Daley-sensei's Adventures in Himeji, Japan.

This morning I visited Himeji Castle and the neighboring Koko-en (Japanese Garden). It's about a 10 minute bike ride from the Shirasagi Residence, which is pretty cool.  I was given a very awesome tour by two locals: Toshi and Keiko! They were very cool! Toshi had a lot of information about the defensive mechanisms behind this castle, which are supposed to make it impregnable. Since it was never invaded (none of the Japanese ever had the courage to try!), it's hard to say how well this castle would have stood in an actual invasion. Personally, I wouldn't want to try and besiege this castle, either; it's design is that impressive! Fun fact: this castle survived a bombing during WWII, the only time it's defenses have ever been tried. Anyway, on to the best part, the photos! I'll explain aspects of some of them along the way! This is the view from the main gate, looking at the Inner Moat. There are three moats surrounding Himeji Castle, but this is the...

I've been off in my own world teaching lessons, goofing off with students, and building furniture from Ikea. My apartment is almost ready for a photo shoot, just need to wait a few more nights until I can clear out all of these cardboard boxes. But in the meanwhile, I thought I'd write a little bit about how different the Japanese way of life is when compared to what we're used to in the USA. Eating at Restaurants Restaurants are always fun, right!? And there are so many local places where you can eat here that are absolutely fantastic! One of my current favorites: Sushi-Ro, a $1-a-plate sushi restaurant. Conveyor-belt Sushi Restaurants are totally fun! And when you pay at the end, they total your amount based on how many plates you have, with a nifty little measuring card. If you go to Himeji, you have to eat there at least once! Anyways, restaurants in Japan are a bit different from ones in America. The biggest difference: NO TIPS. Seriously, don't try and...