October/November

We have been so busy this past month, We've hardly been able to keep up with our pictures, let alone our blog. Here are some highlights:

Yosakoi - October 25th

Every year we love to see the performances at Yosakoi. Here's a snippet from one of our favorite groups at this year's festival.

We really wish we could share how wonderful this festival is with our friends and family first hand (this video does not do the festival justice). Yosakoi is a local festival in Sasebo (and it's outlying areas) celebrating the fall harvest. The dancing, music, and costumes are just amazing.

Aiden's Birthday - October 28th

For Aiden's Birthday our family had a new addition. Stella is a 5 month old miniature poodle. Nope, that's not a stuffed animal in that pic, that's a real puppy!!!

Aiden also had an awesome birthday party on

Halloween night; fully equipped with costumes and a Trick-or-Treat excursion immediately following it.

Unchi Festival - November 2nd

We also made it to Karatsu for the Unchi Festival (an awesome "parade" where antique floats are pulled through the narrow streets of downtown).

Karatsu Kunchi is an autumn festival that takes place annually over 3 days from November 2 to 4 in Karatsu City, located in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu in the south western part of Japan. In 1980 the festival was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Karatsu Kunchi is an epic event in which local people, in time with rhythmical music, pull large floats through the town, to sound of flutes and drums, shouting the traditional prompting, "Enya! Enya!". Huge helmets or lions decorate the base of the floats, known as Hikiyama, which are 5 to 6 m (6 yd.) high and weigh from 2 to 5 tons.

The basic structure of each Hikiyama is made from wood, and topped with a large decoration made from clay or wood over which, along with hundreds of sheets of washi paper, linen and other materials are laid. The surface is covered with different types of lacquer and finished with gold and silver leaf. It is said that each neighborhood spent enormous sums of money on the floats that took 2 to 3 years to complete. The 14 Hikiyama that are still used today were offered to Karatsu Shrine between 1819 and 1876.

The first day of the festival is the eve event on November 2. A special mood prevails as the 14 Hikiyama, decked with paper lanterns, are pulled around the town. Lit by lanterns on an autumn evening, the Hikiyama create a magical scene.

On the second day, with the portable shrine of Karatsu Shrine leading the way, the Hikiyama are pulled to Nishinohama, a sandy beach. The sight of people hauling the huge floats through the sand is an epic spectacle.

On the third day, teams dressed in the traditional uniforms of Edo Period (1603-1868) firefighters pull the Hikiyama through their neighborhoods. This is the day on which these floats are returned to their storage building, the Hikiyama Float Exhibition Hall. Regretful that the festival has ended, the participants playact as they are reluctant to put their floats away and a sorrowful feeling fills the air.

Saga International Balloon Fiesta - November 3rd

Most recently, we made it to the 30th annual Saga International Balloon Fiesta. During the night, many balloons lit by their burners loom up in the darkness. They are fired on and off to the live music at the launch site and joined by fireworks at the end of the evening. It's a really impressive scene! Unfortunately, this year, we pulled up just in time to catch the very end. (Darn those faculty meetings!!!)

Isanoura Lake

Lake Isanoura

This past weekend we got out for one last camping trip. We had perfect weather! We set up our camp on Friday and sat back to watch the kids ride their bikes. The campground at Lake Isanoura is nestled right up against the lake and just breathtaking in the evening. There are many trails for hiking all over the park. Even a 5 kilometer paved trail around the lake for pedestrians and cyclists.

We did a nice hike Saturday morning after

packing up camp. It was highlighted by a super bouncy suspension bridge. Ilana and Michael really got it swinging. Barbara was not impressed!!!

After our hike we

rented a paddle boat for a cruise around the lake.

With Aiden at the helm we were in for an interesting ride.

Another Hanmoto Camping Trip

Well, we couldn't help it...We love the Hanmoto campground so much we returned for another 3-day/2-night stay. That's just about all the sun our pastey white bodies can take!!! This time the weather was wonderful, aside from a 1am downpour during our last night.

We had a little bit of a delayed departure from the campground

while waiting for our tent, shelter, and some other items to get dried by the sun. However, it was a great excuse for another dip in the ocean.

This time we got a little smarter and played Hirado Island tourists during the "sunburniest" parts of the day! Aside from the Hanmoto Campground & Beach, we ventured out to walk across a bridge built in 1702.

The Oranda-Bashi (Dutch Bridge) was actually built in 1669 out of

wood; but, when the Dutch came to Japan, this bridge was rebuilt by the Japanese in 1702 using Dutch building techniques.

Another thing we were able to do was check out Kawachi Mountain Pass in Hirado. The pass is quite a hike!!!

We made it over the the first two mountains and then

decided to call it quits. After all, the goal of being tourists

for the afternoon was to stay out of the sun, and we weren't doing a good job of it!!! But, we got several choice pics on the peaks. If you can distract your attention from the imperious display of manhood on the picture to the right, you'll see the beautiful cascade of rolling mountains fading off into the distance. Simply breathtaking!!!

In addition to these adventures, we were able to make a trip to Tabira Park and the Tabira Insect Museum on the way home! Both of which were outstanding spots that we will have to visit again!!!

All in all, an outstanding and fun-filled 3 days!!!

Hanmoto Camping Trip

We finally got our new camping gear in the mail and had to wait a grueling week-and-a-half to get out and try all of it (just too much rain lately). The stars aligned this past weekend and we took off to Hanmoto campground on the western coast of Hirado Island. It was overcast, so not too hot; and, we had a couple light sprinkles at night. However, the cool ocean water, mild weather, and fellow campers made it just perfect.The new tent and shelter were just perfect for keepuing us comfortable; much better than the tiny tent we were trying to squeeze into earlier this summer. They also pack down much smaller too!

The campground looks as though someone converted terraced rice paddies into a campground. Although the steep terracing proved for some very laborous walks to-and-from our car, the

terracing also provided all campers a breathtaking view of the ocean and outlying islands. We were fortunate to get to the campground when it was fairly empty and

set up camp in a tucked away area both down by the beach and right near a beautiful cliff backdrop where the waves crashed as the tide rolled in all night. Absolutly relaxing!

Ilana and Aiden were very busy finding interesting creatures,

riding the waves, sculpting

the sand, and making friends with travelers from all over Japan. We also spent the evenings with some tasty camp cuisine and hanabi (fireworks). All in all, a great experience for the Lybarger's.

Ilana's Birthday

Ilana had a big birthday weekend last week. She had an evening pool party with all of her friends. She absolutly loved it!!! From 6pm to 9pm all the girls were in the water with the exception of a few minutes for cake.Two of Ilana's friends, Mai and Risa, stayed the night for Ilana's birthday. With all of us recovering from the pool party, we decided to go out for breakfast. Ilana could get whatever she wanted. Here's a picture of her eating her double-decker whipped cream and blueberry syrup sandwich on marble rye. Mmmmmmmm!!!
After Breakfast we went out to play for a bit. Here's Mai planting her own mushroom garden.

TP for My Bunghole

One thing that has been quite frustrating here in Japan is figuring out when and where to recycle in our cho (neighborhood). There are weird things like, "on the third Thursday of each month you may drop your tin cans to the recycle center". Of course, all if this information is in Japanese and I often miss the dates and have to cart my recyclables to the Navy base to recycle.

Well, today I was on the ball and understood the notice for the recycle date and time for milk cartons, newspaper, junk mail/flyers, and cardboard (all of which get recycled into toilet paper). ***Side Note: why can the same milk cartons be recycled in Japan and not America???*** This afternoon, I noticed a pretty roll of toilet paper, a gift from the recycle company, sitting on my doorstep.

I just had to share this cheery experience.

Bon Odori

Bon Odori (meaning Bon Dance) is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors. This event is celebrated each year at Aiden's yochien (preschool), and one of our favorite events because everyone dresses in their yukata (women's summer kimono) and jinbei (men's summer kimono). However, Michael and one other Japanese father were the only men to wear jinbei this year!!! All of the classes prepare a choreographed dance to go along with traditional music during this festival. Here is a picture of Aiden doing the dance with his handmade fan!!!

Aiden's Homeschooling

Aiden learning his new word, "see", in homeschool with Daddy.

Aiden reviewing "like" with Daddy in homeschool.

10th Anniversary

We had our 10th Anniversary on June 19th, 2009. Barbara and Michael went on a little vacation to Obama-Cho in Unzen, Japan; a city known for it's volcanically fed hot springs. The whole city was filled with venting steam. Often little stone kiosks sat along the street fed with the hot spring water and eggs. Of course, we had to buy a few "naturally" boiled eggs. This visit included a trip to see the volcano, in between the many many dips in the onsen and some fine dining.

Kay's visit in April

In April, Grandma Kay came for a visit for a week. We did so much while she was here. She had some cooking lessons with our neighbor, Noriko; went on a hike in Ryumon Valley; visited the beautiful Shirohama Beach; took a look at the famous 99 Islands; shopped at Yonka Cho and the fresh food market; and a million other things. It seems like we did so much in such a short time! It was a wonderful visit!!!