BEACH DAY

After Fuji and Hiroshima we decided on a rest day. That didn't happen!! Instead we decided to make the most of our location in Kainan to go to the local beach, check out the sights and be able to say I have swam in Japan. First we had to hire a bike. Quickly learning some Japanese I managed to hire a bike from the station for $5 for 6 hours. Perfect! When we got to the beach it was stinking hot and stinking Humid and the water was refreshing. The beach in Japan is nothing like Australia. They are crap. But hey, it was wet and cold! We hired an umbrella and the dude we got it off put it up for us. It was great, he drilled a hole in the sand first, hammered the post in then put up the Umbrella. We checked out the sights on the beach and got burnt, having a some what relaxing day. We headed home for a early night as we planned to visit Kyoto tomorrow.
Enjoy the pics.

KYOTO DAY 1

We were all looking forward to seeing a little more of the traditional Japan and Kyoto was the place to see it. We caught the 8:45 shinkansen and arrived in Kyoto around 10:40. We got our bearings, purchased our bus pass and headed for the sights. First on our list was the Golden Temple. A temple covered in Gold leaf. It was amazing to see but almost looked fake it was that pretty. Next Pete wanted to see a traditional rock garden so we walked to the next temple. This was a let down. 15 rock "expertly" placed, it was crap. We are sure there is some reason for it but we were not a fan. We moved on temple after temple, things all starting to look the same and public transport giving us the shits. It was hot and humid. We arrived at the silver temple. Probably our second favorite place in Kyoto. The temple is not silver as it was never finished but the gardens and surrounds were unbelievable. Such wok and care had been taken. Valder would love it. We spent a while there until we decided we would go to Gion where the Geisha live to try to get a few snaps. we felt like the paparazzi, chasing the girls for photos. It was fun and they were beautiful. Afterwards we decided we should find a place to sleep the night. By the time we got back to information at the station they were closed. Homeless again!! We tried a few places but booked out or too expensive. we called a friend and suggested an Internet Cafe. After a small fight about directions and location we made it to Popey's Internet Cafe. $35 for a bed, free Internet ps2 and TV for 10hrs. It opened at 10 so we took Pete for some Okonomiyaki and a beer.

Enjoy the Day 1 pics of Kyoto.

POPEYES

The Internet cafe was fun and we found later they are in all large city's for people who miss trains, been out drinking or want to surf net and play games. We had a 3 flat mattress room with a PS2, 2 computers and a TV in our little booth. There were vending machines that you picked drinks from no charge and you could borrow out games and movies even comics also no extra charge. Our package we got was from 10pm till 8am costing $35. It was different but a place to sleep. We had pillows and blankets etc so all up a pretty good substitute for a hotel.

Enjoy Pics!

KYOTO DAY 2

After doing most of Kyoto on the first day we only really had one more place to visit. That was the Fushimi Inari shrine. At this shrine there was a passage way for 4km of Tori gates. Everyone who we knew that had been to Kyoto said it was their favorite place. We left popeys, got our Bus pass and Headed off. The shrine was amazing and all of us agreed it was one of the best places we had seen. Photos and movies were taken of the endless Toris. We didn't do the whole walk as it was almost 40 degrees. The tourists sights of Kyoto were done and we were all templed out. We decided instead to go looking for our Samurai swords and Tradition fans for souvenirs and presents. We found what we were looking for and headed for the station. Tired but satisfied at what we had gotten out of Kyoto. With the days of our holiday running short we headed for Kainan and then Finally Osaka.

Enjoy pics.

OSAKA

Our last day was on holiday and with Platty was to be spent in Osaka. Being a major city we knew that this day was mainly for some shopping, mostly electrical. Platty went nuts and when we found the electronical district he purchased a new 30gb ipod and a new Canon camera. To his defence the prices here in Japan for all that stuff is so Cheap. Both cost him like $550 total. With shopping done, Waynos birthday present found we headed for the Osaka sky building for a look at the city. From the top you could see all of Osaka and it was hard to believe how big the city actually was. Melbourne is tiny!!!

With temperature in the high 30s and stinking humid we went to Maccas for Plattys McPork then headed home. Osaka is like any other city but massive. If you want to shop its great but we were to tired.

PLATTY LEAVES

Plattys flight was at 11:45 so that meant leave Kainan around 7ish. Fantastic. Tanya opted to stay in bed and say bye from the sheets as Platty and I headed for the airport. We made it with plenty of time to spare catching all the right trains. It was funny to watch the faces of customs as they screened two boxes that Platty was carrying. They were the swords he purchased in Kyoto. The picture on xray was hilarious. They let him through, asked if real or fake, place a fragile sticker on them and away we went. I hate to admit it but it was actually a little sad to see him leave. It was a fantastic holiday and allot of fun. But it was over, working again that afternoon and now only the 2 of us were left to annoy each other.

Thanks for the Holiday Pete!!

Birthday

Hello all, sorry its been so long between posts, we are in the middle of summer school and have been real busy. I would like to say thank you to every one for their birthday wishes, cards and gifts sent. It helped to make us feel a little more at home.

The day its self was put in as a work day. All the staff in our area were in the office so not alot of work was done. Tan aranged a cake and the teachers and office staff sang happy bday, after that a few games were played before finishing work and heading for dinner at an Irish resturant.

A big thanks to everyone who came, it was alot of fun and an extra specil thanks to Aiya for the Snoopy Ice Cream Cake, it was delicious. With a few beers a long awaited serve of good old fish and chips was served. It was good.

Thanks mum and dad for your gifts as well as Heather everything fits well. Age and Cummo I was expecting a rubber steak or something smart, thanks heaps, all of the goods you got me, they are being put to good use.

Anyway I had best go, got class to teach and dont wanna be late, cant believe its the end of August already, where has this year gone, its been so fast. We will be home before we know it.