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gina's apt</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ygMdllD9P3nzUhe5LfftYATt55c5NWUsYNPkJ1hS5XviT_PtgiEQiFr6_HMr7WReEyii4am3TOwtMBAafHVmW9SIMV1PNr9HnLbHGgqgc5powxTgUYIaJklP6d399s68pTWHPYzyRWVv/s1600-h/IMG_4959.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223217349938061442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ygMdllD9P3nzUhe5LfftYATt55c5NWUsYNPkJ1hS5XviT_PtgiEQiFr6_HMr7WReEyii4am3TOwtMBAafHVmW9SIMV1PNr9HnLbHGgqgc5powxTgUYIaJklP6d399s68pTWHPYzyRWVv/s320/IMG_4959.JPG" border="0" /></a> The new New Museum, around the corner from our old Stanton st. apt, and next door to the infamous sunshine hotel<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib_GUmTpLDhI5tY2b37H4jYpKNJM7vvfb3ZfxLV9nIWSpvQ6LSRyoxx0twpJoAu4IhIsb3uR-kJli0i2AU9XkXLyYZskjLsDMhdsGx7KrooxTdADAPfgovkb4mhN-mqsZ_zudxadYfSAf/s1600-h/IMG_4968.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-7G-K7eozsbSF8wJDpK0hKw26rduewtA9VcflkzRSade_bJoXdTRjuL35gJt_eFKE1g9DFVp5nAZ2hzyXzit4OtnKBs4LFfjsSN0Us8rM45IYVvUAiFXUXu_aQzRfVjpJHBPF3uGswdN/s1600-h/IMG_4969.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223217363185075394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-7G-K7eozsbSF8wJDpK0hKw26rduewtA9VcflkzRSade_bJoXdTRjuL35gJt_eFKE1g9DFVp5nAZ2hzyXzit4OtnKBs4LFfjsSN0Us8rM45IYVvUAiFXUXu_aQzRfVjpJHBPF3uGswdN/s320/IMG_4969.JPG" border="0" /></a> at bocce<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIxRhhafdpCGTB4CopmtcLp783p29-J-BQMhDjeOZ8p4K6IgedgtMna87o5X4QU7RZbt-Q6OqDk-wixHRBUPQWsfJMTU9LwsKhECklTCv_sVSZFmdKv9Y554ZLfLy9FSuBidFxM6i4SL1/s1600-h/IMG_4970.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223218345691626562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIxRhhafdpCGTB4CopmtcLp783p29-J-BQMhDjeOZ8p4K6IgedgtMna87o5X4QU7RZbt-Q6OqDk-wixHRBUPQWsfJMTU9LwsKhECklTCv_sVSZFmdKv9Y554ZLfLy9FSuBidFxM6i4SL1/s320/IMG_4970.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNqjdn2eiQFVJYFJ0GCo9c9cbqjKCHBdGBD_OHDqn8VYCV6PjCKplazqioMsk_9LyabVFJTha2SGKGxsFXlBJL_9KgXLAyYRFtpMJl0IZNgFgu8vM1xdgzHW-smpHugYocADMVAlZ3ds1/s1600-h/IMG_4973.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223218360742145778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNqjdn2eiQFVJYFJ0GCo9c9cbqjKCHBdGBD_OHDqn8VYCV6PjCKplazqioMsk_9LyabVFJTha2SGKGxsFXlBJL_9KgXLAyYRFtpMJl0IZNgFgu8vM1xdgzHW-smpHugYocADMVAlZ3ds1/s320/IMG_4973.JPG" border="0" /></a> my beloved gowanus canal</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fcXn8vhGXafwyBb8MnqzwTXTQnpmOZxUpNYdJi_9pMVTs0LpARVY4obCE3qpRSG0lo-Wqc-795AQiCpz_e9s42pU_5DzVF88wJroOQMfRlfdnZM2UOGHtnR5Rw3vTHZjrYV6DMmzE200/s1600-h/IMG_4977.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223218362874158002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fcXn8vhGXafwyBb8MnqzwTXTQnpmOZxUpNYdJi_9pMVTs0LpARVY4obCE3qpRSG0lo-Wqc-795AQiCpz_e9s42pU_5DzVF88wJroOQMfRlfdnZM2UOGHtnR5Rw3vTHZjrYV6DMmzE200/s320/IMG_4977.JPG" border="0" /></a> the lovely smith and 9</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCrYRdPuxoHaySaLIQdZeXqk1TvTZqTbYw8igwiGfaG3Ee3xleA2Xeeu4apFeBP4SGq9pjv8BdAoLnq-Ydn9KofyKtEfowtRMOQ4mk4a7x9AaazRAGw1eYrf_8DIk-GR0vmEHfjo1Mr_s/s1600-h/IMG_4980.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223218371487567906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCrYRdPuxoHaySaLIQdZeXqk1TvTZqTbYw8igwiGfaG3Ee3xleA2Xeeu4apFeBP4SGq9pjv8BdAoLnq-Ydn9KofyKtEfowtRMOQ4mk4a7x9AaazRAGw1eYrf_8DIk-GR0vmEHfjo1Mr_s/s320/IMG_4980.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">what else could you want besides ice coffee, a stoop, and these 3?<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx1VlNW2UxSrRmUU5LuIeXPGut1tRPhZUVORw7-GCT7bPKLFis7TQAyYjR6te6gIWbfIXufmtoBq5dn0yeBoMeDuUUlVxsKyuOKHKBlo3HBhF-iZeshWcrx2rlcyUa_6oSLnCzjdHPixz/s1600-h/IMG_4983.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223218383077973378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx1VlNW2UxSrRmUU5LuIeXPGut1tRPhZUVORw7-GCT7bPKLFis7TQAyYjR6te6gIWbfIXufmtoBq5dn0yeBoMeDuUUlVxsKyuOKHKBlo3HBhF-iZeshWcrx2rlcyUa_6oSLnCzjdHPixz/s320/IMG_4983.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Some baby birds in my parents' backyard. The kids really liked this pic.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7oFMmJp7bd_TlD6eMvhU2ODvcfCXYDIU4SRLzJQU6e3XUlMmiqTpdoS1yzrE9qBJQUzXc1GBweL0f1S9POwEgBwClDu0ZU-UYFyTDq9cCCcRwjC_EiW8pEyC208814FBQINuINjJrCP5/s1600-h/IMG_4984.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223219133364003842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7oFMmJp7bd_TlD6eMvhU2ODvcfCXYDIU4SRLzJQU6e3XUlMmiqTpdoS1yzrE9qBJQUzXc1GBweL0f1S9POwEgBwClDu0ZU-UYFyTDq9cCCcRwjC_EiW8pEyC208814FBQINuINjJrCP5/s320/IMG_4984.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Lobster on the 4th of July<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvyGs5MJnzaGNjm3ojLBpdPZijUe3ugAHQV2PVfTCescEdj8_AwFgtAxOuRnEN7WlTNqNqPnJgdX9xSvqzxQQq8M3ATmoDo7ARALqDImNKRCv2MRTIp9O1s1KVdEabYXeI81yHgenjUu-/s1600-h/IMG_4986.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223219142004135282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvyGs5MJnzaGNjm3ojLBpdPZijUe3ugAHQV2PVfTCescEdj8_AwFgtAxOuRnEN7WlTNqNqPnJgdX9xSvqzxQQq8M3ATmoDo7ARALqDImNKRCv2MRTIp9O1s1KVdEabYXeI81yHgenjUu-/s320/IMG_4986.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Jackie, me and Gina<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANbjk_BQ9osVakEfxHgcnD_Mnjlj5yeO6alo42Rz5jpf-DxXH-s9OSruNJG8WRsbtHd95KfsBh4LUVeXJxNDLO8p-umThIfJP4Fys__sz409o3RsSnoZxGxbTED5PRVnMwpQZkhq0-foS/s1600-h/IMG_4988.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223219154642301650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANbjk_BQ9osVakEfxHgcnD_Mnjlj5yeO6alo42Rz5jpf-DxXH-s9OSruNJG8WRsbtHd95KfsBh4LUVeXJxNDLO8p-umThIfJP4Fys__sz409o3RsSnoZxGxbTED5PRVnMwpQZkhq0-foS/s320/IMG_4988.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Beach fireworks!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgt8Vtibe_YZKJFzYm7NSrAl65RjJq22Twer6DCbdvRSvDYnDMeDPeQJYurRQK0WzXX8ZtQWRwFN19Z2B7OOMsFoFetcSpL_0Iao8fsOo6KUyo0YGscovNUIWvQiG_SW4X3_JlvAVStCX/s1600-h/IMG_4996.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223219156718596514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgt8Vtibe_YZKJFzYm7NSrAl65RjJq22Twer6DCbdvRSvDYnDMeDPeQJYurRQK0WzXX8ZtQWRwFN19Z2B7OOMsFoFetcSpL_0Iao8fsOo6KUyo0YGscovNUIWvQiG_SW4X3_JlvAVStCX/s320/IMG_4996.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJWqv0VQTJ8aHhdC8TPYFVMEbg2r4YufaS86tSZCYPbW9bqKjK2xVxrOWESqQjjLFDF_m2HskkU4dSuz2gEbOvgJ3SXLw_xenDY46jDVYC7xF4pjC0wde-emQTuz4nq9NHvYFjT01h36b/s1600-h/IMG_5004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223219164701913666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJWqv0VQTJ8aHhdC8TPYFVMEbg2r4YufaS86tSZCYPbW9bqKjK2xVxrOWESqQjjLFDF_m2HskkU4dSuz2gEbOvgJ3SXLw_xenDY46jDVYC7xF4pjC0wde-emQTuz4nq9NHvYFjT01h36b/s320/IMG_5004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryQ60mw77fRbqx0EP77VLfYQEnJM-WLr8xEyzJpNEf2FIbBdBOzwRCtgm69ZQeulwizAwghjDsavt3RzUMl2eS9LLVr7rN6Q9nXdaKVb_656UrhcrLgj4ZcGSunIf1KtiGgShzd-sa34U/s1600-h/IMG_5008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223220221907546386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryQ60mw77fRbqx0EP77VLfYQEnJM-WLr8xEyzJpNEf2FIbBdBOzwRCtgm69ZQeulwizAwghjDsavt3RzUMl2eS9LLVr7rN6Q9nXdaKVb_656UrhcrLgj4ZcGSunIf1KtiGgShzd-sa34U/s320/IMG_5008.JPG" border="0" /></a> looking good, flatiron!</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNrTUgwT9HOB5NrK-ZklUdjwgii2eMZv7zQ3xo1erPrcu5G8otiTY-g1ywEGzKyvJX0_hnHaGCywiH-KckXfRlggtiRhtW98PltlmqAgFIq9LBSDVN9EYtJkbCyfMzDh-QZnPCiMt4x0i/s1600-h/IMG_5016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223220232027913826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNrTUgwT9HOB5NrK-ZklUdjwgii2eMZv7zQ3xo1erPrcu5G8otiTY-g1ywEGzKyvJX0_hnHaGCywiH-KckXfRlggtiRhtW98PltlmqAgFIq9LBSDVN9EYtJkbCyfMzDh-QZnPCiMt4x0i/s320/IMG_5016.JPG" border="0" /></a> pre-shake shack-induced coma in madison square park</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZg-GXnFFerFNxDS39Yy61ni3sDylszQAZBpoAt9JOuPzwWBO86XVjBDby49M_0Pis6vAtpbJ0W3ZmAV-5-mMOFeZT9y1AN6y6J3O3i736ckbsPKgN5NUPmDnsKrS_sFMGcNPgoGBFe8k/s1600-h/IMG_5026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223220242971669266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZg-GXnFFerFNxDS39Yy61ni3sDylszQAZBpoAt9JOuPzwWBO86XVjBDby49M_0Pis6vAtpbJ0W3ZmAV-5-mMOFeZT9y1AN6y6J3O3i736ckbsPKgN5NUPmDnsKrS_sFMGcNPgoGBFe8k/s320/IMG_5026.JPG" border="0" /></a> some new paintings from N and M</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqp28P66imqLkU0F4YTn4vm8I-pAFy6bE9KST9VX1nSibzhT6xfAeKZxsf61WOLW8c02SLvRir5cBDxZ7Lv9YxmDzt_9TxXGfGabY6UE-Vcv1DItHMRNhXmfk04sJw8ges1ohIEvZbzoW/s1600-h/IMG_5028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223220257926325714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqp28P66imqLkU0F4YTn4vm8I-pAFy6bE9KST9VX1nSibzhT6xfAeKZxsf61WOLW8c02SLvRir5cBDxZ7Lv9YxmDzt_9TxXGfGabY6UE-Vcv1DItHMRNhXmfk04sJw8ges1ohIEvZbzoW/s320/IMG_5028.JPG" border="0" /></a> sooo much better than Engrish<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWaWsvls4kdaKnn4Rgdv6LSJ1l9QHzgWCchG-DvK9whQseD8AEaqd_xqSnSUlVfwKM8EKM11jqrlNyT-7s-xExDEKnFTbJqbx33DlxGuUJUbgXpOh3BZ3Eb91qJlOdmh0USkGZTsoUGti/s1600-h/IMG_5029.JPG"></a><br /><br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-17938215914978304372008-07-11T13:47:00.013+09:002008-07-14T14:58:42.686+09:00sumo taikaiI just got back from a trip home to friends and family, but the day BEFORE I left was an epic event, Akita's annual "International" Sumo tournament, benefitting Room to Read. It was as silly as it was serious, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves quite thoroughly. I was proud to have had an organizing hand in the event, which raised over $1,000. I was astounded at how the tournament brought out the caveman in many of my fellow male ALTs, or the frightened pacifist, as the case may be (I would have definitely been the latter if participating). I was also proud of the men of the southwest who participated - three made it to the semi-finals-Owen, Doug, and Jon - with Jon placing third in the end - definitely made all that trash talking I did worthwhile. So here are the pics of my half-naked colleagues:<br /><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-IgdCI3ZEhN0HeqhVRXbzLeMYiRIU8tioPGElL1ELEEYOCBQoiSWPtyCJLVFyxo38-AqT_M6MaKpKPJUIZBhe09GUTJ94da6WEsddOnccARVUGnQJiFyw_4t7J7svEaMsE2grqayhbWp/s1600-h/IMG_4868.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222737236438765490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-IgdCI3ZEhN0HeqhVRXbzLeMYiRIU8tioPGElL1ELEEYOCBQoiSWPtyCJLVFyxo38-AqT_M6MaKpKPJUIZBhe09GUTJ94da6WEsddOnccARVUGnQJiFyw_4t7J7svEaMsE2grqayhbWp/s320/IMG_4868.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Phil and Matthew<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaw7RCwfnmgf96cobqBkzPJuaZuPrVTGtfSUwH9Lv5q37ajcHEabPZSNzVl8Y2WaYqZ7BTaS6SGRUGTbvZSFIhj-WGa2cX0-4IHcbZme48kpKvQDRuxygkPtMotaM5aU7rlNK9fe6lu9P/s1600-h/IMG_4870.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222737239443025794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaw7RCwfnmgf96cobqBkzPJuaZuPrVTGtfSUwH9Lv5q37ajcHEabPZSNzVl8Y2WaYqZ7BTaS6SGRUGTbvZSFIhj-WGa2cX0-4IHcbZme48kpKvQDRuxygkPtMotaM5aU7rlNK9fe6lu9P/s320/IMG_4870.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Doug and me pre-tournament</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrapNDMCBbS9rfl_9bipC-DL0Nge-jzVJDlq7Lo8RKSA30EFdK9sCqdm0YpGmb_De79C6PXWDvEk_73nL2ZrLbpImr85gy9r3vfW2a_frk64TV1Z87xoXHcSTMYUHi1ZEECz-L466HHBz9/s1600-h/IMG_4874.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222738499028239170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrapNDMCBbS9rfl_9bipC-DL0Nge-jzVJDlq7Lo8RKSA30EFdK9sCqdm0YpGmb_De79C6PXWDvEk_73nL2ZrLbpImr85gy9r3vfW2a_frk64TV1Z87xoXHcSTMYUHi1ZEECz-L466HHBz9/s320/IMG_4874.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Phil and David face-off in the practice ring</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo2gcez_PTznkymC4Cbe-Igs93-ZfLARBy9ddZwWo-BZZ0VQFdfrj58nHlCkGGMUJlMhlO7HZpyqD-9piCkAUAhv4PpIaVDBdvCCO5q1zKy1lpozMhT_a03BavBUDqTenqqxyqPiwfsgi/s1600-h/IMG_4878.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222738514433632242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo2gcez_PTznkymC4Cbe-Igs93-ZfLARBy9ddZwWo-BZZ0VQFdfrj58nHlCkGGMUJlMhlO7HZpyqD-9piCkAUAhv4PpIaVDBdvCCO5q1zKy1lpozMhT_a03BavBUDqTenqqxyqPiwfsgi/s320/IMG_4878.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcgyXxGm7stWciu15EFCRBe5j1bMZqgptXpRDJA3ioKQuu-hFVEcNdNveaX9dkqbsaYbiy8ONSfOFAfribUlR-THAagxFtCZidYtT0lmyASbcpv9WvoXmFRz_wTfmQ9WDs2o2rI-1uvFy/s1600-h/IMG_4882.JPG"></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFQhJLj8_lvWzQcYX_TFtHcWX-YYq7NWnJTXlVPyIxy9DgaZ45SVNFMVtVgoBOCrs9Wo1H0N4WST4CMbb6ScBNGRYztF29IOx43dmV4edhO5znlFtMGWhDOFkbGi1n2wGciCWCYHtZgtB/s1600-h/IMG_4890.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222740315524982690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFQhJLj8_lvWzQcYX_TFtHcWX-YYq7NWnJTXlVPyIxy9DgaZ45SVNFMVtVgoBOCrs9Wo1H0N4WST4CMbb6ScBNGRYztF29IOx43dmV4edhO5znlFtMGWhDOFkbGi1n2wGciCWCYHtZgtB/s320/IMG_4890.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Me and Amelie</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGikVQYC_7sYmE-G_rbHVmhPgqcXTM70kRlEXu6I96Rd1frJ30Z0BYEPDJPuLcbfeajXeKsoLfkOIcA_hsL_VQqXICm3Wpgs1aG3k616G-xek2-rUe-tkaiUnqQy2hIZWr2HOHzp-tnI2a/s1600-h/IMG_4895.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222740324611291122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGikVQYC_7sYmE-G_rbHVmhPgqcXTM70kRlEXu6I96Rd1frJ30Z0BYEPDJPuLcbfeajXeKsoLfkOIcA_hsL_VQqXICm3Wpgs1aG3k616G-xek2-rUe-tkaiUnqQy2hIZWr2HOHzp-tnI2a/s320/IMG_4895.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfBPmGsE1XbWUsGIKVwE-jQT8XwKDBN6PS4I4VmB1zsb19fLZsLTIQ_L8HbJhMsM6prHZxrx3Tk5YNyinpdASboaEI4X9HTTxHsB-cOrhBt31XP0ZyCpFpYMCjncQs5R6kiIjWjge9Np5/s1600-h/IMG_4897.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222741404586531858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfBPmGsE1XbWUsGIKVwE-jQT8XwKDBN6PS4I4VmB1zsb19fLZsLTIQ_L8HbJhMsM6prHZxrx3Tk5YNyinpdASboaEI4X9HTTxHsB-cOrhBt31XP0ZyCpFpYMCjncQs5R6kiIjWjge9Np5/s320/IMG_4897.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Chris and Stephanie's Taiko drumming group performing</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe50l0QUy519kAx55kY2dB7jdfURAnI9iU_ErrkEgSJMJ5iyul-LEG949Ip_1R_8IpwS-X8TiOqkBA49jtAtBN0RAjLK3TGnDcdvuME3PDNP-v6PDh9vALym-pe1D1DXPxa7n33tFSq3J/s1600-h/IMG_4904.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222741408410499282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe50l0QUy519kAx55kY2dB7jdfURAnI9iU_ErrkEgSJMJ5iyul-LEG949Ip_1R_8IpwS-X8TiOqkBA49jtAtBN0RAjLK3TGnDcdvuME3PDNP-v6PDh9vALym-pe1D1DXPxa7n33tFSq3J/s320/IMG_4904.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOLLnNOsKOCJZs9ws7JZ1quPn5iDucJOrnWdbQh4_OF7A1i4_z5z_UAq6omCB_9CyQsBjySDB6ArdvwNSDC8nEULDemROCpMwkSr22ZfOTeshnOWAj6HRTRKrgM82mCfOzuFJZ0OdBqDJ/s1600-h/IMG_4907.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222741417837462338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOLLnNOsKOCJZs9ws7JZ1quPn5iDucJOrnWdbQh4_OF7A1i4_z5z_UAq6omCB_9CyQsBjySDB6ArdvwNSDC8nEULDemROCpMwkSr22ZfOTeshnOWAj6HRTRKrgM82mCfOzuFJZ0OdBqDJ/s320/IMG_4907.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5X1ursTT-SD4epOffZfvXEzfNw0tTmqcj7vjeg-jz6Tr5-TnM3r_DNo72kB3h0EoJGsF1aIcqjv_g_cePLqY0nNhqMJvStSlNZu9iTXO6qYQeCHMqCtdZwDzHdFnsjQNxbW1HCHlkoQnf/s1600-h/IMG_4910.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742072852464306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5X1ursTT-SD4epOffZfvXEzfNw0tTmqcj7vjeg-jz6Tr5-TnM3r_DNo72kB3h0EoJGsF1aIcqjv_g_cePLqY0nNhqMJvStSlNZu9iTXO6qYQeCHMqCtdZwDzHdFnsjQNxbW1HCHlkoQnf/s320/IMG_4910.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kwy7MF8BzpkzrS6kpQfsYBdXtF27n9eG5KceH8wMvn7sLnp_R1yDf4dUSkNxLAvr7OYmmL_iiCxzswGPnj0teIQByNen6n9qy6V_pi1QtImEZpcG0j_TxO5l2KkxqCOzaabd0DtV2kQw/s1600-h/IMG_4920.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742082144874674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kwy7MF8BzpkzrS6kpQfsYBdXtF27n9eG5KceH8wMvn7sLnp_R1yDf4dUSkNxLAvr7OYmmL_iiCxzswGPnj0teIQByNen6n9qy6V_pi1QtImEZpcG0j_TxO5l2KkxqCOzaabd0DtV2kQw/s320/IMG_4920.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganmbRW7GwQWsGVUztf9HvjhfTYukru4P5Ob7bRi9CCls0cPL-dlZRJh35EA-fysXYFjevR5uccnXl2j6r42DVxhBHZ4BEtUdQBX-j7bX0GGSyyvtY4YtgvK2Wdhe3045zaLhdw10TcyMr/s1600-h/IMG_4928.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742106253535522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganmbRW7GwQWsGVUztf9HvjhfTYukru4P5Ob7bRi9CCls0cPL-dlZRJh35EA-fysXYFjevR5uccnXl2j6r42DVxhBHZ4BEtUdQBX-j7bX0GGSyyvtY4YtgvK2Wdhe3045zaLhdw10TcyMr/s320/IMG_4928.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jason S. painfully defeated by Jon</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1wM3kp7sMrLPRT0W3BUP7jmdRKytD0nU36okQ2hE7LaNOGYdR0byMFdkO-x-ytc_EozuLpgUGwTHeNOQ4m1d2tKnlKTrWkUFEDnfw6bCs3qdxwYVmwgzvkGOV7evFUskY5ko9ZJ_X6y6/s1600-h/IMG_4929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742560252869762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1wM3kp7sMrLPRT0W3BUP7jmdRKytD0nU36okQ2hE7LaNOGYdR0byMFdkO-x-ytc_EozuLpgUGwTHeNOQ4m1d2tKnlKTrWkUFEDnfw6bCs3qdxwYVmwgzvkGOV7evFUskY5ko9ZJ_X6y6/s320/IMG_4929.JPG" border="0" /></a> Matthew and Phil discuss strategy of how to sit comfortably in a <em>mawashi</em></p><em></em><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIU8NpGa8y8z7w26hub6y4l3roH6wGIH3xDLFscZRhxErpw9yf4Y3FQnfEYDdWD0v2PH0gwVy1uR9zmK0Gora-xGoy80PL2ovsWVQAGejDUhLvwjpNszmfknh1_no-vbUJNMWWX_Im9K0/s1600-h/IMG_4932.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742564828669746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIU8NpGa8y8z7w26hub6y4l3roH6wGIH3xDLFscZRhxErpw9yf4Y3FQnfEYDdWD0v2PH0gwVy1uR9zmK0Gora-xGoy80PL2ovsWVQAGejDUhLvwjpNszmfknh1_no-vbUJNMWWX_Im9K0/s320/IMG_4932.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Matthew getting picked up and out of the ring<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ysIbyVb-ZNH9q87insB0ULcdiIER7fBiZ9zAVuI6VyWjPfnGXJOW6ly7y0IIH6hVzntriunRp0AIUzxChY-jFZtE8AGaB5oxESTIpemdfY74R70BvXEZ_Hr_7n8JkUhGORxmlY9UUljO/s1600-h/IMG_4940.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742962792209346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ysIbyVb-ZNH9q87insB0ULcdiIER7fBiZ9zAVuI6VyWjPfnGXJOW6ly7y0IIH6hVzntriunRp0AIUzxChY-jFZtE8AGaB5oxESTIpemdfY74R70BvXEZ_Hr_7n8JkUhGORxmlY9UUljO/s320/IMG_4940.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Doug and Jon face-off intensely, while a ref enjoys the view<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7GVgoDv8R2-CUdp_LSZzE7FIiDwy8PyiKfHVd1YIRjnRCBJVsj5HBZFziuASZMJgGtZAT7IgYbwPK3qoQVInMGVLYPsWC3s97mfgH7Mx7GRndpvIuVH7XH_XrlPU0JF4HKal1qoMAJiG/s1600-h/IMG_4943.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222742967316953858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7GVgoDv8R2-CUdp_LSZzE7FIiDwy8PyiKfHVd1YIRjnRCBJVsj5HBZFziuASZMJgGtZAT7IgYbwPK3qoQVInMGVLYPsWC3s97mfgH7Mx7GRndpvIuVH7XH_XrlPU0JF4HKal1qoMAJiG/s320/IMG_4943.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Owen roaring like a caveman<br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-61534940972050537122008-06-21T21:17:00.006+09:002008-06-21T22:23:04.102+09:00fighto, fighto to-chu!<div align="left">My work day today consisted of attending a baseball game. But as with most things involving sports in this country, the attendance was taken very seriously. As attendees, we were required to perform several coordinated cheers over and over again, with the entire school band present to back us up. Thank god we won, the effort would have been considerably embarrassing if we hadn't. We were given 30-second breaks to sit down and gulp water every fifteen minutes or so but the rest of the time was spent yelling at the top of our lungs, banging megaphones together and making cheer gestures with them together in unison. Suprisingly, it was really fun! But when we won, the feeling was definitely "Oh, thank god it's over, so we can go home and rest" instead of "yayyyyyyyyyyyyy". I was eager to get out of the sun, too, which brings me to the interesting Japanese approach to direct sulight, which is to wear more clothing in order to protect the skin. Every teacher there besides me was wearing a jacket, gloves, wide-brimmed hat and long pants, despite the probabaly 90-degree heat. Every teacher and student (except me) also had a small towel they used as a sweat rag around their neck. My approach was more heavy on the sunscreen, less on the clothing. Anyway, back to the field tomorrow for another game!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE5xjoUStNQ4GBPmaFKCDtBMDYnzzH1fusIEoUayaNO1b49F5sR0AbMeFusW1wZi03SJq4rz5oCxHR9xfJRo64_aHnNLLxufZN932TH66i0RJMXgiG5anZ__6kOEjfl9cFUo8RU7JiwHy/s1600-h/IMG_4840.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214312582764022290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE5xjoUStNQ4GBPmaFKCDtBMDYnzzH1fusIEoUayaNO1b49F5sR0AbMeFusW1wZi03SJq4rz5oCxHR9xfJRo64_aHnNLLxufZN932TH66i0RJMXgiG5anZ__6kOEjfl9cFUo8RU7JiwHy/s320/IMG_4840.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dnxoh4SSUi2M2hnwwkgpNxzm7rrTVlGZ2whNR4VYuo9Lg9WozCnOdXuGnJb_xRK_a56OzxfzfhCCUkS6yBdh4Qnun1tjhpNR0hENk5TC6wqwp_7Y4fHx-eLWuzpbcK2zv9dZNMfgbdFB/s1600-h/IMG_4841.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214312588394334018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dnxoh4SSUi2M2hnwwkgpNxzm7rrTVlGZ2whNR4VYuo9Lg9WozCnOdXuGnJb_xRK_a56OzxfzfhCCUkS6yBdh4Qnun1tjhpNR0hENk5TC6wqwp_7Y4fHx-eLWuzpbcK2zv9dZNMfgbdFB/s320/IMG_4841.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>a semi-candid shot of the ichinensei boys, there just to cheer for their sempais </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyrXCPRg_5jvs4gAo636U3X6G8xD9EmAv3tsjbRaHL6Cxo1ZEmJwykKEMxOIsn0XJCdbIEoylviQG2q8-keMRo0Ecq46nQKHzUtDqVs2DzgWx5dCqViNE0ZswJ840yMfE7Sgsxf0YD_4B/s1600-h/IMG_4842.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214312592429985826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyrXCPRg_5jvs4gAo636U3X6G8xD9EmAv3tsjbRaHL6Cxo1ZEmJwykKEMxOIsn0XJCdbIEoylviQG2q8-keMRo0Ecq46nQKHzUtDqVs2DzgWx5dCqViNE0ZswJ840yMfE7Sgsxf0YD_4B/s320/IMG_4842.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"></a>bowing to the other team to thank them for their friendly cheer </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t21FyHy7_uylsg2BBaKAkj_P72SFZYTDfK7o-sS5qost2QNN3VvfvL-0prTrAG1IL1Dl9-gJqoM8MVuKduA6Y48-pT-5aFKs5ktPClvhXNZQ7b5JGFcONl_pfv0m9I4gcaMW2MmVEjHT/s1600-h/IMG_4844.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214312599953906098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t21FyHy7_uylsg2BBaKAkj_P72SFZYTDfK7o-sS5qost2QNN3VvfvL-0prTrAG1IL1Dl9-gJqoM8MVuKduA6Y48-pT-5aFKs5ktPClvhXNZQ7b5JGFcONl_pfv0m9I4gcaMW2MmVEjHT/s320/IMG_4844.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"></a>super serious cheer guards</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TimeE3l7ASF7-Qejo1Mh5N2j_C3LrB5im1p0eOOi_9zHXL3JmAXVhgJVQWZBq2oIX-pwAd_TcRCx3u1vuw1hgKuaELJa-e-djBANu_hwIXhqEsFrGq5loz-kb99pIGbDZ48CYYtBQCst/s1600-h/IMG_4845.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214312601246786418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TimeE3l7ASF7-Qejo1Mh5N2j_C3LrB5im1p0eOOi_9zHXL3JmAXVhgJVQWZBq2oIX-pwAd_TcRCx3u1vuw1hgKuaELJa-e-djBANu_hwIXhqEsFrGq5loz-kb99pIGbDZ48CYYtBQCst/s320/IMG_4845.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>purposeless hats on band members<br /></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopDVpzqlRt3iUtZvhWuxpQihPuqfkVhvnCOt2w9D9ieHMfGEX9qPDw93KzbAj3PCv4nVkSMGsiZeDHfCjDOemkvUlz7_QAphl3U7KoyiVb-a4wY-gQlqcd5LuvO0izdkx5s7U0nwYn0Lh/s1600-h/IMG_4847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214317810324747058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopDVpzqlRt3iUtZvhWuxpQihPuqfkVhvnCOt2w9D9ieHMfGEX9qPDw93KzbAj3PCv4nVkSMGsiZeDHfCjDOemkvUlz7_QAphl3U7KoyiVb-a4wY-gQlqcd5LuvO0izdkx5s7U0nwYn0Lh/s320/IMG_4847.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">cheerleaders!</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLTXJY4TwZSf1mJmatAKRix3R2ShcNX06sWN7okUSUGbsU33UhGc4LXeV-ifht4lWPuglV14QDX_OmoT4Og2mlkknZmLiHxs_TVDumSSBa_ex_RGskYdC97LtMK5TD0JhRRSckx_FfVMf/s1600-h/IMG_4852.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214317810678636802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLTXJY4TwZSf1mJmatAKRix3R2ShcNX06sWN7okUSUGbsU33UhGc4LXeV-ifht4lWPuglV14QDX_OmoT4Og2mlkknZmLiHxs_TVDumSSBa_ex_RGskYdC97LtMK5TD0JhRRSckx_FfVMf/s320/IMG_4852.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFhOvpMRmpItkwD7M9WZJ1qWIHFOj4vOYWwN0EBtewwPgRIb-5_kGXZMhTj5OvlYlxJMR98zBIRAYFcoEt8aaR52b8A3wqBHm_50ufh2w7TQdeu8KdZQkG1s2g-38_F_XcJ_HMZUe6rnN/s1600-h/IMG_4856.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214317818200733378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFhOvpMRmpItkwD7M9WZJ1qWIHFOj4vOYWwN0EBtewwPgRIb-5_kGXZMhTj5OvlYlxJMR98zBIRAYFcoEt8aaR52b8A3wqBHm_50ufh2w7TQdeu8KdZQkG1s2g-38_F_XcJ_HMZUe6rnN/s320/IMG_4856.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gsf5p3FZyALxhiMGgJtcNNwuBZjnWVj0Abxk_Nd5Z2eqIwHy8ylB2vkKn7MCTvilA2bmCH_U7rE4LCIVT_84A_FwueVsKan9U4mPdVYlspzfMEG03lwGgsz3pViZPqroDTHiQdfipFTg/s1600-h/IMG_4858.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214317825843300146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gsf5p3FZyALxhiMGgJtcNNwuBZjnWVj0Abxk_Nd5Z2eqIwHy8ylB2vkKn7MCTvilA2bmCH_U7rE4LCIVT_84A_FwueVsKan9U4mPdVYlspzfMEG03lwGgsz3pViZPqroDTHiQdfipFTg/s320/IMG_4858.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">team bowing to us to thank us for cheering<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9onIY55B9-AUCBXmB0HXAIhG5NBJ_gU22UhCuoTV1CU62WaX1muxeFhZ9SZOkLWQO0Hu-x0t4GoTKdYun9ZoBcULzzYZq9p7O2SPYuogeDdkyYAG3w7D18oVbUyouhIoklmy4hSAFeQ9/s1600-h/IMG_4860.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214317840782823954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9onIY55B9-AUCBXmB0HXAIhG5NBJ_gU22UhCuoTV1CU62WaX1muxeFhZ9SZOkLWQO0Hu-x0t4GoTKdYun9ZoBcULzzYZq9p7O2SPYuogeDdkyYAG3w7D18oVbUyouhIoklmy4hSAFeQ9/s320/IMG_4860.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>the scoreboard - the game won me about $10 from the opposing school's ALT</p><p align="center">and some random stuff from around school:<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduhnMMG9AxeDbMSLxHjlgmCfbGZ-nUrMhMUL_-iTKxo8WX3aChSuc1SPCZpsU24uz9HwJcxdLsK71mLTiGmGmJB0sWeQH1p0a8IqgcjDjyPdrPdaBjDcbtfSg3vr3Wr9oDUMlrqQgzaDw/s1600-h/IMG_4835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214319647820019442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduhnMMG9AxeDbMSLxHjlgmCfbGZ-nUrMhMUL_-iTKxo8WX3aChSuc1SPCZpsU24uz9HwJcxdLsK71mLTiGmGmJB0sWeQH1p0a8IqgcjDjyPdrPdaBjDcbtfSg3vr3Wr9oDUMlrqQgzaDw/s320/IMG_4835.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> I worked on this giant sign with the art club a few times before I realized it said COOL (<em>because we go to higashi chu</em>)<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy0yIa8164e4Xfw8tS7NKLW4nISv1IN2EldqQntxP55X4SBoOCxrQrkKRixkLsCHwKejHHsfoW2zPIBAc4BME2uc_wf_8C-C467P_fmGi8WiemYRgoha7e9_5DauAmVqHah_Wotzjc5vr/s1600-h/IMG_4839.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214319650085690402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy0yIa8164e4Xfw8tS7NKLW4nISv1IN2EldqQntxP55X4SBoOCxrQrkKRixkLsCHwKejHHsfoW2zPIBAc4BME2uc_wf_8C-C467P_fmGi8WiemYRgoha7e9_5DauAmVqHah_Wotzjc5vr/s320/IMG_4839.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>barely visible so far, they planted "WE CAN!!" into the rice field outside of the school</p><p align="center">a couple weeks ago students had to write little blurbs for me about an aspect of japanese culture, here are some interesting ones:<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4CQjC782jlxewqMcu06NLXjDhzdZfnP0px7Zcn4DxMS2FGqmEDQjxM00hy7UmG46Sh6Kiq9jsMCMa09rdIBy9QafRd9biQcCFXTW-magdgYOnKFK6Qi78ZYbpVTQDF4rWO5tT725yX2l/s1600-h/jculture1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214319650686809938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4CQjC782jlxewqMcu06NLXjDhzdZfnP0px7Zcn4DxMS2FGqmEDQjxM00hy7UmG46Sh6Kiq9jsMCMa09rdIBy9QafRd9biQcCFXTW-magdgYOnKFK6Qi78ZYbpVTQDF4rWO5tT725yX2l/s320/jculture1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2npcwTpAnheDIBYL1KrBYrHw-yOPnF387zgfKx8m6y_vx9DGgt5fZkHmv6jatbmS5v220IbWDrZ1yQsCsHJSslGpXumbL6Hw-wLT73gwAj4__RsraLy_mIYIKVuJi6gKzLL5iIYBjMrUK/s1600-h/jculture2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214319651041695426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2npcwTpAnheDIBYL1KrBYrHw-yOPnF387zgfKx8m6y_vx9DGgt5fZkHmv6jatbmS5v220IbWDrZ1yQsCsHJSslGpXumbL6Hw-wLT73gwAj4__RsraLy_mIYIKVuJi6gKzLL5iIYBjMrUK/s320/jculture2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpFpwqgGNZ0syVjn8QK-8QZ5Tyo6meUKHlqF5SuNWIqLxaLyYYHQoNBfueGjAJHKbThyphenhyphen_e1mjpch5_kqMdh8nyOSsmqw-agJgEZMpfJ4FX5eAqXt0q3ELlSFxsmnsGl5osmhmP0E2q2X3/s1600-h/jculture3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214319655330429906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpFpwqgGNZ0syVjn8QK-8QZ5Tyo6meUKHlqF5SuNWIqLxaLyYYHQoNBfueGjAJHKbThyphenhyphen_e1mjpch5_kqMdh8nyOSsmqw-agJgEZMpfJ4FX5eAqXt0q3ELlSFxsmnsGl5osmhmP0E2q2X3/s320/jculture3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kp8Jim9raYwJx-yuJG7zopbmKb5kcNYyxEvGg0MQfDT-T8Coxan3tP5HvjQwPa8Xn_Z2YLhgqpNMseblP-yB8Bc-z4IOMEE1L7uYTJyJohxsIoAx8n3vBNn47ycNMqpxmgQ8SYIJj3rt/s1600-h/chokai+town.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214319844735560114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kp8Jim9raYwJx-yuJG7zopbmKb5kcNYyxEvGg0MQfDT-T8Coxan3tP5HvjQwPa8Xn_Z2YLhgqpNMseblP-yB8Bc-z4IOMEE1L7uYTJyJohxsIoAx8n3vBNn47ycNMqpxmgQ8SYIJj3rt/s320/chokai+town.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Mt. Chokai from Honjo Park<br /><br /></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-20543020803737883102008-06-16T13:14:00.012+09:002008-06-20T00:04:19.154+09:00tiny tiny islandI spent last weekend on the tiny tiny island of Tobishima. Amelie, Edel and I got to the ferry docks in Sakata at the very last possible minute on Saturday morning - to catch our 8:45am ferry. Little did we notice in our flurry of boarding the boat filled with already drunk fishermen and their gear a 7.0 earthquake that hit the area at that exact time. The engine started and we were off, and it became clear that the sea was very, very angry. We forewent playing cards and eventually, even talking, to pass the time, in favor of concentrating wholly on the horizon line while our stomachs lurched with the waves. I've never experienced sea sickness before, but never had I been on a boat for so long (1.5 hours) in such rough water. There was a TV on the boat, and some kind of report with a map came on about 10 minutes into the trip, which the fishermen were so interested in, I assumed it had to do with fish. It was only when we reached the island and received calls and messages that we found out about the <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080616a2.html">earthquake</a>. Anyway, everyone in Akita seems to be all right and no major damage. However, Ichinoseki in Iwate where my parents and I went to that beautiful gorge and stayed at the ryokan, seemed to be hit pretty badly, in addition to the terrible damage to Kurihara in Miyagi-ken.<br /><br /><br /><br />Back to the island, this was the perfect girls' weekend, especially perfect for me since I've been cathing up on my Lost and reading Into the Wild. I do believe this is one of the very few places in Japan with NO <em>conbini </em>(convenience stores), rice fields, or pachinko parlors. The island was so small, you could easily bike around it's circular main road in less than an hour. We found a perfect campsite in a protected little area of a shrine near a beach. Actually, we found out later that camping was forbidden on the entire island, but it seems like residents didn't care too much/weren't interested in confronting the gaijins. The popularity of the island was for fishermen, who seemed to come just for the day/weekend hosted by local outfitters. There were also quite a few middle-aged and older couples there for a day hike to see the island's beautiful wildflowers. Bikes were available to "borrow" for free near the dock to explore the island. And so we did.<br /><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ux8e3NCFtxKOwZQT8cUl6d6rhcKoFk5tPr4OA9KdrJgDOxoW2N_2pmFk8VtCj8OBhQYoTf26K6wUyQXTscV4OKIIYkQwghHkD-hGZ4dAt5b9XOyrQbH5yS7nqa83dhLAPDIuRNVrfHh/s1600-h/IMG_4686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212337921724709346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ux8e3NCFtxKOwZQT8cUl6d6rhcKoFk5tPr4OA9KdrJgDOxoW2N_2pmFk8VtCj8OBhQYoTf26K6wUyQXTscV4OKIIYkQwghHkD-hGZ4dAt5b9XOyrQbH5yS7nqa83dhLAPDIuRNVrfHh/s320/IMG_4686.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>camp jinja!</p><p align="center"><br /> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJErQIzwgO0V2Pn7HJa8Se5PjCBmhyphenhyphenLBhg-H_SjhnWbtr4XOtv4zLbkcyvOiYk_pCkC81LjnxAN-L2q7EjrDA9mgWX-T-jkQ-tH94wWAQclY_BiNMq5t-sXRbs5MjQwtncjml3W1nGL5Uu/s1600-h/IMG_4689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212337933271744850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJErQIzwgO0V2Pn7HJa8Se5PjCBmhyphenhyphenLBhg-H_SjhnWbtr4XOtv4zLbkcyvOiYk_pCkC81LjnxAN-L2q7EjrDA9mgWX-T-jkQ-tH94wWAQclY_BiNMq5t-sXRbs5MjQwtncjml3W1nGL5Uu/s320/IMG_4689.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">our front yard, the beach!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAQGwEIJU-hdk6sYpYcOyGFaPMr94b3QXaWJUbhfPxy4IotY3lBF7nU4RTpZvWuu6utRDlcW635Y8QLS-TE0Gae9qU8ksJdrhs-W8D6xI_q6lhyXXai3yfEykrHJO3RZ5DP5GFZEUDwOZ/s1600-h/IMG_4691.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212337944944660594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAQGwEIJU-hdk6sYpYcOyGFaPMr94b3QXaWJUbhfPxy4IotY3lBF7nU4RTpZvWuu6utRDlcW635Y8QLS-TE0Gae9qU8ksJdrhs-W8D6xI_q6lhyXXai3yfEykrHJO3RZ5DP5GFZEUDwOZ/s320/IMG_4691.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">the entrance to our humble abode</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UQNG7GhtoGzYMN5QKI1fI2L5qkfUe7l-mY5gHiVc88lwgKRMZkKt9JCuyBPHjNYg50uP_4TQPa7Z8CUjDfpBqA_dCd-1YZnYbpXUcsKfqJIhcgEK1Th2RizNRaYC73zdaEPf5hDx3LFH/s1600-h/IMG_4693.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213569118920395202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UQNG7GhtoGzYMN5QKI1fI2L5qkfUe7l-mY5gHiVc88lwgKRMZkKt9JCuyBPHjNYg50uP_4TQPa7Z8CUjDfpBqA_dCd-1YZnYbpXUcsKfqJIhcgEK1Th2RizNRaYC73zdaEPf5hDx3LFH/s320/IMG_4693.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">our front yard beach<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU0kIkjeNkmhd4cp3cHX9hyphenhyphenZSJu9ToaS94C1-7BGu_CcLmu5pQ2oJQygOILRw0udS9lcEb3pAqRiWWzw3eR7049AgAa0I4gHsdGUv9QaKcW1AtBt-H9486zU96Gq8RfOCavZXzcm4qzD5/s1600-h/IMG_4694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213569126132662130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU0kIkjeNkmhd4cp3cHX9hyphenhyphenZSJu9ToaS94C1-7BGu_CcLmu5pQ2oJQygOILRw0udS9lcEb3pAqRiWWzw3eR7049AgAa0I4gHsdGUv9QaKcW1AtBt-H9486zU96Gq8RfOCavZXzcm4qzD5/s320/IMG_4694.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">tobishima's main road<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIgvQ5PAHVyvNlrbKFWPqOAOHCZVCq-MXNhoi6yOBGJRsXD3-_aoXkaHpAy7lma_cJyzelm15CPoMa-vQaj3Mda0eokzWnhca1gBfl_-VN_cYP4b8Zg1qUTwVpIOu8LJ2v2udpIYA3qUQ/s1600-h/IMG_4695.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213569140986184466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIgvQ5PAHVyvNlrbKFWPqOAOHCZVCq-MXNhoi6yOBGJRsXD3-_aoXkaHpAy7lma_cJyzelm15CPoMa-vQaj3Mda0eokzWnhca1gBfl_-VN_cYP4b8Zg1qUTwVpIOu8LJ2v2udpIYA3qUQ/s320/IMG_4695.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiealbgd1wxJ0E8Y4K4ChiBVPMKtkGvtNOKB0znxeE-yWe747hRoux-bktqQUbHOmMznBxaeBFgTkp-z17np6PxRkEL3caxopetOxvMp86p97eMkEXCI9zaRnUCw1Win7MdxN09Jq5OLaUu/s1600-h/IMG_4697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213569149882317682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiealbgd1wxJ0E8Y4K4ChiBVPMKtkGvtNOKB0znxeE-yWe747hRoux-bktqQUbHOmMznBxaeBFgTkp-z17np6PxRkEL3caxopetOxvMp86p97eMkEXCI9zaRnUCw1Win7MdxN09Jq5OLaUu/s320/IMG_4697.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLEY1y3mADsAI1EDWYwd_OIQmHc9uPyjeN0Pn_zcLuCw_k6ThO342UEjAz33maOCIa2RGuf8YefIC-KK0_bJfQfzcVKT-T6TizvN94w9KNLUh3afMsGkl1LrglfOGAqWfri31vKkUisCi/s1600-h/IMG_4699.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213569233176998194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLEY1y3mADsAI1EDWYwd_OIQmHc9uPyjeN0Pn_zcLuCw_k6ThO342UEjAz33maOCIa2RGuf8YefIC-KK0_bJfQfzcVKT-T6TizvN94w9KNLUh3afMsGkl1LrglfOGAqWfri31vKkUisCi/s320/IMG_4699.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>tiny tiny island map<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxKk3p8eKV12pVKwPIAzZitjk7ZSL3TaSmVGhRd0dK345_pf1b9Z5_-0D_y9Fln-pJhEwWaYaL4p2_RpTjg8x-69BkhmzuJ0NA89pG2xOHbkYT44EoHScJfW-OhmXPQfWMS7WWkwWMPkd/s1600-h/IMG_4700.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213574279428884066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxKk3p8eKV12pVKwPIAzZitjk7ZSL3TaSmVGhRd0dK345_pf1b9Z5_-0D_y9Fln-pJhEwWaYaL4p2_RpTjg8x-69BkhmzuJ0NA89pG2xOHbkYT44EoHScJfW-OhmXPQfWMS7WWkwWMPkd/s320/IMG_4700.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>amelie and edel</p><p align="center"> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTscSfPSzxwy-nbtQ3gN03dlWHw7R8ihYDLuekqSQTN3ekicev1wbZ4YtLlTzYGVb_TD0hOIaWk5L2a8G5WOmT1qHezzK-rC9vnYRfAoL04ZT1t7zswDBsW3sMOZupOjn0u_uJk-oGxLAT/s1600-h/IMG_4702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213574291883297458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTscSfPSzxwy-nbtQ3gN03dlWHw7R8ihYDLuekqSQTN3ekicev1wbZ4YtLlTzYGVb_TD0hOIaWk5L2a8G5WOmT1qHezzK-rC9vnYRfAoL04ZT1t7zswDBsW3sMOZupOjn0u_uJk-oGxLAT/s320/IMG_4702.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW-Q5w-EAW4Ddac4gtJC2YFmbz8dONSaHMfq_Q-dk2990FCh3Z1iApp7h7SusI7xz14lgGTdsZH8OL5-LP7Ymo-vNFUQ3fsBqAFsRzMffTcemCeRUucJINsSi48cJD3TH7G2g6lQqPWFZ/s1600-h/IMG_4706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213574303531505602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW-Q5w-EAW4Ddac4gtJC2YFmbz8dONSaHMfq_Q-dk2990FCh3Z1iApp7h7SusI7xz14lgGTdsZH8OL5-LP7Ymo-vNFUQ3fsBqAFsRzMffTcemCeRUucJINsSi48cJD3TH7G2g6lQqPWFZ/s320/IMG_4706.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>some hardcore fishermen, there were a lot of these<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftZOHTU5MUOwg0wa7VzqNf65uefR_RZx3-wJQY5diZzobcwAqSptrBjkXGD-2NEfkNmkNwQdNUMZHZm-ismOqZ6zDoGggdr-Vla5d-1oCmxgo1Mb3K2cxJv0bA1SLj8ouEuf9teBaJtsY/s1600-h/IMG_4710.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213574312932537122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftZOHTU5MUOwg0wa7VzqNf65uefR_RZx3-wJQY5diZzobcwAqSptrBjkXGD-2NEfkNmkNwQdNUMZHZm-ismOqZ6zDoGggdr-Vla5d-1oCmxgo1Mb3K2cxJv0bA1SLj8ouEuf9teBaJtsY/s320/IMG_4710.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb_z8rc9OHaThMpC7j4TsRewMbMLNuEJ9GM3l5NRe_Z32NLrh7tF1M8PDRKWbQlNtVvCrZIZe7Plquc0zqyRHZJftMH0macNcuxI2GYm0sjI9u2ATNrzTJgxIdehkGIhGUM_YkyM_8XOY/s1600-h/IMG_4715.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213574325375275442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb_z8rc9OHaThMpC7j4TsRewMbMLNuEJ9GM3l5NRe_Z32NLrh7tF1M8PDRKWbQlNtVvCrZIZe7Plquc0zqyRHZJftMH0macNcuxI2GYm0sjI9u2ATNrzTJgxIdehkGIhGUM_YkyM_8XOY/s320/IMG_4715.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37iNmu5-lS1OwcEFEpM-cz9jkNW84C_Hf_VevkHipl0eXaLZBE0KLnPkUVOXALdMtyKcOQvts1Nf7K1fekVrJLBlHxVt7R7Yvyg4Bvct57cJqB5oyaHeK_FiTygfu9Z9zcE9Y8-rIQCJX/s1600-h/IMG_4718.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213577887099182482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37iNmu5-lS1OwcEFEpM-cz9jkNW84C_Hf_VevkHipl0eXaLZBE0KLnPkUVOXALdMtyKcOQvts1Nf7K1fekVrJLBlHxVt7R7Yvyg4Bvct57cJqB5oyaHeK_FiTygfu9Z9zcE9Y8-rIQCJX/s320/IMG_4718.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HSG65MuF7u9OxF24qlirOon1L5Uxzjn2ToqbnD7L83Fk9ikN8LdZvzPK5GoMM6y0y1-7NrYtODZEKnRnqiWyntfP5cudA2tW6fIAS2yVdfNAD8pObbZGDnq1xm6WvzbCVxYPRjkRfa5H/s1600-h/IMG_4719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213577896841136946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HSG65MuF7u9OxF24qlirOon1L5Uxzjn2ToqbnD7L83Fk9ikN8LdZvzPK5GoMM6y0y1-7NrYtODZEKnRnqiWyntfP5cudA2tW6fIAS2yVdfNAD8pObbZGDnq1xm6WvzbCVxYPRjkRfa5H/s320/IMG_4719.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sK0kglKSK2yL4IevmnG5-33g9JUY-aB8eBa6pnUi6TqZSqRXIx3x_Li4RubBl8rRkfwPdqemj1SKFFiFwj50ii0U8Y5J9QISJ1yQ434ujqVfvqkBxvJQ73CsgQq-fiMM6GxsGMLklQrt/s1600-h/IMG_4720.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213577921600074258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sK0kglKSK2yL4IevmnG5-33g9JUY-aB8eBa6pnUi6TqZSqRXIx3x_Li4RubBl8rRkfwPdqemj1SKFFiFwj50ii0U8Y5J9QISJ1yQ434ujqVfvqkBxvJQ73CsgQq-fiMM6GxsGMLklQrt/s320/IMG_4720.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">wild echinacea, I think</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijjlv2AlEbjuPcDXvKrN73_7RDc_bpv31MvvVYaf_NqVCK41v4ViXYO4hhEOVTCG2VSOfpkswi9WqZ22M_4L9zkObermlMGPn7kPjIXtZgEGfXuq-hfFk7E93D9ifjrURTfYM8c8xO1s0/s1600-h/IMG_4722.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213577931383675330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijjlv2AlEbjuPcDXvKrN73_7RDc_bpv31MvvVYaf_NqVCK41v4ViXYO4hhEOVTCG2VSOfpkswi9WqZ22M_4L9zkObermlMGPn7kPjIXtZgEGfXuq-hfFk7E93D9ifjrURTfYM8c8xO1s0/s320/IMG_4722.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">the famous yamagata cherries! not so sweet yet.</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2YWQde1Qpeawaa3XjllD5SR7AdbeqK1JjXroRscPmCy6p8vB5NSSmRIr53JrOGerDoVw6e1ES506AeYWAMbVzb181CZhUVGwFMEWDIsD0sodnBe6ndq3ghPr2OsOMofqx0gOUQcwU1A5/s1600-h/IMG_4727.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213577934269312562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2YWQde1Qpeawaa3XjllD5SR7AdbeqK1JjXroRscPmCy6p8vB5NSSmRIr53JrOGerDoVw6e1ES506AeYWAMbVzb181CZhUVGwFMEWDIsD0sodnBe6ndq3ghPr2OsOMofqx0gOUQcwU1A5/s320/IMG_4727.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3rFxeYRelB35FH6XVYwv9pqbWzxi7QcpBstmphvf2Q4M6-Wvcs-C1BrApvcmPb_tbnqYP1GEkhbmI_FyIZ-nIxeVrE6b1SJz5ZGrh2ZUSR0acbfDXEewAPIbl58VoKc4scr99PsUkJwZ/s1600-h/IMG_4730.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213579520470743170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3rFxeYRelB35FH6XVYwv9pqbWzxi7QcpBstmphvf2Q4M6-Wvcs-C1BrApvcmPb_tbnqYP1GEkhbmI_FyIZ-nIxeVrE6b1SJz5ZGrh2ZUSR0acbfDXEewAPIbl58VoKc4scr99PsUkJwZ/s320/IMG_4730.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbWGMeswndlAB9aqRsSeUlqfzjv2Vx-zhEQjENAaHv5CJ8lAD8ksgNdVnTDzSiyGvHetqt0roXIjvXFGRsXB4FSBo3uvz2KMmjGuFZ01fsrs0iGB3WWE_dTwQ7nLw5Bllt71bNyGqd_Wn/s1600-h/IMG_4732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213579542361688450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbWGMeswndlAB9aqRsSeUlqfzjv2Vx-zhEQjENAaHv5CJ8lAD8ksgNdVnTDzSiyGvHetqt0roXIjvXFGRsXB4FSBo3uvz2KMmjGuFZ01fsrs0iGB3WWE_dTwQ7nLw5Bllt71bNyGqd_Wn/s320/IMG_4732.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULwjnPjkIzsqkK4lJXoYaGi7g7FpxXd1lfvKqR1yCkKDheUgn2_ir4mjwA6bSoJlttSkPSanp-b_Ldnzpsw0fcw4S-j-m5g2hi6H3KYqmC6JxGATois3Z3U8o2RfXp1ISRYIsZoquiyRz/s1600-h/IMG_4735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213579547502428562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULwjnPjkIzsqkK4lJXoYaGi7g7FpxXd1lfvKqR1yCkKDheUgn2_ir4mjwA6bSoJlttSkPSanp-b_Ldnzpsw0fcw4S-j-m5g2hi6H3KYqmC6JxGATois3Z3U8o2RfXp1ISRYIsZoquiyRz/s320/IMG_4735.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7ccbtfblkM7x22uEdLyDk22jtQTP_IyodhjHTkNUKdVWUg_an6VV3ujVwk5F2HImXyeiPzA2Fa9J1Nxhq7jUUJdZc2y63_Uswtsbl7iQLbJBrEZ5C3KzxBWlyHovMGMITnBFZi1oGJcq/s1600-h/IMG_4737.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213579553751898274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7ccbtfblkM7x22uEdLyDk22jtQTP_IyodhjHTkNUKdVWUg_an6VV3ujVwk5F2HImXyeiPzA2Fa9J1Nxhq7jUUJdZc2y63_Uswtsbl7iQLbJBrEZ5C3KzxBWlyHovMGMITnBFZi1oGJcq/s320/IMG_4737.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurd8rh6_G8SGzJsjlvlNrYGd-zBS9R6DL8xGbPJsMjgDirGQ-06dcXbIKlj153k_yAGZfU6yQOQBAZsu-E-ai1eXcjCKR-kq_CbbFFzqtpEP73nbyXITPkkVvo5C2y6cv-Rf74Y06PPzd/s1600-h/IMG_4739.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213579584139135842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurd8rh6_G8SGzJsjlvlNrYGd-zBS9R6DL8xGbPJsMjgDirGQ-06dcXbIKlj153k_yAGZfU6yQOQBAZsu-E-ai1eXcjCKR-kq_CbbFFzqtpEP73nbyXITPkkVvo5C2y6cv-Rf74Y06PPzd/s320/IMG_4739.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduPTKfmZAmcZKCazlKlI68nmVc0xKrCRk3U-AoPA43GnP6DnNhMVZ2uToz0z9HsSNBHgF5AEQhDP1ctYOWUDNPgehAFOiYYZumFJ1uLnBuCXro8MLYqH9jR7yh1OLu2v_YH5us1TkFsGX/s1600-h/IMG_4742.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213582272431653490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduPTKfmZAmcZKCazlKlI68nmVc0xKrCRk3U-AoPA43GnP6DnNhMVZ2uToz0z9HsSNBHgF5AEQhDP1ctYOWUDNPgehAFOiYYZumFJ1uLnBuCXro8MLYqH9jR7yh1OLu2v_YH5us1TkFsGX/s320/IMG_4742.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhzDe-pmuuHVOmiVvrBfLrOAJtvbB9sR89LnmIKXwkhKbAGS9KFV9pAyAS-245zzgyVgF9Z87mABXEcdokEcD_Dr-uqJ961uw3pDF_Mxpzz7rNY1aTY0yqtkHuoEXq8BtgeEyglofP9di/s1600-h/IMG_4747.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213582277364853026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhzDe-pmuuHVOmiVvrBfLrOAJtvbB9sR89LnmIKXwkhKbAGS9KFV9pAyAS-245zzgyVgF9Z87mABXEcdokEcD_Dr-uqJ961uw3pDF_Mxpzz7rNY1aTY0yqtkHuoEXq8BtgeEyglofP9di/s320/IMG_4747.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskBcK6keR27V8C37nc6Qyhu8O_bUBOWI0JV0kmsg8IrjJ9cEMzsWad5Xn7seVztrhstJoj_sx1DMObISf0ZH856YwKoSESdhyWmkGaZO2pM7ZnISkVG4MLtzFpT-DhoOM8xTKELVUaOW2/s1600-h/IMG_4749.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213582299184916066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskBcK6keR27V8C37nc6Qyhu8O_bUBOWI0JV0kmsg8IrjJ9cEMzsWad5Xn7seVztrhstJoj_sx1DMObISf0ZH856YwKoSESdhyWmkGaZO2pM7ZnISkVG4MLtzFpT-DhoOM8xTKELVUaOW2/s320/IMG_4749.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">tiny tiny torii</p><p align="center"> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pjjUuOITfiUCpv6aC9pZYYtq-SdsisuOe9-4P78nf_lAVGuv_VYMBT0RtEyZ8-EyxaT31sqEy3TSS58pCmK47VQ5hf7NVBqnTDcprpcvCKE1oc_zT0cK84Lmos0Sk00ZuE8Cqrm1dI2W/s1600-h/IMG_4753.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213582312566983506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pjjUuOITfiUCpv6aC9pZYYtq-SdsisuOe9-4P78nf_lAVGuv_VYMBT0RtEyZ8-EyxaT31sqEy3TSS58pCmK47VQ5hf7NVBqnTDcprpcvCKE1oc_zT0cK84Lmos0Sk00ZuE8Cqrm1dI2W/s320/IMG_4753.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">the wild yellow lilies!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoXbZt15QAppalPiYtzH17XzaiUDLl3pFvy9fzeJvHMyJGfgJw5QVbWF2fpYWegijBN2mP17bxzAt8Q9vDzxMtMF6aNfnDCfxqm3Un0XO0_5mqux27QZhtLSBqDnEeOJ1_CQ820hlgPmQ/s1600-h/IMG_4756.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213582317129476210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoXbZt15QAppalPiYtzH17XzaiUDLl3pFvy9fzeJvHMyJGfgJw5QVbWF2fpYWegijBN2mP17bxzAt8Q9vDzxMtMF6aNfnDCfxqm3Un0XO0_5mqux27QZhtLSBqDnEeOJ1_CQ820hlgPmQ/s320/IMG_4756.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jhynQaMrApYsUHtsl68rCmc44PLfW9jS2a4z-fzQv02NLDOSijIqKRFvKEnOis3KGl_68yZyX79dKQdfjexY0owD18miPoB8ji5F78w3yYypjFLq8ROWoVOzuFWvefWMM9xmHkBNpdYv/s1600-h/IMG_4760.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213592688494025954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jhynQaMrApYsUHtsl68rCmc44PLfW9jS2a4z-fzQv02NLDOSijIqKRFvKEnOis3KGl_68yZyX79dKQdfjexY0owD18miPoB8ji5F78w3yYypjFLq8ROWoVOzuFWvefWMM9xmHkBNpdYv/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX3LvCoa5TIHhp-4OUAJx0p5BY5XAmpfFZqU_nvhMWIsFF6YSAhtvdTAQ5sxSuqKPUTye8cD2_g1hqqOYRLIzs88ltbBKeG9MtporM8gN7v5rEsSifU4k0sBetGZkM7W-Gv6lHDCcZOjL/s1600-h/IMG_4765.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213592699664061746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX3LvCoa5TIHhp-4OUAJx0p5BY5XAmpfFZqU_nvhMWIsFF6YSAhtvdTAQ5sxSuqKPUTye8cD2_g1hqqOYRLIzs88ltbBKeG9MtporM8gN7v5rEsSifU4k0sBetGZkM7W-Gv6lHDCcZOjL/s320/IMG_4765.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8WX971ZY6Bc4nhlnvtDFEnZqYlaCn8WqIcpTv_OF3qxNYs0wyRbQ9_EjfHLeZ5MqNv7g8_O9bp9lh7Axn7HPGEVKYQDSv01K5eRUkBXTwPaisEgESu-NW9AqSImuICTGsAaZ45IwH9DF/s1600-h/IMG_4766.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213592730882124514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8WX971ZY6Bc4nhlnvtDFEnZqYlaCn8WqIcpTv_OF3qxNYs0wyRbQ9_EjfHLeZ5MqNv7g8_O9bp9lh7Axn7HPGEVKYQDSv01K5eRUkBXTwPaisEgESu-NW9AqSImuICTGsAaZ45IwH9DF/s320/IMG_4766.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnkESM-whhCfJJ-h5HGbbAmXmr7nrm7GG_GhlKkLrme4ALROWJ20wTNy4-gijzbEcB671Xjs-z0tedrB_8Z3ZVdet4OaWCZ3KpQC6s1CyId3SC9oB7eIM3fGUls5c3J3f-HIYJGcr7knE/s1600-h/IMG_4771.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213592747281636098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnkESM-whhCfJJ-h5HGbbAmXmr7nrm7GG_GhlKkLrme4ALROWJ20wTNy4-gijzbEcB671Xjs-z0tedrB_8Z3ZVdet4OaWCZ3KpQC6s1CyId3SC9oB7eIM3fGUls5c3J3f-HIYJGcr7knE/s320/IMG_4771.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlgQxIPKl28_SXTMLcVR77R48rsmVJo6P2ulws3AQxEWNpT9tCtOOYgcmqIrdYrXGueml27BVbbygZqNl6yig9rVdLa2gB7bYWABi5kSabr4QNTA9MFRWvQ2Z-UPWJF6EH9e5EXWYmURL/s1600-h/IMG_4782.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213592768079346258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlgQxIPKl28_SXTMLcVR77R48rsmVJo6P2ulws3AQxEWNpT9tCtOOYgcmqIrdYrXGueml27BVbbygZqNl6yig9rVdLa2gB7bYWABi5kSabr4QNTA9MFRWvQ2Z-UPWJF6EH9e5EXWYmURL/s320/IMG_4782.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkNwCQYMIrS5I9Lr1JxO7B1-VahiHi52MI_C-tqROXZIN8YcOEYK-oOrQb11Y6E0eCHFLj36xLMeqpbWeU4HEGOZBcng6XgIgP4nGE77Wx4MAGdUZeCjVjb0AQ7ZJZN8orhbSWV_zlwq0/s1600-h/IMG_4786.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213595170226526066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkNwCQYMIrS5I9Lr1JxO7B1-VahiHi52MI_C-tqROXZIN8YcOEYK-oOrQb11Y6E0eCHFLj36xLMeqpbWeU4HEGOZBcng6XgIgP4nGE77Wx4MAGdUZeCjVjb0AQ7ZJZN8orhbSWV_zlwq0/s320/IMG_4786.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01xFOALzzljwwc-rppauV2ZgRVtr27z0F0yukcMqpqJ63kyp5aSRUu9QlG-Wx1Jc4CC44xkFwVnaZsbbgKXhsHDEWyCmsQ84insW5IOeb39MEx7W4vKOpBUKgMcbIC4sq1aCFUdBJZF5Q/s1600-h/IMG_4793.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213595174626634962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01xFOALzzljwwc-rppauV2ZgRVtr27z0F0yukcMqpqJ63kyp5aSRUu9QlG-Wx1Jc4CC44xkFwVnaZsbbgKXhsHDEWyCmsQ84insW5IOeb39MEx7W4vKOpBUKgMcbIC4sq1aCFUdBJZF5Q/s320/IMG_4793.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RLc97e91akwVFw0Ubal9zyYLfC2pq6NPC7683xuUliRN1LI2ueEPYib8b9XyohV8wbPVUChlGYb00Y_yRDP9aIQ3PMdTZm1nCfABmKRMyK-arQYh3w_0RbE3v21ku3ZdjEcetGSsFMi2/s1600-h/IMG_4797.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213595184399128626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RLc97e91akwVFw0Ubal9zyYLfC2pq6NPC7683xuUliRN1LI2ueEPYib8b9XyohV8wbPVUChlGYb00Y_yRDP9aIQ3PMdTZm1nCfABmKRMyK-arQYh3w_0RbE3v21ku3ZdjEcetGSsFMi2/s320/IMG_4797.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswPA9lPB_9KkoxeGtKdqPThOk9IErR7aLEN1AVkz7B5LctiVwoZmeo7jSVh1qP9SaQMGfGffD09YDwPPdQREhIf_ca6nAFjo_ZUv_p7hHOXCYhbVJykFBUoC8U0nbconmiyZrdN_K50JL/s1600-h/IMG_4799.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213595193894514770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswPA9lPB_9KkoxeGtKdqPThOk9IErR7aLEN1AVkz7B5LctiVwoZmeo7jSVh1qP9SaQMGfGffD09YDwPPdQREhIf_ca6nAFjo_ZUv_p7hHOXCYhbVJykFBUoC8U0nbconmiyZrdN_K50JL/s320/IMG_4799.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMIunOru0rVP7pZUn01hNA67SKfRcApc85afU43BBB8KafKUsceNzsGfL5Z41hI5DK8_kh0Go02QHbel3toGfWS722xXO5pZ4-vocLPVwTNlfO1BJjC4RFHeAZCJFRkrCZamCdezIVZPn/s1600-h/IMG_4802.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213595202229974674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMIunOru0rVP7pZUn01hNA67SKfRcApc85afU43BBB8KafKUsceNzsGfL5Z41hI5DK8_kh0Go02QHbel3toGfWS722xXO5pZ4-vocLPVwTNlfO1BJjC4RFHeAZCJFRkrCZamCdezIVZPn/s320/IMG_4802.JPG" border="0" /></a> "chinese" garbage. the dvd was intact!</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud-VujYnhKC7i5frW4z4xeW7MqHJ3aJQ2oTP49WEjhImc1n_H844hqpwfeoYuR8EJKwxASPXRT63-jx9UBMzkjDWouAFJ4v54zdAs3-QgcY3RLIWOTpCFsGwYxpjubmB_5v7Ur7onA_cH/s1600-h/IMG_4803.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213596112883464738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud-VujYnhKC7i5frW4z4xeW7MqHJ3aJQ2oTP49WEjhImc1n_H844hqpwfeoYuR8EJKwxASPXRT63-jx9UBMzkjDWouAFJ4v54zdAs3-QgcY3RLIWOTpCFsGwYxpjubmB_5v7Ur7onA_cH/s320/IMG_4803.JPG" border="0" /></a> random cave entrance, enter at your own risk!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKwqKEMK_rdF2EOG9pjvUH9IhEaHiULbJ0gFwvwNA1JUaOI_bKmBPZJkDj4g31S6j-TMS3cbcgErs5qHlpCb8EigrV6fLXlzuXo7qPmS6xfen1URdSgsT7jne1e-U_mUbDhW4MnbiNiUt/s1600-h/IMG_4807.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213596137229405170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKwqKEMK_rdF2EOG9pjvUH9IhEaHiULbJ0gFwvwNA1JUaOI_bKmBPZJkDj4g31S6j-TMS3cbcgErs5qHlpCb8EigrV6fLXlzuXo7qPmS6xfen1URdSgsT7jne1e-U_mUbDhW4MnbiNiUt/s320/IMG_4807.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYxoW9GzRkRQVXgS4_sa938Sjlgafci9JsHF4j7HGIwmYBm3avc10V4PuRNidRA3PPpErXNlHQt8007pwqRKBbB4NYkcciSPdtYXqaL_S35pqgRAH9JX4mtqFB41uA_2dsvllemrsVEtN/s1600-h/IMG_4811.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213596172573867314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYxoW9GzRkRQVXgS4_sa938Sjlgafci9JsHF4j7HGIwmYBm3avc10V4PuRNidRA3PPpErXNlHQt8007pwqRKBbB4NYkcciSPdtYXqaL_S35pqgRAH9JX4mtqFB41uA_2dsvllemrsVEtN/s320/IMG_4811.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">lights on the fishing boats<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTovtL3BA_CDiNx8MiJJ7jKUmm5uBMh0i-tCY8cCLFJC8TtKqcG_QWZwT9nxd9RCzjeqiolylKNpJlki-ZZHTjrIpb2OoB8eeKTZHnzuAkSmGpkE8Wm4gvb1c85xAxu7infTdld0Vm8p9i/s1600-h/IMG_4813.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213596179373678322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTovtL3BA_CDiNx8MiJJ7jKUmm5uBMh0i-tCY8cCLFJC8TtKqcG_QWZwT9nxd9RCzjeqiolylKNpJlki-ZZHTjrIpb2OoB8eeKTZHnzuAkSmGpkE8Wm4gvb1c85xAxu7infTdld0Vm8p9i/s320/IMG_4813.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">island ramen - the orange bit is a lily!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCK3y-iazMYHqdabAi1FxLWk_8pRsdT7au4mxQRhCSoV4p8fOMeV4V4GdeNwjcHSRB76xcKTXarAPerzLZGv2ZP1rE38j5V21P1FQDyzLxIxF0c0SjfXiCAbj7Pk4u1oCcWHGqrWYkNQg/s1600-h/IMG_4821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213596199338878066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCK3y-iazMYHqdabAi1FxLWk_8pRsdT7au4mxQRhCSoV4p8fOMeV4V4GdeNwjcHSRB76xcKTXarAPerzLZGv2ZP1rE38j5V21P1FQDyzLxIxF0c0SjfXiCAbj7Pk4u1oCcWHGqrWYkNQg/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>downtown tobishima</p><p align="center"> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0uwjqjZaNX1bblQCpImsf5OX8Cq5wYSfQf2dwBewWn_vgRV7PuQZyOWSQ4aS3L1bJZq-H5XhyVpk1_0q6XGxUbGLZIZS2L__agPLQhQ7XwLcsvWg7AZKw8iGXg-CbkXaJl71t-hukHMz/s1600-h/IMG_4823.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213597235733606290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0uwjqjZaNX1bblQCpImsf5OX8Cq5wYSfQf2dwBewWn_vgRV7PuQZyOWSQ4aS3L1bJZq-H5XhyVpk1_0q6XGxUbGLZIZS2L__agPLQhQ7XwLcsvWg7AZKw8iGXg-CbkXaJl71t-hukHMz/s320/IMG_4823.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>tobishima from the mainland</p><p align="center"><br /> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9iTMv386r0LwpVrh4XJy1ovT7qLnp5RjgUXxX7MtShEEuemSdvDkg5uaD-g6WDwMLJ2Vp1H7K29YXq7oGFPlm7pIkvz5YqE55nYOby79Iq4wIMEp26oxyHO9qLg1W0wK5vop2LQYec4Z/s1600-h/IMG_4824.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213597257105864546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9iTMv386r0LwpVrh4XJy1ovT7qLnp5RjgUXxX7MtShEEuemSdvDkg5uaD-g6WDwMLJ2Vp1H7K29YXq7oGFPlm7pIkvz5YqE55nYOby79Iq4wIMEp26oxyHO9qLg1W0wK5vop2LQYec4Z/s320/IMG_4824.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> some buddhas carved into the coastal rock near Sakata<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoEu0rSBTaKmM_L85U5PWibTuOwa-PD3ccM8EwV2R_cg9woUDOrvBkcgHktlqnisKoW-5kPO_9jM2U9hD2sNDOjNYFMgQ9owcKJ2KxUsvQKVnWCCPQfv4ieBLEBKpt727nrMj4dXLSVBG/s1600-h/IMG_4825.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213597265512567138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoEu0rSBTaKmM_L85U5PWibTuOwa-PD3ccM8EwV2R_cg9woUDOrvBkcgHktlqnisKoW-5kPO_9jM2U9hD2sNDOjNYFMgQ9owcKJ2KxUsvQKVnWCCPQfv4ieBLEBKpt727nrMj4dXLSVBG/s320/IMG_4825.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAnepZxOVLLn8L9GWMYdDVJ71l3EuVtnJgZZ0CtyK_FdAY_akazhmpEw0TzjhDZeNqYbE7LJYssjQd_fIYzpcV56sG_00iPF3_cE4iBeXpuNgWDrUEuNd4qoheXVSjnrafuC5nB0JUfs5/s1600-h/IMG_4829.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213597270168116818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAnepZxOVLLn8L9GWMYdDVJ71l3EuVtnJgZZ0CtyK_FdAY_akazhmpEw0TzjhDZeNqYbE7LJYssjQd_fIYzpcV56sG_00iPF3_cE4iBeXpuNgWDrUEuNd4qoheXVSjnrafuC5nB0JUfs5/s320/IMG_4829.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRbtQ73pdEb3nTBZGwniu6p-xDb3IbU70GMxTuEIjN_8LKbcO8L1F3SWw_NhKMX_9LPMmqLNmjLJ-T_jUdDo4PY8w4x9fQV9sQ-zwIqS58ROX8jKaXtJGxa0m9Qe06rv6ebLf3JoNtN_J/s1600-h/IMG_4831.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213597289290961138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRbtQ73pdEb3nTBZGwniu6p-xDb3IbU70GMxTuEIjN_8LKbcO8L1F3SWw_NhKMX_9LPMmqLNmjLJ-T_jUdDo4PY8w4x9fQV9sQ-zwIqS58ROX8jKaXtJGxa0m9Qe06rv6ebLf3JoNtN_J/s320/IMG_4831.JPG" border="0" /></a>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-50857857518817785472008-06-07T15:48:00.011+09:002008-06-07T17:04:21.472+09:00in the kb-cho<div align="center">The title of this post is my attempt at making my neighborhood name (kobitocho) sound cool. My boredom today resulted in me having my bike fixed and pedaling around my hood. The pics are not all from the kb-cho, which is probably comprised of 2-3 blocks, and include, but are not limited to, alot of Engrish apartment block names.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTcIub0s05rc9HmcW2ofWjX53ndZOm6Yh8G_e1Y9CI0OsM-GGa2HtOWVR9rNY-2UrqhZzSeLR9oeCWpsci1JwPqYh50Axo1xcUJsIZGe3iGMkphrdlp8r8syhP07osF2OPibahB-OygMX/s1600-h/IMG_4641.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209031086772406386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTcIub0s05rc9HmcW2ofWjX53ndZOm6Yh8G_e1Y9CI0OsM-GGa2HtOWVR9rNY-2UrqhZzSeLR9oeCWpsci1JwPqYh50Axo1xcUJsIZGe3iGMkphrdlp8r8syhP07osF2OPibahB-OygMX/s320/IMG_4641.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugC5MiOmWTkY_YXnaWQmRpUb2rAUiCNG1K6oTCjvBvFoUojitFm2ps-elPQI31_860uxO5ORv9sTrzNIxno2hw_kSJTxSAYB3cnMMCFztFrfgXJZLJcsFoSWbQisRO0dIaOu791yzCQoj/s1600-h/IMG_4643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209031089304798434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugC5MiOmWTkY_YXnaWQmRpUb2rAUiCNG1K6oTCjvBvFoUojitFm2ps-elPQI31_860uxO5ORv9sTrzNIxno2hw_kSJTxSAYB3cnMMCFztFrfgXJZLJcsFoSWbQisRO0dIaOu791yzCQoj/s320/IMG_4643.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">This random little garage-gallery is quite near my house and features ever-changing photography exhibits, I think by the homeowner</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAChM1DWjCFGx8cSW3pD7QavcvyINdNt37plGRFQrB1xVeXsOpytX2-92cciEJULfglgxD1-L6xBcSTntGl7T3Um2ECmBJ7rQdv3BXX41Mnf40F2nAgfjkuz7B0PElvv1OOn5p8tER-spg/s1600-h/IMG_4646.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209031097127000674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAChM1DWjCFGx8cSW3pD7QavcvyINdNt37plGRFQrB1xVeXsOpytX2-92cciEJULfglgxD1-L6xBcSTntGl7T3Um2ECmBJ7rQdv3BXX41Mnf40F2nAgfjkuz7B0PElvv1OOn5p8tER-spg/s320/IMG_4646.JPG" border="0" /></a>a typical kb-cho apartment block </p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4p1xZe9XcRZCoCzmTCIkUYAK1wdNbuvPjAmXVMwCWpAEXw5HT9-mvlwBFRHKAVpaMzFIES8hldt2CbaYMWm3Se_DheIHcSzEKpOc4WeYypqA4d6Roq5XzK73cPQ-5bS0OJX4QjTpo3Tt/s1600-h/IMG_4647.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209031106387794562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4p1xZe9XcRZCoCzmTCIkUYAK1wdNbuvPjAmXVMwCWpAEXw5HT9-mvlwBFRHKAVpaMzFIES8hldt2CbaYMWm3Se_DheIHcSzEKpOc4WeYypqA4d6Roq5XzK73cPQ-5bS0OJX4QjTpo3Tt/s320/IMG_4647.JPG" border="0" /></a> some newer houses in the 'hood <p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKe_rGjy-Qo9-lgfcJLN9ibiWqbwvgtmkJviL1vmmUwhixBpgh6yqNmSBi5Taq1S8JsVyXHjVJdY6Ff0LVXHSGSlmVFJtEb0MxNAoLzXTNqLfvFazOFd-7lK8fHOmM5Oi8NXIlxuRAkdS/s1600-h/IMG_4648.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209031110118724658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKe_rGjy-Qo9-lgfcJLN9ibiWqbwvgtmkJviL1vmmUwhixBpgh6yqNmSBi5Taq1S8JsVyXHjVJdY6Ff0LVXHSGSlmVFJtEb0MxNAoLzXTNqLfvFazOFd-7lK8fHOmM5Oi8NXIlxuRAkdS/s320/IMG_4648.JPG" border="0" /></a>the local liquor shop, more importantly featuring many vending machines</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHCyUs9u70AJ1hB40VmSdbIHUXayrfmd4VDovYesJBQa8-i7AQGVSPPGqseifn7-nUbtRGpHxUGP5MXVwrJwNms_MQUDtRVpW684p1u5Nsdd8OXnoKnQ7Xze4JZcOLZ_8q68ApAExTYlq/s1600-h/IMG_4649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209033095043083970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHCyUs9u70AJ1hB40VmSdbIHUXayrfmd4VDovYesJBQa8-i7AQGVSPPGqseifn7-nUbtRGpHxUGP5MXVwrJwNms_MQUDtRVpW684p1u5Nsdd8OXnoKnQ7Xze4JZcOLZ_8q68ApAExTYlq/s320/IMG_4649.JPG" border="0" /></a>The new development I've been monitoring on my ride to work each morning - went up in a couple of months, averaging about 1 house built every 2 days - these pics were taken before I realized there was an open house going on and a realtor was watching me like a hawk<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnWRi_Q0WFjXa7MI0nKCmQS5eaVgFUDfL3jhzDkR0JOozU7s1jEm7_TE_iadPmSlX3CnaGy-6dBl8ymEJOcYwyWXY2AvOO_XfQsH3TAzAfz7BCA_3ZE3oUsBOFcCtPXwQP5oTVpNLEjrM/s1600-h/IMG_4650.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209033109629950802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnWRi_Q0WFjXa7MI0nKCmQS5eaVgFUDfL3jhzDkR0JOozU7s1jEm7_TE_iadPmSlX3CnaGy-6dBl8ymEJOcYwyWXY2AvOO_XfQsH3TAzAfz7BCA_3ZE3oUsBOFcCtPXwQP5oTVpNLEjrM/s320/IMG_4650.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBypAm8plbsK7an3Aq7PCXD9R7NPGGgcnqPiCLeVnJ7ZZUauM0AGc-as5omx9N3M5sYcqpFaH86b7dUniILbwDVc1UGB_kVFmOa3sj_052yOdtb3Pl7KudpUGVUhEuGct0kXxV3xy2iUr/s1600-h/IMG_4651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209033110938733330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBypAm8plbsK7an3Aq7PCXD9R7NPGGgcnqPiCLeVnJ7ZZUauM0AGc-as5omx9N3M5sYcqpFaH86b7dUniILbwDVc1UGB_kVFmOa3sj_052yOdtb3Pl7KudpUGVUhEuGct0kXxV3xy2iUr/s320/IMG_4651.JPG" border="0" /></a> typical plot of rice field in the middle of residential neighborhood</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX1w8raf_eSC0PxyvuavZsDW4Gd2cPUVjRXI0JVkg7rlxKavIAD5G_9BDMwSPh-_M0-MFhAoqkEerRYsZ7NT_BuNvSzyd0mHKg_cGktPv6PsFzE2duxcUVNdAYmci6KLYF1LykzK6jXf0/s1600-h/IMG_4653.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209033126875850018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX1w8raf_eSC0PxyvuavZsDW4Gd2cPUVjRXI0JVkg7rlxKavIAD5G_9BDMwSPh-_M0-MFhAoqkEerRYsZ7NT_BuNvSzyd0mHKg_cGktPv6PsFzE2duxcUVNdAYmci6KLYF1LykzK6jXf0/s320/IMG_4653.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFQHPawxEQWW7rDiW6FEAZakh4MX8Ysw1yRpgA0mpuw7fboCq8d4mmJB1EZ3FWDNyeEXjySFil87SK7WM_u32gVdts9UbHnxba2oUoOgf0ylrDxfqO8F7ColwORpxUYJT8MGI0QfLSjV0/s1600-h/IMG_4655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209035023394198322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFQHPawxEQWW7rDiW6FEAZakh4MX8Ysw1yRpgA0mpuw7fboCq8d4mmJB1EZ3FWDNyeEXjySFil87SK7WM_u32gVdts9UbHnxba2oUoOgf0ylrDxfqO8F7ColwORpxUYJT8MGI0QfLSjV0/s320/IMG_4655.JPG" border="0" /></a> one of my favorite houses in the hood</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVOKn4W1mWcKRGPOsWijxFyF90h4o39LXD06opK1cEyueBmAmItNX6MIp_1C7szw4Ho-MnEFVNcOOwrPH0ErEd9Ne5EgExO4-ycNWTqragulax6u8m1s48sCgGeT_dhQu7N8vD3CO2_RS/s1600-h/IMG_4657.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209035035279426050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVOKn4W1mWcKRGPOsWijxFyF90h4o39LXD06opK1cEyueBmAmItNX6MIp_1C7szw4Ho-MnEFVNcOOwrPH0ErEd9Ne5EgExO4-ycNWTqragulax6u8m1s48sCgGeT_dhQu7N8vD3CO2_RS/s320/IMG_4657.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">an almost basque-style-looking house next to the 'fragrance' apt block</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RyUfLd6XJ5XWwJvEESHlXnwwJxYYcrd62FAcYNp4ddc8u3mhjmL5cMT19pdwUhgYpSV29Xk8xvGQCxMBFA7AWTgj-qoCikYLKZzZB7FvMfpDvh5lELSHsJJ2mxzbs3Ff1BTMUzDLp4u3/s1600-h/IMG_4660.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209035046537405122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RyUfLd6XJ5XWwJvEESHlXnwwJxYYcrd62FAcYNp4ddc8u3mhjmL5cMT19pdwUhgYpSV29Xk8xvGQCxMBFA7AWTgj-qoCikYLKZzZB7FvMfpDvh5lELSHsJJ2mxzbs3Ff1BTMUzDLp4u3/s320/IMG_4660.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Where garbage goes. Japan is pretty good at recycling. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXL8eCbRQT1by6hf8NSv3HsUsvYR3eDsqplBICm64KU7CkR_wkeG-wnNvmUeUzRVhxy-1ErobwlTc5aCQr_vs5-bl-S_tosntgrhgqHcdAJecBik0FT4Kpb2DJJJ8cvNJ2PQ_Dc81GZV5I/s1600-h/IMG_4661.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209035049885127858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXL8eCbRQT1by6hf8NSv3HsUsvYR3eDsqplBICm64KU7CkR_wkeG-wnNvmUeUzRVhxy-1ErobwlTc5aCQr_vs5-bl-S_tosntgrhgqHcdAJecBik0FT4Kpb2DJJJ8cvNJ2PQ_Dc81GZV5I/s320/IMG_4661.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlu4gTzDeX-GBf2oBQSikB5vCDpcyvJuYmWYTva0VlzQmKjJUpKm4RAZyEpK69lh4VPQThqWKmMcz8pG4mqto6srPYz30lovZZ39oSH74Dm9HhNwOSR9BUaX2sF2BdXrP1zYh-glgadGD8/s1600-h/IMG_4662.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209037314626765154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlu4gTzDeX-GBf2oBQSikB5vCDpcyvJuYmWYTva0VlzQmKjJUpKm4RAZyEpK69lh4VPQThqWKmMcz8pG4mqto6srPYz30lovZZ39oSH74Dm9HhNwOSR9BUaX2sF2BdXrP1zYh-glgadGD8/s320/IMG_4662.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">an old house next to a presumed hostess bar </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VRyPBeQhrrIRfVUKzbiAgrxYLKWqEGL1VXsc3DzHQ7zdY1PwZ2z0ROwnGlo5etycihAE3rLmIGyN73xzKKXeIS33ifPXm8HUJL6E7XyFAvZprrjErQp4xz9AaAm-e9UvuYtSQTq283TT/s1600-h/IMG_4663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209037327666954962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VRyPBeQhrrIRfVUKzbiAgrxYLKWqEGL1VXsc3DzHQ7zdY1PwZ2z0ROwnGlo5etycihAE3rLmIGyN73xzKKXeIS33ifPXm8HUJL6E7XyFAvZprrjErQp4xz9AaAm-e9UvuYtSQTq283TT/s320/IMG_4663.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">the random local surf shop, same owner as the random local reggae/jamaican themed bar<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2EnmLiGAhkpXzK039So-rR1hjJF_fo2n0wwbFF_35uDEjptt7ndzQJIG_douio93uNN8P3pba0SANm7brLCZ7hon-mTtficjw3ggCE0mVANThzBqRoaE-7yBHFv-nvvZ1e6ziGzbDOTK/s1600-h/IMG_4666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209037329873387842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2EnmLiGAhkpXzK039So-rR1hjJF_fo2n0wwbFF_35uDEjptt7ndzQJIG_douio93uNN8P3pba0SANm7brLCZ7hon-mTtficjw3ggCE0mVANThzBqRoaE-7yBHFv-nvvZ1e6ziGzbDOTK/s320/IMG_4666.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Honjo's Main Street </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksVXF9i7id_3m5cjMFhyphenhyphenh8TQi_P1jw_5bkPfrI_OaBU6DAPP11sermvJo-5X0e-lpYV70O_HPZeaoKi2zFOJp4W0PcjIaXMTtgVJQJb6URDgCHhWhJb12zCeMvTexxee8DJRLnoQ3IziQ/s1600-h/IMG_4671.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209037343020245650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksVXF9i7id_3m5cjMFhyphenhyphenh8TQi_P1jw_5bkPfrI_OaBU6DAPP11sermvJo-5X0e-lpYV70O_HPZeaoKi2zFOJp4W0PcjIaXMTtgVJQJb6URDgCHhWhJb12zCeMvTexxee8DJRLnoQ3IziQ/s320/IMG_4671.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8JrdR7WRgsNFRx_EpGNKcWPPbeP4XpV95SYnhdd1c3fyPnHO6Eo0VdjCRR8K4M5pfo8Uk06EGF4dvVrckug-NsP0HafCcb7vVAoEMiA0bKB7nRJijuE3LRQ_5cdhp1ySt9KoYoMmAmMo/s1600-h/IMG_4672.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209037354173680914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8JrdR7WRgsNFRx_EpGNKcWPPbeP4XpV95SYnhdd1c3fyPnHO6Eo0VdjCRR8K4M5pfo8Uk06EGF4dvVrckug-NsP0HafCcb7vVAoEMiA0bKB7nRJijuE3LRQ_5cdhp1ySt9KoYoMmAmMo/s320/IMG_4672.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7s9OGfr7zI6A0BoQ8AIlc0C1PYlnZQXmO8p54aEn3J7gxvQFKn-g-cQQdEn0v7iONIBeNP2Q_HFbMHxAZ-4afaMiPe3rhbWchRyUxJSiO_o_NzRu5Cj0pM1fOiiMDlzMjAwnscSZHOqA/s1600-h/IMG_4674.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209039163418807874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7s9OGfr7zI6A0BoQ8AIlc0C1PYlnZQXmO8p54aEn3J7gxvQFKn-g-cQQdEn0v7iONIBeNP2Q_HFbMHxAZ-4afaMiPe3rhbWchRyUxJSiO_o_NzRu5Cj0pM1fOiiMDlzMjAwnscSZHOqA/s320/IMG_4674.JPG" border="0" /></a> A favorite coffee place near the station</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmIjctZsp5vvN4FjWh7iL_z0YM7RFvKojGf3SCTuQnz3vx5ZhxCvzsoBQbjB2XFKqhnVUiJPgSdCbE1bMs4cZX7BF7M4HHQypYZ8pV94etjCHKipC0Ia8-1V8MwUak9NhifRStxkd_m-g/s1600-h/IMG_4678.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209039172876880770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmIjctZsp5vvN4FjWh7iL_z0YM7RFvKojGf3SCTuQnz3vx5ZhxCvzsoBQbjB2XFKqhnVUiJPgSdCbE1bMs4cZX7BF7M4HHQypYZ8pV94etjCHKipC0Ia8-1V8MwUak9NhifRStxkd_m-g/s320/IMG_4678.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuka3j3BZv0kCAHj_4aYZe6CTi5USy7rfuTmR2FgcagA2fZzu28NtrVEehOmzdAzZfnduuLa10rgsgNrQ1bZLxVneyPdioSHbslKkF_8icl9fDBJCy-_Ygp-gjYaC3iF4Bx9BGF9Cik6dz/s1600-h/IMG_4679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209039182236149826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuka3j3BZv0kCAHj_4aYZe6CTi5USy7rfuTmR2FgcagA2fZzu28NtrVEehOmzdAzZfnduuLa10rgsgNrQ1bZLxVneyPdioSHbslKkF_8icl9fDBJCy-_Ygp-gjYaC3iF4Bx9BGF9Cik6dz/s320/IMG_4679.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU332LH1izve9Ry8Sc5ekDT9jjoVIVHviBFdnqz91spcSrFlMfbZz0PmKVfI2ri9oR7zCqh-K6T4eNHZBPxyvaHPzbWuaKSLQgIVBaThrKx_DpXNoYRpVAest_3hoLWHJjCEwowbLGSp2/s1600-h/IMG_4680.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209039188568440162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU332LH1izve9Ry8Sc5ekDT9jjoVIVHviBFdnqz91spcSrFlMfbZz0PmKVfI2ri9oR7zCqh-K6T4eNHZBPxyvaHPzbWuaKSLQgIVBaThrKx_DpXNoYRpVAest_3hoLWHJjCEwowbLGSp2/s320/IMG_4680.JPG" border="0" /></a> my closest neighbor, a tiny plot of vineyard</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_518NebbhYQJE-V1UNH9yu0je4g6WzybRlS9loibq3MGycx2tdd7wGG8FA5taJ1FBvvgibaoGvcql2ShTERAk_XC8oLIDZWFeSqcHpMy5gp8ctzrh831PmqCAN6WJPuYTU2E_GheyJqN/s1600-h/IMG_4681.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209039200997914274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_518NebbhYQJE-V1UNH9yu0je4g6WzybRlS9loibq3MGycx2tdd7wGG8FA5taJ1FBvvgibaoGvcql2ShTERAk_XC8oLIDZWFeSqcHpMy5gp8ctzrh831PmqCAN6WJPuYTU2E_GheyJqN/s320/IMG_4681.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">another neighbor with a nice garden </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYW1PGEfThmMdOq3tiTWCe_1fBFsvp3nc5oL9ll7UKWgWLifZxm4xUT6WioF7St_yIcX3wJMXvemfPGvYhIACGjQF-rh1y_mW3mbqSGuDImjx9nmtI_dLUklUnQIC-0cmmj7B45BinkZr/s1600-h/IMG_4683.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209040285649959698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYW1PGEfThmMdOq3tiTWCe_1fBFsvp3nc5oL9ll7UKWgWLifZxm4xUT6WioF7St_yIcX3wJMXvemfPGvYhIACGjQF-rh1y_mW3mbqSGuDImjx9nmtI_dLUklUnQIC-0cmmj7B45BinkZr/s320/IMG_4683.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">one of the many gutter streams running through the town, smelling sewage-y<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZspFUcPrPR09VEBIqhbNzNaTyD-vZv-w5K4aJzfr5NqZMDQUpG8MmbfVJJjBeMKR1OlalohZ_2isz2AIa6lj2-QCnSEap5y3SU5Osmt4TvaZkSbHTM71R406BIAqgI8aErA4Mf8LieAyL/s1600-h/IMG_4684.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209040292211214994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZspFUcPrPR09VEBIqhbNzNaTyD-vZv-w5K4aJzfr5NqZMDQUpG8MmbfVJJjBeMKR1OlalohZ_2isz2AIa6lj2-QCnSEap5y3SU5Osmt4TvaZkSbHTM71R406BIAqgI8aErA4Mf8LieAyL/s320/IMG_4684.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">deep, open gutters on the sides of the street aka gaijin traps</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-72268854686387936972008-06-03T08:37:00.014+09:002008-06-03T15:19:26.363+09:00undokai<div align="left">This weekend I experienced my first <em>undokai </em>or Sports Day, at my junior high. I had a fair idea of what to expect from other ALTs and the intensive practice the week before. It consisted of the usual favorites: relay races, tug-of-war's, etc., and inevitably ended in a drinking party for the teachers. My favorite was something they called the "pafomansu" (performance) where all the students executed a sychronized, well, not dance, really, more like a cheer, to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58CJih1iYC0">Queen's classic "Don't Stop Me Now"</a>, which my JTE was very happy about because the song uses the phrase "having a good time", something the 8th graders had been learning. In the video they start out with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb0kN2ClQHg">EXILE's famous "Choo Choo Train" </a>dance move, there's a bit of patty cake, and then of course the wave.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPonfGzyiKsa__RB5CdHlJNFEccWMCV7lE7SFSrtjrwpZBOVB5BiB1trvWa9X_p-oTp6Jw_uHyOO4bg5Fr' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div align="center">"tochu pafomansu"<br /></div><div align="center"> </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pdp95b3yApKnHsu-WGQJ9gSMV-8Nobf0lR_gwsSG0LS-zwQHsA4rwPF7qdgK6UcuZDIPF7MRyFfuETPSXPG32wdg3yIzwlnEvXrnT6jNeE58qNpNYDIDyCqxZIvxQmKMk0in2_0vGFSa/s1600-h/IMG_4478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207454812790948514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pdp95b3yApKnHsu-WGQJ9gSMV-8Nobf0lR_gwsSG0LS-zwQHsA4rwPF7qdgK6UcuZDIPF7MRyFfuETPSXPG32wdg3yIzwlnEvXrnT6jNeE58qNpNYDIDyCqxZIvxQmKMk0in2_0vGFSa/s320/IMG_4478.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Sports day logos - Cool!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC6MC3F57npC18eSWtrAzbdG6d9mcx1Vmj1MTL03oY3_GkAjH7fJZV6HOXRFnecbjHIAyv-8cSUqDV_Xcnv3AxDMwASesy9n7t5zRu-RbVWuZVmhV8AnloJwJXF9dUh1TFUSWJGcktfob/s1600-h/IMG_4617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207518548469111362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC6MC3F57npC18eSWtrAzbdG6d9mcx1Vmj1MTL03oY3_GkAjH7fJZV6HOXRFnecbjHIAyv-8cSUqDV_Xcnv3AxDMwASesy9n7t5zRu-RbVWuZVmhV8AnloJwJXF9dUh1TFUSWJGcktfob/s320/IMG_4617.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBcXqAbFUT5fZ6R3UoqXN6Ic0AFErhqLW56qfA2xA-br6aRb7j4lF8AqyhafdJ2LWe9LaDzzW_Ki3CoR3JJCXSEq14Pvep6j1pMwdCOXCsAbDrHJfG0TPXtUhqc7IMpX_vTyPRpeAVhEm/s1600-h/IMG_4487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207454819271753154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBcXqAbFUT5fZ6R3UoqXN6Ic0AFErhqLW56qfA2xA-br6aRb7j4lF8AqyhafdJ2LWe9LaDzzW_Ki3CoR3JJCXSEq14Pvep6j1pMwdCOXCsAbDrHJfG0TPXtUhqc7IMpX_vTyPRpeAVhEm/s320/IMG_4487.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeSLTMwoYrZP_JeLuIQcAOuBsXD67nfd90Gf0H7nnSKxRI1OpVbYMD4W9LbvQXPs5Hk4Nlm7vy2sF2PMnaqTvNYXmbVYBRuLd505m_wWSqtoRkzsIPpShhLjAGsGvi0_dZuBZpMYylVBm/s1600-h/IMG_4498.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207454825547125122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeSLTMwoYrZP_JeLuIQcAOuBsXD67nfd90Gf0H7nnSKxRI1OpVbYMD4W9LbvQXPs5Hk4Nlm7vy2sF2PMnaqTvNYXmbVYBRuLd505m_wWSqtoRkzsIPpShhLjAGsGvi0_dZuBZpMYylVBm/s320/IMG_4498.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center">homeroom cheers - notice the boy and girl in the middle avoiding skin-to-skin contact with her sleeve<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmgJm0WBGT3Gdy4XG1erCZlWOirxG3dhL9hJrKKTOht_7PUntSk4lnlCjuNJlzKToRGLlZo3X6-PUm17i54GplQZD_9bUCW8YRtCZtIg19hU3KQSmc8U8N4R5FrKGNVp95j9C151O6IQ4/s1600-h/IMG_4499.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207518534508810370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmgJm0WBGT3Gdy4XG1erCZlWOirxG3dhL9hJrKKTOht_7PUntSk4lnlCjuNJlzKToRGLlZo3X6-PUm17i54GplQZD_9bUCW8YRtCZtIg19hU3KQSmc8U8N4R5FrKGNVp95j9C151O6IQ4/s320/IMG_4499.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MYL4WmJNTSpOAaDfptr3bFL0wRM9KV4nMCXcIfsDyX3Q8odSrYBUWxdHHS9pfNzHPM4dZgVXgK21EEoGwfxJCZt4UNIwk0yOaJ-bL5U2spUyPNcXiZeojebZj5aPxmxfJtIjXiJc4gN2/s1600-h/IMG_4494.JPG"><br /><p align="center"></a></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbh6iwPo6EIq8dpbN5RztjQC6YcyMNkzWO2oQst6MWiPJFVMCZvgtBH8PMPkyqg0dppT0oe2hFP2g2lRycMiz42drv6tiXoUlv6IFvWuR2oBMj7Chs_pX5uFBs8bNBkkIWon6VueVlzuA/s1600-h/IMG_4494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207532741512645202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbh6iwPo6EIq8dpbN5RztjQC6YcyMNkzWO2oQst6MWiPJFVMCZvgtBH8PMPkyqg0dppT0oe2hFP2g2lRycMiz42drv6tiXoUlv6IFvWuR2oBMj7Chs_pX5uFBs8bNBkkIWon6VueVlzuA/s320/IMG_4494.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>my JTE's homeroom (and therefore my favorites), 1D<br /></p><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB4vX_Z8cpJDeaqMlrEtyCA0JM1IBCeBuFKO3Thg1oS_fheH3lkmDbWtOZZnIZxrCFMaDewoKBQjUUeZFku8w58lW9tMQv32X3cH6BPr3w-FW4qMayrsbOrzUaq3azsUntaLt_oN1flSB/s1600-h/IMG_4512.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207518521030153090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB4vX_Z8cpJDeaqMlrEtyCA0JM1IBCeBuFKO3Thg1oS_fheH3lkmDbWtOZZnIZxrCFMaDewoKBQjUUeZFku8w58lW9tMQv32X3cH6BPr3w-FW4qMayrsbOrzUaq3azsUntaLt_oN1flSB/s320/IMG_4512.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">student body president giving his address<br /></p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x1Hnjbuiqj5h_oinMFlWObfZVhsBF0y6IAXV9LOLG-pcEaHR3l8meZPsdN__WsXaFDE3TMZWiiAtKG4gjEQ070CkILZzZXTH104lx4V_uKzFfarPaVwmN2MgchZ0jJAmYQIwrMTt5877/s1600-h/IMG_4514.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207523244415315794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x1Hnjbuiqj5h_oinMFlWObfZVhsBF0y6IAXV9LOLG-pcEaHR3l8meZPsdN__WsXaFDE3TMZWiiAtKG4gjEQ070CkILZzZXTH104lx4V_uKzFfarPaVwmN2MgchZ0jJAmYQIwrMTt5877/s400/IMG_4514.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">my first time seeing the synchronized calisthenics </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lrsPeIzuUFTsNIQvwFqUQJyl9VkSMDwSe4BeUrblX0IT7Eql9RF_5H9Ticps6rjPHgXzfevea0vYm28CLeBB8CXLHKFepEl0ORGIT8oziGTWX-rDgAMsSiTbhwwXaAMi4l32tdOkSiQT/s1600-h/IMG_4517.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207523252781649074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lrsPeIzuUFTsNIQvwFqUQJyl9VkSMDwSe4BeUrblX0IT7Eql9RF_5H9Ticps6rjPHgXzfevea0vYm28CLeBB8CXLHKFepEl0ORGIT8oziGTWX-rDgAMsSiTbhwwXaAMi4l32tdOkSiQT/s400/IMG_4517.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZeGtdQ9HMhmei6joRDz5tibcIHinWwDPmU9xbMTNvUNSZ0DBMEfZeSmKN-6NuaNzXPLqQIJSVdWsETGFY4Dx93ZUS8V107lve-kixaJnnldfoRA7OtWygkgaeH5xweVCb4fg1TiSvgRY/s1600-h/IMG_4518.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207523261608778210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZeGtdQ9HMhmei6joRDz5tibcIHinWwDPmU9xbMTNvUNSZ0DBMEfZeSmKN-6NuaNzXPLqQIJSVdWsETGFY4Dx93ZUS8V107lve-kixaJnnldfoRA7OtWygkgaeH5xweVCb4fg1TiSvgRY/s400/IMG_4518.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0gkvqpaHUv2txwC7IqYF9Uxz1mFn8hQiIbLwgtNkxq54apP-qJzbM3r6wBaNT8iJFI4emPD2AvQbpi_bLlVV0pEKA42_V5SlkHz1XfQhyphenhyphenaB18w2Kh0NlF9maOCwPVgH6HVUeIRHuDjbP/s1600-h/IMG_4524.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207523266843672610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0gkvqpaHUv2txwC7IqYF9Uxz1mFn8hQiIbLwgtNkxq54apP-qJzbM3r6wBaNT8iJFI4emPD2AvQbpi_bLlVV0pEKA42_V5SlkHz1XfQhyphenhyphenaB18w2Kh0NlF9maOCwPVgH6HVUeIRHuDjbP/s400/IMG_4524.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWtjB_EpKNXiCYQ16BpNBZDf8o0NKouVx1zgfojgPJqyTGdCj6NRNkq_1can1Vx5o65d1pcUXMtwF7nMKvkov8tdmXRQZtsP4duOl8yE1MfNABUWnaLZvRqMZ_nfUMUbNtKgVfH5Cpxam/s1600-h/IMG_4525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207523276396620610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWtjB_EpKNXiCYQ16BpNBZDf8o0NKouVx1zgfojgPJqyTGdCj6NRNkq_1can1Vx5o65d1pcUXMtwF7nMKvkov8tdmXRQZtsP4duOl8yE1MfNABUWnaLZvRqMZ_nfUMUbNtKgVfH5Cpxam/s400/IMG_4525.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgk67ypHPYP8q7ewl07JxO9CXJcSYe06pXHgXwlXjCUYbADIJAqmxq2YWktvVSx0hl_PG3CrEMZ7v6NN1vGpTPb3r6L3h2f2bUcjiiBFkD1LHIPXTCIoJBcryvaZTqQtntN4pI1cZ9RMI/s1600-h/IMG_4534.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207526011075187986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgk67ypHPYP8q7ewl07JxO9CXJcSYe06pXHgXwlXjCUYbADIJAqmxq2YWktvVSx0hl_PG3CrEMZ7v6NN1vGpTPb3r6L3h2f2bUcjiiBFkD1LHIPXTCIoJBcryvaZTqQtntN4pI1cZ9RMI/s400/IMG_4534.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>the paper-crown-stealing game<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ2jRdX-M7U_DgCJq8phnq7iudPrSv1HA0dQyKY5LGIBqvL03jjAgHd85rhmQ1YUw74Dd-GePRhsNgn14z5CiRqbi0UT8CS7X43xVdMINbf1h-L-insrvN-szQ4XJ8raXff-p0mJn5Lqa/s1600-h/IMG_4539.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207526026373184738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ2jRdX-M7U_DgCJq8phnq7iudPrSv1HA0dQyKY5LGIBqvL03jjAgHd85rhmQ1YUw74Dd-GePRhsNgn14z5CiRqbi0UT8CS7X43xVdMINbf1h-L-insrvN-szQ4XJ8raXff-p0mJn5Lqa/s400/IMG_4539.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyczSJo70rrjqLC2FLZntestOqrcxj0EvKC8eLIz2viZ2dmw3Z7YWtelUNw1ZnBMqbeGbKIwoDICDjFxmvn6ffUPagJoJrClLxMvPK2kQYMzzdbV9x5VkgAYfLRxQ6mxxPiSc3GmMQGatW/s1600-h/IMG_4552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207526896410457170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyczSJo70rrjqLC2FLZntestOqrcxj0EvKC8eLIz2viZ2dmw3Z7YWtelUNw1ZnBMqbeGbKIwoDICDjFxmvn6ffUPagJoJrClLxMvPK2kQYMzzdbV9x5VkgAYfLRxQ6mxxPiSc3GmMQGatW/s400/IMG_4552.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>the throw-the-balls-in-the-box game<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEWfv92FajaC94Zdn37KFZWDFsF6kpogzDhOd9vi2PI5aP_4EbEd_74XCYPdC9HiGbjJNPhwDvuS1dsv26IrhMP4oS5W2UJuRMe7nrLg2WwQTXoneVbSFZ_0cNTFJ_ohXJgMWyKx-GQDb/s1600-h/IMG_4554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207526905477060914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEWfv92FajaC94Zdn37KFZWDFsF6kpogzDhOd9vi2PI5aP_4EbEd_74XCYPdC9HiGbjJNPhwDvuS1dsv26IrhMP4oS5W2UJuRMe7nrLg2WwQTXoneVbSFZ_0cNTFJ_ohXJgMWyKx-GQDb/s400/IMG_4554.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgoOrRnxGNYB_mQemTJTnjiaZLceQQsENHMDsLmVXowU0qk578Ezv9ExvlZo1UbGyuAwwSzDgy2LCc2kjoueot8pEK9iJFHvhdQc7u1CpQMwnOWuBMwC-wka26E7gFkL7pOEP8ZhuC-nn/s1600-h/IMG_4560.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207528136616003042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgoOrRnxGNYB_mQemTJTnjiaZLceQQsENHMDsLmVXowU0qk578Ezv9ExvlZo1UbGyuAwwSzDgy2LCc2kjoueot8pEK9iJFHvhdQc7u1CpQMwnOWuBMwC-wka26E7gFkL7pOEP8ZhuC-nn/s400/IMG_4560.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>massive jump rope-for-as-long-as-you-can<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAj1IcLeu4sFpiyS3eOYUuNj_SBE3UFe-yUfj-gHcc-uW2y421sFH7K7eh2HWkOwqqijX778smLpnHZC9Ujs89DHTpmliYSbJ1pSfKrH2LHjjeUQrqgIqb5CWlq30-CpdrGtmhqWzdVrZ/s1600-h/IMG_4564.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207528142595272914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAj1IcLeu4sFpiyS3eOYUuNj_SBE3UFe-yUfj-gHcc-uW2y421sFH7K7eh2HWkOwqqijX778smLpnHZC9Ujs89DHTpmliYSbJ1pSfKrH2LHjjeUQrqgIqb5CWlq30-CpdrGtmhqWzdVrZ/s400/IMG_4564.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62JEZ30J9HuP3ZTpBSNq9d415SC7A4OQaivjd_OuyOF5XQ2jf14O0tu4wXN8qRBO-QF7LcACCOFU4-Ju9Apu21OZ53zTf-o33PeiFngbBz9zd4z5vTXm6T04yeVSw4GGKZioOZdpjbihh/s1600-h/IMG_4567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207529091492710642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62JEZ30J9HuP3ZTpBSNq9d415SC7A4OQaivjd_OuyOF5XQ2jf14O0tu4wXN8qRBO-QF7LcACCOFU4-Ju9Apu21OZ53zTf-o33PeiFngbBz9zd4z5vTXm6T04yeVSw4GGKZioOZdpjbihh/s320/IMG_4567.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vywiNQ3AYd9tTUIshVL5cpYGuDvQ-Ces70fHiFRyUadLuME795PkWVDN-AFNUlm8wWOgz5Ec7JarR_c4c4QCsSiwvosoWJd-ORsD2SBAthLJBZ0E0fdaVnVhnkdzcdnoYuecrdRB3-If/s1600-h/IMG_4570.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207529100124684834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vywiNQ3AYd9tTUIshVL5cpYGuDvQ-Ces70fHiFRyUadLuME795PkWVDN-AFNUlm8wWOgz5Ec7JarR_c4c4QCsSiwvosoWJd-ORsD2SBAthLJBZ0E0fdaVnVhnkdzcdnoYuecrdRB3-If/s320/IMG_4570.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>the tug-of-war was taken PRETTY seriously<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcVuOwAVfLQjIcCVlvFLvqH-IqL59vOCP7rXHU9uhIEryrT0HCmEau7rknizIHOV76u8gYw1OROAeIY4j__e-fGk19fxOHbPVK2UNjCU0iVx_DnWqdtPq-E8L6VXJmqcFwdYp3gTtE2uN/s1600-h/IMG_4577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207529108868938018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcVuOwAVfLQjIcCVlvFLvqH-IqL59vOCP7rXHU9uhIEryrT0HCmEau7rknizIHOV76u8gYw1OROAeIY4j__e-fGk19fxOHbPVK2UNjCU0iVx_DnWqdtPq-E8L6VXJmqcFwdYp3gTtE2uN/s320/IMG_4577.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zp6Kc7noL9AHMRZqYkvqDtOSBY28cTNusMJzszZuCZm0jNrpqxb426A4vLcfWFopa6G1EPc1lG0ep-wWI1lNMqfE0Q3-sJLPtafytErFjlVvCdAkdGSErBzSFmkra8nkkPjH5PS4jbZU/s1600-h/IMG_4593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207530143754132274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zp6Kc7noL9AHMRZqYkvqDtOSBY28cTNusMJzszZuCZm0jNrpqxb426A4vLcfWFopa6G1EPc1lG0ep-wWI1lNMqfE0Q3-sJLPtafytErFjlVvCdAkdGSErBzSFmkra8nkkPjH5PS4jbZU/s320/IMG_4593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUy_50LczdtQWZFLHnriERtCtSLB_nGtKyebrYKAJes6aQVhCKbHDSJpOIZS8tfZcgNb49ymx3-LsLlsFvVgmCgIhR26J0sqGuCllvDK28aW7-3ZJjtclC0U7sawZ_n-aOEmPDpCebIgj/s1600-h/IMG_4595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207530172633479234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUy_50LczdtQWZFLHnriERtCtSLB_nGtKyebrYKAJes6aQVhCKbHDSJpOIZS8tfZcgNb49ymx3-LsLlsFvVgmCgIhR26J0sqGuCllvDK28aW7-3ZJjtclC0U7sawZ_n-aOEmPDpCebIgj/s320/IMG_4595.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>teachers/superheroes<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXVoetcod0B3gogV1iXP0BJuPT9gaPMITRuctFVyuEuRiteRrRCCCsbqChmEq1anXhxhpwNSr_EyRbmnZjX3dT_3u9OH9lPDd0NiTySNxxyixee2h8odRinHM3EBvpHPxqZvkeZMMeCf0/s1600-h/IMG_4599.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207530178248877842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXVoetcod0B3gogV1iXP0BJuPT9gaPMITRuctFVyuEuRiteRrRCCCsbqChmEq1anXhxhpwNSr_EyRbmnZjX3dT_3u9OH9lPDd0NiTySNxxyixee2h8odRinHM3EBvpHPxqZvkeZMMeCf0/s320/IMG_4599.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdB-LNRsab7Y4o8shPKehqiyhr_K-oH2duQrOnqrVYgKL7qa2BuJ64DS1fekehUMBsQvRHpZdajNWwvpPlAyzgyUb7P7Svuxx87dge4oeMPxmisjGxP6l7-I8WMeQTHfT2jiOOOgxaznx/s1600-h/IMG_4601.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207530896842584130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdB-LNRsab7Y4o8shPKehqiyhr_K-oH2duQrOnqrVYgKL7qa2BuJ64DS1fekehUMBsQvRHpZdajNWwvpPlAyzgyUb7P7Svuxx87dge4oeMPxmisjGxP6l7-I8WMeQTHfT2jiOOOgxaznx/s320/IMG_4601.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqhgIPtuL9kOXbz3dsa11c0RBcd-JTSq1R2UzqCEqpktkRTkfMJB8CKKduDhlXyzhbum7ltI6uenF_ZIhulza7BfSaiObUqj9yidjY4HA-RwVF4ktaA0vcjTDz18PrO03l2RV_M7NZPLO/s1600-h/IMG_4605.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207530901893507378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqhgIPtuL9kOXbz3dsa11c0RBcd-JTSq1R2UzqCEqpktkRTkfMJB8CKKduDhlXyzhbum7ltI6uenF_ZIhulza7BfSaiObUqj9yidjY4HA-RwVF4ktaA0vcjTDz18PrO03l2RV_M7NZPLO/s320/IMG_4605.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>a silly pass-the-basketball game for the parents<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHKhAwbmlTiOXMC1NibI9NQ2OmY_l2wSASpn-5wfVg5T78fbGf9rrjfC6mvgKYuld9Trce9m7c3RZQgWpllfrqxOTuA49q8LcAsZBYCjSh7FvkT7tY_DdUp6RhpJvLQ-Xayb5VDoE0swx/s1600-h/IMG_4609.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207530907740983026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHKhAwbmlTiOXMC1NibI9NQ2OmY_l2wSASpn-5wfVg5T78fbGf9rrjfC6mvgKYuld9Trce9m7c3RZQgWpllfrqxOTuA49q8LcAsZBYCjSh7FvkT7tY_DdUp6RhpJvLQ-Xayb5VDoE0swx/s320/IMG_4609.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>clubs' relay race with props - art club (on the far end, wearing a funny hat and carrying a painting) won second place!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2L1DAoi0_U0KWYtv3pYtCjlPEdTfiAMHNPSfFZg7dzDthHFWHp16frUHsPd8Tt-s78pf83zHesAzI-tjjb7iaN4ptHePkVTYIdNenjMftx_hQX2QlTgqvBnLZkjK8WtC1vA2xyEMtbLQ/s1600-h/IMG_4639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207531276497678226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2L1DAoi0_U0KWYtv3pYtCjlPEdTfiAMHNPSfFZg7dzDthHFWHp16frUHsPd8Tt-s78pf83zHesAzI-tjjb7iaN4ptHePkVTYIdNenjMftx_hQX2QlTgqvBnLZkjK8WtC1vA2xyEMtbLQ/s320/IMG_4639.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>school president presenting 1st place award to 1D!</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-32147789253433948682008-05-28T10:17:00.024+09:002008-05-29T00:19:01.647+09:00hong konger<div align="left">Back from Hong Kong, and for some reason the 1 hour time difference has thrown me through a disorienting loop. It was a great trip, I really really enjoyed the city and think I would even consider moving there some day, perhaps even over Tokyo. It was super foreignor-friendly, perhaps too much so. The main concentration of the trip was shopping. Listen, we have NO H&M in Japan, and seriously I don't understand how I went so long without it. I spent 2 and half hours there, 3 if you count how I had to go back to retrieve some shoes they had neglected to pack in my shopping bag (the workers were incredibly apologetic and helpful about this, one worker even followed me around to help me find sizes and then escorted me past the obscene fitting room lines to try on shoes, I don't think I've ever seen a friendly and helpful H&M employee in my life, it was disconcerting). I also got a haircut at Toni and Guy, but not "SHORT!" as my mom requested, just a trim, but thankfully not a fashion mullet either, as with my previous T&G hair modeling experience.<br /><br />Hong Kong is partly on a mountainous green island and partly on the mainland. Fun ferries that cost 30 cents a trip whisk you back and forth between the two. It's all skyscapers, basically. The city is incredibly pedestrian-friendly as well, with footbridges, underpasses, and outdoor escalators everywhere and an extremely clean and convenient subway system. But the best part of the trip was our hotel, <a href="http://www.hoteljen.com/">Jen</a>. I found it quite randomly on the internet as the only remotely affordable hotel with a rooftop pool open past 4pm, which I decided was a major criteria when I recalled the extreme heat and humidity from some childhood trips to HK. We swam almost everyday, it was great. The hotel was super-modern design and in an older part of the city with lots of herbal remedy shops.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_7g_tiQxrE21RjBiLItjTR_bb1REB1IOHwTrWafVQBJH2yD08qt__mFmi19XuX6eGfEVSthRp_JDQM1PUybj8Um8OpC10mGOcTd0EMqTr7orBULKRc7EGHRyhX4iTFPYv8BP2y_VoZFx/s1600-h/IMG_4177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205289480537733570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_7g_tiQxrE21RjBiLItjTR_bb1REB1IOHwTrWafVQBJH2yD08qt__mFmi19XuX6eGfEVSthRp_JDQM1PUybj8Um8OpC10mGOcTd0EMqTr7orBULKRc7EGHRyhX4iTFPYv8BP2y_VoZFx/s320/IMG_4177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYi6CKbPe8Ahp5ptOas5CfIt-PZuqiDZCCX8hJ8wC-R_3UdntQnM6om7tuwZZQj-4cwHYfRw_4jIX_7WtkSxr7U_4dwO6k3ZziFDSuh3LYrN1IctjWJ9ZFnRCLtkbfelLDqAzFzMd8oR9/s1600-h/IMG_4178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205289484832700882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYi6CKbPe8Ahp5ptOas5CfIt-PZuqiDZCCX8hJ8wC-R_3UdntQnM6om7tuwZZQj-4cwHYfRw_4jIX_7WtkSxr7U_4dwO6k3ZziFDSuh3LYrN1IctjWJ9ZFnRCLtkbfelLDqAzFzMd8oR9/s320/IMG_4178.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>the view from the pool - victoria peak</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGqesdSfVTkn6OQ-J3Xch0W3nCLTqZ3bRQBQzFCgR5JIw2YV68nXUlzf9BUS6f72ZzxJW7KmDoSG2R8qZCFdt8aadYQ19zXnZITGDkpuqMzZHHsJaPev5QKlML1NzNhuNbAl7RahYouBX/s1600-h/IMG_4183.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205289493422635490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGqesdSfVTkn6OQ-J3Xch0W3nCLTqZ3bRQBQzFCgR5JIw2YV68nXUlzf9BUS6f72ZzxJW7KmDoSG2R8qZCFdt8aadYQ19zXnZITGDkpuqMzZHHsJaPev5QKlML1NzNhuNbAl7RahYouBX/s320/IMG_4183.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>hong kong island from the star ferry</p><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5G76oNiL6loM71ghGyAdLwj-0kGijR6gTPdM10MfbDC_0wIhvQbyZaX2YFmV-YnYTPoRPUs_pOMaWPY2F0GEh_USZNp8sf_u2hyphenhyphenP4StTzZcN5Wj3rxnGpmPUvCjkHdnmgW_qXhnqXtsI/s1600-h/IMG_4191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205289914329430530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5G76oNiL6loM71ghGyAdLwj-0kGijR6gTPdM10MfbDC_0wIhvQbyZaX2YFmV-YnYTPoRPUs_pOMaWPY2F0GEh_USZNp8sf_u2hyphenhyphenP4StTzZcN5Wj3rxnGpmPUvCjkHdnmgW_qXhnqXtsI/s320/IMG_4191.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBCpTG3ohUemgohRve11fsEcQm5qep1-5J-i80kpJSLVaSC-U3S3bo9FPWEwuJ26UFIN1uRoD5W_LH-S1oDVirhOBPKwhNO7qBjtTK8h5K4g7lWjRKu0h6V9_aiucDtyN9IwVxJXlMN7j/s1600-h/IMG_4263.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205294136282282690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBCpTG3ohUemgohRve11fsEcQm5qep1-5J-i80kpJSLVaSC-U3S3bo9FPWEwuJ26UFIN1uRoD5W_LH-S1oDVirhOBPKwhNO7qBjtTK8h5K4g7lWjRKu0h6V9_aiucDtyN9IwVxJXlMN7j/s320/IMG_4263.JPG" border="0" /></a> an interesting breakfast dish we had one day - chicken wrapped in rice wrapped in a giant banana leaf<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dP8aNLSDtg3H-EN3wgkdd7DaQevWVnIk667bZBTEvih_jNbQmQrcm7Ss7Xe8NABHt1ESWIErPyHMPX_7vsGAoxDc0Yun8_tiF8gLqR08YvjZY51X6QLHEuHJewJFAT5AXUQD5J1c_ZnS/s1600-h/IMG_4268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205294149167184594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dP8aNLSDtg3H-EN3wgkdd7DaQevWVnIk667bZBTEvih_jNbQmQrcm7Ss7Xe8NABHt1ESWIErPyHMPX_7vsGAoxDc0Yun8_tiF8gLqR08YvjZY51X6QLHEuHJewJFAT5AXUQD5J1c_ZnS/s320/IMG_4268.JPG" border="0" /></a> in kowloon<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaPzxb93pmOtdAysPewA4qKIGLqe3hvINoIrD5QTGE18NHj4-zXCZCi-C4Y20cLewQdLAmG03Y_e2gXIFlCcpJkEMIJcaPNanCTmLiBv7_fYcwpvS_1JewO-_yJS3MTpcOmd588pM01-U/s1600-h/IMG_4270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205294157757119202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaPzxb93pmOtdAysPewA4qKIGLqe3hvINoIrD5QTGE18NHj4-zXCZCi-C4Y20cLewQdLAmG03Y_e2gXIFlCcpJkEMIJcaPNanCTmLiBv7_fYcwpvS_1JewO-_yJS3MTpcOmd588pM01-U/s320/IMG_4270.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQuHEuwQU_DYqPABhtER94df7Fply0OKlvmOqgLHHjuSEdEM5NTc1nWLY8Lx6TWwkJb4Jes76OUFg71b1roZ2csgC0i9fu6c5C8tE9q7QgQncz_CuJj6QVT0DPRY09mpqYe2sSpuBJ0s6/s1600-h/IMG_4272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205295669585607458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQuHEuwQU_DYqPABhtER94df7Fply0OKlvmOqgLHHjuSEdEM5NTc1nWLY8Lx6TWwkJb4Jes76OUFg71b1roZ2csgC0i9fu6c5C8tE9q7QgQncz_CuJj6QVT0DPRY09mpqYe2sSpuBJ0s6/s320/IMG_4272.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB3GFrT3u5g1EXuNgQ8zd-9QzRHsKVrq2WWPxTMAaDH7e9Du5LG4CpWbwhSlY237-xCFb3UVRMsA6TrPZyKq6rCEPfFrV2Mv4i65tjf6iqG3zQsRWL2-Izuy7HoNs4gJ9LLF2RQu3R7Hh/s1600-h/IMG_4273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205295682470509362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB3GFrT3u5g1EXuNgQ8zd-9QzRHsKVrq2WWPxTMAaDH7e9Du5LG4CpWbwhSlY237-xCFb3UVRMsA6TrPZyKq6rCEPfFrV2Mv4i65tjf6iqG3zQsRWL2-Izuy7HoNs4gJ9LLF2RQu3R7Hh/s320/IMG_4273.JPG" border="0" /></a> 'mom, PLEASE can I have an octopus leg?'</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyvXFZBXqFT2ylM2uJwYF19-phG2icBYbeH5kmJrPIR23nhBORVeUzhcg3EuiqeoriozMuZh3Xjm5Lyv3yFUOZ4vyjJWZj7IL_izm2-JLRMSwbGd6CiJLom4ZrIbhj1a77Qb8f-ycmIsk/s1600-h/IMG_4275.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205295691060443970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyvXFZBXqFT2ylM2uJwYF19-phG2icBYbeH5kmJrPIR23nhBORVeUzhcg3EuiqeoriozMuZh3Xjm5Lyv3yFUOZ4vyjJWZj7IL_izm2-JLRMSwbGd6CiJLom4ZrIbhj1a77Qb8f-ycmIsk/s320/IMG_4275.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>at 'ladies market'</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcibEhg8EAbf3-XPmQX2Q2e4Le92GxMeeDm02TJnQiSY4PpbIcSyzHezQCHdwLGLp72uPaG6o7tk4EAh4-4Sr00bf0r5e-6V8LLMCpEzgvRxrLqomlVPnaBjkNDP88GntRvDW8zhBvT4r/s1600-h/IMG_4276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205296704672725842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcibEhg8EAbf3-XPmQX2Q2e4Le92GxMeeDm02TJnQiSY4PpbIcSyzHezQCHdwLGLp72uPaG6o7tk4EAh4-4Sr00bf0r5e-6V8LLMCpEzgvRxrLqomlVPnaBjkNDP88GntRvDW8zhBvT4r/s320/IMG_4276.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHZoI23XaVzQXJ3klgIZuQf8b3gOR1X7yl6pCN96wTOmeeb5Kfj6zYONsEGetkduIeJnhsKVC4TRyNOllS237Iy8dUQjyW8iwY2d3WQDtYhkIfuCbUhuEmVBlbsBuT3OyYN_nPrflr03w/s1600-h/IMG_4280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205296713262660450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHZoI23XaVzQXJ3klgIZuQf8b3gOR1X7yl6pCN96wTOmeeb5Kfj6zYONsEGetkduIeJnhsKVC4TRyNOllS237Iy8dUQjyW8iwY2d3WQDtYhkIfuCbUhuEmVBlbsBuT3OyYN_nPrflr03w/s320/IMG_4280.JPG" border="0" /></a> at the goldfish market<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSNZt14Ga02bVUvGfiKDgqFjFrHzbjDts3h1BbNtjFK5SdA9m-GFLvbnHuew8_fu6_abh_cXJhcki0fRvwR2SscOd8fgKutrFUjnxGE-nsSEWDZOmTJB2WQuG_jOuIVG1Nrlg-LtNjN1b/s1600-h/IMG_4281.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205296726147562354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSNZt14Ga02bVUvGfiKDgqFjFrHzbjDts3h1BbNtjFK5SdA9m-GFLvbnHuew8_fu6_abh_cXJhcki0fRvwR2SscOd8fgKutrFUjnxGE-nsSEWDZOmTJB2WQuG_jOuIVG1Nrlg-LtNjN1b/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p><p></p><p align="left">Besides shopping, I also visited the Hong Kong Museum of Art which had an extensive ceramics collection in addition to a contemporary art exhibition of digital art by Chinese and Taiwanese artists. And in the fine arts section, they had a program where musuemgoers could write their own story inspired by a few of the paintings, then posted for others to read. That day I also visited the jade market (unimpressive) and the goldfish market (scary - fish are kept in tiny plastic bags). That night we checked out the "Symphony of Lights" - laser/light show on Hong Kong Island's skyscrapers from the Kowloon side at the Avenue of Stars. The show was set to cheesy music and was unfortunately just not as spectacular as I had hoped. I would go as far as to say that it is a waste of energy to put on every night.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzfqHtzlTGTXpUci50dFbL0mDrTdFPvRulnGt2Jai-FCgowk_U692fZVcfBr9Nos0EL1sGhf1y3wnlWcnvUmKCZ3110VTRlHtizTA552Ev4dyqWswkN15N66nbg8biWvDCMaFFqOX-43x/s1600-h/IMG_4193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205290837747399186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzfqHtzlTGTXpUci50dFbL0mDrTdFPvRulnGt2Jai-FCgowk_U692fZVcfBr9Nos0EL1sGhf1y3wnlWcnvUmKCZ3110VTRlHtizTA552Ev4dyqWswkN15N66nbg8biWvDCMaFFqOX-43x/s320/IMG_4193.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Avenue of Stars</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vv7dhEDS5ijGZXVRKclM5Lbu5Z8ddtHfsMEcskQyITjZ5ZpLBOrfZ7P_VwV185zOE9pVcOXS3QE3uItal7Dv_0CvRL1tIvyV7F_S46Mz4DqSYjH3wvoSUHcMXHediEzPxxLRHOtRyVXr/s1600-h/IMG_4194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205290846337333794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vv7dhEDS5ijGZXVRKclM5Lbu5Z8ddtHfsMEcskQyITjZ5ZpLBOrfZ7P_VwV185zOE9pVcOXS3QE3uItal7Dv_0CvRL1tIvyV7F_S46Mz4DqSYjH3wvoSUHcMXHediEzPxxLRHOtRyVXr/s320/IMG_4194.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>before the light show</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJAd_rKyM7vkl3IoAetD78f2kh4qZSio7lEwgHIjEywNAvXmYIJW1B__-F9PoqtirjanJ5hfS7JpSehuWaYYCMa39L6O4sH8FcU0PDFNaqXyH0lOiEUe2RVXxRQsGvcCRlctbB5kzETeM/s1600-h/IMG_4199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205290850632301106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJAd_rKyM7vkl3IoAetD78f2kh4qZSio7lEwgHIjEywNAvXmYIJW1B__-F9PoqtirjanJ5hfS7JpSehuWaYYCMa39L6O4sH8FcU0PDFNaqXyH0lOiEUe2RVXxRQsGvcCRlctbB5kzETeM/s320/IMG_4199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfls_UQCiV5NzjsQlHp5zUNHNWZ1EzwgwIi3dpqW4lOf5yzD6akTY2JMaFPY31duL4fKxNtJWnuevlGTSRJaC87429rvA9DIJb7I-UZfhhiDcziMaz980fP4NyDkOdcYR9bngxape_My3p/s1600-h/IMG_4203.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205291323078703682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfls_UQCiV5NzjsQlHp5zUNHNWZ1EzwgwIi3dpqW4lOf5yzD6akTY2JMaFPY31duL4fKxNtJWnuevlGTSRJaC87429rvA9DIJb7I-UZfhhiDcziMaz980fP4NyDkOdcYR9bngxape_My3p/s320/IMG_4203.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr4uaoAbKGgTzMg-4xQbhVQE65DD4Ekp_6k61tpCMcF-oK3o-79aU1mv3LFlOc6q7RvucjFaqXXNs5WcQgUPUJcVv0uobzU-CBk3bGgzt9rdkM1NbnBn5FCrPLjLzj_9WLTvzQZfPfY31/s1600-h/IMG_4208.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205291331668638290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr4uaoAbKGgTzMg-4xQbhVQE65DD4Ekp_6k61tpCMcF-oK3o-79aU1mv3LFlOc6q7RvucjFaqXXNs5WcQgUPUJcVv0uobzU-CBk3bGgzt9rdkM1NbnBn5FCrPLjLzj_9WLTvzQZfPfY31/s320/IMG_4208.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t6mNB8WRdA1cmKOyTIMNGdaEQv0_PXcpKS_PL07YwngE97-EfqXL8HyETiZCO2G55Bs5WMM-aq3GVwMVggzejGkBgvx50Q0l_rYczEz1kCxz1oJey7ydZILD402hSQqn5wJTTTsTQUzx/s1600-h/IMG_4214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205291340258572898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t6mNB8WRdA1cmKOyTIMNGdaEQv0_PXcpKS_PL07YwngE97-EfqXL8HyETiZCO2G55Bs5WMM-aq3GVwMVggzejGkBgvx50Q0l_rYczEz1kCxz1oJey7ydZILD402hSQqn5wJTTTsTQUzx/s320/IMG_4214.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyUpjowq5o4eKtWJqs-UyXfbs1EWKbUz0ggAQ-P-r0i_2Ao5W2F8UtDcAS49CQtqFf-YT38wsEyH45KIufw6gM2hSMvNcxop_vlmc6eOB-if1W0kb4GyIuuwIO2lK_jNxGXWK2YuG4W5n/s1600-h/IMG_4224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205292590094056050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyUpjowq5o4eKtWJqs-UyXfbs1EWKbUz0ggAQ-P-r0i_2Ao5W2F8UtDcAS49CQtqFf-YT38wsEyH45KIufw6gM2hSMvNcxop_vlmc6eOB-if1W0kb4GyIuuwIO2lK_jNxGXWK2YuG4W5n/s320/IMG_4224.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih34U1gdbVq2KyDOz66NV6Bg4w-SryEUm8yYBvPZmZ3WyAgbu5olUmUUVbH98sO5SwohPxFlQx_XOH8iuW045dSQj_PQ9ZYxPhaqkDf8J6SwfVQOUBE1LN-ybpUnLajDPuucNVYgiQqJxC/s1600-h/IMG_4233.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205292594389023362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih34U1gdbVq2KyDOz66NV6Bg4w-SryEUm8yYBvPZmZ3WyAgbu5olUmUUVbH98sO5SwohPxFlQx_XOH8iuW045dSQj_PQ9ZYxPhaqkDf8J6SwfVQOUBE1LN-ybpUnLajDPuucNVYgiQqJxC/s320/IMG_4233.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClqNkFFVGz2PP-vhoFbIBbJdOW-k3gqNpYOD64_aCsQwyf41DwBOvYkP65NHOVMLVf3H2Se7eouAb2mbnu7Yl2HMQl5scghtbS1hkAhgvyfHzLxP9zKSCK13McvCcgE4IBNb0iY9DDDIP/s1600-h/IMG_4241.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205292607273925266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClqNkFFVGz2PP-vhoFbIBbJdOW-k3gqNpYOD64_aCsQwyf41DwBOvYkP65NHOVMLVf3H2Se7eouAb2mbnu7Yl2HMQl5scghtbS1hkAhgvyfHzLxP9zKSCK13McvCcgE4IBNb0iY9DDDIP/s320/IMG_4241.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Z6s9B0lYq1RUJBbh919ss-P96RkBXe6J8r_S6bsRqgowFYdzINBQUSOEE4RBB9XvvhHM8kI36aUYF6M-ZCb1rh1vsTbk69DJsdwuLKfzvb3t7YlzDB7YYw9gajQRdn8z1yPbnK7fLhBb/s1600-h/IMG_4248.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205293431907646114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Z6s9B0lYq1RUJBbh919ss-P96RkBXe6J8r_S6bsRqgowFYdzINBQUSOEE4RBB9XvvhHM8kI36aUYF6M-ZCb1rh1vsTbk69DJsdwuLKfzvb3t7YlzDB7YYw9gajQRdn8z1yPbnK7fLhBb/s320/IMG_4248.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>photographers were hawking shots like these, we enjoyed checking out the samples </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIB8SWHl6xatD8LbX7BfqvD72AfeNEmu8VhNddw2lCh6G9QtVBPuN9KvqVauctXcynm1pFqIM3eYQ6HuPL2xGz-IlUF8vI8MRODCNCrTxCdiCjg6QHfV-edTkvapKb5zqJFGpBCXjxd5D/s1600-h/IMG_4250.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205293440497580722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIB8SWHl6xatD8LbX7BfqvD72AfeNEmu8VhNddw2lCh6G9QtVBPuN9KvqVauctXcynm1pFqIM3eYQ6HuPL2xGz-IlUF8vI8MRODCNCrTxCdiCjg6QHfV-edTkvapKb5zqJFGpBCXjxd5D/s320/IMG_4250.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"></a>the clock tower in kowloon<br /></p><p align="left"><br />The other great thing about Hong Kong was the food, both Chinese and foreign. The selection of foreign food was excellent, and much missed, and even accurate - we went to an Italian place that I swear rivaled Carmine's. I got emotional over a delicious rosemary roasted chicken. There were places that sold smoothies, sandwiches, etc. everywhere, a real treat coming from Japan, where basically there are none. We also stumbled upon an international beer festival which got quite rowdy, and a bar that served Brooklyn Lager.<br /><br />Of course, my original purpose for this trip was to meet up with my friend from NYC, Iris, which worked out quite well - this was a scouting trip for her as she, originally from Hong Kong, is thinking of moving back to China. I was happy to be able to hang out with her for a couple nights after her various appointments and family visits, exploring HK's nightlife areas. She even brought me Annie's Mac n Cheese from my former roommate - thanks guys! I really appreciated it.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp_ciL2W3tSfhuzhY6tfS2PJGaFNRrJ2VLuqSrKL_wVbWqne0fDY_CXteAsRlOfiWCXHo2Oej3TsEouBjj_gsU5pLCakPlCxcKqrMapHpMSNmyAGkEkffA77DSD9T5Ozrk0FZjPOYDARH/s1600-h/IMG_4286.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205298388299905922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp_ciL2W3tSfhuzhY6tfS2PJGaFNRrJ2VLuqSrKL_wVbWqne0fDY_CXteAsRlOfiWCXHo2Oej3TsEouBjj_gsU5pLCakPlCxcKqrMapHpMSNmyAGkEkffA77DSD9T5Ozrk0FZjPOYDARH/s320/IMG_4286.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>in our room at the awesome hotel<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHGjekJ6WDSrHeBYoc0fYTyZJrStIKdBQjk7rbTaAfrA52HFc_ipJtf-WAlAMG2RbsgDjYIY6obHvxAoDXHvUCpNYDqCxSi-jwtpKVoT0upYR3gq5rjj6RDnf9tolht7udHn31kRFXvk0/s1600-h/IMG_4292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205298401184807826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHGjekJ6WDSrHeBYoc0fYTyZJrStIKdBQjk7rbTaAfrA52HFc_ipJtf-WAlAMG2RbsgDjYIY6obHvxAoDXHvUCpNYDqCxSi-jwtpKVoT0upYR3gq5rjj6RDnf9tolht7udHn31kRFXvk0/s320/IMG_4292.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>nightview from the roof<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxjK7a_K9kk5dDRBEdny0QmvgxAJ86fErqitCK1x8qXD3jgL_X1tR6TKR87hkKugGtTvCtiJyUA5cuZzgtU7ytqwYDxMbtjKLAVMZGjz3xUzb3jWXh7_LCCFdfmi3AWJunyo6DsFePdVo/s1600-h/IMG_4294.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205298409774742434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxjK7a_K9kk5dDRBEdny0QmvgxAJ86fErqitCK1x8qXD3jgL_X1tR6TKR87hkKugGtTvCtiJyUA5cuZzgtU7ytqwYDxMbtjKLAVMZGjz3xUzb3jWXh7_LCCFdfmi3AWJunyo6DsFePdVo/s320/IMG_4294.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Iris and I supermodel-posing by the pool </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyull-BRD4Yap_i17sA3TcxG0WPBfv3pAu6sZwsxvUKzwANqilFTh5ktI8XEt1N27aWqqn5dGvvvybnl3-CweuWdLeMCs8rq-sLteqxFP1iOAOPFrM8ciJEBo4SqsIgTLVMaO00-TicRp/s1600-h/IMG_4302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205405981525638082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyull-BRD4Yap_i17sA3TcxG0WPBfv3pAu6sZwsxvUKzwANqilFTh5ktI8XEt1N27aWqqn5dGvvvybnl3-CweuWdLeMCs8rq-sLteqxFP1iOAOPFrM8ciJEBo4SqsIgTLVMaO00-TicRp/s320/IMG_4302.JPG" border="0" /></a> on what I proclaimed to be the longest escalator (or series of) in the world</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSrjBLT7Ba-p67LwzcP5cCnNmlo30iwIGCIo3J9XHU57E4ncaOCj86jI0SIK_DCzUS17suyqscSrmhkHsRh7LSmODx2Rt8XmByXGMFdSKmwv886m5Nd2tMXMVwcIEZrEIzJRWMPXcMSfw/s1600-h/IMG_4304.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205406003000474578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSrjBLT7Ba-p67LwzcP5cCnNmlo30iwIGCIo3J9XHU57E4ncaOCj86jI0SIK_DCzUS17suyqscSrmhkHsRh7LSmODx2Rt8XmByXGMFdSKmwv886m5Nd2tMXMVwcIEZrEIzJRWMPXcMSfw/s320/IMG_4304.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhUJW9JnBPGh_9TTrw4V-I1tvmWhRoaOn_wDT6qCDjg_qTnWdxcAf7NaxC_S-3aboJz0Bi1pf0VHWgj-lkwuU9S4wZQuGoqn70tj5OMTll1lDmAE99ZZGPdigXymA6RnqLnmvrUieGPKg/s1600-h/IMG_4310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205406011590409186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhUJW9JnBPGh_9TTrw4V-I1tvmWhRoaOn_wDT6qCDjg_qTnWdxcAf7NaxC_S-3aboJz0Bi1pf0VHWgj-lkwuU9S4wZQuGoqn70tj5OMTll1lDmAE99ZZGPdigXymA6RnqLnmvrUieGPKg/s320/IMG_4310.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our last day Edel and I went to Ocean Park, a theme park - I usually spurn these when traveling but this one had giant pandas, an aquarium, and a super-long cable car with supposedly amazing views, so I was sold. It was really fun - they also had a log flume ride, and flying swings - unarguably the BEST amusement park ride ever made, which made me giddy. The pandas were very sweet and my TimeOut guide was right again, they seemed happier than average zoo tenants. The views from the cable car were stunning, although on one trip we shared a car with a woman clearly afraid of heights, trembling with her face in her hands. The aquarium was great, in particular the shark tank and "sea jelly spectacular" with jellyfish lit up in tanks surrounded by complete darkness, and my favorite crazy sea creatures, 'leafy sea dragons'. They even had a giant pool of manta rays you could reach in and touch. </p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfeHUiJ6hODszZgSBkjOA1NJQ0KASzkgQE5ZW2jOGcPgr6ArMSJVtPbOSCYwgU0zrTgVfMDtSDyzkRU-Hp9uwhj7ijShta690xqkzGTJDYRMF8sBpCkE1neXfIjwsl5NDmRcPiDma9QZm/s1600-h/IMG_4314.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205410233543261170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfeHUiJ6hODszZgSBkjOA1NJQ0KASzkgQE5ZW2jOGcPgr6ArMSJVtPbOSCYwgU0zrTgVfMDtSDyzkRU-Hp9uwhj7ijShta690xqkzGTJDYRMF8sBpCkE1neXfIjwsl5NDmRcPiDma9QZm/s320/IMG_4314.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE7EMGWr5g__Vvhp6wzym9hJxQHXwL6NRdTVdhQdQFSx6AeaUuQ7vBWTDd8exxh8tUax9q4r4Bl5TeAwKjPEN8CXAFh7rrx54QDMp561smcgs6uYBhV_l2V0XY0rZVwv792JpVWtIJaVF/s1600-h/IMG_4316.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205410246428163074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE7EMGWr5g__Vvhp6wzym9hJxQHXwL6NRdTVdhQdQFSx6AeaUuQ7vBWTDd8exxh8tUax9q4r4Bl5TeAwKjPEN8CXAFh7rrx54QDMp561smcgs6uYBhV_l2V0XY0rZVwv792JpVWtIJaVF/s320/IMG_4316.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Lt4vxvSzeONawe1LTrtrP09JQuhLJVR0Y42Jc4GPlocjKLws1wZaYIBRpCqkE6wImQFHUZ6gDslv6m5_r7VBnWQ4uv-pYlulbvLxc79lDzYDLPvff83a53JuZ19UipOf28JP6O5Qr3Ix/s1600-h/IMG_4323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205410250723130386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Lt4vxvSzeONawe1LTrtrP09JQuhLJVR0Y42Jc4GPlocjKLws1wZaYIBRpCqkE6wImQFHUZ6gDslv6m5_r7VBnWQ4uv-pYlulbvLxc79lDzYDLPvff83a53JuZ19UipOf28JP6O5Qr3Ix/s320/IMG_4323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpQhyyzoRlV3O8VhQSBc0w3ycnXPtCuaSXBQ7yu8vxIjlUBN_u_CmsvkRV0NQoSoUZfc0bw8s5K-4xuN-GWXVnggi8L132VFAENg5QxTruRaJmk8BmHSrnuYUIElV0Og_KUdh7qwEX414/s1600-h/IMG_4327.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205410259313064994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpQhyyzoRlV3O8VhQSBc0w3ycnXPtCuaSXBQ7yu8vxIjlUBN_u_CmsvkRV0NQoSoUZfc0bw8s5K-4xuN-GWXVnggi8L132VFAENg5QxTruRaJmk8BmHSrnuYUIElV0Og_KUdh7qwEX414/s320/IMG_4327.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-69-39I2DUb9VBHF7R9rg6E83Pual-X832yMQEkgvGjBB4BVFka4CjiU_N3DRqS55zL4NSJ1nePcAXgweJClh9bf6KjqwV-nLalAKEESKtcwr3_nBuRn149uvvAal_-IPi_UECH-5qcL/s1600-h/IMG_4332.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205410267902999602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-69-39I2DUb9VBHF7R9rg6E83Pual-X832yMQEkgvGjBB4BVFka4CjiU_N3DRqS55zL4NSJ1nePcAXgweJClh9bf6KjqwV-nLalAKEESKtcwr3_nBuRn149uvvAal_-IPi_UECH-5qcL/s320/IMG_4332.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KEX3AZ8gdwY5Jcjkgi7nInjQ7OVdyc3qQ7MHwv6122EUxSvz-TDWHrb8i1i1rncG5mAbJLNEhrz1r3fINpjfZRVJmUqKFUUuNhdCDBL6cDAE-OIKKfv-jFmxTtQjQ-w7MI0osypnTGKx/s1600-h/IMG_4340.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205424587323964482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KEX3AZ8gdwY5Jcjkgi7nInjQ7OVdyc3qQ7MHwv6122EUxSvz-TDWHrb8i1i1rncG5mAbJLNEhrz1r3fINpjfZRVJmUqKFUUuNhdCDBL6cDAE-OIKKfv-jFmxTtQjQ-w7MI0osypnTGKx/s320/IMG_4340.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QmMbDCJzTcg5V04_oLL8KP-xuw7iQaoyjWYMtiWOnSRuT1BVcWUCqSWa-D8M2Vbp4L8f2TG3ObWrfeGHaPn__IJZ7ke7IwuGhqqJbGRSh6ieUoOibPaag18RKsl7_kzzGPnV8I9zX-bu/s1600-h/IMG_4347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205424595913899090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QmMbDCJzTcg5V04_oLL8KP-xuw7iQaoyjWYMtiWOnSRuT1BVcWUCqSWa-D8M2Vbp4L8f2TG3ObWrfeGHaPn__IJZ7ke7IwuGhqqJbGRSh6ieUoOibPaag18RKsl7_kzzGPnV8I9zX-bu/s320/IMG_4347.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Edel had to help me decide between LeLe and Jia Jia<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiChTzP9tZ_2aU98ZIJeAJS-qbVzSf_I9BKzpxmtj0PxQQFR8iP-pVuOODyCBsPmOYYSyzQmdoqTDxfLsn1FkdcEVOD9SwGFwcWCgXBYI_6gcK2VmT0zL1UOJe2gF6-4neq1r5fS703jL/s1600-h/IMG_4361.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205424613093768290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiChTzP9tZ_2aU98ZIJeAJS-qbVzSf_I9BKzpxmtj0PxQQFR8iP-pVuOODyCBsPmOYYSyzQmdoqTDxfLsn1FkdcEVOD9SwGFwcWCgXBYI_6gcK2VmT0zL1UOJe2gF6-4neq1r5fS703jL/s320/IMG_4361.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>view from the cable car</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YRUNukUIFiCVyLw9z4vnqe6rfK0JCZ63yJaizMgWRhl86mmMlec79wHuPRdQs_p_P1gpZdPxjhiu9a5zkSjMVtGT-ZDUj18EIyQN4wC0zWeBAYcFpSdDehHJQGz1GQ3j2ukjJhDzRJi4/s1600-h/IMG_4374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205424625978670194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YRUNukUIFiCVyLw9z4vnqe6rfK0JCZ63yJaizMgWRhl86mmMlec79wHuPRdQs_p_P1gpZdPxjhiu9a5zkSjMVtGT-ZDUj18EIyQN4wC0zWeBAYcFpSdDehHJQGz1GQ3j2ukjJhDzRJi4/s320/IMG_4374.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtzmzoq3l6uYjjv6i7EvCJ1VTry9gbIo7qZNQa6_E79JUkEmfop_vENxLtchY2nXOwJ8m4NbMF8b9YMnxBTdjDQpyQtP2sdUIZRA7C9P5eiKub6AZIjYefhlsfgnhqL3f8bJSNy5lBf_J/s1600-h/IMG_4375.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205424634568604802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtzmzoq3l6uYjjv6i7EvCJ1VTry9gbIo7qZNQa6_E79JUkEmfop_vENxLtchY2nXOwJ8m4NbMF8b9YMnxBTdjDQpyQtP2sdUIZRA7C9P5eiKub6AZIjYefhlsfgnhqL3f8bJSNy5lBf_J/s320/IMG_4375.JPG" border="0" /></a> aberdeen<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNgUJ9B2gU5704PRxlqNSgMqKmWl7_Bj_RCJUc-AI0BqBaZ0ANzmlb9tM0FgvD3jT82LJ9EG3DnXrBz9vd7K-7MRcpx1I85WpxELxfMeB_maUAFaZ0EKSs0WUhmIac1_qZ-HAaD9Kz8GG/s1600-h/IMG_4377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205426975325781138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNgUJ9B2gU5704PRxlqNSgMqKmWl7_Bj_RCJUc-AI0BqBaZ0ANzmlb9tM0FgvD3jT82LJ9EG3DnXrBz9vd7K-7MRcpx1I85WpxELxfMeB_maUAFaZ0EKSs0WUhmIac1_qZ-HAaD9Kz8GG/s320/IMG_4377.JPG" border="0" /></a> the cliffside rides</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkxOhb5Pby2UmE7ax2-aBfMotgwgchRghjWeRXgP5jU1bKBB_LJKp35x7vQbn_6Cbqq4sYhqATHl9cumDUPLFSyGmRNvmv9XYTpeGpX3LBjUViUdpT_UBK0pfH1bmSV6iJHS5t1p4Bq-s/s1600-h/IMG_4382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205426988210683042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkxOhb5Pby2UmE7ax2-aBfMotgwgchRghjWeRXgP5jU1bKBB_LJKp35x7vQbn_6Cbqq4sYhqATHl9cumDUPLFSyGmRNvmv9XYTpeGpX3LBjUViUdpT_UBK0pfH1bmSV6iJHS5t1p4Bq-s/s320/IMG_4382.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzcaYCM1Ot3NUVVTNuLFvIn8KeMMRPTcLg1Q4yzygr5xsYQJVhYFsFz5sGD4FxMtBtaq1HMtDpokzqqpEd958CoIMpv17nuObZSB3Xge8NT2YJzQzSXN-E8gmxlPIi0kksZ8-LiLm2TcQ/s1600-h/IMG_4387.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205427001095584946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzcaYCM1Ot3NUVVTNuLFvIn8KeMMRPTcLg1Q4yzygr5xsYQJVhYFsFz5sGD4FxMtBtaq1HMtDpokzqqpEd958CoIMpv17nuObZSB3Xge8NT2YJzQzSXN-E8gmxlPIi0kksZ8-LiLm2TcQ/s320/IMG_4387.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUcplQ6t8FC2uGoQoahqw5mPIFg0XwzGKcww5W4PtANe7mfRTAPxowpG4TWQ3WxoxlAmECqOHEGMrve7m7Iv_qpe1O7KlzLzOfWK4ko8dds6bbNru9mfNFdTO1Q8-BbiuMf-gvj61o9LI/s1600-h/IMG_4395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205427009685519554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUcplQ6t8FC2uGoQoahqw5mPIFg0XwzGKcww5W4PtANe7mfRTAPxowpG4TWQ3WxoxlAmECqOHEGMrve7m7Iv_qpe1O7KlzLzOfWK4ko8dds6bbNru9mfNFdTO1Q8-BbiuMf-gvj61o9LI/s320/IMG_4395.JPG" border="0" /></a> manta ray petting pool</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3W84ZuL7l0HBFbdSBFgrBSSJo2YrUw6T4ubZ4YDN8wtvWR5LIwfIkkDNOqgRlOGwyuGbVGhyphenhyphenGK9x7leCOM-jJ3Q34F0FkGphvDJDC5LmvJM0kP_phPwPwkL3vRpTL0k2eRDvYQxZF1NK/s1600-h/IMG_4403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205427018275454162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3W84ZuL7l0HBFbdSBFgrBSSJo2YrUw6T4ubZ4YDN8wtvWR5LIwfIkkDNOqgRlOGwyuGbVGhyphenhyphenGK9x7leCOM-jJ3Q34F0FkGphvDJDC5LmvJM0kP_phPwPwkL3vRpTL0k2eRDvYQxZF1NK/s320/IMG_4403.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-9CS8dwg1s76b3XCo5ZORjrjgyQIL5Lp7WIze6bCPuCVRa4FXXBsABIqbqldracQ97M_m_a39qmx7-NFf2176xXSON3YFpN7QHUU03jXptDhKVf2SS4B-exFxJRcDJzIGnyM78j4VONL/s1600-h/IMG_4409.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205429964623019234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-9CS8dwg1s76b3XCo5ZORjrjgyQIL5Lp7WIze6bCPuCVRa4FXXBsABIqbqldracQ97M_m_a39qmx7-NFf2176xXSON3YFpN7QHUU03jXptDhKVf2SS4B-exFxJRcDJzIGnyM78j4VONL/s320/IMG_4409.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>leafy and weedy sea dragons!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cBo9Y7KfGJBGTW7-92eDldRqFuJD-0x-RYtze4NzNwlFZl8BcVnHO846KM7g4tqN8ab96jDJGBDICnPB2Fg0nT_gP-dwaulUXl1DliyNPw83AVVnbQEBEmPCkcwXeOYCsG57cu3dCu4B/s1600-h/IMG_4413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205429973212953842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cBo9Y7KfGJBGTW7-92eDldRqFuJD-0x-RYtze4NzNwlFZl8BcVnHO846KM7g4tqN8ab96jDJGBDICnPB2Fg0nT_gP-dwaulUXl1DliyNPw83AVVnbQEBEmPCkcwXeOYCsG57cu3dCu4B/s320/IMG_4413.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mrIX1F_qOiJq7uY0AiRffYItHSzYUu2LcaAsMhMXcRYHWNNJL_mQD4xbAXifslbTqHXScgDcOLJC3yImAH0Wz1BDn1AIiY4PMmO6Q-iakz7MPMSr_E7xhwy2L5uzZ7gWJaYnMS6fpswo/s1600-h/IMG_4422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205429981802888450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mrIX1F_qOiJq7uY0AiRffYItHSzYUu2LcaAsMhMXcRYHWNNJL_mQD4xbAXifslbTqHXScgDcOLJC3yImAH0Wz1BDn1AIiY4PMmO6Q-iakz7MPMSr_E7xhwy2L5uzZ7gWJaYnMS6fpswo/s320/IMG_4422.JPG" border="0" /></a>super creepy tiny eels that like to bury themselves halfway in the sand<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgSflsD5kbG3-nuHa9qejInXjytTUGh9eX_ZKNK5cKIIMTXHpUUypQSGQCmC4pr_ghr6lTocMxqdhlIDGO0tZMnQEIr6ug3iODFI-0V3T6ywgrLYcI6NYvYfuJx7QiS9hYURAJtKxiK3y/s1600-h/IMG_4437.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205429990392823058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgSflsD5kbG3-nuHa9qejInXjytTUGh9eX_ZKNK5cKIIMTXHpUUypQSGQCmC4pr_ghr6lTocMxqdhlIDGO0tZMnQEIr6ug3iODFI-0V3T6ywgrLYcI6NYvYfuJx7QiS9hYURAJtKxiK3y/s320/IMG_4437.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT80hIi8a8sSEUiNBMndc-64yB08Ck8DL8I0X3iIaXkZJJ0UFcibrk4QgNBXJKWoTcdjfKUI5Rv-8qCvI8a1iXlqBiB8FBrhIVyp2ObGr__ju2HK-bSU2hypcs-ckCuXgGeLjrZJNKqemA/s1600-h/IMG_4438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205429994687790370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT80hIi8a8sSEUiNBMndc-64yB08Ck8DL8I0X3iIaXkZJJ0UFcibrk4QgNBXJKWoTcdjfKUI5Rv-8qCvI8a1iXlqBiB8FBrhIVyp2ObGr__ju2HK-bSU2hypcs-ckCuXgGeLjrZJNKqemA/s320/IMG_4438.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7Aq6jyMNjyZfSCxAQBVNzPtDyA2lE7bbIHyVlDHhJbWlKbxJexNZ_csCSOkLWjaSEGJb2V1x2MpfuiJCezLsY6itMwWM4rYUoh74g0iS6YATRol5Hyh9MYFU5nKrEpNRafV81mv6mwaU/s1600-h/IMG_4448.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205434049136917810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7Aq6jyMNjyZfSCxAQBVNzPtDyA2lE7bbIHyVlDHhJbWlKbxJexNZ_csCSOkLWjaSEGJb2V1x2MpfuiJCezLsY6itMwWM4rYUoh74g0iS6YATRol5Hyh9MYFU5nKrEpNRafV81mv6mwaU/s320/IMG_4448.JPG" border="0" /></a> sharing an intimate moment with Jia Jia<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EBJTfxtZCa9dvcxjeKevSfiS4CH5RdDkVIttRRAaZeCuDaAmy8JFCgZEUnzRYj5mh7uDZvqJsCbcEKpup_Ihn-jR2yEottmozgKG7r63iAvVuzQ_ul_JOvB32BgknoDG4FgezFtsU8Yk/s1600-h/IMG_4451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205434066316787010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EBJTfxtZCa9dvcxjeKevSfiS4CH5RdDkVIttRRAaZeCuDaAmy8JFCgZEUnzRYj5mh7uDZvqJsCbcEKpup_Ihn-jR2yEottmozgKG7r63iAvVuzQ_ul_JOvB32BgknoDG4FgezFtsU8Yk/s320/IMG_4451.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="left"><br />That night, our last night in the city, we went up to "The Peak" - a complex of buildings about halfway up Victoria Peak, with great views of the city. Despite the ever-present smog haze, we got a few good shots and ate at a chinese restaurant there with windowed walls overlooking the city. I was sad to leave and wish I had more time to explore, but maybe I'll be back again... </p><p align="left"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFoVKsCj_xgYDTAksPFIz7m4XkmhrWptojPRiCTFKGUvZIZYZR1tbflSOTJsMRcfZY-zkcNhZScMFwlWfXO0gmZbHXFUoYFOt0T1XzIS6knTy6L8tEblto747rSa5xWkz-CqxleTSgBM4/s1600-h/IMG_4454.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205435724174163282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFoVKsCj_xgYDTAksPFIz7m4XkmhrWptojPRiCTFKGUvZIZYZR1tbflSOTJsMRcfZY-zkcNhZScMFwlWfXO0gmZbHXFUoYFOt0T1XzIS6knTy6L8tEblto747rSa5xWkz-CqxleTSgBM4/s320/IMG_4454.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNdsmwSOOnQ_1laFVCUoGDyZUVvCqhssDugMMz6MUfXluBIwPWqrHWKXq1hxHKCqGoqzBwC5a-hREPZnjLEHY3n_4JAe5Hdih0MlmD3mdYVJAxvxtvy6HNvbcY7PfTqauwwpwLY_9qaLf/s1600-h/IMG_4457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205435732764097890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNdsmwSOOnQ_1laFVCUoGDyZUVvCqhssDugMMz6MUfXluBIwPWqrHWKXq1hxHKCqGoqzBwC5a-hREPZnjLEHY3n_4JAe5Hdih0MlmD3mdYVJAxvxtvy6HNvbcY7PfTqauwwpwLY_9qaLf/s320/IMG_4457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRtlxnUEwkeFUjXreNNXFmhE0ymkYrIO6hfQxp672m_msKJruB9DQ4BqunAHiOGnYCvoeej-Viuk56WQD2xNtQ3gAzEg3O1wZUx0t5eaSc3jdONPAOLJHWdRJbdUcCpvpAC6CFkHR3-Fv/s1600-h/IMG_4459.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205435737059065202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRtlxnUEwkeFUjXreNNXFmhE0ymkYrIO6hfQxp672m_msKJruB9DQ4BqunAHiOGnYCvoeej-Viuk56WQD2xNtQ3gAzEg3O1wZUx0t5eaSc3jdONPAOLJHWdRJbdUcCpvpAC6CFkHR3-Fv/s320/IMG_4459.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitECNQIFrhsD0qD9oNH83COZVP758ovLmqhGu_NRZwwY4ap5amiaxoV55vu702W4hPgK3x_NKp-2wGVZ5Km-DOmdyluwoN9S0ExwszWsu6nKmBLoVkijV92zbdS18MYttMtL5s0Zed7tUj/s1600-h/IMG_4460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205435741354032514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitECNQIFrhsD0qD9oNH83COZVP758ovLmqhGu_NRZwwY4ap5amiaxoV55vu702W4hPgK3x_NKp-2wGVZ5Km-DOmdyluwoN9S0ExwszWsu6nKmBLoVkijV92zbdS18MYttMtL5s0Zed7tUj/s320/IMG_4460.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lrDGICA83NeObkIPnWNb7nwsMSs_-CL04q5jNy-bmtXC62EqjWytdBJiCFu0HtyR43tg-aTXdqtiZyKSDncyUYuvdX9_lzo0M2kcgwdrT4NYyJuGf3yhuTazGfLAIlwi8bpCLVFYicR8/s1600-h/IMG_4461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205435754238934418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lrDGICA83NeObkIPnWNb7nwsMSs_-CL04q5jNy-bmtXC62EqjWytdBJiCFu0HtyR43tg-aTXdqtiZyKSDncyUYuvdX9_lzo0M2kcgwdrT4NYyJuGf3yhuTazGfLAIlwi8bpCLVFYicR8/s320/IMG_4461.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV02b5E5Qacmje_U4O3u0Q-x1gK3rpGexDueLfme3emNM23PkRuOCDab0OGwRJamAwmMKqdYtoKtfzWmCM1TQjy-wuBPY4rE5K2Npfg9VugqU0fuKEunkjyKWEX6BOpoHkW4sicEIGfQ4P/s1600-h/IMG_4465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205437343376833954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV02b5E5Qacmje_U4O3u0Q-x1gK3rpGexDueLfme3emNM23PkRuOCDab0OGwRJamAwmMKqdYtoKtfzWmCM1TQjy-wuBPY4rE5K2Npfg9VugqU0fuKEunkjyKWEX6BOpoHkW4sicEIGfQ4P/s320/IMG_4465.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>at the restaurant with a view</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBh3-MukEl_cg8PMrrUnRdJnubjdUWGVQwP1EtEQLP_xi6LVMCbQ8pLjI4339gs2kvKZ2emOAuzpPPkxxVPpPfB7uuEyu6g6R9CIz5w-LhIE4Pqb5S6lDt3-5FW3gBBB4maThh6enA977/s1600-h/IMG_4467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205437356261735858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBh3-MukEl_cg8PMrrUnRdJnubjdUWGVQwP1EtEQLP_xi6LVMCbQ8pLjI4339gs2kvKZ2emOAuzpPPkxxVPpPfB7uuEyu6g6R9CIz5w-LhIE4Pqb5S6lDt3-5FW3gBBB4maThh6enA977/s320/IMG_4467.JPG" border="0" /></a>on the way back down on the tram, which I thought moved entirely too fast</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUAetfE7F61J0pPaU3nq6WSYQqVEElBS8zAmmirpQ3JQTGISTMSjgJAy6pIjeOwZWdWZgoNiJK26HnGKN3dUyUKm_SDlZqXRfx9ZSbfCpgI-_n0hGbn3MKSgoQY574CLRxtgkKcl-JBDV/s1600-h/IMG_4476.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205437369146637762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUAetfE7F61J0pPaU3nq6WSYQqVEElBS8zAmmirpQ3JQTGISTMSjgJAy6pIjeOwZWdWZgoNiJK26HnGKN3dUyUKm_SDlZqXRfx9ZSbfCpgI-_n0hGbn3MKSgoQY574CLRxtgkKcl-JBDV/s320/IMG_4476.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Bank of China Tower<br /></p><p align="left"><br />These last few pics are of a tiny, tiny amusement park called Hanayashiki in Tokyo, which Edel and I decided to visit before we had to leave for the airport. It was slightly decrepit and pretty cheesy, Coney Island-style. My favorite moment there was after one of the tame rides, a group of Japanese JHS girls asked to take a picture with us, but apparently 2 gaijin weren't enough - they asked a middle eastern man to take the photo while they grabbed his toddler son by the hand to be in the pic as well. Sadly, I didn't get a copy of that.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu_T80x0Xzl26z5LGzCwRr9PshmlC4EwSZw9oySc3GuCbsskJsxKrK3Xhp-KXpzj6ayYgOUMzQUyg_vk-aOl3KRWX83s_8EDn-uZrFfdzjij6-4nkgbxp0P7u3RjiVYuOme-Jx1CUNN3O/s1600-h/IMG_4150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205286779003304306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu_T80x0Xzl26z5LGzCwRr9PshmlC4EwSZw9oySc3GuCbsskJsxKrK3Xhp-KXpzj6ayYgOUMzQUyg_vk-aOl3KRWX83s_8EDn-uZrFfdzjij6-4nkgbxp0P7u3RjiVYuOme-Jx1CUNN3O/s320/IMG_4150.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTeIKxWPk4u3GF_CIWOXwtKcQjkuwQM4bhR8aM7kxTAMWt2ung5H4LtEKtVVgOgoOi4SARPpbksQTeOiutdugAbGwSG11GUPCiU7Or7QlxSP3KBSona_rzoYkVvj51lCXOa7WKTfX8pxJ/s1600-h/IMG_4153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205286787593238914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTeIKxWPk4u3GF_CIWOXwtKcQjkuwQM4bhR8aM7kxTAMWt2ung5H4LtEKtVVgOgoOi4SARPpbksQTeOiutdugAbGwSG11GUPCiU7Or7QlxSP3KBSona_rzoYkVvj51lCXOa7WKTfX8pxJ/s320/IMG_4153.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>view of asakusa from one of the rides<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaHKNVskRBJUAK8_rEoJkinp9l7gDReRMtP_xCT4CTx8zpTahnnfZcBb5gjIiiAGO5AK38VLWyXoQs1HokPu6uWHklbSuSID1O1UkSqF9cn17oKnjOMATkfzzRJu8FqLabOuOxNnYbGn8/s1600-h/IMG_4165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205288600069437842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaHKNVskRBJUAK8_rEoJkinp9l7gDReRMtP_xCT4CTx8zpTahnnfZcBb5gjIiiAGO5AK38VLWyXoQs1HokPu6uWHklbSuSID1O1UkSqF9cn17oKnjOMATkfzzRJu8FqLabOuOxNnYbGn8/s320/IMG_4165.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>folks enjoying some mild fun on the small-time rollercoaster<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSAikPYrqPrp-c_13h7fuuxhbDXDz6ZlPpm9298QrMdoaByfvH67Mm3g3SKoviSvd1y-1dJJiCO2DykMxPObSPl3J_MLYZA4YxPpVRbN0gW9G1QhBAkhliDOoN3p9iG_Hxnuslp5FyI00/s1600-h/IMG_4172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205288608659372450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSAikPYrqPrp-c_13h7fuuxhbDXDz6ZlPpm9298QrMdoaByfvH67Mm3g3SKoviSvd1y-1dJJiCO2DykMxPObSPl3J_MLYZA4YxPpVRbN0gW9G1QhBAkhliDOoN3p9iG_Hxnuslp5FyI00/s320/IMG_4172.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>getting to know some bumper pandas in preparation for meeting Hong Kong's<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x1x_zgrLjV9We4mleKtP0gJZgMDMN1n_AB4Wog-G7r4RF6hvzyNBAcrB9dCiNsiA5Y8Fy2nsPFq0GOZzJUR5u6aPLwP0kCA5NpFu10_xr1uZhC_mI9tm8raLxMJHnQF_HaqsCQNyMAC4/s1600-h/IMG_4175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205288612954339762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x1x_zgrLjV9We4mleKtP0gJZgMDMN1n_AB4Wog-G7r4RF6hvzyNBAcrB9dCiNsiA5Y8Fy2nsPFq0GOZzJUR5u6aPLwP0kCA5NpFu10_xr1uZhC_mI9tm8raLxMJHnQF_HaqsCQNyMAC4/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>at a garden in Asakusa</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-63824337862544457412008-05-20T20:39:00.005+09:002008-05-20T23:14:01.944+09:00stapler-wa doko desu ka?<p>A few random things in backwards chronological order (is there a word for that?):</p><ul><li>I'm going to Hong Kong on Friday! I'll be there for three days to see what there is to see, like H&M, giant pandas, and my friend Iris.</li><br /><li>Here's my latest ikebana creation:</li><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyss2lVNGsbZrYRtaH9zkciFZ0R_g1VXg6m2yI-bYG8w1OrztBM6NazQII0FSjgN7mWlo8Clw4gqwxaumlwowV4J9CuuOk0VK6jXTYVylI6E-F-wDYtNNIeD-v9qAGIZvgz-28TZ0k0jTh/s1600-h/IMG_4148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202450641316576562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyss2lVNGsbZrYRtaH9zkciFZ0R_g1VXg6m2yI-bYG8w1OrztBM6NazQII0FSjgN7mWlo8Clw4gqwxaumlwowV4J9CuuOk0VK6jXTYVylI6E-F-wDYtNNIeD-v9qAGIZvgz-28TZ0k0jTh/s320/IMG_4148.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><li>I just found the <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=1bDQl9ueNfg">SNL digital short of the Japanese version of 'The Office' </a>(I know, I'm late). It's pretty terrible, the only part that rang true was when Michael came out of his office to question the stapler debauchery, everyone started apologizing and bowing. I sit next to the principal at school, and by my count, 85% of the time that other teachers approach him, it is to apologize for something. What rang truer was <a href="http://meta.neojaponisme.com/2008/05/20/the-japanese-office/">this guy's reasoning</a> of why a Japanese 'The Office' would never work. </li></ul><p></p><ul><li>I also read today about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/17/business/worldbusiness/17engineers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&hp&adxnnlx=1211258021-ae6B9EnwDU%20EkjcsnWtKaA">how Japan is running out of engineers</a>. I actually heard about this first from the superintendent of schools here. He told me and my parents about this problem when we had our awkward lunch together, and asked for our advice. I found this hard to believe as a local problem as the university in town specializes in engineering, and the local major employer, TDK, presumably employs tons of engineers to produce their micro-chips and other electrical-related, uh, stuff. But I remembered I had seen pamphlets at school directed at girls encouraging them to study hard in science and consider careers in engineering, with profiles of successful women working in science. I was quite impressed by these, and told the superintendent so, saying I thought it was a great idea to encourage girls to go into the traditionally male-dominated field, just like my mom had done. He took credit for the pamphlets, not sure if rightfully so or not, but he seemed to appreciate the comments.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>I went back to Lake Tazawa last weekend, here are some pics:</li></ul><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvJTHSPsJD-wR7sp1whccaouNlsBp-EeF4qd0HhAhPcb8MeMhTxn6ubXmHd8kQl3RyTdiBRYWIwSjKS2Ny8ArWXK3k12yuUnG8aolU9QYc30QeZYfHNZtrfMdFsNR4U8wslGSmPGBvgs8/s1600-h/IMG_4143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202450658496445762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvJTHSPsJD-wR7sp1whccaouNlsBp-EeF4qd0HhAhPcb8MeMhTxn6ubXmHd8kQl3RyTdiBRYWIwSjKS2Ny8ArWXK3k12yuUnG8aolU9QYc30QeZYfHNZtrfMdFsNR4U8wslGSmPGBvgs8/s320/IMG_4143.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtnJTh03zY1kFIZBRfBrVVv5MZ2OnaoF7osPViPlpfQpu3furD8ioGaNVtIPV4uliHVm_hqSaXisfV9lOF3vyGSnE3kK4tRKsf7v7Gae8Pu3UwHKwdj7SlbFH-n43c9dpwNfoVD90ro1Y/s1600-h/IMG_4144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202450662791413074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtnJTh03zY1kFIZBRfBrVVv5MZ2OnaoF7osPViPlpfQpu3furD8ioGaNVtIPV4uliHVm_hqSaXisfV9lOF3vyGSnE3kK4tRKsf7v7Gae8Pu3UwHKwdj7SlbFH-n43c9dpwNfoVD90ro1Y/s320/IMG_4144.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2uFFvl6sJGQ33AgLf8A4vRekr2w6CZ7_OfwOnxJdwVxid9Th_wzW6R1Epk3a_RLeggC2E4wvnH1oylkbxHZpGp0dqnyXGnvcRgGFp4YSoNgKiHNyYP9h-0XluF_Xvv_ftU5wodIgGGqj/s1600-h/IMG_4139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202450675676314978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2uFFvl6sJGQ33AgLf8A4vRekr2w6CZ7_OfwOnxJdwVxid9Th_wzW6R1Epk3a_RLeggC2E4wvnH1oylkbxHZpGp0dqnyXGnvcRgGFp4YSoNgKiHNyYP9h-0XluF_Xvv_ftU5wodIgGGqj/s320/IMG_4139.JPG" border="0" /></a> The last one was taken in Kakunodate - wisteria on a trellis in a park. I've seen here a lot of wild wisteria growing off trees in the woods, pretty amazing. Honjo Park is now also full of blooming azaleas in various colors - seems like they planted the park in careful anticipation of the blooming cycles - in case you get depressed when the sakura finish, the azaleas start! </p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-34135178151664861682008-05-09T12:07:00.009+09:002008-05-15T17:57:07.560+09:00tour de tohoku<div align="left">Though my parents left last Wednesday I've been quite a busy bee since but here, finally, is THE post about our 'Tour de Tohoku'. Unfortunately not up to my mom's expectations of hourly updates with photos on each portion of our trip, with at least 1,000 comments on each post, but it will have to do. Sorry, mom. Happy Mother's Day!</div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The day after Oga we stayed in the Yurihonjo area and visited the popular (with me, on this blog) Akata-no-daiboutsu and akata-no-taki. It was a cloudy day and rained quite a bit before we headed to my former fellow teacher's home, which happened to be attached to a buddhist temple, as her husband is a priest. Their house and the temple, which also had a lovely garden, were hundreds of years old, it was like going back in time. She served us a simple tea ceremony while we looked out at the garden and discussed mostly, rowing (husband and daughter are both rowers), and my 'moncle', as my friends like to call him, my uncle who is a benedictine monk in France. They were also hosting a memorial gathering for someone who had recently died, so there was a somber mood to the place. The ancient ways were underscored when my mother asked about succession. The husband had explained to us how this temple was passed down in his family over generations. But as they only have daughters (one of whom is in college in Wisconsin, majoring in gender studies, interestingly enough), how would this work for the next generation? Apparently, one of the daughters must find and marry a buddhist priest-in-training who can take over the work of the temple. They also brought us to their pride and joy, a new zen meditation center they had recently built on a remote hilltop, overlooking the beautiful valley and with a perfect view of Chokai. We stared out at the valley together for a long while in silence, in maybe a secular meditation. After that, we visited the onsen at Foresta Chokai, a fancy resort in the area, which also had a large all-rock <em>rotemburo</em> (outdoor bath) with lovely view.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1lpecuudTEpXa_2GiHWXWpoqwtvxB-OarBXUXvwipBuynXbhwGgWm4SkW7HJHU19SndQTr0tiZMGWp9hICsYTnXY23MmgPTVlDpqVKTNxWlw_wBq6ySDfiGMH16raxTridcXZH2ctip2/s1600-h/IMG_3511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199139002488021154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1lpecuudTEpXa_2GiHWXWpoqwtvxB-OarBXUXvwipBuynXbhwGgWm4SkW7HJHU19SndQTr0tiZMGWp9hICsYTnXY23MmgPTVlDpqVKTNxWlw_wBq6ySDfiGMH16raxTridcXZH2ctip2/s320/IMG_3511.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><br /><p align="center">akata-no-daiboutsu<br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANfFfxPLtdoIsGOEKO6P1xuFg359QUhhXcBBrkUvb0iELt3lkDJ_jSjZrkr2N_j8vFG0XNNIiqYif0OM7XibElz7nj_cGMwJC33qUZbEWedgfTlrAVIgt-XM5g6Sa8WHg-Ymcwdc1a-WY/s1600-h/IMG_3513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199139011077955762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANfFfxPLtdoIsGOEKO6P1xuFg359QUhhXcBBrkUvb0iELt3lkDJ_jSjZrkr2N_j8vFG0XNNIiqYif0OM7XibElz7nj_cGMwJC33qUZbEWedgfTlrAVIgt-XM5g6Sa8WHg-Ymcwdc1a-WY/s320/IMG_3513.JPG" border="0" /></a>akata-no-taki - I love that my mom and I have the exact same look on our faces here - the look says "omg, it just started pouring, hurry up and take the picture"</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQpo1GuWuH-yozcu0RBZsZRmF4Fql2IOODzJpKulGg0uowg8vx9akm_QpP7Ho8YH7S1S1tvEWMxy9RnQTWyMRUti1oiLz64LudCDZ8x861Fcf4C5DRE-z2h_8l3ZtIaDLCVMqmx2ASc8k/s1600-h/IMG_3515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199139015372923074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQpo1GuWuH-yozcu0RBZsZRmF4Fql2IOODzJpKulGg0uowg8vx9akm_QpP7Ho8YH7S1S1tvEWMxy9RnQTWyMRUti1oiLz64LudCDZ8x861Fcf4C5DRE-z2h_8l3ZtIaDLCVMqmx2ASc8k/s320/IMG_3515.JPG" border="0" /></a> hiking back up from the waterfall</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199139891546251474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-9ZY20fQzUPmajlV_qaOo3Vfsw2b5Ydise5A0uwh441ruapqfuPU87xkqHRZCHVnBfaDR5YHvdPbZ6ox0E2RMjgLkUU5hR3SqSwpo5_hkuEIbLV4oi22RO5FtgR4BUaaQiDbZalFhU4U/s320/buddhist" border="0" /> at the satos' zen meditation center (dad's pic)<br /><br /></p><p align="left"><br />The next day we began the Aomori leg of our trip. In Hirosaki, we were glad to have sunny skies to visit the castle park. I think this was the first castle I have visited in Japan, and its unimpressive diminuitive size was made up for by the beautiful and expansive park. All the regular cherry trees had just finished blooming, their petals littering the ground and castle moat, but the hanging/weeping variety (of which there were plenty) were in full bloom that day. We also had a clear view of the nearby Mount Iwaki. When we felt we had sufficiently viewed the blossoms, we moved on to Hirosaki's 'temple town', an interesting street lined with 20-something temples on each side, leading up to Chosho-ji. The different styles and ages of the temples were interesting, but I think I decided my favorite kind of temple is the ancient unpainted, ornately carved wooden variety set in the middle of a cedar forest a la akata-no-daiboutsu. After some more time exploring the streets of the city, we headed for our hotel in Aomori city. That night we had a delicious traditional japanese dinner where we saw (gasp!) 4 other foreignors at the restaurant. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyhtYWJ2XOoWlCHy9Sb7Qb22MDLu80lNEwN9OXcOAYVTf-CV4tYFg4OWoi3GYgC5BYDaXq5E5iEw-nQ0qX8ww5IvJ9Ty3vpQ0Ht1teON06YVvgZE8sBrtiKfKm7LFSXBuRGd9yB3ktgFd/s1600-h/IMG_3518.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199142348267544802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyhtYWJ2XOoWlCHy9Sb7Qb22MDLu80lNEwN9OXcOAYVTf-CV4tYFg4OWoi3GYgC5BYDaXq5E5iEw-nQ0qX8ww5IvJ9Ty3vpQ0Ht1teON06YVvgZE8sBrtiKfKm7LFSXBuRGd9yB3ktgFd/s320/IMG_3518.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">at hirosaki castle park<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwJ3SrIElM0_tnakSXj8fd6KPfDGG72kE6tOSPQYpXhUM-rg7UQcGAzxfwJBEfftUf98sFpx70yK6BFUGp32q25p-sjfuENxIbD7-naY4uVyDXS62J_qMkCeP0KwkWB1rJwlYd9tKHSgW/s1600-h/IMG_3525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199142356857479410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwJ3SrIElM0_tnakSXj8fd6KPfDGG72kE6tOSPQYpXhUM-rg7UQcGAzxfwJBEfftUf98sFpx70yK6BFUGp32q25p-sjfuENxIbD7-naY4uVyDXS62J_qMkCeP0KwkWB1rJwlYd9tKHSgW/s320/IMG_3525.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0kwAOcDn1awUJekQLdK2Pkmx3ijVdVsoDhMJSLU1hvI4TyARjy9P8ijerW3YjmwBaUZjmOpEgo0m33rrVx_djoLhMCGFNuNOgbVK84UT2dD0p-gqCDmOkvNuCGvzUX7JQEhMerdBO9md/s1600-h/IMG_3530.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199142365447414018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0kwAOcDn1awUJekQLdK2Pkmx3ijVdVsoDhMJSLU1hvI4TyARjy9P8ijerW3YjmwBaUZjmOpEgo0m33rrVx_djoLhMCGFNuNOgbVK84UT2dD0p-gqCDmOkvNuCGvzUX7JQEhMerdBO9md/s320/IMG_3530.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROA3jjUhDdr_pDp4RHpTlRdRhBn4O2a06EG2mpnxQcdUzpFR7egAD4RuUhNj-Hs7Gkv4Dw_feSfX1svWkjbM3CpMzXbsKsg_Q6RpN0iXi6cg2f1vFOu_567UtwJcNJ34jr_ZFi_0aA8PL/s1600-h/IMG_3533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199142374037348626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROA3jjUhDdr_pDp4RHpTlRdRhBn4O2a06EG2mpnxQcdUzpFR7egAD4RuUhNj-Hs7Gkv4Dw_feSfX1svWkjbM3CpMzXbsKsg_Q6RpN0iXi6cg2f1vFOu_567UtwJcNJ34jr_ZFi_0aA8PL/s320/IMG_3533.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0MhGafOn9zcEINmikdtVVQpJQod6UfaPzUwD-frwhc8qd9V8yiAImrkkIsij61xyDQky8vY7vkLqbSGWIs5_jPRVxlENDeqJufzqMi9_mEYEcWjpZ96vIdXfoad42X2kRx3qXPsVv_JQ/s1600-h/IMG_3548.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199142386922250530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0MhGafOn9zcEINmikdtVVQpJQod6UfaPzUwD-frwhc8qd9V8yiAImrkkIsij61xyDQky8vY7vkLqbSGWIs5_jPRVxlENDeqJufzqMi9_mEYEcWjpZ96vIdXfoad42X2kRx3qXPsVv_JQ/s320/IMG_3548.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZnhZVqL6wcW1iZ5apA4LVzmkd9YwWXM_zB6KC68ZS1CBdf2ql1bIlmFOL2VgJCLxfXIZpN2p-7OUSxGvAQS4lUzqK4DEWrvr2_nHJxVjdnZYRx1tTVxbwgmVssOmr5psYgnYSDa9fVKO/s1600-h/IMG_3550.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199144895183151410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZnhZVqL6wcW1iZ5apA4LVzmkd9YwWXM_zB6KC68ZS1CBdf2ql1bIlmFOL2VgJCLxfXIZpN2p-7OUSxGvAQS4lUzqK4DEWrvr2_nHJxVjdnZYRx1tTVxbwgmVssOmr5psYgnYSDa9fVKO/s320/IMG_3550.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dQoTRSMewKR4F7NiffgcsBsENo58XeKvMvh7NusPymaZherdoIFgffYVfiJ6-3QCDbAKRY0cz_iQmQQLvDdgWfDNilv7v7txSyYxHnLPEyQntw8cYTmhtS3TJcr0A68GLUnuCn6M37kU/s1600-h/IMG_3578.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199476582622521874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dQoTRSMewKR4F7NiffgcsBsENo58XeKvMvh7NusPymaZherdoIFgffYVfiJ6-3QCDbAKRY0cz_iQmQQLvDdgWfDNilv7v7txSyYxHnLPEyQntw8cYTmhtS3TJcr0A68GLUnuCn6M37kU/s320/IMG_3578.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYhUPc-3lwKiSEoKYgQ4TRJUj9itNKzCN82COij0SFgFaoPxUGoBbV6T1eNzwTeGjCRYSaZyDHYNkkl26knRwN4LKulmMMUshL0p_zaYoEC5Sy1Y9b66r7dSTdNb7fUZlRsXbj_jTUHaU/s1600-h/IMG_3552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199144912363020610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYhUPc-3lwKiSEoKYgQ4TRJUj9itNKzCN82COij0SFgFaoPxUGoBbV6T1eNzwTeGjCRYSaZyDHYNkkl26knRwN4LKulmMMUshL0p_zaYoEC5Sy1Y9b66r7dSTdNb7fUZlRsXbj_jTUHaU/s320/IMG_3552.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBm1CI1cEfsHa5N9GBj9Ri6XV3AZ2Zp5W_8zS02r0J0J62qYaP4o0aw8AJWFy-t3szpLQp8TvH5m9vmwoPtdFVCm4gUocp7Rxaoy2Qten9FaNrpNFNs7409G2svARIsDP9uxa-JK0wt0E/s1600-h/IMG_3581.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199144938132824418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBm1CI1cEfsHa5N9GBj9Ri6XV3AZ2Zp5W_8zS02r0J0J62qYaP4o0aw8AJWFy-t3szpLQp8TvH5m9vmwoPtdFVCm4gUocp7Rxaoy2Qten9FaNrpNFNs7409G2svARIsDP9uxa-JK0wt0E/s320/IMG_3581.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">mount iwaki<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WOXmI0emlZyz6aq5ro7120SqihpPU9SbxEvxogYEGyQ3hSrU3Amzs9UqYRHaiJhh-FQaM1dUo7IQoQGKACO0xydNzDXYELfnjT0tF949K7PUKIdwVEhb6Uw276wK1cygfImhXkUhoIW8/s1600-h/IMG_3585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199144946722759026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WOXmI0emlZyz6aq5ro7120SqihpPU9SbxEvxogYEGyQ3hSrU3Amzs9UqYRHaiJhh-FQaM1dUo7IQoQGKACO0xydNzDXYELfnjT0tF949K7PUKIdwVEhb6Uw276wK1cygfImhXkUhoIW8/s320/IMG_3585.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmDISS0n1zpKt3dLy2x_Mt9srtnwNVPovFhg_T1KwJ01bUcn75b8dEsgNqIK1XEE2rLguvDC6PvUh8Rtw4OXPzAj9ucN8t6lrSSqsvGURDWTWQHAcD_ROcBUCFFyJMynD8oXz203bbjrd/s1600-h/IMG_3587.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199147094206407042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmDISS0n1zpKt3dLy2x_Mt9srtnwNVPovFhg_T1KwJ01bUcn75b8dEsgNqIK1XEE2rLguvDC6PvUh8Rtw4OXPzAj9ucN8t6lrSSqsvGURDWTWQHAcD_ROcBUCFFyJMynD8oXz203bbjrd/s320/IMG_3587.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1WvUL1_ymksBsGiLvdmwgN-dvYYZXPBa9HsamuShxsEvyHZAdA8-iChBFk6FHwf_Vjs-ImExQd87Dx7uFLr2VHzI23GmJYdOCOAPFwtNJOTEJ4rKXKxnPal_-tJWSuT9IdE8xbFdWI5S/s1600-h/IMG_3593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199147102796341650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1WvUL1_ymksBsGiLvdmwgN-dvYYZXPBa9HsamuShxsEvyHZAdA8-iChBFk6FHwf_Vjs-ImExQd87Dx7uFLr2VHzI23GmJYdOCOAPFwtNJOTEJ4rKXKxnPal_-tJWSuT9IdE8xbFdWI5S/s320/IMG_3593.JPG" border="0" /></a> a strange ancient octagonal temple in temple town<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2PLIUkongen_H3LEck9RH2NZPY4yDZr-QHUnA4QPxM0rk2WtfHvNhUtOvZFbxsgD2OBJSUeR8LMZcijafD7KOsH0S4Xz3hsbOUPYmEib9zTgKZOWw21eRlnzgkw1kC2mkv6IkX6L1ouS/s1600-h/IMG_3595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199147107091308962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2PLIUkongen_H3LEck9RH2NZPY4yDZr-QHUnA4QPxM0rk2WtfHvNhUtOvZFbxsgD2OBJSUeR8LMZcijafD7KOsH0S4Xz3hsbOUPYmEib9zTgKZOWw21eRlnzgkw1kC2mkv6IkX6L1ouS/s320/IMG_3595.JPG" border="0" /></a> a newer temple<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dMmxkjTaHqI48OYwStWhxa9shV-pICVZPEqE3gVh8JVS3IS4uzk9bNvw6-R_fMJmrmCMTCuS_rPQxv8qEXHIp4Hrvl095B1LfC7UBHL-ZiarT3xrhZOJZDEfVcMSbxG6pw8p4gYkxaln/s1600-h/IMG_3606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199147119976210882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dMmxkjTaHqI48OYwStWhxa9shV-pICVZPEqE3gVh8JVS3IS4uzk9bNvw6-R_fMJmrmCMTCuS_rPQxv8qEXHIp4Hrvl095B1LfC7UBHL-ZiarT3xrhZOJZDEfVcMSbxG6pw8p4gYkxaln/s320/IMG_3606.JPG" border="0" /></a> some interesting statues inside part of chosho-ji<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y9v4Mb39dYf4NrRWPhNv685z7rC5jLaXXZSrnMU4BAfQ3o32pBY-qtB6e1dShEOQmYnn_LqyGBIlruAnyy9sKH9appGmSjmlR2_TYhnUewRYiW6DQyGpJUTA8T7jyHfsDaVyRA2AOC1X/s1600-h/IMG_3597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199148876617834962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y9v4Mb39dYf4NrRWPhNv685z7rC5jLaXXZSrnMU4BAfQ3o32pBY-qtB6e1dShEOQmYnn_LqyGBIlruAnyy9sKH9appGmSjmlR2_TYhnUewRYiW6DQyGpJUTA8T7jyHfsDaVyRA2AOC1X/s320/IMG_3597.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDI4dcB6JGCokhjCeGDCA3-0hZzQpg930T6ZEuxmLzCpAD0fBicmCS8Zrk3VYWr_aJAMkpQRml_FTPnwaUdrqZ8keokOIy3-8d-TCPlID5z-vkiOYsJtNe_UsJasllK3Y7eTUwtjU-RUL/s1600-h/IMG_3608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199148880912802274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDI4dcB6JGCokhjCeGDCA3-0hZzQpg930T6ZEuxmLzCpAD0fBicmCS8Zrk3VYWr_aJAMkpQRml_FTPnwaUdrqZ8keokOIy3-8d-TCPlID5z-vkiOYsJtNe_UsJasllK3Y7eTUwtjU-RUL/s320/IMG_3608.JPG" border="0" /></a> the main gate at chosho-ji<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TT9pZU4oYjLR36E3upIDNcmtfCPTY_mZl-cpjStMAe1luHR47XxUIIH0Kn0TNme2xLQjWYWN9RA6LrldeF73upU4ZMsaGXmOCTUqCajagyGCKq9s7cDRzWk5bfYMtHG8cbzIJGuWxH_C/s1600-h/IMG_3609.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199148893797704178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TT9pZU4oYjLR36E3upIDNcmtfCPTY_mZl-cpjStMAe1luHR47XxUIIH0Kn0TNme2xLQjWYWN9RA6LrldeF73upU4ZMsaGXmOCTUqCajagyGCKq9s7cDRzWk5bfYMtHG8cbzIJGuWxH_C/s320/IMG_3609.JPG" border="0" /></a> hirosaki and mount iwaki<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5XVhVptf-DzJz135cpxpDj0MviYr6KpPaHwNWzAxLyx2EVwYbevT_UH542Shbg4jktxp0PZ2rQ5pHf1PB0li0hh_cZNcjcS7TjdZhdz8d-6AgZMTmvesce2ihW3k1tjAXQRJSkiea2K2/s1600-h/IMG_3614.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199148898092671490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5XVhVptf-DzJz135cpxpDj0MviYr6KpPaHwNWzAxLyx2EVwYbevT_UH542Shbg4jktxp0PZ2rQ5pHf1PB0li0hh_cZNcjcS7TjdZhdz8d-6AgZMTmvesce2ihW3k1tjAXQRJSkiea2K2/s320/IMG_3614.JPG" border="0" /></a> mount iwaki at sunset, on the drive to aomori city</p><br /><p align="left">The next day was reserved for a few natural wonders of the Shimokita peninsula in the northwest of Aomori. After a mosburger lunch in Mutsu, we arrived in Wakinosawa just in time to catch a boat trip to the Hotoke-ga-ura cliffs. We weren't sure what to expect but the cliffs certainly were impressive and unusual. We were allowed to roam the beach and hillside area near them for a while, which had a bit of an otherworldly vibe. We had heard there were monkeys that lived in the area, but try as we might we did not find any. This was near the notherly most point of mainland Japan, and said to be the world's most northerly colony of monkeys. Next on the list was Osorezan (Mount Dread) which is said to be a gateway to the afterlife, a kind of earthly buddhist purgatory where unsettled spirits roam. We arrived at dusk and were the only visitors in the thousand-car parking lot near the temple. In the summer there are a few ceremonial days where seers and mediums of various sorts help the thousands of visitors communicate with their deceased relatives and friends. We did not stay long around the bubbling sulphorous lake, in part due to the pungent noxious odor, but mainly due to the chilly, creepy, atmosphere. Back in Mutsu we had a delicious yakitori dinner at a local hole in the wall, and again we spent the night in Aomori city. </p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199336493674226194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT5ya7rVnZLXE16R_vpCbcw-6xE3d1Ex0_rSrbjc855mUCMNvUlpi03_ebDbfDVvXo5Zw2KzS9fdURn_1C-9M9a3GLcBSXFMHjG4i1-so30IbqBusCSrBDAjXKxaMOMW7tFLdBP1rD7lm/s320/IMG_3622.JPG" border="0" /> the western arm of the two peninsulas in the north of Aomori </p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199337816524153394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjNs9V4tYP96VfK3b8VX0H5ZSQMPxjXjCgalp6fyOlTQdvDIXun91QCj8VHTIs1RPm_TBfTyx0xU34k9wm8G1tav_ulH-XyQTggnOA5cDty2PUFeNEhxwB1ompE9LqiI0ZSnc4juQsuwa/s320/IMG_3642.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">some red cliffs on the way to hotokegaura </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU1T30PTdjS2xwD-nY31tKgrdP_zcfQiunpiVOKYHYZ82notK2NS4NhxywjtF7hRQ0Ej37246tnwUz60hI5_ztV2cxIHyXpAVhRsYDXjv4sLfL-fVh1RlJ3H9yCcjFefMuiXZMl_6nKMt/s1600-h/IMG_3654.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199337825114088002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsU1T30PTdjS2xwD-nY31tKgrdP_zcfQiunpiVOKYHYZ82notK2NS4NhxywjtF7hRQ0Ej37246tnwUz60hI5_ztV2cxIHyXpAVhRsYDXjv4sLfL-fVh1RlJ3H9yCcjFefMuiXZMl_6nKMt/s320/IMG_3654.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy-_Kph1gcH7DcWD8eKiAKalbyuDUf714LnElt0Q9KQJBxRDGB70yL7Wkyav-FW64HlLBqAH6NyvRm7pfpReQcAkhhYtz0nrHndWZLGVfgwt0lF5_JQ86fp8ADCvohgS_1grtO9Lrs1Jj/s1600-h/IMG_3667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199338984755257938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy-_Kph1gcH7DcWD8eKiAKalbyuDUf714LnElt0Q9KQJBxRDGB70yL7Wkyav-FW64HlLBqAH6NyvRm7pfpReQcAkhhYtz0nrHndWZLGVfgwt0lF5_JQ86fp8ADCvohgS_1grtO9Lrs1Jj/s320/IMG_3667.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">the strange and out-of-place, out-of-this world, really, hotokegaura cliffs </p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoyGVQKcZeKMv3_Uw4nkQydyeN6yhbho6rrWH9YIu3qCsQgAw-QFEAzqOlnoFrEd5m-dX1vhcJ3z7Pnl2SchuMB7I8xCggCx57nUtcVkJDkuv_Dl7GnouKwBpEu6I85-hS4FTeA4px-BB/s1600-h/IMG_3669.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199338993345192546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoyGVQKcZeKMv3_Uw4nkQydyeN6yhbho6rrWH9YIu3qCsQgAw-QFEAzqOlnoFrEd5m-dX1vhcJ3z7Pnl2SchuMB7I8xCggCx57nUtcVkJDkuv_Dl7GnouKwBpEu6I85-hS4FTeA4px-BB/s320/IMG_3669.JPG" border="0" /><br /></a>the water was clear blue so you could see the white rock below the surface as well<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMif6W6l5x2pmSdL_5WCY_o9Va-EKCKA0okmGP4rDrLX9BM579ZntVWKaU4mFJDlFSoagY5Tfw2A1XX1H7ydtfvksQiTwUGrNO-rfTo6znvS3kAtDC2taaJ16jLEOnApExk-wYJsYy1Yw/s1600-h/IMG_3672.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199340320490087026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMif6W6l5x2pmSdL_5WCY_o9Va-EKCKA0okmGP4rDrLX9BM579ZntVWKaU4mFJDlFSoagY5Tfw2A1XX1H7ydtfvksQiTwUGrNO-rfTo6znvS3kAtDC2taaJ16jLEOnApExk-wYJsYy1Yw/s320/IMG_3672.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3dXHJ6VoYgGgJ8JdOWQozaIK48USXxPkhwdaaWzJCv5PojrtUjrXUnnzRJ2bCyD88XLRpGqA-tDoOhAORKeNb_9ULKN3oQm5XtaGb-sZZCdwTBFf1XBZxrSvnDJ9pnJ1082YgefRHENk/s1600-h/IMG_3673.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199340324785054338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3dXHJ6VoYgGgJ8JdOWQozaIK48USXxPkhwdaaWzJCv5PojrtUjrXUnnzRJ2bCyD88XLRpGqA-tDoOhAORKeNb_9ULKN3oQm5XtaGb-sZZCdwTBFf1XBZxrSvnDJ9pnJ1082YgefRHENk/s320/IMG_3673.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDesiZXkgg8YqYH-Zr570EOy3cnehdF4l_TwORhc06VfjilB1119OhGMvtEdNvDhMKVW8N0h0SbXJiN6fb5QAVedrNH7uEEOkk5oozab4jWpwq8SMQkYOQKmJjpH1mzIEap6-CxvLYpRwU/s1600-h/IMG_3678.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199341681994719890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDesiZXkgg8YqYH-Zr570EOy3cnehdF4l_TwORhc06VfjilB1119OhGMvtEdNvDhMKVW8N0h0SbXJiN6fb5QAVedrNH7uEEOkk5oozab4jWpwq8SMQkYOQKmJjpH1mzIEap6-CxvLYpRwU/s320/IMG_3678.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">dad looking for monkeys in the forest<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny2e5qWVY_NIpV4JztaLzAZRbpCcOvoZKpbdyQHuCQMNKAyUI_aREpT_FGGAm2Gsh_gxzmgRahQhBe89_zLbYiy5iDFbp5udBmXpm4Iu9OXk-V6JU1fy6Lpy77L3FbVl6EY8S45VVuwle/s1600-h/IMG_3683.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199341690584654498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny2e5qWVY_NIpV4JztaLzAZRbpCcOvoZKpbdyQHuCQMNKAyUI_aREpT_FGGAm2Gsh_gxzmgRahQhBe89_zLbYiy5iDFbp5udBmXpm4Iu9OXk-V6JU1fy6Lpy77L3FbVl6EY8S45VVuwle/s320/IMG_3683.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibDoWKmiuTCnayNwYXwqcmuog2vmZZYwYwp5T5R_1BnbCMlASirsDiLKQxodpCyNceJc28DDDXh0LAE48cJW41vYOLPnQ_2AAR8B8ivVZJoptQCNx1xMBDU__hEUxDqsMU6QBVLZzCw21/s1600-h/IMG_3686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199342712786870962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibDoWKmiuTCnayNwYXwqcmuog2vmZZYwYwp5T5R_1BnbCMlASirsDiLKQxodpCyNceJc28DDDXh0LAE48cJW41vYOLPnQ_2AAR8B8ivVZJoptQCNx1xMBDU__hEUxDqsMU6QBVLZzCw21/s320/IMG_3686.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiF4NMUtKF0nOihDGwxg2YRRxCYJfWdZcW-VEKpBV2aYIFJ4CpRA9R-Mt3eoJgVy9n_pp7uW8xJWNkDKQhSXRnMoHaBKxmc6fmPl2Rrg1PShCwyMy5IThi4-C_DuEWGDziewHXIEriCGf/s1600-h/IMG_3690.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199342721376805570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiF4NMUtKF0nOihDGwxg2YRRxCYJfWdZcW-VEKpBV2aYIFJ4CpRA9R-Mt3eoJgVy9n_pp7uW8xJWNkDKQhSXRnMoHaBKxmc6fmPl2Rrg1PShCwyMy5IThi4-C_DuEWGDziewHXIEriCGf/s320/IMG_3690.JPG" border="0" /></a> mom relaxing in our luxurious tourboat</p><br /><p align="center">Osorezan<br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZTTON2EKnYYIx1UMlO_S_GRM0jvSrWv7UY-_FicUG9J7GNg8FdsETg8yHJTLBYLGpRFPzDFXCv8SD1cF2k6qQfhiKgWOBx556cfMsBUpfzkoRPD5-favkjHhD9DKDQH-If14JeaFR6j1/s1600-h/IMG_3697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199344499493266130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZTTON2EKnYYIx1UMlO_S_GRM0jvSrWv7UY-_FicUG9J7GNg8FdsETg8yHJTLBYLGpRFPzDFXCv8SD1cF2k6qQfhiKgWOBx556cfMsBUpfzkoRPD5-favkjHhD9DKDQH-If14JeaFR6j1/s320/IMG_3697.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJECybH2kQGzbjdZXrdSRHCSP2uFipqZ5Qa57F10-WX-RtsuzATQll-PClLA6MQVRuLs6xCl2cfy_ygnGiXcWX-wmozB4Y7wMceI2PRCFQYEjOcLnYwKSpPoro3vWZvC-WYtPecQqefyO/s1600-h/IMG_3701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199344503788233442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJECybH2kQGzbjdZXrdSRHCSP2uFipqZ5Qa57F10-WX-RtsuzATQll-PClLA6MQVRuLs6xCl2cfy_ygnGiXcWX-wmozB4Y7wMceI2PRCFQYEjOcLnYwKSpPoro3vWZvC-WYtPecQqefyO/s320/IMG_3701.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qqOYNcYSXVhrW2sZaUaRNdRYny2GX5pDYn2gJS2c-PaVY6tDs0ULNLJoVQiM2brphtFkOfzEqEqPF5b0_cMKYYyRrmXleVmikFJQLMU6OZx9RR6noK7sP2jb6J_20Oyvrd0-UbwdKXx3/s1600-h/IMG_3704.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199345809458291442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qqOYNcYSXVhrW2sZaUaRNdRYny2GX5pDYn2gJS2c-PaVY6tDs0ULNLJoVQiM2brphtFkOfzEqEqPF5b0_cMKYYyRrmXleVmikFJQLMU6OZx9RR6noK7sP2jb6J_20Oyvrd0-UbwdKXx3/s320/IMG_3704.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIRESR3n_yseecM7favL7n0ZTYYkLcQXz84-eDUm1-cw4Rd4XwlX8AUhudu2r1lbelFhKrmDVriXUMTNo5x_9DP8RUzVR6hJkW39Rny9LnmaRTr-l9rXjPvvdCCQ1X0MAuoIFrjR6HP7d/s1600-h/IMG_3707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199345818048226050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIRESR3n_yseecM7favL7n0ZTYYkLcQXz84-eDUm1-cw4Rd4XwlX8AUhudu2r1lbelFhKrmDVriXUMTNo5x_9DP8RUzVR6hJkW39Rny9LnmaRTr-l9rXjPvvdCCQ1X0MAuoIFrjR6HP7d/s320/IMG_3707.JPG" border="0" /></a> bubbling sulphur gas in the lake</p><br /><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_B2LEQs5CdInVQDycRA0xNy_88q-jHJUVDw671977JIEcsEwdUkgsaQH_OMYX8xX-ubkj33L9pJlvnQxYaSWgT3B7vUEkjzXNcUiMk2K073y6YGno_1oVADI5LSpsHFjOy5B2NxX_jG6/s1600-h/IMG_3708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199345826638160658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_B2LEQs5CdInVQDycRA0xNy_88q-jHJUVDw671977JIEcsEwdUkgsaQH_OMYX8xX-ubkj33L9pJlvnQxYaSWgT3B7vUEkjzXNcUiMk2K073y6YGno_1oVADI5LSpsHFjOy5B2NxX_jG6/s320/IMG_3708.JPG" border="0" /></a> creepy wrapped statue - the fabric in the middle is printed with shinkansen!<br /></p><br />The next morning we decided to give Aomori city a little more than a glance and explored its bayside park area. Aomori used to be a large important city due to the ferry linkages to Hokkaido but has lost a lot of traffic since the tunneled train lines have been built. I still quite enjoyed the bayside and its downtown area with blue-lit trees at nighttime and covered, wide sidewalks. Just outside of the city we visited the Nebuta-no-sato, the museum of the city's summertime Nebuta festival, in which giant internally-lit paper sculptures grace the streets on floats that spin. The floats were, in a word, awesome, housed in a large darkened warehouse in the middle of a lovely park which still had some blooming sakura. From there we drove through the mountains around Hakkoda-san and along the beautiful Oirase gorge to Lake Towada. We had a nice lunch on its shore - Mom had a barbecued whole fish and Dad and I had nabe soups, mine was with kiritampo, like from the cooking class. After a brief jaunt on a lakeside path, we drove home for the evening.<br /><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CknLUYo2ln4pad0ixm959YZk0lD11ILh_q5wIqf1yFR5VhG7ImZ-1RwcRljam8g2Kb_xxIqZK0PnUox-l_N9h1hRJ6lA9SAmPOCmjJZUt8zC_iHEHEWcNsIAWS4rM0tk9RbN_fS-tvuz/s1600-h/IMG_3712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199346569667502882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CknLUYo2ln4pad0ixm959YZk0lD11ILh_q5wIqf1yFR5VhG7ImZ-1RwcRljam8g2Kb_xxIqZK0PnUox-l_N9h1hRJ6lA9SAmPOCmjJZUt8zC_iHEHEWcNsIAWS4rM0tk9RbN_fS-tvuz/s320/IMG_3712.JPG" border="0" /></a> Aomori city bayside park, and a bridge to nowhere too important<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFotTdP9jZJYFyZOejeloX8znNtBwrZ2IBTBqsjk601T_wjn1tLRK_OGhQIyvOkh8xyN_abQFdAJzoOUDP6ypXQzw46CfiRFl-uriUsz1bRXfNoLbCYG58wolNs9I1NzR_at9jXpHDN9Tj/s1600-h/IMG_3714.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199346573962470194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFotTdP9jZJYFyZOejeloX8znNtBwrZ2IBTBqsjk601T_wjn1tLRK_OGhQIyvOkh8xyN_abQFdAJzoOUDP6ypXQzw46CfiRFl-uriUsz1bRXfNoLbCYG58wolNs9I1NzR_at9jXpHDN9Tj/s320/IMG_3714.JPG" border="0" /></a>the 'ASPAM' building, actually a tourism center</p><br /><p align="center">The floats at Nebuta-no-sato<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEinBWfr43Bvb0TcjXY4yndBP7TmwL6zUwdoMWf-SS5vHb3sYXs26vaSy840i-JWcPW10k4pX1fWttT1dIuGZ96DBUAUXgqhKjMiTpw2Aq0W9QcVzi2jcmQpHh_sVSMuyT7e9APh4PKff/s1600-h/IMG_3716.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199346578257437506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEinBWfr43Bvb0TcjXY4yndBP7TmwL6zUwdoMWf-SS5vHb3sYXs26vaSy840i-JWcPW10k4pX1fWttT1dIuGZ96DBUAUXgqhKjMiTpw2Aq0W9QcVzi2jcmQpHh_sVSMuyT7e9APh4PKff/s320/IMG_3716.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcwhdIO2N5zcb8t3AZU_MKvPHfCR1Hfcq0ps4Ou7P8VXQGgfmxaLZOmCR7l7Asc0ZoEd6qHnIbwS4eLnMecm3AZ_6smcViRrafVq27mUVbX7zB3Dgy-40fTeaHFfQA7FvuW6mGG9gsQfo/s1600-h/IMG_3733.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199348455158145874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcwhdIO2N5zcb8t3AZU_MKvPHfCR1Hfcq0ps4Ou7P8VXQGgfmxaLZOmCR7l7Asc0ZoEd6qHnIbwS4eLnMecm3AZ_6smcViRrafVq27mUVbX7zB3Dgy-40fTeaHFfQA7FvuW6mGG9gsQfo/s320/IMG_3733.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ABiZz0mejOGIH-Zmwpt0nJRDLNsgW0r65EDYBl-SgZ8mD1KaAVMfJnV1G2FS3Sp1z4qt4Oxnb_WVPiNI7xyEqSzfIE9Piep-AjG9mvzBkZMywa_HW1hcQbzIk0go2j1zzZVwzG4LI44k/s1600-h/IMG_3737.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199348463748080482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ABiZz0mejOGIH-Zmwpt0nJRDLNsgW0r65EDYBl-SgZ8mD1KaAVMfJnV1G2FS3Sp1z4qt4Oxnb_WVPiNI7xyEqSzfIE9Piep-AjG9mvzBkZMywa_HW1hcQbzIk0go2j1zzZVwzG4LI44k/s320/IMG_3737.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNW0BSnCMTNXa6heCZgyGPsyaX-82GEQH29eKBrgRyS2k-tXIS_b0ev8ct17cktcKjI0jBc5H5ZHSc5Fq04WN__-sb6WrO3vyNKl79bakb-XvzBM2jPrMykewOaA4SxH1hu0Hq8xhrMmu/s1600-h/IMG_3742.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199348468043047794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNW0BSnCMTNXa6heCZgyGPsyaX-82GEQH29eKBrgRyS2k-tXIS_b0ev8ct17cktcKjI0jBc5H5ZHSc5Fq04WN__-sb6WrO3vyNKl79bakb-XvzBM2jPrMykewOaA4SxH1hu0Hq8xhrMmu/s320/IMG_3742.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EkHNOQK-taztrbvKsPor2BQ1HEy6HWa-r_duRuTuaqZVYulb7Y97pA_5WAHL8Zwho_Xm4M71bsGTmn7kgZanE3l4dn4fvck4UdMygI9bWRs3hiZ5Xkoa57ALHWMf_hLnfYTqy7_kRpH6/s1600-h/IMG_3747.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199349305561670530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EkHNOQK-taztrbvKsPor2BQ1HEy6HWa-r_duRuTuaqZVYulb7Y97pA_5WAHL8Zwho_Xm4M71bsGTmn7kgZanE3l4dn4fvck4UdMygI9bWRs3hiZ5Xkoa57ALHWMf_hLnfYTqy7_kRpH6/s320/IMG_3747.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTdVp_wzvgcoqL5OlgFamTdWqhyUeiWh3bNjW2x_n4laaNdQl569AMp3Mk_oAdeM1wVMC6kKFdJGygPSpSmdVnnvUe_ES7lI4zxlKJRj7vkWDyjYh_7kxKizzqp3H8oFj4WZr_TbltgBH/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_3731.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199476591212456482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTdVp_wzvgcoqL5OlgFamTdWqhyUeiWh3bNjW2x_n4laaNdQl569AMp3Mk_oAdeM1wVMC6kKFdJGygPSpSmdVnnvUe_ES7lI4zxlKJRj7vkWDyjYh_7kxKizzqp3H8oFj4WZr_TbltgBH/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3731.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiaZDlDvCVWxsxUBP8DdIdkxZgjR7FN6l2wobGdu0GrBgMDEwQC6c04nrWO97S5IQEQMeRECtGP6SjPDErzeQEu9EUX1E2mM4c18CfEQj29pKtdrIAVuEW-raNFlxrM29bqAA3FZ9yljL/s1600-h/IMG_3751.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199349314151605138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiaZDlDvCVWxsxUBP8DdIdkxZgjR7FN6l2wobGdu0GrBgMDEwQC6c04nrWO97S5IQEQMeRECtGP6SjPDErzeQEu9EUX1E2mM4c18CfEQj29pKtdrIAVuEW-raNFlxrM29bqAA3FZ9yljL/s320/IMG_3751.JPG" border="0" /></a> in the park outside the warehouse, some of the last flowering sakura on honshu<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqIDo8N3prI3VX-laSMspvWp4WJFoEyQgfucVhRSsV4X2nOrrukFUtIlMD-JtTXspKLLUR4sBfxZnK9sUmPSzshYewXb5ln4AdC9pcWxwUOs-JF-zYYgvNrurontnyUBBHYCRCq0NEnio/s1600-h/IMG_3754.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199349318446572450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqIDo8N3prI3VX-laSMspvWp4WJFoEyQgfucVhRSsV4X2nOrrukFUtIlMD-JtTXspKLLUR4sBfxZnK9sUmPSzshYewXb5ln4AdC9pcWxwUOs-JF-zYYgvNrurontnyUBBHYCRCq0NEnio/s320/IMG_3754.JPG" border="0" /></a> you could rent cabins in the park. a japanese businessman too involved with keitai business to take in the beautiful nature.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lWcw7nsIhhF7zR25Esvs2SqY31IBeaNNdR3gtRBCLI2sJmvS1Eaz4gs1zcOqAo3kLPPaFC3MWXOQ9h-qBaX3Uwdb78l4jiYeqd_g4d_YylkXU3iD82988aq8ZLD8JKoTTWnNqARWVDI1/s1600-h/IMG_3756.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199350070065849266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lWcw7nsIhhF7zR25Esvs2SqY31IBeaNNdR3gtRBCLI2sJmvS1Eaz4gs1zcOqAo3kLPPaFC3MWXOQ9h-qBaX3Uwdb78l4jiYeqd_g4d_YylkXU3iD82988aq8ZLD8JKoTTWnNqARWVDI1/s320/IMG_3756.JPG" border="0" /></a> the famous aomori apple trees, not yet flowering<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgD4_aPPSlh59E5mvJyX99oDwl1Step1iqKpowp2CgDQ-2Wby0a81Nxsh88lZVc-79oHCXutCzL2UFz4x86sLWC-OV3w9D-64s-JFDKNI0lRDAi6DoZBulNs2mGgAcYWr2sysxjii3nVE/s1600-h/IMG_3759.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199350078655783874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgD4_aPPSlh59E5mvJyX99oDwl1Step1iqKpowp2CgDQ-2Wby0a81Nxsh88lZVc-79oHCXutCzL2UFz4x86sLWC-OV3w9D-64s-JFDKNI0lRDAi6DoZBulNs2mGgAcYWr2sysxjii3nVE/s320/IMG_3759.JPG" border="0" /></a> Driving near Hakkoda, the snow was higher than my car!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFZ67fH85pZ5Iwd-fxxfKua4Z6TUacLa0FxNPLa2-UklPl3CcMC9g77VH6MIjvrLZ3Bqh2PbLgjYkIHRMHot17iwJa9ujQSbCMYtHT2XvhI_BNJmc3rCYPewvLFKaPGXmWJ9rEbuNeIjO/s1600-h/IMG_3761.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199350082950751186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFZ67fH85pZ5Iwd-fxxfKua4Z6TUacLa0FxNPLa2-UklPl3CcMC9g77VH6MIjvrLZ3Bqh2PbLgjYkIHRMHot17iwJa9ujQSbCMYtHT2XvhI_BNJmc3rCYPewvLFKaPGXmWJ9rEbuNeIjO/s320/IMG_3761.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hakkoda-san<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFfvc-X81IV5l5eDQX1NLtJfJo8yPBCi8zLi8PSQ0IQr22Pp7V9Ui_kDby13QiLYuwAXXsNhMsatITVzRaDnYg0EvD9g-hS9iuQDi9-JK0iY8gwPsR3HKDmsbtFzBOBFeW3jQRaDo7XOU/s1600-h/IMG_3763.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199352204664595474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFfvc-X81IV5l5eDQX1NLtJfJo8yPBCi8zLi8PSQ0IQr22Pp7V9Ui_kDby13QiLYuwAXXsNhMsatITVzRaDnYg0EvD9g-hS9iuQDi9-JK0iY8gwPsR3HKDmsbtFzBOBFeW3jQRaDo7XOU/s320/IMG_3763.JPG" border="0" /></a> Oirase Valley<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB3UHqeUJ0r_2ZBJ0UhtFNL9laU2dT_U6kr1u0bzB7iC43jr7Pt0Z5iL-M29KKgMN6c_jZoo7Ztbly_rO49zJ4T3_olkUr619FXeD51QVvOZtp4fhYCu_kA0j4Lt-wHiUvfFqzzZ6r4s2/s1600-h/IMG_3764.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199352213254530082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB3UHqeUJ0r_2ZBJ0UhtFNL9laU2dT_U6kr1u0bzB7iC43jr7Pt0Z5iL-M29KKgMN6c_jZoo7Ztbly_rO49zJ4T3_olkUr619FXeD51QVvOZtp4fhYCu_kA0j4Lt-wHiUvfFqzzZ6r4s2/s320/IMG_3764.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQGIdPBU_2Sox2RevxuwtcUcmCBGmhtnf-UKyOoMwen8jFn3DI34gMpQLDPP2KXmx8OXcEi85iyHkTPteu78uKmS_S52Pqo482YzInfO35BWM1Cj8vw9tKCad9Gr7oY3PwbsxamovTtXL/s1600-h/IMG_3770.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199352221844464690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQGIdPBU_2Sox2RevxuwtcUcmCBGmhtnf-UKyOoMwen8jFn3DI34gMpQLDPP2KXmx8OXcEi85iyHkTPteu78uKmS_S52Pqo482YzInfO35BWM1Cj8vw9tKCad9Gr7oY3PwbsxamovTtXL/s320/IMG_3770.JPG" border="0" /></a> the walking paths along the oirase, which we eschewed for driving<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZAWncphTFriMKLXDyFlmZsCXDtmXGLgx1URGxsdyq_hYWR73d540e6ggjkS886DKrvJLjNk46TvNOoa5vOXGq003LKFSjS7V6aj_qF3mx_yHXEadTls8d44a6nxoDwGGGh2TRw_QeO-8/s1600-h/IMG_3776.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199353789507527794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZAWncphTFriMKLXDyFlmZsCXDtmXGLgx1URGxsdyq_hYWR73d540e6ggjkS886DKrvJLjNk46TvNOoa5vOXGq003LKFSjS7V6aj_qF3mx_yHXEadTls8d44a6nxoDwGGGh2TRw_QeO-8/s320/IMG_3776.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dad looking for fish from the riverbank. If I had a dollar for everytime I heard "Should have brought my fishing pole..." on this trip...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlsGPNP5j-Aay24WQ8IG_TUwnqsdpmgC06sL_P3N9kV0S-bPAmdij8TkYVxsDgUf5FHpsfJEsJS76_dQUF6mvUtmc7A9sn8J6dVgWgAaeapYbS5vjvLuusCtsSZHL1EZvr_Sicuwd0jED/s1600-h/IMG_3780.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199353793802495106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlsGPNP5j-Aay24WQ8IG_TUwnqsdpmgC06sL_P3N9kV0S-bPAmdij8TkYVxsDgUf5FHpsfJEsJS76_dQUF6mvUtmc7A9sn8J6dVgWgAaeapYbS5vjvLuusCtsSZHL1EZvr_Sicuwd0jED/s320/IMG_3780.JPG" border="0" /></a> an evil lady supposedly lived under this rock and beckoned to/killed/ate passersby. may have misunderstood the story.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN68VE1anOlks1jb3FXA1hIoJ4KK6-w8Rz7dG3SK66lMTcxodWYHOe8rKeC5kn26SaKvU-Axs7g8F3JNCoP4xPbvcx_o5lTiBg1a-FuMVvLO-8PFyVwJWuH74IZoYACKtUo7VG5vOgBL6K/s1600-h/IMG_3783.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199353802392429714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN68VE1anOlks1jb3FXA1hIoJ4KK6-w8Rz7dG3SK66lMTcxodWYHOe8rKeC5kn26SaKvU-Axs7g8F3JNCoP4xPbvcx_o5lTiBg1a-FuMVvLO-8PFyVwJWuH74IZoYACKtUo7VG5vOgBL6K/s320/IMG_3783.JPG" border="0" /></a>mom enjoying a longing look at her fish's head<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3e5ci1MlIe3PVMLa15l_D02LFJJNW2o8gDJPECA_7sS9lcXjaZYH58NKm6dJXInTB3O7Bf9lzQbPYikNQ3OW3jzCUybIHlQ2PW4ccOkH5m-q7lyLD0rsa1vrk-Skqw7pPHf5jx69ywynq/s1600-h/IMG_3785.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199354747285234850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3e5ci1MlIe3PVMLa15l_D02LFJJNW2o8gDJPECA_7sS9lcXjaZYH58NKm6dJXInTB3O7Bf9lzQbPYikNQ3OW3jzCUybIHlQ2PW4ccOkH5m-q7lyLD0rsa1vrk-Skqw7pPHf5jx69ywynq/s320/IMG_3785.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKwaSbNmm0tw4HZH-19ZKwdLPFToNIc4X4Cvogjbvwp4OlaRusrXgpvEgy758sZyVHR8PXDWcWO6CqwzBTHfbTgBvrcwu2DeKDUD94pvf3c8clPfZtLVJNVeK3Ltu3UxdLOBW7kihiYra/s1600-h/IMG_3791.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199354751580202162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKwaSbNmm0tw4HZH-19ZKwdLPFToNIc4X4Cvogjbvwp4OlaRusrXgpvEgy758sZyVHR8PXDWcWO6CqwzBTHfbTgBvrcwu2DeKDUD94pvf3c8clPfZtLVJNVeK3Ltu3UxdLOBW7kihiYra/s320/IMG_3791.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">At Lake Towada<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zouCWEBmt1M9toPmSSSY4gC96OYSBUU39lUug046CgssstazrcBtmRHebDBDOU5qVpBPTSB3ZGyuzoWZQm1ktTswWY3LUDlhv6wGD7Rb0cRg7Oq-teVodNkS_3cGjHk3dmlUggOfgtV0/s1600-h/IMG_3796.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199354760170136770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zouCWEBmt1M9toPmSSSY4gC96OYSBUU39lUug046CgssstazrcBtmRHebDBDOU5qVpBPTSB3ZGyuzoWZQm1ktTswWY3LUDlhv6wGD7Rb0cRg7Oq-teVodNkS_3cGjHk3dmlUggOfgtV0/s320/IMG_3796.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center">the "Maidens of the Lake" statue</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iU4SznxrTTRWjOb91P23kQgYSXcQ05LkBzYaJiKop6408CZeVOQrdIsOf6WzYQUOGdVybz_OIKC-Uf_QugS87CNKn_MizNsN8uhcoBcYPOiAzsFTVmL-Aab4Byd-bNTEz9qoTPMLgodV/s1600-h/IMG_3799.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199355606278694098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iU4SznxrTTRWjOb91P23kQgYSXcQ05LkBzYaJiKop6408CZeVOQrdIsOf6WzYQUOGdVybz_OIKC-Uf_QugS87CNKn_MizNsN8uhcoBcYPOiAzsFTVmL-Aab4Byd-bNTEz9qoTPMLgodV/s320/IMG_3799.JPG" border="0" /></a> super tall cedars on the shores of Towada<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvph1JqmI9ZuMsN-QUyu_hLu53NPSR5uiaobpNUAtLf1UjrK3DG7I4hQjiIkvj2hQodJd6H42VJv6EbGrt3UKQRmGseIGxx7kg_CVnLt1aNZUmj7hQs9gv6b-81RhNRMYZJOGGJzaRxhU/s1600-h/IMG_3801.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199355614868628706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvph1JqmI9ZuMsN-QUyu_hLu53NPSR5uiaobpNUAtLf1UjrK3DG7I4hQjiIkvj2hQodJd6H42VJv6EbGrt3UKQRmGseIGxx7kg_CVnLt1aNZUmj7hQs9gv6b-81RhNRMYZJOGGJzaRxhU/s320/IMG_3801.JPG" border="0" /></a> possibly some kind of osmond shoot (like from ikebana!) growing in the wild<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0e-uRgsSAJLTPqAvJgoiJ0hNX9zRV0gJo8lbE15n0MWDUAwYCQpcJZbbwYkoGRN16p9N4rPrH6epakqLMSH-W0ZP5Xsm4yXyTFfa_Ah0TGsmm_gKfmjgEjRnGvKXrktyPOkPv1PSUpwp/s1600-h/IMG_3806.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199355619163596018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0e-uRgsSAJLTPqAvJgoiJ0hNX9zRV0gJo8lbE15n0MWDUAwYCQpcJZbbwYkoGRN16p9N4rPrH6epakqLMSH-W0ZP5Xsm4yXyTFfa_Ah0TGsmm_gKfmjgEjRnGvKXrktyPOkPv1PSUpwp/s320/IMG_3806.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">cedar bark<br /></p><p align="left"><br /><br />Our 'day of rest' the next day turned out not to be very restful at all, I brought my parents to my junior high in the morning, where we had tea with the principal, met some of my co-teachers and students, and went on a tour of the school. My parents were slightly freaked by the wall of windows into each classroom -we were certainly distracting the students by walking past each and every one! They were also impressed by how a temporarily teacher-less class remained quiet and in their seats. Next we were to have lunch with some members of the Board of Education - I had initially just invited my supervisor and the other matronly type from the office, looking forward to a casual luch maybe at the JC department store, but apparently the superintendent got wind of this lunch and decided it would be an important international affair involving every member of the Board of Education staff and the fanciest hotel in town. The mood was stiff and formal, with the superintendent speaking at length directed at my family which my supervisors had a hard time translating because, apparently, it didn't make much sense in Japanese either. We all had 'hambaga' a hamburger/meat loaf patty smothered in sauce, with unmemorable side dishes. After lunch, we went shopping for a bit - my parents were impressed by the Walmart-esqe (but possibly higher class) local massive shopping center, Aeon. I even got them to do <em>purikura</em> in the arcade. That evening my mom and I had tea at my ikebana-sensei's house - I had asked her to give us both a lesson but she was disinterested in that idea, and instead wanted to take us out to dinner at a local <em>ryokan</em> (traditional inn). She brought her husband, too, who is a professional mountain climber and had hiked Chokai just a few days before (still snowy!), having run into <a href="http://douglaspperkins.blogspot.com/">Doug</a> on his way. I did not know such a nice restaurant existed in yurihonjo, so that was a real treat.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbL_xxixeZBzGY-aen146fiBfqkdbqVxuPmA5KeBNEjCFzkz4nQrF8KyTdg-B_WMyyVxEIjRZFkfZJ4CZ70LXKf4c6cpJazAl5WR8ezPc1OvDSbW7QLq3Bk6rIcHcN3w4T0A_r7ZvdH-A/s1600-h/IMG_3819.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199356332128167170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbL_xxixeZBzGY-aen146fiBfqkdbqVxuPmA5KeBNEjCFzkz4nQrF8KyTdg-B_WMyyVxEIjRZFkfZJ4CZ70LXKf4c6cpJazAl5WR8ezPc1OvDSbW7QLq3Bk6rIcHcN3w4T0A_r7ZvdH-A/s320/IMG_3819.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">mom and ikebana-sensei outside the ryokan, check out the giant tulips!<br /><br /></p>Our second journey began the next day and we started off at Kakunodate, one of the only published touristic sites in Akita, known for its ancient samurai houses and cherry tree lined river walkway. It was quite busy with tour buses that day, which marred the experience of visiting the samurai houses as they were quite over-crowded. The trees along the river had long finished blooming as well. But the town made up for its lost charm with a couple of cute coffeehouses I found (an extreme rarity here) and cherry-bark craft shopping. Next was nearby Lake Tazawa. I was impressed with myself at getting my parents into a dinosaur paddleboat. It was a beautiful sunny day, and swimming didn't seem that crazy, but anyway we had to move on for on long drive south to Sendai, the only 'big city' in the Tohoku area. My being a 'city person' at heart came out upon arrival, I felt elated at the sight of the pedestrian crowds and long rows of tall buildings. Our search for a restaurant for dinner ended strangely at a 'british gastro pub', which served us fish and chips, roast beef, avocado salads, and cheese plates while we sat in faux leather armchairs. I also drank my first beer cocktail of beer and cranberry juice, which was pretty amazing, I recommend it as the new 'cape codder'.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpTYsUR9lGxT_rNS1lCtxkxUWsP9YuSMqQ-jyFTjTNL0JOGDNZrgHsyQeDPBZqvdaj2l3r0uCB0MJlioQ6y6ZjZEtm1giigjzeZI5EWCP6UeAvRLgOzUQe3JG5VHpnjrMrdThaL_e1Ynb/s1600-h/IMG_3822.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199358681475278146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpTYsUR9lGxT_rNS1lCtxkxUWsP9YuSMqQ-jyFTjTNL0JOGDNZrgHsyQeDPBZqvdaj2l3r0uCB0MJlioQ6y6ZjZEtm1giigjzeZI5EWCP6UeAvRLgOzUQe3JG5VHpnjrMrdThaL_e1Ynb/s320/IMG_3822.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">a samurai house in kakunodate</p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcogKdhg6zVyd7SkCXUSjxAG_lnVApugWH2Siz2IPDoLDySphaDpbuEq-LZUaf3WycxwMWAOyv_0OpuqvKBQ8AaTGcud4IDePdyVq8yL8COIuQ0jlBHQ_3QIbrAu0CN9xvv3y95xVksK_V/s1600-h/IMG_3825.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199358690065212754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcogKdhg6zVyd7SkCXUSjxAG_lnVApugWH2Siz2IPDoLDySphaDpbuEq-LZUaf3WycxwMWAOyv_0OpuqvKBQ8AaTGcud4IDePdyVq8yL8COIuQ0jlBHQ_3QIbrAu0CN9xvv3y95xVksK_V/s320/IMG_3825.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">hipster classical musicians entertaining the crowds in a small park</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtgKf_9v9Gufr6ncuQojqa4RI5q17PILp14cahfn_BFGP6wAOM9UF7BJmzDv2yo4D07HXJ0E7QPXrSK3ZqTWER31kTi_MheyZp-V0hV3a54JsgOsvP_vmDz0vR0yoIQNYkZFbkRGQNmPO/s1600-h/IMG_3826.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199357156761888050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtgKf_9v9Gufr6ncuQojqa4RI5q17PILp14cahfn_BFGP6wAOM9UF7BJmzDv2yo4D07HXJ0E7QPXrSK3ZqTWER31kTi_MheyZp-V0hV3a54JsgOsvP_vmDz0vR0yoIQNYkZFbkRGQNmPO/s320/IMG_3826.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_uSj8iyv-esEGjejzlzDXUPvTzsM-2oD8guEH8ERM6FmywpGKK5sfr6oZjf6rSgEP_H1rISPlW_5ABcOo5glHVv4QKP24ji-8LsfcfqXP80uvQtIqYCkIC3DSNOXnS4mRWE8SRYUwnGo/s1600-h/IMG_3828.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199360734469645666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_uSj8iyv-esEGjejzlzDXUPvTzsM-2oD8guEH8ERM6FmywpGKK5sfr6oZjf6rSgEP_H1rISPlW_5ABcOo5glHVv4QKP24ji-8LsfcfqXP80uvQtIqYCkIC3DSNOXnS4mRWE8SRYUwnGo/s320/IMG_3828.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZzz-WFmt7hu5bO2GMhkRaQgK1Wat2abAR8apTPTu2bxQqLz-B8iCY1L6ZxEVN5zpivOaACVwhh1zLmpseJFExwZoUIwky2H5OkZZRHkpB3tfGfTiZi3EyLnGYOG8SMOTIIN0evEBp8RT/s1600-h/IMG_3829.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199360743059580274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZzz-WFmt7hu5bO2GMhkRaQgK1Wat2abAR8apTPTu2bxQqLz-B8iCY1L6ZxEVN5zpivOaACVwhh1zLmpseJFExwZoUIwky2H5OkZZRHkpB3tfGfTiZi3EyLnGYOG8SMOTIIN0evEBp8RT/s320/IMG_3829.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">samurai armour on display in one of the houses</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199360747354547586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJFQHjuqsggLrxbNZcIireWSK4P4HjVuC48k7cLE5_7EBFqUlbenb0He5NiD-K4jLfD0K5KlAJsHJD_D0j_QfnT4mARb5EDFmAVbY0hrR1ixu8rxIH0Jw5tgPPdzgmqUeEXNZKIy48GNs/s320/IMG_3831.JPG" border="0" /> a resting area at one of the houses<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4IBP6g8BqmqmrVceFi3BNFgwHMK2n0AWUIGNGevlB2ywptQ9BAtBG3AQLaRR1HwDEl91lRo9Eqv49iAbpa0S6kvWZV77pdCxzNU2jxY-o3Zi0R0b5z5Y5Sm9LHU1AH-_EIK2TEKk1rxX/s1600-h/IMG_3835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199361507563758994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4IBP6g8BqmqmrVceFi3BNFgwHMK2n0AWUIGNGevlB2ywptQ9BAtBG3AQLaRR1HwDEl91lRo9Eqv49iAbpa0S6kvWZV77pdCxzNU2jxY-o3Zi0R0b5z5Y5Sm9LHU1AH-_EIK2TEKk1rxX/s320/IMG_3835.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199361516153693602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurW4e9dOJvElNzO_5T6A_LkwmrSGYo4hAuuxpzRLGapzH_Hi8qn6j4B8GhRino9wgPW4MqNiCvwrHropxrd3Xa1Ukf8JlHccgfhXGZ2va0nynaRgzoE3biEcs414idfO-3yZ5s_lu19oQ/s320/IMG_3842.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> My dad wanted me to take a picture of this 'indian' motorcycle for uncle john<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199361524743628210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxt-7nzOz0PBK2KV1EcF0cf24_bEmFL71vh-aifZyHpl1e1JPl5Puztwn2y9hFzrWMfiw-o9KRb1Ye4PP95zO5aozQycf1NRvaFvcBcFnEB0zVGJ-GFz6wdllf_M85jv9qbnF_QlR9URG/s320/IMG_3847.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">cool coffeehouse #1</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCFLHCveKACrd1kxKFqf9vUuxKiS6sSH5SJkx6oaLmAohGD7JC9DGe66KF3MDfv8Uo5BZPHy-bYXgd9OPYfufDK7TA420MqHejcIrcJbjGVxSHt4dUdsoS9izuqOQc8ZG4qpabqZpM_cc/s1600-h/IMG_3848.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199362448161596866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCFLHCveKACrd1kxKFqf9vUuxKiS6sSH5SJkx6oaLmAohGD7JC9DGe66KF3MDfv8Uo5BZPHy-bYXgd9OPYfufDK7TA420MqHejcIrcJbjGVxSHt4dUdsoS9izuqOQc8ZG4qpabqZpM_cc/s320/IMG_3848.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"></a>cool coffeehouse #2<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199362461046498770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIjugupUT5Yi7XHIJH9DcgFEk9TeUPSZOWU98mbLY9IGpmFP3Js4VPgxshG_yfkKpMFUm_lumhxff61pF_qzosBDz3Xkdk1q095L0CDjwoBZQR9cYcwL6a9kfKPdinC5UR-Avpjnsm3Z1/s320/IMG_3851.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">miles of green cherry trees along the river </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199362465341466082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r3g6IK0O7DxX8sG861fsfdKgrQjD3bD6i_87x-xxZXlofPEM2ObpaDk6IUMSV5so0m1F7kYFiz-txlN3eZKiErrDSmwn60zZoIfMu4srDIoj5r5x_OHn69wWJerkVZHd-69apcaoOcwx/s320/IMG_3855.JPG" border="0" /> in the paddle boat at Lake Tazawa<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVU7vvyylyAiX55FqidxH-UW5Qotm80b2O8Y7sCh23es5ZVy7oG1VdSi1vTtwljpA1LF4jPAxXSCp_3ExLvsff1kkTYlNGUrJQhFNKWw42yz9M0R0_JtFDU7XkK8iHURcIKQVI4lTmU1c/s1600-h/IMG_3856.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199363272795317746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVU7vvyylyAiX55FqidxH-UW5Qotm80b2O8Y7sCh23es5ZVy7oG1VdSi1vTtwljpA1LF4jPAxXSCp_3ExLvsff1kkTYlNGUrJQhFNKWw42yz9M0R0_JtFDU7XkK8iHURcIKQVI4lTmU1c/s320/IMG_3856.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSW_qwVxDVbLw74ZNTyXjeY9yN_tTaj-9k7Py2qZ-AU3z_5un7NijKGnUl8Tb06yyHrdfhy_fuuZk713q7d7fj7X1oRMoO2-UKpbiONC9SGe_9JYewdYtpwdvwY4Yy64oAX0GLyliLjwg/s1600-h/IMG_3867.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199363281385252354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSW_qwVxDVbLw74ZNTyXjeY9yN_tTaj-9k7Py2qZ-AU3z_5un7NijKGnUl8Tb06yyHrdfhy_fuuZk713q7d7fj7X1oRMoO2-UKpbiONC9SGe_9JYewdYtpwdvwY4Yy64oAX0GLyliLjwg/s320/IMG_3867.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">pedestrian-only covered street in Sendai<br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left">Matsushima Bay day was next. We arrived fairly early and jumped on a boatride around the bay. Again it was pretty crowded and the favorite thing to do of the tourists on these boats is not look out at the interestingly formed islands, but instead feed the aggressive seagulls that surround the boat chips and other snacks. We were pretty turned off by this (and wouldn't the Japanese people be wary of the dirtiness of touching the rat-birds? apparently not.) and I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few birds died of over-eating each day in the bay. Anyway despite the birds becoming the subject of nearly every photo I attempted to take, my parents were quite impressed by the bay, and Mom even got to have fresh oysters from the bay for lunch. I think I had a better experience here for the second time, as we took the time to walk across a long footbridge to one of the islands, which is a nature preserve, as well as go further up the coast to visit a few beaches. We called it a day early, marveling at the crowd who now waited for the tourboats, though the bay had become hazed over. Back in Sendai, I had the chance to do a little much-missed window shopping, and Dad and I had dinner at an Italian restaurant while Mom slept off her mild food poisoning from the oysters (she's fine now!). </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199364965012432402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4yTOqCwD1hZ-B8WybpKZmo5X-fDonrWSuLtU4-4z3RRfeLv0mP_b32ENs7YUoFW3I6By_ppyqkSCGJ1XK_d8q1JMZzcaDJYYL3II-ke_yII6MahXczZHkneOVVcaFgFBLT1s8Z1XzgnO/s320/IMG_3869.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">on the cedar-lined path through zuigan-ji in matsushima </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199364973602367010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvOao0b1BHG6S1b8TEA3bVhDi67ii-_z5z8wVoG5MZDgnubfFCQe0AzYSDGuy9znTYuoJ8psW79D7jt2nyMNGi9iZ7OVuTYm8JmW8pQJNlobJmu68ppXBh0hyphenhyphenIYuwsozATFrk4HFHIU67/s320/IMG_3876.JPG" border="0" /> matsushima bay islands!<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbyKpKwf9-CB2Ht1zrH2Jxt_qx190JgEVxsPh2fjdk3Yndq-obRhhkMiYodaBoIRptDrkiNud9fcF8sLop7BCWApWb1LIGuR9wFNvXzYvZiPBgaHAyxbq0spRskU1RdV7D5Jwx6bW0sr2/s1600-h/IMG_3889.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199364977897334322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbyKpKwf9-CB2Ht1zrH2Jxt_qx190JgEVxsPh2fjdk3Yndq-obRhhkMiYodaBoIRptDrkiNud9fcF8sLop7BCWApWb1LIGuR9wFNvXzYvZiPBgaHAyxbq0spRskU1RdV7D5Jwx6bW0sr2/s320/IMG_3889.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEEx-w7_FqlR-jVSMEBOKTrUCw2AYiLcj5ikQu8-dyVReg7zJEERpgS_z5FRzD489Ukx2coVTuLo4W0m_BUs-JprWuvFAx0FjKM5uLK3nU42zkxtR9xckmUp4Oc_nBxbjBMMUNLpIZMER/s1600-h/IMG_3905.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199365738106545730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEEx-w7_FqlR-jVSMEBOKTrUCw2AYiLcj5ikQu8-dyVReg7zJEERpgS_z5FRzD489Ukx2coVTuLo4W0m_BUs-JprWuvFAx0FjKM5uLK3nU42zkxtR9xckmUp4Oc_nBxbjBMMUNLpIZMER/s320/IMG_3905.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199365742401513042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP08HxthVG4LRC3cFPV5XwasQ89SmHrPz_hyphenhyphenS_vHEPSIZj3fSElUxxLrCWk9C722pYOYMicHdws5-hfYyX7A6-S_g7hNxlhuGrNO1kFCuBlZGOJMiyq2nu4V5Q51v4pkW-iRGMWxlOA0hw/s320/IMG_3913.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">oyster farming in the bay</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199365746696480354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_kCFns_1yC4u8hpCdLpbsKYF6Qw6vV_KlhCb_msuQZDioACBNhRNOMlPjojh7rK_AkA-YDAU97ggxbi4eCJXuE3GqpLwSpJIxUCOdyVkFQIvHfe4u-dSpSaOS2T06Ac70g4DVhgtQw4W/s320/IMG_3918.JPG" border="0" /><br />along the footbridge to Fukuura-jima, an island nature preserve<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6-5Vrd8s4DEPTkYECz8e6yxxhOi2-lVstwg6sadjmnonOQx6zeTla-L9sSgjpmseBF5wv2FRGd0-pNRhxLOgJ92H0A3Hz1yYq7wZbLELouFD_JRuPAAgExfL9GLVHYn6V8rluwsszTKi/s1600-h/IMG_3922.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199373975853819506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6-5Vrd8s4DEPTkYECz8e6yxxhOi2-lVstwg6sadjmnonOQx6zeTla-L9sSgjpmseBF5wv2FRGd0-pNRhxLOgJ92H0A3Hz1yYq7wZbLELouFD_JRuPAAgExfL9GLVHYn6V8rluwsszTKi/s320/IMG_3922.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OAzV3ITlmYvEHvc_93tsfVOti-4-wkxSy0JYd2OosYi2DHqF0RttDu0TTmLdv0rHj7K4zrVTaHw8-pBVaFIdt-DjqGk-039r95CyGuXQcgmB8m3h5v_bSuqqtEw01WoJyRuKhNuZGetc/s1600-h/IMG_3924.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199373980148786818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OAzV3ITlmYvEHvc_93tsfVOti-4-wkxSy0JYd2OosYi2DHqF0RttDu0TTmLdv0rHj7K4zrVTaHw8-pBVaFIdt-DjqGk-039r95CyGuXQcgmB8m3h5v_bSuqqtEw01WoJyRuKhNuZGetc/s320/IMG_3924.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa7DevvToMiFp0eXvU-pZGp9_xe3HWRk-vIz0zsfV07kqU1sf8YNSob8Iq-RpeL5osCKJ7sjSkD7NPDmxYYGWzp9kXHqNzPtmTUipkXvmj1RkhNSLoSBJQZJAn-0qZrU0M9jnCKRS_ben/s1600-h/IMG_3926.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199373984443754130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa7DevvToMiFp0eXvU-pZGp9_xe3HWRk-vIz0zsfV07kqU1sf8YNSob8Iq-RpeL5osCKJ7sjSkD7NPDmxYYGWzp9kXHqNzPtmTUipkXvmj1RkhNSLoSBJQZJAn-0qZrU0M9jnCKRS_ben/s320/IMG_3926.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199375247164139170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJX8Zx6-M4GyKVMnd0zEakXFQWxO_R24CekpCc7Wj5754X23uWE2cKsP_gAuwTvts6baLLdd5CZqE2lnk3hkZ9DG1z6DP037osm82gkP-kPS-68aDGZjOWZPU1Ehh8Gvs2kMy2ZjeYdwUb/s320/IMG_3935.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">mom and her cursed oysters </p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-jgwHcVSu7urJQyARne9KIfyqteDCo4uN6ulvlzFgZgkMiYvzj5_OenDzHzH1EvYz_hJC5Navcw3dq4s3CVuUpKxDB4Aa50v-Cx_X2banygIStyu-1TZATjAno6yPUvHXgkR5iY2ls-P/s1600-h/IMG_3939.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199375251459106482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-jgwHcVSu7urJQyARne9KIfyqteDCo4uN6ulvlzFgZgkMiYvzj5_OenDzHzH1EvYz_hJC5Navcw3dq4s3CVuUpKxDB4Aa50v-Cx_X2banygIStyu-1TZATjAno6yPUvHXgkR5iY2ls-P/s320/IMG_3939.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">on a beach on Miyato-jima </p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7n4eMCfeTQRu7aOJjCrgfPwI33MnHsEDlJTatPUSgvW47fdeDEa0zN7pIHHwfRaLeT-nZ8LRx09_6EQFUqB2tsRFvq5joN3f1BFdukfDunNi3fMzmIekQp-5fdWkV68CYWXOUH_pMPkN/s1600-h/IMG_3945.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199375260049041090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7n4eMCfeTQRu7aOJjCrgfPwI33MnHsEDlJTatPUSgvW47fdeDEa0zN7pIHHwfRaLeT-nZ8LRx09_6EQFUqB2tsRFvq5joN3f1BFdukfDunNi3fMzmIekQp-5fdWkV68CYWXOUH_pMPkN/s320/IMG_3945.JPG" border="0" /><br /></a>steaming freshly flooded rice paddies on Miyato<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS22EcQa6NYAo7QqrgQy6_Ea-ZdQMKJET94ygoQBBGO-AQb9lLaxJPReLJidpbGrgIoAGtbJlcggVPNejzzj7wxEefJdTfGYKlwFET-hnll2Jhj8mElSLylQTrz7gLf1rkzSy8D9pl8Uz/s1600-h/IMG_3946.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199376114747533010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS22EcQa6NYAo7QqrgQy6_Ea-ZdQMKJET94ygoQBBGO-AQb9lLaxJPReLJidpbGrgIoAGtbJlcggVPNejzzj7wxEefJdTfGYKlwFET-hnll2Jhj8mElSLylQTrz7gLf1rkzSy8D9pl8Uz/s320/IMG_3946.JPG" border="0" /></a> beach in higashi-matsushima</p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199376119042500322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAcHob9PuNNTUryncAYZCIXb85m0VjUG0R83VY18Q_Mb2_Ik9IjfJ036dDIXZyX09GfgVHXQ7sJylR4CdMB6JRZ8Sjf1xQddUznZR0q0aKmPXGL5VA5T_aSzvu0NNh3b8DtxypjYcZ-Ae/s320/IMG_3948.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">view of Sendai from Aobayama-koen<br /></p><p align="left"><br /><br />The next day we traveled north to Iwate prefecture to visit Hiraizumi, which has a temple called Chuson-ji. One of its halls, the Konjiki-do is known as the treasure of Tohoku as it is completely covered in thick gold leaf and mother of pearl. We had crowds there as well, especially since it was a festival day. We didn't witness much of the actual festival, which somehow involved horses, but I think because it was a special day there were performances going on on an open-air stage. We hurried on to the Geibikei gorge near Ichinoseki where Japanese-style gondaliers pushed our wooden barge down a shallow creek to view the beautiful nature, as you may say in Engrish. The gorge was indeed impressive, and the fact that you could access it only via these wooden barges made it seem quite remote and magical. Some of the gondaliers even sang Japanese folk songs as we slowly made our way down the river. There were so many patrons we estimated the gondaliers made over $60,000, just that day. Well done! From there it was a short distance to our <em>ryokan </em>(traditional japanese inn) Itsukushien. We were surprised by the high-class welcoming at the entrance, a nice change from the business hotels we had been staying at previously. We were shown to our tatami room with a view onto another gorge, the Gembikei. We had a hostess for the room who was so suprised by our foreigness she spent most of her few encounters with us stuttering and sweating profusely, despite my attempts to calm her with Japanese-speaking. We were served dinner in our room, with about a thousand plates of different delicacies. Most delicious was the individual <em>sukiyaki</em> (boil you own beef strips, and make soup from the broth) pots, and the sashimi. It was so much though, we could not even imagine a Japanese person, with a better palate than ours, finishing it all. My favorite was all the different color bowls. After dinner, we put on our <em>yukatas</em> and visited the onsen. It was not particularly memorable but the <em>rotemburo</em> (outdoor bath) was all-cedar, which I had never expericed before, quite nice to sit in their a while listening to the water flowing through the gorge nearby. This day was my parents' wedding anniversary (somewhere around 35th? I think?) so I hope the <em>ryokan</em> was a nice celebratory experience for them!<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199377141244716786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZRyWsPyzGFSzsvKxTRe0DQpbYS2kBrH9AiuIjrVKW59lY1uEp_YwE5F2yvtcEYHnv9fJbi0QhbV9IPJps5XSO-IZp9lziFRqYbYyFsNq2QOnAZbir3a8CNk6Ycmmnzn5xE5bd6I7KP80/s320/IMG_3951.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">the main hall of Chuson-ji, Hon-do </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199377149834651394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHnm80g3WAFdEp3xaxAEbqZZRAH7WdDGOmABK_uRvcr8UCPx_WLhNT_YOOVxXrGXeVA1iUSGLLe4yD0OBMzysFx9iyaJ8Nb_inyaj0zpijVYfW6v9WbmaAmcPSyTrabmKWfDZYI-qN5E3/s320/IMG_3963.JPG" border="0" /> the gilded konjiki-do is housed inside this non-descript building (no pics allowed). I wore golden shoes for the occaision.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dGwP1RgblCDfSjGOxfYvfHw6TB6EP10b_sh1pQJzZhCAE9GVOjxuN3AkZ7XVT3iGLhvxVBX4VCxnseFYLAEtGYJZt2rEhGyNFRA3JvF9SYXR_L-JCzj2S5rlrsmOd4BFJ3vrY54ut4_H/s1600-h/IMG_3973.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199377158424586002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dGwP1RgblCDfSjGOxfYvfHw6TB6EP10b_sh1pQJzZhCAE9GVOjxuN3AkZ7XVT3iGLhvxVBX4VCxnseFYLAEtGYJZt2rEhGyNFRA3JvF9SYXR_L-JCzj2S5rlrsmOd4BFJ3vrY54ut4_H/s320/IMG_3973.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">super bamboo at chuson-ji </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199378038892881698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwsiHnUKCs8W753hh8CyU_DQIh8K4iVQ_i7nQEq_0_aNcbRBytekhLixqe8JRm4IfS2d4I5X-OIMn5LboYzyZSRoaiZE8QTsIJiGZYiof9InwP0q2TAoiL0O-Ve3jIsB3iJT-1DE5d4EV/s320/IMG_3984.JPG" border="0" /> the open-air theatre performance<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvr5nRgaMNzJoyBU9n3y0yP2hyrP-3nPa20MBZrzOYzrbd1NDc3TmsJOPz7hFD7U7YrfBvMaEMD69d2FC4Q6SJM0PgsdO9591IVflCSn5M8J-d3c9lxkW4zZMg1fzeaxIGOHE4PeYpN3f/s1600-h/IMG_3990.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199378047482816306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvr5nRgaMNzJoyBU9n3y0yP2hyrP-3nPa20MBZrzOYzrbd1NDc3TmsJOPz7hFD7U7YrfBvMaEMD69d2FC4Q6SJM0PgsdO9591IVflCSn5M8J-d3c9lxkW4zZMg1fzeaxIGOHE4PeYpN3f/s320/IMG_3990.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYXi53ep1hgchFymN6t52Rhg0jU5c9ll5E4HrMCeWMOyW_npTwBn2zD4B2ir65T7LqxixH3a8YK32-drEGyZWOLWD_bfV8MdcpVJpDk6l5P7xBnJjmaC8N7QTaJpVbcoKBKiw77fvTM6-/s1600-h/IMG_3994.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199378051777783618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYXi53ep1hgchFymN6t52Rhg0jU5c9ll5E4HrMCeWMOyW_npTwBn2zD4B2ir65T7LqxixH3a8YK32-drEGyZWOLWD_bfV8MdcpVJpDk6l5P7xBnJjmaC8N7QTaJpVbcoKBKiw77fvTM6-/s320/IMG_3994.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZYUhBPCQHbLXfcQqNbjinSWIGhG8im1etEWIzi_8_7z81K3S2mK_PDRBn08aqSEETvmhVLmgk4iK9v5bnfb75KrUL3uzdtpMB0J548xmZ_vKQI2q0FQQnLP_8TJMApPMGhf9khYd51TU/s1600-h/IMG_3998.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199379224303855442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZYUhBPCQHbLXfcQqNbjinSWIGhG8im1etEWIzi_8_7z81K3S2mK_PDRBn08aqSEETvmhVLmgk4iK9v5bnfb75KrUL3uzdtpMB0J548xmZ_vKQI2q0FQQnLP_8TJMApPMGhf9khYd51TU/s320/IMG_3998.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">a mini temple to be paraded about for the festivals, to be carried by the locals below</p><p align="center"></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpA_sbtfErFKYr5zRykA8aIF8xQKx2TkcVE5d8QlC7i3kRDhVNurXOOdcmOXwCMkT3z-vO2AXfYuSO4TurHIZfwkmIt4cyYy-rUF_IV-jByla_vLNTr1O3QFjr3uNmzCgTMvzfUh-6_Vzg/s1600-h/IMG_4000.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199379232893790050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpA_sbtfErFKYr5zRykA8aIF8xQKx2TkcVE5d8QlC7i3kRDhVNurXOOdcmOXwCMkT3z-vO2AXfYuSO4TurHIZfwkmIt4cyYy-rUF_IV-jByla_vLNTr1O3QFjr3uNmzCgTMvzfUh-6_Vzg/s320/IMG_4000.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199379241483724658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3B1ztd_s9JHsLkzjR6ViY-xsxiUOLgPnmlZOoaSJ0aUFLJGNjrIBZXkhCYrxnmqhyphenhyphenIiu3nyQXITwS9Jkc6HjmR2XbTnCT-ydtImwUVhusDAy-QR_M6aAlcMTDupKTaRb7jGJ8IZEEgwfs/s320/IMG_4002.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">loading up the barges at geibikei gorge<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6H-zC1SbYg-Z3TJW3bYGQBTsET3uvJI3XScrJ9i6Mdwyuh97YtxRy6lxTFKa7ZvhSufJC1JwzsXeWdXXXpLv7_1C0Qi2u7OLyeWw3nPx7cvhsjvk6ZsE-Dtf9-6LTdknfRh0tAnDq0-D/s1600-h/IMG_4006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199380246506071938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6H-zC1SbYg-Z3TJW3bYGQBTsET3uvJI3XScrJ9i6Mdwyuh97YtxRy6lxTFKa7ZvhSufJC1JwzsXeWdXXXpLv7_1C0Qi2u7OLyeWw3nPx7cvhsjvk6ZsE-Dtf9-6LTdknfRh0tAnDq0-D/s320/IMG_4006.JPG" border="0" /></a> mom and dad on the barge, which had a thin tatami mat floor<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHJoDIjGC7xlnQ_JCDM9B7WFVrJk68Vj1K1UXyKmWz34P5Y4NGmDlwP_7PAPhdZjzup3231cEC8FyQjv78uYksbEYR72qpCVkfDekVHNOGtFyWvRyqwvoscGeSAC-cEFOdBC4oJARqNV/s1600-h/IMG_4016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199380250801039250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHJoDIjGC7xlnQ_JCDM9B7WFVrJk68Vj1K1UXyKmWz34P5Y4NGmDlwP_7PAPhdZjzup3231cEC8FyQjv78uYksbEYR72qpCVkfDekVHNOGtFyWvRyqwvoscGeSAC-cEFOdBC4oJARqNV/s320/IMG_4016.JPG" border="0" /></a> our gondalier on the way there, a young fellow more interested in pointing out nature-related info than singing to us<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUk51L0b9nqd0XyHtT6Ux3i__ikHDdweIkU3vPwsPlexKLhFeE0IG56VHbIOXUk0zFI5MEeizIieCddXNCRI-CwfG3HIhRtG-YyFE81QAwRlM5-4uEGQu7HybTykiVN6s9rSaBoqFpbgj/s1600-h/IMG_4023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199380259390973858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUk51L0b9nqd0XyHtT6Ux3i__ikHDdweIkU3vPwsPlexKLhFeE0IG56VHbIOXUk0zFI5MEeizIieCddXNCRI-CwfG3HIhRtG-YyFE81QAwRlM5-4uEGQu7HybTykiVN6s9rSaBoqFpbgj/s320/IMG_4023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPufDJ5m3jENn_ETu9wOpIVdXza8SRFxh4Gm3hR2Cl8_SvsHLpE0mAxpxTiiGLVCxe88KTIpdVek_5kUgH1-Z3lnj3DUrNcE2Gf7NpBf3_tI8snQV7LvdmOCR9TbuLDVm31LFL8J2vBnl9/s1600-h/IMG_4028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199381461981816754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPufDJ5m3jENn_ETu9wOpIVdXza8SRFxh4Gm3hR2Cl8_SvsHLpE0mAxpxTiiGLVCxe88KTIpdVek_5kUgH1-Z3lnj3DUrNcE2Gf7NpBf3_tI8snQV7LvdmOCR9TbuLDVm31LFL8J2vBnl9/s320/IMG_4028.JPG" border="0" /></a> an egret in the tree<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSBzrIbTsmu9y-iWJHoqp4TvlMTp-qhKmYBpfP-shP5LyjDzX0XcLTYyEin20CtJdmEB583XiNLgh80UxHXPVwAJxO57rTDtPJh92HhBhBXJcQ7P8wN0_7GmpyrTpJDe1wrAdrXTvEMWM/s1600-h/IMG_4036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199381470571751362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSBzrIbTsmu9y-iWJHoqp4TvlMTp-qhKmYBpfP-shP5LyjDzX0XcLTYyEin20CtJdmEB583XiNLgh80UxHXPVwAJxO57rTDtPJh92HhBhBXJcQ7P8wN0_7GmpyrTpJDe1wrAdrXTvEMWM/s320/IMG_4036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7crkcOoivK__THKIFFui1HxYdAhq6YfYZg_yziE7CMGapZGuDCXT9NpLqf_y6Q_nFAj3TLgRlWCYRG2EP-2ZDutxfaplSwP6y_ou-qKDpP_yHUpsnT-9fWm0eAtEVHn-OMOhzzxaxfvMg/s1600-h/IMG_4040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199381474866718674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7crkcOoivK__THKIFFui1HxYdAhq6YfYZg_yziE7CMGapZGuDCXT9NpLqf_y6Q_nFAj3TLgRlWCYRG2EP-2ZDutxfaplSwP6y_ou-qKDpP_yHUpsnT-9fWm0eAtEVHn-OMOhzzxaxfvMg/s320/IMG_4040.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dad attempting to out-throw a small child at successfully getting a rock into the natural hole in the cliff-face, for good luck<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d3OsKyEhkBxOmu8GZnwoRte27Fr12MIBlJbW_3jRUo-ZyeE-_OqW91OSlAwNLNs5IfZSKEm_hYOqkQ3yaW9Ypp1rE2AXgeeM91t4v6EIiDRTseucB1zmZiFTzcT_IUrOmo4ZsCvDwA9h/s1600-h/IMG_4041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199382660277692386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d3OsKyEhkBxOmu8GZnwoRte27Fr12MIBlJbW_3jRUo-ZyeE-_OqW91OSlAwNLNs5IfZSKEm_hYOqkQ3yaW9Ypp1rE2AXgeeM91t4v6EIiDRTseucB1zmZiFTzcT_IUrOmo4ZsCvDwA9h/s320/IMG_4041.JPG" border="0" /></a> the edge of the creek and my now-inappropriate footwear<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7P-RyM5IGf2eXWg5ca_XPHSk9jDcr60hTdR0LC8NGtZyJkUzWvLPD7kyK1CdEibOZTqmGsWulMsvLeqZh3-AHWEs27Yzi0bL5mIpOsNAT5jZiow8ylZjbtnAYBHQfmQQcCbIZYGY3rkJ/s1600-h/IMG_4046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199382664572659698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7P-RyM5IGf2eXWg5ca_XPHSk9jDcr60hTdR0LC8NGtZyJkUzWvLPD7kyK1CdEibOZTqmGsWulMsvLeqZh3-AHWEs27Yzi0bL5mIpOsNAT5jZiow8ylZjbtnAYBHQfmQQcCbIZYGY3rkJ/s320/IMG_4046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLoc7FiiwkLO02sLSTQFOc-0fmiimcA_-ceUaz3PwruMdN7EUiJYCEK7FqRyo0JSdgEyanS_EMKup317-vwMxknF9_JO8CK8NWKP7KfsPlpb8PbPPdq_qP-2EZdI66B7odKjO8wroDrAj/s1600-h/IMG_4053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199382673162594306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLoc7FiiwkLO02sLSTQFOc-0fmiimcA_-ceUaz3PwruMdN7EUiJYCEK7FqRyo0JSdgEyanS_EMKup317-vwMxknF9_JO8CK8NWKP7KfsPlpb8PbPPdq_qP-2EZdI66B7odKjO8wroDrAj/s320/IMG_4053.JPG" border="0" /></a> our singing gondalier on the way back<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExyvUJy0vujSaC5ekSDlsHgL6qjdEuVGknEc_XvQc3uTFT9bIXLHAlx3vbz_sjsl3mJQvQ2RQllAfSFg-_40Ve5Yld9caL09RA7BNMBEHN9V2oLhwXxwCmJ7ERivyuuWBj52SIEYsgYbQ/s1600-h/IMG_4057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199383622350366738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExyvUJy0vujSaC5ekSDlsHgL6qjdEuVGknEc_XvQc3uTFT9bIXLHAlx3vbz_sjsl3mJQvQ2RQllAfSFg-_40Ve5Yld9caL09RA7BNMBEHN9V2oLhwXxwCmJ7ERivyuuWBj52SIEYsgYbQ/s320/IMG_4057.JPG" border="0" /></a> in our room at the ryokan<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_1C3YmFbl00FKX9mUmULXOg2fOt-lymgi3ApEfhYl0NfCCriujC4EcLuy9LCB2FdqmHIrxwRY5m0yvIbnCGtG14oRDO9fy4O3DD3TjPst624Mlq09SxijiBBwxwv2UFl8XEApwkM9Z53/s1600-h/IMG_4060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199383630940301346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_1C3YmFbl00FKX9mUmULXOg2fOt-lymgi3ApEfhYl0NfCCriujC4EcLuy9LCB2FdqmHIrxwRY5m0yvIbnCGtG14oRDO9fy4O3DD3TjPst624Mlq09SxijiBBwxwv2UFl8XEApwkM9Z53/s320/IMG_4060.JPG" border="0" /></a> dinner is served!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHJRxcYZPOX2kVbm-VbN_p1RTocRFaLt7rggXXwwhugLZ6gwWAKZFdnS5V9VKtE1qXU16olSkf5MiofRUQs-LwYkKGH0_o0gJittoOG9GDohikNi55dxgDdVSzCO6pIhsOgVWn6f_6BK/s1600-h/IMG_4071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199383635235268658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHJRxcYZPOX2kVbm-VbN_p1RTocRFaLt7rggXXwwhugLZ6gwWAKZFdnS5V9VKtE1qXU16olSkf5MiofRUQs-LwYkKGH0_o0gJittoOG9GDohikNi55dxgDdVSzCO6pIhsOgVWn6f_6BK/s320/IMG_4071.JPG" border="0" /></a> our futon beds, getting into our yukatas<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBRrsyZtP-jL87KTMy-ne574N8-lK6LrQvOUR-RdFHRUdiPdmmXybsCx3vCUe3AqySB0zoEe_-EZgZlsHl0U96lqPFlINVSgpLllKW3Zk0FRJGRlGZ9mLCXIk1f59b3hI3h5njfA4XDWa/s1600-h/IMG_4078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199385838553491522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBRrsyZtP-jL87KTMy-ne574N8-lK6LrQvOUR-RdFHRUdiPdmmXybsCx3vCUe3AqySB0zoEe_-EZgZlsHl0U96lqPFlINVSgpLllKW3Zk0FRJGRlGZ9mLCXIk1f59b3hI3h5njfA4XDWa/s320/IMG_4078.JPG" border="0" /></a> the anniversary couple!<br /></p><br />The next morning we explored the Gembikei and found a random glassworks factory nearby called Sahara. Of course, it woudn't be a vacation with my parents without a visit to a glassblower, so that was quite the fortuitous find. Our final day of touring was spent in the Tono Valley (after an expertly navigated drive up all back-mountain roads to avoid the traffic), which was a bit of a let down, maybe more because of the unfavorable weather and the fact that we were running out of steam. Tono is famous for its legends, or folklore, most involving otherworldly spirits. They had an interesting museum mostly devoted to the legends, which included pretty easy-to-follow and sometimes beautiful cartoons running on large monitors of some of the stories. You could also watch videos of older locals telling the stories themselves, which seemed to be quite popular with the kids. One story, from what I could follow, was about an invincible white deer. Tono also had a preserved small village of ancient homes, which had a restaurant where I had the best soba, actually probably the best meal I've ever had in Japan. So, maybe I'll go back again for more soba and to give Tono another chance to impress me. Apparently, the thing to do is bike around the valley visiting the different sites where some of the legends are said to have taken place, but we skipped out on that.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNviw2XL2rT3t8zuhT7lyhmxaL4NIo0yGs7uZ9dwuEgbY41V4hyphenhyphenNFfJZwOzoqWeb4JzCDbxFU2bz9SJ7n2o4ZtroU_iwdGDlDyPygfdhFbJU34jZ4veytB4qMJrqDJ5fQQm7KWr-DRIEQI/s1600-h/IMG_4080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199421950638516306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNviw2XL2rT3t8zuhT7lyhmxaL4NIo0yGs7uZ9dwuEgbY41V4hyphenhyphenNFfJZwOzoqWeb4JzCDbxFU2bz9SJ7n2o4ZtroU_iwdGDlDyPygfdhFbJU34jZ4veytB4qMJrqDJ5fQQm7KWr-DRIEQI/s320/IMG_4080.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">the Gembikei gorge<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIAlHVGzhYqwHvT91YT4Nofw6yhOzRTm-bT56iB5pQVvxXqsvucodm_VEQo6hfuRn8c5bhWfulTk3lzUkrEf-p-XWJj1c4xSEfS7r-DrIw2BMblDKQnMPShm4KPxI9o7HQbud4ObRgPM-/s1600-h/IMG_4083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199421954933483618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIAlHVGzhYqwHvT91YT4Nofw6yhOzRTm-bT56iB5pQVvxXqsvucodm_VEQo6hfuRn8c5bhWfulTk3lzUkrEf-p-XWJj1c4xSEfS7r-DrIw2BMblDKQnMPShm4KPxI9o7HQbud4ObRgPM-/s320/IMG_4083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfAcOAIftRqAKUOg3HPPsYWfMDYWjHhTcnAE6hAKbapD_9MQ_Uu8OeAZycO8cNluPRsNw556HBGymxb84b9FE3fQEEKNLm7OSgfEiCJhRfm1sBQFQRqiW7zUp5I8eO1_x509eHurvvVS7/s1600-h/IMG_4087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199421959228450930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfAcOAIftRqAKUOg3HPPsYWfMDYWjHhTcnAE6hAKbapD_9MQ_Uu8OeAZycO8cNluPRsNw556HBGymxb84b9FE3fQEEKNLm7OSgfEiCJhRfm1sBQFQRqiW7zUp5I8eO1_x509eHurvvVS7/s320/IMG_4087.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199421967818385538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYokBQ_bzfWYBOjBylR_cFJirDTQ7He9W4RrhmwTI_vzNoMWhqSQCA1eglIu__wsUdfr72q1_gEpqKGesWw_yZhoeEECqKn8kU58TMvgi1G5pclXKgkbg4fjuMQhAvw8b9udsWAxa8KUOo/s320/IMG_4093.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">I think you can just barely see it here, but the gorge's gimmick was a restaurant that passed drinks to customers on the other side of the gorge via a basket on a rope and pulley system<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVZiOmZlopaiwCqO9PDZgkx2fGYf8cBwyq2MS2YVrVnvH2wVWWnbyMJzFg7CiqBFVRsF3VaAtKf9n5_eQzWLzS_wYAGSkP8FCZE830Mbl6PaZaPvVH424vYpPJmhDCvVuVGaPPp1wxZKD/s1600-h/IMG_4100.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199421972113352850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVZiOmZlopaiwCqO9PDZgkx2fGYf8cBwyq2MS2YVrVnvH2wVWWnbyMJzFg7CiqBFVRsF3VaAtKf9n5_eQzWLzS_wYAGSkP8FCZE830Mbl6PaZaPvVH424vYpPJmhDCvVuVGaPPp1wxZKD/s320/IMG_4100.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">our ryokan, <a href="http://www.itsukushien.co.jp/">Itsukushien</a><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi883v-bQb6wRAXN_hMwPpYsXgBvobSxjkCYAZgTok_dAMuoiNesQYwjefq_sG8kjiq2ZX_wYVfqhgV3I3Ihs7PtbkiTg5ofDoU_-DZTSUAgwNJZgffNu3HC6Vq58742h7LWxbc19HeKjz-/s1600-h/IMG_4091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199456185822832802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi883v-bQb6wRAXN_hMwPpYsXgBvobSxjkCYAZgTok_dAMuoiNesQYwjefq_sG8kjiq2ZX_wYVfqhgV3I3Ihs7PtbkiTg5ofDoU_-DZTSUAgwNJZgffNu3HC6Vq58742h7LWxbc19HeKjz-/s320/IMG_4091.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">at the somewhat tacky Sahara glassblowers<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03eshlThn7qUDWIFk6cXZk_Mb5vLnUlZbuPzIwNA4ArDofPkhgQeQrW85GpdXor6FQwdBHLQ3BmLkvK66qRmmVYghcO58HCNVr24tVLoqBrnG5utcIfY-Cx3ZBuDFjD8lrHA4D_Y8swxW/s1600-h/IMG_4097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199456190117800114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03eshlThn7qUDWIFk6cXZk_Mb5vLnUlZbuPzIwNA4ArDofPkhgQeQrW85GpdXor6FQwdBHLQ3BmLkvK66qRmmVYghcO58HCNVr24tVLoqBrnG5utcIfY-Cx3ZBuDFjD8lrHA4D_Y8swxW/s320/IMG_4097.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzch52hXiOpieDkAQORliGP0ROGiJwXc4g7j9iWN0BUxUjgcqX5nkYER_SjPL3SpNSBv1KELO7BDwTje4o2kFLUHMn_JGEpfVqspM80zdhf9FlCUc8UHU29tASgZ6wRnuMu88uI2hTIfeP/s1600-h/IMG_4102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199456198707734722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzch52hXiOpieDkAQORliGP0ROGiJwXc4g7j9iWN0BUxUjgcqX5nkYER_SjPL3SpNSBv1KELO7BDwTje4o2kFLUHMn_JGEpfVqspM80zdhf9FlCUc8UHU29tASgZ6wRnuMu88uI2hTIfeP/s320/IMG_4102.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">some apples trees in bloom in rural Iwate, drive-by style<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3m2v106fJnAKwaYrcKX2tF9Rw7Gu-c8gtZuXSdXgrg7fDOrsJrBoUXPYgLxCt04MDncIT1fr2D7RVsUGPC_s9GOg1oM0-w87RyUhn44oKxNZ8MiOVhHWYeibDLO0dmqTd_tooFAhDtLX/s1600-h/IMG_4105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199456203002702034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3m2v106fJnAKwaYrcKX2tF9Rw7Gu-c8gtZuXSdXgrg7fDOrsJrBoUXPYgLxCt04MDncIT1fr2D7RVsUGPC_s9GOg1oM0-w87RyUhn44oKxNZ8MiOVhHWYeibDLO0dmqTd_tooFAhDtLX/s320/IMG_4105.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">in Tono Folk Village<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO9d9DWp1jIVBY9lzpJGu29gv6Ns89mVpntfQXJUwTLtPa6vbz7AOY_HGodYeJhF45Ch0KJKkmeG2ud1X1DBCh7ZtQEizH8FjLlGMcawE-rYxwJNWZDw0kmDHTUUfQpQkZ-_cGMaNzOht/s1600-h/IMG_4106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199456207297669346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO9d9DWp1jIVBY9lzpJGu29gv6Ns89mVpntfQXJUwTLtPa6vbz7AOY_HGodYeJhF45Ch0KJKkmeG2ud1X1DBCh7ZtQEizH8FjLlGMcawE-rYxwJNWZDw0kmDHTUUfQpQkZ-_cGMaNzOht/s320/IMG_4106.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85haVzPsEUf0cqo9GU5pwxbjrnofLnEohy8Dtvlwy5AmXD6BgG2vEzxtC7ab49mt_iE1r87Fk1JS5jCS_8cVFJ0x3aKY_IgHPfCTM7zOZ9TbNapFuunERXFmx7KqTg1Wl_LfRKhamSHdt/s1600-h/IMG_4107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199460351941110082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85haVzPsEUf0cqo9GU5pwxbjrnofLnEohy8Dtvlwy5AmXD6BgG2vEzxtC7ab49mt_iE1r87Fk1JS5jCS_8cVFJ0x3aKY_IgHPfCTM7zOZ9TbNapFuunERXFmx7KqTg1Wl_LfRKhamSHdt/s320/IMG_4107.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">One of the many random little statues around town. I think this is a kappa, a mischievious water sprite that wears a plate on its head </p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQQ12J6JixQm-8ReJ2UwcqYJjhguXwO9lCIM4EllSl8ZT4dkPJFzhtP5GcYfGjcethXHPC9CAGhfnBZ_ZauZWuxv3HkpXuaKVgvc9nEvEcpIXxei5a02qV55R0B1ZNxnPHO3nALdVv_12/s1600-h/IMG_4108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199460356236077394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQQ12J6JixQm-8ReJ2UwcqYJjhguXwO9lCIM4EllSl8ZT4dkPJFzhtP5GcYfGjcethXHPC9CAGhfnBZ_ZauZWuxv3HkpXuaKVgvc9nEvEcpIXxei5a02qV55R0B1ZNxnPHO3nALdVv_12/s320/IMG_4108.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">a safe in one of the preserved houses</p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn77WoUKIj-oC5E29Jfb19lsomMqpRIEmG7zMOMeX69m9hyphenhyphenkBfB19kunA_jVfnu2c4m6d9VdhZ5zLlGaW__SoLfBSa0i2JPajGyczZeKoWK9QRykgiAyZH8LXDsaR7zUoCBx7K446CLiis/s1600-h/IMG_4109.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199460373415946594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn77WoUKIj-oC5E29Jfb19lsomMqpRIEmG7zMOMeX69m9hyphenhyphenkBfB19kunA_jVfnu2c4m6d9VdhZ5zLlGaW__SoLfBSa0i2JPajGyczZeKoWK9QRykgiAyZH8LXDsaR7zUoCBx7K446CLiis/s320/IMG_4109.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">open fire pit in one of the rooms</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEQ9BWYhHXTdhWQ0FLIKxOlQ1RR-R2uU9DLshuziEvWKl4uHDO4EmYy3vTAiRJg4p-4fsWaXOdRL6Qu6KiHa0LYY_sZ5QX2Rpf0zxxnaBOEyctZhLhis-drQI3ILvTyBEZJ0nGSpEUhCT/s1600-h/IMG_4110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199460377710913906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEQ9BWYhHXTdhWQ0FLIKxOlQ1RR-R2uU9DLshuziEvWKl4uHDO4EmYy3vTAiRJg4p-4fsWaXOdRL6Qu6KiHa0LYY_sZ5QX2Rpf0zxxnaBOEyctZhLhis-drQI3ILvTyBEZJ0nGSpEUhCT/s320/IMG_4110.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">an antique bookshelf in the house that looks just like the one Mom and Dad kindly bought me for my house while they were here<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3OvAJDZFDxOoJGb8xTVoFmwIjuvVVjCGD7_w2QT5-SbslSkFsa4LVjthH3lTZDt8Pwqntx649na60WtAgU_CdWMwHOo2bf0W4kE_aBf4xuKe9a_gIGo2wZ_Hn8lA_OnTOxMwL1TGtOF1/s1600-h/IMG_4112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199460386300848514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3OvAJDZFDxOoJGb8xTVoFmwIjuvVVjCGD7_w2QT5-SbslSkFsa4LVjthH3lTZDt8Pwqntx649na60WtAgU_CdWMwHOo2bf0W4kE_aBf4xuKe9a_gIGo2wZ_Hn8lA_OnTOxMwL1TGtOF1/s320/IMG_4112.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">a preserved room, not looking all that different from what you might see today in a japanese house<br /><br /><br /></p>Back in Honjo, for my parents' last day, we drove up to the lookout on Chokai - there was still plenty of snow! And later we had a nice okonomiyaki dinner - the first time my parents had had it. All in all, a great trip! I don't think there IS much left else to say! Oh except how my Dad summed up Tohoku - "Cedars and rice fields!"<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPlodLjilYcJoyF0oskYj0jK0Bzq5GwpZkK5-unVcC53msMonEmtiNBRFENdg2W7F28MhYuvuSiGYmgqPbGIq4Cl1gt1hkE_Cvxk-Io0xK3kWJrDqTY1KxJIlysj4W2GWtOtnYZFcnpKn/s1600-h/IMG_4114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199461799345088914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPlodLjilYcJoyF0oskYj0jK0Bzq5GwpZkK5-unVcC53msMonEmtiNBRFENdg2W7F28MhYuvuSiGYmgqPbGIq4Cl1gt1hkE_Cvxk-Io0xK3kWJrDqTY1KxJIlysj4W2GWtOtnYZFcnpKn/s320/IMG_4114.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Mount Chokai<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6T9PDNbzY37SUf3lU-GxmExVPZ6jjVDnA37n5hEpXbccwzpfy_jjuewn38SFuYbIQJIT75_bL_z2Y8NkkmQM8CQwPWCcN8hKlEJIlNG9J3Yta8zHNSthgf-uAElZfNhNp478u_Tz0SKs/s1600-h/IMG_4115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199461829409860002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6T9PDNbzY37SUf3lU-GxmExVPZ6jjVDnA37n5hEpXbccwzpfy_jjuewn38SFuYbIQJIT75_bL_z2Y8NkkmQM8CQwPWCcN8hKlEJIlNG9J3Yta8zHNSthgf-uAElZfNhNp478u_Tz0SKs/s320/IMG_4115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yh6tg3fyWLJb28cdKGgkBhssWVLgYZXmhKc4xcUERC8QFQsAJ_q2dLYRvqWPxl4AO-3zo4jQ3fVPYXCde0NDXE09BJLBg7eFJxP-kpRbvw1iyp9WCpMVuufOmib_j07jA6D5pujeG7TS/s1600-h/IMG_4119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199461837999794610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yh6tg3fyWLJb28cdKGgkBhssWVLgYZXmhKc4xcUERC8QFQsAJ_q2dLYRvqWPxl4AO-3zo4jQ3fVPYXCde0NDXE09BJLBg7eFJxP-kpRbvw1iyp9WCpMVuufOmib_j07jA6D5pujeG7TS/s320/IMG_4119.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA7Smj5ref_ky6IrG7_tYRQu83NMqXxPAU46KqPLNuY5GRIMgCh8IiKoFmCtCD_THFGutcsDHqgeH2WXkhgnGQeARJPZ0SeN5k9QeU_zzqcNBAKk8lLo0woREQmxny9WpcRjLqw39KJF_/s1600-h/IMG_4121.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199461842294761922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA7Smj5ref_ky6IrG7_tYRQu83NMqXxPAU46KqPLNuY5GRIMgCh8IiKoFmCtCD_THFGutcsDHqgeH2WXkhgnGQeARJPZ0SeN5k9QeU_zzqcNBAKk8lLo0woREQmxny9WpcRjLqw39KJF_/s320/IMG_4121.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">the trailhead. perhaps I'll wait for a bit more melting before venturing up. </p><p align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibivSvRTwErjvcDpmte2jE29yeacajwAl8tdiujH0bR6YZ1pgnqyTtM-4-RFhdQZvJv7FDq-tU7GLJAiQm2SK3edMCsAni1PdLgwqAN-ZGIRq50FEAsNxVn7SkFd5g5QuhJej3AahehaIh/s1600-h/IMG_4123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199461846589729234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibivSvRTwErjvcDpmte2jE29yeacajwAl8tdiujH0bR6YZ1pgnqyTtM-4-RFhdQZvJv7FDq-tU7GLJAiQm2SK3edMCsAni1PdLgwqAN-ZGIRq50FEAsNxVn7SkFd5g5QuhJej3AahehaIh/s320/IMG_4123.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">me almost getting windswept to my death for the sake of a good photo<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODw_bKodOf15IsewGrXuxU1IQOeIp0dXnpIUHqiRnk27uZ4WuIjH-tVgNyxTXIDxcY8fW4lU19mRvm3gsA8JQcFC3vP08buC13ug8zS9PNcFh1L78uA76fgdYN3DKFF7BF2saxUtIVHrq/s1600-h/IMG_4128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199463044885604834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODw_bKodOf15IsewGrXuxU1IQOeIp0dXnpIUHqiRnk27uZ4WuIjH-tVgNyxTXIDxcY8fW4lU19mRvm3gsA8JQcFC3vP08buC13ug8zS9PNcFh1L78uA76fgdYN3DKFF7BF2saxUtIVHrq/s320/IMG_4128.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Chokai from Kisakata marina<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Cok4i8F_wWYumX4ggYPsx69uzcf7vW3NgF9J6CFS8cAcnb2Nq-3Utql8IBILjhXD7L2HKHA-_Auts9AUqHhf267dVIhoMvNDH-bRQpte4Bu8o5J9bJb_8U-U3Cd8nwvJjMQn6NYpGu0K/s1600-h/IMG_4131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199463053475539442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Cok4i8F_wWYumX4ggYPsx69uzcf7vW3NgF9J6CFS8cAcnb2Nq-3Utql8IBILjhXD7L2HKHA-_Auts9AUqHhf267dVIhoMvNDH-bRQpte4Bu8o5J9bJb_8U-U3Cd8nwvJjMQn6NYpGu0K/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0GNlI5qM-2n6kprXAuMz_CFyV6KN-HQG9wfPVMbAbaH0dUrUA9xJxtPOfKOMa_LQEhYPk1CEPkM26Z7YI5ge8K682NslfYDaioWRyLiT3k_n4xEl9U6UoilAr7fezDoJUu0NWWmue0Op/s1600-h/IMG_4135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199463062065474050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0GNlI5qM-2n6kprXAuMz_CFyV6KN-HQG9wfPVMbAbaH0dUrUA9xJxtPOfKOMa_LQEhYPk1CEPkM26Z7YI5ge8K682NslfYDaioWRyLiT3k_n4xEl9U6UoilAr7fezDoJUu0NWWmue0Op/s320/IMG_4135.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">cooking okonomiyaki</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sophie.danner/TourDeTohoku">and here's a link to ALL the pictures, if you can even handle anymore</a><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><br />On Sunday I met my aunt and uncle in Tokyo for the day, we did a bit of sightseeing - it was their first day on a tour of Japan and China! Hope they have a great rest of their trip!</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHRad-ElwuklByt7IUC9OOKe7RF4eCHe75lgoh8oIwjcShEurIWHhC-KNMaTCV4gWB4e4ciH3P40YFEbaV-Jc2MixDh7JMhPV5NwT1LCjMLM6V6IsD9k78EX85cD9jD71zmcLAkeRWS5V/s1600-h/IMG_4138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199518939589995058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHRad-ElwuklByt7IUC9OOKe7RF4eCHe75lgoh8oIwjcShEurIWHhC-KNMaTCV4gWB4e4ciH3P40YFEbaV-Jc2MixDh7JMhPV5NwT1LCjMLM6V6IsD9k78EX85cD9jD71zmcLAkeRWS5V/s320/IMG_4138.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Uncle Paul and Aunt Carol in Asakusa<br /><br /></p><p>I was excited to get back to school with my kids last week, though my enthusiasm dwindled when I was reminded of the 'school pet' part of my job description when I got 3 "<em>sensei, kawaiiiii..."</em> (hey teacher, you're supercute!) from some sannensei girls before even entering their classroom. But this was tempered by one of their classmates asking me to explain what "agitation" and "infernal" meant after class. The kids are going on their school trips this week, the older kids are going to tokyo, while the 1st years will go to the next town over to have a picnic.</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-372980149192400892008-04-27T23:36:00.005+09:002008-04-28T00:27:38.207+09:00are you that somebody?OK, I am now going to backtrack a little...my parents and I had a lovely day today but the pictures and explanations will have to wait because I wanted to share these 2 gems:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4f9r5BSwaEsJPCtPdZFSlv26plGNGoCpubyuBJ-1uxA22mCsLw2epoznkjJMQb3HMATNXfiobGm3EaqGWQhBI9unt-goitVw0EoQZQbcWIHDtOeHO1MyVSoDiYNLDflHpSrh3SQgoc7D/s1600-h/IMG_3382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193937935263682514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4f9r5BSwaEsJPCtPdZFSlv26plGNGoCpubyuBJ-1uxA22mCsLw2epoznkjJMQb3HMATNXfiobGm3EaqGWQhBI9unt-goitVw0EoQZQbcWIHDtOeHO1MyVSoDiYNLDflHpSrh3SQgoc7D/s320/IMG_3382.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKzz8SDyI2sPqFgAuQ4xvbHoRHpSYH8q8Je2yGVd0C9E9BIDLavfMvkfZFrB432m4JqPZ-62oyj7dUUllIjFlI7D5B6zdMACh1WccMtpwBQ5492AxacDI4Z0xPNoVw-a0sS5wZ7175SJh/s1600-h/IMG_3383.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193937943853617122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKzz8SDyI2sPqFgAuQ4xvbHoRHpSYH8q8Je2yGVd0C9E9BIDLavfMvkfZFrB432m4JqPZ-62oyj7dUUllIjFlI7D5B6zdMACh1WccMtpwBQ5492AxacDI4Z0xPNoVw-a0sS5wZ7175SJh/s320/IMG_3383.JPG" border="0" /></a>Amelie, Jeff and I had an enkai with our board of education the night before my parents arrived, it was an epic night which concluded with us and our two favorite supervisory types, at long last, together at Castaway's. For some reason I am heistant to post their names even though I have before, and there is certainly nothing incriminating about requesting me to sing exclusively old school Aaliyah and TLC (do you remember my supervisor's taste in music, which I first experienced while driving around in his car last summer?) nor joining Amelie in a japanese song whose chorus culminates in a lovely "Honey...FLASH!!!". It was just so nice to be with them in a such a casual, fun environment, instead of the stuffy BoE office. Anyway, the bartender did not take pictures of us that night for her blog so of course I had to. </p><p>Also, surprise! I got glasses - I mostly just wear them for driving, the need to get them became apparent when I noticed it took me significantly longer to be able to read road signs than anyone else in the car. They're the lightest prescription you can buy, but man, I was blown away by the difference. Glasses are cheap here and almost everyone wears them, especially kids, much more so than braces, which are very rare.</p><p><br />And, oh, my students. They continue to amaze me, mostly in comedic value. As a beginning assignment for the year, they had to write a little show and tell speech about their favorite thing, their "treasure". I got to correct all these opuses, and I swear at least half of each class wrote about their mechanical pencils. I asked my co-teacher if she thought this was funny/strange, and she said she did, and responded by outlawing mechanical pencils as "treasures" in the next class. The kids in this class, however, were not down with this, complained, and got her to revoke the rule if it was a truly special pencil, ie. engraved for one's graduation. This reminded me of the time I first noticed a student twirling his pencil in his hand quite skillfully during class- I commented on it, like "Hey, cool!" to which he shrugged and said "(It's) Japanese culture" and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen_spinning">it's true</a>. My other 'first few days of school' favorite is one of my students who now sits in the front row, who is a huge fan of doing free association outloud during class. The other day "United States of America" set him off on "Crinton...crinton...Obama..FRANCE REVOLUTION...obama...obama...obama...france revolution" he enjoys the reaction it gets from me, usually cracking up, and he knows I would never scold him for talking during class because he always does it fairly quietly, and always in English. I hope I get to work with him for a speech contest.</p><p></p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-60086771995868788062008-04-26T23:55:00.016+09:002008-04-27T10:18:30.845+09:00claude and otto return to japan<div align="left">So, my parents made it here safe and sound and after a day left on their own to recover from the jet lag we began our sightseeing adventures today with a trip to the nearby oga peninsula. A beautiful drive on the corniche road where we stopped at (nearly) every lookout, including one with mars-like rocks and tidal pools, and a big rock that's supposed to look like godzilla's head (you be the judge) was followed by a visit to the aquarium called gao (an anagram of oga, ha!) to check in with my friend the polar bear. We forewent afternoon onsening in favor of a drive to the top of the peninsula's mountain, which afforded impressive views, though somewhat hazy, of the sea on both sides. On our way back home we stopped at a lovely park (not even on my itinerary!) which still had some <em>sakura</em> left, as well a few interesting ancient-looking re-created buildings to explore!<br /><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QHQqRb0uHgCnec4zWZtfunfOU-59L9ACfdVYqeeGNZtTZCT7_wZEHttHmLN6z8xeAjMtJHxuACxY6KB_6w2JTcDLeRy3GWiX4BFuieoXX_stvwhUWTzRzH8dBm6oXPZOrhIVogbavM4G/s1600-h/IMG_3385.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193714017143705138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QHQqRb0uHgCnec4zWZtfunfOU-59L9ACfdVYqeeGNZtTZCT7_wZEHttHmLN6z8xeAjMtJHxuACxY6KB_6w2JTcDLeRy3GWiX4BFuieoXX_stvwhUWTzRzH8dBm6oXPZOrhIVogbavM4G/s320/IMG_3385.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56RxS9aK7pbZ9wrQ-ucjznfrknRB-WGqx1cIw-F-9gmSS3YVteFVHU2QTqY5MOhyphenhyphenzKRrH4f7vKMwUmGo1vRlNXhF3tO2WtGr8ltLl0RBzN5qFpIsSlrp3zI4faSuybsUhL9zSAjxGk95W/s1600-h/IMG_3390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193714030028607042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56RxS9aK7pbZ9wrQ-ucjznfrknRB-WGqx1cIw-F-9gmSS3YVteFVHU2QTqY5MOhyphenhyphenzKRrH4f7vKMwUmGo1vRlNXhF3tO2WtGr8ltLl0RBzN5qFpIsSlrp3zI4faSuybsUhL9zSAjxGk95W/s320/IMG_3390.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">mom walking in the moon rocks</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheL4aSN2aviMLp-yfHrrduZr19HvohophDSOc6tuWADsFu-hb4DygM_5OUqWgYZ5wfxXenHkeY99rKX9OySzRQPdVO72e7GjvoNXh3OMUHKM7FB6V6d4hJrKngDo_7hFV-7U6t6tKhtn_/s1600-h/IMG_3393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193716426620358226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheL4aSN2aviMLp-yfHrrduZr19HvohophDSOc6tuWADsFu-hb4DygM_5OUqWgYZ5wfxXenHkeY99rKX9OySzRQPdVO72e7GjvoNXh3OMUHKM7FB6V6d4hJrKngDo_7hFV-7U6t6tKhtn_/s320/IMG_3393.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">godzilla head rock</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OwIseLV3Sn88tFLgqxm1Yj09iUhVnCwTNVDWuKo1VVWpndxPYuo3y-5ux3bgsLGDA4u8t9fFEX0Pu07ZT6_HFn8A_x0hfn4Zkzg_h0NoQLcKkzVNBL4biMj-ujsthXzA0tEolAuH83cp/s1600-h/IMG_3395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193716430915325538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OwIseLV3Sn88tFLgqxm1Yj09iUhVnCwTNVDWuKo1VVWpndxPYuo3y-5ux3bgsLGDA4u8t9fFEX0Pu07ZT6_HFn8A_x0hfn4Zkzg_h0NoQLcKkzVNBL4biMj-ujsthXzA0tEolAuH83cp/s320/IMG_3395.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kJVELsAfKZezIuph6qeh8qJLETuF1PO8p4CnKGHaM5ep6NXU04OSjLfCQ32PbCxV8j-wYYFYPjALHYFfqSGD0AGx0-Bj2Ifimaizq4WnxgCiOB6kv76WQ1OUBBQjRFsYfaXlGIL1Pq_u/s1600-h/IMG_3402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193719072320212594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kJVELsAfKZezIuph6qeh8qJLETuF1PO8p4CnKGHaM5ep6NXU04OSjLfCQ32PbCxV8j-wYYFYPjALHYFfqSGD0AGx0-Bj2Ifimaizq4WnxgCiOB6kv76WQ1OUBBQjRFsYfaXlGIL1Pq_u/s320/IMG_3402.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">dad and a <em>namahage</em></p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVj9SyLOwmnX5glgKzTiKp628T4KJU3EQA9gSXsDvlpUiUxVe7rdsA86RYN44Dmxwmd1dy7OSR7SLZI0BlS69Q51F5znL0llw1QP6sv-aKH4iWEmXHI_6eKxQ_mv7n9NSTCNY44mcCtIS/s1600-h/IMG_3406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193719080910147202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVj9SyLOwmnX5glgKzTiKp628T4KJU3EQA9gSXsDvlpUiUxVe7rdsA86RYN44Dmxwmd1dy7OSR7SLZI0BlS69Q51F5znL0llw1QP6sv-aKH4iWEmXHI_6eKxQ_mv7n9NSTCNY44mcCtIS/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzCBulB8JqFSzUSmPn_S5AIH4a5C-gxQJFNvfKV2SR2K6t461I3Bk5R9imuqMWunyb6NiZXO6wCc_N0UiypEQq3tdijR_G7PbcjOO846qu60ixA4r8ifmUBCM4piiD7PuyveW8EpUeGxj/s1600-h/IMG_3421.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193720068752625298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzCBulB8JqFSzUSmPn_S5AIH4a5C-gxQJFNvfKV2SR2K6t461I3Bk5R9imuqMWunyb6NiZXO6wCc_N0UiypEQq3tdijR_G7PbcjOO846qu60ixA4r8ifmUBCM4piiD7PuyveW8EpUeGxj/s320/IMG_3421.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzPXvj6wGn8mhQ9qMh8MMqMiFT0Z9pdNdek_-6XL30XCL9SiQeXB6VdqFB2vLtf3BqbxfJDhZ2YTAyZGwRwuDvznuucDoriFcykrU922FPmVq-MbcgqHFiv-ZRdWqHf0E7_fYrZ-zIXf2/s1600-h/IMG_3425.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193720081637527202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzPXvj6wGn8mhQ9qMh8MMqMiFT0Z9pdNdek_-6XL30XCL9SiQeXB6VdqFB2vLtf3BqbxfJDhZ2YTAyZGwRwuDvznuucDoriFcykrU922FPmVq-MbcgqHFiv-ZRdWqHf0E7_fYrZ-zIXf2/s320/IMG_3425.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">at the aquarium</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXkZ6pwuX4QXOyo7YjWeYc9C_0sWmW60ZvYTT-MOVC2EE6HookE-WpnAiprULsH6YJ6qhQRww0jaxMJK8rxeo-QZeFLFhmFBJ48ohzOUG6d1ailY1HTSsxL1pDp6uqChJaOtQXbuq4zZ4/s1600-h/IMG_3428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193720983580659378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXkZ6pwuX4QXOyo7YjWeYc9C_0sWmW60ZvYTT-MOVC2EE6HookE-WpnAiprULsH6YJ6qhQRww0jaxMJK8rxeo-QZeFLFhmFBJ48ohzOUG6d1ailY1HTSsxL1pDp6uqChJaOtQXbuq4zZ4/s320/IMG_3428.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D7YNwc50XuYqXnal8Qmb0xp3p5IyWpBdf8RM_RnNvSu3nhHGJYJ8cO6my82mrAoRJ4Z0pZnOxT9umijRXN4Dd_JkUgJMntfKbd6IV8oEy99pnQ3JWkyU6RtJZPgrCV4XRIJ-XgKNTMH7/s1600-h/IMG_3433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193720987875626690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D7YNwc50XuYqXnal8Qmb0xp3p5IyWpBdf8RM_RnNvSu3nhHGJYJ8cO6my82mrAoRJ4Z0pZnOxT9umijRXN4Dd_JkUgJMntfKbd6IV8oEy99pnQ3JWkyU6RtJZPgrCV4XRIJ-XgKNTMH7/s320/IMG_3433.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRX5ggP15q8HMlnFbzKr55OvbmyoqKtKbX6iOXHeTzvmE8-BOnE8HOeimopk2hz5l2KCtmMTj9_l6ZGUor_IunYeIg71ynuVgGU4RPPr3owlwIt2v1OxiTd7lOTEWrltaT7XDkxHZdNa2/s1600-h/IMG_3441.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193721941358366418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRX5ggP15q8HMlnFbzKr55OvbmyoqKtKbX6iOXHeTzvmE8-BOnE8HOeimopk2hz5l2KCtmMTj9_l6ZGUor_IunYeIg71ynuVgGU4RPPr3owlwIt2v1OxiTd7lOTEWrltaT7XDkxHZdNa2/s320/IMG_3441.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiMOntU1gkkRWtkFRILrqtHwX5n3swCD2-EXWzc1APCm3xFTG1HOHQfWmodAvKmtRbUT_xXM_awQ3AnXS8DTEAwvMsTh6ISdlc-JDYs6v1HPm-oDyz1-Kz4JaZhmEgDVr8ItUAo9uLvz-/s1600-h/IMG_3454.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193721945653333730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiMOntU1gkkRWtkFRILrqtHwX5n3swCD2-EXWzc1APCm3xFTG1HOHQfWmodAvKmtRbUT_xXM_awQ3AnXS8DTEAwvMsTh6ISdlc-JDYs6v1HPm-oDyz1-Kz4JaZhmEgDVr8ItUAo9uLvz-/s320/IMG_3454.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>what a photogenic guy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdqj2XByDmhWNs7f9jNgmw-HXW8G3co6CPY4lHSqv12BTbWM7Hu-Uu0zOMhI0uBPPZxqTN8f8M1RHodn5qRxyfUxuKHwKcCuqPoEWnSV2C3-SEgCIFq3LIzNfYZtAFnxlpA2D1Ni8zTch/s1600-h/IMG_3474.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193722761697119986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdqj2XByDmhWNs7f9jNgmw-HXW8G3co6CPY4lHSqv12BTbWM7Hu-Uu0zOMhI0uBPPZxqTN8f8M1RHodn5qRxyfUxuKHwKcCuqPoEWnSV2C3-SEgCIFq3LIzNfYZtAFnxlpA2D1Ni8zTch/s320/IMG_3474.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7WSnD-OVoNUMBJ_BkDrVRHVB50DRyDAiPUrUZh9BgYBWHZ1uiyh6P0QVW4LpI9_7c_CWWGGxY_rK8HEmiz2_SKHnQ8X4p3BFzSaKfozA4KLp1YAqoF_29UrhSbZ4x6uxj3HtSP_aR302/s1600-h/IMG_3479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193722774582021890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7WSnD-OVoNUMBJ_BkDrVRHVB50DRyDAiPUrUZh9BgYBWHZ1uiyh6P0QVW4LpI9_7c_CWWGGxY_rK8HEmiz2_SKHnQ8X4p3BFzSaKfozA4KLp1YAqoF_29UrhSbZ4x6uxj3HtSP_aR302/s320/IMG_3479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4P4IcPvwgNswzousFb3LiHNBu8BRGdQ4eFUrY0LLkzTTq0Pt57uCYX7hlzhyxQUfxyfr1vBx5pIn36Tqyv-6TSQ6J99cBNpToSXvZVdJRESm_RxzDIG-EIftDnP5Rb1kNJxogMKQRrR0v/s1600-h/IMG_3481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193723315747901202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4P4IcPvwgNswzousFb3LiHNBu8BRGdQ4eFUrY0LLkzTTq0Pt57uCYX7hlzhyxQUfxyfr1vBx5pIn36Tqyv-6TSQ6J99cBNpToSXvZVdJRESm_RxzDIG-EIftDnP5Rb1kNJxogMKQRrR0v/s320/IMG_3481.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv4i-cnfWe8VKzs6PouyGv5nNOEklnnc9TKuzxzO0rWIsN96w0woxhKEP2Pkc76wpfyo70U1_lFurbcEkrLUD3RtVr8Ao8yr2MkL0CpOvSITsMSXCa9pjhPUik2ST-l9cRNyuwA1b3VkY/s1600-h/IMG_3482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193723320042868514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv4i-cnfWe8VKzs6PouyGv5nNOEklnnc9TKuzxzO0rWIsN96w0woxhKEP2Pkc76wpfyo70U1_lFurbcEkrLUD3RtVr8Ao8yr2MkL0CpOvSITsMSXCa9pjhPUik2ST-l9cRNyuwA1b3VkY/s320/IMG_3482.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a>from the top of the mountain<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm0RZ1yySDWKWOKvMKkghYBmUPym8d3jTjaunXx1aIfhx_Jcz2QvRgCzk78jPWO_3RsM7dfkZ06lChLxhK2-NKGtoyPbWSS7wOE8F1bwFVRjz8uzhe4TbxX1koetIkSvypgNJC1rpGt3S/s1600-h/IMG_3484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193723831143976754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm0RZ1yySDWKWOKvMKkghYBmUPym8d3jTjaunXx1aIfhx_Jcz2QvRgCzk78jPWO_3RsM7dfkZ06lChLxhK2-NKGtoyPbWSS7wOE8F1bwFVRjz8uzhe4TbxX1koetIkSvypgNJC1rpGt3S/s320/IMG_3484.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6x7ZvtiveVfOhVeXzmEOiEmr2JTsySSzvcY1Hrq3EhA99IyXmBZQV-jE9qf1O9H14DpnJVNWibOoUe7WJjpa0KztAodw1T4YyawXyQVN4W-eOjrQI4mH7GL76FDYoKGiVcpMiVZlded8/s1600-h/IMG_3486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193723839733911362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6x7ZvtiveVfOhVeXzmEOiEmr2JTsySSzvcY1Hrq3EhA99IyXmBZQV-jE9qf1O9H14DpnJVNWibOoUe7WJjpa0KztAodw1T4YyawXyQVN4W-eOjrQI4mH7GL76FDYoKGiVcpMiVZlded8/s320/IMG_3486.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxxZzFTjrV2OqX8pBJ6t9n-ArA8EDwE0CVt79IZeYwghn7WtpM4Q7siarkvF0rSdN5FF8DiK289TISWu1DB6zcoaBxMVkmUqQBl-IWTKIl15GrV39Y49JtaXPj9e3snlypWAVgPT339aZ/s1600-h/IMG_3489.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193724595648155474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxxZzFTjrV2OqX8pBJ6t9n-ArA8EDwE0CVt79IZeYwghn7WtpM4Q7siarkvF0rSdN5FF8DiK289TISWu1DB6zcoaBxMVkmUqQBl-IWTKIl15GrV39Y49JtaXPj9e3snlypWAVgPT339aZ/s320/IMG_3489.JPG" border="0" /></a> we found some sakura at the park!</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoQIvnkUAFmn2IPD8tZJVvqoX-4U3x6SSeTxNmypd4HxsNVYv7fFPF_v3qQQwdcdiWlE5wMRx1FTB1JTODPdbSlm9EKIdPpTLGSmpclQSRtpno4lyIMOSMjmDacD5D7BmH951RDojwiVf/s1600-h/IMG_3492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193724604238090082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoQIvnkUAFmn2IPD8tZJVvqoX-4U3x6SSeTxNmypd4HxsNVYv7fFPF_v3qQQwdcdiWlE5wMRx1FTB1JTODPdbSlm9EKIdPpTLGSmpclQSRtpno4lyIMOSMjmDacD5D7BmH951RDojwiVf/s320/IMG_3492.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wvsGAUIV86O3Gv-gcGYpm0TRjrcKfAye3VVqBNTl-etuw3G8lfahOkL4zCACLB56jPcNddDLi78uMUgaCtqAQPBmDPAX6qduLvITBbfw336JwDyPLmfJZiWviXiuyzTq233x4Lvy-AwF/s1600-h/IMG_3494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193725231303315314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wvsGAUIV86O3Gv-gcGYpm0TRjrcKfAye3VVqBNTl-etuw3G8lfahOkL4zCACLB56jPcNddDLi78uMUgaCtqAQPBmDPAX6qduLvITBbfw336JwDyPLmfJZiWviXiuyzTq233x4Lvy-AwF/s320/IMG_3494.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikRGm-14QgUuwBf-gdfeAcFwNWZbYHwEBJpuUfPiKdnlxNemPSyauJ5tQVI6_ofN253TlI1UkHn0OOFWqsYReLs_9w07YiqO00ppcFw3Q0BOO_eqFnSQCFnFz1dZEi8oyV1aPq4ajc5mZ/s1600-h/IMG_3495.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193725244188217218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikRGm-14QgUuwBf-gdfeAcFwNWZbYHwEBJpuUfPiKdnlxNemPSyauJ5tQVI6_ofN253TlI1UkHn0OOFWqsYReLs_9w07YiqO00ppcFw3Q0BOO_eqFnSQCFnFz1dZEi8oyV1aPq4ajc5mZ/s320/IMG_3495.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY5mTE6Cl0QbdQAwJrvO4LyVCKH1YafaHnDY81hPWZLIbzBLu92jVDrMgeFUxJqThFbeenzfitXVwFZ0TBJ8UnidA49YdhmvsnWxvWJwRMdkO3eUbp6F280TkIdZeRQyLbKTxAHV4IQcn/s1600-h/IMG_3497.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193725961447755666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY5mTE6Cl0QbdQAwJrvO4LyVCKH1YafaHnDY81hPWZLIbzBLu92jVDrMgeFUxJqThFbeenzfitXVwFZ0TBJ8UnidA49YdhmvsnWxvWJwRMdkO3eUbp6F280TkIdZeRQyLbKTxAHV4IQcn/s320/IMG_3497.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y40Zj9gIDqSHZXOwH06XkW4tRIK53c3D0wOIDskkUGG-u2WtRfCUaorQHK5DST6QAp4jEICcDbaatvzDkWKjaIrTbhxQTlTF0nwnrr2lOHQ6AxH6Jx5YmnoXkWGooGnyLcbKTtBRCAl6/s1600-h/IMG_3498.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193725970037690274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y40Zj9gIDqSHZXOwH06XkW4tRIK53c3D0wOIDskkUGG-u2WtRfCUaorQHK5DST6QAp4jEICcDbaatvzDkWKjaIrTbhxQTlTF0nwnrr2lOHQ6AxH6Jx5YmnoXkWGooGnyLcbKTtBRCAl6/s320/IMG_3498.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0Ng9EUPfVMciD2OKCIViacea_qG-bX_F1E4YIYLDhIBsI9cGgkCBue7K2D4-j7DlmZEfTGCCzmZ5jwBU-8bVYK5DcE8GBZerdUVQpCnpJ-na8Ywm0gWuyBz5SS1fvmWIbyjuTFEAjfXE/s1600-h/IMG_3503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193726846211018674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0Ng9EUPfVMciD2OKCIViacea_qG-bX_F1E4YIYLDhIBsI9cGgkCBue7K2D4-j7DlmZEfTGCCzmZ5jwBU-8bVYK5DcE8GBZerdUVQpCnpJ-na8Ywm0gWuyBz5SS1fvmWIbyjuTFEAjfXE/s320/IMG_3503.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vger2uscr1lR2Ma5YEKsQvMEuCgLw4q2KtRqm0A9hDLlwNGLRmizR4Qocvuw3B8YPCAf2QVOBZPHRU9SJyYQ-YUQUxooATzMXjGqJq_sUe4xDdM38MpTipPmL1m189mDNMqMF3IFGabW/s1600-h/IMG_3509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193726850505985986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vger2uscr1lR2Ma5YEKsQvMEuCgLw4q2KtRqm0A9hDLlwNGLRmizR4Qocvuw3B8YPCAf2QVOBZPHRU9SJyYQ-YUQUxooATzMXjGqJq_sUe4xDdM38MpTipPmL1m189mDNMqMF3IFGabW/s320/IMG_3509.JPG" border="0" /></a>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4788307475390804217.post-31810620874509580532008-04-21T11:33:00.006+09:002008-04-21T12:17:04.384+09:00hanamiJust spent a low-key weekend mostly in Honjo Park, being part of the sakura paparazzi and general merriment and picnic-ing. I tried to talk some of the trees into keeping their flowers for another few days, so my parents can see them when they arrive, but they're falling off at an alarming rate, the trees turning more green than pink-white. Luckily we'll be heading north on our 'Tour de Tohoku' where we'll have a good chance of catching late bloomers.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq50_Ma89QfqmjHOfgyB-SUV54AdzYnPQTE0XS52ytOp5LkLGfmnALXPyo8xYrVhRtapDjuCjecQlur8HYCTnQA0tr5c_6AzuOkHdW8d5ZgNaQ-8H3rCeywopR1Mu93k9RW4EGOpFyFvd/s1600-h/IMG_3316.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191523972579579810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq50_Ma89QfqmjHOfgyB-SUV54AdzYnPQTE0XS52ytOp5LkLGfmnALXPyo8xYrVhRtapDjuCjecQlur8HYCTnQA0tr5c_6AzuOkHdW8d5ZgNaQ-8H3rCeywopR1Mu93k9RW4EGOpFyFvd/s320/IMG_3316.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aYOrosb9QcIA8Wwpqjg0pTmCsobJ6xqD1enCM3PP07sNTBljelNirswtZWzuS0NrXEZ-zb18Ker4QR8NtHdT0-BS2Ss2x0G8ZXHn4TgQ3L5UbcLVGekfxP1PkdIihMVWi8trYg8CNSX8/s1600-h/IMG_3334.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191523981169514418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aYOrosb9QcIA8Wwpqjg0pTmCsobJ6xqD1enCM3PP07sNTBljelNirswtZWzuS0NrXEZ-zb18Ker4QR8NtHdT0-BS2Ss2x0G8ZXHn4TgQ3L5UbcLVGekfxP1PkdIihMVWi8trYg8CNSX8/s320/IMG_3334.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8a2onqMN53VFQ7xQ9Dwnswk1qN84KOBkTUiHhkkqNrmLcARgDFoicjyk4V_9l65s7wXHNhjOpi95oHUy52Zv-YBLVoRjB_sTt1CJOGEikZMJbO3yS5Bwcjc7vtJXKGyFa70Y-jJc3cRT/s1600-h/IMG_3346.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191523985464481730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8a2onqMN53VFQ7xQ9Dwnswk1qN84KOBkTUiHhkkqNrmLcARgDFoicjyk4V_9l65s7wXHNhjOpi95oHUy52Zv-YBLVoRjB_sTt1CJOGEikZMJbO3yS5Bwcjc7vtJXKGyFa70Y-jJc3cRT/s320/IMG_3346.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IlezdMA28pfq3BDwLtPVK7Z1-m1j_qHjXgtveraJcGAzZadL8bJAJOl91feg5s9nNhWdrBUzkpi7lSooYCQyXj0bwLoWwj0FysRKbsG5yx0FMYcX_fVECo9eXA5wEJ6W7W2XQ6_RIVRt/s1600-h/IMG_3348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191524659774347218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IlezdMA28pfq3BDwLtPVK7Z1-m1j_qHjXgtveraJcGAzZadL8bJAJOl91feg5s9nNhWdrBUzkpi7lSooYCQyXj0bwLoWwj0FysRKbsG5yx0FMYcX_fVECo9eXA5wEJ6W7W2XQ6_RIVRt/s320/IMG_3348.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Jessie and Amelie enjoy the sakura wonderland<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGs6ReRWatEW3PPfmllM0fp2uxZk61hJaIq1B0AIYfnfP4f-BWna6UPRSgAHqBoD1EDqeCgIU_5EEwXqzRlp0EaxcnlpJ4gaLKErr8ICppllFtUUCSMPdUzI0mOEYfupvtszobjUpxW7Sq/s1600-h/IMG_3371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191524676954216434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGs6ReRWatEW3PPfmllM0fp2uxZk61hJaIq1B0AIYfnfP4f-BWna6UPRSgAHqBoD1EDqeCgIU_5EEwXqzRlp0EaxcnlpJ4gaLKErr8ICppllFtUUCSMPdUzI0mOEYfupvtszobjUpxW7Sq/s320/IMG_3371.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Lff3Jmm3WNyC38Mwpj_eRbbOTHKSRdQ7TqnFgoqAuNmvuHxRK0R3ptnpxrvZwLgj1YtUDqHhyMNBPnsGhrCUQsQTueDv0Tj30kAwIPJVln3Dp1oVrqldxasU5xwV2u3CZHna1Bepc_2N/s1600-h/IMG_3355.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191525531652708354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Lff3Jmm3WNyC38Mwpj_eRbbOTHKSRdQ7TqnFgoqAuNmvuHxRK0R3ptnpxrvZwLgj1YtUDqHhyMNBPnsGhrCUQsQTueDv0Tj30kAwIPJVln3Dp1oVrqldxasU5xwV2u3CZHna1Bepc_2N/s320/IMG_3355.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_CIerptnkXGc_90maY9x3Zs9evmvh2KgaIslWvIKDs55fD11YEGvdLdEDuemS1wDZUgB7lHpn43FuH7d0HNbVG4JiSAEf_bHxcZdKaDeLPJTSXgtvvqs8tRz5tcD9EVvTpkXe46bS87s/s1600-h/IMG_3378.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191525540242642962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_CIerptnkXGc_90maY9x3Zs9evmvh2KgaIslWvIKDs55fD11YEGvdLdEDuemS1wDZUgB7lHpn43FuH7d0HNbVG4JiSAEf_bHxcZdKaDeLPJTSXgtvvqs8tRz5tcD9EVvTpkXe46bS87s/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" border="0" /></a>Chika and I </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYbvJ-JQsNZqRu_kqnElc8BNrxKLV8n3EoCk4eJkBEYYZdofUfvxC_I-qeVgdrXFLq6NTmOrsl1EKGG5Tlp7l3Wq-gxOVnO0e4SKIpdR-CP24c-sbJj58ZUq0xjfNYGSz5TKioZx8JJyX/s1600-h/IMG_3336.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191525544537610274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYbvJ-JQsNZqRu_kqnElc8BNrxKLV8n3EoCk4eJkBEYYZdofUfvxC_I-qeVgdrXFLq6NTmOrsl1EKGG5Tlp7l3Wq-gxOVnO0e4SKIpdR-CP24c-sbJj58ZUq0xjfNYGSz5TKioZx8JJyX/s320/IMG_3336.JPG" border="0" /></a>Just to lay to rest any stereotypes of Japanese schoolchildren being obedient, well-behaved angels, a couple of my thug-like new 1nensei students apparently saw the park merriment as an excellent opportunity to wreak some havoc, namely by slashing some other students' bike tires!</p><p>I'd also like to give a shout-out to Natalie who just had a yuck-yuck surgery and keeps me updated on her recovery with 2-line e-mails like "percocet is good, feeling better". Here's to the speediest of recoveries, wish you were arriving with Mom and Dad on Thursday.</p>sophiesaffronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09181663633064765506noreply@blogger.com3