New Bonsai Museum and Hikawa Jinja in Saitama City

No photos allowed of the bonsai trees, but some were 200 years old. This is an emperial shrine, and the grounds are like a huge park; huge trees and plants are Saitama City's claim to fame. (Now also has a professional baseball team).

Mori Art Museum, etc.

1. Well..how about Tokyo Tower
2. Also..ahmmm...Akihabara Electronics district
   
3. and St. Alban's Church
   

Asian food samplings, "plus..."

The Japanese language classes are composed of us "foreigners," so the teachers organized a home-country cooking event. The countries represented that day were Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil(Western), Peru(Western), China, Japan (teachers), Vietnam and Westerners from Italy(pesto) and the US (NYCheesecake)=not pictured. Pictured is yours truly helping the Chinese cooking station make "jyozu" (dumplings-type).

Mother's Day Shamisen Concert

Taipei, Taiwan here and there

From Azaleas to Robotics

Huge azalea park in the town of Tatebayashi near the kids' science center including a special event put on by a junior college's robotics team. The kids just know how to work those remote controls...no problem.

Mt Mitsuiwa and mountain azaleas

Rare wild mountain azalea viewing on Mt Mitsuiwa entails a treacherous climb but the views are great. These azaleas are found only on the rocky peaks of the mountains in this area. The trail was a bit "barricaded" but we managed.(click the pic for more and back again)