Google Map Adventure #1

My new favorite app might be Google Maps. I keep seeing little tori gates shown on the map and convinced some friends to venture with me to find one today in the middle of a forest. We got a little sidetracked on the way by a Buddhist temple and then found the one from Google Maps and ventured up a narrow dirt road that was covered in branches. After that, we went to the nearest beach, a couple scenic overlooks to see all the islands on Kujukushima.

Buddhist Shrine

Cherry Blossoms!

Buddhist Shrine

The Shrine in the Forest

The Shrine in the Forest

The Shrine in the Forest

The Beach

I have been wanting to see a boar for weeks, and I finally saw one...too bad it was dead on the side of the road.

A goat at Tankaiho Scenic Overlook

Kujukushima Islands

Nagasaki Lantern Festival

I rode the train down to the Nagasaki Lantern Festival last weekend with a friend. We had a great time walking the streets of Nagasaki and seeing the colorful displays of lanterns.

At the train station as we were waiting to head back to Sasebo I saw my first cherry blossoms of the season!

Ureshino Adult Sightseeing Museum(ADULT CONTENT)

****PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS POST HAS PICTURES WITH ADULT CONTENT!****

I had heard of the Ureshino Adult Sightseeing Museum from a couple friends; it is a museum that is full of sex themed artwork, objects, and poorly done scenes. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Christmas 2012

My first Christmas in Japan is wrapping up and it has been wonderful! My parents traveled from the US to spend it with me and I have been showing them around and celebrating the holidays with them and many of the new friends I have made here.

Each year, I design my own Christmas Card, but over the last couple years I have mailed fewer and fewer out due to my being so last minute! This year, I had planned to be proactive and started working on my 2012 Christmas card in January...little did I know that the year would throw me a big curve ball and I wouldn't finish it until Christmas Eve! This year is an all E-card year that I am sharing here and on FB with my friends and family around the globe. Hopefully I can get fully settled in 2013 and be ready to send out a Christmas card in December 2013!

Huis Ten Bosch

When I look out the windows of my living room, I have an amazing view of Omura Bay and a Dutch themed amusement park called Huis Ten Bosch. I finally had the chance to visit and signed up for an annual pass (it was only 4000 yen(about$50) since I live in the "neighborhood", other people have to pay 10,000 yen(about $120)). The park puts up about 10 million Christmas lights and the day I went was the opening night. At night I can sit on my couch and see all the lights of the park, but they are just spectacular up close!

The entrance

The mascot is a tulip

There is a large tower you can ride the elevator up to the top of. They have a great rendition of a van Gogh painting done in flowers.

My apartment building is on the hill. Of the two taller buildings farthest up the hill, mine is the one of the right.

Anyone for pizza with french fries on it?

How about a grass of wine to go with your pizza?

Nestled in a large clog

I got very excited for the light up parade! I can hear the audio of it from my apartment 3 times a day...now if only I knew Japanese and understood what was going on.

I was a little let down when the parade was 2 (yes TWO!) floats long...I guess I have seen a few too many Disney parades and should have lowered my expectations

The ferris wheel and christmas lights

More lights