I just uploaded three new videos to YouTube. If you are interested in seeing them: Serenity Rising IV: Kiyosumi Teien @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BwSfTT9z0&feature=channel Ameya Yokocho: Amazing Shopping in Tokyo @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=todHzrRT9_Q&feature=channel Kamakura: Enter the Buddha @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDglIVghSRM

I just made ice espresso with my brand spanking new electric moka pot at the office. No more machine/instant for me!

Universal Fatigue

Whew... tired.... It's been about three weeks since I've been to the gym. Mia was here for a wonderful two weeks and we walked like crazy for up to eight hours a day some days and usually five at least. But although that is great for overall ... whateverish, it doesn't prepare one for the fatigue that comes when one goes back and pushes again.

That in no way means I'd rather go to to the gym than host a visitor! No way! The same thing would happen on business trips to Europe in the past as well. I have learned over the 11 years I have been going to the gym that a break longer than two weeks and my body drops tremendous strength and endurance! It is just one of those things I guess...

Wow... talk about tired tonight. That was a GOOD workout!

I love this feeling! And I love that I have the strength and energy to make it through the workout as well.

Tomorrow is another busy day at work so I must eat my tonkatsu teishoku with a side dish of kara-age and head home to bed!

Night Beautiful Universe.
I love You!

Cam

For those of you from the 360 days, you will be likely as shocked and saddened to hear the news my Dad gave me this morning: Our beloved PK passed away at the end of this past April. I found her multiply page and saw that someone had written a slight note in her comments section. That is all I know. Farewell PK. I love you! Cam

Mia is on the train to Narita, on the beginning of the end of her Japan adventure. I'm getting ready for work, putting on a tie and dress shirt and pretending to be a "corporate (sweaty-crotched) monkey" again. I had a great holiday with Mia, and I am so glad that she did too!

Tea & Sake (no Sashimi)

This morning I woke up with my back frozen... it has been some time since I got my "sleeping on the floor" back. But moving around always loosens it up. We had breakfast, checked out, visited Higashi Honganji Temple (East Honganji) and walked to the metro. We went two stops, got off, found the place for the tea ceremony, then went for coffee.

The tea ceremony was great; the sensei explained it all in English for Mia (write tea ceremony on your list...). Then we went one street over and visited a sake/beer brewery where we learned of their 120year history and had a small tour ending in a tasting. *hic*

Now we are walking back to the station in glorious weather, will get our Shinkansen tickets and head back to Tokyo to meet our former optical clients for shabushabu dinner!

But first... Lunch!

I love you.
Cam

Kyoto, Nara & Deer Sashimi (Raw Deer)

Apparently the god of the area here in Nara came down the mountain on a white deer so all of the wild deer here are sacred and wander around freely, mooching food from the tourists.

Mia and I took the morning Kyoto Sightseeing Tour. It was pouring so we all got soaked. Nijo Castle (Tokugawa Shogun's Kyoto Residence), The Golden Pavillion (Kinkakuji), and the Emperor's Kyoto Palace. I think I've been to these five or six times now...

On the way back to Kyoto we stopped at Nara Stn to drop off a seven member family from India. Thank God! They have been so damn noisy the entire time... talking on their multiple communication devices... wow. This morning there was a different Indian family and the parents let the daughter and young son run around playing, chasing, pushing in and out of the crowds... I was not particularly impressed with their parenting efforts.

We visited Nara in the afternoon and are heading back to Kyoto for the end of the tour. Then a tea ceremony tomorrow and home to Tokyo.

Todaiji in Nara houses the largest wooden structure in the world...

The bronze Buddha inside is huge...

Todaiji burned several times in its 1250 years of history... and was rebuilt based on the fancy of the times so the structure changed. There was one gate that escaped the ravages of wars and it is still standing as originally built 1250 years ago.

Big breath... wow... 1 2 5 0 years in the past and still in use...
All in all it was a great tour and I enjoyed being Mia's papppparrrrazzzzzi again.

I guess we won't be dining on raw deer tonight...

I love you!
Cam