Friday, April 08, 2011

more virtual hugs


I'm glad I got my sakura walks in, yesterday was overcast and then after lunch it was sunny but very very windy, not very good weather to look at cherry blossoms.

On another note, My friend Nami of Just One Cookbook, just gave me many virtual hugs.

I won't pass this one on, but I will tell you 7 new things about me.

1. Really enjoy the cafe culture in Japan but dislike the noisy chatter, ruins the relaxing mood.
2. I've realized I need sunshine for "mojo", without it I kind of slow down.
3. I color my own hair because I have been disappointed by the way the Japanese salons do it, plus it costs way less and takes less time if I do it.
4. Dislike the pushy ladies at the market, they are also the ones who stand in the middle of the aisles to chat with other pushy ladies.
5. I like using little dishes for different foods, I just don't like having to wash all of them afterwards.
6. Dislike walking behind people smoking on the way to the train station, usually try to overtake these people so I don't smell like smoke by the time I reach the station.
7. Love the seasons in Japan, though I never know how much to layer in winter, always overlayer.

Thanks for the awards, Nami!

UPDATE: I just heard from my friend in Sendai, she has gone back to work but the transportation system is really limited.

Apparently the subway is running, but she is too scared to take it. I would be too.

Also, they have no gas because all the gas lines are broken. She is keeping positive and knows it will take a while for things to get back to normal.

I've also seen on television that the temporary housing to be built is at a stand still because they can't figure out where to put these structures--A lot of areas still have lots of debris and they don't want to put the temporary housing in the areas where the tsunami went through.

I was surprised to see that tap water from Osaka is being bottled and sold to the Kanto (Eastern Japan) areas (it is being sold in Osaka too)! (I personally don't drink Osaka's water straight from the tap, I run it through a charcoal filter because I find it has a slight odor if I don't...)

UP-UPDATE: About 11-ish last night the Tohoku area had another big one (I think it was magnitude 7), with a tsunami warning.

Sending some virtual hugs to all those in Tohoku and the surrounding areas.

To close this post, I'd like to share with you a tulip that bloomed on my lanai recently. It is Friday here, hope your weekend is a nice one.

11 comments:

Jackie said...

I am sorry to hear of another natural disaster in Japan. My prayers go out to those affected by the devastation.

I love all of your beautiful pictures and posts about life in Japan; I hope to visit there one day!

Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds said...

Aw... I never get virtual hugs :( I actually was not a fan of the cafe environment in Japan when I lived there... the smoke always bothered me. Do they still smoke indoors there... or is that over with?

Japan Australia said...

Yes, sorry to hear that the aftershocks are continuing. Wasn't a huge fan of the coffee shops in Japan although they did have quite a few good ones. I guess I'm spoilt here in Melbourne, which is probably the cafe culture city of the world!!

Japan Australia

OkiHwn said...

#4 is right on the money. Plus when you try to get by they give you stink eye. I used to purposely bump them with my basket or cart as I squeezed through.

jalna said...

Beautiful tulip!

K and S said...

Thanks Jackie! I hope you get a chance to visit soon.

The only place I know that doesn't allow smoking indoors is Starbucks Stephanie, the other cafes have "non-smoking" sections, right next to the the "smoking" ones. :(

You are very lucky J-A :)

Stink eyes never work for me Nate :(

Thanks Jalna :)

Take care everyone.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

Congrats on the "hugs"--it is always nice to read more about you. ;-)

I do wish those aftershocks would stop. :-(

Nami @ Just One Cookbook said...

Hi Kat! It's fun reading about the 7 things about you. I'm glad you didn't skip that part! ;-) I can't stand the smoke either... terrible. Though while growing up, it was natural that I didn't bother. I started to bother only after I lived in the US and go back to Japan. I bet most people got so used to inhale smoke all the time. I feel so sorry for Tohoku people. I can't imagine how much they are going through and my heart aches. I hope people will get back their smile on their face soon. :-(

K and S said...

Thanks Deb in Hawaii, I hope those aftershocks stop soon for them too!

Thanks Nami and thanks for the award!

Take care you two.
Kat

Rowena said...

The mention of you coloring your hair reminds me that I need to get moving on coloring mine. It's not so much the mess but the 30 minutes that I gotta wait. That's when one of the two "kids" decides to do something rascal.

K and S said...

man, 30 minutes during winter time is fahreezing Rowena :) hope you get yours done soon.

Take care.
Kat