4 weeks down, almost 4 to go..

急に暇が多くなった。。なぜかなあ~？

I've suddenly been rather sociable! (I wonder why!?)
Here are a few pictures of some outings:

 Huw's Jazz Band

 AEON party in Ohizumigakuen

 Possibly my last time at my favourite Chinese restaurant! Xie xie!

 Karaoke!

日本ではサンドウィッチはよくサンドに短くされます。サンドは砂と言う意味もあるからこの写真はぴったりと思いました(*^^*)
Sandwich is often abbreviated to 'sand' in Japan. The beach at Kamakura was so windy that my sand sandwich got sandy.. :/

 At a beach party with Branwen (my friend Michael DJing in the background)

 Comedy night near Shinjuku. I volunteered as a 'prop'

To Mum and Dad- I met the guy who does the "Welcome to Tokyo Tower" voiceover for the lift at Tokyo Tower!

Toshi in Hanoi

Toshi worked really hard to impress his superiors and prove his skills, and despite being the youngest ever to be hired and competing against longer-serving rivals, he was successful in being transferred after less than 3 months at the company! I'm really proud!!!

会社に入ったばかりのに、若いなのに、転勤されることはすぐなったです。トシをすごく誇りに思っている！！

 A week of stress finally 'boxed up' and done!
荷物を詰めることがついでに終わった！

 At the airport: This isn't goodbye; it's hello to a new life!!
飛行機では「さよなら」じゃなくて新しい生活に「ハロー」です！

I'm happy to report that Toshi is safe and sound in Hanoi after just a week's notice of his transfer. Looks like he is living in Ha Noi's Cầu Giấy district, West-South-West of the centre. I hope that he (and eventually I) will enjoy this next adventure!!

トシ君が無事でハノイに到着することができて喜んでいます！ハノイの「カウガイ」という西方な区に住んでいるらしい。これから新しい冒険が始まりますね！

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 (*^^*)