Yamaguchi Kencho

It's so hard being an ALT. You have to visit kencho in Yamaguchi every so often.

As long as they are willing to keep paying me to go to conferences, I will attend.

A Day Out in Shimonoseki

Followed by a visit to the awesome Kaikyo Yume Tower...

Unfortunately it was difficult to get pictures from the top, but the views were stunning, looking across to Kyushu and back across at Yamaguchi. The windows badly need a clean!

Nerdy facts:

The spherical glass-covered observatory at the apex is the first of its kind in the world.

The diameter of the tower's sphere is 21m

8,700 sheets of glass were used in the construction of the tower (I wonder how many of those got broken in the process?)

The tower has 611 lights

The transparent elevator travels at 120m/min

And a lost in translation moment on the way back... We think this was supposed to read 'food halls' judging by what was inside.

Akiyoshidai Caves 秋吉台

After just 5 hours sleep (another late night karaoke session!) I was picked up by my fellow teachers Junko sensei and Yukie sensei. We drove across town to Kaoru sensei's house. Kaoru sensei teaches history at one of my schools, her English is very good. There I met her 2 children Daichi and Mau. Daichi is a hyperactive 5 year old boy who was very excited to see me. He was eager to show me his pet beetle and some other insects that he collects in boxes left by the front door. By the time he'd finished chasing them around the floor and picking them up, they appeared to be dead or missing several limbs!

Mau (7) was also excited to see me. As soon as I arrived she practiced her perfect English.... It was far better than my level of Japanese and this kid teaches herself??!! I was amazed at her perfect pronouciation. They couldnt wait to show me around their house and play with me.

After coffee and cakes we left for Akiyoshidai - a mountain town famous for it's limestone caves - (the biggest in Japan). An hour later we arrived..

My new friends Daichi and Mau...

My fellow English teachers Junko sensei and Yukie sensei

My House 山陽小野田市山口県私のアパート

My humble abode in downtown Sanyo Onoda City, Yamaguchi prefecture...

The Japanese style living room...

The dining area...

And my bedroom - lacking any pictures on the wall at the moment...

Hakata Visit 博多に行きました

Kushida Shrine 櫛田神社　in the centre of Hakata city...

With cool Torii Gates:

Japan Dance Festival near Hakata Station

My accommodation for 2 nights... The same capsule hotel that I stayed at last year. Amazingly one of the staff remembered me. Probably because I committed the ultimate act of bad manners in Japan - I didnt take my shoes off at the door and walked across the carpet! Hooray for cheap capsule hotels. This one had a nice sauna, jacuzzi rooms, relaxation suite and massage rooms. Bed and an average breakfast for less than £20!

カプセルホテル 。。。。。

去年僕はこのホテルに泊まりました。　安くて機能的です。　お勧めです。　僕は好きです。