Paradise...

With Ray's days off, we finally got the opportunity to put some packs on our backs and head into the mountains to a trail I've been wanting to hit since we've been here.  "Yatsubushi-no-taki" is a steep, rugged trail complicated by rope ladders and chains, that leads you through one of the most incredible series of waterfalls I have ever seen.  We enjoyed our own personal paradise, camping right on the sandy bar of a turquoise swimming pool.  What a treat... this was a trip we are bound to repeat! 

the Family Farm

Our friends and 7th floor neighbors had another show in Kyoto last night.  If you remember a post I made last month, they play a great mix of bluegrass, rock and folk music (check out www.familyfarm.com.au).  Since Ray had a long day "at work" he wanted to dress up in our best clothes to go out.  I threw on a nice dress, and he donned a suit... when we walked into the Irish Pub, they were playing, "Keep it on the sunny side, always on the sunny side...".  Then they made a big spectacle of us of course!  The pub was packed because it is a big festival/holiday weekend for Japan.  Ray's coach was also there!

How appropriate!!!

Just playin' games...

Yesterday, Ray and his team had their first practice game versus two university teams.  It was AWESOME to see them play against someone other than themselves.  The first team was relatively easy, but the second team was good competition.  Ray and the other two Americans were asked to only play one quarter, but when they got in, they put on a good show.  Ray's first move was a big one-handed dunk that left the spectators ahhing and oooing.  (The Japanese don't get to see that very frequently- let alone from a seven footer!!)  So fun!  The following are little video clips I was able to capture from the games...

Ray's on stage again...

This is a team event (publicity) at our local mall, "Parco".  A radio station and the mall invited the team to come sign autographs and hang out for the afternoon.

It's Takagori Time!!

Last week while Ray was gone at team camp, I got the opportunity to go and volunteer at a nursing home.  It was their summer festival, and my job, along with a few other American volunteers, was to make takagori, or shaved ice.  

We met so many wonderful (and cute!) old folks.  I even met a woman who was 105 years old.  She was still strong and kickin!  

The takagori machine.  Delicious!

All of the patients invited their families.  It is custom during festival time to dress up in traditional yukata, like these kids have on here.  What a beautiful sight!

There was all sorts of entertainment, from dancing, to drumming...

Nature's pyrotechnics!

Just following the fireworks show, I returned to the apartment and got these incredible shots of lightning from our balcony.  This is the first time there has been this kind of dry lightning, without rain or thunder.  It was magical.  Be patient with the videos.  They are well worth the 20 or so seconds!

Loads of Pyrotechnics

Last night was Otsu's huge Obon Festival and fireworks show.  People streamed in from all over Japan, lining the shores of the lake with approximately a million people!  You couldnt even walk to the store it was so crowded!  Everyone dressed up in traditional "Yukata" or kimono to celebrate.

These are my new friends Yoshito and Yoyoi.  They lived in Australia for many years so their english is perfect.  I invited them over to watch the fireworks from our friend Bob's little english school.  We ate good food and watch the fireworks show, which lasted for more than an hour!  I have never seen anything like it!  The only thing missing was Ray, who's been at a team camp for four days.  I miss you babe! 

A day at work with Ray

Here are some photos of Ray at "work" that I pulled directly off of the Lake Stars website (www.lakestars.net).  When he's not at practice, he's involved in some kind of publicity, talking to the public or playing with kids.  Enjoy!!

In love (cont.)

On Monday, we headed to the outskirts of Kyoto where we ate shaved ice and sat on the river enjoying the cruising boats.  Ray brought his ukulele, so he serenaded me as I closed my eyes and dozed- utter peace.

(This part of Kyoto is well known for it's cormorant fishing, where they put collars around the bird's necks and send them out from the boats to catch fish. The birds are then pulled back in by the leashes, and the fish are collected by the fishermen.  The collar prevents the birds from swallowing the fish.  This is done at night and is a longtime tradition.  We hope to see this done before we leave!)

In love

It's extraordinary to truly BE in love.  Its captivating to wake up every day to the person who you could stare at and touch every moment of every day.  It's the most precious gift I've ever been given.  I chose a man who makes me feel like the most beautiful person in the world, and who treats me like I am his most prized treasure.  More than anything, he loves not only me... but shows love to everyone he encounters.  This is so profound to me.

Ray had the last two days off... and we took advantage of the time to just relax and be together.  On Sunday he took me on a long, wonderful bike ride through dancing rice fields.  It was so cool to see the rice in all stages of growth, from newly seeded to mature and ready for harvest.  This was my first time seeing mature rice!  When we got home, we invited some new friends over for BBQ... then went down to the waterfront for another fireworks show!

Festival time

Currently, another storm is rattling our little world outside.  HUGE lightning strikes touch down, illuminating for whole seconds, then leaving the earth with the most extraordinary bomb of thunder I have ever experienced.  Quite a rush.  

However, most mornings and evenings look like the picture above.  This is the season of festivals here in Otsu, and we happen to catch this incredible sunset last Saturday night as Ray was working one of the festivals for the team.  Beautiful.  Its been really cool to just walk out of our apartment door into a sea of food vendors, music and firework displays.  This Friday is the largest firework display in the country, with over 10,000 fireworks!  Its supposed to last for over an hour!!!  I will post all about it...

Here is Ray on stage giving an introduction to the team at the festival...

Summer Camp

I had the incredible blessing of being asked by my work to take part in a 3 day nature camp for kids aged 7-11.  This was such a cool experience, completely and utterly what I've been wanting to be a part of!  It reminded me of my days at camp as a kid. My only role for the 3 days was to encourage the kids to engage me in English conversation, which was very limited.  The 4 or 5 posts below are all photos from the trip.  Enjoy!!

And more photos...

This is breakfast... one of the strangest activities I have ever done.  We took little rolls, stuffed them with cabbage, added two hotdogs on top, then rolled the whole thing in tin foil.  Each kid then put their tin foiled hotdog in a milk carton.  We went outside and lit them on fire.  It roasted the little dog, and - well there you go!  Breakfast!!!

Yum!

Fresh tomatoes!!

Delicious BBQ!

Notice the skewers of bamboo...

photitos...

We "tie dyed" bandanas by soaking them in a heated tea of a certain plant.  So cool...

Some of ours didnt turn very yellow...

Sanding and etching our bamboo cups that we would use for the rest of our meals...

Carving our chopsticks...

Making name tags with pressed leaves...

photos keep comin'

This not-so-friendly centipede was found in the curtains of the classroom.  Our "Sensei" (teacher) was the man in charge of the operations of the nature center, and the teacher for the 3 days.  Disregarding the highly poisonous nature of this creature, he grabbed his chopsticks, picked up the little fella, and threw it out the window.

Here he is, showing the kids how to take a core sample of a tree to read the age of it.

Chopping wood.  Yes, they did let little kids yield very sharp tools.  It surprised me greatly to see the trust they put into these kids.  All week, they let them play with axes, saws, knives, etc.  We didnt have one injury, not even a scratch!

At night, we had an awesome bonfire.  The kids played games and sang songs.  I hadn't a clue what was being said!

photos galore

Sensei asked the kids to go out in the field and see how many different grasshoppers they could find.  There were literally over 20 different kinds!  

More good food.  Quite a spread!!  There were about 15 different items of traditional Japanese foods we could try.