A Big Catch-Up!

I apologise for the delay! I had been busy helping with my co-worker's wedding, then I've been having some technical difficulties.

News: As for the 'Adventure' that Toshi and I will be embarking on, it looks probable that Toshi will be starting late next month, and that I shall follow early October. I'm trying not to stress out (and failing..)

Camping May 30th 2012
I appreciate you've probably had enough of seeing my camping photos, so I'll just put up two. We left straight after our work finished (we both happened to finish at 6) and hurried to a place called Kawai (no, not kawaii , meaning cute!). This campsite was amazing- no ants or insects to speak of at all! And a lovely, clear stream flowed nearby. Definitely want to go again!

Charlie's Wedding June 2nd 2012

Charlie and his wife Rimi chose to hold a Western-style (as do approx. 90% of couples in Japan) in their favourite Italian restaurant. As couples in Japan legally marry at the local City Office (the same as in France and some other countries), the couples are free to hold any kind of ceremony or party afterwards and officials do not participate. The vows and exchanging of the rings were led by Charlie's old friend, Walter. I was given the honourable task of being receptionist and greeting the guests, as well as organising the party games for the after-party.

 Reception-ing and posing with the bouqet!

 The lovely couple, and hosting the 'Shoe Game' at the after-party

• Feel free to watch the video below of the popular Wedding party game called  'The Shoe Game' hosted by myself in Japanese.

Hadn't realised my Japanese had such a Welsh accent!



Venus Transit June 5th
Clouds, clouds, and more clouds ;( Oh well, only another 105 years to wait..
Disney Sea June 10th

Since Jen's departure from Japan, it had been a long time since I'd been to Disneyland or Sea, but I finally managed to coerce convince Toshi into going with me! For someone who loves Disney movies and songs, he had been a bit grumpy, but I think in retrospect he isn't such a fan of rollercoasters..
Anyway, we had a good time =D

No, not Mexico, the Indiana Jones ride!

A Planetarium (yay!) and a bunch of Japanese girls wearing their school uniform who all looked exactly alike (..;)

Typhoon #4 June 19th

Not a happy, drenched bunny with a destroyed umbrella (>.<;) But at least the rain was warm!

Total Eclipse of the Sun!

It's been quite an interesting year astronomy-wise, a lunar eclipse back in December, a spectacular supermoon last month, an annular eclipse today, another lunar eclipse on June 5th and there will be a transit of Venus on June 6th, which I am very looking forward to! (Unfortunately only partially visible in the UK)!

This was the second eclipse I've experienced, as I viewed the partial solar eclipse while I was on a Girl Guides camp half my life ago in August 1999.

At the peak!!!!!

My own pictures: Before, during totality and after!

Most eclipses occur over the sea, since the Earth is 2/3 water, and this eclipse was particularly special due to the fact that its totality was visible from several of the most densly-populatied cities in the world.. my very own Tokyo included (others being Hong Kong, Osaka, San Fransisco). There certainly was a lot of media hype, and luckily the eclipse occured in the morning before work started!

Something that I was really disappointed with, though, was the lack of media emphasis on the fact that special sunglasses are *absolutely necessary*, and I regrettably saw people viewing the eclipse with their naked eyes..  

Stay tuned for pictures of the transit of Venus next month- I'm glad to be able to use my eclipse glasses again too! (*^^*) If you've no idea what I'm talking about, look here

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!

Dinner

I bet my Mum wouldn’t believe I’m cooking squid (for the first time), so I’m posting this picture！ Your fussy-eater of a daughter is long gone！
Made one of my favourite dishes, Korean Kimchi soup (*^^*)

お花見 Cherry Blossom Viewing

Possibly the most anticipated event of the Japanese calendar has come and gone in the blink of an eye.

My student who is a Buddhist monk tried to explain the significance of cherry blossoms in Japanese culture; their fleeting opening and falling to the ground reminds us that life is short, yet beautiful. The flowers remind us to enjoy life and beautiful nature.

So in the spirit of the season (my third in Japan! Blimey!) I managed to squeeze in no less than three cherry blossom viewing events (known as o-hanami) into my busy schedule!!

• On the Sunday, the first hanami was my own Marshall English School's party, and students coming along meant lots of amazing home-cooked food!!! I myself prepared cold clam pasta, which seemed to go down pretty well!

 

Delicious rice balls and .. take-away pizza (!?)

 My boss opens up some champagne!

 With some of my students

• The following day on Monday I went on a bike ride before my afternoon classes along Meguro River, one of the most famous viewing spots in Tokyo and only about 3 minutes from my place, on an unseasonally hot day with my cowoker, Tom.

 So beautiful!!

 All dressed up to see the blossoms in suits and kimonos!

 We went exploring and stumbled upon this gorgeous hidden Japanese garden in Hiroo city

• By Wednesday the petals were already falling, and the white sakura near Toshi's house looked just like snow!

 Snowy-sakura!

Then we went on a drive (as we do) to a park with reportedly 40,000 cherry blossom trees near Tokorozawa City, though regrettably it was raining so I didn't get any decent pictures..


Coming up.. in 3 days is the start of my 9-day long Golden Week holiday!! I can't wait!
Toshi and I are planning 2 days camping, 3 days with the family in Osaka including a family vacation to Awaji Island for some sightseeing :D