22 February 2011 ~ A Little Extra Protein

When they tell you to wash everything really well after returning from the market in China, this is one reason why. This little guy was hanging out in my fridge for four days until I finally decided to make myself a salad. Yum, yum, yum! Or shall I say, "Yuck, yuck, yuck!" I made Mac and Cheese instead.

21 February 2011 ~ Chinese Characters

I'm so excited! I can finally read Chinese characters. This says "JinShiTan Station". I became highly motivated to learn these characters after getting on the wrong train bound for home. : / I now know how to read JinShiTan Station and Dalian Station in Chinese characters. Woohoo! Only 6,494 more to go. (And that's the simplified form!)

20 February 2011 ~ Do It, April, Do It!

19 February 2011 ~ Out of a Funk

After a couple weeks of being in a deep, miserable funk, I knew I had to do something to pull myself out of it. Thankfully, for the first time in months, the mercury rose above 32º F, so I packed a picnic lunch, hopped on the dragonfly bike and pedaled to Golden Pebble Beach for some fresh air and exercise.

It was a beautiful day, sunny and clear as a bell, but a bitter wind brought the temperature way back down.

I had the beach to myself until...

this gentleman arrived...to go for a swim??? I was all bundled up in my long johns and winter coat and he was heading into the water!

Check out the color of his skin after he came out. Can you say cold?

Remnants of Chinese New Year

All is quiet and peaceful on Golden Pebble Beach.

I love to take pictures of the pebbles...the colors, patterns and textures are so beautiful.

View out over the Yellow Sea

Nature and the cold, crisp air worked wonders with my psyche.

7-18 February 2011 ~ Please Stand By

I'm experiencing technical difficulties—please stand by…

Due to flu, excruciating migraines, and a homesickness so bad it hurt, February was not a good month for me. It's hard to take pictures when you're in bed with the covers pulled over your head, so let’s just say February was a month of recovery and rejuvenation for me. Not all days can be good...can they?

6 February 2011 ~ Here's Your Sign

What trip would be complete without the silly signs?

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

You better not Pout. I'm tellin' you why....

This one just makes me smile. Just gotta love those dimples!

What about if I drew nice and neatly?

So that's why I keep splashing! (This is actually a serious conversation I've had with fellow squatters here in China. Do you face forward or backward??? I'm so glad this sign has cleared everything up!)

Assume the downhill skiing position! You must have very strong thighs to pee here in Asia.

Giggle, giggle, giggle!

Ouch! That's gotta hurt!

And my all time, personal favorite...

What do ya think? Could this ice cream shop be owned by a liberal or what?

5 February 2011 ~ I Love Japan

Good morning, sake and sushi! Thanks to our adventure last night, we had an incredible sushi breakfast. Yes, we knew it was a tad bit early, but it was our last hurrah and we decided to crack open the sake because, let's face it, sushi without sake is like a day without sunshine! ; ) It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip.

Yum, yum, yum...

...and more yum.

Saaaakkkkeee!!

Dig in, Kara!

Such concentration...

...and such happiness!

After our incredible breakfast, it was time to pack up our bags and get ourselves back to the train station.

Very pretty manhole covers in Japan. : )

Here's our famous sushi restaurant.

We also found this cute little bar last night. What you see is what you get...a tiny little triangular room with six bar stools. We order two glasses of sake and they turned out to be $50 dollars a piece. After hearing this, we changed our order to rum and coke and they turned out to be $30 a piece! After hearing this...we left! We were quite amazed with how expensive everything is in Japan.

On our way back to the train station, we found a multiple story Japanese book store and decided to have a look-see. On the third floor, we were overjoyed to find a corner with a few shelves of English books. To my surprise and utter joy, we found a Sonoma and Napa Valley Wine Country book!

Me, standing in a bookstore in Tokyo, Japan pointing to my little home town of Windsor, California. It truly is a small world in which we live.

Locating our train back to Tokyo Station...

At Tokyo Station hopping on the Narita Express bound for Narita Airport...

Nice train...

...and even nicer bathroom! Pure luxury! Turned out we were in the first class car and were soon ushered to steerage with the rest of the common folk.

This is eerie. While having breakfast this morning, we felt a pretty good earthquake and some of the trains were stopped because of it.

You bet you will!

Plane bound for home...

I had such an amazing week and I am so grateful for Kara, Megan, and Veronica. Their friendship and the wonderful memories we created in Japan mean the world to me. : ) Thank you!