Clark in Japan

2011-04-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

Life back in Fort Pierce.....(nick).... I am working on the MA and thinking about the next adventure???? (more months....) Till then enjoying the beach, boats and sun....and of course turning papers in on time.....

clarkinjapan

2007-11-24T19:28:00.001-08:00

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Touring! On our way to Soma, Fukushima

2007-09-17T07:35:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went on a ride with 10 other people on bikes and an old VW bus with a couple people in it. We went for about a 2 hour ride and then had a BBQ at a park...it was a lot of fun. This vid is on the way to the park. (at the end of the video I put the camera in my pocket I thought I turned it off!...sorry)

2007-09-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some more Hokkaido pics.....it was an awesome trip. The campsite below was FREE!!! Open roads!!!!!!!! If you look close you can see a camera attached to my helmet (yellow bike)...
A famous area in Japan for flowers.....as you can see!
Preliminary test to make sure the water isn't too cold to go for a swim...
Idaho?.....Colorado......no.... .....JAPAN.

2007-09-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

Gimme 5!!!!!!

Here are some pics of the other weekend. Netty (an Ozzie chick- and good friend from work) and I went for a nice Sunday (actually Monday) drive to an onsen (Japanese hot spring) It was a really relaxing day and a good time. You can see us wearing a "yukata"- a Japanese robe, that the hot spring lets you wear while you are chilling or on the massage chair in between going for soaks in the outdoor and indoor pools.... I love Japan....

A few pics from Hokkaido

2007-08-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from my trip to Hokkaido...There will be more to come...I'm at at work right now and the computer is in Japanese (plus I have more pics at home)...it will be easier to put more up from home. The first picture is where I met the "gang", in front of a 7-11...I met 7 guys fron Tochigi, who were an absolute blast...they made the trip a lot more fun...

part2

2007-08-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

I love Japan

2007-08-25T02:47:00.001-07:00

HEY! Here is a video of me riding down some stairs in Feb....its pretty boring compared to my trip to Hokkaido last week!!!!!

Suzume Dancers

2007-07-19T04:11:00.001-07:00

Aren't they cool? I want to try the drums!!!!!

Sendai Surf!!!

2007-07-19T03:52:00.000-07:00

Look at those waves....very nice....I took this picture at the beach by Sendai Port (Shinko) in April '07. (The picture doesn't do the wave justice....I was pretty far away(click on the pic!!)...I saw a guy get in the tube earlier that day...)

Cherry Blossoms...I love Japanese Springtime!

2007-07-07T03:12:00.001-07:00

2007-07-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossoms.......

This is just a short clip I took sometime back in May. Saori and I went for a picnic at a park where many people go to view the Cherry Blossoms.....it was a beautiful day!!! This is my first time to put a video up from the computer at work... I did it!!!!! (although the resolution looks low on the screen!!!!)

Japanese 'Wal-mart"

2007-02-26T02:43:00.000-08:00

The pictures don't really do it justice, especially because I didn't take enough, but here are a few shots taken from where I (used to) buy anything that I might need and everything that I probably don't need (or you probably don't need- Ginny saw the dollar store and knows where I get the authentic Japanese souviners made in China) It is in a "convenient" location. So convenient that I can hear the elevator music they play in the parking lot/garage on a nice day when I open my window- I'm not complaining - I love Japan....(I say "used to", because I will be in my new apt. with completely different scenery tommorow.) Anyway, since I have spent so much time here, I'd like to share it with you... There is more- some other stores- I didn't take enough pics. but this should give you the idea... Aeon Supercenter.... click on the pic!!

Sendai METAL!!!

2007-02-18T01:53:00.000-08:00

The other day the guys from my band and I (except Yuji) went to watch a local heavy metal show. While our band "Toppatsu" only plays rock-ish kinda stuff, we thought it would be fun to watch some hard core heavy metal to "relax" and enjoy music togother instead of writing it together (i.e. arguing about how a song should go...) Anywho, it turned out to be a very entertaining night. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.....

Snowboarding

2007-01-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here are two short movies with no sound and a few pics of a trip I took to the local ski hill the other day. It was fun riding at night, in Japan, and-there was a 4 lane highway that went through the ski area! You could ride over it on a bridge, or under it.....it was really cool. (The 1st video is me going over a jump (10 sec.) - 2nd video I held the camera in my hand while snowboarding)

Snowboarding at Night

2007-01-29T19:13:00.003-08:00

st. mary ski run

2007-01-29T19:13:00.001-08:00

Snowboarding at Night

2007-01-29T07:06:00.001-08:00

Conditioned Response - After summer, I swore "no more peace signs durring photos"- yet behold-- I can't help but to say "hai" when someone asks a question, or flash a peace sign when someone points a camera at me! Nihon ni sunde imasu!!!
It never fails- if you're in Japan, there is a vending machine near by....even when you get off the ski lift....

Naruko Town and Hot Springs

2007-01-13T04:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

(1/12/07) Saori and I went to a historic mountain-town called Naruko, which is famous for it's hot springs. We relaxed in an open-air spa (it had walls but no roof) and enjoyed the smelly but soothing water...I tried to take pictures, but none came out very good. Anyway, here are a couple shots in and around the town... Naruko

Saori by a Shrinemouth)I've benn liftin!!!!....(ham sandwiches into my mouth)

About 10 minutes out of town..

Thailand-Japan slideshow (9 mins.)

2006-12-22T23:02:00.001-08:00

Make sure your speakers are one!!! Keep an eye out for Ginny!!

365 days

2006-12-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Wow---It's amazing how quickly time passes us by, or actually, how we don't notice ourselves passing time by. Anyway- it has almost been a year since I took this photo. It is the first sunrise of 2006, over the Gulf of Thailand. The following pictures are from my trip there last X-mas/New Years. Click on them and check it out....a picture is worth a thousand words, which is good 'cause I'm a slow typer....

Thailand!

2006-12-17T23:09:00.000-08:00

America-REPRESENT

2006-12-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

I am grateful to have a very cool opportunity to be envolved with such a nice group of people. I go to Japanese lessons twice a week at a "community center" where lessons are taught for free to anyone who would like to LEARN. Most of the students are housewives from other parts of Asia (China, S. Korea, India) and the occasional English teacher from America, Canada or Australia......The lessons are taught by volunteer teachers, some of whom are amazing and inspiring people. Last week we had an international tea party, and a speech recitation ceremony. I, along with people from Poland, China, and Croatia, gave speeches in Japanese about the New Year's Holiday in our respective countries. After the speeches we had tea, and as you can see in the pictures (in no particular order...) I was allowed a chance to try to make tea myself (traditional Japanese style....cool).... It was a really fun event, leaving me with a "this is why I can to Japan/I am one with the world" warm fuzzy feeling inside.

International Ambassadors

2006-12-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

Deiva-san to Clarku

Captivated by my flowing words of wisdom (actually concentrating, trying to understand my horrid pronunciation!)

MMMMM...Japanese tea

And the winner is....(ALL OF US!)

International Tea Party

2006-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Check out my name in Japanese
Please pass the Folgers
Presenting the tea

Making the tea

Day Trip to Tokyo

2006-11-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

Whoops- the narrative is down at the bottom!

Oh No! I got separated from my tour group!Yasukuni Shrine

That's the biggest tori gate I've ever seen! (the kids are in front of it, not under it!)
CUTE.
umbrellas and rain boots

I went to Tokyo the other day for a job interview. After a few dodgy answers to my well thought out questions I realized this is not the kind of company I want to work for. Anyway, after the interview I went to a shrine and took a few pictures. Japan is a very safe country. It is very commom to see groups of school children walking around unattended by any adults (teachers, parents etc...) I guess their uniforms play a role in their safety, and of cousre there is stregnth in numbers. Bear in mind also that Tokyo is a huge city. Imagine a bunch of elementary school kids walking around New York city by themselves....

2006-11-24T03:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Last night (Nov 23) I went to a real Thanksgiving party! I'm in a new band with two Americans and Japanese guy (Yuji). We play an interestingly eclectic mix of blues, rock, reggae, and well, rock I guess. Yuji and his girlfriend (Autumn) threw the party and invited a really nice group of people. I met some other English, American and Canadian people, all of whose Japanese was much better than mine-motivation to study more. One couple there had two really cute kids who spoke both Japanese and English and are dual-citizens. Durring dinner we passed a bell around the table and took turns sharing with everybody what we had to be thankful for. It was really cool because alot of people said their speech twice, once in English, and once in Japanese. There was definitley a nice warm fuzzy feeling of unity and gratitude in the air. When it was my turn I let everyone know I was grateful for a really, really, really, loving, and supportive family. It was an AWESOME night! (I'm not in any pictures-I took them!-Sorry Mom)Autumn (she threw the party)
That's Little Chris (bassist) in the back giving the "rock star" point to the camera.

A very nice time indeed...

Jamericans
Please pass the stuffing (that's Saori in the white)
Chopsticks and mashed potatoes

Yuji and Autumn (the two people standing)
Warm hearts-full bellies

A Few Pictures of My Trip Last Weekend...

2006-11-12T01:54:00.000-08:00

Hello! Here are some pics I took the other weekend. (If you have a map of Japan -find Sendai {North of Tokyo, on the east coast}) I drove from the east coast (Sendai city) across to the west coast (Niigata city) and then took a ferry to Sado Island. It was awesome. I saw a wild monkey cross the road-( not on the Island though, actually about an hour from my apt), I saw a racoon dog, and I ate squid-mouth! (Sound yummie?)... The leaves were changing and the weather was great. As you can tell from the photos it was a beautiful weekend. Feel free to leave comments if you'd like. I hope you enjoy!!!
Arigato gozaimasu-
Clark

Trip to Sado Island... click on the pic!

2006-11-12T00:32:00.000-08:00

Bike and the view from the top of the island. You can see the Sea of Japan... Beach by the hotel I where stayed (you can see the hotel's roof)
View from my room (29$-1 night)
The "hotel" where I stayed -my window is to the left of the telephone pole "Downtown"

2006-11-12T00:09:00.000-08:00

First time I've ever seen this... Octopus fishing- he had a stick with red lace tied on the the end of it- the octopi think it's a cute girl and come out from under the rock only to get stabbed with the other stick, and then served for dinner at restaruants on the island...notice how clear the water is
This is the fishing village where I stayed at the "hotel" - you can see the beach from where I took the sunset picture.
The road was ALL MINE!!!
This waterfall fell down about 40 ft. to the ocean which is just behind the camera

2006-11-10T01:12:00.000-08:00

Open, curvey, roads/ clear sea, and skies. Check out the sea weed... and clear blue water I've never seen before
Flea market at Ryotsu, the Island's main port town.
NIPPON.

2006-11-10T00:53:00.000-08:00

Chillin' on the 2 and a 1/2 ride to Sado Is.ikanoha- squid tooth/mouth?
on my way back down (towards the sea) from camping
The Sea of Japan- if you look hard enough you can see N. Korea on the other side...just kidding
Inside the ferry
Where I spent the cold lonely night! Actually it was pretty nice, next to the ramblin' stream...it was still cold!

On the way to Sado Island from Sendai

2006-11-10T00:41:00.000-08:00

Damn(ed) river! Somewhere in Yamagata-ken

I was driving through that tunnel (on the right) and came out of it there were about 10 people with camera's set up on tripods by the side of the road, waiting to take this picture (or a few like it ) with the trains and the leaves changing.
Wheelie! (just kidding)
Kilometers/hour!
Becuase this country is about 70% mountainous- there are LOTS of tunnels!

2006-11-09T23:09:00.000-08:00

2006-11-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

Two hours into the trip and already lost! Not really lost but don't know whether to make a right or go straight. The sign has English on it but my map doesn't, and the Kanji on the sign does match Kanji on where I think I am on the map. But I doesn't really matter so I decide to go straight and slow and enjoy where I am and not worry about where I'm goin'...