Awajishima and Tokushima Trip

I want to tell you all about my trip the other day. I went to Awajishima and Tokushima for my wife's birthday. We had a great time!! If you are interested, below is the summary.

On the 18th, I picked up the rental car at half past 7, and we departed around 8am. Contrary to he weather forecast, the skies were blue and the sun was shining. Originally I had planned to go to Uo-no-Tana market in Akashi if it was raining, but because it was sunny, I ditched this plan headed straight to the beach in Awajishima.

The first beach we visited was about a 20-minute drive after crossing Akashi Bridge. Because the summer season is already over, the beach wasn't crowded which was nice. We walked around, stretched our bodies, and took it easy for about an hour. I also changed into my swimming trunks and took a little dip in the ocean. The water was refreshing and wasn't as cold as I thought it would be.

Then we headed to FBI(First class Backpackers Inn.), which is a beach bar and restaurant which also has camping and cabins. It is in Goshiki Town and the home page is: fbi-camping.com
Ms. K's suggested that I go to this place because she often goes there on the weekends and her boyfriend is co-owner. It is a really nice place, and I highly recommend it!! We shared lunch-a green curry, and a black curry- on the deck, which overlooks the ocean, while sipping on some ginger ale. Fortunately, Ms. K and her boyfriend were all there, so we could chat a little. Ms. K's boyfriend was very friendly and very hospitable, and a little much different than my first impression of him. (I have actually seen him once in an Udon restaurant. At that time, he looked scary...) In addition, Shintaro, who is Ms. K's 11-year-old black Labrador Retriever, was there too, so I played with him on the beach. I had a good time!!

After lunch and swimming in the ocean, we rested on a hammock on the deck for a little, took a shower, and then headed to the hotel in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture. It was quite close, about a 45 minute drive.

Some people playing in the ocean in front of FBI.

Do you know what they are doing?

Yours Truly taking a breather on the Awajishima side of the bridge

between Awajishima and Akashi.

We stayed at the resort hotel Grand XIV Naruto. It is a "member's only hotel", in other words a "Time Share" Hotel, so unless you know someone who is an "owner," you can't stay there. Luckily for us, my friend, Ms. N, is an "owner" so she made the reservation for us.

Right when we arrived at driveway to the hotel, our jaws dropped!! Because the driveway was very very long, and the hotel was on the top of the mountain. It looked like a castle!! I had never seen such a beautiful hotel in my life!! Then, after checking in around 4pm, we went to the room, which was beautiful, huge, and had a great view of the ocean! Then we headed straight to the pool. And again, we were flabbergasted!! Because the pool overlooked the ocean and it literally felt like you could jump into the ocean from the pool. We felt like we were in a fairy tale, or some fantasy world or something. The view was exquisite.

After swimming in the pool, soaking in the hot tub, and absorbing some of the warms rays of sunlight, we headed back to the room and had a private "Happy Hour" on the balcony. After about an hour or so, we went to the Spa, which was a top notch facility too! Then we got dressed up and arrived just in time at 8pm for our dinner reservation at a nice Chinese restaurant in the hotel. The dinner was wonderful!! But the night wasn't finished yet!!　At midnight, a "surprise" birthday cake was delivered to our room, and after lighting the birthday candles and singing the "Happy Birthday Song," I hit the sack.

The next day I woke up around 6am and enjoyed coffee on the balcony. Then we went for a walk, back to the spa again, and then packed our bags and checked out. Everything was "Perfect" and I really can't thank Ms. N enough for taking care of everything for us. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

Next, we stopped at a nearby fish restaurant and had a great fish lunch. The portions were huge, and we were both stuffed. Then, we went to a big shrine (sorry, I forget the name of the place) and walked off the lunch. And then, for our finale of Tokushima, we went to see the "huge vortexes," or "whirlpool," which you can see from the bridge connecting Awajishima and Tokushima. They were really cool, and while licking some vanilla soft ice cream on a sugar cone, I gazed at them. However, I have one doubt. Everyone insists "They are real, natural!!" But I wonder...I think they are man-made.

Then, before it started to rain, we went to Fukiage Beach in Awajishima for a walk. It was semi-long, and 2km maybe, and the sand and waves were great! I really like that beach and want to go there again next summer!

Then, it began to rain, and the driving conditions were treacherous, so I drove slowly and carefully. But before going home, I really wanted to go to a sushi restaurant in Akashi which Ms. N recommended. That restaurant is in a residential area and quite difficult to find under normal circumstances I think, but thanks to the wonderful invention of car navigation, it was a cinch!! And even though we were severely under-dressed for such a nice restaurant, we could get in with no problem and with no reservation. And, we could eat very fresh and delicious sushi to finish off the great trip. It was an awesome 39 hours!!

The Pool

Grand XIV Naruto
The Driveway

Afford (Vocabulary/Expressions Study)

Last night in class, Mr. H asked me about the meaning of "afford." Check out the following example sentences and let me know if you understand or not.

1. Can you afford it?=Can you afford to buy it?
2. I can't afford to make another mistake.
3. That department store that just opened provides a lot of goods at affordable prices.

I know summer is just about over, but it is still hot, and according to the weather forecast the mercury will reach 34 degrees Celsius again today, so please let me put one more "summer shot" on the blog. "Hanabi," or as we say in English, Fireworks!

You'll never believe what happened to me...

The other day, after I woke up and I sat down at the kitchen table to have breakfast. Sachiko and I usually take turns preparing breakfast, and this day, it was her turn. So, I was lucky! (I thought, but I was wrong.) Because, when I drank the cafe latte which Sachiko made for me...I was shocked!! Stunned!! And usually I don't move so fast, but this time I ran to the restroom as fast as I could-like a cheetah!! Sachiko said it was the fastest she has ever seen me run! And then, I spit out the coffee. You see, Sachiko was half-asleep, because she just woke up, and she mistook the sugar for the salt. So she put SALT into my coffee, not sugar. It was disgusting!

Glenn told me that he also had a similar experience a while back. He mistook face cream for toothpaste in the middle of the night..Doesn't sound good...

Has anything like this ever happened to you?

Chemistry (Vocabulary/Expressions study)

When I was reading the newspaper the other day, I read an article written by the former President of Itochu Trading Company. In the article, he talked about the meaning of "chemistry" and "good chemistry."

The word chemistry has two meanings. Most of you probably understand one of the meanings which is "a type of science, and a subject in school." For example, look at these sentences:
1. I have a Chemistry test next Monday so I have to study all weekend.
2. When I was in high school, I hated Chemistry!
3. We will do an experiment in Chemistry class next week.

The other meaning of "chemistry," which that former president was talking about is; " feeling, or type of relationship, one has with another person." Refer to the below sentences;
1. There is good chemistry between the catcher and the pitcher.
2. I have good chemistry with my boss.
3. I have bad chemistry with my boss.

Mr. and Mrs. M, and cool temps...

Last Saturday I took Mr. and Mrs. M out to dinner to celebrate their marriage. On August 27th, they got married and had a wedding in Nara. I met them at 8pm in front of O-Hatsu-Tenjin Shrine, and to my surprise, they were on time! I thought that they may be late because of the typhoon-and I knew they were coming by train and the train is often delayed or even stopped when there is a typhoon or big storm. And, about 30 minutes before we met, it began pouring. As they say, "It was raining cats and dogs!" But nothing, not even a storm could stop Mr. M from going to a free dinner! :)

From the shrine, it is about a 3-minute walk-all undercover in the shopping arcade- to the sushi restaurant, Ichiba-Zushi. As many of you know, it is my favorite. I thought that we may have to wait a little to get a table, but it wasn't as crowded as I expected and we could get seated right away. (It is usually pretty packed on Saturday night, but I think that because of the bad weather a lot of people stayed home that night---That was lucky for us!)

Once we were seated, we ordered our drinks-two beers and one cold tea(Mr. M doesn't drink alcohol) and then right off the bat, TORO! From there, they showed me some of their wedding photos-which were beautiful- and we talked about a bunch of topics. About two and a half hours later, we called it a night and headed home. Let me tell you a little about them.

Mr. M and Mrs. M met at auditing school. A year or two later they began dating, and then they both ended up working in the same company. They are both from Nara, but recently, after The Big Day, they just moved to Osaka and began to live together. Mr. M is in his early thirties and Mrs. M is in her late twenties. Mrs. M told me that "I am proud of the fact that all of my friends from high school are pretty!!" And I can vouch for her, because I saw a picture of them-They are all lookers!! Mr. M smokes, however if one pack of cigarettes becomes 700 yen like they say it will, I think Mr. M will have no choice but to quit smoking... Mrs. M is a social smoker-that means she takes a puff every once in a while- and drinks on occasion. But I heard that when she drinks, she drinks a lot. And let me tell you, that is true! (She drank about one beer and 4 or 5 glasses of plum wine that night.) Mr. M likes Major League Baseball and often reads the MLB site to improve his English. And since he is rooting for the Phillies to win the World Series this year, I invited him to my house to watch a game! (But I have a feeling my wife is going to nix(=veto)this plan...But we will see...) Mrs. M also has a small dream to study abroad for a month or so if possible. I hope her dream comes true!
Anyway, for me, it was a really good time and I had a blast. And even though they are really busy recently buying furniture and stuff for their new place, I was happy that they made time to go out with me, and I hope they felt the same way-had a great time- too..

To change the subject, recently it is much cooler in the morning and evening. On Monday I wore long pants when I slept, and yesterday morning was the first time since the summer began that I wore a long-sleeved shirt. Fall has arrived! And in the afternoon the weather has been beautiful so far this week...All good!