Postcard from Napa Valley, California USA

 Hi Jim,

I am in Napa!!

I managed to grab a postcard while I'm drunken!

Sorry for this messy message!

Postcard from...Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka, Japan

I was unable to visit this 1,100 year old shrine in northern Kyushu before, so I made it a priority 'stop' for my next visit to the region. Daziafu Tenmangu is on every parent's bucket list for their teenage childrens' futures!

I was fortunate enough to have a spare couple of hours on my way to an examining gig last week to make the detour, and explore this famous complex. I was not alone - several thousand Chinese tourists had the same intentions, thought they didn't get there on a local bus from Hakata station (Fukuoka International airport is only half an hour away from the shrine).

I posted an album of photos from my visit on Flickr - please take a look & leave a 'like' or a comment!

Traditional Japanese farmhouse in rural Azumino

More than 100 year old Japanese traditional bungalow

There are four cosy tatami bedrooms, one spacious dining-kitchen room and one Showa-style living room. The kitchen is fully appointed with a gas range.

One traditional bathroom and rest room.

The nearest station is JR Nakagaya fourteen minutes ride from Matsumoto in the Oito line and a ten-minute drive from the bungalow. The nearest convenience store takes five minutes by car.

Surrounded by peaceful rice fields and beautiful vegetable, flower and traditional Japanese gardens.

You can also enjoy the breath-taking views of the mountain; the Japanese Alps.

As it’s set in the quiet countryside, you can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

 

Postcard from O'Hare airport, Chicago USA

 Hi Jim sensei,

During the past two weeks, I traveled a lot. The first week in Shanghai and the second week in Chicago. It was still warm in Shanghai while it was freezing cold in Chicago (It snowed the day before we arrived!). 

I enjoyed the local foods and would like to share some pictures here :)

Tomoko

Happy or Unhappy dinner party with strangers

 At the dinner party, I would like to find out if three strangers are dangerous, if they are trying to deceive me, and what their motives are. I must invite my sister and a childhood friend to the party because I am not good at judging people.

I am going to ask a lot of questions so that my sister and my childhood friend can see their behavior and eye-tracking, and check what contradictions there are in their talks. In case three strangers are dangerous and may harm us, I will hold a stand-up party in the garden where we can easily escape and must carry my cellphone to call police. Having many people at the party may make it more difficult for dangerous individuals to act, which is why I want as many people as possible to attend. Their family, their local area, their childhood, their school memories, and their job will be discussed. We will only ask a few questions. I want to create an atmosphere where three strangers can talk freely.

If three strangers are nice to me, I will be able to make new friends.