Ive been a busy girl recently.  I went home for a sunny NZ xmas, and visited Hong Kong for a few days on my way back to Japan.  All in all a great trip (except for getting rather ill in Hong Kong to the point of having to be pushed through the airport in a wheelchair).  But I didnt have long to re-coup after getting back as I had a week-long seminar near Kyoto at the end of January.  I managed to get in a few sightseeing days and it even snowed!  I had a day-trip to an onsen town called Kurokawa in Feb, before heading up to Yokohama for about 4 nights.  Did some sightseeing out to the big buddha at Kamakura and then a few days at the confrence too.  All of this while apparently still doing my actual job.. geez cant complain!! 

But just to take advantage of my situation a little more, i went to Vietnam for 2 weeks at the end of March. Meet Mum and Dad over there are travelled from Hanoi, up to the majestic Halong Bay, then down to the old coastal towns of Hue and quaint Hoi An.  They kept going south while i made my way back north.. and what a way to travel.  I had an overnight bus from Hoi An to Hanoi on the Monday, overnight train out to Sapa on Tuesday, spent a rainy Tuesday looking around the villages of the hilltribes before hoping back on a train on Wednesday night and then flew back to Japan Thursday night.. (and spent the next 3 days sleeping to recoever!!).  I saw some beautiful sights and heard some rather annoying sounds and at times encountered some putrude smells.  Hanoi is a very busy city, with more motorbikes than ive ever seen, and all of these are tooting their horns constantly.  Crossing the road, apart from taking your life in your hand to do so, was enough to give you a headache from the noise!  And I quickly got sick of being 'asked' - "madame, taxi? madame, motorbike? madame, you buy from me?"  It was great to get back to Japan just to walk down the street in peace!  Despite the long hours to get there for a meager 8 hours of sight-seeing, i really enjoyed heading out to Sapa, hiring a motorbike driver to take me round (even though it was raining and cold) as the scenary up there was breath-taking.  I have to admire the working spirit of the village people who have changed the landscape into cascading terraces of rice fields. 

Well, only 4 months to go until the end of my job here in Japan.. but no travel plans in the meantime.. hmm, better start working on my next trip!!

 Well, its been a bit of a dry spell recently with no trips or fancy happenings to write about.. but this past weekend I went on a quick jaunt across the ditch to Korea.  Shizu and I flew into Seoul on Friday night, and flew out again on Tuesday morning.. and although it was a good trip, if we did it again, there are many things we would do differently.  For example, dont catch the train from the airport to central Seoul - it takes far too long.  I think the bus would be better.  Stay at a "sauna" place, like the one we stumbled across in Meong Dong, but once you enter, you cant exit and come back again.  But for less than $15 it was brilliant value, not to mention relaxingly good.  And they have changed the lockers at the stations so you cant just use cash (except the one at Nandaemun station - exit 6).  Using the Subway system is great, once you figure it out..

Other than that, the food was good (a tad not to my liking sometimes).  The markets were fun but crowded.  The Palace was interesting and far more 'colourful' than Japans.  Unfortuantley we left our temple trek till Monday, which ended up being the hottest day and neither of us were 100% well, (so admittedly we short-cutted it a bit).  We also meet up with Aaron and saw the recently hurridely built Ansan - foreigner town.  Shizus friend Minami also shwoed us around and helped with Korean since I can still only say a total of 2 phrases.  To be honest though, with Japanese and English we could get by in most situations. 

I think the highlight for me though, was going up the Seoul Tower and sitting having a decent coffee while waiting for all the city lights to come on.  And then having dinner just down the hill a bit, at an open roof-top restaurant with fantastic views. 

2 weeks is hardly long enough to see but a glimpse of Thailand.  Still, I gave it a good shot - the main reason of my trip though, was to head to an orphanage about 7 hours north-west of bangkok for one week.  So I arrived in Bangkok for a day or so first, met up with the other volunteers and we headed up there.  On the way, we stopped at Kanchanaburi, and visited the tiger sanctuary a monk has set-up.  We als saw the bridge over the river kwai, (which oh how surprising, isnt so well known here in Japan!).  Then a few more hours up to Sangklaburi - the main town near the Childrens Home. 

The childrens home was a cool experience - although at times I felt a bit useless - i wanted to help, cook, clean, build, anything,.. but because we also donated the all precious money, they treated us a tad like royalty.  Ate really nice (vegetarian) food while there - i mean still kinda plain, rice, tofu, veges but the flavours made it seem like top notch cuisine!!  One day we, (the 10 or so volunteers) went elephant trekking and bamboo rafting - and for a quick jaunt up to the Burma border.  Also stayed one night on a floating house with all the kids - it was a real treat for them!! On my last day, Dada took the remaining 2 of us out to the village which he supports by enlisting woman to be part of a weaving project.  This was a true experience; to see what little possesions people have, and especially if they are nto Thai nationals then they are not helped by the Thai governement with even simple things like water. 

And then back to Bangkok on the day of the first (missed the bombings but it was still kinda tense the days afterwards so I didnt head out by myself at night etc).  Went on a day trip to the old capital (Ayutthya) which has ruins like Angkor Wat yet much smaller.  And then did the grand palace in Bangkok - must admit it was almost shocking at how much wealth there was there, especially after the poverty I had seen further north at the orphanage and surrounding villages. 

And now its back in Japan, to the cold, dry winter.. oh well. 

Ok, so its been awhile.. but the Xmas season is here and I just wanted to give a quick update.  

Its been busy yet good times recently (if you disregard the cold weather).  In saying that, today its very mild and the washingis drying on the blacony.  So Ive had a few xmas dinners here and there, including Wednesday night when I made my rendition of Roast potatoes and Kumara, marinated chicken and a warm vegetable salad (all without an oven!!).  Rie, Shizu and Haruka came over to partake in the festive meal and it was a good night - with them helping to make name tags for the gifts I bought for some of the children at the Orphanage Im visiting over the Xmas break.  Tomorrow morning Im off for alomst 2 weeks in Thailand, visiting Bangkok and Baan Dadas Childrens Orphanage http://www.baandada.org/

Well time for some more cleaning and re-packing.

 

Hoping everyone has a fun-filled and safe holiday season 

 

Well, its that time again – actually it was this time awhile ago but I have been rather slack.  And I hate to say it, but since I wait so long before writing, the moments lost and it all doesn’t seem so interesting anymore. 

Basically, to sum up, over the last month or so, I have been to Mt Aso twice, once camping and once as a day trip.  The second trip was through spectacular ravines and gorges so Im glad I had that chance, (but the always encroaching car sickness stopped me from taking many pictures).  Then at the end of May, I went to Kobe for a JET conference, met lots of people with whom we ate, drank and were merry.  I also then spent 2 nights in Osaka over the weekend.. managed a stay in a capsule hotel and to soak up the attitudes of a big city.  Came home very tired.. actually I think ive been trying to catch up on sleep for at least the last month!!

Last weekend, (which included my birthday for those of you Mahurangi College people who are too rangi to remember), I went to a music festival in Oita prefecture.  Listening to great music (and some interesting attempts) while relaxing in the sunshine is a highly recommended way of spending your birthday!!  (I wasn’t onto it enough to take pictures of that either so hopefully I can pry some from other people). 

Other than the travelling, it has been getting rather warm and muggy during the days, and the impending rainy season has me (a bicycle commuter) a tad on edge. 

So, I shall leave it that anyone with particular queries is free to write to me.. I shan’t bore the entire readership with too many redundant details.  To that end, I bid you farewell until the fancy catches me again.

Well, given my lack of updates recently, I thought it was time to rattle my brain and organise a couple of months of living into something remotely exciting.  (Also im now stuck at the office for 3 weeks because its spring holiday so I have nothing much better to do!!). 

So, in February, my friend Rie organised a formal dress party, F4, and I even got roped into doing some Irish dancing.  It was a really fun evening, and I was finally able to wear a dress I bought over from NZ.  Earlier in February I went down to Mt Aso region again – this time a weekend road trip with 4 others, (cosy!!).  Some of the pictures show the fun in the snow..

With the end of the Japanese school year being randomly placed at this time of year, we recently had graduation.  It was an awfully boring ceremony – not an ounce of happiness shown at all, but I am learning that that is just Japan.  So, from April, I will have all new little 12 year olds.  I’m looking forward to being with them for the whole year.  Yes, that translates into I have signed my contract for next year, so at the earliest I am heading back to NZ August 2007. 

Anyway, so now it is spring, and the plum trees are in bloom.  Everyone goes on about Sakura (cheery blossoms), which will bloom really soon, but the white or pink plum trees are also really nice.  With this breezy feel, I realised winter wasn’t kind to my figure and finally joined the gym.  It’s a superbly nice gym, and I’m looking forward to making the most of the pool and hopefully some sort of body combat aerobics class too.  I had my little assessment yesterday, where a little machine held at arms length told me my body was 25% fat – a wopping 15kgs, so I think Ill be going quite frequently for awhile.  Last week we had a national holiday on the Tuesday – so I walked up the hill out back of my place.  Unfortunately I didn’t plan the hour and a half excursion and so need to do it again soon and this time take my camera.  It has spectacular views all across Fukuoka city!

And, that is about all I have done of note in the last few weeks/months.  I have been generally quite busy, but getting down into just the normality of having a life, and not particularly picture-worthy occasions.  But I am well, enjoying it still, and looking forward to the change a new school year, new teachers and warmer weather can bring!!

It has occured to me of late that Spring is finally on the way and as such I decided to spring clean not only my house.. but this blog too. It was time for a change from the dull blue-gray of winter.. into something a tad more optimistic. (I write this as I sit huddled in a duvet and beanie still).  Anyway, Its been a busy wee time of late, travelling here and there and actually being productive at school.  But whenever Im onto a good thing, the situation changes, and Im back to my bigger, less friendly, troublesome school until the spring holidays.  I will take relief in the fact that at least the bike ride to school is more pleasant in the milder breeze. 

Part of me wants to rave on for years, describing my joys, astonishment and bewilderment, the endearment and charm of the people etc, but I also dont want to overdo it (that and Its too daunting to write too much).  So i shant put it off anymore.. a brief (still probably far too long) factual overview of my trip.. the rest you must experience for yourself!!

So Day 1 - well Jan 24th - spent travelling.. arrived in Saigon at bout 11:30pm and went to bed, after a heart-stopping drive through night time motorbike haven.

Day 2.. Christmas Day, but wouldnt you know it they had all the parties last night when we just went to bed.  We walked around and as soon as we were out of our hostel, we realised we were wham smack in the middle of gaijin alley as there were more foreigners than locals. 

Day 3.. Went to the Cu Chi tunnels.  Amazing place - i mean, any group of people who build hundreds of kilomoters of underground tunnels, equipped for living continuously for years in deserves a hand-shake.  Add loud gun fire to my struggle to combat the heat and humidity though and I didnt really enjoy myself.  But really, are you suppose to enjoy yourself in a place where thousands of people fought for their lives?

Day 4.. We started our trip down the Mekong Delta, (bused for a few hours first though).  Rowed  up little inlets of islands to make stops for lunch, to see produce markets, to hold a snake, and just to check out the scenery really.  Topped off with a 5 hour hot, bumpy, crowded bus ride to Chau Doc (still in Vietnam).

Day 5.. Up early to eat a very poor 'breakfast included' breakfast, before boarding another boat.  Went to a floating fish-farm, minority ethnic village before hours of motoring up the river towards the border.  After the amusing ordeal of obtaining a Cambodian visa, we set out in differnt boats again for Phnom Penh, and after 3 hours hopped on buses, finally arriving in Phnom Penh at night.  Beautiful scenery - but slightly faster boats would have still sufficed!! (But, our entire 2 day mekong trip, and hostel, only cost $21 each so whos complaining)

Day 6.. Check out Phnom Penh.. royal palace, riding an elephant at Wat Phnom, the central and russian markets.. and all for $10 for our Tuk tuk for the day (and that we found out was apparently pricey!!)

Day 7.. Fionas bday - and yay for her it involved the Genocide museum and another 5 hour bus-ride.   The museum, which is actually a high school, has been basically untouched since 1979 when the murdering Khmer  rouge who occupied it fled.  In its walls, thousands were interrrogated and held prisoner, being taken to the Killing fields to be executed, and all but 7 died. I swear I could see blood stains on the floor.

Day 8.. Our first of 3 days in Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor Wat.  We caught a tuk-tuk today to take us around some of the temples.  Combined with two days later when Aaron and I went back again, I saw about 13 of the temples, or religious areas which are all in varying degrees of decay and each have different aspects to be awed at.  Oh - and today was New years eve so we crashed in on some Aussie blokes wed meet for some good old raucous drinks and carry on. 

Day 9.. our day off.  Slept in before heading back around to the more up-scale hotel that the boys were staying at for a dip in the pool.

Day 10.. Aaron and I went back to visit some more temples but I swear today was the hottest day.  We didnt have a lot of time anyway, but by midday I was sweating soo much I didnt want to walk around or climb up anymore steps!!  We had a flight back to Saigon in the arvo.. and stayed at our fancy hotel ($20 each for the night) which had a shower Fiona and I were dreaming about our whole trip (and then forgot to take a picture of).  It was amazing!! 

Day 11.. We had the whole day to fill in, and i mean the whole day since our flight wasnt until 1am.  So we went shopping, i got my hair cut and dyed, nails done and a facial all for $20!! We meet up with a few other travelling Kiwi/ Fukuoka-ites for din-dins.. and then bid a fond farewell to the warmth. 

I have to go back!  I really want to see more of Vietnam, especially up north, as I feel like I have only had just a taste.  So if anyones keen, let me know. 

Well, Im back to the cold and snow of Japan after a mad 10-ish days in the heat and dust of Vietnam and Cambodia.  It was an awesome trip - took me awhile to adjust to the heat but after that it was fun-packed days in countries so different to anything I have ever seen.  We stuck rather close to the tourist trail, finding boulevards of fine dining for ridiculously cheap prices as well as everything else we needed, or wanted!  Anyway, it was a good night sleep last night in my own bed, and after a few more I should be ready for my next adventure (unfortunately nothings lined up yet).  Ive picked a few of my favourite pics to put up for now, and Ill do a bit more thorough job when I can be bothered.

Well, the time has come, apparently relatively early, for snow.  My cellphone first showed the little snowman weather icon last week.. and yes a few flurries were marveled at, but today signalled the first time any of the flurries decided to stick around in my neck of the woods.  I opened my front door, (I dont bother to open any of my curtains since I have closed my storm shutters due to immense wind chill recently - and some crazy japanese person told me that was cheating - whatever!)  Anyway, I opened my front door to receive a mouthfull of snowflakes as i exclaimed how pretty my rice paddy was all dressed in white.. only to realise seconds later that I still had to bike to school (quite a spectacle when i don all my gears!).

So apart from hatsuyuki (first snow) today also goes down as my hatsunatto (first try of Natto).  Basically natto is fermented beans, which every single japanese person reckons foreigners wont be able to handle.  So I have avoided it thus far.  Alas the wonder of school lunch brought with it Natto today and low and behold, it aint half bad.  It smells and tastes a tad like blue cheese.. quite palatable.

Hmm well, how do i describe my trip to Soyo.  For starters, dont bother to try to find it on a map, even my Japanese teachers hardly knew where it is.  Its roughly located in Kumamoto prefecture (the one below Fukuoka), and to the south-east of Mt Aso, near the border of Miyazaki prefecture.  Basically its a 'town' which is in the middle of nowhere bar absolutely amazing scenary - and its fairly cold!  I left on Friday after school and rode trains for a few hours before eventually ending up at what one would envisage when they anticipate the end of the line, but thank goodness Greg was there waiting for me.  We drove a fair way to get back to his place - which often has an inside temperature lower than outside!  On Saturday we decided to venture to Mt Aso, and went up to see the crater.  It was bitterly cold - typically warming up as we left.  The crater of Nakadake is truely awesome - an almost sage/aqua/emerald green pool visible when the whiffs of steam are not hidding it. After this we travelled home - lapping up the country setting as we went. 

Sunday we started out towards Takachiho - the apparent reason for my visit.  First we veered off towards Greg's backyard gorge.. which was vast and treacherous.   I add the last comment because after we had had a picnic of snacks, we endeavoured to drive down the hillside to the bottom of the fork in the gorge.  Getting back up proved interesting - putting the car into 4wd and having to do 3 point turns round the hair-pins with no barriers against the cliff backdrop.  We made it, obviously, so my nerves could settle as we continued on towards Takachiho.  Now this place is truely spectacular.  Its famed for its waterfall which you can row under, but I thought the jagged sheer rocky ravine through which the river forged was more a sight to behold.  In honesty the whole day had been filled with gorgeous sights!!

On Monday, I had to get up early so Greg could drop me off at the nearest train station (20 mins drive away) and then he had to get back for work.  Luckily the train left straight away and after an hour and a half, i was in Kumamoto city.  I toured round the castle which was beautiful but a tad disappointing at the same time.  For example, inside the main castle, it had been adjusted to house artifacts and information rather than looking like it was way back when.  But still, a wee pearler of a day meant just not being at school was bliss. 

All in all a primo weekend.  Check the photos.

Well this is a bit delayed but last week I went to see the Sumo.  I was sceptical when i got there - wondering what entirely the hype was all about, but like the baseball, I left entertained and wanting more.  (Although I still wont bother to watch it on tv!).  Once I understood a few more of the rules, it was better but still 4 minutes to fluff around, throw some salt, stretch their legs, before a 10 second bout, started to get a tad tedious!!  Still definitely a when in Japan, gotta do it type situation. 

Well, im still shattered - thats how good my couple of days away were!!  I left wednesday night after school and grabbed a bus over to Oita getting there at about 8pm.  Danny met me and we headed out to her local gaijin bar.. (Ive never seen a bar with ONLY foreigners in it!), for a pub quiz.  The next day i caught a ferry to Yawatahama, on Shikoku (the fourth largest island of Japan).  A lovely 88 yr old Obachan decided to start talking to me via use of the most overused pick-up line.. `ameican desu ka`  (are you american?).  Anyway, she turned out to be so sweet, although almost imposible to understand.  She offered me a lift when we arrived on land to Uwajima, which ended up taking longer than the train would have but I got to hear about her family and their grievances and the second world war and I was awarded a bag of mikans (mandarins) for my efforts.  It turned out to be a rare insight into a Japanese grandmas life, but I was still thankful to see Aaron waiting for me so I could blurt out my thoughts without fear of misunderstanding.  Aaron and i visitied Taga-jinja in Uwajima, a very interesting fertility shrine and attatched `museum` (some guys collections of sexual artifacts from around the world).  We concluded he was more than slightly sick and this was another part of japanese society we wouldnt quite comprehend.  We then succeded in getting lost twice on the way back to his town, arriving quite abit later than we should have. 

On Friday, after Aaron put in a valiant half day of work, we did a little sightseeing around his town and to an awesome surf beach.  We decided to go out for dinner that nite - around the corner to a local place (considering the size of aarons village, everythings jsut around the corner).  We ended up singing a few songs with the guitar with the owner and his son and then the sons drinking friends started showing up after which there was no question of us attempting to leave.  Had a thoroughly brilliant night, the guys drank them out of beer twice, and i learnt alot of new japanese words which the alcohol destroyed any chance of me remembering the next morning. 

I apologise now for the possible length of this exciting travel account.

So after a slow start on saturday morning, Aaron and I started driving north, making our way to the Iya valley.  Blatently stated, Shikoku is an absolutely beautiful place, very mountainous, yet gorgeous sea views aswell.  A word here must be noted on the excessive use of concrete however... its everywhere - even in remote valleys!!  Some skillfull photgraphy would be needed to disguise the mass of concrete and people that we ran into.

We decided to take the scencic route via the old highway (goodness only knows how we didnt die on these roads), but it was amazing sights!! Even managed to see the `peeing boy` statue (yet another thing we have no idea why its there, especially in the middle of nowhere!)  We finally made it to Chiiori bout 4pm.. just before dusk.  Chiiori is absolutely idyllic, set on the side of the mountain, where looking out you dont see anything but trees!!  For those keen to check it out further, http://www.chiiori.org/ should give you a fair bit of info.  After dinner, we went for a half hour drive to a semi-local onsen, which was pure heaven on earth.  There was a little rail car up to some outside hot pools at the top of the hill, or inside the hotel in the female onsen at least was a variety of mainly charcoal based cleansing products and a sauna to truely feel pampered.  After making it back to our rustic house, we sat around the fire (which is in the middle of the floor) and chattered the night away.  On Sunday morning we awoke to rain, so I stayed huddle on my cozy futon looking out the glass doors (which rattle quite a bit in the wind).  We finally left round 10:30, venturing to the Kazura vine bridges on our way, (although like most  things, there were far too many japanese tourists for it to be remotely peaceful, as it shoule be), so we stayed only briefly.  Aaron dropped us off at Oboke train station, where Jess, Lina and I, caught an awesome little train throught the Oboke and Koboke gorges, up to Kotohira.  There we trekked up 813 odd steps up Kompira-san.. which once again was seemingly packed with Japanese tourists, subtracting greatly from the tranquil setting.  We eventually hooked up with a shinkansen back on Honshu to bring us back to Fukuoka.  From the serene landscape of the Iya valley to the hustle of Hakata in a little under 12 hours, I would defintely go back in a heart beat.

Saturday was the day I finally climbed the big statue in Kurume.   Fiona and I made our way there after a beaut brunch with Rachel, - I had the best coffee i have had here (a latte actually made by an espresso machine and not from starbucks!!).  Anyway, this statue is called Naritasan, and she is a 62 meter buddhist kannonsama and is holding a 13 metre baby.  Basically there was heaps of info around the temple etc but we couldnt read any of it so I shan't elaborate.  There were heaps of interesting things at this temple, including hundreds of little buddha statues for us to imitate, Sri Lankan influenced paintings, random artefacts and of course hell.  What, you ask?  Well so did we!!  After climbing inside the statue, the exit took us through a few buildings, or basement level rooms of artefacts, finishing with an intimidating tour through hell.  We couldnt understand much more than that, and it was a somewhat out of place bizarre and amusing sight.  All in all, the temple is definitely a place well worth a visit!!

 

I spent last weekend partaking in a homestay in Yanagawa.. which went surprisingly well.  Once you get over those pangs of uncomfortableness, I had a great time.  My host family, mother, father and 27 yr old son who happened to be home for the weekend (thank goodness), were awesome.  I particulalry enjoyed simply riding in his car, even though the speed limimts a frustratingly slow 40kph most places.  Anyway, the weekend basically consisted of 'punting' on the yanegawa river, meandering through museums etc, being dressed in a hideously bright, tight kimono, tea cermonies, pulling a float on a sweltering hot day, and visiting the (reonstructed) 'ruins' of the Yayoi period (2000 years old).  Fun all round.

Due to my parents visiting me in my humble abode, I did a bit of sightseeing over the last weekend.  I took the Thursday off to meet them at the airport and brought them back to my place, (via the use of bus, subway, normal trains and taxi!) after which we saw a few local sights – them on bikes and me running along behind!  We went to Buzouji – apparently the oldest temple in Kyushu and then along to the supermarket.  Unfortunately I had to work every other day they were here, bar the weekend.  So on Saturday we went to Dazaifu and the famous temple of Tenmanagu, as well as the meditation temple.  It was a blisteringly hot day though, so a few hours was all one could handle.  Sunday answered our cry for cooler weather – but alas went too far and brought rain.  We stuck to my plan though, and made our way to the Ferris wheel – 123 meters of sightseeing goodness (the 2^nd highest in the world behind the London eye).  After that we went up Fukuoka tower and to the Fukuoka museum. Topped off the day by showing them Best Denki in town – 8 floors of electronics.. where Mum could enjoy a massage chair and Dad, well he just wanted to look at everything! They came to school with me the Monday and then went to Mount Aso, Beppu and Nagasaki the subsequent 3 days, meaning they are more travlled than I!!    I added photos under a folder 'around town'.

I am a full fledged american now thanks to Japan!!  I went to my first ever baseball game last night.. and I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed it!  I couldnt quite make sense of the chants they had us repeatingnor the actions to accompany it, but I'm sure I'll be right up there next time around.  Being in the Fukuoka Dome was amazing though, and because our team won they opened the roof at the end.  To top it all of, a few of us went to the nearby Hard Rock Cafe - yet another first for mwah.  Other than that, things are just hunky dory for me.. had a few long weekends recently too so ive been taking in a few festivals here and there. 

 

Until next time..

 

Keep flossing!!