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How funny that you ran into the guy Tan again! Prety wild! :)
10 months agoOrb weaver spiders are so interesting!
This one might be some species of giant wood spider.
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/49758-Nephila/browse_photos?place_id=13082
What an extraordinary way to start the year!
10 months agoIndeed. It was pretty stressful. Barry had gone to the store and I was in our hotel room. Suddenly from the TV there were very loud alarm sounds with a Japanese voice speaking fast and urgently. The screen showed a map and there were highlighted warnings. I couldn’t figure out where or what the problem was. Used google translate to read the warning signs….RUN! EVACUATE!! Every channel had coverage…all regular programming was preempted. At first I thought the danger was where we are, but I finally figured it out.
Like the rest of Japan, we were glued to the tv watching it happen. For us, it really hit home as we had cycled in much of this area on our previous trip in the spring. Hearing the names of villages and cities we had spent time in really made us feel sad for what they were facing.
The next day, there was much relief that the tsunami did not reach the level feared, but saw much devastation. The relatively low number of loss of life is a testament to Japan’s building codes and their earthquake preparedness. We, in BC, could learn from them.
And then, the plane in flames at Haneda airport in Tokyo. A full on couple of days here in Japan.
Hey as laid back islanders have you nevertheless been following the coverage of the earthquake and the airport collision and fire?
10 months agoDefinitely a unique museum! :)
10 months agoA happy cat! :)
10 months agoBirds!
10 months agoFrom our observations, it feels like that is true today, but I can’t be sure. We are consistently amazed at their fortitude, determination to keep moving and healthy lifestyle/food. I have knee issues and sometimes I use walking sticks if there are a lot of stairs or it’s just a bad day. I feel conspicuous as you rarely see even the most elderly relying on mobility aids. Eating mostly local food and regularly going to the public bath has certainly helped us. Appreciate your comments.
11 months agoAnd thank goodness I am riding or I wouldn’t fit on the plane!
11 months agoDodged a bad situation there. Phew.
11 months agoYes, we have that feeling too of Hawaii at times here.
11 months agoYes, a surprise like that made it magical for us…and then chocolate cake too!
11 months agoYes, even up close I had to touch it to be sure. Beautiful.
11 months ago
I bet that cherry tree grove is BEAUTIFUL when in bloom!
10 months ago