Bonfire at Aliso Creek, California USA

 It's been ages since I have enjoyed a nice bonfire in California.  I think the last time I enjoyed a bonfire at Aliso Creek beach was when I was in high school!!!!  There was a couchsurfing meeting so close to my house I figured I HAD to go because I have never been to a couchsurfing meeting in the states.  Unfortunately I went a bit late to the bonfire and could only enjoy it for half an hour because there wasn't any wood left to keep the fire going.  It was still nice though and it was great to be at a beach that I often went to when I was younger. 

fire

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USA

USA

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a nice chihuahua

Last Day of work

I have been trying to meet up with my friend all semester and it has been difficult with her schedule, but we finally made it happen the week I was leaving.  It was great to catch up, but such a shame that I couldn't see much of her this time around.  I wish her the best of luck with her job.  The last day of class was full of parties.  The last party was 2.5 hours and it was a bit tiring to figure out how to fill all that time, especially since we had one student come to all the parties.  However, it was a great day and it was fun playing the games and it was nice to say bye to the students.  My co-workers and I went to Mother's Ruin in Shimokitazawa that had an awesome atmosphere.  After dinner and drinks we went to an arcade and one of my co-workers was able to show his skill at the claw machine.  He won with just 2 tries!!  The next day I met up with my former housemate while I was living in Australia last year.  It was great to see her and such a trip that I was seeing her in Japan.  It was just a quick reunion, but it was nice.  After I said bye I went to the arcade and won my friend's son a "pet" cat.  The last week in Japan went by really quick.  The semester was an unexpected one, but it was great because I managed to do a lot.  Until next time Japan!  (Right before leaving Japan a video I took part in was edited and put on Time Out Tokyo you can see the video here. I'm in the second clip.)

friends since we were 5-6 yrs old

apple for the teacher

awesome co-workers

great PC

the team

giant lizard at the pub

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kitty with kitty glasses

reflections

former housemates!

nice autumn leaves still in Shinjuku Park

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my last winning......with just 1 try!

Beautiful Hakone

I really wanted to go to Hakone this fall, but I kept putting it off.  Luckily someone else wanted to go, so it gave me the extra push to go.  Unfortunately it was a very windy day, so the ropeway and the ship were closed.  However, it was a beautiful day and I got to see Mt. Fuji really well.  I also was able to buy the famous eggs from there.  I actually got the smoked eggs and they were delicious!  The views were really nice and I even had time to go to an onsen.  At the end of the day I had a cinnamon Tofu Shake and it was pretty good and VERY VERY filling!  It was a great day despite the fact that I couldn't do everything that I wanted to.   (The first photo is in Shibuya for their Hello Kitty Illumination at Hachiko.)

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omurice, its been a while since I've had it

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nice lighting

nice bridge

travel buddies

such a HUGE gate

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cool view

Hakone Shrine

so red

don't normally see a Japanese flag in front of a shrine

the "modern" part

cool fountain

up close

mini shrine

love this view!!

5 minutes later mt. fuji was behind the clouds

gold in the matcha latte

onsen....sooo nice!

shower area of the onsen

front of the onsen...with the hakone free pass you can get a discount

lanterns leading to the onsen from the street

this onsen is next to Hakone Yumoto Station

cinnamon tofu shake..delicious!

mango tofu shake, cinnamon tofu shake and tofu waffle

Hike at Mt. Takao

I was able to have a Friday off of work, so I decided that it was time I went on a hike and saw the beautiful autumn leaves.  I chose the perfect day to go.  There were clear skies and I was able to see Mt. Fuji in the distance.  I was even able to lay in the sun and actually be warm.  I went on my own so I was able to go at my fast pace and go to a second mountain.  It was a great workout and the leaves were so beautiful.  The views reminded me why I love autumn in Japan.  Enjoy the pictures (there are a lot and they are just scenery photos).

 

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