It's about time...

This month of vacation has been spectacular. I cannot even believe how much we have seen and done and how much I need to catch you up on. So here is the beginning of it.

Our friends Shelly and Chad were here from Hawaii for a good week before we all took off for China. They also had a flight to Shanghai on the 6th of August. Their flight was earlier in the day and our flight was later in the evening. We arrived to the airport with just enough time to check in and make it through security without any problems. After sitting at the gate for an extended period of time we learned that our flight has been canceled due to a typhoon. And so we end up spending the night in the airport waiting to see when we'll be able to get a flight, which turns out to be at about 4 the next day.

Finally we arrive in Shanghai and take the subway all the way across town to Diva's house which is a bit in the country, as she describes it. We are welcomed by a full house, a set table and several glasses of wine. It was perfect and relaxing.

Shanghai is an absolutely amazing city. It is very international and seems to be experiencing a sort of boom right now with new buildings going up and more and more people visiting and living there. The buildings were one of my favorite things about Shanghai. They are so, so tall and so modern and trendy. They all have to stand apart from each other, and it shows. They are covered in different colored lights that go in all kinds of patterns and even large screens that stretch the entire length of the building. It's beautiful. The population is also something to note. We were definitely taken aback by how many Westerners roamed the streets and how much English we heard.

At the same time, China seemed a bit grittier and more raw than what we're used to in Japan. The first time we stepped onto the subway we noticed how much people were pushing their way on to get any available seat. We noticed couples holding hands, which I realized is a rare site in Japan. The language itself was a huge difference as well. People speaking Chinese are so loud and angry sounding. It's all a bit more abrasive than the polite Japanese culture we've already become accustomed to.

On top of all that we did and saw so much while we were there. We went to Yuyuan, the old town where the pedestrian streets are lined with all kinds of shops and people haggling for the best prices. It was here that we had what most consider the best dumplings in the world, and I can now confirm this. The streets were lined with people waiting their turn to order the crab stuffed goodies. One portion of the street we had to walk by holding our hands to our noses hoping to escape the retched stench. We quickly learned that what we smelled was fermented, stinky tofu that people eat and love.
After stuffing ourselves with dumplings we took a ferry across the river and met up with everyone for some drinks and pretzels at a German pub where we could sit outside and enjoy to night scape of the city.

We went to the Jing'an Temple which is located in the middle of the city and sits between some very large skyscrapers creating a very interesting, yet typical in Shanghai, contrast. We didn't actually go into the temple but wondered around this part of town looking for food.

Shanghai was also a good place to splurge on things since everything was so incredibly cheap and bargain-able. One evening all six of us, Diva, Robby, Shelly, Chad, Rob and I, got foot massages while watching Mulan, which was purchased across the street for about $1. One evening Diva and I went to a spa and soaked in various different bathes following a full body scrub. Purely amazing.

There was so much that we did that I can't even keep it all straight at the moment. Also, this past Friday night as Rob, Evan and I were walking in the park I was bit by a centipede, or so we think. On Saturday when I woke up I was swollen from the mid-calf down and decided it best to go to the Dr. As he was looking at it it continued to get worse and so he told us to go to the hospital where they gave me an IV drip and antibiotics. As of today I'm doing a bit better but still can't put any weight on it. And now I am trying to prepare for going back to school on Thursday...

Osaka with S&C

We have some more visitors!! Our friends Shelly and Chad are here until the 11th of August, which means they'll be coming to China with us! We've been keeping nice and busy. We've mostly been cruising around Hirakata and Osaka with them. One of their main objectives in traveling is eating the best food, and that we have been. 

We had an amazing, very Japanese lunch on Saturday afternoon in Umeda. 

This was the best tofu I have ever had, eaten with a spoon!

We took them on the Ferris wheel at Hep 5 in Umeda. Here is a view from the top. This city is outrageous.

Beautiful husband with Shelly and Chad in Shinsaibashi, the main shopping area of Osaka. This place is lined with the craziest stores and the hippest people you've ever seen.

And finally we get a picture of the two of us!!

Just another beautiful store.

An entire store devoted to Kit-Kats. They come in every flavor you can imagine. So far my fav. is Green Tea.

And this, my friends, is Namba Hips. The most beautiful building ever. And yes, that would be a pink climbing wall down the center that moves up and down and the pink part changes colors. I'm telling you, this city is out of control, and I love it.

The sign for Namba Hips. We've seen a few like this around town, covered in plants and thought they were amazing. 

Around Hirakata

A few weekends ago we took our bikes out for a spin around town. Our goal was to get to the mountains (we're missing them hard) We managed to find them, but by the time we were there we were too tired and sticky to walk up much of the trail we found. So we slowly made our way back home, always on a different path. Here's a peak at what we saw along the way.

Hirakata Mountains

So very green.

Spider friend we had to walk under, she was huge.

Houses on top of houses. 

And rice paddies right next door.

A closer look at the cute houses that line the narrow streets.

Fromage and a Japanese Parade

It was a big weekend for us...

I bought a pink bike and call it the 'Pink Fromage'. We've been ridin' all over town.

We went back to Kyoto for a festival called Gion Matsuri. It was mostly made up of a parade with several floats (30 or so) which to us all looked very similar. They depict ancient themes and figures and were awfully tall...

And pulled by men. It was very, very hot, too.

With beautiful paintings of different scenes and men riding on the floats ringing bells...

Some floats were also carried by men...

It was a great, three day weekend. It's started raining again and I only have 3 more weeks for school before our summer vacation, which is going to be filled with friends visiting us and going to Shanghai! I am quite looking forward to the nice long break and maybe when we get back it will start cooling down a little bit here.

Earthquake...?

We felt our first earthquake today! And let me tell you, I wasn't even entirely sure it was an earthquake. I thought that a large truck was rolling by in the street or somebody was moving something large above me. Mr. Nakamura didn't mention anything about it so I noted the time, went about my day and forgot about it. When I got home, Rob mentioned he felt rumbling at the same time but also wasn't sure if it was psychosomatic or not. Then I remembered and became excited for living through my first earthquake. It was negligible and we haven't seen any news reports of it, given the tiny magnitude of it. Yet, it was certainly an experience and I feel silly for being as excited as I am to have finally felt an earthquake.

Karaoke

I sometimes feel like I want to share every single day. If ever it is too much, my apologies, well not really; if it's too much then don't read. I do this as much for myself as for all you back home. I have a terrible memory, and well this enhances it. Also, everyday a huge adventure and I'm excited to tell you of the things we've encountered. And last night was some of the most fun we've had yet.

Nami, the English teacher at Hotuku, invited us to meet her and a friend, Ryu, at Izakaya; traditional Japanese bar. And they have food. She calls and tells us that it's only a 15 minute bike ride along a riverside path, but of course we only have one bike and have been walking a lot so decide that we'll just walk it. With Chu-Hi's in hand we set off. It's glorious and not that far.

We arrive to the bar about 40 minutes later. Here you take your shoes off at the door. You sit on the floor at the table but there is room for you feet underneath, there's a deep hole in the floor under the table. Just a little more 'Japanese' than other places we've been. It's also nice being there with a local. They order drinks and food for us and they explain things. We got to try so many new and different things that we wouldn't otherwise have been able to. We had chicken kidney on skewers. We had tako (octopus), possibly raw, in wasabi sauce. We some of the best edamame I've ever tasted. We had amazing rice in an ancient rice cooker served at the table. And of course we had drinks.

We ate and we chatted, for hours. We were the last people to leave and we learned some things as well. Nami's name means 'wave', as in tsunami. I thought it was cute. Ryu is visiting from Kyushu where they are from and he was staying in Osaka. He was scared of the trains for some reason and took a taxi home, which is not cheap. Earlier that day he was at a Pachinko Parlor and won 100,000 yen. That's $1300. He didn't need it so he gave it to a student who was at the Parlor.

After shutting down the Izakaya we head down the street for some good 'ole karaoke. A very big deal here, everyone does it. The nice thing about karaoke in Japan is that it's in private rooms with only you and your friends. You pay by the hour and there are books full of songs to choose from. We sing and sing and sing, for an hour; and then we venture home. Yeah, it's a long walk for some but very enjoyable for us, especially in the middle of the night with nobody around.

Rob, Kyu and Nami at the Izakaya

Karaoke

Kyoto

This past Sunday, 3 July, we made a day trip out of Kyoto. I can't explain how remarkable of a city it is. Its so very different from Osaka and acts as the 'storehouse of Japan's traditional culture'.  From our house, including the bus to the train station, it takes about an hour to get to Kyoto. We decide to do a walking tour of the 'must sees'. And it was well worth it. When we first stepped out of the station we were happy to have come. There is just a different feeling to this city. We began our trek up a narrow road towards the mountains and almost instantly we see a pagoda rising against the skyline. We are headed towards Kitomizu-Dera, the king of all temples in my opinion and also one of the most famous landmarks of the city, and quite busy. 

We spend a good amount of time here, climbing stairs and getting off the beaten path by following a hiking trail into the mountains for a few minutes. There are so many different shrines and temples and waterfalls and statues and buddhas to see here; it's unreal. The view is also unreal. You feel hidden up in the lush forest, yet can see most of the city, if only it weren't hazy.

We descended from the temple on a street called Kiyomizu-michi, the busy path with so many things to see, feel and smell. This pedestrian walk is lined with gift shops and cafes, tourists and geishas. Very marvelous and enchanting. We continued branching off of streets, each with its own character and charm. One called Ishibe-koji is perhaps the most beautiful street in Kyoto. It's basically a cobbled alley filled with traditional Japanese inns and restaurants, and very peaceful.

Next we randomly, but correctly, follow a charming flight of stairs into another temple, Kodai-Ji. This one was founded in 1605 by a woman, in memory of her husband. There is stark contrast between this and Kiyomizu-dera. We are instructed to take our shoes off and take a very well plotted course through the grounds, which include gardens designed by a famous architect, a zen rock garden, and teahouses.

From here you can see an enormous Buddha protruding from the tree tops, and the entire time we hear Hawaiian music. Next door (?) there is a hula dance performance going on underneath the Buddha. From here we head to Maruyama-koen, a lovely, lovely park. I lay on a concrete bench and watch the willow sway in the wind while pigeons court around my feet. In the center of the park, where we happen to have taken our seats, is the giant Gion shidare-zakura, Kyoto's most famous cherry tree. I imagine it's stunning during the blossoms.

At this point I'm nearly too exhausted to do much more exploring, but somehow find the strength to walk downtown for lunch. Downtown is a bit more similar to Osaka, but still unique. There are many more Gaijin and traditionally dressed locals. We have a very late lunch in Cafe Independants, a hip, bohemian cafe serving sandwiches and beer, just to my liking. After strolling and people watching for some more collected time, we venture back to the station and ride home with our tired little feet.

A link to more photos Rob put on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100333240495273.2738255.10203887&l=14562c5c6

Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-michi

Entrance to Kodai-ji

Giant Buddha

Geishas