Amanohashidate

On Sunday I went to Amanohashidate (“Bridge to Heaven”). It is considered one of the three best sights in Japan, and since it was only about a three hour drive away I decided I should see it before I leave. On the way there I drove through about the worst storm I have seen in Japan yet, but by the time I got there it was only slightly raining. Although it wasn’t perfect weather, it was still an interesting thing to see. Basically there is just a really long sand bar connecting two sides of a bay, but there is a forest and a few little shrines along the way, as well as a really long beach. Here are some pictures:

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French?

The other day I went to Himeji, and as I was walking down the street a guy (he was Japanese, or at least Asian, by the way) rode up to me on his bike and the following conversation took place:

Him: Hello
Me: …Hi?
Him: Est-ce que vous parlez francais?
Me: Um, no(n)
Him: Quelle langue?
Me: Je parle anglais seulement
Him: Ok, goodbye
Me: Bye…

I hope that guy didn’t seriously need to find someone who could speak French, because chances are I was about his best bet.

Some Pictures

Here are a few pictures from Mom and Mel’s visit, as well as some I never put up from when Marla was here:

Mom and Mel’s Visit So Far

I haven’t really written anything about my mom and Mel being here, so I will do that now. So far their trip has been pretty good I think. I think it has been especially good for me, because they have cooked me many meals, and cleaned my apartment, but they say they are enjoying themselves as well.

They have so far spent some time walking around my town. The grocery store seems to be the most popular attraction, which may be due to a severe lack of competition. They also went to Himeji (which is impossible for them to ever say correctly, or even close to correctly). We did a day trip (supposed to be two days, but I/the hotel manager made an error with the reservation) to Kyoto and saw Kiyomizu dera, and the Shijo shopping streets. Today we went to Jusco, and then to Joyfull for lunch, which is a pretty good way to experience my life in Japan. Also, this afternoon the Imamura family stopped at my house with a crate of strawberries they picked. We ended up talking with them for awhile, as the oldest daughter was able to translate pretty well (probably due to having a pretty good English teacher in Junior High).

Tomorrow my mom plans to walk up to Takeda Castle and then back while I’m at work. She thinks that if Marla and Andrea can do it than so can she.  Also, the Imamuras seemed to be confident she would make it, so I am not very worried. Sorry I don’t have any pictures yet, but I will get them.

Kyoto and Marla’s Departure/Mom and Mel’s Arrival

Last weekend Marla and I met Andrea in Kyoto, where we stayed for a night. We went to Kiyamizu Dera, The Inari Torii, and Gion. We found a place that ended up giving us unlimited drinks for 2 hours, as well as several courses of food, many of which were edible. After Kyoto, Marla and I went to Shinsaibashi for the night because her flight was leaving the next morning, and Andrea stayed in a different part of Osaka.

The next day I brought Marla to the airport for her flight, and then waited for a few hours until my mom and Mel arrived. It was a pretty boring wait, because I didn’t have a book, or an iPod, but I did look through every store in the airport. When my mom and Mel showed up we took the long bus/train trip back to my town, which is probably not the most exciting first experience in Japan. Anyway, they are currently relaxing at my house while I work, and hopefully will not get lost trying to find the store for lunch.