Shretoko, another national park...

After a last minute decision a few us piled into two cars and drove north late on Friday night. We picked up Massoud from Chitose, a nearby town, and followed the GPS to Ala's house, nearly 4 hours away. Nothing to report from Obihiro except Ala's wonderful food and smile. After a slow start, we drove past Kushiro into the corner of Hokkaido - Shiretoko National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Shiretoko is know for bear, salmon and a rugged coast. Although the park seem rather controlled, it was indeed the most natural place I have seen in Japan. By controlled I mean it seemed as if no matter where you looked there was some human construction - check dams on the creeks, netted around craggy outcrops, 10 foot high fences. The tree plantings were the worst I thought but maybe necessary considering the burgeoning deer populations. Parks in the developed world suffer the same fate - Disneyland-i-fication. This is not a rant, I understand why it is done, heck, even would vote for it in some cases. But, I do like the American idea of Wilderness - a place without so many signs. But like I said, I am not bitter just a rambling.

A great group of folks as usual. The shot below has us all, Katia and Natalia from Brazil, Nina from Bulgaria, Ahmed from Jordan, and Massoud from Libya.

Our first day there we took a 4 hour boat ride up the coast. I must say a few tears came to my eyes after noticing the ship I was to board. The night before my mother's birth, her father's boat, the Aurora, crashed on shore during a large Monterey Peninsula storm. She was almost named Aurora. I had to lead a quick round of "Shipboard Nomenclature" for all the Yen in my pocket.

After a full day of short hikes and waterfalls, we headed back to our dirt parking lot to camp with a cleanest public toilets this side of the Adriatic. Katia took us all is a Japanese rousing game of Uno. Up in the morning for hike to a hotspring river waterfall. We were blocked from the 30 minute hike, but the presence a bears in the upper section, but fun was still had by all. Lunch at the visitors center and off for a lovely drive to Akan. Nat-chan and I at the pass with the Kurils Islands in the background - they are owned by Russia. Japan and Russia have gone back and forth on them a few times over the last 150+ years.

Camping in Hokkaido

Camping in Japan' largest national park was a blast, with live music, hot springs and spectacular views. We rented cars and were on our way early Saturday morning. Last weekend was a three day thanks to the nation with the most national holidays (so I have heard) and its respect for nature. Monday was "Sea Day". Where we in the US celebrate people of the past that made our nation better, the Japanese have set Monday away for to observe the richness of the ocean. Of course, not all national holidays observe an earthen feature, for example during Golden Week there is a day to celebrate a former Emperor’s birth. But I digress. Interesting to think about though. Is it true that you can learn some about a culture about he days it sets aside to honor? Perhaps. Can you imagine a "Great Plains Day" in the US - the breadbasket of the US, as the ocean is to Japan? I think not. Arbor Day is hardly about trees and do you know when it is? I don’t and I have degree in ecology.

After a nice evening in the Daisetsuzan National Park, just north of the belly button of Hokkaido, the 12 of us headed slowly to the beach. Three cars stuff with camping gear and foreign students. Lots of good laughs, especially from our car – the New World. Two Brazilians, two Uruguayans and me. We like to think we took the short-lived soccer game at the beach on Monday but there might be some legitimate argument with that due to its abrupt ending after India went down. Nonetheless you get the picture I think. Turkey, Jordan and India brought representatives to the game. BBQ was had by all afterwards despite the incredibly hot sand.

Speaking of BBQ, we had one Brazilian style, with chorizo and chicken hearts. Here’s Vivian woman-ing the skewers and corazons. Good eating was had by all. Lots of good stories over the BBQ and by the beach for those that did not dare enter the cold water. Great to get out of the city and spread the wings for a bit. As soon as I get my international driver’s license I am going to rent a car a drive a bit to see the island. If I stay here longer I will probably buy a car. Hokkaido has a lot to offer that is better accessed by car. Especially come winter when back country opens up the skiing. I guess I will have to put some cash down for a 4-wheel car. But I think I am getting ahead of myself.

My new pad...

Hi all.

Here are a few shots of my new apartment. Its about 10ft and about 30 ft long. I am on the third floor with a south facing window. I am about 1.5 miles from my office and I have a 7/11 just down the block. If you know Japan you know that at least every fairly busy street corner has a convenience store. And trust me, they are convenient. I just went down and bought an ice cream - green tea flavor and some minutes for my cell phone.

I thought I might sit down tonight to jot down a few words. We’ll see how it goes. I made some pasta puttanesca tonight. Anchovies are easy to find here, and I thought capers might be tough, but they seem to be in every supermarket. My lab mates found out I like cooking a bit and took me to かろっと or carrot supermarket - a mix of Japan and international cuisine. Interesting to see what you can find here. Surprisingly, there is a lot. I have a bottle of Cholula on my counter top; however, the right beans are tough to find and I will be making my own tortillas here soon. But, for the most part I can eat what I do at home. Although it takes me three times the amount of time in the supermarket translating the labels. Well not always, my Japanese is not that good that I understand what I am buying. Soon I hope, soon. Speaking of, I was there tonight, a supermarket and a ひゃくぇん store - the dollar mart. Amazing what you can find there. Seems as if necessary and unnecessary little plastic items are cheap; fresh produce is what is expensive. China is close and flat land far away.

So I’ve bored you with a few ideas of cooking and shopping, but maybe this says it all. This is where I am at – the day to day. I want the independence that understanding provides. I want to know where the grocery store is located, where the best and cheapest apples can be found, and how to ask for a measuring cup for rice. That was my challenge for the evening. I did it by the way yet I did not need to utter a misprounced word of にほんご。Plus, the kind woman at the counter spoke faultless English. She asked me my address, and I drew a blank. “You should know your address in にほんご。” She's right. I do know though. It’s rare to find someone in Japan at the supermarket that speaks English like she does. So, I had to ask. She lived in London for some time, and this is what moved me to relay this story, she said to me, “life happened and I find myself at this store checking groceries.” There’s a story there I hope to know, with time. When I return to スパーアクス (Super Arcs) I will select her register. Without her I would not have found out how to get a members card and a gift for using a cloth bag after 10 uses. For me, it’s who you know, ‘cause you don’t know.

Oh darn, I was suppose to write about my apartment and the photos I have taken so far, of which there are not that many. That will just have to wait, I am tired and I need to post this thin gruel before it's too late.

Starting the web loggin...

Welcome to The Blog Fromage!

Someone else already has the name (fromhere at blogspot.com). Go figure! Alec? Audrey? Allen? It might even be me, oops.

I hope to keep you all posted on my where abouts and thoughts. Of course, since I spend most of my days these days in front of the computer, it's typically the last thing I want to do in my free time. I'll get photos going too.

alex