Keen Sword (Photo EX)

The last day of our Keen Sword Exercise

USS ESSEX (my ship in the front right)

Houston (sub in front)

George Washington (aircraft carrier in 2nd row middle)

and LOTS of japanese warships!!!

We were only about 300 yards away from the other ships and the Sub

Super Dangerous but aren't all great photos.

DELAY IN REPORT

Hey Everybody,

Currently we are underway somewhere mysterious in the Pacific Ocean. Due to Operational Security I am unable to post any pictures while we are underway (can't use USB drives on the ship). Therefore, it's gonna be a little while before I will be able to update anything more on the site. At least a month from now, maybe longer.

In the meantime I will take all sorts of pictures of life onboard the USS ESSEX, just to let you see some of the stuff I do on a daily basis. Love and Miss everyone. I will be home for Christmas and I hope to see you then.

Love,
- Jess

PATTAYA THAILAND

THAILAND WAS OUR FIRST STOP ON MY FIRST DEPLOYMENT.

PATTAYA IS A TYPE OF RESORT AND RECREATIONAL TOWN 

WHERE A LOT OF EX-PATS SETTLED.

NOT MUCH OF A LANGUAGE BARRIER AND PLENTY OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

My Friend Alex - Another SWO Like Me!

DON'T ASK WHAT TIME IT IS...IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE!

The Sanctuary of Truth!

Entirely made of hand carved wood 

 all pieced together to make an incredible structure that contains aspects of every religion inside.

YAY! We Got to Wear Hard Hats. 

" Doctor Fish" - All the Rage in Spas in Asia.

These fish actually eat dead skin cells, but don't like live skin.

Little torturish for those of us who are ticklish. 

Dinner and a Show!

NIKKO-TOSHOGU SHRINE

THERE IS ALL SORTS OF INTERESTING BACKSTORY ABOUT THIS TEMPLE

JUST GOOGLE TOSHOGU SHRINE!

WORSHIPPERS WILL MAKE TURTLES AROUND THE AREA TO SYMBOLIZE THAT THE SPIRIT OF TOSHUGA WILL BE ABLE TO REST FOR A LONGGGG TIME

A LITTLE JAPANESE GIRL IN FRONT OF THE "TEMPLE STABLE"!

CARVED ALONG THE WALLS ARE MONKEYS THAT ARE SEEING NO EVIL, HEARING NO EVIL, AND SPEAKING NO EVIL.

MORE OF THE TEMPLE, WITH A JAPANESE SCHOOL FIELD TRIP.

ALL OF THE KIDS ARE WEARING YELLOW HATS AND TIES,

WOULDN'T WANT TO GET LOST.

YUDAKI FALLS

          LOOKS LIKE HOME A LITTLE, DOESN'T IT!

THEIR WERE SOME GREAT SHOPS AROUND THE AREA

MT FUJI - Yes it is that Big...

KURASHIKI

A cute little town that thrived on Arts and Crafts

One of my favorite places I visited.

Mom and Grandma would be proud!

A European Art Museum in the middle of Japan!

Was actually very good - I spent four hours here...

                     A bird picture for Grandma!    

SHIKOKU - DOJO ONSEN

Some Temples I saw on my way to Dojo Onsen

Extravagant Cuckoo Clock 

Bottom has a Foot Spring where you can sit and relax your feet in the naturally warm water 

DOJO ONSEN!

A Japanese Natural Hot Spring. The oldest one in Japan, used to be the imperial hot spring.

HIROSHIMA!

 

Hiroshima Castle!

Rather different from the traditional European Castle - As you can See

Atomic Dome! 

Eternal Flame

My Hostel in Hiroshima - 

Complete with Vending Machine of Chu Hi (Japanese Mixed Drink) and Beer

Where it All Started! A.K.A. - Sexy Hair

FINALLY

SO, I apologize for my delinquency in sharing my past year with anyone. I am finally going to try to rectify this by sharing all of the pictures that I've accumulated over the past year.

For those of you who don't know, I joined the NAVY in May of 2009 as a Surface Nuclear Officer. I am currently learning the tricks of the trade in Sasebo, Japan. It has been a great experience so far, and I've been able to go places, meet people, and have experiences that I never thought possible.  

I miss everyone at Home very much, and can't wait to come back in December. 
 In the mean time here is what I've been doing over the past year.

p.s - I'm posting on here mostly so I can show pictures, so don't expect too much in the way of blog posts. If you have any questions or want to get in contact with me: fullerj@lhd2.navy.mil