Morning walks + lunch

Since the sun comes up before 5am and I have been awake at 5am, we have been going on morning walks.  I was surprised that I actually see people along the river at that time of day.  The majority of the people are older.  (Perhaps the younger ones are getting ready for work.)  I usually get to say "Ohayo Gazaimasu" about 30 times during our walk in response to people who say that to us.  Three people  (one was a co-worker) have said "Good morning" to us this week (which means the same thing).  It always makes us laugh to hear English when we are out of the house.

Some decided to take their dogs (and themselves) for a swim in the river to cool off.  Remember, this is around 5:30am.

We also have had two of our favorite meals since we arrived.  The first is ramen.  This is not the "I am poor or lazy so I am making an instant cup of ramen".  It is so tasty!

The second meal was curry rice.  It is Japanese curry but some Japanese say it is not a Japanese food.  It is, however, a very popular food here in Japan.  This is a very dark curry.  (I actually prefer a lighter color of curry with potatoes and carrots in it.  At this meal we got the curry with tonkatsu on it which is a pork cutlet that is breaded and deep fried.  We often get a chicken version instead.  What good Texas wouldn't like that?

Return to Japan + Hachioji Matsuri

We returned to Japan on Friday night.  We are still fighting jet lag 4 days later!  On Sunday afternoon, in an attempt to keep everyone awake past 7pm, we went to a festival.

                                  Our first train to the festival was almost empty.  This is rare!

At the festival, even some of the kids were dressed up in their kimonos! 

There were people behind these masks!

We ate some kakigori.  It is like a snow cone but the ice is fluffier - perhaps more snow-like. 

In this game, you pay money and get to pull a string.  You get whatever prize is at the end of the string. 

More singing and dancing...

No, I don't like fish.  

It seems like there is always a line for some store.  I try to skip those but perhaps I am missing out on the best food! 

Geishas, I think.

Our adorable three children! 

This stand was selling takoyaki.  (We call them takoballs.) There are pieces of octopus (tako) put into a batter and cooked in a special pan.  (Yaki means fried.)  I haven't had an urge to eat them. 

Now, I do eat yakisoba.  These are fried noodles.  The smell of the sauce they put on these makes me hungry when I walk by the stands.  Yummy!!

You do not often see people with tattoos in Japan.  

A crowded alley with lots of food. 

Jeremy wasn't sure what this was but he got it and ate it anyway.  It looked like a candied cherry but he said it was a bit tart and not so tasty. 

A video where you can see that pants are optional for the guys! 

The "shoes" are called tabi and separates the big toe from the other toes.