Okay, so here you go, I know it's only 3 photos, but that's all I can manage for now, atleast you can get a small idea of where I'm at. There will be more, I promise.
I know you won't believe me, but i did try to send another update the other day, but I was leaching off broadband in the new place I've got and the connection was very poor indeed. So I wrote a big, long (really) update, and when I went to post it, I lost the connection completely. Was very annoyed.
I love all the frustrated comments I've been getting. Nadsie, please come back to me, I'm sorry I've neglected you all, I suck, I know.
So here's what's been happening. I 've moved into the new place, which was an interesting experience, considering I misplaced the address the day of the move and had to direct the removalist to a place I had only been to once before. Luckily I seem to have developed a fairly keen sense of direction (a necessity around here, none of the streets have names, none of the houses have numbers - how the posties do it I'll never know). Stu on the other hand is quite quite hopeless. He argues that with a map and a compass he can find a small rock in the middle of the moors, but around here that's not so helpful. So for the the first week, I had to ride with him to work everyday just so he didn't get lost.
Finally got a new roommate all of 6 days before I moved out of the place in Nishi Akashi. She was really nice, would've been good to spend a little more time there, but as it turned out it was all a bit of a mad rush. She's from Perth and works in Himeji, my new city, so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of eachother. In fact, tonight we're all going to karaoke. One of the funniest things, everyone loves karaoke, even those you imagine would baulk at the idea of singing (badly) at the top of their lungs into a microphone in front of other people absolutely love it. We don't take it seriously, but go with a group of Japanese people, and it's a very sober, solemn, earnest exercise. They are somewhat taken aback by our drunken renditions of Living on a Prayer.
It's still sweltering here, but for me that's better than the anticipation of what I have been told will be a bitterly cold winter (by my standards anyway). Am off to Shirahama this coming Tuesday for some beach action, can't wait. Then the week after it's Mt Fuji, ooh, I'm soooo unfit, that might be a tough one! Then at the end of September it's Tokyo Disneyland, yay, Space Mountain! (Do you remember when the Babysitters Club went to Disneyland Pipi? I'm so excited!) After that, I'm going to Hong Kong to meet up with mum and dad for a few days (mum, check your emails, I've had some information on flights and I've sent it to you). Apart from that I've been working, working, working. The job is easy for the most part, with the odd challenging lesson thrown in for good measure, usually the kids lessons are the most difficult, you have to be soooo genki. I'm gearing towards saving money for that trip to London at Christmas, am going to put in my holiday requests now Heather, but tell me some dates that are good for you please, I'll email you about my thoughts... can't wait to see you and everyone in London.
Anyway, sorry about my neglect, but now I'm all moved, and the internet's up and running, I will be more diligent, I swear. Love you all, keep the comments coming, I love even a snippet from any of you, especially when you tell me I'm a shit (I need that).
Ha ha, the shop selling tourist pap and a vending machine at Mt Shosha, Heather, being as you are a movie nut, you might be interested to know that quite a few scenes of The Last Samurai were filmed here. Very beautiful temples set amongst the trees and mountains around Himeji.
The main temple building at Mt Shosha. When we were there the back section had been opened up for 1 month, for the first time in 800 years for the anniversary of the founder of the temple site.
The lake at Akashi park where you can hire ordinary rowing boats or crazy "friendly-dragon", "royal swan" or "helicopter" boats to splash around in.
Harbourland in Kobe by night, a nice spot to grab a meal and watch the boats and the pretty lights. saw some terrific fireworks here earlier in the month (August). Summer and fireworks go hand in hand here, whether they be of the professional variety or the backyard kinds known to have caused more than one person to lose a finger, hand, or eyebrow.
