Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sayonara Japan...Ni Hao China Sept 18, 2010
September 18, 2010 we will be moving to Shanghai China and begin the 2nd part of our Asian adventure. We have had a wonderful 2 years here in Yokohama Japan and are excited to see what life will be like in the PRC....stay tuned
Sunday, October 25, 2009
October 26, 2009 My how time flies.....
WOW. Can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I have written on here. I have been very busy and enjoying my life here in Japan that is for sure. Too much has happened since then and so I will not elaborate on it all here. You can see it all documented in my Facebook Photo Albums, which I try to keep up each week, if your interested. I ran out of photo space on here and have not had time to delete some onld ones, so that is why I have not added any new ones here.
We had a nice visit from Johan and Hanne Marit-- CJ's two cousins from Northern Norway in Mid September. We spent many days wandering Yokohama, Kamakura, and the usual Tokyo sights with them while helping Hanne Marit to find shoes for her very small feet. She was like Cinderella and so happy when they actually fit her feet perfectly,... I guess they don't carry small sizes in Norway. :-)I also learned where many shopping centers and coffee shops were as that is not usually my thing, but it was theirs and so now I know many more things about the area I didn't know before they came.:-) We enjoyed another SUMO day while they were here too and CJ was able to join us for that. This time Asa won.
After the Fagerli's left, I have been keeping very busy with many different Japanese craft classes and loving them all. Quilting, washi paper, origami,sewing, will learn some more new things in the coming months such as indigo tye dying, chigirie paper tearing art... and I am really looking forward to that.
I too have been learning to play mahjong, gone on a few different walks with my friends and one down along the coast with CJ on the weekend. I attended numerous luncheons and programs over the last 2 months and have enjoyed live traditional Japanese music and all the various instruments. I also took pics of my lady friends modeling recycled Kimonosthe other day, enjoyed a Kabuki theater performance and tour backstage after the show. I wished so bad I could take pics to show you of the elaborate costumes, but photos were not allowed as usual in the theater. It was like torture when I was sitting right next to the trap door entrance on the catwalk where the actors were inches from my eyes as they arose up through the floor and on to the stage.
Wednesdays I work with the orphans at Kofu, but that has been sporadic as of late with many kids having the FLU and them telling me to stay away. Our outing to Tokyo Disney got cancelled last weekend as well, so that was disappointing. :-( CJ and I visited the other Kodomo orphanage one weekend with some others and had a fun day picking sweet potatoes and then a picnic and relay games after. We were to go back yesterday but 3 kids got the flu there as well and so Midori asked us to reschedule in November.
As one typhoon blew through Japan...I spent a really enjoyable and different kind of day at the traditional Japanese onsen. There I made a BIG SPLASH, when I didn't see the extra step underwater when entering the hot tub. That must have been quite a sight for the others across the room when this BIG TOTALLY NAKED body landed spread eagle in the pool of hot water. I was thankful I did not hit my head,get hurt nor crush some little Japanese lady... Thankfully I was the only one in that pool at the time. I made my own tsunami ...haha
CJ was back in the states in late September and got to see Grambo play rugby in Duluth, had dinner with my parents, Mark and Stafford for B and S fall birthdays and he also spent a few days in Chicago with Kalen and Mike. Currently another typhoon is blowing over Japan and that is why I am housebound today and figured I will do a quick update.
Now I need to go pack my things and also give this house a quick cleaning before we head out to South Korea. We will be there for one week in Busan and Seoul for CJ's work and my play.
My parents are doing well and still waiting to get a spot in the assisted living home. My dad loves riding his bike and mom enjoys her time alone in the house. I hope they will stay healthy and active through the upcoming winter months when they will be more confined to the indoors.
CJ will go back to the states in mid November for a week of work and some bird hunting and then we both are planning to go home for the holidays for a month in mid December to mid January. I am staying here this fall as I want to soak up as much as I can of this wonderful country and the experience of living abroad. I love it and I was telling CJ the other night I think it could easily get addictive. He wholeheartedly agreed.
The kids are doing well with school, work, rugby, yoga, biking. Graham will be student teaching in January somewhere in the cities and then graduate in May 2010 from Duluth. Kalen is going to an oncology massage seminar out in California in November and I will be very interested to hear what she learns and experiences there. Mikey will soon start rehearsals for The Christmas Carol at the Goodman in Chicago...and we look forward to seeing him in that when we go to visit he and Kalen for Christmas.
Mark's kids are doing well and Sarah just finished her very successful first year out in NYC doing plus size modeling. His son Stafford just moved to LA to pursue his dream of playing pro beach volleyball. Mark continues to diligently help mom and dad with all their needs and doc appointments. When not doing that he is working, hunting or trying to spend time with his parnter Lisa .
CJ works,runs,and loves all the walking he gets to do to and from work each day. He is enjoying his job here and travels to China every 6 weeks or so to the Asian headquarters there. Life is good here and we hope it is for you and yours as well
Karla and Cjo
We had a nice visit from Johan and Hanne Marit-- CJ's two cousins from Northern Norway in Mid September. We spent many days wandering Yokohama, Kamakura, and the usual Tokyo sights with them while helping Hanne Marit to find shoes for her very small feet. She was like Cinderella and so happy when they actually fit her feet perfectly,... I guess they don't carry small sizes in Norway. :-)I also learned where many shopping centers and coffee shops were as that is not usually my thing, but it was theirs and so now I know many more things about the area I didn't know before they came.:-) We enjoyed another SUMO day while they were here too and CJ was able to join us for that. This time Asa won.
After the Fagerli's left, I have been keeping very busy with many different Japanese craft classes and loving them all. Quilting, washi paper, origami,sewing, will learn some more new things in the coming months such as indigo tye dying, chigirie paper tearing art... and I am really looking forward to that.
I too have been learning to play mahjong, gone on a few different walks with my friends and one down along the coast with CJ on the weekend. I attended numerous luncheons and programs over the last 2 months and have enjoyed live traditional Japanese music and all the various instruments. I also took pics of my lady friends modeling recycled Kimonosthe other day, enjoyed a Kabuki theater performance and tour backstage after the show. I wished so bad I could take pics to show you of the elaborate costumes, but photos were not allowed as usual in the theater. It was like torture when I was sitting right next to the trap door entrance on the catwalk where the actors were inches from my eyes as they arose up through the floor and on to the stage.
Wednesdays I work with the orphans at Kofu, but that has been sporadic as of late with many kids having the FLU and them telling me to stay away. Our outing to Tokyo Disney got cancelled last weekend as well, so that was disappointing. :-( CJ and I visited the other Kodomo orphanage one weekend with some others and had a fun day picking sweet potatoes and then a picnic and relay games after. We were to go back yesterday but 3 kids got the flu there as well and so Midori asked us to reschedule in November.
As one typhoon blew through Japan...I spent a really enjoyable and different kind of day at the traditional Japanese onsen. There I made a BIG SPLASH, when I didn't see the extra step underwater when entering the hot tub. That must have been quite a sight for the others across the room when this BIG TOTALLY NAKED body landed spread eagle in the pool of hot water. I was thankful I did not hit my head,get hurt nor crush some little Japanese lady... Thankfully I was the only one in that pool at the time. I made my own tsunami ...haha
CJ was back in the states in late September and got to see Grambo play rugby in Duluth, had dinner with my parents, Mark and Stafford for B and S fall birthdays and he also spent a few days in Chicago with Kalen and Mike. Currently another typhoon is blowing over Japan and that is why I am housebound today and figured I will do a quick update.
Now I need to go pack my things and also give this house a quick cleaning before we head out to South Korea. We will be there for one week in Busan and Seoul for CJ's work and my play.
My parents are doing well and still waiting to get a spot in the assisted living home. My dad loves riding his bike and mom enjoys her time alone in the house. I hope they will stay healthy and active through the upcoming winter months when they will be more confined to the indoors.
CJ will go back to the states in mid November for a week of work and some bird hunting and then we both are planning to go home for the holidays for a month in mid December to mid January. I am staying here this fall as I want to soak up as much as I can of this wonderful country and the experience of living abroad. I love it and I was telling CJ the other night I think it could easily get addictive. He wholeheartedly agreed.
The kids are doing well with school, work, rugby, yoga, biking. Graham will be student teaching in January somewhere in the cities and then graduate in May 2010 from Duluth. Kalen is going to an oncology massage seminar out in California in November and I will be very interested to hear what she learns and experiences there. Mikey will soon start rehearsals for The Christmas Carol at the Goodman in Chicago...and we look forward to seeing him in that when we go to visit he and Kalen for Christmas.
Mark's kids are doing well and Sarah just finished her very successful first year out in NYC doing plus size modeling. His son Stafford just moved to LA to pursue his dream of playing pro beach volleyball. Mark continues to diligently help mom and dad with all their needs and doc appointments. When not doing that he is working, hunting or trying to spend time with his parnter Lisa .
CJ works,runs,and loves all the walking he gets to do to and from work each day. He is enjoying his job here and travels to China every 6 weeks or so to the Asian headquarters there. Life is good here and we hope it is for you and yours as well
Karla and Cjo
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sept 3rd, 2009 A visit with Shohei
so I started the previous post last week and never got it done till today Sept 8th. It is a another cloudy and cooler day here today and I have been busy reading and working on sending pics of Honduran kids to their padrinos. I too have been very busy the last week and really enjoyed my visit on Sept 3rd with Shohei. It was so FUN to see him and hear all about his adventures in Canada and what he missed about Japan when he was there and what he has noticed since he came back. He was like a blossoming flower on his return and I could see more growth and opening up in him in the one month he had been gone. He seemed to have a new zest for life and learning and he hugged me with a big smile on his face when I opened the door. This is a big change from the nervous and no touching man I met last year in Chinatown. It is so interesting and very exciting to watch him open up and feel more sure of himself.
We had great conversation about all kinds of stuff and he was here till 10:30pm when I finally told him I had to go to bed as my eyes were beginning to shut. I met my match. He likes to talk as much as me:-) We look forward to our next meeting, but who knows when that will be as he gets very busy once school is in session again.
Sept 4th
Ally, I ,Jenny and Janice met up and went to the resale kimono shop to look for a real kimono for Jenny and maybe some yukatas for me and Ally. We had fun rummaging through the stacks of old kimonos, obis, purses, ties, hankies, ...I did find two yukatas that I can either use as housecoats or cut up later if I still feel like doing that. They were $10 a piece. I also got a cool old obi that I think I will use as a table runner or wall hanging. It is cream and rust Asian print with sakura cherry blossoms on it. Ally didn't find antyhing and Janice got a pretty scarf and a few littel gadgets. Jenny found a lovely kimono and said her Japanese husband was shocked when she tried it on at home that night. It looked beautiful on her. They wanted me to get one, but I am too BIG.. I think I need to tgo where the SUMO guys get theirs made:-) haha
We then got some snacks for lunch and went up the hill to the Soji-ji Buddhist temple. While we sat along a brick wall we watched a few different monks run down along corridor carrying some kind of box. It was very odd and we never did find out what exactly they were doing. We saw a few more walking down the corridor later with some ladies following them to another building. We enjoyed walking around the ground and saw many HUGE buildings and also some cool stone pagoda graves stones in the big cemetery as well.
On our way out we went into one of the buildings and made our way through the hallways and passed many monks walking down the the long halls in utter silence. We looked at some beautiful paintings on the doors and walls of what I thought were some of their prayer rooms and then we happened upon their garden area. It was very tranquil and quiet and Jenny said she felt like we were thieves sneaking about in restricted areas. I think it was OK, though, as no one said anything to us as they passed us by. We were being quiet and respectful and just wanted to see the inner hallways.
When I got back home and Jenny and I were bidding each other farewell in front of our house CJ surprised us as he came around the corner. He was back early, after a long week in China and e was tired. We ate some dinner and then found Project Runway reruns on the computer and so we finally got caught up with the first 3 episodes of that. My niece Sarah's friend is Christopher Straub. He is the guy that won the first night with his pretty red carpet dress. Be sure to root him on. It is so fun to tune into shows that you actually kind of know something about one of the folks participating.
The weekend found us just hanging out at home and relaxing. We probably should have been out side more, as the weather was absolutely gorgeous,and who knows how long that will last, but we were both tired from long weeks of walking and working. CJ likes to relax and watch movies and so I was busy on my computer with pics and or reading. We did get out Sunday for a walk down along the ocean and to the International Kids festival. It was OK, but most everything was in Japanese so we were not too sure what was being said. It was nice to get out in the beautiful sunny weather and we enjoyed a ferry ride back on the ocean after our walk there.
Monday found CJ back at work (no labor day here) and I cleaned the house, aired out futons and then went to the orphanage with Janice and Ally. We found out they have to change our visiting day to Wednesdays and so we are all hoping our walking friends can change the walks to another day so we don't have to miss out on that. All 3 of us really like doing both, so we are hoping it will work out. It's a bit frustrating for all of us.
Anyhoo...today it is Tuesday and I have been reading some more and then figured I had better get some more updates on my journal here. I also heard from my brother that my mom and dad may now have an opening in the assisted living place they have been waiting for. They have been on a waiting list since last year. So I hope to find out more about that later this week. I may need to come home sooner than I think to help them pack and move? I was hoping I could stay here till Dec 18Th, but who knows now? I do have lots of things planned with the orphans, ladies clubs, walks and CJ and I had hoped to get to Korea next month.. I really don't want to miss those events either,so we shall see.
I need to run now, and get on the train so to get my haircut and meet up with CJ after work for a walk home down the wooded path. Kalen is well and busy with work in Chicago and may look for another job so to make more money and keep her busy. Graham was in a Rugby tourney in the UP of Michigan last week and he started his last year of college at Duluth in MN today Sept 8th. He will student teach in January..site yet to be determined.
Tomorrow I am off for an all day walk in the Kanda region of northern Tokyo with the Jay Walkers and then on Thursday I have the ladies orientation tea. Friday I will get things ready for CJ's cousins Hanne Marit and her brother Johan to show up on Saturday for 10 days. They are the adult kids of the relatives from Norway where Jean and I stayed in 2007 and then CJ, I and Graham were there last June 2008. We are looking forward to showing them around and to do some hiking. These two are like billy goats and LOVE to hike in the mountains of Norway. Hanne Marit can even jog backwards down slopes and they are about 20 years younger than us so I hope I can keep up with them. This will be the first time someone will walk my a-- off instead of me walking off theirs I'm afraid... :-) more soon
We had great conversation about all kinds of stuff and he was here till 10:30pm when I finally told him I had to go to bed as my eyes were beginning to shut. I met my match. He likes to talk as much as me:-) We look forward to our next meeting, but who knows when that will be as he gets very busy once school is in session again.
Sept 4th
Ally, I ,Jenny and Janice met up and went to the resale kimono shop to look for a real kimono for Jenny and maybe some yukatas for me and Ally. We had fun rummaging through the stacks of old kimonos, obis, purses, ties, hankies, ...I did find two yukatas that I can either use as housecoats or cut up later if I still feel like doing that. They were $10 a piece. I also got a cool old obi that I think I will use as a table runner or wall hanging. It is cream and rust Asian print with sakura cherry blossoms on it. Ally didn't find antyhing and Janice got a pretty scarf and a few littel gadgets. Jenny found a lovely kimono and said her Japanese husband was shocked when she tried it on at home that night. It looked beautiful on her. They wanted me to get one, but I am too BIG.. I think I need to tgo where the SUMO guys get theirs made:-) haha
We then got some snacks for lunch and went up the hill to the Soji-ji Buddhist temple. While we sat along a brick wall we watched a few different monks run down along corridor carrying some kind of box. It was very odd and we never did find out what exactly they were doing. We saw a few more walking down the corridor later with some ladies following them to another building. We enjoyed walking around the ground and saw many HUGE buildings and also some cool stone pagoda graves stones in the big cemetery as well.
On our way out we went into one of the buildings and made our way through the hallways and passed many monks walking down the the long halls in utter silence. We looked at some beautiful paintings on the doors and walls of what I thought were some of their prayer rooms and then we happened upon their garden area. It was very tranquil and quiet and Jenny said she felt like we were thieves sneaking about in restricted areas. I think it was OK, though, as no one said anything to us as they passed us by. We were being quiet and respectful and just wanted to see the inner hallways.
When I got back home and Jenny and I were bidding each other farewell in front of our house CJ surprised us as he came around the corner. He was back early, after a long week in China and e was tired. We ate some dinner and then found Project Runway reruns on the computer and so we finally got caught up with the first 3 episodes of that. My niece Sarah's friend is Christopher Straub. He is the guy that won the first night with his pretty red carpet dress. Be sure to root him on. It is so fun to tune into shows that you actually kind of know something about one of the folks participating.
The weekend found us just hanging out at home and relaxing. We probably should have been out side more, as the weather was absolutely gorgeous,and who knows how long that will last, but we were both tired from long weeks of walking and working. CJ likes to relax and watch movies and so I was busy on my computer with pics and or reading. We did get out Sunday for a walk down along the ocean and to the International Kids festival. It was OK, but most everything was in Japanese so we were not too sure what was being said. It was nice to get out in the beautiful sunny weather and we enjoyed a ferry ride back on the ocean after our walk there.
Monday found CJ back at work (no labor day here) and I cleaned the house, aired out futons and then went to the orphanage with Janice and Ally. We found out they have to change our visiting day to Wednesdays and so we are all hoping our walking friends can change the walks to another day so we don't have to miss out on that. All 3 of us really like doing both, so we are hoping it will work out. It's a bit frustrating for all of us.
Anyhoo...today it is Tuesday and I have been reading some more and then figured I had better get some more updates on my journal here. I also heard from my brother that my mom and dad may now have an opening in the assisted living place they have been waiting for. They have been on a waiting list since last year. So I hope to find out more about that later this week. I may need to come home sooner than I think to help them pack and move? I was hoping I could stay here till Dec 18Th, but who knows now? I do have lots of things planned with the orphans, ladies clubs, walks and CJ and I had hoped to get to Korea next month.. I really don't want to miss those events either,so we shall see.
I need to run now, and get on the train so to get my haircut and meet up with CJ after work for a walk home down the wooded path. Kalen is well and busy with work in Chicago and may look for another job so to make more money and keep her busy. Graham was in a Rugby tourney in the UP of Michigan last week and he started his last year of college at Duluth in MN today Sept 8th. He will student teach in January..site yet to be determined.
Tomorrow I am off for an all day walk in the Kanda region of northern Tokyo with the Jay Walkers and then on Thursday I have the ladies orientation tea. Friday I will get things ready for CJ's cousins Hanne Marit and her brother Johan to show up on Saturday for 10 days. They are the adult kids of the relatives from Norway where Jean and I stayed in 2007 and then CJ, I and Graham were there last June 2008. We are looking forward to showing them around and to do some hiking. These two are like billy goats and LOVE to hike in the mountains of Norway. Hanne Marit can even jog backwards down slopes and they are about 20 years younger than us so I hope I can keep up with them. This will be the first time someone will walk my a-- off instead of me walking off theirs I'm afraid... :-) more soon
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Sept 3, 2009 A week of walking and exploration with Int'l Girls
Good Afternoon--Konnichiwa
It is almost noon and a gray and cloudy day here in Yokohama. Looks like rain, but the skies haven't let loose yet.
Had an early meeting at the Yokohama Int'l school to try and get more new parents to join the Woman's Club. Met lots of new ladies from Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, ... Some are interested in my work with the Kofu Kids, so who knows what might come of that.
Back home and waiting for my friend Shohei to show up for a visit. He just got back from Manitoba, Canada where he spent the month of August studying English. He is coming to share his Canadian stories and adventures.
I never did get out of the house Monday for the Kofu kids and I must say I miss them. It was just too darn wet and windy and I emailed them and they told me to stay home. SO I did and enjoyed reading a book and chillaxin on the couch. Good thing I had a day off as I have been busy and walking every since.
Tuesday Sept 1, 2009 the Jay Walking Int'l girls and I went north west to Machida and made our way to the Temple flea market. It was fun to look at all the old Japanese things and to see what items caught other folks eyes. I found a few little Japanese treasures, wooden doll, some wood candy molds and think I am now going to buy some old yukatas and make a quilt. I learned from the other ladies that they are only 500yen or $5.00 a piece and I'm thinking you probably can get quite a few squares out of one big one and so I think I will look the next time I go for a certain color scheme perhaps? Maybe when I am older and have time to sit... I can piece one together. I know it won't be while I am here In Japan, as I have too much to see and do and also my machine is back in MN. It will be fun searching out the fabric I think.
After the flea market 9 of us squeezed ourselves into a little tatami table room and around 2 grill tables to make our own egg omelets( okonomi-yaki)for lunch. This was a new experience for me and it was fun, tasty and quite filling as well. They gave each of us a bowl with chopped cabbage, egg, some batter, dried shrimp, pickled garlic, onion and then you stir it up in your bowl and then pour it onto the grill and shape it into a circle with your two spatulas. Once it is cooked on one side you flip it over and do the other. Then we cut it into 1/4s and shared while the next person's bowl of veggie batter was poured onto the grill and cooked. They had mayonnaise and a brown hosien like sauce to top it with and dried bonito fish flakes if you like as well. The other table of girls got pork and raw shrimp in theirs as well. Our table had the veggie version. We had lettuce salad to and then mango pudding or ice cream sundaes for dessert. One lady had black sesame ice cream ? while others had melon, blueberry, chocolate or vanilla. I enjoyed the mango pudding. We made our way to the 100 yen shop and all went our separate ways to gather the needed items . It was a 6 floor 100 yen shop. I got a headache actually looking at all the stuff.
Back on the train and home again to relax and read another book.
Wednesday Sept 2nd, 2009
Got up early and met the Jay walking girls for another walk this time we took the train to Chigasaki and walked along the beach boardwalk. There were many a surfer out there waiting to catch a wave. It was a cloudy day with cool breeze in the air. Not much wave action as we walked along. Three of the girls got into a good conversation and groove and took off. I on the other hand was into taking photos as this was a place I had not been before. Two other ladies walked at a slower pace as well. I have only been on strolls with these ladies prior to today I found out, and so I realize I must not wear my flip flops next time. I had a hard time keeping up with them walking that fast in the wrong kind of shoes. I leisurely enjoyed my walk along the beach boardwalk stopping to take pics of surfers, shore fisherman, some kids on a field trip and then before we stopped for lunch I watched a few girl beach volleyball players doing some bump and serve drills. I wanted to sit outside and watch them as I ate, but the ladies who had been there before, said the birds are too bad and will swoop down and eat your food, so we sat in the building. :-(
After lunch we made our way further along the beach and into the town of Enoshima where many guys and gals were busy taking down all the portable beach restaurants. It was the a definite sign of the end of summer at the beach for another year.
We walked a little further along as the traffic jam began as beach goers and rush hour traffic merged together. We caught up with the little electric train back to Kamakura where we stopped to have a fancy honey vanilla ice cream cone with chocolate and almonds. Very tasty. It is Setsuco's favorite place and she was very sad to hear it will be closing in October due to poor sales. I suggested they move it to a higher end type area such at Motomachi...shoppers there would not have a problem paying 570yen for a cone as good as that.
Back on the train and home once again where I decided to stop and get a much need oil massage. I have sadly only have had one other shiatsu massage in the year I have been here. I always have plans to go and then something else comes up that I don't want to miss and I by pass it. Needless to say after my fast walk in flip flops I thought this was the best day of any to treat my stiff and aching body to a nice relaxing hour. I was very happy to find they had a shower so I could first clean all the sweat and sand from my body before relaxing and thoroughly enjoying her strong fingers working out all the kinks and numbness from my overly ignored body. Yes I waited much too long for this treatment and about went thought the roof when she hit a few spots on my feet arches and shoulders. I vowed right then to myself that I must get back on my monthly massage schedule. I still need to find a chiropractor too. They gave me a glass of ice tea before my shower and massage and then a nice cup of hot tea and a few little pieces of cake after. My what treatment. When realized I could take a shower and got all those goodies too,it was well worth the 9000yen. I did sign up for a membership card too, so they gave me 10 percent off.
It is almost noon and a gray and cloudy day here in Yokohama. Looks like rain, but the skies haven't let loose yet.
Had an early meeting at the Yokohama Int'l school to try and get more new parents to join the Woman's Club. Met lots of new ladies from Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, ... Some are interested in my work with the Kofu Kids, so who knows what might come of that.
Back home and waiting for my friend Shohei to show up for a visit. He just got back from Manitoba, Canada where he spent the month of August studying English. He is coming to share his Canadian stories and adventures.
I never did get out of the house Monday for the Kofu kids and I must say I miss them. It was just too darn wet and windy and I emailed them and they told me to stay home. SO I did and enjoyed reading a book and chillaxin on the couch. Good thing I had a day off as I have been busy and walking every since.
Tuesday Sept 1, 2009 the Jay Walking Int'l girls and I went north west to Machida and made our way to the Temple flea market. It was fun to look at all the old Japanese things and to see what items caught other folks eyes. I found a few little Japanese treasures, wooden doll, some wood candy molds and think I am now going to buy some old yukatas and make a quilt. I learned from the other ladies that they are only 500yen or $5.00 a piece and I'm thinking you probably can get quite a few squares out of one big one and so I think I will look the next time I go for a certain color scheme perhaps? Maybe when I am older and have time to sit... I can piece one together. I know it won't be while I am here In Japan, as I have too much to see and do and also my machine is back in MN. It will be fun searching out the fabric I think.
After the flea market 9 of us squeezed ourselves into a little tatami table room and around 2 grill tables to make our own egg omelets( okonomi-yaki)for lunch. This was a new experience for me and it was fun, tasty and quite filling as well. They gave each of us a bowl with chopped cabbage, egg, some batter, dried shrimp, pickled garlic, onion and then you stir it up in your bowl and then pour it onto the grill and shape it into a circle with your two spatulas. Once it is cooked on one side you flip it over and do the other. Then we cut it into 1/4s and shared while the next person's bowl of veggie batter was poured onto the grill and cooked. They had mayonnaise and a brown hosien like sauce to top it with and dried bonito fish flakes if you like as well. The other table of girls got pork and raw shrimp in theirs as well. Our table had the veggie version. We had lettuce salad to and then mango pudding or ice cream sundaes for dessert. One lady had black sesame ice cream ? while others had melon, blueberry, chocolate or vanilla. I enjoyed the mango pudding. We made our way to the 100 yen shop and all went our separate ways to gather the needed items . It was a 6 floor 100 yen shop. I got a headache actually looking at all the stuff.
Back on the train and home again to relax and read another book.
Wednesday Sept 2nd, 2009
Got up early and met the Jay walking girls for another walk this time we took the train to Chigasaki and walked along the beach boardwalk. There were many a surfer out there waiting to catch a wave. It was a cloudy day with cool breeze in the air. Not much wave action as we walked along. Three of the girls got into a good conversation and groove and took off. I on the other hand was into taking photos as this was a place I had not been before. Two other ladies walked at a slower pace as well. I have only been on strolls with these ladies prior to today I found out, and so I realize I must not wear my flip flops next time. I had a hard time keeping up with them walking that fast in the wrong kind of shoes. I leisurely enjoyed my walk along the beach boardwalk stopping to take pics of surfers, shore fisherman, some kids on a field trip and then before we stopped for lunch I watched a few girl beach volleyball players doing some bump and serve drills. I wanted to sit outside and watch them as I ate, but the ladies who had been there before, said the birds are too bad and will swoop down and eat your food, so we sat in the building. :-(
After lunch we made our way further along the beach and into the town of Enoshima where many guys and gals were busy taking down all the portable beach restaurants. It was the a definite sign of the end of summer at the beach for another year.
We walked a little further along as the traffic jam began as beach goers and rush hour traffic merged together. We caught up with the little electric train back to Kamakura where we stopped to have a fancy honey vanilla ice cream cone with chocolate and almonds. Very tasty. It is Setsuco's favorite place and she was very sad to hear it will be closing in October due to poor sales. I suggested they move it to a higher end type area such at Motomachi...shoppers there would not have a problem paying 570yen for a cone as good as that.
Back on the train and home once again where I decided to stop and get a much need oil massage. I have sadly only have had one other shiatsu massage in the year I have been here. I always have plans to go and then something else comes up that I don't want to miss and I by pass it. Needless to say after my fast walk in flip flops I thought this was the best day of any to treat my stiff and aching body to a nice relaxing hour. I was very happy to find they had a shower so I could first clean all the sweat and sand from my body before relaxing and thoroughly enjoying her strong fingers working out all the kinks and numbness from my overly ignored body. Yes I waited much too long for this treatment and about went thought the roof when she hit a few spots on my feet arches and shoulders. I vowed right then to myself that I must get back on my monthly massage schedule. I still need to find a chiropractor too. They gave me a glass of ice tea before my shower and massage and then a nice cup of hot tea and a few little pieces of cake after. My what treatment. When realized I could take a shower and got all those goodies too,it was well worth the 9000yen. I did sign up for a membership card too, so they gave me 10 percent off.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 31, 2009 Happy Birthday AJ from rainy Japan
Well it looks like Typhoon season has blown over Japan once again as it has been raining very hard since yesterday afternoon and the wind is blowing pretty good as well. Wonder just how wet I will get when I walk down to Kofu later this afternoon to play with the orphans for an hour or so. I am thinking I will play Pictionary with them on the white board? Guess this morning will be a good time to get caught up with some of my computer work, blogs and photos. CJ left this morning for a week in China so if it keeps raining I will have lots of time to get caught up with many other things as well.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to niece AJ who is now in her first year of college at Mankato and slowly adjusting to life in a dorm and away from home.Do you remember those first few weeks as a new college freshman? I sure do, even though it was years ago--35 to be exact. YEs I am that old :-) haha
Last week Wednesday Aug 26 , Ty and I enjoyed a walk along the Miura Peninsula coast line with 7 other Int'l ladies from Holland,Wales,Britain,New Zealand,Japan,Scotland, Sweden. We first stopped by Setsuco's friends house and she gave us each an ear of sweet corn and a box of chocolates for our hike. How sweet was that. We took pics with her and her dog and then she was so excited to have one taken with just her and Tyler. He was quite the man about town with all the ladies. He said he was told he was handsome and good looking more times here in Japan, than he ever was back home in his 22yrs. :-)
We then bid Tomo farewell and walked along the coastline of Uraga along the boardwalk out to the lighthouse. CJ and I had been here before, but we walked from the light house back to the boardwalk so it was good to see it from the other direction. We also went beyond the light house and over to the Uraga Bay where we then took a short ferry ride across the inlet so to catch the train back to Yokohama. It was a lovely summer day and was actually quite hot, but with a nice breeze to keep us a little bit cooler. We passed by a some local kids who were having a BBQ on the beach, other kids playing in the surf, and a lady who was drying seaweed on her front sidewalk, so we stopped so she could explain that she uses it for soups and such.
While we sat under a canopy of shade we also watched as a film crew filmed a man and woman dressed in some black leather like body suits...and we saw another girl dressed like a sea nymph in turquoise suit with hair down to her knees almost getting photos taken on the rocks. We had our lunch under a canopy while big cargo ships, sailboats and many other types of boats passed us by when entering the mouth of Yokohama Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
We walked past 2 or 3 little fishing marinas where many a fisherman was busy working with nets, getting their boats ready.... We had hoped to stop at an Italian restaurant for some gelato, but sadly they were not open that day, so we then took the ferry across the water and made our way back to the station for our ride home. Ty and I stopped at Yodobashi Camera so he could get himself a Japanese Wii and some Japanese video game he can only get here I guess. Needless to say, he was very happy and used the money he saved by staying with us for 10 days.
Thursday Aug 27th Ty and my new Taiwanese friend Ally and I went to Kamakura together to check out all the temples and shrines and to hike in the woods a bit as well. We first walked along the beach where Tyler found the biggest whole shell he ever saw on a beach in his life. There too were many a dead baby shark laying along the beach as well.. You could tell the end of summer was near as the beach shacks were being taken down and only 1-2 windsurfers were out and only a few people at the far end of the beach. It was another beautiful day here in Japan and a bit hotter than the day before. We then saw the Big Buddha, and fertility shrine where we stopped for a bite to eat as well. Ty had soba noodles and Ally had udon, while I enjoyed a very cold and refreshing lemon shaved ice. After that we began our hike up onto the mountain ridge which runs through the city and over many a big tree root in hopes of catching a glimpse of Mt Fuji, but sadly it was too foggy in the distance. We then made our way down the steep slope to walk through the tunnel where we could wash our money for good luck. Many a toddler was there that day, and it was fun to watch them with their parents. Back up the steep inclined slope and through the park and down the very narrow brush covered path along the cemetery before coming out to the road and over to see the lotus blossoms before making our way back to the train. Ty had enough climbing for the day and didn't want to climb any more steps to see the big shrine in the city center. So back on the train we went.
Friday August 29th Ty left for Tokyo and I spent the early morning cleaning the house and then went to the Int'l school and sorted through about 600 books I think. They are sending them to Africa to build a library and so I had to look for ones with copyright dates before 1980 and also weed out the too scientific and higher level reading ones. I was invited to eat lunch downstairs in the cafeteria and so that was fun for me to see the kids washing their hands, dishing up their own food and then I even got to sit and chat with my friend Yuki and some of his 5th grade classmates while I ate my salad, mac n cheese, sauteed eggplant and onions in a tomato sauce. Very tasty. After lunch I went back up stairs to the hallway where i was working and was able to get all the books sorted and bound in stacks of 10 or so for shipping. With the sun shining in the window, it was very hot and they were so kind to keep checking on me and serving me iced tea while I worked. They told me to sit and rest and not kill myself, but I was bound and determined to get the job done. I finished at about 2:30pm and they were delighted. Back home I sat on the couch to read one of the books they let me take home after my early dinner and I'm quite sure I fell asleep after the first page or two and did not wake up till 11pm.
I then drug myself up the steps to my futon where I slept soundly and did not wake up till 8am the next day. I guess I was a bit worn out.
It felt good to catch up on my sleep and also to read again. It has been awhile since I sat and read a book other than a travel guidebook. The book "Let Me Follow The Narrow Way" by Keh Hwa Kim was about a lady in Korea who had a ministry for 8 years running prayer centers and she heals through God with her hands. Very interesting and if I ever get to Seoul it would be fun to see if I could stop by one of her places and see it with my own eyes/
CJ was to come home Friday eve, but got stuck in China till Saturday. This past weekend we just hung out at home and each worked on our different projects we had going on and enjoyed time to just chill in the house. I know I had enough walking last week to last me awhile and now I need to regroup and get things in order for our next guests to arrive on the 12th of September. I need to read about Nikko and see what we can do up there.
Talked with a few relatives back home and all seem to be doing well there. My mom and and dad continue to do well and are still working with doc's on pills and trying to eliminate ones they feel are unnecessary or not working like they thought. Dad had another recheck appt and the radiation doc said all is going great and no cancer is growing back so things are good. Mom is slowly understanding what the right kinds of food are for her to eat and she is getting more serious about her exercise. Yea! Graham is getting ready for Rugby season and his last year of college at Duluth. He will student teach history in January somewhere--maybe EP? Kalen is busy with her massage job and she is also going to go out to Sacramento to attend a class in Oncology massage. She too, is thinking she might want to start dabbling in some acting again if things she likes come her way?
My brother Mark continues to be of great help to our folks and is busy running them to and fro to cardio rehab 3 times a week and still getting to work. He has been very fortunate that his job has been so understanding with him being the only one around to take care of mom and dad. I know it has to be lots or pressure on him, but he too says he is enjoying it and it is helping him to learn things about himself as well. I am VERY THANKFUL for his hard work, love and dedication to the rents. Thanks again Mark for all your doing. His kids are doing great as well. Sarah his daughter who is modeling out in NYC just got her first magazine Cover on Lou Lou a plus size Canadian Magazine and more pics inside (pp 17-21)in the editorial article. Check it out. Source: www.myvirtualpaper.com
Mark's son Stafford is now playing AVP sand or beach volleyball and just spent a week out at the Olympic Training center in LA. Last word, was that he may be moving out there in October? He even has his own stats sheet now too:-)http://bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=10939
So you can see, they are living their dreams and loving every minute of it. COOL!
I added a bunch of photos to my Face book profile as well, so if interested look there under Photos to see more than what is here on the left of this blog.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1026932101&ref=profile
More talk lately of a possibility of CJ and I moving to China after our stint here in Japan next year and so that is something exciting to think about as well. Still waiting to hear what the verdict on things are in Honduras at the Hogar, and my hope is things will be rectified soon, so I can go back and see my buddies sooner than later?
Well the rain is falling even harder now,and the wind is howling. Guess air conditioning season may be over for another summer and if and when the water droplets dry up I can open the windows for some fresh air to flow through the house.
Hum...I wonder when that will be.
Hope all is well with you and yours. I need to end this now so I can make a few long overdue phone calls to friends and family back in the states so to check up with them on their health issues. Please keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming for all our friends and family who so gallantly continue their fights with all the various health issues they have
HUGS
Karla and CJ too
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to niece AJ who is now in her first year of college at Mankato and slowly adjusting to life in a dorm and away from home.Do you remember those first few weeks as a new college freshman? I sure do, even though it was years ago--35 to be exact. YEs I am that old :-) haha
Last week Wednesday Aug 26 , Ty and I enjoyed a walk along the Miura Peninsula coast line with 7 other Int'l ladies from Holland,Wales,Britain,New Zealand,Japan,Scotland, Sweden. We first stopped by Setsuco's friends house and she gave us each an ear of sweet corn and a box of chocolates for our hike. How sweet was that. We took pics with her and her dog and then she was so excited to have one taken with just her and Tyler. He was quite the man about town with all the ladies. He said he was told he was handsome and good looking more times here in Japan, than he ever was back home in his 22yrs. :-)
We then bid Tomo farewell and walked along the coastline of Uraga along the boardwalk out to the lighthouse. CJ and I had been here before, but we walked from the light house back to the boardwalk so it was good to see it from the other direction. We also went beyond the light house and over to the Uraga Bay where we then took a short ferry ride across the inlet so to catch the train back to Yokohama. It was a lovely summer day and was actually quite hot, but with a nice breeze to keep us a little bit cooler. We passed by a some local kids who were having a BBQ on the beach, other kids playing in the surf, and a lady who was drying seaweed on her front sidewalk, so we stopped so she could explain that she uses it for soups and such.
While we sat under a canopy of shade we also watched as a film crew filmed a man and woman dressed in some black leather like body suits...and we saw another girl dressed like a sea nymph in turquoise suit with hair down to her knees almost getting photos taken on the rocks. We had our lunch under a canopy while big cargo ships, sailboats and many other types of boats passed us by when entering the mouth of Yokohama Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
We walked past 2 or 3 little fishing marinas where many a fisherman was busy working with nets, getting their boats ready.... We had hoped to stop at an Italian restaurant for some gelato, but sadly they were not open that day, so we then took the ferry across the water and made our way back to the station for our ride home. Ty and I stopped at Yodobashi Camera so he could get himself a Japanese Wii and some Japanese video game he can only get here I guess. Needless to say, he was very happy and used the money he saved by staying with us for 10 days.
Thursday Aug 27th Ty and my new Taiwanese friend Ally and I went to Kamakura together to check out all the temples and shrines and to hike in the woods a bit as well. We first walked along the beach where Tyler found the biggest whole shell he ever saw on a beach in his life. There too were many a dead baby shark laying along the beach as well.. You could tell the end of summer was near as the beach shacks were being taken down and only 1-2 windsurfers were out and only a few people at the far end of the beach. It was another beautiful day here in Japan and a bit hotter than the day before. We then saw the Big Buddha, and fertility shrine where we stopped for a bite to eat as well. Ty had soba noodles and Ally had udon, while I enjoyed a very cold and refreshing lemon shaved ice. After that we began our hike up onto the mountain ridge which runs through the city and over many a big tree root in hopes of catching a glimpse of Mt Fuji, but sadly it was too foggy in the distance. We then made our way down the steep slope to walk through the tunnel where we could wash our money for good luck. Many a toddler was there that day, and it was fun to watch them with their parents. Back up the steep inclined slope and through the park and down the very narrow brush covered path along the cemetery before coming out to the road and over to see the lotus blossoms before making our way back to the train. Ty had enough climbing for the day and didn't want to climb any more steps to see the big shrine in the city center. So back on the train we went.
Friday August 29th Ty left for Tokyo and I spent the early morning cleaning the house and then went to the Int'l school and sorted through about 600 books I think. They are sending them to Africa to build a library and so I had to look for ones with copyright dates before 1980 and also weed out the too scientific and higher level reading ones. I was invited to eat lunch downstairs in the cafeteria and so that was fun for me to see the kids washing their hands, dishing up their own food and then I even got to sit and chat with my friend Yuki and some of his 5th grade classmates while I ate my salad, mac n cheese, sauteed eggplant and onions in a tomato sauce. Very tasty. After lunch I went back up stairs to the hallway where i was working and was able to get all the books sorted and bound in stacks of 10 or so for shipping. With the sun shining in the window, it was very hot and they were so kind to keep checking on me and serving me iced tea while I worked. They told me to sit and rest and not kill myself, but I was bound and determined to get the job done. I finished at about 2:30pm and they were delighted. Back home I sat on the couch to read one of the books they let me take home after my early dinner and I'm quite sure I fell asleep after the first page or two and did not wake up till 11pm.
I then drug myself up the steps to my futon where I slept soundly and did not wake up till 8am the next day. I guess I was a bit worn out.
It felt good to catch up on my sleep and also to read again. It has been awhile since I sat and read a book other than a travel guidebook. The book "Let Me Follow The Narrow Way" by Keh Hwa Kim was about a lady in Korea who had a ministry for 8 years running prayer centers and she heals through God with her hands. Very interesting and if I ever get to Seoul it would be fun to see if I could stop by one of her places and see it with my own eyes/
CJ was to come home Friday eve, but got stuck in China till Saturday. This past weekend we just hung out at home and each worked on our different projects we had going on and enjoyed time to just chill in the house. I know I had enough walking last week to last me awhile and now I need to regroup and get things in order for our next guests to arrive on the 12th of September. I need to read about Nikko and see what we can do up there.
Talked with a few relatives back home and all seem to be doing well there. My mom and and dad continue to do well and are still working with doc's on pills and trying to eliminate ones they feel are unnecessary or not working like they thought. Dad had another recheck appt and the radiation doc said all is going great and no cancer is growing back so things are good. Mom is slowly understanding what the right kinds of food are for her to eat and she is getting more serious about her exercise. Yea! Graham is getting ready for Rugby season and his last year of college at Duluth. He will student teach history in January somewhere--maybe EP? Kalen is busy with her massage job and she is also going to go out to Sacramento to attend a class in Oncology massage. She too, is thinking she might want to start dabbling in some acting again if things she likes come her way?
My brother Mark continues to be of great help to our folks and is busy running them to and fro to cardio rehab 3 times a week and still getting to work. He has been very fortunate that his job has been so understanding with him being the only one around to take care of mom and dad. I know it has to be lots or pressure on him, but he too says he is enjoying it and it is helping him to learn things about himself as well. I am VERY THANKFUL for his hard work, love and dedication to the rents. Thanks again Mark for all your doing. His kids are doing great as well. Sarah his daughter who is modeling out in NYC just got her first magazine Cover on Lou Lou a plus size Canadian Magazine and more pics inside (pp 17-21)in the editorial article. Check it out. Source: www.myvirtualpaper.com
Mark's son Stafford is now playing AVP sand or beach volleyball and just spent a week out at the Olympic Training center in LA. Last word, was that he may be moving out there in October? He even has his own stats sheet now too:-)http://bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=10939
So you can see, they are living their dreams and loving every minute of it. COOL!
I added a bunch of photos to my Face book profile as well, so if interested look there under Photos to see more than what is here on the left of this blog.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1026932101&ref=profile
More talk lately of a possibility of CJ and I moving to China after our stint here in Japan next year and so that is something exciting to think about as well. Still waiting to hear what the verdict on things are in Honduras at the Hogar, and my hope is things will be rectified soon, so I can go back and see my buddies sooner than later?
Well the rain is falling even harder now,and the wind is howling. Guess air conditioning season may be over for another summer and if and when the water droplets dry up I can open the windows for some fresh air to flow through the house.
Hum...I wonder when that will be.
Hope all is well with you and yours. I need to end this now so I can make a few long overdue phone calls to friends and family back in the states so to check up with them on their health issues. Please keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming for all our friends and family who so gallantly continue their fights with all the various health issues they have
HUGS
Karla and CJ too
Monday, August 24, 2009
4 new blogs post below..be sure to see them all
Hi all just wanted to let you know I posted 4 long winded posts here to get you up to date on what we have been doing the last month.
CJ's cousin's Hannah Marit and Johan will be coming to visit from Norway in the middle of September too , so we are looking forward to that. We hope to get up to Nikko or some other new areas of Japan so we can do more hiking while they are here.
Gotta read more travel Japan books and find some fun places
that's all for now...hope to get more pics on Facebook soon...maybe next week while CJ is in China for work?
CJ's cousin's Hannah Marit and Johan will be coming to visit from Norway in the middle of September too , so we are looking forward to that. We hope to get up to Nikko or some other new areas of Japan so we can do more hiking while they are here.
Gotta read more travel Japan books and find some fun places
that's all for now...hope to get more pics on Facebook soon...maybe next week while CJ is in China for work?
August 22, 2009 Nagoya and hiking the Edo Road
This past weekend Tyler and I met up with CJ who had a work trip to Nagoya. While CJ finished up his last day of work Tyler and I visited the Noritake China Kiln Area, Nagoya Castle and walked the streets in search of sights of daily life there. When we went into the castle they were filming a TV program for kids with superhero like characters and so that was fun to watch. Something called Fire Rescue Team or something like that ??
We then went to Shooters...NO not Hooters for supper.:-) The day before at the Int'l school meeting I met the president Chris of the food service company that supplies the cafeteria lunches and he invited us to his restaurant Cj's tag line-- "Shooters just one S short of Hooters" when I told him I was going to Nagoya the next day. So CJ,I, Ty and 2 guys from Graco all enjoyed a night at the sports bar. Juan from Spain the bartender gave us each a Kamikaze shot which I let him have as I already had my Mango Margarita. John the Korean chef who lived in USA brought out some crab filled pita pockets and then we had our meals of ribs, chilly cheese steak, enchiladas, All Black Chicken Salad, taco salad...The food was good and the extra service Chris told me he'd give us was GREAT. It was nice for all of us to speak English and chat a bit. We met his wife and kids as well.
The next day we headed north on the train to the old EDO road which ran from Tokyo to Kyoto about 300 years ago...for a hike in the Kiso valley. This is the heart of Japan and it is called NAKASENDO HIGHWAY the road through the central mountains past 11 post towns. It was to be 11 km but I think we ended up going about 17km. It was a lovely day of walking through the Japanese country side past many tiered rice paddies, fish ponds, tree tunneled stone paths, bamboo groves, old temples and shrines.
We walked up many a slope and over the rolling hills. It was so green and beautiful, as well as quiet and tranquil. We walked a short portion in the Kiso Valley from Nakatsugawa through Magome to Tsumago where we ended up spending the night and happened upon another lovely and quite reasonably priced ryoken. The hostess Ito was just lovely. So friendly, cute and very helpful. She picked us up at the information booth as her place was outside of the town center a bit. Funny when we arrived, as we had walked past there earlier on the way into town and we stopped to sit for a bit on her front porch by the fish hatchery ponds for a rest. Her place was then blindly recommended to us at the info booth.
Ito showed us our room and the shower area so we could clean up quickly while she went and made our supper. Boy did that hot ofuro bath feel good even though it was short and sweet after carrying my too darn heavy backpack. The little foot stools were very, very tiny where I sat first to wash myself clean with soap before rinsing off under the low shower head and then sitting in the hot cedar tub of water for a very quick soak. I felt a bit like Goldilocks as I sat on it and also like Alice in Wonderland... as everything was too small :-)
It was a delightful and delicious dinner and everything I could eat and LOVED except for the raw salmon. The boys were of course very happy to split my unwanted sushi mi fish. We each had a little grilled fish from the hatchery tank, cukes, asparagus in that brown sauce whatever it is, hearts of palm I think, rice, tea, tomatoes, pumpkin and tofu squares, sweet marinated eggplant...YUM!
Then Ito gave us each a piece of wood and told us to write our name on it and also a free beer ticket. She told us the shuttle bus would come and take us to the Lights Festival back in town on the main street. So we quickly ate and then went into town with about 10 other folks who were also staying there. The boys enjoyed a free beer and some free sake as we watched and listened to Japanese drummers, Kiso dancers and then Tyler and I danced around the lanterns with many a Yukata clad local man and other foreigners who were staying at other Ryokens in town. We were told to write something we like and a dream on our stick and toss it into the fire. I of course wrote I Love Japan on one side and that was well received by the little local men serving Sake who wanted their photo taken with me the BIG American :-) IT wass a lovely night in a samll local town sharing bon Odori with the local folks of Tsumago.
Here we again slept on futons which we do at home as well, but this pillow felt like a sandbag. I did get used to it and fell asleep finally after lots of tossing and turning. Mostly my shoulders were so sore from my too heavy backpack which was digging into my shoulders all day long. They felt like bricks as well.
Next day we got back up and after I took my morning walk around the ryoken neighborhood in my Yukata I decided I wanted to hike yet another 2km up to Nagiso to get our train back to Shinjuku area of Tokyo. So after another lovely breakfast, photos and goodbyes with Ito we made our way up a few more slopes and down to the train. Saw many old folks working out in their gardens in the early morning hours before it was too hot and also a man shaving on his front porch. They are so cute and tiny little people. Some all hunched over from too much bending in the garden patch and rice paddies. I said to the boys I wonder if they can even lay flat on their futon or if they sleep like a seesaw. Looks so darn uncomfortable as their posture is so hunched over. Makes me tired just watching them and also makes me conscious to sit up straight up here at my desk as I type this post.
So we enjoyed our relaxing 4 hour train ride back to Tokyo and gor a view of Mt Fuji -san before the cloud cover hid it. We then made a quick stop to Harajuku area for some Sunday afternoon people watching, but Tyler was again a bit overwhelmed and so we quickly made the loop through the Harajuku girls and now more boys, the Elvis twisters, a Hip Hop festival that was going on and then past many others just chilling and playing games while visiting in Yoyoji Park.
Back home we ate unpacked and the guys watched some TV while I worked on my photos of course...
Today Ty and I took a day to ourselves for me to update all of you and he had a day exploring on his own. Tomorrow CJ goes to China for a few days and Ty and I will join the ladies to hike in Yokosuka. Then Ally will join us for a day in Kamakura to see the shrines temples and the beach with some fireworks in Zushi at night before Tyler leaves on Friday.
walk walk walk...that what we are doing alot of these last days of summer. I can tell fall is in the air and it feels good. Looking forward to the fall colors to come in November and hope I will get to see the trees in their full color regala.
more soon
We then went to Shooters...NO not Hooters for supper.:-) The day before at the Int'l school meeting I met the president Chris of the food service company that supplies the cafeteria lunches and he invited us to his restaurant Cj's tag line-- "Shooters just one S short of Hooters" when I told him I was going to Nagoya the next day. So CJ,I, Ty and 2 guys from Graco all enjoyed a night at the sports bar. Juan from Spain the bartender gave us each a Kamikaze shot which I let him have as I already had my Mango Margarita. John the Korean chef who lived in USA brought out some crab filled pita pockets and then we had our meals of ribs, chilly cheese steak, enchiladas, All Black Chicken Salad, taco salad...The food was good and the extra service Chris told me he'd give us was GREAT. It was nice for all of us to speak English and chat a bit. We met his wife and kids as well.
The next day we headed north on the train to the old EDO road which ran from Tokyo to Kyoto about 300 years ago...for a hike in the Kiso valley. This is the heart of Japan and it is called NAKASENDO HIGHWAY the road through the central mountains past 11 post towns. It was to be 11 km but I think we ended up going about 17km. It was a lovely day of walking through the Japanese country side past many tiered rice paddies, fish ponds, tree tunneled stone paths, bamboo groves, old temples and shrines.
We walked up many a slope and over the rolling hills. It was so green and beautiful, as well as quiet and tranquil. We walked a short portion in the Kiso Valley from Nakatsugawa through Magome to Tsumago where we ended up spending the night and happened upon another lovely and quite reasonably priced ryoken. The hostess Ito was just lovely. So friendly, cute and very helpful. She picked us up at the information booth as her place was outside of the town center a bit. Funny when we arrived, as we had walked past there earlier on the way into town and we stopped to sit for a bit on her front porch by the fish hatchery ponds for a rest. Her place was then blindly recommended to us at the info booth.
Ito showed us our room and the shower area so we could clean up quickly while she went and made our supper. Boy did that hot ofuro bath feel good even though it was short and sweet after carrying my too darn heavy backpack. The little foot stools were very, very tiny where I sat first to wash myself clean with soap before rinsing off under the low shower head and then sitting in the hot cedar tub of water for a very quick soak. I felt a bit like Goldilocks as I sat on it and also like Alice in Wonderland... as everything was too small :-)
It was a delightful and delicious dinner and everything I could eat and LOVED except for the raw salmon. The boys were of course very happy to split my unwanted sushi mi fish. We each had a little grilled fish from the hatchery tank, cukes, asparagus in that brown sauce whatever it is, hearts of palm I think, rice, tea, tomatoes, pumpkin and tofu squares, sweet marinated eggplant...YUM!
Then Ito gave us each a piece of wood and told us to write our name on it and also a free beer ticket. She told us the shuttle bus would come and take us to the Lights Festival back in town on the main street. So we quickly ate and then went into town with about 10 other folks who were also staying there. The boys enjoyed a free beer and some free sake as we watched and listened to Japanese drummers, Kiso dancers and then Tyler and I danced around the lanterns with many a Yukata clad local man and other foreigners who were staying at other Ryokens in town. We were told to write something we like and a dream on our stick and toss it into the fire. I of course wrote I Love Japan on one side and that was well received by the little local men serving Sake who wanted their photo taken with me the BIG American :-) IT wass a lovely night in a samll local town sharing bon Odori with the local folks of Tsumago.
Here we again slept on futons which we do at home as well, but this pillow felt like a sandbag. I did get used to it and fell asleep finally after lots of tossing and turning. Mostly my shoulders were so sore from my too heavy backpack which was digging into my shoulders all day long. They felt like bricks as well.
Next day we got back up and after I took my morning walk around the ryoken neighborhood in my Yukata I decided I wanted to hike yet another 2km up to Nagiso to get our train back to Shinjuku area of Tokyo. So after another lovely breakfast, photos and goodbyes with Ito we made our way up a few more slopes and down to the train. Saw many old folks working out in their gardens in the early morning hours before it was too hot and also a man shaving on his front porch. They are so cute and tiny little people. Some all hunched over from too much bending in the garden patch and rice paddies. I said to the boys I wonder if they can even lay flat on their futon or if they sleep like a seesaw. Looks so darn uncomfortable as their posture is so hunched over. Makes me tired just watching them and also makes me conscious to sit up straight up here at my desk as I type this post.
So we enjoyed our relaxing 4 hour train ride back to Tokyo and gor a view of Mt Fuji -san before the cloud cover hid it. We then made a quick stop to Harajuku area for some Sunday afternoon people watching, but Tyler was again a bit overwhelmed and so we quickly made the loop through the Harajuku girls and now more boys, the Elvis twisters, a Hip Hop festival that was going on and then past many others just chilling and playing games while visiting in Yoyoji Park.
Back home we ate unpacked and the guys watched some TV while I worked on my photos of course...
Today Ty and I took a day to ourselves for me to update all of you and he had a day exploring on his own. Tomorrow CJ goes to China for a few days and Ty and I will join the ladies to hike in Yokosuka. Then Ally will join us for a day in Kamakura to see the shrines temples and the beach with some fireworks in Zushi at night before Tyler leaves on Friday.
walk walk walk...that what we are doing alot of these last days of summer. I can tell fall is in the air and it feels good. Looking forward to the fall colors to come in November and hope I will get to see the trees in their full color regala.
more soon
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