Farewell Part 3

Well our last day in Japan was spent so perfectly.

We met Satoshi and Mieko at 9.30 to head for Fukui on the West coast for some diving. When we arrived, the scenery was amazing, so beautiful and the weather was just perfect.

We did some snorkeling and then OdaSan, Satoshi and Miekos friend who's a diving instructor, brought us down diving. And while everyone else complained that the water wasn't very clear, it was the clearest water I've ever gone diving in.

After a perfect day diving, snorkeling and chatting, we sat up on the deck, watching the sun go down and drinking champagne for no real reason.

And then Dave turned around, took a ring out of his pocket, and said 'How about it?' To which I replied "I guess so" and the deed was done.


And it was perfect.

Farewell Part 2

I always knew that saying goodbye to my students would be one of the hardest parts of leaving Japan and as expected, the last week and a half was very difficult. The adult students were so sweet giving me beautiful gifts and even more beautiful letters.

The kids students were also sweet, albeit via their parents, giving me perfect english letters with vocabulary I never thought them. The last week was a blur of emotions. I managed to cry only once, which for me was definitely an achievement.


It finished, all too suddenly, with a party and requisite trip to Karaoke. More photos of cute Japanese Students and me? Hai!

And then it was over. Of everything in Japan, I'll miss my students the most. (And Coco Ichi Curry, Ramen and Cheap Sushi but it sounds better to say only my students.)

Farewell Part 1

Definitely one of the best nights in the last few weeks in Japan, as expected, was the last Asunaro party. Not only was it our going-away party but it was also the restaurants 20th anniversary.

We both got so many beautiful and thoughtful presents including a full yukata set. The night was one of many photos, peace signs and fun with my obi. Oh and Beer ;)

Love you!

Dave's not funny

all about me

for those of you who don't know
I'm a clumsy git.
I break things that I really like.
and because of this... I have to
use my boyfriend's computer to do
things. And, I like to sign into things
and not sign out. Honestly I'm a bit of
pain. But anyway, I need to get back to
doing silly things, breaking pretty
things, spilling things and generally
making a mess of things. see you!

Yet another ...

Well we're quite the jet setters and were off again this weekend and it was another early start. What is it with this country and 6.30 trains?

So we headed to Fukuoka which is a fun little town on one of the other islands, but Shinkansen accessible. We ate, drank, shopped and walked. It's a cool little town but seems like it would be cooler to live in than visit.

It's famous for its ramen (noodle soup) and as you know we do like our food. So we went to a famous ramen resteraunt where you can specify how you want your soup down to fat content, garlic content and noodle density. We also ate at some of the many ramen stalls that line the streets. Mmmmm yummy.

Down

Next we hopped over to Hiroshima, somewhere that's been on the top of our list for a long time and that we finally got to visit.

It's definitely an experience. The city itself is beautiful, green and vibrant. The peace park is solemn, nicely laid out and definitely peaceful. But until you go to the museum, it's easy to forget the devastation that happened.

At one point I was thinking, why was the bombing here so much worse than what's happening in Iraq or happened in Bosnia or Dafur or any of those gut wrenching tragedies. And then you saw the pictures. And read the stories.

It was so hot that it fused glass.
It was so powerful that it blasted stone and burnt shadows of the bodies that were against it.
It was 4000 degrees.
People died immediately
Many didn't.
Deaths were ... slow and not what anyone could imagine.
The deaths and the pain kept happening.
Keep happening even now.

I guess we've heard it all before but ...
When you're there it really hits home.

And then there's me and my peace cranes.

Sadako was 2 when the bomb dropped and grew up healthy and happy. By the time she reached her teens though, she was dying of leukemia as many of the young survivors did. Following ancient Japanese tradition that tells if you fold 1000 paper cranes you can have one wish, Sadako started folding. The story travelled around the world and millions of paper cranes were sent to her. She died before folding 1000 herself but even now hundreds of thousands are sent to Hiroshima every year and some are displayed at her memorial.


I guess it's one of those places you visit out of a mixed sense of morbidity, curiosity, duty but it touches you for so many more reasons. Mostly its strength and its humanity. They said nothing would grow there for 75 years but less than 70 years later it's growing and beautiful but still remembering.

More photos? Sure

Red Shadows

Monday we visited Miyajima, less than an hour from Hiroshima. In a country as full of scenic views as vending machines, Miyajima is actually nationally rated in the top three. Miyajima shrine is often called the floating shrine because it's built out on a sand bar and is often surrounded by water, most picturesquely at sunset.

We arrived at about 12 when it was less picturesquely surrounded by mud. So we went for a hike up the mountain instead.

So whenever we go hiking Dave regularly sees snakes in order to scare me. Along with monkeys and monsters

So when he actually saw a snake sunbathing on a rock obviously I paid no attention. But in boy scout like fashion, he chased it to it's rock, oohing and ahhhing, so I guess he has the photos to prove it.

I got over that.

So up the mountain we went. Singing and bonding and talking about dreams as we do when we're alone. When out of the growth to my side, at eye level, a giant massive huge gigantic jiganormous king cobra slid down the slope, raised on his hind .... quarters ... hissing and spitting at me. Obviously I moved with cat-like reactions, pushing Dave out of harm's way, and killed that snake dead.

Or

So up the mountain we went. Bitching and moaning and talking about food as we do when we're alone. When out of the growth to my side, at eye level, a snake a little longer than a school ruler slid down the slope, saw me, panicked and stood there waiting for me to go home to my mammy. Obviously I froze, gave a whimpering 'oh Dave' and stood waiting for him to remind me all I had to do was keep walking.

There are reasons why I'm still with this boy.


Anyway the remaining hike was relatively uneventful. Except for the wild monkeys that hung around the picnic areas, shamelessly flaunting their adorable youth for any tourist's camera that might pass by.

There were no monsters though.

When we did finally make it to the top of the mountain, the views, as so often in Japan, were breathtaking. The island is surrounded by deep blue waters that are dotted with green lush islands.


By the time we had descended, the tide was a little more in (as were the tour buses), so we got to see some of the shrine's reflective beauty. But to be honest, the view from the top of the mountain was the real show stopper.

More photos of our jungle adventure? YAY!

Cosmo Quiz

3. You and your dishy date are at Disney and dying to get a thrill on the new death defying ride. But Darn! The queue is 2 hours long. Do you ...

a) See the two hours as bonding time, the real reason you took the trip and spend the time gazing lovingly into each others eyes, holding hands and talking about your dreams.

b) Begrudgingly join the queue and after 15 minutes break up with him because he's more interested in Pokemon Diamond on his Nintendo DS than in you.

c) Join the Single Riders Queue, walk past the 600 people in the queue, wave to each other over the Japanese family sitting between you and spend the saved 1 hour 50 minutes enjoying a beer together.

Curry Popcorn

I went to Tokyo Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

I finally nagged Dave enough so he bought it for me for Christmas
And this weekend, as a last minute surprise
We went to Tokyo Disney!!!!!!!!!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

After a 6.30 Shinkansen, we go there at about 9
And headed for Disney Sea

Thanks to FastPasses (like a reservation system for popular rides)
And single rider queues (where if you don't care about riding with your friends you can go to the top of the queue)
Sunday was a day of few queues and tons of fun

We walked around Arial's Castle
We rode the Tower of Terror
We watched kids playing in fountains while eating hot dogs
We had a beer at a New York Deli
We went 20,000 leagues under the sea
We rode the Indiana Jones ride
We ate mediocre Mexican Food
We rode the Tower of Terror
We rode the Tower of Terror
We rode the Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror was sooooo much fun
At one point we got to the top and there was a fireworks display in the park
So we got to watch it from the top
For oooh about 1 second
Before plummeting 30 odd stories down!


We stayed in one of the Official Park hotels on the Monorail
In an Oh So Kitch Ship Themed room
But it was literally just for sleeping
As we crashed at 10 to get ready for a 7 wake up call on Monday


Monday saw a hasty and late exit from the hotel
And more Disney like crowds
With more Disney like queueing times
Where the Nintendo DS came in handy
And in a lot of ways a more Disney like experience

We got sploshed on Splash Mountain
I was far too scared at the Haunted Mansion
We ate time inefficient Pizza
We shot things at Buzz Lightyear's shooty ride thing
We Thundered a Mountain
Rode the Western Railway
Played the Country Guessing game at It's a Small World
And soooo much more
And generally let me be a small child



At about 7.30 we decided to head for our 9.30 Shinkansen
Bought some Souvenirs
Met one of my kid student
And hopped on to the Monorail

And realised we didn't have our Shinkansen Tickets

Did you know hotels keep room trash for 24 hours
In case overexcited foreigners leave their $200 tickets in their room
Well they do!

It was such a great weekend
I feel kinda bad in a way that I'm in this cool country and one of the best trips I took was to Disney
But not bad enough not to have loved it!!!

More 'Funtastic'™ photos? Yes please!!!