Golden Week 2012

Golden Week is the holiday in Japan at the end of every April, like Easter break I guess.
This Golden Week was busy! First I went camping in Shizuoka 200km south-west of Tokyo, and then on a family trip with Toshi's Osakan family to Wakayama, the 'Hawaii of Japan'.

Camping

Driving 200km along the highway/motorway for the first time (left) and carp banners for Children's Day (right)

 Can you see Mt Fuji faintly towering over us?

Video: I catch a very easy Sakuradai fish!

Two sakuradai fish and tempura for lunch

Two lovely-looking fish that Toshi caught (*^^*)

Campfire's burning..

The campsite

Osaka/Wakayama

 Why wasn't our plane the Pokemon one!!?? (;_;)

 Feeling motherly with Satomi-chan and singing English songs to her ♪

 At a Yakiniku restaurant, grilled meat (especially beef).

This is the most delicious beef I've ever had! But one plate of cost about £10! Luckily I wasn't paying ;P

 

 Speaking of meat, I saw whale meat for the first time at a Wakayama fish market.
And no, I certainly did'n't buy any. The price of the smallest cut you can see here is about £10.

 Beautiful Shirahama beach!

 

 We visited a cave that was the location of a secret pirate hideout several hundred years ago!

 At Senjō-jiki, a very windy rocky point and Engetsu-tō, a natural sandstone arch

 Snorkeling!

 All-you-can-eat buffet back at the hotel after my no less than third hot spring bath in three days!

大阪って楽しいヤロ？！ My Trip to Osaka [PART 1]

Since Toshi's family will be reading this entry, I've also written everything in Japanese.

トシ君の家族の為全部（下手な）日本語でも書いてあります。

I was really nervous about meeting Toshi's family, and to meet as many as 11  family members in one go was pretty overwhelming! But Toshi's family was very welcoming and friendly, so I had nothing to worry about!

もちろん緊張していたけどみんなが優しくて、フレンドリーだからすぐ安心した。

Speaking Japanese for four days non-stop was a real test of my hard work and study, and I'd like to think I did well enough!

	ずっと日本語でしゃべることもまあまあ出来たと思います。

Day One

After making introductions, Toshi took me to see Osaka Castle, which we climbed, and we saw the tiger design which Toshi's great-grandfather had created.

紹介終わったら、トシと一緒に大阪城を上って、曾おじいさんが作ったトラの絵も見えました。

 The tiger (though it's mostly hidden) (left)

I had been craving sushi, so Toshi's parents treated me to sushi at a restaurant named 'stubborn' in Japanese, which is appropriate as the men in the family are stubborn; not that I'm saying I'm not ^^ I got to try some new kinds of fish.

「がんこ」というレストランでおいしい寿司を食べました。

がんこな家族。。？？

Day Two

As you know, I love animals, so I convinced Toshi to take me to Deer Park in the city of Nara. He warned that the deer could be vicious and try to steal food, but they were so placid and gentle and CUTE!!!

動物が好きだからトシ君が奈良に連れていってくれた。鹿さんたちはとてもかわいいだった！！！

 

<- Japan, August 2011            

India, February 2011 ->

なんか二月のインド旅行思い出した！

東大寺、Todaiji Temple, with a history of about 1300 years, and a World Heritage Site, is home to Japan's largest Buddha statue, 大仏、at 15m.

 

Toshi getting rid of the deer poo!!

鹿のウンチがついちゃった!!

Back at the Yoshida's, Toshi's mother had prepared an amazing meal!!!! Raw fish, grilled chicken, homemade fried foods called tempura and a selction of pickles.

夕ご飯：特においしかった物は作りと天ぷら！！　こんなに家での食事初めてでした！本当にすばらしいな食事！　ありがとうお母さん！

 

Everyone living in the household minus Toshi's brother and wife, and plus an Aunt.

 At the request of Toshi's mother, here is the (rather embarassing!) video of me competing in an 'air piano' contest against Toshi's drunk dad ^_^ I think I won!エーアピアノのビデオ　XD
To be continued..続く。。

Camping Trip

*Edit: Video added
I spent a lovely three-day weekend (July 16th-18th) with Toshi in the mountainous area in West Tokyo. It was scorching, and the bugs were out in full force!! I never knew Japan had so many poisonous spiders and stick insect things..

Setting up camp 

The cicadas were crooning as we stopped bywalked and found a clean, flowing river to do a spot of fishing. It was my first time, and since we were using a lure, not real bait, I wasnt able to catch a sausage.. Toshi however caught 6 rainbow trout!

 Fish number 1

I thought I would be too squeamish, but those Ray Mears survival shows had suitably prepared me to kill and gut a fish!

 We barbequed the fish back at the campsite.. incredibly juicy and the freshest, most organic fish around!!

 Following the barbeque, I fulfilled one of my Japanese dreams and saw my first fireflies! I don't have any photos, and we only saw a few, but it was something I'd wanted to do in Japan for a long time, as they frequently appear in anime.. :)

I had another go at fishing the next daybut I still couldn't catch anything, so I did a spot of swimming and set up a campfire.

Toasting marshmallows!

The 'Rents Visit Days 1 & 2

Thank you so much to my parents for making the big journey to come and see me in Japan! I'm proud of my mum for flying for the first time and trying many new things, and my dad got to fulfil his dream of visiting the Geeky district of Akihabara!!!

Arrival

I made it to the airport in plenty of time, and waited at the exit for my parents who finally emerged! Group hug! They were pretty sleepy, but excited, and my mum fit right into Japanese society with a snooze on the train!

For dinner, we had ramen and my mum attempted to use chopsticks.

Day One Oversleeping, jet-lagged parents were thrown into the depths of nerdy city of Akihabara on their first day! Akihabara is the electronics, gaming and 萌 "Moe" capital of Tokyo.

Omelette rice, ketchup and melon soda at a "moe" Maid Cafe in Akihabara.
The maid we had the polaroid taken with's nickname was none other than クレア aka Clare! Flattering!

Parents' Reaction:

 In Ikebukuro and our Puri Kura (a crazy photobooth)!

Dinner was an Aeon reunion party, featuring some Aeon teachers and students who had been very eager to meet my parents! We had dinner at a seafood restaurant, where the seafood is VERY fresh, and my mum developed a unique chopstick-using technique.

 

 Exchanging omiyage souvenirs- rice crackers and tea for creme eggs.

What does one do after dinner on a Saturday night? Karaoke of course!

My Parents sing Tainted Love

Day Two We had a calmer, more traditional start to Sunday morning, heading to Meiji Shrine, a so-called 'power spot' in Japan. It's a very old shrine (though unfortunately many parts are recent reconstructions due to WW2 bombings). We were very lucky to see no less than three Shinto-style wedding ceremonies, since May 1st is considered to be a lucky day in Japan.

 Before entering a shrine or temple, we must purify our hands and mouth.

 

Afterwards, we hit the fashionable youth centre Harajuku, where my parents discovered the 100 yen (75p) shop, Daiso. There was no stopping them!!

The weather was rather miserable, but after visiting Zojoji Temple, we scaled Tokyo Tower as the sun went down to see the foggy, mysterious night scene.

To be continued...xxxx