OASIS – BBQ Time!!! <12.7.2008>

Every year our dive shop “Oasis” in Kawana, Izu – is preparing a great BBQ at their shop. This has become a must event for all members so we went there too.

This time we were 6 of us Franz ,Izu & me and Lea, Florian (Franz’s son) & Takako (friend from the company) who going to make their diving license during this weekend.

We started early in the morning and had our first dive with the boat from Kawana. The sight wasn’t that well – about 5-10m – but this is normal during those warm summer months.
Actually the water was pretty cold too with just about 20 deg! For god sake we had a real nice sunny day with temperatures reaching first time above 30ies.

Today the dives highlights belong to small ones – of course nudi-branches, a nice colorful shrimp, a yellow frog fish & a “umitengou” or in German “Fluegelrossfish”. This little fellow looks like a wired mood of nature – a mix of a beetle, bird & fish.

After the dive we started to long awaited BBQ event. In total we were about 40 person (!) that night, which gave Sato san team a real challenge – but they handled with experience & excellence – no one stayed hungry!


Our youngest and smallest guest this night was definitely “Mirku san” or just Milk!
She was sooo cute – did I ever mention I love cats?!

Typical for that season we made our own hanabi (fireworks), which ranges from large rockets to tiny tiny little glow worm simulation … the most typical Japanese firework *ggg

The only thing left to say for this perfect day is:

THANK YOU – OASIS TEAM – DOMO ARIGATO!!!

Party time - My 30th Birthday <10.7.2008>

Time is getting bye and I am getting old! So I turned 30 on the 10th of July.
And as if this wouldn’t be enough for a party we add 3 more events:
- Lea’s home warming (Moved in April08)
- Tom’s farewell (I stayed for a week ;-)
- Mirko’s baby boom (Congratulation, where he got the time :-)

So we put all together and celebrated at Lea’s new home in Roppongi.
She prepared great finger food in the typical Austrian way where black bread can’t be missed and of course wine from Styria is a must.

Followed by my favorite Sacher Torte & Champagne to round up the dinner

The party is on:

watch out for the cool ones:

& of course the drunk ones ;-)



We 8 of us - Lea, Izu, Ratchanee, Thomas, Franz, Florin, Mirko & Marco – celebrated until the late evening making it an unforgettable party.
For all who couldn’t join that night: We were thinking on you & those also send me lovely greetings I would like to say

THANKS MY FRIENDS

WHALE SHARKs !!! <27.6.2008>

On the next day we actually we planned to continue diving – but we were hit by a taifun overnight so the sea was to rough in the morning. So we decided to go back and stop by at the famous OSAKA AQUARIUM.

The main attraction is a huge tank – were you can see 2 whale sharks (in Japanese – Jimbe) and many other sharks, rays or similar eye catchers.






It was my second time I could see a whale shark, but first time for that long. Even it was behind glass it was quiet thrilling and existing to watch.


I really wanna see those beautiful fishes in real life.
It was a great way to finish our marine trip to Kushimoto…

Encounter of the 3rd kind

Kushimoto Diving - At the edge of Japan <26.6.2008>

When I arrived back in Japan the summer had stroke Tokyo already – humid 30deg+!
That’s how I know it. It is actual not a good time to visit Tokyo as temperatures going up to 40deg without any other escapes than A/C shopping centers.

Sure there are alternatives - What is best on a hot summer day?
A cool dip in the sea – or even better - a long dive in one of Japan’s great ocean parks.

One hidden secret is KUSHIMOTO.
Hidden because it is really at one edge of the Island and not so easy to get there:


It’s about 500km from Tokyo – so it took us 3.5 hours by bullet train to Osaka and an other 4 hours car ride down to Kushimoto. You may ask yourselves – is it worth for?
But YES it is – you can see the pictures below … the waters are pristine and filled with amazing sealife:

Nudibranch Special:

Even the water temperatures there are warmer than up at Izu – as here it was 23 deg compared to 19-20deg up north.


As we traveled so far we had to get the most out of it – so we did amazing 4 dives on one day!!!
Who is familiar with Japanese dive centers, will understand how challenging that can be.

In the evening we sit together at a nice BBQ and thought about our next possible diving locations…

THE WAY IS THE GOAL … AND THE WAY WAS LONG

Happy Birthday Grandma <17.6.2008>

As I was already in Europe, I took the chance to visit my beloved ones in Austria.
It was a very special timing as my grandma is going to turn 89 on that day the 17th of June.

It was a nice sunny early-summer day and we all met at my parent’s house in Graz – Styria – where I am grown up.
At such event of course the whole family gathers together and we celebrate in our garden with coffee, cake & BBQ (yes, exactly in that order ;-).

Even my grandma turned 89 – you won’t guess that when you see her – that secret I haven’t learned yet. As for me I hope I will be half as healthy in younger age as she is now, when I am old – it’s just amazing.
Of course we wished her all the best for many more healthy years and the wishes were brought even from the youngest: our Elias – my nephew.

As it is always a special moment when we all meet together, we try to capture this moment … yes – time for a photo shooting!

Let’s start with the most beautiful ones – our Golden Girls:
(My grandma’s & my mother)

Next the Golden Boys – My grandpa (turning 90 this August!!!), my father & my oldest brother Christoph … and me:

Of course there is no party without Rudi & Rosi from Langenwang:

Now the couples together:

It was great for me to meet nearly all my family members – and for the ones how couldn’t celebrate with us …
This toast is on you:

PRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSTTT!!!
ALLES GUTE OMA

THE NEXT DAYS...

Before I left back to Japan I had to say goodbye and thanks for everything, so I made my turns within my family. Here you can find the finishing touch with my grandma, my friends Anne & Markus, me and ....

... the great austrian grapes!

TO THE SAKE OF ALL OF YOU