January 28, 2017

2016 Lookback in pictures - part deux

By July my work transfer to India was sealed! Amid Yokohama’s summer heat and incessant paperwork for the big move, we managed to continue to enjoy the summer. 

Witness the perennial neighborhood Obon Odori summer festival (the girls love it, as do I).

And a bit of frolicking at the Sagamihara Park. (I just like this shot; the girls are at the top.)

In August, I took off on my bromance motorcycletrip from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West and back with Mike and Bill. Outstanding!

This was followed by camping with my dad and brother. This shot is my dad and Uncle Pat paddling away.

Finally, it was the dog days of summer. I must have a baseball shot: Infiniti ad on the Green Monster. Never would have thunk that one, but glad and proud to see it nevertheless.

September. This was one of our last photos taken in Yokohama, actually done in late August to support Usain Bolt at the Rio Olympics. It was a work thing. But the photo is a keeper!

By the time this photo was taken, we were already living in Gurgaon, India (southwest of Delhi). It is a shot of the girls in front of a mosaic of Mahatma Gandhi that was made of thousands of pins stuck in the wall connected by black thread. 

As you might expect after moving, our frenzied activity to adjust and get used to our new home took some time. Eventually we ventured out to see a few sights– like India Gate pictured here–in October.

And this photo is us at the crowded Dussehra festival at the Red Fort in downtown Delhi. My co-worker Rahul kindly escorted us there. It is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. That works!

The girls in their traditional Indian dress for a special school function in November.

Late December. We let off some steam together in Thailand! A super day at a water park marked our terrific tropical Christmas in the Gulf of Thailand.

Our first elephant ride!

This is the two rugrats and me on Khaosan road in Bangkok. It felt very different from my first visit there many years ago. That means I have changed; based on appearances alone, Khaosan has not. It remains the boulevard of a young person’s dreams. 

January 19, 2017

2016 Lookback in pictures

In January every year I tend to do a lookback at the prior year with new pictures not used in the blog. 2016 was a big year for the Rising Family™ and I would be remiss in not depicting such a momentous year in pics, no?
The first day of January, we went to Tokyo Tower to begin the new year with a view from the heart of the city. It’s about time we visited this famous landmark—we’ve been here nearly five years!

It gets fairly cold in February. Very occasionally there is snow. Even less frequently we go skating. The experience injects a little bit of Canuck into the kids—the rink even has a Zamboni! And crowds, of course…


I’ve told the tale of my Dad and me starting the 88 temple pilgrimage in mid-March. This shot captures the spirit of adventure of my dad!


By this time we are sick of the cold and escape for the warm waters of the Hawaiians hot springs in Iwaki-ken.


April ushers in spring and hanami (cherry blossom viewing). The cherry tree blossoms are as beautiful as my wife (vice-versa?). And the evening light-up at HanamiIlumination was simply amazing.


Marina started a new year at school...


and took no prisoners at the sumo competition.

 Elena had her school sports day in May.

We also went to Disneyland to celebrate Marina’s birthday.

In June, camping season starts!

And that camping weekend at Mother Bokujo farm was when we broke the news to the kids we would be moving…