If a tree falls in the woods...

You get Soundwood, where there are sounds, but no woods.In the broiling hot sun, a huge troop of foreigners took a trip to Ibara to chill out and listen to the tunes. Nothing like alcohol, sun, and music.

The curry sold on site was fantastic. This guy was making nan in a portable oven!My favorites on the day were Aosis, and Oasis cover band.The show put on by Boon and Ludo was also worthwhile, but no, I won't post pictures. Eventually everyone was up and dancing. Thanks to everyone who provided floors to sleep on!

Star Village Okayama

Yesterday, close to 60 foreigners invaded the village of Chusei-Yumegahara, in the sleepy town of Bisei (Star Village) in Ibara City.

Yumegahara is a recreation of village life in the region dating from the Kamakura and Muromachi era (about 600 years ago). In the village you can see ironmongers, zori sandal makers, indigo dyers, and woodworkers at their trade, and visit stables, shrines, and fudal lords homes, while dressing up as samurais, farmers, and ladies of leisure. I had a go at whittling up a bamboo flying toy, which of course fell apart the first time I tried to use it.

There is also an observatory in the village.

During our visit we were also treated to a traditional kagura dance. The Bitchu Kagura has been danced in this region since ancient times. It's traditionally a shamanic dance to ward off evil and bring good harvests and prosperity. It became a shinto event, and now, is enjoyed by everybody. Traditionally, these dances can take up to 15 hours to complete, but we got to see the one hour condensed version.

We're all going on a summer holiday

I went to China for three weeks.

The story unfolds here: http://www.infernalexpectoration.blogspot.com

Disorientation

For the last few days I've been in Shinjuku, Tokyo helping to bewilder and disorient close to 2,000 new JETs through endless seminars, karaoke, drinking, and eating of foods not usually found in their home countries.

I took some time out to consider the poetry of Japans smoking etiquette: