たこ焼き

takoyaki : aka octopus balls, see the nice big chunks of octopus waiting to be served, its a specialty of the kansai area

デザート

おいしいそう

お好みやけ

cooking up okonomiyake

うにつり

forget the fish, catch the eel at the fair!!

危ない

get your guns here, kids!

かき

oyster cooking

怖くない

house of horrors! or the horror of being ripped off 400yen, ($4) to just walk through a bunch of dark tunnels for a minute, where is the complaint center??

VIEW FROM TOP

get your eat on

チョコレート

the mad chocolate scientist

ゆかた

taking a stroll with the yukata

携帯

もしもしエビちゃんどこ？

ごみごみごみ

if they only had garbage cans ...

姫路ゆかた祭り

miss himeji

OVER THE RAINBOW

anyday is a great day for a full rainbow

スターバックスとシアトル

yeah sometimes I miss Seattle ... I always think about home

タイ料理

Stopped by Kobe over the weekend to help Hiroko with her trip before New York. Made a reservation at the Thai restaurant that I've been wanting to eat at, the past couple of times the time place was full and a reservation was required. Baanthai バーンタイ was the name of the restaurant, not so original, but had to check out what it was all about. Definitely had the Thai mood inside with wooden decor, elephants, and the complimentary thai music in the background. Ordered the usual dishes because, hell I haven't eaten real Thai food for a year so anything would do. Picked up the Tom Young Goong, Phad Thai, Basil Chicken stir fry, and some sticky rice!! Staff was friendly and nice, I think they were Japanese but the cooks I think were Thai. Looked around while my order was being prepared. People looked pretty happy and sweaty and red. Good signs, that the food was probably a bit spicy and good. Then the moment of truth came when my order arrived. Hot damn, it was good! Nice and authentic and probably one of the best Thai food I have had. Not that I was desperate for it, but it was really good, something to rival the Thai joints I visit back home in Seattle. Missed my sticky rice, it was a bit small and hard, as it was the only downer, but all the other stuff was really good. For sure count me in to come back!! Seemed like a pilgrimage to find a good Thai restaurant. Been living in Japan almost 4 years and haven't even found anything decent in the terms of Thai food, not even close. I have finally found the holy grail of Thai dining in the Kansai area, if anyone knows another place, my ears are open, until then I won't try another.

Hungry for a taste? Here is how to get there. From the McDonald's next the Hankyu line in Sannomiya, face the drug store across the street. To the left of the drug store, walk through the tiny sketchy girl alley. After about 30 seconds walking the Banh Thai will be on your right hand side. If its dinner time, make sure to call ahead, 078-391-0545. Here is a food website too http://r.tabelog.com/hyogo/rstdtl/28002129/

タイ料理

エビおおおおおおおおいしそぉぉぉぉぉぉぉ！

花火

madoka and daniel clowning around with fireworks

POWER SUNSET

along the Ibo river 揖保川の近く

TOO MUCH WALKIN

yeah i am tired

相生ペーロン祭り

taiko in the shadows

相生ペーロン祭り

A solo act.

時々

Sometimes I do believe I am living in the countryside. Especially when I see a tractor rolling by my window.

NUNG CHUCK BASEBALL

Gotta love the crazy Japanese TV shows. The show featured a crazy Bruce Lee fan who was a teacher. Here he was showing off to his two students his skill with the nung chucks. His new sport of nung chuck baseball.

もうすぐ蒸し暑いくなる

Its starting to get humid and muggy, I figure another week or two til it becomes a sweatfest. Lucky I got the fan from Noriko just in time.

プレゼント

The other week I stepped into work and found these nice little goodies under my desk. Of course who wouldnt refuse free beer and nuts. Miyamoto sensei is a great guy!

友達の結婚式

Just got Maria and Dan's wedding invitation in the mail. Congrats! See you guys soon in the boonies!

A NORM DAY IN NIPPON

Been in Japan for a loooooong while now, and some things feel normal, but then again, mmmm ... they aren't so normal back home ...

- back up parking is the norm
- my car makes a beeping sound when you throw it in reverse
- its regular to ride a granny bike
- most students wear uniforms
- i get my rice by farming it
- pay my bills at the convience store
- drive on the left side
- eat miso soup with every meal
- i grab a rice ball for a snack
- the food choices consist of sushi, ramen, or some fried chicken
- all beer tastes the same
- people turn off their car lights at the stoplights
- emergency car blinkers are used to say "thank you"

Thats all the thoughts that popped in my head today, but there is always more ...

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY

今年のクリスマスはちょっと早く来た。今日はボーナスを貰った。よかった! Today I got my bonus for work! Yipee! I won't never complain about getting a bonus, sure is different than working in a public school. Plus maybe now I got enough money to buy a plane ticket back home.