Aoshima Palm Beach Miyazaki

Heute sind wir nach _Aoyama gefahen. Surferparadis Japans und so. Lauter verfallene Hotels, indenen man super Horror Movies spielen koennte. <br>Japanische Baywatch Typen gabs aber dennoch am strand. Da ist uns gleich wieder mal was passiert. Besser gesagt mir. Jaja diesmal bin ich schuld. Wir haben unsere Wertsachen abgegeben, da kann man sich so einen Korb kaufen auf den dann ein Maedchen aufpasst. Die konnte leider nur japanisch. Im gegenzug ...

... anything to go by. DJ events, Live bands, Ladies Nights, Quiz Events and even Fish &amp; Chips on the menu, its just like stepping back into a bar at home for a few hours, except that there are a great diverse crew of people there from all over the world who can give you the rundown on almost anything and everything thats happening around town. I was only in there for two nights but i really felt like a local with ...

... to turn it off. We just couldn't figure that one out so I went to the rental guy with my electronic translator in hand. I can only translate one word at a time so when I came in and announced emergency he got all excited. Good thing I type fast. When he figured out what I meant we all had a good laugh! Spent a couple of days touring around Kirishima Japan and enjoying a wonderful onsen. Hot spas every day and good food in ...

... it does feel to be back. I though there might be an overwhelming wave of emotion on being back in Boulder or going back to my parents house in Madison for Thanksgiving. But actually, it feels quite nice to be back in familiar places with familiar customs. Unlike our whole trip, I know where the grocery store is and I'm pretty sure I'm not offending anyone by wearing shoes in my parents church. It's good to be home ...

... to "seven-five-three". On this day three-year-old boys &amp; girls, five-year-old boys and seven-year-old girls, all dressed in traditional kimonos and are taken to shrines by their parents to express their thanks to the gods for their good health and to pray for future blessings. We were lucky to be around the Shinto shrine and see these little guys and their parents. So cute! So, that's it! After 14,000km ...

... of the famous dome. The museum is large, well organized, and filled with several thousand school kids. The museum also does an amazingly neutral job of explaining the events leading up to WWII, being very clear that Japan was a rather unpopular aggressor with its neighbors, and then pushing the conflict to the US. They explain at great length the state of the city at the time of the bombing, how it was chosen as a target, the devastation of the bomb and after-effects ...

... were extremely proud to walk me around the factory. Several young Japanese girls were following us around the factory taking pictures and getting us tea and coffee. Needless to say, the male dominated society is different, but I`m enjoying myself! :) I`m exhausted and going out to dinner tonight which probably means more karaoke. Peace.

... the highest suspension bridge in the world and taken a museum tour. All of this while defiling myself every night trying to keep up with the Japanese tradition of filling your beer, sochu or sake glass before you finish your last. UNREAL. Every bar has a karoke machine that is well used. Tonight, I will perfect the phrase, E Eh Kedo des, which means no-thank you. They don`t take no easily and usually I give in first. More Later.

Ok! I made it to Japan, however at the airport I was quite surprised to see 20 rotarians with a HUGE banner welcoming us to Japan. I was not in any shape to meet anyone, but I didn't have a choice. We were quickly shuffled off to our Hotel where the local Rotarians had dinner waiting on us. We met our host families that we will stay with starting Monday Night. However, only a few people could speak English and my host could not. When Japanese people ...

... along with some fruit I had packed. Well what does an idiot do then? He walks back the way he came doesn't he. By the time I returned to the YHA later in the afternoon I could barely walk my feet were so sore. I had another Hot Spring Bath and then decided to leave Sakurajima as I knew I was too captured by the ...