Big Changes for the Bates'

In case you haven't heard, the Bates' are making some changes: moving into a house on Kwajalein and adopting a baby (maybe two!). We plan to keep on traveling but since we're going to be putting down roots here, we decided it was time for a new blog. To follow the continuing adventures of Amber and David Bates, please go to: http://www.thekwajbates.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for sticking with us so far and we'll see you at our new site!

Sharks and Clams at 7th Island

DJ, Stephanie, David and myself, cruising out to 7th

A black-tip swings through to check us out




A huge school of newly-hatched fish

Can you find the fish in this photo?

Jeff coming up from a free dive

The shark's still not sure of us

Giant clams!

A really big Moorish Idol fish

More giant clams!

Seventh Island is our favorite island to sail to for a day away. This time, Stephanie, the new teacher from Third Island came with us. We had a great time sailing and snorkeling and saw some beautiful giant clams. Usually we can find them in lots of different colors but of course, since we had a camera with us, we only saw the blue and black ones!

Shelley and the Restraining Orders

Keven, Shelley and Mo rock out singing "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom"

Steve and David on guitar and base, respectively

Shelley and Mo having fun



Paul played guitar and sax for the show

Sandra and Kate enjoy the show fron the pool

Happy Birthday Sandra!

Paul takes a turn on the microphone while Keven plays guitar

Murph kept things going on the drums

There's my rockstar!

On Saturday August 21st, Shelley and the Restraining Orders rocked the Roi-Namur pool for to kick off the First Annual Big Lebowski Fest. The show went great and the crowd loved every minute of it!

I'm an Aunt!!!!

My brother Josh with his new son Rhys

On July 24th, my sister-in-law Liz gave birth to Rhys Lear Sheppard. He weighed 11lbs 3oz and was 23in long with a 15in head. My new nephew is a tank! And what a cutie- I just want to pinch those cheeks! I can't wait to meet him when we go home for Christmas.

Japan: Kyoto, Osaka and back to Tokyo

In front of a restaurant in Matsumoto (what a great way to advertise!)

I just wanted to give this cat a big hug!


Goofing around in Yamanote



A view of Kyoto and the Kiyomizu temple (the porch shown in the picture is built completely without nails!)

Me, trying to peel eggplant without peeling myself

The food we made in our cooking class: Clear soup with eel "peonies", jade salad with sesame dressing and sushi

A street scene the night before the Gion Matsuri parade- the entire city of Kyoto was out to buy good luck charms from the floats, eat street food and be seen

One of the street food stalls, selling... something

A close-up of one of the parade floats

A mieko (an apprentice geisha) out to watch the parade. Sorry we couldn't get a better photo- she was amazing to see, not beautiful but very graceful, poised and elegant

One of the parade floats in the Gion Matsuri parade- the floats are pulled around town to ward off sickness

Another float (traditionally these floats were carried but now they have wheels under them)

David and I in our yukata (summer kimonos)

Avoiding the sun the way Japanese women to- with an umbrella

The main gate of Nijo castle in Kyoto

David outside of Nijo castle (his shirt apparently says "I drank, I was drunk"). We weren't allowed to take photos, but Nijo castle is known for it's beutiful screens (an example: http://collection.aggv.bc.ca/explore/detail.aspx?item=12832). They are currently being restored and are more beautiful than ever

The Zen water garden at Nijo castle. We also saw dry Zen gardens (with the sand and rocks) but weren't allowed to take any photos.

An "Engrish" sign. It's kind of small... It says "Notice" in enlish and then has a line of japanese characters and then says "Thank you for your cooperation" in english

In the bamboo grove outside of Kyoto, where we went for a day to escape the heat

Another photo of the bamboo grove

Me with some statues of gods meant to protect travelers

A baby and mama snow monkey

A reverse zoo! David is in the cage and the monkey he's feeding is outside

Sunset over Kyoto

The Kyoto tower... in a kimono...?

And there's the real thing, reflected in the windows of the Kyoto train station

Sushi train!

David and I at the Golden Pavillion

A picture-postcard view of the Golden Pavillion

Another view (and yes, that is real gold)

Believe it or not, I think this is an ad for a telecom company

Da-nah, da-nah da-nah! We're gonna need a bigger boat!

David petting sharks and rays at the Osaka aquarium

David holding up Osaka castle

Some funky trees in the park near Osaka castle

A really great example of "Engrish"

Nope, not what you're thinking. This turned out to be a yakiniku restaurant devoted to James Brown

Some of the great wall art at the Bonsai Guesthouse, where we stayed in Osaka

I think these cars were for sale! They're Mercedes Benz's covered with sparly fabric

The sign above a fugu restaurant

The crush of commuters coming off a train (just one) in Osaka. The main train loop around the subway had ground to a halt just before rush hour earlier that day when someone threw themself in front of a train (it was actually a train that we were on...)

Just a few of the bonsai treess on the roof of the Bonsai Guesthouse. David was in heaven!

Speaks for itself

Yup, that's a shark guitar

Me, napping through the heat of the afternoon in Tokyo

Minh, the friend of a friend who was kind enough to meet us out in Tokyo, Jeff and Jeff's friend Licia

Fireworks in Chofu, outside Tokyo, to celebrate the end of the shool year. Not a great photo of the fireworks but a good crowd picture. You're never really alone in Japan.

All our trip souvenirs