Its an easy lesson to teach and quite practical for free conversation. It has also proved to hold my favourite moment thus far. See that comment about British women above? Well, apparently 3 students have recently misread it as:

"Most British women not QUITE work after marriage."

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And it was with the welcome return of warmth to the landscape that we ventured down to the local park for a BBQ. The plum blossoms had arrived early and my regular drinking friends from [es] were eager to enjoy the spirit of the season.

About 30 of us gathered in the park. We were prepared for a feast, a large garbage bag filled with ice, beer and chuhai at the edge of the blue tarp.

A charcoal BBQ set roared with the sizzle of mushrooms, capsicum and Japanese radish and marinated beef; a familiar smell of weekends lingered through the air.

The drinking and eating continued all afternoon. A football was tossed back and forth while waiting on the next round. Children and families looked on with envy; dogs half barked and panted begging to join us as they desperately tried to drag their masters over. At one point, the football was thrown too far and a small boy spirited it back for us. We kicked it back to him. His friends raced to play with us and soon a game developed as they ran circles around us in our tipsy state. Their parents laughed as their kids screamed out "ball please! ball please"

As the day faded and the beers began to run low, Akira found himself sleepy after a massage.

Why wait for a photo when you can create your own fun and soon we began to pile any loose objects on top of him.

His half buried state provided the laughs as we continued to play a strange Jenka game into the night; the simple rule of finishing your drink if you were the one that caused him to wake up. For my sake, I7m glad he's a heavy sleeper.

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The prayers of the local people after flooding were answered and the celebrationary parade has continued since the 6th century.

So it was on this sunny that we headed out into the cultural center to witness traditional Japanese attire wander through the streets.

It began with a display of horsemanship, charging down a gravel path before the dignitaries.

The crowds had already staked out prime positions but a friendly couple allowed us to squeeze through for photo opportunities.

Suddenly the crowds began to dissipate and we charge after them. Weaving through back streets, the procession had began, the rhythmic clang of bells and light dance of the flute echoed further down the road.

We dashed out where the crowds were thin, grabbed a photo and dashed ahead through alleyways, trying the catch the entire gambit on display.

Children marched on through the noon heat in elaborate clothes ...

... streams of colours washed past, pink archers, green horseman and red flute players ...

... a solemn geisha expressionlessly walked the hour long pilgrimage.

Eventually it ended at the Kamigamo shrine, recreating the original offerings to the gods.

Kyoto's Aoi Festival remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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I've been doing lots of things, seeing lots of things and eating lots of things. Wow, thats Champagne quality English there. And to think I'm getting paid to impart this high quality vocabulary.

Oh well. Since this is a travel blog I guess I should blog about my travels. *Sigh* More quality there as well.

It was a mildly warm day when K and I headed to Kyoto. I had been watching the nightly news of late, the small Cherry Blossom pictographs marching up across the map of Japan as the weather warmed into mid-20s.

K and I opted for a mild Tuesday to journey back to Arashiyama and Kyoto to soak up the short-live Sakura, the Cherry-blossoms.

Arashiyama was first up. Along the river sat a small gravel park, it's grounds sprinkled with blue tarp and grassy patches between neatly lined up Sakura trees marking it feel like a giant Connect-Four
game. Children played Hide-and-Seek around the trunks while laughs and clanging glasses rang out from between.

Trees lined the streets, erupted in home gardens and along the river bank.

Fallen leaves of white and pink lay like dead snow in the gutters and blew silently across the bridges, before floating away beyond sight.

As the day drifted on, we headed to the Kyoto Botanical gardens and wandered through bamboo forests, red tulip fields and ponds filled with lilies.

We travel back to Gion by bus, a long and slow meandering method which seemed to highlight each and every corner of Kyoto as it weaved through the entire grid of the city.

Eventually dusk befell the landscape around, the red glow called out from beyond the mountains before melting away into greys and blacks.

Kiyomizu Temple stood tall above a Sakura landscape, a large spotlight highlighting the pagodas and soft gentle light illumiating the flowers for their final few days.

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I needed to leave the apartment and see something different. The Kansai Time Out, a local English magazine, listed a few art exhibitions and which seemed mundane and boring. I scanned the web for something unique and it was here that I discovered a travel display of Dali works.

K and I, clutching our umbrellas headed braved the gloomy sky, shuffling into Umeda. It was lunch time as our journey began so we stopped off at a local Gyoza museum. Above an amusement parlor, 12 shops splattered around in a darken room with post-war relics displayed their wares. A map of the wall showed their specialties. Gyoza resembles steamed dim-sims and we savored a few shops before heading out to the bay.

The Exhibition was in the Suntory Museum and focused on the variety of the surrealist master. Large desert scenes and melting imagery freckled the walls; scrawling written works caged behind glass, mannequins draped in flowing gowns, assorted scents in in contorted bottles, magazine covers an film set stills; he was quite prolific in his diversity.

The sky was still bleak as we exited. A large display of turtle caught our eye as we released the 3D Underwater show was about to begin. We raced over to buy tickets and, as luck would have it, the cashier remember me from earlier and offered to give us the Dali/3D ticket combo deal, we merely payed the difference.

She handed us a large pair of 3D goggles and to me, a small ticket. It wasn't until we approached the theater's doors that we realized what it was for. I exchanged it for a pair of wireless headphones. We sat in the darkened theatre for an hour, glasses on our face as images of the deep sea floated across the screen; giant green turtles appeared to swim through the movie house; a swarm of jellyfish danced over our heads. I could hear a muffled Japanese voice coming from somewhere behind the screen. Through my headphones, Johny Depp whispered the mating habits of the octopus while Kate Winslet spoke of strange walking starfish that can outrun their predators.

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We had arranged to met at 12pm. I was left standing outside the department store, a cold breeze whipping my hair back and forth before I decided to call them.

Where the hell are you?

"Oh. Sorry. We just woke up. Come over" I headed back up the road. As the door was answered, a half dressed girl straining in the afternoon light answered the door. I waited in their living room and after an hour they were ready. We headed into Namba.

They grabbed my arm as we approached the convenience store to buy some drinks for the show. We weren't sure if they served alcohol or not but better to be drunk then sorry. I guess this sumo had the same idea.

Large colourful banners lined the outside of the gymnasium where the event was being help; their brilliant display and soft wave in the breeze failed to be captured by my mobile phone camera as the light drifted from the day.

People lined the street and entrance waiting for the sumo. As cars, van and taxi pulled up, people tussled to take photos of their heroes entering the stadium.

A security guard at the ticket booth welcomed the chance to practise English and talk about his beloved sport as we debated our seating options. Finally we choose some towards the back, so that we could take in the stadium and could have seats. The seats towards the front we merely little squares on cushions and the prospect of 4 foreigners squeezing in, sitting crossed legged and drinking for the next 4 hours seemed a little awkward.

Our tickets came with a simple booklet outlining the history of the sport from in roots 8 AD, through the variation of the day and Emperors whims to the noble modern art. It talked of the sand/clay mix of the dohyō and the rice string bales or tawara which formed the ring of combat built new for every tournament

Soon the matches begin. Large men entered the ring, grabbed a handful of salt and tossed it across the ring. Often, they would approach the shikiri-sen, the two centred white lines marking their starting point face-off, squatting in preparation before backing off for another handful of salt. It was difficult to tell wether this was a tactic used to throw their opponents, a friendly pre-match mind game or the chance to show their respect for the game and rituals it entailed. These near starts often went on 6 or 7 times before both of them would finally bow, squat and collide with a massive force, hands wildly slapping each other. In Sumo, the loser is the first one to touch the ground, or move beyond the ring and the battles were almost always over within 10 seconds. A respectful bow is given by both participants before the next contenders enter.

As the day progressed, the more talented and higher ranked the wrestlers were; as were the more empty wine and beer bottles at our feet. The day finally ended, and after a quick sweep through the souvenir shops, we staggered out into the fresh night air and head for some traditional food from our own cultures; after the alcohol McDonalds never tasted so good.

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I woke up.

It's 9:30am. A low rumbling had surrounded me. Was I still drunk or was the room spinning? The cupboard doors were banging. Clean glasses clanged together in the sink. My little Sumo, hanging from the light cord, swayed in my breeze-less room.

Earthquake !?!?!

I went back to sleep.

You know you've been in Japan too long when ... #65 remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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It's time for me to go.

I started looking around on my days off. I dragged my Japanese friends around from real estate to real estate on weekends. Looking for something in the same area. I knew where I was, I knew how to go. The convenience of 3 major train-lines (Kyoto and Kobe within 45mins) and a short walk to Umeda seemed a lot to give. The bar was here. The restaurants were here. I was use to the ladies-of-the-night on the corners; I enjoyed watching the drunk business men sway down the streets; the shy couples darting in and out discretely from the love hotels.

I gave notice with a quick call to the apartment managers; I would have to be out by the end of February now.

For a month I peered into Japanese apartments. Some where 20 minutes for the station and big. Some had no storage space. Most were barely the size of my old bedroom in Oz and that was for the entire apartment.

As the deadline grew closer, I finally settled an a small place near the river and the daunting task of applying by completing Japanese paperwork settled in. There was so much money! Rent in advance, fire insurance, lock changing service, corporate body charges, electricity, gas, water. Japan also has a wonderful tradition of Key money. This tidy little sum came to around $800 and was basically a donation to the landlord - "thanks so much for allowing me to move in" money.

I raced out and signed up for internet as the paper work went through. What? 5 weeks wait?!!? My god!!!! I called friends every other night and dragged my laptop around Juso. Lets watch a movie, oh and can I check my email and update my system? Finally the wait was up. At 9am sharp, a telco arrived and tested the signal in my room. He tapped his device several times, never a good sign. After scratching his head, he asked me in Japanese if I understood his language. No, I replied with a sigh. He grabbed a sheet of paper and handed it to me.

We regret deeply that the terminus being in the build where our dutiful works was completing ....

It was a poor translation of something that I couldn't understand. I tried to call my Japanese friends, but they were all working. Eventually, I figured out that the signal had been turned off at the exchange and since it was locked, I'd have to arrange another appointment when access could be given. Finally my friend called back, came over and we started this process. She looked at me, the next appointment is in 2 weeks time. AARRRGGHHHH!!

The days were long. The nights were cold. How I occupied myself, I still cant recall. Somehow, the second wait period was over. The internet had arrived. I spend the next 10 hours, checking emails, surfing, chatting and playing games. Its good to be connected again.

Goodbye Juso. Hello Juso. remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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So, Student A brought in some nice photos of co-workers and his family.
"He's tall and has brown hair."
"She's short, has black hair and blue earrings"

Student B brings in some photos he took at a recent car show. Bikini clad women stationed at booths, drapping themselves across cars. Heres a close-up of the material on her top, a shot of her woman-ly curves and another zoom in of her backside. He sat with a devilish grin.

So my group class had a test today. They were given a Japanese instruction sheet informing them that for the duration of said test I couldn't help them with grammar or pronunciation.

Moments before they began, I handed them a topic card each and instructed them to talk for at least 10 minutes; use the cards as a conversation guide and ask follow-up questions of your partner. One of card requested the student ask about others favourite possessions. He quickly asked me to define this word and I described it as favourite items or things. I commented, maybe for him, it was the photos he showed the other week.

The stop-watch was set, my pencil sharpened, the marking sheet poised and ready to capture comments of the session.

Remember, I can't help you. Are you ready? Begin.

Student B: What's your favourite POSITION?

10 minutes is a long time to stiffle a laugh. I'm sure I caused myself some serious damage.

The Difficulties of Teaching English remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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I walked the scenic route to work, it took an extra 10 minutes but it spared me the wind tunnels created by the high risers that reached into the clouded sky and pulled the frigid air down.
The tree lines roads that had been a blaze of colour now held the skeletal corpses of trees; their naked branches rasping together like the fingers of icy Death.

X-mas had been quiet and subdued. Unlike the smell of sunscreen and beach, sausages roasting on a beer-washed hotplate; Osaka was filled with a damp mould and dirty puddles. Bikinied blonde babes with dazzling smiles were now sullen sombre Suits with frosted breath.

School was closed for the holiday season. Most of the foreigners had returned home or travelled to Asia. I spend X-mas in the bar, watching horrible talk shows (if you don't believe how bad they can be, check out TV in Japan).

By New Years, the crowded had returned to Juso. Back to the bar and I counted down the last of 2006 with friends from Japan, America, Canada, China and Australia. Around 4am, some of us managed to remember how to walk. We headed down to a local temple and after a small donation, gave a silent prayer to the gods and ancestors, and received a mysterious fortune. After realising that I couldn't read Japanese when I was drunk either, my friend translated a typically vague yearly fortune. General happiness, bad year for pets, good for love, don't be in a hurry to move.

Lets see what 2007 has to bring.

Winter Hibernation remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Tucked away in the western suburbs of Tokyo is the Studio Ghibli museum, a place dedicated to the brilliance of Hayao Miyazaki, created of anime such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Entrance is by pre-purchasing a ticket at an allotted time before turning up; and being in Japan, we had attained this at Lawsons (a 24 convenience chain, 2 to every corner) via a vending machine. The tickets announce dour attendance time as 2:30-4pm. We had the morning to amuse ourself.

We headed to Shinjuku, a busy and crowded shopping district near the heart of down town Tokyo. After wandering around the skyscraper encrusted zone we found a small Tempura restaurant which K had heard about, our small Tourist book proudly boasting it freshness and quality.

It was just before 11am, the restaurant was yet to open. A small crowd milled around out side before we were ushered in and seat near the chef. A huge wok sat bubbling; a thin Perspex sheet was our only protection from the clearly hot oil. After 5 minutes, we enjoyed our battered vegetables and rice, sipping quietly on a rust coloured soup with what resembled baby pippies floating in the bottom.

Studio Ghibli was located a short 30 minutes Shinjuku. A walk may have carried us to its doorstep within an hour but we opted for a quick 10 minute bus ride; and relaxed under the overcast sky in a nearby park.

At 2pm, we approached the gates with the intention of begging our way through. Being a quiet day, however, they ushered us straight in. We were greeted inside with some pamphlets and a small cardboard frame clipping of films from their movies. The bottom level contained a large room showing the progress of animation. Complex spinning models with slits to peer inside, a large spinning platform with a synchronised strobbing light, a maze of film projectors; all designed to show tricks of the eye which grant movement to otherwise static pictures or models.

A workshop replica lay upstairs, giving a glimpse into Miyazaki's creativeness. Large hand-drawn scripts and storyboards, clung to walls and tables. We spiralled up through the complex and took pictures of the giant metal robot on the roof.

Close to the hour, we hurried back downstairs to catch a glimpse of a short film from the studio. The 15 minute animation told a beautiful story of a boy buying magic beans and creating and nurturing a new world. At least, I think it did. The entire dialogue and subtitles were in Japanese.

Back to the train station we were off to Akihabara; a large electronic shopping district. K said I looked so happy as the neon lights dazzled around me. We darted from shop to shop, or rather, I darted from shop to shop as she quickly tried to keep up with enthusiasm.

As the rain continued to fall, our time was quickly drawing to a close. At the train station, I began to feel hot and tired. At first I thought it was over exhaustion but the next week would reveal it as a sinister flu virus. I sat in the airport in a T-shirt, hot and sweaty, while those around me were rugged up in beanies, scarfs and gloves. I contemplated grabbing something hot to eat, but the idea of "Fresh Chips" from a vending machine was a little to much.

I dozed in and out as we carried our excited but happy back to our homes in Osaka.

Tokyo remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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I quickly gulped down a 3rd coffee at the the airport as a soft pink glow began to spread across the horizon. The airport was quiet. Businessmen dragged around small suitcases on wheels. The sounds of shop doors opening echoed through the corridors. We approached an ATM of sorts, waved our tickets across and a scanner and were issued with boarding passes.

A security checkpoint guarded the inner sanctuary. Watching K. carefully, I followed through. My heart jumped as I heard a soft buzz behind the counter. I checked myself for metal and walked again through the gateway. BUZZ. A uniform walked across and padded me down with a scanner.
"Please be removing shoes."
Third time lucky, I moved on.

The short trip to Tokyo was gone in a blink. An hour ago, I was in Osaka. Now, I was walking through the terminal to the bus stop outside. I tried to visual the distance travelled, remember how the plane view had reminded me of the virtual trip I had taken with Google Earth. Buses filled and disappeared every 5 minutes. We found our platform, boarded and left. 35 minutes later, we stood at the entrance, we were at Disneyland. It was 9:30am.

Entrance

Through the gates, stood World Bazaar. Hundreds of shops branded with Disney trademarks; pens and paper, candy and cookies, T-shirts and ties. Only a week before X-mas, a large tree loomed in the centre, reflecting flashes as the crowds posed before it. Beyond the stores, Cinderella Castle.

We wandered across quickly through Adventure Land to Western Land and grabbed a Fast Pass; an ingenious ticket system. Sure, we could wait in the line for Thunder Mountain, a large board suggested it would only take 30minutes. Instead we inserted our Entrance ticket and were issued a pass for 11:30-12:45. We headed to the Nightmare Before X-mas ride ...

and took a spin in Alice's Teacups.

After a quick drink, we wandered back to Thunder Mountain and surrender our Fast Past. Laughing at the guesstimated 45min, we headed up the express lane and were flung around in the western roaster coaster ride within 5 mins.

Next up It's a Small World; a seemingly endless boat past animated dolls from across the globe, a cacophony of accents segueing between the name sake song and a Christmas medley. I stared down at the dark water from within the boat and thought of Duff World and Lisa psychedelic decent.

We grabbed a Fast Pass for Pooh's Honey Hunt and headed to Toon Town and catching up with Mickey Mouse who was "taking breaks between his busy filming schedule."

Off to Tomorrow Land, we took a spin on the Star Jets and took a trip a Star Tour to the moon with the help of some familiar Star Wars characters. After entering Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster, we shot at hundreds of targets with guns attached to the front our spaceship; a large digital display diligent kept score of our evil-fighting efforts.

It was time for a quick Mickey Burger before heading off to the "One Man's Dream II" show. Despite the performance and songs being in Japanese, the title song would remain in my head for days to come, the same 3 lines endless looping.

Back to Adventure Land, we took a boat journey with the Pirates of the Caribbean, followed by a Jungle Cruise and a ride on an old Western Railway.

We hovered beneath a bridge during a short shower and bit at large legs of turkey. We continued to bounce between the lands and rides, and as night descended across the park, the attractions took on a new life.

We returned to the main plaza to wait for the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights; a procession of large floats illuminated with hundreds of thousands of lights.

At it's conclusion, Mickey had his special Christmas Specatular show; more songs, more lights to spread the seasons spirit.

And finally, after nearly 12 hours, we watched the fireworks above the castle and bought some present for friends and family before returning to our hotel to rest.

Tokyo remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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The wind had picked up in Osaka. A cold breeze swept across the landscape. A low howl moaned through the hole in the window; the gap left by the air conditioner's exhaust.

K and I wore layers; shirts, jumpers, jackets and coats, hands hidden in gloves, heads swallowed in beanies. We were heading to the bay area where the wind would be wild and vicious as it ran across the water. Today we needed an indoor trip, some protection from the elements.

We huddle through the crowds and hopped from train to train out to Kaiyukan, one of the worlds largest aquariums. We swiftly made our way from the station to the giant red blue building stopping only to watch a juggler perform his skill; flaming torches dancing through the air for our amusement.

Osaka Aquarium

We pay the 2000yen entry fee and proceed into the building. A corridor presents itself. The walls and roof are glass, fish swim above and beside us as; sharks and rays paces the walls.

Sharks and fish

The exhibits line the outside walls; an otter enclosure, dolphins diving up and down, penguins crowd around a handler throwing out petite fish ...

... jelly fish appear to glow ...

... large spider crabs standing 60cms tall in a barren lunar landscape; eerie and silent ...

... a large tank contains hundreds of fish swimming around and around and around in a hypnotic silver parade ...

... and as we spiral into the depths of the building, a single gigantic tank forms the core. Schools of fish spin around. Sharks patrol the edges. Sting rays glide, manta rays fly. A whale shark over 4 meters long gracefully circles the tank like a star, it long body shimmers in the flashes of camera and phones

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The distant hills are transforming from a pale green. Now they are mottled, with orange and red like a giant sleeping alleycat on the horizon.

Minoo is a small hot spring area to the north of Osaka. In the mountains between Kyoto and Kobe, theres a small 2KM hike to a pictureque waterfall; it scenery recently gracing the face of the local train passes.

Its a peaceful Tuesday with nothing to do but enjoy the walk and the leaves.

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The two hour train ride transported us back through time. The bustle of Juso station, traffic lights flashing, bicycles screaming, and cigarette butts bursting through the pavement replaced by rice fields and trees, neighbours walking their dogs, dandelions lining the roads.

At the end of the line we switched to a cable car for the last 5 minutes of the journey ...

Cable car Ext

Cable car Int

... and then a bus winded along the narrow roads to take us to the Okuno-in-mae stop. A mountainside of tall cypress trees hugged the scenery. We grabbed a small bite to eat and ventured into the forest.

The trees loomed large overhead, blocking the weak autumn sun. Slowly
granite and stone graves began to appear.

Graveyard View

We ventured further and further. Moss clung to headstones and tori gates.

Statue Mountain

As the light streamed in between the trees, a swirl of blue-grey incensed danced through the forest. We followed it across a bridge, inscribed wooden plagues resting peacefully in the water offering a silent pray for those who had drowned.

A line of bronzed Buddhas rested on its bank. A splash of water and a bow was offered to each one.

Bronze Buddha

We left the graveyard and headed to the centre of this 7000 people village. Autumn leaves burst through the green foliage like fireworks exploding around us.

Autumn Fence

At Danjoogaran, we entered the great pagoda (Dai-too), cleansed ourselves with rubbing incense and stared at the cosmic Buddha statue. A small group of elderly pilgrims came in and their leader led through a small pray and chant.

As the sun began to fade, a cool wind wandered in from the south. The trees began to sing and sway. We walked to another 4 temples, enjoying the leaves and prayers and history.

Tree and Stone

Fire Tree

Autumn Water

And as the light began to fade, the tree colours dulled and moved to the west. As we caught the train back, the sky turn red, pink and grey as the stars of the Osakan skyline grew brighter and finally enveloped us.

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K. and I decided to head to some place warming ...

... the Suntory Whisky Distillery.

We reserved our position in the tour and signed in at the security station in front of the complex. We made our way across to the starting building and wandered through a photographic history of a man's dream; Japan's first world class whisky distillery.

The pole position for the events was a large hall with hundreds of bottles; wall to wall oranges and yellows locked in glass like a futuristic prison ...

... rounding corners and disappearing inside giant replica whisky barrels.

A large wooden structure held many of the worlds best brands; empty glasses below beckoning to be consumed.

We travelled through the complex, overseeing each stage of the process; malting, mashing, fermention, casking.

We wandered through the darken bowels of the complex, travelling back through time past barrels prepared in 2006, 2004, 1998, 1993, 80's, 70's, further and further until we reached a cask marked 1924; its inaugural year.

Finally we emerged back into the sunlight; the crisp air and soft creaking of the bamboo forest replacing the bubbling grind of the machinery.

After a short walk through the garden, we were seated in a large hall. 2 free samples of 17 year whisky was handed to us; its light smooth texture slipping easier down our throats.

Slightly tipsy, we staggered out of the building and back down to the train station. The warm glow leaving a fond impress of fine whisky and one mans dream.

Suntory Whisky remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Nara View

K. had mentioned that the Shoso-in Treasures were on display at the local museum and it provided the excuse I needed to once again head out to this rural city.

The train line took us out towards the mountains which lined the north and western views from my home. It was somehow comforting to see the range and always reminded me of the Great Divide back home, never threatening but adding flavour to the otherwise flat horizon. The hour ride took us away from the concrete and smog, through the mountain and into rice fields and open spaces.

We headed for the museum and wandering through the silent halls staring at objects from a by-gone era. After the emperors death in the 8th century, his widow donated over 800 objects to the local temple which he had loved. Decorative red glazed rulers hung suspended in soft-lit glass boxes. Arrow heads and quivers. Ornamental sliding doors and faded violet pouches. His horses bit and sweat pads complete with a pencil drawing of their glory days. Brass incense holders with intricate lion handles. In the lower sections, a corridor held step by step instruction of the construction of wooden Buddas. 4 wooden blocks locked together with hidden joints. Hands carved seperately and attached at the end. Insides hollowed out and a glass ball position in front of colour paper to stare out as eyes.

After the museum, we wandered towards the hills. As they loomed closer, we saw our first deer of the day, resting peacfully in the shadow of a tree.

Monk and Deer

Thousands of deer roam the hills and parkland and have adapted to the city life with ease. A constant stream of tourist provide a source of food; on every other corner, old people sell deer biscuits for a few hundred yen. The wise traveller will avoid the temptation. Instead, they will sit on any corner and watch the deer swarm around anyone who holds one like a flock of pigeons.

Wood and Words

School girls dressed in their sailor blues run screaming as the one deer they had been feeding is now a gang of hungry horned beasts; their brown fur thickening with long patches for the winter making them like an army of hunchback homeless.

We continued. The cobble pathways lined with old stone lanterns.

Lantern Line

Wandering past shrines and temples, the forest and lanterns continue to guide us.

Moss and Stone

Here in the hills, the sounds of city have disappeared. All the breeze tickleing the trees fills my head.

Latern around the Shrine

Even here, vending machines stand proud and tall and we rest to enjoy an Seventeen Icecream treat.

As the sun sets, the shadows deepen through the folliage and we weave back down the path.

Green, Red and Sunshine

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She was getting married and she was pregnant. I was so happy for her. She had moved away to Nagoya but was returning to Osaka for a post-wedding celebration with her husbands friend. Did I want to come?

Those that know me realise that I'm not the most socially graceful person. But a chance to see her again and observe a more intimate gathering of friends, I felt like Id regret not showing up.

The day arrived. I had looked up the Latan-Peruvian resturant and attempted to replicate the crude map on the back of a napkin before throwing on a pin-strip suit and leaving. I got into Umeda with 5 minutes to spare.

I stood in the busy station area, looking lost, confused. At this hour, the information booths were closed. The large map on the wall, despite having english named streets criss-crossing it, refused to divulge the location. I sprinted into a hotel and got some basic directions in Japanese. Every few blocks, I confirmed that I was heading in the right direction. Finally I found it.

She was standing outside and a fine pink dress.
"Go ahead up, I'm waiting for a friend," she said. "Oh, you maybe shocked," she added, "its fancy dress."

Indeed it was. Power Rangers ran around the room next to pro-wrestlers and monks.

Power Rangers

It was an open bar and after a few speeches and congratulatory toast, the food was served. I filled my plate with green rice, corn chips and avocado, spicy chicken, prawns and other strange looking food I wasnt prepared to commit past a bite or 2.

We watched a beautiful presentation of photos set to soft music. Starting as children, they both grew before my eyes. The room danced next as one of the staff came out with a guitar and sang an accoustic version of La Bamba.

La Bamba

At one point, the new bride said her hubby and friends would perfrom a dance in their suit-suits. For a second, I though she meant birthday suits but before clarifing, the groom with his backup dances had stripped down to blue speedos and started gyrating. Everyone not performing had wipped out a camera, mobile phone or both to capure the routine.

Groom Dance

The night continued with much drinking and laughing. We sang Country Road acappella style; while sombre it still seemed deep and stirring. Gifts were exchanging and some beautiful speeches were given (despite not understanding it too well, it still managed to bring a tear to my eye). The night ended with a big dance, many laughs and many cheerful faces as we spilled out into the neon-lit streets and scattered into the crowds.

Wedding party remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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"Oh. I'm be terrible?"

Really? Why?

"I've had diareha for 2 months."

Um. Thanks for sharing.

------------------------

So do you have any questions for me Toshi?

He responses, "Yes. You have a very sexy voice."

Gee. *Blush*

The Difficulties of Teaching English remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Ms S. had left her job to move back home for awhile before her trip to OZ so she had time to kill. She arrived at the appointed time carrying 4 large grocery bags of vegetables, meats and other things in bottles.

Her sister was due to arrive at my house soon, so I grabbed a knife and started chopping ; cabbage, onion, chicken, ginger, daikon (Japanese radish) and tofu.

Ms S's sister arrived as did Ms K. just as they pulled out the pot. What I had assumed to be a large earthen-ware ceramic dish was sleek, white and electric. Thats right, Im in Japan.

We 1/2 filled the Nabe thing with water (as a teacher, I feel compeled to use more decriptive words then thing, but its morning now and the caffine has yet to energise me). We placed the food in the Nabe thing ; we talked, we drank.

After a few mintues we pulled a selection from the pot and enjoyed a laugh.

Nabe Cooking remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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I pulled out my mobile and jumped on the internet. Tuesday - 23C Fine. After the London weather, and lack of school holidays, we expected USJ to be quieter midweek.

K. and I caught the train out early. Hankyu to Umeda, Osaka Loop Line, and a switch to a local. At the final station, we departed from a packed train and wandered past Western stores; McDonalds, Hard-Rock Cafe, United Bentton. The crowd accompanied us down towards the large gateway and we joined one of the quieter lines near the giant rotating world globe; golden letters sparkling across its equator as mist danced beneath it.

After 40 minutes shuffling forward we paid the 5800 yen, grabbed an English and Japanese park map and wandered through to another world.

Large mascots of Popeye and Cats wandered around will over-enthusic staff snapped kodak moments for family and kids. It was Halloween time and the park was liberally littered with grinning pumpkins, ghosts and witches. The Addamms Family tune with trademark clicking seemed slow as we dashed for the Spiderman ride.

Spiderman Entrance

We walk through the entrance and weaved our way to the back of a 70 minute queue, inching closer and closer every few minutes. The path was splashed with Japanese speaking cartoons, telling of Spidey's woes and the menacing close-ups of four villians bent of control. Donning our super cool blue 3D glasses, we joined another 9 people and were tossed and turned in our efforts to help save the city.

Next up, the Waterworld show.

Waterworld Entrance

Costumed performers stood near the stage filling bucket after bucket of water. Judging from the first ten rows covering themselves with plastic, ponchos and anything else, we were in for a wet action adventure.

Waterworld Show

Off to the animatronic log ride of Jurassic Park ...

... and back to the central plaza for a musical dance of the dead.

We made a quick trip through time with the help of Doc Brown going Back to the Future; were attacked by a shark hell bent on human blood in Jaws and zipped around a cartoon on the Snoopy rollar coaster.

As the day drew to a close, we jumped on some flying bicycle and flew on a midnight journey across a cityscape and amoungst the stars with ET.

Before the ride, we were required to get a "passport", a credit card which required our name. I was told I need this to visit ETs homeplanet. I never imagined how musical it was with singing plants and dancing mushrooms. Towards the end, ET personally bid us all goodbye by name, although he had a Japanese pronunciation and didnt quite nail mine "Goodbye Shi-nen"

We bolt back to grab another trip an Spiderman and we relieved to fine the queues down to a brisk 25minute wait. Everyone was grabbing good seats for the Neverland night show. We got to it just as Peter was waking up.

USJ Entrance - Nite

We left the park after and wandered back through the streets to go to a local Takoyaki museum. There were 8 or 9 resturants with various octupus dumplings flavours. We bought a ticket from a vending machine and shared a coke, and good food before returning to Juso for a well earned rest.

USJ remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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As the spring marched across the lanscape, greenery moved from the shallows, across the rocky bank and onto the plains. Large triangle outlines etched in white powder appeared and on weekends the cheers and jeers of pre-pubesent youths could be heard as future Baseball League players bested each out in their glare-catching whites.

The river had become a friend. Its murky depths glisten at night as we drank on the wateredge, trains rushing past us, the skyline alight with dedicated Salarymen completing their 10 hour days. As summer hit, couples and groups ventured down with armfuls of alchohol, food and fireworks. Explosions erupt every 50 meters and clouds of smoke stumble across the foreground like Sunday bests in a tumbledrier.

Tonight was the Yodogawa Hanabi. The posters had been plaster and hung across the neighbourhood, a giant red fireflower exploding across the river.

With the promise of over 1/2 a million people lining the riverfront, I wandered down 3 hours before the big event. The grounds swarmed with thousands and thousand of people. Old men and young children. Granmothers and young lass dressed in finely woven Kimonos and Yukkata. Every inch of the area was awash with faces. Every inch of the ground covered in blue tarpe, cartoon motiff blanks and bodies.

A wall of Portable Toilets had been setup near the bridge, the last dozen had their doors removed and service as express urinals. As I walked pass them I glanced back across the crowd. Japanese people were surely less selfconscious about emptying their bladders then I, with thousands of eyes on my back, I would need to return to my apartment to empty myself for the nights festivals.

I return to the grimy streets and neon of Juso. My local bar had invited me and a handful of close friends and customers to view the spectacle from their roof. A dozen or so of us walked up to the forth floor and had a perfect view between the skyscrapers. For 2 hours I enjoyed another amazing display of colour and sound.

Summer Festivals - Part II remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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I had just watched "The Jacket", a story of time and circumstance along the lines of Donnie Darko and Twelve Monkies. My brain tumbled with possibilities of time echoes, past and future, colliding with now.

The house was empty. Both my flatmates and their partners disappeared into the dense concrete jungle of Tokyo for the weekend. I was alone for the first time in months.

I had a coffee, its 3am, best rest my head.

I set my alarm for 8:45.

I was floating down a river, leading towards the ocean and beyond when an alarm dragged me back to consciousness. The tired routine of shower/shave/suit danced before me and after a quick coffee and bowl of cornflakes, I ventured out.

Off to Juso station, I pocketed 2 packets of tissue and a 10% discount of facials along the way. I met 1/2 the gang at east gate and we headed off for class. This time I was on the otherside. The community centre had free lessons and I would spend the next 1 1/2 counting people, pencils and chairs in Japanese. The teacher had become the student.

Surreal in Japan remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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A whole forty minutes, teaching and talking about complaining using "I don't like something because ..."

We raced through the structured excercise and found ourselves with a full 20 minutes left for Talk Time.

So, what do you want to complain about today? People, places, politics?

"Eeto, anything ok," said one student.
"Politics is happy. I hate erection campaigns."

Umm ... practise L / R sounds

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I'm now 1 week into a 2 week summer vacation. In this heat, I'm a hermit, hiding in my aircon room, venturing out only to restock the milk for coffee.

Tenjin Summer Festival - 24 July
One of the most famous festival in Japan saw me in good company. Akira, the co-manager of my local had offered to take me and a friend out to the festival and the chance to see it through the eyes of a local was enough to entice me outside.

We headed out to Umeda station and met up with some of his friends at his previous bar. With a couple of drinks under our belt, we hiked for 30minutes towards the shrine. The streets, usually filled with suits at this hour, were quickly filled with traditional Kimonos and Yukkatas as we got closer and closer.

Roads we blocked, shopping malls clogged with festival stalls, the smell of cheap beer and fried food filled the air. We wandered into the shrine grounds and payed our respects with a bow. Traditional dancers filled one corner as the crowdeds shuffled slowly around the small gravel square.

We headed down towards the river and grabbed some food. Fried noodles with mixed vegetables, coated in a sause that was more hotplate scrappings then flavour. It went down well. For the next 3 hours we wandered past stall after stall, stopping only to regroup for a beer before continuing.

At one point we stopped at a bridge which over looked the river. Night had settled across the sky. A boat covered in torches meandered up and down the river, the flickering flames illuminating the 8 drummers singing out the heatbeat of the night.

I stared at the black sky searching for stars but its curtain was drawn.
"It that rain I feel?" asked our female companion .
"No," we said, "its someone peeing off the bridge." We sniggered at the thought. Perhaps it was rain, the humidity surly cant keep up without breaking. One of our party stepped out from under the bridge to look at the imaginary peeing.
"No seriously, it is someone peeing," he squealled with a cheesy grin. I stepped back to catch a mysterious man take a final shake before popping his member back in his pants and staggering off into the black. He wasnt joking.
"Well," she said with a sigh, " was he good looking?"

PL Fireworks
At 120,000 fireworks in a little over an hour, PL Fireworks is the biggest display in the world. We headed down to Tondabayashi-city on the south side of Osaka. We caught the Nankai-Koya line from Namaba and I watched as the cityscape quickly metamorphed in country. Large grey buildings gave way to rice fields and tree covered hills.

I watch the scenery past by, lost in memory. This was my old neighborhood. Sakai-higashi and Mozu past by and I remembered my old days as a Nova teacher.

At our final station, the train emptied and we were herded into a marching snake of people and wandered through the streets. Food stall chefs called to the crowd enticing their wares - Okinominyaki, Takoyaki, fried chicken, ice cones, grilled corn.

As we marched up the hill, people were camped across the road and empty carparks. We found a spot, merely meters from where I had witnessed the sight over nine years ago.

We waited on the hot bitchimin for almost 30 minutes before we were treated to the show. The sky was bombarded with colour for 80 minutes. Green, red, orange and blinding white. Even with closed eyes, the colours burnt through my eyelids. Couples around us clapped and cheered, gasping in awe as wave after wave exploded above us. Each outbreak echoed across the sky and reverbrated in our chests. As the helicopers circled over head, the climax saw over 7000 red fireworks released in rapid succession. The crowds stood us as the black gave way, and the lanscaped was bathed in a brilliant red glow.

Some video footage of this years display is available here

Summer Festivals remains copyright of the author ImpBob36, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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