Dharma Bumhood

Well, I've become a rucksack wanderer that works a 8-5 Monday-Friday; so a pretty crappy rucksack wanderer really, but perhaps someday.... Anyways, my weekend wanderings usual being with my hearing about something worth doing only a few train stops away and end with my thinking: how hard could it really be to find my way home on foot? This strategy has landed me at bamboo jungle dead ends and in prefectures (states, essentially) I hadn't known I crossed into but I also found a few gems along the way:

Here is the bamboo forest dead end.

Bamboo is EVERYWHERE, but its really useful stuff if you've got a few thousand years of people thinking "what the hell could we do with this stuff" on your side. Its crazy strong and tough but flexible, the saplings are edible too; not real flavorful but if you're looking to increase your fiber.....
PS Bushwhacking through this is a lost cause, I tried. Made it maybe 15 feet, and covered in spiders decided it simply wasn't worth it. Their bodies aren't real big, some maybe a couple inches across with their legs, but I've heard a bite can land you in the hospital. They're real pretty though, I'll get a picture of one soon just never think of it at the time. Also, rumor has is this area is riddled with mamushi, a pit viper like a cottonmouth or a water moccasin; haven't seen one yet, but I'll let you know. Anyways... bushwhacking is a little different here. Back to wandering...

I would tell you where this is if I had a clue where I was when I took the picture. But I did remind me of a stereotypical industrial Japan skyline. All dive more into the "Japanese way" of conquering nature once I have a few more pictures to illustrate this interestingly developed country.

Some old Japanese sailor is really pissed off.

I went into a thrift store in hopes of finding a coffee maker and found this. Tag is all in Japanese. I assume whoever designed it had no idea Walla Walla actually exists (the kids in my classes always laugh when I say I lived in Walla Walla). Perhaps a sign.... when I return, I should open the Walla Walla Repair Shop. Now I wont need hats...

Nate realizes he crossed the border at some point....

This scooter claims to be a BMW. I haven't a clue if BMW actually makes scooters, and if they do... I'm skeptical the Germans would opt for blue flames and a spoiler atop the pod thing, not to mention the bubble. But who knows. The Japanese do like to customize their rides. There are so many aftermarket wheels around here you'd think you're in south central, the subcompact mazda attached to the wheel in the only giveaway.

On a side adventure, I was invited by the Oshima Institute of Marine Technology to going out of a ship with them. So I did that:

They let me steer the ship, taught me marine knots, and fed me emergency "rations" just so I know what Im in for if an earthquake or typhoon hits. Cool experience. I mentioned I like to work on engines and they're having me back for some diesel thing in November. Woohoo!
All I have for now, thinking it might be time to get a car so I can go to places I cant just walk home from. The wheels are turning on that one... so to speak. I let you know.
Cheers.