Flashback 2009

Anyone within 5 meters of me at last year's New Years party at Propaganda heard my resolution that I would get married in 2009 (woooooo!). I had had a few.

Unless Benicio visits Tokyo next week, sadly this will go unrealized. BUT, I made another resolution that I would travel more in 2009--if possible, every month. I didn't do too shabby.

JANUARY



On a 3-day weekend I took the train to Tochigi Prefecture, to Yunishigawa Onsen. That night a blizzard dumped a foot of snow on the ground, which I got to enjoy from the rotenburo.

FEBRUARY



To Gunma with Tokyo Gaijins for snowshoeing in Minakami. Snowshoe up the mountain, slide down on your bum!



In between, homemade curry and real snow-cones with blueberry syrup. (OK, this was March 1 but close enough)

MARCH-APRIL

I housesat for my coworker in Kitakamakura for two weeks, looking after their pets. A nice 45-minute trek away is Yuigahama beach. Their Plott Hound, Chico, and I spent a sunny Sunday watching surfers brave the chilly ocean.



Later in the month, just as the cherry trees blossomed, I went to the States on business. First to the Southwest, including Colorado Springs and its magnificent Pikes Peak.



Next to the Arizona deserts cities of Tucson and Phoenix.



Then up to Seattle, where the UW Quad was in its full glory.



I made it as far north as Victoria before heading back home.



MAY

No traveling in May, but I did start yoga during Golden Week. Let's count this as traveling... to enlightenment.

JUNE

Ah, June. June was Bali.



JULY
Back to the U.S. for bidness, this time to Baltimore. Hi, Mom!



I love frozen margaritas.

AUGUST
I turned 29. Traveling... to my thirties? In the meantime, meet my coworkers!



SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

Back AGAIN to the U.S., this time to the Sunshine State. I do love me some beaches.



SoCal included lunch with cousin Nicole and a stroll along Hermosa Pier.



OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

2 weeks catching up with office work in Tokyo, and back again, AGAIN, to the U.S. First to the Pacific Northwest, including a drive across the great State of Washington.



A perk of traveling so much for business is that occasionally, they send me to cool places I've never visited, like Europe. First stop, Italy. When in Rome, eat as the Romans do.



Overnight train to Germany, where I met cousin Kai for the first time.



Cities visited for work: Milan, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, Hannover. Then a week of vacation, starting in Berlin.



With my Eurail Pass I made my way through Germany, down to the heart of the Alps in Interlaken.



Back to Italy to once again eat as the Romans do.



DECEMBER
It's been a busy year. I am going to enjoy this city I call home for the holidays, and stay put. Merry Christmas all, see you in 2010!

Dreams of Bali

You know those dreams that are amazing and seem so real, and then you wake up and have to go to work?



I did have to fly back to Tokyo and the job, but I'm still dreaming about Bali.



My visit to Bali was decided rather quickly. I "had" to use up a week of vacation that expired in June (I know, woe is me). It being the slow time of year in the office, the timing was good.



My usual travel companion was busy. Hmmm, where can I go by myself but still meet people and have a good time? I'd started yoga again, had always wanted to surf, and my nomad of a coworker raved about Bali. Let's see how Google handles "Bali surf yoga retreat".



Go on, try it



After thinking it over a few days, I decided yes, I want to be a surf goddess. So I requested the time off, wired the money, bought the plane tickets, packed my bikini and sarong, and flew to paradise...



When you wake up to tropical birds serenading the sunrise, and someone makes you bacon and mango/coconut pancakes every morning with fresh-brewed Indonesian coffee, and drives you to the beach for surf lessons, and tells you where to find the best 10-dollar, 1.5-hour reflexology, and you come home to your private villa and freshly made bed every night, it's really easy to have a blast.









I had the best time surfing. I really, really loved it. It was like flying. The water was warm. The waves were crashing. The sun was hot. So were the surf instructors. And oh, what a workout.



Maybe I'm recovering from 16 years in Seattle, but the sunlight on my skin was like oxygen for my soul. And the sweet smiles of the Balinese, wherever I went. And the lithe kittehs strolling through the villa courtyard, staring at me with their squinty, kohl-rimmed eyes, as if to say, "Yes, yes, this will make excellent memories."



My week in paradise ended and I was back in Tokyo. I was bummed at first, but when I close my eyes, I am back on the beach. And there is surfing in Japan. And Bali is only 6.5 hours away.

To America

I went back to the Southwest this spring. A quick drive outside of Denver is Red Rocks.



After Colorado I went to Arizona. I love the desert.



Outside of Phoenix is the stunning Bryce Thompson Arboretum.



I met some cutie pies on the trail.





The flora and fauna were just gorgeous.





Heeeey, Macarena.





Giant eucalyptus trees.



Teeny tiny pineapples.



!




Tucson was my favorite.



I got to see a friend from Tokyo who happened to be there (thanks Facebook!), and met Joe Odagiri's look-alike.

After that, off to Seattle and the great country of Canada!

UW Quad

This is where I learned me some edumacation.

Spring

我が母校ワシントン大学の満開桜

Cherry blossoms @ UW

I was afraid I would miss the sakura altogether this year. No need to have worried!

Spring has sprung

first blooms, originally uploaded by ninapod.

I saw a funny TV news clip the other day that epitomizes pointless Japanese officials officiating things.

Site is some park in Tokyo where the sakura have begun blooming. A government official arrives with an enormous camera, takes a few photos of a blooming sakura and announces to the news camera: 「桜が咲き始めました。以上です。」

I pass by a gazillion sakura on my way to work and this is probably the closest I will get to hanami this year. For those who will be in Tokyo next week, the river just north of Tennoz Isle station is great.