HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2008

Me and the gang ventured out to Kobe's chinatown to check out the Chinese celebration. Nankinmachi the name of the chinatown was packed full of visitors and had the traditional lion dances bringing good fortune to all. Since it was New Years we decided to hit up some Chinese food, not bad but not as good as the real Chinese food from back home and not as cheap either! Heck its Japan, even Dillon tried to use some of his Chinese skills, but the cute waitress kindly escaped by saying she could only speak Japanese. Making our way back to the station we ran into the Jumbo karaoke. Bad news as of course we gotta get a round in, and a round is never alcohol free, so we got our usual whiskey and coke. It was kinda a big bottle and I thought me and Dillon would only get down half way, but we finished the whole thing via train and lastly in the parking lot. Oh that was bad news, lets say lucky I had the next day off. Happy Chinese New Year!!

HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE

January 17th, 1995 marks the date of the Hanshin Earthquake. The earthquake centered around the Hanshin area of Kobe and Nishinomiya (the place I live in now). About 6,300 people died in the quake. The other day in the school gym we had a assembly remembering the earthquake, as well as a moment of silence for those who died. Most of the homes in the area I live in are pretty new, as I am pretty sure all the old homes were taken down after the earthquake. Sometimes hearing about the earthquake puts things into perspective how dangerous earthquakes can be, anywhere you live in the world. Here is a picture of Kobe's "illuminare" event taken around Xmas time remembering the earthquake.

SEIJINSHIKI 成人式

On the second Monday of January there is a national holiday in Japan to honor boys and girls entry into adulthood. Many of the girls dress up in special kimonos called "furisode" and go to special events with their friends. Age 20 also marks the time when they can legally smoke and drink. ** These girls were checking out their digital camera pics on the local train.

TEMPLE

Somewhere in onsen (hot spring) country.

KOBE BY NIGHT