You are either already subscribed or there was an error
Your entry has been submitted
Sorry, your entry could not be submitted
Merry Christmas and Summer Vacation
2008.12.24
So I had to go to the immigration office one day to renew my visa, and it's in Cosmosquare, which is around the bay area. This is not the immigration office, but I think it might be Osaka's WTC.
Click here to add text
So I had to go to the immigration office one day to renew my visa, and it's in Cosmosquare, which is around the bay area. This is not the immigration office, but I think it might be Osaka's WTC.
1
As I recall, this was the immigration office. There's an interesting looking dome in the background on the right, which I wondered what it was. Later I discovered, but now have forgotten again. Anyone? Possibly the Maritime Museum, though I don't know what that means or how it's different from the Aquarium.
Click here to add text
As I recall, this was the immigration office. There's an interesting looking dome in the background on the right, which I wondered what it was. Later I discovered, but now have forgotten again. Anyone? Possibly the Maritime Museum, though I don't know what that means or how it's different from the Aquarium.
2
Incidentally, another day I went to a different part of the bay area. Faithful readers may remember the ferris wheel from the time I went to the Aquarium.
Click here to add text
Incidentally, another day I went to a different part of the bay area. Faithful readers may remember the ferris wheel from the time I went to the Aquarium.
3
A couple weeks ago we went to Iga for the last time to work on our ninja movie. The movie was screened at the tennis circle's year end party. I couldn't hear most of the dialogue, though it seemed to go over fairly well, though my acting is of course laughable, but not in a funny way. I should have a (hopefully subtitled) copy of it to bring back to the U.S., though I'm not sure how funny it will be to an American audience, or if it will be interesting to anyone outside the tennis circle.
Click here to add text
A couple weeks ago we went to Iga for the last time to work on our ninja movie. The movie was screened at the tennis circle's year end party. I couldn't hear most of the dialogue, though it seemed to go over fairly well, though my acting is of course laughable, but not in a funny way. I should have a (hopefully subtitled) copy of it to bring back to the U.S., though I'm not sure how funny it will be to an American audience, or if it will be interesting to anyone outside the tennis circle.
4
Before most of our filming that day, we went through the ninja museum. It reminded me of an exhibit from a natural history museum.
Click here to add text
Before most of our filming that day, we went through the ninja museum. It reminded me of an exhibit from a natural history museum.
5
This isn't really what I was expecting to learn about ninja training. (You can mostly read the captions if you enlarge the photo.) For example, I think the fourth caption should go more like: Search for a cricket or an ant colony, seize their water supply, and slaughter anyone who opposes you.
Click here to add text
This isn't really what I was expecting to learn about ninja training. (You can mostly read the captions if you enlarge the photo.) For example, I think the fourth caption should go more like: Search for a cricket or an ant colony, seize their water supply, and slaughter anyone who opposes you.
6
I spent five minutes doing this exercise before I realized the answer is upside-down in small print at the bottom. By the way, if you do this exercise and are disappointed that you still don't know what it says because it's in Japanese, I will write a translation in regular size print right side up right here: Come again to Ueno.
Click here to add text
I spent five minutes doing this exercise before I realized the answer is upside-down in small print at the bottom. By the way, if you do this exercise and are disappointed that you still don't know what it says because it's in Japanese, I will write a translation in regular size print right side up right here: Come again to Ueno.
7
I had to go to the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, and it was a surprisingly nice day for December. Here is a shot from the Yodoyabashi bridge in central Osaka.
Click here to add text
I had to go to the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, and it was a surprisingly nice day for December. Here is a shot from the Yodoyabashi bridge in central Osaka.
8
After I went to the Consulate, I wandered around Umeda (remember the "northern" downtown area of Osaka). I come here once in awhile, but I usual stick to the south of Osaka, so whenever i come up here, I usually discover new things. Like huge flying whales.
Click here to add text
After I went to the Consulate, I wandered around Umeda (remember the "northern" downtown area of Osaka). I come here once in awhile, but I usual stick to the south of Osaka, so whenever i come up here, I usually discover new things. Like huge flying whales.
9
I've been going to a lot of bay area's lately. And this shot is from the train in Kobe (which is about half an hour away from Osaka by train). Satoko and I went to Okinawa for 3 days to see her dad, and it was cheaper to fly out of Kobe than Osaka.
Click here to add text
I've been going to a lot of bay area's lately. And this shot is from the train in Kobe (which is about half an hour away from Osaka by train). Satoko and I went to Okinawa for 3 days to see her dad, and it was cheaper to fly out of Kobe than Osaka.
10
This shot is actually from when we came back. I still haven't hung out in Kobe, though I want to sometime. We went promptly from the airport shuttle station to the JR Sannomiya station (visible on the left) to return to Osaka. But we did see some Christmas decorations (this was Dec. 3rd). Merry Christmas, Kobe style!
Click here to add text
This shot is actually from when we came back. I still haven't hung out in Kobe, though I want to sometime. We went promptly from the airport shuttle station to the JR Sannomiya station (visible on the left) to return to Osaka. But we did see some Christmas decorations (this was Dec. 3rd). Merry Christmas, Kobe style!
11
Welcome to Okinawa! One thing they have in Japan that I haven't seen in the US is Pokemon planes. I saw one at the airport in Kyushu also, though I didn't get a picture of it, which is okay now since I still haven't posted those photos yet anyway. But I want to know how to fly on a Pokemon plane. I bet it's way more exciting inside than regular planes. Maybe you need to be a Fan Club Member, or maybe it's strictly for flights between Japan and... um... wherever it is that Pokemon lives, which might also be Japan.
Click here to add text
Welcome to Okinawa! One thing they have in Japan that I haven't seen in the US is Pokemon planes. I saw one at the airport in Kyushu also, though I didn't get a picture of it, which is okay now since I still haven't posted those photos yet anyway. But I want to know how to fly on a Pokemon plane. I bet it's way more exciting inside than regular planes. Maybe you need to be a Fan Club Member, or maybe it's strictly for flights between Japan and... um... wherever it is that Pokemon lives, which might also be Japan.
12
The first day we went someplace who's name I forgot. The main city on the main island of Okinawa is Naha, and I think this place was about an hour away.
Click here to add text
The first day we went someplace who's name I forgot. The main city on the main island of Okinawa is Naha, and I think this place was about an hour away.
13
Did you know this is how ferns grow? Strange, eh.
Click here to add text
Did you know this is how ferns grow? Strange, eh.
14
Anyway, the place was sort of like a park/petting zoo. The goats here are, in typical Japanese style, smaller and cuter than the ones in the US. He seem to like Satoko, but he headbutted me.
Click here to add text
Anyway, the place was sort of like a park/petting zoo. The goats here are, in typical Japanese style, smaller and cuter than the ones in the US. He seem to like Satoko, but he headbutted me.
15
I haven't seen a water buffalo in the US, but the water buffalo here didn't seem that small. But they didn't seem so big either. Anyway, they seem to mind their own business, which seems to be being domesticated and ogled. However, based on my experience with the goat, and with that donkey in Palo Alto, I chose not to get too close.
Click here to add text
I haven't seen a water buffalo in the US, but the water buffalo here didn't seem that small. But they didn't seem so big either. Anyway, they seem to mind their own business, which seems to be being domesticated and ogled. However, based on my experience with the goat, and with that donkey in Palo Alto, I chose not to get too close.
16
The next day we went to the Peace Park, after which we tried to find a cafe by the beach Satoko and her dad had been too before. I don't seem to have any photos of that day, but we didn't find the cafe, but we did find it the next day. It's doesn't at all look like a cafe from the outside, but this is it.
Click here to add text
The next day we went to the Peace Park, after which we tried to find a cafe by the beach Satoko and her dad had been too before. I don't seem to have any photos of that day, but we didn't find the cafe, but we did find it the next day. It's doesn't at all look like a cafe from the outside, but this is it.
17
There were a couple of cute kittens outside the entrance. We played with them for a bit and the owner offered them to us. Apparently the mom had a litter of 4 and already gave two away. Maybe next time.
Click here to add text
There were a couple of cute kittens outside the entrance. We played with them for a bit and the owner offered them to us. Apparently the mom had a litter of 4 and already gave two away. Maybe next time.
18
Here's a shot from inside the cafe. By the way, in case you don't know or haven't figured it out, Okinawa is like Japan's version of Hawaii.
Click here to add text
Here's a shot from inside the cafe. By the way, in case you don't know or haven't figured it out, Okinawa is like Japan's version of Hawaii.
19
Here's another shot of the sea outside the cafe.
Click here to add text
Here's another shot of the sea outside the cafe.
20
Oh wait, I think this might be a picture from the peace park. If you look hard, you can see an island in the distance from here. There's of course an island in the foreground because I was on an island. But another one that's even more islandy. Can you find it?
Okay, well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I don't know if I'll get a chance to post again before I come back to the US (Jan 15th), but I should have at least another 5 or so untimely posts to make.
Click here to add text
Oh wait, I think this might be a picture from the peace park. If you look hard, you can see an island in the distance from here. There's of course an island in the foreground because I was on an island. But another one that's even more islandy. Can you find it?
Okay, well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I don't know if I'll get a chance to post again before I come back to the US (Jan 15th), but I should have at least another 5 or so untimely posts to make.
