This was *supposed* to be a post about Okinawa...

Sage advice... who knew.

Whirlwind trip to Aus...

お久しぶりです!

Greetings loyal readers! Hope all the residents of the Northern Hemisphere are keeping toasty warm as the weather cools down and the snow piles up. Lin and I had been planning and plotting and scheming since last year to make this super secret surprise visit happen. I saved up my pennies last year and got myself ready to *finally* make my way down to Brisbane to visits my Laheys. 8 years in the making, this trip was. Can you imagine how excited I was? Maybe. Haha.

Sunrise as viewed from the back deck of Lahey Lodge

April Adventures Across Japan Phase 3: Profit!

Aomori Day 3: Hirosaki Hijinx!

'another early morning, but that meant we had lots of time to explore Hirosaki. I really love this city, although I have yet to drive around in it. Perhaps that's why I still love it. Haha. I've been driven around it, but I always take the train out here when I visit. Saves me having to find parking and navigate the helluv narrow streets and lanes that make it up. Some of my favorite JETs live out here, and it's great to hang out with them... but they were all at work, so we were left to our own devices.

April Adventures Across Japan Phase 3: Profit!

Aomori day 2: Fukaura

I've wanted to go to the west coast of Aomori ever since I saw that there are seaside onsens (hot springs) that you can watch the sunset from. I also wanted to take the train across the ken so I can watch the sites rather than driving through it and having to pay attention to the road. The Aoimori train line runs right along the coast of Aomori bay (the #4 National Road runs along it, too. Beautiful, again, but... eyes on the road!), and the JR Gono line runs along the western coast next to the sea of Japan.

I decided that I needed to get out there at least once while I live here.

April Adventures Across Japan Phase 2: Train Tracks to The North

Another early morning and we made out way to Sendai station and completed our trek to Aomori via rail. It was a lot more scenic after Sendai, with the mountains making appearances and more rivers near the tracks. I think I belong up north, as it really felt like I was going home. Calming and peaceful.

Hokkaido Holiday!

Chelsea and I headed out to meet up with a bunch of folks in Hachinohe before it was time to board the overnight ferry. We all met in a ramen shop and I had my first bowl of Japanese ramen. I know. I know. Why did I wait so damn long? Well, it was delicious and worth the wait. Then we were off to Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival (雪祭り).

Megumi, Ben, Dan and Erica