Weather on Blogging Like It's the Early Aughts

Dolphin Astronomy

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:50:57 -0700

Tuesday morning, and I’m feeling the repercussions of not listening about the sunscreen. After a quick breakfast we head out to a local grocery store so I can buy some, because we will absolutely need it today.

That purchased, we head to the wharf where we meet our Whale and Dolphin Safari guides, and head out into the gulf. We opt to sit on the bow, despite warnings that we’re in the splash zone. I’ve already slathered myself in sunscreen, and I’m wearing a light jacket for the wind and spray. I should be good this time, right?

It's Only Monday and I'm Already Burnt

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:45:57 -0700

Today was our first real day here. Our flight from Brisbane to Auckland yesterday was delayed a bit, so by the time we got to AKL, it was closer to 18:00 local time. But then we had to make our way through immigration, collect luggage, and then proceed through customs and bio-screening to make sure we weren’t bringing anything harmful into the country and local ecology, and they’re pretty serious about it. Bringing in an undeclared banana could cost you $400.

Bando to Anraku-ji, Day 2 of 8

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:43:28 -0700

N.B. I was in a mood when I wrote this, so it will differ from the rest of my posts somewhat. Additionally, some of the more interesting photos would have been within the temple grounds. But as those are active places of worship, it is rude to take photos. So I’ve tried to make due with what interesting sights I could outside of the temples themselves.

First day of the pilgrimage and it’s already too hot out as I leave. Thankfully the first temple is conveniently located next door. I’ve read up on the proper etiquette in temples, but first need my pilgrim’s gear, the most important of which (to me at least) is the nokyo-cho book wherein, after having prayed to/paid your respects to that temple’s main deity and then to a separate hall dedicated to the Great Teacher or Kōbō Daishi,¹ pilgrims can obtain a unique nokyo shuin² at each temple. And if there’s one thing I love, it’s a passport stamp (literally and figuratively). Whilst here I also purchase a kongo-zue³ and a nenju.⁴

First Day in Osaka, or WHY IS IT SO HOT?

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 10:59:23 -0700

Due to the time zones and international date line, I lost a day. I left home Friday morning and arrived Saturday night. After getting out of customs and into the airport, I was amazed at just how hot and humid it was. The place is massive and so it took a bit to find where to buy tickets because there were a lot of different options. Google gave me a plethora of ways to get to the hotel, and after skipping Friday and not sleeping and how bloody hot it was I just went with the advice from Walk Japan to take the Haruko Limited Express to Shin-Osaka. I found that ticket machine and then had no idea how to go about buying it because that wasn’t exactly straight forward… Or maybe it was and I was just addled. Thankfully a really nice attendant, who spoke English perfectly offered to help me. I mention she spoke perfect English only because while I’m good at the “we don’t speak the same language let’s try to communicate anyway” shuffle, see previous comment about the weather and my likely delirious state.