Summer's over (finally...)

Well, it's been a long summer, we've been working hard in the heat. It averages about 35C everyday (that's around 95F) between June and the middle of September, so it's been tough again, but recently it's cooled down quite a bit. Unfortunately, now it's cooler but the heating is on everywhere so it's hot inside instead!

We went to a beach resort at a place called Shirahama for Jenny's birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was really relaxing and we had a fantastic suite at the hotel. It had two bedrooms, a lounge, dining room and a massive balcony that overlooked the wildlife park below - pretty cool. We only stayed for one night but it was nice to get away from the city...

Now we're busy saving for the wedding and honeymoon next year. We've decided to go on a Nile Cruise for the honeymoon now instead of New Zealand. It would have meant taking too long off work if we'd gone to NZ, so we changed our minds. Not long now... seven months and counting.

Back on the air!

We're back! It's been a long time since we last wrote... But life has certainly been very hectic! At the end of April, we flew to the UK and spent time with both family and friends. Unfortunately, we couldn't see everyone because we were so short on time. Nevertheless, it was lovely seeing people and it was hard to say goodbye. While in England, we also managed to plan a lot of the wedding - we organized my dress, Katharine's dress and the suits. Everything is certainly coming together, we can't wait!

During May, we also visited both the Czech Republic and Switzerland. We spent 3 days in Prague with my family and had a wonderful time. Prague is such a beautiful city and the food was so good. On the second day, we met the wedding coordinator and got the chance to see our castle and various locations for the reception. We've really made the right choice and can`t wait for next year!

Later we visited Katharine and Carlos in Geneva which is a very scenic town with a beautiful lake. We did lots of sightseeing, had some great food and got to do some wine tasting, thanks to Carlos. We had such a nice and interesting time and hope to go back some day. Muchas gracias!

To bring things up to date, we went to see Coldplay in Osaka last night. It was really cool, and our first concert in Japan. Everyone was so polite and quite quiet but they were really good live. Anyway we're going to brave the thunder outside and see Mission Impossible 3 tonight.

Another one of Jen's infamous entries...Weddings!

Only a few days until Paul and I go home and start making plans for our wedding. With this in mind, I got thinking about Japanese weddings...

Getting engaged seems to be the toughest part. The boyfriend has to meet his girlfriend`s parents and prove to them that he is worthy of marrying their daughter. If the father refuses, the groom must persist and show him that he has enough money to support her. All sounds pretty challenging...Fortunately, my Dad gave Paul his blessing before Paul proposed! Thank you Paul and Dad!

After getting engaged, Yuino (betrothal gifts) are often exchanged between the 2 families. This can be in the form of 4000 pounds or a gift composed of 9 lucky items - kelp, a folding fan, some cash, abalone, linen thread, dried squid, cash for sake, dried bonito and mokuroku (list of gifts exchanged)

Engagements are usually pretty short because it is very rare for couples to cohabit before tying the knot. However, according to the rokuyo superstition, you have to be careful which day you select. Certain days are considered to be butsumetsu (unlucky) and as a result, weddings are offered at reduced rates.

Let's have a look at a traditional wedding ceremony...

The groom usually wears a black yukata with the family crest on it and the bride wears a kimono and a tsunokakushi (a hood). The latter covers up the bride`s devil horns from when she was single! At the ceremony, the priest purifies the couple who then pray, exchange rings and nuptial cups of sake between themselves and their relatives.

At the reception, speeches are expected to last a few hours. The bride and groom then cut the cake and they change into their evening wear. In fact, it's normal for a bride to change her clothes 3 times during the evening!

So as you can see, there are some similarities and some differences between Japanese and English weddings.

I really can't wait to visit Prague and start planning our special day :)

Sunburn and Photo Exhibitions...

We have certainly had a busy few weeks but we have at last reached the end of our 6 day weeks!

Last weekend, we were invited to a hanami / cherry blossom party at Ryokuchi Koen. It was actually a really sunny day and we had a barbie with some friends and their co-workers.

Unfortunately, we both got sunburned but it was really good fun. We even got to practice our Japanese a little, although most people were determined to practice their English on us - we let them win in the end.

This weekend, we went to our friend's photo exhibition in Osaka - check it out at Moonstationfoxtrot.com. The theme was "Life on a Japanese train". It was really fascinating and we could't resist buying a portfolio!

This evening, we are meeting some friends at a cafe bar in Osaka - it's a pretty chilled out place and sometimes they play live music.

Only ten days until we go back to England ... we are so looking forward to it! It's going to be a busy trip (don't expect anything less from us!) but it's going to be so nice to see everyone again. We haven't been home since Christmas 2004, reverse culture shock anyone?

Jenny had a bath in red wine!

Today is a national holiday but we had to work anyway. Apparently today is the Spring Equinox - one of the 14 national holidays in Japan. Today Japanese people are supposed to visit their family grave...no-one I spoke to today actually planned to do that though. In fact, they had no idea why they were on holiday - fair enough.

Anyway, we had a pretty good weekend, Jenny was working but we went for Chinese at lunchtime and later we saw "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" (longest name for a film ever). It was pretty good but I'm glad that I read the book first. Coincidently we bumped into our friends Matt and Kumiko at the cinema and went for coffee after it finished.

It was great because while we were sat outside Starbucks there was a big Japanese wedding party going on at the hotel next door. The groom was rolling around outside absolutely p#%ssed! The bride was stood outside by herself as all the guests left. Then she put him into a taxi and they left. It was quite sad really... probably didn't turn out to be much of a wedding night.

Anyway, that night we ordered pizza and watched some great TV - a program about Great White Sharks, SAS Survival Secrets, then Wales vs. France and England vs. Ireland in the rugby. I finally got to bed at 5 a.m!

By the way, my goal for this week is to listen to every Beatles album in sequence - I've never done that before - and I spend a lot of time sat on trains so why not...

Jenny went back to Spa World on Sunday as well where apparently she had a bath in red wine full of naked girls - I might have to check this place out...

A first time for everything...

Well, here's a first for SaruJapan. The long awaited first entry from Jenny!! Enjoy...

I had a Japanese experience on Saturday. My friend and I went to Spaworld in Osaka. Spaworld is a complex of spas, restaurants, and a waterpark...the list is endless. Anyway it also contains two floors of world spas - Asian and European. This month, women are able to use the Asian floor for ¥1000 / 5 pounds.

On entering the building, you have to take your shoes off and put them in a locker. You are then given a special bracelet containing a chip which can be scanned whenever you buy anything. This kind of system is pretty standard in Japan.

You then get undressed and are given a very small towel! One important thing to remember about spas in Japan is that you must be very clean! So, before entering a spa, you have to have a shower - everything is provided (flannel, shampoo, shower gel etc). After showering, you are then free to enjoy the spas.

We spent four hours there and had a Balinese and an outdoor Japanese spa (it smelled like pineapple). We also had a mud spa and a salt scrub. It was so much fun and very relaxing...

Actually, we plan to visit Spaworld again next month - the European floor and possibly a body massage - can't wait!

Good news comes in threes...

We've had a really good weekend...

For those who don't know, we went to Australia last August - it was an amazing trip but then when we got back and found that half of our pictures were gone.

Naturally we were a bit upset but we kind of accepted that sometimes these things happen. Anyway, yesterday while Jenny was watching Eastenders (grrr...) I had a fight with the computer and managed to recover most of them! We're so happy - we never thought we'd see them again.

So, finally, here's one of us in front of Uluru (Ayer's Rock) where we got engaged...

Also, remember how we took a Japanese Exam back in December? Well, I hate exams and to be honest it didn't go all that well. Anyway, we got the results today and we both passed!!! I got 62% and Jenny got 86% - we're both pretty relieved but I'm really pleased because I'd convinced myself that I'd failed. Yeah!!!

So, that's two pieces of good news so far - I wonder what's coming next...

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Simple pleasures...

We've lived here in Umeda for two years now. We like it because it's so easy to get everywhere - and it's pretty cool to live in the city centre. One problem we've always had is that although there are thousands of restaurants and cafes - we've never found a supermarket...until last week.

One thing about living here is that you tend to just stumble across things by chance that you'd given up hope on. We were walking home from Bruce's a couple of weeks ago and found a supermarket ten minutes from our apartment. It sounds stupid but we were so excited when we went in because they sell loads of food from home. I think that only people who've lived abroad for a while really understand the thrill of seeing Heinz baked beans. So there you go...

Meanwhile in entertainment news...

I know you've been waiting for it so here's a quick Narnia update! I finally made it though book 3 - it was fairly painful but now I'm into "Prince Caspian" and it's much, much better. "The Horse & His Boy" seemed a bit random to me.

Also, we've been watching some great TV this week like The Simpsons Season 7, The Office, and we're really into 24: Season 5. For some reason (actually it's Bruce's fault) I've been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd recently too, haven't done that since I was 14...