“サトリの森” ～ Forever

Last year, we visited Shirakawa village, which is registered as the World Heritage in Japan. There is another World Heritage village near there. It takes about 15 minutes from Shirakawa village. There are not so many houses as Shirakawa has. So it took only 30 minutes to look around. But it was HOT , HOT , HOT again. Satori was always trying to walk in the shade. But eventually she found a nice way to cool down. This is a farm ditch. The water was really cool. She really loved it. Isn't she cute? After bathing, she seemed happy. The next day, we visited a water fall. "Zengoro no taki" (Mr.Zengoro's water fall) Contrary to the village, we enjoyed being splashed by the water. The area was wonderful for a stroll. We enjoyed the amazing ways the old trees grew. The trees and plants there were very unique. We never see such flora in Tokyo. We walked around as we imagined how those trees created these shapes. After a long walk, ...

Satolela papa, Satori, Leila & I enjoyed our annual summer trip from July 22nd through July 28. In Japan, it is said that the weather is going to be sunny for a week after the rainy season is over. It was over on July 19 this year. Yes, it was right! The weather was perfect during our trip. It was cool at the camp site where we always stayed, but some places we visited at the time were really hot. Hot! Hot! On the second day at the camp site, we visited a ranch. It was our second time to visit there. That's called "Kiso-uma no sato" , which means "The Home of the horses of Kiso" . Japanese "Kiso" horses are pastured. Kiso horses are originated from Kiso area in Japan. They have become rare in Japan. The horses used to be considered a part of family for Kiso people. But few people need them for their daily lives anymore. They have dark mane, just like Japanese hair. In fact, we wanted to do blue berries picking . But as yo...

After Satolela papa's parents left, Satolela papa and I thought we had such productive days with his parents, indeed. Besides we found out we noticed something new about them. In the case of me: When we went to Kyoto, we dropped by a hotel for lunch. We sat in the chairs at the lounge, and watching a girl who worn a pretty Japanese kimono was been taken a picture in the yard of the hotel. There were two mute swans swimming in the pond. Mama Susan said quietly, "I want mute swans like those." Suddenly I, whom Satolela papa calls "city girl" , felt like slapping my cheek to wake me up and shouted in my mind as I was relaxing and watching the swan swimming. "WHAT?" and tried to listen to carefully what she said again. Speaking of wanting the swans, a few days ago, she said that she wanted to keep peacocks , especially a white one in their yard. "Joking.....right?" When I heard of it at the first time, generally...

2. Visiting We took Papa Gordon and Mama Susan a several places in Kyoto. I left house a bit later and I caught them up in Kyoto around noon. So before I arrived, they visited Kinkaku-ji ( literally Temple of the Golden Pavilion ) and Ryoan-temple . 　 as reference We were supposed to meet somewhere near Nijo Castle. But Satolela papa & his parents couldn't catch a taxi, because Ryoan-ji is located in a suburb area of Kyoto, so it seemed to be sometimes difficult to find a taxi. So I got a taxi to pick them up. After lunch, we went to Nijo Castle . Satolela papa worked hard to answer the questions which his parents asked. I think that it was good timing for them to visit us in Japan. Because Satolela papa has lived in Japan more than ten years, so he understands Japan very well now and also can speak Japanese well. So I didn't need to barge in, which was good. I really enjoyed myself as w...

On March 19th, Satolela papa's parents, Papa Gordon & Mama Susan , visited us in Tokyo. It was the first time for them to come to Japan. Or I could say they were the first persons of Satolela papa's family, even relatives. I am sure they would not have visited in Japan if we were not here. Our fur girls also had their first experience. Because we planned to take Papa Gordon & Mama Susan to Kyoto. So we had to keep them somewhere for one night. But luckily our dog's family doctor offered the service to keep them at their clinic. Papa Gordon & Mama Susan have animals at their house, so they couldn't stay long. They were only 7 days in Japan. Papa Gordon & Mama Susan stayed at our house. Papa Gordon is as tall as Satolela papa. So I was worried about him banging his head against a transom in our house. Actually it seemed happen a couple times when he was here :-< 1. First Experiences At a restaurant An appetite@ "Ukai Toriyam...