Ueno Park and Zoo

I spent the day riding around on a bicycle in the busy city of Ueno. I was terrified I was going to plow right into someone because people were all over the footpaths, where it is common to ride your bikes.  It is not particularly a normal thing for me to do back home because I hate riding on the roads, so I was really apprehensive but had a smile on my face when a friend suggested we hire bikes...yay :)

Aside from the absolute terror that I would knock over someone, Ueno was a beautiful place to see. Gorgeous park and the zoo was so big I was unable to see the whole thing.

Click here to read more information about the Ueno Zoo

Shizunami Beach

My friends wanted to show me a decent beach. Let's be honest, I'm Australian, pretty much any coast you drive to where I come from, you'll find a decent beach. I wasn't used to stepping onto black 'sand'. I appreciated the thought and in general, Shizunami beach was a great place to swim. I did miss the golden sand, but we had a good time. 

Lake Tanuki & Otodome Waterfalls

We went on a road trip, after deciding it wasn't beach weather. My friends and I squished into my little car and we found the waterfalls and Lake Tanuki thanks to my Japanese friend's directions. It was a great day and the waterfalls were so beautiful. 

N is for Noodles

The kids from my kindergarten had a sleepover and the other teachers and I were there to help. When I arrived, parents were setting up this contraption using bamboo, crates and a hose. I had no idea what were going to be using them for. It looked like a makeshift waterslide.

 There was a bowl waiting at the other end. 

Noodles were pushed down the bamboo pipe with water from a hose. If you were fast enough and coordinated, you could catch them with chopsticks on the way down. 

Those not caught ended up at the bottom of the 'slide'.

Then you put your noodles into your soup to eat.