Hotel Grandy Miyazaki

... du so eine Karte mit deiner Nr. drauf (unsere war 88). Also gut wir ziehen uns in den Umkleiden um (wobei die nicht wie bei uns sind... schon geschlechter getrennt aber halt alles offen). Jaja wieder Gespraeche belauscht, ist irgendwie ganz lustig wenn man doch was versteht, zumindest ein bisserl. Dennoch waren wir die einzigen westler dort, dementsprechend wurde auch geschaut, sowas haben wir in den groesseren Staedten noch nie erlebt. Na wir sind ...

... of new friends by the time I left at closing time on Sunday morning as the sun came up. If you are passing through Miyazaki, be sure to pop in for passing through Miyazaki, be sure to pop in for a beer and a meal and a chat with Sean and the local people who frequent this great little taste of home away from home. Here is a link to their homepage too just to check out if you`re interested. www.thebarmiyazaki.com

... most spectacular setting on the top of a mountain. Could see the distant volcano (which was thankfully quiet). Even had deer come visit while we were in the outside onsen. Made a successful (thanks to the GPS) trip to our hotel in Miyazaki. Got on the JR train yesterday and toured south to Obi City where they have a city of old wooden houses and a Samari castle. Interesting. Today we head north. Just a quick entry for now.

... I think for 9 months that was a pretty good trade off, exploring the world in exchange for having no idea what was around the corner. So, back we go to a normal life but now we have hundreds of beautiful memories and international friends. I hope that you have all enjoyed reading my stories as I went along and hope that it has shown you that it's an amazing world out there and life is too short to spend it in cube land.

... Beppo. A good reminder of how friendly people are. After almost a month of enjoying the crisp air and fall colors of the hills of Japan, we arrived in Miyazaki, which reminded me more of San Diego CA, with its palm trees and beach sand, then the New England hills of Japan. We spent a couple of days kicking around Miyazaki enjoying the last of the mochi treats and Hello Kitty shopping. Nov 15 is Shichi-go-san which ...

... hills and stop lights between us and the hot tubs, and thanks to the pouring rain, it would be dark in less than an hour. This predicament pretty well defines "hour of need", and for the first and only time in Japan, a travel fairy stepped forward and committed a fantastic rescue. As we were about to jump back on the bikes to peddle like mad for an impossible goal, a large van pulled up, and offered to help. I should explain here that we have never felt so on our own as ...

... I toured 2 automotive parts manufacturers based here in Miyazaki. One factory was very typical of what I would expect to see in America. However, at the second factory, I walk up to the front of the building to see my name posted at the entrace. The president, GM and senior engineer talked to me and showed me around the factory ...

... 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.

... at themselves, they point to their nose. After several tense moments of conversation I figured out that everyone was not telling me that I had a big nose, but they were trying to tell me about themselves! My humor is hard to translate here. One of the translators was a fashion designer. I asked her if she could design a shirt that could me lose 10 pounds. She didn't laugh and said she would bring me a shirt later. . . Maybe she can! Have to run!

... 20 hours. I noticed that during my trip through customs in Nigoya that the further I moved passed immigration the less English everyone knew. The ticketing ladies knew less than the custom officials, the baggage check-in people knew less than the ticketing people and so on. It finally ended with me nodding my head and forgetting all the Japanese I had learned over the last few months. I guess there is something to be said for stage fright!