Been sick for weeks now!! WTF!!

The doc started me on new antibiotics...  I also manged to find a Japanese over the counter pain reliever called Shin Kokon-S.  It has 900mg of acetaminophen plus some herbal junk.  That kicks the bananas outta the J-Tylenol, which only has like maybe 200mg of acetaminophen...

I need to kick this bug...  I've spent more time, energy, and money on this than I have on anything else I've caught since I've been in Japan.  And no...  The oppressive humidity is NOT helping.

Of course, my doctor told me I was looking much healthier...

Hisashiburi...

Well, I guess it's been a while since I last posted a blog. Truth is nothing too interesting has been happening. My master's thesis is due in November, so I've been keeping my nose buried in articles about Japanese religion & spirituality. Other than that I'm well into my first year as a university ESL teacher. Definately likin' it!

Well, that's all for now.
See you on the other side!

-- Post From My iPhone

Bathing in Beppu!

Today, I was in the land of onsens, Beppu! For those of you who don't know, an onsen is a hot spring in Japan. Beppu is a city in north eastern Kyushu that was built on top of a huge natural spring which is heated by volcanic activity deep below the surface. I managed to take 3 baths at various onsens in the "Jigoku" area of the city. "Jigoku" translates into English a "Hell". I believe the name was given to this area because of the dense steam spewing out of all the pipes and street vents in the area. The picture I have attached is of Nannawa Mushi Yu which is a steam onsen. In this particular onsen you lay down on a bed of grass in a small stone hut for ten minutes. It's a lot like a sauna, but steamy! When you come out you are drenched! Then you go get in the bath and enjoy a good soak. It was a lot of fun, but not something I would want to do in the heat of a Japanese summer. Anyway, lots of fun.


-- Post From My iPhone

Aso's volcano!

Today was a wonderful day to see my first volcano! The largest mountain in Kyushu, Japan is Aso-san. It is an active volcano surrounded by five peaks. We were able to take a bus just about to the top of the mountain, and from there we took a gondola to the mouth. The plum of sulphuric gas was causing everyone to cough and sputter a bit, but the view inside was amazing! The most beautiful color greenish blue steaming lake of sulphuric lava lay at the suface and was reported to be 200 degrees Celsius. Apparently, it is a steaming 1000 degrees Celsius inside the mountain!

No burning projectiles today! (^_^)v


--Post From My iPhone

Kumamoto Castle

Spent the day at Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, Kyushu. Absolutely, beautiful! By far the biggest and most impressive castle I've seen here in Japan. The surrounding walls were gigantic as well!





-- Post From My iPhone

I got the blogger app!

Ok, so I spent ¥350, but I'm happy!

I'm thinking that this will make me a more avid blogger.

Expect more pictures!

-- Post From My iPhone

On the road in Kyushu

So, I'm down in the southern most part of Kyushu in a place called Ibusuki. Ibusuki is famous for it's hot volcanic sand which is supposed to have great health benefits. I went last night, and I gotta say, "It was amazing!!" I'll have the video up on YouTube in a few days.

Today we're off to Kumamoto.

I'll also add a post about Miyajima later.

See you on the other side!