Humid! Humid! Humid! It's the Rainy Season in Japan!

Rain, rain, go away......The month of June signals the beginning of the rainy season in Japan. During this time of year, umbrella and blue tarp merchants are sure to make a killin'! For those who plan to visit Japan during this time of the year, the good news is that plane tickets are usually cheaper in June. The bad news, the humidity will be so high, you'll wish you had paid a higher fare for another time of the year!

During June (ROKUGATSU) in Japan, you are bound to hear the words MUSHI ATSUI. These translate to "humid", "hot and muggy", or just plain "miserable"! When speaking these words in Japanese, be sure to accent them with a moaning, groaning sound for the full affect! Most every Japanese person you see will be carrying a fan, wearing a hat, wiping sweat from their brow with a handy handkerchief, and looking very tired! Of course, the good thing about Japan is that it is an island....so a swim is close by for most Japanese citizens and sticky tourists!

TSUYU (the rainy season) can be a troublesome time of year for more reasons than the heat and humidity. The numerous amounts of rainfall often wreak havoc on Japanese homes and hillsides. After the heavy rains, mudslides and landslides frequently terrorize the Japanese people. The blue tarps, mentioned above, are used to cover the roofs of Japanese homes that have been damaged by the heavy rains and aftermath.

I recall, in the small village I once lived in, that the local temple was almost destroyed by the torrential rainfall. The shrine sat atop a hill that overlooked the valley. The heavy rains created a mudslide that caused the hillside to tumble into a small creek running along the road. There were actually branches and cars floating down the stream near my apartment!

Another site a tourist in Japan will see are numerous mountainsides that are covered in concrete. While definitely less than pleasing to the eye and what I would consider a scar on the natural beauty of Japan, these do have a purpose. For without the refortification by the local authorities, most of the Japanese islands would now be lying on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean!

So, if you plan to travel to Japan this time of year, be sure to take an umbrella. Better yet, you might be sure to purchase a SUDOKU puzzle book for the airplane flight and the hotel room, because you may be indoors most of the time!

Read more about Japan at [http://www.tenchi.us] and find some easy, free, and delicious recipes to bring a little of Japan into your home and life!

A Travel Checklist For a Gadget Geek

Gadgets take much of the bore out of traveling. Sitting for hours on a long plane flight isn't as mind-numbing when you bring some technology. Gadgets are good for children and adults. Having a few gadgets while traveling keeps the mind engaged, and the boring part of the trip doesn't seem so long.

iPod

The iPod is a device used for audio and video. More expensive iPods play short movies, but the gadget is mostly used as a music player. Depending on the model, the iPod holds hundreds of MP3 files for hours of playtime. When packing an iPod for travel, ensure you've not forgotten the power cable. On long trips, the iPod will only last approximately a day. A USB cable and power adapter are included with the device to recharge the battery. If you bring a laptop, it's a perfect source for an iPod battery recharge.

Sony PSP or Nintendo DS

Both these gadgets are portable video game devices. Sony PSP and Nintendo DS devices can keep you busy throughout the entire trip. Nintendo DS is great for puzzles and mind teasers. Nintendo provides memory games and puzzles that are suitable for older gamers. Sony PSP is the best portable video game device for action games. Make sure you pack plenty of games to keep you busy, especially when the trip is long. The PSP can also play multiplayer video games. This option is ideal for parents with multiple children or a group of friends who all own the device.

iPhone

The iPhone has hundreds of games and software to download from the application store. Although gaming on the iPhone isn't as streamlined and convenient as the PSP and DS, the iPhone offers games that you can't find on other portable video game players. The iPhone also masquerades as an iPod. It plays music and holds several gigabytes of MP3 files. What makes the iPhone most beneficial is its large screen for web browsing. You can use the iPhone to retrieve email and read your favorite online forum while traveling.

Digital Camera

A digital camera is a gadget requirement for any trip. Gadget geeks who like crisp images aren't satisfied with blurry cell phone pictures. A digital camera can also be used as a mini storage device. When bringing a digital camera on a trip, don't forget the adapter that charges the device. Digital camera batteries don't last very long when the device is used often. If you carry a laptop with you on the trip, bring the USB cable that connects the camera to the computer. It's a great way to upload pictures and create an image archive of the trip.

Amazon Kindle

The Kindle is a product for digital books. Some print companies offer Kindle versions of books, which provide a digital version of any traveler's favorite novel. The Kindle is bought directly from Amazon, and you can download books as you finish each novel. The Kindle is great for long plane flights, since wireless phones like the iPhone are required to be powered off. It's also easier to travel with a Kindle, because it is lightweight and doesn't take as much space in a suitcase.

The advantage of each of these items is the amount of time each device consumes. A long, tiresome plane or car ride using these gadgets eliminates much of the boredom. The disadvantage of these gadgets is the price tag. Most of them cost several hundred dollars, so the average traveler can only afford one. Although they are expensive, just one of these gadgets will rid you of travel boredom.