Summer winds down (all caught up!)

So after all the visitors and traveling, I thought things would slow down and settle a little. Ah, foolish me. It lulled for a just a short while, we had to say goodbye to the JETs who left this year, and then we had a group of new JETs come in just last month. And so we've been full of group events, karaoke, BBQs, parties, etc. to hang out and get to know the new peoples. The highlights (for which I'll put up pictures) have been the Karatsu beach party, the Takeo Space and Science Museum, Fireworks festival in Ureshino, playing taiko at the local Matsuri (festival) in my own town of Fukudomi (followed by a party to celebrate one of my Japanese taiko buddies who proposed to his girlfriend at the festival!), picking the famous Rencon (lotus root) of my town, and cliff diving up at the Ryutosen waterfall.

On the horizon for next month is possibly going to Sunset Live again this year (one of my earlier posts last year as on this music fest) and then a trip to Thailand near the end of Sept.


Takeo Space and Science Museum had a fun gyro swing.

3 Japanese kids in a giant bubble!

Summer in Japan means plenty of fireworks festivals to go to :)

Yep, jumped from this one too.

Playing in the water with Peter and his son Kotaro

Festival time as the kids prepare to carry the shrine.

More Catch up (Summer pt2)

So shortly after the family had to head back to the states, I had yet another visitor. Megan came out to hang for a few weeks, and we did some sightseeing around here in Saga, Nagasaki, and Fukuoka of Japan, as well as Seoul and Busan in Korea for a week. I think I'm getting better at knowing my way around the cool sights to check out in the area, and at the same time I got to see things I've never been to either. So without further ado, here's some pics:
Huistenbosch: Dutch land in Kyushu, Japan

Dejima Island, Nagasaki: The only place foreigners were allowed to set foot on within Japan during the close nation period (for about 200 years).
Peace park memorial in Nagasaki Japan
Busan Station, Korea: a fun light, water, sound show that greeted us when we arrived.
Ericzilla terrorizes the mountains around Seoul
63 Tower in Seoul, Korea: Yes, because it has 63 floors. We went to the gallery on the 61st floor with 360 degree view and some nifty art.
From the 61st floor with our Kiwi buddy Nikola
Royal Palace in Seoul, Korea: this guy don't talk much, but he knows what's up.
Palace in Seoul, Korea: attempting to take a picture myself.
Kids playing in the palace.
Seoul, Korea: I may be a dork, but I fit right in here!