furry reunion

Last year we got together with Yume, Teru & Kai.

This year Maggie, Luna, Naimi and Reshi Bear joined in

Yume and Maggie are the parents of  Teru, Kai, Luna Naimi and Reshi Bear

There are also two more children, Daisy & Belle (I think that was their names) but they were not at the reunion

It had been some time since all of them socialized with each other, but I think everyone (even the humans) had a nice time

Lunch was pizza and dessert was Jalna’s ono banana bread and Carol’s brownies…

there were even desserts for the furry ones.

Thank you Ryan & S for hosting this gathering and I appreciate Jalna & Wendell giving me a ride. 

Thanks for today!

akihabara

Back at the beginning of December, social media/blog friend Lily wrote to say she would be in Tokyo at the beginning of January with her daughter 

After several message exchanges, we were lucky to be able to meet up last Thursday

While her daughter did her own thing, Lily and I got some of her errands done, like buying an adapter for electricity and a USB-C thingy

Since she hadn't slept too well on the flight over and wasn't too sure what she wanted to have for lunch, I figured we should stay around the Akihabara station area (where she was staying).

We went up to the top floor of Yodobashi Camera and Lily chose lunch at Pom no ki, an omurice shop.

Tablet ordering and self serve water, cutlery pick up and self serve miso soup.

We chatted while we waited for our meals.

I had a beef stew omurice while Lily had a chicken katsu omurice.

It was interesting learning about Finland (where she lives) and Brazil (where she grew up)

After lunch we went to look for a currency exchange kiosk.

so much sensory overload inside of Yodobashi Camera, like these huge Lego statues…

that took over 30 hours to make!

We also had coffee and more conversation at Marufuku Coffee.

Lily was so kind to give us so many things...thank you!

Even a handmade snake for the Year of the Snake!

These Karl Fazer chocolates are super creamy, delicious!

Thank you for making time to meet up Lily! 

It was so nice to meet you IRL (in real life)

I hope you enjoyed your first trip to Japan and enjoy the rest of your trip.

furry get together

Blog reader Ryan has a golden named Yume

Recently, Yume and Maggie had puppies…Teru, Kai and a couple more

Ryan adopted Teru

Jalna adopted Kai

It was the first time for Yume and Teru to meet Kai

It was also my first time meeting Wendell, as well as Yume, Teru & Kai

Kai seemed a bit anxious and couldn’t keep still, so Yume seemed to “scold” or speak “gruffly” to Kai

Anytime the two would come close to each other, Kai would put on the brakes and tried to stay away from Yume

For lunch, we shared all sorts of plate lunches from Rice Box Cafe, salad from Foodland and baked goodies by Jalna

Then the furry ones went “swimming”

And like father like sons, they were kinda scared of the water

Teru didn’t want to share his toys with anyone

Jalna and I checked out Ryan’s beautiful bonsai collection

And then it was time for lunch for the furry ones

They eat so well!

Kai was pooped after his day

Thankful Ryan’s wife S picked me up and Wendell & Jalna brought me back to Pearl City

Also thankful for all the goodies Jalna shared with me

I also shared half of this sourdough bread that her sister Geri made with my Aunty

UPDATE: Forgot to say thank you for all the goodies we received from Ryan & S! (sorry!)

Thanks for today Ryan, S, Wendell & Jalna!

thanks for today

Last Friday, friend H, messaged me that she and her husband were in Japan and if I'd have time to meet up

So, yesterday that's what we did.

Haneda Terminal 3 is now decorated with fresh hydrangea, so pretty.

 

we met up at Kyoto Saryo Suisen inside of Haneda Airport Garden, this was the same shop we met up at back in 2022, but a different location (that time was at Yokohama).

It was nice catching up and chatting with H

H gifted us this cheesecake from Le Tao

Thank you H, I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip and appreciate you contacting me to meet up.

saying goodbye

Last night, Satoshi got a message from one of his friends that their university baseball sempai (elder), Sumitomo-san had passed away.

Satoshi had just spoken with him during the summer, so he was in shock.

This was the sempai that introduced Satoshi to Shigezushi when we lived in Osaka.

Satoshi left after lunch to be able to attend the wake tonight as well as the funeral service tomorrow in Osaka.

I'd only met him once (I think), he was a nice man.

Thank you for everything Sumitomo-san, rest in peace.

niihao

Sunday we met up with friends from Osaka for dinner.

Between life and the pandemic, it has been 3 years since we last saw Hiromi and her family.

Her son will enter the workforce soon, so they were in the process of moving him.

And since they were near Tokyo, they contacted us to meet up for dinner.

We took them to Niihao because Kamata, the area we live near to, is known for its hanetsuki gyoza (gyoza with "wings"/“skirt”).

Two hours was just not enough time to catch up.

Now that their son is near Tokyo, they said they'll visit often.

Looking forward to more outings with them.

We appreciate all the omiyage & your friendship!

thanks for today

Over the weekend, friend Rona was in Tokyo and contacted me to meet up. 

With life and the pandemic, it had been 11 years since we met up last.

We had planned to have sweets at Henri Charpentier in Ginza but the waitlist was krazy.

So we went to Starbucks Reserve, but the line for seats was krazy there too.

In the end, we ended up buying cakes from Henri Charpentier, coffee and tea from Veloce and then sat in her hotel lobby, chatting and having our cakes.

So much to catch up on.

The Charlotte Chocolat that I had was definitely hard to eat with that teeny plastic fork, but, it was so light and chocolatey! Love!

I hope Rona enjoyed the strawberry shortcake that she chose.

Rona gave me all sorts of chocolates which I can't wait to try.

I'm happy she had some time to meet up and thankful for her friendship.

Thanks for today Rona, I hope you enjoyed your trip and have a safe trip back home.

reconnect

It had been 6 years since I met up with Singapore friend H and her husband.

They are visiting their CIL (cousin in law) in Yokohama, and contacted me to meet up.

We caught up at Kyoto Saryo Suisen, which her husband had seen on a television show and wanted to try.

I ordered this Freshly Topped Matcha Mont Blanc.

Huge!

Crunchy meringue base topped with whipped cream and a piece of sponge cake and then just before serving, is topped with concentrated slightly sweet matcha cream paste that is pressed out through a disk with 1 millimeter holes.

Then half of a cooked chestnut is shaved over like a truffle and the other half is used to top the mont blanc.

So fun to watch and so delicious.

Love the plate it was served on too!

Back in the day, the mont blanc topping was piped out from a pastry bag using the mont blanc tip and made ahead of time, but these days shops top the dessert just before serving using these hand pumped gadgets.

H had their matcha warabi mochi set (no photo) and the 3D matcha latte

Her husband had the Dashimaki set (no photo) and Suisen Parfait

CIL had tastes from their plates/desserts.

H gave us all sorts of omiyage from Singapore, roasted soba & gingerbread chocolates from Awfully Chocolates, pandan chiffon cake (so light and delicious!), a bunny pin from her friend who beads for the Year of the Rabbit and a handmade bunny pouch, as well as a packet to make bak kut teh (a type of pork dish).

It was nice catching up and meeting CIL.

Thanks for today H and I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Kyoto Saryo Suisen

CIAL Yokohama B1

Phone: 045.548.5518

Hours: 10:00-22:00

Closed when CIAL is

this and that

Weird cloud on Tuesday morning a couple hours after we had a small earthquake.. 

For our dinner on Tuesday (the day they turned off our water), I made "lasagna" layering hakusai (chinese cabbage), eggplant, maitake, cheese, creamed mushroom soup which I had froze, and some meat sauce.

I wilted the hakusai and eggplant ahead of time then layered everything and baked it off.

It was delicious even without the lasagna noodles.

Care package from Finland...Teas, chocolate and an eco bag...Thank you Lily for your kindness!

3 tiers of chocolates...Thank you Hiromi for your kindness!

Thursday was Setsubun, we ordered our ehomaki from Rakyo.

This year's lucky direction was hoku-hoku-sei (north-north-west)

I’ll write up a detailed post on this soon.

Tokyo's case numbers this week ranged between 11,751 and 21,576.

Since Japan doesn’t have enough tests if you are a close contact and have symptoms, they will “label” you as “covid confirmed” …eep!

We learned the other day that one of Satoshi's friends, O contracted COVID (he had no contact with Satoshi) and seems to be on the mend…hoping he’ll make a full recovery.

Hoping you all are doing well.

Have a safe weekend.

thankful (part 2)

Recently V, was in Japan.

She was so nice to send me a book we had talked about when we met up last year as well as snacks and pu'er tea.

The kakipi (kakinotane rice crackers with peanuts) were from the Toyoko Inn. A chain of hotels near train stations around Japan.

I love how there were more peanuts than the rice crackers.

And how you can use the cap as a bowl.

Thank you V!

thankful

My pen pal, LJ, recently sent me a haul of chocolate because she felt that I shouldn't have to wait until White Day (March 14).

Am so thankful for friends.

Thank you LJ!

saying goodbye

(if you click on the photo it should take you to the video)

Yesterday, Satoshi's classmate, Gen, who was fighting leukemia passed away suddenly.

Satoshi is in shock.

Thank you for your friendship.

We'll miss you.

thank you!

So thankful for all the kindness.

Yesterday morning, reader Ryan and his wife S, drove up to deliver and share some avocados, pineapple, homemade jams & some dried aku (skipjack tuna).

The avocado was creamy, pineapple was sweet & dried aku was delicious.

We are looking forward to catching up with you two when Satoshi comes in a few weeks!

Thank you again!

saturday

We met up with Michelle and her family on Saturday since they are visiting.

They wanted to see the Minoo Falls, so that is what we did.

(if you click on the photo you should be able to view the short video of the Falls).

It was nice chatting along the 3.8 kilometer (2.3 mile) trail.

Along the way there was a monkey in the trees...I told her kids to hide their snacks so that the monkeys wouldn't attack them...eep!

Dinner was at a chain izakaya near the Hankyu Minoo station...what crappy service!

Our "waitress" only took orders for drinks...if we wanted to order food, we had to "talk" to the touch panel menu...even if she (the waitress) was right in front of us...

Satoshi said that a lot of places are like this these days...no wonder we don't eat at these types of places...

Still it was nice to meet up and catch up with them.

Thanks for a great day, Michelle & family, enjoy the rest of your trip!

lunch with friends

Had lunch with S and BFF on Saturday.

We went to The Counter and got there when it opened at 11:00...only to order then wait almost 40 plus minutes for our food to come out...WT?!

Needless to say, BFF's burger did not have the onion rings that her burger was supposed to have.

S's custom burger did not have the avocado that she requested...

Was it an off day? We hope so, but aren't planning to go back any time soon.

S shared some goodies with me...Red Velvet and Fudgy Brownie from Chocolate & Vanilla Bakery in Kaimuki (I want to go back to try their macaron!), Furikake Popcorn from Island Popper (a food truck), a pretty pair of beach glass earrings.

BFF made some delicious brownie cookies.

I'm glad we've been able to keep our friendships going over the years and able to get together while I'm back.

Thanks S and BFF!

Chocolate & Vanilla Bakery
1115 12th Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone:808.737.2462
Closed Sunday & Monday
Open Tuesday-Friday 10:00-18:00, Saturday 9:00-17:00

Island Popper
@islandpopper on Twitter
Phone:808.391.0238

blog friend

On Saturday, we got to meet a blog friend, Michelle of Desperately Seeking Crab.

She's not blogged in awhile and over the years we have kept in touch through FB.

She had contacted me that she would be in Osaka and if I would like to meet up.

Luckily, we met on Saturday, so that Satoshi could also meet her and her family.

After a little shopping, they treated us to tempura for dinner at Naniwa Hyoten.

And then we went up to the Floating Sky Garden, to see the city lights.

She was also kind to give us these new Tim Tam flavors and some kinkan(kumquats) from her relative's tree.

It was nice to finally meet up and we hope they had a nice time too.

Thank you Michelle for a great time!

Naniwa Hyoten
Umeda Sky Building B1F
Umeda, Osaka
Phone: 050.5787.3213
Lunch: 11:30-15:00, Dinner: 17:00-22:00