Merry Christmas, Everyone!

To my friends and family: here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you all so much for the wonderful cards and gifts. They made being away from you just a little more bearable. I hope you are all enjoying the snow, and the turkey leftovers- the two things I miss most about Canadian Christmas... After you, of course, my near and dear! Thanks again and Happy Holidays.

Welcome to Bizarro World

Here in the middle of Kobe's "Harbourland" district is perhaps the most bizarre amusement park I have, or will ever see. Like something out of a Baz Lurhmann knock off, this little gem on the waterfront offered me and my friend Hannah at least an hour of action-packed entertainment. From the glass bottomed ferris wheel to the dusty palm trees, the early 90s style VR jet-fighter sims to the ultra-slow-moving stuffed pandas, this creepy, depressing, but perhaps ultimately charming place of wonder comes in... somewhere, on my list of recommendations.

Hope you're all staying afloat and more, in this crazy time of year. As always, I'd love to hear from you! (and as always, I'll reply to blog comments directly on the blog, and to personal emails through personal responses).


Here's me trying to break the land speed record... Watch out!



This is Hannah, high above Kobe and scared out of her mind.



Not sure who's happier, me or the giant robotic plush toy.



Bizarro Christmas.

Nuddhists?

Of course there neither are, nor ever have been, Nazi-Buddhists here at Engyo-ji temple.

Computer Failure!

Sorry everyone!
This posting has next to nothing to do with anything interesting. It's here only to let you know that my computer is going in for repairs tomorrow afternoon, and won't be returning to me for at least a week if not longer. So, as if my posting regularity hasn't been bad enough, it will only be worse over the next little while. I had big plans to put up a whole bunch of pictures tonight but unfortunately I have run out of steam.
This also means I will be a bit of a drag when it comes to responding to emails also, though I will venture over to the internet cafe at some point despite it's overheated and smokey atmosphere.

Wishing you all the best in the year-end build-up/wind-down!