Destination: Japan

Chatan Festival

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Views [924]

We went to the festival on Sunset Beach in our town yesterday.  It was so fun to have Brandon try some of the popular festival foods!  And I was excited to have my yakisoba again - brought back happy memories of festivals and friends in Tokyo and Yokohama.... Read more >

Gallery: Chatan Festival

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Jen and Clare sadly depart from the Eastern Hemisphere

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 | By hopperq | Views [462]

We're in Tokyo and have 3 minutes to post this before the internet dies on us. It's been fun but we're glad to be coming home. Hopefully the 12 hour flight back to Chicago will fly by (pun intended).

Last Day

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 | By peter_allen | Views [917]

I am at my desk, for probably the last time. It was raining this morning, though it's clearing up a little now. I have just taken a photo of my laptop and desk, you can see this blog being written (that's kind of post-modern). I checked my contract ... Read more >

Clover Cafe!

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Views [2530] | Comments [2]

Megumi and I tried out Clover Cafe near our apartment for lunch.  We had their "healthy lunch" set.  I love the attention to detail the Japanese as a culture as a whole gives to food presentation!  Bottom left: sticky "brown rice"... Read more >

Summer cupcakes!

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Views [4027]

Yesterday was a busy and exciting day!  We had a solar eclipse at 11am here to start things off.  It's the longest total solar eclipse we'll have in the 21st century.  On Okinawa we had 80% of a total solar eclipse, so for a little over 6 minutes we ... Read more >

Gallery: Bloomin flowers

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 | By peter_allen | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Summer cupcakes!

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Gallery: JAPAN

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 | By katie_rose | Photo Gallery

Japan Adventure with Totoro

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 | By katie_rose | Views [2770] | Comments [3]

Hi everybody, Well I am back travelling again, and yes I am a lucky girl!!!! It is so exciting to be back roaming around getting lost and sweating in the process.  So I have travelled from Sydney to Singapore which will be my home for the next year ... Read more >

Tags: adventure land

Gallery: Yogurtland!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Photo Gallery

Transformers and Yogurtland!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 | By abcarlson | Views [3488]

Saturday, Brandon took me out for lunch at the Ramen shop in American Village.  I had some very good Okinawan fried rice and Brandon had beef ramen.  The ramen here is a far cry from the stove-top ramen Americans are used to...come to think of it, we ... Read more >

Gallery: Kokura

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 | By bundynbeaches | Photo Gallery

Kokura Gion Taiko 2009

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 | By bundynbeaches | Views [1745] | Comments [1] | Video

The Japanese call Kokura the "Lucky City". Apparently the pilot of the B29 with the second atomic bomb "Fat Man" was told to only drop it if he had clear skies and could see the target. Despite three runs at the target the cloud held ... Read more >

Tags: drums, festivals

Closing Ceremonies

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 | By peter_allen | Views [1150]

Last week I got a written memo from my vice principal that had the times for the closing ceremonies at elementary and junior high. 9:20 and 10:45 am respectvely. So today, when I was sitting at my desk at 8:43 I was confused when he rushed over to me, ... Read more >