Category Archives: Japanese Excursions

Imperfect Gifts

November 11, 2012 By in Girlfriends, Holidays & Festivals, Japanese Excursions, Weather Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Hibiya Park

Autumn is definitely here. Even the odd days above 70 degrees have a little bite to them. Autumn and Spring are my favorite seasons. The Transitions. This past Monday I joined the Women’s Group from Tokyo American Club on a tour to Mashiko, Japan.

MASHIKO POTTERY FESTIVAL

2 full buses of foreign women w/ yen for pottery

Twice a year in Mashiko, Japan they hold pottery festivals, and since the tsunami/earthquake, many of the displaced and traumatized potters come to the festival to help rebuild their trade. It’s a great opportunity for us to get great pottery at good prices too.

I was advised by a “veteran” to take a suitcase or rolling bag and I am glad I did. When you buy earthenware in sets of 6 and big serving platters, it gets heavy quick. We had about 4 hours to shop. On the 2 & 1/2 hour bus ride I enjoyed chatting it up with some of the ladies on the bus, but once we got to Mashiko, I decided to go it alone. Some of the ladies were suggesting that we shouldn’t take time to even eat! I was raised by a Korean mother, so when I get hungry, it’s a life or death situation. I made the time to sit down and eat inside a very quaint Korean cafe on the premises.

As I walked around, I enjoyed not just seeing these beautiful creations but touching pieces with my hands. Recently, I attended a Japanese fine pottery lecture. There, I was introduced to a Japanese philosophy known as WabiSabi. For a country full of perfectionists and right angles, their appreciation for the “imperfect” seems ironical to say the least. But when I reflect upon the asymmetry of Japanese gardens, Japanese teeth (also known as Yaeba), and of course the pottery, I think maybe they aren’t being complete hypocrits. I’ll admit, I am a recovering perfectionist. Sometimes I fall off the wagon, like when I strive for flawless skin, and I’m sure Chase would throw me under the bus since I am his personal tutor. That being said, recovery is not easy.

One of my goals was to find a gift for my girlfriend Beth. My friend who believes in “God’s will” not the birth control pill who just had her 5th baby. I wanted to get her something special for just being such a good friend to me. I finally found the perfect cup. In only making 2 of these perfectly imperfect cups, this also felt like a sign because I was planning to get one for myself as well.  The colors are rich and earthy. When I held it in my hand, I loved the gravity of it. There is no handle, but there is an indentation where my thumb fit, as if it were still a live, moldable piece of clay. While I was having my first cup of coffee, I received another sign that told me I had done the right thing:

Remember! No meaningless coincidences

Until next time…

Miyajima: Itsukushima Shrine aka Shrine Island

October 21, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Family, Getting there, Japan, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Miyajima at Sunset

Whenever I mentioned I was going to Hiroshima, EVERYONE would ask, “Are you going to Miyajima too? You MUST go!” The more I looked into it, the more I realized they were right. Miyajima is considered one of the top 3 most beautiful places in Japan.

Schedule:

  • Sunday 9:30am Leave hotel for Miyajima after breakfast
  • Hiroshima Stn to Miyajimaguchi (400 yen/person) 25 min by JR Train
  • Miyajima Port (170 yen/person) 10 min by Ferry
  • Sightsee & Lunch
  • Last Ferry from Miyajima is 22:14 we left at 18:00

Once upon a time, when Cliff and I were still dating, we used to have fun on trips. Somewhere along the trip of our lives, traveling with Cliff has just about become unbearable to me. He never walks with us, he always acts like he’s on some business trip by himself, he complains constantly and he is picky as to where and what he eats. I go into “vacation mode” and ergo his otherwise “normal” behaviour becomes even more intolerable to me because I feel like our time together as a family is so precious. So, the net result is I turn into one snarky bitch which in turn turns Cliff into even more of a party and poor Chase has to witness his parents acting like imbeciles. So on Sunday morning, before we even had breakfast, I declared I would be on my best behaviour.

On the ferry

GETTING TO MIYAJIMA

At Hiroshima Station, get to the JR side (remember you need to use the underground tunnel through the station). Purchase tickets (400 yen/person) to use the train to get to Miyajimaguchi (literally means the mouth of Miyaguchi). From the Miyaguchi Station, walk straight out and follow the herd to the port. There are plenty of signs and it is a short straight shot (you may have to walk underground to avoid traffic).

Don’t forget your ferry tickets!

Amazing landscapes, autumn colors, floating shrine, oysters, rice paddles and wild deer are just a few of the many things you can look forward to in Miyajima:

My deer!

ARRIVING:

I was immediately charmed by this little island which in and of itself is a community/town. I don’t know why I was so surprised. I just thought it would be like another seasonal fair but it’s a real town with residents. You can rent bikes to get around, but we opted to walk. The tide was still high enough at that point, so we were able to take a boat ride to the floating torii:

We were boat people

Even though the guide was talking completely in Japanese, we had a great time just watching everyone in these hats and who could be in a bad mood in a boat on a lovely day?

Miyajima Ropeway:

Just getting there

FYI: Getting anywhere on Myajima feels like a hike. The great news is it’s absolutely beautiful. There are trails and bridges and ponds and wildlife all around you. I was excited to take the ropeway which is actually a gondola (think ski lift/gondola) up to the highest peak on the island. It takes you to the shrine of a famous monk who supposedly showed the good people of Miyajima “The Way”. When we got to the top, it was around lunchtime, but there is only 1 cafe and you can only order a couple of dishes from a vending machine. We didn’t want to waste our appetites on that mess, so we ended up placating Chase and ourselves with a few popsicles until we could get back to the main area and get some “real” food. Despite the long-ass-practically-vertical climb to the top, we did have a good photo-op:

Fake it to Make it!

FOOD:

Once we returned to the village, I couldn’t wait to get my bag of chestnuts and rice-cake-on-a-stick! They also had a bunch of other options:

Street Food

Chase and I would have been completely happy eating some more street food, but Cliff won’t do it. So I had to stop so we could go and eat in a restaurant. Still good food. Miyajima is surrounded by oysters, so that’s also something you need to try. The oysters are meaty & delicious!

Roasted oyster on bed of crispy rice. Yummy!

SOUVENIRS:

With our bellies full, Chase somehow found a gaming area where you could either shoot targets or toss rings for cheap prizes. He LOVES these opportunities. I made Cliff be his audience while I shopped for rice paddles:

Size matters

My shopping was interrupted by a small crowd oohing & ahhhing outside my shop. I looked outside only to find my son and husband in the middle of this crowd, guns poised and a pile of cheap toys in front of them. I felt like “The Mom” as I stood akimbo and interrupted this carnival party with, “What is going on here?!?”

We beat the system!

Evidently, Cliff realized early on that the displays were rigged and he schemed with Chase to shoot siultaneously at 1 target to take it down. They would wait for the game manager to turn around so she couldn’t see what they were doing. Seeing the pure glee mixed with crazy in their eyes and the fact that they were actually bonding and having fun enabled me to just shake my head and walk back to my paddles smiling. Good for them, I thought.

Chase would not be outdone by our cartoon antics on the mountain so when he had his opportunity, he took it:

Don’t mess with me and my paddle!

AT THE END OF THE DAY:

By the time we got ready to head back on the ferry it was about 6:00pm. Despite spending all day on the island, as we walked back I realized we hadn’t even seen half of the island. There was a whole other section we forgot about at the dockside! It was an amazing day for our family. Everyone behaved. All the way back to the hotel, Chase kept going back and forth between Cliff and me hugging us and telling us, “Thank you” and what a great time he had. Even though we were tired physically, I feel like our souls were rejuvenated.

Top of the World literally & figuratively

Until next time…

October 24th We go to Korea!

Hiroshima: City of Peace

October 18, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Kathryn, Japanese Excursions, Bullet train/Shinkansen, useful, Transportation, Radiation Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Mural of Hiroshima at the Museum

We have survived Hiroshima. I’m dedicating this blog to my friend Angela, to whom I am eternally grateful for impressing upon me the importance of making this pilgrimage with Chase and Cliff. There is a lot to show and tell, so between trying to provide useful information along with my own impressions, I’m just going to ramble until my fingers get tired.

Hiroshima Station on the Shinkansen Side

Step 1: Go to JTB and make reservation

The people at JTB are very polite and helpful. At JTB, I was able to

  • Book room at the Sheraton Hiroshima (w/ Breakfast)
  • Shinkansen tickets
  • Miyajima Ferry tickets (round trip)
  • Miyajima Ropeway tickets

It can be a little overwhelming leaving the office with all these tickets and vouchers in Japanese, but I wrote a little note on each ticket reminding me what they were all for in English. They will also give you a medium, red envelope to keep everything organized. Note: Keep the envelope! Take it with you everywhere. Trust me on this. I’m sure there are other nice places to stay in Hiroshima, but this Sheraton is the nicest Sheraton I’ve ever seen and it’s only a year and half old! We had breakfast included in our package and the breakfast was more than adequate. If you are thinking you want to eat dinner in the restaurant, definitely make reservations. Our first night, as we were walking in, Chase was mesmerized by their chocolate fountain and begged us to eat dinner there. To bad so sad, restaurant was booked solid. The other reason that makes Sheraton the best place to stay is you exit the Hiroshima station on the Shinkansen side and walk out and turn right and there it is! No muss no fuss. 3 minute walk max.

Schedule:

  • Saturday 8:21am Leave Shinagawa Station
  • 12:14pm Arrive Hiroshima Station
  • Drop off bags at Sheraton
  • Eat lunch at a station restaurant
  • Get on Tram to Hiroshima Park/Museum
  • Back to hotel around 7pm

Step 2: Eat the Famous Food

I love food. Living in Japan has inspired an appreciation for establishments and regions which are “famous for” this dish or that. So especially when I travel, I always research what the area is known for food-wise. In Hiroshima, they like their OKONOMIYAKI:

Here’s something no mother should ever witness:

2 GIANT bottles of mayo on each table

Alas, when in Rome…

I swear I never saw the 5th ingredient listed when I first looked at this diagram! Oh well. Vacation rules, right?

Step 3: Sightseeing

Note: In Japan, many of the hotels won’t let you check into your room until after 3pm, but standard procedure is to arrive early and just leave your bags at the front desk. They’ll tag them and put them into your room once the room is ready.

Hiroshima station was very confusing to me. I’m one of those people who doesn’t like a lot of options. I’m better picking 1 out of 3. Chase also has a good case of “analysis paralysis”.  From Hiroshima Station, you can take the shinkansen, subway train, JR train, the local tram, bus and taxi anywhere. Taxis are easiest but the priciest. We opted for the Tram (150 yen/person) which is a local trolley-type transport through the city. From the hotel side, go into the station and head for the JR side. This requires going underground and through a tunnel. Look for signs saying Mazda Stadium. Keep your eyes open for directions to the JR train area. Look anywhere you see escalators. Once you are in that area, go outside of the station and you should see a bunch of tracks built into the street for the trams. Make sure you get onto the right one. We boarded and discovered we were on the wrong one. The Japanese are very helpful so don’t hesitate to ask directions. Hiroshima is a small city, so everything is pretty close. We were able to explore Hiroshima museum and visit several memorials before we headed back.

Remnants from victims

I would highly recommend renting the audio guides. Walking through the museum and listening to all the history and testimonials was incredibly emotional and thought-provoking. I found myself holding back tears many times. There were so many bits and pieces left behind. There just aren’t enough words.

Wax recreation

This scene depicting moments after the bomb was especially gruesome. It’s so surreal seeing what it might have been like.

Centograph for Victims & Eternal Flame

By the time we were finished at the museum, we were definitely ready for some park time. The park was a refreshing contrast to the depressing feelings inside the museum. Behind us is the eternal flame of Hiroshima which will not be extinguished until all nuclear weapons are destroyed. Hope they have a lot of gas reserved.

Memorial for Korean Victims

Almost 30% of the deaths in Hiroshima from the bomb were Korean “Forced Laborers”. This memorial is established for those Koreans who also suffered and died. I’m so glad we were able to come see it and pay our respects.

Chidlren’s Peace Monument

This memorial was inspired by a young girl named Sadako Sasaki who died a terrible death from leukemia as a result of radiation exposure. People line up to ring the bell inside and say a short prayer. Chase was excited to do this because he had studied Sadako’s story last year at school.

Atomic Bomb Dome

The Genbaku Dome (A Bomb Dome) is probably one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks of Hiroshima. It is truly a symbol of all the destruction brought about by the dropping of the bomb. About a week before we came to Hiroshima, I watched a 3 hour documentary with Chase and Cliff. It was so emotional and really added to our awareness before we were able to go and visit the site and see actual materials from the devastation. It’s not my place to say whether or not it was the right thing to do. All I know, is war is horrible and should be avoided at all costs. As we walked through the town of Hiroshima, I kept flashing back to scenes and testimonials from the documentary and the museum and it was all so meaningful. It’s truly incredible how this city managed to come back after being completely destroyed not that long ago. I’m so happy I went.

Until next time…

Touring Tokyo

September 20, 2012 By in Chase, Japanese Excursions, Living in Tokyo, Tours, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Once we learned that our days were numbered here in Tokyo, Cliff and I mad the executive decision to ease off the baseball. Every weekend, all weekend had suddenly seemed like to much time on the field and not enough on the town. This past weekend, Cliff was asked to participate in a 3 Day golf tournament. I decided to cancel baseball plans on book a tour of Tokyo with Chase.

Japan Tourist Bureau

I headed over to the local JTB in Hiroo. This is where you can book trips to anywhere as well as shinkansen (Bullet Train) tickets. Remember, shinkansen tickets can only be purchased 1 month prior. They had a terrific pamphlet for  travel packages in English:

Trust me. Get one of these if you ever plan to do any touring in and out of Tokyo. The funny thing is, everytime I asked them if they had pamphlets in English, they said “no” but then they would walk me over to it. Trust me, they’re there.

PANORAMIC TOKYO tour A070

8:35am Meet bus at Grand Hyatt Roppongi

Comfortable shoes & clothes Mandatory

9:00am Leave Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal & Start tour after being “processed”, given proper sticker, and assigned seat.

Our Itinerary:

Seem like a lot? It was!

Get your scrolling-finger ready:

Meiji Jingu Shrine:

Meiji Priests

Emporer Meiji was known as the Father of Modern Tokyo. His shrine is huge and visited by millions.

Imperial Palace & Gardens

I love the mix of Old and New architecture here.

Asakusa Kannon Temple & Nakamisa Shopping Arcade

What big knockers!

Don’t Smoke, but do stand Downwind

Lunch was at some hotel restaurant by the water. The view was incredible but the food was just so-so. Warning, they didn’t feed us until 13:30-ish, so pack some protein bars. By the time we ate, we were definitely ready.

After lunch…

Tokyo Bay Cruise

Rainbow Bridge

Having a GREAT TIME! Ignore the expression on Chase’s face

Odaiba (Last Stop)

New York, Paris, & Tokyo!

By the end of the tour we were exhausted, but super glad we had done it. I would recommend this tour for anyone living or just visiting Tokyo. By the time we were dropped off it was about 18:00. It was definitely a full day. We learned a lot about Tokyo and its history that probably even locals don’t know.

Price in yen per person

  • Adult 9,900
  • Children 6-11 yrs 6,600

It was a joy to spend the entire day exploring Tokyo with Chase. I had already been to many of these places, but I certainly didn’t have the histories. It was a tremendous time for both of us. As Chase grows bigger before my eyes, I realize how this time with him is so precious and fleeting. It was really gratifying whenever he would look at me and say, “This is great mom! Thank you!” Being a parent is often a thankless job, but sometimes, you get thrown a bone and it’s amazing just how long that can keep you going.

Until next time…

Surviving Your Husband’s Days Off

August 31, 2012 By in Cliff, Holidays & Festivals, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

Barely surviving

Steps for Surviving Your Husband’s Staycation

Of course Cliff tells me at the last-minute he’s decided to take Tuesday through Friday off from work. He says he mentioned it, but I don’t think so. And I would have remembered that memo. Right now, I’m in “now what?!?!?” mode. I’ve got that same feeling like when I’ve made dinner reservations for 4 and my “Go-To” couple has cancelled on me and I’m facing a dinner out alone with *gasp* my huhuhusband. I’ve watched enough Man versus Wild to feel like I’m up for this unforeseen challenge, so I’m going for it.

Step 1: Spend more money

Jimmy Choo Boutique

Obviously, I must not be spending enough money if he feels like he can take all this time off from work. Spend one day “just popping into” the Jimmy Choo boutique that happens to be close to where you are lunching. Allow your husband to see how much higher your cost of living has gotten.

Step 2: Tell him to go act like a parent

Cliff with his imaginary Dad hat on

Nothing scares “Company Men” more than spending quality time with his children. Company Dad often appears pale to their children because they rarely see daylight. After a few days of daylight exposure, it was obvious that a 3pm frappuccino from Starbucks was a necessity. By the way, that is Cliff’s bike on the rail. He went from driving a Porsche Carrera 4s to a Trek City bike and he says I’m emasculating.

Step 4: Send him to the electronics store

Yodobashi Akiba in Akihabara

Yodobashi Akiba is located in Akihabara. It is one of the most famous electronics stores in Japan. Another plus for some (including myself) is the top floor is full of golf related goods.

Do you have these in a larger size?

We found these weird stretchy scrotal things that you use to exercise. You grab the “ball” ends and just pull for resistance. Cliff of course felt like they were too small for him. I wanted them in black ;)

Step 5: Start feeding him high caloric foods

It’s Staycation!

This only works if you have a husband who is slightly on the vain side and still trying to hang in there. If you have the other model of husband who has decided to let himself go, then this may backfire on you. Cliff’s Staycation happened to fall during his birthday. A few years back I got into big trouble because I actually believed him when he told me he was watching his weight. So for that birthday I made him a nice dinner, got him a gift, but Lord help me, I didn’t get him cake and a card! He made such a big deal out of it, that that was the year I started the tradition of eating a slice of birthday cake for every year you’ve been alive. Needless to say, we are eating cake practically year round. Now that Chase is old enough, I get him to make the card:

Thank the Lord, Chase has my sense of humor

Cliff never read Hunger Games, so I don’t think he got the reference because he read the card and just gave us both dirty looks.

Step 6: Force him to wear matching outfits

You know you’re spending too much time together when…

Today was our final official day of Staycation. This morning I made Cliff go to yogalates and then we went to my favorite organic restaurant Yasaiya Mei. I don’t know if dressing alike is a result from too much “quality time” or what. Either way, if any of your husbands try to spring a staycation on you, just show them this picture and what happened to Cliff after almost a week at home with me. Let my pain be your gain Darlings! I survived!

Until next time…

Tokyo Year 2

August 19, 2012 By in Baseball, Culture Shock, Daily Living, Japanese Excursions, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo, Tours, Uncategorized, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Just by reading this blog, you are witnessing a miracle. Many of you know how horrible my jet lag is so the fact that I can turn on a computer and put together sentences only a week after returning from America is quite an accomplishment. I love how Cliff seems to apply tough love to the situation and acts like I have never left. Within hours of getting off the plane, Cliff requested I cook Indian for dinner.

THURSDAY

Chase fit right in w/ these baby Buddhas

Cliff decided to take the day off and asked that I pull together a hike or tour for us to do as a family. Mind you, Tokyo is practically at 100% humidity at all times now and the temperatures are always above 90′s. I keep having to remind myself I am too young to be going through menopause even though I am in a constant state of full-body-sweating. Given this is Obon season, I booked a walking tour through Tokyo titled “Blood of Samurai“. Lilly, our tour guide, walked us through historical graves, shrines and the like, all the while providing interesting bits of history and folklore.

Lipstick Buddha

One of our stops included the shrine of the Lipstick Buddha. Different from the Lipstick Lesbian, Lipstick Buddha is where you go to have beauty bestowed upon you. You can apply some of your own makeup to the statue or just use some of the pressed powder available at the shrine. I was not going to miss my opportunity to apply generously.

Head Washing Pool

Many of you are probably familiar with the practice of seppuku (ritual suicide) as performed by Samurai when faced with losing face or dying. During our tour, Lilly, took us to the graves of the 47 Ronin and we were able to see the preserved pool where beheaded heads were cleansed. I don’t know why it really mattered whether your head was clean once you lost it, but whatever. It was a lovely spot to sit and meditate next to. In previous blogs I have talked about Japan being the capital of instruction manuals. Everything from DVD players to chewing gum has an instruction manual. Here’s the latest one I’ve come across:

How to Kill Yourself w/ a Sword

FRIDAY

Jingu Stadium

You cannot attend a game w/o proper tools

The Japanese have made buying team paraphernalia a high art form. We ended up buying some “bat beaters” and a towel, but there was so much more we could have purchased. We also stopped by concessions to pick up some food:

Concession Stand

No peanuts or cracker jack here. I had smuggled in onigiri (rice balls) and Chase opted for takoyaki (octopus balls) and Cliff had a small bucket of chicken nuggets. There were hotdogs though!

Hotdog Plate

In the stadium, you could purchase beer and ice cream from one of the walking vendors:

Beer Boy

This one happened to be a male, but believe me, most of the others were cute girls in short shorts with kegs strapped to their backsides. I asked Cliff if those were his “dream girls” and he replied, “only if they’re mute too.”

Before the game started there was a pre-show and evidently, baseball here includes cheerleaders:

Getting Ready for Players to be Introduced

These girls also came out between innings and whenever something exciting happened. It was so interesting to see the calm, stoic Japanese transform themselves into crazy, yelling fans. Each player has his own song or beat that the fans play when it’s his turn at bat. Fans of each team also have a signature move they all do, kind of like when people get up and do a wave in America. The Yakult Swallow fans raise and lower umbrellas for a great play:

Score!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE JET LAGGED WHEN:

  • You wake up wanting to vomit
  • Your eyeballs feel loose inside their sockets
  • You find yourself drinking sake aka Jet Lag Juice at 12:08am
  • You find yourself saying things like, “Shut your hole!” or “I feel like punching your face!”
  • You give your child 1000 yen and tell him to find his own way home

Until next time…

Brian

June 2, 2012 By in Japanese Excursions Tags: , , , 6 Comments

I like to surround myself with attractive, interesting people. To be honest, if you’re attractive enough, I’m willing to float you some points if you aren’t interesting. Whether it’s aging or selfishness, I’m thinking I need to start making friends with attractive children. Luckily, this happens to be the case with my friend Jasmin (my Puerto Rican sister). We were neighbors in Colorado, and I have loved her and her family ever since. I remember her son Brian as this shy, high school student who enjoyed baseball. Imagine my surprise when he shows up on my doorstep all 6ft 2 inches and having traveled the world for 4 1/2 months!

Originally, Jasmin had booked a hotel for him to stay in Tokyo. Turned out to be 2 kilometers from our apartment! I was livid! As soon as I realized he wasn’t here with a tour group, I started emailing her and insisting that he stay with us. If you will recall my last timeline, May 25th-May 27th I was feeling sorry for myself and Brian’s visit gave me a reason to put it on hold for a few days. In true form, Jasmin was mortified to be “burdening” a friend, but because she is my hermana and I understand her, I forced the situation and just told Brian to go get his bags and bring them to the apartment. Done!

Brian mentioned that one of his favorite foods is sushi, so of course today I found myself back at Tsukiji Market walking around and having sushi for lunch. I was happy to go because during my last trip with my dad I forgot to get myself a cereal bowl. I found a bowl that “spoke” to me and I was very happy. It was impressive to see the way Brian enjoyed sampling some of the street food. After walking around for a while, we finally ended up at Sushi Zanmai for lunch.

Fish Egg sacs! Yum!

It was such a pleasant surprise to spend time talking with Brian and getting to know him better. Very quickly, I realized besides being very attractive and athletic, he is a thoughtful, courteous gentleman. Just another reason to appreciate my friend Jasmin. She is not the most traditional of parents, but she has raised three amazing kids.

Ginza

Since we were so close, after lunch, we walked over to the Ginza. I had forgotten that they close the streets to vehicles during the weekend so we were able to enjoy just walking down the middle of the street.

Afterwards, we headed over to Asakusa to visit the shrine and walk through the bazaar:

We had our “Discovery Channel” moment by the incense burner:

Wafting the incense for good fortune

On our way back to the apartment, we stopped by a vendor who was selling things and of course something caught my attention:

Smaller portions in Japan

The sign read, “Grows 40 times its size in water!” I can’t help but wonder how many chicks have  fallen for that one.

Until next time…

More Dad Days

May 30, 2012 By in Dad, Japan, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Shinagawa Station

I love this photo of Dad as we were trying to get through the early morning “river of people”. Who wouldn’t love this face? I’m only blogging about the high points of our visit, but I am not exaggerating when I tell you, everyday we shared spontaneous special moments with one another. I have referred to my father’s extraordinary fitness and stamina, but in truth, spending this amount of quality time together, I was never made more aware of his fragility. No one wants to admit their parents are getting older. It only implies one thing. This morning’s conversation with Cliff:

  • Cliff: Do you mind picking up my prescriptions?
  • Me: No…. I don’t understand why you need to take all these meds!?!? (Migraine & “Special Skin Cream”)
  • Cliff: I’m not taking “all these meds…”
  • Me: You’re dying too!!! [flopping on the bed working up some tears]
  • Cliff: I’m not dying! Look at me! I’m healthier than you!

Let me just tell you, sometimes when I’m about to get into a frenzy, Cliff’s narcissism can work like smelling salts.

FILLING IN THE BLANKS

In Roppongi Hills. Tokyo Tower in the background.

After the hike to Nokogiriyama, Dad and I were also able to do some shopping, go to an onsen play tennis, take in a yoga class, take an Indian cooking class, attend one of Chase’s baseball game (Chase ended up hitting a homerun out of the field), go to an art exhibit and eat a lot of great food. We did a little grocery shopping every day so I could make dinner. Dad was in a constant state of sticker shock for obvious reasons. I have long since stopped converting all the prices to dollars, but Dad felt compelled to calculate everything for me.

  • Dad: I can’t believe those oranges cost so much!
  • Me: Well, after a while you just get used to it. I compensate by not buying underwear.
  • Dad: Hmm. [Pretending to ignore me] I just wouldn’t buy any.
  • Me: Besides, scurvy isn’t fatal right away…

One of the advantages of being a senior citizen is being able to eat as many “samples” as you like. Dad illustrated this for me everytime we passed any food samples in stores. I guess once he realized how expensive the food is, he decided he could “save” me some money by eating like this. Parents. ;)

IMPERIAL PALACE

Just stopping by

The Imperial Palace is one of those places that you can overlook because you live too close. I have passed it many times on my way to here and there and everytime I do I say, “I have got to go walk around there!” It is just so beautiful. It is this huge property of manicured lawns and trees smack in the middle of the city. Oh, and of course there is the palace. On the weekend, the main road is actually blocked off to traffic so there are tons of runners and bicyclers all over the place. Entrance to the grounds is free and the gardens inside the Palace are beautiful and full of history and information. I love the mix of old and new architecture.

SHIN OKUBO & MEIJI JINGU

In Front of Meiji Jingu

One of our spontaneous days involved visiting Shin Okubo aka “Korea Town” and then Meiji Jingu Shrine. Going to Shin Okubo was kind of a disappointment. I’m sure when Alexandra reads this, she will say, “What is that girl talking about? Kathryn must have gone to North Koreatown.” I went there wanting to love it. The food there wasn’t any better than what I would find in Nishi Azabu (closer to where I live) and to be honest, I was a little uncomfortable with all the K-Pop worship. There just seemed to be a lot of middle-aged housewives and a lot of autographed posters of K-Pop and Korean Drama Stars. The best part was going to the Korean supermarket and scoring mangos for half price!

Afterwards, we went to Meiji Jingu because it was another place I hadn’t been to, but everyone has said is a place to see. It is sort of the Emperor’s “vacation spot”. It is such a tranquil and lovely place. Since dad arrived, I have gotten him hooked on sake, especially as a remedy for the jet lag wake-ups at 1 and 2am. Less liquid to drink than a Sapporo tall boy. As we were walking in the park, we came across this beautiful display of old sake barrels. Kismet!

Talk about kismet!

SENZOKUIKE PARK

Shrine at Senzokuike

Our last group tour was to Senzokuike Park in south Tokyo. This is a real “local’s” treasure. I have to take Chase here. He would love it. It is a Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine all in one. There is a samurai buried here and one of the emperor’s most prized horses is honored here. You can rent swan shaped paddle boats and explore the lake that way too. The lake is full of fish, turtles, and birds. It is really a special place.

I’m all “re-capped out” so I am going to fix some dinner. Will try to blog again ASAP.

DATES:

June 12th Chase & I return to the States and will stay with Mary in Sterling, Virginia.

August 12th Date we return to Japan

Until next time…

Dad Days

May 28, 2012 By in Dad, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, Pearls of wisdom Tags: , , , 1 Comment

In front of a men’s boutique in Omotesando

I apologize for being to neglectful. My dad came into to town for a couple of weeks and I was mourning. I have come to realize, playing the “mourning card” is a lot like playing the “pregnancy card”. No other excuses necessary. I took this picture after I convinced dad to have lunch at a veggie, organic buffet restaurant called Crayon House in Omotesando. He liked it a lot and we ate our fill. However, very soon afterwards, Dad got VERY gassy and loud and when we stopped to take this picture, he was loudly farting the whole time. It made me appreciate just how polite the Japanese are because even though Dad was obviously tooting, everyone just pretended not to notice. In Korea, people would have totally stopped and yelled, “What the hell is wrong with you?!?”

ARRIVING IN JAPAN

Waiting for my dad at the airport, I felt an increasing sense of anxiety as I saw each person passing through the gate. I guess that’s what happens when one parent dies, you just feel lucky another one’s still breathing. When he finally made it through, I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me and realized, I am probably more concerned about him traveling by himself than he is of me! He still has 2 backup daughters.

JAPAN PLAN

We hit the ground running. Dad’s flight arrived late Friday night, and early Saturday we headed out with Chase to Chase’s school carnival.

St Mary’s International Carnival

The carnival is a real high point for the school and they raise a ton of money. It was dad’s first taste of high density population fun. Despite being outside, we spent almost all our time shoulder to shoulder oozing our way through the crowds. The carnival showcased food from all over the world, and Chase actually ate his first kangaroo burger. He said it tasted like chicken.

TSUKIJI MARKET

I know. This is probably the most cliché ”tourist” thing you can do in Japan; however, when your dad is a tourist and waking up at 3am it’s the perfect place to take someone where you know it will be crowded and busy early in the morning. Luckily, Chase was out of school that day and I had been trying to get him to Tsukiji Market too (he already had a t-shirt).

In front of Tsukiji Market

The person taking this photo is actually Nghi. I must say, following my mom’s death, I know now, that the people I have met here in Japan are truly wonderful friends. While my dad was here, he met Nghi, Alexandra, Nikki, Adonica, Hema and Angela. I think it made him feel good to know I had met such “good quality” people. I know I have mentioned how Nghi is my co-adventurer in the world of funky food, but did you know? that girl will sample anything and everything? Despite Dad’s surviving colon cancer, Nghi was no match for my father:

Marinated mystery shellfish off the street? No problem!

If you look up “TO RELISH” in the dictionary, this picture will probably be next to it. We had a great time and ate sushi for brunch.

NOKOGIRIYAMA HIKE

In front of a few thousands of Buddhas

Next stop Nokogiriyama, also known as “Saw Tooth Mountain”. I was really glad to get us on this highly sought after tour. However, once we were on the list, I must admit, I started to wonder if we could handle a hike on a mountain called “Saw Tooth.” Fortunately, Dad turned out to be much more athletic and fit than I expected. I don’t know if it was male bravado or what, but he kept saying things like “this hike is practically all downhill…”. I’m thinking he was probably snorting cocaine behind some statues when I wasn’t looking because I thought it was challenging enough. It has been a long time since I enrolled into one of these group outings, and at some point on the trip, I found myself chastising myself. It took my mom’s dying and my dad coming to visit, to make me step out of my hamster wheel and appreciate the fact that I am in a foreign country. Debra and I used to agree that working out/staying fit was like a part-full time job for us. How many times have we heard people say, you don’t lay on your deathbed wishing you put in more hours at the “office”. I made a promise to myself to make time to really learn more about where I am and see more of this magical place.

Making the time

IT’S LIKE RIDING A BIKE

It’s a few days into Dad’s visit now. I really thought dad and I would be taxi-ing everywhere, but given the beautiful weather and dad’s fitness level, we ended up walking everywhere. I don’t know how he managed because I live here, but being forced to walk the streets of Tokyo gave me shin splints after 3 days. I toyed with the idea of Dad using Chase’s bike since Chase was in school during the day. Neither of us could remember the last time Dad was on a bike, but he swore that it had happened in his past. I let him try my bike around our apartment complex that is located on pretty flat road and forms a continuous square. Let me just warn you, seeing your only remaining parent wobbling on a bike on public streets is enough to make you vomit. Once he was able to dazzle me with his boyhood bike mounting technique, I actually had to remind him to pedal (and of course “STAY TO THE LEFT!!!!”). I mean really, who gets on a bike and doesn’t pedal?!? I died a hundred deaths that first lap. After a few turns around the square, Dad discovered he doesn’t like turning right. He also ended up getting his confidence back and I ended up getting a sake:

My turn to be freaked out watching him behind a wheel

Until next time…

 

 

School Daze & Trying to Get to China

April 8, 2012 By in Chase, China, Cliff, Culture Shock, Daily Living, Japan, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, School, Tokyo, Transportation, useful, Weather Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

SCHOOL CLOSING

In the States, I have experienced or known of unexpected school cancellations due to snow, ice, hurricane, and violence. Last week, I experienced my first school closing due to High Winds. Because so many students in Japan commute by trains, if the winds are too intense, much like a ski lift, the trains have to stop running. It does seem ironic that Tokyo can survive earthquakes, but if the winds get too high they worry about trains flying off their tracks. Truth be told, I have never experienced winds as crazy fierce as those in a Tokyo typhoon.  Oh well, Chase got an unexpected half-day and because my cooking lesson wasn’t canceled, he ended up meeting Cliff for lunch and spending the rest of the afternoon being “home-schooled”.

HITTING THE WALL: CHINESE VISA

My second attempt for a visa was again unsuccessful. My first attempt happened to coincide with the Chinese holiday Qingming Day, or Tomb Sweeping day. It’s hard to believe anyone can make a living with all the holidays. Remember, call first before you go anywhere.

On my second try, I thought I would take pictures depicting the waiting line as it grew. We live very close to the Embassy so I get to see it regularly. I never expected to actually be a part of it. I decided to get in line at 8:15am even though it opens at 9:00am:

8:15 am

My spot is marked by the pink backpack. There was actually a family of 4 in front of me when I assumed my position.

8:35am looked like this:

8:35am

When I went across the street to take this picture, the police officer chastised me for jay-walking. I had to walk to the crossways every time.

As 9:00am arrived, some Chinese embassy officials popped out of the building and set up a table ala airport security-style with baskets for “metal objects”.

8:55am

It was so funny watching people get dropped off in front of the Embassy and watching the realization on their faces that they had to walk another block to get in line. Once the doors opened, we rushed in and you have to go to the 3rd floor and go from window to window. They checked my papers. I didn’t have a photocopy of my (and Chase’s) passport and alien card so I had to get in line for the photocopy machine (luckily I was early so I didn’t have to wait for that) but then I had to get back in line at window 1. You basically go to Window 1 for a ticket to get to Window 2. When my turn came up, I went to Window 2, and she said I needed my hotel reservation and plane tickets. With that, she quickly  handed me a copy of the application procedures along with all my papers and shut the window. It was all very Wizard of Oz, Dorothy-San style. As soon as I left, I of course called Cliff to thank him for wasting 2 hours of my life. Will let you know how much further I get on the “yellow-brick road”.

THE GRADUATE… years later

Last night, we finally rendezvoused with Andrew. He’s so cute and very “fresh” (vampire term). Cliff met him at the station, and Chase and I met them at our favorite soba restaurant in Azabu Juban. I don’t know if it’s a sign of maturity or maternity, but as Chase and Andrew sat next to each other, I couldn’t help wondering what Chase would end up being like when he goes to college. How would he act if he was traveling overseas on his own? Andrew got on Chase’s good list as soon as he realized they could talk about video games and DragonBall. Andrew got on my good list as he talked about his interest in Japan and his desire to explore the city. He’s our first visitor and it is so nice to see the city through “new eyes” as only a visitor can bring.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

So the countdown is on. Friday the 13th is opening night. I’m not going to say it’s Glee, but it’s definitely a show. I do have my favorite numbers and my favorite cast members. It’s been an interesting experience and I have enjoyed working with some of the kids. I have also made some interesting observations about people who choose to work in high school settings. Not being faculty and being more of an outsider, it has been a revelation on many levels to work with the kids and adults. If it sounds like I keep talking around something, it’s probably because I wish I could say more, but I have to  wait until we’re out of the country to spill my guts.

Until next time…

 

 

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