English language school in the heart of the Japanese Alps, and English language learners sharing their experiences online. Teachers post regular items about teaching, learning tools, events in the school, their day to day experiences living & working in a foreign country. Students post on whatever takes their fancy - book reports, festivals in home towns, postcards from business trips etc. A little Brit of England in the guts of Japan!
Bali Mynas live in Indonesia's rainforest. Bali Mynas eat insects and fruit.
Atlas moths eat smaller insects. Atlas moths lives in Sarawak.
Looking back, it might have been risky. When I was a high school student, I had a long conversation with a stranger who was an older man.
After school, I went to a bookstore alone to read magazines and manga. I spent some time there, and suddenly a stranger spoke to me. He said, “I saw you riding an electric bicycle. I was interested in it.”
At first, I felt a little scared. Where did he see me? Did he follow me just to talk about the bicycle? Honestly, I just wanted to have quick talk and then went to home. I told him how it was easier than normal bicycle. He didn’t leave and asked me to show him my bicycle. It meant we had to go outside the bookstore.
Normally, children are told never to follow a stranger. However, I thought it would be interesting to talk about this at school the next day.
So, I went out of the shop with a stranger and showed my bicycle to him. He looked at it in the parking area and asked some questions. At first, we talked about the bicycle, but then he started telling me about his work, his life, and even gave me advice. I don’t remember everything we talked about, but I do remember he advised me to become a pharmacist because you can work anywhere and the salary is well.
We talked for a long time in front of the store until the sky was dark. Then my mom called me, so I went home on my electric bicycle.
As a parent now, I realize it was really dangerous. I tell my child not to spend too much time talking to strangers.
A modern three-bedroom house in Yamagata village, with easy access to Matsumoto city center.
The house has three bedrooms on the second floor. The main bedroom has two single beds, while the other two rooms have a single bed.
The living room is in the ground floor, which has a comfortable sofa that can seat three people, a wide-screen TV and dining table with four chairs. Wi-Fi is available. There is a stylish modern-equipped kitchen and a western bathroom on the ground floor.
The delightful living room faces the lawn which has a mini soccer goal. You can also enjoy seasonal flowers in the garden. There are three parking spaces.
There is a bus stop near the convenience store. Matsumoto city center is a forty minutes ride. Matsumoto airport is about fifteen minutes drive from the house, with direct flights to Sapporo, Fukuoka and Kobe every day.
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| Floating Torii Gates of Ouo |
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| Ariaki Sea, beyond the torii |
As you can see, it was a really good choice to find the time, catch the late afternoon light, and make the10-minute walk from Tara station (Nagasaki Line) to these magnificent torii, that stand into the tidal Ariaki Sea; at low tide I could slip & slide along the 'undersea road' and crunch across the oyster beds as well.
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| Oysters & Asahi :) |
The view was gorgeous, oyster farms & the Kumamoto coastline yonder. The torii themselves glorious in their bright red livery. And time to kill for the next train south = delicious deep fried oysters & a well-earned beer!
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| Takeo station |
I enjoyed a late onsen at the hotel, with a view over the town from the 10th floor...and an early start next morning meant I could bathe in the real onsen as well, before catching my bus to Yutoku Inari Shrine (again, another postcard owing!).
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| Sakura mon (gate) Takeo onsen |
I wish I'd had more time (or actually a car!) to explore the area better, but this glimpse was well worth the trip!
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| lucky dip |
Unfortunately, I did not have the time to actually visit the Dutch Trading House in Hirado, but with the benefit of a zoom lens I got close enough to photograph it from across the quay...and from the top of Hirado Castle. Close enough, I think?!
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| Hirado Dutch Trading House |
A very historical building (although destroyed by command of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1640... rebuilt 2011), as it is recognised as one of, if not THE, first western buildings built in Japan (1609), as a base of operations for the Dutch East India Company.
Not many people know where Hirado is these days, but way back in the early 1600s was one of the most sought after trading destinations from Europe & China...it's possible just as hard to get to now as it was then, though the newish Hirado Bridge has undoubtfully eased travel from mainland Kyushu & Japan's most western train station (more from there in another postcard!).
Luna QR
Point your mobile phone at this http://www.at-ml.jp/59329 |
