Take Me Out to the Tampa Bay Rays

We went to the Major League Baseball team Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark called Tropicana Field.
The ballpark is located in St. Petersburg, Florida.

For no baseball game was held on the day, we had nothing to do but walking around the stadium to see nearby area.
After walking about half around the ballpark, luckily we found one entrance gate was opening.

I asked one of the maintenance workers of the baseball field to let us come in to take a glance at the inside of the stadium.

The worker at first had said NO, but I asked again and again, then told us, “OK, come in but quick, very quick.”

We walked inside the playfield for a few minutes and took some pictures.

I thought I would someday watch a real major league baseball game in the States and sing a song 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame.'

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a song which is the unofficial anthem of baseball. The song is traditionally sung between the halves of the seventh inning of a baseball game.

My wife Kiyono loves the song.

'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'

Take me out to the ball game

Take me out to the crowd

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack

I don't care if I never get back

Let me root, root, root

for the home team

If they don't win, it's a shame

For it's one, two, three strikes

You're out

At the old ball game.

WAL*MART and Panda Express

Visiting tourist spots and eating at luxurious restaurants must be fun to most tourists. Of course they are also great fun to me.

But, sometimes I want to go to local supermarkets or franchised food shops where I buy food and drink to eat at hotel.

Do you know why?

One of the reasons is that I’m the only driver in my family while traveling. So, I can’t drink as much beer as I want when I eat at a restaurant in the States. On the other hand, I feel very relaxed drinking beer at a hotel.

Another reason is that it’s fun for me to find differences of size of food and prices comparing to those in Japanese supermarkets.

No need to say, everything is cheaper and bigger in the States than in Japan.

Who eats that big size ice cream, and how?

Melons are far far cheaper in the States than in Japan. I guess that one melon costs approximately one tenth!

I’m a fun of Panda Express fast food shop. They sell delicious foods at low prices with lovely free fortune cookies. The Fortune Cookie is a thin, crisp cookie baked around a piece of paper with words of wisdom.

St. Petersburg in Florida

The next morning, leaving behind Disney Resort Orlando, we went to St. Petersburg. It took us about four hours' driving.

One of my favorite pleasures of traveling foreign countries is seeing wild animals which we could see only in a zoo, in Japan.

There were lots of wild pelicans flying, swimming and walking in St. Petersburg.

Rina is looking carefully at a pelican awhile.

We visited Salvador Dalí Museum. I thought Dalí was really a genius.

St. Petersburg is a very beautiful city. We walked around the pier area and went to the library of University of South Florida to get some information of Florida.

Disney Resort Epcot in Orlando

There are four different Disney theme parks and two water parks in, Florida.
* Magic Kingdom Park
* Epcot
* Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
* Disney's Hollywood Studios
* Disney's Blizzard Beach
* Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
After visiting to the Seaworld, we went to Disney Resort Epoct. That was our third day in Orlando. We couldn't ask for better weather from the morning Spaceship Earth to the night fireworks.

Wherever you may go, you can find Mickey's face in Epcot. We are having lunch in a restaurant. Even on the milk pack, Mickey is printed.

Spaceship Earth is the iconic and symbolic structure of Epcot. (Up Right)

We went to the Morocco Pavilion, part of the World Showcase in Epcot and drunk a cup of mint tea.
IllumiNations is a 12-minute show featuring fireworks, laser light effects , fountain water and a soundtrack.

Rainy Weekend / Nao Cup Tennis Tournament

I participated in a tennis tournament again today, with Ms. Tajima who is one of our tennis team Yuzu members and a mother of twin daughters.

We had barely been able to beat the opponent team at the first round and waited for the second round. Then, the staff of the tournament canceled the rest of all matches due to the bad weather.

I was disappointed that we couldn't play enough matches.
But, the tennis courts are located in the beautiful park in Utsunomiya city near Kinu river. I enjoyed taking pictures of poppies and the poppy field in the rain.

Mohka Tennis Tournament Is Canceled

I planned to take part in a tennis tournament last Sunday with my daughter Rina. But, it rained. As a result, the tournament was canceled. We were really sorry for not being able to play tennis with whom we were not familiar.

I'm a member of the tennis club "Yuzu." I play tennis two to three times a week with the club members. I know the members play style very well. So, I'm excited to have a chance to play tennis with unfamiliar players very much.

Though the tournament was canceled, the tennis association allowed the would-be-participants to play tennis there for fun. So, my club members and I played in the rain for a couple of hours.

SeaWorld in Orlando

I went to the SeaWorld in Orland with Chris, Kim and my family in the last trip to U.S.A.
There were a lot of attractions in the SeaWorld, not only killer whale show of which I uploaded a video a few weeks ago, but also roller coasters, aquariums, zoos, ...

I took rides in roller coasters with Rina, took pictures of animals, and played with a dolphin.
Every moment in the SeaWorld became wonderful memory to me.

The picture was taken just when my cap was flying off my head.
Luckily the guy behind me had swiftly caught it and gave it back to me.

Children's Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUZYYdBCMcw

Children's Day is a Japanese national holiday which falls on May 5.
It is a day to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness.
I went to Okamoto park and Jidayubori park in Setagaya, Tokyo on May 5. I lived in Setagaya early 1990s and frequently visited Okamoto park.
There are traditional Japanese houses in the park and the staff members of the park celebrate every national holiday in its traditional ways.
It was unfortunately rainy but I enjoyed wonderful day there.


Before Children's day, families with boys raise carp-shaped Koinobori streamers and traditional Japanese military helmet, Kabuto. The Kabuto are symbols of a strong and healthy boy.
A carp is said in the Chinese legend that it swims upstream to become a dragon.
And the way the streamers blow in the wind looks like they are swimming.

The Way to KEY WEST in Florida

Key West is known as the southernmost city in the Continental United States.
It is 129 miles (207 km) southwest of Miami, Florida.

We drove from Miami to Key West passing through 7-Mile-Bridge.
It runs over a channel between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Strait.

The view from the bridge was really wonderful.

Everglades Birds and Alligators

The bird spreading its wings "0:16" is called Anhinga. I like the bird best in this video. I had not known the name before visiting the Everglades.
It is a dark-plumaged fish-eater and often swims with only the neck above water.
When swimming, the colored neck appears above water, the bird looks like a snake.

The Anhinga's feathers are not waterproofed by oils like those of ducks causing the bird to become barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and search for fish under the water.

When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers.
It will perch for long time with its wings spread to allow the drying process.

Everglades Wild Dolphins

I took this video in the world's largest mangrove forests, Everglades National Park in Florida.You can see dolphins chasing your boat, bald eagles and other wildlife.It's a really awesome place.

Shamu Believe Show, SeaWorld in Orlando

If you have a chance to visit in Orlando, SeaWorld is the "must" place to go.
"Shamu Believe" show or killer whale show of SeaWorld is far out.
It's cute. Who named it killer whale?

Take a look at the video.

A New Computer Has Arrived Home

I bought a new computer online. They shipped it and it has just arrived at home.
I installed packs of software into it and tried them, spending a whole day today.
It reeeeeeally runs fast. So fast that it's almost impossible to compare it with my old PCs.

The reason why I bought new one is ...
I had bought a new digital camera with a full high vision movie function. To compile full HD videos, both my notebook PC and desk top PC are not powerful enough.
At the same time, my desk top PC recently often freezes.
Those are a good excuse for me to buy new one.

*************PC Spec************
Processor:--- Intel Core i7-920 (2.66GHz/4.8GT)
OS:----------Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64bit)
Memory:------DDR3 SDRAM 6GB PC3-10600 (2GBx3)
Hard Disk:---1TB(1000GB)

Universal Studios in Orlando

Orlando is well known for the tourist attractions, in particular Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort.
We went to all three attractions while staying there. On the next day we arrived in Orlando, we went to Universal Orlando Resort (Universal Studios).
I was still suffering from jet lag on the day, but enjoyed attractions with Chris, Kim, Kiyono, Emi and Rina.

On the Airplane from Washington DC to Narita

I’m going back to Japan now in an airplane, 35000 feet above the Pacific Ocean (to be exact, Bering Sea.)
Another five hours will bring me to Japan. I’m writing today’s diary in the Boeing 777 from Washington DC to Narita.

This journey started after a big trouble, a bankrupt of our travel agent, though every moment I had experienced in the States could be my forever lasting precious memory to me.

I really appreciate my friend Chris of his generosity and kindness. I also thank Kim and Chris’s family for sharing wonderful time with us.
Last but not least, I’m pleased that I’ve been able to make tons of wonderful memory together with my family since the beginning of this journey.

I’ll upload today’s diary right after arriving at my home today. I’m also planning to upload some favorite pictures on this blog within a few weeks.

Trip to The States #2

We came here in Orlando, staying at Chris's home.

Trip to The States #1

We arrived in the States!! A wonderful trip has started. :-)

My Travel Agency Bankrupts

I have been very busy preparing for coming trip to the U.S. We leave Japan March 26th and come back April 7th.

In the midst of these busy days, a terrible thing happened to me.
My travel agency bankrupted last Monday and all workers in the office disappeared.
The office has been locked since then and the telephone line has been always busy.

I had to give up our air tickets to the States. They cost almost $4,000.
I found the bankruptcy more than one week before our departure day, so I could buy air tickets again for $5,000. The $4,000 will not come back to me, sigh.

I found on the web that some customers of the agent went to Narita airport and found that all airlines’ reservations were cancelled because the travel agent had not paid the money.

The $4,000 is heavy on me but I’m lucky I don’t have to give up the trip.
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New Video: Tokyo 2009

I made a video, “Tokyo 2009” and uploaded it on YouTube site yesterday morning. After that, I took part in Mohka tennis tournament with my colleague Mr. Ikeda. Then, I went to T-PAL tennis team party at night.
It was a very hectic day yesterday.

I embedded a “Tokyo 2009” link on this blog. I’m happy if you watch the video.

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Korea

I took a day off from work today and went to Tochigi Drivers’ License Office for having it issued an international driver’s permit.

The office is open on weekday only, so it’s a good excuse for me to take a day off.
After finishing the chore, I took a rest at home and enjoyed watching WBC (World Baseball Classic) Japan vs. Korea game on TV with my younger daughter Rina.

For we rarely watch baseball games at home, Rina doesn’t know the ball game rules at all.
I explained the rules every time their play proceeds.

Comparing tennis and Rina’s favorite long distance running, I realized again that the rules of the ball game are really complicated.

Ofuda: Paper Having Holy or Magical Spells

My mother living in western Japan Shimane prefecture sent us Ofuda last week.
She sends Ofuda every year in this season.

Ofda is a strip of paper or a piece of wood which has been blessed and sanctified by a Japanese Shinto priest or a Buddhist monk.

It's said that Ofuda is to bring the bearer good luck or protection against those with evil.

My mother, my brother and my sister living in Shimane are rather religious comparing with me.

The power of Ofuda expires at the end of the year so people must buy new ones for the New Year.
This custom has lasted over several hundred years in Japan, I guess, and is a very clever custom for sellers.

They are usually sold at shinto shrines or buddhist temples, recently they are sold on the web, too.
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