Fish Onna Stick

Yes that was a fish onna stick in the last post as is the one in the upper pic. The curved fish was only for decorative purposes and was on the back side of this amazing looking platter of sushimi that we were served (see bottom photo). The fish shown here was something you were expected to just pick up and eat yum yum. I show you this photo because you can see that there is in fact a bite taken out of the belly. I ate my fish onna stick and it was tasty. We had another one the next day. Ahhh... Japan. I really enjoyed the two dinners I was taken to during JCI. We had a private room and although the table was low there was a cut out for your legs underneath. We probably stayed for 3-4 hours and ate amazing food as well as much beer and saki (not me, I had OJ and tea). The company was good and the food was amazing! So I know I had said I wasn't thrilled with Japanese food but I just hadn't had good food. Today is incredibly hot - 36degrees celcius. You'll have to do a little math here but I would say that was in the upper 90's on the Farenheit scale. And for the first time since I have been here the skys are clear and the sun is beating down. Which doesn't make it any less humid. It is so hot and humid it is hard to breath down in the subway tunnels. Fans in Japan aren't for decoration. Both men and women carry them and use them frequently as well as the hankerchief which is never used on the schnoze but is used to mop off the sweat and to dry your hands in the bathroom (no paper towel is provided). So I think I mentioned I am forgoeing the trip to Kyoto. I have heard the city is beautiful and I am sure it would be a worthwhile trip but there is a big festival going on and no cheap hotels are available. With the cost of the bullet train and hotel the trip would cost something like $480 before food and souvenirs. I think I would rather spend that on a pearl :) Anyway there is a fireworks show this weekend in Tokyo that is supposed to last 70 minutes!! Monday is a national holiday (Marine's Day) and so I have a long weekend (yes Jim) and can get in lots of shopping (one of Tokyo's favorite pastimes and I am here to learn the culture after all...) There is still plenty I haven't seen in Tokyo such as the National Museum, I don't think I'll be bored. And really the students are all so young that we don't really have the same interests. I am kinda looking forward to a weekend of doing whatever I want and not having to bow to group concencious. I feel better this morning after a good night's sleep - as I always do. The peanut is 27 weeks old today and wiggling away in my belly. Sometimes I think when I talk to him he starts squirming around in response. I think now the belly is bigger than the Buddha's. I'll send you a photo some time this weekend and let you all decide. Peace. e-