Happy Halloween Hiking

My buddy Dave introduced me to some trails today that cover the mountains behind our apartment.  Autumn truly has begun to show its colors, and some of the sights are simply breathtaking.  We took a gondola up to the top of one peak, and began our hike out of a ski resort.  It was nice to disappear over a peak and completely leave the footprint of man behind.  I am SO blessed to be discovering these trails that are so close to where we live... and eager to revisit them as the leaves grow even more intense with color!!

More Halloween festivities...

Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  In fact, back home I celebrate Autumn and all its beauty far more than the costumes and candy.  Not my gig.  But here, it's almost as if the costumes give the Japanese people a reason to break the rules of everyday and act out a little.  Because society here is so governed by rules and disciplined ways of doing things, the holiday actually gives them an excuse to act a little silly.  At least this is how I see it.  Here are some pics from a couple more work related parties....

A cute little angel...

They don't have second-hand stores here, so building a Halloween costume is VERY limited.  You see a lot of witches hats and pumpkin related objects...

My favorite costumes are the ones that the kids and their parents make themselves!

English music recital... yes, they are singing the "Hokey Pokey"...

Absolutely Autumn...

I had the outstanding opportunity to get outside with a co-worker yesterday and do some hiking.  Sadly, our spouses could not join us, but I will be sure to bring Ray back to this hiking area.  To my delight, these trails are relatively in our back yard.  Such beauty that I've barely explored since being here.  My friend Dave is married to a Japanese woman and knows the trails around here very well.  He was a perfect tour guide.

Our plan was about a 9 mile loop that would take us high up on this ridge, overlooking Lake Biwa and our city.  We would have a hot lunch on a rocky outcropping at the top.  The trails around here are outstanding- consisting of sections of rock climbing, rope ladders and chains.  I loved it!  We were accompanied by a wonderful Fall wind and sweet smelling air.

Being the nature-buff and all, I thought I'd seen it all.  That is until I saw these small "Kah-ni" (crab) littered on the forest floor!  Where I grew up, crab only lived near the salt water!!

Not a great picture, but you get the idea- the rock formations were awesome- mostly sandstone and a conglomerate granite.  I'm perched on the rock face below...

Yum- noodle bowls at the top!

So many beautiful waterfalls... the leaves are in the initial stages of changing color...

How I love ferns....

Halloween season = Lots 'o work!

Japanese people are fascinated by American holidays, Halloween being one of those.  As a result, I have a lot of work this month, teaching Halloween lessons and throwing parties.  The work is easy and fun so I don't mind working nearly daily.  The students are generally very confused about many of the traditions, but we're told to trudge on along regardless.  For example, most students call the jack 'o lantern "halloween" because that is the symbol they are accustomed to seeing for the holiday.  There is always a lot of explaining to do... which I can't do because of the language barrier.  Always interesting!!

Yes, that is a pumpkin headband on my head...

Playing 'Duck, Duck, Goose', but using 'Ghost, Ghost, Skeleton' as vocab instead...

This is a Halloween party/Speech contest.  The kids brought their costumes... and since I didn't have one, the Japanese teachers gave me a witch's hat, a butterfly mask, and butterfly wings to put on.  Hmmm....

Dragonboat Regatta

A tradition around these parts, the Dragonboat Regatta took place last weekend.  Only four Lake Stars were asked to participate, Ray included, and they asked me to paddle in Ray's boat!  Over 20 members paddle these long boats approximately 100 yards to the rhythm of a drummer.  And our boat won!  We were rewarded with free tickets for a cruise on the lake!

GO RAY!

These photos were taken from the Lake Stars website and I thought I'd add them to the blog- the one with the little dude with Ray's jersey is so cute.  Its been amazing to see the team's fan base spread like wildfire around here.  Japanese folks have a knack for being unbelievably loyal to the sports teams they like.  You will see every person at the games with memorabilia, jerseys and photos.  Even today, as Ray was signing autographs at a team event, I got asked to sign my autograph on several t-shirts of a group of fans!  Today was a fun day, as Ray and three of his teammates got asked to represent the Lake Stars in a dragon boat race on the lake, and I was asked to participate too!  It was a very cool experience, because not only did we get to paddle in this traditional race, but Ray's and my boat won!  More photos to come!!

A charming night...

Our neighbors, Bob, Sanae and Joi.

Sunday night after Ray's game, our neighbors took us to a little hideaway restaurant they knew about, tucked up in the hills of a shrine.  They treated us to an OUTSTANDING outdoor dinner of "Sukiyaki", which we enjoyed while overlooking a series of waterfalls.

This place was ancient, so remote.  I just kept saying, "WOW!  This is so incredible!!"  I guess you have to call ahead of time to ask for a meal so that they can go shopping and prepare.  This is not your typical dining experience!!

Sukiyaki involves a variety of vegetables, raw beef, noodles and tofu.  You create a "soup" over a hot plate, adding soy sauce, sugar, and water.  You then add the above ingredients until they are cooked, and each person eats directly out of the pot.  Traditionally, you are supposed to dip your food in a beaten raw egg before eating, but Ray and I passed on that option this time around.

This was our adorable little host.  I liked him a lot:)

Scenes of Autumn...

As the air gets a bit crisper, the sights around our region of Shiga seem to just get more beautiful.  Ray and I have been enjoying our free time down by the lake.  I just learned how to crochet, so I usually bring my crocheting and him, his knitting.  Otherwise we play a vigorous match of rummy (cards) or watch the people pass with their dogs.  The full moon last night was particularly incredible.  Isn't it amazing that both sides of this earth view the same moon?  Life is so pleasant...