Scotts' trip to Japan

So, on July 23rd (just less than two weeks after we got to Guam), Scott gets underway for a short trip to Japan. The purpose of the trip was to escort a Coast Guard Patrol Boat to the dry dock in Japan. The Patrol Boat was only 110 feet long and they don't carry much fuel. The trip was 1400 miles (about four days) and a Patrol Boat has a normal underway endurance of four or five days. So, we were playing big brother in case something happened to them or they started to run too low on fuel. Scott's ships does have the capability to refuel a Patrol Boat while at sea, but it's a dangerous evolution that they'd rather avoid unless absolutely necessary.

OK, so getting around Japan was pretty easy. All Scott had to do was figure this thing out to get on the subway...

...and then figure out where he wanted to go on this map. Jeez, how hard can this be, right?

The subway was very cozy and relaxing...yeah, right.

OK, first stop was Akibara, the electronics district in Tokyo.

Here's Scott taking a picture of the best looking man in Tokyo...no not the guy on the bike...

Big building, big sign...

Seriously, we're done with New York. Quit following us!

Some alleyway where you can buy electronics stuff...

Another alleyway with stuff...

Lots of people, big signs...

OK, these are actual miniature computers. It's almost ridiculous...

More electronics stores...

Looks like the Colonel is changing his image...

Not only electronics, but they also had bags to carry them around in!

Again with the Colonel...

This street was away from the busier areas. We actually saw a basket full of used computer mice (mouses?) for 50 cents each!

More people, more buildings...

Some street with buildings and more signs...

Need stuff? We got stuff!

After Scott left the electronics district they went to Roppongi (ruh-pung-ee). This is where the the world famous Tokyo Tower is located (Scott had never heard of the Tokyo Tower before...). Scott went up into the Roppongi Hills building where they had an observation deck where he could pretty much see all the way back to Guam. This building is almost 70 stories tall!

Scott with the Tokyo Tower...OK, so that's what that thing is! That's the tower Godzilla destroys in every movie!

The observation deck inside Roppongi Hills...what an awesome view. You can see almost every inch of Tokyo from up there!












Everyone else was taking tons of pictures of the tower, so Scott took a bunch, too.

Inside the observation deck again...












Tokyo...














These two buildings are 40 stories tall and they're dwarfed by the Roppongi Hills building...












Again, inside the observation deck with the tower in the background...













Here's a different tower...no it's not. That's the same tower...










Scott paid a couple of extra dollars (about 300 yen) to go to the roof of Roppongi Hills and take more pictures...this one shot was well worth the three dollars. Be sure to notice Tokyo is in the background as well...










OK, so Scott did a bunch of sight-seeing and he was getting hungry. Let's see, McDonald's? No. Arby's? No. Outback? No. He decided to try a local place. He's still not sure what his dinner consisted of, but he swears it was good. He actually couldn't order it, he had to point to a picutre in the menu.






OK, day two in Japan. Scott went to visit the Japanese temples in Kamakura. This fountain area is actually where those who choose to pray wash their hands before they pray.










Here is a big Buddha statue located in Kamakura...












Here Scott is finding his "chi"...














Not sure what this is, but it's cool looking...













Hey! Do you all realize you're driving on the wrong side of the road?!?












The entrance to the Kamakura temple area...

Scott's not sure how to describe this...it was just cool looking...

Hey, guys! Go stand on the stairs and I'll take a picture of you with the temple in the background...that's it, perfect!

Very serene and peaceful...

Ohmmmmmm....

Finally, the Guam pictures...!

OK, so we arrived on Guam July 7th. We got set up in a room in the Hilton. Here's the view from our room...












A view of the beah (this area is called Tumon Bay)

Looks pretty overcast and rainy, huh? During the "rainy season" (July to December) it seems to rain for about 30 minutes at a time, then stops for about and hour and then it starts raining again. This goes on over and over and over again.

Here we are driving on to the Navy base (or "Big Navy" as the locals call it) to start our check-in process

That thing hanging on the fence is a snake trap...seriously. And they're everywhere on base!











Here's a view from Pago Bay Overlook on the east side of Guam. That's the Pacific Ocean in the background. Way to the right and about 6000 miles away is California.

Here's a picture of our house. Notice the fully fenced-in yard...oh, and thankfully it was already painted bright yellow, just like we've always wanted.

Our yard...the owner of the house plansto do some landscaping work. Right now it's just weeds and rocks...

Inside the (Guam) Casa de Whaley...

This is where people get food...notice the bananas...

...and the corridor to...

...our messy bedrooms...!

Seriously, I had just cleaned this room when a typhoon came through and wrecked it...

Plenty of storage room...

This is our "hood"

Here's a view of the terrain as seen across the road from our house...

Scott's ship...the mighty SEQUOIA!

Here's Jenn's station..you can see the 25-foot boats they use for doing law ebforcement and search-and-rescue.

Yes, it is odd they aren't already in the water (you're very observant). The Coast Guard station doesn't have a dock for their boats. They have to pull the boats behind a big truck to the marina on the Navy base to launch the boats. In case you've ever wondered what ever happens to all that money the government gives to the military...it doesn't go to the Coast Guard...

Another picture of the station...

This is where Jenn works when the boats are out of the water...

...and the cozy little break-room for relaxing...

So, there's a park about a half-mile down the road from the house we are renting. This is a view from the park.

Another view from the park...

Again, a view from the park. Beautiful, isn't it? That part of the ocean you see in the background is the Phillipine Sea

And this is what the locals refer to as a "caribou" (pronounced care-uh-bow). We've seen them tied to trees around the island. Apparently, they're moved from one area to another to clear vegetation.

I've got fifty bucks that says Randi can take this thing down in less than 10 minutes...silly herbivores.