Grudges, cleanliness, a boring concert, the lake, kimono and castle pictures

Some pictures from kimono and castle day: 

Rie-san is trying on different wedding dresses: 

I tried a WAAYYYY to expensive one on for kicks: 

The Japanese pride themselves in not getting angry. But they are excellent at holding grudges. In fact by holding back anger so much, grudges are unconsciously customary. I made that observation to Miyako-san today, because she kept going on about how the Japanese are so well at holding back anger. But the reason why is tied into the inevitable all-controlling, all-limiting culture of tradition and manners. The reason why we rotate our cup of matcha twice and the reason why we say certain polite phrases for a myriad of occasions also ties into the way we present- and control ourselves. It really frustrated me when I came to Japan. You are unable to confront another. I think this is wrong. For Japanese, it's just something you don't do. 

Another observation: 

The Japanese have a fetish for bathing and cleanliness. If cleanliness is next to godliness, then the Japanese are super gods! They bathe daily, if not twice. They carry a towel with them to wipe sweat and a handkerchief to wipe their hands. The bathrooms are immaculate, the houses are spotless and cleaned regularly with fury. Even my hygiene has bumped up a scale due to the customs surrounding me. I did not know people could be so clean until I came to Japan! 

The Japanese are the cleanest people on earth that I have observed. They are so clean! Daily they wash their clothes, and never wear something that has been worn without washing. they take their shoes off before they enter the house. They wipe their plates clean with napkins after eating. 

On my new jobs: 

I have one :(. I am not in Japan long enough to obtain an ordinary job so I am teaching English to two people daily, excluding the weekend. Ordinarily you are supposed to charge 10,000 yen per lesson ($100), but I charge much cheaper since this is my first time and I don't have any prior experience or training. My dad tells me that I am charging pennies. It's okay. The only thing I need money for is this, that, and bus tickets to Hiroshima and later Yokohama. 

I will post on Japanese food later. But here are some pictures taken at a cake/coffee shop: 

Emiko-san!

Japanese percolators in action: 
in resting state: 
preparing the food: 
the display
some cakes: 

Here are some more of Emiko-san, her daughter, and I sightseeing at a castle: 

Last night I went to a temple that was halfway between Matsue and Izumo. The concert was long so I left after an hour and a half. The band playing was a group from Jawa (Java?). It was Thai stylish music. But it seemed like the same song was going on for an hour and a half! Besides I was tired from biking 65+ km to the lake and back again. (See pictures below.) Ochi returned my jacket and gave me shot glasses for a birthday present. I'll have to use them sometime soon. Unfortunately I didn't stay long enough to meet up with Tanaka-san. There is some new music I want to give her. 

Here are some bands I've been listening to: 

MF Doom

Stephen Marley

Michael Franti & Spearhead

The Chemical Brothers

MGMT (I can't get enough of this hot stuff!)

Lindstrom

Groove Armada

The Guillemots

The Strokes

Over the Rhine

Interpol

Rebelution

Katchafire

Pete Bjorn and John

Bob Marley

Matisyahu

Ministry of Sound Dance mixes

Buddha Lounge Mix music

and finally, the classic Chris Tomlin

here are some pictures: (see post below)

i just biked 60+ km on the Izumo Bike Route! woo hoo!

Added on September 7th: I biked to the lake again, and this time I took my camera with me: 

A man digging for shijimi (small clams). they are delicious in miso soup. However, it is illegal for non-commercial people to take shijimi from the lake. This man looked like he was gonna freak (with fear) after I took a picture of him, lol

a bird!
ducks. there are a lot of these as you will see
the lake:
the bike route on a sign: 
a hawk on the side of the path setting flight
a river
another duck

collecting shijimi

the beach at the start of the route

the bike. makes my butt hurt!

Wow, i can't believe how much my legs hurt! 

but i survived. I wish I could upload the pictures i took on my Japanese pay-as-you-go phone. Next time I will carry my camera as it is a very scenic route. It ended at a vast 宍道湖 - (shinjiko - lake). Man am I sweaty. So for the first time I will utilize the bath instead of taking a shower the American way. There is a little machine in the kitchen that rings and says that the bath is hot and ready. You can also maintain the temperature. Sweet stuff! 

(Next post: Japanese food pictures and all about my two new jobs!)

Here is a picture of the bath: 

daisen mondo + climbing

Last night I came home around midnight from the Daisen Mondo Mountain Music Festival. It was two days long and a blast. One particular band that played I thought the guitarist was cute and an excellent musician. Then I met him, because I didn't notice first- but he was hanging out with my group of friends that whole time with us! Both days I went rock climbing in the morning- rather bouldering out by the sea. I couldn't do pretty much any of the climbs because they were V5's and up but I worked on little portions, and earned a few scrapes here and there. But worst of all was Ochi, who was climbing a short route. When he sent it, a rock piece that he was holding onto at the top broke- sending him tumbling down, partly onto the mat and partly onto rock. No bones were broken but his arm got scraped and his back is a little sore: 

Also here are some more climbing pictures from yesterday: 

So tomorrow, I'm gonna go bouldering indoors with Tanaka-san in Matsue (via train)- I AM SO STOKED!! I found a girl climber in Japan. Who is also pretty cool. 

Here is the Honda van I went road trippin' in this past weekend: 

And finally here are some pictures from the music festival:

aka Doggystyle:



soul flower union:

some band:
new friends: