Fuji-san

The top of the Mt. Fuji is the coldest place in the whole country! Ok, we had quite bad luck with the weather and were soaked when we reached the top. Last Saturday Outi, Timo, Tommi and me started from 2400 m and climbed all the way to the 3700 m. Climbing during the night is challenge itself but didn't we get refreshing rain with mild wind to acompany us till the top. Outi and Timo were the hardest fighters ever showing real Finnish spirit! They had normal sneakers and 100 yen raincoats (which are like those coats sold in amusement parks next to the water amusements). Eventually we were able to see what we came for, the famous sun rise in the land of the rising sun!

Pictures and more stories from that adventure comming later. This is the last week for hard working with the thesis (and no, it wont be ready after this week but working hours will change more human and I'll get back to the Judo gym). Next Saturday Finnish style drinking party and BIIIIIG firework show.

Next week time to start looking for a new appartment.

...And finally the picture of the Fuji adventure:


They don't know yet what is waiting ahead.


Starting point.


Half way to up.


How much still to go?


700 m more and we'll be on the top...


He-hey! We did it. Though it's windy, raining and freaking cold...no way we are going to spent any more time on the top.


Studying the map how to get down to the right city...


Suddenly weather started to change. The rain was gone.


Hehee, on the top you don't have to be alone...


The moment is comming.


Last preparations before starting to go down. Still freeking cold. This place is like a market square on the top of Mt. Fuji.


Last moment, everybody is holding their breath. Single "wows" could be heard from the crowd.


The precious Sun!


And once more.


The way down. Looks a bit easier route compared to that we took up. Weather turned warm immediately when sun got above the clouds surrounding us. This raised our low spirits to totally new levels!


Can it be? First glimpse of green land...we are closing to the end station.


A protection against rolling stones.... ;)


Tommi protected against the Sun. But still you burned?


Few more steps (read: couple kilometers).


Finish.


Few vending machines for thirsty climbers. :D

Still alive

Just quick posting to tell everybody that I'm still alive and kicking. Writing takes now all my time. Can't even do judo. I could take 2 h for judo easily but now time to rest. So no judo for last 2 weeks. Soon I have get back there...for the sake of small organ located between the ears. ;P

Hard drive from my silver apple broke last weekend and lost most of pictures taken this spring...no time worry about that for a one month on...eee, what else? Oh, many friends right now here. Tommi is now back in Japan for 3 months and Timo&Outi are travelling here right now for 3 weeks. After 2 weeks(?) we'll be climbing together to the top of Mt. Fuji.

writing, writing, writing...

Every day more and more writing. The dead-line of my thesis for HUT is really near...too near! Still, I'll take a brief moment and write few lines before everyone gives up reading this blog.

Few posts still waiting as a drafts (mainly missing some organising of pics etc.). They'll appear here some day. (^.^) Here rain season has finally started. The sky is all the time cloudy and level of humidity is high as promised (when asking about it earlier from japanese friends). Only temperature has been too low for few days...they said to wait few more days and I'll be begging this temperature back...we'll see. ;)

No free weekend since I came back from Finland. And still few working weekends ahead. I think that's all for the moment. Now I feel like drastig flow experience comming, so have to change my thought fast to the thesis. - - -

sumo

Went to see last Sumo Grand Tournament held Tokyo (It was in May...). GREAAAT sport!! Even better seen in live than from TV. Enjoyed a lot. I and my German friend Eric went there at afternoon but next tournament definitely I want to see from the beginning. This means getting to the stadium by 8 am. Lower ranking wrestlers are fighting first followed by higher classes. Not only that many lower class fights were more interesting but also they go faster. The higher the class the more time they have to spent on throwing salt on the arena and stomp the ground etc. Nice looking mind games but boring after seeing 20 of them. There are 6 Grand Tournaments every year and each last 15 days (wonder if someone has time to see all the fights...tickets are cheaper for whole 15 days though). More information about sumo can be found here. Next tournament in Tokyo will be held in September. Definitely going to be there.



Seremonial Bow Dance performed by highest ranking (Yokozuna) wrestler.


High class wrestlers. Those "skirts" can be unbelievably expensive...


Our seats were not the cheapests ones but still...


Last second before two giants will hit to each others.


Getting a good grip.


Wow. This big guys, and still they throw each others like nothing. Bet that the salt on the ground will sting a bit on the losers ass.


Violent looking fight.


Hehe...small fellows with funny pants every where in the sumo stadium.


Someone was playing a drum in that tower after the tournament was finished. ;)

baseball

Ooops...Hehe, quite late update. On May I went to see baseball together with my friends from the lab. Yokohama Baystars vs. Yomiuri Giants (team of Tokyo) was played in Yokohama. First baseball game for me in my life and I loved it! Really nice game. Unfortunately my hometeam (Yokohama) lost the game. :( ...hehe, but propably I'll move to Tokyo on September...

And btw, all the pictures are taken with cell phone.


Yokohama stadium.


...


...


The hero of Baystars, best batter. Made home run in this game.

Back in Tokyo

After surviving from eating fugu it was time to head home, 5 days trip had come to its end. From Oita I took bus to Fukuoka. Spent few hours there (shopping, dinner, etc.) and took night bus to Tokyo. In this point I had finally time to write my postcards which I collected during the journey. Put them in a postbox in midle of nowhere during the night when we stopped for a toilet.



Strange toys they are selling here...


Fukuoka, tall buildings like in Tokyo.


Hehe, this night bus had good service, slippers for whole night ;)


Home sweet home.


Travelling is nice 'cause you see many new places and meet interesting people. Most of all get out of daily routines. But after spending many many and many hours in busses (or trains), the home comming makes me always smile.

Fugu

After Beppu and many onsens there was only one thing to do in this trip before I was ready to return home, eating blowfish (fugu). Wanted to taste this deadly poisonous fish. Tourist office worker happened to know an owner of one fugu restaurant in Oita city. She organised for me special opportunity to taste this fasinating fish. So, after morning onsen took train to Oita and headed to fugu restaurant.


At this moment strange feeling raising in my stomach, where did I get myself this time. I got own small room for eating...if I die other customers are not bothered.


Sashimi fugu (raw blowfish) and a liver of fugu. Liver is the source of the poison and that's why the most poisonous part in the whole fish. Liver was specially asked for me by the lady from Tourims Oita. She told that it's common around here for people to the liver even though it's somehow forbidden in Japan. Like she said: "you don't have to try it if you are afraid..."


Seems that I survived...still not feeling dizzy and the liver is finished. Huge lunch they prepared for me and got 40 percent discount from it, unbelievable.