Koalas

There were koalas at Jenworld yesterday, so I thought I'd share Frank's koala experience:

Photos by Frank (or at least his camera), Australia, July 2006.

Japan, by Ernest

At long last, here are some of Ernest's pictures. He and Frank saw the same places, starting at opposite ends of the journey. So I've tried not to repeat the same things that were in Frank's photos. Ernest described all the photos to me when he got home, but now I've forgotten. I'll add some detail when he gets back from the zoo today.

Isn't this beautiful?

More bars in more places. Ernest wants to be an architect. He likes interesting buildings. This was taken from a 45th floor observation deck.

Pet dogs.

The Japanese Alps.

Wagons.

A fairy tale village.

Ernest snagged the coveted rear seat.

This beach and cave were in the opening of Prince Caspian.

Ringing the Peace Bell .
The Itsukushima Shrine at high tide. (Frank visited it at low tide.)

Friendly deer at the shrine.

The group!

Ernest's Itinerary

Kinkaku-Ji Temple, the "Golden Pavilion." Photo by Frank

July 12. Leave USA.

July 13. Arrive in Japan.

July 14-15. Tokyo. Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Oriental Bazaar. Anime. Nakamise shopping arcade.

July 16. Hakone. Scenic Drive to Mt. Fuji, hiking, aerial cable car ride, Onsen (hot springs bath).

July 17-18. Gifu. Drive through the "Japanese Alps." Stay at a traditional Japanese Inn. Old fashioned town of Takayama. Visit the only surviving "jinya" (shogun's headquarters).

July 19-21 Ishikawa. Visit Shirakawago. Meet your home stay family and enjoy local activities.

July 22. Take the Bullet train to Hiroshima. Visit Peace Memorial Park.

July 23-24. Kyoto. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and Himeji Castle, the Gold Pavilion, Nijo Castle, a tea ceremony.

July 25. Return to the USA. Arrive in the US 3 hours before he departed Japan.

(Frank's intinerary was very similar, except that he started in Kyoto and ended in Tokyo.)

Ernest Embarks

Bye, mom!

This was the view from our hotel the night before.

An article about Frank's trip

Here's a link to a newspaper article about Frank's trip.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jul/09/local-student-ambassadors-return-home-from-japan/

Return from Japan

Frank got back on Sunday. I snuck his camera out of his room this morning so I could finally look at his pictures. It's after 1:30 pm and he is still sleeping. Jet lag or the usual teen-age need to sleep late? (UPDATE: He got up at 2 and said it was jet lag.)

Anyway, here are some pictures. Since he's still sleeping, I don't have much explanation for them.

Hiroshima.

Paper cranes.

A gate.

The beautiful home where he stayed.

A happy lunch.

Posing on Mt. Fuji.

An unusual store.

Tokyo at night.

He really enjoyed the home stay. I hope to get him to dictate a little synopsis that I can post later.

Ernest leaves on Saturday.