August Heat

There's no doubt summer is my favorite season of the year. I came from a tropical country so this explains a lot. How can you not love the sun? You can do almost everything except making snowman haha. Do you wanna build a snow man? Possibly, out of sand or maybe mud? haha Ahhh summer, you're so addictive, I always ache for you. There's too many things to do but too little time.

This year's August was the most exciting to me. I felt so alive after a veeeery looooong wait. Although I did things alone, it was the busiest of all summers I had here in Japan. From the first day of August I made lots of arrangement to fill up my rather loose work schedule. Sometimes I so love the company I work for. Working with pleasure or business with pleasure? What must I call it? Actually, never mind.

I spent most of my time in the beach. Yes, the beach, that's where I belong. No one can blame me. There's only July and August beaches here are good for swimming. August-along Tokyo bay and July till September-along the Pacific Ocean coastline. See, I had to make the best and the most of it. Call me greedy but time is gold. But greediness as it apply anywhere have consequences. 

As you see, I spent a lot of time in the water, unfortunately, I got stung by something while showing off my moves in the sea. haha Ouch. But, in twenty-five years of my life living surrounded and swimming in the ocean, I've never experienced being stung by some unfriendly sea creatures until this summer. They must have missed me! Man, it was painful! My leg got swollen for several days. I guess there's always a first time and not all first times are gold! Thankfully, I have that skin of a carabao lol!, it did not hinder me from going everywhere. I still swam tirelessly and had myself plenty if sunburn. I, in fact as of this writing, have them behind my back to which part my short arms couldn't reach for the sunscreen. I'm not flexible too, you know. This is when you need someone with you, to help you slather that lotion all over you and be spared from flaking like a hibernating snake. haha

 
 Mountains are so close to my heart. Being born and brought up in a nature abundant island, there shall no summer to pass by without hiking a few mountains. Being close to nature-trees, rivers, birds chirping is heaven. I could listen to them all forever. You're free to call me: jungle girl. Wished I had friends close enough to me to go with but, there were none, so nga-nga hahaha. 
 

There were festivals and shows almost every weekend. I went to many of them. They're pretty cool. People flock together in their yukatas and kimonos. There are the same food stand of barbeque of seafood and meat, takoyaki and many many more you will only find in Japan. It still amazes me how this country could love deep fried spaghetti noodles! 

I took plenty of pictures beautified by the combination of lively green trees, colorful flowers, blue and green sea, orange and blood-red sun. There are also chirpy people, laughing children, teasing teenagers, loving couples and happy pets. These are the things you'll rarely see during colder days. This is most probably the reason why people in the tropics are the happiest because there's the sun all year round. 

I feel so free walking around in a tropical outfit. You know the looks-sundress, sunglasses, handmade tote, sandals, wide brimmed hat, parasol and of course, the sunscreen smell aannd let's not forget about the sweat! Now here I am, thinking about my sweating beer or cocktail; sitting under the parasol while listening to music with my eye shut; in-front of me is a beach full of people busy with summer activities, fishing boats and ship from afar; on each side of the beach are beautiful rock formations and mountains; there I am breathing contentedly, savoring all the beauty of the August heat. 

My love of Orange

Why do I love orange? Because it's one of summer's hot colors. Let's skip Halloween here for now. haha

This picture on the left was taken summer time few years ago at a beach called Hojoh/ Hojou in Tateyama. I still find this beautiful. I feel like I'm still in that beach.


This summer I bring you a Kitty parasol and grandpa. I'm sure it's the last thing to worry about when you are babysitting four grandchildren swimming hungrily in the sea. Make glasses are on!

This sight of  "cute things" is not new to Japan. You can see seniors rocking those cute little characters around. You can be the weirdest looking person on the planet but no one is going to bother to stare at you. One of the little things I love about this country. Your business is not mine.

This is the train station in Tateyama. It is on the street called the Orange street. From the name itself almost all houses and buildings has hints of orange in them. How cool isn't it?

A little Izakaya beside this beauty parlor. I could just drink sake all night then go next door, relax and restore my beauty back. I'm pretty sure it's owned by the same person, you know, sales tactics. Not to mention this is near the beach ah, they'd be making some cash  or maybe not. It looks like it's about to close and no one inside. Wait, this story could go on forever.

I love the combination of white and orange. These lovely street lights are scattered everywhere in this little camping, swimming and fishing village called Tomiura. This village just recently been merged to a city called Minamiboso located south of Tokyo bay facing the pacific ocean. Hold on...hold on.. this is geography.

See that little orange tent right there? The color stands out among many other tents. It's beautiful to see people relaxing all day. Go about fun things out like boating or swimming with their loved ones then return to their respective tents. Eat barbeque and grilled fish. Drink beer, play guitar and sing and chat around the bonfire. I always love outdoor activities specially in the summer.

Yes we need funky colored dump trucks to collect carefully segregated trash around this little village. Me thinks it's new or rarely been used. see how clean this place is or this country generally. The driver has the easiest job there is!

 I thought this was orange! but oh well, it's already here and besides it's really beautiful! They turn into orange at some point of their life time. They're tiny sunflowers, almost like a daisy. You can only identify them by their leaves. I remember planting these with my elder sister. They're absolutely beautiful flowers.

This hibiscus does not look orange too, just a little. Does it look like peach? It does eh? I used to play with them with I was young. I take all the petals leaving the ovary and the style then stick it onto my ears so that it looks like earrings. ;-D I certainly do have good memories with flowers.

This is a local festival called yassai mossai. People in groups dances through the night. Each group are judged by their costume and their dance moves. Although they have a set dance steps and music they could show off by making their own free style. The more lively your group is, the more chances of winning! This festival is the way of thanksgiving of the local businesses. They'll dance around carrying the name of their business. This is a two day annual festival which thousands of people patronize.


This is how the festival day looks like and it's only in the morning! How about in the afternoon or at night?! Picture it by clicking and reading the show!

How may fish can you see?Some goldfish at a nearby shrine. They're huge! I wonder how old these fish are! Are they edible? They certainly look like my favorite fish back in the island! I miss my father now.

I warn the shrine people around here, you know where they're going when they start to decrease in numbers! It's called easy catch.

The taste of the tropical paradise. This is probably where orange caught my eye because it loves whatever orange!

This is a wild flower back in my island but here in Japan this is a precious garden flowering plant.

 Here's my lovely niece Kathleen in Zoocobia sliding all the way down after she was persuaded by her four year old younger  brother. She then wanted to do it again and again! As they say, you won't get hurt because it's only downward. Just don't hit the ground hard. It was a lot of fun! Not so my pocket!

The sun has down and these surfers in an orange car are done for the day. At home waiting is a nice bottle of sake! Living the summer because it only stay for two months a year!

Not all old and rusty things are ugly. In everything lies beauty. This unpainted house is one of those old houses along the street. I guess this is for sale. Who would buy it is the big question, unless, it's half price.One piece of advice, DO NOT pay full price!

Blues

This little blue shed is a waiting area at a remote train station. Not very busy isn't it? This is one of those lonely stations you can pass by in the suburbs. So peaceful. A total opposite from the chaos of Tokyo station. Trains comes once an hour but there you have a nice blue waiting shed. Make sure you always have something to read or play with. If not, you can play in the rice paddies juuust right behind this little shed. hahaha

Straight ahead it says. Should the post be straight too? I'm in the middle of nowhere I'd love to see some signs and directions preferably in English if not Tagalog if you have it. This is the so called Liko-liko street.
 

 This two pictures should not be separated. You know why? Even in the farthest most isolated  area in Japan, you'll find vending machines like this one and they always come with trash cans! ALWAYS! How cool is that? I wish everywhere could be like this.

Japanese, call them cleanliness freaks. But wait the bin looks dirty. I wonder why. I let you solve the mystery behind dirty bins. Good luck.

 A tied up ribbon hanging on an extension switch so I can grab it easily especially at night when it's dark. It looks like a spider at night so does it feels. Sometimes it's frightening.

All blue colored gardening stuff lined up in front of the classrooms at an Elementary school. I think the schools color is blue. Is the school principal guy too?

 I have hangers for stuff like this. Jeans, coats etc.. but it's been a habit hanging my jean on a door knob. You don't wanna know when was the last time I washed it. LOL. Hey, this is my favorite favorite jegging! You don't wash them often so they last longer. I swear.

 And oh look. How do you suppose to hold your mouse? I hold mine on my left hand. Call it weird. I only care about my nail polish.

A pack of my favorite blueberry cookies. They're delicious but I have to cut back on sugar. I hate the internet for making me constantly conscious about my diet.

Lovely combination of colors of the pet bottles ready to dump. Note: they're in different color of plastic bags designated by the city. They should be in the correct bags otherwise it won't be picked up. More job for the old land lady.

Persistent Weed

I sit at my desk, waiting for the students to arrive. I have forty-five minutes and I'm all prepared. I just got back from a five day off work yet I am feeling exhausted. My eyes wandered at the four corners of my classroom. It's tidy and everything is in their right places. Right places. I felt a sudden pang putting me in this deafening secluded place alone questioning myself : Am I in the right place?

This question keeps on popping up. No matter how I search for answers, they're still out of grasp. What I do know is that I love my current job. But, why would I think about "my right place" if there's nothing I'm looking for deep in my heart? I know, there is always somewhere for me so does everyone else. Despite doing something meaningful each day, there's an empty space waiting to be filled within me.

I am in point of feeling stuck at one place. I feel like flying and soaring the skies but I have no wings. There are ways for us to be able to fly and soar the world. I just have to find out my own. Too many questions. I am shattered into different pieces but I am not in pain. I need to recollect my dreams and ideas to make a bigger picture of  the person I really want to be and where I want to be.

I sit here idle only with thoughts about the true purpose of my life. What do I do to shed some light in the cloudy horizon I sometimes in. I'm too occupied. I am paranoid of sorts. I over think things and I forget to give my self it needs to not fret about the future. But that's jut me- a worrier and it's my weakest point.

What if things were different. Would I be looking for something else? Am I just homesick? I don't know. Ah!!! being a human being. Too many questions we can't find answers. We just forget them but then again they come like a persistent weed.