I've spent the last few days frequenting one of my new favorite spots on the island, a small beach that is in front of Derek's house. The water is quite warm and although I saw a stingray the first day I was there, is relatively private. Derek left about a week or so ago and said I could use his beach whenever I wanted. One of the JETs on the Island, Jeff, also recently left, and left behind a very nice road bike which I can use until I find someone to buy it. So I've been riding his bike everywhere, to the beach and also to explore the town I'm in. Just this morning, I was exploring around and found a cool road/path up into the mountains, where I saw a little park. To the side were wooden steps leading up to some kind of shrine at the top of a mountain. I took some pictures and ate lunch up there. The weather has been getting hotter so I'm thinking that going to the beach and chilling in the ocean is going to become a regular activity for me.

On the way up to the mountain where I had lunch. It was a hotel built in a nice, southern European stlye. The racing bike up against the wall completes the European look.

A panorama shot of the southern part of Tsushi from atop the mountain.
Another shot of the central part of the town from a little bit down the road.

Another shot of the private beach. With the exception of a few high school/junior high school students I've seen every once and awhile (today for instance, a bunch of young girls appeared while I was swimming and then started yelling "I rub (love) you"! from across the beach :))
the beach is quite private and nice.

The typhoon lasted all night last night, but thankfully both Nappa (who finally came into the house after I picked her up and brought her in) and I were able to sleep pretty well throughout the night. I awoke this morning to find sunlight blaring into my eyes. I got up and after a quick glance outside, grabbed my camera and rode my bike down the long driveway to a road where I would have a better view. The view after the typhoon was spectacular. And sadly its hard to capture the beauty with just photos. But here they are nonetheless.

First, the house after weathering the storm, unscathed and glowing in the morning sun.

A view from the end of the driveway, gazing out across the houses, rice fields, mountains and
contrasting sky. The air feels wonderful this morning.

A view going up the driveway to the house, note the sharp constrast in the sky between the dark rainclouds and the white...normal.... clouds. Very pretty.

Again, gazing out across the western part of Awaji Island where I am at the moment. Stunning (at least I think so).

Well I'd say my time in Japan has been deserving a proper inauguration in true Japanese fashion. I understand that a typhoon is due to strike southern Japan on Saturday (July 14th). I've never been in a typhoon before, but I have to say there is something intoxicating about standing at the precipice of nature's pure power. Its like watching an oncoming thunder storm move in across the lake from the shelter of a boathouse. So yeah, I think it might be a cool experience. I have been making preparations for it, buying enough food for a few days (although it isn't supposed to be much worse than a big wind storm with lots of rain, better to be safe than sorry). And I've also put up wooden storm shudders on some of the windows of the house. Whatever happens, I am grateful for the chance to be here, and relish in all the opportunities this place has to offer, both the good and the bad, and maybe even the bad-ass.

(pictures, sat image of Typhoon, boards over the windows and Nappa soaking up the rays while she still can)

It's been both a very relaxing and very strenuous past week. One of the highlights was going to Minamiawaji ( A city to the south) to play soccer with Atsushi and his team on Thursday night. After three hours of hardcore indoor soccer, in the middle of 80% humidity, we were all quite tired not to mention pretty wet. It was a lot of fun though, and I got to meet more Japanese people which is always great. The Friday prior I went to the beach in Sumoto with one of the JET's (English teachers) on the island, Jeff, who I met the first day. We met two of his friends there, Micah (An American) and Alex (A brit from outside of Oxford; all of them JET English teachers). It was pretty cool just hanging out and grilling on the beach. One of their Japanese friends, Yoshi, showed up a little later. After we finished eating we played Frisbee on the beach. I'll be seeing them again this Friday for another barbecue. I've also been spending a lot of time hanging out at Derek's house, and playing rummy with him and his friends. While I still have a long way to go in mastering the game, its been a fun experience. What I didn't realize is that the Japanese and English are hardcore gamblers, and when they play they play for keeps. I lost maybe 500 yen (about 5 bucks) over the course of a few nights, but it was fun. Otherwise, I'm getting along great here, walking Nappa everyday and avoiding the massive spiders who live in the house (One of the cats, Boogie, found one last night and was tossing it around and crushing it, kind of sad really). Big barbecue party coming up on Sunday, Atushi and a bunch of his friends, Jeff and his friends and some people from Tokushima are coming, it'll be a blast.

(pics top to bottom: Jeff, Micah and Alex at the beach in Sumoto, Derek laughing during dinner, knowing full well that he's about to singlehandedly beat me senseless at Rummy, The Spider in the house, a sunset from the vantage point of Derek's balcony)