There and back again! And I have (somewhat large) pics!

For those of you that didn't know (or remember/care/etc.) I have been studying abroad in Japan since last September. I came back to the states about a month ago. It was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. If anyone is still in school, I highly recommend you look into studying abroad anywhere. You will never have an appreciation for where you are, until you aren't there anymore. For those of you thinking, "It's too expensive bawwwwww," I can guarantee that there are programs out there that will cost less than your in state tuition.

For this installment of pictures, I have Hiroshima, and a children's kabuki festival in Nagahama.

After writing this, I found that the pictures are way too ****ing big, so I had to remove the image tags. So, until I can be assed to resize or there's an auto-resize built into the forum *cough*Laggy*cough* y'all be clickin' the links.
edit: if you turn snap shots on, you'll get previews, however.

Hiroshima:

My trip to Hiroshima was heavy, to say the least. We started off at 5 a.m. to catch a train to catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) at Kyoto station.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000735.jpg
On straightaways, this baby goes about 300kph or 185mph, and that isn't its top speed.

We arrived in Hiroshima and went to a restaurant across from the station. We ate Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
The women were two volunteers that came with me.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000747.jpg
Japanese beer isn't bad.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000751.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000752.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000748.jpg
Engrish, lawl.


From there we went by Streetcar to Peace Park.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000756.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/DSCF0019.jpg

The Atomic Dome was intense. It was surrounded by a beautiful, quiet, green space. However, its skeleton was a constant reminder of What Happened. I really didn't feel like smiling at this point, but when I know there's a camera pointed at me I gotta do something.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000767.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000773.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000782.jpg

Here are some shots of the park, and the cenotaph/shrine honoring the dead. Again, I didn't feel like smiling, but a camera was pointed at me.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/DSCF0036.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/DSCF0037.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/P1000792.jpg

Behind the park was a large museum that held artifacts from the bombing, including the piece of sidewalk with the outline of the shadow. I didn't get any pictures of those, but it was definitely more of an impact seeing the artifacts in person. I did get a shot of a scale replica before:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/DSCF0043.jpg

and after:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/DSCF0044.jpg
The orange stick is pointing towards an orange ball that represents the actual size of the explosion. It was less than 1/10 the size of the devastation, iirc.

Our mood lightened up considerably on the way home, though.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/DSCF0034.jpg


Hikiyama Festival:
This took place in the town of Nagahama, north of where I went to school. 400ish years ago, the then lord of the area began a festival to commemorate the birth of his heir. The festival consisted of large, ornate, wooden stages on wheels, and children's kabuki theater.

The town kind of "grew up", but the stages are still old, so it was a struggle getting them out of storage. Especially considering the power lines had to be raised so it could clear.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000691.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000692.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000695.jpg

Sakura season was almost finished, but. . .
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000697.jpg

Setting up the stage:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000699.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000706.jpg

About to begin:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000712.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000715.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000716.jpg

The story was about a rich noble who was recently married, and his wife left him for a while, vacation I think, and the noble buys a life-size doll for some reason. The doll comes to life, and after the noble passes out from drinking too much, the doll invites friends over. Hijinks ensue. Honestly, Kabuki is, for the most part really, really dull. It's cool to look at in picture form!

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000721.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000725.jpg

The doll:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000728.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...i/P1000732.jpg

That concludes this installment. I'll make the albums public so you guys can see the pics I decided not to put here. There's not too much more from these sets. Any questions, feel free to ask. Any complaints, go to Japan and do it yourself!

Next time: Kyoto

Awesome, can't wait for the next part.

Cool beans

Sugoi, desu ne!

Moto! Moto daiyo!

Originally Posted by justinious

After writing this, I found that the pictures are way too ****ing big, so I had to remove the image tags. So, until I can be assed to resize or there's an auto-resize built into the forum *cough*Laggy*cough* y'all be clickin' the links.

*cough* table breaking *cough*



I'd be more concerned of the file size instead of the pic's dimensions

- CL

Sweet! The pictures didn't resize themselves in preview mode, so I ass/u/med that they didn't resize. I'll reduce the resolution and filesize for Part I of my Kyoto pictures and leave the tags on.

P.S. moto (もと) means source, root, or origin (I think). You meant to say motto (もっと) for "more". Yes it sounds different, but it's a common pronunciation problem for us Westerners.
[/japanese 101]

you're so versed in other cultures :swoon:

did you father a child with a local while you were there? (you know, the norm)

I've always wanted to go to a foreign country. Unfortunately there was a problem with my passport. I was leaving around august with my parents to Cambodia. When I arrived at Logan Airport my passport expiration date was in October. They said something about the policy in Asia and if I were to go, I would not be able to come back. I was unable to attend the 1 month trip...I had all my "American Snacks" packed and ready to go. This happened a few years ago.

Btw nice photos'

Originally Posted by khmerxkid781

I've always wanted to go to a foreign country. Unfortunately there was a problem with my passport. I was leaving around august with my parents to Cambodia. When I arrived at Logan Airport my passport expiration date was in October. They said something about the policy in Asia and if I were to go, I would not be able to come back. I was unable to attend the 1 month trip...I had all my "American Snacks" packed and ready to go. This happened a few years ago.

Btw nice photos'

At the time of my departure last year, the State Dep't had decided to require passports for trips to Canada and Mexico, so the passport application process was very lengthy to say the least. I had to get my passport app. expedited, but it still came late. Then, I had to send it to the Consulate in Detroit to get my visa. I didn't get it back until less than a week before I left. So I can empathize with you. However, I didn't pack any "American snacks". 3 months in I was craving Taco Bell. The best snacks I had while I was there was the dried squid "jerky" that went very well with beer and these badass mother****ers:

Originally Posted by AltronHGX

you're so versed in other cultures :swoon:

did you father a child with a local while you were there? (you know, the norm)

Procreation was not my goal while I was there, but the act of procreation was very much on my mind.
残念ながら、やりたかったけど、出来ないほど忙しかったよ。

Pretty awesome chips I wonder if they have Doritos in my country. Also about the squid beef jerky types I have them were I live right now in Massachusetts at the asian convenience down the street.

Originally Posted by justinious

P.S. moto (もと) means source, root, or origin (I think). You meant to say motto (もっと) for "more". Yes it sounds different, but it's a common pronunciation problem for us Westerners.
[/japanese 101]

My bad... I can say some of them but I sure as hell can't spell most of them, much less write the kanji

Gomenasai, justinious-kun ...

- CL

nice pictures