When I’m Not Blogging, I Seem To Visit …

 

 

… the same places over and over again!

 

I had 9 days off in a row one after the other consecutively: like a row of dominoes, each day fell quickly and toppled in to the next … and were rectangular, white, and had assorted black dots on them … unless you have those black dominoes with assorted white dots on them … then it was just like that!

My snake wrangling sister  and her son came: so I polished off the bells and whistles (they were a bit dusty … and quiet), pulled out all the stops (hidden behind the Christmas ornament in the closet), and gave them the planetross super deluxe grand tour de forcefulness.

It’s kind of nice revisiting places, especially with people who haven’t been there before.
It makes me look like I know something!
… and we had a rubber chicken which always comes in handy.

In Nikko, I know that the chance of actually seeing the “sacred white horse” in it’s stable is slim; I know what shrines and temples are included on the one day ticket; I even know where the monkeys are! (usually)

 

In Matsumoto, I know the castle has a secret floor, all the staircases are in separate locations on each floor, and the staircases rise at angles between 55 and  61 degrees.

 

I knew that if I didn’t take pictures of the old guns inside Prairie Flounder  and Turkish Prawn  would be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I also know that taking pictures of things in glass cases doesn’t usually work too well for me.

I know cicadas are noisy little bastards everywhere! (random fact … consider it a bonus)

 

In Hiroshima, I know that I took the right exit when I see the “Boo Foo Woo” supermarket sign and the “Gush” sign … that I still have no idea about what they are selling.
Possibly there are other “Boo Foo Woo” supermarkets  at the other Hiroshima exits, but so far I’ve been lucky.

I know it’s the #2 tram that takes people to the ferry going to Miyajima; I know the seats on the trams make me bounce up and down in a silly way; I know that I really should start checking when the damn tide will be in!

 I know the A-bomb dome is pretty hard to miss at night too!

It’s amazing to think that I feel more comfortable driving in to Hiroshima than cities back at home: Vancouver is still a mystery to me.

 I know that something in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum will make me think about the bigger picture and how lucky I’ve been … and that life is fleeting and you better enjoy it while you can because you never know what card will be dealt next.

 

In Kanazawa, I know that the same staff will be sweeping the same paths at the Kenrokuen Garden.

I know I will stick my head into this thing outside the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art on every visit. 

I know I sweat a lot and am possibly getting a bit thin up top!  Thanks for mentioning it! (the sweat is real, but the thinning hair could be a trick of light possibly)

 I know I will see cool art/statues/posters around the city … that I didn’t see the last time.

I know that if a family member is with me, I’ll probably have to ask random people to do random silly things in front of the camera … and they will say yes. 

I know I know I know. I’ve been there before.

 

note: If you come to Japan keep a bit of bread in your pocket because you’ll probably come across hungry carp in ponds somewhere when you least expect it.

double note: we also saw the Nagaoka fireworks and the Numata Matsuri … but I always go to those things … so I won’t mention them here. I think the “snake wrangler”  and “son of snake wrangler” had a good time: typhoonish weather, a little earthquake, a 5 hour traffic jam, and  enough lightning to power a lightning storm rounded out the trip. 

 

 

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When I’m Not Blogging, I Possibly Visited … (Part 3)

Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture

For most Japanese the first thing mentioned about a trip to Hiroshima is ….

okonomiyaki!

Japanese pancake/pizza/serious wodge/gut filler/yummy!

 

 Cooked on a grill and eaten with a metal spatula, okonomiyaki is pure comfort food.

calorie note: “wodge” as defined by planetross: a pasta, potato and lard sandwich.

The next things Japanese people think about Hiroshima are: the Hiroshima Carp baseball team, Momiji Manju snacks, the Miyajima shrine, possibly a tv drama that was shot in Hiroshima … and then just before they have to take off their socks and shoes and start counting out things on their toes, they say “Gen-baku Dome”  Peace Memorial and the A-Bomb Museum.

 

 It’s something from the history books … and most people come and expect to be solemn and miserable, but it’s hard to do in a vibrant city like Hiroshima.

There are many paper origami cranes on display as a memorial to Sadako Sasaki in the park outside the museum.

 

At the far end of the Peace Park there is the A-bomb dome or Gen-baku dome as it’s called in Japan. One of the few building to not be completely obliterated near ground zero on August 6th, 1945.

Here is the dome in better times.

 

There is a “peace flame” and memorial in this large park. The museum is behind anyone who takes this photo.

It’s only about 50 cents U.S. to go in to the museum. It’s interesting, informative, sad, horrible, depressing, and a great reminder  that life is very fragile.

 …  whether young or old; innocent or guilty, life is very precious and needs to be enjoyed every moment.

I’ve visited the museum a few times, but this stopped watch and these words say it all.

_____________________________________________________________

 

After being bummed out in the morning, I was back to being stupid and off to Itsukushima Island and the Miyajima Shrine. A tram and a ferry ride brought me there.

I can’t resist a “dead end” sign.

Arriving at low tide kind of sucked for taking pictures. I was very concerned about taking a photo of the bulldozer while the floating torii gate was in the background, but it was not to be.

There was someone under the shrine digging out excess sand and shooting it out to the bulldozer driver who unloaded it and then scooped, scraped and relocated it to another area. I imagine the guy under the shrine must have been a college student.

Then I was concerned about taking a stupid photo of the floating torii gate on my head.

Then I pretended vandalism.

Then there were monkeys. It can’t get any better than monkeys!!! … can it???

Then I wished I had this on a t-shirt.

Then there was a photo opportunity.    Hey! I call them as I see them!

Then I wanted this sign as a bumpersticker on my van.

 

Then the tide was really out at the shrine and I touched it  … and everything.

 

After that it was back on the ferry and tram, a big okonomiyaki feed and a few beer … and then off to the next destinaton.

 

note: I may just put on a silly short stupid entry tomorrow … as obviously I don’t have essence … because time is of that stuff … and I don’t have much of that possibly … tomorrow.

 

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Out Of Sight, Out Of My Mind

 

Nice day,  innit?

Tammy  over at The Tessarae  wondered if I missed anyone while I was off on vacation.

“Missed” is a pretty strong word, … so is “strong” or “blue cheese“.

Did I think of any of you at all a little bit even fleetingly on my excursion? No, not a bit.

I didn’t think of S. Le  over at I Feel Unusual  at all … which is unusual.

 

 I definitely didn’t think of S. Le‘s witty line to Cynical Scribble  about “alcologic“.

 Tammy   never passed through my mind at all while taking this shot of flowers by a strange bridge thingey.

 

 

 Tacky Raccoons   was the furthest thing from my thoughts, although I thought about his cousin the Drunk Tanuki a little.

 

 Epicurienne   didn’t cross my mind or palate.

 

Bonnie Luria   never crossed my palette or my mind.

 

 sweetiegirlz   and her old buildings never entered my head once.

 

 

 w1kkp  and her photos of normal from a different angle didn’t enter my head once with this shot looking up into the sky over ground zero in Hiroshima.

I must have had amnesia about Buck Frain  while snapping this shot of an art poster outside of … someplace … somewhere.

 

 razzbuffnik   never floated through my head while taking this shot of the floating torii at Miyajima. It only floats when the tide’s in though I guess.

 

 Dennis the Vizsla  never entered the doggie door in my head while I snapped this one.

 Turkish Prawn  and Prairie Flounder  were completely absent while looking at the seriously old guns from the 1500’s tucked away inside Matsumoto Castle.

 

I really didn’t think of Doraz  while extremely happy and warm and fuzzy.

 

I didn’t even remember Hot Lard  while taking this one … which is very difficult to do … because they are just rude.

 

I did think about Jim’s Muse  though.

… and Tony  was always a little out of my mind … but I’ve deleted those photos.

I usually just thought about myself the whole entire time.

 

note: I “heart” all of you  in my blogroll … in a manly non-physical way.

 

double note: I’ve missed out a lot of people on the blogroll. I thought of you constantly, but didn’t take any photos … of  skittles, very strangely organized stuff, funny wordplays, penguins, etc … . (sad face)

triple note: I’m sorry if I haven’t caught up on all your blogs, I will shortly (smiley face)

quadruple note: if I’ve offended anyone by not mentioning them, I haven’t meant to.

 

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