Japan is ichiban! Traveling and Eating Japanese.

So, if it looks like I took a long time to post, it really wasn't as long as it seem. We are a day ahead here, so it looks to you guys like we lost a day. Mike and I had a great day yesterday. We went to Kamakura and managed to navigate the trains with no problems--even with train changes. Left pretty early in the morning and got to Kamakura in time to get some sightseeing in before lunch. It is a former capital of Japan, and consequently has plenty of shrines, temples, and of course the Great Sitting Buddha. The buddha is made of bronze and was constructed in 1208. It has seen plenty of action. In 1498, the temple covering it was destroyed by "an unprecedented tidal wave." It really must have been a doosy because the buddha is raised a bit and well away from the sea.

We saw other temples as well and made our way back in the afternoon. Ate off base at a Japanese curry restaurant, which was totally delish. All-in-all an excellent day. The temps and humidity are just amazing, though. Temps I can deal with, but we are damp and sweaty just as soon as we go outside. Worse than Florida weather. At least we get to come back to AC--most Japanese don't have it.

Today we are heading to Tokyo. We are leaving a bit later in the day so that we can walk around the streets of the Ginza, etc in the late afternoon and evening. We want to see the people, lights and have cooler temps. We will take the train from Yokota (Fussa station) to Shinjuku station. Will eat real gyoza, yakisoba, etc! Eat your heart out, Mom!

I'm thinking that we will take a bullet train trip to Kyoto and Hiroshima over the next few days. It is pricey, but how often do we get here anyways? Been 30 years for me. I'm not sure if we will head down to Singapore. It is far, out of the way, and I need to have Mike in school by 20 Aug. We will try for any combo of Osan, Kadena (Okinawa) and Guam. Then back to the states anyway we can get there.

Will try to write soon, but if you don't hear from me, then we are incommunicado on the trip to Kyota, etc.

Ted