James Family Adventure: October 2005

Taroko Gorge

For the first time since we came here, I took off to do something for myself this afternoon. Two sweet Canadians invited me to their house to do yoga. She, Rebecca, is a trained Sivananda yoga teacher, and her husband, Jeff, is a gentle, flexible dude. They tucked their two little girls away at a babysitter, and we went out on the roof to yog.
Oh my it was nice. My body had been wondering if I was going to remain tucked into downward-facing-computer position for the rest of the year.
As we moved, so did the clouds above. At first, they covered the sky, then they opened right above us, then the sun wandered behind the mountains, and the clouds followed. We did balancing postures beneath the first stars, and the lights of Taitung blinking on below us.
Omm shanti shantii!

I bought a scooter. I bought my freedom.
For two months now, I've been trapped in the house until Joplin and McKinley come home. Trapped by the heat, and trapped by no transportation. Last week, it almost got cool enough to go for a walk. I walked for two hours, and yet didn't manage to get all the way the the amazing stationery store that was my goal. I walked back along the ocean as a consolation prize.
But now I have a scooter. A 125 cc Yamaha, born the same year as McKinley. It belts out blue smoke when it starts (I know, Papa, oil problems!) but then it gets going, and the zips along through the city streets, where scooters reign abundant.
It has tiny tires, so the bumps are a little harsh, and the wind in the ears, the bugs in the eyes, the dust in the pores of the cheeks... well, it's a scooter, after all. A sweet little sister to a motorcycle.

James Family Scooter -- our first try at the art of scooting. We rented this baby for the weekend, along with all the other tourists.

All set for snorkling. That was a squeeze on the scooter -- three people in wet suits and life jackets, with the snorkles and masks bouncing on our arms.

We met these friends on the boat, and they found us again at the hotsprings. When they found out we, too, ate vegetarian, they invited us in for dinner. What a treat!

Salt-water hotsprings. The only others in the world are at Pompeii and on Hokaido, Japan.

The view from the clifftop. How does water get this color? It is unbelievable!

McKinley wanted to climb these little islands.

Buddha head Fruit

A small frog shrine -- a little green frog, called Kaieru, which also means, "please return." It's a shrine for those of us who leave our hearts in Japan.

Temple after sacred temple, each detailed with gilt paint and sculptures, sacred fortunes and gifts. The trees that line the alleys are thought to be relatives of the great sequoia.

The last day, in Nikko. Fall was just beginning to blow her cool breath across the trees.

An extraordinary museum, even with grass roofs. The magic in every corner was palpable.

And then... Totoro!

Adding her dozen paper cranes to the thousands of thousands at Sadako's memorial in Hiroshima.

Tokie creating wonderful gifts for McKinley.

Jun, another grandson, shares his class with McKinley. They counted groups of 20 sunflower seeds in each box, until they had 5 sets. A neat way to get to 100.