Hotel Villa Kuretake Hamamatsu

It's been one day and already 10 hits...I'm flattered. For you anonymous, non-commenting folks, you'll be happy to note that this website has now innovated anonymous commenting.
That means, those who have hitherto been too shy, or too lazy, to get an account and leave their trace-able 2-cents...wait no longer!

Enough of that. The purpose of this blog was to rouse my lazy ass to posting my latest photos. I've got about a month of photos to go through, but I think I will reserve ...

... pictures to follow), and looped back around to finish at the Town Hall. Having hurt my foot two weeks before by running in Japanese shoes (foreigner buyers beware Japanese sizes!, I was still hurting the morning of the half and was a little concerned about how well I would do. I stretched a ton, had a gel-pack, and somehow managed just fine in my old shoes. My time was 1 hour and 40 minutes, and I was huffing at the end.

A few days earlier, the BOE (board of education) asked ...

... kicking-attack, but something settled in me. I had so much stress that night at the typhoon, and I remember how beating up on these kids, and allowing them to beat up on me, and doing my best to just focus on copying and catching every second or third word, really allowed me to unwind and adjust here.

I think it's too easy to look for what's familiar when you come to a new place, and do your best to re-create what you've grown accustomed to in ...

... and then left within two minutes, did so because of my tattoo. Maybe he just didn't say anything. Or, that old guy who was flopping about in the waist-high, leaving as soon as I dipped in...maybe it was just because I was a foreigner. Or maybe it was that it was a chilly night...

I puzzled over these things for a day or two, rejoicing in my success.

And then I decided today, after meeting the second 65 year old doing the amazingly intense hike I ...

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 ...

... tug-of-war competitions. The first was a wild one where the kids all had a bunch of short-length ropes, and they had to grab the rope from the middle and bring it back to their side, fighting all the way from any other kids who try to compete with this. It almost gets violent.

Much like the hat-flipping game, where the kids, with their inverted white-red hats, would run around trying to flip-off the other teams' hats. Hilariously funny until someone ...

... two daughters last summer for a beautiful display. There were thousands of people, and after various cultural dances and performances, they put on a synchronized firework-show. It was so beautiful. Another time, I was driving back from Lac Phillippe with my friend when we overheard the fireworks from the Casino in Hull, doing their international fireworks competition. That was beautiful.

But there is something about the way the Japanese prepare their fireworks, either hand ...

... more personal questions coming from the elderly man in the peanut gallery ceased with his departure, and the other ladies were suddenly reminded of whatever responsibility they might have.
So, I was left alone with... I wish I could remember the names around here better...oh well...left alone with the barber, and we had a pleasant chat about nothing in particular, and I left with an interesting imitation of an 80s Top-gunner (looking like I blow-dry my air with a jet turbine ...

... We returned to Yumi`s house afterwards, and I ate some more lovely Japanese food courtesy of her mum. Kazuki, Yumi`s husband, was also there and gave me a selection of Cup Noodles after discovering last time that we share a mutual appreciation for the cheap and easy-to-make snack. Naturally we drank a few beers as well, though I kept well away from the whiskey that Yumi`s dad was drinking... Yumi, Kazuki and me went to the cinema at 11am the next morning to watch ...

... The place is packed with manicured trees, trimmed to an inch of their lives. Massive groups of school kids being escorted around, all wanting to say hello. The castle was used by a very nervous Shogan who wanted to know if somebody was near him, so he fitted the place with nightingale floorboards. They sing (squeak) when walking on them, so nobody can sneak up. Didn't think about tourist though..what a noise. In the center of ...