Kuretake Inn Act Hamamatsu

... I came across on the middle of this road. I saw one pair of red eyes glint back at me in the darkness reflected by my headlights, glaring at me with pure hatred (as much hatred that is possible in a jackrabbit). "Jackrabbit?" I hear you say. Yes, and how could I tell this? Well, I'm not sure who ran away faster, but I could swear it was the jackrabbit who was on top who ...

... me her shortcut. I remembered the way I took with Yamashita-san (which was the even LONGER route there, because it wasn't as confusing for me), but she insisted that I follow her. So, learning the first lesson about taking directions, I realized that I did NOT have enough information on Mrs Tanabe's home to accurately find my way there. I realized I had a very common piece of information: Past a certain highway, after the first bridge you see (I passed like three before I saw my ...

... principal lent me his wet-suit again, and so I didn't feel out of place next to the other students in their respective gear. I spent the first few minutes sort of wading around with one of the most adorable special-needs girls, probably one of my first friends I made here, Momoe, and splashed around looking for a safe place to swim. Not realizing our hook-intercepting danger, I accidentally led her into the Hikakke fishing zone, and her father quickly corrected me and took her away. I ...

... vegetables from their garden, and of course, freshly BBQd Ayu. I turned down an offer to go again this weekend, mainly because I was out of town and just exhausted. But this man's house is amazing: it's at least 100 years old, made completely of wood, and smelled great. He lives with his parents, wife, and kids (most whom have taken off for university already, I think).
All in all, an amazing time.

... but coming back is scary).
What is interesting about this day, and probably one of the main reasons why I got out of the house, was because I woke up earlier that morning, around 5AM, to what I thought was a vibrating bed. Well, the bed was vibrating, but so was everything else. Because I had been lying in bed for about 30 minutes drifting in and out, I was wide awake when the place started shaking. It was a weird kind of shake. Like there was no regularity with which ...

... temple (because I'm sure there are many) is huge. The grounds are well swept, everything is spotless, and the architecture, layout and craftsmanship is truly admirable. I can't remember how many shrines I throw 10-yen into, but the most memorable part of the walk was the flag-led path into the garden of foxes. Words can't really describe how this place felt...watch the video. But I can only imagine what Plato would say about videos being removed from reality...
In ...

... to say "yes". Looking back at it, I'm kind of glad I didn't ask any questions: surprise is the norm here.
So Hikkake (from the verb 引っ掛ける ;）is the act of hooking something. In this context, it means to hook or catch a fish, using a arm's length pole with series of hooks on the end. Some of the photos here should a makeshift fishing-pole, one that oddly looks like a devil's fork that the children used. It suited Derek.
When we arrived, the ...

... in a sack, stayed away from anything that looked too outrageous, and generally had a good time.
The worst of the day, other than driving, was wasting 5000 (roughly $5) on stupid Pachinko. I had a guy there "help" me to a machine, and I popped in the 5000yen coin, and watched my money trickle away in the form of little metal balls. There were some seasoned pros all around me, so I figured it was something I was doing wrong; there's a kind of 'knob-technique' to ...

... ok, adjusting alright, and eating properly (thank you sweet corn obachyan from down the street). So when he said "can you drive?", I just decided to go for it and hoped for the best.
First, I got in on the wrong side. No biggie. Switch sides, get in, turn on car. Second, I didnt' realize how often the Japanese use the parking brake. I don't know about you fellow Westerners, but how often do YOU set your parking break? I do it all the time now. But I was questioned ...

... it was obvious that the tongue-shaped meat was indeed the cow`s tongue - couldn`t they have cut it up into normal shapes?? In the event, it was actually very nice, all that was missing was a Yorkshire Pudding or three, but I only have one more week to wait for that. And beans. Mmmmm! :) We called in to see Kazuki playing basketball on the way home, and bizarrely I saw four old guys rehearsing their band in the adjacent building who I could have sworn were the same ...