Monday, March 17, 2008

There's Something in the Air

Weekends always seem too short, and it's true that we can never get enough of a good thing. This weekend the weather was fantastic – sunny with highs of 18 (Celsius) or so. Naturally, we took advantage of this and went out for a couple of bike rides, including a really long, rigorous ride along the Fireroad before descending to the Gotemba Kogen where we sat outside and indulged in a cold pint of beer.

Spring, it seems is really almost here – but with this fine weather also comes a not-so-pleasant visitor or two. It is in this season that the pollen from the Japanese Cedar trees can be seen moving in giant clouds from the trees every time the wind blows. The yellow powder dances in the air before coating cars with a fine dust.

Which brings me to visitor number two: is it really pollen, or Gobi sands from China? We are currently infected with both as the spring winds carry large amounts of dust from the Gobi across to Korea and Japan. Some fear that the sand is toxic as well, and China has not helped matters by stating that information regarding the Gobi desert is “a national secret”.

Either way – Brian and I breathed in enough foreign bodies to make us both sniffly and congested today. However – with a glorious four-day weekend on the horizon, I do not think this will prevent us getting out to take advantage of spring!

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