Konnichiwa
Well it is a rainy and very dark morning here in Minnesota. The thunder is rolling in the sky above, CJ is off having coffee with a friend and I am finishing the last of my computer stuff before packing it in my backpack and heading off to the airport.
We have had a nice week back here with family and friends and are once again excited to get back to Japan and see where our adventures will take us in the coming month of August.
I was able to see and chat with a few family and friends over lunches, dinners and on the telephone while I was home this week and that was nice.
I too, was busy with errands, gift buying, massage and chiro appointments, yard work etc.
The kids are back in their respective cities and adjusting to us leaving again, jobs, school, their own travels....
I am happy to hear many of you are keeping up with us on this blog and I hope I have some more fun stories to share again soon
Sayonara...until we meet again in Yokohama
Slick-san and Chuck-san
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 25 and 26th, 2008 Karla's 52nd Birthday and Harley's Wake/Funeral
After picking up Kalen from the airport in MN we made our way to Chetek and then Grandpa Harley's wake. Jean and some of CJ's other siblings and a few grandkids did a nice job of making photo posters and gathering memorabilia of Harleys to place with his Wood Cremation Box a gift handmade by another cousin. I also brought fake mustaches and gold coins for his visitors and friends to take as a remembrance token of "Jackpot".
Harley's CB handle was "Jackpot" and he also sported a very large handle bar moustache. It was fun for the grandkids and I and it too created some laughter and smiles so to lighten up the somber atmosphere a bit. I told some people I missed my bleaching appointment earlier in the week and others told me I looked like some of the old norwegian lady relatives they have seen in pics of long ago. Haha:-) We had many friends and family members come to pay respects to Gpa and that meant alot to all of us.
After the wake we went back to Uncle Brett's and had lots of fruits, veggies, appetizers, bars and my 52nd Birthday cake. UM UM! We had a late night of talking and sharing stories and didn't get to be till almost 2am.
Up the next morning at 7 to get to the funeral on time. A very nice service for Gpa Harley was given by Pastor Guy Redfield at Chetek Lutheran Church. Graham played his guitar/harmonica and sang 6 Days on the Road, and Uncle/Pastor Ed did the uology. They both did well and had many of us in tears. Then on to the cemetary where we had a Military service with a 21 gun salute and taps were played before Pops was laid to rest. Grandma Jean was very honored and happy to receive the flag, white gloves and honorary medal from the Vets. Harley served in the US Air Force for 4 years in Arizona.
Back to Chetek Lutheran Church where Jean's circle ladies prepared and served us all a delicious luncheon of Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, corn, cole slaw, red jello with bananas, buttered buns, variety of cakes and cousin Lynne Marie's chocolate nut fudge..this was one of pa's favorite meals.
It was a lovely day with lots of sunshine, a warm breeze, many tears, lots of hugs and support from many and more memories were made. We then bid farewell to the family and all returned to our homes in MN and WI.
The 4 of us hung out last night on the screen porch and played games before getting to bed early. We were all pooped. Early this am Graham drove back to Duluth, CJ and Kalen went on a bike ride while I slept in and then we enjoyed a movie and supper before Kalen took a flight back to Chicago tonight.
Now I am off to bed and hopefully a long good nights rest, before I have to get up to do more computer work, errands, mow the lawn....
Peace
Karla and family
Harley's CB handle was "Jackpot" and he also sported a very large handle bar moustache. It was fun for the grandkids and I and it too created some laughter and smiles so to lighten up the somber atmosphere a bit. I told some people I missed my bleaching appointment earlier in the week and others told me I looked like some of the old norwegian lady relatives they have seen in pics of long ago. Haha:-) We had many friends and family members come to pay respects to Gpa and that meant alot to all of us.
After the wake we went back to Uncle Brett's and had lots of fruits, veggies, appetizers, bars and my 52nd Birthday cake. UM UM! We had a late night of talking and sharing stories and didn't get to be till almost 2am.
Up the next morning at 7 to get to the funeral on time. A very nice service for Gpa Harley was given by Pastor Guy Redfield at Chetek Lutheran Church. Graham played his guitar/harmonica and sang 6 Days on the Road, and Uncle/Pastor Ed did the uology. They both did well and had many of us in tears. Then on to the cemetary where we had a Military service with a 21 gun salute and taps were played before Pops was laid to rest. Grandma Jean was very honored and happy to receive the flag, white gloves and honorary medal from the Vets. Harley served in the US Air Force for 4 years in Arizona.
Back to Chetek Lutheran Church where Jean's circle ladies prepared and served us all a delicious luncheon of Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, corn, cole slaw, red jello with bananas, buttered buns, variety of cakes and cousin Lynne Marie's chocolate nut fudge..this was one of pa's favorite meals.
It was a lovely day with lots of sunshine, a warm breeze, many tears, lots of hugs and support from many and more memories were made. We then bid farewell to the family and all returned to our homes in MN and WI.
The 4 of us hung out last night on the screen porch and played games before getting to bed early. We were all pooped. Early this am Graham drove back to Duluth, CJ and Kalen went on a bike ride while I slept in and then we enjoyed a movie and supper before Kalen took a flight back to Chicago tonight.
Now I am off to bed and hopefully a long good nights rest, before I have to get up to do more computer work, errands, mow the lawn....
Peace
Karla and family
Thursday, July 24, 2008
July 23-24, 2008 Flight back to MN and WI for funeral
Hi all
Well we made it safely back to MN and are getting ready to head to bed now that it is 11pm here and we have been up for 24 + hours. Flight went smooth and we were surprised and happy to see Grambo when he was there to pick us up at the airport in MPLS. He came home earlier than we expected. Stopped for some lettuce wraps and soup at our favorite Cam Rahn Bay Vietnamese Restaurant for some lunch. Then to Costco to get fruit for the gang tomorrow in WI. Home and unloaded bags and then CJ, I and Graham went and played a round of Frisbee golf and to keep moving so we wouldn't fall asleep. When we got back though and while we were chatting and watching some TV I did catch about an hours nap on the couch. oops!
We will pick Kalen up at the airport tommorrow and then we are off to WI.
Oh by the way if anyone with Northwest World Club membership ever gets to Tokyo, you have got to check out the club there at the Narita Airport. WOW ! We had like a full buffet of appetizers while waiting to board our plane. They had 2 kinds of soup, hot panini sandwiches, 3 kinds of sushi rolls/balls, veggie and salmon sandwiches, pizza cakes, fruit cups, soybeans, chocolate cake, sake ,wine, and beer served in an automated pouring machine. CJ got a video of that as well as one of me eating my first fish egg topped sushi :-( The crackling noise as I chewed was a bit unnerving ,but with the soy sauce and wasabi it wasn't too bad.
Sure did beat the fruit, crackers, cheese and cookies they have at all the other world clubs I have been in, in the USA. Those Japanese really are all about their food and serving it with such detail, order, cleanliness, and artistic flair.
More in a few days
Karla CJ and family
Well we made it safely back to MN and are getting ready to head to bed now that it is 11pm here and we have been up for 24 + hours. Flight went smooth and we were surprised and happy to see Grambo when he was there to pick us up at the airport in MPLS. He came home earlier than we expected. Stopped for some lettuce wraps and soup at our favorite Cam Rahn Bay Vietnamese Restaurant for some lunch. Then to Costco to get fruit for the gang tomorrow in WI. Home and unloaded bags and then CJ, I and Graham went and played a round of Frisbee golf and to keep moving so we wouldn't fall asleep. When we got back though and while we were chatting and watching some TV I did catch about an hours nap on the couch. oops!
We will pick Kalen up at the airport tommorrow and then we are off to WI.
Oh by the way if anyone with Northwest World Club membership ever gets to Tokyo, you have got to check out the club there at the Narita Airport. WOW ! We had like a full buffet of appetizers while waiting to board our plane. They had 2 kinds of soup, hot panini sandwiches, 3 kinds of sushi rolls/balls, veggie and salmon sandwiches, pizza cakes, fruit cups, soybeans, chocolate cake, sake ,wine, and beer served in an automated pouring machine. CJ got a video of that as well as one of me eating my first fish egg topped sushi :-( The crackling noise as I chewed was a bit unnerving ,but with the soy sauce and wasabi it wasn't too bad.
Sure did beat the fruit, crackers, cheese and cookies they have at all the other world clubs I have been in, in the USA. Those Japanese really are all about their food and serving it with such detail, order, cleanliness, and artistic flair.
More in a few days
Karla CJ and family
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday July 22, 2008 Re entry Forms needed
CJ and I visited the immigration office yesterday to see if we could get our re-entry pass to return to Japan after Harley's funeral. We are still waiting for our Alien registration cards to come the first week in August and so we were NOT sure if we were gonna have trouble getting them or not. Thankfully we had no trouble what so ever and were in and out of there in less than 1/2 hour. I think our MN DMV could take some lessons in efficiency from them. It was a breeze. Yeah! It was interesting I thought how they made us go around the corner and buy our stamps at the local 7-11 like store. CJ said that is to prevent the government workers from taking money ? Y Then CJ was off to work and I went on the subway all by my big self to the 3rd subway station up the road and the Jack Mall where the y1 or $1 store is. Had to get a few little treats to take back for the relatives when we go home tommorrow and some more blue and white potttery dishes for us. CJ is sick of eating on all the plastic plates I bought from home.
When I was walking from the subway station to the mall it was quite intriguing to watch about 50 different people, all wearing blue polo shirts and each carrying a plastic bag and long handle tongs. They were all walking around pulling piece by piece paper and litter that had flown up and was stuck in the bushes all along this business complex. Incredible! See, that is why it feels like Disneyland here to me.
I then went into Sports Authority to look for a Bay Stars jersey or baseball hat for CJ but had no luck. They were all sold out. They must be quite a popular team here. I did have fun chatting with the young sales clerk Hanaoka. He was very helpful in trying to explain sizes to me. 2 extra large is O or LL here in Japan. They did have other team stuff and he explained to me what some of the names stand for. FUN! We had lots of laughs as we tried to talk in Japlish and charades, because when I reached in my purse for my phrase book I found I had left it at home in the office Darn! I thne bid my new friend farewell and told him I would most likely see him another day.
Nexyt I went upsatirs and found my $1 store and spent well over and hour or 2 there I am sure. It was fun to look at all the different packaging and of course everything was in line and organized on all the shelves and displays. I noticed the clerks all say things out loud while they are busy cleaning areas up. I wonder what they are saying ?
When I went to pay I forgot to ask if they took credit cards and before she starting ringing up my basket full of pottery pices I thought about it, and found they did NOT. So I had her stop as I only had a small amount of cash. Yikes, I hope I had enough to cover what she had already rung up.I would have hated for her to have to go back and delete it all.
I gave her all the money I had (or thought I had) and she added up what I still needed. I was short and so I told her I would need to go to an ATM machine and get some more yen. I asked her if she could please hold the stuff for me, as I did not want them to put it all back on the shelves and then I would have to go pick it out again.I gave her one of my HTS/TSSI business cards with my home phone number on it as insurance as well. I asked if there was an ATM machine close and she said yes and would walk me to it if I needed her to. CJ is always getting money on the way home from work, so I have never had to do that here yet. I told her I only had a card from a US bank and she didn't think it would work here so then I went to call CJ and of course my cell phone didn't work. UGH! I dug deeper in my purse and found some money I forgot I had tucked away for emergency and so I ended up using almost every last coin and yen I had in my wallet to make up the difference. YEAh, but now the next problem wass how was I going to get it all home.
I must have looked quite interesting to many I am sure, when I walked along with 5 BIG bags of stuff. Two bags on each shoulder and one in front. Do I even need to say how soaking wet I was once I made it back up those damn steps and into the house.Ay caramba!
Then I sorted, and started to pack and get things organized to go home. CJ worked late and then he came home for supper and we got to bed early. We were both very tired.
Wednesday July 23, 2008
Today I was up early and saw CJ off to work and his day trip to Nagoya. I then kept myself busy by cleaning and packing for our trip to the US.
Have a couple loads of laundry going, dusted and cleaned the wood floors, cleaned all the bathrooms and toilets. Took up all the futons off the tatami floors, vacumned them and hung the futons out to air off the upper balcony porch. Now I feel like a real Japanese lady.:-) The cute little gardener man "Sigimoat" came today and he is busy pulling all the weeds on the sides of the house out to the back garden area. It was getting a bit jungle like and I had wanted to do it myself, but was afraid I would pull something up that was a plant or flower. Now I see he just raked and hoed it all up, so I will be able to help with some of that from now on. I have been keeping up the back garden area by picking up all the dead leaves and pulling the stray weeds that pop up in the rocks. It would be nice if they just had put rocks all the way around the house. Would be easier to maintain that's for sure
Then the road construction crews came to start their work on the new water lines. I too,am waiting for the delivery man and hope he can get in here on this one lane dead end street. Oh, hold on the door bell rang just now, it must be him with our dining room table and chairs and the shoe box which we will use to put all the electrical boxes in.....Yes it is him, and I will to put the box together myself, but he is down stairs right now putting together and setting the table and chairs up.
Once he leaves I will get to my packing and then off to the store for a couple last minute errands and then back to the house to finish packing, fold the clean clothes and remake the beds with clean sheets.
We are looking forward to seeing all the family again, taking my folks out for an anniversary dinner, having lunch with a few of my friends and I can't wait for my massage from Sylvia and a chiro adjustment before I head back here on the 31st. My shoulders, back and legs could use a bit of tender care, as they are a bit sore after getting used to carrying and walking everywhere with these bags of stuff.
So I will close this for now and write again when I can
Thanks again for all your support and love. We appreciate your letters of sympathy.
Karla and CJ
When I was walking from the subway station to the mall it was quite intriguing to watch about 50 different people, all wearing blue polo shirts and each carrying a plastic bag and long handle tongs. They were all walking around pulling piece by piece paper and litter that had flown up and was stuck in the bushes all along this business complex. Incredible! See, that is why it feels like Disneyland here to me.
I then went into Sports Authority to look for a Bay Stars jersey or baseball hat for CJ but had no luck. They were all sold out. They must be quite a popular team here. I did have fun chatting with the young sales clerk Hanaoka. He was very helpful in trying to explain sizes to me. 2 extra large is O or LL here in Japan. They did have other team stuff and he explained to me what some of the names stand for. FUN! We had lots of laughs as we tried to talk in Japlish and charades, because when I reached in my purse for my phrase book I found I had left it at home in the office Darn! I thne bid my new friend farewell and told him I would most likely see him another day.
Nexyt I went upsatirs and found my $1 store and spent well over and hour or 2 there I am sure. It was fun to look at all the different packaging and of course everything was in line and organized on all the shelves and displays. I noticed the clerks all say things out loud while they are busy cleaning areas up. I wonder what they are saying ?
When I went to pay I forgot to ask if they took credit cards and before she starting ringing up my basket full of pottery pices I thought about it, and found they did NOT. So I had her stop as I only had a small amount of cash. Yikes, I hope I had enough to cover what she had already rung up.I would have hated for her to have to go back and delete it all.
I gave her all the money I had (or thought I had) and she added up what I still needed. I was short and so I told her I would need to go to an ATM machine and get some more yen. I asked her if she could please hold the stuff for me, as I did not want them to put it all back on the shelves and then I would have to go pick it out again.I gave her one of my HTS/TSSI business cards with my home phone number on it as insurance as well. I asked if there was an ATM machine close and she said yes and would walk me to it if I needed her to. CJ is always getting money on the way home from work, so I have never had to do that here yet. I told her I only had a card from a US bank and she didn't think it would work here so then I went to call CJ and of course my cell phone didn't work. UGH! I dug deeper in my purse and found some money I forgot I had tucked away for emergency and so I ended up using almost every last coin and yen I had in my wallet to make up the difference. YEAh, but now the next problem wass how was I going to get it all home.
I must have looked quite interesting to many I am sure, when I walked along with 5 BIG bags of stuff. Two bags on each shoulder and one in front. Do I even need to say how soaking wet I was once I made it back up those damn steps and into the house.Ay caramba!
Then I sorted, and started to pack and get things organized to go home. CJ worked late and then he came home for supper and we got to bed early. We were both very tired.
Wednesday July 23, 2008
Today I was up early and saw CJ off to work and his day trip to Nagoya. I then kept myself busy by cleaning and packing for our trip to the US.
Have a couple loads of laundry going, dusted and cleaned the wood floors, cleaned all the bathrooms and toilets. Took up all the futons off the tatami floors, vacumned them and hung the futons out to air off the upper balcony porch. Now I feel like a real Japanese lady.:-) The cute little gardener man "Sigimoat" came today and he is busy pulling all the weeds on the sides of the house out to the back garden area. It was getting a bit jungle like and I had wanted to do it myself, but was afraid I would pull something up that was a plant or flower. Now I see he just raked and hoed it all up, so I will be able to help with some of that from now on. I have been keeping up the back garden area by picking up all the dead leaves and pulling the stray weeds that pop up in the rocks. It would be nice if they just had put rocks all the way around the house. Would be easier to maintain that's for sure
Then the road construction crews came to start their work on the new water lines. I too,am waiting for the delivery man and hope he can get in here on this one lane dead end street. Oh, hold on the door bell rang just now, it must be him with our dining room table and chairs and the shoe box which we will use to put all the electrical boxes in.....Yes it is him, and I will to put the box together myself, but he is down stairs right now putting together and setting the table and chairs up.
Once he leaves I will get to my packing and then off to the store for a couple last minute errands and then back to the house to finish packing, fold the clean clothes and remake the beds with clean sheets.
We are looking forward to seeing all the family again, taking my folks out for an anniversary dinner, having lunch with a few of my friends and I can't wait for my massage from Sylvia and a chiro adjustment before I head back here on the 31st. My shoulders, back and legs could use a bit of tender care, as they are a bit sore after getting used to carrying and walking everywhere with these bags of stuff.
So I will close this for now and write again when I can
Thanks again for all your support and love. We appreciate your letters of sympathy.
Karla and CJ
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday 21, 2008 Remembering CJ's Chichi Harley
Woke up after a restless night of sleep and CJ and I just hung out in the house most of the day while talking with his mom "haha", siblings and also in touch with our son "musuko" Grambo who went down to Chetek to be with the rest of the family for the afternoon. Glad he could be with all of them and represent CJ and our family. Thanks Mr Wood. Talked with our daughter "musume" Kalen too, and helped get her travel plans and ours arranged so we can all be there with Grandma "sobo" or "obasan" Jean and the gang on the 26th to bid Grandpa "sofu" or "ojisan" Harley a fond farewell.
CJ and I decided to get out of the house for a bit, so we took the subway up to Yokohama station and to the 10 story Yotobashi Camera and electronics store to get a computer printer. CJ Mr. Electronic Gadget Man that he is, was of course in hog heaven and I was just literally confused by it all?#$* It was so loud in there as they are all yelling advertisements and sales through megaphones. Naturally there were Japanese signs everywhere of which I could read none. :-( They had jump drives in the shapes of sushi rolls and shrimp,3 rows of computer mice, $1,000.00 rice cookers, one whole floor just of cell phones in a rainbow of colors and styles,a 32GB scan disk for $648.00..how would you like one of those Graham?
Now really, is this all necessary? That is the thought that kept running over and over in my head? CRAZY !! The place was as neat and clean as could be and everything was done with such precision and efficiency. They don't let any of the racks get messed up or perhaps it's that the shoppers are much more respectful here than in the US. That was very nice to see.
We then looked for a place to eat and CJ was hoping I am sure, that I would go for sushi, but we sadly ended up stopping to eat at a pasta noodle restaurant, as I am still having a hard time chewing and savoring all these very colorful, but very strong flavored, chewy and often times slimy varieties of seaweed. Had some very bitter chinese jasmin flavored tea as well. The prima vera type ramen noodle dish I ordered was EXCELLENT thankfully, as well as, the fresh berry cheesecake. Of course I licked my platter clean.:-)
We were both kind of walking in a fog as can be expected with the events of the last 24 hours and so we of course had to first stop and get 1 regular whip cream and 1 strawberry filled jambo-shu before we came back home. We hung out together working in the office again and enjoyed looking at old photos of Harley and family. We took a Jambo-shu break in the late eve and this time they were more like the cream puffs I had at the annual WI state fair back when I was a kid in Milwaukee. We liked them and they were delicious, but I personally liked the one with the pudding like filling better than this whipped cream variety.
We are off to bed now and I will be busy this week, packing my things for our trip back to MN and WI, cleaning the house a bit, and waiting for delivery of our dining room table and chairs on Wednesday of this week. CJ may have a work trip to Nagoya on Wednesday and then we will be headed home on Thursday and hope all goes well at the alien registration office in the am.
Here's hoping you are all well and enjoying hot, sunny summer weather and relaxing days with friends and families, on vacations or at home.
Thanks "domo arigato" to all of you who have written us such loving and supportive notes of condolences on our recent loss. We do appreciate more than you know the caring, prayers, love and support your sending our way. Yes we can feel it way over here across the big blue pond. It will be good to be home for a week and be close to all our family once again.
Love you all
KJ and CJ
CJ and I decided to get out of the house for a bit, so we took the subway up to Yokohama station and to the 10 story Yotobashi Camera and electronics store to get a computer printer. CJ Mr. Electronic Gadget Man that he is, was of course in hog heaven and I was just literally confused by it all?#$* It was so loud in there as they are all yelling advertisements and sales through megaphones. Naturally there were Japanese signs everywhere of which I could read none. :-( They had jump drives in the shapes of sushi rolls and shrimp,3 rows of computer mice, $1,000.00 rice cookers, one whole floor just of cell phones in a rainbow of colors and styles,a 32GB scan disk for $648.00..how would you like one of those Graham?
Now really, is this all necessary? That is the thought that kept running over and over in my head? CRAZY !! The place was as neat and clean as could be and everything was done with such precision and efficiency. They don't let any of the racks get messed up or perhaps it's that the shoppers are much more respectful here than in the US. That was very nice to see.
We then looked for a place to eat and CJ was hoping I am sure, that I would go for sushi, but we sadly ended up stopping to eat at a pasta noodle restaurant, as I am still having a hard time chewing and savoring all these very colorful, but very strong flavored, chewy and often times slimy varieties of seaweed. Had some very bitter chinese jasmin flavored tea as well. The prima vera type ramen noodle dish I ordered was EXCELLENT thankfully, as well as, the fresh berry cheesecake. Of course I licked my platter clean.:-)
We were both kind of walking in a fog as can be expected with the events of the last 24 hours and so we of course had to first stop and get 1 regular whip cream and 1 strawberry filled jambo-shu before we came back home. We hung out together working in the office again and enjoyed looking at old photos of Harley and family. We took a Jambo-shu break in the late eve and this time they were more like the cream puffs I had at the annual WI state fair back when I was a kid in Milwaukee. We liked them and they were delicious, but I personally liked the one with the pudding like filling better than this whipped cream variety.
We are off to bed now and I will be busy this week, packing my things for our trip back to MN and WI, cleaning the house a bit, and waiting for delivery of our dining room table and chairs on Wednesday of this week. CJ may have a work trip to Nagoya on Wednesday and then we will be headed home on Thursday and hope all goes well at the alien registration office in the am.
Here's hoping you are all well and enjoying hot, sunny summer weather and relaxing days with friends and families, on vacations or at home.
Thanks "domo arigato" to all of you who have written us such loving and supportive notes of condolences on our recent loss. We do appreciate more than you know the caring, prayers, love and support your sending our way. Yes we can feel it way over here across the big blue pond. It will be good to be home for a week and be close to all our family once again.
Love you all
KJ and CJ
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Sunday July 20, 2008 Yokohama Harbor 149th Annv FIREWORKS
Well it is 1:30 in the afternoon on another beautiful sunny day here in Japan. CJ was luckily able to sleep in till 8:30 am but I was once again up too early and on this computer at 6:30am. We have been working together all morning here in our upstairs office. CJ is catching up on work expense reports and moving information and I am trying to keep these very looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong
blog post stories up to date. Sorry I am using this as my own journal as well, and so I apologize once again, if I get too carried away. Read what you will and ignore the rest. :-) Or just take a look at the photos to see what we have been up to.
We are gonna take a break here for lunch soon and then we will be off to witness the hoards of people that supposedly gather to take in the BIG display of the rockets red glaring and the bombs bursting in the air and night sky over Yokohama Harbor. This 149th Anniversary celebration is for Kaikoukinen Minato Festival when Japan first opened its doors and ports to International trade and foreign ships back on May 2,1859.
More tommorrow....
written Monday 7 21 08 6:07 pm
We had a fun night last night walking down along the harbor area and watching the mass of people many walking around in their bright and colorful yakuta robes and geta wood clogs. It was interesting to see the whole different gait the women had as they shuffled along in their A line fitted robes. Many men had robes on as well, or the short PJ outfits like I bought for CJ and I. We should probably have worn ours down there too. When we first got down to the working pier people were arriving early and marking off their territory with plastic sheets. Quite a few families and groups of friends were already there many having picnics, playing card games, mahjong, hand held computer games, reading Manga comic books. Some men and women alike were tucked under umbrellas, towels, and/or tents to shield themselves from the afternoon setting sunshine...It was quite amazing to watch the order and respectful flow of movement, by that many people in one small area. Controlled chaos as CJ likes to call it!
We were going to sit down, but then thought it more fun to walk and people watch as this is the thing I was hoping to see when I came here to Japan. People in their traditional garb. YEAH !!! It was a rainbow of color, patterns, flowers...FUN!
When we got over to the warehouse district where I bought my bike yesterday, we sat down in the road and about an hour later it was covered with 1,000's of people. Of course, when the first fireworks went up our view was blocked by a tree :-( and so we watched a few more and then decided to walk back home and view it from our upstairs office window. When Tad and CJ brought the desk here, Tad looked out the window and said "you will have a perfect view of the fireworks from here" and so we thought what the heck we might as well go back and avoid the crush of people when it was all over. We peeked under trees to see the 6,000 piece light show as we quickly zig zagged our way through the massive crowds lined up in streets, parks, on staircases in front of buildings...there were like we read...people everywhere. Unbelievable!!! I am glad we missed the whole chaos of departing and we did have quite the view of the fireworks. As you can see form the photo, if that one high rise building was not in the way it would have been a perfect full on view. We know now, where we will watch them from next year, when they have the VERY BIG 150th anniversary celebration.
CJ and I then ate a very late light supper, showered, downloaded and looked at our photos/video of the light display we just witnessed. As we were viewing the shots,our phone rang and it was CJ's brother Brett and wife Dina calling to tell us their dad Harley John Harriman had passed away this morning July 20, 2008 at 7:50 am (which was actually 11:47pm here-now that will really confuse one, hey ?). Thankfully his wife of almost 53 years, Jeanie, was there with him and lovingly held Harley in her arms, stroking his head as he loved her to do, while gazing into each others eyes when he took his last breath and left this physical world and all the pain and suffering behind. Peace he had at last. Of course we are all saddened by this great loss and the finality, but also a bit relieved that he no longer has to suffer. Harley had been fighting Parkinson's for the past 10 years or so and had a fall in late June 2008 which left him with some disc problems and virtually bed ridden this last month. He literally wasted away in weeks when he could not move about nor eat due to sores he devleoped in his mouth.:-(
We called CJ's mom who was waiting for hospice and the coroner to come to the nursing home and chatted with her just a few minutes and sent our love and support her way and let her get back to be with Harley for those last precious moments they would have together.
We then called our kids and CJ's aunt Sharryl in CA, which is Harley's only surviving biological family member and had a nice visit with her. She is all alone and so it was good for her to visit with us a bit about daily life, Japan and plane arrangements....
CJ then checked out plane flights for us as well, and we will be back in MN and WI for a week Thursday July 24-31st. CJ will do some work for a few days in MPLS the following week after the wake on Friday eve from 7-9pm and the memorial service at Chetek Lutheran Church on Saturday July 26th at 10 am. Harley will be cremated and buried in the Lakeview Cemetary in Chetek, WI.
It was a very surreal ending to a long day for us. CJ and I knew this day was coming soon and we had been talking about Harley alot earlier this afternoon while working in the office and what we would do when the call came, etc... When going through papers CJ came across a copy of a photo Graham had taken of his pops Harley at CJ's sister Mary Ann and Mike's wedding 3 years ago and he taped it to the window sill on his side of the desk. That prompted us to talk more about him and his life...Then about 10 hours later we got the call. So we like to feel like we were kind of with him for his last night which was day here.(confusing I know) I too, like to think he went out with a BIG bang as we got the call only a short while after the one and 1/2 hour fireworks show ended here in Japan. It was interesting to me how he drove truck cross country for years and perhaps hauled and delivered many things some of which may have been exported from here at the harbor gates in Yokohama.
We were then off to bed, with prayers, some tears and gratefulness for family and friends to support us and hopefully some sleep as well.
Rest in Peace Pops we will miss you
KJ and Charlie
blog post stories up to date. Sorry I am using this as my own journal as well, and so I apologize once again, if I get too carried away. Read what you will and ignore the rest. :-) Or just take a look at the photos to see what we have been up to.
We are gonna take a break here for lunch soon and then we will be off to witness the hoards of people that supposedly gather to take in the BIG display of the rockets red glaring and the bombs bursting in the air and night sky over Yokohama Harbor. This 149th Anniversary celebration is for Kaikoukinen Minato Festival when Japan first opened its doors and ports to International trade and foreign ships back on May 2,1859.
More tommorrow....
written Monday 7 21 08 6:07 pm
We had a fun night last night walking down along the harbor area and watching the mass of people many walking around in their bright and colorful yakuta robes and geta wood clogs. It was interesting to see the whole different gait the women had as they shuffled along in their A line fitted robes. Many men had robes on as well, or the short PJ outfits like I bought for CJ and I. We should probably have worn ours down there too. When we first got down to the working pier people were arriving early and marking off their territory with plastic sheets. Quite a few families and groups of friends were already there many having picnics, playing card games, mahjong, hand held computer games, reading Manga comic books. Some men and women alike were tucked under umbrellas, towels, and/or tents to shield themselves from the afternoon setting sunshine...It was quite amazing to watch the order and respectful flow of movement, by that many people in one small area. Controlled chaos as CJ likes to call it!
We were going to sit down, but then thought it more fun to walk and people watch as this is the thing I was hoping to see when I came here to Japan. People in their traditional garb. YEAH !!! It was a rainbow of color, patterns, flowers...FUN!
When we got over to the warehouse district where I bought my bike yesterday, we sat down in the road and about an hour later it was covered with 1,000's of people. Of course, when the first fireworks went up our view was blocked by a tree :-( and so we watched a few more and then decided to walk back home and view it from our upstairs office window. When Tad and CJ brought the desk here, Tad looked out the window and said "you will have a perfect view of the fireworks from here" and so we thought what the heck we might as well go back and avoid the crush of people when it was all over. We peeked under trees to see the 6,000 piece light show as we quickly zig zagged our way through the massive crowds lined up in streets, parks, on staircases in front of buildings...there were like we read...people everywhere. Unbelievable!!! I am glad we missed the whole chaos of departing and we did have quite the view of the fireworks. As you can see form the photo, if that one high rise building was not in the way it would have been a perfect full on view. We know now, where we will watch them from next year, when they have the VERY BIG 150th anniversary celebration.
CJ and I then ate a very late light supper, showered, downloaded and looked at our photos/video of the light display we just witnessed. As we were viewing the shots,our phone rang and it was CJ's brother Brett and wife Dina calling to tell us their dad Harley John Harriman had passed away this morning July 20, 2008 at 7:50 am (which was actually 11:47pm here-now that will really confuse one, hey ?). Thankfully his wife of almost 53 years, Jeanie, was there with him and lovingly held Harley in her arms, stroking his head as he loved her to do, while gazing into each others eyes when he took his last breath and left this physical world and all the pain and suffering behind. Peace he had at last. Of course we are all saddened by this great loss and the finality, but also a bit relieved that he no longer has to suffer. Harley had been fighting Parkinson's for the past 10 years or so and had a fall in late June 2008 which left him with some disc problems and virtually bed ridden this last month. He literally wasted away in weeks when he could not move about nor eat due to sores he devleoped in his mouth.:-(
We called CJ's mom who was waiting for hospice and the coroner to come to the nursing home and chatted with her just a few minutes and sent our love and support her way and let her get back to be with Harley for those last precious moments they would have together.
We then called our kids and CJ's aunt Sharryl in CA, which is Harley's only surviving biological family member and had a nice visit with her. She is all alone and so it was good for her to visit with us a bit about daily life, Japan and plane arrangements....
CJ then checked out plane flights for us as well, and we will be back in MN and WI for a week Thursday July 24-31st. CJ will do some work for a few days in MPLS the following week after the wake on Friday eve from 7-9pm and the memorial service at Chetek Lutheran Church on Saturday July 26th at 10 am. Harley will be cremated and buried in the Lakeview Cemetary in Chetek, WI.
It was a very surreal ending to a long day for us. CJ and I knew this day was coming soon and we had been talking about Harley alot earlier this afternoon while working in the office and what we would do when the call came, etc... When going through papers CJ came across a copy of a photo Graham had taken of his pops Harley at CJ's sister Mary Ann and Mike's wedding 3 years ago and he taped it to the window sill on his side of the desk. That prompted us to talk more about him and his life...Then about 10 hours later we got the call. So we like to feel like we were kind of with him for his last night which was day here.(confusing I know) I too, like to think he went out with a BIG bang as we got the call only a short while after the one and 1/2 hour fireworks show ended here in Japan. It was interesting to me how he drove truck cross country for years and perhaps hauled and delivered many things some of which may have been exported from here at the harbor gates in Yokohama.
We were then off to bed, with prayers, some tears and gratefulness for family and friends to support us and hopefully some sleep as well.
Rest in Peace Pops we will miss you
KJ and Charlie
July 19, 2008 Saturday.....Karla-san gets a new used Japanese Shopping Bike and Chuck-san a camera
Konnichiwa.
Well it was a great day of exploration yesterday as well as friday night...let me explain...
After dinner on friday night CJ and I decided to take an evening walk. Our first since we have been here. Every other night we have been either too tired or to busy getting things organized in the house. We walked west of Motomachi area, and on the little side streets past shrines, cute little local restaurants and bars where a very happy couple were singing karaoke. Stopped in 2 very loud and colorful Pachinko parlors, in probably the sketchiest part of town I have seen so far. Nothing dangerous, just dirtier, with old run down buildings and a few drunks. CJ was going to try out a few games but he couldn't get anyone to explain the object in english and the worker guy couldn't even hear him, so we decided to move on. It personally was too loud, and smokey for me, so it will NOT be a place I will frequent.
Was fun to see some of the local men sitting outside little establishments talking in the neon lit night streets. Then we headed back towards Chinatown,passing by the illuminated Yokohama baseball stadium where the Bay Stars must have just completed a game. Darn we missed it.:-( We hope to see a baseball game soon, once we take time to find and look at a schedule.
Saw all these clay pot like urns sitting outside many a restaurant and there happened to be a guy out by some of them and so I asked him what they were for, as I have seen them all over town. I thought they were for disposing of old cooking oil, but he said they were for a special liquid used in cooking that they put in there and bury underground to ferment. Kind of like wine I am assuming. I then asked him where I could buy one and he just told me they were garbage and to take one. I said I didn't want to get in trouble with the police and so he went in and asked his boss if I could take one and he said yes, so I did. I now have it sitting in the corner of the tatami room. Would possibly be a good vase for some reallong stem or dried flowers of some kind. I think it looks pretty cool.
Stopped for a night cap Asahi Super Dry beer for CJ and a cranberry juice for me while chatting a bit with Leo at Laser Rush, then back up the slope one last time and home to bed. CJ plugged in the rechargebale battery for his new camera he bought on the way home from work, so it would be ready for tomorrow's sightseeing tour. Hopefully we can force ourselves to sleep in since it is Saturday.
Saturday 7 19 08
Yeah, made it to 8am. Miracles do happen. We then got up, ate breakfast and were off in search of a bike for me. We stopped by the Koban again for directions but noone was there, so we walked down along the harbor in Yamashita Park and stopped at the ferry dock and asked if they could point us in the right direction. One of the boat captains was very helpful and told us about one near the warehouse district. I asked him if I could buy one of the little plastic advertising(fans) "oochiwa" he had and he said "No, it's a gift", to keep me (cool) "sazooshe" as it was very (hot) "atsui". I do not know how these words are really spelled..I am just writing them how they sound to me when they say it. Should be interesting to see the real spelling when I look it up in a dictionary at a later date?
We continued on along the harbor where they were covering all the benches with plastic and roping off areas in preparation for the BIG 6,000 piece HARBOR FIREWORKS display tommorrow night. My guess is, that is the area where they will set them up to shoot them off. Kind of a shame as they took up so many good seats...you think they would shoot them off from a barge out in the water so to leave more room for the 1/2 million people they say come to view the bursts of color. I commented to CJ, "I wonder how many old used firework casings are laying in the bottom of that harbor" from years past ?
Stopped at the bike store I had seen down by the Int'l pier on another day, and that was closed as well and a very high end shop with composites bikes only. We were in the market for a good, used but cheap one for me. So we continued walking over the Kisha-Mishi Promenade past the old red brick warehouse buildings and then spotted a bunch of bikes sitting right out in the open air on a side road. Almost looked like a portable stand set up to rent bikes for the day on first glance.
When we got over there, we showed the man the Resale bike shop info we had copied online and asked if this was the right place and he said (yes)"Hai". So here was his shop out in the hot blazing sun with three long rows of bikes chained all together, that he was in the process of fixing up to resell and all he had were two beach umbrellas to work under for a respite from the glaring hot sun. Thank God for the slight bit of a breeze blowing off the water, or one could cook out there. I don't know how he does it, I was dripping wet and felt fried after our short 1/2 hour there. He had 4 or 5 bikes out front that had prices from y6000- y9000. That is $60 to $90 COOL..we were very happy and surprised too, that they were 26 inch frames. BIG ones, just what we needed. YEAH!
The first bike I sat on was a perfect fit. It was a 3 speed for y7500 ($75.00). We then asked him if he could put a rack above the back fender and he said yes but it would cost us more. He seemed very nervous having to tell us that. :-) The man then got out a note pad and wrote y500=$5, (perfect) "kansen" we said. While he was putting the rack on, CJ continued to look through his other piles of parts and found a basket for the back. When CJ brought that over he laughed and said more yen. "Hai" we said.
He wrote another y1000. So we got out of there with a fully loaded $90 bike Japanese shopping bike.
I rode along while CJ walked back to the house so we could get his bike and then go for a ride. As we reached the top of the loooong set of steps in the park and while trying to catch my breath and wipe some of the sweat which was rolling from my forehead we met up with our very friendly and helpful neighbors who live in the front 1/2 of our duplex building. They were doing a U turn and parking their little blue Mercedes convertible sports car in the driveway. The 2 men stopped the car and then introduced themselves.
John the dad is an American from Maryland originally and they have lived in Palo Alto,CA as well. He was just getting back from the airport with his oldest son Ken who was coming home for a month's summer vacation from the University of Stockholm in Sweden. Yeah, how weird is that? Ken is studying to be a doctor.
Yes of course dad and mom, I did tell them Graham had just been there studying in Orebro for the last 5 months. :-) Then his younger son Eric who is also home from college in Berkeley,CA... came out of the house and introduced himself as well and talked a bit until his bare feet were burning on the hot asphalt and so he went back in. They are both very handsome young men I might add. :-) Did take some quick pics but caught them with their eyes closed so will have to get different ones some other day. John said his wife Riuko (Reeako)is Japanese and they have an adopted daughter Ruili (Raylee)from China. She is 12 now, but she became part of their family when she was 6. The two females were in Guam and coming back soon.
John said he works and lives in Tokyo during the week and comes home on weekends. Too expensive with the gas prices at $8.00 a gallon to travel back and forth each day. They then gave us some location info on 2 local bike shops and let us borrow their air pump to blow up CJ's bike tires, and then we were off in search of a bike lock and our own tire pump. We rode along and it felt so good to be covering so much ground so quickly, and a very nice break for our feet as well. CJ commented on how this just opened up a much bigger area of exploration for us. YES!!
We could not find the 1st bike shop, or at least someone to help us if it actually was one that we stopped at? YIKES...some of these small men business owners could use some major help in tidying up and organizing their office work spaces.I have never seen such messes...stuff is piled high and/or just laying about everywhere. No such things as shelves and an organized inventory I guess?...Perhaps I could find some volunteer work? :-)...no luck at that shop, so we turned around and then rode down the sidewalk in the other direction. I found it to be quite interesting and a bit of a challenge too, to try and figure out the biking edicate and rules. Luckliy there were no collisions as I manuevered from left to right dodging other bikers and walkers. We tried to ride on the left side of the walk, and hoped people stayed to the right, but that was not always the case. The bike lane cross walks at intersections were on the right, but then it seemed the other Japanese bikers then moved to the left. Who knows, it will be something we will learn as we go I presume. Maybe some lines like we have back in MN on the bike paths might help... CJ and I anyways.
The 2nd bike shop was an amazing mess so says CJ. I stayed outside and watched the bikes, while CJ waded through bikes, various bike parts and stepped over the pile of old innertubes laying right in front of the entrance door. The windows had a glare from the sun, so I could not see in, but when CJ came back out he commented on how dusty it was but that he had some nice stuff in there, if he can find it when he needs it. CJ found a tire pump and bike lock. He of course, chose the Japanese one over the chinese brand as the man said, "Japanese much stronger". :-)
Then we were off to see what we could find and headed southeast towards the Sankeien Garden area. We road along Honmoku-dori and passed through a few different city corner parks before stopping at the Tentokuji Temple and graveyard in Honmuko Sancho Park. Was very interesting to see all the wood slats with Japanese words stacked behind each of the tombstones. My guess it might be prayers or thoughts left by friends and family members to the deceased. (CJ said to type it into Google and find out..and that I will do that later). He is now sitting across from me here in the office and we are getting caught up on long forgotten book work.
We found we had to get off and push our bikes up many of these steep slopes. We don't have enough gears to shift down to, or possibly we are just wimps? Something to work towards I guess. :-) I already think that the pushing is often times the hardest part of the bike excursion. I know it makes my head pound and my sweat glands work in overdrive.
The map showed 2 different Shinto shrines, but we somehow did not see them nor the Tori gates which are at the entrances to them :-(. The paths in the park curve every which way as do the roads and of course all the signage is in Japanese and we have no idea YET, what those intricate kangi characters say. Saw a good looking male sunbather and a hardy bunch of runners doing some kind of road race course through the park, and thought to myself one has to have a really good heart and lungs to run in this ungodly heat and humidity. UGH ! Better them than me.
As we were leaving the park, we passed by some Boy and Girl Scouts which looked like they were getting ready to have some kind of a day camp type event. We then swooshed (while breaking as hard as I could)down a very loooong and steep hill and then across another main road "dori" where we wove through maze like neighborhoods till we finally made our way to the Sankeien Garden. I was so overheated and needed a break so I talked CJ into going in for a quick tour, some shade and relaxation. He wasn't too keen on it at first, but then we did go in and enjoyed two very cold and refreshing bowls of strawberry and lemon shaved ice.
After our treat we casually walked amongst the serene and tranquil sights as we passed stone statues and pagodas, crossed 3 or 4 different types of bridges, viewed a post season lilly pad pond and took photos of very large ,pink blooming lotus blossoms. Watched turtles and coi swim about in the ponds,toured an old house of a wealthy family from the Hido region in the Edo period after being scolded for not taking our shoes off correctly. CJ stepped out of his shoes and on to the dirt and then up onto the wood floor. "Iie, Iie" (NO,NO) she said. We think he was supposed to step out of his shoes and directly up onto the wood floor and then reach back and pick up his shoes and then walk bare foot over to the shoe shelf. Anyway, after his 2nd shot at it she let him in. This type of house is a rare example of "shoin-style zashiki" (audience room).
Next we made our way up the long hill through a bamboo forest to the 3 story wood pagoda of Old Tomyoji. This was previously in Kyoto and is the oldest pagoda in nthe Kanto Region built in 1457.
Then it was closing time so we never did get to one 1/2 of the park. Reason to go back again and also to see the cool stone Teisha bridge, which looks to be the prettiest one in the park by the cover of the brochure.
Back on our bikes and we continued to circle around the bluff area of which we live on top and which is encircled by a 12 mile path and greenway system that goes by numerous old western-style mansions and parks.
Once again that long last set of steps through the park and up to our street and then home is the killer stretch. We were VERY HAPPY to enter into our private cooly air conditioned sanctuary high on top of the hill. AWE !!!! CJ didn't have enough exercise I guess, so he walked back down to get a few Asahi beers and a mango jjice for me. we then stripped our soaking wet clothes off and got to preparing leftovers for supper while enjoying our tasty and refreshing beverages. We were both tired, famished as well as wind and a bit sunburned too. Our supper of taco salad, and potstickers with some new pepper/mango sauce I found was very tasty and filling.
CJ then finished putting together the two wood lawn chairs with tools he got from work, and then we checked our emails.
My dad Bernie skyped us and CJ tried to walk him through the steps to download pics I send to him via Email. CJ's sister Mary Ann then skype chatted with me on my computer at the same time. How crazy is that that we can be talking to 2 different people at the same time across the pond. WOW ! :-)
Mary Ann reported that CJ's dad Harley is not doing too well and has sores in the back of his mouth which make it very hard for him to eat. Jean is still faithfully going in each morning to lovingly feed him his 6 tablespoons of breakfast food.
He is not getting any better and Mary Ann alluded to the fact that she personally didn't think he may last another two weeks till his sister Sharryl could get back to see him from CA. With that sad news, we were off to say our prayers, and then to bed. CJ and I contemplated the days ahead for Jean/Harley and all that is going on back home and we feel so grateful for our own lives and all the wonderful opportunities we have had and continue to have together. We are indeed blessed in many different ways.
It was a very busy, funfilled adventure tour and we look forward to more.
Buenas Noches..( Just to let you know,I have not forgot my spanglish in the midst of learning my Japlish" )
Karlita and Carlos
Well it was a great day of exploration yesterday as well as friday night...let me explain...
After dinner on friday night CJ and I decided to take an evening walk. Our first since we have been here. Every other night we have been either too tired or to busy getting things organized in the house. We walked west of Motomachi area, and on the little side streets past shrines, cute little local restaurants and bars where a very happy couple were singing karaoke. Stopped in 2 very loud and colorful Pachinko parlors, in probably the sketchiest part of town I have seen so far. Nothing dangerous, just dirtier, with old run down buildings and a few drunks. CJ was going to try out a few games but he couldn't get anyone to explain the object in english and the worker guy couldn't even hear him, so we decided to move on. It personally was too loud, and smokey for me, so it will NOT be a place I will frequent.
Was fun to see some of the local men sitting outside little establishments talking in the neon lit night streets. Then we headed back towards Chinatown,passing by the illuminated Yokohama baseball stadium where the Bay Stars must have just completed a game. Darn we missed it.:-( We hope to see a baseball game soon, once we take time to find and look at a schedule.
Saw all these clay pot like urns sitting outside many a restaurant and there happened to be a guy out by some of them and so I asked him what they were for, as I have seen them all over town. I thought they were for disposing of old cooking oil, but he said they were for a special liquid used in cooking that they put in there and bury underground to ferment. Kind of like wine I am assuming. I then asked him where I could buy one and he just told me they were garbage and to take one. I said I didn't want to get in trouble with the police and so he went in and asked his boss if I could take one and he said yes, so I did. I now have it sitting in the corner of the tatami room. Would possibly be a good vase for some reallong stem or dried flowers of some kind. I think it looks pretty cool.
Stopped for a night cap Asahi Super Dry beer for CJ and a cranberry juice for me while chatting a bit with Leo at Laser Rush, then back up the slope one last time and home to bed. CJ plugged in the rechargebale battery for his new camera he bought on the way home from work, so it would be ready for tomorrow's sightseeing tour. Hopefully we can force ourselves to sleep in since it is Saturday.
Saturday 7 19 08
Yeah, made it to 8am. Miracles do happen. We then got up, ate breakfast and were off in search of a bike for me. We stopped by the Koban again for directions but noone was there, so we walked down along the harbor in Yamashita Park and stopped at the ferry dock and asked if they could point us in the right direction. One of the boat captains was very helpful and told us about one near the warehouse district. I asked him if I could buy one of the little plastic advertising(fans) "oochiwa" he had and he said "No, it's a gift", to keep me (cool) "sazooshe" as it was very (hot) "atsui". I do not know how these words are really spelled..I am just writing them how they sound to me when they say it. Should be interesting to see the real spelling when I look it up in a dictionary at a later date?
We continued on along the harbor where they were covering all the benches with plastic and roping off areas in preparation for the BIG 6,000 piece HARBOR FIREWORKS display tommorrow night. My guess is, that is the area where they will set them up to shoot them off. Kind of a shame as they took up so many good seats...you think they would shoot them off from a barge out in the water so to leave more room for the 1/2 million people they say come to view the bursts of color. I commented to CJ, "I wonder how many old used firework casings are laying in the bottom of that harbor" from years past ?
Stopped at the bike store I had seen down by the Int'l pier on another day, and that was closed as well and a very high end shop with composites bikes only. We were in the market for a good, used but cheap one for me. So we continued walking over the Kisha-Mishi Promenade past the old red brick warehouse buildings and then spotted a bunch of bikes sitting right out in the open air on a side road. Almost looked like a portable stand set up to rent bikes for the day on first glance.
When we got over there, we showed the man the Resale bike shop info we had copied online and asked if this was the right place and he said (yes)"Hai". So here was his shop out in the hot blazing sun with three long rows of bikes chained all together, that he was in the process of fixing up to resell and all he had were two beach umbrellas to work under for a respite from the glaring hot sun. Thank God for the slight bit of a breeze blowing off the water, or one could cook out there. I don't know how he does it, I was dripping wet and felt fried after our short 1/2 hour there. He had 4 or 5 bikes out front that had prices from y6000- y9000. That is $60 to $90 COOL..we were very happy and surprised too, that they were 26 inch frames. BIG ones, just what we needed. YEAH!
The first bike I sat on was a perfect fit. It was a 3 speed for y7500 ($75.00). We then asked him if he could put a rack above the back fender and he said yes but it would cost us more. He seemed very nervous having to tell us that. :-) The man then got out a note pad and wrote y500=$5, (perfect) "kansen" we said. While he was putting the rack on, CJ continued to look through his other piles of parts and found a basket for the back. When CJ brought that over he laughed and said more yen. "Hai" we said.
He wrote another y1000. So we got out of there with a fully loaded $90 bike Japanese shopping bike.
I rode along while CJ walked back to the house so we could get his bike and then go for a ride. As we reached the top of the loooong set of steps in the park and while trying to catch my breath and wipe some of the sweat which was rolling from my forehead we met up with our very friendly and helpful neighbors who live in the front 1/2 of our duplex building. They were doing a U turn and parking their little blue Mercedes convertible sports car in the driveway. The 2 men stopped the car and then introduced themselves.
John the dad is an American from Maryland originally and they have lived in Palo Alto,CA as well. He was just getting back from the airport with his oldest son Ken who was coming home for a month's summer vacation from the University of Stockholm in Sweden. Yeah, how weird is that? Ken is studying to be a doctor.
Yes of course dad and mom, I did tell them Graham had just been there studying in Orebro for the last 5 months. :-) Then his younger son Eric who is also home from college in Berkeley,CA... came out of the house and introduced himself as well and talked a bit until his bare feet were burning on the hot asphalt and so he went back in. They are both very handsome young men I might add. :-) Did take some quick pics but caught them with their eyes closed so will have to get different ones some other day. John said his wife Riuko (Reeako)is Japanese and they have an adopted daughter Ruili (Raylee)from China. She is 12 now, but she became part of their family when she was 6. The two females were in Guam and coming back soon.
John said he works and lives in Tokyo during the week and comes home on weekends. Too expensive with the gas prices at $8.00 a gallon to travel back and forth each day. They then gave us some location info on 2 local bike shops and let us borrow their air pump to blow up CJ's bike tires, and then we were off in search of a bike lock and our own tire pump. We rode along and it felt so good to be covering so much ground so quickly, and a very nice break for our feet as well. CJ commented on how this just opened up a much bigger area of exploration for us. YES!!
We could not find the 1st bike shop, or at least someone to help us if it actually was one that we stopped at? YIKES...some of these small men business owners could use some major help in tidying up and organizing their office work spaces.I have never seen such messes...stuff is piled high and/or just laying about everywhere. No such things as shelves and an organized inventory I guess?...Perhaps I could find some volunteer work? :-)...no luck at that shop, so we turned around and then rode down the sidewalk in the other direction. I found it to be quite interesting and a bit of a challenge too, to try and figure out the biking edicate and rules. Luckliy there were no collisions as I manuevered from left to right dodging other bikers and walkers. We tried to ride on the left side of the walk, and hoped people stayed to the right, but that was not always the case. The bike lane cross walks at intersections were on the right, but then it seemed the other Japanese bikers then moved to the left. Who knows, it will be something we will learn as we go I presume. Maybe some lines like we have back in MN on the bike paths might help... CJ and I anyways.
The 2nd bike shop was an amazing mess so says CJ. I stayed outside and watched the bikes, while CJ waded through bikes, various bike parts and stepped over the pile of old innertubes laying right in front of the entrance door. The windows had a glare from the sun, so I could not see in, but when CJ came back out he commented on how dusty it was but that he had some nice stuff in there, if he can find it when he needs it. CJ found a tire pump and bike lock. He of course, chose the Japanese one over the chinese brand as the man said, "Japanese much stronger". :-)
Then we were off to see what we could find and headed southeast towards the Sankeien Garden area. We road along Honmoku-dori and passed through a few different city corner parks before stopping at the Tentokuji Temple and graveyard in Honmuko Sancho Park. Was very interesting to see all the wood slats with Japanese words stacked behind each of the tombstones. My guess it might be prayers or thoughts left by friends and family members to the deceased. (CJ said to type it into Google and find out..and that I will do that later). He is now sitting across from me here in the office and we are getting caught up on long forgotten book work.
We found we had to get off and push our bikes up many of these steep slopes. We don't have enough gears to shift down to, or possibly we are just wimps? Something to work towards I guess. :-) I already think that the pushing is often times the hardest part of the bike excursion. I know it makes my head pound and my sweat glands work in overdrive.
The map showed 2 different Shinto shrines, but we somehow did not see them nor the Tori gates which are at the entrances to them :-(. The paths in the park curve every which way as do the roads and of course all the signage is in Japanese and we have no idea YET, what those intricate kangi characters say. Saw a good looking male sunbather and a hardy bunch of runners doing some kind of road race course through the park, and thought to myself one has to have a really good heart and lungs to run in this ungodly heat and humidity. UGH ! Better them than me.
As we were leaving the park, we passed by some Boy and Girl Scouts which looked like they were getting ready to have some kind of a day camp type event. We then swooshed (while breaking as hard as I could)down a very loooong and steep hill and then across another main road "dori" where we wove through maze like neighborhoods till we finally made our way to the Sankeien Garden. I was so overheated and needed a break so I talked CJ into going in for a quick tour, some shade and relaxation. He wasn't too keen on it at first, but then we did go in and enjoyed two very cold and refreshing bowls of strawberry and lemon shaved ice.
After our treat we casually walked amongst the serene and tranquil sights as we passed stone statues and pagodas, crossed 3 or 4 different types of bridges, viewed a post season lilly pad pond and took photos of very large ,pink blooming lotus blossoms. Watched turtles and coi swim about in the ponds,toured an old house of a wealthy family from the Hido region in the Edo period after being scolded for not taking our shoes off correctly. CJ stepped out of his shoes and on to the dirt and then up onto the wood floor. "Iie, Iie" (NO,NO) she said. We think he was supposed to step out of his shoes and directly up onto the wood floor and then reach back and pick up his shoes and then walk bare foot over to the shoe shelf. Anyway, after his 2nd shot at it she let him in. This type of house is a rare example of "shoin-style zashiki" (audience room).
Next we made our way up the long hill through a bamboo forest to the 3 story wood pagoda of Old Tomyoji. This was previously in Kyoto and is the oldest pagoda in nthe Kanto Region built in 1457.
Then it was closing time so we never did get to one 1/2 of the park. Reason to go back again and also to see the cool stone Teisha bridge, which looks to be the prettiest one in the park by the cover of the brochure.
Back on our bikes and we continued to circle around the bluff area of which we live on top and which is encircled by a 12 mile path and greenway system that goes by numerous old western-style mansions and parks.
Once again that long last set of steps through the park and up to our street and then home is the killer stretch. We were VERY HAPPY to enter into our private cooly air conditioned sanctuary high on top of the hill. AWE !!!! CJ didn't have enough exercise I guess, so he walked back down to get a few Asahi beers and a mango jjice for me. we then stripped our soaking wet clothes off and got to preparing leftovers for supper while enjoying our tasty and refreshing beverages. We were both tired, famished as well as wind and a bit sunburned too. Our supper of taco salad, and potstickers with some new pepper/mango sauce I found was very tasty and filling.
CJ then finished putting together the two wood lawn chairs with tools he got from work, and then we checked our emails.
My dad Bernie skyped us and CJ tried to walk him through the steps to download pics I send to him via Email. CJ's sister Mary Ann then skype chatted with me on my computer at the same time. How crazy is that that we can be talking to 2 different people at the same time across the pond. WOW ! :-)
Mary Ann reported that CJ's dad Harley is not doing too well and has sores in the back of his mouth which make it very hard for him to eat. Jean is still faithfully going in each morning to lovingly feed him his 6 tablespoons of breakfast food.
He is not getting any better and Mary Ann alluded to the fact that she personally didn't think he may last another two weeks till his sister Sharryl could get back to see him from CA. With that sad news, we were off to say our prayers, and then to bed. CJ and I contemplated the days ahead for Jean/Harley and all that is going on back home and we feel so grateful for our own lives and all the wonderful opportunities we have had and continue to have together. We are indeed blessed in many different ways.
It was a very busy, funfilled adventure tour and we look forward to more.
Buenas Noches..( Just to let you know,I have not forgot my spanglish in the midst of learning my Japlish" )
Karlita and Carlos
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Friday July 18, 2008 Karla's run in with the POLICE...not !
Woke up at 6am today and spent all morning typing up my long story from yesterday. I too,think I tossed and turned all nightdreaming of Jambo-shu in my sleep. I wonder what flavor CJ will bring home next? It is a VERY good thing I am doing all this walking as the desserts and treats here are as you can see,are to die for.
I noticed yesterday when walking home, there is an ice cream bar machine just down the steps in front of the pool which CJ and I could easily sneak out to in our Yakuta PJ's and geta sandles in the eve. Ok so, maybe I wouldn't be able to sneak..perhaps clunk along in my wood shoes, but that is a very common thing to do here in the summer I am told.
I have seen it once so far, but then again I am in the house most nights trying to stay awake, so who knows? I am hoping to see it in full force on Saturday at the fireworks, if the rain holds out. There is talk of the last BIG thunderstorm of the season to roll through here this weekend..and then the HEAT comes so they say. WOWZER's... how HOT is it gonna get here I wonder ?
I was going to go out this am but then it began to rain and so I kept working here on my computer. Now the rain is gone and it is about 11:30 am so I think I will quickly eat some lunch and then go out on my assignment from CJ. He asked me to go find the 2nd hand bike shop and some resale shops. There is a "Koban" or police station in each neighborhood and they have very detailed maps to show you just about anyplace in the area (so says the books I read back home) annd so I am out to find one of those today, get some burger for our Tacos tonight and perhaps find the temple I keep hearing about as well.
While I sat here working this am another lady was talking from a microphone and I am so wondering what she said? It is a bit frustrating,as I am sure they are announcing things of importance, yet I have no clue what is being said. I have not been able to spot where it is she is talking from. It sounds to me like it is coming from a passing car on the road down below at the bottom of the bluff. I could not get down there fast enough to stop her if I tried. Maybe I will have to stop at one of the shops and ask someone there if they know what was being announced.
Oh by the way did you see I got my first Japanese beauty gadget, to use in helping me to firm up my neck waddle so they don't have to call me "Mrs.CHINS-san" while I am here. :-)If it doesn't work for that it still feels good and rubs/massages my face, cheek, temples, head and shoulders too.
Off to find the police...more tonight....Ok so I made it back and had no luck finding the police when I passed by there building on the way to and from the grocery store. Darn!
I walked first to see if I could find the neighborhood temple and I did see it but it was closed and nothing spectacular looking from the outside anyway. It was right in the middle of a residental street. At first I thought it was a traditional Japanese house, but then I saw the sign and asked a passing lady. I then passed by some old pillars and an open area with a different skyline view of the city and some very old historical photo that said something about 100 steps. My "guess" is this was the area where the first steps may have been going down the bluff.
On the way to the temple I saw some very pretty flowers by the neighborhood Mormon church and lots of cute kids and their moms passing by on the way home from school. I then walked down to try and get on the Bay bridge for a different view of the city, but had no luck finding the way. So I walked back along the canal and then in to the HOMES store.
I got some house plants, more needed home supplies and found the cutest cherry blossom and dragon fly pottery soup bowls for CJ and I to use. Took some pics of some very expensive orchid plants $120. Got a few more groceries and then the long walk back home with 2 very heavy bags and 2 light ones. I felt a bit like a pack mule and could have used a big long stick like the chinese use to carry the bags on either end. Thankfully it was overcast and so not as hot as if the sun was shining bright. I still was sopping wet when I reached home and the AC.
Made it home and unloaded stuff again, and then made taco stuff for supper before I headed up to my office to see the nightly sunset which shone bright even though it is cloudy tonight.
I am now waiting for CJ to come home for Taco Friday a ritual we had back in MN, as I type this blog and listen to my first Japanese CD. It had bamboo on the front cover and so I assumed it would be some relaxing kind of music. It is in fact some chanting, instrumental music and a very different sound, but a nice change. I wonder if the high pitched ladies singing is what was made the neighborhood dog bark?
Well that is it for now. CJ just got home and so I will close for another day.
We have a 3 day weekend as Graco is closed on Monday for the Harbor Festival or Ocean Day I think he said they call it. Hopefully we will have lots of fun experiences to tell you about in the next few days.
Karla and CJ
I noticed yesterday when walking home, there is an ice cream bar machine just down the steps in front of the pool which CJ and I could easily sneak out to in our Yakuta PJ's and geta sandles in the eve. Ok so, maybe I wouldn't be able to sneak..perhaps clunk along in my wood shoes, but that is a very common thing to do here in the summer I am told.
I have seen it once so far, but then again I am in the house most nights trying to stay awake, so who knows? I am hoping to see it in full force on Saturday at the fireworks, if the rain holds out. There is talk of the last BIG thunderstorm of the season to roll through here this weekend..and then the HEAT comes so they say. WOWZER's... how HOT is it gonna get here I wonder ?
I was going to go out this am but then it began to rain and so I kept working here on my computer. Now the rain is gone and it is about 11:30 am so I think I will quickly eat some lunch and then go out on my assignment from CJ. He asked me to go find the 2nd hand bike shop and some resale shops. There is a "Koban" or police station in each neighborhood and they have very detailed maps to show you just about anyplace in the area (so says the books I read back home) annd so I am out to find one of those today, get some burger for our Tacos tonight and perhaps find the temple I keep hearing about as well.
While I sat here working this am another lady was talking from a microphone and I am so wondering what she said? It is a bit frustrating,as I am sure they are announcing things of importance, yet I have no clue what is being said. I have not been able to spot where it is she is talking from. It sounds to me like it is coming from a passing car on the road down below at the bottom of the bluff. I could not get down there fast enough to stop her if I tried. Maybe I will have to stop at one of the shops and ask someone there if they know what was being announced.
Oh by the way did you see I got my first Japanese beauty gadget, to use in helping me to firm up my neck waddle so they don't have to call me "Mrs.CHINS-san" while I am here. :-)If it doesn't work for that it still feels good and rubs/massages my face, cheek, temples, head and shoulders too.
Off to find the police...more tonight....Ok so I made it back and had no luck finding the police when I passed by there building on the way to and from the grocery store. Darn!
I walked first to see if I could find the neighborhood temple and I did see it but it was closed and nothing spectacular looking from the outside anyway. It was right in the middle of a residental street. At first I thought it was a traditional Japanese house, but then I saw the sign and asked a passing lady. I then passed by some old pillars and an open area with a different skyline view of the city and some very old historical photo that said something about 100 steps. My "guess" is this was the area where the first steps may have been going down the bluff.
On the way to the temple I saw some very pretty flowers by the neighborhood Mormon church and lots of cute kids and their moms passing by on the way home from school. I then walked down to try and get on the Bay bridge for a different view of the city, but had no luck finding the way. So I walked back along the canal and then in to the HOMES store.
I got some house plants, more needed home supplies and found the cutest cherry blossom and dragon fly pottery soup bowls for CJ and I to use. Took some pics of some very expensive orchid plants $120. Got a few more groceries and then the long walk back home with 2 very heavy bags and 2 light ones. I felt a bit like a pack mule and could have used a big long stick like the chinese use to carry the bags on either end. Thankfully it was overcast and so not as hot as if the sun was shining bright. I still was sopping wet when I reached home and the AC.
Made it home and unloaded stuff again, and then made taco stuff for supper before I headed up to my office to see the nightly sunset which shone bright even though it is cloudy tonight.
I am now waiting for CJ to come home for Taco Friday a ritual we had back in MN, as I type this blog and listen to my first Japanese CD. It had bamboo on the front cover and so I assumed it would be some relaxing kind of music. It is in fact some chanting, instrumental music and a very different sound, but a nice change. I wonder if the high pitched ladies singing is what was made the neighborhood dog bark?
Well that is it for now. CJ just got home and so I will close for another day.
We have a 3 day weekend as Graco is closed on Monday for the Harbor Festival or Ocean Day I think he said they call it. Hopefully we will have lots of fun experiences to tell you about in the next few days.
Karla and CJ
Thursday July 17, 2008 ...A Day with Men
Ohaiyo Gozaimasu (Good Morning)
Well here I am up at 7am on the 18th of July. Was awakened at 6 today by J, H and friends and am currently being serenaded by them out my office window. It actually feels good as a cool breeze is blowing in the room this morning. Ahhhhh...a reprieve from the stiffling heat.
Sorry I did not get to my 7/16 update last night. I was pooped after two different walks yesterday. I hit both sides of the bluff and had many fun adventures....read on.
Woke at 5:45am and CJ was already down in his lower tatami office working away..guess he woke very early. We then and had a family conference call on skype with both of our kids to check in and see what was up with them. They are both busy with work and enjoying time with friends.
CJ was off to work and then I put out the garbage and watched the school kids walk past at the bottom of the steps. Enjoyed the new yellow flower blossoms in my garden and had my usual granola breakfast before setting out in search of things at the other end of the tunnel. Cute little Panda bear posters advertising the upcoming Beijing Olympics decorated the tunnel walls as I walked through to the other side. I just thought, CJ had better get us that TV soon,so we can watch some of the events. Or then again, perhaps I won't have time. I haven't missed having a TV, so far. On the other side of the tunnel, I happened upon a GREAT street. The first place I passed with black awnings I thought was a resturant, but when I crossed the street to peek in the window it looked like a made to order kimono shop. I assumed that anyway, as there were rolls of what looked like fabric to me and wood geta shoes and purses displayed in the front window. I also saw a man on the phone and through the inside door I could see a women sitting in a back room on the floor feeling fabric. It looked cool as behind her out the back window of the building, it seemed there was a lovely little garden area. I did not go in today, as they looked quite busy and I did not want to disturb them. Another day perhaps?
As I walked further along the "dori" road, I noticed how so many people have pot gardens in every little space they have around the front, sides and back of their houses. These people LOVE, LOVE, LOVE gardening. NO...NOT that kind of POT ...clay pots and plastic pots... perhaps I should have said container gardens. Shame on some of you ! haha :-P
Across the street I saw a cute old man walking and he waved to me and then I noticed a guy on a motorcycle pass by wearing a face mask. I am assuming he had it on cause of the gas fumes and I have also noticed many others in stores and on the streets wearing them as well. I read they do that when they have a cold, so to prevent germs from spreading to others. How nice is that!
Then I noticed on the other side of the street a rack with more pots or something for sale and so of course I had to go see what that was all about. To my delight I found some lacquerware looking dishes and boxes. I found a red and black bamboo box I liked, and so I then walked in between the two cars in the carport and tried to find the seller. I said, "Konnichiwa" and then a man got up from his back office desk and came out to the front room where stacks of more dishes and things sat crookidly piled in disarray on the floor. I asked him if he was selling these items and how much they were. Luckily he answered "yes" in English and then said everything is 100 yen a piece. That is $1.00 you just move the decimal point over two spots to the left. WOW!! I had finally found my first real $1.00 store in Japan. Yeeha!! :-) The little man's name was Ohmura and he was so friendly and cute. With his surprisingly low prices, I asked if I could look through more things in here and he said oh yes please do....so I began. I found 6 little sake cups which were even better at 2 for 100 yen and he tossed in a chipped blue and white toothpick holder when I asked him what it was for. You can just take it he said...and yes of course I did. I'm always looking for a freebie. I then found 2 more Blue and white pottery boat shape dishes which I got for CJ and I to use for our favorite pot stickers. I set them up on the shelf at home with some chopsticks to resemble oars. I think it looks cute. As you can see I have a little blue and white pottery window display going already with old as well as new things I am finding. Fun!
I also found a cool covered,decorated bowl that I put in the lower tatami room as a candy dish. I have it filled with pineapple and blueberry hard candies.
Next, I found a 2 part stackable round black/red bowl with dividers in the top bowl and which I have up on my office desk and am using for clips, business cards, staples..in the bottom bowl I have more candy of course. Right now it is filled with some Good and Plenty's I sent here from the USA. I got that black licorice habit when I was in Scandinavia and I haven't been able to shake it yet. I am using the red and black bamboo box for mail and notes on my desk as well. After I got my 12 items for 800 Yen or $8.00 , I was off and told him I would be back with my friends for some souvenir shopping when they were in town. It of course, is NOT real expensive lacquer ware. He showed me some of that from his back room and the price was y2700 for a little bowl. Too pricey for the cheap skate I am. I still am not exactly sure if he is a distributor or what, My guess is these are seconds as the bamboo box has tiny scratch and I noticed on others some of the gold looking design were rubbed off in parts ?? Anyhoo..it was fun and I enjoyed meeting another new friend.
I then zigzagged back across the street when I saw some tatami looking cots sitting out in front of a building where two futons were hanging to air out way up on the third floor window ledge. Inside were the two Kobyashi-san Brothers making tatami mats. I thought at first they might be tatami cot beds, but I am pretty sure they were mats for a tatami room. I as you can imagine had a TON Of fun trying to talk Japanese with them as they spoke NO english at all. I couldn't page through my dictionary fast enough to find buy-"kau", sell-"uru", father-"chichi", brothers "kyodai"--with long vowel sound above the o.(who knows how to add all those needed accent marks on the computer..not I)? We had a lots of laughs as we all got tongue tied trying to say things to each other.
Next up, a fruit and veggie market that the lady was just starting to set up at 10am or so. One thing CJ and I have noticed is the days seem to start later here for most. Maybe they have their family time at home in the mornings?? I got a little bag of 8 mini purple,tubular shaped sweet potatoes for y180 and an ear of corn for y120...yes that is $1.20 an ear. Crazy I know! Oh how I missed CUB Foods right then and their 12 ears for $2.00 sale. I was in her way looking and marking prices in my notebook so I wanted to buy a little something from her. We too,like to help the local mom and pop or maybe it's the "oba-san"/"oji-san" stores out when we can, instead of getting everything at the big grocery stores. Plus, this is where you have more fun and hopefully develop friendships as well.
There was a young man in there too when I left and I took a photo so I could find it again another day. At the corner I stopped and a little lady with purple hair was out sweeping around her potted plants. She was so darn cute, tiny and her purple hair made me chuckle. I think it was a bad dye job, but here was my first punk rocker "oba-san" (grandma)with neon purple hair. I asked her to help with directions just cause she was so darling, but did not get her pic as then a young man came up on his bike to help. I was to find out later in the eve when I looked at the pics I took that it was the man at the veggie stand. His name was Yoshito. He was very friendly, had a big smile, could speak some english and so we chatted on the street corner for a few minutes. He asked me where I was from and if I lived here. I told him I just moved in and how I would probably see him around another day. Yeah, this is fun!
Passed the 7-11 and around the corner to the little grocery store I visited the other day. It is always such a surpise to me when I think I am going one way and then where I end up. Got some more groceries, passed by a shoe cobbler who was busy at work and didn't even know the BIG alien took his photo before stopping back in at the beauty shop for 2 more room deoderizers for the bathrooms. They are a pricy $4.98a piece but I like the looks of them. I have kind of a fish theme going on in my bathroom towels and they look like bubbles under water so they go well. I need to ask the friendly man in there what his name is. He smiled BIG when I walked in again to purchasse more items.
My shoulders were getting sore and my bags a bit heavier than I anticpated so I headed home to unload. I was going to walk up a new slope to get home, but then I heard a noise in the park which the other day was silent when I ate with the cats and crows so I went to check it out.
At the top of the 1st loooooong set off steps were some little old men just finishing up what was the last hole of their portable golf game. Kind of a cross between golf and croquet it looked to me. When one man sunk his putt by gettting his shot in the inner ring I said hey it's Tiger Woods. They all laughed. I continued on up 4 more flights of switchback sets of steps while they packed their bags and went on their way as well.
Back home I washed the lacquerware, put away the groceries and had a quick bite to eat. I usually only go for one walk a day, but I had more stuff to get and so I headed off to the other side of the bluff not tracks,and back to Don's to exchange my wood geta shoes which I noticed had a big crack in them. I wrote down a bunch of words that I thought I might need and hoped I could get my point across to (exchange) "kokan" --with a long o them ?!
I passed by the Naka-ya shop on "Rodeo Dori" and spotted some taco shells. CJ and I back in the USA had taco fridays for supper and so I was happy to see them and was gonna buy a box for tommorrow night. I looked in the store and noticed they had lots of other American foods and then for all of you I began to write down prices, to give you an idea of the costs of things here. Remember to move the decimal point over 2 spots to the left. y1155 for 16oz Peanut Butter, y683 taco shells, y556 for 16oz bag Hersheys choc chips, boxed cake mixes and brownie mixes y630 each which I get for 99 Cents or $1.29 in MN. YIKES !! I was in the high end shopiing district so I thought I had better wait and check out the other stores first in the lower end neighborhoods. Thankfully I did, as salsa was $4 instead of $7 and the shells were $4 not $7. I did have to pass on CJ's black olives though as they were y348 a can..in US 99cents.:-(
One surprise was the corkscrew for "ONLY" y109 on "Rodeo" and I had bought one the other day for y1130, you can bet I backed tracked home up the steps another time, and got that to return to Don's as well when I exchanged my other shoe items.
So back up the hill, unload again, and out once more for my 3rd and very hot walk at 1pm in the blazing hot sun. At this time of the day, all the ladies were under their umbrellas, wearing long gloves to cover their arms and hands. I don't know how they do it. I was dripping wet with just my skirt and cotton top on.
Got a bunch more stuff at Don's, a few gifts for the kids when they hopefully come to visit at Christmas...Yes I guess I have already started my seasonal shopping?... and luckily, the guy spoke english so I had no problem exchanging and returning the items.
Took a new back route home and tried to go through the parks and stay in the shade of trees. Found some new short cuts as well. Enjoyed the many colorful flowers near the graveyard where I peeked over the walls as it is closed to the general public..but apparently not to the local cat population as many were once again basking at the foot of the cross.
Ahhh..back in air conditioning and once again unloaded my goods, did a little computer work, relaxed and watched the sunset while listening to the neighbor lady beat her futons with a paddle out on patio below my office window before making supper when CJ got home. We had salad, the sweetest ear of corn I ever tasted, steamed sweet potatoes,breaded stir fried pork tenders, cherry tea and Asashi Beer.
CJ had brought home the BEST EVER dessert. "Jambo-shu", which is a cream puff like pastry shell FILLED in the center to the brim with the most creamy, thick and rich real vanilla bean custard. It was ORGASMIC!!.....Sorry, it really was THAT good. I am excited to try and see what the other flavors are that they have. UM UM UM..I can still taste it a day later as I write this post.
Well now that I was fulfilled in two ways (haha) I took my much need nightly shower and bid CJ "Oyasuminasai" Good Night. I once again could not keep my eyes open past 10pm. He was still awake and so he tried to put together the two folding wood lawn chairs we bought at IKEA so we can maybe sit out in the back yard this weekend. He needs to borrow a wrench and screwdriver from work I guess to finish them up. He also kindly helped me with my science project for tommorrow and cut and tied up all the cardboard boxes to put out in the garbage. I was off to bed and he I guess talked with my dad who skyped him after I laid my weary head and aching body to rest.
Karla and CJ
Well here I am up at 7am on the 18th of July. Was awakened at 6 today by J, H and friends and am currently being serenaded by them out my office window. It actually feels good as a cool breeze is blowing in the room this morning. Ahhhhh...a reprieve from the stiffling heat.
Sorry I did not get to my 7/16 update last night. I was pooped after two different walks yesterday. I hit both sides of the bluff and had many fun adventures....read on.
Woke at 5:45am and CJ was already down in his lower tatami office working away..guess he woke very early. We then and had a family conference call on skype with both of our kids to check in and see what was up with them. They are both busy with work and enjoying time with friends.
CJ was off to work and then I put out the garbage and watched the school kids walk past at the bottom of the steps. Enjoyed the new yellow flower blossoms in my garden and had my usual granola breakfast before setting out in search of things at the other end of the tunnel. Cute little Panda bear posters advertising the upcoming Beijing Olympics decorated the tunnel walls as I walked through to the other side. I just thought, CJ had better get us that TV soon,so we can watch some of the events. Or then again, perhaps I won't have time. I haven't missed having a TV, so far. On the other side of the tunnel, I happened upon a GREAT street. The first place I passed with black awnings I thought was a resturant, but when I crossed the street to peek in the window it looked like a made to order kimono shop. I assumed that anyway, as there were rolls of what looked like fabric to me and wood geta shoes and purses displayed in the front window. I also saw a man on the phone and through the inside door I could see a women sitting in a back room on the floor feeling fabric. It looked cool as behind her out the back window of the building, it seemed there was a lovely little garden area. I did not go in today, as they looked quite busy and I did not want to disturb them. Another day perhaps?
As I walked further along the "dori" road, I noticed how so many people have pot gardens in every little space they have around the front, sides and back of their houses. These people LOVE, LOVE, LOVE gardening. NO...NOT that kind of POT ...clay pots and plastic pots... perhaps I should have said container gardens. Shame on some of you ! haha :-P
Across the street I saw a cute old man walking and he waved to me and then I noticed a guy on a motorcycle pass by wearing a face mask. I am assuming he had it on cause of the gas fumes and I have also noticed many others in stores and on the streets wearing them as well. I read they do that when they have a cold, so to prevent germs from spreading to others. How nice is that!
Then I noticed on the other side of the street a rack with more pots or something for sale and so of course I had to go see what that was all about. To my delight I found some lacquerware looking dishes and boxes. I found a red and black bamboo box I liked, and so I then walked in between the two cars in the carport and tried to find the seller. I said, "Konnichiwa" and then a man got up from his back office desk and came out to the front room where stacks of more dishes and things sat crookidly piled in disarray on the floor. I asked him if he was selling these items and how much they were. Luckily he answered "yes" in English and then said everything is 100 yen a piece. That is $1.00 you just move the decimal point over two spots to the left. WOW!! I had finally found my first real $1.00 store in Japan. Yeeha!! :-) The little man's name was Ohmura and he was so friendly and cute. With his surprisingly low prices, I asked if I could look through more things in here and he said oh yes please do....so I began. I found 6 little sake cups which were even better at 2 for 100 yen and he tossed in a chipped blue and white toothpick holder when I asked him what it was for. You can just take it he said...and yes of course I did. I'm always looking for a freebie. I then found 2 more Blue and white pottery boat shape dishes which I got for CJ and I to use for our favorite pot stickers. I set them up on the shelf at home with some chopsticks to resemble oars. I think it looks cute. As you can see I have a little blue and white pottery window display going already with old as well as new things I am finding. Fun!
I also found a cool covered,decorated bowl that I put in the lower tatami room as a candy dish. I have it filled with pineapple and blueberry hard candies.
Next, I found a 2 part stackable round black/red bowl with dividers in the top bowl and which I have up on my office desk and am using for clips, business cards, staples..in the bottom bowl I have more candy of course. Right now it is filled with some Good and Plenty's I sent here from the USA. I got that black licorice habit when I was in Scandinavia and I haven't been able to shake it yet. I am using the red and black bamboo box for mail and notes on my desk as well. After I got my 12 items for 800 Yen or $8.00 , I was off and told him I would be back with my friends for some souvenir shopping when they were in town. It of course, is NOT real expensive lacquer ware. He showed me some of that from his back room and the price was y2700 for a little bowl. Too pricey for the cheap skate I am. I still am not exactly sure if he is a distributor or what, My guess is these are seconds as the bamboo box has tiny scratch and I noticed on others some of the gold looking design were rubbed off in parts ?? Anyhoo..it was fun and I enjoyed meeting another new friend.
I then zigzagged back across the street when I saw some tatami looking cots sitting out in front of a building where two futons were hanging to air out way up on the third floor window ledge. Inside were the two Kobyashi-san Brothers making tatami mats. I thought at first they might be tatami cot beds, but I am pretty sure they were mats for a tatami room. I as you can imagine had a TON Of fun trying to talk Japanese with them as they spoke NO english at all. I couldn't page through my dictionary fast enough to find buy-"kau", sell-"uru", father-"chichi", brothers "kyodai"--with long vowel sound above the o.(who knows how to add all those needed accent marks on the computer..not I)? We had a lots of laughs as we all got tongue tied trying to say things to each other.
Next up, a fruit and veggie market that the lady was just starting to set up at 10am or so. One thing CJ and I have noticed is the days seem to start later here for most. Maybe they have their family time at home in the mornings?? I got a little bag of 8 mini purple,tubular shaped sweet potatoes for y180 and an ear of corn for y120...yes that is $1.20 an ear. Crazy I know! Oh how I missed CUB Foods right then and their 12 ears for $2.00 sale. I was in her way looking and marking prices in my notebook so I wanted to buy a little something from her. We too,like to help the local mom and pop or maybe it's the "oba-san"/"oji-san" stores out when we can, instead of getting everything at the big grocery stores. Plus, this is where you have more fun and hopefully develop friendships as well.
There was a young man in there too when I left and I took a photo so I could find it again another day. At the corner I stopped and a little lady with purple hair was out sweeping around her potted plants. She was so darn cute, tiny and her purple hair made me chuckle. I think it was a bad dye job, but here was my first punk rocker "oba-san" (grandma)with neon purple hair. I asked her to help with directions just cause she was so darling, but did not get her pic as then a young man came up on his bike to help. I was to find out later in the eve when I looked at the pics I took that it was the man at the veggie stand. His name was Yoshito. He was very friendly, had a big smile, could speak some english and so we chatted on the street corner for a few minutes. He asked me where I was from and if I lived here. I told him I just moved in and how I would probably see him around another day. Yeah, this is fun!
Passed the 7-11 and around the corner to the little grocery store I visited the other day. It is always such a surpise to me when I think I am going one way and then where I end up. Got some more groceries, passed by a shoe cobbler who was busy at work and didn't even know the BIG alien took his photo before stopping back in at the beauty shop for 2 more room deoderizers for the bathrooms. They are a pricy $4.98a piece but I like the looks of them. I have kind of a fish theme going on in my bathroom towels and they look like bubbles under water so they go well. I need to ask the friendly man in there what his name is. He smiled BIG when I walked in again to purchasse more items.
My shoulders were getting sore and my bags a bit heavier than I anticpated so I headed home to unload. I was going to walk up a new slope to get home, but then I heard a noise in the park which the other day was silent when I ate with the cats and crows so I went to check it out.
At the top of the 1st loooooong set off steps were some little old men just finishing up what was the last hole of their portable golf game. Kind of a cross between golf and croquet it looked to me. When one man sunk his putt by gettting his shot in the inner ring I said hey it's Tiger Woods. They all laughed. I continued on up 4 more flights of switchback sets of steps while they packed their bags and went on their way as well.
Back home I washed the lacquerware, put away the groceries and had a quick bite to eat. I usually only go for one walk a day, but I had more stuff to get and so I headed off to the other side of the bluff not tracks,and back to Don's to exchange my wood geta shoes which I noticed had a big crack in them. I wrote down a bunch of words that I thought I might need and hoped I could get my point across to (exchange) "kokan" --with a long o them ?!
I passed by the Naka-ya shop on "Rodeo Dori" and spotted some taco shells. CJ and I back in the USA had taco fridays for supper and so I was happy to see them and was gonna buy a box for tommorrow night. I looked in the store and noticed they had lots of other American foods and then for all of you I began to write down prices, to give you an idea of the costs of things here. Remember to move the decimal point over 2 spots to the left. y1155 for 16oz Peanut Butter, y683 taco shells, y556 for 16oz bag Hersheys choc chips, boxed cake mixes and brownie mixes y630 each which I get for 99 Cents or $1.29 in MN. YIKES !! I was in the high end shopiing district so I thought I had better wait and check out the other stores first in the lower end neighborhoods. Thankfully I did, as salsa was $4 instead of $7 and the shells were $4 not $7. I did have to pass on CJ's black olives though as they were y348 a can..in US 99cents.:-(
One surprise was the corkscrew for "ONLY" y109 on "Rodeo" and I had bought one the other day for y1130, you can bet I backed tracked home up the steps another time, and got that to return to Don's as well when I exchanged my other shoe items.
So back up the hill, unload again, and out once more for my 3rd and very hot walk at 1pm in the blazing hot sun. At this time of the day, all the ladies were under their umbrellas, wearing long gloves to cover their arms and hands. I don't know how they do it. I was dripping wet with just my skirt and cotton top on.
Got a bunch more stuff at Don's, a few gifts for the kids when they hopefully come to visit at Christmas...Yes I guess I have already started my seasonal shopping?... and luckily, the guy spoke english so I had no problem exchanging and returning the items.
Took a new back route home and tried to go through the parks and stay in the shade of trees. Found some new short cuts as well. Enjoyed the many colorful flowers near the graveyard where I peeked over the walls as it is closed to the general public..but apparently not to the local cat population as many were once again basking at the foot of the cross.
Ahhh..back in air conditioning and once again unloaded my goods, did a little computer work, relaxed and watched the sunset while listening to the neighbor lady beat her futons with a paddle out on patio below my office window before making supper when CJ got home. We had salad, the sweetest ear of corn I ever tasted, steamed sweet potatoes,breaded stir fried pork tenders, cherry tea and Asashi Beer.
CJ had brought home the BEST EVER dessert. "Jambo-shu", which is a cream puff like pastry shell FILLED in the center to the brim with the most creamy, thick and rich real vanilla bean custard. It was ORGASMIC!!.....Sorry, it really was THAT good. I am excited to try and see what the other flavors are that they have. UM UM UM..I can still taste it a day later as I write this post.
Well now that I was fulfilled in two ways (haha) I took my much need nightly shower and bid CJ "Oyasuminasai" Good Night. I once again could not keep my eyes open past 10pm. He was still awake and so he tried to put together the two folding wood lawn chairs we bought at IKEA so we can maybe sit out in the back yard this weekend. He needs to borrow a wrench and screwdriver from work I guess to finish them up. He also kindly helped me with my science project for tommorrow and cut and tied up all the cardboard boxes to put out in the garbage. I was off to bed and he I guess talked with my dad who skyped him after I laid my weary head and aching body to rest.
Karla and CJ
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008 A Walk in the Parks
Slept through till 6am. Got up and when CJ left for work I put the desk chair together and set up my office a bit. It was nice to sit up there and type. Heard a bunch of noise outside and when I looked out the window to see what was going on, it was a big group of elementary school kids in gray shorts and white shirts walking down the hill. Yet another school uniform and more kids going on a field trip I presume, just like we have back in the states as it gets closer to the end of the school year.
Got a notice in the mail that they will be doing road construction on our dead end street from July 20- Sept 19th. They are going to be putting in new water lines. Thankful for the drawings, as I would not have known one thing it said, as it was all in Japanese Kangi characters. Had CJ take it to ask Tad what the details were. Especially wanted to know how long we would be without water. Only 1 day for about 4 hours I think he said.
That is one thing that is a bit frustrating, in that all the notices are in Japanese. Heck I could be missing all kinds of "events" with photo opportunities that I don't even know about? haha
Last night as I sat in the house there also, was a loud speaker outside announcing something, just like they do in Honduras, and once again, I had no idea what that was about. I hope it is nothing really important that I need to know ?
When CJ and Tad were walking back home from the noodle shop yesterday they passed a bulletin and he asked CJ if we knew about a festival coming up here in Yamate-cho August 3rd and 4th. We know nothing,so I guess that is something for me to search out as well/
After doing some bookwork and cleaning up a bit, I went for my daily walk and toured one of the old historic houses Yamate 11. It had beautiful gardens out back and 2very friendly ladies inside. Had a nice chat with the manager Yoschiko and her receptionist Kumiko. Kumiko lived in the USA years ago for her husbands work. She could speak english quite well. Yoschiko got a bit embarassed and giggled saying she did not know very much. She then happily showed me her flower arrangements with much pride as they were getting ready for a TV station to come and film the house and she was hopeful they would do a program about it on TV. I asked her if we could take a picture of her and I with it and she was most happy and thankful.
They were very happy I stopped by and asked me to come again. I told them we could practice our Japlish when I come back. We exchanged business cards and they bid me "Hagi mai masate"-Nice to meet you.
Down through the park on a new path I went and was very surprised where I ended up. These curvy paths that criss cross and the slopes running up and down get one all turned around.
I tried to go into another historical house but it was closed for a mucical group rehearsal. The young lady there showed me the free concert schedule and explained to me the different sections of the chart. Date, time, kind of music, artist, ....boy I wonder if I really will ever be able to get the Kangi characters. The hiragana and katakana will be hard enough. But then so far what I see, it is all Kangi so maybe that is the better place to start. I have to look up classes too and find out where they are held and when they start. I definitely have ALOT to learn.
As I walked across Harbor View Park I saw men with missing body parts..which caused me to take a second look and many a butterfly flitting about. At the bottom of the next set of steps, I saw a big painting class at work drawing the Marine Tower view and skyline. Then I went into a new corner store and found a few more household and toiletry products I needed, and some more of the good yogurt we had the other day. Already, I see you can get 1 brand at one store and not at another. So I guess I will have to make a list of what I like and where I got it so I know which place to go when I need a refill. When setting a glass jar back on the shelf behind a sign I did not see a bracket that was in the way and when I started to walk away it fell and smashed to pieces. I asked if I could pay for it and they said no, and asked if I was ok. Boy did I feel dumb. I then showed the man that the surface was not flat so he could fix it to avoid another mishap. Yikes..I guess I was the "bull in the china shop" for them today. :-( Now wait a minute..that doesn't sound exactly right? :-)...anyhoo
Found some Japanese mens PJ's for CJ and I (the ladies styles were too small of course and it is just a hapi coat and shorts so I figured it would work). Looks like I am going to be wearing mens clothes here, just like I do at home.:-)I too found some wood geta sandles size 27 for me to wear around the yard or further if I can walk in them? I also found another pair of what looked like ladies sandles to me and they actually fit me, so I bought them as well. I wonder if that was a fluke or do they really have shoes here to fit me? All the books I read said if you wear larger than a ladies size 7 then be sure to bring enough to last you as you will not be able to buy them here. That was a very nice surprise.
I would love to have a summer Yakuta robe too, but I am guessing they don't have sizes BIG enough for me. I would probably have to have one tailor made to fit me...another thing for me to look into.
Stopped by my favorite bakery on the way home for a "shopping day donut" which I used to get at Cub's when back home. No Bavarian cream chocolate donut for CJ or coconut/chocolate fried cinnamon roll for me, but some other fruit and frosting filled tart and chocolate nut covered ones that looked a whole heck of alot better..hope he likes it. I know I can't wait to eat mine.
Put my purchases away and then made some salad and marinated some chicken for supper tonight. Back up in my office to add this days post to the blog and then another nice surprise when the setting sun shone right in my window and I watched another day here in Yokohama come to an end. I love sunrises and sunsets and so it will be nice to watch each night the sky fill with natural colors before the neon lights fill the night city scape.
CJ called and he is still on the road and will be home late and I just heard the oven timer go off so I am going to go eat my chicken and salad and look at the map while relaxing on the couch to figure out where my exploration tommorrow will take me
Sayonara
Karla and CJ
Got a notice in the mail that they will be doing road construction on our dead end street from July 20- Sept 19th. They are going to be putting in new water lines. Thankful for the drawings, as I would not have known one thing it said, as it was all in Japanese Kangi characters. Had CJ take it to ask Tad what the details were. Especially wanted to know how long we would be without water. Only 1 day for about 4 hours I think he said.
That is one thing that is a bit frustrating, in that all the notices are in Japanese. Heck I could be missing all kinds of "events" with photo opportunities that I don't even know about? haha
Last night as I sat in the house there also, was a loud speaker outside announcing something, just like they do in Honduras, and once again, I had no idea what that was about. I hope it is nothing really important that I need to know ?
When CJ and Tad were walking back home from the noodle shop yesterday they passed a bulletin and he asked CJ if we knew about a festival coming up here in Yamate-cho August 3rd and 4th. We know nothing,so I guess that is something for me to search out as well/
After doing some bookwork and cleaning up a bit, I went for my daily walk and toured one of the old historic houses Yamate 11. It had beautiful gardens out back and 2very friendly ladies inside. Had a nice chat with the manager Yoschiko and her receptionist Kumiko. Kumiko lived in the USA years ago for her husbands work. She could speak english quite well. Yoschiko got a bit embarassed and giggled saying she did not know very much. She then happily showed me her flower arrangements with much pride as they were getting ready for a TV station to come and film the house and she was hopeful they would do a program about it on TV. I asked her if we could take a picture of her and I with it and she was most happy and thankful.
They were very happy I stopped by and asked me to come again. I told them we could practice our Japlish when I come back. We exchanged business cards and they bid me "Hagi mai masate"-Nice to meet you.
Down through the park on a new path I went and was very surprised where I ended up. These curvy paths that criss cross and the slopes running up and down get one all turned around.
I tried to go into another historical house but it was closed for a mucical group rehearsal. The young lady there showed me the free concert schedule and explained to me the different sections of the chart. Date, time, kind of music, artist, ....boy I wonder if I really will ever be able to get the Kangi characters. The hiragana and katakana will be hard enough. But then so far what I see, it is all Kangi so maybe that is the better place to start. I have to look up classes too and find out where they are held and when they start. I definitely have ALOT to learn.
As I walked across Harbor View Park I saw men with missing body parts..which caused me to take a second look and many a butterfly flitting about. At the bottom of the next set of steps, I saw a big painting class at work drawing the Marine Tower view and skyline. Then I went into a new corner store and found a few more household and toiletry products I needed, and some more of the good yogurt we had the other day. Already, I see you can get 1 brand at one store and not at another. So I guess I will have to make a list of what I like and where I got it so I know which place to go when I need a refill. When setting a glass jar back on the shelf behind a sign I did not see a bracket that was in the way and when I started to walk away it fell and smashed to pieces. I asked if I could pay for it and they said no, and asked if I was ok. Boy did I feel dumb. I then showed the man that the surface was not flat so he could fix it to avoid another mishap. Yikes..I guess I was the "bull in the china shop" for them today. :-( Now wait a minute..that doesn't sound exactly right? :-)...anyhoo
Found some Japanese mens PJ's for CJ and I (the ladies styles were too small of course and it is just a hapi coat and shorts so I figured it would work). Looks like I am going to be wearing mens clothes here, just like I do at home.:-)I too found some wood geta sandles size 27 for me to wear around the yard or further if I can walk in them? I also found another pair of what looked like ladies sandles to me and they actually fit me, so I bought them as well. I wonder if that was a fluke or do they really have shoes here to fit me? All the books I read said if you wear larger than a ladies size 7 then be sure to bring enough to last you as you will not be able to buy them here. That was a very nice surprise.
I would love to have a summer Yakuta robe too, but I am guessing they don't have sizes BIG enough for me. I would probably have to have one tailor made to fit me...another thing for me to look into.
Stopped by my favorite bakery on the way home for a "shopping day donut" which I used to get at Cub's when back home. No Bavarian cream chocolate donut for CJ or coconut/chocolate fried cinnamon roll for me, but some other fruit and frosting filled tart and chocolate nut covered ones that looked a whole heck of alot better..hope he likes it. I know I can't wait to eat mine.
Put my purchases away and then made some salad and marinated some chicken for supper tonight. Back up in my office to add this days post to the blog and then another nice surprise when the setting sun shone right in my window and I watched another day here in Yokohama come to an end. I love sunrises and sunsets and so it will be nice to watch each night the sky fill with natural colors before the neon lights fill the night city scape.
CJ called and he is still on the road and will be home late and I just heard the oven timer go off so I am going to go eat my chicken and salad and look at the map while relaxing on the couch to figure out where my exploration tommorrow will take me
Sayonara
Karla and CJ
July 15, 2008 IKEA Delivery Day
Woke up early and hung out all day in the house waiting for the IKEA truck to arrive. The phone rang about 9 am and it was the company trying to tell me what time they would be there. The man on the other end of the line and I had a few laughs as he spoke in Japanese and I in English and neither of us understood the other. I said I would be here all day and I think he said he would be here around two. Guess I will just have to wait when he shows up and to see if I understood him correctly.
I busied myself all day and night with the blog posts previous to this one,and a few loads of laundry. CJ and Tad arrived at lunch time with a nice black desk for my office of which I am now typing at. Thank God for that, as my back and legs got very sore sitting on the floor all of yesterday. He too gave us a brand new bike that he got for an anniversary gift from his company, but neither his wife nor he were going to use. WOW ! Then CJ had Tad call the company to see if I understood them right. He found out they are to arrive between 2-4pm. So the guys went out for a ramen noodle lunch down the street and I stayed here, in case they came early as I did not want to miss them. Was hoping for a take out bowl of noodles but they did not have to go food.:-( Back to work they went and then the IKEA guys showed up. They dropped off the couch, chairs/foot stools and rug. I tried to put together what I could. Felt good to lay down on the couch too. Yeah Furniture !!
CJ had a business meeting and dinner so he was gone till about 9:30pm. When he got home he was soaked from the walk up the hill. He also commented on how hot it was in here and when I looked at the AC remote control I found I had turned it the wrong direction. Ooops! We put the rest of the furniture together and then called it a night after another hot day here in Japan. A guy at work told CJ this is just the start of hot...it will get much hotter. YIKES !
Karla and CJ
I busied myself all day and night with the blog posts previous to this one,and a few loads of laundry. CJ and Tad arrived at lunch time with a nice black desk for my office of which I am now typing at. Thank God for that, as my back and legs got very sore sitting on the floor all of yesterday. He too gave us a brand new bike that he got for an anniversary gift from his company, but neither his wife nor he were going to use. WOW ! Then CJ had Tad call the company to see if I understood them right. He found out they are to arrive between 2-4pm. So the guys went out for a ramen noodle lunch down the street and I stayed here, in case they came early as I did not want to miss them. Was hoping for a take out bowl of noodles but they did not have to go food.:-( Back to work they went and then the IKEA guys showed up. They dropped off the couch, chairs/foot stools and rug. I tried to put together what I could. Felt good to lay down on the couch too. Yeah Furniture !!
CJ had a business meeting and dinner so he was gone till about 9:30pm. When he got home he was soaked from the walk up the hill. He also commented on how hot it was in here and when I looked at the AC remote control I found I had turned it the wrong direction. Ooops! We put the rest of the furniture together and then called it a night after another hot day here in Japan. A guy at work told CJ this is just the start of hot...it will get much hotter. YIKES !
Karla and CJ
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday July 14, 2008 CJ's Ist day of Work
CJ woke up at 6am and was off to work by 6:30. He told me later that night that he ended up having to wait for the cleaning ladies to arrive and then they gave him a pass to get in. I guess most folks don't show till 9 am or so. He likes to get in early and get things in order before all the others are there and he gets pulled in 101 different directions.
I was going to go for my morning walk, but then decided to put the dishes away .We do not have a dishwasher here so that is something else to get use to, doing dishes again. I am glad there are only two of us and not a whole family. The kitchen counter space is small and so it would be cramped and crowded. I then hung up my clothes on hangers till I ran out of them and organized my closet some more. Moved books to the tatami room shelves and up to my office.
The phone rang and I ran downstairs to get it and slipped and bounced half way down on my butt, OUCH ! I did get there and it was CJ calling to tell me a friend at work has a desk and bike he wants to get rid of and would like to know if we want them. They are both brand new and he has to pay to dispose of them so he wants to give them as a gift to us. WOW ! So tomorrow at lunch CJ and Ted will bring them here. Cool!
After getting things in order I then decided to take my walk in the afternoon. I am used to getting outdoors now and so I actually missed it this am. I found very soon though,it was a big mistake as it is much too hot here after 11 am. I did go down the opposite side of the bluff to the working class section of town and passed by 3 different schools where some older girls were outside at gym hitting around a volleyball. Umbrellas were stacked out in front of the Senior High which the girls use to protect their porcelain like skin from the hot sun when walking home after class. I then passed the elementary Int'l school where little white wash cloth size towels were all hanging out to dry on a bar. My guess is they are the ones the Japanese use to wash their hands and face before eating a meal. All the little girls in their straw hats and Navy uniforms then began to line up out up front. When I stopped to watch and hopefully take a photo,they saw me and kind of backed up a bit and so I went on my way. Darn :-( They were just darling all in their matching uniforms and backpacks. I wondered if they were leaving school or going on a field trip? Hopefully one other day I can go by there and maybe even get into help them in some way? The school is very close to home...just across the street from the park and down 1/2 a block. So who knows. I then watched in awe how the high school girls passed by me and trotted down the very long steep staircase. I walked slowly and the sweat still ran from my forehead. Once I got to the bottom of the steps, I walked down some streets and found a great little fruit and veggie market where I bought some fresh snow peas, ginger and bulbs of garlic. I also stopped by a very quiet neighborhood shinto shrine and peeked my head in the door. I ventured down another street and stopped in a neighborhood grocery store for some Jelly and a few pieces of Chicken for lunch. In the beauty/pharmacy store I got a lychee room deoderizer for the bathroom and enjoyed a nice chat with the man there. I was going to get some Renuzit cone deodorizers that I get back in the states for 87 cents but the $3.85 cent price tag wouldn't let me do it. If I was going to have to spend close to $4 for one I was going to at least get a Japanese style one with a native like fragrance.
I then stopped in a 7-11 like store and got an adzuki bean cake for our dessert tonight. When I exited the store I looked down the street and saw all those little girls entering aniother building, so maybe they were on a field trip.
I am enjoying each day as I take another street and go for my daily walk down and around to see what there is in that direction. It is like we are the middle of a tire with spokes going in all directions. I have many places to explore that is for sure.
I got very hot and so I stopped in Yamate Park and sat down in the shade to eat my chicken pieces and have some much needed water. I was quickly not alone as 2 cats and many of those crows I hear so early in the morning joined me looking for a handout. I did share a few grissly pieces with one of the cats. Then I walked back up the many steps past some tennis courts and up another long hill where they were building a new home. By the time I got back to the schools again I was dripping wet and red faced I am sure. Stopped by one of the pretty historic western mansions with a pretty garden walk out front, before heading back through Motomachi Park and home. Back in the cool house, I took it easy and started to update these long forgotten blog posts, of which I am now almost caught up. Yahoo! I hung out the rest of the day and took it easy as my stair tumble and then the walk in the extreme heat did me in. CJ came home and we had stir fry chicken, veggies and pot stickers for supper. I took my nightly hot shower and went to bed.
Tommorrow I wait for the delivery men from IKEA to bring our furniture. Yeah!
Karla and CJ.
I was going to go for my morning walk, but then decided to put the dishes away .We do not have a dishwasher here so that is something else to get use to, doing dishes again. I am glad there are only two of us and not a whole family. The kitchen counter space is small and so it would be cramped and crowded. I then hung up my clothes on hangers till I ran out of them and organized my closet some more. Moved books to the tatami room shelves and up to my office.
The phone rang and I ran downstairs to get it and slipped and bounced half way down on my butt, OUCH ! I did get there and it was CJ calling to tell me a friend at work has a desk and bike he wants to get rid of and would like to know if we want them. They are both brand new and he has to pay to dispose of them so he wants to give them as a gift to us. WOW ! So tomorrow at lunch CJ and Ted will bring them here. Cool!
After getting things in order I then decided to take my walk in the afternoon. I am used to getting outdoors now and so I actually missed it this am. I found very soon though,it was a big mistake as it is much too hot here after 11 am. I did go down the opposite side of the bluff to the working class section of town and passed by 3 different schools where some older girls were outside at gym hitting around a volleyball. Umbrellas were stacked out in front of the Senior High which the girls use to protect their porcelain like skin from the hot sun when walking home after class. I then passed the elementary Int'l school where little white wash cloth size towels were all hanging out to dry on a bar. My guess is they are the ones the Japanese use to wash their hands and face before eating a meal. All the little girls in their straw hats and Navy uniforms then began to line up out up front. When I stopped to watch and hopefully take a photo,they saw me and kind of backed up a bit and so I went on my way. Darn :-( They were just darling all in their matching uniforms and backpacks. I wondered if they were leaving school or going on a field trip? Hopefully one other day I can go by there and maybe even get into help them in some way? The school is very close to home...just across the street from the park and down 1/2 a block. So who knows. I then watched in awe how the high school girls passed by me and trotted down the very long steep staircase. I walked slowly and the sweat still ran from my forehead. Once I got to the bottom of the steps, I walked down some streets and found a great little fruit and veggie market where I bought some fresh snow peas, ginger and bulbs of garlic. I also stopped by a very quiet neighborhood shinto shrine and peeked my head in the door. I ventured down another street and stopped in a neighborhood grocery store for some Jelly and a few pieces of Chicken for lunch. In the beauty/pharmacy store I got a lychee room deoderizer for the bathroom and enjoyed a nice chat with the man there. I was going to get some Renuzit cone deodorizers that I get back in the states for 87 cents but the $3.85 cent price tag wouldn't let me do it. If I was going to have to spend close to $4 for one I was going to at least get a Japanese style one with a native like fragrance.
I then stopped in a 7-11 like store and got an adzuki bean cake for our dessert tonight. When I exited the store I looked down the street and saw all those little girls entering aniother building, so maybe they were on a field trip.
I am enjoying each day as I take another street and go for my daily walk down and around to see what there is in that direction. It is like we are the middle of a tire with spokes going in all directions. I have many places to explore that is for sure.
I got very hot and so I stopped in Yamate Park and sat down in the shade to eat my chicken pieces and have some much needed water. I was quickly not alone as 2 cats and many of those crows I hear so early in the morning joined me looking for a handout. I did share a few grissly pieces with one of the cats. Then I walked back up the many steps past some tennis courts and up another long hill where they were building a new home. By the time I got back to the schools again I was dripping wet and red faced I am sure. Stopped by one of the pretty historic western mansions with a pretty garden walk out front, before heading back through Motomachi Park and home. Back in the cool house, I took it easy and started to update these long forgotten blog posts, of which I am now almost caught up. Yahoo! I hung out the rest of the day and took it easy as my stair tumble and then the walk in the extreme heat did me in. CJ came home and we had stir fry chicken, veggies and pot stickers for supper. I took my nightly hot shower and went to bed.
Tommorrow I wait for the delivery men from IKEA to bring our furniture. Yeah!
Karla and CJ.
Sunday July 13 , 2008 Chillin in the house
Hey ya all we slept in till 6am. WOW ! Did that feel good. Heck I sound like we have a new baby in the house and we are adjusting to that dreaded sleep schedule and routine of sleeping through the night. haha
Anyhoo, today we just decided to hang out a bit and enjoy our home. We had nice phone conversations with both our kids and it was good to catch up with them and find out what is happening back home in the USA and in IL and MN.
Kalen is contemplating life and missing her boyfriend Mike who is doing traveling Shakespeare throughout Montana. Graham got the painting job and will start tommorrow. He too may have a bus boy job at a Duluth restaurant. Anything to pay off the bills he racked up while in Sweden drinking that expensive beer.
We watched out the window as a delivery man tried to drop off a package for some folks at the bottom of the bluff. It is gift giving season here and people give gifts the month of July to folks who have helped them out. They have all kinds of gift boxes of meats, alcohol, snacks, desserts... in the stores which are kind of like our meat and cheese boxes that company send catalogs out for at Christmas time. CJ and I then took another new route and walked through the park and past the pool which is now open for the summer and was being enjoyed by many families. Parks are the places to be here on the weekends when the whole family is together. Kids even have school on Saturday mornings here and cram schools as well after regular school during the weekin the afternoons. John told us that they are trying to change that as it is becoming a bit too much for all involved. School is out soon for a month only.
Saw some ladies leaving a restaurant that I caught bowing to each other before departing, another women painting, some futons hanging out to air in the sunshine and a mom with a full load on her bike doing errands with her kids. Wow that looks like alot of work to me. I am glad my kids are grown and I don't have to balance them and my grocery bags when and if I get a bike while trying to climb up the steep hills around here.
We finally made our way down to the Homes store for another round of grocery shopping and some more furniture browsing after we passed by the high end shopping district which was very crowded with people on this weekend day.
At the homes store we were happy to find a dining table and chairs and also a rack to hold all our electrical boxes for TV, computer,Phone and a coffee/tatami room table. Yeah we can now eat off a table and not on the floor. We are just about done. Only need a bike or two, office desk and two more futons or a bed. We have yet to decide for sure what we will get. I am going the futon route as of now.
Ran into my friend Chu and told her how happy we were with our futons and thanked her once again for all her help. We too met two more young men salesman who I nicknamed Tiger and Lion. Toru could speak English quite well and he talked of how they don't have midlle names like we do only a first and last and so I gave him the name Tiger. He laughed. Then when Takakgi came back he told him about it and so I gave him the name Lion. So now whenever I go back to shop there and see them I will call them Lion and Tiger :-) They had a good laugh and kept bowing to me. It was fun.
CJ was such a trooper by hanging in there and helping me to find more house goods we needed as he hates to shop. He then waited outside with our big boxes and bags while I went in and got more groceries. We rented a taxi to drive us up the hill and home with our load of stuff. While waiting for the taxi a couple came through the parking lot with two very big dogs and I was wondering how they were going to fit them in the grocery cart. But thankfully, they went the other direction and down the path next to the canal for a walk. I do wonder though, if they take them into the grocery store? Back home we made spaghetti and salad for supper, which I could not eat well with my chopsticks so I ended up giving in and using a fork. Talked with my folks a bit and filled them in on the happenings here and tried to get CJ's mom, but no one was home. Called it an early night and hope to get a good rest before CJ starts his regular 1st week of work tomorrow. He says he feels like he has been on vacation for a month or more and now it is time to get to work and prove himself. He is excited to get things going here.
By the way we had to sign in our housing contract that we will not wear shoes in the house and so CJ is on the hunt for some BIG cushy slippers as his high arches hurt from walking on the hard wood floors. We have already started a list of things he needs to get when he goes back to the states in late August. He will definetley need to bring back his BIG suitcase.
My little toad friend keeps hopping out to see me at night at the top of my stairmaster.
Who knows, maybe I will count frogs in my sleep tonight instead of sheep or "dead" crows ?
Sayonara
Karla and CJ
Anyhoo, today we just decided to hang out a bit and enjoy our home. We had nice phone conversations with both our kids and it was good to catch up with them and find out what is happening back home in the USA and in IL and MN.
Kalen is contemplating life and missing her boyfriend Mike who is doing traveling Shakespeare throughout Montana. Graham got the painting job and will start tommorrow. He too may have a bus boy job at a Duluth restaurant. Anything to pay off the bills he racked up while in Sweden drinking that expensive beer.
We watched out the window as a delivery man tried to drop off a package for some folks at the bottom of the bluff. It is gift giving season here and people give gifts the month of July to folks who have helped them out. They have all kinds of gift boxes of meats, alcohol, snacks, desserts... in the stores which are kind of like our meat and cheese boxes that company send catalogs out for at Christmas time. CJ and I then took another new route and walked through the park and past the pool which is now open for the summer and was being enjoyed by many families. Parks are the places to be here on the weekends when the whole family is together. Kids even have school on Saturday mornings here and cram schools as well after regular school during the weekin the afternoons. John told us that they are trying to change that as it is becoming a bit too much for all involved. School is out soon for a month only.
Saw some ladies leaving a restaurant that I caught bowing to each other before departing, another women painting, some futons hanging out to air in the sunshine and a mom with a full load on her bike doing errands with her kids. Wow that looks like alot of work to me. I am glad my kids are grown and I don't have to balance them and my grocery bags when and if I get a bike while trying to climb up the steep hills around here.
We finally made our way down to the Homes store for another round of grocery shopping and some more furniture browsing after we passed by the high end shopping district which was very crowded with people on this weekend day.
At the homes store we were happy to find a dining table and chairs and also a rack to hold all our electrical boxes for TV, computer,Phone and a coffee/tatami room table. Yeah we can now eat off a table and not on the floor. We are just about done. Only need a bike or two, office desk and two more futons or a bed. We have yet to decide for sure what we will get. I am going the futon route as of now.
Ran into my friend Chu and told her how happy we were with our futons and thanked her once again for all her help. We too met two more young men salesman who I nicknamed Tiger and Lion. Toru could speak English quite well and he talked of how they don't have midlle names like we do only a first and last and so I gave him the name Tiger. He laughed. Then when Takakgi came back he told him about it and so I gave him the name Lion. So now whenever I go back to shop there and see them I will call them Lion and Tiger :-) They had a good laugh and kept bowing to me. It was fun.
CJ was such a trooper by hanging in there and helping me to find more house goods we needed as he hates to shop. He then waited outside with our big boxes and bags while I went in and got more groceries. We rented a taxi to drive us up the hill and home with our load of stuff. While waiting for the taxi a couple came through the parking lot with two very big dogs and I was wondering how they were going to fit them in the grocery cart. But thankfully, they went the other direction and down the path next to the canal for a walk. I do wonder though, if they take them into the grocery store? Back home we made spaghetti and salad for supper, which I could not eat well with my chopsticks so I ended up giving in and using a fork. Talked with my folks a bit and filled them in on the happenings here and tried to get CJ's mom, but no one was home. Called it an early night and hope to get a good rest before CJ starts his regular 1st week of work tomorrow. He says he feels like he has been on vacation for a month or more and now it is time to get to work and prove himself. He is excited to get things going here.
By the way we had to sign in our housing contract that we will not wear shoes in the house and so CJ is on the hunt for some BIG cushy slippers as his high arches hurt from walking on the hard wood floors. We have already started a list of things he needs to get when he goes back to the states in late August. He will definetley need to bring back his BIG suitcase.
My little toad friend keeps hopping out to see me at night at the top of my stairmaster.
Who knows, maybe I will count frogs in my sleep tonight instead of sheep or "dead" crows ?
Sayonara
Karla and CJ
Saturday July 12, 2008 Boxes arrive, IKEA shopping Trip
We were awakened again at 3am by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde...my names for the crows hovering over the net covered garbage bags in the neighborhood. I am hoping it is my jet lag and not the crows that are waking me still at 3am, but I am pretty sure it is the crows. Tried to go back to sleep for few more hours before the delivery guys came with the 17 boxes we shipped. We got all our stuff by 9am and I had it unloaded and most of it put away by noon, while John the realtor and CJ tried to get our computers running. We then had a lunch in our tatami room where Kalen and Graham's photos and chinese scrolls now reside and look over us in our Totonomo room and family area.
Now let me tell you the garbage service and procedures here are a science experiment all in itself. We have so much sorting to do...and each day has certain items that can only be put out in transparent bags. Food waste and paper on Mondays, Tuesday is for plastics Wednesday for wrapping supplies...so on and so on..I get nervous just thinking about it and if I am gonna flunk the science/environment test of the day. John told us the current mayor worked in a recycle shop when younger and so he is a bit anal about it all. It is rather funny but intriguing as well. It certainly has helped the city and the cleanliness of it. I told CJ I feel like I live in Disneyland, with the narrow, curving, quaint and spotless streets, all the parks with groomed plants and shrubs, everyone walking about in different color uniforms. It is very colorful and parts are very modern and upscale, yet a couple streets over and it has tons of electrical wires hanging above the streets just like Honduras. The best of both worlds...I like it here.
Once our boxes were unloaded and computers running we ate a quick lunch and then headed off for IKEA to see what furniture choices they had. CJ found his little neighborhood dry cleaners on the way to the train station and he signed up to be a member and made friends with the cute little lady there. Once again if they don't write their names down..I can't seem to grasp what it is.
It was Saturday so the train station was busy with people going in all directions and dressed in all sorts of different style outfits. We saw alot more fashion on the weekend then you see during the week when all seem to be in black pants or skirts and white or light colored working clothes, if not a uniform of some sort
At IKEA we found lots of stuff. Had a bit of trouble getting the couch we wanted as the only one left was the floor model and swedish Jonathan who could speak english thankfully, was writing up the order but the other sales clerk sold it to another couple just before us. Darn. :-( Jonathan went on to tell us how many of the Japanese don't measure before they shop and and when they come to deliver it, the things don't fit through their doors and so many get returned. We asked him to put us on a return list in case that happened and we got the two dark brown leather/wood chairs, which will probably be better space wise for us while we are here anyways. We were looking for furniture to take home as well when we are done here as our stuff is from 30 years ago when we got married. Time to update, that is for sure. The couch was on sale for 1/2 the price,good construction and they were going fast--9sold just that day. We actually found it very comfortable, when many of the things we sat on "were just too small" for our BIG bodies. We then tried to get a dining table and chairs but of course the color table we wanted didn't have the chairs we liked in the same wood color. Strike two. We went on to find a cool paper floor lamp,two wood folding chairs for the back garden or screen porch when rainy, a red desk chair for my soon to be colorful honduran office and a nice woven carpet for either the dining room or living room. We got a few other household items and then enjoyed a lunch in honor of Grambo...swedish meatballs and Diam chocolate cake and 2 other swedish treats. It was scrumptious.
Then we were off topick our stuff from the shelves and pay for it, wrap it up and get it ready for delivery. I have never done this in the USA, but it was quite the event. When we had all the similar boxes doubled up and wrapped to count as 1 item instead of two and to save ourself another $10 per item Jonathan came by and said hey do you still want the couch. Someone who just ordered it went home, measured and called back and said it would not fit. So a new one, not the floor model had never left the store. He went back to get it and CJ added another $10 dollars on for shipping. YES !!
We were tired and happy to get going back to the train loaded down with 3 BIG BLUE IKEA bags. It was an adventure that is for sure. When wrapping our goods up I teased military man Sal from Puerto Rico, not to wrap that too well or his wife might give him the job at Christmas of wrapping all the gifts. He and his wife and two kids just moved here a week ago and so far they like it too. They had never been to an IKEA and so they were quite impressed by it all.
Back at Yokohama station we stopped at our new favorite Mochi Cream stand and got a mango one and a blueberry one to eat once we got home. Here in Japan it is not cool and frowned upon,to eat while you are walking along the street. You must stop and sit down. Once home we dropped the bags ate our treats and then went out in search of supper. I still like my cranberry one the best. We didn't have much luck as the first 3 places we stopped at were all closed and it was not even 10 pm on a saturday night.Ugh I hoped we found somehting as I was too tired to go home and cook.
We finally ended up in Laser Rush a local little Irish like pub where we were warmly greeted by Scottish hostess Pauline and after our delicious dinner of pizza and ceaser salad we chatted a bit with her and her Japanese hubby Leo. I asked him where the best place was for me to learn Japanese and he said here over a beer. Now there's a good business man, don't cha think? He said many people come there too, to learn english as both he and his wife are fluent. It was a cute little place with a dart board as well, so who knows it may become one of fav local huants and a place to sip a brew and chat once in awhile. We know it is a place Graham and Michael would like when they come to visit. Kalen our dessert and carb girl will love the bakery, mochi creams and a cheesecake dessert place near the cemetery. We have yet to sample the goods there. Ok is it me , or does it seem like all I am talking about is walking or eating. :-)
We came home and were greeted by a big paper cutting bug on the front door skylite.
Once again bed was sounding good after another long day on our feet.
Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite. I am glad that BIG one is outside of the house tonight.
Karla and CJ
Now let me tell you the garbage service and procedures here are a science experiment all in itself. We have so much sorting to do...and each day has certain items that can only be put out in transparent bags. Food waste and paper on Mondays, Tuesday is for plastics Wednesday for wrapping supplies...so on and so on..I get nervous just thinking about it and if I am gonna flunk the science/environment test of the day. John told us the current mayor worked in a recycle shop when younger and so he is a bit anal about it all. It is rather funny but intriguing as well. It certainly has helped the city and the cleanliness of it. I told CJ I feel like I live in Disneyland, with the narrow, curving, quaint and spotless streets, all the parks with groomed plants and shrubs, everyone walking about in different color uniforms. It is very colorful and parts are very modern and upscale, yet a couple streets over and it has tons of electrical wires hanging above the streets just like Honduras. The best of both worlds...I like it here.
Once our boxes were unloaded and computers running we ate a quick lunch and then headed off for IKEA to see what furniture choices they had. CJ found his little neighborhood dry cleaners on the way to the train station and he signed up to be a member and made friends with the cute little lady there. Once again if they don't write their names down..I can't seem to grasp what it is.
It was Saturday so the train station was busy with people going in all directions and dressed in all sorts of different style outfits. We saw alot more fashion on the weekend then you see during the week when all seem to be in black pants or skirts and white or light colored working clothes, if not a uniform of some sort
At IKEA we found lots of stuff. Had a bit of trouble getting the couch we wanted as the only one left was the floor model and swedish Jonathan who could speak english thankfully, was writing up the order but the other sales clerk sold it to another couple just before us. Darn. :-( Jonathan went on to tell us how many of the Japanese don't measure before they shop and and when they come to deliver it, the things don't fit through their doors and so many get returned. We asked him to put us on a return list in case that happened and we got the two dark brown leather/wood chairs, which will probably be better space wise for us while we are here anyways. We were looking for furniture to take home as well when we are done here as our stuff is from 30 years ago when we got married. Time to update, that is for sure. The couch was on sale for 1/2 the price,good construction and they were going fast--9sold just that day. We actually found it very comfortable, when many of the things we sat on "were just too small" for our BIG bodies. We then tried to get a dining table and chairs but of course the color table we wanted didn't have the chairs we liked in the same wood color. Strike two. We went on to find a cool paper floor lamp,two wood folding chairs for the back garden or screen porch when rainy, a red desk chair for my soon to be colorful honduran office and a nice woven carpet for either the dining room or living room. We got a few other household items and then enjoyed a lunch in honor of Grambo...swedish meatballs and Diam chocolate cake and 2 other swedish treats. It was scrumptious.
Then we were off topick our stuff from the shelves and pay for it, wrap it up and get it ready for delivery. I have never done this in the USA, but it was quite the event. When we had all the similar boxes doubled up and wrapped to count as 1 item instead of two and to save ourself another $10 per item Jonathan came by and said hey do you still want the couch. Someone who just ordered it went home, measured and called back and said it would not fit. So a new one, not the floor model had never left the store. He went back to get it and CJ added another $10 dollars on for shipping. YES !!
We were tired and happy to get going back to the train loaded down with 3 BIG BLUE IKEA bags. It was an adventure that is for sure. When wrapping our goods up I teased military man Sal from Puerto Rico, not to wrap that too well or his wife might give him the job at Christmas of wrapping all the gifts. He and his wife and two kids just moved here a week ago and so far they like it too. They had never been to an IKEA and so they were quite impressed by it all.
Back at Yokohama station we stopped at our new favorite Mochi Cream stand and got a mango one and a blueberry one to eat once we got home. Here in Japan it is not cool and frowned upon,to eat while you are walking along the street. You must stop and sit down. Once home we dropped the bags ate our treats and then went out in search of supper. I still like my cranberry one the best. We didn't have much luck as the first 3 places we stopped at were all closed and it was not even 10 pm on a saturday night.Ugh I hoped we found somehting as I was too tired to go home and cook.
We finally ended up in Laser Rush a local little Irish like pub where we were warmly greeted by Scottish hostess Pauline and after our delicious dinner of pizza and ceaser salad we chatted a bit with her and her Japanese hubby Leo. I asked him where the best place was for me to learn Japanese and he said here over a beer. Now there's a good business man, don't cha think? He said many people come there too, to learn english as both he and his wife are fluent. It was a cute little place with a dart board as well, so who knows it may become one of fav local huants and a place to sip a brew and chat once in awhile. We know it is a place Graham and Michael would like when they come to visit. Kalen our dessert and carb girl will love the bakery, mochi creams and a cheesecake dessert place near the cemetery. We have yet to sample the goods there. Ok is it me , or does it seem like all I am talking about is walking or eating. :-)
We came home and were greeted by a big paper cutting bug on the front door skylite.
Once again bed was sounding good after another long day on our feet.
Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite. I am glad that BIG one is outside of the house tonight.
Karla and CJ
Monday, July 14, 2008
July 11, 2008 Harbor and Chinatown walk
Ok so it looks like I have replaced the 3am roosters in Honduras with the giant black crows here in Yokohama. Yikes! :-( Looks like I will have to wear my ear plugs here as well when I sleep in order to get a few hours of rest between the cawing and snoring. UGH! (only slight downside so far)
The futons were GREAT and we slept well. We like them alot!!
Got up early and made/ate breakfast in the lower tatami room with CJ (that is a first in 20 some years). I told him maybe I am gonna be his "BIG" geisha girl :-)
Then walked with CJ down the hill thru the park to the train station and passed by some junior high girls in uniforms going to the International school. CJ went to work for a meeting and I went walking. I had fun exploring the harbor in Yamashita Park where many men and their dogs were resting on park benches, reading newspapers, sleeping,running, meditating...
I walked up to see what this crazy looking structure was sticking out into the harbor. I found it was the Osanbachi Pier and the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal for cruise ships. I thought it was a driving range. Very cool architecture and great 360 degree views of the Yokohama Harbor area. It was very hot even at 7:30 am in the morning. Had a "little" chat with some young man with a New York T shirt on. He knew more english than I Japanese, but I was just happy that "he" started up a conversation with me. :-) YES !!
Next,I walked back down the pier and crossed over into Chinatown.(supposedly it is the biggest one in Asia). The day was just beginning there around 9:30 am and I watched as people scrubbed the sidewalks outside in front of their businesses. Men and women were setting up their stands to sell lychee nuts, roasted hazelnuts, big dumplings were steaming in baskets.....Stopped in a bakery of sorts and bought some fancy packaged pastries for our dessert tonight.
Further down the road, I had a nice "japlish" conversation with buisness man about incense holders and think I learned the word "Hei" for ashes which they use to hold the sticks upright in the bowl. I was trying to ask where I buy some sand or dirt which I thought they used and he said no ashes. So...I got a pretty round shaped blue and white pedestal one with bamboo decorations on the sides. Also tried asking another lady in her shop what the hanging pepper shaped tailsmans were about and what I got out of it was decorations for good luck to hang in your windows. It will be most interesting once I find out more if I am correct and already I am having fun even when I really know only 5 words if that. Once I get things in order with the house and these blogs and Honduras work up to date I will really dive into learning more Japanese. Yeeeha !!!
As I continued down this street I next saw the beautiful and very ornate Guan Di Maio temple for the chinese people living in Japan. They come here for inspiration and spritual emotion. I too peeked over the wall at some elementary kids outside at recess playing ballin their blue shorts and green caps. On the other side of the street a little further down I came upon a park where a little day care center was and the wee ones were all out playing in the playground with their different colored hats on, which I assumed was to differentiate what age group they were in? The laundry and diapers were hanging out to dry in the front of the building and some other day care ladies walked past me on the sidewalk pushing more little ones in a rolling playpen and then passed 2 young ricksaw drivers who were stretching before their day of work day begin pulling people in their carts.
I started getting hungry and it was almost 11 am and so I headed back home for some lunch.Crossing the canal I stopped for some colorful and animal like reflective photos in the water. To my great surprise and delight I then came upon a SUPER bakery just at the bottom of one of the slopes down from our house. Ahhhhhhhh...a heavenly place. Of course I went in and grabbed a pair of tongs and a little tray and picked out what items I wanted to purchase. I ended up with two veggie looking pastries and a 2 loaves of bread. One cinnamon swirl and another I have no idea. Back through the park and up the winding paths past the huge blue hydrangas and I made myself a salad to go with the pastries, which ended up being a ham ,cheese and tomatoe like sandwich in quiche shape and the other one a curry flavored mystery filling. They were both delicious and I had a hard time leaving 1/2 of each for CJ to try when he got home later in the day.
CJ called and he was running late and was going out to lunch with a guy at work, so I took a little snooze on the tatami mat after my lunch before he got home and we were then off to the Naka Ward office to register for our ALIEN cards. Thankfully CJ has a better ear than I and had he heard when they called out Harriman-san. I had no clue. There too, was a young couple there with a brand new days old baby I presume getting a birth certificate. It was a very busy office and lots of paper work was being pushed around. Everyone was so friendly and helpful.
After my long 4 hour walk this am I was still famished even after the salad and pastries and so we stopped and CJ had an iced coffee and kiwi shortcake while I had what I think was an eggplant pasta dish. All of it was yummy.
We then headed over to the Minato Mirari area by train on the far side of the harbor
to look at some furniture stores. We are enjoying sitting on the pillows, but a chair will be nice too,... one day soon. We looked in 3 different furniture stores one being 9 floors full of any kind of furniture you can think of. I even found a hippo stool for $1000USA. Too pricy but it was cute. CJ was a happy camper when we passed by a car shop and he was able to check out all the millions of car parts and things to pimp ones ride. I of course had no clue what I was looking at, but it was fun watching him get so excited about the different things to add to ones car. It was a man's heaven on earth.
We were pooped and again hungry from all the walking, some of which I am not sure I get as we seem to walk further underground to get to different subway and train lines then we do above ground. This I think will be one of my BIGGEST challenges when here. I have never been too good with directions and when walking in tunnel like mazes (malls, airports, skylines...). I always feel like one of Pavlov's dogs and am hoping and looking for a treat when I get to the other end, if ever.:-) We as you can tell, are and will be doing ALOT of walking, since we will have no car, but it is fun and a nice change. CJ does have a van or car available at work to use if we need to at times.
Back on the train and to Chinatown again for a late night supper of cashew chicken, pot stickers, spring rolls and some mango pudding. It was all very tasty and we really enjoyed our conversation with a young man who jumped in to help the waitress when we ordered our food. He was eating and then going out to his friends Norge bar to have a few beers. His english was very good. We passed by a very full Pachinko Parlor and will have to try and visit one soon to see what that is all about. My guess it is a japanes casino.
Walked back home,and had one more climb for the day up the steps where I was greeted by a giant toad just before reaching our back gate who was trying very hard to climb the vertical cement wall. Once inside I had a much needed hot shower, some tiger balm on my aching feet and to bed I went. I was pooped after 8 hours or more of walking in flip flops.
So as you can see it was a busy day from morning till night and one I enjoyed immensely.
More tomorrow (these will get shorter ....I hope ?)
Peace
Karla and CJ
The futons were GREAT and we slept well. We like them alot!!
Got up early and made/ate breakfast in the lower tatami room with CJ (that is a first in 20 some years). I told him maybe I am gonna be his "BIG" geisha girl :-)
Then walked with CJ down the hill thru the park to the train station and passed by some junior high girls in uniforms going to the International school. CJ went to work for a meeting and I went walking. I had fun exploring the harbor in Yamashita Park where many men and their dogs were resting on park benches, reading newspapers, sleeping,running, meditating...
I walked up to see what this crazy looking structure was sticking out into the harbor. I found it was the Osanbachi Pier and the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal for cruise ships. I thought it was a driving range. Very cool architecture and great 360 degree views of the Yokohama Harbor area. It was very hot even at 7:30 am in the morning. Had a "little" chat with some young man with a New York T shirt on. He knew more english than I Japanese, but I was just happy that "he" started up a conversation with me. :-) YES !!
Next,I walked back down the pier and crossed over into Chinatown.(supposedly it is the biggest one in Asia). The day was just beginning there around 9:30 am and I watched as people scrubbed the sidewalks outside in front of their businesses. Men and women were setting up their stands to sell lychee nuts, roasted hazelnuts, big dumplings were steaming in baskets.....Stopped in a bakery of sorts and bought some fancy packaged pastries for our dessert tonight.
Further down the road, I had a nice "japlish" conversation with buisness man about incense holders and think I learned the word "Hei" for ashes which they use to hold the sticks upright in the bowl. I was trying to ask where I buy some sand or dirt which I thought they used and he said no ashes. So...I got a pretty round shaped blue and white pedestal one with bamboo decorations on the sides. Also tried asking another lady in her shop what the hanging pepper shaped tailsmans were about and what I got out of it was decorations for good luck to hang in your windows. It will be most interesting once I find out more if I am correct and already I am having fun even when I really know only 5 words if that. Once I get things in order with the house and these blogs and Honduras work up to date I will really dive into learning more Japanese. Yeeeha !!!
As I continued down this street I next saw the beautiful and very ornate Guan Di Maio temple for the chinese people living in Japan. They come here for inspiration and spritual emotion. I too peeked over the wall at some elementary kids outside at recess playing ballin their blue shorts and green caps. On the other side of the street a little further down I came upon a park where a little day care center was and the wee ones were all out playing in the playground with their different colored hats on, which I assumed was to differentiate what age group they were in? The laundry and diapers were hanging out to dry in the front of the building and some other day care ladies walked past me on the sidewalk pushing more little ones in a rolling playpen and then passed 2 young ricksaw drivers who were stretching before their day of work day begin pulling people in their carts.
I started getting hungry and it was almost 11 am and so I headed back home for some lunch.Crossing the canal I stopped for some colorful and animal like reflective photos in the water. To my great surprise and delight I then came upon a SUPER bakery just at the bottom of one of the slopes down from our house. Ahhhhhhhh...a heavenly place. Of course I went in and grabbed a pair of tongs and a little tray and picked out what items I wanted to purchase. I ended up with two veggie looking pastries and a 2 loaves of bread. One cinnamon swirl and another I have no idea. Back through the park and up the winding paths past the huge blue hydrangas and I made myself a salad to go with the pastries, which ended up being a ham ,cheese and tomatoe like sandwich in quiche shape and the other one a curry flavored mystery filling. They were both delicious and I had a hard time leaving 1/2 of each for CJ to try when he got home later in the day.
CJ called and he was running late and was going out to lunch with a guy at work, so I took a little snooze on the tatami mat after my lunch before he got home and we were then off to the Naka Ward office to register for our ALIEN cards. Thankfully CJ has a better ear than I and had he heard when they called out Harriman-san. I had no clue. There too, was a young couple there with a brand new days old baby I presume getting a birth certificate. It was a very busy office and lots of paper work was being pushed around. Everyone was so friendly and helpful.
After my long 4 hour walk this am I was still famished even after the salad and pastries and so we stopped and CJ had an iced coffee and kiwi shortcake while I had what I think was an eggplant pasta dish. All of it was yummy.
We then headed over to the Minato Mirari area by train on the far side of the harbor
to look at some furniture stores. We are enjoying sitting on the pillows, but a chair will be nice too,... one day soon. We looked in 3 different furniture stores one being 9 floors full of any kind of furniture you can think of. I even found a hippo stool for $1000USA. Too pricy but it was cute. CJ was a happy camper when we passed by a car shop and he was able to check out all the millions of car parts and things to pimp ones ride. I of course had no clue what I was looking at, but it was fun watching him get so excited about the different things to add to ones car. It was a man's heaven on earth.
We were pooped and again hungry from all the walking, some of which I am not sure I get as we seem to walk further underground to get to different subway and train lines then we do above ground. This I think will be one of my BIGGEST challenges when here. I have never been too good with directions and when walking in tunnel like mazes (malls, airports, skylines...). I always feel like one of Pavlov's dogs and am hoping and looking for a treat when I get to the other end, if ever.:-) We as you can tell, are and will be doing ALOT of walking, since we will have no car, but it is fun and a nice change. CJ does have a van or car available at work to use if we need to at times.
Back on the train and to Chinatown again for a late night supper of cashew chicken, pot stickers, spring rolls and some mango pudding. It was all very tasty and we really enjoyed our conversation with a young man who jumped in to help the waitress when we ordered our food. He was eating and then going out to his friends Norge bar to have a few beers. His english was very good. We passed by a very full Pachinko Parlor and will have to try and visit one soon to see what that is all about. My guess it is a japanes casino.
Walked back home,and had one more climb for the day up the steps where I was greeted by a giant toad just before reaching our back gate who was trying very hard to climb the vertical cement wall. Once inside I had a much needed hot shower, some tiger balm on my aching feet and to bed I went. I was pooped after 8 hours or more of walking in flip flops.
So as you can see it was a busy day from morning till night and one I enjoyed immensely.
More tomorrow (these will get shorter ....I hope ?)
Peace
Karla and CJ
July 10, 2008 Move In Day in Yamate-cho
Well we woke up at 3am and of course I could not fall back to sleep, so I sat in the window of the Sheraton and watched the sun rise over Yokohama station, while drinking some green tea and writing in my journal. Then we were greeted by a lovely Japanese girl in traditional pant suit at the restaurant and enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast. CJ of course opted for the japanese fair and I had mostly american choices. A big bowl of granola with fresh blue, rasp and strawberries, bananas and pineapple with yogurt. Scrambled eggs, hashbrowns bacon,juice,japanese stir fry veggies and green tea to hold us over for our long day ahead. I did taste some of CJ's Miso soup..that will be one of the first things I need to learn how to make, as CJ LOVES it.
Then we took a taxi to our new house and to get the keys. I kept trying to open the taxi door but they are all automatic and so they do not want you to touch them. oops:-( The driver was wearing white gloves and they have white lacy covers over the seats.Spotlessly clean and BIG. On our way to the Naka Ward and the top of the bluff in Yamate Cho we passed a wall of Japanese manga graffiti which we will have to go back to look at closer another day as well as a bunch of little school kids dressed in their blue uniforms and yellow straw hats. So cute!
We got to the house early before John the realtor showed up and was fun to see our name plaque above the mailbox. We then walked around the side yard and into the Japanese garden area out back while butterflies flighted about and I then went partway down my 62 step stairmaster, right outside the back gate ..oh my... I am going to get in shape while living here..that is FOR SURE.
Not even seeing the inside, I knew CJ did a GREAT job at picking out our home for the next 2 years. It is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT,just what I had hoped for. YEAH!!! :-)
Once John showed up and we went inside things just got even better. The Tatami rooms are so cool and serene. We are going to be spending lots of time in them I would guess. The size is just right and we have surpsingly a ton of storage space. More than I hope to fill, as our goal is to live simply while here and like the Japanese as much as possible. It is a house full of electronic gadgets, which make CJ very happy. We have weight sensored bidet toilets which are interesting in themselves and a new thing to learn.I found out right away in the hotel, if you don't sit all the way back on it your back gets very wet when the sprayer goes off. Yikes! Ours also start a fan when you sit on it and it has little motion senroed sink to wash your hand in when done. Each room in the house also has its own remote control for the individual heater and AC units. We have a cool stove with a special fish grill in it too.
After the house tour we walked down the bluff slope, steps and through the Motomachi Park past the big outdoor pool where 3 little japanese ladies were busy tying new mops together for the summer season to begin this coming weekend. No pic as they didn't want their photo taken. We then passed by the Foreign General Cemetery where many a local cat was taking a siesta amongst the tomb stones. Also I learned this is a very touristy area and so we saw many groups of little Japanese tourists with their white hats on to walking around to see all the Naka Ward Commemorative Monuments. This is the area where there are many historic places regrding the birth of modern cultures and where westerners first moved to Japan many years ago.
We crossed the street to Harbor View Park for another pretty view of the working harbor and all the colorful semi truck contianers stacked and ready for shipping across the ocean. Many flowers were in bloom and local artists busy painting.
Down the last loooong set of steps and then over the canal to the Homes store (my new Japanese Wal-Mart)as CJ says, to buy some futons and basic things to get by till our boxes arrive. First we stopped at the food court for some soup, pot stickers and fried rice..um um good. I'm getting better at the chopstick motion.
Then I met my first new fluent in english Japanese friend Chu who actually is Chinese and from Taiwan. She was so very helpful to us when trying to get all the parts needed for our Futon beds. We had lots of laughs as I laid down on a cot trying to figure our if I wanted a foam or feather pillow to rest my head on. I ended up with feather and CJ with foam, but he too now wants a feather.
We then went into the adjacent grocery store and got some Asashi beer,granola, yogurt, fruit, veggies,salad fixins, japanese ramen and noodle soups...
The weirdest thing is how everyone brings their dogs to the store with them and they all ride in the shopping carts. :-)
Chu then called us a taxi, but we ended up needing two of them cause the futon pads were too thick. So off we went with all our stuff in two vehicles and back home put the futons together in the upstairs tatami room. They look cool and were quite comfortable.
After setting up and putting things away we went back downtown to look at some furniture stores and a few other grocery stores of which there are about 5 different ones in the area. Got a knife and some chicken pieces which ended up being potatoe pancakes to eat with our salad and spinach/onion bread. It takes me much longer to eat a salad with chopsticks than a fork, so I guess I will chop my veggies in bigger pieces from now on. :-)
Talked with both of our kids before calling it a night and happy they are doing well in Chicago and Duluth. Kalen joined a book club and had fun with friend Christina and others and Graham is happy to be back with old and new friends and hoping to get a painting job with College Pro as a supervisor in charge of prework setup.
So I will close this first full day with a quote Kalen sent to us this morning.
"Enjoy each experience as it comes" and that we will do.
We once again thank you all for your support, prayers and good wishes that many of you sent us off with on this grand adventure.
Sayonara
Karlita and Chuck-san
Then we took a taxi to our new house and to get the keys. I kept trying to open the taxi door but they are all automatic and so they do not want you to touch them. oops:-( The driver was wearing white gloves and they have white lacy covers over the seats.Spotlessly clean and BIG. On our way to the Naka Ward and the top of the bluff in Yamate Cho we passed a wall of Japanese manga graffiti which we will have to go back to look at closer another day as well as a bunch of little school kids dressed in their blue uniforms and yellow straw hats. So cute!
We got to the house early before John the realtor showed up and was fun to see our name plaque above the mailbox. We then walked around the side yard and into the Japanese garden area out back while butterflies flighted about and I then went partway down my 62 step stairmaster, right outside the back gate ..oh my... I am going to get in shape while living here..that is FOR SURE.
Not even seeing the inside, I knew CJ did a GREAT job at picking out our home for the next 2 years. It is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT,just what I had hoped for. YEAH!!! :-)
Once John showed up and we went inside things just got even better. The Tatami rooms are so cool and serene. We are going to be spending lots of time in them I would guess. The size is just right and we have surpsingly a ton of storage space. More than I hope to fill, as our goal is to live simply while here and like the Japanese as much as possible. It is a house full of electronic gadgets, which make CJ very happy. We have weight sensored bidet toilets which are interesting in themselves and a new thing to learn.I found out right away in the hotel, if you don't sit all the way back on it your back gets very wet when the sprayer goes off. Yikes! Ours also start a fan when you sit on it and it has little motion senroed sink to wash your hand in when done. Each room in the house also has its own remote control for the individual heater and AC units. We have a cool stove with a special fish grill in it too.
After the house tour we walked down the bluff slope, steps and through the Motomachi Park past the big outdoor pool where 3 little japanese ladies were busy tying new mops together for the summer season to begin this coming weekend. No pic as they didn't want their photo taken. We then passed by the Foreign General Cemetery where many a local cat was taking a siesta amongst the tomb stones. Also I learned this is a very touristy area and so we saw many groups of little Japanese tourists with their white hats on to walking around to see all the Naka Ward Commemorative Monuments. This is the area where there are many historic places regrding the birth of modern cultures and where westerners first moved to Japan many years ago.
We crossed the street to Harbor View Park for another pretty view of the working harbor and all the colorful semi truck contianers stacked and ready for shipping across the ocean. Many flowers were in bloom and local artists busy painting.
Down the last loooong set of steps and then over the canal to the Homes store (my new Japanese Wal-Mart)as CJ says, to buy some futons and basic things to get by till our boxes arrive. First we stopped at the food court for some soup, pot stickers and fried rice..um um good. I'm getting better at the chopstick motion.
Then I met my first new fluent in english Japanese friend Chu who actually is Chinese and from Taiwan. She was so very helpful to us when trying to get all the parts needed for our Futon beds. We had lots of laughs as I laid down on a cot trying to figure our if I wanted a foam or feather pillow to rest my head on. I ended up with feather and CJ with foam, but he too now wants a feather.
We then went into the adjacent grocery store and got some Asashi beer,granola, yogurt, fruit, veggies,salad fixins, japanese ramen and noodle soups...
The weirdest thing is how everyone brings their dogs to the store with them and they all ride in the shopping carts. :-)
Chu then called us a taxi, but we ended up needing two of them cause the futon pads were too thick. So off we went with all our stuff in two vehicles and back home put the futons together in the upstairs tatami room. They look cool and were quite comfortable.
After setting up and putting things away we went back downtown to look at some furniture stores and a few other grocery stores of which there are about 5 different ones in the area. Got a knife and some chicken pieces which ended up being potatoe pancakes to eat with our salad and spinach/onion bread. It takes me much longer to eat a salad with chopsticks than a fork, so I guess I will chop my veggies in bigger pieces from now on. :-)
Talked with both of our kids before calling it a night and happy they are doing well in Chicago and Duluth. Kalen joined a book club and had fun with friend Christina and others and Graham is happy to be back with old and new friends and hoping to get a painting job with College Pro as a supervisor in charge of prework setup.
So I will close this first full day with a quote Kalen sent to us this morning.
"Enjoy each experience as it comes" and that we will do.
We once again thank you all for your support, prayers and good wishes that many of you sent us off with on this grand adventure.
Sayonara
Karlita and Chuck-san
July 8-9th, 2008 KJ CJ Arrival in Japan
It was a looooong and bit of a boring flight to Japan as we were in an old plane and did not have individual TV with movies and games to occupy us, we couldn't sleep, and after 14 hours the leg space seemed to get smaller and smaller as well. Once on Asian soil though, all went well and we made it through customs easily,exchanged some $US to Japanese Yen and were off on the Nartita Express Train to Yokohama station and our hotel for the night. We passed by bamboo forests, rice paddies, blue tiled roofs, very green and thick vegetation resembling the rainforests in Honduras, mall with Sports Authority Store and 7-11 on the street corners. Where were all the people I was told there would be?
Once arriving in Yokohama Station we begin to see some of them. Coming to and fro and moving about very fast through the underground train station. We dropped our bags at the hotel and then went in search of some traditional Japanese food. I told CJ I had to ease myself into the food and so we ended up having noodle soup for "yushoku" (dinner). I vowed to try and eat all my meals while here in Japan with chopsticks and did not do too bad for my 1st go at it. Thankfully you can slurp and hold the bowl up to your mouth when eating, so I didn't do too bad. I did gag a few times on some seaweed flavors that were a bit strong to my tastebuds, but overall it was filling and fun. The waitresses were very patient with us as we tried to point and count in Japanese and tell them which fake food models in the window that we wanted No# 1 "ichi' and No# 3 "san"... of course my spanglish came out right away and as usual when I don't know the right words my voice gets louder as I tried in vain to use any word I could find in the phrase book. Needless to say they were a bit confused but smiled and laughed.
While we were eating a little lady walked by in her lavender summer robe "yakuta", with white toed socks and sandles. (missed the photo) but was happy to see someone in traditional garb. :-)
We then wandered through a grocery store near closing time and watched and listened as hawkers were marking down and yelling prices of fresh packaged foods they were trying to get rid of. I will have to learn alot about food names and we are sure to have many a mystery meal, especially when I don't even know what the directions say nor do I know the ingredients. We will go by pics of what looks familiar or what looks tasty..it will be interesting that is for sure.
Knowing the sweet tooth that I have, I always have to have some dessert and we came upon a Mochi Cream dessert stand. I am not sure what they are exactly (a future ? for a new friend), but they were darn good. Some frozen little round ball with fillings inside. CJ had chocolate banana and I had honey cranberry. Delicious!
Back to the hotel and I learned my first Japanese word "futo" (envelope) when CJ was getting courier service to deliver our customs forms to release the air shipment of boxes we sent over. With that completed.we were off to a much needed sleep after a very looong day of travel and introduction to Japan.
"Oyasuminasai"(Good Night)
Once arriving in Yokohama Station we begin to see some of them. Coming to and fro and moving about very fast through the underground train station. We dropped our bags at the hotel and then went in search of some traditional Japanese food. I told CJ I had to ease myself into the food and so we ended up having noodle soup for "yushoku" (dinner). I vowed to try and eat all my meals while here in Japan with chopsticks and did not do too bad for my 1st go at it. Thankfully you can slurp and hold the bowl up to your mouth when eating, so I didn't do too bad. I did gag a few times on some seaweed flavors that were a bit strong to my tastebuds, but overall it was filling and fun. The waitresses were very patient with us as we tried to point and count in Japanese and tell them which fake food models in the window that we wanted No# 1 "ichi' and No# 3 "san"... of course my spanglish came out right away and as usual when I don't know the right words my voice gets louder as I tried in vain to use any word I could find in the phrase book. Needless to say they were a bit confused but smiled and laughed.
While we were eating a little lady walked by in her lavender summer robe "yakuta", with white toed socks and sandles. (missed the photo) but was happy to see someone in traditional garb. :-)
We then wandered through a grocery store near closing time and watched and listened as hawkers were marking down and yelling prices of fresh packaged foods they were trying to get rid of. I will have to learn alot about food names and we are sure to have many a mystery meal, especially when I don't even know what the directions say nor do I know the ingredients. We will go by pics of what looks familiar or what looks tasty..it will be interesting that is for sure.
Knowing the sweet tooth that I have, I always have to have some dessert and we came upon a Mochi Cream dessert stand. I am not sure what they are exactly (a future ? for a new friend), but they were darn good. Some frozen little round ball with fillings inside. CJ had chocolate banana and I had honey cranberry. Delicious!
Back to the hotel and I learned my first Japanese word "futo" (envelope) when CJ was getting courier service to deliver our customs forms to release the air shipment of boxes we sent over. With that completed.we were off to a much needed sleep after a very looong day of travel and introduction to Japan.
"Oyasuminasai"(Good Night)
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