fuji-san and friends :)

17 July 2008

what a whirlwind these last 2 weeks have been.
seems like just a day or two ago that we went to pick up our friends... yet we were there today saying goodbye! :( so sad.
time flew, and what a great time it was.
little recap:

for those of you who have asked -- YES! we survived fuji!
i know i need to put up more details... heres the readers digest version for now :)
it took 8 hours to get to the top with our group of 25 or so...
we stayed up there for about 30 min. (it was cold!!) and then made the climb down in about 3 1/2 hr. it was the hardest thing any of us has ever done, and let me just say that the way down was like 12,000 times worse than the way up! i know that doesnt sound right, but it was all downhill gravel/volcanic ash, and it HURT! my big toe is not in very good shape... but we did it!! haha. :) we can say we climbed fuji and lived to tell about it, but as ben would say... Never Again! hehe.
charissa and i got bought sticks and had them stamped at the bottom, the middle, and the top of the mtn... (you can get them at every station - about 20 stamps in all!) we were a little sad we didn't go ahead and get every one, but they were about $2/a piece... but we at least have our stamp that says we reached the top! and they were a HUGE help in the balance department, too!

as always, here are some pictures from our adventures:

at the start of the climb - about 5am
climbing mt. fuji!

during the climb:
the climbers

during the climb

at the top!
the last torii gate as we made it to the top

top of mt. fuji!

friends :)
my dear friend!

the boys :)

my honey and me :)

we have had a wonderful time with our friends, and are so glad they were able to come. what a blessing to have a taste of home again. we played games, went shopping, explored, ate sushi, climbed fuji, saw a waterfall, visited a hot springs -- just had a visit packed with fun times! the only downside of their visit was the heat... (its pretty hot here now that the rainy season is over!) and that it was too short! we were certainly sad to see them go today! i guess now we have to get back to "normal" life here in sasebo. :P

but... anyone else want to come use our guest room?!?!?! :)

6 comments:

Marcie said...

Wow FUJI sounds like an adventure! Glad you survived!!!

Me... said...

Sounds like you had a great time! The pictures are great, ya'll look so happy! Congrats on getting up the Mt. That's impressive :)

Charity said...

ooh me, I do! I want to come use your guest room :-)
Great pictures and I'm so glad you had such a fun time!
-Charity

Jessie said...

we would love to come-when we get rich we'll do it. So glad you all had a great time.

Jason, Angie and Brady said...

I know exactly what you mean about having a little taste of home and seeing familiar faces! I'm not as far away as you are, but I still know the feeling! Glad you had a good time :)

kiwi said...

too cool! i want to do it! :)