this last trip to japan is been of my best. i got good waves, met new friends, and had so much fun. i also got hurt but that made this trip better because i know i have good friends that care here in japan. so just wanted to take this time to thank everybody that’s made it so fun for me. it’s just too many to list but to each and every one of you. doomo arigato gozaimashita!!! see you all again in 12 days!! haha…. i’ll be back fresh, and ready to do everything all over again!!! sayonara!!!

there is one thing i love. and that’s kids. meet the 8 generation yamari boy. go renosuke!!!

wait, there are two things i love. and that’s diving. meet my japanese local dive partner….

wait, there’s three things i love. and that’s fresh raw oysters. the kind that melts in your mouth….

and last, i love massages. especially after a long day… good night…
*thank you naohiro @ yamari for the photos…..

good morning. we’re right in the middle of typhoon season and so far this year, we’ve seen the most killer typhoons. one of the strongest ones in history passed by taiwan killing so many people and making it the most deadly ones in their history. then the last one in the philippines killed over a hundred. just imagine that these countries, including japan, have to go through this every year. i’ve been in the eye of a super typhoon many of times and let me tell you, it ain’t pretty…

2 more typhoons are on the way and just as the philippines is cleaning up from the last one, 2 more are heading straight their way….

the past few days, i was driving along the country roads along the beach looking for amasan’s. or grandma’s that dive for abalone and stuff. i just wanted to jump in and swim around with them and watch their techniques. i couldn’t find any but as soon as i do, my dream will come true. yeah, blame it on “soko ga shiritai”. ever since that famous japanese program came out in hawaii 20 years ago, i wanted to do the same thing. and i’m actually doing it now…. exploring japan is fun because you will never know what you’ll see. the journey continues….

the other day, i was sitting in an outdoor onsen looking out over the pacific ocean drinking my orion beer. realizing these are my last few days in japan, i’d better enjoy it. so that’s what i’ve been doing.
**i can’t believe i’m going home today!!! excited!!! exhausted!!! and happy!!! can’t wait to jump into my own car, drive down to diamond head, get a few waves, stop by rainbows to eat a locomoco, take an afternoon nap, free dive, eat dinner, sleep early, and do it all again the next day. i missed hawaii so much this time so i’m going to enjoy the short 10 days i will be there…. boku ga umareta[:????$B”L(B?:]konno shima no umi o[:????$B”L(B?:]

all i can say is that i had another great year in my life. thanks for all your kind emails and thank you to each and every one that supported me. i’m feeling happier and healthier than i’ve ever felt. i can’t wait to see what comes this year!!! kanpai[:?????????:]