Kaikatei Hamamatsu

... back into that calmness of familiarity. But does the fish really know what's outside the deep, dark blue of his home until he hops out for a peek, or gets caught by a hook? I'm sure I've swallowed the bait, hook and all by now. But I think the less I've struggled to get free of this feeling of awkwardness, the easier it's become to adjust to it.<br><br>Oh and on a side-note: I've managed to make my very first, solo-sushi this evening. Freakin' delicious!<br><br>

... the most tense part.<br><br>In onsens, you wear nothing. They don't want you contaminating the pool with your germs, or the germs on your clothes; the whole idea of onsens is that it's natural. So, au-naturel I went. When I sat down next to these two older guys, I struggled to keep my bandage on. It was already coming off within seconds of contact with water. Damn lying labels (or maybe I just couldn't read it properly).<br><br>Holding it to my chest, I ...

... The course wasn't too difficult, with winding roads, long bridges overlooking a green lake (they don't call it Midori-ko Marathon for nothing), and surrounded by mountains on all sides. I almost tripped three of four times, Run Fat Boy Run-style, while trying to take all of it in while jamming to Enigma or screaming out Coldplay through my iPod. I tried to say 'Ganbatte' (Good luck! Try your best!) to everyone that went by ...

... where you pass around a wireless microphone, and take turns screaching out tracks from the Beatles, The Carpenters, Michael Jackson, or any of the hundreds of artists they have stored in these machines. You do it in a small but comfortable room filled with sofas, tambourines, and a telephone for easy food and drink ordering.<br><br>Genius.<br><br>I hope I did this day justice, as I'm sure the photos and videos will explain more that my words can.<br><br>Adieu!<br><br>

... high-tailed' it outta there, leaving his hapless victim (not his dinner, mind you...they're herbivores right?) on her own.<br><br>So, having disturbed this lovely display of primal roots, I burst out laughing, feeling awful for having taken part in playing the breakin-father. But heh, if I'm not allowed to have fun, neither are the bloody bunny-rabbits!<br><br>Kinball rocks!<br>

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

... Isn't part of the reason I'm here due to an expectation that I would share my culture with one different from my own (namely, that Canadians love to enjoy music, and share it, whenever an opportunity presents itself)? Isn't this just a little bit...I don't know...rude?<br><br>Those were my thoughts at the time, all at once I think, yet I responded with a nod and an "Ok, sorry," and quickly tucked the guitar away and out of sight. But now I realize that although that might be ...

... fished it out for me).<br>The feast was amazing. Some of the local ladies who owned the little shack we were cooking at prepared a delicious Ayu stew, tons of Onigiri (rice balls with surprise stuffing!), and served fresh produce from their gardens. The cucumber and tomatoes here are juice-spurting goodness. And, there was tons of Ayu to be BBQd, so while others tended to that, I enjoyed the hot weather in my drysuit (I'm just used to calling it wetsuit), and talked to the other ...

... we took part in a Tea Ceremony at one point, with both of us having to kneel down in front of an old Japanese lady and watch as she whipped the powder into a frothy consistency. We then had to follow suit, before meticulously lifting the bowls up and taking a sip (something I wasn`t looking forward to doing after my previous encounter with green tea). After the initial sip, we had to drink the rest in one, and actually it tasted alright, as did the Japanese sweet we ...

... hands. It also doesn't make sense that they pull the mask down over their chin a lot to talk. I guess it's more to look polite, than it is for practical reasons. I bought one just to look cool since I was slightly sick. If they really kept ppl from getting sick, no one would ever need one, since no one would get sick from contact anyone else, right? *BEEF* I don't get it. I'm not complaining since I just do as the locals do, but the beef is incredibly fatty. I don't know if the ...