Oh, and about that $20 watermelon...I did see it today. In fact, I saw a number of incredibly expensive fruit wrapped all pretty as omiyage. (For some reason, the boxes of peaches ranged from $55 - $78!)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
This afternoon in Kyoto
Oh, and about that $20 watermelon...I did see it today. In fact, I saw a number of incredibly expensive fruit wrapped all pretty as omiyage. (For some reason, the boxes of peaches ranged from $55 - $78!)
XIV
We're in Kyoto now at the XIV Resort. J & H are fast asleep after a busy day of traveling around Kyoto via train and by foot.
The food in Japan is something to marvel at whether you're at a shop or in a restaurant - the taste and presentation are truly amazing. A big surprise is all of the little patisseries and boulangeries we've been seeing. The Japanese seem to have a touch of Francophilia. The patisseries we've visited have the most beautiful dainties and treats for sale in lovely little wrappers. I love it!
When we got to XIV, we were all starving. We asked the porter (who we know know as M) if she could recommend a place to eat. She mentioned the two restaurants at the hotel but they had set menus which weren't exactly what we were looking for and not to mention, incredibly expensive. She said she would check to see if the restaurant by the cable car station was open and give us a call. She not only called us but walked up to our room to let us know the details. We were to meet her at the entrance of the hotel at 6:15 pm. Up until now, I haven't really mentioned how phenomenal the customer service is here in Japan but suffice it to say, it is completely off the chain. Case in point, when we met M at 6:15, she not only told us where the restaurant was but she WALKED us there holding a paper lantern. If that wasn't enough, she sat with us at the table while she translated the menu with our host and helped us order! She then left the lantern behind for us to use on our way back to XIV. (Truly amazing!)
The restaurant was in the main part of a series of very traditional looking buildings. It was very cozy with only two tables and a teeny tiny bar where two business men were having drinks. There were several courses to the meal and each dish was stunning - in both presentation and taste. I felt as though we were taking advantage of the host because the meal was so reasonable for such a priceless experience.
When we got back to our room, we quickly put on our slippers and made our way down to the spa - more commonly known as the onsen here in Japan. H & I experienced it for the first time yesterday after our trip to Nara. We were both a little nervous and shy at the thought of going completely naked and soaking in the baths. Traditionally, onsen were used as bath houses and referred specifically to the hot spring baths. Please don't mistake these for the sleazy bath houses found at the back of downtown urban publications. The onsen is a wonderful place to retreat. Men and women have separate bathing areas and each is equipped with several different pools - some with massaging jets and waterfalls, others simply filled with hot, hot water. One area had a very mild current which stimulated the nerves. I had to try it in brief intervals. It was the wildest sensation. The next morning, I felt like I had been kneaded vigorously and was aching. Wild. Before entering the onsen, each person showers completely in their own little space. It's unlike showering in North America. There's a stool and a removable shower head and a basin. Shampoo, body wash and conditioner are all provided. (At XIV, there was even facial cleanser included!) Once you're all clean, then you can step into the baths. The spa here at XIV had a section which had an open roof to the outside but of course, was walled off. There was a sauna, as well as a steam room with steam beds. It was so relaxing. I wish this was a common practice in North America. It's such a wonderful way to take care of yourself. H & I weren't as nervous this time and really enjoyed it. If I get up early enough, I think I might go first thing in the morning.
Did I mention how beautiful XIV is? The resort is nestled on a mountainside and is really spectacular inside. The staff are really sweet and friendly. And yes, we're sleeping on Western-style beds tonight! Yay!
Tomorrow, we plan to see some temples. Apparently, there's a lovely garden and temple at the top of the mountain which we can get to using the cable car by the restaurant. Also, there is another famous temple that Megumi recommended for us to see but I've forgotten the name of.
P.S. We ended up seeing M again as we were buying tickets to take the train a few stops. She was heading home after her 12 hour shift and we asked if she knew of a little combini (convenience store) where we could pick up some onigiri for breakfast along with some other snackies. We took the train to her stop. Before we parted ways, she told us that she had left an envelope for us at the front desk with information about various temples around Kyoto including maps. (I said, off the chain, didn't I?!) What a sweetheart! We made a plan to talk again tomorrow during her shift. (I wonder if she's looking for a penpal...) Anyway, as we we were walking back towards the entrance of XIV, the concierge greeted us with the envelope! Can you believe that with this level of customer service, tipping is not a common practice here?! Incredible, I know. (Don't let it stop you, though. The thought of not tipping for such phenomenal service just seems so wrong!). It's going to be very hard going back to North American standards... (Sigh) ;)
The food in Japan is something to marvel at whether you're at a shop or in a restaurant - the taste and presentation are truly amazing. A big surprise is all of the little patisseries and boulangeries we've been seeing. The Japanese seem to have a touch of Francophilia. The patisseries we've visited have the most beautiful dainties and treats for sale in lovely little wrappers. I love it!
When we got to XIV, we were all starving. We asked the porter (who we know know as M) if she could recommend a place to eat. She mentioned the two restaurants at the hotel but they had set menus which weren't exactly what we were looking for and not to mention, incredibly expensive. She said she would check to see if the restaurant by the cable car station was open and give us a call. She not only called us but walked up to our room to let us know the details. We were to meet her at the entrance of the hotel at 6:15 pm. Up until now, I haven't really mentioned how phenomenal the customer service is here in Japan but suffice it to say, it is completely off the chain. Case in point, when we met M at 6:15, she not only told us where the restaurant was but she WALKED us there holding a paper lantern. If that wasn't enough, she sat with us at the table while she translated the menu with our host and helped us order! She then left the lantern behind for us to use on our way back to XIV. (Truly amazing!)
The restaurant was in the main part of a series of very traditional looking buildings. It was very cozy with only two tables and a teeny tiny bar where two business men were having drinks. There were several courses to the meal and each dish was stunning - in both presentation and taste. I felt as though we were taking advantage of the host because the meal was so reasonable for such a priceless experience.
When we got back to our room, we quickly put on our slippers and made our way down to the spa - more commonly known as the onsen here in Japan. H & I experienced it for the first time yesterday after our trip to Nara. We were both a little nervous and shy at the thought of going completely naked and soaking in the baths. Traditionally, onsen were used as bath houses and referred specifically to the hot spring baths. Please don't mistake these for the sleazy bath houses found at the back of downtown urban publications. The onsen is a wonderful place to retreat. Men and women have separate bathing areas and each is equipped with several different pools - some with massaging jets and waterfalls, others simply filled with hot, hot water. One area had a very mild current which stimulated the nerves. I had to try it in brief intervals. It was the wildest sensation. The next morning, I felt like I had been kneaded vigorously and was aching. Wild. Before entering the onsen, each person showers completely in their own little space. It's unlike showering in North America. There's a stool and a removable shower head and a basin. Shampoo, body wash and conditioner are all provided. (At XIV, there was even facial cleanser included!) Once you're all clean, then you can step into the baths. The spa here at XIV had a section which had an open roof to the outside but of course, was walled off. There was a sauna, as well as a steam room with steam beds. It was so relaxing. I wish this was a common practice in North America. It's such a wonderful way to take care of yourself. H & I weren't as nervous this time and really enjoyed it. If I get up early enough, I think I might go first thing in the morning.
Did I mention how beautiful XIV is? The resort is nestled on a mountainside and is really spectacular inside. The staff are really sweet and friendly. And yes, we're sleeping on Western-style beds tonight! Yay!
Tomorrow, we plan to see some temples. Apparently, there's a lovely garden and temple at the top of the mountain which we can get to using the cable car by the restaurant. Also, there is another famous temple that Megumi recommended for us to see but I've forgotten the name of.
P.S. We ended up seeing M again as we were buying tickets to take the train a few stops. She was heading home after her 12 hour shift and we asked if she knew of a little combini (convenience store) where we could pick up some onigiri for breakfast along with some other snackies. We took the train to her stop. Before we parted ways, she told us that she had left an envelope for us at the front desk with information about various temples around Kyoto including maps. (I said, off the chain, didn't I?!) What a sweetheart! We made a plan to talk again tomorrow during her shift. (I wonder if she's looking for a penpal...) Anyway, as we we were walking back towards the entrance of XIV, the concierge greeted us with the envelope! Can you believe that with this level of customer service, tipping is not a common practice here?! Incredible, I know. (Don't let it stop you, though. The thought of not tipping for such phenomenal service just seems so wrong!). It's going to be very hard going back to North American standards... (Sigh) ;)
A magical place called Nara
J told me that it was known for the deer but I didn't imagine anything like this - they were everywhere! Little stands selling biscuits were set up in various spots in the park. J bought some for H to feed to them and was practically mauled in the process. It was really quite magical to see all the deer roaming about. H had a really wonderful time!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
More observations...
I`m not sure how much time I`ll have to blog since I`m waiting for a little party to start. We`ve been having a wonderful day touring around Osaka. We visited City Hall to see the view of Osaka from above, the Mozu Tumulus Cluster in Sakai, the location of the first incense maker in Osaka followed by a delicious Japanese meal. Now, we`re waiting for the children`s party to begin where J will be reunited with some of the children he used to teach five years ago. H has been writing letters to some of them, as well, so there will be all kinds of exciting interactions going on!
I forgot to mention two very important items under the list of observations yesterday:
1. The hottest look for men seems to be this glam rock look - feathered, teased and dyed hair with very skin tight jeans (not the Euro-style skinny pants but those reminiscent of the 80`s or early 90`s).
2. Toilets here are very sophisticated.
3. I am really loving Osaka.
For those of you that know me well, you`ll know that I have an affinity for good plumbing and comfortable `seating`. Forget about the beautiful flushing toilets of Scandinavia, the thrones here are certainly worthy of their royalty. I`ve never seen so many legends with cute little outlines of bums getting sprayed and colorful buttons. My personal favorite has been the unexpected heated seat at the internet cafe (oh, so cozy!). The toilet at the place we`re staying at has all kinds of fancy buttons and a faucet goes off at the top of it where a tiny sink lies so people can cleanse their hands. Also noteworthy is the fact that the toilets are in separate rooms from the bathroom. And don`t even get me started about the bathrooms! They are magificent! (Post to follow - complete with pictures!)
Okay, time to go. The kids are starting to arrive!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Osakaaaah ♥
Hello friends and greetings from Osaka! I still can`t believe we`re here! It seems so surreal being here. I wish I could upload some photos to show you what we`ve been up to but my laptop is dead and the place we`re staying at only has two-prong outlets. Right now, we`re in the middle of Shinsaibashi at an internet cafe. Shinsaibashi is a shopping district of covered walkways and corridors filled with many shops. It`s a consumer`s paradise! There are vendors shouting in crazy high-pitched voices trying to get you in their stores and colorful signs everywhere. Big departments stores anchor the corners of the corridors. My favorite so far is LOFT. We`ve only been to one floor - the stationery section - but it was absolute heaven! The greeting cards here are gorgeous and plentiful. The pens and papers are sumptious! ♥ We`ve also been to a hundred yen shop which had many lovely stationery sets. Ahhh...
Of course, there has been so much more to this trip than shopping. The other night, J`s friend, Megumi, took us to an incredible Japanese restaurant along with three other women from her English circle. The place was amazing - it resembled an old Japanese farmhouse with several little rooms (both small and large) with all sorts of antiquities decorating it. The structure was made of wood and very rustic. There were shelves all along the corridors which had crafts made by local artisans available for purchase - jewelry, items made from washi paper with Japanese brush painting, cute little hair bobbles and miniature food items (like cake slices and sushi) to name a few. In each room was a telephone to call in your order or to make a request. There was an abundance of food but in very manageable portions. It was like having a taste of everything. Each of us had little cast iron pots with burners underneath to heat up some of our food. I don`t even know what I was eating half the time but it was all very delicious. I`m not eating any meat or dairy but it seems to somehow sneak its way into the dishes I order.
Yesterday, we were invited to an English circle party by Megumi. I wasn`t sure what to expect from this event and it was truly something that you couldn`t predict. The party was held in a private room in some shopping mall. There were people greeting everyone at the entrance and we had to fill out name tags. The founder of this particular group was at the entrance and introduced herself to us. Apparently, this group started 14 years ago and now has around 50 plus regular members. The event started with the emcee passing around the microphone so everyone present could introduce themselves. There was a handful of non-Japanese guests from all over the globe including Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, China, France, Brazil and Canada. After the round-robin, there was all kinds of entertainment including traditional Chinese singing and a Jazz routine by Megumi. At one point, there was an intermission for everyone to mingle and have something to eat. It was a little insane - J was swarmed like he was some kind of celebrity and there was made email and business card exchanging. The most unexpected part of the event was when a game of bingo broke out - complete with wrapped prizes (one of which was some fancy toilet paper which was later given to us by one of the attendees). What an experience!
I only have a few minutes left on here since J & H are hungry and getting a bit anxious to keep moving. Before signing off, I wanted to share some observations I`ve made about Japan:
1. There is some mad high-heel action going on.
2. It`s not as expensive as everyone says it is (we`ve yet to experience the rumored $20 watermelons).
3. I`ve never seen so many wobbly legs before.
4. Auburn hair is really popular here.
5. I ♥ UNIQLO.
6. It`s hotter than hell here.
7. The Japanese are the kindest and friendliest people I`ve ever met.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Sayonara
We leave for Japan this morning! I still can't believe it - I'll probably be saying this the whole time I'm there! It's hard to imagine what my surroundings will be like when I wake up tomorrow...
I'll let you know. Until then, have a nice day!
[I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!! WHEEEEEE!]
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Happy Anniversary!
Today is our two year anniversary of living here in Toronto.
Happy Anniversary, My Loves. xoxo
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Frazzled
I googled 'vintage frazzled' and found this picture. Strange. Sexist. Smile worthy.
I'm starting to feel frazzled that we're leaving so soon. Actually, it began earlier, last week, when I finally wrote down a list of things that I wanted to accomplish before going to Japan. Okay, okay, I know...the 'list people' out there are probably snickering at how late in the game I chose to create mine but I'm sure it will all get done but not without this self-induced frenzy I like to put myself in.
I have little annoying things that I need to do like laundry, putting together a little first aid kit (do you know how to say anti-diarrhea in Japanese?), cleaning, organizing my list of addresses for postcards (this is done - I just need to print it out), having breakfast with a friend and getting my teeth cleaned on Tuesday.
Right now, my biggest challenge is getting gifts together for our friends in Japan. It's a delicate artform this 'omiyage'(translation: the art of gift giving). I don't want to put myself to shame in this regard because I do really enjoy getting things for people that have been chosen thoughtfully on a regular basis, let alone presents that may represent the country I live in.
Further to this, I'd like to make a nice selection of cards made from my vault of handmade papers, ephemera, etc. tucked into an envelope made from recycled hostel maps that came to our office, mysteriously.
Oh yes, and then there's the packing. What to bring? I consider this to be quite important as it'll contribute to the aesthetic of our photos. Also, it's apparently more humid and hotter than summertime in Toronto! (I actually love this kind of weather) It sure beats freezing our toes off when we first arrived in Copenhagen last summer. This is after my husband advised us that Scandinavia would be absolutely hot and beautiful (perhaps, he meant the people?). We were grossly underdressed (but not scantily clad) and I wanted to buy mittens on our first day (but still had the most amazing trip of a lifetime!). All this to say, it'll be sweltering out. Excellent (I mean this in a good way). Now, to find visually appealing and sweatproof gear. Hmmm...
My favorite part of packing? Forget about the luggage that I'll be filling with my every day ensembles and skivvies, I'm more concerned about what I'll be bringing in my carry-on for the 18 hour flight (we'll stop in Vancouver, briefly). This is the part I love doing and what I take particularly careful consideration over. Which pens? Reading materials? Snacks? Breath fresheners? This is vital, people. It's all about feeling comfortable during the flight and not focusing on the hours spent staying in one place for so long. As per usual, I'll have a pile of letters to read and a fresh new journal. (Sweet) I'll have my laptop with me, as well. Mostly for blogging and uploading photos when we get there but I'll also bring some classic 80's movies for the flight, just in case...
I'm also preparing the little one's carry-on of goodies and have already wrapped some things that she can open througout the flight. The items are things that she can work on like Mad Libs or an activity book or some little craft...OR something frivolous like a sweet or some little novelty item. The whole plan is to keep her happy and occupied. I just have to make sure there aren't any knock-knock jokebooks that sneak their way in or travel Yahtzee. (How she loves her Yahtzee)
As for my husband's carry-on, well, I am forbidden to put anything in it. He loves to travel light so his knapsack is almost completely empty save a notebook, pen, iPod and wallet.
[And yes, he does think I'm crazy]
While all of this is happening - I still have a half day of work on Monday, my Mom flew in from Winnipeg for a surprise visit lastnight, the in-laws are in town for the weekend (meaning: visiting & dinner) and I need to get my profiles ready to go for What's Your Story? (Make sure you log on to blogTo every Monday and Thursday, folks!).
I hope it doesn't sound like I was complaining...I'm actually incredibly thrilled and grateful that we're going. If this is the worst kind of frenzy I experience, I should be so lucky. I just needed to share my thoughts on this today (and secretly, I wanted to use that cheesy picture above).
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