Wake and Aika

Atsuko and I visited our friends Wake and Naoko in Kamakura this weekend. Here is Wake and his oldest daughter Aika, who is holding a book we gave her about visiting New York City (subtle hint, you might say).

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Koishigawa kourakuen

Park at center of Tokyo

Travel log: Flight and arrival

I arrived at the airport with plenty of time, so of course there was
very little wait time for check-in or security. After sitting at the
gate for awhile they announced that the flight would be making an
unscheduled stop in Los Angeles to get more fuel. Apparently a volcano
had erupted on Friday north of Japan on a Russian island and the ash
it was spewing was in our flight path. An alternate route would
require more fuel. A few minutes later it was announced that the
fueling would be done in Atlanta. I boarded the plane, but we just sat
at the gate. Then it was announced that the flight was cancelled.
A special flight would be made the next day, all bags would be kept on
the plane, and accomodations arranged at the Ramada Inn. I wasn't sure
if it would be easier to go to the hotel or just go home. I settled on
the hotel so that it would be easy to get back the next day.
The hotel experience was not the best, but the breakfast buffet was
decent and it was easy to return to the airport. Of course, check-in
and security took much longer this time. After some more anxious
moments waiting on the Tarmac we finally took off. I watched movies
the whole way, about six of them, as the flight was 17 hours.
Atsuko met me at the airport and we took trains to Musashi Koganei
where her father picked us up. He drove me to Big World 21, a hostel
in Fuchu. The place is painted very colorfully, which gives it a
certain charm. The room is small but comfortable. The bathroom down
the hall is quite smelly, and the showers are only on the first floor.
Still, the place works well for me as a cheap rental (we had to
reserve it for a month, even though I'm only here for two weeks, and
it's still cheaper than a hotel). I took a shower, ate a bento box and
slept through the night.

Rolf & Meghan's Wedding

My high school buddy Rolf Jacobson married Meghan Funke at Grace Lutheran Dec. 28, 2008.

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Duck at Chiboust

Lamb at Chiboust

Ben & Atsuko at Chiboust

Atsuko at Chiboust

Weathervane

Stables

Lawn and Stables

Atsuko takes a break

Lyndhurst Mansion, towers

Lyndhurst Mansion, view from West

Bowling lane building

Ben and bowling lane building

Ben and bowling building

Atsuko and Lyndhurst

Ben and Lyndhurst Mansion

Atsuko and Lyndhurst Mansion

Atsuko and greenhouse

Hudson River

from Lyndhurst lawn
Ben at Lyndhurst

Atsuko at Lyndhurst

Atsuko at Lyndhurst Mansion

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Liberty Science Center

Atsuko and I took a rare trip to New Jersey to visit the Liberty
Science Center. It took three trains to get there, each requiring a
different kind of ticket. First the subway to Manhattan, then the PATH
to New Jersey, and finally the light rail to Liberty Park. Though
it's right across the bay it took nearly an hour and a half and felt a
world away. The Science Center is a giant, gleaming silver building
surrounded by parking, bordered by the expressway, the light rail,
park and water. The canyons of New York City streets make you forget
how much space there is between things in most parts of the world,
even right across the river.

Though the Science Center is mostly for kids, we found plenty of
interesting things to do. I think it's mostly the adults who read
what's on the displays and faithfully follow the directions while the
kids run around and push buttons, pull handles, and make up their own
games.

We actually spent a good share of the visit sitting and watching
movies, which was just fine (nothing like pacifying the little tykes
with a giant IMAX screen). We saw "Mystery of the Pharohs" which put a
decidedly positive spin on the removal of the famous pyramids and
Egypt. All for the greater good, in the name of science, as studying
the mummies could further our understanding of the evolution of
disease. An intersting film, though not one you'd necessarily need to
see in IMAX.

The other flic was my first 3D movie experience. Pretty cool, though I
was somewhat disappointed to learn that advances in technology have
eliminated the need for blue and red lenses in the special glasses.
Still, the shades made us look sufficiently ridiculous. "Fly Me to the
Moon" was a CG animated version of the first lunar landing shown from
the perspective of some fictional flies that hitch a ride inside the
astronauts' helmets. The 3D effects saved it from being Saturday-
morning-cartoon quality.

The exhibits featured a section devoted to animals and insects that
use various devices to hunt prey or avoid being eaten. Camoflaged bugs
and snakes were not among Atsuko's favorites, believe it or not. We
also explored machines demonstrating alternative energy sources. I
learmed some new things about hydro-electric. One exhibit I would
have liked to spend more time in dealt with communication, including
everything from cellphone technology to ancient Chinese calligraphy.

It was a fun day trip and a destination I can recommend to all ages.
--
Benjamin Healy

Piano Performance & Instruction
http://www.benjaminhealy.com

Wynton Marsalis on The Colbert Report

"Jazz is a music of integrity, and it teaches us to listen." -Wynton Marsalis

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Wynton Marsalis
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