- - - 12/31/2012 - - -

New Year’s 2012

Filed under: — Andy @ 4:32 am

For New Year’s eve I visited one of my soccer friends. He lives close to Yokohama Minato Mirai, so we were able to skip the trains and the crowd and walk to the countdown party. In Minato Mirai there is a giant Ferris wheel with a clock on it where everyone gathers around to do the countdown and see a [small] fireworks display. Even after living in Yokohama for some years now, this was my first time to go.
After the countdown we walked through Chinatown to see the celebrations there. Even though the Chinese New Year is a few months away, there were still lots of people celebrating in the streets, praying at the temple, and setting of fire crackers. My friend and I also got in on the action and set off a bunch of firecrackers. Then we ate some Chinese ‘toshomen’, which is not quite the traditional Soba that should be eaten on New Years.
Finally we stopped at a local shrine for the New Year prayers and fortune. I got 小吉 or ’small luck’ this year.

- - - 12/24/2012 - - -

Xmas Cake

Filed under: — Andy @ 4:13 am

This year’s Christmas eve was spent quietly at home. One of my house mates followed the Japanese tradition of buying a Christmas cake. We all gladly ate it.

- - - 12/23/2012 - - -

December Hiking

Filed under: — Andy @ 3:00 am

The last hiking club for 2012. We climbed Tenranzan and Tonosu-yama which are really just small hills, but as always, the food at the top and Onsen afterward was good. Being the last of the year we also had our end of year party. Hopefully in 2013 we will climb some actual mountains.

- - - 12/14/2012 - - -

Ken’s Bike

Filed under: — Andy @ 2:40 am

After almost a year in Australia and then 4 nonstop days from Osaka, Ken and his bike made it to Yokohama! It was nice to see him, and his relatives, again after such a long time. He left his bike with me before returning back to the States, and I hope to make good use of it.

- - - 12/1/2012 - - -

Goodbye Suzuna

Filed under: — Andy @ 8:45 pm

Oh No! Suzuna has left for Vancouver on her working holiday visa which means she can stay there for up to one year. I hope she studies hard and has lots of great experiences while she is there…