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Mt. Fuji Galore!

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  Please see the Japanese translation below! These pictures are from a trip Setsuko and I just did to Kawaguchiko, one of the best places to see and photograph Mt. Fuji. What a treat it was!  Another huge vote of thanks to Setsuko for making this fabulous trip happen. She could not have done any better! We started by going to a very peaceful spot on Lake Kawaguchiko. I came prepared as I had all of my professional photo gear. As much as I prefer to take the train, I will admit it was handy to take the car this time as it made it easy to transport all of my gear. That first spot was stunning as it gave us an excellent view of Mt. Fuji. A really good start to this amazing trip! We then headed to the Fuji Premium Resort, a wonderful resort with indoor and outdoor tennis courts and the best kept secret around! I had some time so I took off to explore. My sixth sense said to go in a certain direction, as I was looking for views of Mt. Fuji. Sure enough, I soon saw a sign that said,...
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A Healthy Opportunity!

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    Please see the Japanese translation below! 下記の日本語訳をご覧ください。   Kaki no nihongo-yaku o goran kudasai. These are some of my favorite shots from a recent hike up Mt. Takao I did with my friend Stuart. Although we did not get the classic shot of Mt. Fuji due to the clouds, it was still gorgeous and so scenic! My current teaching contract with the Tokyo International Progressive School ends this June. With strong encouragement from Setsuko, I have been keeping a close eye on the American School web site. That is where I worked my first year in Japan. The school is just a 20 minute walk from our house.  As usual, persistence pays! After striking out many many times, I just caught that school's announcement asking for applications for a part-time Health/PE position. Although I am not licensed in that area, I feel like I am very qualified to teach those subjects. I threw my hat in the ring and will keep you posted! It would be very exciting to teach Health and PE. Those ha...
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A Pain In The Neck!

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 Please see the Japanese translation below!  The lake pictures are from Lake Chuzenji, very close to Nikko. The stream pictures are from Kawagoe, a very popular location to see the cherry blossoms. Very stunning at both locations! I never cease to be amazed at Japan's never-ending beauty! On the opposite end of the spectrum has been a real pain in the neck! When I got back from our Oshima Island trip two months ago, I noticed that it was painful to turn to my left while riding my bike. I also noticed that some of the day to day neck movements were strained and a bit painful.  I assumed that this would go away in a short period of time. Not only did the discomfort not go away, but I started to have some tingling in my left hand and soreness running down my left arm. A sure sign of a pinched nerve. Darn! I finally went to a local physical therapist  recommended by a friend. That person did some electro-therapy and manual massage. While the treatment felt great immediat...
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Truly Out Of This World!

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New approach! I am now going to do my best to include Japanese translations for all of our Japanese-speaking guests who do not speak English. I hope those translations work well! I do not think my command of the English language is sufficient to describe the resplendence of the shrines and temples at Tosho-gu in Nikko.  There were so many times when no matter what direction I turned, there was a scene of exquisite beauty.  I just cannot imagine the hours and days and months and dedication it took to construct object after object of such immense aesthetic quality! We left our home early Friday morning and were home by 4:15 on Saturday. It was a day of unbelievable photography! We stayed at the Nikko Kanaya Hotel, which is amazing in and of itself. Their list of prior guests include Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Einstein. I guess we traveled in good company! In future posts, I will include additional photos and details from that trip. Believe it or not, there were other scenes t...
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