Recently I met my father’s friend Nima and his wife Elizabeth in Kobe.  This is the second time I’ve spent time with them in Japan, as 3 years ago they visited Tokushima.  Like before, Nima and Elizabeth are traveling throughout Asia with over 20 students from the University of Puget Sound in Washington state.  Elizabeth is a teacher at the university and both are lucky chaperones on this exciting international journey.  Having already been to Mongolia and China, I caught up with them on their leg through Japan.  With some time away from their students, I met them in Kobe for some sightseeing!  Kobe is a sister city to my hometown Seattle!  Founded in 1957, the Seattle-Kobe relationship was the first such partnership for both cities. The exchanges between the two cities are many and varied, ranging from cultural and educational to business and governmental.  While in Kobe, Nima, Elizabeth and I visited Kobe’s chinatown, also known as Nankinmachi. From Nankinmachi we walked to Harbor Land/Meriken Park, a popular seaside entertainment zone.  There, we made a trip to the top of the Kobe Port Tower and toured the Kobe Maritime Museum/Kawasaki Good Times World.  After a short swing through Kobe’s Old Foreign Settlement, we were pretty much exhausted.  I wish Nima and Elizabeth all the best as they continue their travels, and hope to see you guys next June! 

Note:  More pictures in my Kobe album

In Kobe Chinatown