Hamakita Plaza Hotel Hamamatsu

... a trip to the Onsen (hot-spring bath), had dinner, and called it a night. There's at least another three of these over the next couple weeks, but I've had my fill already. I think I might be forced into going to my local area's festival on the 3rd of January, and I think by then I might actually be up to it should I be left without any holiday-celebrations during the break...but that'll have to wait.

As will the pictures...so please have patience. I promise, no more empty promises!

... my opponent, the gym teacher, and a representative from the BOE. This was important. I stretched as much as I could during that day, hopping around in my classrooms of one student each while the Japanese teacher explained grammar, quietly worrying about my performance that afternoon. I really wanted to win this. I didn't want to be a substitute, but the gym teacher asked me for my best time, and thinking back to the race in Ottawa, I managed to do 5km in about 21 minutes.

He had ...

... br>Well, third time around, and I still love it.

The only place around here that has some form of organized physical fitness is the Karate club in Toei-town, about a 40 minute drive for me. Every Wednesday (and now every second Wednesday due to English Conversation Classes), I head to this dojo to attempt a mockery of Karate. I say mockery, because I only understand half of what comes out of the teacher's mouth. But I'm catching on, and they all ...

Today we set out to see iconic Mt. Fuji in the Kawaguchi area. We actually had a choice between the Five Lakes area (Fuji-Go-ko) or the popular onsen (hot spring) town of Hakone. I decided to take the path least taken and go for the lakes. It might be less crowded and pictures of the mountain with the lake would be really nice. Kawaguchi is actually the town closest to the mountain and many hikers start their ascent ...

... I took advantage of it. The procedure for entering an onsen, I'm afraid to say, I'm not completely informed. This onsen had three stranding shower stalls, about fifteen seated showers with plastic seats and wash basins, three waterfall-massage seats connected to the main onsen, a sauna, and an outdoor waist-high hot-bath and seats overlooking the stars and mountain. It's really a beautiful onsen. Well, first you have to really scrub down, and this was ...

Death to anyone who actually calls this a "sport". Where's the 'sport', or fun, in running long distances, causing pain, exhaustion, thirst, and minimal benefits to ones physical condition? What about one's mental condition?

I remember crossing that finish line, muttering "thanks" in about three languages, I was so delirious. Sure, it was an awesome experience, taking in the beautiful scenery on a perfect Autumn day in ...

... various Vodka-like drinks down my throat (beware of Shochu), sake, and lots of beer. I was holding my own, and then when things got dark, we pulled inside for some much needed Karaoke.

There's nothing like drinking and then wailing your heart out on a song-machine in a private room amongst friends. The Japanese are very obliging, no matter your level of skill, in Karaoke. They just want you to have fun. So out comes the drinks, and the various snack ...

... I came across on the middle of this road. I saw one pair of red eyes glint back at me in the darkness reflected by my headlights, glaring at me with pure hatred (as much hatred that is possible in a jackrabbit). "Jackrabbit?" I hear you say. Yes, and how could I tell this? Well, I'm not sure who ran away faster, but I could swear it was the jackrabbit who was on top who ...

... not for this area). It followed the standard format: festival stands and decorations set up, ranging from drink-tent with soups, to toriniku (fried chicken) and takoyaki (fried octopus balls); early-morning drinking, usually made possible by trips to the liquor store the night before, as well as stocking the temple with its home-brew sake-barrel, music, costumes and festival outfits, and, of course, fireworks.

At this particular festival, the only ritual we saw was the ...

... only 1 hr drive from Toyone Village). Him and his wife had wanted me to stop by for awhile at this point, and I was more than delighted to accept the offer. Boy, was I in for a treat. It was my first time trying sukiyaki, which means has the unique translation (depending on the used Kanji) of "Celebratory Sliced-meat", or some glorification of the such. What it is, is a bunch of vegetables like cabbage, diakon, carrot, onion, potatoes, etc. set into a table-top cast-iron ...