Here’s an mp3 that scientifically explains how Santa manages to travel the world in one night. Clint, you’ll definitely want to listen to this. Dad too.

More good news for Dad and me: The Sudoku Diet!

2009 school kid’s art show, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

DD’s egg was selected for this year’s school children’s art show. That’s three in three that her work has been chosen! Considering that only one or two works are chosen from each class, that’s an accomplishment! There is fruit inside this egg.

Nushima hiking trail, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

The trail around the perimeter of Nushima is like this all the way around, with ups and downs for climbing up and down two mountains in between, that is. There are 88 of these little houses which protect two Buddhist statues inside situated along the trail throughout the island. The scenery was like this the whole time: beautiful trees, comfortable easy to find trail, and little surprises around every bend.

The Nushima Middle School has a fantastic website in English(click here). If you’re homeschooling, you will definitely want to look at it with your kids.

Awaji seen from Nushima, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

Here’s a lovely view of central Awaji Island as seen from Nushima island.

Torii trail leading up to Yamanodai shrine, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

After a long, steep uphill climb we were rewarded by this trail through hundreds of yellow torii gates. We thought the yellow color was so unique but it turned out they used to be orange and have just faded over time. Still, they were just lovely. They went on seemingly forever.

Torii and Osaka Bay, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

After we visited the little shrine, we continued walking through the torii’s in the other direction and came upon this lovely view.

Kami and shimo tategami iwa’s, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

Nushima also is a legendary island where Japan is said to have been born from. Here we see the female and male gods depicted in rocks, the two largest ones here. Apparently, around 1933 there was a big typhoon which caused the female rock to cleave in two. Before this, there was a hole through the middle of it. When we were in the ferry riding over there, the gal we were with asked if I knew the history of the island and if I was okay with Hannah going there. I had no clue about anything but she said there were signs all over the island talking about the birth of Japan in graphic detail in kanji, so she wanted to know how much kanji DD knew. I’m sure they’re not teaching 3rd graders any of ‘that kind’ of kanji quite yet. It turned out that I couldn’t read the signs either so we just enjoyed the scenery.

Kami tate gami iwa, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

Here’s a nice closeup of the rock.

Nushima manhole cover, originally uploaded by craftytokyomama.

Every city in Japan has unique manhole covers. Here’s the one on Nushima, which is part of Minami Awaji City. I bet if you Googled Japanese manhole covers, you’d find lots of people with pictures since they are so unique.

As of tonight, I’ve walked a million steps since August 31st. Maybe that’s not much, but it sure sounds like a lot to me!

DD and I went hiking today on Nushima with a Canadian friend. We had a lovely time walking the mountains there and made one circuit around the island to the tune of 10 kilometers! I’ll post pictures after I get them downloaded. I’m pretty beat this evening, as you can imagine, but just wanted to mention the million steps. Wow!