The little turtle

As I may have mentioned, Yoshie visited for a couple days during Golden Week. We mostly just took it easy around here - went out to eat, took a walk, watched a movie...

On the way home from our walk, I just happened to spot this little shell on the road. The path is next to this big lake near my house, but it's somewhat elevated and behind a fence. So this little guy must have traveled quite a way.

かめくん

Aw, looks like a baby. He seemed a bit lethargic, so we decided to put him in a nicer spot, down by a small creek. We put him next to some water and he perked up a little bit and went for a dip.

We felt a little reluctant to leave, but what were we gonna do - sit around and babysit this turtle? We walked back that way later that day and we was gone. Guess he swam away?

And that was my grand Golden Week adventure.

Then I found $40 and it was the best birthday ever. The end.

Neighborhood cats

There are a lot more "wild" cats in Japan than any other place I've lived. They aren't wild as in feral, but they don't have owners. Or, rather, they're often just neighborhood cats - they live in the area and are sometimes fed by the locals.

When I lived in Tokyo, there were a bunch of cats near my dorm that would meow at me as I walked by. I usually didn't have anything to give them. Here it's the same story, though I've thrown them some pieces of ham, on occasion.

There's this parking lot near my house that is usually empty save two or three cars; not really sure whose lot it is. Often I'll see a cat or two hanging out there, though they also frequent the gaijin traps in the area, too.

Today as I was walking home, I passed by the lot and saw this little gal (I'm just guessing because she had a high-pitched voice). I started talking to her and she meowed at me. I guess she's hungry, but I don't really have anything to give her (don't think she'd like a grapefruit or some veggies). Sorry, cat! Some of thems are more skittish than others, and I recognize a few of them now. Don't think I've seen her before, though. Next time I go to the store I'll look for a little something I can give a hungry cat.

Denizens of Japan #1: Jorou Gumo

It's that time of the year again. Time for...Jorou gumo![/日本語]

These little buggers freaked me out quite a bit last year as I ran into them on several occassions. They errected some webs near the cafeteria at my high school, and seemed to rule quietly and creepily over a stretch of highway in the mountains near Nagasaki. Luckily the couple times I lived in Kanto I was never around for their life cycle. They seem to pop up around late summer and hang around until late fall or early winter.

From what I can tell, they aren't horribly dangerous. They're venomous, but not life-threateningly so. But man, are they creeeepy. I mean, look at those colors - black and yellow, and females have red blotches on their abdomens. That's the kind of spider that in my mind bites you and gives you mutant superpowers. Or kills you.

Autumn is my favorite season in Japan, but I could certainly do without these little guys.