tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328127402024-03-06T20:25:11.214-08:00McBethFor all you nosey people wanting to know what B and K (and now the Ripster) are up to, this page is for you.BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-69473689172744099482018-12-19T11:59:00.002-08:002018-12-19T11:59:45.942-08:00huuuummmmmm ....is this thing on?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It occurred to me today that I used to have a blog. I also spent a lot of time rereading posts today, and sort of like the creative things I used to do. Does anyone still have an alert that will tell them this is still a thing?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bueller?</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-39430887170177902512012-12-16T17:13:00.000-08:002012-12-16T17:16:40.414-08:00The Project for Awesome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.projectforawesome.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeonQRkZLiNhFW-SUyYWT6HO3a2DFnmiMJinU78kuwg3JqxpcJmKAA2V8eWmX_YM_HpRNhcscK-B6WuSkoso_qVyLK1kBwjEf2aObRP-bDOoTQpbaYS7i-041_HlTFZqf6B7NFQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-12-17+at+11.15.31+AM.png" width="320" /><span id="goog_1808709246"></span></a><span id="goog_1808709247"></span></div>
The <a href="http://www.projectforawesome.com/" target="_blank">Project for Awesome</a> is in it's sixth year, and is raising money for charities using YouTube videos as a way to get the word out. Videos begin going live on Dec. 17th at noon, Eastern time. Please check out the posted videos, vote for the ones you like the most, and the five vote winners will share the donated money. Also, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers" target="_blank">Vlogbrothers</a> are donating a penny for every comment that gets left for all the videos, so tell the video creators what you think! Most importantly, consider <a href="http://igg.me/p/293655" target="_blank">donating to the fund</a> at whatever level you can. More information can be found at the links above. Happy holidays, everyone.</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-57512258233137005502012-10-29T20:17:00.000-07:002012-10-29T20:18:26.740-07:00One of my new neighbors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCHrrM4lvwozCacz3AESx8ZMA4SZ9bDSYqOUaqyROpZ8PM65V4yxmfovKeWIDRWTlEE0OybYIzNxvKo0fggcaREvd-rysuCVyWv0kALrmsW61kr9EGQ8KiNKf8VvNrgwpU-8_uQ/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCHrrM4lvwozCacz3AESx8ZMA4SZ9bDSYqOUaqyROpZ8PM65V4yxmfovKeWIDRWTlEE0OybYIzNxvKo0fggcaREvd-rysuCVyWv0kALrmsW61kr9EGQ8KiNKf8VvNrgwpU-8_uQ/s400/IMG_0576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The view from my office.<br />
I'm taking suggestions for names. I'm into alliteration. </div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-83288981201532913352012-10-24T05:39:00.001-07:002012-10-24T05:39:23.522-07:00Guam weather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All in the span of an hour or so. This is the view from my desk that I'll be losing in just a few days. I'll miss it. I love how the presence of the sun brings so much color to the world. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgTM-gwG5LfBhlvwRyTuicVhieainB1jiuHIbDAYuns5VhO9wZmW27YMX3yJL6jfnLm-9YEubNdtxH0fPnJ-3HreBxSR3XzKHuMEFuGqpMsLJ0gzP_rWSX9vNbabY1eyPXXcb-g/s200/IMG_0260.JPG" width="200" /><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ULGHlzGugioZGAwz2v85mVFl12jxmWJZA_XFzp3gcQzV4didzoEmtwmN40wQlkRcQ-i7LGD3bEhSX3o5MrmhGwHg8-tuxY2LEWcPKtOjuAdBdXuoOR-nlTIfnMtEvnk8LUz9Zw/s200/IMG_0265.JPG" width="200" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXniB6fUlDGf0qVrvEWPbLWjUtAPVNFJB9-e9q5AIU6GeCYruugJ7ksen_TE75MtYfjZ9Gkq7D_dhXC2-5D7au0OtEa1K4ubL-rNynoHeA2iTe1kg3fo-Z1fp1hqA3AoOYUilsUA/s200/IMG_0266.JPG" width="200" /><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnLaWHx-ua5-zinsw1dOT2j9Eysgwp6pQlW2xGCwhXBZZqMfGX-MdS5hfq0qz8jHAi_1JbdaTLV3tYJjersuQWyeFflzpNPwE76oeBYReVcws0jujrDP3NR9bNbLGJo9_loFeOA/s200/IMG_0272.JPG" width="200" /></div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-27281535823535966692012-09-28T01:20:00.001-07:002012-09-28T01:20:24.302-07:00Kabuki theater and sumo wrestling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our biggest cultural event in Tokyo was our foray into kabuki theater. We saw an early evening show, but it was a 3.5 hour affair. Apparently when the Japanese do theater, they <i>do</i> theater. We heard about the performance from another random traveler in our <i>ryokan</i> and got a foreigner's discount on tickets. It was probably the highlight of my trip, and not just because we got to sit still for a long time in a controlled climate after walking almost constantly for two and a half days. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR8TwJPODFq_toFAbNbEf-TbB3HD5En8uZ_zckAQyWXwyGQVGV1bFV-3UKLURiaZ68LOjnW2VapbZeUpjoN2KM1jcPV2M5trDqhKvZoGp1HoCxrdPsroBgSPZLUGqwW5pdDQTkQ/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR8TwJPODFq_toFAbNbEf-TbB3HD5En8uZ_zckAQyWXwyGQVGV1bFV-3UKLURiaZ68LOjnW2VapbZeUpjoN2KM1jcPV2M5trDqhKvZoGp1HoCxrdPsroBgSPZLUGqwW5pdDQTkQ/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimbashi Enbujo Theatre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The matinee was completely different than the evening show, so the troupe performed four plays that day! Each event was a double feature; individual plays were about an hour and a half apiece with a 30-40 minute intermission. This poster provides an image from all four performances.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MGE-VFNsF5lgIGWE8VaKIolUzvWlDSxrwuUf69VW9gfaMNmTQUHmmrvJzcttNAMYW_o3u7LV3NS9XuW7JREWjMUBu_ZrvmmNrVDN24ugekykGSCITLbUplqbk-i3AqUOQuUhBg/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MGE-VFNsF5lgIGWE8VaKIolUzvWlDSxrwuUf69VW9gfaMNmTQUHmmrvJzcttNAMYW_o3u7LV3NS9XuW7JREWjMUBu_ZrvmmNrVDN24ugekykGSCITLbUplqbk-i3AqUOQuUhBg/s400/IMG_0454.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The seats really filled up before the show, but we snapped these shots early. In the first picture, you can see a long wooden walkway that is part of the stage and is used for entrances and exits throughout the performances. We rented earphone receivers, so before the show and during intermission we got to hear about the history and art of kabuki. During the plays the commentary described what was going on in the plot, what the characters had said, or gave the historical background for the story itself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh703OX0zjygWi1USGQ33IhXwn6N5PM4CkDgJ_Qo91VtZ2xh_o4nvIdtbWEUt6YEAM8-KupKoUVXdfDW_iz-i5HRzJbG0NxL1fGzr8915JsesNHs5ZgoyYA398dRBaVhyphenhyphenDwEgbalg/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh703OX0zjygWi1USGQ33IhXwn6N5PM4CkDgJ_Qo91VtZ2xh_o4nvIdtbWEUt6YEAM8-KupKoUVXdfDW_iz-i5HRzJbG0NxL1fGzr8915JsesNHs5ZgoyYA398dRBaVhyphenhyphenDwEgbalg/s400/IMG_0434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwW6Y84M0cfsf9sk5kHVZcrWIGjG4io9CSbvTuzoDCJ4pzAkkE0ejKh5e1UlZ8AOIcLL_oAnWQk0ljjpstj_khOgAP1Z1rZJAaTE5hzN6DkYKW0y50xOOfAezmOhZ1wmkHtQmKg/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwW6Y84M0cfsf9sk5kHVZcrWIGjG4io9CSbvTuzoDCJ4pzAkkE0ejKh5e1UlZ8AOIcLL_oAnWQk0ljjpstj_khOgAP1Z1rZJAaTE5hzN6DkYKW0y50xOOfAezmOhZ1wmkHtQmKg/s320/IMG_0436.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPW2cigrXugHHxz5eZkfbM5hyphenhyphenCsQZcv83SG7a-Yszmx0WcnvKosrK1U-iJL7-TPpa6koYKo1xu6H-mgPm8XyC5zmX2ZBSNtQhtHfpgl1VjalxmH4M6Rj0caB-EeO2O3FpA1iaGLQ/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPW2cigrXugHHxz5eZkfbM5hyphenhyphenCsQZcv83SG7a-Yszmx0WcnvKosrK1U-iJL7-TPpa6koYKo1xu6H-mgPm8XyC5zmX2ZBSNtQhtHfpgl1VjalxmH4M6Rj0caB-EeO2O3FpA1iaGLQ/s320/IMG_0331.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
The demographic of theater-goers seemed to be middle-aged to elderly
women, some of whom dressed up in traditional kimonos. We may have been some of
the youngest people in the building, and the female to male ratio was
likely 10:1. This is really strange to me since kabuki has for
centuries (since the 1630s) been performed by all-male troupes. However, it started out as an all-women's performance before some Japanese
head honcho thought that women should be neither seen nor heard. The most renowned kabuki actors are those who have refined their art
of playing a wide range of female characters. <br />
<br />
Kabuki is all about the actors, not the plot, so the pace is <i>really slow</i>. Once I got over that, I really enjoyed myself and the over-the-top histrionics. Apparently most plays are legends or historical accounts and are well-known
by the audience, so there's not usually an issue of not knowing what's
going to happen. Kabuki also doesn't care about reproducing or
representing reality on stage, so the costumes and the feats performed
are unbelievable. There were some great musical and drumming segments
as well, and the musicians are a part of the staged performance, not
hidden away in a pit as in Western-style musical theater. <br />
<br />
Kabuki is also a career you are born into, so if your father was an actor, you get to be one too. The highest praise for an actor is to yell out his name, or even better, his father's name during a particularly impressive moment of his performance. These posters are of the lead actors from our two performances, and both were amazing.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpk7gHZduMETwAtU63_y-IZC8_i1TriaJiZWPRkdj0q7P3hu6aCeCWfFLy2w89K4Ls6m9KuEDrtwm-VplUg0ighMMH2WURuC65HHk3rRoD5X5281HYCS75Si3i_zDI19ODpz9TA/s1600/IMG_0444.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpk7gHZduMETwAtU63_y-IZC8_i1TriaJiZWPRkdj0q7P3hu6aCeCWfFLy2w89K4Ls6m9KuEDrtwm-VplUg0ighMMH2WURuC65HHk3rRoD5X5281HYCS75Si3i_zDI19ODpz9TA/s320/IMG_0444.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfy9_cfiebvfv4rOi7di5AjeGljifQNZ-viy255YCsA9lbB2goFaBePn8RdMw_SYXsH9yqdKbADgq4J-DRL5kvu4hPOlqncqaLUuOPpw7MXOTl-4NuQkTMErSf5r0hWvatKHXJg/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfy9_cfiebvfv4rOi7di5AjeGljifQNZ-viy255YCsA9lbB2goFaBePn8RdMw_SYXsH9yqdKbADgq4J-DRL5kvu4hPOlqncqaLUuOPpw7MXOTl-4NuQkTMErSf5r0hWvatKHXJg/s320/IMG_0443.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On the left is a picture of Mitsuhide, a soldier (true story) who was beaten and humiliated by his lord for very little reason (at least from a present day perspective), and who spends almost the entire play being loyal, grinning and bearing it. After the jerko lord Harunaga pushes things just a bit too far, Mitsuhide decides to overthrow him and start a rebellion. The moment when you know he's been pushed past his breaking point was amazing. None of the battle is actually staged, however. Remember, not about plot, just about giving the actor a chance to emote. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On the right is the main
female character from the second play, which specifically
highlighted this actor's dancing abilities. There were several amazing costume changes as the woman performed for
the dedication of a new temple bell, dancing the many aspects of a woman in love. She was, unbeknownst to the
monks, the spirit of the woman who had caused the old bell to fall
because she was separated from her lover, and she eventually turned into
a serpent-like demon before being felled by the hero. The program claimed that this was
the most famous of all kabuki dances and was considered to be the pinnacle
of the art of the female role specialist actor. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The sumo wrestling museum was next door to the very impressive Edo-Tokyo
Museum. Though we ventured to that part of the city for the one-room
sumo museum, we did the whole place in about 20 minutes after spending
several hours in the Edo. Unfortunately, we <i>just</i> missed the
yearly sumo tournament by one weekend. The schedules for bouts
(matches?) were up at the arena and there were ads all over the place. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmzC5xPMSrnRL9Apsp-VkJeAjXMzXajRqj3owA3xVq9Xi-SCrEdDHllPcSKUU0TpIRBmda2hFh6PmN8JHTpM4q6cP-8OPVZZSZbrIzLdyzP51L4v-0rMmwWb4j-8nCWkCdTJwuQ/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmzC5xPMSrnRL9Apsp-VkJeAjXMzXajRqj3owA3xVq9Xi-SCrEdDHllPcSKUU0TpIRBmda2hFh6PmN8JHTpM4q6cP-8OPVZZSZbrIzLdyzP51L4v-0rMmwWb4j-8nCWkCdTJwuQ/s200/IMG_0462.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkT7EgeoZx2HhgyH6oZiZSVvHCw8LQNx0fec9n3DIStyOQutWHUwsiJLbKVAdBZPWyM3w3UN495CPFfH94L9BFgnuO_VYhq-wAbIPr6DWyTgThZf7ULdP2NLAmN6FqyAWvZtVTxg/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkT7EgeoZx2HhgyH6oZiZSVvHCw8LQNx0fec9n3DIStyOQutWHUwsiJLbKVAdBZPWyM3w3UN495CPFfH94L9BFgnuO_VYhq-wAbIPr6DWyTgThZf7ULdP2NLAmN6FqyAWvZtVTxg/s200/IMG_0527.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The mural was outside the museum/arena, but the excellent cutout, starring an angry K, was outside a nearby restaurant that we initially <i>thought</i> might be the museum. Maybe the guy holding the fish should have given it away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaNWQ1aC1b2cGCQrGpxyoaQmEA9OfgZdiFJqcFi-vBZdXJqyL6AYMdalkKD_3z7rLKitzdEjxSxdcVbZCrFeP2jBkBdCKOdUyNVBUS10p3lgRI8pn8leAiniytD5JHLayNZeEXw/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaNWQ1aC1b2cGCQrGpxyoaQmEA9OfgZdiFJqcFi-vBZdXJqyL6AYMdalkKD_3z7rLKitzdEjxSxdcVbZCrFeP2jBkBdCKOdUyNVBUS10p3lgRI8pn8leAiniytD5JHLayNZeEXw/s400/IMG_0529.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXQ2Eh7-Re2WbDAsc9skFZGVilyY9b0cXq6CKtqseFIEt4F2bA-dnxFt_-DnZJkfVxCR3U2MQQz9X6Xmy5ACAqAeQP42OG1lGIQJI2FmPp_PuD6oCF-mDFQSUHxiK285T9zT5DA/s1600/IMG_0464.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXQ2Eh7-Re2WbDAsc9skFZGVilyY9b0cXq6CKtqseFIEt4F2bA-dnxFt_-DnZJkfVxCR3U2MQQz9X6Xmy5ACAqAeQP42OG1lGIQJI2FmPp_PuD6oCF-mDFQSUHxiK285T9zT5DA/s400/IMG_0464.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-23463758328557786322012-09-27T23:52:00.003-07:002012-09-27T23:54:20.505-07:00Ryokan Sawanoya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our stay in Tokyo was in a traditional Japanese inn, or <i>ryokan</i>. The <a href="http://www.sawanoya.com/" target="_blank">Sawanoya </a>was fantastic, and I'd recommend it to anyone, though there might be other places a tiny bit better located for public transit. The staff were very helpful and accommodating, we had no language issues, and it was clean and reasonably priced. Breakfast (though Western style) was hearty, yummy and about 300-400 yen (~$4.50).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our room was very small, and you can see its entirety in these two shots. The door on the left in K's picture leads to an entryway as long as the width of the room and just wide enough for a sink and shoe rack. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW5EmDU7i8YzaQ0spQMbodLUCQgmV0V3OiNuK4BO-3QfBthpg5kBy-bUFrzc6Gjp89J_j1Q8m5Gf1IFHHpR_IpMwsV5k0j7qMEitCLm9NsRWy2S9mG4BJgguVEY1U5_J3iJaUOA/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW5EmDU7i8YzaQ0spQMbodLUCQgmV0V3OiNuK4BO-3QfBthpg5kBy-bUFrzc6Gjp89J_j1Q8m5Gf1IFHHpR_IpMwsV5k0j7qMEitCLm9NsRWy2S9mG4BJgguVEY1U5_J3iJaUOA/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMEoLaTuTihM1siZOCNMmkWA11PIq9rc6ORl9oDKdyzxT72CEuJz4aYuIDLA2lBuuBQ_Bnxx8WzW5SRyoahMpAqv4ZB0ZiOxKE2VkPdb8Jc78jOgw-58-21VEq7m4A6NGQB8YXA/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMEoLaTuTihM1siZOCNMmkWA11PIq9rc6ORl9oDKdyzxT72CEuJz4aYuIDLA2lBuuBQ_Bnxx8WzW5SRyoahMpAqv4ZB0ZiOxKE2VkPdb8Jc78jOgw-58-21VEq7m4A6NGQB8YXA/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The futons we slept on over tatami mats were less cushion-y than my camping thermarest, and only after the first two nights did we realize there were extras in the closet. However, with a double-decker bed on the third night I slept well and didn't wake up because some part of my body or other had fallen asleep, as happened on night two.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1HOo0MLyEggl8_Z_MRAXftIe_538jnXJd6MCW7tn91y_z_1B1TpOop1quDHiJBtoDuhOKllcqN7mf-4yJUREH2BqChKOSkmg8uE51aZWS-1N8r-Eynoa56C3cvpiQywvcR0zVA/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1HOo0MLyEggl8_Z_MRAXftIe_538jnXJd6MCW7tn91y_z_1B1TpOop1quDHiJBtoDuhOKllcqN7mf-4yJUREH2BqChKOSkmg8uE51aZWS-1N8r-Eynoa56C3cvpiQywvcR0zVA/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see these tiny cranes on the pillows above?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The best part of this place, though also the least convenient, was the <i>onsen</i>, which means hot spring in Japanese. This word is also used to refer to the bathing facilities and lodgings around the springs. I'm not positive there was a true spring associated with our ryokan, but the bathing facility was great. The two rooms on the ground floor were shared by all guests, so that meant waiting for the "occupied" signs to flip to "vacant" on a few occasions.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr47C2DsQUcint6rG0kOQkPFLAhw2OEOXvJLw-Xq9rATkeLIpxD6Hofl-Qy05orwQWq9tO1esthbupYP9ZjOT4_45DL2-meSVYNRAT9PfaI6BM8G-9jXvz67ZVtPD57M5Bw17KA/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr47C2DsQUcint6rG0kOQkPFLAhw2OEOXvJLw-Xq9rATkeLIpxD6Hofl-Qy05orwQWq9tO1esthbupYP9ZjOT4_45DL2-meSVYNRAT9PfaI6BM8G-9jXvz67ZVtPD57M5Bw17KA/s400/IMG_0455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
To take the photo above, I stood in an entry room with a sink and some
shelving for your things. Through a glass wall/door was a showerhead on a very cool timer, a
small stool and wash basin, and a large pool of <i>hot</i> water. This
is a pool for soaking and relaxing, not with bubbly massaging jets, and
was excellent for rejuvenating tired muscles after walking all day.<br />
<br />
While ryokans are hard to come by in big cities these days, I'm glad K
exerted her will and convinced me to go this route for our first visit
to Japan. This was a great home base for our trip.</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-70423958299489451382012-09-27T22:24:00.003-07:002012-09-27T23:55:09.243-07:00B and K pics in Tokyo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDHiqRUw-gfoEWgZXknpxzf6-xJsXY01VpvUPo1qMAlCu0kvpQ-a5DFqscB4qxhEa9VgyLZo_Gx-Z16Et3ffSGbuBlic9l00_s7GWoUyqydq-xHS76vTAaifUaD9KoLuua4LsEw/s1600/IMG_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDHiqRUw-gfoEWgZXknpxzf6-xJsXY01VpvUPo1qMAlCu0kvpQ-a5DFqscB4qxhEa9VgyLZo_Gx-Z16Et3ffSGbuBlic9l00_s7GWoUyqydq-xHS76vTAaifUaD9KoLuua4LsEw/s400/IMG_0158.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
B on Electric Street</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnX_bqCKXlaU6NKugMbnIY-uJbtWehMApo0iN_s6mRC2Qg02ipTEewBSiuSxgZWjcU33Az0MH7dGcHL1lhNLIvSjNalnKQBVS4epPT9TgB3FvCFQcq3_Fi2vS36AfvL2x3hBrWg/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnX_bqCKXlaU6NKugMbnIY-uJbtWehMApo0iN_s6mRC2Qg02ipTEewBSiuSxgZWjcU33Az0MH7dGcHL1lhNLIvSjNalnKQBVS4epPT9TgB3FvCFQcq3_Fi2vS36AfvL2x3hBrWg/s400/IMG_0302.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
K with her new Rainbow Bear washcloth and camera</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU8jO7Zq5w794Vzg9Ktf9gt7QF7_NyRzGHfQMV4dYLQdEwzCMtQ7b9XQ0yjS-npHKeyX3zM_k0GgZEMbg7VpAoZxFah8VpNZmrmBIKA5Ld21-aL5MEE7OOYOwDJqyDamBuk_Zgw/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU8jO7Zq5w794Vzg9Ktf9gt7QF7_NyRzGHfQMV4dYLQdEwzCMtQ7b9XQ0yjS-npHKeyX3zM_k0GgZEMbg7VpAoZxFah8VpNZmrmBIKA5Ld21-aL5MEE7OOYOwDJqyDamBuk_Zgw/s400/IMG_0368.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On our way through the park to the Meiji Shrine </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LLOVAF9LePa6b_r5uodvY6PQwLSVIUPwG4YzvglYCumd0mGacKRGV1nyLnsyyTXSKiPsH7_OIv8P6YwjjMFqEt_nQgjSSTXPDJzfWOcTgRqRWKQ_Ha1Fz6vjs4_yOOS6e2iVMg/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LLOVAF9LePa6b_r5uodvY6PQwLSVIUPwG4YzvglYCumd0mGacKRGV1nyLnsyyTXSKiPsH7_OIv8P6YwjjMFqEt_nQgjSSTXPDJzfWOcTgRqRWKQ_Ha1Fz6vjs4_yOOS6e2iVMg/s320/IMG_0364.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nj_IwgeFi45c0nCY4w2Ohjv9aE-2VgLHPu6BImjfoCVeFe1X_UsRM89gRaHZJe6hXtQrEG-BnlT_BU3DhZHO0-teldgTCDKX6g2qxmorYhBmBjv_zNZQ9AaqOhqbJGkIfRGdmA/s1600/IMG_0363.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nj_IwgeFi45c0nCY4w2Ohjv9aE-2VgLHPu6BImjfoCVeFe1X_UsRM89gRaHZJe6hXtQrEG-BnlT_BU3DhZHO0-teldgTCDKX6g2qxmorYhBmBjv_zNZQ9AaqOhqbJGkIfRGdmA/s320/IMG_0363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3w4sCqMP5rKaCI_KcLk5yibaI7rknOrAmRQfWRJ7F3vhQHXg_4URgDPBTUwDUBJ4zhJ1FqIyEccEtRKZjDShGpmg8p7oYrDirpG3O0NxRejCYtrKVElrUFheD3v0-DJ__ZwrsQ/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3w4sCqMP5rKaCI_KcLk5yibaI7rknOrAmRQfWRJ7F3vhQHXg_4URgDPBTUwDUBJ4zhJ1FqIyEccEtRKZjDShGpmg8p7oYrDirpG3O0NxRejCYtrKVElrUFheD3v0-DJ__ZwrsQ/s400/IMG_0401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The double bridge leading to the Imperial Palace </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ2DYoDUIdnvnkODcDHmcTob-G9xS_f2N7sx_x4OfcN_eVldaPrn-8zLoFpmwCqH1Cx7haE8qKljlzr1qkv1oPI6LfAyJhy5LuU36hzAmRG01LbzGDS2OEmUiRbqXrw0W6D33fQ/s1600/IMG_0268.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ2DYoDUIdnvnkODcDHmcTob-G9xS_f2N7sx_x4OfcN_eVldaPrn-8zLoFpmwCqH1Cx7haE8qKljlzr1qkv1oPI6LfAyJhy5LuU36hzAmRG01LbzGDS2OEmUiRbqXrw0W6D33fQ/s320/IMG_0268.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYvMFbpHITmg4LIN8J_22Skju1exnIPTpCJCaiJ2vafWLL_bUeD02CD9Jd1XK0ylT6oQxGVcKRK4pBC9ZW9h4Mfrcmn5WL-0-s-9Lgl7SKB55Kruo0_Rc3KhogEZcjPkXh8rj_g/s1600/IMG_0267.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYvMFbpHITmg4LIN8J_22Skju1exnIPTpCJCaiJ2vafWLL_bUeD02CD9Jd1XK0ylT6oQxGVcKRK4pBC9ZW9h4Mfrcmn5WL-0-s-9Lgl7SKB55Kruo0_Rc3KhogEZcjPkXh8rj_g/s320/IMG_0267.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That white building is not the palace itself, but the public can't get anywhere close to the palace itself. The gardens were also closed the day we ventured to that neighborhood. The grounds here seem to be a favorite destination for lunchtime runners, and this is the most photographed spot in Tokyo. I'm so glad we could do the most touristy thing possible during our short visit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last miscellaneous factoid I wanted to share was this little video I caught in a pet store. </div>
Don't you want one?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuDkvAyH29JR4Gi6f1lBgZCjUu_CM_0p5GO-FmCBWaxc4RTLInxVtPLA3VNFygFTRNjWmmtnwrjSk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-27907545610450059802012-09-27T21:07:00.002-07:002012-09-27T21:07:49.524-07:00We're moving to the zeach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, we lost the pink beach apartment. So we're moving to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18jCnXvKvho" target="_blank">zeach</a> instead. The beach-front apartment adjacent to the zoo that I was a bit wary of several weeks ago. It actually turns out the word I thought I coined to describe the strange placement of my new home is already a snowboarding term, formed from the compression of Zach Leach's names. I wonder how often that happens to people? There are only so many combinations of letters in our alphabet, after all, and no, I am NOT going to attempt that math. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After much anxiety over the decision to live next to a hotbed of perceived tropical diseases just waiting to jump from monkey to human over the fence outside our window, and much anticipation over whether or not we were selected to move in over several other potentially interested people, we will very soon be proud residents of the Blue Lagoon condos. While I don't expect any visits from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuA55wlgTek" target="_blank">Brooke Shields</a>, we aren't all that far from a Hooters, and several other points of interest, namely a yummy sushi joint, the largest K-Mart in the world (supposedly, though Wikipedia's source for that factoid is a Guam tourism portal), and a high school I've been wanting to go scout out. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd0Jf_WsUgXxys6PqNDXXLcq8xOiRfZYyNLi5FqeFIsJEM0NKbjfqyEnEEpqAL_RS9dfrzp0sO2TtT6SSG0QFvM2FK_-wtLa26N8U4ibTk2d17Ay2-Tl30arxT4h8XQ2Im9bOuw/s1600/arrowmap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd0Jf_WsUgXxys6PqNDXXLcq8xOiRfZYyNLi5FqeFIsJEM0NKbjfqyEnEEpqAL_RS9dfrzp0sO2TtT6SSG0QFvM2FK_-wtLa26N8U4ibTk2d17Ay2-Tl30arxT4h8XQ2Im9bOuw/s400/arrowmap.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm not really excited about packing, as previously noted, but at least we don't have to schlep things too far. We only need to move from point A to point B, or about 1.4 miles. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaQFBbdk9aS9aUX9YSEool_cd1fOR1tSk26GFdVWMJ-bUIGKRf0QcnxyudTl3KXnDbpc8kP2PT3XZdjjs3-iGnX3rR2Uo9Wu2pSZUXjK4vWda77U-lhkPRkuLZiALxLl0teelng/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-28+at+12.40.29+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaQFBbdk9aS9aUX9YSEool_cd1fOR1tSk26GFdVWMJ-bUIGKRf0QcnxyudTl3KXnDbpc8kP2PT3XZdjjs3-iGnX3rR2Uo9Wu2pSZUXjK4vWda77U-lhkPRkuLZiALxLl0teelng/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-09-28+at+12.40.29+PM.png" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was also initially worried about living on the beach, what with typhoons and tsunamis being real things here, but we've got a little heft to the building, no thatched roofs or anything, so I'm starting to get excited. We sort of figured, if we're going to live on an island, we should <i>feel</i> like we're living on an island. This place does just that. Here's our beach, and a view of our building. All those trees are hiding the zoo.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CtFIEIlllhxf_XEixuuy-eoXhFz36eU5jtGWoqgEiq9sCgxcvh0aIwCqFCIi3ki7wtNKaUsvYO6oDRcyUVcg1wlUo0CtBb37pT1pTZr2oa_J_B4q8Hsh1brHKlKyTGM45izrhQ/s1600/IMG_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CtFIEIlllhxf_XEixuuy-eoXhFz36eU5jtGWoqgEiq9sCgxcvh0aIwCqFCIi3ki7wtNKaUsvYO6oDRcyUVcg1wlUo0CtBb37pT1pTZr2oa_J_B4q8Hsh1brHKlKyTGM45izrhQ/s400/IMG_0550.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAomYGIVrfwGDLIC3mLPjKAW_KEGFQiW8JtmJ93AwgLC9oov5t1F7BisTSxbTEmNVVQwlQ3aeW-11-axcV3RLvp6fqpWKJmGrbYILvZ9PLd971UopdxjvO2ChGe3o2KeytW1E3A/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAomYGIVrfwGDLIC3mLPjKAW_KEGFQiW8JtmJ93AwgLC9oov5t1F7BisTSxbTEmNVVQwlQ3aeW-11-axcV3RLvp6fqpWKJmGrbYILvZ9PLd971UopdxjvO2ChGe3o2KeytW1E3A/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
These are the southwest and northeast views of Tumon Bay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRslPZ5Idyxz05kwjOOxGfP6JeW9L65ri7MeTXSVPIA7QPtHt4Rb9beI0R3TGreVoZasCg6aIsXWc3puotayiGdMTpLWRd4WiP7E9Hi25BCxrL6hvXbtlM-mPHcK_WQh04wAfVg/s400/IMG_0549.JPG" width="400" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_H-iruZowewttC4LlP0AzEA1msTyBdd1O046t3zwpJpRbgNUGKUDcY5li8y3yMEtmktAMYh_BuKt2Wv4I-c2qyLuSDjWMPimMyTVuWYyooiRPVjuLoEJkqr7JgWDKCJJCpK7Qw/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_H-iruZowewttC4LlP0AzEA1msTyBdd1O046t3zwpJpRbgNUGKUDcY5li8y3yMEtmktAMYh_BuKt2Wv4I-c2qyLuSDjWMPimMyTVuWYyooiRPVjuLoEJkqr7JgWDKCJJCpK7Qw/s400/IMG_0548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAomYGIVrfwGDLIC3mLPjKAW_KEGFQiW8JtmJ93AwgLC9oov5t1F7BisTSxbTEmNVVQwlQ3aeW-11-axcV3RLvp6fqpWKJmGrbYILvZ9PLd971UopdxjvO2ChGe3o2KeytW1E3A/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
The best things about this place are that Ripley is going to get tons more exercise, and K and I are hopefully going to spend more time outside our house. Since we'll be that much closer to the busy hotel row with its shops and restaurants, and "winter" is on its way (so the temperature might drop down to the low 80s more regularly), I hope this will mean more time outside and more exercise for us too. Indoor photos forthcoming once we move sometime at the end of October.</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-90873332273075576802012-09-11T22:51:00.001-07:002012-09-11T22:51:28.357-07:00Japanese art: wood block printing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of the most amazing things I saw in the <a href="http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/" target="_blank">Edo-Tokyo Museum</a> (which I would highly recommend if you make it to Tokyo) was a display about the art of wood block printing. A lot of the exhibits were in several languages, including English, but this one was particularly interesting because of all the visuals that really helped to drive home the process more than a few paragraphs could.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What you see here is the entire display. The final print is in the upper left, while the first is in the upper right. The top row of prints is the composite produced after layering on each individual print with each different pattern and color. The middle row shows what new piece is added to the picture, and the bottom row is the carved wood block itself. Sorry the images are a bit dark and/or blurry. I couldn't use a flash in the museum.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILh_epRfc0ewkDO_hI5RFtw98xqEl7pkpQLez8rF4jk4H3onyhDL4E5L-YtzQi2Ktm2hKZ04iwyX6hd6Ke1zxGwSH-F3ioZBhgPt8BgiSQf4QdzTlKSpmkoCuFrxQEIbHJiC6zw/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILh_epRfc0ewkDO_hI5RFtw98xqEl7pkpQLez8rF4jk4H3onyhDL4E5L-YtzQi2Ktm2hKZ04iwyX6hd6Ke1zxGwSH-F3ioZBhgPt8BgiSQf4QdzTlKSpmkoCuFrxQEIbHJiC6zw/s400/IMG_0482.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click on any image to enlarge for details</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's a smaller section to give you a better idea.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRbx3Njm9drhBEYzXrIbvyWUNgvMykHwd3MXf-Ro9e83ndvcvC7Bn2FZXvbC3p4dDlKCU1-gx-wxXoa4sQmTM6id4Dx6zileXOvuKimwwQeRYIMdpnT94o8ob5M4sgRN-q-uo9A/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRbx3Njm9drhBEYzXrIbvyWUNgvMykHwd3MXf-Ro9e83ndvcvC7Bn2FZXvbC3p4dDlKCU1-gx-wxXoa4sQmTM6id4Dx6zileXOvuKimwwQeRYIMdpnT94o8ob5M4sgRN-q-uo9A/s400/IMG_0484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a wood block and what it would print:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl7n7c__x5BmOWLZ5JKBEgUNoTn3ngK1dWGyHRU0E0wUupB6VWp63K9MEZjjAtq2u3xdZPoVU9YDyfadcHl2PsBRq_fBefYFgmPH2VyaYiAg2NMXW1gWFKnD-bn2E34CpzWB6Cg/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl7n7c__x5BmOWLZ5JKBEgUNoTn3ngK1dWGyHRU0E0wUupB6VWp63K9MEZjjAtq2u3xdZPoVU9YDyfadcHl2PsBRq_fBefYFgmPH2VyaYiAg2NMXW1gWFKnD-bn2E34CpzWB6Cg/s200/IMG_0485.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzzOHTeynFmESsalWPn2XwXT7BqGmzTlkCb5SOtcYBbtlfhPB7jtSHAD-EtTzrZKrTwzLNIi138PMy89czUTN0hyz6h_dIsQMyDN7ycCmEK5pKVG3TiXLEoAi9NZe4s5irNBixQ/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzzOHTeynFmESsalWPn2XwXT7BqGmzTlkCb5SOtcYBbtlfhPB7jtSHAD-EtTzrZKrTwzLNIi138PMy89czUTN0hyz6h_dIsQMyDN7ycCmEK5pKVG3TiXLEoAi9NZe4s5irNBixQ/s200/IMG_0487.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the before and after for the block shown above.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmo-7R030UFAliUMqOcpeqqCClj2uM1fq-5sjj74qZ4ezzewbcXgclUwBwtZl2oyDQ37xvFvzccLW-Sc6Vz3f4odTndfzz9vn4gI2Ju1VnLDdNynoJ7puBIEs_5QR7ojPXRN-fg/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmo-7R030UFAliUMqOcpeqqCClj2uM1fq-5sjj74qZ4ezzewbcXgclUwBwtZl2oyDQ37xvFvzccLW-Sc6Vz3f4odTndfzz9vn4gI2Ju1VnLDdNynoJ7puBIEs_5QR7ojPXRN-fg/s200/IMG_0489.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfh6sWN1m_DikzW6F88nWFOV9gDZ4SUTjxRGosIA3TmbNl-io4eTqHn5uk4_ZIkHxXUxsp0n2Ieg1EzNnJ2rSSk5HquFrRk8mgOH_0nwyt-NOWUdssqYc2ZSY1krjT_ZeT8m3qA/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfh6sWN1m_DikzW6F88nWFOV9gDZ4SUTjxRGosIA3TmbNl-io4eTqHn5uk4_ZIkHxXUxsp0n2Ieg1EzNnJ2rSSk5HquFrRk8mgOH_0nwyt-NOWUdssqYc2ZSY1krjT_ZeT8m3qA/s200/IMG_0488.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the final image, with a total of 14 blocks/prints needed to make this picture. It was roughly 12"x16" or so.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPh2BJ-imPyefEwYsdAWF2qY4YO_QtOyj753_PdUdAQ0wdRERg0YWAbBO3Wv66HdPX1nPOweXF3yWMvrEF2RMmkUhClloK4u4O1nTItQxPWEepyM3kqfHbiUgBAoZ_S_J-asFPtA/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPh2BJ-imPyefEwYsdAWF2qY4YO_QtOyj753_PdUdAQ0wdRERg0YWAbBO3Wv66HdPX1nPOweXF3yWMvrEF2RMmkUhClloK4u4O1nTItQxPWEepyM3kqfHbiUgBAoZ_S_J-asFPtA/s400/IMG_0483.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Note that the Japanese characters in the scroll were also carved, as a mirror image mind you, in a wood block. Really amazing.</div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-65055875956796674712012-09-11T22:32:00.000-07:002012-09-12T16:08:59.479-07:00We hope we're moving here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know what you're thinking. "Bethany, you <i>just</i> moved to Guam. For heaven's sake, why are you moving again?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As sane people, you ask very astute questions. Why, indeed, would we want to move again? I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. And all of the people on the internet. Suffice it to say our lease is up at our current place so the band is breaking up. The good news is we'll be moving into a more private place, and hopefully this will help Ripley's separation anxiety since there will be fewer people for her to separate from on a daily basis.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
K and I have been hunting for a new place for a couple weeks, and have gotten really close to sealing a deal on some new digs. We've been able to work out a less than one-year lease, have negotiated having a dog, and have offered $500/mo under the listed price for the place. The owner seems amenable to all these conditions. The place has a new kitchen, lots of open space, and has a great view. I'm wondering what's wrong with it that no one's snapped it up before now, but I guess we'll find out. We should be moving in a month or so.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
In the meantime, the only thing I can do to minimize the pain of packing and unpacking again is to focus on the view from our new living room/balcony. The light wasn't great at this time of day to get the best shots, but I think you get the idea. I wish I could fit them altogether in one panorama to give you the full effect. It's pretty awesome. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdtwdVnd4uoqwfak4NzjJRbNCOVVNhO8r_pgwBBE-0eKV655fIHhLoqj559ufHrBgQisSWPavk53ltL1Qu0o__5jDicivyKoJ-CU4mpFsX7o9c2cSZivZzE67FFh4QH3wG16RqQ/s1600/view3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdtwdVnd4uoqwfak4NzjJRbNCOVVNhO8r_pgwBBE-0eKV655fIHhLoqj559ufHrBgQisSWPavk53ltL1Qu0o__5jDicivyKoJ-CU4mpFsX7o9c2cSZivZzE67FFh4QH3wG16RqQ/s320/view3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwFQH-t1QQoCoFLcSFudLiGxX6lIFgLOeqYXpbJBfYfjUHwNnhMV_C9Rjicqw4SoLoLrIqz2X1Bx-o8pjhawa-Zi2ZubP583tr6H5RMGeFiXfHQaKQN5UroGQ40XM1Qd3Ia_N9g/s1600/view2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwFQH-t1QQoCoFLcSFudLiGxX6lIFgLOeqYXpbJBfYfjUHwNnhMV_C9Rjicqw4SoLoLrIqz2X1Bx-o8pjhawa-Zi2ZubP583tr6H5RMGeFiXfHQaKQN5UroGQ40XM1Qd3Ia_N9g/s320/view2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DkJGWguU7TH-TnqpLwvMikd9YoJRuJmQQ_LyOGGHyfqiopFL6qcr5tX7jCy4qOVuvkr177bmPh3Wg2GD4KlfoYY2BiwOISz646DGq4xUROaBlcoLWdpYO7r_mq-65Y0J4kcjBA/s1600/view1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DkJGWguU7TH-TnqpLwvMikd9YoJRuJmQQ_LyOGGHyfqiopFL6qcr5tX7jCy4qOVuvkr177bmPh3Wg2GD4KlfoYY2BiwOISz646DGq4xUROaBlcoLWdpYO7r_mq-65Y0J4kcjBA/s320/view1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sooo, it's a three bedroom place. Any takers? Free lodging, tropical island...<br />
<br />
We decided to NOT go with the place that was directly ON the beach since it overlooked the zoo. Not kidding. We could hear monkeys and stuff from the balcony. OOG. <br />
<br />
This is the view from the WiFi enabled cafe that's right across the street from our hopefully new place. You can actually see the cafe in the left shot and right on the left edge of the middle shot above. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHf1eMmMsY2bkhLyBTUxVD-rjDJFFPzrzCerjc_pbHFoYYE_LgylCG_HPOt7wNU6u8w6jr8G2slv2Z72oL0bcN9I-rqa98v2drNYeXhp-FIinWRaY2Q1vrbfgL1vn1TYdgYwEMA/s1600/TuReview.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHf1eMmMsY2bkhLyBTUxVD-rjDJFFPzrzCerjc_pbHFoYYE_LgylCG_HPOt7wNU6u8w6jr8G2slv2Z72oL0bcN9I-rqa98v2drNYeXhp-FIinWRaY2Q1vrbfgL1vn1TYdgYwEMA/s320/TuReview.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tu Re Cafe porch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And finally, these pics are just for funsies. My iPhone camera decided to go on an acid trip for two days, right before I wanted to take pictures of the view. I had to go back and retake them to give you realistic images. In case you're worried, my camera has come down now after hanging out in a safe room and not doing anything stupid. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYW7jjTaFzEaydcIMcjgqm3rY-dgNmRZJxLe-QqrpIWh7K5wVMmbNx6svUTHd4_HmmTxeTi7T8MVfTXdI7BuL2OHspUYoXzvKTTteSmlA7DU7A3pDYJY1v82TnrBFrv-i9LjP4A/s1600/viewcolor3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYW7jjTaFzEaydcIMcjgqm3rY-dgNmRZJxLe-QqrpIWh7K5wVMmbNx6svUTHd4_HmmTxeTi7T8MVfTXdI7BuL2OHspUYoXzvKTTteSmlA7DU7A3pDYJY1v82TnrBFrv-i9LjP4A/s200/viewcolor3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSmpuEpXzyeJvVrfKCSx91hFMvpgK6tr_DeJTrvrh-DnekVhAAzrYBh95Z_ZI3wlDZwKagCCUCY5Oq-isu1UHXTxxpeomcTTrSGwvr8GCMZ9HzAo9lmpqurikDghwJkW-WhhowQ/s1600/viewcolor2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSmpuEpXzyeJvVrfKCSx91hFMvpgK6tr_DeJTrvrh-DnekVhAAzrYBh95Z_ZI3wlDZwKagCCUCY5Oq-isu1UHXTxxpeomcTTrSGwvr8GCMZ9HzAo9lmpqurikDghwJkW-WhhowQ/s200/viewcolor2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEc6MGSVF9nDffg2GMOCZPG10PX_QjSxSeZ50rQravx-twbrDFGnTHn19RI6tWiurAPj9HtsWKFnquKfeZfLLqc5tbvBwv8AKo8BItbiG4Ll4KcYqYI44ramJlNUD2wXQNLnfng/s1600/viewcolor1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEc6MGSVF9nDffg2GMOCZPG10PX_QjSxSeZ50rQravx-twbrDFGnTHn19RI6tWiurAPj9HtsWKFnquKfeZfLLqc5tbvBwv8AKo8BItbiG4Ll4KcYqYI44ramJlNUD2wXQNLnfng/s200/viewcolor1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Hooray for Apple forums. </div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-37889524635805469412012-09-11T08:29:00.000-07:002012-09-11T08:30:30.163-07:00Traveling our asses off: Food in Tokyo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over Labor Day weekend, K and I took our first adventure together in a long while and visited Tokyo. As we've been challenged by some friends at home to "travel our asses off" while in Guam, let me assure you we not only saw a lot in Japan, but we quite literally <i>had</i> to have traveled some of our asses off with all the walking we did. This post will be about what we did to replenish all those calories.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: blue; text-align: center;">
<b>Episode I: Food</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I will in no way attempt to mimic a foodie blog here with recipes, etc. (though if you're into that you can find a <a href="http://page-210.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">great one here</a>). Mostly this is just some musings on the surprises and differences between my Western food experience and my touristy scratching of the Tokyo culinary surface.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: blue;">Memorable food experience #1</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After dropping off our luggage at our ryoken (more on our lodgings later), we found ourselves in a quaint little street market area off a pretty residential neighborhood not too far from where we were staying. The smells of street vendor food were amazing, but after schlepping our suitcases quite some distance from the train station (transportation post coming too), we needed a place to sit down and take a load off.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdru1E7dpmdSL2NYCrf9LRYMjZqNdzAcusBL2bN2mNxh8TenPBTW27wuzL5QLN-J_sH_p4fuZCAZLsCtLv-7T_HTVRFYjxKM0psRkS_LwFFqSLMhe3JRDtxxiRIfZmixe7W5-LA/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdru1E7dpmdSL2NYCrf9LRYMjZqNdzAcusBL2bN2mNxh8TenPBTW27wuzL5QLN-J_sH_p4fuZCAZLsCtLv-7T_HTVRFYjxKM0psRkS_LwFFqSLMhe3JRDtxxiRIfZmixe7W5-LA/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We chose our restaurant because of the neatly removed shoes that covered the entryway and because we could see all the patrons were seated around place settings on the floor. We had no idea what was on the menu, and after a brief interchange between K and a waitress, we decided to get the fixed menu for 1000 yen (or roughly $12-13 each). As it turned out, this was the best meal for the price during our entire stay.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uyl_BfPK98yCO_RNfXve-XpX3OXzlH-H_8soOJNNGZa71hO7_mfh4FjYbkhUl6AbRyuIUWXFNh-7_RrmMVoGcC2dRW5l4S7Stnohzu26dNKqp6yHyGBJqGVhzkUEbLQD6A-exw/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uyl_BfPK98yCO_RNfXve-XpX3OXzlH-H_8soOJNNGZa71hO7_mfh4FjYbkhUl6AbRyuIUWXFNh-7_RrmMVoGcC2dRW5l4S7Stnohzu26dNKqp6yHyGBJqGVhzkUEbLQD6A-exw/s200/IMG_0451.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had incorrectly assumed at the door that we'd chosen a Japanese restaurant. We quickly reevaluated, thinking we were perhaps eating Turkish or some other Middle Eastern type of fare based on the dresses hanging from the walls, the camel at the food pick-up window, and the large blue evil eye charm that we saw all over Greece two years ago. Currently I'm leaning
toward Iranian after doing some image searching for flags online. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RMxtPISrrpVOCNiDivqs64ZbOH2_IaOzLskqz00E7B8ZpKEqTHV_V31sKKv7cc9IShlg-A1hw4IwO62TbdjNbfvfrRTquWLGmiGyOehDerG6sSvS6vAvZ1O71K7Sv37vEO7MOA/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RMxtPISrrpVOCNiDivqs64ZbOH2_IaOzLskqz00E7B8ZpKEqTHV_V31sKKv7cc9IShlg-A1hw4IwO62TbdjNbfvfrRTquWLGmiGyOehDerG6sSvS6vAvZ1O71K7Sv37vEO7MOA/s400/IMG_0130.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Regardless of where the food was from, the fixed menu included soup, a lamb stew (an animal I don't usually like, but that was amazing), a chickpea dish, rice, naan, a green salad with an egg salad side, and to drink, tea and mango juice. All this food was in front of us within two minutes of sitting down. (Did you hear that, Guam? Two minutes!) In addition, servers came around with platters to serve us other "finger food" items - dates, fried potato balls, and a filo dough jelly roll-like item. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcBmq1wxBH53T5qj3yAOWMCPcxCYDUCikv49DHP-cJZ3qej8rWSs38l_-jBeWuvgkE-7VFTJPFxBffjt4XJ1xTxSeRVKFSA_E1IJ8BM1_BrRCS2bmoeCgjK7n5rSZlnrXmFkTFg/s320/IMG_0129.jpg" width="213" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dinner that night was much more complicated in the hustle and bustle of downtown Ueno, and we tried three restaurants before our language ignorance allowed us to gain sustenance at a noodle house. Choosing your meal from a picture menu can be a bit scary at first, but it didn't take long to roll with it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1FPvPbFnhzK56PvjLSz0fcxPR-a2n1JzcFDPb2cHPi8DfYCiRXgZLsqSuVF6nfgqKPh6R4wK9TeE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: blue;">Memorable food experience #2 </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Growing up in the household of a hunter/fisher, I've had plenty of fresh-to-my-plate food in my time. Of course at the age of eight or so, you're not too excited, either emotionally or gustatorially, to eat Bambi, Thumper, or any of their friends, though as an adult I've paid good money for venison and rabbit in restaurants and have been very impressed. Probably the freshest food I experienced growing up was trout - from stream (or stocked lake) to plate within hours. I had fewer emotional issues there, but I still don't like the taste of white, flaky fish. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But sushi - now there's a food I can sink my teeth into. And when it comes to sushi, of course you want super fresh. So we went to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_fish_market" target="_blank">Tsukiji fish market</a>, the largest wholesale fish market in the world. K had been there during her first trip to Tokyo and managed to go to the frozen tuna auction (that's how they kill the bacteria/parasites for sushi - freeze for at least 24 hours), which starts at 5 AM. The thought of getting up that early when I'm <i>not</i> on vacation is painful, and there was no guarantee we'd be allowed in since they limit viewers to 140 each day, first come first served. So I decided to pass on that aspect of sightseeing, though <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1H5C1d2rbc&feature=channel&list=UL" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> has a nice post-auction photo, shown here. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa-VunhSJo5gaSDrNmVWCGDnOQYoa4Oa53J6TrJjpijhjW2b_DS4M86DeHX-T99RlYbzw49qjkrZOzsRKXEkTxcLhkJhCxVmgEyEPkM3LvO6H1BQz9zZ5cpgEuhUc2pH_kMZd_A/s1600/Tsukiji_Fresh_Tuna_Auction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa-VunhSJo5gaSDrNmVWCGDnOQYoa4Oa53J6TrJjpijhjW2b_DS4M86DeHX-T99RlYbzw49qjkrZOzsRKXEkTxcLhkJhCxVmgEyEPkM3LvO6H1BQz9zZ5cpgEuhUc2pH_kMZd_A/s400/Tsukiji_Fresh_Tuna_Auction.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While we didn't see the bidding on the huge tuna, there was plenty of other fish for sale to see. We got a map of the market from a security guard who cautioned us to avoid off-limits areas, to ask permission of vendors before taking photos, and to stay out of their way. They weren't tourist attractions, they were working. The dark grey areas on the map below were the off-limits zones, and anything circled we were allowed to see. He was a bit intimidating, and since everyone looked so busy, I took a lot fewer pictures than I normally would have. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZMd0lPJzcEawGxI3cJ6hOslOeBylCj9V5FATwuKiKE_YLTnPIgujhR-6bxKOP9oWv59LqWygbggLr1r6J8wM4ZYiwBF2lGLDersiLlfjkUTL-lCpsMGaE1JuhYQdzDsTE7374g/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZMd0lPJzcEawGxI3cJ6hOslOeBylCj9V5FATwuKiKE_YLTnPIgujhR-6bxKOP9oWv59LqWygbggLr1r6J8wM4ZYiwBF2lGLDersiLlfjkUTL-lCpsMGaE1JuhYQdzDsTE7374g/s200/IMG_0452.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(click for larger image)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most of the market was cramped warehouse space with tons of really narrow aisles. Each vendor had stacks of boxes of fruits and veggies in the produce area, or a variety of fish or other sea critters, sometimes in bins in water, sometimes still alive and sometimes still frozen.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKMI7anrPuRBJ9NVYOLMG9u6lLQaqLFwmgJtdFtlGfOImcHZ5fbXIc02FcJaN6M27EeM4sANEKzC6XoqTdsC5Egq5teXIJDkjF79dFfaF_okwA4tmWQHqibkiuWHOiFKziND19w/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKMI7anrPuRBJ9NVYOLMG9u6lLQaqLFwmgJtdFtlGfOImcHZ5fbXIc02FcJaN6M27EeM4sANEKzC6XoqTdsC5Egq5teXIJDkjF79dFfaF_okwA4tmWQHqibkiuWHOiFKziND19w/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzXbGg-Pg-xrg90r124yUc8wMAM8Cxx-M765_KCBwdeJrCGxUUIcrQCvyzHh8LvvJiw6mz6hdcvhGxrAhpagmFMk2n3IH6BKP_WRGCahYuwn-IY5Rn4HAiFUPCtLYw8PtugXPHA/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzXbGg-Pg-xrg90r124yUc8wMAM8Cxx-M765_KCBwdeJrCGxUUIcrQCvyzHh8LvvJiw6mz6hdcvhGxrAhpagmFMk2n3IH6BKP_WRGCahYuwn-IY5Rn4HAiFUPCtLYw8PtugXPHA/s320/IMG_0223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtG-DB8A5Y0Fw2_BqbC7QmVZXM2Exo32yO2shHMK3Z-WN14rx7Avaxmsmkr9lC4JhGkojjrOnxzSHp2loQPEqCTef6AUtDZzygaQDgIBGDoamzWullkRXC0KYXd8cH_XBI3ofNQ/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtG-DB8A5Y0Fw2_BqbC7QmVZXM2Exo32yO2shHMK3Z-WN14rx7Avaxmsmkr9lC4JhGkojjrOnxzSHp2loQPEqCTef6AUtDZzygaQDgIBGDoamzWullkRXC0KYXd8cH_XBI3ofNQ/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
It makes sense that these people need a lot of ice, but it hadn't occurred to me what that looked like until we saw the ice truck. We saw a few individuals transporting large fish on these flatbed handtrucks too, but most
of the moving around had finished by the time we got there. The market is shut down by 1 PM since they all start at three in the morning. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJtPfLG5Gci2185aPfTW4TrFuT6_1hyqvDiTBfYzHL18zp3_8cE7ECy_YRMtxtKqWzyv2u5Gc_zAK6X8OsNxCWyvybyohyphenhyphen4um4mlyts4-qVcXUyiPwHoMzPhXaKG7LasZPv5H5g/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJtPfLG5Gci2185aPfTW4TrFuT6_1hyqvDiTBfYzHL18zp3_8cE7ECy_YRMtxtKqWzyv2u5Gc_zAK6X8OsNxCWyvybyohyphenhyphen4um4mlyts4-qVcXUyiPwHoMzPhXaKG7LasZPv5H5g/s200/IMG_0247.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNIg6Vpjdf6jQDpPil_nzzslkkSjjhFrlfFbNo1DSnGY2FCe968ebbHuTTRHUtNvBG-OYHmVpd2iFu70_m3jNFZEKpfM_A77JHk8ouInyHDQ_VWov1RszSaAtidhyphenhyphenEssM0tDV_w/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNIg6Vpjdf6jQDpPil_nzzslkkSjjhFrlfFbNo1DSnGY2FCe968ebbHuTTRHUtNvBG-OYHmVpd2iFu70_m3jNFZEKpfM_A77JHk8ouInyHDQ_VWov1RszSaAtidhyphenhyphenEssM0tDV_w/s200/IMG_0225.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJtPfLG5Gci2185aPfTW4TrFuT6_1hyqvDiTBfYzHL18zp3_8cE7ECy_YRMtxtKqWzyv2u5Gc_zAK6X8OsNxCWyvybyohyphenhyphen4um4mlyts4-qVcXUyiPwHoMzPhXaKG7LasZPv5H5g/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOtsJV8lxH5YS-L8yahLnV1hK9lX6Y0X_c3M6slC3vO6xqA1DfDInKSuwSAuE5Lnn1L62IwzJhNTpbKkvro64T8xjBcbJVMJ-MJjEgVGaBBIB703MBrzXPbeSUsKRnM4dTzDvMw/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOtsJV8lxH5YS-L8yahLnV1hK9lX6Y0X_c3M6slC3vO6xqA1DfDInKSuwSAuE5Lnn1L62IwzJhNTpbKkvro64T8xjBcbJVMJ-MJjEgVGaBBIB703MBrzXPbeSUsKRnM4dTzDvMw/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> This is my favorite photograph of the entire trip - credit K.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just a few seconds after she snapped this, someone came out, picked up the fish head, and took it inside. It's unclear whether there was still some good meat in it or not, but we
did watch a fishmonger cutting out surprisingly large pieces of yummy
looking tuna from another head just minutes before. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyLvmyp9hGseeOW3H6ESj84FExRS2eOO2Ldfh0S_MzGPrTsNYBzhlmc3taCw270EVMlhYc6OFYP1FHd8YmOj-z6Oxxee1Tj9sNLqi1Q7H2E8jodyLBKbx01I6b-b_X9PVyfXE1g/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyLvmyp9hGseeOW3H6ESj84FExRS2eOO2Ldfh0S_MzGPrTsNYBzhlmc3taCw270EVMlhYc6OFYP1FHd8YmOj-z6Oxxee1Tj9sNLqi1Q7H2E8jodyLBKbx01I6b-b_X9PVyfXE1g/s320/IMG_0227.jpg" width="212" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxwgfvrLfywPeM2emlHH1M8vxyUZVhN3UVqNO9mXGVURPbrKQJDltcD-QDJzevzfUoxkoqJWXN0X7GI9lMRLKO8UXwrbfQUE68cBBa94dnYvIexIVpnZdjbLdhKV8CyoWl6XIag/s320/IMG_0228.jpg" width="212" /></div>
So how does the ginormous frozen tuna eventually make it to your plate? The fish are cut into more manageable pieces using a band saw. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzc5MfTH9Z7ceFB6AzToVQGzLrm56edmA5nNVhsqzW6ek_n3LcqUdrv5RyIZK66nWLWrGB48xwBz60' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
This gentleman appeared to be sorting live, surprisingly colorful shrimp by size into the green trays. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzCy8BZVZ_nnXMKl2eWT_v8zoD0wziZBPYqno-mYiTIVJgCMYrB46_o6VtB4cwUwzF2_CBNu7L_Thk6u0zUKeU_i8fGG7uHQy_Jlcczlg-a98SwR9jR4BdsZicQxwZlMbIMdVfA/s1600/IMG_0231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzCy8BZVZ_nnXMKl2eWT_v8zoD0wziZBPYqno-mYiTIVJgCMYrB46_o6VtB4cwUwzF2_CBNu7L_Thk6u0zUKeU_i8fGG7uHQy_Jlcczlg-a98SwR9jR4BdsZicQxwZlMbIMdVfA/s320/IMG_0231.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwKzFEIjD3iBP9lZ-bCE9wLGS9CqkSytCjDnBg-eYWCKGSj1pl1TfwY6yx6iJBO1Sk6lxfBpOPaoy4T7ss6DIrHIZ4ilbF_N-UEJihMkWo3HzTY93BPY2YXFV6mfhHq9aIys3Ww/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_tSvV5-c4Vw2eyDEoIIB-p1iXO-5Ii5S2X9z2B0OBVkZGD7FpJXf0iGdRk9l_oW8nKGRYw_c1piszlG6lvRxjuWyCFQOAPw4C8Rtry1RuC3JysxceYCmzmICUB_Q-JxDZ01FVA/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_tSvV5-c4Vw2eyDEoIIB-p1iXO-5Ii5S2X9z2B0OBVkZGD7FpJXf0iGdRk9l_oW8nKGRYw_c1piszlG6lvRxjuWyCFQOAPw4C8Rtry1RuC3JysxceYCmzmICUB_Q-JxDZ01FVA/s200/IMG_0235.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwKzFEIjD3iBP9lZ-bCE9wLGS9CqkSytCjDnBg-eYWCKGSj1pl1TfwY6yx6iJBO1Sk6lxfBpOPaoy4T7ss6DIrHIZ4ilbF_N-UEJihMkWo3HzTY93BPY2YXFV6mfhHq9aIys3Ww/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwKzFEIjD3iBP9lZ-bCE9wLGS9CqkSytCjDnBg-eYWCKGSj1pl1TfwY6yx6iJBO1Sk6lxfBpOPaoy4T7ss6DIrHIZ4ilbF_N-UEJihMkWo3HzTY93BPY2YXFV6mfhHq9aIys3Ww/s200/IMG_0232.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The only picture I specifically went back to snap, after K asked permission, was this one. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquIaG11ZdeRHAAluc4kVrND_dWaFlV90OixQNPN3a8SeFT1f3HqNbD4Sbs43J5AJgXa58Ok2J2O0sd_WSt-FUFJJd_8cWpt_ehaqZxtEhSWZcqL2O1yhMkfTcTMYN6_2TGOEcIQ/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquIaG11ZdeRHAAluc4kVrND_dWaFlV90OixQNPN3a8SeFT1f3HqNbD4Sbs43J5AJgXa58Ok2J2O0sd_WSt-FUFJJd_8cWpt_ehaqZxtEhSWZcqL2O1yhMkfTcTMYN6_2TGOEcIQ/s320/IMG_0383.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been on the hunt for an octopus while diving in Guam for weeks
now, all in vain. They are elusive critters, often superbly camouflaged, and they hide
in tiny holes. How people find and catch them for eating is a mystery. This many
octopi in one place was sort of crazy to me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All fish exposure in the market came <i>after</i> we'd had our delicious, and quite large sushi breakfast. Perhaps this was better for us, though I was more fascinated than upset by anything I saw. This
is the storefront of the restaurant we chose, really for no other
reason than it had a nice picture out front and no line, unlike several other stores we passed. Usually that's a bad sign in the States, but I figured we couldn't go wrong here. The place was
no wider than the doors to the end of the white banner, and most of that
was behind-the-counter space for the sushi chefs. The counter we sat at seated eight to ten people.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4_gBGQx-_GnKZ0eVvmQnjWRDB5ncxze_WVUr7baVhJthVedtgjDtCfLtOXRP1IXHSY_hzwyNwh6X0eaXgapnr-ijVwjtlzSuODHIadV9B8Nz_q494O1cS72-MmNLaZGAbGDkQg/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4_gBGQx-_GnKZ0eVvmQnjWRDB5ncxze_WVUr7baVhJthVedtgjDtCfLtOXRP1IXHSY_hzwyNwh6X0eaXgapnr-ijVwjtlzSuODHIadV9B8Nz_q494O1cS72-MmNLaZGAbGDkQg/s320/IMG_0221.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrdG0LvWpqM7OKg4Mc0Lzp6L7TCq8Quny8a44bAmjCWZxz7ZbOfi9dqcD6pfz54I5-DxDCqLeJS-4hC4sZFOKNRF4-y2X5OT5GmbxAFLhLyDqn4RUgrGaoapuqdz_j9Sxbzjc_w/s1600/IMG_0204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrdG0LvWpqM7OKg4Mc0Lzp6L7TCq8Quny8a44bAmjCWZxz7ZbOfi9dqcD6pfz54I5-DxDCqLeJS-4hC4sZFOKNRF4-y2X5OT5GmbxAFLhLyDqn4RUgrGaoapuqdz_j9Sxbzjc_w/s320/IMG_0204.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We chose from another set menu and both got option D for 2800 yen. Our food came piecemeal
and we ate it as we went, so there's no one picture of the whole spread, but this meal afforded us twelve different
pieces of sea creature, and at $35 American seemed pretty reasonably priced. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think it's a bit strange that I can remember how my attitude about sushi changed over the years. I'm sure I can't recount this for any other type of food, so it must mean something. My very first sushi exposure was during college when a friend practically dragged me to <a href="http://taipeitokyonoho.com/taipeitokyonoho_5/index.htm" target="_blank">Taipei and Tokyo</a> in Northampton. She was from the Pacific Northwest (Seattle?), grew up on sushi, and was adamant I try it after she found out I never had. At the time, the idea of eating raw fish creeped me out, but she was determined to convert me. I hope that woman got her toaster, because sushi has pretty much grown to be my favorite food. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My move to California allowed me to gradually become a sushi fan, and as I began to figure out what I liked, I also became bolder, always trying one new type of fish every time I went out. Essentially a complete stranger introduced me to another sushi restaurant, the Mikado, which used to be on Grand Ave. in my "current" Oakland neighborhood. That stranger was K, and it was the first time we hung out as friends, so was our first "date," so to speak. That place became my go-to cheap-but-good sushi spot until it went out of business. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can also say that my worst food experience <i>ever</i> was the time I tried a piece of sea urchin at the Mikado with K. Let me be clear. Worst. Sushi. Ever. It tasted like what I imagine the floor of a barn tastes like. I almost lost all the rest of the meal I'd eaten and couldn't swallow what was in my mouth. Since all other sushi at this shop was always pretty good, I just figured that's what sea urchin was supposed to taste like. Some people have weird preferences, right? Well, in Tokyo I sort of felt I'd come full-circle in some odd way, so I decided to try the sea urchin again. After all, it came with set menu D. While the echinoderm wasn't my favorite, mostly for texture reasons, I was pleasantly surprised and mostly relieved. K was too scarred from the past (kind of like Hawaii) and passed. Here's the sea urchin I had before it was wrapped in seaweed and served. It was one of the first pieces we got.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN8KE0Vfr-BCazp5sdBN11YXVqbuank46csS66C04umzA1IKHH6VhUszbrEwpASLKYX1Uwdga4zOTQLYqQwL9bV5tS8-Dm7cAcBFb_LejPWnKQlkWUCvmzQL9eKRW1jL19G0P_w/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN8KE0Vfr-BCazp5sdBN11YXVqbuank46csS66C04umzA1IKHH6VhUszbrEwpASLKYX1Uwdga4zOTQLYqQwL9bV5tS8-Dm7cAcBFb_LejPWnKQlkWUCvmzQL9eKRW1jL19G0P_w/s320/IMG_0207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our serving plate was
some sort of long, wide leaf. There was no wasabi on the plate or
table (apparently this is a Westernization of the sushi experience), but the chef had all the right amounts in his creations, and surprised us by opening our sinuses on one piece in particular.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa06GYWJmgLW1jbZjx6kG8yEP4GZt6Lb3OoDOKIiyxCZSgliOIwejaHOJ_4yMp4ZV7ypemS7Q9nBEfo1DpnBnSaidmUNdMvC5uD09skm1USMITM5cF4Gf3gV8Mg793rAPE0fDmA/s320/IMG_0209.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think we got
three different "cuts" of tuna (on the left), all slightly different in color and fat content. It's not my favorite at home, but this stuff was like buttah. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6rqFJsNr6SZaXkQ3Ol__4S96X458PHQXNq8eFy-UMllgchbI155mfR5s_BPu-FqYu62oeCYSzTfgL4hBFprjxhAqiMrfkZy9rHCoaW6zyDilO9-X1ChxcdFu7a88W5uBRcGWGg/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6rqFJsNr6SZaXkQ3Ol__4S96X458PHQXNq8eFy-UMllgchbI155mfR5s_BPu-FqYu62oeCYSzTfgL4hBFprjxhAqiMrfkZy9rHCoaW6zyDilO9-X1ChxcdFu7a88W5uBRcGWGg/s320/IMG_0377.JPG" width="320" /> </a> </div>
To give you a sense of scale (ha!), this is about half the length of the counter. The man below spent our entire meal filleting some smallish fish (guess he was the sushi sous-chef), while the man above made our food. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1-9Svfw49Lnz2XUzYH1pbfmbNmWUNVHmDZR5X3M4xEKr9xEg_AP6PXoGMqWIzPstuA2nJv07p9ViOlnnbVC_Lde7KSxYRl-1toghqS_EleY30cPFSbWItLJa8IcGsRTzKs2ZSw/s1600/IMG_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1-9Svfw49Lnz2XUzYH1pbfmbNmWUNVHmDZR5X3M4xEKr9xEg_AP6PXoGMqWIzPstuA2nJv07p9ViOlnnbVC_Lde7KSxYRl-1toghqS_EleY30cPFSbWItLJa8IcGsRTzKs2ZSw/s320/IMG_0215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The eel, one of my favorites, was a very
clean, stripped down version of what I'm used to (I ate it
before K could record it, but I think that's what this photo is). Light
on
the sauce but filled with yummy eel-y goodness. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KDP6552OsRs7htqrTWqRgPuIEK7FHLntJVQqcHbsJ6BCNUzndQDSlpvAQZAn1cj6Vbo-JEeVeVwIVhQn9WeZR9XCMQN1YLbNLLL1bOJzq8O-NU9jVSFWS7nY_JfW4c7dlRBaJg/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KDP6552OsRs7htqrTWqRgPuIEK7FHLntJVQqcHbsJ6BCNUzndQDSlpvAQZAn1cj6Vbo-JEeVeVwIVhQn9WeZR9XCMQN1YLbNLLL1bOJzq8O-NU9jVSFWS7nY_JfW4c7dlRBaJg/s320/IMG_0211.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Iq_wDqekpTJz3b_yP1k1njElC1aTeLDGtJausCtQX2ms1TDnkjq-oEDE264ECJW2ja6b91oAR_abn3nX50hUsZ7uqd7wXP4Is7ct4UpU7dV0UZIeFFtIYRy-CAdYi0ioWd5pQA/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Iq_wDqekpTJz3b_yP1k1njElC1aTeLDGtJausCtQX2ms1TDnkjq-oEDE264ECJW2ja6b91oAR_abn3nX50hUsZ7uqd7wXP4Is7ct4UpU7dV0UZIeFFtIYRy-CAdYi0ioWd5pQA/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncIpAPRvGXxXjkdMwWRJ9w9qcqaY4c0DewJsLmh7fF1Oj03t7eE8pAdis7YIm3r_6ZOFVfccJSVJdNYq6gPQfpI9b7Evpwtwhhb8drynaccpMBQ0p1k2_EAt3EJi_FLXupb8HrA/s1600/IMG_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncIpAPRvGXxXjkdMwWRJ9w9qcqaY4c0DewJsLmh7fF1Oj03t7eE8pAdis7YIm3r_6ZOFVfccJSVJdNYq6gPQfpI9b7Evpwtwhhb8drynaccpMBQ0p1k2_EAt3EJi_FLXupb8HrA/s320/IMG_0220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I left full, and K couldn't finish. Best. Sushi. Ever. (Except for <i>maybe</i> <a href="http://www.sushiran.com/home.html" target="_blank">Sushi Ran</a> in Sausalito. Anyone up for joining me in early March?)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: blue;">Memorable food experience #3 </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After stuffing ourselves for breakfast and wandering around what little we could see of the Imperial Palace grounds, we headed back to the Shinbashi Enbujō kabuki theater not far from the fish market. We'd missed the matinee by just minutes, so we returned for the 4 PM show. I'll save commenting on the theatrics for a later post, but I have to comment on the food. Since the shows can be very long (think double feature), there is a long intermission where most people eat food at their seats. A small shop across the street and a few tables in front of the theater sold bento boxes for just this purpose. Here's K with her proud dinner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz2XE7RCD_9qRkthCTpam256vTyry_2ExzXICJzYrFIGCMjIhygzQrdU4fq7RnpcqQ837WH91v7sHhjmRr1CjsUIXU0rbt3yzApKz61Zx9NaHOQj-x-baBvz0qicmMVckVP7ruQ/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz2XE7RCD_9qRkthCTpam256vTyry_2ExzXICJzYrFIGCMjIhygzQrdU4fq7RnpcqQ837WH91v7sHhjmRr1CjsUIXU0rbt3yzApKz61Zx9NaHOQj-x-baBvz0qicmMVckVP7ruQ/s320/IMG_0440.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was fun to watch everyone bust out their snacks together, K and 80% of the theater with her. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJLXIqvvmXoZo4n7_MUcb9YpbguXmKoi0CT2yTeP8iWrkzyL77_evZQQ7hKbONmLpgJUwbH60UZEqEVBLMomjg-2sD_OJN5oCQsTUStDIiUxyMm5SCaLvf1Srmigp2bBH8QE3yA/s1600/IMG_0437.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJLXIqvvmXoZo4n7_MUcb9YpbguXmKoi0CT2yTeP8iWrkzyL77_evZQQ7hKbONmLpgJUwbH60UZEqEVBLMomjg-2sD_OJN5oCQsTUStDIiUxyMm5SCaLvf1Srmigp2bBH8QE3yA/s200/IMG_0437.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWD9B5WON3JGqwa8Zi6V4meaBDC9XCAsn0JKSBOxa-uEbUwgiXXJoXrbgSvD4HwAl0XjW-9rhfipt9p5B2ogrlYtLbnnM22TqAlxJ7XGJE5ePa36y-JGT0EFAZa8Zjo-2tDNm1GQ/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWD9B5WON3JGqwa8Zi6V4meaBDC9XCAsn0JKSBOxa-uEbUwgiXXJoXrbgSvD4HwAl0XjW-9rhfipt9p5B2ogrlYtLbnnM22TqAlxJ7XGJE5ePa36y-JGT0EFAZa8Zjo-2tDNm1GQ/s200/IMG_0330.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: blue;">Miscellaneous musings, some about food</b> </div>
One day in a moment of weakness, tiredness, and lost-ness, we popped into a Mister Donut, a store I never thought I'd see again, so we could rest and look at our eighteen maps to figure out where we were and how to get home again. I remember the joy of chocolate covered donuts at my Nana and Pappap's house during my childhood, and the store we'd always pass on highway 61 as we drove through Pottsville. And singing the Mister Donut jingle.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Hey, mister that's a donut. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, mister that's a Mister Donut donut. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, mister that's a donut. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, mister that's a Mister Donut donut. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, mister that's a Mister Donut dooooonut!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlFwBAUMoP5zIR6u_nfvyjp9JSz9DWOSq_i-ufMfkyUbHQ4HRlJvee-WOt3MSuko8Ez8ZYmCog4iaPJ_zNJtpkM1HHdzeIpARe1O5jsVrIVI72pdgxNNdT4oPntxmy7dVii5t8w/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlFwBAUMoP5zIR6u_nfvyjp9JSz9DWOSq_i-ufMfkyUbHQ4HRlJvee-WOt3MSuko8Ez8ZYmCog4iaPJ_zNJtpkM1HHdzeIpARe1O5jsVrIVI72pdgxNNdT4oPntxmy7dVii5t8w/s320/IMG_0303.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
At some point that store turned into a Dunkin' Donuts, and lost its sparkle. I remember being very upset. You can imagine my delight at finding this place while wandering around. Unfortunately, my Tokyo chocolate-covered donut was Mikado-sea-urchin-bad. At least we got unlost.<br />
<br />
However, the plethora of cheap vending machines more than made up for the doughnut disappointment (I have to stop spelling it the other way). I'm not quite sure how the city manages it. There must be millions of drink machines in the city. They're on just about every block, on the streets, in the train stations, on the train platforms, just ubiquitous. Always full. What you can't find is a trash can. You're more likely to find a recycling bin - with no trash in it. And yet, the city is impeccably clean. Why can't we all be as responsible for ourselves as the Japanese are? <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKr1_cTbbM4wylMFDXgr0WJM5EKV8q6tsf8PPEXO_z4spuQnxtKHD_szp537vCtPp1zxqNFkWnXTesj2s0tNSrKqwyOE97Vdsna8QchZwt5B10sDm8par6fm7NVTDuy28jVGMxw/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKr1_cTbbM4wylMFDXgr0WJM5EKV8q6tsf8PPEXO_z4spuQnxtKHD_szp537vCtPp1zxqNFkWnXTesj2s0tNSrKqwyOE97Vdsna8QchZwt5B10sDm8par6fm7NVTDuy28jVGMxw/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpGoxvwyhZFEJjqi3076z9SHP7n4HMCF5pFjOgbhwbVyr9Mrm2zg5H3KT8cNkSJGooGOSHX2HVgWKAcy6y9d6AOfYgCSzoSQdWGqf6s9K3WQBOh1zSxyHkRaO4sj6e4i3y7_IGg/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpGoxvwyhZFEJjqi3076z9SHP7n4HMCF5pFjOgbhwbVyr9Mrm2zg5H3KT8cNkSJGooGOSHX2HVgWKAcy6y9d6AOfYgCSzoSQdWGqf6s9K3WQBOh1zSxyHkRaO4sj6e4i3y7_IGg/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Because of the options in the machines (no soda, mostly teas and water), I also became a fan of milk tea, and had at least one a day as we walked from our ryoken to the
bus stop. The first time was to buy something to break our bills
for correct bus fare, but they became a bit addictive. I may have to
find a local shop on Guam to satisfy my cravings. The ice cream machine in the subway station was also perfect when we came across it, tired, hot, and a bit peckish after a long day of sightseeing. The ice cream sandwich we got was wrapped in what I can only call a rectangular cone. So many fun things we don't have at home. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpGoxvwyhZFEJjqi3076z9SHP7n4HMCF5pFjOgbhwbVyr9Mrm2zg5H3KT8cNkSJGooGOSHX2HVgWKAcy6y9d6AOfYgCSzoSQdWGqf6s9K3WQBOh1zSxyHkRaO4sj6e4i3y7_IGg/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FKOBnmkltyLx_EqErsm0UiOQaxuovwNVol-MXWaFpyGjr1vfCZyBbbu-m_HNzCdvslqTCbeM-nCxTcSw3OAgZcdXs4C0oOXzyLh4V-X77DOoS_BlpSicmgVVbB056STdEEkYtA/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FKOBnmkltyLx_EqErsm0UiOQaxuovwNVol-MXWaFpyGjr1vfCZyBbbu-m_HNzCdvslqTCbeM-nCxTcSw3OAgZcdXs4C0oOXzyLh4V-X77DOoS_BlpSicmgVVbB056STdEEkYtA/s320/IMG_0370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
While we did take some leaps of faith at times by buying things based on a small thumbnail picture on a menu, here are some things we decided NOT to try while in Tokyo. The first is what I can only assume was squid jerky based on the icon on the package, and the second was a vending machine beverage called Pocari Sweat. The latter item confuses me entirely, because if it's bottled sweat from a pocari (whatever that is), eww, and if not, it's just a really bad marketing choice or translation issue. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FlL9Y0Zx_OpXtm5rytOHhABnS5ya03NSJ7zitAhpA-4i9FaTw63DvgXRkgSVYXJADWZ6tC1ALIZuzbIIxfpjBSyVqJB026qNMcDGmzs1kFA8jZfYc_Vb6dOgmWtVH9RyAA66sw/s1600/IMG_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FlL9Y0Zx_OpXtm5rytOHhABnS5ya03NSJ7zitAhpA-4i9FaTw63DvgXRkgSVYXJADWZ6tC1ALIZuzbIIxfpjBSyVqJB026qNMcDGmzs1kFA8jZfYc_Vb6dOgmWtVH9RyAA66sw/s200/IMG_0533.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV45PHN89E55vYqQoBlOPm_mZaLlDX1CVZKX5t0jGITuiAEsGqA-k5rZa4OopeQz9VC3KdI0C6sG5iRe_mDs1OvKNLc9ibAMifmlDnSeBmKeWKij36JF-Dvvts9ipORKK8JHdbcw/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV45PHN89E55vYqQoBlOPm_mZaLlDX1CVZKX5t0jGITuiAEsGqA-k5rZa4OopeQz9VC3KdI0C6sG5iRe_mDs1OvKNLc9ibAMifmlDnSeBmKeWKij36JF-Dvvts9ipORKK8JHdbcw/s200/IMG_0532.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you might have guessed, it's the Japanese/Filipino equivalent of Gatorade. The fine print on the bottle claims that "with the appropriate density...close to that of human body fluid..." it's great at replacing your electrolytes. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the density's not the big thing here. Of course, they haven't really specified which body fluid we're talking about...so this drink is more and more appetizing the longer I think about it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For four days I was both amused and frustrated by my ignorance of the
Japanese language. For example, I can imagine this restaurant might
serve both beef and cat, and while it was worth a quick chuckle when I
snapped the picture, we spent a lot of time trying to communicate with
people in the train stations, theater, stores, taxis and most notably
restaurants, only sometimes to positive outcomes. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjPSFH5fNyD9g0GFYWUwmBEAa6fpRYlVhi2HKl95_97tJc596_Z-ZKe75V1Iae25g6GbgJG_wb8wUNlKp3Ic7-76NN3AyJ_aeXjUhqlcCviN2EavDStZZkd8UttbaRndSySUkSg/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjPSFH5fNyD9g0GFYWUwmBEAa6fpRYlVhi2HKl95_97tJc596_Z-ZKe75V1Iae25g6GbgJG_wb8wUNlKp3Ic7-76NN3AyJ_aeXjUhqlcCviN2EavDStZZkd8UttbaRndSySUkSg/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
I feel incredibly lucky that we were able to navigate the largest city
in the world for four days, 5000 miles from home, knowing absolutely no Japanese, and that we had such a great time. I felt pretty embarrassed most of the time, but never felt unsafe. The people we met were gracious, went out of their way to be
helpful, and a large percentage of them <i>knew English</i>. Arigatō, Tokyo.</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-18546744346219011892012-08-18T00:09:00.001-07:002012-08-19T16:11:01.642-07:00A peek at some of Guam's wildlife<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I was a
kid, I loved reading books about animals, and I can remember going to
the animal section of my elementary school library repeatedly. I loved
the nonfiction stuff too. Read them all. But that nonfiction science
thing can be funny. I went through a dinosaur phase and learned all
about the terrible lizards, including the "thunder lizards" or
brontosauruses (brontosauri?),
only to find out about two years ago at an exhibit in the <a href="http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/" target="_blank">Lawrence Hall of Science</a> that they <a href="http://www.unmuseum.org/dinobront.htm" target="_blank">never really existed</a>. It was sort of like learning that <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/13573/why-pluto-is-no-longer-a-planet/" target="_blank">Pluto had been demoted</a>.
As a scientist, I appreciate the process and progress. As we learn
more and more about the world around us, we make more predictions, test
them, and revise our theories in order to be consistent with our
evidence. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircuQoMylw8W2p3gVU9QX8kNXKBfmXxV-8lIcyp7Tubq0dmKtr4mAOJmKxMqsIwyoJXvcC3HQApSoOY7ntVFU4bba2IE1hSzY3tQr0oLgDlQLH9Og80nFYuyEXXdk6VkM-uZaROg/s1600/DarwinTruth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircuQoMylw8W2p3gVU9QX8kNXKBfmXxV-8lIcyp7Tubq0dmKtr4mAOJmKxMqsIwyoJXvcC3HQApSoOY7ntVFU4bba2IE1hSzY3tQr0oLgDlQLH9Og80nFYuyEXXdk6VkM-uZaROg/s200/DarwinTruth.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Things like this make me sad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This
year, I'm on a quest for a friend that may take the entire time I'm
here to complete. There is a seemingly mythical creature called the
blue-tailed skink (and I've just learned that only the juveniles and
females have blue tails, missy, so you're not making it easy for me)
that has been declining in numbers for the past few decades on Guam
because of an invasive species called - no, NOT the brown tree snake -
the curious skink. As its name suggests, these "curious" critters are
more likely to be seen than the one I'm looking for because they're
bold. I'm sure I've seen bazillions of them. The quest continues, and I
never leave home without a camera. And I will <i>NOT</i> post someone else's pictures of these critters as a matter of pride.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And speaking of snakes, this is my only evidence of brown tree snakes on the island so far: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPku9tMWYZDbLPBkaBGk9bfpvX-euIB8YXLY2VUAzVpy_ZRYhcpHd7a-j5hH7Hk8yJUg6I3mMQj1kkEnZ7XEhZkiPdTj5qRGuHVYw7iC3KwM-oqCdGYm7GnJ1Qf8lkVZz64vE-aQ/s1600/DeadSnake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPku9tMWYZDbLPBkaBGk9bfpvX-euIB8YXLY2VUAzVpy_ZRYhcpHd7a-j5hH7Hk8yJUg6I3mMQj1kkEnZ7XEhZkiPdTj5qRGuHVYw7iC3KwM-oqCdGYm7GnJ1Qf8lkVZz64vE-aQ/s200/DeadSnake.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjOt8YExNMoE0gbOkNLPXsGU6kEvJntxMFSyD4T_85Y63LTRWv4m486uD2wlru_kTUcS5A2vnNMOBj4uPAIy5PNN5HsV7vvknBbLK2FUfvONZKd0XsG2vG79Hvwk0sAKySP9PsA/s1600/PICT0004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjOt8YExNMoE0gbOkNLPXsGU6kEvJntxMFSyD4T_85Y63LTRWv4m486uD2wlru_kTUcS5A2vnNMOBj4uPAIy5PNN5HsV7vvknBbLK2FUfvONZKd0XsG2vG79Hvwk0sAKySP9PsA/s200/PICT0004.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At least, I'm assuming this <i>used</i> to be a brown tree snake. Sort
of sad. I've also learned, through my skink research, that these snakes
used to be noctural, but have been adapting to their changing food
supply options and have become more diurnal as <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1wYxrhVZPDoJ:www.coraciiformestag.com/Research/Kingfisher/guam.pdf+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjPUXUwNIshqKp_REuOrAvUPSCKFe-wDOfcBKJ1-dgVB1p2esbXv5nc0N9PWGIY4g6WQZNNSc94k3pFypRn10ApjVBhmb2S48mDzq8nmY5gjnYBpLcGbT3eYK3wywGiR-LYvMFu&sig=AHIEtbRBcM_wHSlhPFgtvBJov3z8rSdZEg" target="_blank">evidenced by records</a> of snake-induced <a href="http://www.fort.usgs.gov/resources/education/bts/impacts/electrical.asp" target="_blank">power outages</a>.
The island is losing millions of dollars every year because of these
outages, hence the traps. I saw this trap on Cocos Island, a teeny tiny
island off the southern tip of Guam, last Christmastime. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While
there aren't many street signs in this place, as previously mentioned, I
did stumble upon a sign for - I kid you not - Sesame St. before my
always-carry-a-camera rule was established. (I may come back and update
this post if I ever make it out there again.) I've even seen some
characters from the show here on Guam too. This is Grover, who lives in
a local pet store and appears to have a bad reputation. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0e5dl6S3vc89Ic82UutcBl1JA8shuuYxpj1ca6CrNnRUifCGyXsi9ctiW_Zh5bPP3FZrDe-pVO6QfS5IlYEL0LyTAptPoWocuXFRHTKcKNUjLdNwTegLEtHoFEA2xma4AI4sxg/s1600/GroverAttackBird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0e5dl6S3vc89Ic82UutcBl1JA8shuuYxpj1ca6CrNnRUifCGyXsi9ctiW_Zh5bPP3FZrDe-pVO6QfS5IlYEL0LyTAptPoWocuXFRHTKcKNUjLdNwTegLEtHoFEA2xma4AI4sxg/s200/GroverAttackBird.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Nkun6aKriIidyRP492WXIhUnwjiZlBn28NW0-00s0ygohBwC-bShrTXQSqdmMesY5m2qyG5z2L9B35jVfazR-i8uJW8WpWP7KG9KmJS8QoJYvsV2VMxpuZsepxyyD0VNkJZxg/s1600/Frog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Nkun6aKriIidyRP492WXIhUnwjiZlBn28NW0-00s0ygohBwC-bShrTXQSqdmMesY5m2qyG5z2L9B35jVfazR-i8uJW8WpWP7KG9KmJS8QoJYvsV2VMxpuZsepxyyD0VNkJZxg/s200/Frog.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I
also found one of Kermit's friends in the garage under our house. The
yellow is a parking space curb for size comparisons. It was dark, so
the shot's a little blurry.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Nkun6aKriIidyRP492WXIhUnwjiZlBn28NW0-00s0ygohBwC-bShrTXQSqdmMesY5m2qyG5z2L9B35jVfazR-i8uJW8WpWP7KG9KmJS8QoJYvsV2VMxpuZsepxyyD0VNkJZxg/s1600/Frog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This critter was my welcome wagon and was in the driveway the first day I arrived on Guam. This is a coconut crab from front and back, but a good distance away. I
was not brave enough for a size comparison shot, though it was about as wide as a volleyball. These things are
creepy since they remind me of spiders, and some other things I've <a href="http://bethanylb75.blogspot.com/2011/07/chamorro-village.html" target="_blank">previously posted</a> about. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUniBfdZtO-1EWjvYEtGt1L5ZiopZ0HBr6p7HCHpweeHZYr0jRTFH3b-bmgOFtGv2llMa1gvFQh8Mt-A9vUopp_lv7y5_9bgACyVhsa666secd3-zP5MEHwldO2j0WuYxzZigLg/s200/IMG_0210.JPG" width="200" /> <img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU9lJMUESd4baR-tXMY1IQIATEPbRFksQKJDRPKEzrWaZo0JykelwrWZJb-1hajMscLPxpVukz8OWcgIA2PwvCAR8WXYHoKGIr96_Eab69pDglwND-_6FjLSuQChsvh6tqnf8ig/s200/IMG_0209.JPG" width="200" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Perhaps the craziest animal I've seen so far is the dog that rides the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabao" target="_blank">carabao</a>
[pronounced not like caribou (car-i-boo), but bow as in "take a bow"
(car-a-bow)]. Both this dog and owner should do just that for being
able to do this great trick. I've seen this threesome walking down the
side of the road on several occasions, but I'm always driving so can't
snap my own picture. I lifted the one below from another
woman's blog - click the image to check it out. The other carabao posed
for me and offered me a ride on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Guam_%281944%29" target="_blank">Liberation Day</a>
last summer. (I'll have to comment more on this holiday at some point
in the future. That's a whole other ball of wax, as they say.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUQHtVaBCYyid45dNmMtk9omYOmkQFRSsHIm5-8f5YohdeaFSAlIadkez0hEoOqeJXEzxREOEiaIwK_w3lOZgAvMfmufuxPP0bmLIoEkYgcyESXkfwhhgxBkAy8Cv7eOj5pe1Vg/s1600/GuamDogonCarabao.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUQHtVaBCYyid45dNmMtk9omYOmkQFRSsHIm5-8f5YohdeaFSAlIadkez0hEoOqeJXEzxREOEiaIwK_w3lOZgAvMfmufuxPP0bmLIoEkYgcyESXkfwhhgxBkAy8Cv7eOj5pe1Vg/s1600/GuamDogonCarabao.jpg" /></a><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHHUIqx6D9d40KuhUT8RTlHlMlrvwXDLyD2cSIo-OYHb15-udqQh9KqCNbEUmSnlvFjHY0lrQzpLnjDf9JSYGHXiLAv7Y0K6kfmhFipDos09k0KbPlkdp1VcXG-P1PBy46AbE6g/s200/100_0116.JPG" width="200" /></div>
Perhaps you're familiar with <a href="http://newyork.cowparade.com/cow/gallery" target="_blank">NYC's Cow Parade</a>
that happened in 2000. I'm not sure why I saw some of these cows in
person, but I remember seeing them so must have been in Manhattan that
year. Well Guam has something similar - and there are painted carabaos
(not sure if it's right, but I vote for the plural of carabao to be
carabao) all over the island too. These are the only two I've captured
so far.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bSyw1fSzFU4Fn40D-jM-F1ZyOH9BNNrQPXc6qwldLwTljX0kFu0ehH6P6U1MRkLrW0b_Fbls2ATExwHwKQfbdDYbnprlq9xhmac0FlgxV6oG1NsWC_vywQxvi4xMXMyiPh56ww/s1600/100_0051.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjmHCoEeyCJ-ri40PHEcbf_uYGvgTcqJTR4djaSW6R8QmiWevSiewwPJrrDRNaR05hiAxc-eHNY8gGE8esaUiYa2bTJ78Y-HyfPjXqkGy7CMYXevhZvYvJ94s8AD6-4uD44JBfw/s1600/100_0052.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjmHCoEeyCJ-ri40PHEcbf_uYGvgTcqJTR4djaSW6R8QmiWevSiewwPJrrDRNaR05hiAxc-eHNY8gGE8esaUiYa2bTJ78Y-HyfPjXqkGy7CMYXevhZvYvJ94s8AD6-4uD44JBfw/s200/100_0052.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bSyw1fSzFU4Fn40D-jM-F1ZyOH9BNNrQPXc6qwldLwTljX0kFu0ehH6P6U1MRkLrW0b_Fbls2ATExwHwKQfbdDYbnprlq9xhmac0FlgxV6oG1NsWC_vywQxvi4xMXMyiPh56ww/s1600/100_0051.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bSyw1fSzFU4Fn40D-jM-F1ZyOH9BNNrQPXc6qwldLwTljX0kFu0ehH6P6U1MRkLrW0b_Fbls2ATExwHwKQfbdDYbnprlq9xhmac0FlgxV6oG1NsWC_vywQxvi4xMXMyiPh56ww/s200/100_0051.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Calvo's happens to be my car insurance company. I have typhoon insurance on my car, so really like this statue. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally,
to round out this post let's look at two examples of some aquatic
wildlife. I found this on last weekend's dive at a site called
Fishbowl, which disappointingly did not live up to its name. We had an
annoying current that kept us working hard to not crash into the coral
and didn't really see many critters. The first time I saw this eely
thing from a distance I thought it was a piece of rope that had been
lost from a boat or something. Only after being right on top of it did I
realize it was actually alive, and sort of ugly. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxedVSQklGnpay8kVk1nhkX22KR1nYLUBEd8hcwEmkdsSLKIc1kzXKFXa-wY_LzY45pec4TylJzOtY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyVkwKek_0dak8HIi076IRdvnDhfPXcqFKv4-iAN4cfd5Ov_qEZ_Lo8MiPuQDYgTCOimXx9yuk0QFI' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In
case you can't quite tell, it's pushing the sand into what I can only
assume to be its mouth with those tentacle-like protrusions. I'm still
not quite sure what this wormy/snakey thing is after looking online, but
if anyone out there knows, please leave a comment. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And
finally, in honor of Shark Week, this is Ripley's impersonation.
Imagine a fin on her head, and she's quite scary. Otherwise, try not to
drown from laughing. She was attempting to "save" her owner, because K
sat down in the two feet of water she'd just been standing in and
freaked the dog out. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwTfzdcZRrATL89-BNA9nPf4gUV2QL6g-0qTyWOIxbIB05rg8YzCXlulLJtuUu2rK-eq6rryoJw6rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-80084901687432104862012-08-17T21:53:00.003-07:002012-08-17T21:55:09.187-07:00Bay Area representing in Guam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLn0X9r1ceL1pjhp-mo87jHH8nFxwzDLuY_sGyLlmFn-RBJSKtC0lbDj86DnfFR5WjrCv2MmZHJ_ODPzV-PNtMmBI_s5FI4UAFNzU-nDdjFYo2_IMKZorqNtzyVaLA726_pKCHA/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLn0X9r1ceL1pjhp-mo87jHH8nFxwzDLuY_sGyLlmFn-RBJSKtC0lbDj86DnfFR5WjrCv2MmZHJ_ODPzV-PNtMmBI_s5FI4UAFNzU-nDdjFYo2_IMKZorqNtzyVaLA726_pKCHA/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>
Taken after a long morning of K doing volunteer work at a school - sanding and taping drywall - and of B spending hours trying to get technology to work in Guam. I now have a functioning cell phone.</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-82875841121043199742012-08-12T19:17:00.003-07:002012-08-17T22:01:17.867-07:00Jack London's influence on doggy cuisine?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of my favorite books growing up was <i>White Fang</i>, by Jack London. I'm sure <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Call_of_the_Wild" target="_blank">his other classic</a> was the inspiration for a brand of dog food I found in the pet store <a href="http://www.feathersnfins.com/" target="_blank">Feathers and Fins</a>. I've been on a "hunt" for a new brand of chow to feed my own beast (no
Pet Food Express on the island), and have been looking for something where
the first ingredient is actually another former beast rather than a
grain.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For you non-dog owners out there, your fancy dog food brands come in all sorts of formulas -
for puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs, weight loss formulas, etc. I found a brand on Guam that I'd never noticed back home called Taste of the Wild. It advertises as being grain free, so I started to check out their product. Perhaps their formulas are for ranges of "wild" in your dog? The first two bags I came across had cute images of a dog pack hunting the duck and sheep unlucky enough to now be inside the bag. Sure corralling a duck or sheep might take a little dog coordination, but we breed dogs to retreive fowl and herd animals, so in my opinion, not so "wild." Even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zHmeTeLgMY" target="_blank">some pigs</a> can do that.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWJCt_MFjjZZyGZR_gyT8P8x9UZiK_GxltvsMjHs7BX3I0r638drPvpSqcNVv0zaKjQyaRf7-EvYQcgZPTEzwrDv5avcfGYzqBHDveFf98S7cQm2KH156xIHG8I3-WDXo6qXpjA/s1600/DuckDogfood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWJCt_MFjjZZyGZR_gyT8P8x9UZiK_GxltvsMjHs7BX3I0r638drPvpSqcNVv0zaKjQyaRf7-EvYQcgZPTEzwrDv5avcfGYzqBHDveFf98S7cQm2KH156xIHG8I3-WDXo6qXpjA/s320/DuckDogfood.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKDWSXc4eLnIHJaYnWMVkkt8etGit6Mxk3GTMjsn1rPkMo7aJuWyh7Rdea5oyRZflaqfJ0Yndp1SrKP0eoEyLEAqEQJFcNjR5NiwABsa4ck20Vtf_K4Pb_cnHoMJYbwUttnAdfQ/s1600/SheepDogfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKDWSXc4eLnIHJaYnWMVkkt8etGit6Mxk3GTMjsn1rPkMo7aJuWyh7Rdea5oyRZflaqfJ0Yndp1SrKP0eoEyLEAqEQJFcNjR5NiwABsa4ck20Vtf_K4Pb_cnHoMJYbwUttnAdfQ/s320/SheepDogfood.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
For wilder dogs, they also have a venison and bison <i>blend</i>. I can just imagine White Fang or Buck saying, "Hey, you know what would go great with this deer we just wrestled to the ground and tore apart? Bison!" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIsTXTAUFibulTHVkqhlgQMKF-9VnE_5giqHJwsBJIOHoqB6IxIeVmZnDfEG5LFQgUTHr1ntMgxvAbngIXjjzEs3-yfaNOChvnwbDPA1-FM9EEH_C5ZC9-U0Yn37BpMpe8LnPQQ/s1600/BisonDogfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIsTXTAUFibulTHVkqhlgQMKF-9VnE_5giqHJwsBJIOHoqB6IxIeVmZnDfEG5LFQgUTHr1ntMgxvAbngIXjjzEs3-yfaNOChvnwbDPA1-FM9EEH_C5ZC9-U0Yn37BpMpe8LnPQQ/s320/BisonDogfood.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And finally, for the wild and crazy Cujos out there, there's bear flavor! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDOj6fS4aRx1abG2eY2S8Sl9-lGCavZqz-AtuAvJ9FBicsV6at0o0EREhkaZqShTCzAtQVhygc5AQtw-GQb8wKI9LHzCl5-Czg3dx9Q5yoO5CATkNXZ04NVgroOA2CbJ9RhH5rQ/s1600/Bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDOj6fS4aRx1abG2eY2S8Sl9-lGCavZqz-AtuAvJ9FBicsV6at0o0EREhkaZqShTCzAtQVhygc5AQtw-GQb8wKI9LHzCl5-Czg3dx9Q5yoO5CATkNXZ04NVgroOA2CbJ9RhH5rQ/s320/Bear.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-57997118790370169782012-08-11T00:30:00.000-07:002012-08-18T00:33:35.762-07:00The only white dude on Guam running for office<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7SLPLqqEqxUNvxHYLgOHDt0j-Vgd3jvXkDX9xdwdS7k_4rxvNlpAh93Y1zfw_4w2KujMaatqc7OgBQM684g9DaM6kB-cZeU_kIE43YHAonFwkDEnDu3DxdEBLm5Z0y8S1ql5dg/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7SLPLqqEqxUNvxHYLgOHDt0j-Vgd3jvXkDX9xdwdS7k_4rxvNlpAh93Y1zfw_4w2KujMaatqc7OgBQM684g9DaM6kB-cZeU_kIE43YHAonFwkDEnDu3DxdEBLm5Z0y8S1ql5dg/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" width="294" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you think he'll win?<br />
<br />
(update on Aug. 18 - drove past this sign today and it's gone) </div>
</div>
BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-48689076165024470212012-08-10T01:02:00.001-07:002012-08-10T01:04:03.879-07:00A shred of hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since my package fiasco last week, I've been reliving the frustration and anger of my losses every time I remembered something else I put in the box. It happened again yesterday when a package came from K's mom containing some forwarded mail. Some of her shipment had <i>been in my package</i> that I sent to Guam. What?!<br />
<br />
Right, so apparently the box was damaged, and things that had addresses on them were mailed back to Oakland. I'd signed up for a mail order puzzle game dealio that I never had time to look at during the school year, so I'd left some of them in the original packaging with my address on them. So now I have some of them back, and I have some hope that other items are in the lost-and-found/dead-letter-office of the USPS. <br />
<br />
Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.</div>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-71268576441680941142012-08-01T00:38:00.000-07:002012-08-01T00:39:10.298-07:00I am a giant squid of anger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure someone robbed me. A package I sent myself before leaving California arrived today, about a week late, that should have had twice as much stuff in it. It was repackaged in a box twice as big as the one I packed it in, and everything of value was gone. Video games, CDs, computer disks, books (one signed by this author in the linked videos here, still unread)...as the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers" target="_blank">Vlogbrothers</a> might say, I am a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jFQR2FUEm4" target="_blank">giant squid of anger</a> (2:03). </div>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-46793058756425117472012-08-01T00:01:00.000-07:002012-08-01T00:39:18.481-07:00A perfect ten<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After watching some of the Olympics last night, which are somehow fascinating to most people yet barely entertaining for me (is there something wrong with me?), Kerriann took me and Ripley to the Tasi 17 pool. We broke about half of the rules posted on the wall as we were there after 9 PM, I had a glass container poolside, and Ripley did a lot of running.<br />
<br />
Unlike the Olympics, watching my family at the pool was the best entertainment I've had since arriving in Guam. K swam laps and Ripley ran them around the pool, consistently counterclockwise. I think she was genuinely afraid for Kerriann and was trying to figure out how to save her from the water. Every time K reached a wall, Ripley was waiting for her. Those times K did a kickturn instead of surfacing, Ripley would bark, get even more anxious, and head back to the other side.<br />
<br />
The final broken rule occurred when the preoccupied pooch moved a little too fast and slipped into the pool, completely by accident. K had to boost her out of the deep end. I almost fell off my chair. </div>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-49533819871885363352012-07-29T22:11:00.000-07:002012-07-29T23:10:03.116-07:00Guam cartography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
One of my first tasks upon arriving in Guam was to get my dog, Ripley, out of
quarantine. She was being kept at the Harper Valley Kennels (HVK), <i>somewhere</i>
on the island, but since they carted her from the airport directly to
their site, I had no idea where to get her. HVK's website provides this
map to help you
find them:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGnas0BmAfLWva-Qmz_QBOncFZI28_Vlq_qg5zdji6m5qQq00KlkBGkONcRNJY5Z97-Uq2cDpJPr4bpbMk5vZtHYgIQHnm_0ptRxKwfzhQ17ZB4ymn2sHbqXEkmQssIWkHFTeTg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-27+at+3.35.32+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGnas0BmAfLWva-Qmz_QBOncFZI28_Vlq_qg5zdji6m5qQq00KlkBGkONcRNJY5Z97-Uq2cDpJPr4bpbMk5vZtHYgIQHnm_0ptRxKwfzhQ17ZB4ymn2sHbqXEkmQssIWkHFTeTg/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-07-27+at+3.35.32+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Seriously?
I mean, why bother? No streets are labeled, there's no address for the
kennel, and the exact location has been added in by some non-Google-map
entity, though this is clearly a Google map. Google maps, in
conjunction with GPS
technology on my iPhone, are my mainstay of
navigation back home. They let a blue dot in my palm tell me exactly
where I am at any point in time and tell me how to find any location
worth going to. Sadly, Google maps are next to useless on Guam because
not much has a real street address, or Google can't find it. (Don't
even <i>think</i> about using the little yellow guy.) <br />
<br />
After
some searching, I found HVK's address on their website, entered it into
Google maps, and was shown another location entirely. So I called them
to figure out
where I was supposed to go. I was told
to come to their Hagatna address (their vet location) so they could <i>give me a map</i>
to their kennel location in Chalan Pago. I considered that they would
give me the same map they had online, and also wondered why if they had a
<i>better</i> map, why <i>that</i> one wasn't online? But asking would waste time, and I just wanted to rescue my dog. <br />
<br />
Instead I asked where the vet
office was and how to get <i>there</i>. <a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/un0k36085263640h/" target="_blank">Studies</a>
have shown
that women are more likely to give directions by referencing
landmarks, whereas men are more likely to use cardinal directions and
distances to travel. Guamanians, regardless of gender, tend to tell you
where something
is using a few large buildings as landmarks, which is challenging for a
noob to the island. I was told by the dude on the phone that "a good
landmark is the
Yamaha building - we're on the second floor." This was great
information, had I <i>already known</i> where the Yamaha building was. (Internally: <i>I need to know how to GET to where you are, not where you are!</i>) Luckily there's one main drag that goes around the island, and I knew how to get to Hagatna. Driving <a href="http://bethanylb75.blogspot.com/2011/07/top-10-reasons-guams-speed-limit-is-35.html" target="_blank">nice and slowly</a>,
I eventually found the Yamaha building, and went upstairs to get my map. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now
conventions make the world go 'round, and there are countless ones we
all agree to (some of them unconsciously) in order to maintain some
level of consistency or to keep communication clear. Some conventions
make perfect sense, like using the metric system for measurement. (Come
<i>on</i>, America, get on board this ship.) Sometimes they make no
sense at all, like calling the direction that current flows through a
wire the direction that positive charges move, when it's really
negatively charged electrons doing the moving (in the other direction).
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Silly physicists.</i></span> Much to the chagrin of
my students year after year, many of our science conventions are so
well-entrenched that it's harder to change them than it is to train
people to do things in a counterintuitive way. Sorry, kids. You'll get
over it, just like I'll figure Guam out eventually...</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img height="152" id="il_fi" src="http://dyreverket.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/old-map.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Cartography,
the art/science of making maps, has been around for thousands of years,
but I
was apparently mistaken in thinking (what I perceived as) the largely
universal conventions used when drawing maps would be followed here on
Guam. These are the basic things that I've grown accustomed to expect
of any map, unless otherwise indicated:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
</ol>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>The map should attempt to represent as accurately as possible the
terrain you're trying to navigate. This is how you can recognize where
you are and figure out where you need to go.</li>
<li>Scale will be incorportated into the map, thereby giving an estimate of how long it'll take you to get from here to there. </li>
<li>If there's no compass rose shown, the top of the map is north. Of course this is a Northern Hemisphere-centric perspective on
the world. I love maps with <a href="http://flourish.org/upsidedownmap/" target="_blank">Australia on the top and at the center</a>. Either is fine, just let me know which end is "up" and I can orient myself. (The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Game-Ender-Book-1/dp/0812550706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343370488&sr=8-1&keywords=ender%27s+game" target="_blank">enemy's gate</a> is always down.) </li>
</ol>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
</ol>
I'm
also willing to go on rough sketches drawn on the back of an envelope
or napkin and give the novice cartographer the benefit of the doubt.
Not all of us can draw well. But if someone's going to give me a <i>pre-printed</i> map to follow, not a quick sketch, I expect it to incorporate at least <i>some</i> of the conventions into said navigation aid. Welcome to Guam.<br />
<br />
It took the woman at HVK five minutes to explain this
map. I think she wasn't sure I knew to follow the roads, so she drew in
some great <i>clarifying</i> arrows for me. And can I just say, if it takes five minutes to explain a map, it needs more detail. Just saying.
She also gave me some landmarks to look for (note the Shell and 76 gas
stations written in), but true to my study's findings, she neglected to
indicate any distances. <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFOOv-2d36QquuEEqeOYSjFTPhTJXayMu2ux7KbgKWevj1g0nrXXcXLPsJ7zWoL4qarT1dRi4-RRafoq6pLzKPUIVXQiSWPNwDipGeWDqDTDMWJirP_rUNW1Wf6Fgvj1bbSIphw/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFOOv-2d36QquuEEqeOYSjFTPhTJXayMu2ux7KbgKWevj1g0nrXXcXLPsJ7zWoL4qarT1dRi4-RRafoq6pLzKPUIVXQiSWPNwDipGeWDqDTDMWJirP_rUNW1Wf6Fgvj1bbSIphw/s400/IMG_0214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
After she was done giving me "directions," I asked, "So how far is it from here to the Department of Agriculture?"<br />
<br />
It
looks like it's a large city block away, right? She just looked at me
for what seemed like a long time, so the teacher in me offered some
leading questions.<br />
<br />
"Is it like five minutes? Ten minutes?"<br />
<br />
After
a sigh, an eyeroll of annoyance, and some thought, she claimed it'd be
about 15 minutes with traffic. While it took me about 7 minutes to get
there, I began to get quite concerned after driving not very far when my
mental image of the route I'd be taking based on the low tech model in
my palm was very different from the path I was taking, even though I was
carefully staying on the roads with the arrows. Take a look at what
this map <i>should</i> have attempted to approximate:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wVOXII8TDT7QL16zLRnKBOoCvVgcQuhiJOX2ARBgeKBm1rvLCJExsSOCj1HDWz_DA8mTzPxZvFTS85Dp42WHI1v1MCo-GLbIalE-N2JHkaS62QpGKgmlsAHvlKDAH7ymew7A1A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-26+at+4.30.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wVOXII8TDT7QL16zLRnKBOoCvVgcQuhiJOX2ARBgeKBm1rvLCJExsSOCj1HDWz_DA8mTzPxZvFTS85Dp42WHI1v1MCo-GLbIalE-N2JHkaS62QpGKgmlsAHvlKDAH7ymew7A1A/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-07-26+at+4.30.13+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(click to zoom) </span></div>
<br />
I just had to look this up after I got home. I especially love that
routes 8 and 4 on the sketch seem to parallel each other, while for most
of their lengths they're actually close to perpendicular. (I also
can't believe how many schools there are on the island. This is just
one tiny section of it!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
After
going to the Department of Agriculture to get Ripley's release
paperwork, I had a lunch date with K to keep before picking up the
pooch. I figured I'd continue to follow the map and hang a right at
route 4 to get me back to the main drag to pick up my date. With all
the hidden twists and turns I had no idea of at the time, and no
landmarks but jungle around me, I eventually just started following
signs back to Hagatna since I figured the island isn't that big. When I
could see the ocean in the distance I begain to relax because I could
reorient myself. I had just a brief moment of concern when I thought
about coming out on the <i>other</i> side of the island - after all, the ocean's <i>everywhere</i> out there - but I quickly reclaimed my confidence. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
After
lunch it took another hour to find the right road to the kennel using
my map. Luckily I have a lot of time here. On the bright side, I did
find both the University of Guam and Guam Community College while
meandering around off the beaten path of Marine Corps Drive (route 1).
Maybe I'll drum up some tutoring gigs out there. I'm sure there are
some Guamanians struggling with chemistry conventions that seem just as
crazy to me as Guamanian navigation methods. </div>
</div>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-79431078942017450442012-07-29T22:09:00.001-07:002012-07-29T22:40:51.894-07:00Ripley's first rude awakening<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
When it rains on Guam, there's not really any warning - or build up. The sky just opens up and it pours. You're soaked through in just a few moments, so there's really no reason to bother running for shelter. You won't be any drier once you reach it than if you had just walked casually, but you will be hotter from exerting yourself in the heat. </div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
My dog is not aware enough to realize this, however, and she hates the rain. So this morning when she was dry one moment and getting drenched the next, her brain sort of short circuited. I can't remember the last time I laughed as hard as I did watching her try to shake, run, and look back at me all at the same time trying to figure out why I wasn't moving faster. </div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Ripley, the moral of the story is be less picky about where you do your doggie business so you can stay close to the car.</div>
</div>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-1406013299507674772011-08-03T22:58:00.000-07:002011-08-11T21:01:37.894-07:00Dives, Dives, Dives<div style="text-align: left;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;">These are some pictures from the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/11/cormoran-tokai-maru-leadership_0211_warships.html">Tokai Maru and Cormoran wrecks</a> - you can touch both of them at about 94 ft, though it's too dark to get a picture of me doing so with my camera. I tried.
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Torpedo damage to the Tokai's bow - this is why she sank
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd4SRHNSBXrpP_WLjZDMjf5-88ryv-7M5HMz6VytjxY_lTS_yfoXfx_cUBD8RhZ-nxVX2-aersGWzbCLcjIgkPtYvJBBO34ij6Y-xkQdXLmCEWHilalBuqUsB-cvJXBpP_q8Twg/s1600/torpedoK.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd4SRHNSBXrpP_WLjZDMjf5-88ryv-7M5HMz6VytjxY_lTS_yfoXfx_cUBD8RhZ-nxVX2-aersGWzbCLcjIgkPtYvJBBO34ij6Y-xkQdXLmCEWHilalBuqUsB-cvJXBpP_q8Twg/s320/torpedoK.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636880415918763042" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />Up close and personal
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxlOLIj6fFnYC8G7eUplfLJghiPc39iR1e1TQR_uMzTVgXughfQy0s3ZP77U-NonoWurM2NjG4fry9r1qFzqXuYryB6WS6QE042QfnDeDk72tNKWLvllWXw9gMNuJdBMrpLZSMg/s1600/torpedoKcloser.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxlOLIj6fFnYC8G7eUplfLJghiPc39iR1e1TQR_uMzTVgXughfQy0s3ZP77U-NonoWurM2NjG4fry9r1qFzqXuYryB6WS6QE042QfnDeDk72tNKWLvllWXw9gMNuJdBMrpLZSMg/s320/torpedoKcloser.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636880416438993346" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />Kerriann near the Tokai
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOGXty3ACpkxkn0hnbxFeN_Zg6FtbAM8xiVIrdVy1KJcv3kEpSViMeQZc_OS0bNzKO8w8CS-FUSLdWJDVlPjYXuMZNtMb0C7DnCLtUdUMBFVFY75K4sd_LL4SCwXqDBFAPv70AA/s1600/wreckK.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOGXty3ACpkxkn0hnbxFeN_Zg6FtbAM8xiVIrdVy1KJcv3kEpSViMeQZc_OS0bNzKO8w8CS-FUSLdWJDVlPjYXuMZNtMb0C7DnCLtUdUMBFVFY75K4sd_LL4SCwXqDBFAPv70AA/s320/wreckK.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636880413210624642" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />K in the smokestack of the Tokai
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgxzVNllZn4t6KPd62UP6BYzYO8i-LNyyY5SVW-q5HkYSb1-70J0E8mQk5zdsdGbSKEpCeHOZI1lR7wpPGBM2NbHgwwUV4EwCRyF1xxgNfPqZ7QUBBynlnA4kb_ypYbFxlaP3mg/s1600/smokestackK.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgxzVNllZn4t6KPd62UP6BYzYO8i-LNyyY5SVW-q5HkYSb1-70J0E8mQk5zdsdGbSKEpCeHOZI1lR7wpPGBM2NbHgwwUV4EwCRyF1xxgNfPqZ7QUBBynlnA4kb_ypYbFxlaP3mg/s320/smokestackK.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636880409196288802" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />Fish grazing on the side of the boat
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdfZfXvb8hEABLC5egx5wZuEvkzgeDl4-yI5BrzYsxF9dJnOx-w04FQZDbJPuCJiNI5OZSY6F6DTitmde8eqdFSvgWRb27gQxP3JSht63Y1NUwpbAzWLpwnr6eCI98S-NmDPBbg/s1600/grazingfish.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdfZfXvb8hEABLC5egx5wZuEvkzgeDl4-yI5BrzYsxF9dJnOx-w04FQZDbJPuCJiNI5OZSY6F6DTitmde8eqdFSvgWRb27gQxP3JSht63Y1NUwpbAzWLpwnr6eCI98S-NmDPBbg/s320/grazingfish.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636880405152105074" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />B and K during the "Wreck Diver's Special"
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1BJT3aW1ZQq26hQGYnw8aaTixUHsoDugVigHAGQAEdixHvl0Ic7oQAT8s50QbBvwQy_x3zdPED83pILMqpQVElv8eiynKlBvkb9rSgJA0xnn8IB0vBdGqYs_T2bEMbWQQJB7jw/s1600/BandKscuba.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1BJT3aW1ZQq26hQGYnw8aaTixUHsoDugVigHAGQAEdixHvl0Ic7oQAT8s50QbBvwQy_x3zdPED83pILMqpQVElv8eiynKlBvkb9rSgJA0xnn8IB0vBdGqYs_T2bEMbWQQJB7jw/s320/BandKscuba.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636879339604528002" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dPv1s657KG9njSC8QPQ-DBBCXK8RKyBTV0YJeoK6s7ofdL9ggBdsmQtZpsi1PKNGYw9zcF3ubfg_GdXCoB6ofkrr-gEKjU36D_wX2sP-szoOrbp71AmKDIRPjJfxu78wTP4apQ/s1600/fallingK.JPG">
<br /></a>
<br />Vecky's Reef drift
<br />
<br />Kerriann plays with a huge sea cucumber
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SzFfFoGR7DpS05HdBxr7Lyxgc1ElJ4UMk333G9xN1Yhn6DYqVpI37o_J_xv-zHJCZ0NJldEaBPRHZsThM1bP1uzUo4R_GCJQvgdFy_hyphenhyphenZZ_6zjaGjmykIIr1CVmgg0aQilMmZA/s1600/cukeK.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SzFfFoGR7DpS05HdBxr7Lyxgc1ElJ4UMk333G9xN1Yhn6DYqVpI37o_J_xv-zHJCZ0NJldEaBPRHZsThM1bP1uzUo4R_GCJQvgdFy_hyphenhyphenZZ_6zjaGjmykIIr1CVmgg0aQilMmZA/s320/cukeK.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636879348314629378" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />The video and photo slideshow below are combinations of footage taken from several dive sites, including the wrecks mentioned above, Vecky's Reef, Fisheye, Gab Gab 2 (where the large fish are), and the reef in front of the Hilton Hotel. Unfortunately I have no evidence of either of our dives to the American Tanker wreck, though it was definitely worth documenting. My camera batteries weren't cooperative. Next time.
<br />
<br />Sometimes video works better than stills, sometimes it's the other way around. </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">There's so much to say about all these dives, but school is starting soon, I've taken forever as it is to get these posted, and pictures are worth thousands of words, right? Video must be worth billions. Enjoy. I'm still working to increase the resolution. I lost an incredible amount by compressing the file so I can stream it online...</span>
<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: times new roman;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: times new roman;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwIZltRnQtsJVD-6Pc438k3u6DeMyECcRDCfp4voPvJj0HJ_cDpgLb82ZfumnOfezVS3Gsr3C-lsyQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: left;">I picked a random piece of music from my iTunes library that was about as long as the video. There are some funny dramatic sound/image coincidences that happened completely by chance.
<br /></div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: times new roman;">
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J1XdUbyzJe4?hl=en&fs=1" allowfullscreen="" width="425" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe>
<br /></div>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-84813925909481137702011-07-17T20:48:00.000-07:002011-07-17T22:49:28.527-07:00Advanced Open Water Certification - Check!<span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Kerriann and I finished our advanced class yesterday, so are now able to go on some of the deeper dives in the area. I'm pretty excited, though diving five dives in less than 48 hours is too tiring for us noobs.<br /><br />Highlights of my dives from the advanced class:<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">San Luis Beach (Night Dive)</span></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Friday, July 15, 2011 ~7 PM<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>I did this dive without K, as she had some other more...interesting things to do that evening.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span></span><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Huge (2 ft +) puffer fish hanging out behind a rock. While I've seen several of these of various sizes so far, I've never seen one puffed up.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Elephant ear sponges, one about 3 ft in diameter.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Black sea urchins about the size of a softball - moving around. I've always thought of these as sedentary, so it was really cool to see them moving along the coral. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">The full moon was out, and you could see it from a depth of 40 feet.</span></li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YPlc4hPN9F-DbDs3ZW_Fb6O6I7eC0YkaLMDfwig50ye9lnga62TK4m7v1tMKFU_mmAT5dsxoIe26jLSiWJ5SpEfSwrWArOBJSV8z3hd8H3SOsMaaKY9ODNWH3HWmsxNP4eIk7w/s1600/puffer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YPlc4hPN9F-DbDs3ZW_Fb6O6I7eC0YkaLMDfwig50ye9lnga62TK4m7v1tMKFU_mmAT5dsxoIe26jLSiWJ5SpEfSwrWArOBJSV8z3hd8H3SOsMaaKY9ODNWH3HWmsxNP4eIk7w/s200/puffer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630557872249111938" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ew0-Hw7NM6OazF1WgbChYbsGUMysxoAyG5Z3QeQT5xH_1y4WhrN5PjM7TT1qLA8JgpvE_6O_T1FLKA1_eTQGoucg_658JOKOITfpDWy9q0X21prk8_4zXZPvOX9Sd0Kv5ixKYg/s1600/seaurchin.jpg"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGafa-oQi1nq_-zMICHjDctH5LfxwFnbsq22bzXQP6xoa1usJa6jOKtah4uibJFM7-RTmSSOlT2QqTRNkxa8X30vzo3gsQQDMjbM8wMJwcyMY6xH6lR2PT4WylBPFNk5bLskswgA/s1600/elephantear.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGafa-oQi1nq_-zMICHjDctH5LfxwFnbsq22bzXQP6xoa1usJa6jOKtah4uibJFM7-RTmSSOlT2QqTRNkxa8X30vzo3gsQQDMjbM8wMJwcyMY6xH6lR2PT4WylBPFNk5bLskswgA/s200/elephantear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630557865734248706" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ew0-Hw7NM6OazF1WgbChYbsGUMysxoAyG5Z3QeQT5xH_1y4WhrN5PjM7TT1qLA8JgpvE_6O_T1FLKA1_eTQGoucg_658JOKOITfpDWy9q0X21prk8_4zXZPvOX9Sd0Kv5ixKYg/s1600/seaurchin.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 102px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ew0-Hw7NM6OazF1WgbChYbsGUMysxoAyG5Z3QeQT5xH_1y4WhrN5PjM7TT1qLA8JgpvE_6O_T1FLKA1_eTQGoucg_658JOKOITfpDWy9q0X21prk8_4zXZPvOX9Sd0Kv5ixKYg/s200/seaurchin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630557870217100914" border="0" /> </a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">American Tanker (Wreck Dive) Saturday, July 16, 2011 ~2:30 PM<br /></span>This was a boat dive in Apra Harbor in the Navy Base.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Swam length of 300+ ft long tanker on the bottom of the harbor.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Swam in a door and out through a hole in the roof of a small room on the stern of the tanker.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Had to fight the urge to "right" myself in the water, as the tanker leans to the side.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">"Titanic" bow photo op.</span></li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcykW2B6kOtl1yV0rv0o9vUVJqC9Tb8a4MWJgN6cO1_Rf9hYN1fhyphenhyphend_XeDfjFK8LRiAQLlkA8wy_2RWdgtzBmLRyon4hKfOWpFI58EAwbq7qyJpL4YNhPGFEpl2tJsFt69Wt-tQ/s1600/tanker.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcykW2B6kOtl1yV0rv0o9vUVJqC9Tb8a4MWJgN6cO1_Rf9hYN1fhyphenhyphend_XeDfjFK8LRiAQLlkA8wy_2RWdgtzBmLRyon4hKfOWpFI58EAwbq7qyJpL4YNhPGFEpl2tJsFt69Wt-tQ/s200/tanker.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630560791032507682" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Finger Reef (Deep Dive)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" > Saturday, July 16, 2011 ~4 PM</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />Second stop on the boat.</span> </span><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Deepest dive to date (97 ft) and essentially to the limits I'm now certified for.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Geeked out on science and color changes at different depths due to red light not penetrating as deep as blue light.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sea turtles!</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Huge school of 12+ inch fish off in the distance - very spooky dark blob following us.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpuJQHaLJTb0cQcLOF-bqPgpe67nOl8XlqeGUDv4gvHmN8gTvshcKwl1Vd8QkkjvXhXEhj7A37oIy5SU5jvUyyhXCgJCrSNMDk-S-CAC419unKNrJQUiBOKDYx9sNTOfRcw-jjg/s1600/turtle.jpg"><br /></a></li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpuJQHaLJTb0cQcLOF-bqPgpe67nOl8XlqeGUDv4gvHmN8gTvshcKwl1Vd8QkkjvXhXEhj7A37oIy5SU5jvUyyhXCgJCrSNMDk-S-CAC419unKNrJQUiBOKDYx9sNTOfRcw-jjg/s1600/turtle.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpuJQHaLJTb0cQcLOF-bqPgpe67nOl8XlqeGUDv4gvHmN8gTvshcKwl1Vd8QkkjvXhXEhj7A37oIy5SU5jvUyyhXCgJCrSNMDk-S-CAC419unKNrJQUiBOKDYx9sNTOfRcw-jjg/s200/turtle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630561027504650850" border="0" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLdfnhkwTgundI6TvzkvAqA6uNLvbjpFzmK9c74oZJBspdnuWL3tEoVakyhY_SJWVcX9bcLH47pFGILjLl8sTitpv_d2t4r1BJbGU-uGpDTVSabno_26SlS_AS03pfwnmACYvkA/s1600/schooljacks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLdfnhkwTgundI6TvzkvAqA6uNLvbjpFzmK9c74oZJBspdnuWL3tEoVakyhY_SJWVcX9bcLH47pFGILjLl8sTitpv_d2t4r1BJbGU-uGpDTVSabno_26SlS_AS03pfwnmACYvkA/s200/schooljacks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630561026877070002" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" > </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Clipper Landing (Navigation Dive)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Sunday, July 17, 2011 ~2:30 PM</span> </span><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Lost my buddy (Kerriann) during a navigation test with a compass since I swam too fast for her without checking that she was following (oops! won't do that again).</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Big confidence boost navigating the perimeter of a 10,000 sq. ft. section of reef alone using only a compass and ending up exactly where I started. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Swam as shark bait for the entire dive as the knee that I injured getting into the water continued to bleed for over an hour in the ocean.</span></li></ol><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Gab Gab Beach (Multilevel Dive)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Sunday, July 17, 2011 ~ 6 PM</span> </span><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">More turtles.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Completed certification!<br /></span></li></ol><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(There wasn't a lot of new stuff to see on the last two dives as they were mostly about completing skills in the water.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Note: All photos are still not mine, as I have not yet purchased a camera. Some were found on <a href="http://www.scubaguam.com/Harbor/tanker1.htm">scubaguam.com</a>, while others are my best approximation of what I saw from some pics found through Google image searches. </span><br /></span></span>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-50647906181954138762011-07-17T19:45:00.000-07:002011-07-19T05:23:37.583-07:00Top 10 Reasons Guam's Speed Limit is 35 mph<span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvO1xU4uiUQllFTM6qKopicr4TV3X42JU33ZFOIwegSoZvJ10HgaFll-Su10wIK3hbgd7dJFJyQge6e458D5bJOHVm3L0rv5POSYTGYg1_MkTXWiIpB7erzoOefi5z1ZEphmFdw/s1600/speedlimit35.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvO1xU4uiUQllFTM6qKopicr4TV3X42JU33ZFOIwegSoZvJ10HgaFll-Su10wIK3hbgd7dJFJyQge6e458D5bJOHVm3L0rv5POSYTGYg1_MkTXWiIpB7erzoOefi5z1ZEphmFdw/s400/speedlimit35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630521377893226402" border="0" /></a> 10. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >No need to remember if the speed limit changed.<br /><br />9. Saves money through increased gas mileage.<br /><br />8. Ma</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >kes dodging boonie dogs and chickens easier.</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" > 7. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Fewer serious accidents when drivers run red lights.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />6. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Reinforces the slow, island life mentality.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />5. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >More time to find landmarks when following directions, as roads are not labeled.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />4. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >No need to spend money on yellow advisory speed limit signs before sharp turns.</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />3. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Visibility is unaffected when a torrential downpour starts out of nowhere.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />2. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Easier to take good side-of-the-road photos (e.g. dog riding a water buffalo).</span><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />1. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Driving slow makes the island seem bigger.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the inspiration, Mom!</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-82161531491114183092011-07-14T06:45:00.000-07:002011-07-14T07:00:44.398-07:00Typhoon Shmyphoon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLtRqv0zsNyH0u61Gqwpf0tBt8nURSybaQHNrX7ko_jXeCSQewI7eWATCcPlVX5wGO5h-Bb07LtQ8rd753DeGBjpNmCHOnXw_cqYsr-YTlnWVzZ_6JlsmOqnFLCz81Cwq5UmbHg/s1600/StormInfo.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLtRqv0zsNyH0u61Gqwpf0tBt8nURSybaQHNrX7ko_jXeCSQewI7eWATCcPlVX5wGO5h-Bb07LtQ8rd753DeGBjpNmCHOnXw_cqYsr-YTlnWVzZ_6JlsmOqnFLCz81Cwq5UmbHg/s400/StormInfo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629206693006749922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />In case you've heard about the tropical storm out here in the Pacific (I'm not sure if it's technically a typhoon or not), we're all doing fine here, though we have tons and tons of rain. It seems as though the storm is much north of us and is moving on to batter Japan, as if they haven't had enough problems already. I'm not sure how the diving this weekend is going to go yet. My class may not happen. We've got some flooding, small craft, and high surf advisories through the weekend, but as long as the storm keeps on its current track we shouldn't have any problems. I'll try to keep everyone posted. </span>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32812740.post-76032752833725996112011-07-13T21:42:00.000-07:002011-07-13T21:45:01.429-07:00Best Quote from Diving Class<span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:100%;" >How could I forget to post this?<br /><br />"When I started this class last week, I never thought to myself that I was going to get into that girl's pants."<br /><br />--Melissa, said about me, while wearing my shorts so that she could gain access to the Naval Exchange building on base<br /></span>BLBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09680256179689360829noreply@blogger.com1