Some catching up to do!

Let's start from the beginning...Here is our house and Japanese car.

The Japanese love Karaoke, and so does Brandt. No matter how much he denies it, we can tell from this picture. He LOVES it. OK, he loves the alcohol and the singing just comes with it.

Here we are eating Yakitori (food cooked on a stick over a grill). Oishi! (ie. Yummy)



So I am starting to include a few pictures from when mom and dad (Beck) were here to visit. These are the 99 islands that are just off the shores of Sasebo, where we live...









This is a little taste of Holland right down the road from us. It is called Huis ten Busch since just south of us was the only port open to Western Trading before the 1800s. Isolationism the view here until this time, which accounts for their homogeneous society.

We headed up to Fukuoka when they were here, which houses one of the largest Bhudda in Japan. All made of wood! Fukuoka is the largest city on our island of Kyushu and I think 6th largest in Japan. We live in the country!

We headed over to Beppu, Mount Aso, and Kumamoto one weekend. These are the "hells" hot springs in Beppu and the various parks built around them.

The hot springs are called "onsens" and we rented one all to ourselves. for only 2,000 yen per hour! Brandt's favorite thing here are the little racoons / mirrorcat animals outside all the bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. They mean "fun happens here". Isn't it just so cute! In a scary kind of way that is.

This is Kumamoto Castle, one of the largest in Japan. Although everything here has been "burnt down and rebuilt to how it looked back then" . Not exactly looking at the real thing I'd say. But a darn good replica!
This is an example of a traditional home for a Samuri warrior who served the shogun of the time. Basically a form of feudalism. The large entrance could only be used for the Shogun and his formally invited guests while the small entrance to the left was the servant entrance. I will include Kyoto next post since it is so cool, it needs it's own post. And FYI, most of this is the same day so I SWEAR I don't wear the same outfit all the time!