The view from our third floor apartment. Not too shabby.
Today we went grocery shopping in downtown Hachioji-Shi.
Who would have thought that we would find THIS restaurant downtown. On the must dine list.
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OK! Prepare to be inundated with an orgy of cherry blosom pictures taken at night around Soka U. as the university is proud of their cherry blossom trees and light them up for all to enjoy during these beautiful days of full plumage. Enjoy! What great timing I might add in our arrival.    I graduated from University of Maryland, College Park, in 1971. Soka University was founded in 1971. Who would have thunk! Circles within circles.  Here's Jody complemented by these gorgeous cherry blossoms.  Now THIS is what university grounds should look like.       Returing to our guest house after our nightime sojourn around the campus.
Once again, as in New Zealand, we have lucked out Big Time with our guest quarters. Our apartment is, at least for us, huge with a main bedroom, separate guest bedroom, separate full kitchen, bath and laundry facilities, and living/dining area. Wanna visit us? Well, you've got four months to make it happen. Our main bedroom has traditional Japanese futons on tatami (rice) flooring. When in Rome, as they say. The guest bedroom has a western-style single bed. I brought my HDMI cable and have it hooked up from my computer to a nice Sony (what else) 35" flat screen TV. Got my Express VPN service so that I'm connected to Western Internet servers in New York, and am living high with the best of the East and the West.       Shopping for groceries and an extra futon for me in Hachioji, the town right next to Soka
We arrived at Soka U. at dusk on April 3, 2017 in pouring rain and cold. But, the first impression of the University was impressive. We spent the first evening freezing in our rooms as we were unable to get the installed heat pumps in each room to work properly due to our inability to read the Japanese instructions. But, everything was sorted out nicely the next day as we experienced a whirlwind tour of the University and got answers to our daily living concerns like shopping, transportation, etc.           Ah, the perks that Jody brings. Here we are in a relaxing lounge at Incheon Airport before our flight to Japan, complete with a buffet breakfast. It made getting up so early bearable.    Flying over South Korea enjoying their own "Misty Mountains" (I almost believe I'm back flying over Middle Earth).  The snow-capped mountains of Japan.    We left Seattle on April 1, 2017 and flew 10 1/2 hours to Incheon, S. Korea for an overnight layover before leaving for Tokyo. We crossed the International Dateline and it was April 2, 2017 when we landed. We went right to the Hotel Hu where we stayed until 5:30 am the next morning when we caught a morning flight to Tokyo. The hotel room was very nice and it was my first encounter with Asian custom of removing my shoes and putting on slippers for the general living area, as well as separate slippers when entering the bathroom.    Jody, Kat, Bryan and I had a fun 4+ mile hike in the Pacific Northwest woods near Everett, Washington. Saw a nice falls and also got some decent exercise.           Having a great time in Everett, Washington with Jody, her daughter, Kat, son-in-law, Bryan, and their cats. Really enjoyed a great Irish pub as I celebrate my Irish ancestry.      Sitting in Tampa Airport waiting to take off for 3 nights in Seattle as the first leg of our journey to the Land of the Rising Sun. |
Dick StammerArchives
July 2017
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