year of the bird

My winter travel adventures were amazing...traditional, mountain towns...breathtakingly beautiful and serene. watching the snow fall while in the outdoor hot springs ...soaking in life`s simple pleasures and just being. i wanted to stay at chojukan for the rest of winter. too bad most tourists dont know that japan`s greatest attractions are not in tokyo. also couldnt help noticing how attractive and young the monks were in the koyasan temple (and no ivana i did not flirt with the monks, nor the below mentioned basketball team :)

Years from now when i`m settled down i may come back to japan on holiday every few years with my family. speaking of holidays, no work today! seijin no hi or coming of age day for 20 year olds in japan.

new year`s was interesting, and of course very very different than what i`m used to (partying, clubs, times square countdown, church before/after; soulfood including black eyed peas and chitlins and a side of family drama). this year i spent new year`s with the senior researcher i work with and his family. we did hatsumode, waiting in a long line for the first year`s visit and prayer at a shrine, and bought darma omamori and omikuzi (shinto fortunes...mine literally said `half happiness` :( We ate a traditional japanese new year`s dinner of all kinds of delicious food that each had some new year`s wish associated with it like clairvoyance, good health, prosperity, luck etc. although i wish they had left out some details i.e. little herring eggs (for fertility) and the various parts of octopus. they also bought me a traditional new year`s card/lottery ticket. it was all very drama-free. but i kinda missed the crazy, weed-filled clubs on del ave and the after, after house parties hosted by friends/cousins. i even missed the cultish-like church services with all the `chreasters` who found jesus at new year`s again. i love philly!