A Bit of Tokyo

I'm sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I started teaching swim lessons this past week, and it's been pretty busy. Last Sunday (June 20th) CJ and I went into Tokyo on our day off. There were a lot of things we missed, so I think we'll go back later this summer and walk around a bit. We did find the Imperial Palace and walked around the grounds for a bit (a lot of the buildings were destroyed in WW2).

This was the gate we went through (I think there were 4 total gates)
There were lots of fish statues around. There are a bunch of these on top of the gate.
Here's a guardhouse. I don't know if it's still in use today.

This is the outside of the music hall. It has some really cool tile designs on the outside of it.

My new favorite food, Japanese curry. I got the fried chicken curry, but the stewed chicken is really good too. When you order, you get to pick your spice level (1-10)...I ordered a 1.

Main gate of the Meiji Shrine (called a torii) in Harajuku. CJ and I had no idea the shrine was there, but we were glad to have found it.

I'm pretty sure these are decorated wine barrels (there were more on the other side of the walkway).

Wine barrels

Another torii right outside the main part of the shrine. We stopped here and cleansed ourselves before going in. You pick up a ladle, wash your left hand, then your right, pour some water back in your left hand and suck up the water to cleanse your mouth.

Another pretty cool gate.

Picture outside the shrine (you couldn't take pictures once you got inside that building).

There was a traditional Japanese wedding going on in the plaza just outside the shrine. This was the processional that was going on just as we were leaving.

Turtle Island and the Quest for the Frisbee

CJ and I had another day off yesterday (we get two in a row), but decided to stay on base for the day. I slept in (if you call waking up at 7:30 sleeping in), watched the Lakers game, and then met the rest of my coworkers for a picnic. There are two parks on each side of base. We went to one and discovered a pond with tons of turtles and huge koi fish in it.

Here's what we called turtle island. It's a wood dock that a bunch of turtles were laying on. There's also a koi fish right in front.
This little guy decided he wanted to follow me for a while.

Peek-A-Boo!

Josh lost his frisbee on the lily pads

He finally got it with the help of two long sticks, and Autumn and Laura holding on tightly. We had a group of Japanese moms watching, and they cheered for us when we got it out.

The view of Yokohama from my window

The old stadium from the horse racing arena Negishi sits on

Yokohama

Yesterday, CJ and I had the day off, so we went into town for a little bit. We rode the bus into Yokohama (about 15 minutes) and explored around the Landmark Tower, which is Japan's tallest tower. I rode on my first Ferris wheel, which is also Japan's largest clock (there's a digital clock on the side).

They have KFCs all over the place

Here's the Landmark Tower from the street

The Ferris wheel and a ship behind me

Some crazy sculpture outside the Landmark Plaza

And yes, they have Krispy Kreme too (and McDonald's and Denny's)

Pretty orchids in the floral shop

Huge Peanuts shop right next to the Disney Store and a Hello Kitty store

"Three balls, two strikes, the bases are loaded..."

My first gelato...mango cream and double berry (YUM!)

A little scared in the Ferris wheel gondola

Landmark Tower from the Ferris wheel

Amusement Park

Yokohama

The funny sign inside the gondola

More Yokohama

Even more Yokohama

CJ and I

The Ferris wheel

I rode that!

A ship in locks that you can go tour

Home in Negishi!

Before leaving Yokosuka this evening, some friends and I went to Monkey Island, which is a small little island about a 5-minute ferry ride away from downtown Yokosuka. We didn't see any monkeys, but there were meters (haha!) of hiking trails through the island and a small beach. The sun was hot, but I didn't get burned. Inna, CJ, Meletina and I met some new friends from Iowa and Oklahoma, and we had some nice guys get us a starfish and sea slug from the water. It was a great day, and I'm looking forward to my first day of work tomorrow!

Here are some pictures we took in the park while waiting for the ferry:

Monkey Island!
Meletina & I on the ferry

CJ and IBamboo!

Indiana Jones and the Island of Monkeys!

Really old, kind of freaky, tunnel

Stone circle (there were a couple of them on the island)

Hiking trail

Goodbye Monkey Island!

I have to say, I am blessed! We arrived on the Negishi Military Base this evening, and it is absolutely amazing. The base itself is small, but I'm only a minute's walk from the pool and grocery store, and my room has an awesome view of Yokohama (and I can see the Landmark Tower, which is Japan's tallest building). My room is pretty sweet as well...it's pretty much like a hotel room. I have a room to myself, with a queen-size bed, bathroom and kitchenette (which you can see in the pictures below). I even have a coffee maker and a maid that comes in each morning to restock my coffee :) Needless to say, I feel a little spoiled.
I'll take a picture of the view of my room tomorrow in the day light and post it along with some more stories.