today and days gone by

not today. hint. there is a castle nearby.

today. this where i walked to watch the sunset.

not today. the view in London while crossing the Thames River.

today. the bus home from the gym. two mohawk-ed passengers is a first. maybe.

not today. Banpaku Kinen Koen and cherry blossoms and a few cherry blossom-lovers.

today. this morning on the way to the bus stop.

not today. Misa-chan's and my shoes. mine are on the right.

so this is natsu in Japan

where is that buzzzzing sssssound coming from?


sunlight thru pine and maple


summer Ikebana (by Noriko)

Yamamoto Cafe on the trail to the Minoo waterfall

just about to take a dip in the stream . . . and so was the dog



the grande finale of this year`s Inagawa Hanabi Taikai in Ikeda which is in Osaka which is in Japan for those of you just joining me here. it was a very warm but not too hot saturday evening. and luckily no mosquitos. and give or take a thousand people, i would say about 100,000 people enjoyed the 70 minues of fireworks. i think it was the 70th anniversay of this event. this was my second time to see this wonderful summer fireworks festival with Noriko and the first for Tony, Tori and Niji. more photos later including some more natsu (summer) yukata and yatai photos.


summer hanabi in Japan


yatai, yatai, yatai and more yatai


Ricky, the wonderful Beatles singer. that is Minoo Takey FM`s deejay taking his photo from the stair. oh, that reminds me not to forget to find about why people were coming out of the restaurant across from the stage with one long noodle coming from their mouth.

tadaima, Minoo

i am here and very sleepy. more tomorrow or later today or whichever day it is. oh, time for the sumo report on tv and then it is time for bed, Noriko`s Mother and Father were very happy to see me. her Father was very surprised. i think i saw him wipe away a tear or two. i hope i can be of some help to him and to Noriko`s family during this my 6th year in a row of visiting during cherry blossom season.

a sunny day in Minoo, fall is on it`s way

good morning. and it looks like it will be a beautiful wednesday. back to sunday all went well getting to the airport in the rain. the flight was over 12 and half hours. i had a nice couple sitting in my row. nothing special about the flight, inflight service or meals. mainly i listened to my iPod and my tape player to pass the time in between falling asleep. i listened to some good podcasts on my iPod and two Tom Morton Shows on my cassette player. the bus ride from KIX was about an hour and 20 minutes to Hotorugaike Station. i fell asleep again. Noriko was waiting for Tony and me at the station. it was now monday evening the 4th. we had a delicious okonomiyaki dinner at Warai before going home. Noriko`s Mother was waiting for me but her Father had already gone to sleep. more about all that later.

i did want to say, if you want to write to me, please use my AOL address as i am having trouble accessing my mac.com email. so, back to kevfoto@aol.com or just address it to both addresses kevntony2@mac.com.

hopefully by now we have a new and much-improved president. Obama-sama!

i am now home alone. Noriko`s Father went to his Senior Day Care. and Noriko and her Mother went to run a few errands. i will go for a walk to Minoo Taki (waterall) when someone returns. it is still a beautiful day here. and i am still waiting for the official results of the election.

time to listen to some FM802 and prepare for my walk. there is some nice colors on the mountains but the best is yet to come.

seems like only . . . tomorrow

Autumn in Minoo (i am thinking these photos were from 2006 but it could be a year or two or three before that.)

my first bus pass, more exercise, another sunset and a new friend from . . . Osaka

it was another sunny summer day as October arrived.  here is tony and i trying to find some shade while waiting for the bus.  and yes, that is my first bus pass.  it is the EZ Pass which can be used on 12 different bus lines in the LA area. i know, most of you did not know there was one bus line in LA.  i think it is a good deal at $70.  i will let you know if it was worth it at the end of the month.  today i rode three buses after buying it...to the gym, from the gym, and back from the beach after walking there for a nice sunset.  that was $2.25 that i did not have to shell out.  in fact i walked to the beach with only my camera, tony and my bus pass.  it felt good not to be carrying my backpack.  sometimes less is really more.

4 palms at sunset...ok, 3 palms and one telephone pole

and by chance, (big small world), i met a young Japanese student from Hirano which is in Osaka... my home away from home.

here is Tony with Chika.  she had just come from her English class (English as a Second Language).  and yes, Chika is pronounced the same as chica.  Chika es una chica.   Chika wa chica desu.   ちかはチカです。she will stay thru december.　

good luck/buena suerte/ganbatte/がんばって！