Hotel Yamaki Hamamatsu

... Mrs. Tanabe, which was a 5-minute walk from the Hanamatsuri temple.

We had a marvelous meal. I asked for a "dentou" (traditional) Japanese meal, and that's what we got. Oden, which was boiled vegetables, eggs, and other goodies in a big pot of soy-flavored broth, Japanese beer (a must), tempura (deep-fried vegatables and shrimp), miso soup, rice, and about three types of salad, were all on the menu. We ate, we drank, and then we left.

Walking along this mountain road ...

... an important meeting for the runners of the relay with the village-council (jeez that sounds primitive), and so in a sweaty outfit, our team faced a bunch of snazzy aged men in suits and told them we'd all do our best. The picture appeared in the monthly newsletter (if I find a scanner....).

Later that week, the BOE informed me of a practice race that was coming up, but before the practice race, they wanted it to be decided who would be the substitute runner. Having no idea that ...

... t have the heart...) tell him he stunk. He figured it was a Gaijin-related joke. When he got home, he realized that he had kamemushi crawling all inside his shirt. Them being about the size of your thumbnail with meat attached to it, I don't know how he could have missed them, unless they're ninja-kamemushi. I guess they're that good at being awful.

Enough tangent. Anyways, it doesn't smell anymore. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

So, the last ...

... to obtain maps and brochures. The Fuji tourist center was particularly large to accommodate all the seasonal hikers and tour groups. There were lots of displays, maps, and a movie showing the history of Mt. Fuji. We met one information lady who was very helpful and went out of her way just for us. She gave us maps, discount coupons for some attractions, told us where the best places to view Fuji were, how to get ...

... 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 ...

... Now just to make it harder, I'm going to stick rivers, mountains, trees, and piles of dirt between you and the hole. OH, and did I mention, that you'll have to wack at this wee ball with a wee stick? Har har har" and all that jazz. The point is, it's fun because it's a pointless challenge. Back in the days before telegrams or camel-riding, some poor sucker who was quicker on his feet than others had to deliver messages, well ...

... which is part of my address, and there was a little under thirty of us in total. We met twice to practice some of the harder activities that took place at the Toyone Dome a small open-walled structure, about the size of an indoor gym. When I first arrived, people seemed a little anxious that I was "on their team". And really, they didn't open up that much until we got drinking the night after the festivities. More on that a bit later.

The games ...

... 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 ...

... wipe your hands clean when you eat, but still, I find it sort of gross. I've seen bathrooms where there's no ass-gaskets for the toilet seats, they have an anti-microbial gel that you put on a tissue and wipe the seat down with. Kind of a neat idea. Cuts down on paper, I guess.. scrubbing down a toilet seat is not something that I'd say I'd be happy to do. *NAPKINS* Japanese restaurants typically are stingy with napkins. At the coffee shop, I was the one who put the sign on the ...