Photos; Russia to Mongolia to Peking

Irkutsk to Ulan Baatar

Just a week ago I was working deep in the woods of Khamar Daban near Lake Baikal in Russia. From there I travelled via Trans-Mongolian railway to Ulan Baatar, Mongolia and then to Peking, China, from where I currently write. The difference between the three of these countries cannot be described shortly. The changes range from landscape to demography, politics to people, weather to food. It's remarkable!

Our trip to Mongolia was slightly tedious, because of various circumstances ranging from a unagreeable attendant to having only one bathroom to having an unpleasant odor from our carriage mate's feet. We made it, however, and it was worth all the trouble!

Mongolia... the one place on my journey I knew very little of and was hesitant to venture to! What a disappointment I would have had if I had missed this amazing country! Full of rolling hills, farm animals, and perhaps the last real cowboys on earth, I quickly fell in love with the place.

Our time was spent mostly on tour, west of the capital. It was expensive at $60 a day per person but worth it as the sites of the city are quickly exhausted. Our tour was well supplied with a guide/translator/cook and driver plus tent, food and supplies. Our driver also lived in Japan for 2 1/2 years and spoke some Japanese so we could communicate quite well even without our translator!

We stayed in a nomadic man's hut the first night and played a game much like Spoons. It was a bad game, because we had punishments for losing. It ended with me running into a neighboring family's yert in my boxer shorts asking if I could stay there for the night. I hope they don't shape their opinion of Americans based on me!:P

That was near the "little" Gobi Dessert, which is a slightly scaled down version of the "big" Gobi dessert, yet still desert-y. Almost manufactured in appearance, where the grass ended, the dunes began. That evening we had a lighning storm that made the sky turn orange at each flash. It reminded me of a pachinko parlor in Japan.

The following day we went to a Buddhist monestary and a lake, both that seemed surreal in their surroundings. At the monestary I drank a bowl of fermented mare's milk. It was sour but easy to drink. All of the young monks were drinking it during their study which made me wonder what exactly they were learning.

The lake was beautiful and from the peak where we first spotted it resembled a small puddle with the endless fields around it. We stayed there two nights and did very little except sleep, swim and eat. What a great tour!

Looking back, Mongolia feels like a dream; we didn't have much time there. Our experiences in that short period were incredible though and as we travel through Asia, contrasting the countries has been interesting. Maybe one day I'll find myself returning there (the translator said she'd marry me).

Two Weeks in Siberia

I just finished a two week work camp in Siberia near Lake Bailkal. We worked building trails in the jungle in the southern area of the lake with a team of 6 Russians and 6 foreigners. The organization is called GBT, for the Great Baikal Trail and is working towards maintaining as well as awareness of the lake's natural beauty.

The camp lay about 5 kilometers south of the lake and was in gorgeous, rather untouched jungle in the mountains. Near the camp and running parallel to the path we were on and were building was a prisitine river, perfect for bathing, swimming, drinking, etc.

Though I know almost no Russian, communicating with the locals was not a problem. We were provided with a translator, Julia, who quickly became known as Mama (well, at least among me and my friend Matt:). The people we were with were very hospitable and fun and almost every night was spent around a camp fire singing, or more often listening, to Russian songs. It made me realize how few songs I actually know the entire lyrics to!

I could spend a page thanking each person who I worked with but I for now, I'll focus on the man who bore the weight of the group on his shoulders. Our leader, Roma, was half man, all incredible. Every day he carried a chainsaw to and from the worksite wich was about 30 minutes from camp. On our return he carried the chainsaw, four shovels, a tent, two packs, and his own belongings! And boy could he laugh! He also brought his cat which would roam about the camp while we were working. Thanks Roma!

Spending time camping without electricity, running water, internet, etc. helped me simplify my life-style greatly and I began appreciating the simpler things more such as bathing and eating. Other things include singing, quiet time in the morning, sunsets, star-filled nights, bugs, soap, etc.

It was an incredible way to experience Russia and to meet its people but also a reality check. Without the daily distractions there seemed to be more time to think, pray, read, laugh, and experience life richly.

Tomorrow I leave for Ulan-bator, Mongolia. Two nights on a hot train! Yes!

J

Toyama to Irkutsk

I am currently in the center of Siberia, in Irkutsk. We just got off the Trans-siberian train today after 3 nights and days. There were no showers, little food (bread,cheese,snacks,etc.), and no electronics; only time. It was amazing. The views were mostly of the Russian countryside which began much like the East with rolling hills and then became more like Oregon with dense pine forests. Russian people seem very nice and we haven't had any real problems yet. In fact, we were asked to have a drink with the train car attendants yesterday where we discussed American and Russian differences with the help of our guide book and hand-gestures. However, after they tried to charge us for what we ate and drink. That wasn't very friendly.

The ferry from Toyama to Vladivostok wasn't bad. We had pleasant weather and the seas were calm. There were various dancing groups on board too so we were given a free show! It was luxury compared to the dirty, dirty train!

Tomorrow we head out to our work project near the lake building trails for two weeks!

Forum Snowboard & Bindings

Goodbye dear friend!

Me

Only 3 months left before I leave my home in Nyuzen, Japan. I am unsure what to do after though I'm hoping to continue learning Japanese and interacting with the people. Someday I think I'd like to come back to Japan to work, though I can't say in what field. Maybe fugu chef???

Does anyone have any ideas for what to do when I go home???

The Philippines!

I leave for the Philippines in two days! I am becoming more and more anxious as the date approaches. Today I packed and finished last minute shopping for things I will donate to the center we're working at. I bought lots of chopsticks for gifts, twisty balloons, and water balloons. I also bought a new pillow for my neck which I injured last month snowboarding.

I will be leading a team of two other people to the island of Mindanao where we will be helping out at a center for orphans. Last year I worked at the same place and greatly affected by the experience. The kids have come from very difficult family situations involving abuse and are awaiting adoption into new families. However, despite their histories they are some of the happiest, good-natured kids I have ever worked with. I have also never met females who were more willing or at ease with killing a thumb-sized cochroach or mouse than me.

The staff are equally amazing and I was impressed by their parenting/teaching methods. Some of them work 24 hours a day at the center, taking only occassional days of rest or breaks but never faulting it seems. It is truly a community of renewed hope and joy.

Our journey will begin tomorrow evening with an over-night bus to the Kyoto, two trains to Kansai airport, a plane to Manila, an over-night layover, and then another plane to Cagayan de Oro. This makes for a grand-total of 36hours, 15minutes of travel time. Let the good times roll!

Stop smoking!

Cigarette Killer

For Kirsten

School Lunch

...Today's lunch is...

...Rice, soup, fish, pickled vegetables, and milk.

Who's the biggest turkey??? Please VOTE

	Who was the biggest turkey at this year's Thanksgiving feast???
Select up to 2 of the following: The baby Maichan The turkey Matt
Make Free Online Polls

How to cook a turkey and stuffing

For the last three years I have helped cook the turkey and this year I found a great recipe online. The turkey and the stuffing were both delicious and I have found that it's not nearly as difficult as it may seem. It does take a lot of time however. Here is the link to the turkey recipe:
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000037moms_roast_turkey.php
and the stuffing recipe
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000036moms_turkey_stuffing.php

So, though I may have led you all to believe the delicious flavor palussa you experienced was my own concoction, It wasn't. However, it still took eight hours to make and I got sick again because of it. Stupid turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving may be the "turkey" among holidays here in Japan but we've done a pretty good job of "stuffing" it into our schedules. Since most people cannot afford to go home for Thanksgiving (Canucks and Yanks), we are forced to celebrate one of our most endeared holidays in Japan. However, it has proven to be quite fun in the past two years and this year was no different.

We do not only invite Canadians and Americans though. Plenty of Japanese and Limeys have turned up as well and, being a potluck, the food has lacked interestingness. However, we have still managed to retain the staples; turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie and a few others.

With forty people, the location can be very important so with the help of fellow Japanese, we have been able to use a mountainside cabin for two years now. It has an indoor bath, a lake, a park, and bears.

Here's a video from us Nyuzen folk at the 3rd annual Thanksgiving celebration in our town. It was enjoyed.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=566908626765349016&pr=goog-sl Happy

Here are some photos of the day in retrospect.

Thank you to Sumiyoshisan for reserving the house for us two years in a row. Thank you Josh for organizing the event. Thank you Matt for not bringing crackers. No thank you to everyone who took all the pie home and didn't leave any for me. Just for that, I won't be cooking the turkey next year;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Chuo Alps

In one of my previous posts, I (emphatically) described my backpacking journey through the mountains in Nagano. The same mountain range is clearly visible from my town, the bases climbing straight up, constrasting strongly with the very flat plane of fields from which they emerge. As the season progresses, a white blanket has begun to fall over these peaks, slowly flowing down, in time meeting the ocean. For us Toyama gaikokujin (foreigners), it is impossible to imagine snow in our area during the uncomfortable humidity of the summer, where a small errand such as going to the store could require a shower and a change of clothes. Each season carries a distinct presence in Toyama though, and winter brings with it new pleasantries such as snowboarding, burrying little kids in snow, and two sphered snowmen.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful tree, snow (and bear) covered mountains from the last week. Enjoy

The guy who couldn't play an instrument...but knew how to splice video!

Unbelievable video splicing made into a song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqumbhfxRo&eurl=

More Halloween Pics

Pneumonia

I've been sick for the last month, directly after hiking Hakuba with my friend Tim. It began with losing my voice but progressed into chronic coughing, so much that I often couldn't sleep. I went to the doctor three times, each time with a different person who either sacrificed their free time or work time to help me. Others brought me food, medicine or tea. Thank you to all who helped me recover!

The second time I was at the doctor, they took a chest xray and found a white shadow, indicating I might have pneumonia. They then sent me to have a CT-scan (cat scan) and were able to identify it for sure. It was frightening to think that without medicine I might not get better. Thankfully, they said it was not a serious case and if I rested and took the medication, I would recover quickly.

Last year I was sick again and went to the doctor to have a check-up. He did a test on me known as the Bi-digital O-ring test. It's too weird to describe in detail so I'll direct you to an informative website, http://www.bpmlegal.com/wfinger.html. They told me I had pneumonia then too but I am pretty sure I didn't after having gone through this.

Two sick days and three weeks, many meds, and two boxes of tissues later, I stopped coughing and regained my ability to smell. I realized how badly I needed to take out the trash in my apartment...

Halloween in Japan!

Many of us lost interest in the American holiday Halloween long ago (Or were never interested at all, as the case may be) but Halloween has proven to be quite different for some of the students here in Nyuzen. We have taught them the meaning of "trick or treat," shown them how to carve a pumpkin, and even given them candy corn. Some of them said the candy was too sweet but they're wrong.

The festivities began in September when our town held a giant pumpkin festival (どで南瓜 大会) where we had seed spitting contests, pumpkin carving, and a pumpkin dance. In past festivals the opening ceremony included speeches from officials such as the town mayor. In other words, thte festival is taken (somewhat) seriously.

In one of my elementary schools (小学生), the first grade students (一年生） made pumpkin masks and practiced trick or treating to win candy. I also made a box with things inside that felt like eyeballs, brains, and toe nails. They weren't real but the kids were often too scared to smell or taste what they had touched so the illusion prevailed.

I came into the fifth grade class today and found the students dressed in elaborate costumes. One student had constructed a witch's hat, another had borrowed her elder sister's junior high uniform and one boy went so far as to grease his hair, wear a cape, a white shirt and fangs for Dracula. The one student who forgot a costume colored a big red spot on paper, laid down on the ground and told us he was road kill. Such creativity!

Many Japanese have never seen a real Jack-O-Lantern so I carved a pumpkin for our three-year school festival at my junior high. It's ちょっと difficult to find small saws around here so it took me about three hours to complete. I also carved a pumpkin for one of my elementary schools which was much more plain but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

In my eighth grade elective English class I taught the kids how to trick or treat and they had to draw a costume for themselves. At the end I had them make teams and then turn one of their teammates into a mummy using toilet paper. The students really enjoyed dressing their classmates in tissue and even found creative ways to incorporate the brown tube.

Yup, I'd say Halloween hasn't been laid in the coffin yet. It's still alive and well among batty kids here in Japan, even if it is just a skeleton form. gwa haha