I think this is it

OK so after two FULL posts on Japan, I think this is the last overview. Yes once again I cannot believe how much we packed in to this trip!!!!

OK so after visiting Hiroshima we ventured to the wonderful island of Miyajima.

Take a look:



We found the biggest rice paddle in the WORLD.



Secretly this is the only reason my dad wanted to come to Japan HA HA

And we rode small gondola-like carts to the top of island:



The pictures cannot explain the beauty of the view AH it was seriously paradise:





We were supposed to see monkeys...no such luck...but we did see these signs:





Also there were deer EVERYWHERE and yes they were very docile and therefore you can pet them!



Oh and of course the main feature the Floating Torii Gate:



After our afternoon on Miyajima we headed back to Kyoto and spent our last night. For our final adventure in Kyoto we stopped by the most famous rock garden: Ryoanji

The greenery was amazing check out the pond!:



The rock garden:



There was this green moss covering the floor around the rest of the house...WOW:



With all we saw in Kyoto it was now time to head to Nagoya aka my daddy's birth place. This is why we went to see where my dad grew up and wish my obaachan a happy-100-years-of-life birthday! More pictures to come on this later when I talk about family.

OK back to Tokyo the new part of Tokyo. One of our fist stops:



WHOA the church is SO international:



Yeah it was really hard to get a picture of me and the temple oh well:



NEXT the imperial palace...yep Japan-Emperor:

COOL WALLS:



Famous bridge NO ONE CAN CROSS except imperial-related people....oooh:



Can you say SAMURAI solider....tight:



And finally our last night in Tokyo we headed to Roppongi the hippest place in Tokyo:

Yes and we participated in what might be considered the greatest contribution the Japanese have ever made: Karaoke

Look close...aside from it being your own private room, they also give you brand new, wrapped microphones:



Yes touch pad controls:



And lots of Japanese songs...sung by the Japanese:



After singing our hearts out we closed out the night with a view of Tokyo Tower which is surprisingly hard to capture at night with my camera:



WOW that was a lot. Needless to say yes every time I look at these pictures I still cannot believe that we went. Also I am still amazed at how much I loved it and how much I miss it.

Ok more to come....THE FOOD...FAMILY...and FAVORITES. Plus a bonus on the Okada family...yes just us six.

much love,

b.

Letters to Juliet

OK so Tuesday night my mommma and I had a girls night. We redboxed Letters to Juliet. Which I loved...except for the ending...well I liked the ending...just I didn't like they way the ending was done.

I LOVED the secretaries



And I hope I look this good when I am that old



OH and the boy...very cute...plus who can resist and English accent...NOT ME.



SO here are some of my favorite quotes:

Victor: win-win

Charlie: It's over! We're done! We've found Nemo!

Claire: Charlie say your sorry.

Charlie:

Quoting Shakespeare:
Doubt thou stars are fire
Doubt that the sun doth move
Doubt truth be a liar
But never doubt I love

The letter: Dear Claire, What and If are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet

There is another quote that is something like this:

Charlie: Is this one of those instances where what you are saying is not what you really mean?

OK I suggest watching the movie...which no high expectations...just enjoy it.

much love

b.

Sometimes

I know I have been catching up on Japan...but I am not letting myself us that as an excuse for more recent blogging so...

My friend Julia's blog linked to another post about what this girl had learned.

So here is something similar. (I heard that imitation is the greatest compliment...but I was watching E! The True Hollywood Story and VH1s Behind the Music and Pink says that it is just plain annoying...so SORRY!)



Sometimes playing in the rain is worth the cold. Sometimes silence is comfortable. Sometimes not answering the phone is a necessity. Sometimes the doctor misdiagnoses. Sometimes you have to let go. Sometimes they let go first. Sometimes it not all about me. But sometime you have to be selfish (call it self-interested if that makes you feel better...I do). Sometimes your purpose is just to listen. Sometimes you just have to be irresponsible. Sometimes dancing is the best medicine.

Please add to the end of those...AND THAT'S OK.

Feel free to add your own sometimes or not.

much love,

b.

Nihon

Ok here is more highlights from my trip to Japan!!!

SO then we took the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto..which I just loved. Kyoto was such a fun city with lots to see.

First we went to:



Here met an Australian couple...the man reminded me of Dr. Settle to the T. They were in Japan to do the first filming of a Shinto Wedding...COOL!

Where we learned a lot about Japanese Arts like:

The tea ceremony:



The musical instrument the Junanagen (I think):



Flower Arranging:



Imperial Dancing:



A Play:



Maikos dancing (aka Geisha-girls-in-training):



Lastly A Puppet Master (I really don't know the Japanese name)He was amazing and probably the best part of the entire show:



After our amazing education of Japanese arts we went to temples, shrines, and gardens.

Kiyomizu Temple (my favorite...but everything was my favorite):

The Gate (That's my fam):



Temples:







Buddha:



Beautiful Garden:



Turtle:



I tried to feed it a bean pancake and then the gardener warned me that it could snap off my finger...SCARY TURTLE

Lily Pads (SISTERS HEART):



Karate Kid:



Bridge:





Blue Crane:



The Golden Pavilion (Could I be anymore awkward?):



Ok then we went to Hiroshima. It was very different...the same different that you feel at Pearl Harbor. I don't really like that feeling, but I can respect it.

My favorite part was the tribute the children who lost their lives. Check it out:



A Crane made of cranes...WHOA:



We also went into the museum which was extensive and very well done. It had the same feeling as the Holocaust Museum in DC.

Before:



After:



Monument:



Whew I forgot how much we did. I guess I will have to do one more post after this to finish up the highlights.

And you know me I still have more to come...I haven't even talked about my family, the food, or the fun of it all.

Plus I will have a bonus with the best pics from the trip. YEAH.

much love

b.