1am, Tokyo.

Kyoto was amazing. Three rolls of film in three days.

Tonight, we ate at a yakitori restaurant. Below are some of the delicacies that I will not be sampling while in Japan. Unless someone gets me really drunk. (Which is not likely, since Dave doesn't drink and someone else isn't writing me at all, nevermind getting me their friends' contact info in Tokyo so that I can maybe go out one night.)

- chicken gizzard
- ox-tongue
- chicken cartilage
- ox stomach with soy bean paste
- quail's egg

Did Kyoto's Daimonji-yama climb today. It's the main site of the Daimonji Yaki fire festival. They set the Chinese character, dai (meaning "great") on fire on August 16th (my sister Jen and Madonna's birthdays, coincidentally). You can see the character in the middle of this bare patch on the face of the mountain. Not a bad climb. At least it was some exercise; I've been feeling like a lazy bum lately.

Now we're back at "home" in Chiba (a suburb of Tokyo where Dave lives). Trying to figure out what we're going to do for the next 2 days until I leave. Can't believe I have to leave soon. Dave has been fantastic. It's been so good to hang out with him again. I'm sure he'll be happy for me to leave. I'm probably getting on his nerves by now. Who really wants me around them ALL the time?? He's been a good sport though.