Super Typhoon Muifa

http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp1111.gif

This is Super Typhoon Muifa...currently headed towards Kadena AFB (Okinawa)

You can see on the map where Iwakuni is in relation to this storm....Im hoping it comes this way!

I guess all we can do is wait to see if it shifts to the northeast, rather than the west!

Kintai Lantern Festival Part 2

Between each set of bridge was something written in kanji

Trying to get a picture with the bridge in the back

Bridge with lanterns across it

We had a good time at the Lantern Festival and will go again next year...hopefully we can get 2 more lanterns. My mind is already thinking of what to do with them when we get home to the states!
We also realized that it may be time to invest in a really good camera...

Lantern Festival @ Kintai Bridge

Had to take a picture of the "Chicago Pizza" delivery guy!
This is wrong on so many different levels

Lanterns...we are getting closer

Hmm, a taco truck in Japan

Jon and the Taco Truck



"Garage Wonderland"
We had no idea what they were selling, just liked the name of it!



Emcee of the fashion show

Upcoming fall fashion

More of the fashion show

The oldest models of the fashion show
The man is wearing traditional Japanese Pj's
over a suit..only in Japan!

This green guy is everywhere in Japan
Is he part of Hello Kitty's crew?

This was part of a story we think
They love their fog machines

Kintai Bridge
Just after the sun went down, before all the lanterns

On Sunday July 24th, we headed over to the Kintai Bridge for the Lantern Festival. According to a translated version of the program, the Lantern/Light Festival is a way for the people of Iwakuni City to share the Kintai Bridge with out-of-town guests in both the daylight and night. The festival was free (yea!), except for buying lanterns. Of course we bought 2....really needed 4 to get the full effect, but 2 is enough.
There was activities all day at the Kintai, starting with a flea market. We arrived just after 7:00pm, and there were food vendors everywhere...we have no idea what the food was, but they were there. A big part of the festival is a fashion show...well the Japanese call it fashion. The clothes were interesting, but it made for good entertainment. After the fashion show, there was some sort of story played out with 3 women, a lot of gold and silver glittery clothing, and masks. We have no idea what it was, as it was all in Japanese. Finally the stage shows were done, and the lanterns were lit. Those that paid extra, were escorted to the bridge, and allowed to walk across it to span the entire bridge. Once everyone was across, the bridge lights were turned off, and the bridge was illuminated by lanterns.

The Macdonalds are in Iwakuni, Japan!: Hello Typhoon Ma-On...now leave!

The Macdonalds are in Iwakuni, Japan!: Hello Typhoon Ma-On...now leave!: "Ok so I have had enough of this storm. Jon's alarm went off at 0455, but who needed one with the wind howling outside. The wind has literal..."

Ok, so here it is Wednesday July 20, and I look at the tracker and it has changed....on my page. I guess it makes no sense to post the storm, if it is going to keep changing on my page!

Hello Typhoon Ma-On...now leave!

Ok so I have had enough of this storm. Jon's alarm went off at 0455, but who needed one with the wind howling outside. The wind has literally been blowing all day long. We have had a little bit of rain, but more wind. The next couple of days will be nothing but rain, as the storm dies out, and heads towards Tokyo.

Sunset Bike Ride



Dorks!!



Sunset in the hills over the lotus plants!

Another sunset shot!

Looking away from the sunset...see the lonely Lotus Flower

Monzen River

Monzen River looking out towards the sea

Mean little crab!

Garden Update

Edamame and Chives

This was a houseplant that did not like being indoors...guess it likes t outside

This dragonfly followed me everywhere in the yard. I guess it wanted its picture taken

Lots of zucchini plants...I can't wait

Round 2 of cucumbers...I swear this cukie was not there yesterday!

Unhappy tomato plant
Jon had to move it because the cucumber plant was wrapping itself around the vines
Oh well, it still has about 10 tomatoes on it

There has to be some kind of radiation over here
These flowers have quadrupled in size, and keep growing

Happy flower garden

Typhoon Ma-On update

Storm tracking of Typhoon Ma-On....looks like we are gonna get a lot of wind and rain!


The 5 day tracker shows that the storm should head towards Tokyo rather than come here, but we should still feel the effects of the storm....yippee! Maybe the temperature will come down a little!

Starting to look like home!

Living room
Yea both sofa's fit, as well as 2 end tables and a coffee table

Just another view of my living room



Jon's entertainment area



Empty picture frames....the prints are on the way!

Messy Kitchen

Marcus & Monika's pictures
My diploma....yep I worked my ass off for it, so I am showing it off!

Master Bedroom
I love this room, it is so peaceful
Love my picture of paradise too!!

Dresser with off-set mirror

The office...sort of
We did not bring a desk, so we are using our printer table as a desk
The chair is a little tall for this desk too, but we make it work

Guest bedroom/office/storage/Jon's closet

Another view of the extra "bedroom/office/closet/storage" room!

Typhoon Ma-On

The joys of being married to the Weather Man! This is Tropical Storm Ma-On. As of now, it is still far off from us, but as you can see, by Tuesday @ 3pm, we are in the storm. Iwakuni is in the shaded area on the top right...we are the tiny part tat jets out on the bottom of the mainland.
Originally this storm was supposed to hit Okinawa hard, but it changed its course, and instead is headed toward the southern mainland!

Torii Pines

Torii Pines Golf Course

This is the base golf course, it is only 9 holes, and due to be torn out soon to make room for more base housing.

Cpl. Neher teeing off

I don't know how to turn the pictures...sorry
Jon lining up his shot
The tee-boxes are about the nicest thing this course has to offer. The fairways are weeds-not grass, and the greens are as dry as they can be.
There are some fairways where the grass was 6 inches tall in some places....oh and mud!

Can you tell what these are....F-18's
Yea this part of the golf course is next to the F-18 hangars. Nothing like the smell of JP-5 (jet-fuel) in the afternoon!

Me trying to get to the green! I have no idea what hole I am on

The last tee-box.
You can sort of make out the white flag past the fence to the left...The pink tee box is mine, the men's is about 20 yards behind me!

This is the sign at the last tee-box...SERIOUSLY!!

This is the yardage to the "Irons only" hole(s)

So we finally hit up the Torii Pines golf course on base...definitely not the best round of golf for us. The greens are dry, the fairways are long and muddy, and the tee-boxes, well that's the good part. It was a good day though, it was very sunny, warm and there was a slight breeze. Better than sitting on our butts at home!