Monday, 18 September 2006

Yesterday we went to Ota. I have no idea what is actually in Ota except for a big shopping centre as it was bucketing down rain and the whole point of us driving all the way to Ota was to visit said big shopping centre. As far as shopping centres go, it wasn't that big, but I suspect it was reasonably big for Japan. But it was worth the drive as we located a big book store with more than the usual selection of English language books (the usual selection being the apparently de riguer copies of Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham and the ubiquitous Dan Brown selection).

These are the books I bought in Ota.

I was pleased to pick up a couple of books that I've wanted to read for a while - the Zadie Smith book and the Haruki Murakami book. I was also pleased to find another Paul Auster book that I haven't read yet. The Bill Bryson book was a birthday present for Buster that he is already enjoying (or so he says). I've never read it but I listened to the audio book last year and I loved it. I've just finished reading the Robert Goddard book "Sight Unseen" and it was pretty good. Essentially, if you've read one Robert Goddard book, you've read them all but they are an enjoyable way to spend a rainy day (luckily today was rainy).

We also came across an imported food store that housed a treasure trove of edible delights - the most exciting of which was Terry's Chocolate Orange (Dark Chocolate). If you've never had a Terry's Chocolate Orange - you are seriously missing out on one of life's joys. It's pretty much orange flavoured chocolate but it's orange flavoured chocolate that has transcended this world of pain, agony and inferior chocolate treats. It is the chocolate that Buddha himself would eat.

Terry's Chocolate Orange.

Then you open the box, remove the "orange", bang it on the table, unwrap ...

Voila.

And look - each segment is molded to look like a real orange segment! Sheer genius.

So I've managed to restrain myself and only eat a tiny bit so far but I dare say that my resolve will rapidly crumble and I'll be travelling to Ota again in the not to distant future.

Tuesday, 12 September 2006

I've received a couple of excellent presents in the mail recently and thought I'd share them. Most recently, the lovely Tracey sent me a packet of Ginger Nut biscuits with a new picture drawn by her little girl, Charlotte, in commemoration of Charlotte's recent Harry Potter themed birthday party.

The best biscuits in all of Christendom. Yes, even better than Tim Tams. And that's a big call to make.

Early in the year I also received some Easter cards from Mark's nephew and neices.

Aren't they lovely? Thanks Riley, Maddison, Laura and Jessica. The top picture was drawn by Charlotte.

Maddison also painted me this picture and gave it to Mark to bring to Japan for me.

The flower that Maddi painted and Charlotte's Harry Potter picture on display.

But the best gift of all was from the Invisible Lizard who sent me a copy of Freddy and Fredricka. I read it and I loved it.

Thank you again Lizard.

Saturday, 9 September 2006

By special request and for MC Etcher:

"10 Things I hate about Japan"

10. The only place one can buy baked beans is in Tokyo. That sucks.

9. Fruit is too expensive. I can buy bananas but apples are about $2 each. I refuse to pay that much for a substandard, floury-tasting apple.

8. The speed limit on main roads is 50 km/hr. The speed limit on the expressway is 80 km/hr. This drives me crazy because I am incredibly impatient and it takes forever to get anywhere.

7. Bowing. I am sick to death of frigging bowing.

6. The humidity in summer is hideous. It's like living in one of those dome things they have at the botanic gardens.

5. I hate that in Japan I have freakishly large feet and it's nearly impossible to buy shoes other than sneakers.

4. Nearly everyone in Japan smokes and I hate sitting next to smokers in restaurants.

3. The dogs in Japan hate me. I've probably found about 4 dogs since I've been that have let me pat them without threatening to remove my hand with their teeth.

2. That I can't speak Japanese and therefore answer people when they ask me a question.

And the number one Thing I Hate About Japan

1. Everything frickin beeps all the time. The washing machine beeps when you turn it on and when it's finished, the microwave keeps beeping until you open the door, the car beeps if you turn the lights on, don't shut the door probably, reverse or leave the keys in the iginition, the photocopier beeps incessantly and I can't figure out why. The beeping is probably what will drive me over the edge and I'll end up running screaming down the street in my pajamas. Watch the international headlines folks.

Wednesday, 30 August 2006

Today we went to Tsumago which is a few hours from Matsumoto. Tsumago is a little village in the Kiso Valley that has been designated by the government as a protected area for the preservation of traditional buildings. So there are no power lines or tv aerials to mar the streetscape. Although, in true Japanese fashion, as you cross the bridge to enter the village, all the tv aerials and power lines are clearly visible because they've just run them all along the back of the village. But it's a nice little place.

Here's a picture of the street in Tsumago.

I like this photo although the mist that was coming in makes everything look a bit murky.

Some of the markers in the little cemetery.

We stayed the night in Tsumago in a little minshuku which is slightly less flash than a ryokan (more like a western B&B). That being said, the dinner and breakfast were really nice.