Well we didn't get around to some places like Nara, Koyasan or Kobe, but we had a great time. For our last day and a half Paul wandered about the city to soak up his last bit of Japanese ambience, while I caught up on some sleep and did some chores of my own. We did manage to eat some kushikatsu before Paul had to leave.





Kushikatsu is where you get sticks of food, lightly batter them and basically deep-fry 'em. Very, very tasty, especially if you go to some of the nicer, more popular places. The one we went to, Paul had seen a huge line for earler in the day, but we were lucky and got seats right away when we went for dinner. The food was great, even if one of the the old guys was a real effin' grump and clearly didn't think too much of foreigners and asked Paul not to take any more photos. But it was exremely yummy and depending on what you order, not too bad money-wise, not cheap, but not expensive.


So yeah, that pretty much wraps up the trip. We took some videos, perhaps I'll upload some of them later. I hope you enjoyed some of the cool places you can visit around the Kansai area of Japan.

One of our big adventures I had planned was a short trip to Shirahama in Wakayama. Shirahama is a hotspring ('onsen') town filled with hotels, hot springs, a beach and tourist traps.



( Click here to see our awesome photos! )

More adventures, and more photos of our faces this time. We went to another part of Kyoto to see some monkeys, then we went to the Umeda Sky building, and on Saturday we visited Osaka's park and castle.



( Click here to see the photos! )

The next few days were somewhat busy. On Monday Paul and I went to the Aquarium, then on Tuesday, Ueno Ninja Town, and Wednesday Paul went to the Zoo while I went to work.




( click here to see the photos! )

Some of you know my friend Paul is here for a short vacation, and in between stuffing our bellies and lazying about, we're seeing some sites of Osaka/Kansai area in Japan. Here are some photos from the first three days, time spent in Namba/Shinsaibashi, Kyoto, and a night out for Halloween.




( click here for more )

It's Halloween once again, and for those that remember, the teachers at ECC are expected to dress up in costume, so here are some photos from my kids classes this year.




( Click here to see halloween pics )
Check back later for photos of Halloween night around Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi.

Some friends and I regularly watch the UFC - for my Aussie compatriots who don't know, that stands for Ultimate Fighting Champion, and is all about MMA (Mixed Martail Arts) matches. It's like boxing, only more strategic and skilled, because it's mixing boxing and wrestling and karate and judo and a whole lot of other things into the one sport.

So we decided to go see 'Dream', which is a Japanese MMA event.

Here are some photos and a video showing some of the highlights.



( click here to see more pics and a video about Dream 12 )

WORK IN PROGRESS

So my friend is coming to visit for a couple weeks, at the end of October, beginning of November. I'm making a list of places we should/could go to, so he can get a look and pick and choose, and so all of you who visit Japan/Kansai might get an idea of some cool things to do here.

( click here for the list )

Dad
I tried emailing you but it just bounced back. Anyways, happy belated fathers day, and please see to your email.

Love Emily

...Also known as, the blurry-photo and dodjy-video post.

I kinda dropped the ball on this one. But you try taking decent photos of three litte girls that can't keep still XD

But enough of that. I went to visit my coffee shop family after work today, seeing as I've kinda been dropping the ball on that front as well. My timing was pretty moxious however, as I was invited to a small local festival in the area.




( click here to see photos and videos )

I'm taking a few ALPs on top of my summer vacation, and am once again heading for sunny San Diego. I'll be there a while, just an FYI to family and friends.

Edit: Safe and sound here in Cali. Warm and lazy days are being greatly enjoyed.
Edit II: Back in Japan, safe and sound if a little jet lagged. Will post up some pics of my holiday soon.


For Summer I went back to San Diego to visit my friends. Mostly I had a very lazy and relaxing time, playing games and eating junk food, but also went to Knott's Berry Farm and a Pirate Dinner&Show.



( Click here to see photos of my Summer in San Diego )

In very early May, of 2008 - YES, I'M A YEAR OVERDUE FOR POSTS, SHUT UP ALREADY - some friends and I ventured into Iga to visit the elusive and stealthy Ninja Train.



Well, actually the train took us to the Ninja House, a small area that has a house decked out with Ninja secret doors and traps, and there's a ninja museum and even ninja live performances, during the Ninja festival held around the first sunday of April, but I believe the Ninja site is open for most of the year.


( click here to see and read about the Ninja House in Iga )

some new photo plus a few blurbs...




( click here to see some photoz! )

It's now Golden Week in Japan, and I'm spending it in Sunny California with my friend Kit. Friends and Family, if you need to contact me, do so via email.

I'll update later with photos and such. :-)

EDIT 6/May/'09: I have returned safely from Cali, swine flu free, in my apartment in Osaka. Photos shall still come later after sleeps and such.

Because my hairstylist at Pink Ginger gets a kick out of seeing these pics, here's another Before-After picture. I got my hair cut today, at a NEW, tiny salon literally around the corner from where I live. Again it was an all Japenese environment. I think the results were pretty successfull actually.

( click here to see the hair genocide )

March 3rd in Japan is Girls' Day, or the Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri). Families with girls usually display a collection of ornamental dolls representing an old traditional Imperial family/court.

Luckily enough the day this year fell on my day off, so I went to visit my favourite coffee-shop family and their three little girls, to give them some Teddy Bear biscuits and stickers.


( Click here to read more and see some photos )

A Japanese lady I know, about 40-60 minutes out of the center of Osaka, is looking for a native English speaker to come live with her and her little girl, in order to help her little girl better learn English.

I don't know all the details or expectations yet, but if anyone's interested, I can find out for you, or put you in contact with the lady for you to ask yourself. She's looking to host the exchange this summer (that's the middle of the year for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere ~_^ ). The mother speaks quite good English, and from the sounds of it, so does the girl, since the mother now feels inadequate teaching her daughter English.

Drop me a line if you're interested!

A year ago, today, I arrived in Japan, severely sleep-deprived, rather cold, and feeling a little overwhelmed if still trying to remain optimistic.

And while I don't feel much like celebrating, being sick, having watched my fish Oil die this morning, and learning of my close Uncle's passing yesterday, I still can't help feeling very much at home here, despite all these depressing hardships. And if that doesn't say something about my decision to move here, I don't know what does.

I've seen many beautiful places, made some wonderful new friends, made a smallcozy home for myself, and learned what an uncountable noun is. I've been a geisha, a ninja, a minor celebrity in a small rural town, a big sister to 3 young Japanese local girls, and I continue to be a teacher that is apparently so well liked, she never gets any damn breaks in her schedule when all the other teachers do.

Things haven't always gone smoothly, but it's been an experience of a lifetime. I'm glad I came here, and am looking forward to at least another year of it. Hopefully by then I'll have caught up on all my posts.

Thanks to all those who read and who have left comments here or via email. Much love to you all.

of my Uncle Harry.



What once was one,
Becomes the foundation
That grows the seeds
For many more.

In the strength of one,
We find a wealth of love and knowledge
That shall last forever
Through those it nurtures.

In a blossoming forest
The one finds its legacy
And shall be remembered
For all it gave and was.