Monday, March 31, 2008

Curry flavored soda? / カレーラムネ?

Everytime I come across a strange snack or soda, I'm one of those people who has to try it. This time what caught my eye was this curry flavored soda pop. This company also produces a wasabi flavored soda too. And an even spicier curry flavored one. The taste? Hmm, the soda does give off a scent of curry but as to how it taste. It isn't terrible...but then again, I wouldn't say it's delicious either. But it makes for a great blog post. Maybe I will have to try the wasabi and spicy curry flavors too.

いつも変ったお菓子や飲み物が出るたんびに、自分がどうしても食べるか飲みたくなるんだ。今回僕が目をつけたのはカレーラムネ。この会社はわさびラムネと激辛カレーラムネも販売している。味?瓶を開けたら、確かにカレーの香りがする。味はですね、う~んと悪くはない。。。でもやっぱり美味しいとも言えない。でもブログのネタには持ってこいだな。今度わさびと激辛ラムネも飲んでみようかな?

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Eric's Burger / エリックス・ハンバーガー



This is my favorite hamburger shop in Tokyo (so far). It's called Eric's Burger and is located in my neighborhood. As you can see, it's located in a residential area so it isn't easy to find. Oh, but the burgers here are just heaven. For lunch, I ordered the "Cowboy's Cheeseburger" which includes onion rings in the toppings. Mikako ordered the "Popeye Cheeseburger" which is topped with spinach instead of lettuce. The buns this shop uses is just so light and fluffy, if you eat here, you won't want to go to McDonald's, Burger King, or Wendy's to get your burger fix.

ここは東京で私の大好きなハーンバーガ屋です。うちの近所にあって、エリックス・バーガーとゆう店です。写真で見ればわかると思うが、場所は住宅街にあるので、結構見つかりずらい。でも、ここのバーガーは最高ですよ。今回私が注文したのは「カウボイ・チーズバーガ」、トッピングにオニオンリングが入ってる。美香子がいつものの「ポパイチーズバーガ」を注文した。中にはレタスじゃなくて、ほうれん草が入ってます。使われてるパンも柔らくて美味しい。ここのバーがを食べたら、やみつきになりますよ。絶対マックやバーガーキングは行けなくなります。


Doesn't that look delicious? If I wasn't diabetic I would order two!!

美味しそうでしょ?糖尿じゃなければ、二個頼んでたよ!!

Not only are the burgers great here, the side order of onion rings is some of the best I've had in a long time. The onion is lightly battered and doesn't fall apart like the one's served at Burger King.

バーガーも美味しいが、サイドメニューも結構いけてますよ。この店で食べたオニオンリングはどこよりも旨いですよ。ついてる衣がバーガーキングと違って、簡単に崩れない。

いただきます!!

We decided to have lunch again at Eric's Burger so I thought I would add more pictures to this post. I wanted to a picture of the entrance so you would get a better idea of what the shop is like. Mikako once again ordered her usual Popeye Cheeseburger. I decided to order the lunch special which consisted of a Malibu Chicken Burger with a side order of chili. We also had onion rings again too. Check below for the Malibu Cheeseburger and check out the new pictures too.

今日またランチを食べにエリックスバーガーに行きました。新しい写真を更新しました。今度は入口のほうを撮った。美香子がいつもと同じく、ポパイチーズバーガーを注文して、僕は今日のランチスペシャルを注文した。今日のスペシャルはマリブチキンバーガーとチリビーンズ。オニオンリングもまた食べました。下記にマリブチキンバーガーをアッップしまた。



Mm-mm, that was good!
ごちそうさまでした!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

A Walk around Shoin Jinja / 松陰神社の散歩



This is my local market street that Mikako and I enjoy wandering around. This is where the Indian restaurant I wrote about recently is located. There was also a small Tunisian Bar & Restaurant called Berber which my friends and I went to once and indulged in smoking a hookah, the huge pipes for smoking herbs. There is also a cute little cafe called Lotta that serve some delicious homemade desserts.



ここはうちの近くの松陰神社商店街。この辺歩くの好きですな。この間のインドレストランのポストもこの商店街にある。バーバとゆう小さなチュニジアバーもあります。友達と一回だけ行ったことがあって、そこでフッカとゆう水パイプでハーブを吸った。カフェーロッタとゆう可愛い店もあって、そこの手作りデザートは最高。



I ordered myself the white chocolate cheesecake (in the foreground), while Mikako ordered a caramel banana cake and they where both delicious.

僕が注文したのはホワイトチョコのチーズケーキで美香子がキャラメル・バナナケーキを頼んだ。両方とっても美味しかった。

Friday, March 28, 2008

Tunisia & Switzerland / チュニジア・スイス


You will have to forgive me for the quality of the pictures as these are pictures of the pictures I took before I had my handy digital camera. The originals are much more in focus (obviously). Anyway, this was my fourth and last overseas trip with my friend 21ban. He got married not too long after this trip. I like picking places that aren't on most people's top ten list of vacation spots and this time proved no different. We decided to head to the North African country of Tunisia. It would be our first time setting food on the African continent. As there are no direct flights from Tokyo to Tunis, we flew by way of Zurich, Switzerland. The picture above is from the coastal town of Sidi Bou Said and yes, that is the Mediterranean Sea you're looking at.
申し訳ございませんが、写真の写りが悪いのはデジカメで写真の写真を撮ったからです。オリジナルの方がもっと綺麗に写ってます(当たり前か)。この旅行は友達の21番と四回目で最後の旅でした。そのあと、彼が結婚したもんで。。。私達がいつも行く場所は一般の人のトップテンにも入らないところばっかりです。ラオスとか、ボルネオ島のコトキナバルとか。この時の旅先はチュニジアでした。初めてのアフリカ大陸に立つ。東京から直行便がないので、スイスのチューリッヒ経由で行きました。上記にある写真はチュニジアの港町のシディブサイド、写ってる海は地中海です。


On our way to Sidi Bou Said, we stopped in took look at the Roman Ruins in Carthage, even though 21ban has no interest in history or World Heritage Sites. And we had to have some cous cous while in North Africa. We decided to have lunch at this outdoor cafe in Sidi Bou Said. Here's 21ban having his after meal smoke.

シディブサイドに行く前に、カルターゴのロマ帝国の遺跡を見に行きました。21番は歴史か世界遺産には興味ないんですけどね。チュニジアに居るから、定番のクスクスも食べないと。ランチはこのアウトドアカフェーに決定。21番が食後のタバコの一本。


But before we even made it to Tunisia, we spent a day or so in Zurich, Switzerland. We haven't been gone from Japan all that long but we ended up going to a place that advertised itself as the "Best Sushi in Town". I couldn't believe we all the way out here in Europe and the beer 21ban orders is a Kirin!!

でもチュニジアに行く前にスイスのチューリッヒに一泊しました。日本から離れてそんなに時間が立ってないのに、なぜか寿司のレストランに行きました。「ベスト・スシ・イン・タウン」の看板の宣伝もありました。ヨーロッパに居るのに、21番がキリンビールを頼んだのは信じられない!




And since we're in Switzerland, we had to go out for some cheese fondue!! And we had to wash it down with beer of course!! Bon Apetite!
で、スイスに居るから、定番のチーズフォンデュも食べないと。もちろんビールと一緒。ボンアペティ!


Maybe next time I'll post pictures of the Medina in Tunis and the various mosaics from the Bardo Museum.

次回はチュニスの観光名所のメディナとバルド美術館のモザイクの写真でもポストしようかな。

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Ern's Dream Car / 夢の車


Here is a mini of my dream car. This model is a 1965 Ford Mustang. My actual dream car is the 1967 convertible where the tail-lights curve inwards. Unfortunately, my first real car was a total junker that my brother talked me into buying. It never ran either. The first car I bought though was a little red Toyota that I called the Hell Mobile. It used to give off a cloud of white smoke whenever I started it up. I think it died a slow painful death when I sold it to a friend of mine who didn't even have a driver's license!!

これは俺(あっ、失礼)私の夢の車、ミニカー。このモデルは1965のフォード・ムスタング。本当に欲しかったモデルは1967のオーペンカー。残念ながら、自分の最初の車は兄貴の説得でボロイやつを買ってしまた。全然走れなかったよ! 次の車は赤いダッツンでヘル・モビル(地獄車だよ)と名付けられた。なぜなら、エンジンをかけると白い煙がいつも出てた。あの車は静かに、苦しんで、死んだ。500ドルで無免許の友達に売った。

Monday, March 24, 2008

ALL NEW VISUAL VICTUALS (Volume 3)

*申し訳ございませんが、本と映画に関するポストは日本語書き込みません。

Sorry, no Japanese translations for my movie and book reviews. But I watched quite a few films so I thought it was time for another "Visual Victuals" essay. Mikako and I haven't been to the theaters since watching the "Earth" documentary. But I must admit, I've been watching some really bad movies!! But no worries, it's not like I'm spending money on rentals - most of the flicks I've been watching were promotional copies. Okay, so I'm cheap. At least I have fun watching them. In fact, I'm watching a really bad movie right now from 1987. It's "The Pick-Up Artist" with Molly Ringwald and Robert Downey, Jr. So what have I watched? Just read on and be entertained:



1. CAKE (2005) - Standard, predictable rom-com starring Heather Graham. Free spirit travel writer Pippa wants to help her father's failing magazine which happens to be a bridal mag, but her first issue which thinks is innovative and on the edge turns out to be a total disaster. For one thing, she doesn't believe in marriages, weddings, or wedding magazines. But she slowly finds herself falling in love. Sorry, it's a chick-flick all the way. Kind of cute though.



2. THE OH IN OHIO (2006) - This was funnier than "Cake", a little more risque too. Just so I've informed you all, the "Oh" in the title refers to an orgasm!! A woman who has been married for ten years has never had an orgasm. Her husband thinks he's a failure which leads him to having an affair while the wife discovers the joys of a vibrator, which she then becomes addicted to. By the way, Danny DeVito actually gets the girl!!



3. 無認可保育園 歌舞伎町 ひよこ組 (2007) - Yep, long title. This is what the Japanese characters say: [MUKYOUKA HOIKUEN: KABUKICHO HIYOKO GUMI] which then translates to something like [UNLICENSED DAY-CARE IN KABUKICHO: HIYOKO-GUMI] -
Do you all remember Arnold Scwharzeneggar's "Kindergarten Cop"? Well, this is kind of Japanese version on the same theme, but it's a Yakuza boss that becomes the primary care-taker for a group of kids whose parents cannot afford any other day care. Silly but cute.



4. NO RESERVATIONS (2007) - Uh-oh, it's another chick-flick, this time starring Catherine Zeta Jones (and not her butt!!). Jones plays the head chef of an upscale restaurant. When her sister and niece our on their way to visit, they have an accident. The sister dies and her will states that Jones is to be her daughter's legal guardian. Jones has to deal with being a mother to a elementary school age kid and also has to deal with a new chef who has filled in for her while she took a leave of absence. New guy wants to work with head chef but she thinks he's just after her job. And I imagine you can guess the rest. She falls in love with him, they have a fight, they get back together, blah, blah, blah. It's still a feel good movie though. One to watch with your significant other.



5. CRANK (2006) - Damn, this is a fun movie! It's one long action ride it's entire length. Released as "Adrenaline" in Japan and stars Jason Statham (I think he's my new favorite action star). Statham wakes up and finds that he's been injected with something called a Beijing Cocktail which means if he doesn't keep a constant flow of adrenaline going through his body, he will die! And before that can happen, he chases the bad guys who have done this too him. Excellent!! (but only for action movie fans!!).



6. THE BLACK DHALIA: CASE REOPENED (1999) - Okay, I thought it was a sample of the movie but turned out to be a television documentary. Still, it was quite interesting. I really don't feel the need to watch the Hollywood adaption of James Ellroy's novel as I have read that as well.



7. ヅラ刑事 (2006) [ZURA KEIJI], and has an English title called [THE RUG COP] - This is a really bad and silly movie about a cop who uses his hair-piece as a weapon. Starring popular Japanese television talent Fuyuki Moto.

8. PERFECT CREATURE (2006) - Very cool vampire movie from New Zealand. The world had nearly come to end but if not for the Alchemists, the human race would have become extinct. By an accident of nature, the Alchemists created a race of vampires called Brothers who have in termed saved humans from extinction. The world of the future is run by the Brothers who maintain a peaceful but fragile co-existence with humans. When a highly placed Brother is accused of biting a human, old prejudices are re-ignited pitting human against the Brothers. Excellent film.

9. THE FRESH DELI (2003) - A Danish film that's fairly similar to the French film "Delicatessen". Black comedy about a butcher and his apprentice who opens a shop but has no customers. One night as the butcher closes for the evening, he unknowingly shuts a repairman in the meat locker. He comes back the next day and finds the repairman's dead body and immediately calls his apprentice to figure out what to do with the body. The apprentice says he will think of something and help get rid of the body the following morning. But later that evening, a persistent customer wants to buy meat for a gathering he's having at his house. You guessed it, he cuts up the dead guy and sells the meat. The customer tells his friend what great meat there is at the new deli and soon the butcher has more customers than he knows what to do with and not enough meat to sell, so... Unfortunately, this movie was all in Danish with Japanese subtitles so it was a little hard for me to understand it all. Decent movie though.

10. PAYCHECK (2003) - The John Woo movie starring Ben Afleck based on a short story by Philip K. Dick. It was on the tube and I just had to watch it again.

11. ALL THE KING'S MEN (2006) - A remake of the 1949 film of the same title based on a novel by Robert Penn Warren which is also loosely based on the life of former governor of Louisiana, Huey Long, starring Sean Penn, Jude Law and Anthony Hopkins. I love films based on or inspired by true stories. Penn plays Willie Stark, a small town politician who has the support of the lower social class threatens the big boys in government who are pretty much run by Standard Oil, who then try to get Stark impeached. Very decent film.

12. イヌゴエ (2006) [INUGOE] - Only one episode of a silly television program. Talking dogs ya know. I think this was another one of those shows that aired late at night. Only for dog lovers.

13. TIRE A PART (1996) - Also known as "Limited Edition". Here's a film for book buffs. A hack action adventure writer tells an editor he has written "the novel". The best thing he's ever done and pleads the editor to read it. The editor reluctantly does so but discovers that the story seems to be about a woman he once loved who was raped and left for dead without the killer ever being caught. The editor believes that the writer of this novel is the killer of his former lover. The book is published and becomes a bestseller. But the editor, who is also an expert forger, sets up the writer to avenge the death of his lover. Excellent mystery suspense.

14. RESISTANCE (2003) - Run of the mill World War II fair about a pilot who crashes in a small rural town in Occupied Belgium. He is saved by members of the Resistance and falls in love a local woman. Fair.

15. ERASER (1996) - It was on t.v. and because I started watching it from the beginning, I had to watch the entire flick, but hey, it's an Arnie flick, never a dull moment. Of course, I think I've watched this maybe four or five times now.

16. THE MARSH (2006) - Released as "Lakeside" in Japan. Hm, not a bad movie. A blend of "Poltergeist" and "The Lady in White" starring Gabrielle Anwar and Forest Whitaker. A children's book writer has recurring nightmares and returns to the town of her childhood to face her demons. Very decent horror suspense flick.

17. STEPHEN KING'S DESPERATION (2006) - Made for television movie based on a Stephen King novel. Just okay. "The Shawshank Redemption" it isn't but it was better than the awful made-for-television movie "It" (which isn't saying much of course). Maybe King should just stick to writing novels.

18. DINOSAUR ISLAND (1994) - A genuine B-movie that's as bad as it's supposed to be with some featuring some of the best known Scream Queens in the business - Michelle Bauer, Griffin Drew, and Antonia Dorian. Lots of bare breasts, bad acting, ridiculous dialogue, and dinosaurs that looked like they were bought from a garage sale. How can you even rate films like this. You must just watch and enjoy. You have to love the tag line for this flick - "It's Just Like Paradise, Only Better Looking."

19. THE PICK-UP ARTIST (1987) - Very '80s and very bad with Robert Downey, Jr. and Molly Ringwald. It's so bad I'm not going to waste my breath on it. Did you all remember that Harvey Keitel and Dennis Hopper were also in this movie? It's so bad, it makes me want to watch "Sixteen Candles" and "Pretty in Pink" when Molly Ringwald was kind of cute.


That's all for now. I was actually going to watch another old Robert Downey, Jr. movie again tonight but Mikako and I ended up watching some special documentary on super doctors. One of the procedures presented was an angiogram. And since I just had one recently, it caught our attention. Fascinating stuff, the world of medicine.

Until next time.

Have fun at the movies and don't eat so much popcorn!!

Pino Lucky Piece / PINO で当たり


PINO ice cream cups comes in a package of six. It's been said that if you there is one shaped like a star, it's a lucky cup and you get to make a wish before eating it.


美香子がPINOで星形のやつ当たりました!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

A Walk around Soshigaya / 祖師ヶ谷の散歩

Sunday, March 23, (oh, I guess it would be Easter Sunday in the States), it was another beautiful day for a walk. Today we decided to walk around what's called Ultraman's Town (I bet my brother is jealous!). Okay, it wasn't we who decided but me, and my wife agreed because she knows I love Ultraman and all the spin-0ff shows it produced. We left our apartment around one in the afternoon, strolling along the walking trail where we came upon cherry blossom tree in full bloom.

日曜日、3月23日、(アメリカでイースターサンデイだ!) 今日も散歩日和の日だ。今回歩きまわる所はウルトラマンの街、祖師ヶ谷 (俺の兄貴はうらやましがるだろうな)。二人で決めたのではなくて、俺個人が行きたかっただけ。ウルトラマンが好きだったから。美香子が私の趣味をわかってるから文句言わずに、一緒に来てくれた。午後一時位に出掛けて、また緑道を歩きながら桜の木を見た。



I thought there was another type of cherry blossom tree to that I took a picture of but it turned out to be a plum tree.

また別の種類の桜もあったと思ったら梅の木でした。それでも写真を撮った。

















As we were headed to the bus stop - you didn't think we were going to walk to Soshigaya from our apartment did you? Although we could have. Anyway, we met up with my friend 21Ban and his wife and their two and half month old daughter, Rino-chan.
祖師ヶ谷まで歩けると思うが今回は三軒茶屋からバスにのって行った。行く前に偶然友達の21番夫妻と子供の梨乃ちゃんに会った。可愛いでしょ?




Once we reached Soshigaya, I had to take pictures of all the Ultramans I found:
祖師ヶ谷に着いたらあちこちのウルトラマンの写真を撮りまくった:
























After walking around Soshigaya and it's Ultraman Shoten-gai, we headed back home (by bus). It was nearing dinner time so we decided to eat at a ramen chain shop (because the price is really cheap) called Hinotaka. I ordered the tantan-men while Mikako ordered the regular chuka soba and we both ordered the garlic-filled gyoza. Delicious!!

ウルトラマン商店街を歩いた後、三茶に戻ってちょうど夕飯の時間でした。安くすまそうってことで日高というラーメン屋に行った。俺がタンタン麺を注文し、美香子は中華そば、あと二人でにんにく・にら入り餃子も注文した。とってもお美味しかったよ。




On our way back along the walking trail, I had to take another picture of some flowers because they just looked beautiful!

緑道歩きながら、綺麗な花を見て、またつい写真を撮った。




And so ends another day of walking.

それで散歩おしまい!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Another Saturday Night at Shibuya's Scramble Intersection



Just another Friday night at Shibuya's busiest intersection! Where did all these people come from?


土曜日、夜の渋谷スクランブル交差点!この人達どこから来たんだ??

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Inca Cola / インカ・コーラ

I finally got around to drinking the Peruvian cola. It was only when I poured it into a clear glass that I became aware of the writing below "Inca Cola", it says right there on the can, "The Golden Cola" - and this is what it looks like!!

この間の散歩の途中で買ったペルーのコーラやっと飲みました。透明のグラスに入れたら、INCA KOLAの文字の下に気づいた―「ザ・ゴルデン・コーラ」と書いてあるじゃん。だからこういう色だ!




Cheers

青汁 / Green Veggie Juice

Just in case you all think I eat too much because I keep writing about food, let me tell you that I also drink three small packs of this green veggie juice a day. It's supposed to be good for you. In fact, if you drink three packs a day, it's the equivalent of eating one head of lettuce, and also has a fair amount of calcium and magnesium. You can mix it with water, hot water, milk, or even add it to yogurt! And it really doesn't taste that bad!



俺がいつも食べ物ネタ書いてるから、健康に気を付けてないと思う人は大勢いるでしょ。でも、私は毎日アサヒ緑健青汁飲んでます。体に良いですよう。三袋を飲むと、サラダ菜一束分の食物繊維がとれるそうです。あと、カルシウムはめざし約6尾分とマグネシウムは生シイタケ約4個分。食べ方もいろいろ。水と混ぜたり、お湯、ミルク、ヨーグルトに混ぜても良いそうです。私最近そうやって食べてます。美味しいですよ!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Rock Bar Dokken Returns



Rock Bar Dokken has returned to life in it's third incarnation - this time in Akasaka. Actually, this third incarnation opened in May of last year, but it wasn't until this past Saturday that I finally went to check it out. It's located on the 5th floor of a fairly nice building.


I used to be a regular when it was located in Shibuya. In fact, if it wasn't for Dokken, I would have probably returned to the States years ago. It was this little bar that changed my life in Japan. From this little bar, I made many many friends, who introduced me to their friends and took me to other rock bars.


When the bar moved to Roppongi, I went maybe a total of three times. Anyway, it was quite refreshing to go to a rock bar. It seems Dokken-san has improved his menu too. In Shibuya, the only beers available were cans of Heineken and Budweiser. Here in Akasaka, you have a choice of five different kinds of beer. Here what I ordered:



Excellent German dark beer. An elder couple was sitting next to me and for some unknown reason they started speaking in English. So of course, I had to talk to them. It turns out the man was a doctor who specializes in cancer and the woman was his wife who works as a med-tech. He was a year older than my brother (49) and said he respects Eric Clapton. He also requested videos by Wishbone Ash and Cream.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Tsukumo Ramen / 九十九ラーメン


This morning, Mikako had her annual physical at 10:00am, which means she wasn't supposed to have any breakfast. The physical took about an hour so you can bet she was hungry when she was finished. With that in mind, we decided to go to Kyujukyu Ramen for lunch in Ebisu. This noodle shop is known for it's miso cheese ramen which of course I had to try.
*A reader has informed me of the correct reading of the kanji of this ramen shop - it is Tsukumo Ramen.


今日朝の十時、美香子が主婦検診を受けに行きました。検診は一時間程で終了しましたが、美香子は朝食抜きだったので、おなかがすいていた様です。て事で、今日は恵比寿にある九十九ラーメンに行きました。この店の名物は味噌チーズラーメン。それおどしても食べてみたかった。
*人がこの店の正しい読み方を教えてくれました。九十九と書いて、「つくも」と読むらしい。




The shop had a little sign that provided the correct way of eating this ramen. You were to let the cheese melt a little, then mix it with your ramen noodles to enjoy the flavor. I did this but instead of the cheese being interwined with the noodles, I ate it mostly with the bean sprouts. I think this would have tasted a lot better with less bean sprouts. Bowls of green onions, more bean sprouts, and karashi takana (a spicy leafy green vegetable) toppings were provided at the table and were free of charge.
店におすすめの食べ方ものサインもありました。チーズをちょっと溶かして、麺と絡めて召し上がれ。そのまま食べてみましたが、麺よりもやしの方に絡まってたので、もやしの量を減らしたほうがもっと美味しいと思うけどな (自分はもやしあんまり好きじゃないので)。テーブルにねぎ、もやし、と高菜のトッピングも置いたあって、好きなだけ入れられる。ま、でも美味しいかった。
And straying from the subject a bit, a belated birthday wish to my brother-in-law who has been reading my blog regularly - Happy Late Birthday Jun-kun!!
あとラーメンと関係ないですが、私のブログをいつも読んでくれてる義理の弟にお誕生日おめでとう。ちょっと遅くなってすみません。

Sunday, March 16, 2008

A Walk around Naka Meguro / 中目黒の散歩

It was a beautiful day for a walk. Today, we decided to walk to Naka Meguro and check out a sweet shop called Potager that recently had a lot of television coverage. A place I should take my sweet tooth of a father to. Why? Because the desserts made at this shop are made mostly with vegetables! Tomatoes, carrots, avocados, sweet potatoes, and Chinese cabbage just to name a few.

今日は散歩日和の日だったのでうちから中目黒の方まで歩こうと決めた。そこで話題になったスイーツショップ「ポタジエ」に行った。自分のお菓子好きのお父さんも連れて行ってあげたい。なぜと言えば、全てのスイーツは野菜で作られてるから!トマト、人参、アボカド(野菜じゃないけど)、さつま芋、白菜、等々。










Along the walking trail, we saw a bunch of frogs and koi. Mikako thought the frogs were pretty grotesque. I thought they were kind of cute.

緑道を歩きながら、蛙と鯉いっぱい見ました。美香子は蛙がキモイと言った。俺はちょっと可愛いと思ったけどな。触りたくないけど。


Also along the walking trail we also saw a papyrus bush - so this is what it looks like.

あと緑道でパピルスも見ました-こうゆう感じだったのか。

We finally made it to Potager where I ordered the green sponge cake with tomatoes while Mikako ordered a sweet potato tart.

ポタジエにたどり着いた。私が買ったのは「グリンショート・トマト」。小松菜入りのグリンスポンジにトマトがはさんだやつ。美香子が買ったのは「ヤキイモタルト」。両方美味しいですよ。





On our way back, we stumbled upon this cute little shop that sold goods from South America. Mikako was excited because they sold Ekeko dolls (Andean good fortune doll). And I couldn't resist the Inca Kola! (even though I haven't drunk it yet).

家に戻る途中で南米グッズを売ってる店を発見しました。エケッコ人形 (アンデス高地の福の神様の人形)があって美香子が超喜んでた。俺はペルのコーラが気になってたでつい買いました(まだ飲んでないけどね)。



Friday, March 14, 2008

WHITE DAY / ホワイト・デイ


Today is White Day so on my way home from work, I bought Mikako this cake. What is "White Day"? Well, here in Japan, Valentine's Day is a day when women buy or make chocolate for their someone special. I suppose they just wanted to be different from Americans. And so, the candy companies came up with another way to improve sales by creating "White Day" where the people who received chocolates on Valentine's Day, will reciprocate, making more money for all the candy makers.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

期間限定スナック / Limited Time Snack





Check this out, green tea chocolate with omochi. Available for only a limited time. I only bought a few today. If I were to buy a box (45 pieces to a box), Mikako would most likely eat them all in one night!!

今日これ4個買いました。45個入りの箱を買うと、美香子が一晩で全部食べる可能性があるので。


Doesn't it look delicious?

美味しそうでしょ?


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Pink Panther Cafe?




I was walking home from work one day when this bus caught my eye. As I took a closer look, the bus was advertising the opening of the Pink Panther Cafe. Really! Just check out the bus yourself.


Unfortunately, the cafe is open for a limited time and I didn't check the address of the place. But the bus makes a great picture doesn't it?


Monday, March 10, 2008

Introducing Rino / 梨乃ちゃん紹介



This is my friend's daughter Rino (pronounced Reno, like the city in Nevada). She was born on December 18, 2007. This picture was taken yesterday which makes her 2 1/2 months old. And yes, I have my friend's permission to post her picture.



この子は私の友人の娘梨乃ちゃん。生まれたのは平成19年12月18日。この写真は昨日撮ったので、今梨乃ちゃんは生後2ヶ月半。梨乃ちゃんの写真を載せるのは友人の許可を貰いました。




And here is Rino with her father, my friend 21ban (yes, that's a nickname).

梨乃ちゃんと梨乃ちゃんのお父さん、俺の友人の21番(あだ名です!)