Hiking today

Fall semester is back in session, and I already feel stressed and overwhelmed!  Why am I doing this to myself?  Oh yeah, I want that Bachelors Degree!

Today I took a short hike to see a "cascade" up 46th street in Ogden.  It was part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Ogden, but we follow the little creek/stream trail instead of the Shoreline Trail.  It was not too difficult, but I did have to take a few breaks on the way up.  I think I need to go hiking more often, or at least get in some kind of exercise to get my heart going!

These are the few pictures I took, hope you enjoy.

 The cascade

 So pretty

Me and the cascade

 The view

The view of the tower

~Adventures in Anything & Everything

Arles

In late May of this year I was able to spend a day in Arles, France.  It was part of a Study Abroad trip, that was so much fun!

Arles has a rich history, and there was this amazing necropolis that is called Alyscamps.  It is amazing to think that I walked where ancient Romans walked!  The city of Arles also has many other things to see, but I'll just show you some pictures instead!

Checking out a tomb, is someone still inside?

Lexi actually got in and laid down in a tomb

The Coliseum was amazing.  I have seen the one in Rome, but I think the one in Arles is better. There is also the amphitheater, the town square, and Saint-Trophîme church.

 Amazing isn't it!

 The Study Abroad Group (minus me, I'm taking the picture)

 The Coliseum

 The Coliseum

The arena

Me and the arena

 A view of the Coliseum

 Looking out at the audience

 Watching the performance

 Town Square

Saint-Trophîme church 

 

One day was too short, but it was all I had to spend in Arles.  I would love to go back and see the things that I missed!

~Adventures in Anything & Everything

Japanese Onsen!?

An Onsen is a Japanese Hot Spring.  People go to these hot springs to wash, relax, and refresh themselves.

I recently came across this blog It Just Gets Stranger, it is an entertaining read if you have the time.  After reading about Eli's experiences in a Russian Bath House and then his experiences in a Turkish Bath House, I thought I could share one or two of my experiences in a Japanese Bath House.

At a Japanese Onsen, men and women are separated/segregated.  After you take off your shoes and check in, you are to enter the locker room, remove your clothing, and then wash yourself completely before you can enter the hot springs.  Some hot springs have various pools of varying degrees of temperature and some are all indoors while others are outdoors.  I like the outdoor ones more than the indoor ones, the scenery is always very beautiful and if you go after dark you can sometimes see the stars!

My first experience with an Onsen I felt like everyone was staring at me!  I happen to be really white very pale skinned.  I went with a group and we were only speaking English, so maybe that is why I was being stared at!  But is was an experience I needed to have in Japan, and I thought I don't ever want to do this ever again!  That didn't last, and the next time I went it was just me and my friend Chika.  That time I didn't feel self-conscious or that everyone was staring at me, I'm not sure what the difference was, but it was more enjoyable the second time I went!  Well in February of 2012, I went to Gero with two very good friend, and this time was the best!

 One of the Foot Baths in Gero (this one was the best/hottest)

 Which feet are mine?

There is a famous Onsen town called Gero a few hours from where I lived in Japan.  There are other things in Gero besides Onsen, one of the best in my opinion would be the foot baths located in several places all over the city!

~Adventures in Anything & Everything

Gujo Odori

Around this time of year in Japan, there is something called Obon or Bon.  It is a Buddhist tradition in Japan and here is more information about it.

There is a city in Gifu Prefecture called Gujo, that hosts dancing from the end of July to the beginning of September with 3-4 days around the 15th of August reserved for all-night dancing!  Participating in the Gujo Odori is lots of fun.  I never went for the all-night dancing, but I did go with several friends for dancing in Gujo on August 4, 2012. 

All dressed up for an evening of dancing

Here is a short video that I took of the dancing. 

There is also a bridge that kids jump off into the river for fun.  Sometimes there are contests jumping off the bridge, here and here are videos taken by Gujodotcom.  Gujodotcom is a Japanese website about the city GujoHachiman and what it has to offer.

 The bridge is about 10m (33 feet) above the river

Deciding who will jump 

 Climbing over the rail

Preparing to jump 

He jumped!

~Adventures in Anything & Everything

Parade of Sheep down Main Street

I have heard that every year in the town of Cedar City in southern Utah, there is a sheep parade!  How, might you ask, do I know this?  My older sister and her family live in Cedar City and they go to see it every year!

Last year, I went to visit her and it just so happened that I was there for the sheep parade!  It was fun to see all the old cars and tractors, and then to see all sheep run down Main Street.  This year it will be held in late October, here is all the info you need to know about the Cedar City Sheep Parade!

Enjoy the pictures from the parade!

~Adventures in Anything & Everything