Since there are so many people moving out and going home, there are those that get lost in the process and find themselves in a bit of a predicament. Our two friends who decided to stick it out in Japan for another year now find themselves reluctantly planning a trip home, without a place in Japan, and a need to have a last hurrah before leaving the motherland. Now Ron and I find our two empty rooms filled with drawers and clothes and our space seems a wee bit smaller. This seems reminiscent of a time when we lived with other friends in a space a wee bit too small as well. Now who did we live with ?... Can't remember... Not important... especially if they don't comment on the blog...
But things are great. Most of our friends are leaving so it's nice to have them with us until we go as well. Our home has become the sanctuary for all lost things and during this month we will be having friends come back and forth to Morioka in need of refuge. Ron and I have our own little hostel. A little Bed and Breakfast, although the bed is a futon, and the breakfast is a late night beer, but the cozy comfort of non-home is what we can offer. Ron and my time of solitude has ended, but at least this is a good test of how we'll fare when we finally make it home.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Push and Pull
In Morioka, it's snowing then sunny...snowy then sunny...blizzard than sunny...all in one day. I guess it's funny how the weather outside feels like my insides. We've just finished our last big trip in Japan and we feel like we have completed a big challenge, ready for the next adventure. Then, there are farewell parties at Ichi-ko and many of our ALT friends leaving to return to the normal world, which leaves us a little lonely. They tell me of their frantc stories of trying to enjoy their last moments in Morioka, but at the same time being holed up in their apartment trying to clean and pack everything within their few last hours. That tells the organizer in me to start planning so I don't go through the pain. While matching dates to events, I'm starting to see how really small our time is here. I've been looking on the bright side and telling everyone how long five months is... but that was a month ago. Now it's four and looking at my next school year and realizing that my remaining time is shorter than a Moriokan winter, I can't help but feel that the glass is half empty. I feel relief to start a new journey, but the pangs of fear and guilt as I leave a great place, with great people, and great memories. Snowy...sunny...snowy...sunny... ...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Enjoying Okinawa
Nago City and the Ocean Expo Park
Nago brought us a lot of adventure and firsts. After arriving and searching for our guest house for an hour, we finally found a series of shacks that barely looked like they were holding themselves up. The walls were peeling, everything felt "beachy" and it just looked worn down. However unsure we (I) felt about it, it was indeed our place. However, after going to the Orion brewery and sitting in the hammock watching the beach only ten steps away while talking with like-minded guests, we changed our one night stay to two. Great choice!
The next day, Ron went scuba diving for the first time. He said that he touched fish and coral and went down nearly 8 meters. I stayed on the boat because of my fear of the underwater world. I just felt like if I did scuba, the fish would scare me enough to panic, burst my eardrum, and die. Afterward, we wanted to go to the nearby ocean park that had Japan's biggest aquarium (apparently, it's not in Osaka) so as our mode of transportation, we hitchiked. I would never try it anywhere else but Japan. However, five minutes of shaking our sign and we were saved by a cute couple from Kobe who took us to the park. After enjoying the aquarium, dolphins, beach, and whale sharks, we were debating how to get back, since lightning may not strike twice. We started to walk with our sign and I was cranky so we stopped at a small Taco rice shop. While we were eating, a random lady saw our sign and asked if we could drive her car to Nago since she just drank some medicine. We gladly accepted her offer and along with a free ride to our destination, she also gave us fresh passionfruit. We came back to our guest house to a huge BBQ party. We drank the local liquor and enjoyed beach roasted chicken and homemade pizza. I like Okinawa.
Nago brought us a lot of adventure and firsts. After arriving and searching for our guest house for an hour, we finally found a series of shacks that barely looked like they were holding themselves up. The walls were peeling, everything felt "beachy" and it just looked worn down. However unsure we (I) felt about it, it was indeed our place. However, after going to the Orion brewery and sitting in the hammock watching the beach only ten steps away while talking with like-minded guests, we changed our one night stay to two. Great choice!
The next day, Ron went scuba diving for the first time. He said that he touched fish and coral and went down nearly 8 meters. I stayed on the boat because of my fear of the underwater world. I just felt like if I did scuba, the fish would scare me enough to panic, burst my eardrum, and die. Afterward, we wanted to go to the nearby ocean park that had Japan's biggest aquarium (apparently, it's not in Osaka) so as our mode of transportation, we hitchiked. I would never try it anywhere else but Japan. However, five minutes of shaking our sign and we were saved by a cute couple from Kobe who took us to the park. After enjoying the aquarium, dolphins, beach, and whale sharks, we were debating how to get back, since lightning may not strike twice. We started to walk with our sign and I was cranky so we stopped at a small Taco rice shop. While we were eating, a random lady saw our sign and asked if we could drive her car to Nago since she just drank some medicine. We gladly accepted her offer and along with a free ride to our destination, she also gave us fresh passionfruit. We came back to our guest house to a huge BBQ party. We drank the local liquor and enjoyed beach roasted chicken and homemade pizza. I like Okinawa.
Enjoying Okinawa
The capital city of Naha.
Since we finished our two year excursion of our ping pong travels- trying to see as much as we can in a short amount of time, we decided to spend one whole week in one place. Arriving in Naha felt like Hawaii, Philippines, and Los Angeles all at the same time, which equals good nostalgic feelings and promise of a great vacation. On our first full day in Naha, we enjoyed the colorful Kokusai-dori that was filled with souvenier shops and AMERICAN-ish food. Our lunch was tacos, which actually tasted amost authentic. We enjoyed the nearby beach and sun knowing that our friends in Morioka were still relying on heaters. We biked uphill to the famous castle, but since we were on a no castle/temple diet, we didn't enter but enjoyed the surrounding scenery. We were quickly falling in love with this addicting city.
Don't worry everyone, we're still coming back home!
Since we finished our two year excursion of our ping pong travels- trying to see as much as we can in a short amount of time, we decided to spend one whole week in one place. Arriving in Naha felt like Hawaii, Philippines, and Los Angeles all at the same time, which equals good nostalgic feelings and promise of a great vacation. On our first full day in Naha, we enjoyed the colorful Kokusai-dori that was filled with souvenier shops and AMERICAN-ish food. Our lunch was tacos, which actually tasted amost authentic. We enjoyed the nearby beach and sun knowing that our friends in Morioka were still relying on heaters. We biked uphill to the famous castle, but since we were on a no castle/temple diet, we didn't enter but enjoyed the surrounding scenery. We were quickly falling in love with this addicting city.
Don't worry everyone, we're still coming back home!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Finishing Japan- Day 5
Last day in Kyushu
Waking up in Beppu, Ron and I finished our onsen adventure by going to this little house in the middle of nowhere and having a kazoku-buro (family bath), which means a private onsen made for families and couples to take baths together. Ron now knows what his future bathroom will look like.
After our perfect soak, we made it back to the city and endured a 2 hour bus ride back to Fukuoka where a big bowl of Tonkotsu ramen was waiting for us.
Another couple hours and we were on the road to the Fukuoka airport and 8 pm last night, we arrived in the city of Naha , making our 2 year Japan excursion fully complete. We have now been to every large part of Japan; Hokkaido, Tohoku, Honshu, Western Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and now Okinawa. Today we will lie on the beach with happy smiles on our face. Realizing how much we did in such a short time, it makes me happier to be able to finish this summer and head back and show everyone of the feat we accomplished.
Orion beer and Okinawa soba to celebrate our victory!
Waking up in Beppu, Ron and I finished our onsen adventure by going to this little house in the middle of nowhere and having a kazoku-buro (family bath), which means a private onsen made for families and couples to take baths together. Ron now knows what his future bathroom will look like.
After our perfect soak, we made it back to the city and endured a 2 hour bus ride back to Fukuoka where a big bowl of Tonkotsu ramen was waiting for us.
Another couple hours and we were on the road to the Fukuoka airport and 8 pm last night, we arrived in the city of Naha , making our 2 year Japan excursion fully complete. We have now been to every large part of Japan; Hokkaido, Tohoku, Honshu, Western Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and now Okinawa. Today we will lie on the beach with happy smiles on our face. Realizing how much we did in such a short time, it makes me happier to be able to finish this summer and head back and show everyone of the feat we accomplished.
Orion beer and Okinawa soba to celebrate our victory!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Finishing Japan Day 3
Nagasaki
Nagasaki was a day for eating. There was so much incredible yummy things. Ron and I ate Champon, Sara-Udon, Castella Pound Cake, Turk rice (I want to say it's something from Turkey, but I dunno) and Pork Sandwiches in Chinatown. We used our pedometer that day and managed to walk our 10,000 steps to keep us in top eating form. We also saw the Peace Park filled with beautiful statues. At night we enjoyed ourselves by drinking wine through the streets and listening to street performers entertain the night folk. For the food lover, we recommend Nagasaki.
Beppu
We managed to endure the three hour+ bus ride to the other side of the island. Luckily we had the movie King Kong to entertain us...in Japanese. When we arrrived at Beppu, the rolling green hills, and natural steam coming from the ground looked a little bit like from a movie in itself. There's no well known food in Beppu so Ron and I ate on the cheap. But we did manage a side trip that took us to the biggest tourist trap I had ever seen. We took a 30 minute bus ride to the "Blood Pool Hell" that is suppose to be a deep red gurgling pond of the hottest onsen water. When we got to the location, paid our 800 yen, and meander through the big gift store, we made it to a pond of water with red clay on the bottom, giving the illusion of red water. The funny part is, this is one of 8 hells in Beppu, each with their own unique character, but I'm betting my 800 yen, about the same amount of disappointment. Adding to my belief that Japan puts too much effort in their tourism industry. It was fun and Ron and I enjoyed our adventure.
Nagasaki was a day for eating. There was so much incredible yummy things. Ron and I ate Champon, Sara-Udon, Castella Pound Cake, Turk rice (I want to say it's something from Turkey, but I dunno) and Pork Sandwiches in Chinatown. We used our pedometer that day and managed to walk our 10,000 steps to keep us in top eating form. We also saw the Peace Park filled with beautiful statues. At night we enjoyed ourselves by drinking wine through the streets and listening to street performers entertain the night folk. For the food lover, we recommend Nagasaki.
Beppu
We managed to endure the three hour+ bus ride to the other side of the island. Luckily we had the movie King Kong to entertain us...in Japanese. When we arrrived at Beppu, the rolling green hills, and natural steam coming from the ground looked a little bit like from a movie in itself. There's no well known food in Beppu so Ron and I ate on the cheap. But we did manage a side trip that took us to the biggest tourist trap I had ever seen. We took a 30 minute bus ride to the "Blood Pool Hell" that is suppose to be a deep red gurgling pond of the hottest onsen water. When we got to the location, paid our 800 yen, and meander through the big gift store, we made it to a pond of water with red clay on the bottom, giving the illusion of red water. The funny part is, this is one of 8 hells in Beppu, each with their own unique character, but I'm betting my 800 yen, about the same amount of disappointment. Adding to my belief that Japan puts too much effort in their tourism industry. It was fun and Ron and I enjoyed our adventure.
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