Grounded in Mongolia

Today I was stuck in an airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The ash cloud hovering over most of Europe has made my plane land. Instead of waiting in the airport all day I decided to go see some of Mongolia. The first thing that caught my eyes was the beggars. They we no more than 14 years old.

They said that they had run away from their parents 2 years ago and where surviving primarily by begging. The told me that they sleep in underground tunnels and some day they only have a pack of cigarettes and some cookies to eat. I was so happy I got to spend some time with them.

Grounded in India

On the way back to America from Japan I was grounded in India because of volcanic ash. I decided to venture out onto the streets to taste some of the Indian foods. I tried foods like Biryani and Bon bons but my favorite was the spicy curry chicken. I liked how most of the food vendors were on the street and not in buildings. I was running out of time so for desert I decided to to get a apple-mango smoothie which was Delicious. Then I got on my plane and headed back home.

Japan day 3 Kyoto

Today decided to travel to Kyoto, Japan's most culture rich city. I was lucky enough to meet a very nice monk called Kenji. I expected a monks to be all the same and have no creativity at all, I was imaginably proven wrong. First Kenji showed me his rock garden. Which was amazing you had to have a very high amount of patients to be able to tend one. He told me that the spacing of the rocks was different in every Rock Garden. Then he invited me to tea with two other monks. I never knew there could be so many rules to eat food! The monks where so polite so I was happy to meet them. Kenji was a great tour guide and friend. I am so happy I met him and he has inspired me greatly.

Day 2 Nara

On my second day I decided to travel to Nara for a day. I picked Nara because it was the country's first capital. I was lucky enough to see the first capital building and how the Japanese government works. I learned that after world war 2 they became a capitalist country but they got to keep their monarch much like the British government. I got to see the amazing Himeji Castle. I think that is the one sight from this trip that I will always remember.

Day 1 Nagasaki

I decided to come to Nagasaki because I wanted to learn about World War Two and the atomic bomb. I decided that going to The Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park would be the best place to start. I was so amazed at the condensation of people that lived there. My tour guide told my that Hypocenter meant the spot the bomb hit the ground. I realized on 65 years ago this place was have been a barren wasteland and now its seems like every other big city in the world except for it's tragic past. I lesson I learned was that sometimes you have to just move on in life, no matter what happens.

Places to go in Japan

Nagasaki

Matsuyama

Heroshima
Takayama
Nara
Kyoto

Tokyo

1 US $ = .94 Japan$

20 US $ = 1.804 Japan $

Airfare

OutboundMon Apr 19

1 stop

15h 50m

This flight leaves Monday and arrives on Tuesday

• United Airlines #6832

  6:15a Mon Apr 19

  SBA (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport)

  Santa Barbara

  7:48a

  SFO (SFO Intl Airport)

  San Francisco

  1h 33m

  Coach

  • Embraer Brasilia 120ER (SeatGuru Reviews)

• Stop

  Layover in SFO San Francisco

  3h 23m

• United Airlines #837

  11:11a Mon Apr 19

  SFO (SFO Intl Airport)

  San Francisco

  2:05p Tue Apr 20(+1)

  NRT (Narita Airport)

  Tokyo

  10h 54m

  Coach

  • Boeing 747-400 (SeatGuru Reviews)
  • Movie

ReturnMon Apr 26

1 stop

11h 46m

• United Airlines #890

  5:15p Mon Apr 26

  NRT (Narita Airport)

  Tokyo

  10:55a

  LAX (Los Angeles Intl Airport)

  Los Angeles

  9h 40m

  Coach

  • Boeing 747-400 (SeatGuru Reviews)
  • Movie

• Stop

  Layover in LAX Los Angeles

  1h 20m

• United Airlines #5916

  12:15p Mon Apr 26

  LAX (Los Angeles Intl Airport)

  Los Angeles

  1:01p

  SBA (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport)

  Santa Barbara

  0h 46m

  Coach

Japanese Phrases

Goodbye. (long-term)

さようなら。 Sayōnara. (sa-YOH-nah-rah)

Goodbye. (informal)

それでは。 Sore dewa. (SOH-reh deh-wah)

I can't speak Japanese [well].

日本語「よく」話せません。 Nihongo [yoku] hanasemasen. (nee-hohn-goh [yo-koo] hah-nah-seh-mah-sen)

Do you speak English?

英語を話せますか。 Eigo o hanasemasuka? (AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

だれか英語を話せますか。 Dareka eigo o hanasemasuka? (dah-reh-kah AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?)

Help!

たすけて! Tasukete! (tah-soo-keh-teh!)

Look out!

あぶない! Abunai! (ah-boo-NIGH!)

Good morning.

おはようございます。 Ohayō gozaimasu. (oh-hah-YOH go-zigh-moss)

Good evening.

こんばんは。 Konbanwa. (kohm-bahn-wah)

Good night (to sleep)

おやすみなさい。 Oyasuminasai. (oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sigh)

I don't understand.

わかりません。 Wakarimasen. (wah-kah-ree-mah-sen)