China Trip!

Ms. e went to China with her friend a few weeks ago. She visited a place which is not so many Japanese tourists go to because it is not so easy to get there. She showed me a bunch of photos and the nature was really beautiful!! There were so many large and beautiful waterfalls and also some unique lakes which actaully looked like hot springs. My image of China before I saw her photos and listened to her talk about her trip was of many many people, many many bicycles, a big city image, and also The Great Wall of China. But after I spoke with Ms. e and saw the pics, my image changed. Now beautiful nature is also included in my new image of China! Please read the "comments" to what Ms. e has to say about her trip and where she went!

The color of the water changes depending on where you look at the lake from. In some photos the color was blue, but in others a dark green. It was the same lake! The photos were taken at the same time!

It`s called the "5 color lake!!"Unbelievable...

What a view!

A Giant panda! There were 13 pandas in the park where Ms. e visited!! And she got to touch, hug, one too! She said that the fur was HARD!

Tall waterfalls and many tourists! This is also a World Heritage site.

Thanks for the pics Ms. e!!!

Spoiled kid, ignorant coach...

Read this japanese article for the details:
http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/hl?c=sports&d=20060927&a=20060927-00000081-sph-spo
This high school kid was drafted by the Lotte Mariner`s the other day. He wanted to play for the Soft Bank Hawks, but the Lotte beat the Hawks in a lottery for the rights to the kid. OH, one of the most famous coaches/former players in Japan, WAS the manager of the Hawks before he got sick. Presently he is in rehab, but in all likelihood, he will never really manage the Hawks again. Bobby Valentine is the manager of Lotte. I think he managed in the World Series in America too. I understand the kid may have wanted to play under OH, but Valentine wanted the kid, and playing under Valentine is not such a terrible thing I think. The kid should be happy to be drafted, be able to play in the pros, and stop crying! And then his coach said that he won`t meet Valentine to talk about the kid because..."He`s an American...Even if I do talk to him, there`s no way an American will be able to understand." Stupid...and ignorant coach. I am not surprised his player is the same...

LANGKAWI, Malaysia

Ms. Nao recently just came back from Langkawi, Malaysia. Luckily, she sent me some really incredible photos! The shots are really good because she is like a professional photographer! I post some of her photos in my classroom because they are really artistic and original. They light up the room!! About her trip to Langkawi, she didn`t have a summer vacation so she was really looking forward to her trip in September! And she works really hard and does A LOT of overtime, so she really deserved the vacation I think!! She said Langkawi and the hotel she stayed at, The Dalai, were both great, beautiful, GREEN, relaxing, quiet, and on and on. She highly recommended them both!! Both of the photos are actually from a small pond in the lobby, on the 4th floor, of the Dalai Hotel, where she stayed. Whooaaahh!! I want to take a vacation again!
To check out the amazing hotel. look here:

http://www.ghmhotels.com/hotels/hotel_home.asp?hotelid=2&section=home

BARCELONA!!

My student, Dr. M went to Barcelona for a medical conference! These are some of the pic she took! I especially like the one right above, the "dancing" photo. Many people like to travel!! How about you? Do you like to travel? Where is the best place you have ever been? How about the worst? Where do you recommend for a relaxing vacation? How about an exciting one?

Car collection

Hey, hope you had a good 3 day weekend! My friend collects miniature cars. This is a pic of his collection. The cars look cool. Do you collect anything? Some people coolect many different things, for example, stamps, baseball cards, pins, badges, print club pictures, etc......Have you heard of any interesting collections?

Matsui`s BACK!

After going 4-4 in his first game back from his 4 month broken wrist absence, Matsui hit his first homer in today`s game, his third since returning. He got a standing ovation at his first at-bat after returning. He said it was a day he will remember. He `s going to contribute to the Yankees til the end of this season. If he gets a little lucky, because of his pot in the batting line-up, he could also get really hot and become the next "Mr. October."

On a side note, my hometown`s team, the Philadelphia Phillies, are fighting for a wild-card berth into the playoffs! I will keep you posted!

Philadelphia Eagles!

The Philadelphia Eagles are my favorite football team! The football season began last week, and the Eagles got off to a flying start by pummeling the Houston Texans. Read here for the game details: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5941404

The above pic is of their new star wide receiver, Donte` Stallworth. He is doing a touchdown celebration dance!!! In the NFL, many players do a crazy dance to celebrate when the score or make a good play. It`s a little ridiculous, but always funny.

This is the star of the team, the quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The Eagle`s Logo

Check out here for the Eagle`s Home page: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/default.jsp

The coach Andy Reid
The star running back, Brian Westbrook.

Anyway, I`ll write more about the Birds when they go to the Super Bowl again this year! ;) haha...

Obon festival

Last month`s Obon festival: I just wanted to post some pics. This festival has a lot of meaning for me...I really like it and look forward to it every year.

9-11...A picture never before seen...

Read this to find out about the picture above: http://www.slate.com/id/2149368/?GT1=8592
What did you do on 9-11, 2001. Where were you when you heard the news...I saw the news breaking on "News Station" at about 10pm...I watched til 4am I think...It was unbelievable.

RAMENMAN

Check out this ramen!!! This is my favorite ramen-shop!!! It`s called RAMENMAN!home page: http://ramen-man.hp.infoseek.co.jp It`s located in Hirao-cho, near Honmachi. I always get the regualr ramen! The cooked pork and scallions are great! Also, you can choose garlic or no garlic! I usually choose garlic because I need the extra stamina!! Do you like ramen? Where is your favorite shop?

A pic of the inside of the shop! It has a counter with about 6 stools and also 3 tables.
The manager, Ban-chan!! He eats ramen often, that`s why he has a "ramen-belly"! ;)
The menu is very large. They also have a hot korean style nabe and ramen if you like spicey!! Also, I recommend the fried dumplings (gyoza)! Hope to see ya there!

Beer belly!

Look at these two beer bellies!!!! :) Pure American style!!! Look at the slant in those belts! The belts are diagonal!!! And my friend with his white undershirt!! Pure class!! :) Actually, these guys are two really nice gentleman. They work in the Honmachi area and I hear that they work very hard. So sometimes to let the stomach out is OK I think for them! I forgive `em!

My friend watching his kid`s every move!!! My friend was on "watch" that night! He was chasing his kid all over the festival and making sure he didn`t get into any trouble!! And, he didn`t!! So well done! Mission Accomplished!

My crazy friend and his son and wife...

This crazy American guy is a friend of mine. I have known him for a few years now. We work in the same area of town. Anyway, usually I see him every year at the Kitamido-kaikan Obon Dance festival. This year he was with his wife and kid. His kid is 2and a half. He`s really cute. But unfortunately I think he looks like his father... ;) What do you think?
He looks like he is enjoying his soda pop!
Look at all the food on the table! Chips, pop-corn, beer, water-ice,a thermos of tea...Do you know what is happening in the picture? That`s his mother. She is breast-feeding him (in the middle of the Obon festival!!). He`s 2 and a half!! A little old for breast-feeding I think, but more power to him! He sure did look happy!!

Drinking a beer and breastfeeding at the same time! Beautiful!

Kushi-katsu

My student Ms. O asked me to join her and her friends for a kushi-katsu party. Kushi-katsu is meat, vegetables, chiken, fish, and pork fried on a stick/skewer. You are supposed to dip each stick into a sauce! But all of the customers use the same sauce, so there is a rule: "One dip only!!" ;) Everyone has to abide by this rule!! It`s a must!

The restaurant she chose was near Hozenji Temple. It is located in the heart of Namba, in Osaka. It is very unusual because it is a quiet and incense-smelling little place in the middle of a big and bustling area. I like that area very much. Next time I want to take some pictures of that are and put it on the blog. It is very unique!

We ate a lot of food and drank a little. The kushi-katsu was excellent! Ms. O and her co-worker and freind were very funny and friendly. Thank you!

Do you like kushi-katsu? If yes, where`s your favorite kushi katsu restaurant?

Japanese sweets

My student Ms. Y`s sister made me these Japanese sweets! Sometimes the her sister makes them for me, and Ms. Y brings them to class. I am always delighted to receiave them. I don`t eat sweets so much, but Japanese sweets are my favorite!! Her sister makes all of the sweets by hand. And they are always so colorful and decorative and beautiful. I wish I took some pics of the sweets she gave me before, but I didn`t have a camera then...Oh well, I will try to take some photos of them from now on. Do you like Japanese sweets? Which do you prefer, Japanese sweets or Western sweets?

Welcome to September!!!

Awajishima 2

This is Sumoto town in Awajishima. It is unique because some of the buildings are made of red brick. This is very unique in Japan. I don`t see a lot of red brick buildings anywhere in Osaka. It is possible that I maybe have never seen one. Many years ago these buidlings were used to make yarn and thread. Now the buildings have been renovated and re-modeled and are used as a library, museum, cafe, and a few other shops.
The dragon statue guarding the water place in the front of many shrines and temples. The water is used to wash and purify your hands and yourself. (I use a lot of water!!! ;) Also, you are supposed to rinse your mouth out with the water. Some people, like me, also drink the water.

A pagoda

the cafe