Meeting Fuji-san for the first time.

As we were boarding the bus to leave Nagoya at 10:30 p.m. on Friday night, it was pouring rain and lightening. Not the best conditions for our first climb. Weather for the mountain was forecasted as 6C and winds gusting up to 65 km/hr, light rain early Saturday morning with clearing and clouds by later Sat morning and into the afternoon. But we had our rain gear, hats and gloves packed, so we were (foolishly) undaunted.

We roll out of Hongo at 10:40 p.m. Almost 5 hours on the bus with one bathroom stop (at an amazingly high tech and fancy rest stop, I might add) and little sleep puts us at the 5th Station of the Yoshida Trail just after 3:30 a.m.

We layered up, as the wind is already stiffly blowing and while not raining at present, it for sure will at some point during the climb. Here I am fresh-faced and ready to go!

Our climb will follow the Yoshida Route from the 5th Station at elevation 2,305m up a 6 km trail to the summit at elevation 3,776m. 

We started hiking just before sunrise and caught some amazing views along the trail, suddenly realizing how high up the mountain we already were. Station 1 of the trail was 13 km below us.

Starting the climb.

The trail between stations 5 and 6 was improved and relatively easy to walk. At this point I was thinking, "Yeah, I can do this!" We could definitely feel the effects of the altitude though and we got out of breath quickly. We decided to just take it slow and steady, rest often and enjoy the views and the whole experience. A song was running through my head:

"Ain't about how fast I get there,

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side,

It's the climb!"

Trail between 5th & 6th Stations

After reaching the 6th Station and paying 200 yen each to use the toilet, we realized the "real" climb was about to begin. No more grated gravel path, no more level sections, we were suddenly trekking up ragged volcanic rock. But the the incline was doable, and heck, there were kids (and dogs) on the trail, so how bad could it get?

Trail between the 6th and & 7th Stations

If this little guy can do it, so can I. Right?

The view from the 7th Station was a great reward and it encouraged us to continue on, even though at this point my knees and Gary's hip were whispering voices of reason to us.

Panarama from 7th Station

It started to rain on us as we climbed another 2 or 3 sections of the trail and as we were approaching the 8th Station Safety Hut, Gary and I both looked at each other and "just knew", we could not continue on. It was 8:30 a.m. and it had taken us 4.5 hours go 3.5 kms to get to this point. We still had almost 2.5 km to reach the submit and the trail was growing increasingly steeper and more treacherous. I feared if I pushed it to the top, I would not have the "legs" (balance & coordination) to descend in time to catch the return bus at 3:00 p.m. With disappointment, we turned around. : (

Gary hiking between 7th and 8th.

Resting on the trail after two different falls (one a rocky mis-step the other slipping on loose gravel) Even after wiping out, I am still smiling! 

Gary never fell, (of course). I later learned that another climber on the bus fell 6 times, so then I didn't feel quite so clumsy.

View from descent before getting back to 5th Station.

Back at the start of the trail. Now in daylight, so we snapped a picture.

Unique cloud formations.

                                 

                                                                                Gary-san and Fuji-san.

Had to get the T-shirt!

I am so glad I had was able to experience Fuji-san. 

This first attempt at mountain climbing goes down as a success for me. I pushed as hard as I could and I came back without injury and with lots of great memories of the mountain.  

It was breathtaking, grueling, invigorating, exhausting,

empowering and humbling all at the same time!

 

We hope to visit again and reach the summit. Rather than 'bullet' climb it, (all in one day) we would like to hike to 7 or 8, overnight in a hut, then summit early in the morning and descend slowly. Probably the best 'age-appropriate' approach for non-veteran climbers like us!

Goals in Life

Sumimasen. I am so sorry that my blog has been 'dark' for awhile now. It is amazing how quickly a place starts to become 'home' and one busies themselves with everyday life.

What have I been doing? Glad you asked.

A few weeks back I set some goals for myself while I am in Japan. I made them SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely -  goals (all those years of giving and receiving Performance Partnerships stuck). If you know me at all, you know I am a big list maker. So here is my list. By telling you all, I am now even more committed than before!

Goal 1 - Learn Japanese by studying an hour a day.
Goal 2 - Cook 1 new dish a week. Expand my repertoire of recipes.
Goal 3 - Be active in the Nagoya community and get involved.
Goal 4 - Become healthier in body and mind. Exercise/meditate everyday.
Goal 5 - Learn a new skill / develop a new talent.
Goal 6 - Take opportunities to travel in Japan/Asia and learn more about cultures.
Goal 7 - Read more books.
Goal 8 - Budget, track and save, save, save!
Goal 9 - Focus on relationship building.

There should be a 10th one, right? Just to round it out. I am open for suggestions, but I couldn't come up with one more.

How am I doing toward these goals? Here's my updates:

Goal 1: I have been very consistent overall in practicing. Some days I study 2 hours, if I am going to miss a day. Throughout my day, I often think -" How would I say that in Nihongo?" and take the time to think it through. (I am even including some of this week's vocabulary throughout my post. : )

Goal 2: I have been looking up recipes online and also went to several cooking groups and classes.

Two weeks ago - Tsukune (Japanese ground meat patty, kind of like meatloaf but with secret spices)

 Senshu (last week) - Chicken Marsala

Ka-youbi (Tuesday) -Stove top pork carnitas - found recipe online.  Lunch at my apartment with my friends Gail and Shawna (not pictured).

Sui-youbi (Wednesday) - Panang Red Curry. It was very spicy. Must admit I bought the curry paste pre-done, because I don't have the utensils needed to grind all those seeds and spices myself.

Kinou (yesterday) - My first attempt at making sushi. In the lovely home my Nihongo sensei and his wife. They are patient and kind people, as a learn about their language and traditions.

Raishu (next week), I am going Korean! Going to make Bibimbap - a type of fried rice, meat, veggies in a scorching hot bowl.

Goal 3: I joined Cross Cultural Exchange Association (80 member group with 40 Japanese residents and 40 foreign women), which promotes cultural sharing and inclusion. As soon as I joined, I was recruited to be Treasurer for next year. I made the mistake of telling the President I had a little experience with spreadsheets and was "pretty good with numbers".

Also became a member of Hope International which raises money to help impoverished areas in Asia and has organized a large effort this past year to aid the victims of the Tohoku earthquake.

CCEA Cooking Group

Hope International Luncheon

Goal 4: Well... I downloaded a Yoga series, which I have done a few times, but not everyday. Trying to incorporate a meditation in my morning routine a few times a week. I do walk or bike everywhere I go. I think that counts too!

Goal 5: Let's just say that no one should be surprised if they get something made with yarn that goes on their head for Christmas! Therefore, I can't show you what I have made, but I have been very busy. My friend, Shawna, is an amazing crocheter. Her projects are incredible and intricate. Maybe if I get some help from her, I might be able to move beyond beanie making.

Goal 6: Went to Atsuta Shrine last Sunday.  November is when parents celebrate "Shichi-go-san", which means 7, 5, 3. Atsuta Shrine is a favorite place for pictures and outings with children who have reached these ages. Here are a couple pictures of children we saw in traditional dress at the shrine.

Headed to Osaka next weekend. Planning a trip to Thailand in February. Hoping the flooding will be over by then. Here is a link to an elephant trek that I want to do. http://www.elephant-hills.com/

Goal 7: Failing miserably. Unless my Nihongo books and travel destination books count. Maybe I should join a book club?

Goal 8: Thumbs up on this one!

Goal 9: Pushing past my introverted tendencies to introduce myself to new people. I have met many lovely women, who are fast becoming my friends. Gary and I are also doing terrific and have never been more in 'sync' and happy together. It is amazing how much patience and understanding I have now that I am not all stressed out from work every evening! ; )

I'll post again soon. Miss you all. Amy

Day Labor

Last week I accepted an invitation for an 'outing' without really knowing what I was going to be doing. I had met a very nice Japanese lady at a Meet and Greet one afternoon. The following day she called me and asked me to join her for an outing. Her English is pretty good, but she was not able to articulate exactly what we would be doing. With nothing to lose, I decided to blindly accept. After meeting her at a station close to my house, we rode the subway to the end of the line. Then we changed and got on a train and went another 4 stops. In the parking lot of this station there were about 10 other Japanese ladies. A couple had cars and they also had a couple taxi's waiting. I was  introduced to everyone (don't ask, cause I can't tell you all their names and roles within 'Garden Club') and my hostess, Yumiko, apologized about a dozen times, for inconveniencing everyone by bringing me last minute. (She later explained to me that no one was really inconvenienced at all, but it was 'the Japanese way' to apologize for any changes and unexpected situations.

This Garden Club is an arm of CCEA (Cross Cultural Exchange Association). There were actually a few other foreign women that arrived shortly after the mass introduction. Their names I can easily remember, Kathy from Hawaii and we will call her Lisa, a Boeing wife, from well, everywhere. She has been on about 5 different expat assignments to Italy and France and now Japan. By her accounts, she has been everywhere and done everything. She might have been interesting to talk to, if she wasn't so loud and truly crazy, (but that is a whole another story).

We went to a hibiscus farm and learned how this particular farmer was being innovative with the plant. By nipping off the bud and coring it, he is making hibiscus teas and jams. The buds can also be used in salads and cooking. To me, they had a sharp and bit sour taste. Not a big fan. overall, but the jam is tasty. Then again, you can make jam out of just about anything, right? Prickly pear cactus comes to mind.

Hibiscus Plant

Me pruning away.

Baskets of Buds

CCEA Garden Club

We 'worked' the field for about an hour by cutting the buds off the ripe plants. Then we washed the buds and used a tool that popped the seeds out from the bud. I am demonstrating below. This took about another hour or so. For some reason Gary found me attending this outing somewhat comical and is now referring to me as his "little hibiscus picker" all the time. : )

Me enjoying a refreshing Japan-sized glass (mini-size me!) of hibiscus tea.

After all the hard work, we went to a lunch at a lovely organic french restaurant. They served an 8 course meal that took over 2 hours! These ladies like their lunches out.

The name was Na No Uta meaning "Song of the Vegetables".

Mesmerized by Tokyo

We got up early and headed to Tokyo by bullet train on Friday morning. The Tokaido line runs up to 13 trains per hour (the busiest line in the world) and the trains roll in and out of the station exactly on time. Every time! The train can reach speeds of up to 185 mph and I think ours did. Everything was a blur for sure.

JR Shinkansen - pulling into Nagoya Station

We arrived in Toyko Station just under 2 hours later. After wandering around confused for a bit, we managed to find the subway line we needed. One quick transfer and a few minutes later we were in Higashi Ginza Station. Our hotel was only a 5 minute walk from there.

Dropped our bags off and had a quick room service snack before we headed straight to one of  the oldest areas of Tokyo -- Asakusa. Entered the Sensoji Temple grounds through the Kaminarimon Gate (shown below).

'Old Tokyo' shopping street and Five-story Pagoda

Huge incense burner. Japanese wave the smoke over themselves. They believe it purifies the body and spirit. This grandfather just lifted the boy up into the smoke and then set him back down.

We then took a cruise down the Sumida River. Past many bridges and the Tsukiji Fish Market. After returning to the hotel, we decided on Thai food for dinner and the concierge made us a reservation here at Bangkok Kitchen.  It was fabulous!

Saturday in the wee hours of the morning, I was awaken by Gary. I asked what time it was. He simply said, "It is ... just time". The fish were calling him. : )

The actual time was 0430. We took a taxi to the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market(commonly known as Tsukiji Market), which is the biggest seafood market in the world. We got in line in hopes of being one of the few tourists that are allowed in to see the Tuna Auction that morning. It was our lucky day. We made it in the second group. The market wakes up early and is a crazy flurry of activity. Watch out for the men on motorized carts, cause they won't slow down for you to get out of the way!

Frozen tunas being set out for auction.

Multiple auctions take place at once.  Another auctioneer can be heard in the background. We loved this guy's sing-song style and the little dance he did. We have no idea how much each fish sold for, but it was entertaining to watch. We do know that the record price was $396,000 for a 722 lb Bluefin tuna last January, over $548 per pound. In the end, I was glad I went. It was a once in a lifetime experience! 

After then returning to the hotel for a short nap from 0730-0930. We got ready and headed back over to the Ginza Corridor. Where we ate the night before. There are many small cafes and restaurants to select from. We decided on this one. It was very colorful. Don't know the name, but it served Korean fare. I had yummy pork and rice, while Gary had a big bowl of spicy beef with udon noodle.

Korean restaurant. I match the decor!

We then ventured out again. This time, to Shibuya, which is famous for its scramble crossing, which stops vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection. Three large TV screens mounted on nearby buildings overlook the crossing. The 2 story, Starbucks store overlooking the crossing is also one of the busiest in the world. The Shibuya Scramble is featured in the movie, Lost in Translation.

Young and fashionable shopping street in Shibuya. We saw some particularly creative outfits here!

Returned to the hotel for another quick nap. (I know! Age catches up with us all.) We changed for dinner and then headed to Roppongi. Roppongi is a much more 'western' area with many known restaurant chains.  

Hard Rock Cafe and Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills

Before dinner we had a couple 'happy hour' drinks at a Scottish expat's bar. We didn't eat at the Hard Rock, just took a picture. We actually ate a small Italian wine cafe. Parmesan risotto was delish, but Gary didn't care too much for his pizza -- that did have anchovies, but didn't have any cheese on it!

Last stop before heading back to the hotel was a small bar in Ginza called Prost Bar. We had stopped by the night before and really enjoyed the ambiance. It had a gorgeous wood countertop shipped from South Africa. While you don't tip in Japan, they often hit you with a 'table fee' when you least expect it. Friday night, no table fee...but on Saturday night to our surprise, there was. Maybe they just charge this to foreigners, who are leaving and probably never coming back?

Drinks 900 yen each, table charge 500 yen each, talking with the bartender about fishing lures used in Japan...priceless.

Well, we couldn't leave Tokyo without visiting the Emperor. So on Sunday morning, we took a walk through the Imperial Palace East Garden, in hopes that he would invite us in. Didn't happen. Guess he only opens the gate 2 days a year to greet his subjects.

The wall between us and the Emperor

After a sweltering hour in the sun, we headed back to the hotel for a little down time (you guessed it,  naptime, again)!  I then left Gary to relax a little on his own and I went out shopping.

On Sunday Ginza Street is closed to traffic. Shoppers rule!

Me and my first Ginza shopping trip. I hope there will be many more. Do I have any takers?

After shopping  and before heading to the train home, we needed refreshment.
We found refuge in the Sapporo Beer Hall which served German table fare (sausages and potatoes) and beer, imagine that.

We then sadly had to leave our new found love and return home. This brief interlude with Tokyo has made us definitely want to return again to experience its cosmopolitan flair. Old and new, traditional and modern meld together seamlessly to capture your imagination. We will definitely be going back.

Fall is here!

It was a very comfortable 22C (70F) yesterday and we got out and enjoyed the sunshine and cool breezes by taking a stroll through Tokugawaen Park.

History Lesson:
Tokugawaen was built in 1695 as a retirment residence for Mitsumoto, head of the 3 houses of Takugawa and second generation Lord of the Owari domain. The buildings were destroyed in 1945 during WWII. Then the over 100 acre area was used as a general park until 2004, when massive renovations created this lovely Japanese garden.

Gary with his 'man-bag'.

Gary dipping into the fountain of youth?

After all that walking, needed a little refreshment!