Meet Moe's (talking) pet dog!

 

Check out Moe's project from her reading book (OUP's "Read & Imagine" series 'Crocodile in the House'). In this Chatterkids talking photo, she's interviewed by her classmate to read her own answers from the prompts provided. Yes, one word answers would 'do' but why not 'go for it' and fully exploit the chance to say more?!

Cute drawing, and lovely pronunciation = great job Moe!

 

Postcard from Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

View from Otaru Station

 A very quick side-trip to the lovely (touristy, usually?) & historic port of Otaru, just west of Sapporo. I was already going to be in Sapooro for work over the weekend, so what's another little train trip?!

19th century western influence immediately obvious around the canal (not many of these in Japan that are not actually moats), with stone warehouses & factories I guess, as well as remanants of Hokkaido's first railroad (to haul coal to the port, I think - sorry, not a planned trip but a whim!).

Charming unrushed feel to the place - a lovely sunset over the old dockyard...some yakuza having some sort of ceremony stylishly in a car park...tourists jostling to get into a 50m boat cruise along aforementioned canal!

Canal cruises - not ocean going!

Had to go for seafood - sushi & tempura - after sundowners in a German-style "beer garden" - my size of steins for once!

Shrimp tempura - divine!

Postcard from Iwakuni Castle, Yamaguchi Pref., Japan

This concrete "Moji" recreation of the medieval castle originally built here in 1608, was started in 1962. It was a "Yamajiro" or hill-top castle, as opposed to a flat-land "Hirajiro" castle. Kikkawa clan leader Hiroie was responsible for its construction, under the Mori banner. I think!

The oringinal pile only survived for seven years, for some reason incurring the displeasure of the Shogun and being ordered destroyed. Pity - stunning location atop Mount Shiroyama command the view over the Seto Sea & defensively, the Nishiki River curls aound the foot of mountain's steep slopes just right!

Thank god there's a ropeway up he 200m climb these days - only takes a few minutes. The actual climb in mid-summer would have been brutal, let alone 400 years ago trying to build, service or even worse, attack the place.

Kintaikyo Bridge nestles at the foot of the hill, itself a fabulous medieval construction and well worth a visit. The castle itself  boasts the largest dry moat, "Hakabori", around any Japanese Castle. Most of the lower mountaintop defences are overgrown and home to poisonous snakes - no place for sandal-shod visitors! Mostly unbothered by tourists, this is a peaceful spot, and the outlook from the top of the castle well-worth the effort. There are interesting displays of samurai swords, photos of other Japanese castles & detailed explanations of the castle's history & construction. The legend of the place + more photos on Flickr

My tip = if you've got time, a worthy day-trip from Hiroshima, beyond Miyajima (itself, a stunning day out!)...bit more off the beaten track in Japan without being inaccessible. Easily found by local train & bus :)

Haruki's after reading project

Listen to Haruki being interviewed by his classmate Moe, about his original artwork & description of his favourite animal!..Unusually for most japanese kids his age, he likes snakes...budding herpatologist?

This is a project derived from an after reading task, following up 'completing' his OUP Read & Imagine graded reader "Crocodile in the House". I'm a big fan of getting 'more from less' - here exploiting the Chatterkids app to anonymously add audio to a picture, and to have to hurry up within a 30 second limit. Thus, no teacher pressure to get on with it - a timer. Ideal, as this means students can practice, restart, retry before agreeing that they could do it to their own satisfaction (not the teacher's!).

Great practice for Cambridge exams or any speaking activity; personalised and with a peer, importantly not getting interrogated!

 

Postcard from Omiya, Saitama Pref., Japan

 Hi everyone at Luna, and fellow trainspotters & "anoraks"!

Hokuriku line - Asama

I was lucky enough to finally get the train to Sapporo for work - Cambridge speaking examiner training & certification - and thoroughly enjoyed the trip (although I stupidly left my tickets sitting on my desk in Matsumoto...another story some day?!). I have taken this Tokkaido line before, but only as far as Hachinohe. I've wanted to experience the whole extension to Hakodate & the Seikan Tunnel for absolutely ages.

I still cannot believe how quickly the shinkansen rolling stock for the Hokuriku line were replaced after 1/3 of the fleet were converted to submarines by flooding from Typhoon Hakibis = first leg of the bullet train love-in. Asama still smell new!

Shinkansen fans will love Omiya station (and its nearby railway museum - which I should visit...). Shinkansen constantly pulling in & departing (precisely on time, of course), of all sleek shapes & liveries.

Conjoined Shinkansen

There was a national panic recently when ONE coupling failed and the whole JR infrastructure was in danger of falling to pieces...NOT. Its the amazing safety record of these things that a single mishap shines the light on incredible maintenance & attention to detail! Such conjoined trains decouple further north to split onto different routes (as a passenger you do not notice - unless you're sitting in the wrong half of the train and end up in Yamagata...)

My Hayabusa whooshed out of Omiya & within an hour was pulling up at Sendai, smooth as silk. Frustratingly for work though, the wifi is really rubbish & I was in a middle seat without a power socket. The northern part of Honshu glowed green in late summer, with the approaching typhoon now 'behind' me. Diving into the Seikan Tunnel was prefaced with an announcement over the PA - and then darkness & loss of signal, pretty much like the dark side of the moon! A welcomely uneventful 58km of sensational engineering, 250m below the seabed!

Jewel in the crown - Hayabusa

Soon enough, detraining at the Shin-Hakodate terminus for a the rattler ride on to Sapporo, and the  contrast of  the local line to shinkansen construction work yonder; paused I've heard because the tunnel borer has got itself jammed into a tunnel & can't reverse out...might take a while then! 

Verdict = a lot more relaxing than flying, and not divorced from bags or having to check in & sit around with an over-priced coffee. An awesomely smooth journey!

Postcard from Berlin, Germany

 Dear Jim sensei,

It is sunny with clear blue sky in Berlin. This must be the best season to visit here. Not too cold, not too hot...just comfortable!

We came here for usiness, but we had chances to visit many famous places like Brandenburg Gate and East side gallery.

We walked around everyday, as our phone told us it's over 18,000 steps per day! We believe we became healthier during our stay in Berlin.

Ritsuko and Tomoko

Postcard from Kintaikyo, Yamaguchi pref., Japan

Hi everybody at Luna,

Magnificent Kintaikyo Bridge

I had a long train journey and I wanted to break it up with a scenic detour - and take another train and a local bus! 

This famous medieval bridge has been on my photographic bucket list for a long time, and I couldn't go past it yet again without stopping by.

Kintaikyo Bridge is a remarkable structure, first contructed in 1673 to replace previous spans across the Nishiki river. Several had been washed away, as indeed was this one in 1950 by typhoon flooding...and it was painstakingly rebuilt to its original design three years later (and subsequently restored 2001-3).

Stone paving & pillars, wooden arches

It truly blends into its surroundings, steep wooden arches atop stone paving & pillars - phenomenal engineering & craftsmanship, intiated by Hiroyoshi Kikkawa (3rd lord of Iwakuni domain).

Dimensions? 210m long along the arch; 193.3m in a straight line. 5m wide, sitting on pillars 6.64m high.

I think you'll agree it's uniquely beautiful, and well worth a detour if you are in the Hiroshima region!

(Thank you Kazumi for teaching my classes - I'm sure I wasn't missed!)

The latest update on Anna Delvey

 Anna Delvey posted some pictures on Instagram. The photos caused her trouble. She’s not scamming anyone, but her latest scandal was made by little bunnies in Brooklyn.

Earlier this summer, Anna did a photoshoot with some of the rabbits. When someone later found the same bunnies in a park in New York City. People started blaming Anna for leaving them irresponsibly.

An assistant for the photo shoot eventually admitted to leaving the rabbits in a park. They thought the rabbits would be fine there, but Anna quickly distanced herself from the situation.  

Anna said she doesn’t eat meat and didn’t help get or move the rabbits. She said she doesn’t support what happened. However, Anna is now selling “#Bunnygate” T-shirts on Instagram. The shirts cost $38.99 and show a cute bunny with the words:

“Missing. Have you seen me? #Bunnygate.”

I think she didn’t really pay for her crimes. After getting out of prison, she earned money from a Netflix series and even walked in a fashion show. Now, she’s become as famous as she aspires to be.