I Love Having a Life!
This past weekend turned out pretty good and in the days to come looks like there will be some fun gatherings and fun trips to be had.
Firstly this Past Weekend
Mt. Takao (高尾山)
I went hiking! I said I was going to climb up Mt. Takao and I did with my friend Aki. We woke up really early. I think I left my house around 7am that day so we could arrive at Takaosanguchi Station around 9am. Mount Takao is not a crazy difficult hike/climb, but it is a bit of a challenge depending on what trail you decide to ascend/descend. Most people take Trail 1 which is relatively easy, even for children. The mountain itself is only 600m high and takes 90mins or so to climb. It was the long weekend so there was many people making their way up & down the mountain trails, but that’s to be expected.
At the base of the mountain
Halfway up the mountain. You can see much of the Greater Tokyo Area
Mitarashi dango – It seems to be popular for mountain hiking
Monkeys are suppose to be in these mountains. I saw none :(
My friend Aki taking a sneaky picture of a cute dog. Yes, dogs climb mountains too!
Half way up the mountain there is a temple; Yakuo-in Temple (薬王院), which is quite nice. This is about the same time when my camera decided to cut out! I was so mad that the batteries were not charged like I had originally thought, but whatever! Aki took pictures too so I will burn a CD from him later.
We reached the top and there were hundreds of people eating and taking pictures of Mount Fuji along the horizon. The sky was so clear that day; a perfect day to climb! I really wan to go back, perhaps in the spring. I’m happy I had the opportunity to see kōyō (紅葉 – autumn leaves) as it’s really amazing to see.
Kōyō (紅葉) – A great example of the variety! *_*
Mt. Tsukuba (筑波山)
Though my Sunday was pretty lazy (with the exception of getting my hair cut), the following Monday I was lucky enough to climb another mountain with Heather, Andrew and Cristovao. This time it was Mount Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture. Tsukuba City or Tsukuba Science City is a planned city with a university and many research facilities focused on the sciences… or at least so I’m told, perhaps worth another visit.
Andrew sleeping and us having fun with it on the way to the mountain :P
The mountain is 40mins from Tsukuba Terminal by bus. I was a bit excited. I really enjoy climbing and hiking! Nothing to intensive like what you would see in Cliffhanger, but more recreational and for fun! LOL
The mountain is about 900m high, I think. People say it’s easier than Mt. Takao. But I found it to be a little difficult. Maybe we took a hard trail up the mountain cause it was pretty steep the whole way up!
Us and our fighting poses at the the shrine near the base of mountain
On the mountain taking a break. It was tiring especially since we didn’t bring water ^^
At the top! Apparently I didn’t get the memo about the can-can pose ^^
Back at the bottom of the mountain and being silly!
By the time we reached the top it was starting to rain and it was pretty cold up there. The conditions were very mountainy for lack of a better word. ^^ But it was still great!
Afterwards we ate udon and looked around the shops for a bit before heading back home. Me and Andrew met Ariel and looked around Akihabara for this Japanese grammar game which is beyond my ability. I’ve come to realize that Akihabara has soo many nooks and crannies for a store to be lurking There was this one store we entered which was like on the 4th floor of some building in an alley way. It turned out to be very nostalgic store with games from back in the day – original Nintendo game cartridges and systems and much more! It was ridiculous! Monica you would have creamed yourself here! I’m sure you would have spent some good change at this place! LOL!
To Come
Next weekend is the school staff trip to Nikko and Kinugawa. I’m excited, but yet apprehensive about the whole onsen (hot spring) experience. :S Then next month I’m going to go to Tokyo Disney with one of the teachers from my elementary school. Then all that’s really left (but I’m sure there is much more to be done) is Mount Fuji. And like I may have mentioned, I hope I can do that next summer. ;D
To see all my pictures, as always check out, my Flickr.
December 9, 2008 at 3:15 am |
Daaaaaaamn, Im trying to save up enough to see you again!! >:X