The wedding is quickly approaching. With so much to do and so little time left, I’ve been hard-pressed to find time to blog. I’ve been trying to work ahead to get some posts ready for the seven weeks that we are on the road.

Whenever people find out that I have a blog, the first question they usually ask is who reads it and how do people know it’s there. I thought it would be interesting to share some of the search engine terms that bring readers to My Several Worlds. 

My Several Worlds originally started as a personal blog to update family and friends back home, but over the years it has evolved into something more. My interests and passions have always been with culture. Many of the articles I’ve written here are based on my cultural observations. I’m pleased to see that people are responding to these articles the most.

I’ve also linked to the original article so you can see what people are really getting when their search brings them here. This also gives my new readers a chance to re-visit some of My Several Worlds most popular posts.

MY SEVERAL WORLD FAVORITE SEARCH TERMS

1. part man part tree 
2. chinese foot binding pictures
3. lotus foot binding shoe from china
4. women suffering for beauty
5. beauty differences Eastern and Western cultures
6. dim sum chicken feet recipe
7. thai garlic pepper shrimp
8. peeing in public
9. fantasy women
10. chinese version of cinderella
11. old japanese farm house
12. harajuku
13. “temple dolls” and “osaka”
14. english short stories for beginners
15. Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels
16. my several worlds and the globetrotters
17. chinese junk boats
18. cultural observations
19. san-zhi pod village
20. motorcycles/motorcycle trips
21. 20 great esl teaching tips/teaching abroad

I snapped this photo as we were driving in downtown Osaka. I think it brings new meaning to “Bright Lights, Big City.”

Osaka is a colorful city with a little something for everyone. It also boasts one of the most charming places I’ve ever been to in all my travels. This was my choice for sightseeing in Osaka and we thoroughly enjoyed spending our afternoon strolling through this gorgeous park. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in traditional Japanese culture and architecture.

The Osaka Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses showcases 12 original old farm houses and structures brought from different rural parts of the country. They were reconstructed in a natural outdoor park setting located in Hattori-Ryokuchi Park. The houses were all built during the Edo period (1700-1900) and represent the styles and folk customs which were characteristic of each area. Furniture and tools are also on display. Modern visitors can’t help but wonder what life must have been like back then, when people lived in harmony with their natural surroundings.

The museum is open from 9:30 am to 5:00pm. Admission is 500 Yen per person.

The style of this house is called “Gassho” because its steep roof looks like two hands pressed together in prayer. This is the largest of the farmhouses in the park. This residence used to house over 20 residents. The Hida-Shirakawa village was well known for its unique system of housing large families.

Farmhouse from Shirakawa, Gifu

Farmhouse from Settsu-Nose, Osaka

This farm house was built in the early years of the Edo period. The interior is divided into two areas, one of which has an earthen floor for cooking.

Farmhouse from Totsukawa, Nara

The roof of this house is thatched with bark. It also has wooden boards to protect it from heavy rain and wind. The style of this farm house is narrow because the village was located in a valley.

Chashitsu from Kitakawathi, Osaka. A room for ceremonial tea.

This L-shaped farmhouse combines a dwelling and a stable. This was especially convenient for keeping horses in the winter because the inhabitants could see the stable across the yard from their living quarters.

Farmhouse from Nambu, Iwate

Before WWII, this windmill was used to pump water in the Sakai district of Osaka.

Windmill from Sakai, Osaka

How to get there:

Rail

• - 15 minute walk from Ryokuchi-Koen Station on the Kita-Osaka Railway
• - 30 minute walk from Sone station on the Hankyu Railway

Car

• Drive 1 km west off Shin-Midosuji on Route 423