Oofusasou Minamiboso

... here in Japan... and it's a bit different. Sure, you have songs, and video with scrolling lyrics, plus people making fools of themselves, but it's all done in a little rented room. So, it's a private, more intimate affair among friends, rather than the publicly humiliating event at a bar, like in The States. There's a food menu, plus an endless stream of pitchers of beer. We had two mics, and a lot of fun! Tomas won "Most ...

... particular, provides low-fat, healthy, relatively low cost, prepared take home food.

The everyday local fish markets in Japan are outstanding! Even coastal towns and cities in Canada cannot compare, selection, quality, or price wise.

Here in Japan I never tire of wandering up and down the aisles of amazing, unusual food products.
I have no idea what to do with most of it, but am slowly learning.

... is the outside Daibutsu (Big Buddha) which used to be enclosed but the structure in which it was housed was washed away by a tsunami that struck Kamakura back in ????. I guess the Buddha was still standing (well, sitting actually) after the waves had subsided.

Maybe when I get more motivated (or incredibly bored) I will actually list the names of the temples and shrines I visited. For now I am just going to post some pics and let you enjoy the sights of Kamakura.

Alex sailed today, so it is probably a good time to do another blog. Photos might not be as plentiful from now on with only one person able to take the photos - I'll try and snap pictures when I can though.

In the last couple of days she has started to smile - very rare occassions though. Hopefully smiles will come more frequently from now on.....

We can't believe that Olivia is one month old already! She has continued to do well and is growing both in length and in weight. She has cute little chubby cheeks and her arms and legs are starting to get rolls - much better than the way she was! She is fitting into her newborn outfits much better as ...

We were due to only have 2 nights in the US Navy hospital on Yokosuka base, but on Day 2 Olivia was experiencing respiratory distress (rapid breathing) and had to have additional monitoring. On Day 4 she was transferred to a Japanese hospital as she needed additional care that the US hospital could not provide. After an initial diagnosis of pneumonia this ...

... born in Japan. Umiko means 'child of the sea', which we thought was fitting given that the reason we are here in Japan is because Alex is in the Navy, and also given that she was born by the sea.

We were extremely delighted to welcome Olivia Umiko Gillett, and we know that we are biased, but we think she is the most beautiful and incredible thing in the whole world!!

... are against the natural rhythm now and forgetting the harmonizing with every existence, maybe that's why people are so stressed out these days."

He went to do a welcoming perform when Hokulea came to Yokohama last year. He said he'd like to come to Hawai'i sometime to meet his old friends. Kyoko and I spent 5 hours at his place! I thought time just flew. He's a great storyteller. I was really glad to visit him!

After the breakfast at home (thanks to my mother), we took the "yokohama line" to "Ofuna" station, then took a monorail to "Enoshima"station, then took the "Enoden line" to KAMAKURA.

First, we got off at "hase" station and visited "Kotokuin" temple to view the Great Budda.

Next, we got off at "kamakura" station ...

... skyscrapers, bridges and tunnels... Or simply the warm, generous, selfless and respectful nature of the overall population... It is the people who make this place like no other on Earth. Ready to face the music after trash-talking a little too much about my 10-pin prowess, I met up with "the gang" (Mika, Emi, Tomo & Yumi) for a 10-pin bowling bonanza goodbye bash. I choose not to remember the scores because my leg hurt so it didn't ...