Friday, July 18, 2008

nature thursday

Thursday, I packed myself some lunch and headed to Banpaku Koen, this was the site of the World Fair in 1970.

From our place it is about 15 minutes by monorail. I've heard that this monorail system is the most expensive in Japan. From our place to the park it costs 360 yen (about US$3.60).

When I got to the park, there was no one there...I realized I was really early (half an hour early). Luckily, there was shade to wait for the gates to open.

There were photographers out in full force. As soon as the gates opened it was literally "a race" to see who could get there first and get a good positioning.
Luckily, the place is so huge that you really can't get in someone's way.

After sweating it out for an hour or so, I decided to get into the shade and have my lunch. What did I pack? A deconstructed spam musubi--rice on the bottom, a thin layer of egg, spam seasoned with mirin, shoyu and sugar, tsukemono, furikake & some leftover orzo salad. It was nice to sit under the shade and enjoy the view.

It was a very hot day, but very nice to be close to nature.

Hope you have a great weekend!

13 comments:

La Tartine Gourmande said...

Sounds just like a delightful day!

K and S said...

Thanks Bea :)

Take care.
Kat

Jenster said...

I love the colors in your photos and your lunch sounded delicious. Such a nice change from the sub sandwiches my kids and I end up packing all the time for trips to parks and zoos.

Rowena said...

The gardens...so cool. I'd like to get out to the villa gardens in Como but with the dogs (or I should say with the new misbehaving doxie...) :(

The korean paste that I have is this. I added some to a stirfry of chicken strips and veggies last night and it was good!!!!! I was hoping that it could be used for kimchi but haven't found a recipe that uses it.

bourgogne said...

woah, that flower looks like some sort of manju. good enough to eat and pretty too.

it's good to connect to nature as often as possible. imagine, some people never do. how sad is that?

K and S said...

Thanks Jenster, I sometimes wish I could get cold cuts here to make sub sandwiches/sandwiches here.

Aww Mr B...gochujang is the same as kochujang (different spelling depending on the area, I think), Rowena. I usually use it in bi bim ba/bi bim kook soo or dilute with shoyu for fritters. Next time you go home, buy the kimchi no moto (by momoya), you can have kim chee flavored stuff, like fried rice :) or even make your own kim chee with it.

that is really sad that some people don't try to connect more with nature, bourgogne. if the ride to the park weren't so expensive, I think I would hang out here more often :)

take care everyone.
kat

Anonymous said...

The middle of those flowers almost look like some kind of fancy dessert! I love these kinds of outings that you go on. :)

K and S said...

Thanks Lori, Satoshi thought the middle of the flower looked like a dessert too :)

Take care.
Kat

KirkK said...

Hi Kat - You took such beautful photos!

2kamuela47 said...

What a beautiful day! Glad you had time to explore the outdoors. Have a great weekend!

K and S said...

Thanks Kirkk & Laura :)

Take care you two.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

Loved the photos--so beautiful. It looks like a wonderful place to visit.

K and S said...

Deb, it was a nice place but the humidity kind of made it sauna-like.

Take care.
Kat