My Radio Debut

17th November, 2007

At the Nada festival we met Hitomi who works for Genki FM a Japanese radio station. We randomly bumped into her again at Miki’s wedding where she asked if we were available to come to the radio station and do some recordings. We weren’t exactly sure what was expected of us but we politely agreed.

We arrived at the radio station still unsure of what to expect. Hitomi and Hiroshi took us into their office to explain what they wanted of us. We were to read out some phrases to promote their radio station all in English.

Us with Hitomi and Hiroshi

We each had to sit in the room and put on the headphones to read out the phrases. It was really funny and a great experience. If they didn’t like the way we said something they would make us repeat it until it was perfect.


We then found out that throughout the week they will play our voices between songs. We will be played everyday for who knows how long. So we are now famous in Japan!!

Huh? Episode 9

Huh? Is back everyone. I have been back on the look out and this is what I have found.....enjoy!!

How about this for an idea....a box to put your banana in so that it wont smell!!

I wonder how exciting it actually is???


Check out the size of this thing....

Anyone for Pain?

This is a sign explaining all the different kinds of poo....

Who would like some "Sod Water"?


Until next time......

Shodoshima - where are we going??

11th November, 2007

Steve and Marie had to work today so Lauren and I decided to head to place which we had never been to before. Shodoshima was that lucky place. We did some research and found out that we had to catch a ferry to this island which was situated about an hour and a half away from Himeji. We worked out exactly what we wanted to do there and we set off for the day.

We arrived at the port ready to catch the ferry across to the island. We didn’t actually realise how big the ferry was actually going to be. It was HUGE - a monstrosity. I couldn’t believe it. Lauren and I were first to board and our mouths just dropped. It was amazing. I had never been on such a big ferry before. There were lounge chairs, a cafeteria, video games, big carpeted areas - it was unreal. We grabbed ourselves some comfortable lounge chairs so that we could relax and enjoy the ride.

The HUGE ferry

Inside the ferry


The ferry was quite full and as room was running out the area where we thought was just going to be us sitting soon wasn’t. A tour group came up and invaded our space. It was quite funny really because at first noone wanted to sit next to us but then eventually there were about 5 old people that did. They were prepared with their little bento boxes and just started talking to us in Japanese the entire way to the island. Lauren and I were just laughing so much as this was just totally unexpected. We used the Japanese that we knew to try and have a conversation with them. One of the men was really drunk and he just kept giggling and trying to speak to us. He kept telling us that we were beautiful. His wife was telling him off and trying to calm him down but he wouldn’t listen to her. They kept getting their tour photographer to come over so that they could all have pictures with us. It was quite entertaining and I think we were the talk of the boat especially since we were the only gaijin on it.

Once we reached the island we said goodbye to our new friends and set off to do the things that we wanted to do. The main things were to see the gorge via the ropeway and to see the olive park. Well this proved to be more difficult than expected. Our main priority was the ropeway so we asked how to get there and it just seemed very confusing to everyone. Buses were very infrequent and so a lot of waiting was involved.

We finally hopped on a bus not really knowing where we were going but hoping it was to the ropeway, It somehow ended up being a tour bus - who knows how or why but it was. They kept stopping at different places where we could get off and look around, but because we didn’t really know what was going on or where to go we just stayed in the area. The scenery from the bus was beautiful. The coast was amazing but because we were on the bus we couldn’t get many photographs.

One of the stops was a look out which was amazing. The autumn colours made it so much better. We were absolutely freezing though so luckily we were only there for about 5 minutes.


We eventually made it to the ropeway after about 2 hours of getting to the island. We couldn’t believe it but the main thing was that we got there. The cable car ride was fantastic as the view of the mountains combined with the autumn trees was magnificent.
The view on the way down

The view at the bottom - I just love the autumn trees, so beautiful!!

Once we got to the bottom we had to wait another half an hour to catch the bus back to the ferry. We were on a very strict time limit as the ferry and busses were very infrequent. We bought a coffee and enjoyed it sitting in a gazebo type thing while we waited for the bus. We never made it to the olive park but at least we did one of the things that we wanted to do. We got to the ferry just in time and were able to relax for the rest of trip home.

Although it felt like we spent a lot of the day on transport and waiting around it was a beautiful island and we saw some fantastic things. I think it would be good to go in the summer time so that you could actually swim there. Also I think spending a night there would have been better.
Lauren and I had a great time trying to figure out what was going on and where we were going. It will definitely be a day trip that I wont forget in a hurry.

A Trip Down The Hozu River

10th November, 2007

Marie, Lauren, Shinya and I (Steve had to work) headed to Kyoto to experience a traditional Japanese style boat ride down the famous Hozu river. About 30 people piled into the boat to enjoy the amazing scenery that surrounded us the entire way down the river. As it is autumn the colours around us were just beautiful.

The boats

Shinya, Lauren and I at the beginning of the ride

Beautiful scenery

More beautiful scenery

Some moments of the ride were a little rocky and rapidy but there was nothing to be worried about. It was very relaxing and good fun.

Some small rapids

Before the end of the ride a motorised boat came up to us selling and cooking food incase anyone was hungry. We were in fact a little hungry so we bought a couple of things to eat. The Japanese people think of EVERYTHING!!

2 hours later we arrived at the end of the river. It was such a beautiful day that there were people everywhere taking boat rides in the river, walking around or just admiring the scenery.

Our boat and our 3 tour guides.

We had a quick bite to eat before heading to a couple of temples which we had never been to before. It surprises me just how many temples and shrines there actually are in Kyoto and although I have been there many times through the course of the year I can still manage to go to some that I have not seen before.
Tenryu-Ji


Beautiful autumn

Yasaka Temple


Maruyama Park

Some girls dressed up as Maiko

All of us with an amazing background

It was a really enjoyable day and I would recommend this trip to everyone. I think spring or autumn would be prime times though.

A Traditional Japanese Style Wedding

4th, November, 2007

Steve, Marie, Lauren and I were very lucky as Miki a student from my university invited us to go and watch her Wedding ceremony. It was a traditional Japanese style Wedding and was held at a shrine close to our residence.

Miki and her husband were dressed in traditional kimonos and looked amazing. It was very interesting to watch as close family and friends were able to join Miki and her husband in the shrine while everyone else had to watch from just outside the shrine.

Miki being walked in by her mum. Her husband is walking in front of them.

The ceremony went for half an hour.

After the couple were married they rang the bell which was by the shrine.

Then it was time for some photos. We were actually asked to be in the group photo with all the friends. We felt really special and glad to be apart of Miki’s day.

Happy Birthday Harvey and Taube!

3rd November, 2007

Harvey and Taube two of the Americans who live in our building had a joint birthday party. We had a few drinks at home before heading into a few bars. Here are a couple of pictures from the night. It was a fairly tame but fun night.

Happy Birthday Harvey

Happy Birthday Taube

The Gang

Chubbas

Taube made this beanie for Julian - I LOVED it and really want it!

A cute place called Izushi

3rd November, 2007

Yoko drove Steve, Spencer, Lauren and I to Izushi which is about 2 hours north from Himeji. Izushi is a small little place but very cute and relaxed and it was very enjoyable spending the day there.


There was a festival going on during the day so we were lucky to be able to see some children parading the streets and then watch some adults doing some kind of performance. It was very different to anything we had seen before so it was quite interesting to watch.

The men with their Japanese style wigs on

As there was a festival on we were able to see some markets selling a variety of foods and other things. We could taste test some of the things for sale. I was lucky enough to have a go at making mochi - sticky rice filled with bean. It's actually quite tasty!!

Izushi has a castle grounds where basically just some of the walls remained and there are many torri leading up to a shrine within the castle walls.

Yoko, Steve and I on the bridge leading into the castle grounds

Autumn is here. These are some of the beautiful autumn leaves.

Me with some leaves

The torri within the castle walls

There is also a famous clock tower which is built in the middle of the main area.

Soba noodles are famous in Izushi and Yoko took us to her favourite restaurant so that we could try them. The restaurant was situated over the water - very peaceful and beautiful.

Steve and I getting stuck into our soba noodles.

The view from the restaurant.

We walked along the main street and got to go inside a traditional style house which was amazing and very big.


We then reached a temple which we had a walk around. This was also amazing.


Lauren and I couldn't resist our chocolate coated bananas. Delicious!!

Izushi was a nice place to visit and I am glad that Yoko was able to take us there.