Letters from Japan and beyond

EP 38. Dinner at Dallas Cowboys western restaurant in Lake Yamanakako and sleeping under the stars; a much rehearsed telephone call; and a sumo invitation. Pretty good for a short few days.

EP 37 Advice from 1995: "There is one particular area which seems to have a lot of promise. This is in computer networks. It seems the whole world is moving into high gear with the use of computers." Even saying that 30 years ago, little did we know the extent computers would evolve. And an almost typhoon.

EP 36. After the Nikko parade, we are ready to eat. There are hundreds of stands, so we’ll just start at the top and eat our way to the bottom, trying a bit of this and a bit of that as we go. From fish cakes, pastries, squid skin kabobs, octopus balls, to American chicken nuggets - it was all there and we tried them all.

EP 35. Bus, train, subway, express train Spacia to pedestrian, we made it to Nikko and Kanaya Hotel for the traditional Nikko festival. "There are 1200+ people walking, all in traditional dress and costumes dating back hundreds of years. Also there are some on horseback, really decked out in fancy clothes. There are groups carrying large portable shrines, and various kinds of musical instruments. "

EP 34. sumi-e is not just the painting but, more importantly, the mental attitude and feeling  given to and received from the painting. Technique is specific but it allows the artist to infuse it with soul.

EP 33. Mountains, scooter and tornados don't mix. Rain and wind and Mt. Fuji was closed. Going home on a scooter? "We manage to get our feet down and lean over, and crouch down while hanging onto the scooter, and get the thing stopped. I don’t think we’re going to get out of this thing alive." Join us on the 6 1/2 scooter trip home.

EP 32 Very clean after the complicated way of taking a bath, we are rewarded with 5 star food. The next day off the see Fuji-san. Did we make it? Through the tornado, yes, but Mt. Fuji had donned its CLOSED sign.

EP 31. 20 minutes lucky in my travel to Tokyo: the earlier trains suffered sarin gas attacks. And then April showers hold true in our trip to see Mt. Fuji. Part 1 of the trip begins here.

EP 30. Not an easy task, shopping for the perfect coffee cup, and then how to find Tex-Mex in Tokyo? I asked Bill where El Torito was; he had no idea even what part of huge Tokyo it was located, only a name and he didn’t know what it was the name of. He said something which sounded like a street I was familiar with: Omotesando. With help of the koban, we found it!

EP 29. The Big Buddha, the most visited of all Kamakura attractions. And big he is, 44 feet high, constructed in the year 1252, hollow inside and so you can walk in and up into his tummy. Then, the ultra modern toilet adventure and making Ghiradelli brownies.

EP 28. I love our language students. Lessons are supposed to be only an hour, but we usually run quite a bit over. It’s expensive for them and really quite an effort for most of them to get to my house, a couple of hours for some. And their friendship is highlight of my day.

EP 27. I learned to read Katakana and, with a dictionary, what did the words say? a me ri ka n bee fu. Beef from home! Plus learning to love the traditions of Sumo.

EP 26. What 4 things does a scooter driver hate? Manhole covers, paint on streets, pedos and bicycles. Find out why, along with how a gray, cold winter hits a south USA girl.

EP: 25 Coming of Age Day, when all 20 year olds are recognized as adults in elaborate celebrations and fantastic kimono and suits. My painting "Tengs are coming" is accepted in exhibition. Tengu is a long nosed demon in Japanese folklore; my painting is of children watching a festival.

EP 24. I ate the minnow! A traditional Japanese New Year's meal from one of my students. What an eating experience. Then beware when Bill wants to take me out for birthday breakfast on a torrential rain morning. (The Tengu in photo will feature in the next episode. )

EP: 23. "They crowded themselves into the van, making room for us and giggling. After an awkward pause in van, I told the man thank you and you speak very good English. The Japanese ladies laugh and talk; the man translates that “they say all they understood was thank you and very good.” "It was one of those times you feel warm and comfortable around people; these people were doing us a favor and enjoying it."

EP 22. What do you do after a day of skiing? Go to the onsen, large indoor spas, opening onto an outdoor spa, and a huge indoor pool with adjoining whirlpool. Then on to a delightful waiter and a blissful dining experience.

EP: 21 Ski trip: "The bus driver is tapping my shoulder. The bus is dark. It’s dark outside. He’s telling us to get off. There’s snow everywhere, its dark, and we’re in the middle of nowhere. " What happens next? We did find the beauty of Happo at the top of the mountain. Wide open, tops of the Japan Alps close enough it looks like you can touch them, just gorgeous.

EP 20. Booked and all scheduled for skiing Hakuba and Bill's friend asked if we have a guide lined up. Getting to the first bus proved the least of our issues. (The ski trip will be several episodes.)

EP 19. Through the magic of Christmas, my first public exhibition of a painting came about, followed by a hilarious party with Bill's co-workers.

EP 18. The best times happen with friends and being invited into their homes. Awesome food cooked and shared by new Japanese friends and fellow workers.

EP 17. Kimchi and more in Seoul. Besides the shopping, lunch at TGIFriday's was our biggest treat in Seoul. But beware crossing the street and taking the wrong bus, along with an urgent stop by our taxi driver.

EP 16: Finding our way through the myriad of shopping districts, well, you have to call it an adventure. But does it compare to finding a specific restaurant? The taste treats were worth it, though.

From tsunami threats to watching those delightful kids greet their sensei every morning, our life in Yokohama was never dull. But we had time for symphony, tennis and trips to Hakone.

When your student becomes your friend AND invites you to her home for lunch, that's a special heart moment. Tea ceremony, sashimi and gifts.

When the big guy says, "I'll write this one," you grin and be happy. Because you know how funny he is -- about people, work, and how he really feels about his scooter.

EP 12. Is it a 3D Rubik's Cube? Nope, it's a modern mechanized shifting up/down/across parking garage.

Traffic in Yokohama never stops, so Bill and I thought it best that I practice driving the scooter close. That is, until a friend called to meet her downtown for lunch. With trepidation, red scooter and I braved our way around taxis, buses, and a zillion cars, ending with an "I did it."

EP 10. The districts of Tokyo are an eye opener for a girl from south Alabama. Want a TV? Got to Akihabara, doesn't matter what kind of TV or technology but be ready for the crowds. And a little about Sumo.

EP 09. I've learned a whole new way of shopping for dinner: one meal at a time, every day, buying everything fresh at small, friendly owner shops in the neighborhood. But the biggest surprise? Reserving a tennis court by lottery, a month in advance!

A big process, but Bill finally rode his Yamaha double seater home.

EP 7: Finding a motorscooter was easy -- the papers, license, helmets were the complicated part. It included getting our Japanese alien papers and Debbie's Japanese papers!

The joy and frustration of shopping as a gaijen in Japan.

EP 05. Oh where is our shipment from the States! A futon, chair, desk and computer -- and one terrific radio system, is that really all we need?

Debbie, our beautiful and well traveled Rottweiler

EP 04: Going to Tokyo to get Debbie She's been in quarantine, our gentle Rottweiler, for 10 days. Trying to find the quarantine office at massive Narita airport counts as the biggest challenge so far in our awesome experience in Japan.

EP 03: First time going subway alone What's Sogo? Almost the world's largest department store and truly filled with everything beautiful and the finest of Japanese crafts. I managed the subway alone for the first time but the sweetest Japanese woman helped me find Sogo's entrance.

EP 02: Shopping by Pictures Just for fun, look at a package and pretend that all the words are in a different language. Then do the same thing in a library.

EP 01 Travel is easy unless ... your back pain is excruciating, the travel time is 31 hours, and you can't speak the language

First episode January 2--Letters from Japan, fun 10 minute stories about living and traveling in Japan