cafe day with friends2009

There is our favourite wee cafe in Shimemachi, and an owner bakes homemade sweets and draws something really cute on milk foam.

On one Sunday evening, our good neighbour friends Jon, Yukari, Andrew and I went to this cafe and enjoyed catching up with each other.

Here are arts of our drinks!

~a snoopy and a bunny~

宮島＃３〜Miyajima〜

~FAMILY~

taken by ARB

Miyajima 2

When we tried to take pictures with deer, for some reason, the deer were not friendly to me, but only to my younger sisters :( 

Kei and Ai got to take some great shots with the deer!

I only got this sexy pic of the deer! 

Still running after the deer... 

The deer do not like me... I was laughing so hard :D

Finally I will show you the beautiful Torii on Miyajima Island.

Miyajima Island, Hiroshima December 30th 2008

We managed to find a similar themed restaurant before we got to Miyajima, and enjoyed a big onigiri(rice ball) and some grilled chicken.

We had to take a ferry to Miyajima Island.

As soon as we got to the island, we were welcomed by adorable and hungry deer!

Momiji(maple) leaf  

Sanzoku(Mountain Pirates)--a restaurant!

On December 29th, Andrew and I decided to take his mother to my hometown, Hofu Yamaguchi-Prefecture, to introduce her to my parents. We slept in late after the big trip to Beppu and Mt.Aso and repacked our stuff for another road trip. We arrived in Hofu in the evening and then we all went out for dinner! We had Beef and Pork "Shabu Shabu." You dip a slice of beef or pork into boiling water and wave it back and forth in the water about four or five times, dip it in sesame sauce or lime flavored soy sauce and eat it with vegetables that you do the same way. My youngest sister Ai-chan was also off work until the 1st of January, so she came home. She was so happy to see Andrew's mother again! It was a lovely dinner:-)

On December 30th, Andrew, his mother, Kei-chan, Ai-chan, and I took a road trip to Miyajima and Iwakuni. There is a restaurant named Sanzoku(山賊) in Kuga area that we wanted to take Andrew's mother but unfortunately it was closed on the 30th and 31st. 

The restaurant is like an old Japanese castle and people eat under a heated table. It was closed for the preparation of the New Year. We were disappointed, but enjoyed taking photos in front of the New Year's decorations.

                                           Ms.Bright and I being Samurai!

                                    Just being silly...

Trip to Beppu, Oita-prefecture~Dec 26th to 28th,2008~

Mt.Aso

So relaxing.... :)

Andrew, his mom, and I took a short trip to Beppu city, a famous city for it's natural hot springs. We also went to visit my grandfather and to experience a sand bath(suna buro). On the 27th, we went to Kokonoe Yume Otsuruhashi, the longest foot suspension bridge in Japan and also visited Mt.Aso in Kumamoto and saw an active volcano and enjoyed beauty of the nature! On the 28th, my youngest sister Ai-chan and Mrs. Bright experienced the Sand bath for the first time. I am sure that it must have been one of the most interesting experiences for Mrs. Bright in her life. They seemed to be very relaxed in the sand! After saying goodbye to my grandfather and sisters, we went to a town named Yufuin(湯布院）and had very delicious lunch located right next to a beautiful lake called Kinrinko(金鱗湖）. We also went to a Japanese hotel to look for a famous cake called "P-roll cake" but unfortunately we were too late and it was all sold out.....:( 

Andrew and I were very happy to be able to take his mom to Beppu and spend some time with my grandfather and sisters! We laughed so much and relaxed in the hot spring at my grandfather's house. It was a perfect trip. 

WE LOVE HOT SPRINGS!!!!! 

FAMILY and FRIENDS

Life is fragile, Love is not.

I am very lucky to have such great families including my host families in the US and wonderful friends all over the world. I love you and miss you all very much. 

Wish you the best,

Mai Sugino Bright

Winter 2008

~Christmas 2008~

It is our FIRST Christmas as married couple. Andrew's mother came and visit us in Japan on Dec 22nd. We invited our friends, Jon and Yukari and made our "First Gingerbread House" with Catherine Bright-sensei, Andrew's mom.  I want to respect both of our cultures, so I asked Andrew's mom to teach me how to make mini gingerbread houses! 

That evening, we had Christmas dinner and started making gingerbread houses at around 9 p.m.  and finished after midnight. It was a great experience for me. Andrew finished making one much earlier than the rest of us as he had made them since he was five as a family tradition!

ARB&MSB