BigMike's Big Mini Japanese Vacation

[Cheesemaker]

That's too funny.  My wife won't let me put a  on our van. 

Hey a little sidenote, I'll be in town July 19-20, and I'll be stopping by the shop and picking up parts.  Maybe I will stop by around lunchtime again!!  That was fun to hang with you guys. 

[kneedownnate]

(because no animal/mammal/insect on this planet was designed to be eating other animals, this is proved over and over and over so go roll your eyes somewhere else)

  You know that and I know that, but don't tell the idiots who believe in the mythical carnivore 

[BigMike]

haha man I wrote pretty freely on that one

[Joey88RUNR]

It was nice seeing you guys and meeting your wife last night!    

[BigMike]

No kidding man, Happy Birthday! That was awesome!! That was our first time at Yosemite Ranch, their food is really great! Marlin thought it was cool seeing ya and also had fun with his comment before walking out the door lol!

I haven't forgot to update this thread, I'll try to get some pics up tonight

[BigMike]

I have a question... How the hell does anyone manage a build/project/trip report thread? Or rather, how the hell did I manage my 3RZ build thread or any other build/project/trip report thread I've posted before? I have NO CLUE anymore When I am searching for something on the forum and I come across an old build thread of mine, I have NO IDEA how I had that much time to post so much on the forum

[Caboose]

Everything okay Mike?  Having a mid life crisis?

[CLC]

Everything okay Mike?  Having a mid life crisis?

He's just getting a little scared because he'll be turning the BIG 30 in October

[BigMike]

Everything okay Mike?  Having a mid life crisis?

I was just looking something up in the Official 3RZ Database thread and I saw all the builds and all the posts I made and I was like, "dang, who is this BigMike guy and where did he get all that time to do that stuff?"

Then I thought how I've not updated this thread, nor my previous Japanese vacation thread, nor my 1981 truck thread 

He's just getting a little scared because he'll be turning the BIG 30 in October

How many times do I have to tell you that I am celebrating my 9th year of being 21 years old this year!!!

[Cheesemaker]

It's ok Mike.  I've had to cut back my computer time lately.  But you really need to spend an hour or two and finish the buildup of the truck.  Even if you just a quick post up on it.  
Cheer up Mike, I'll be down in little over a week.  And I think I just might come home with a rotated adapter.      Which means I'll be stopping by the shop and bugging you guys!! I just love stopping in and seeing ya'll.  

[Rocksurfer]

 I remember when you were half my age, now you are only a third of my age. Are you getting older and am I getting younger?

[*FFC*]

How many times do I have to tell you that I am celebrating my 9th year of being 21 years old this year!!!

That's a great way to look at it 

Hey you might share a birthday with Katie - who knows!

[BigMike]

Tuesday (June 22nd, 2010)

Took a trip over to Nagasaki today

Here are the foothills just outside Misato's house with some morning fog rolling out


This cleaner was "Speedy Reasonable High quality"


Spotted a Land Rover


Spotted a 4Runner for sale


We drove for about an hour to the bay. Here we are heading out to some docks


Getting onto the Kumamoto Ferry


We *barely* made it on time. We had about 5 mins to spare. Pretty much as soon as we got on board the boat took off. This was critical because the next available ferry wasn't for another 3 or 4 hours and that would have ruined the entire day.

Here are some cars lined up inside


Logo


I got to take some pics with some ladies :ladysman:



Here are the three Nakashima's


Land Ahoy! Here is Ayami taking a picture of this area where only about 40 years ago a volcano erupted and killed like 20 reporters who were covering the volcano story.

It was BIG NEWS in Japan for this to happen, and it was very sad for her parents to discuss it to me. I found it interesting that they don't know these people, they don't live over here, yet they were quite emotional. Maybe I am still too young, but if 20 ppl died in Chicago on a train I don't think I wouldn't cry about it while telling some visitors about it. Don't get me wrong, I understand it is very sad, but maybe it's the closer nit lifestyle of Japan where they value life more than what I feel the average American does? Again, this may just be me and I'm sure it may also just be them too. Maybe not everyone over here is this way...

Here are some tires at the dock


And then I saw something extremely disgusting...

[BigMike]

OBAMA-MACHI?!?!?! HOLY CRAP HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA WOW I would immediately move out of the city LOL Misato said that when Obama was elected there was a huge celebration in Obama, Japan. LOL X 1,000!!!!

So here we are driving through the Nagasaki country side

It's hard to see, but the truck in front of that silver K-car has a logo of a black cat. This is the UPS company of Japan. I saw these trucks all over the place

I had to act really quick on this one and I almost missed the pic as we drove by. Some crazy fire statue guy thingy


My curiosity for the Japanese mountain roads continue




Look at this green paint. They have this to indicate a sharp corner. But what I don't get is that if it's raining, PAINT IS SLIPPERY!! What are their road engineering thinking??



Check out the pylons in the middle of the corner entrance

[BigMike]

Then, unbeknownst to me, we came across this really, really cool hot spring that was just right on the side of the mountain road


Lots of visitors here


Some smelly water


This water here was a bit warm but not too bad


When I stood up from the water, Misato started laughing at me. I collected a bunch of minerals on my eye lashes LOL


Here are the sisters acting goofy



This place was AMAZING. I will just post up some pics and let you form your own opinion.













I don't know about you but I kept waiting for Mad Max to show up with his sweet Interceptor and Queensland Heeler

Apparently Onsen no tomago (Hot Spring Eggs) are a real delicacy in Japan




Here are Misato's parents having a cute moment together with some Hot Spring Hard Boiled Eggs


You could tell where mineral water has crossed the path


This is a horrible place for a spider to live. They've got no camouflage whatsoever


Some cool slurry. It tasted like boiling Tapioca pudding.             just kidding


Heading back to the parking lot


Here is our parking pass we had to buy. $4 for like a 20 min stay, what a rip!

[BigMike]

Then we took off. I am not much of a Chocolate person, but MAN these were mighty tasty


Some traditional homes in the area


Then we made it to.... to............. the city of OBAMA!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the famous "Obama Onsen" (Obama Hot Springs). I am giving my #1 most angry face possible


This is right off the coast. Look at these crazy cement barriers


There are hot springs all over the place here




Here is a huge public cooking area where a bunch of ppl were busy cooking their own meals, all heated naturally


Here is Misato getting her feet wet in a very well designed and surprisingly sanitary Foot Hot Spring

[BigMike]

Found some more restroom curiosities

Check out the image on the ground indicating where to form a line while waiting for others to finish. WOW that is pretty cool!!


More old toilets


Super high powered yet very quite hand drier. In America when I see an electric hand drier I hate it, I'd rather get toilet paper to dry my hands with. But here in Japan my hands are always dried quickly and I begin wondering why people even use towels in the first place.

[BigMike]

Here is a store outside in Obama city :barf:

Check out the dried Tofu NICE


Then I saw my Japanese food #2 Kryptonite: Dried fish!!




Here, have a hand full


Her family bought some freshly made Tofu which was bar-none the most absolute DELICIOUS Tofu I have ever had in my entire life. I wanted to swim in an entire pool of this stuff. W O W THAT WAS AMAZINGLY GOOD


More driving. Rice fields overlooking a small bay


Check out the gas prices. $5.18/gallon for regular, $6.19/gallon for medium grade, and $6.67/gallon for premium.
Sorry, I can't believe it but I never checked what the octane levels were. I was so upset later when I realized I forgot to inspect this...


I heard this restaurant is Joyfull inside


Ahh, a familiar sight


Check it out!!! I found a car dismantler!!


Spotted another cruiser! NICE!


And another one hiding behind some bushes!


Thought this Penguin Aquarium sign was cute so I took a pic of it (woah I am acting like a Japanese person!!)


Check out these really cool stairs! Ohhhhh MAN I wanted to get outta the car so bad and run all the way up those!!


A neat looking bridge


Some houses stashed in the mountain side. Reminds me of San Francisco


And finally, we made it to Nagasaki


Check out this guy. This is a common sight over here. It's hard to see, but he is smoking a cigarette while riding a motorcycle. I don't know if this bothers anyone else, but it does to me. Well, actually it bothers me when I see a guy riding a (pedal powered) bicycle while puffing away, so basically any guy on two inline wheels while smoking a cig is just too crazy to me that's all


And finally, yes finally, we made it to our destination



A LOT more to come soon!

BigMike

[*FFC*]

Loving the update pics! The hot springs look soo intriguing!

[slick]

lots of good pictures thanks for sharing! 

[BigMike]

Thanks, I've got a lot of updating to do

[86bobbedtoy]

awesome! thanks for sharing