My parents invited Neil for dinner this week so he came to my house! Neil is an ALT (Assistant English Teacher) in the city and has been living here almost two years! To our big disappointment, he is going back to America next month - I am sure he will be missed by many people in the city. Thanks for coming, Neil and see you soooon :-) !

Fireworks!! 

What's so itchy?? 

Having a concert at Neil's house.

A birthday girl Barbie.

You must be making a wish, yes?!

Chorus - singing "Happy Birthday" for Barbie.

JENGA! Not looking good, Neil!

Jack playing against Neil.

Present もらっちゃいました！大好きなFolli Follie のネックレス！大切にするね。Happy \(^-^)/ Happy！

遅れ馳せながら、とうとう買っちゃいました！Nintendo DS!! ピンクと迷ったけど、やっぱり定番のホワイトにしました。

まねきねこ。
福よ、こい。

Once in a while I feel myself as stupid, but this time I have realised that I am "very" stupid! Well, my friend and I decided to take a trip to Korea from July 15 to 17. We planned where to visit, what to do and what to eat etc... However...,I discovered that my passport expiration date had already passed in June!!! S**t!! What a disappointment, but I'm relieved to know that my friend is not going to kill me and we will go to Korea after my passport is issued. So this weekend, instead of Korea, I went to a small town of Hyogo to see a summer festival . It was boiling hot and people there were even hotter!! Well, I'll let the picture tell! And I hope to update my blog with lots of pictures from Korea sometime soon...

It was a perfect day for driving under the blue sky with beautiful clouds. 

A picturesque view - Japan is beautiful!  

Cooking and eating outside is so much fun! 

Dancing dancing! 

There were many spectators at the festival. 

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Well, I call them "a brave sweet couple". 

A brave wife and her husband. 

Viva Kochi!

I took a day-off last Friday and went to Kochi (yes, again!) with my friend for three days. Kochi is one of my favourite places in Japan because it has many beautiful beaches and the atmosphere is very relaxing. To be honest, I was not really up for the trip for some reasons but now, I am glad that I did - I had a great time with lots of laugh! I always believe that “smile and laugh bring us happiness”, so I think something good will happen to me!! It was my first time to drive down but was much easier than I had expected. My friend and I visited many places like temples, castles, beaches etc… The people we met during the trip were very friendly and nice! I was looking forward to a whale-watching tour but it was cancelled due to the bad weather…that was very disappointing, well maybe next time! I have realised that there are more than just beaches in Kochi and there are still many things that I do not know. I can’t wait to go back there again to find out more. Speaking of travelling, I am planning to go to Korea with my friend this month – I’m so excited!!!

I found very beautiful lotus flowers on our way to shoruji tempe.I think it is very relaxing and peaceful flower. 

At the entrance of Shoruji - No.36th temple. 

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A statue of Chiyo-san. It is said that the success of Kazutoyo Yamanouchi, the ruler of Tosa (Kochi), was greatly owed to Chiyo's help. 

The main gate of Kochi castle. 

A very familiar shot. Kazutoyo, chiyo and me! 

Kochi castle! It has survived for 400 years and never been attacked, even though the castle was originally built to last against enemies. Sadly, I heard that some of its inner building were destroyed by civilians. 

It was a veeery humid day and I was all in a sweat but nice breeze cooled me when we arrived on the top floor. 

Morio with serious face - feeling like a Shogun : - ) ?? 

A view from the top of the castle. 

Here we have a Kochi view from the castle. 

The staris were very steep and Morio alomost had a slip!  

Jhoseikan - the hotel we stayed in Kochi. 

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Happy me in yukata. 

A nice open air bath of the hotel. I enjoyed looking over Kochi city while having a bath. 

A Japanese shop in the hotel. 

I want to have a dog but my father will not let me. Maybe this one is ok... 

I saw a very gorgeous kimono (by Mori Hanae). I really love the butterfly pattern. 

"Oni" tile.I guess a house with this tile would never be robbed... 

Hors d'oeuvre. Jhosei kan is famous for its tasty meal
and is proved absolutely right! 

Main dish. I am not so fond of beef but this was delicious and I had all! 

Dessert ♪ dessert　♪♪  

We were told that there was a summer festival near the hotel so we joined it. I was very surprised that summer festivals start so early in Kochi! 

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My camera is very old and not good for night shooting... so it is very hard to see but there was a big hoop made by straw. It is said that you will be free from hardships for that year if you walk through this hoop.  

There were many cute little girls wearing yukata on that night. These girls were trying to catch goldfish - my faher would be mad if he saw this... :-) 

Very welcoming - thanks for your guide, mate! 

Morio with a friendly cat. 

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At the entrance of Mineji - No.32 temple. 

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This statue was "something" and the rock behind was also amazing. 

PA CI FI C!!! I feel very relaxed everytime I come to Kochi, especially magnificent view of the pacific ocean helps me forget about my little worries etc.

On the way down from the temple. It was very nice to walk with lots of hydrangea around. 

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Hmm... looks almost the same?! 

It was a very cloudy day but I am glad that it didn't rain.  

It looks like a house but this is a retaurant!  

There was a chandlery next to the restaurant and it had everything I had always been looking for my room. It was very difficult for me to control myself not to buy too much! 

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I had fish for main dish. I wish I could cook like this! 

Beautifully decorated dessert - banana cake, mint ice cream, blueberry cake and juicy fruits. 

I bought some of these for my room. 

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