The Typhoon

Category 2 Typhoon Roke was suppose to hit around noon so we decided to go to the bird sancuary first.  This was our 3rd Typhoon so I kind of under estimated it.  By noon it was very windy and raining.  It came right over Kakegawa around 3:00pm at full strength and I was a little nervous.  No - at lot nervous.  It shook the house and was a bit loud.  I was able to get some of the shutters closed after it started.  Around 4:00pm it ended and the sun tried to come out.  Note to self - when it says Typhoon, don't go out.

This person lots his house.

Sky after the typhoon went through

 The park where Julia sometimes plays

Mt. Fuji

Hello All.  I did not get a chance to climb Mt. Fuji since I had to watch Julia.  Therefore I would like to introduce my guest blogger, Christine Ahrens, my sister-in-law.  She and Jeff climbed and here is the tale....

While the forecast looked great, the clouds were ominous on our approach.  Then the rain started as we drove up to the 5th Station (2,305 meters = 7,562 feet).

We parked, ate a hardy bowl of curry (the curry here is delicious!) and headed to the Kuonji Temple to pay a visit before heading out on the Fujiyoshida Trail.

This trail is commonly utilized for climbing Mt. Fuji.  Mt. Fuji is only "open" from July 1st to Aug 31st.  Climbing outside of this window depends on the weather and is the only supported trail at this time of year.  This is what lied ahead ...

We figured since we were climbing outside of the official season, it would not be congested.  Not exactly the case.  Crowd at the 6th station.  I can't imagine what it would be like during the "busy" season.

We left the 5th station at 2:35pm and arrived at the Hakuunso-Hut (8th station, ~3000 m = 9850 ft) at 6pm.   Jeff had phone reception and called Amy.  The climb was difficult over volcanic rock with some steps that were moderately challenging.  There was no view since it rained the entire time.  Surprisingly the altitude didn't seem to have an effect on either one of us.  The hut feed us more curry and provided us our place of "rest."   It was exactly what I had imagined, just didn't expect to be sleeping with my arms touching my neighbor, more specifically my brother.  We did however manage to sleep for a few hours.

We left at 3:30am for the summit.  It was dark, cold and very windy but it was not raining.

The first half of the climb we moved reasonably well but the second half it was a continuous line of people.

Then the sun started to come up.

And we reached the summit at 5:15am.  Mt Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m = 12,389 ft.

Just in time for sunrise!

View of the volcano.

Pics at the top :)  What an amazing view.  We were very lucky it was such a clear day!

We began our descent ... there are no pictures to represent the continual switch-backs to the bottom.  Truly a tortuous, difficult, and extremely boring part of the trail.  The hardest part undoubtedly and taking pictures was not on my mind.  Climbing Mt. Fuji was challenging, even Jeff thought so.  There is a Japanese saying that anybody would be a fool not to climb Mt. Fuji once --- but a fool to do so twice.  Picture at the bottom after the descent.  Big thanks to my brother for sticking it out with me!  

Wow!  I am sorry I missed it, but glad Jeff and Christine had some bonding time.  I might have to come back with Julia when she is old enough to help me climb it.  

Kyoto - Part Two

Day three we decided to do a walking tour mapped out in one of Christine's travel books.  Another early start with breakfast type sandwich and a chocolate chip dinner roll.  We caught the number 100 bus from Kyoto station and road about 20 minutes with the morning commuters and students.  Bus was packed.  First stop, Ginkajuji temple and Cultural Center. You had to climb up a long narrow street lined with shops and ice cream places.  Green tea flavor is the local flavor.  Not good to me.  I did try the mango and it was great!  The people really like Julia and we were stopped many times so they could talk to her and some to touch her.  She of course  loved the attention.
Picture of the temple

 They have these gardens with sand formations.

 Walking the path up to the temple

 Temple view.

 Family photo

 Then walked along the "Philosopher's path and found this cute little cafe tucked away with a sign reading Guinness that drew my attention.  We had a great meal and free cake.

 Then off down the Philosopher's path to the next temple.

 So many temples, so little time.

 All the temples are on hills so there is a lot of walking.

 This was a pagoda that you could walk up to the top of.  I stayed with Julia so she could walk around.

 Julia made a new friend who she shared rocks with.

 Going through the arc to the Golden Temple.

 The view from the top of the temples.

The next morning I found an actually breakfast place and had the fried eggs set.  They call combos sets here. One fried eggs, salad, french fries and toast with tea.  Salad and french fries are a common breakfast food but doughnuts are not.  Go figure.  Then we headed out of Kyoto.  We got pulled over by the police.  When the cop came to our car, he looked us and said "Oh" I am guessing because we were foreigners.  Jeff did a great job communicating.  Those Japanese lessons are paying off and NO ticket!  Apparently there was no right turn at the time period we did.  Who can tell when you can't read the signs.  Up Mt. Hiei we headed looking another temple.  Enryakuji Hieizan world heritae site was great.  There were lots of temples and working ones.  We got to see a real Buddhist ceremony.  

Map of the temples on top of Mt. Hiei

 We got to see a few and two ceremonies.

 You can ring the bell and make a wish, or a prayer.

 The bell is a soft gong sound.

 Up to the top to see the ceremony with chatting and prayers.  Very cool and a sweet workout.  People can also write prayers on wooden sticks and then the Monk burns them and says the prayer to Buddha for you.  Very cool but of course no pictures allowed.  It was cool up on this mountain, I was actually comfortable.

 More stairs, very steep!

The trees were huge and so beautiful.  That is Jeff and Julia standing at the top of the stairs by a huge tree.

 Then we headed back down the mountain and found a rest area with a great view and good curry.  The rest areas all have very good food.  It also had a little gift shop and this cool statue.  We meet a Japanese couple who loved Julia and were traveling with there two dogs. They let Julia pet them and she had a blast.

 View from rest area.  Yes, Jeff has not had a hair cut in 5 months.  Crazy hair!  But I like it:)

I drove part of the way home and only got honked at twice for drifting into the next lane. It is harder than you think to drive on the other side.  Highlights:  All the gardens in the temples, beautiful.   The kids asking us questions for their school project.  The top of the mountain, cool and a nice break from the heat.  Now home for a few days and off to Tokyo and home for 3 weeks!