Kiko the Japanese Frog and Rogi Rogito Japanese Doggie and worm friends go to the moon

Copyright by Carole Goldsmith © 2014 - All Rights Reserved


Kiko the Japanese Frog, Rogi Rogito Japanese Terrier Doggy and the two worms are headed for the moon. They are zooming northwards in a rocket made of recycled vegetables and fired with high energy dog faecal and worm droppings bio fuel. 


Out of the sky comes a large flash of lightning with a purple light radiating out of the middle."The lightening bolts  are getting closer and they seem to have hands reaching out for us, trying to grab our spaceship," screams Rogi. All of a sudden there was a strong wind blowing us away from the enemy lightning bolt. The wind is blowing us upwards towards the moon swirling forward in a tornado like action. We are now speeding towards the moon at 1,800 km per hour.  


Rogi is feeling very giddy from all the swirling, but he is the captain of the spaceship so he takes control and calls out " Kiko and worms, Cilli and Milli, try to hold on to your seats and put your seat belts on." 


"We are all stuck to the roof so we can't get down," says Kiko and he tried to salute to Rogi while hopping around upside down. All around us we could see the stars shining brightly, so bright that they were almost blinding us. Kiko added excitedly. The moon is happy to see us, that is great news guys”!

We all looked towards the moon with great anticipation of reaching our destiny very soon.

'Let us look at our sky map and see whether we can see where we are, I suggested to the group.
Look the moon is there on the map, it does not look very far away.
The moon is ahead of us and we can see the light. I wonder what it is like on the moon".

As we were getting nearer to the moon, we saw two new comets speeding through the sky. They had sparks blowing out of their tails - multi colored bright sparks.

"Oh look Kiko, Cilli and Milli, at the pretty colours". I called out to the group excitedly.

There seemed to be new colours emerging all the time and it looked like a firework display of huge dimensions. The stars from the comets danced across the sky making pictures of flowers as they exploded into the sky’s surface.

“What a view we have” we all agreed together.
Now it looks like a rainbow in the sky, all different colours.
“Look those red sparks are turning into big red blobs all joining together, I wonder what they are going to do to us. The red blobs kept flashing and it appeared to get bigger and bigger as they spoke.
That blob has a hole in the middle and it looks like we are going to pass through the middle as it is moving in our direction. All of a sudden, creeping around the corner, we noticed something strange. There was a smoky haze starting to appear – a bright blue smoky haze coming out of the sky. Silver stars were beaming through the haze.

Out of the smoke came a little silver frog with a gold crown on its head.
"Look Kiko and worms, a silver frog and a gold crown. Have you ever seen anything like that guys?" I enquired.
The little frog seemed to be very happy through the haze, without a care in the world.

“Let us get our spaceship closer, Roggi and we can see it better. Maybe it is one of my long lost relatives from Tokyo” Kiko announced.
We moved our spaceship nearer to the silver frog and he seemed to be getting bigger and bigger the more we approached him. It had red eyes with a green light inside of them. As it grew larger, its red eyes were shining with a green light piercing out of them in our direction.

It was still hopping around but its hop seemed to be much more aggressive than before. It suddenly diverted its attention from hopping to looking directly at our spaceship. It was looking very scary by now with an angry look on its face.

“Maybe we should approach it and ask directions to the moon” Kiko said. I replied that we should be more careful and wait and see what happens in the next few minutes. As we moved closer to the silver frog, it seemed to have grown five times larger than when we first saw him.  His eyes seemed to be glowing a bright emerald green.

The silver frog that we had named Zongo was now staring in our direction. It was growing and then shrinking at the same time. Suddenly bright orange and silver threaded wings started emerging from its shoulders as if they were growing before our eyes. The eyes were also growing bigger and were now as large as saucers.

We were getting mighty scared by now, after all we were just a little dog, a frog and two worms in a spaceship made of recycled fruit and vegetable material.

The silver frog’s eyes were glaring at us with such intensity, that it felt like the eyes were piercing through our spaceship.
“What will we do now” Kiko screamed out. “How are we going to escape”?

"Let’s be brave guys, time to get all of our strength together. Maybe we can calm him down so that he becomes a friendly little frog again", I tried to assure them all

“Hello Silver Frog” we called out of the spaceship’s loud speaker.
The now giant frog looked in our direction and flapped its huge wings and let out an enormous croak that shook our moving spaceship. Its green pupils seemed to have increased to the size of a dinner plate.

Pointed ears emitted from its head and it appeared to be trying to listen to what we were saying.
“We want to be friends” Kiko called out. “ I am a frog too, maybe we are relatives. I am a frog from Japan." Kiko added.
The giant frog seemed to be listening but not really understanding.
“I had better talk to him in frog language, he may understand me better”.
“Croak, croak, cro….ak, croak, cro….ak (I may be your long lost relative). The giant frog seemed to be understanding and its big red tongue licked our spaceship.

“Croak, cro…….ak, croooooak, croewwck” the giant frog responded to Kiko.
What did he say, I asked Kiko,
He said that he has been lost here for a long time and an outer space alien put a spell on him and made him stay suspended in outer space. So when danger approaches, he becomes a monster.

How did he know that we were not dangerous when we spoke to him, I inquired.
The giant frog said suddenly in our language. “ I can tell by the tone of your voice. Some how I can sense danger when I am faced with it. By the way, where are you guys going to”?

“We are going to the moon, we all called out together. Do you want to come with us, you could protect us along the way if we face any danger. But you cannot get into the spaceship looking like you do, you will have to shrink again to your normal size”.
“Maybe I just will not get into the spaceship after all. I can guide you to the moon. After all I was living there for a while so I sort of know the way there. Also I can help protect you from danger along the way".

"Would you agree Rogi, Kiko and worms.”
"Yes we do, we all said in unison".
To be continued......Join us again on our journey to the moon.
Carole Goldsmith Copyright ã

Answers to traveler's questions on Japan on a budget

These are some answers to a traveler's questions on 

                           Japan on a budget 

By Carole Goldsmith 

Copyright Carole Ann Goldsmith © 2014 All Rights Reserved

Japan Rail Pass is useful when travelling long distance and can only be used on JR trains, buses and ferries. 

Flying with Jetstar/ Peach  is generally much cheaper from major city to city than going by Shinkansen or Bullet Train. 

Suica Pass is suitable in major cities across Japan. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html#suicaMap

Kansai Pass suitable for Kansai travel http://www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html

Driving is waste of time and can be difficult traveling long distance in Japan. 

Use the Willer overnight buses if you want to go by road instead of air or Shinkansen https://willerexpress.com/en/ 

Kyoto - stay in Osaka at Osaka Chuo Oasis http://www.chuogroup.jp/oasis/en/index.html and use either Kansai Pass or Suica Pass to travel to Kyoto and surrounds.  

Remember to go to Shiraishi Island - catch Kazaoka bus from OCAT Namba station in Osaka. http://japan-on-a-budget.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/shiraishi-island-japans-island-paradise.html 

How to get to Kanazawa http://www.kanazawa-tourism.com/eng/info/info5.php

Enjoy for travels in Japan

Tokyo on a budget

Tokyoo      getting ready for battle              

Shiraishi Island – Japan’s Island Paradise

By Carole Goldsmith Copyright © 2017, All Rights Reserved. 

Need an escape from your hectic life in the big cities in Japan? Shiraishi Island is the answer for complete relaxation and fresh sea air.  Located a short ferry ride from Kazaoka in Okayama Prefecture, Shiraishi Island is Japan’s hidden paradise.

Every year when I travel to Japan for a few weeks, I usually spend a week at Shiraishi. As I board the ferry at Kazaoka, I exchange greetings with the ferry captain, who knows me by now – this April was my fifth visit. 

Traveling on the ferry, you can slowly feel the accumulated city and work stress leave your body. Within 35 minutes we arrive at the island and I collect the key from the ferry office, for a pre booked room at the Island’s international villas. The ferry office manager’s son calls out  ‘konnichi wa and gives me some fresh fish to cook at the villa. I like room number 2, a western style room. There are two Japanese style rooms there as well.

    

I wander up the 15 minute walk to the villa, well signposted along the way, A couple riding bicycles along the island’s narrow paths, stop to say bonjour or good day. Fred and Sophie are from France and are staying at the Villa for a couple of nights. 

The villa is a great place to stay with western and Japanese style rooms overlooking the sea and the neighbour's vegetable gardens. Also the villa has a full kitchen and after weeks of eating at restaurants while traveling, cooking a meal adds to the island’s stay delight .  

There is a supermarket about five minutes walk from the villa to buy all of your supplies. 

Amy and Paul , the managers of the villa and locals who lives on the island, comes to collect money for the villa stay, in the evening. The price per room, all with a view of the sea, is around Yen 4000 for the first night and Yen 3500 for subsequent nights for a single supplement. For couples staying there, the price is Yen 500 less per person.

After a cup of tea and a chat with Sophie and Fred who traveled in Nepal and India, I go for a cycle down to the ferry and along the waterfront. Bicycles are available free of charge while staying at the villa.                                              

There are many walks or bicycle rides to take around the island, a stroll down to the beach will take about 5 minutes by foot. A cold beer, freshly made miso soup and yakitori while chatting with Chieko and her family at San-chan, the restaurant and accommodation on the beach, is a good way to pass the afternoon.  In May, the beach is a swimmer’s delight. As I plunge in the water and do my 30 laps of the ocean, the locals keep asking me “samui desu ka” – is it cold? They don’t tend to swim until June when summer if official, but this Australian swims whenever she sees water. 

My videos on Shiraishi Island - check them out...

Shiraishi Island - Walking to the Beach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7yr7gAvuo

Shiraishi Island - Inside the international villa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2lZdjvepqQ

Shiraishi island - How to relax and enjoy the beauty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd_3OTpIhfY

Great walks on the island 

Close to the villa, there is a walk up to the lookout, a steep climb to a 360 degrees view of this magnificent island. This is fantastic to do as the sun sets on the horizon.  There is also a walk along the waterfront that leads to a picturesque walking path with cherry blossoms in full spendor in April.  

Another great walk is up to the temples, passing houses with multi colored flower boxes on display and many vegetable gardens, green and luxuriant in the very rich island soil.  The temple area is alive with cherry blossoms and azaleas in April and rhododendrons in May. On this visit, 

I walked around the temple area with a friend Hiro, who had come to the island for a visit for the day. 

You can also visit the neighboring islands by ferry. Mannabe is well worth a visit, with a very well preserved temple, that serves as a community centre for activities and art displays. There is also a picturesque walk along the waters edge, to the left of the ferry port. Climb the hill to the temple, turn left and climb some more steps to find exercise stations, then the pretty flower garden that overlooks the sea and the island. 

The very talented Shiraishi Island’s Mrs Shinohara 

In the morning as Sophie, Fred and I are enjoying our breakfast on the outside deck , we see the bonneted head of an elderly Japanese lady, just below the veranda. She introduces herself as Mrs Shinohara and gives us some beautiful paper umbrellas that she has made and we accept gratefully. As she wanders back down to the road that leads down to the beach, she points to her house and indicates that she would like us to visit. 

After breakfast, I go to visit Mrs Shinohara, and she tells me she is 75 years of age. She invites me for tea and cake as I sit at her entrance and she shows me how she makes the umbrellas out of newspapers and magazines. Then she points to the characters in traditional dress that she has made for a play. The very talented, Mrs Shinohara also proudly displays the ceramic bowls and vases she has produced and the birds that she made out of paper.

                                               

Sailing around the island in style 

If you feel adventurous and want to sail around the islands, Amy Chavez, an American and long time resident of Shiraishi, and her Australian partner Paul will take you on a sail. This takes place throughout the year except for July and August when they are busy with the Moo bar on the beach. Amy also takes bookings for accommodation on the Island. For details of the accommodation reservations and the sailing schedule and fee, see below. 

Getting to Shiraishi Island – 

The cheapest way to get there is to catch the Bus from Osaka directly to Okayama station, from OCAT, Osaka Central Bus Terminal, Namba, The fare is Yen 3000 one way, the bus departs from Osaka daily  and the trip takes around three hours with two rest stops along the way. At Okayama Station, catch the train to Kazaoka Station and then a ferry nearby to Shiraishi Island.

For Japan Rail Pass travellers, catch the Shinkansen to Fukuyama station and then the local train to Kazaoka. 

To find the ferry terminal, turn left at the station and on your right, walk though the underpass, then turn left and right across the pedestrian crossing and walk straight ahead for 30 seconds. Then turn left and you will see the ferry terminal ahead. There are regular ferries to Shiraishi until around 6:00 PM. The daily schedule for the Island’s ferries is provided when you book your accommodation.

Accommodation reservations for Shiraishi Island Villa contact the Okayama International Villa group 

E-mail address: booking@international-villa.or.jp

http://www.international-villa.or.jp/  

Some non smoking restaurants in Tokyo

More smoke free Japanese restaurants in Japan please

By Carole Goldsmith - Copyright - All Rights Reserved

Just back from number 20 trip to Japan and I am astounded that the Japanese laws still allow smoking in restaurants. Every restaurant I went to in Osaka and Kyoto in the evening, had smokers puffing away in part of the restaurant. Half of the restaurant in some of them was smoke free so the staff told me.....yes - I saw the smoke drifting across the restaurant. So to avoid the poisons of second hand smoke and a coughing fit, I did not dine at any of these restaurants.. they were not smoke free. Also at Takayama and Koyasan, the two restaurants that I ate lunch at, you guessed it, someone lit up near me, so I departed pretty quickly.

Here are some non smoking restaurants in Tokyo 

http://www.bento.com/r-nosm.html.

There was one restaurant at Kyoto station that had no smoking over lunchtime, that was delightful. Apart from all the Western restaurants that surround Kyoto station, I could nor find one Japanese restaurant that was smoke free for the evening meal. Seven Eleven meals come in handy when you can't go to restaurants because of the tobacco smoke pollution.

Why don't some innovative Japanese set up smoke free Japanese restaurants in Japan. .

The Japanese Ministry of health is promoting no smoking habits as smoking related cancer and stroke is rising rapidly in Japan.

But how can they compete with the cigarette promotion and vending machines on every corner and the Japanese government's ownership of 50 percent of Japan Tobacco, the world's third largest tobacco company. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/17/japan-tobacco-tci-idUSL3E7JH2L220110817

At least young people have to now prove they are 18, before they can buy cigarettes from vending machines.
This was not the case a couple of years ago, there were no restrictions on buying cigarettes from vending machines.

Maybe when the restaurant employees start suing the owners for smoking related illness and the smoking related health bill climb higher, the laws allowing smoking in restaurants may be changed.

I and the many other visitors to Japan who are used to smoke free work and dining environments in our own  countries, we would love smoke free Japanese restaurants to go to in Japan

Here are some non smoking restaurants in Tokyo 

http://www.bento.com/r-nosm.html.

JOIN THE NEWLY UPGRADED BUZZ KOREA WEBSITE AND WIN A TRIP TO KOREA!

JOIN THE NEWLY UPGRADED BUZZ KOREA WEBSITE AND WIN A TRIP TO KOREA!

Dated:  18 November, 2013

Written by Jennifer Doherty, PR/Marketing Manager, Korea Tourism Organization

Join the newly upgraded Buzz Korea website before the end of this month and you could win an air ticket to Korea or other great prizes like the mini iPad, MCM Backpack, Cosmetics or passport wallet.  The Buzz Korea website has recently undergone a major upgrade with more fun and informative features for all to share and enjoy.

The upgraded website has stronger community functions where you can meet with other Buzz Korea members.  If you are planning to visit Korea, then BuzzKorea is a very useful website, especially the K-Place and K-Tour which will help those planning travels in Korea to plan an exciting and interesting tour of the country.

There are fun games on the site, virtual tours of Korea where you can experience first-hand all the fun experiences you can enjoy while travelling in Korea. 

To have a chance to win a return air ticket to Korea or one of the prizes you must first register on the Buzz Korea website:  www.ibuzzkorea.com

The Buzz Korea event runs until the 30^th November and winners will be announced on the 4th December, 2013.

Whilst at the Buzz Korea site you should also download the Buzz Korea app which will be a great help if you are planning to travel in Korea.  The app will assist you to find a place to sleep, where to eat, catch local transport and find your way around the top sights in Korea as well as find out all the fun things to enjoy whilst travelling in Korea.

Dated:  18 November, 2013

Further information:  Jennifer Doherty, PR/Marketing Manager, Korea Tourism Organization

Email:  jenny@knto.org.au  Ph:  02)9252-4147/8

ENJOY FUN KOREAN LANGUAGE TRIP & NEW STUDENT TRAVEL GUIDE RELEASED

 

ENJOY FUN KOREAN LANGUAGE TRIP & NEW STUDENT TRAVEL GUIDE RELEASED

Jennifer Doherty, PR/Marketing Manager, Korea Tourism Org. Sydney 

If you’ve ever wanted to learn the Korean language and have some fun at the same time there could be no better way than immersing yourself in Korean cultural life by staying with a Korean family and experiencing student life at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea. 

The Fun Korean Language Trip is a 7D/6N tour package organised by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Kyunghee University’s Institute of International Education. The package combines a language training program which teaches Korean through popular culture like dramas and K-pop and provides accommodation with Korean families through the Koreastay program.  This provides students with the best chance to learn and communicate in the Korean language as fast as possible.

The program provides twenty hours of Korean language tuition and six nights accommodation with a Korean family including breakfast.  You can choose from a free Korean cooking class or a Korea Pass Card ($US20 pre-paid tourist card).  After morning class you have the opportunity then to tour the city and enjoy many of the attractions of Seoul.  Optional tours include Korean Cultural Experience, K-pop Dance Experience, Seoul City Tour or Beauty Tour as well as a Gangnam Experience tour where you might even run in to PSY.

The Fun Korean Language Trip is a great way to learn some of the Korean language and enjoy the many attractions of Seoul city at the same time.  It also is a great chance to become friends with Korean University students and share your experience.

The 7D/6N package is available during January & February, 2014 and again during July/August, 2014.  The tour package fee is 600,000 Korean Won (appox. A$600)  Further information and bookings of the tour can be made through Plus Planner Agency in Korea.                                                                                Email:  alex@familytourfriend.com

If you are a student and looking to travel to Korea then the newly published Student Travel Guide to Korea would be a helpful tool.  This 90-page handy pocket guide has detailed information about the sights and attractions to be enjoyed in Seoul city as well as day trips outside Seoul and to other regional areas of Korea.  It includes all the exciting options for students who may wish to travel and experience Korea’s wide and varied landscapes, festivals and events, UNESCO World Heritage sights and cities and villages whilst visiting Korea.

The booklet is available free on request from the Sydney office of Korea Tourism Organization Email:  visitkorea@knto.org.au  Ph; 02)9252-4147/8

Dated:  25 November, 2013

Further information:  Jennifer Doherty, PR/Marketing Manager, Korea Tourism Org. Sydney

Email:  jenny@knto.org.au  Ph; 02)9252-4147/8

Everything you need to know about internet and WiFi in Japan

Everything you need to know about internet and WiFi in Japan

See this site :Best site on WiFi and internet
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html

Android App “Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi” is newly-launched
http://www.ntt-bp.net/company/news/2013/pdf/1108/english.pdf

November 8, 2013 

NTT Broadband Platform, Inc. 

Android App “Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi” is newly-launched 

NTT Broadband Platform, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “NTTBP”) has started offering an 

Android application “Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi” from today with the cooperation of the 

following providers (hereinafter referred to as “Service Providers”) providing Free Wi-Fi 

services to foreign tourists visiting Japan. The application allows searching Wi-Fi service areas 

immediately, where about 2,000 APs are available in total, and users can now easily connect to 

Wi-Fi within the service areas. The new service is available in 5 languages: English, Traditional 

Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. 

 Wi Fi available 

NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CORPORATION 

Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. 

Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation 

FUKUOKA CITY 

(including Fukuoka International Airport, Fukuoka Municipal Subway, etc.) 

MITSUBISHI ESTATE Co., Ltd. 

East Japan Railway Company 

OKINAWA CITY 

Central Japan Railway Company 

 ※Prospective Service Providers 

 Osaka International Airport (the expected launching date is December 2013) 

 Mori Building Co., Ltd. (the expected launching date is December 2013) 

 Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. (TBD) 

 Updates on service areas will be provided on NTTBP’s website as well as via the app 

 http://www.ntt-bp.net/index.php