Cooking lesson, summer flavours

Marinated bonito (a type of mackerel which is quite meaty) - ingredients include Japanese thin leek (ban-no-negi), ginger, garlic, lemon peel, mustard, ao-shiso (Japanese basil) and ponzu (lemon soy sauce)


Thin noodles (somen) with cucumber and pickled plums - this is suprprisingly moreish and fresh tasting. Cold noodles seemed like madness to me when I arrived in Japan, but now that the weather is uncredibly hot, they are actually genius


Edamame to tohmorokoshi no shira ae - dressed green soy beans and sweetcorn with tofu paste


Suika no jelly - watermelon jelly with coconut sauce. It was a delicate flavour and not too sweet, perfect summer food

Even more Guam

Jack looking ever so cool in his retro trunks and shades, before unsuccessfully trying to climb a coconut tree

The name says it all. Perfect place to take Simon for lunch on his first trip to US territory





How could I resist a picture with these awesome jeans?! They were pretty much equal in width and length!


Getting the minibus to the airport at 4am

Jack was not enjoying the looooooong queue and 4:30am check-in


On the train back in Japan, it was all over so quickly!

More Guam

Jack and our waitress at Hooters - she was very friendly and particularly tickled by Jack's cheekiness and neon trunks

Tarza - the waterpark that Jack, Brian and I went along to. During the day it costs $50 (!) but we went to the evening opening for the bargain price of $10, we were clearly the oldest ones there too. It was great fun though, I love waterparks! One flume was called The Black Hole as it's entirely in the dark and you don't know which was you're going, great fun.
When Jack was at the top of the hill where the rides all start, he heard a kid come out with a golden quote; "Shit! This place is a palace!"

Jack's a bit fan of energy drinks so he had to purchase an American kind and give it a go. Apparently it took a couple of hours to kick in but then you were buzzin' (as Jack puts it)

Snorkel!






Brian neglected his back a bit when it came to sunscreen

Alison and I post-snorkelling, it was ace


Sea-cucumber. Jack enjoyed these little guys, then again, he is quite scatalogical


A little fella showing some interest at the jobs prospects at the Mexican restaurant