Linda and I went to Chofu, which is a section of Shimonoseki. It is a beautiful place and has a quaintness to it. First we went to a Japanese garden. It was inbetween seasons but it was still lovely. Such a peaceful and reflective place!

At the garden, there was a hunchbacked lady who was slowly moving along the stone path. When she saw me she her pace quickened and she headed directly for me and motioning to Linda. We thought she wanted to take a picture of Linda and I together, but no, she wanted a picture with me. She comes just a little above my waist but wrapped her arms around me and gave a big grin for the picture! I saw her once again as she was leaving the garden with her daughters. Her smile appeared again as she waved goodbye to me.

Linda and I also went to a couple of temples and shrines. Some of the architecture is beautiful and fits in so well with natures background. It is also sad to see people worshipping different gods and paying for fortunes. At these places it was my constant prayer that they would discover the One, true God who wants to pour out His blessing on them.

For lunch we had okonomiyaki, which has been described as a cabbage pizza or pancake. You mix egg, cabbage, and other vegetables with other things such as meat. That goes on a griddle that is in the center of the table and you flip to make sure that it's cooked evenly. Next goes the toppings: an oyster sauce, seaweed flakes, and fish flakes. To top it all off you put mayonnaise or a combo of mayo and horseradish sauce on it. It is oyshi (delicious)! Today I had a cheese and mochi okonomiyaki. Mochi is rice pounded into little balls or squares. It has a gooey and string cheese consistancy and is fairly tasteless. It is starting to grow on me.

On this beautiful fall day, it was nice to spend it walking and enjoying the outdoors. It is getting cooler and cooler here. It seems like more blankets come out every night, just in case.