The last extended holiday is finished, and it was pretty good! I spent two days with a family in Hamamatsu, and saw the annual kite-jousting festival. Also toured a sake brewery the family owns and runs - very good quality, the stuff from the Tenjinguro distillery. There are photos, so I’m not going to go into extended description of what I saw or did.
The Yamashitas are very very friendly! Two grandparents caring for two grandchildren (whose mother died when they were young and whose father comes in and out like 80’s fashion). One thing I’ve learned in Japan: there are two classes of people who can break the unspoken cultural rules: old folk and foreigners. Put the two together, and you have an unstoppable duo (like fire and lightning). Mr. Yamashita and I owned every place we walked into. Commanded excellent service and free stuff.
It was high living for two days. Plus, the grandkids are super friendly and not too kid like. Japanese kids are well behaved _outside_ of the classroom. Turned out that Mr. Yamashita started somputing as soon as it came to Japan, and now his interest has been piqued in things open source (he still programs in BASIC, and owns the first NEC model). But he loves unix and is excited that there’s an accessible alternative.
After those two days, I met up with Aropp, Kjell, and Nathan for three days in the mountains of Gifu. We went to Takayama and Shirakawako, places known for their rustic mountain houses. Heavy snows spawned the steep A-frame houses, and the flora pointed to thatched rooves. We slept in a modern ryokan the first night, and in a thatched-roof cottage the second, sharing the meals with everyone staying there. Found a funny bus ‘feature’ worth a shot….
It was really nice to be in the mountains again. I forget how comfortable I feel surrounded by forrest and hills.
Only now there aren’t any more holidays till I leave (pretty much). Straight work until the 20th of July. Time will fly, I think.