Women's World Volleyball Grand Prix will be held in Okayama from this Friday to Sunday. It is a very big event and I am very happy that it is coming to Okayama!!! The tickets were all sold out, however, thanks to Mr.Fujisama, a chairman of the organizing committee, I have managed to get two tickets for Saturday game - Japan VS Italy. How exciting! I hope Japanese team will win : )!

Tomorrow is my father's 60th birthday and this means that it is his retirement age. Today was his last day at work so I presented him some flowers and a cake. My brother and I have decided to give our parents a special trip to Arima hot spring to show our thanks - I hope they will be happy and have a good time!

Presents to my father. 

I had to work last Saturday, but instead, there was three-days off from Sunday to Tuesday! On Sunday I visited my best friend in Osaka. I want to buy a new camera and my friend took me to Yodobashi camera - one of the biggest electric goods shops in Osaka. There were so many cameras and I just could not choose one...
And on Monday, Toku-chan took me to Taishakukyo in Hiroshima. It was four hours long drive from Okayama but very nice to drive through gorgeous scenery.
I feel very stressed when there are many people around and it was great to have days off on weekdays because there are a lot less people!

"Yodobashi camera" - one of the biggest electric goods shops in Osaka. 

My dinner in Osaka. I loooove pasta! 

A big map of Taishakukyo.  

Looks very scary but you have to pass through this tunnel to get to a boat pier... I would not try at night. 

This is a "Momiji bashi" - " Red leaves bridge".  

A pleasure boat " Sakura". 

Excited Miwako when passing under the bridge. By the way, I had my hair cut : ) . 

Tokuchan. 

Beautiful gorge. 

Very relaxing boat trip! It must be more beautiful in autumn.  

Can you see some people climbing?? They waved to us! 

Impressive scenery. 

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You can use this as an umbrella like Totoro : ) ! 

We saw such a beautiful rice field when walking to the cave. I loved it very much. 

Steps to the cave. I think this is the worst place for people who has nyctophobia or claustrophobia... but inside is only 11 degrees centigrade so it is nice and cool when it is boiling hot just like now!  

We walked through narrow ways. This was like a movie "The Goonies"! 

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Outside! Souvenior & Rent a cycle shop. I should have rented the pink one... 

Thanks for a long drive, Tokuchan! 

My lovely cute nephew Yamato, being a little shy.  

You can be a rock star with that hair style, Yamato!