Great Morning in Kyoto

We are taking a lunch break right now, but have had a great morning in Kyoto.

From Kyoto

This is a sign in the store next to our hotel. I guess smoking makes you strong.

From Kyoto

Our first stop was the Kiyomizu Temple.

From Kyoto

We made some new friends.

From Kyoto

Some of our group took advantage of touching the rock that brings love to your life.

From Kyoto

We then went to the Kingakuji or the Silver Temple.

Now we are off to Kinkakuji or the Golden Temple.

We Made It - 48 Hours Later

We got to Japan, made it through customs without incident, got on the train and found the "hotel" in Kyoto. It has been a long day and now we are all off to bed.

Waikiki

It was fast and furious, about 45 minutes total, but Brent, Haley and Meghanne ventured out to Waikiki.We decided to walk along the beach and a sneaker wave came and got our shoes and lower pant legs wet. I think we will survive.

From 2010-06-29

From 2010-06-29

By the way, here is the view from our hotel room.

From 2010-06-29

Smith Sensei just came by and she is completely wet as she went swimming in her clothes!

We are waiting on the shuttle now so that we can once again go to the airport and hopefully get to Japan.

On Our Way To Hawaii

We finally made it through the waiting at the airport.

From WHS 2010 Trip to Japan

Some slept.

From WHS 2010 Trip to Japan

Some watched videos.

From WHS 2010 Trip to Japan

Some got up on emails and letters.

From WHS 2010 Trip to Japan

While others played games.

Smith Sensei was able to get her flight from Portland to Seattle and we were off. When our tickets were originally booked, they were book under three groups. The group of 5 included Cameron, Todd, Nick, Miki and Alyssa. The first group of three was myself, Haley and Sensei and the last group of three was Rachel, Meghanne and Amanda. More on the groups in a bit.

The flight to Osaka was cancelled due to mechanical problems. There was another flight from the East cancelled for the same reason. This created a severe shortage of flights to Osaka. Some of the options included going to Korea and then to Osaka for a total of 29 hours of flight, going to LA, San Francisco or Salt Lake and then to Osaka and one option considered for awhile was going to Paris first and then on to Osaka. The last option seemed the best and that was going to Honolulu and then on to Osaka. To make room for us on the plane, they had 8 open first class seats and book the group of five and the group of three with myself and Sensei. The other group of three were able to get tickets in the coach part of the plane.

From WHS 2010 Trip to Japan

Miki and Alyssa in the back row of 1^st class.

From Hawaii

Cameron enjoying his seat.

From Hawaii

Ginger Ale, with a pineapple wedge and umbrella for Todd.

We will be staying at the Ala Moana Hotel tonight and will have a departure tomorrow of 1:30 pm. We called the hotel in Kyoto and told them we would be a day late. Sensei is considering asking the Airlines if they will extend our trip by a day.

Who knows what Hawaii holds for the group!

Our Flight is Cancelled - But We May go to a Luau

Bummer. Our flight to Osaka got cancelled. We were ready to board the Horizon plane to Seattle, when Horizon told us not to board. Smith Sensei went to Delta to see if she could reschedule the flight. While she was gone, a Horizon employee came over and said that all of the Horizon planes for the rest of the day were full and they could not get 11 people to Seattle unless we went on our original flight. She said that there were 2 flights from Seattle to Korea to Osaka that we could get on if we went to Seattle and finally she said that our luggage was going to Seattle and that because of those three reasons we should go. So we did, without Sensei.

In Seattle we got a flight that goes from Seattle to Honolulu and then Honolulu to Osaka. We will spend the night in Hawaii and then leave at 1:30 pm tomorrow to Japan. Smith Sensei has a flight this afternoon to meet us in Seattle so that we can all go together. The only drawback is that three seats are n standby and unconfirmed so we will work the crowd to make sure we all go together to Honolulu this afternoon. We will get in Honolulu a little before 9 pm and so we may get to do something for an hour or two before going to bed and waking up to get to our 1:30 pm flight to Osaka.

Group Headed to Japan