the past 2 Mondays...

So these are some pictures of the past 2 Mondays (my day off). I'm not going to write too much... because I need to sleep. Tomorrow the wisdom toothfairy is once again calling my name and I'll be making my way bright and early to the local dentist... by bus. Gotta love public transportation.

Monday, 6/19.
Juri, Brooke and I went on some wild adventures...
We started the day off by almost missing the train. Juri got stuck in a train jam and ended up parking his car and running 2 1/2 miles to the train station - we JUST made it. Poor guy... we felt so bad! BUT the day got progressively better. :) And here was the highlight. Juniko (12 lakes - really ponds), boasting some of the most beautiful and rare ponds of Japan.

On the train.


One of the more beautiful ponds...


Aoike. Blue pond. Concise. Perhaps there's wisdom in giving it that name... because how could you even begin to describe it... A fairytale land of tropical fish blue water, emerald leaves and cool-mist air that makes you heady in breathing in. Truly an enchanting place.




Nihon Kanion (Japan Canyon). Juri, Brooke, and me. :)


Exhaustion finally lays claim to our sanity... grins



Monday, 6/26. Arnie, Amy's dad, and I started off the day early. Really early. 5 am early. But were most wonderfully rewarded. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. An expansive blue sky, fresh cooling breeze, the peek season for mountian flowers, and a clear view from the summit, complete with a dotting of puffy white clouds.

And here began our day. 6 am. On the way to Moriyoshiyama (yama = mountain).


This is one of my favorite pictures from the day. It makes me smile and feel all giddy inside. grins I'll have to ask Arnie again what the name of the flower is. I forgot. :)


Fields of mountain flowers... and beyond them the top of Moriyoshiyama.





me on top of the world. :)


The kanji (Chinese characters) say something something... Moriyoshi Mountain (Mori means forest), 1,454 meters.


Me and Arnie (Amy's dad). :) It's nice to have someone to motivate you to get up early enough to appreciate being on top of a mountain at 9:45 in the morning. grins It was beautiful.