Life in Japan

Rorey!!!!!!!!!!

vanalee — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:13:23 +0000

Leigh, Rorey and Andrew

Rorey’s adoption was finalized today. We are all so happy that she is officially ours! We can’t wait to see them Friday morning.

Prada architecture

vanalee — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:15:19 +0000

The Prada building in Aoyama is quite amazing.

Fall or heat?

vanalee — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:07:27 +0000

When I saw this ivy covered wall, my first reaction was that fall is coming. Then I remembered that most of the leaves around Tokyo don’t really change until November. The leaves must have died from the heat. I have felt like I was going to die from the heat all week.

Saturday’s Outing

vanalee — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:04:56 +0000

Yesterday we took a train two hours each way to visit a friend in a hospital. It was good to see so much improvement in him. As we got out of the city I was hopeful that it would be cooler. The train was gradually climbing and my ears even popped. I could see mountains in the distance. Cooler temperatures were not to be. It was as hot there as it is in Tokyo. Here are some photos I took. All but the first one is from the train.

This is where we went

Arisugawa Summer

vanalee — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:22:03 +0000

I often post photos that show the seasons in Arisugawa park. This is the park across the street from my apartment, an oasis in this middle of this metropolis. I cannot remember if I have posted any of summer in the park before. I don’t especially enjoy the park in the summer. Everything is green with a haze that comes from the high heat and humidity. Today I realized that the park in the summer is not so much about what can be seen, but instead it’s about the sounds. Screeching cicadas, crows cawing and the song of birds are the sounds of Arisugawa in summer. There is something about the sound of a million cicadas that just makes me hot.

A perfect thing to do in the park on a hot summer day

Ginza

vanalee — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:12:10 +0000

One of the most popular shopping areas in Tokyo is the Ginza.

Embassies

vanalee — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:35:22 +0000

The neighborhood I live in is home to many embassies. The ones I can think of right away are Qatar, Madagascar, China, Germany, France, Pakistan, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Romania and the newest is Algeria. Last month I posted about the scaffolding and netting that completely cover new buildings from view while they are under construction. I was quite surprised when the new Algerian Embassy was unveiled. The details are Islamic which is not something I’ve seen in Tokyo. It is really a beautiful building in a neighborhood where most of the buildings are boring and very much the same.

Algerian Embassy Tokyo

Azabu Juban Festival

vanalee — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:31:33 +0000

Matsuri Banner

This morning on my bike ride I noticed the festival banners lining the streets of Azabu Juban. I realized that while we were traveling this month we once again missed the Azabu Juban Matsuri (festival). I do love this banner, though. Maybe we’ll be here next year.

Art in a foyer

vanalee — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:31:24 +0000

The long narrow entry to an apartment building displays the works of an artist. The entry is open 24 hours a day. This morning, after passing by frequently, I decided to have a look around.

Each of the stone figures in the photo above has a face and looks like the images in the paintings.

Then there was a box of the stone images. I think everything is for sale but since I can’t read Kanji I am not sure what the prices are or how to go about purchasing anything. I guess I would have to go back later in the day than 6am.

Koz Cafe

vanalee — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:50:51 +0000

Our friends, the Basnayaka’s, invited us to have dinner with them at their restaurant in Shibuya, The Koz Cafe. Thilak is the chef. He was formerly the Executive Chef at the Danish Embassy in Tokyo and Saudi Arabia. The food is Scandinavian with hints of his native Sri Lankan cuisine. In addition to the restaurant he has a catering business.

The food was amazing! We started with a chilled carrot and red pepper soup. Followed by a shrimp cocktail with the unusual additional of watermelon, it was delicious. The next course was a wonderful salad of mixed greens. This was followed by a spicy Sri Lankan chicken curry topped with a rice ball and a coconut topping, so good. The next plate included slices of delicious meat on a fruity red sauce accompanied by roasted potatoes and flavorful spinach. Dessert was a tart/cake topped with crunchy chocolate sauce.

It was a fabulous meal with our wonderful friends, Thilak, Chandrani, Prasad and Mayumi. If you are ever in Shibuya drop in for lunch or dinner. They are located at 1-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku.