Golden Week...strike three

This week in Japan is the celebration of Golden Week, a collection of national holidays spread out over a seven day period. The collection of holidays results in the busiest travelling period in Japan for locals, with the exception of New Year and Obon in August. Golden Week consists of:

April 29 Showa Day (Showa no hi): the birthday of former Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. Until 2006, Greenery Day (see May 4) used to be celebrated on this day.
May 3 Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi): On this day in 1947, the new post war constitution was put into effect.
May 4 Greenery Day (Midori no hi): Until 2006, Greenery Day used to be celebrated on April 29, the birthday of former Emperor Showa. The day is dedicated to the environment and nature, because the emperor loved plants and nature. Before being declared Greenery Day, May 4 used to be a national holiday due to a law, which declares a day, that falls between two national holidays, a national holiday.
May 5 Children's Day (Kodomo no hi): The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3. The carp streamers are pretty cool and the bigger the streamer, the wealthier the owners of such streamers. A photo shall be obtained for your viewing pleasure.

So, having spent last weekend in drunken oblivion on Friday night, falling asleep on the first train home on Saturday morning (5am) and missing my stop. Our search for a den of inequity in Kyobashi to celebrate SW's birthday fell on barren ground so a trip to a Karaoke den was undertaken and we sung until dawn. Saturday began at 3pm when I woke up and went to Shinsaibashi for some Mexican food and some more beer in Balabushka, which is a cool bar situated in the Amera Mura district of Shinsaibashi. Not a very heavy night as I had to show an American couple visiting Kyoto some birding spots nearby, and I was accompanied by Kazu so it made for a good morning's birding. The purpose of the birding was snipe, and we were successful in seeing Common and Latham's (Japanese) Snipe but the elusive Swinhoe's and Pintail Snipe were not seen. The b*stards just wouldn't stay still enough on the deck...oh well. Bonus birds were JP Waxwing and VB Starling.


Sunday afternoon entailed a small bbq with PJ and SW out the back of PJ's gaff. A nice relaxed afternoon of eating and drinking in the balmy late spring air. Monday morning, accompanied by DL, was spent in Osaka-jo trying to get some photos of Narcissus and Blue&White flycatchers. Some success was had and it was a really good morning, with the company being very entertaining indeed.

Now, i am off to the mountains in search of Copper Pheasant and Chinese Bamboo Partridge. To my man on the island that is Cleire, happy birthday for the 2nd my good friend. If I have forgotten anyone elses birthday over the last while, please forgive me, but I have known CC for over 25 years so I should know his b'day at this stage!!!

GO ON THE 'POOL!!!!!!! Milan will be ours again.....and the trophy back to it's rightful home....

Carmo's Birds: JP Waxwing; Pale Thrush; Violet-Backed Starling; Latham's Snipe; Kestral; Arctic Warbler; Narcissus Flycatcher; Blue and White Flycatcher; Black-faced bunting; Grey Bunting.

Carmo's Diet: This week I have mostly been eating lemon herb chicken

Carmo's Birds for Byrdy: Kirsten Dunst