A New Month... A New Variant

Well... It is a new month... December! And there is a new strain of the corona virus... again. More lockdowns... less freedom. More masking... less risk of spreading or catching the virus. More vaccinations... More hassle... Less money for people like me !

New Station Building

The night view of the new building at Hankyu Sannomiya Station.

Dill

 There were no fireworks this year in Japan but I thought that my dill flowers looked a little like a fireworks display. 

Lotus Flowers

 This was a new addition to the grounds of Ikuta Shrine in Kobe... Lotus flowers! I love this idea! This is a lotus flower that has finished blooming and is now producing seeds (which can be eaten).

Double Vaxxed

 Officially double vaxxed and waiting for a booster? The third wave came and went around the same time as the Tokyo Olympics... remember that? Now we are waiting for the word from the government on whether or not everyone needs a booster shot.

These are some dried "jack-o-lanterns" that were harvested along with some "edamame". The edamame were delicious. The jack-o-lanterns were a cute bi-harvest.

A New Season

 Cherry blossoms at Ikuta Shrine are an indicator of a new season.  I missed the big "Hanami" time this year due to the situation in the world but I could enjoy some cherry blossoms at the shrine.

Paper Lanterns in the Restaurant District

 Paper lanterns in Japan have meaning in certain situations. They often signify a restaurant with a special type of food and are usually red in colour. This restaurant went crazy with the paper lanterns as a way to advertise the restaurant.

Lucky Cats

 The view inside a small shrine located within a small shrine. Meow!

Will You Be My Valentine?

 At all of the shrines in Japan, the basin where people are supposed to wash their hands before entering the grounds have been "off limits". At Ikuta Shrine in Kobe, they have placed flowers in the basin to remind people not to use the water... and it looks nice! This was on Valentine's Day. How romantic!

The Second Wave

 After one year of a "fifteen day" stay at home recommendation, we are being recommended to stay inside to avoid the second wave. What's next?

We Are All Superheroes

The end of self-isolation and social distancing is officially coming to an end and many shops are beginning to open their doors to customers again. Great job everybody! We are all Superheroes!

Flattening the Curve

The average person has remained home by choice or by design thus essentially donating a large part of  our salary for the benefit of the health care system. For some of us it has been quite a sacrifice. For the ones who are deciding that we must make that sacrifice it has not been so much as an inconvenience for them. We have "flattened the curve" but we have also made the curve much longer.

The New Normal

Life seems to be changing around us as we do our social distancing and self isolations. What will be considered "normal" behavior after the lockdown has been lifted?

Quarantined

A new word for me to teach to my students so that they can expand their vocabulary. Stay home for 2 weeks so that you know that you do not have the Wuhan Flu. But when can you leave quarantine? How will everyone know that you do not have the virus? And are you now more susceptible to the virus than before quarantine? Stay tuned... same "bat" time. (wink wink)

Social Distancing

One of the many catch phrases that are in common use this year. A new idiom to teach to my students.

Lost in Rust

This is an old Coca-Cola sign on the side of on old tea shop up in the mountains of Kobe. It still makes me thirsty. The shop has long been closed and falling apart but has recently been sold. So maybe the next time I am there... it is not.

Brick Wall Beauty

This dilapidated brick wall is on a hill going up to a favourite shrine of mine. The area has changed somewhat since I first arrived in Kobe but things like this trigger a lot of good memories from that time... the people in my life at that time and the feeling of enchantment and wonder to be in a new place.

Shofuku-ji

Shofuku-ji is a beautiful mid-sized temple at the foot of the mountains in Kobe. It is another one of my favourite temples in Kobe because of its quiet presence in an otherwise busy world. It is a center for learning and meditation for young monks and they can be seen tending to the on-site garden where they grow some of their food.

Dreaming of Busan

We are currently in "social isolation" mode which means no unnecessary travel. It's during this time that I think of past trips and relive the good times. One thing I miss about traveling is the food. I love eating! And a great place for for is Korea! This is from one of the BBQ restaurants that we often frequented in Busan.

Raspberry Flower

I have been noticing a lot of wild raspberry plants on my hikes into the mountains recently. This really reminds me of my summers at the cottage when we would pick raspberries that grew on the side of the road that went around the lake. Fond memories but I don't know the environmental implications. Another plant from Canada is an aggressive invasive species here in Japan...  goldenrod... can be found all over Japan now in the autumn, choking out the native plants.