Kyoto!!!!!!!!

I have now been to Kyoto 5 times (once each season and twice in the summer) and I am sure you are sick of hearing about it from me by now, but to me, it really is the most amazing city of Japan (or any country for that matter) to me. So if you come to Japan, make sure you get there! This time I spent a couple days with Satomi, her sister and her friend that lives in Kyoto. Even tho the weather wasn't so good we still had a good time! A picture is with more than 1000 words so I will try to keep it under 10,000 words.

Sakura (cherry blossoms)

It really is hard to explain how crazy people go over cherry blossoms. They bloom once a year and start at the southern part of Japan and move their way up the country. I cant remember the exact number, but I read somewhere that on average a Japanese person takes more than 7,000 photos of cherry blossoms in their life!! To be honest, they are quite beautiful in full bloom.

The Path of Philosophy

More of Kyoto

Ok so I couldn't keep it under 10,000, but if you wanna see the rest of the photos you know where to find them.

Want a tentacle or two?

You know I am not a big fan of seafood but I am sure some of it really is delicious...but for some reason I don't think dried octopus/squid or tentacles fits into that category....What do you think? Does it look delicious?

Monkey Businesss

Like I said in the previous post, there are a bunch of monkeys (and a few deer) that live on the top of the small mountain/large hill in Miyajima. Monkeys are really interesting to hang out with and after spending a few hours observing/taking photos of them there is no doubt in my mind that humans have evolved from such animals...not that there was much doubt in my mind before, but it really is amazing how they act and how much their mannerisms are like those of humans or i guess i should say it is amazing how much we act like monkeys. Also they do funny things and are cute, so i enjoyed myself.


Another interesting thing is how the interact with the visitors and each other. For example, they pretty much just ignore all the other people UNLESS you look them directly in the eye (it is a sign of aggression to them...cameras do not bother them at all) or if they see an opportunity to take your bag (especially plastic bags are of interest to them). There was this one grandpa looking monkey (who i will refer to as "George" from here on out) who i was taking photos of and had stayed in the same position, in the shade, for about 15 minutes when a women threw her plastic bag on the ground about 20 feet behind the George and myself. George immediately turns around sees the bag and all of sudden is filled with energy (and curiosity) and goes strait for the plastic bag. I tried to warn the people but they didn't understand my Japanese bc they turned out to be Chinese. Anyway George successfully gets his hands on the bag and starts to look through it, taking out its contents. At this point about 4 or 5 other monkeys are looking on with immense jealousy towards George for securing this bag. Anyway, George looks through the bag and examines overtaking inside and then pulls out a fan wrapped in plastic. George tried to open the bag to get out the fan, but was unable to figure out how to pull apart the plastic bag around the fan. I was hoping he could figure out bc I was really curious to see if he was going to start fanning himself with it on the somewhat hot day!

Here is George...

And here he is trying to get to the fan while the others watch...

Just more monkey business...

Hiroshima and Miyajima

After Amanohashidate I had covered 2 of the 3 "most scenic" places in Japan, so it was off to the 3rd and final one: Miyajima. First tho, I went to Hiroshima and had my own personal tour guide as I met up with a friend who lives about an hour south of Hiroshima. We mainly walked around the peace park and went to the museum there. Going to the museum and seeing/hearing the stories about the bomb really is an indescribable feeling...there really is no way for me to describe it to you, so if are in Japan I recommend you go check it out for yourself. The only thing I can tell you is that after going there and seeing the damage it did it really makes this whole Iran situation a lot scarier..... Anyway, it was great hanging out with my friend (even tho she is a FSU fan--it is ok nobody is perfect--and i had to settle a bet about Miami losing this past year) and definitely was a learning experience!


The next day it was off to Miyajima which is about an 20-40 minute boat ride from Hiroshima depending on where you leave from and what boat/ferry you take. To me, Miyajima is the most impressive of the famous 3 but also it is the largest and most diverse of the 3: Its got everything from the (sometimes) floating tori gate to a small mountain with monkeys on the top of it! Also there are deer walking around everywhere like they own the island or like they are the protectors of it. The weather was really nice so I got some nice pictures and even a little sun burn for the first time since I left Miami! Anyway, check out the pics.

Amanohashidate

Like Matsushima, Amanohashidate is suppose to be one of the three most scenic views of Japan (Miyajima is the last one). I have to admit that of the three this was the one that i was the least impressed with, but to be honest, this was also the one where the weather wasn't good that day and I spent the least amount of time there. Don't get me wrong it is still a beautiful place, but in my opinion the least "scenic" of the famous three.


Anyway, Amanohashidate, which litterly means, "heaven bridge," is about a 5km (3 mile) land bridge that if you view from above from either side, turn around and look between your legs it looks like a bridge going to heaven... or at least it is suppose to look like that. Personally, I don't see it but I have turned a photo upsidedown for you below and you can make your own decision.






and here is right side up...

So, what do you think? Check out more photos here.

Back 2 School...

This past week the new school year started giving me new students and a few new teachers...but before i get to that you are most likely wondering what i have been doing recently since I haven't posted a new entry in a while.

Well after going to Tokyo the second to last weekend in March to scout out a location I will be taking photos of a wedding at in May, a week later I took spring vacation to the Kansai and Chugoku regions of Japan. In 9 days I went to: Osaka, Kyoto, Amanohashidate, Himeji, Hiroshima and Miyajima and I took more than 3600 photos!

After returning April 9th, I have been just trying to catch up on sleep, my photographs and start the new school year off right! I am almost done with the photos and I finally feel well rested so I figured I was out of excusing to put this blog stuff off anymore.

In the Japanese education system every year about 5-10 teachers change schools... teachers can request whether or not they want to change schools but ultimately the teachers really have no choice the the decision is made by the school board is final. It appears that, at least with high schools in my prefecture, that teachers stay about 4-8 years at a school and then change. So anyway, the new school year started off with 3 of my favorite 5 teachers going to new schools which I wasn't too excited about. It has only been one week with the new teachers but out of the 3 new ones I got, two of them I like and so far the other one is a little difficult to work with.

With my new students it is a little too early to tell because I have only had class with about half of them but so far they have been extremely shy and well behaved but I expect both of those things to change (the latter of which to change more) as the year goes on. I will write more about my students soon, on to my vacation!