Sorry I've been out of touch. I'm back in Kobe to get things organized and packed so that I can move to Tokyo. I've gotten a new job and will start on Valentine's Day. I'm very excited for a new start and all the new possibilities. Kobe seemed so small and delicate when I arrived two nights ago by plane. It's hard to compare the two but Tokyo has such a variety of places and people so you can never seem to become bored if you're people watching.
I know I said I'd take pictures but unfortunately none on my own camera and none of Tokyo itself so I'll try to do that as soon as I get settled and start to explore.
There's still a lot I have to sort here in Kobe so I don't the exact day that I'll be leaving Kobe for Tokyo but I'm enjoying Kobe for now.
The zodiac of Aquarius has already begun and Chinese New Year has also started. February carries both fun and not so fun memories for me. My birthday is this month. In Hawaii February was also a season of lots of rainfall. So when I was younger I never knew if the day of my birthday party would be sunny or rainy. Also, I was never too fond of Valentine's day after elementary school so the fact that it was near my birthday was sort of a bummer. As I became older it seemed so tacky and superficial with couples exchanging gifts of cheap chocolates and gifts or flower that would deteriorate. I would still make the effort give out those little Valentine's Day cards to close friends.
Valentine's Day is even more tacky here. On Valentine's Day girls give guys gifts, oftentimes handmade chocolates and then a month later on March 14th guys will return the gift on what is called 'White Day'. Much life Christmas it all seems too glorified, leaving out those who aren't part of a couple etc... I wish it would be like the days in elementary school when every classmate was given a card and also gave cards. Love isn't meant categorized and placed into chocolate molds and teddy bears. It's meant to be shared with everyone so that it can keep on giving.
Enough of my opinions. I can't believe January went by as quickly as it did. Things will gradually change in my life but I'm ready as I'll ever be.
Hope you all have a great week! Much love <3
February 2, 2011
January 19, 2011
Hello from Tokyo!
I'm in Tokyo! The weather is absolutely gorgeous. Clear blue skies with temperatures that are a little warmer than Kobe.
I arrived on Tuesday and may end up moving here. I'm here for a possible job. I'm very excited at the possibilities. In the last year or so I've made a lot of friends here and many friends from Kobe have moved here for work.
I'll be sure to take pictures so I can share more of Japan with all of you. With this weather it's the perfect environment for taking pictures.
Sorry for such a short post. Will update very soon :)
Have a wonderful day and week!
I arrived on Tuesday and may end up moving here. I'm here for a possible job. I'm very excited at the possibilities. In the last year or so I've made a lot of friends here and many friends from Kobe have moved here for work.
I'll be sure to take pictures so I can share more of Japan with all of you. With this weather it's the perfect environment for taking pictures.
Sorry for such a short post. Will update very soon :)
Have a wonderful day and week!
January 15, 2011
Sights and tastes of 2011
Just wanted to share a few things from this month and year. As I mentioned before 'osechi ryori' is a traditional meal you eat at New Years here. Here's one part of the 'osechi ryori' I had the delight in eating. This dish is 'kamaboko' or fish cake with shiso (known sometimes as the Japanese basil) and ikura or salmon-roe. I really liked the blend of textures and flavors. The firm, sweet fish cake combined with the savory flavor of the ikura with a finishing hint of shiso taste and aroma.
About a week after New Years is 'Ebisu-sann' or Ebisu festival. This is when many people go to shrines where Ebisu, a god known for business and prosperity.
Making my way to the shrine
I
I wish I had more to share but the first half of January has been quiet. Things will change, maybe drastically from here on out. Hope you are all enjoying food and sights that you love.
About a week after New Years is 'Ebisu-sann' or Ebisu festival. This is when many people go to shrines where Ebisu, a god known for business and prosperity.
Making my way to the shrine
I
I wish I had more to share but the first half of January has been quiet. Things will change, maybe drastically from here on out. Hope you are all enjoying food and sights that you love.
January 9, 2011
New Year
Sorry that I haven't been writing as frequently as I did in December. I seemed to have stumbled upon a writer's block of sorts. Also, I wanted to make sure to include pictures so I had to upload pictures from my camera first in order to do so.
Here are just a couple pictures from December in Kobe. The city isn't decorated for Christmas as much as one would hope, especially when it's such a beautiful city architecturally speaking. But I guess each city can't run a complete deficit with electricity. Especially if the energy for the lights aren't from alternative power sources.
Nonetheless, Kobe continues its annual tradition (ever since the Great Hanshin Earthquake) of a Luminaries show for two weeks in early December. Instead of candles in paper bags as often seen in the States, it is a whole street with many lights above your head. I missed it the last few years but Kobe tries to add its holiday charm.
Decoration in front of department store
Chinatown
Now that Christmas and New Years are over, it's back to the everyday life which are filled-at least for me-with attempts to keep my new year's resolutions. Have you made yours? My main focus is work. Currently it's a big 'lack' of work but I intend to turn that into a 'presence' of work. Good luck to all if you with your resolutions!
I'll keep this post short and I'm hoping to share more of what Kobe is and has to offer in the near future.
Here are just a couple pictures from December in Kobe. The city isn't decorated for Christmas as much as one would hope, especially when it's such a beautiful city architecturally speaking. But I guess each city can't run a complete deficit with electricity. Especially if the energy for the lights aren't from alternative power sources.
Nonetheless, Kobe continues its annual tradition (ever since the Great Hanshin Earthquake) of a Luminaries show for two weeks in early December. Instead of candles in paper bags as often seen in the States, it is a whole street with many lights above your head. I missed it the last few years but Kobe tries to add its holiday charm.
Decoration in front of department store
Chinatown
Now that Christmas and New Years are over, it's back to the everyday life which are filled-at least for me-with attempts to keep my new year's resolutions. Have you made yours? My main focus is work. Currently it's a big 'lack' of work but I intend to turn that into a 'presence' of work. Good luck to all if you with your resolutions!
I'll keep this post short and I'm hoping to share more of what Kobe is and has to offer in the near future.
January 1, 2011
MMXI
Happy New Year or 'Akemashite omedetou'!! Its' hard to believe it's already 2011!
Japan was one of the first few places for New Years to occur. Hawaii is one of the last so it's a very big difference between both. I got to wish my mother a happy new year via Skype when it became New Years in Hawaii:)
Culturally speaking New Years is a much bigger deal than Christmas. Many stores and businesses are closed for a few days allowing for the many Japanese to travel to their hometowns and spend time with family.
New Years is a time of lots of food which is probably the most exciting part. To bring in the New Year it is tradition to eat 'toshikoshi soba' or moving into the new year /year end noodles. Soba are buckwheat noodels and is thought to symbolize longevity because the noodles are long. Families prepare in advance for the food they'll eat on New Years day with 'osechi ryouri'. This food is placed in stackable lacquered boxes. Each dish has a symbolic meaning such as health, longevity and good harvest for the year. It is thought that this tradition came about because stores were closed for the new years holiday and famlies needed to make lots of food.
Below is a picture of typical 'osechi ryouri'.
Another dish that's prepared is 'ozoni' which is either miso soup or a clear broth with some vegetables and 'mochi' or rice cake. If it is prepared with miso then it is either white or red miso and some areas of Japan includes azuki beans.
Japanese people visit shrines or temples for their 'hatsumode' or first shrine visit within the first couples days of the new year, sometimes even right after the new year has begun as shrines ring bells to ring in the new year and many food stalls are set up a long the road to the shrine.
Besides, these festivities many people relax at home with their families, write new years cards,watch special tv shows and wish those they know a happy new year.
Recent temperatures here in Kobe have been a little bitter. Due to the humidity the air feels much colder than the actual temperature. Therefore while New Years is a time of celebration there are little reasons to want to step out into the cold besides these traditional festivities.
Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful New Year. May this year be filled with health and happiness for you all.
Japan was one of the first few places for New Years to occur. Hawaii is one of the last so it's a very big difference between both. I got to wish my mother a happy new year via Skype when it became New Years in Hawaii:)
Culturally speaking New Years is a much bigger deal than Christmas. Many stores and businesses are closed for a few days allowing for the many Japanese to travel to their hometowns and spend time with family.
New Years is a time of lots of food which is probably the most exciting part. To bring in the New Year it is tradition to eat 'toshikoshi soba' or moving into the new year /year end noodles. Soba are buckwheat noodels and is thought to symbolize longevity because the noodles are long. Families prepare in advance for the food they'll eat on New Years day with 'osechi ryouri'. This food is placed in stackable lacquered boxes. Each dish has a symbolic meaning such as health, longevity and good harvest for the year. It is thought that this tradition came about because stores were closed for the new years holiday and famlies needed to make lots of food.
Below is a picture of typical 'osechi ryouri'.
Another dish that's prepared is 'ozoni' which is either miso soup or a clear broth with some vegetables and 'mochi' or rice cake. If it is prepared with miso then it is either white or red miso and some areas of Japan includes azuki beans.
Japanese people visit shrines or temples for their 'hatsumode' or first shrine visit within the first couples days of the new year, sometimes even right after the new year has begun as shrines ring bells to ring in the new year and many food stalls are set up a long the road to the shrine.
Besides, these festivities many people relax at home with their families, write new years cards,watch special tv shows and wish those they know a happy new year.
Recent temperatures here in Kobe have been a little bitter. Due to the humidity the air feels much colder than the actual temperature. Therefore while New Years is a time of celebration there are little reasons to want to step out into the cold besides these traditional festivities.
Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful New Year. May this year be filled with health and happiness for you all.
December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve
Happy Holidays! It's almost Christmas for those of you that celebrate.
Christmas Eve is a much bigger deal here in Japan than Christmas Day. Couples and families exchange gifts, eat cake (usually strawberry shortcake) and fried chicken. I'm really not sure how some of these celebrations came about but probably not from religion since only about two percent of the population is Christian. This year Christmas falls on a weekend but otherwise no one would have the day off.
Culturally, New Year's is when families get together, people go back to their hometowns and large meals are prepared. So in a sense Christmas has become an event based on outside influences and New Year's is celebrated more like how Christmas would be spent in Western countries. I don't have any pictures to share but each year Kobe puts up lighting for a week and half or so for everyone to look at. It started the year of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. I managed to see it before it was lit which is kind of funny. Some areas of the city up with Christmas lights. Everyone has been out shopping and with the drop in temperature yesterday it feels much more like winter.
Anyhow, just wanted to drop in and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope to write again before the new year but I can't promise anything. Be safe and have fun. Best wishes into the new year:)
Christmas Eve is a much bigger deal here in Japan than Christmas Day. Couples and families exchange gifts, eat cake (usually strawberry shortcake) and fried chicken. I'm really not sure how some of these celebrations came about but probably not from religion since only about two percent of the population is Christian. This year Christmas falls on a weekend but otherwise no one would have the day off.
Culturally, New Year's is when families get together, people go back to their hometowns and large meals are prepared. So in a sense Christmas has become an event based on outside influences and New Year's is celebrated more like how Christmas would be spent in Western countries. I don't have any pictures to share but each year Kobe puts up lighting for a week and half or so for everyone to look at. It started the year of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. I managed to see it before it was lit which is kind of funny. Some areas of the city up with Christmas lights. Everyone has been out shopping and with the drop in temperature yesterday it feels much more like winter.
Anyhow, just wanted to drop in and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope to write again before the new year but I can't promise anything. Be safe and have fun. Best wishes into the new year:)
December 18, 2010
Winter chill
Brrrrr! It's getting cold here. Granted it's nothing compared to mountain areas, the Northeast of the States and Europe but it's definately not the temperate weather it once was. This will be my first winter in Kobe. Last winter I came often but still lived in Osaka where temperatures are slightly warmer. It's only a couple degrees but it makes a difference. I've already noticed a HUGE difference living here. The wind here is what really gets you. The weather forecast could say it's say 10 degrees Celsius which isn't bad, and it could be sunny but if that wind comes it will make you curse yourself for being so foolish and not wearing more clothes- that was me yesterday. It doesn't make it better when you ride a bicycle because you get somewhere faster but with you might arrive feeling frozen.
The great thing though about winters here in Japan are that, at least for this region, the number of days that the sun's out are far more than when i was living in Upstate NY. Apparently, the Syracuse area was number two after Seattle for most number of rainy and/or cloudy days. So I'm grateful that the sun likes to shine here and it can make the winter more bearable. For me personally, I prefer the cold to hot. Dry hot isn't bad but humid hot like here? No thanks!
Not sure how the weather is where you are but I have several friends in the UK trying to fly out for the holidays but are stuck due the large amount of snow. I would not like being in that position however, I'm very jealous of places that are nice and snowy for the Christmas season. More than anything this winter, yes even the fact that I can't be home in Hawaii for Christmas, is the fact that it doesn't snow. If it does, it's a mere flutter of flakes and would never snow enough to stick:( Please enjoy those outdoor snowy adventures for me and I'll live vicariously through you.
The great thing though about winters here in Japan are that, at least for this region, the number of days that the sun's out are far more than when i was living in Upstate NY. Apparently, the Syracuse area was number two after Seattle for most number of rainy and/or cloudy days. So I'm grateful that the sun likes to shine here and it can make the winter more bearable. For me personally, I prefer the cold to hot. Dry hot isn't bad but humid hot like here? No thanks!
Not sure how the weather is where you are but I have several friends in the UK trying to fly out for the holidays but are stuck due the large amount of snow. I would not like being in that position however, I'm very jealous of places that are nice and snowy for the Christmas season. More than anything this winter, yes even the fact that I can't be home in Hawaii for Christmas, is the fact that it doesn't snow. If it does, it's a mere flutter of flakes and would never snow enough to stick:( Please enjoy those outdoor snowy adventures for me and I'll live vicariously through you.
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