One year ago today!

Dancing in the rain

Time flies and these pictures were taken exactly one year ago in Nikko.

Strange thinking that only Ros and I were the 2 of 6 that remained.

And then again, in another couple of months - we'll be gone as well.

Arrrrrghhhh.......

In honor of watching Pirates of the Caribbean 3 tonight with the girls, I thought I’d share the pics of my little pirate ship ride I had last weekend.

Hakone Shrine

That's me!

Konagatake Ropeway - Hakone

Gambare Ash!

Ash

Jo

At the bottom again.

THE LOCKUP

Ash and I got a recommendation to check out THE LOCKUP in Shibuya. Supposedly it opened last September and is a quite popular themed izakaiya. The concept is of a central European dungeon complete with cells and skeletons. Blue plastic mini-skirted policewomen meet you at the door after you walk through thier haunted house entrance including everything from caged crazy men that pop out of the dark to moving floors and doors that lead to no where. You're handcuffed and brought to your table where you're given a drink menu which reminds you of chemistry class!
All the themed drinks come in beekers. Some with petre dishes, crushing stones, syringes, or test tubes.

You can get drinks with fruit liquor and rock-pop cotton candy that crackles when you pour milk over it.

To mango juice with added passion fruit seeds.

To drinks where you drop in pills to add a little bit more flavor.

The food is cheap like any izakaiya and their plates all have skulls on them.

In addition to an eclectic course menu, The Lockup also promises to provide twice-nightly entertainment by turning out all the lights -leaving you in complete darkness for 2 minutes- while the staff runs around scaring everyone. It was FANTASTIC!!!!

I so want to go back!

Want to buy a house?

As many of you may know. My parents are building a new house and selling the old house I grew up in. It's in Shiner, Texas (pop. 2070). Both sites are still in working progress, but check them out-spread the word!!!! (My mom will be happy.)

Side note:

In Kitchen photo 11, you can see just a little glimpse of my bedroom in the hallway. Hopefully my mom will post pics of it soon.

Also, you can see my dad sitting (with his Shiner Bock beer shirt) at the kichen table (probably eatting dinner) in Dining Room photo 4 - hehe!!

Random Korea

Cool, huh!?!

Yeah - that's what I'm talking about. A local bar!!! :)

My looking like a total dork at my Korean drumming class!

School groups everywhere!!! I have to admit though, their English was really good. I had a 5th grade elem. kid walk up to me at the National History Museum of Korea and say "Welcome to Korea. My name is Ko-sung. Where are you from?" in almost perfect English. I would have been even more impressed if I didn't just want to run away from school kids in the first place!

Peace y'all. I'm off to Hakone for the weekend. Pam - have a lovely flat/apartment warming party!!! -cheers-