Yukata Night etc

Well folks, it almost time that I leave Sasebo and head to a different part of Japan. I'll be leaving Sasebo on August 18, and work in Fukuoka for 2 weeks before I head down to Kumamoto and take up residence there. It's an exciting move and am looking forward to it. The old fella Trev is also moving from Sasebo, he's moving camp to Fukuoka. So things around here will be a bit different in a month's time, the aussies are moving out (including Heather the other aussie here), and the kiwis are moving in. Not a bad replacement, with the kiwis keeping the oder of balance in representing down under.

Some exciting news is that Rob is coming over to visit in October for around 2 weeks with his German girlfriend on the way back to Australia. It will be good to see the fella after seeing him off in Canada. And it's good to see he has found himself a 'serious girlfriend' as were his words. If anyone wants to pop over, you are more than welcome to stay with me.


Here are the latest photos from the last month or so.


As you are probably aware, Japanese girls are of slight build and have awesome flexibility, which makes a backpack quite an adequate way of travelling .......being in it that is! Here we have Miki showing us the traditional way the japanese ladies travel, with the husbands doing all the hard work.













Now Japanese food is a lot more diverse than what we are exposed to in the western world, and quite often I come across a new delicasy that I couldn't imagine previously being food.



I think it was kind of a seaweed, fairly tasty actually.








Below: watching the sunset near Sasebo, in the land of the rising sun.










Below: around Sasebo, Haruna and myself.









I was fortunate enough to be given a samue from Yasumichi a few weeks ago, so I put it on at the Temple and played Monk for a few hours.

















Oto-san showing how it should be done.






Enjoying some sushi dinner at the temple.











A Japanese fly swatter! Fly tennis is popular, a quite fun to play. With the press of a button, an electric current runs through the 'strings' of the raquet, and with a quick swing it puts an end to a fly problem.






Around 2 weeks ago I headed back down to Kumamoto to go to a Yukata party. A yukata is kind of a summer kimono. It was a fun night with most people getting decked out. I wore my samue.


















Well that's it for now, I'm hoping to head to Shikoku (4th largest island in Japan) for a few days around August 12, so I should have some good pics from there. Hope everyone is well, looking forward to hearing from ya. Take care, Shutes.

WORLD CUP SOCCER

G'day again! Well we've been watching the World Cup over here and it has been a lot of fun, especially since we opened our campaign against Japan, and me being in Japan. I have to say that night was one of the best nights I've had.

Trev and I headed up to Fukuoka with 'the monks' to watch the game in a sports bar. We were outnumbered 3 aussies to around 100 Japanese supporters, with everyone basically fully decked out in patriotic colours.

On the way to the bar we were spotted by a news cameraman who followed us to the bar and then set up his camera in front of our table and had it pointed at us for the majority of the night. We were on Fukuoka tv the next morning.

At the bar our Australian Gold outfits stood out like dogs balls in a sea of Japanese samurai blue, and we were attracting our fair share of attention. All good natured though. Before the game groups of Japanese supporters gathered around the two of us and yelled out their Japanese chants, which was a bit of fun. Others came up to have photos with us.

Even our lubricating ale was decked out.


The national anthem came around, so the two of us stood up to give a rousing rendition, with all eyes on us. As the anthem finished, everyone gave us a massive applause; even when we are the enemy they are really kind!

Well as you all know Japan scored first and the place errupted, and our ears were copping a bit from a few of the Japanese supporters, who were drunk by this stage after finishing their pint of beer. Fair enough though, they were having a good time. All the supporters were pretty good sportsmen, at halftime we were targeted for a few chats, and it was agreed that the aussies were dominating and unlucky to be down 0-1.

Well as the game entered the final 10 mins, and opportunities presented going begging, we were looking down the barrel. Then.....bang! We leapt for joy as Timmy Cahill goaled to level the game, then quietly sat back down as we realised the whole bar went silent. Strange feeling being so pumped up and elated with everyone else dejected. And this continued as we wacked home two more goals. I have to say there were a few fist pumps going on under the table, it was awesome.

After the game we were pretty much mobbed with people congratulating us, they were really gracious in defeat. I have some awesome video from the night; from before the game, to when the aussies scored the 3 goals, and after the game. Great to watch a game with so much passion involved deep in enemy territory (in a sporting context).

Just after we won!

Celebrating on the streets of Fukuoka

We found Fosters in a bar during our celebration and thought the night deserved an Aussie beer.

The drinking Kangaroo, soon to replace the boxing Kangaroo.

We watched all of Australia's games at various bars. The night of Australia Vs Brazil, Japan played before us, so we got a group together to watch both games. Below are a few of them.

Supporting the Aussies, with a little bit of back-up support for Japan in their game against Croatia.

All in all a great effort by the Aussies, I made a bit of money on them with some patriotic bets. Now if only the world cup wasn't a diving contest.....!

Shutes.