東舞鶴へ行く。後 福井か金沢？
On my way to Matsuru...and beyond?
(￣▽￣)ｖ
Monday, August 14, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
三田まつり / Sanda matsuri
All decent sized Japanese towns have a festival (or matsuri) once or twice a year. Last Saturday, the 5th and 6th, was Sanda’s summer matsuri. Like any gathering like this in Japan there are the booths selling street food, games of chance, and other related junk. Since it is the summer matsuri people typically wear yukata, a kinda less formal kimono. Many of them that are sold in stores for young kids feature Hello Kitty or other similar characters. Most matsuri typically end with a fireworks show and Sanda's 45min show was no exception. Since this is Sanda, on the edge of the really rural area, lots of country people came in from the rice fields, hence Sam, Dan, and I got some rather funny looks. We are already quite rare up here (even-though its only like one hour to Osaka) so the random odd stare is normal, but this night it was coming from everywhere.
Another thing to note is that last year there wasn’t a matsuri because of the train accident. If you remember in April of last year there was a big train accident in Amagasaki city on the JR line. Well that was the line that people take from Sanda into Osaka for work. Sanda is like a suburb town with many families who move out here to buy a home. Of those killed in the accident were many Sanda residents. Because matsuri are family occasions, the matsuri was cancelled last year. I think the city made up for the missed year with this years celebrations. Overall, super fun.
And, yes those are real live eels in that photo, and that really is grilled octopus.
I put a few comments on the photos where necessary. Click HERE for the set.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
日本へそ公園 / The Navel of Japan Park
Last Thursday I took the train the long way to the Navel of Japan Park or Nihonhesokoen (日本へそ公園) in Nishiwaki city (西脇). The day was hot hot hot and super humid, but clear-ish at times leaving the sky prettier than usual on these humid summer days.I had purchased the super fun Seshun 18 Kippu (背春18切符) that lets you ride on any normal service JR train for any five days during a given period. Using one of these days I took the longer more scenic route from Sanda (三田), where I am living now, up and around to Sannan (山南) where I changed trains to Nishiwaki, then down to the coast at Akashi (明石), and up again finally to Sanda. Most of the trains were single car conductorless models, and one was a two car model with a conductor but with out automatic doors! Very cool.
The first big group of my photos shows the rail line from Sanda to Tanikawa station (谷川) in the city of Sannan where I had a 2 1/2 hour wait. This was a lovely little city up in the hills filled with old houses and on a wide river. I asked the lady working the Kiosk shop in the station where the post office was and she directed me to it, hearing as I walked away a question from a bystander, “What did the foreigner want?” and the Kiosk lady’s reply “Postoffice.”
The second set of my photos shows Nihonhesokoen itself, the reason for my trip. It is here that the geographic center of Japan lies at the intersection of E135 and N35, as the first visitor to this place from the Degree Confluence Project states:
“The 135 east longitudes have been the standard of the Japanese time. There is the northernmost Japan tip in North latitude 46 degrees, and the southernmost tip in North latitude 24 degrees.”So this is not like a center of Japan in the way we might try to find the center of the 48 states by dividing all the maxim distances in half, but a created one kind of like the 4 corners monument in Colorado, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico. Lacking in fry bread but equipped with a super cool playground (see below).
There are also two confluence points, one for each datum used commonly in Japan. The Tokyo datum site is older and much less visited it appeared to me. The WGS84 datum is perched on the side of a hill but commands better upkeep, perhaps due to its closeness to the museum and playground. Interestingly enough, the WGS84 site is also on the side of a kofun, yet I was not truly able to make out its shape. I got photos of both sites, and the reading on my GPS for fun.
The museum (only 300yen--thank you ISIC card) was pretty interesting, if I had a child I would definitely take him or her here. I got a daytime telescope session and played with the various exhibits on the stratification of the Earth, gravity and other basic principles of Earth science. But, the best part of the place was the super cool playground, that had with super slider slides that had corkscrews and super fast long drops. The slides have conveyer belt like rollers so make sure you remember to use one of the many butt pads they have to slide on or you’ll have a burning hot bottom like I did the first time I did it. The playground’s theme was the Solar System and I have to say really cute, a little bit of cleaning work would have made it perfect. Although for me this typically Japanese state of mild detritus only made it more appealing.
I had a late lunch in the restaurant at the end of the parking lot. A super good ham sandwich plate with iced coffee. Pretty cute waitress too. I should have stayed around there but I was wet with sweat and probably very stinky so I made my way to the train station, skipping the little, yet appealing, modern art museum for another day.
I road the train out to the beach side station of Asagiri (朝霧) near the world longest suspension bridge where I took a bath in the beach-front super sento. I’ve forgot the name already, and found it too crowded with beachgoers to be enjoyable for me. Still it seemed nice and I want to return to the station again to go swimming at least.
I hope to write more about the park, hopefully I can try to read some of the Japanese in the pictures I took to find out when the Tokyo datum site was built.
Clicking on any of the photos will take you that photos page or you can see all the photos in the 日本へそ公園の旅行 set on my Flickr page.
Another site in Japanese about the park, and where I got the map at the top from.
http://www11.ocn.ne.jp/~ohhashi/hesokouen.htm
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Monday, July 31, 2006
日曜日南インド料理を食べた。
友達のバーはガラリバというですごいおいしい南インド料理を食べた。Haggi様はいろいろ外のバーらしいのところで友達と新し友達とインド料理を作る。僕にとって初めての経験でも、外の人にとって２、３回食べことがあった。食べた時に手だけ作った。本当インドらしい。たくさん写真を取った。下のURLで見られる。
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157594217186637/
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
ボーデペイント / Body paint
仕事でいろいろ任務をしなければならないから、仕事が好きだ。今日プールで遊んで ボーデペイントを書いた。すごい楽しかった。遊んだ後で先生は子供にボーデペイントを洗ってくれた。生徒の体は僕の手と水で ボーデペイントを擦った。その生徒のお臍の中にみどりペイントを見ると思ったけど、接触する時にペイントじゃないのに気がついた！ヌメリだったよ！EWWWWWWWW!!!!!! 「Awww. What’s this! Oh, its not paint. Well I’ll clean it anyway.」と言った。
子供を教える時には、いろいろびくりことをするわけだ。
At my job I have to do many different tasks, that’s why I like it. Today we played in the pool then painted with body paints. It was fun. After playing the teachers cleaned the children’s body paint. With my hand I scrubbed the students bodies. In one students belly button I noticed what I thought was some green body paint, however when I touched it it turned out to be mucus! EWWWWWWW!!!!! “ Awww. What’s this! Oh, its not paint. Well I’ll clean it anyway” I said.
When teaching children many surprising things will happen.
(Note: I tried to write my English version of the story almost as I wrote my Japanese so that’s why it might read funny. Also わけだ means like “it follows that” or “that is to say” so I think I used it correctly.)
子供を教える時には、いろいろびくりことをするわけだ。
At my job I have to do many different tasks, that’s why I like it. Today we played in the pool then painted with body paints. It was fun. After playing the teachers cleaned the children’s body paint. With my hand I scrubbed the students bodies. In one students belly button I noticed what I thought was some green body paint, however when I touched it it turned out to be mucus! EWWWWWWW!!!!! “ Awww. What’s this! Oh, its not paint. Well I’ll clean it anyway” I said.
When teaching children many surprising things will happen.
(Note: I tried to write my English version of the story almost as I wrote my Japanese so that’s why it might read funny. Also わけだ means like “it follows that” or “that is to say” so I think I used it correctly.)
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
武庫川は大雨後
Monday, July 17, 2006
阪急今津線の写真 Hankyu Imazu line photos
西宮市に阪急今津線近くに散歩をして写真を取った。
I walked around Hankyu Imazu line in Nishinomiya and took some photos.
Click HERE for the set.
I walked around Hankyu Imazu line in Nishinomiya and took some photos.
Click HERE for the set.
初の虹 / First Rainbow
My first Japanese rainbow, and what a rainbow. Both ends were visible and at times there was a double rainbow. Living up here in Sanda has its benefits.
日本で見始めたのが虹だ。すごいきれいだよ！田舎がちょっと詰まらないだけど大自然は素晴らしいネ！
日本で見始めたのが虹だ。すごいきれいだよ！田舎がちょっと詰まらないだけど大自然は素晴らしいネ！
あま湯ハウス
Amayu House (あま湯ハウス） is a supersento, relaxation complex complete with more than just a great bathhouse. A short 5 minute walk from JR Amagasaki station. Just head west towards Kobe following the train tracks, its hard not to see.Price: 1,850円
Included: body soap, shampoo, rinse, face soap, razors, toothbrush, body towel, bath towel, yukata (to walk around the building in), hair dryers, hair combs, some after shave like stuff... and for 1,850円 it better have all that.
Underwear and better razors are for sale from a vending machine in the changing room.
Baths:
Shower, basic cleaned water ofuro, basic unfiltered ofuro, vitamin bath, nice wooden ofuro, a herbal bath that had a cave motif, cold water bath, steam sauna with salt, sauna, outdoor unfiltered ofuro, three tub baths with different herbs added.
Food:
There are vending machines and 2 or 3 different restaurants.
Lobby:
Lobby sitting area with newspapers, a tatami sitting area, sleeping room (complete with lounge chairs and blankets to use, massage chairs, massage service (feet, shoulder, , smoking areas, gacha-gacha, UFO catchers, slots, coin-ops.
How-to:
Lock your shoes, present the ticket and the key from the shoe locker to the check in person who you will pay and give you a locker key. Enter the baths. Enjoy!
Review:
I love going to places like this, its huge, but I don’t think many gaijin go. I got some odd looks. I went around 9 in the morning and it was fairly busy, but no waiting for anything the baths were more than big enough. I can’t recommend a place like this more, yea it is a bit pricey, but its around that of a movie ticket here in Japan and I’d rather take my time in the baths than watch a crappy movie. I had a great time sitting in the sun after getting out of the cold bath and getting a little tan while the water evaporated off of my skin. The other great thing about Ama no yu is the different herbal baths and the way they make your skin feel and smell after. Oh yea the cute otter mascot is too cute to pass up.
Rating:
4.5/5
Links:
Amayu House home page
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Monday, July 10, 2006
A small update & photos
Today I cleaned up my room organized my clothing and went to Nishinomiya where I saw my host mom, she’s doing great, and had yakitori with my friend Keiko, who is also doing well. I also took a bunch of photos and uploaded them.
The first set includes pictures of my new apartment and the wonderful view from its 12 floor windows. In this set is a pic of my new cell phone. There is a pick of the elevator building. The mansion complex I live in now is on the top of the hill and the developer put in an elevator (accessible my the door key) so people don’t have to hike up the stairs on the way to the train station. And lastly, there is a pick of my super cool futon!
The second set includes pictures of, and around Taoji station the area I live in. Taoji is on the slow, old Shintetsu line that runs from Sanda in the hills behind Kobe to Shinkaichi in western Kobe.
The third set includes pictures I took in Sannomiya on the way home.
The first set includes pictures of my new apartment and the wonderful view from its 12 floor windows. In this set is a pic of my new cell phone. There is a pick of the elevator building. The mansion complex I live in now is on the top of the hill and the developer put in an elevator (accessible my the door key) so people don’t have to hike up the stairs on the way to the train station. And lastly, there is a pick of my super cool futon!
The second set includes pictures of, and around Taoji station the area I live in. Taoji is on the slow, old Shintetsu line that runs from Sanda in the hills behind Kobe to Shinkaichi in western Kobe.
The third set includes pictures I took in Sannomiya on the way home.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Saturday, July 08, 2006
First shot!
I got my cellphone today! It's on DoCoMo so everything is different, besides it being a different phone. I chose the one I got, Foma S09021, because it has a 3MP digital camera which I will test out tomorrow.
This photo was taken in its default mode.
This photo was taken in its default mode.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Cute new mascot for the 南海電鉄
This is the new mascot the Nankai railway is using to promote their version of the PiTaPa, a IC card that you tap on the gates to pay for you train fare eliminating the need for paper tickets. I find him very cute and it seems that all he (or she, or it) can say is "mo."
Another photo here
Another photo here
バナナハウスと堺市 / Banana House & Sakai city
I uploaded photos from the glorious hotel I stayed at last week called Banana House in Sakai city. As I blogged below, It reminded me of the Happiness Hotel from “The Great Muppet Caper.”
Other photos in the set include shots of Daisenryo Kofun and the adjoining park.
Click here for the set
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