...1.9...Japan...days EIGHT and NINE...

...Our Airman is back at work now...so we'll be seeing a little bit less of him...he's got a weird schedule this week with some splits and some night flights...so we'll still get to see him some...

...these first photos are from an early morning run...(aka jog...HA!)...just headed towards the beach...there is a vending machine on my left...

...and a row on the right...they are seriously everywhere...

...past a busy area of little garden plots...the weather here has been absolutely gorgeous...it's probably perfect growing time right now...

...to a beautiful little beach...and I thought I'd make my blog look like my sweet sissie's...

...there was one other family there with a little one splashing in the water...

...a jeddy...

...the water is very shallow...

...and very clear...

...it's so beautiful here...

...we walked up a path to this monument...

...and up onto the little mound is this artwork...

...closeup...

...across the street there was a game of American football...

...there were several lookouts with views of the beach...

...and the sea wall and out to sea...

...and the city in the distance...

...now...onto the sea wall for my run...(aka jog)...

...a sweet little graffitti I spied...

...the view back over the sea wall...

...and forward...

...and out to sea...

...just jogging along an almost deserted sea wall...

...there are areas where they've piled up these knobs for protection against erosion...

...I ran up to this pavillion today...

...and then turned and ran back...

...back at the house I ate a banana...

...and a little bit later we came here for lunch...

...they have a sandwich called "The Vegan"...

...it was a neat quirky little deli...recommended by Our Airman...

...my sammie and fries...

...so good...grilled veggies and sauce on rye...yum!...

...then I walked to the local conbini...and got a few supplies...

...then it was time to figure out this appliance...Our Airman said that little grills like this are common here...and there is no real oven...

...the whole cooker...

...opened it up...and slid my tofu in to cook...marinated with soy sauce...

...it turned out perfectly...

...some more veg items from the conbini...they're amazingly well stocked...

...my delicious supper...it looks so pretty...the tea is a China tea from the conbini...and it tastes just like the tea you get at a Chinese restaurant...

...another day...we're just getting ready for a short drive...and these vending machines are just a few steps from our AirBnb...and the one on the right sells cigarettes...WHAT!!!...

...we arrived pretty early...

...at the Botanical Gardens...

...they still have their Christmas lights up...

...but the sign said today is the last day...

...it's a beautiful place...

...and the light tunnel is still pretty even in the daytime...

...a big Christmas tree...

...a pond with lily pads...

...frogs and girls...

...looking at the tiny fishes...

...and feeding the huge ones...

...just wandering along the path...

...we happened upon this interactive bird show...it was a surprise to us...but there may have been signs...haha...

...so we stopped to watch for a bit...the bird flew right over our heads...

...and back to her handler...

...she has more than one bird...and she's speaking Japanese...of course...

...we continued around the path to the petting area...

...I was surprised that the botanical gardens have animals...

...it's my first time touching a Capybara for sure...they were so sweet though...and rolled over so you could rub their little bellies...

...the turtles get some love too...

...sweet family on a bridge...

..the girls were so excited to climb up the hill to "Elsa's" castle...(it's not really called that...haha)...

...photo op...

...an overlook...

...really really tall palm trees...

...the other half of the gardens was across the parking lot...

...the sign says to go quietly...take a deep breath and feel the holy power...

...it was very peaceful and shady for sure...

...then we left to get some lunch...a random mail box...

...we went here for Mexican...

...the vegan options have a leafy V beside them...not sure what Oblee Chicken is...but maybe I'll try it next time...

...while we were waiting I used some of my yen to get a supersized Dr. Pepper from the nearby (of course) vending machine...so good...

...back home with the food...and time for another round of little pressies we brought with us...

...Big Sissie opens her pony...

...and she loves it..

...and Little Sissie loves her pony too...

...oh...and here's my vegan bean and rice burrito...it was delicious...

~Have a lovely day!