Ise Shima Royal

... attraction there is Ise-Jingu, the most venerated Shinto shrine in Japan. It's where the imperial family conducts their spiritual business and is separated into 2 parts: the outer shrine Geku and the inner shrine Naiku. Geku is is the more accessible, but also the less impressive. Both are located in the woods and has a nice relaxed feel despite the tons of tourists there today (even on Wednesdays, I guess). Both have ...

... to the Japanese ryokan where we would be staying for the evening. I had already received the names of my roommates on a piece of paper but since after 5 weeks of 'studying' Japanified Chinese characters (kanji) I still can't read names (unless they happen to be mountain fire ricefield) I just had to assume that I should be looking for Japanese girls. In the end it turned out to be a very nice experience as this was the first time ...

... shrines. We went to Nagoya and I bought snacks for the month and had a teriyaki burger from McD's for dinner. I got home at around 10ish and the whole family was there. Kozue helped me figure out some of my cel phone problems and there was even some dinner left over for me and fruit! Yay. haha. I'm still not 100% healthy yet though.

... week now, Sunday was pretty much the only chance to have a real hanami with everyone. Mayu and the others happened to find an ideal, unoccupied location (including tarp!) just before my arrival, so I hopped on over as soon as I got off the train. The weather, however, was trying hard to get ugly on us. It had begun sprinkling just before my train arrived, and in a short time it turned to a more steady drizzle. The wet conditions prompted a predictable exodus ...

... belief in. That is merchandise. They had an infinite array of goods all sporting the small group of dodgy and hardly Spanish characters. They even had baby versions of these characters, and old fashioned black and white versions. I smell a Disney copyright lawsuit in the air. But my little fishing village was lovely, and being next to the ocean again was fantastic. I didnt realise how much I missed it.

... bad, it is just different." Her description made me laugh, because I could only imagine how strange the whole process would really turn out to be! Lily and I were very nervous as Shima drove us to one of town hospitals. The hospital was obviously one of the older hospitals by the looks of the exterior and inside smelled, like a hospital and the nurses were scurrying around in nurses outfits that belonged in the 1930's I felt like. We were given a slip of paper that stated ...

... One was a beautifully sculpted wood pagoda. There were Buddha statues made of limestone and all sorts of cool stuff. If I was rich, I definitely would've bought something there. Yves was telling me about these pilgrimages people can do. There is a 33 temple pilgrimage and an 88 temple pilgrimage. You buy these scrolls (or shirt) with each temple's seal on it...and as you visit the temple, you get it signed by one of the monks there. Some people spend years doing these ...

Making Japanese friends is one of the best things that happened to me while travelling through Japan. I was invited on a day trip to a very small sand island hosting a beautiful beach and clear waters. Its called Mizuhama and its only reachable by your own transport, hence the friends kind hospitality to take me with them...

Short half hour flight from Tokyo Narita to Nagoya. Here we have to get off the plane, take all of our stuff with us, or it will be gone. Then go around through security, then back on the same plane, same seat, and finally off for the final leg to Saipan. This trip is about 3.5 hours. How do I know that you have to take ALL of your stuff? Because last year, I left a magazine in the seat pocket in front of me, and it was gone when we got back on the plane.

... lately. I guess I'll find out tonight. I'll probably see my grandma tonight. I think we're staying at her place. I could be wrong though. I don't really remember. Frost is forming on the outside of the window. According to the flight information screen, the temperature outside is -59°F. Pretty chilly! It's a good thing the cabins are climate controlled. The horizon looks nice. The clouds look like a fluffy carpet of cotton balls, meeting the horizon in a warm glow of ...