Earthquake

There was a terrible earthquake in New Zealand yesterday. Many people were injured, and some people even died. Building were destroyed. There are also still many people, including some Japanese University students, missing...
It is terrible. I pray for their, and everyone's, safety...

Actually, there was a small earthquake on Monday in the Kansai area also.
While I was teaching Ms. Y, suddenly the building shook. It was very short, very sudden. Only about 2 or 3 seconds at most. We weren't sure if it was an earthquake or not. And then we both looked at each other and said, "Was that just an earthquake?"
Later that day, I heard on the radio that at the same time there was an earthquake around intensity level 4 on the Japanese scale in Wakayama.
Natural disasters are very scary...

For the latest article, click here:
"Japanese feared trapped in rubble" (from The Japan Times Online)
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110222x2.html

"Walking on ice" (This blog is courtesy of Luis)

For someone like me who likes cold and snow, Hokkaido was like being a small kid again playing with the snow. Everywhere was covered with snow, which makes things look more pretty and dangerous! After a few days this snow becomes ice, and all the sidewalks and streets become an ice skating adventure.We went to Sapporo to see the snow and ice sculptures festival, to Otaru where we got hit with a snow storm and saw the handmade snow light-up, and I will never forget Hakodate's fabulous view from the mountain.
Here is our Diary...

Day 1: The early birds are leaving home and suddenly Osaka was all "dressed" in white. The highway was closed because of so much snow. We arrived to Sapporo in time for typical Sapporo soup (soba). We spent the afternoon and evening walking around the Snow Festival. It was impressive. Due to the snow fall over the week, many sculptures didn't look so good any more. So, if you go there next time make sure you go in the first days. For dinner we tried many different types of raw fish (sashimi), but I don't even know many of the names of the fish.

Day 2: We went skiing on the second day. I've been really looking forward to doing this for a long time. I'm still a beginner but I love skiing. While I was making some progress with my ski technique, my wife was enjoying the gorgeous view and hot drinks at the cafeteria. At the end of the 7-hour skiing day I was exhausted, and after a long day on the slopes, there is nothing better than all-you-can-eat-crab, sushi and tempura!!! That meal refilled my energy level.

Day 3: A day trip to Otaru. And what a day it was... I enjoyed a magnificent train ride. There was a mountain on one side, and the sea on the other. It was exquisite!! Several times during the day we were hit with some snow storms but this did not prevent us from having a great time. TV news were saying it snowed around 80cm of fresh snow just that day. It is a very small town with many small shops and cute streets, and you could see different snowmen and snow light-ups everywhere.

Day 4: We went to Hakodate in the early morning, had raw squid in the fish market and strolled downtown. We finished the day on top of a mountain looking at the splendid view of downtown Hakodate.

Day 5: One our last day, we went up the tower next to the Goryo-kaku for our last pics and one more seafood lunch. Then it was time to return to Osaka.

We didn't have time this trip, but next time we will certainly try some hot springs.Seafood was really good everywhere.Of the three places we visited, I liked Otaru the best. Because it was the best train ride I have ever experienced, and I will never forget the small cute streets filled with snowmen and snow light-ups. I had no expectations about this place and maybe that's why I liked it so much.Hokkaido, we'll be back!

Snow

On Monday, it snowed practically all day. I was really surprised. I think it was the longest I have ever seen it snow in Japan. In Osaka, the snow didn't stick on the ground, but near my house in Nishinomiya City, the snow stuck. And when I walked home, the street was full of slush and a little icy. The road was slippery and dangerous, so I was very careful and walked with caution.

Then, on Tuesday I got an email from Mr. M. He went on a ski trip to Nozawa Hot Spring over the 3 day weekend. Do you know where Nozawa is? It is in Nagano Prefecture. Have you ever been there? If yes, what was it like?

So, since I am on the topic of snow, I will write some "snow vocabulary." Look at the below 5 sentences:

1. My brother lives in Michigan, and it snows A LOT there. Just last week the temperature was only 1 degree Fahrenheit!!! That is FREEZING!!! Can you convert that into Celsius? Anyway, since it snows so much there he bought a snow blower last year. A snow blower is a necessity in Michigan.

2. It also snows quite a bit in Philadelphia, my home town. Actually, this year they(=Philly people) were hit with a bunch of blizzards. Every time there was a blizzard when I was a child, I had to shovel the driveway. Because the driveway is big, I had to use a big snow shovel. It took hours. And after I finished, my body was sore all over. Maybe that is one reason that I have a bad back now...

3. In University, when final exam time came around, I was always snowed under with tests.

4. There are two types of snow; man-made snow and powder snow. When you go skiing and fall on man-made snow, it hurts a lot. But if you fall on powder snow, it doesn't hurt so much, because the snow is soft and fluffy.

5. When I was younger I used to go skiing often. And after a long, hard, fun day of skiing, there was nothing better than going to the ski lodge to check out the snow bunnies!! :)

I am sick about talking about Sumo, but for your English study, you should check out this article.
Osaka: What are your thoughts on the decision to cancel the Osaka sumo tournament due to the match-fixing scandal?

(from Views from the Street, The Japan Times Online) http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110215vf.html

Thanks for the beautiful photos Mr. M! And very nice snow man!!

This week's news

All of the below two headlines are from the Japan Times E-mail News Service

"Sumo world reacts to canceled tourney- Sumo wrestlers and fans express shock and disappointment at the first scandal-canceled 'basho' in sumo history."

What do you think about Sumo and the fixed matches. As I said before, Sumo is a disgrace. I gave up on Sumo a long time ago...

"Boy, 14, breaks age record by passing bilingual tour guide test"

A boy from Kumamoto passed the test. The previous record-holder was 15 years old. This kid lived in America for three and a half years because he parents worked there. So he is fluent in English I think. But he said he had to study Japanese geography really hard for the test. Are you good at geography?

And, I also saw on the net that Christina Aguilera (the women whose name I forgot who co-stars in the movie "Burlesque" which I recommended a few weeks ago) messed up singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, the biggest sports event of the year for Americans, on Sunday. She botched the lyrics of the anthem and some patriotic Americans were pissed off about it. I don't think it is such a big deal though. Mistakes happen. As the saying goes, "Forgive and forget."
Btw, can you sing the Japanese national anthem? Do you know all the words by heart?

Fyi, I get goose bumps every time I hear the American national anthem. Do you get goose bumps when you hear the Japanese one?

Tomorrow is a national holiday, so have a good 3-day weekend!

Below are some pretty cool photos from Arashiyama

What's your sign?

"See what the Year of the Rabbit has in store for your sign" (from Yahoo.com)
http://shine.yahoo.com/page/2011-chinese-horoscope

What is your sign? In other words, what is your Chinese horoscope? Mine is the Tiger! I was born in 1974. The above links gives the outlook of the year for each of the 12 signs; Rat, Horse, Ox, Goat, Tiger, Monkey, Rabbit, Rooster, Dragon, Dog, Snake, and Pig. If you click on your Chinese astrological sign, you can see the outlook for the year concerning career, relationships, health, and wealth. Even if you don't believe in horoscopes and signs and stuff like that, I recommend you read it just for fun. It is interesting.
Speaking of Chinese, Mr. W, who is a Chinese man who has lived in Japan for about 15 years and presently runs an Import-Export Company, gave me some advice the other day. The advice was on exercise and staying healthy.

First, he recommended that people stretch their joints as much as possible. For example, your wrist, ankle, elbow, fingers, places like that. He said it improves the blood circulation.

Second, he recommended that people rotate their shoulders forwards and backwards at least 50 times a day each way.

And last, he recommended that bald people like me, walk around on all fours, like a dog, because he said this improves hair growth! Really?!

I can't believe it, but since he told me the advice one week ago, I tried all three pieces of advice every day. I stretch my joints and rotate my shoulders from the morning til the evening whenever I have free time. And in the evening, immediately after I get home, I crawl around on the floor like a dog for about 10 or 15 minutes every night. If you saw me, you might think I am crazy, but actually I am perfectly sane. (Actually, that may be debatable.) Anyway, since I began following Mr. W's advice, my mind and body feel great!! But, I haven't noticed any change concerning my hair...I still don't have much ;(

And, do you know the proverb "A clever falcon hides his claws?" Ms. T, who works for a different Chinese Import Company, said this to me the other day after I told her "You are smarter than you look."

That's all for today folks...

The below photo of the construction was taken near "Kita-Yard" in Umeda.

Movies, Volcanoes, and much more...

Today I want to talk about a variety of topics. I found the following headlines and when I was reading The Japan Times net newspaper. I make it a point to read a paper newspaper as well as a net paper every day so I can keep up with the current news. Usually I read the paper newspaper in the morning while I commute to work. I read the net paper during my break time. Do you read a paper newspaper, or net newspaper everyday?

"Toho Cinemas to lower ticket prices"

I am excited about this news!! The current price of a movie in Japan, 1800yen, is too expensive! That is one of the reasons why I rarely go to the movies. 1500yen is not cheap, but it is better than 1800! And there is a Toho Cinema near my house, about a 15-minute walk, so if 1500yen I think I will go to the movies more. Speaking of movies, I saw "Burlesque" the other day. I really enjoyed the movie. It is an up-beat and fun and entertaining movie. And, the soundtrack and dancing is fantastic! And one of my favorites singers, Cher, co-stars in the movie with another very famous young singer, but I forget her name.

"Volcano evacuation zone widens"

My mother emailed me last Monday or Tuesday and said "I just saw there was a big earthquake in Kyushu. Is everything OK? Are your wife's mother and family OK?"
I checked Yahoo News, but I couldn't find any news about an earthquake. When I got home, I asked my wife, "Everything alright...my mother said a volcano erupted?" She said "Yeah everyone is fine. That volcano is in Miyazaki. My family lives in Kumamoto."

But the situation in Miyazaki seems to be very serious. Let's pray that the people, and their homes, there are safe.

"Stranded Fukui travelers sleep in cars, trains"

In Philadelphia, there have been many snow storms this year. Just last weekend, another 19cm fell. Snow and ice make the roads treacherous. And, icy roads are very dangerous and force the closing of schools and prevent people from going to work, thus causing some companies to close!
Also all over Japan this year, there has been a lot of snow. Can you imagine being stuck in a train for two nights because of snow. Miserable, especially if you are impatient and like fresh air like I do.

"Asia Cup match viewed by a third"

Did you watch the match of the century?! Well, that is a little bit of an exaggeration. It wasn't exactly the "match of the century," but it was a big match. The Championship game of the Asia Cup with Japan playing Australia. Many Japanese people always complain, "Why is Australia in the Asian Group. They are not Asian!! It is unfair!!" These complaints make me laugh. I watched the first 10 minutes of the game. Then I fell asleep under my kotatsu. When I woke up, it was the beginning of extra time. I thought, "Extra time...Again!?" I tried to stay awake, but I couldn't help myself from falling asleep again. I woke up again around 4 AM, but the game was over so I got up to go sleep in my futon. In the morning, I turned on the tv and saw the following news:
"Japan is Asia Cup Champions!"
"Japan beats Australia 1-0 in extra time!!"
"Lee scores the winning goal on spectacular volley!!"

Anyway, that is the new update for now. This is Glenn Gross signing off...Have a good day everyone.

Below are photos from Ms. S who is in a Chorus Group and recently had a big performance in this amazing hall. She told me; "When I performed in this Hall, I thought 'I am really happy that I joined the Chorus Club.' '"

Lost

"Lost" is the name of the TV series which many people feel is the best American TV Drama ever. In particular, many people say the Final Season was the best! This TV show was very popular in America the past few years. I have never even watched one episode, so I must be behind the times. But the next time I have a long vacation, I am definitely going to rent it.
Have you ever watched "Lost"? If yes, what did you think of it?

And now, on to the main topic of the day. Yesterday I got a sudden call from Luis. He sounded very distraught, so I was worried. We had the following conversation:

Glenn: Hey Luis, what's up?
Luis: Not much. But I can't find my wallet. I may have lost it.
Glenn: Really?!
Luis: Yeah, I am serious. Have you seen it in the classroom by any chance?
Glenn: Hold on a sec and let me look. Nah, it's not here. Sorry...
Luis: Ah...I didn't think it was there, but I wanted to ask you just in case.
Glenn: What are you going to do?
Luis: Well, I just called the restaurant I went to last night. The staff said he would check to see if it was there and call me back if he found it. I am keeping my fingers crossed...
Glenn: I hope he calls you back with some good news.
Luis: Me too. But in the meantime, I can't count on that, so I am going to go to the Police Station now to report it. Because everything-my credit cards, driver's license, alien registration card...I don't even want to think about it-was in there!!
Glenn: Well, I will let you go. This is an emergency so you should report it to the Police as soon as you can. And you better cancel your credit cards ASAP!
Luis: Yeah, you are right. Ok, I am outta here.
Glenn: Alright, take care. And let me know if you find it. See ya.

1 hour later, I got a message from Luis on my cell phone. Here it is verbatim:
Luis: Hi again Glenn. I have some good news!! Just as I arrived at the Police Station, they guy from restaurant called me. He told me he found it! And everything-all the money, cards, my license, was in it!! I can't believe it. Only in Japan!! I am so lucky!! Anyway, sorry for worrying you!! Bye.

I was very relieved when I listened to that message. Because I lost my cell phone a few years ago. It was only my cell phone, but I was absolutely miserable!! So, I felt bad for Luis when I heard he lost his wallet.

Anyway, I feel tired from just telling this story...I need a cocktail!!

Bonsai

"This is one of my father's bonsai plants.
My father has some bonsais and looks at them every day and smiles.
My father said that 'I think that it is good that bonsai plants have an unsymmetrical shape because dissymmetry is more natural than symmetry.
However, to be honest, I can't understand what is good about Bonsai at all.
Because I am more interested in food than in plants!"

The above is past of an email I got from Ms. Y. What do you think about Bonsai? Do you like them? Do you have any?
I think Bonsai are really cool. I do not have any Bonsai plants, but I would like to get one some day. Actually, since about two years ago, I am really into plants! I have about 10~15 plants in my house or on the balcony. But in the winter, it is really hard to take care of them. This winter, because it is so cold, I, and the plants, are struggling. Do you have any advice on how to take care of house plants during the winter? If you do, please let me know. I am all ears!!

Resolutions and Midosuji lights

So, it is almost the end of January. How about your New Year's resolutions?
Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year?
If yes, have you kept the resolutions so far. Or did you already break them?

I made one resolution this year. My resolution is to run 3 half marathons in 2011. On January 9th, I ran the first one. So I am a third of the way there to achieving my goal. Only 2 more left. I plan to run one in the spring and one in the fall. There is no reason to rush. Plus, I want to space them out, and enjoy running in each season. However, I am not crazy so I don't wanna run in the summer, because it is too hot and humid.

Last week, on the 16th, the Midosuji Lights Illumination Event wrapped up. I really enjoyed this year's lights. I walked to the station on Midosuji on my way home almost every day in December and January while this event was being held. It was fun, and every day I could feel refreshed and enter a bright and fantasy-like "Midosuji World." It was nice, so thanks a lot Governor Hashimoto and Mayor Hiramatsu; I hope you organize this even again next year too!!!

"What are your resolutions for the new year?"
(from VIEWS FROM THE STREET, The Japan Times)http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110104vf.html

Cold

It is freezing this winter.
I wear many layers of clothes-a tee-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt, a sweater, two pairs of socks, long underwear, a hat, a big down winter jacket, a huge wool scarf (this was a Christmas gift from the Mrs. She made it by hand! It took a lot of time and effort I think...so I will cherish this scarf forever!!)...but even wearing all of these clothes, it is all still not enough. I am still always cold.

The two warmest places in my house are: under the kotatsu, and the toilet seat!!!

Yesterday I thought, "I really can't wait for spring to come!!"

I saw the first snow of this winter last December in Honmachi. It was only a really small flurry.
Have you seen any snow this year yet?

Many people often ask me,
"What's the weather like in Philadelphia? Is there snow?"
If you want to know if there is snow or not, it is obvious when you look at the picture below.
My father took this photo of the front yard of his house after a blizzard.
Can you see the mail box all covered in the snow? How about the light pole?

Regarding the weather and temperature in Philadelphia, there is more snow and the temperature is colder in Philadelphia in the winter (but I think it actually feels colder in Osaka!!), basically Philadelphia and Osaka are similar. Please read below for some other differences and similarities between the two cities.

The similarities:
They both have four seasons; spring, summer, winter, and fall.
The four seasons are the same time during the year in both cities.
The summer is hot and humid in both cities, but I think it is more humid in Osaka than in Philly.
There is beautiful foliage(fall leaves) in both cities.

The differences:
Osaka has a rainy season, but there is no rainy season in Philly.
Osaka has typhoons sometimes, but there are no typhoons in Philly.
There are blizzards in Philly, but no blizzards in Osaka.

New Year's Eve

On December 31st, I woke up and went for a bicycle ride along Mukogawa River.
It was a cold and brisk morning. Then, I stopped at the Spa (Kumano-Yu) I always go to, soaked in the outside tub, and went in the dry sauna and the salt sauna, sweat a lot and then jumped in the really cold water to refresh, and totally relaxed. Then I headed back to my place and had a nice lunch with my folks.

We took it easy all afternoon and then around 6pm began cocktail hour, and got ready to go out. It was freezing outside, so we all bundled up, and around 8pm we walked to the station-about a 20 minute walk-and took the train into the city.
The train was empty...Once we arrived at Kita-Shinchi station, we went above ground. The streets were also dead...

Next, we walked about 5 minutes to my favorite sushi shop, Ichiba-Zushi, and met my friend Mr. A. There were quite a few people in the sushi joint, and the four of us talked and ate and drank for about 2 hours, and then walked across the street to an Irish Bar where we rang in the New Year. There was a live band and the bar was packed.

By chance, we ran into my buddy Mike. (Look below at his photo.)
Mike is a professor in the day time and a rock star at night.
He is also from Philly, so we have a lot in common.

About 20 minutes after the clock hit midnight and signaled the beginning of 2011, my parents and I hailed a taxi and were home before we knew it. I slept the whole taxi ride home. It was a fun night!!

On January 1st, I woke up at 7am and headed right back to the spa for my first bath of 2011. It was a beautiful morning...

My father, Ed, and Mike

My mother and yours truly

"The Lucky Guy Race" and fortunes

Do you know about the "Lucky Guy Race" which is held at Nishinomiya Shrine every year on January 10th. It is held during the Ebessan festival (I don't think "festival" is the appropriate word to translate this event, but I can not think of any more suitable one...).
About the race, it is one of my dreams to enter and win this race. I think if I could get a front position, which is very difficult to get, I could win. I used to be fast when I was younger. My nickname was "Speedy"! :)

This year a young business man won the race.
This is the article.
"Salaryman wins 'Lucky Men' Race"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110111a3.html

About Ebissan, I think Ebisu is the God(=deity) of Merchants, but I could be wrong. Anyway, basically, many people go to Shrines where the Ebisu god is(there are a few of them) and pray for a good year of business. I go every year to Imamiya Shrine, but this year was my first time to go to Nishinomiya Shrine. I was excited to see the inside of the shrine, but unfortunately I couldn't. Because it was toooooooooooo crowded. Unbelievably crowded!!! So after waiting about 15 minutes in line, I gave up and went home. It was a shame.

But, Ms. N was luckier and more patient than I. She waited in the long line for an hour, and after that she picked a fortune. And fortunately, her effort paid off...she got "Big Good Luck!!"

Do you pick a fortune when you go to a shrine or temple around the New Year?
I don't. Because I am afraid of picking "Bad Luck." I don't want to think about bad luck for 365 days.
How about a good luck charm? Do you buy a good luck charm?
I do. Because I want to have something lucky for 365 days.

The first blog of 2011

How was your New Year Vacation? What did you do over the vacation?
My vacation was spectacular. On the 26th of December, my parents came to Japan. It was their first time to come to Japan in the winter. Thus it was their first time to spend the New Year in Japan. It was special.

In all, they were here 8 nights. On the first night, my wife made a wonderful dinner at home. The next three nights we went out to dinner in Osaka. Then, on the 30th, I cooked my famous Miso Soup and we bought sashimi (raw fish) at the local fish market. On New Year's Eve, we went out for sushi and after that headed to The Blarney Stone, an Irish Bar right around the corner from the sushi place, to ring in the New Year. On New Year's Day, my mother cooked Shrimp Scampi which was delicious. On the 2nd, a repeat of my great Miso Soup and sashimi again.

I just remembered. On the 1st, I went to a Sale at Nishinomiya Gardens. I don't like shopping, but my mother asked me to go...so, I had no choice. It is a son's duty. And my mother, who is like a professional shopper and also very good at it, said "This is the most crowded mall I have ever seen in my life." And she thought the "Good luck Bags," the ones for 5000yen or 8000yen or 10,000yen which have a lot of random goods in them, were really cool. She said, "We don't have those in America. But they are a great idea." Did you buy any of those bags this year? I did. I bought one for the first time in my life.

In the next few weeks, I will write a little more about the New Year vacation with my parents and also put up some photos from their trip. My father took many photos with his new camera. He is totally into this camera and was clicking away all the time. I am waiting for him to send me the photos in order to put them on the blog. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos with my camera...I regret it.

I wonder if 2011 will be a roller coaster, or a smooth ride...I hope it is a...

Happy New Year

I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year!!!

And since this year is "The year of the Rabbit"...we must all

hop....... skip~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and JUMP!!!

Thank you for 2010

I would like to that everyone for 2010!!

Really really really thank you ALL!!!

I hope everyone has a great New Year's Vacation!!

Looking forward to catch up after the break!

Be safe and Enjoy!!!

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings...

Usually I do not like to talk about religion, but today I will touch on the subject a little.

Contrary to popular belief, I am not Christian. So I do not celebrate and have never celebrated Christmas. When I was in high school and university, some friends invited me over to their house for a Christmas dinner or party. So, I have attended a few Christmas Parties before. However, I never had a christmas tree in my house, and never ate a Christmas dinner or drank eggnog in my house, and Santa never came to my house with the reindeer and his sled. But since I have lived in Japan, I usually celebrate Christmas by going out to a dinner or eating a special dinner in my house. This year I will do the latter with my wife. Also, I got her a Christmas present for the first time, so I will give that to her tonight. I hope she likes it!!

In Japan, many people often say "Merry Christmas," and some people even send sweet "Merry Christmas" emails or cards. In fact, I have already received a few from some people and they made me happy. However, in other countries, especially America, many people say or send cards with "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas." The reason for this is that not everyone is Christian, thus not everyone celebrates Christmas. Most Japanese are not picky about religion at all. Depending on the event, they usually visit Temples or Shrines, two totally different religions. Temples are from Buddhism. And Shrines are from Shinto. For funerals, many Japanese use Temples. For Marriages, some Japanese use Shrines. Other Japanese get married in Churches!! Many Japanese also "celebrate" Christmas. For the New Year, some people visit Shrines and other people visit Temples, to be honest I sometimes forget which is for what...It is very confusing!!! :)

Anyway, and most importantly, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings!! Please choose whatever expression you like the best!
Also, I wonder what these two kids got from Santa for Christmas?! If they were good this year, not naughty, maybe Santa gave them a nice gift!!

Xmas (Blog by Luis)

Xmas for a child is one of the best times of the year. I remember finding out that Santa was bogus when I found a red bag hidden in my parents wardrobe. I think I was about 8 years old. After that, I always tried guessing what I would be getting. A few Xmas later, I became an expert in finding the presents, and in unwrapping them without anyone finding out! Let me tell you a secret...Back then, I was a naughty boy!!! But don't tell anyone!! Xmas in Japan does not exactly have the same meaning as it does in foreign countries. Here you enjoy the time with your friends, while in Western countries it's the time for family reunions. I remember when I was a child flying to Portugal and having a long dinner in my grandparents house with many relatives. Now, living abroad, I tend to feel melancholic and homesick! Also, I miss the sweets and typical dishes of the Xmas season. Maybe this year, I will go to that Portuguese restaurant in Nishi-Tenma (I forget the name, but it's near the American Consulate) with my wife. How are you going to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year? Have any exciting plans?

Holland and Belgium (revised blog and photos by Miss e)

About my trip to Holland and Belgium. It was really great!

The reasons were....

1) I could see many paintings at famous museums and cathedrals. I often go to exhibitions of popular painters (ex. Gogh,Vermeer )in Japan. But there are always so many many people, it is so crowded, so it was impossible for me to look at the paintings closely. This time was amazing and precious time for me.

2) I enjoyed the architecture and seeing many old buildings. Each building had a different style, design, and history. I like European buildings (including cathedrals,churches) and the beautiful streets. In particular, the atmosphere in Belgium was beautiful. And there weren't so many tourists so the town and sites were all calm.

3) The tour guide in Belgium was excellent. When I first saw him I wasn't so sure...he looked a little strange, odd...so I was worried whether he was a good guide or not. But he was great! He had a lot of knowledge about the history, the paintings and the architecture and his explanation was really understandable and interesting.
(The moral of this story is: Never judge a book by its cover!!)

4) About the hotels in both cities (Brussels and Amsterdam). I stayed two nights in each of the cities. The hotels were nice. The first hotel in Belgium had a shower booth! And the buffet style breakfast was nice at both hotels. I went on this tour by myself, so I could stay in a room with two beds all by myself!! I could relax and use the whole room as I liked. It was a luxurious feeling!! About the other meals...well, they were so so...But the Belgian hot waffle I ate was great! (The fabulous tour guide took us to the shop).

This trip was a little short (only 6 days) but fulfilling for me. I was really satisfied. I took pictures with my new digital camera (it was the first time to use it), and if I have a chance,I'd like to show them to you.

Trip to Tokyo (blog and photos by Luis)

After a quick 2h30 Shinkansen ride [aka bullet train] we arrive in Tokyo.
Arriving by Shinkansen at Tokyo station takes you to another world, about 20m above the ground and surrounded by modern buildings, fashionable people, nice monuments, great dinning places, and the latest technological gadgets whereever you look.. You feel like part of an elite cosmopolitan society. Unlike my first visit to Tokyo, we weren’t chancing getting tired seeing monuments and famous places...so this time, we decided to simply relax and enjoy. Perhaps this is the main reason why I liked Tokyo so much more this time than previously. We met some friends, on Saturday night for drinking, on Sunday morning for a great buffet brunch and at night for a home dinner, on Monday for a day trip to Nikko National Park [UNESCO World Heritage Site] and a casual dinner with a good friend, and Tuesday for lunch in Roppongi Hills. Most people asked me "Which do you prefer: Tokyo or Osaka?"... That's a tough question. Let’s say I’d prefer to have Osaka people living in Tokyo. This would make it almost perfect. Ah! Of course, I love Osaka food too!! But did you know that Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than both Paris and NY together! Btw, there have been 14 restaurants awarded 3-stars since Nov 17th. Will I come back? Obviously.

Glenn: I have a question for you Luis. How many Michelin 3-star restaurants have you been to in Tokyo? How about in Osaka? Which is your favorite? or Which one or two do you really recommend?

Santa Claus

Guess what?!
You'll never believe what happened!!
When I was coming to the classroom yesterday morning, I saw Santa Claus!! I am serious!!! This is not a joke!! I swear to God it's true!! He was standing on a bridge on Yostubashi Street, just over Tosabori River. He was an old guy, with a big white bread, and white hair, and he was wearing baggy red pants, or overalls (I couldn't tell which...) and a green long-sleeved shirt with some decorations on it. And he was holding a camera and taking a photo of a boat in the river. Why he was taking a photo of a boat?
Who is he?
Why is he wearing a Santa Claus suit and look exactly like Santa?
What was he doing on Yotsubashi Street in the morning?
Was he really Santa?

I have many questions, but I do not know the answer to any of them.
It is a complete mystery!!!

Anyway, my friends are coming to Japan in a few weeks, and they are going to be in Tokyo. But only for 2 days. Please answer the question below if you want.
"What would you suggest doing on a 48-hour stopover in Tokyo?"
(from The Japan Times Online)
Read here for some sample answers:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20101123vf.html

Below is Miss K's home-made dinner. It looks delicious!!