Hey Folks! I return! Got back from my first westpac deployment (a while ago, but I couldn't logon...) and I will say that
there were good times, and bad times, but mostly bad times. Lets just say that I'm counting the days remaining in
my 'hitch' with the Navy and believe it or not there are more days past than there are remaining. (thank god)
Still, when I finally do get out, I will look back on the few good things with fond recollection, although that by itself
isn't enough to influence me to make this job a career.
I didn't take many pictures of foreign ports, because of the three we visited, two of them sucked, and the remainder
of visits were to hell.
(you think I joke but then you also don't know the litle known fact that Guam is only 2 miles from the sun!)
Anyway, I got to see Sasebo, Japan, which was (to me) the highlight of the whole 6 months we were out (and that
visit lasted barely 6 days) Without further ado, here are some of the pics I took:
Some Sakura Cherry trees. We made it after the blooms just started dying.
More Sakura
I don't smoke, but there's no way in hell you'd see a cigarette vending machine in the US, so I snapped a picture to
show my family.
I know a smattering of Japanese, but Kanji (most of the characters in the pic) are well beyond my understanding.
Obviously a sign against global warming though, the bottom letters on the fan itself are in katakana, and
says "brake" so I guess the message is "put a brake on global emisions" or something...
I like the zigzag, I took this picture because it reminded me of the second opening to the anime, darker than black.
A temple. The sign under the door says in English to take off your shoes, but you can't see it in this resolution.
A giant bell at the temple, really big. 'nuff said.
A nice view of the river from a bridge. I was not on a rail track, the track is next to and separate from the road!
The Sasebo Shopping arcade!!! I spent most of my time out in town there. It takes up literally 5 or 6 city blocks in one
direction!!!
A Pachinko Parlor. By far the noisiest establishment in known existance. (Imagine hundreds of loud stereos blaring
the same cheesy sound effects over and over to understand.) I think they actually attempted to soundproof it to
some extent for the sake of passers-by based on the noise difference inside and out.
Some buildings. The sign in the foreground says something about ticket(s), I assume for an event of some kind, but
also maybe a warning not to park there
Have you ever seen such a colorful garbage truck? (not to mention an environmentally friendly one at that!)
A gas station with the pumps on the ceiling. totally awesome!
Japanese-styled building. Can't read the writing but I know the Kanji for mountain is the second of the big characters
in the white background, not that that helps any....
A genuine Ramen shop! as good as instant ramen is (very good) it doesn't hold a candle to restaurant ramen! The
hostess was pained by watching my chopstick handling skills, as she offered me a fork twice. I stubbornly refused
however.
The crosswalks have speakers which make distinct chirping sounds. I assume for the blind, as it makes it really easy
to know when and where it's safe to walk without paying too much attention to the people symbols.
WHEEEEEEEEEEERES FREEESPACE!!!?!?!?!? (The seabag was filled with souvineers I bought and lugged back to my
boat, this picture was taken by my 'liberty buddy'.
A church. I actually did a second take when I saw it 'cuz I didn't believe my eyes the first time. It just kinda seems a
little out of place. Sure didn't expect to see one all elevated up like that.
Japanese cars are very small and compact compared to the US. Anyone else care to comment? Also, they drive on the
left side of the road, much to the chagrin of the fellows who tried to get a Japanese drivers license so they could drive
people around on base.
I'd never seen a street grocery like that in a city, much less one as big as what I saw. This is only one of over a dozen
vendors there.
The most prominent type of payphone in the area. You will never know the hassle I went through to get them to
accept my AT&T "international" phone cards. (*Hint* that number on the sticker didn't work!) It was actually easier
just to use my credit card
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