snackage

Yesterday at the market I saw some raw peanuts, so I picked some up.

They were grown in Kagoshima Prefecture and was about 3/4 pound..398 yen (plus tax)

I used the easy recipe to make boiled peanuts.

It was tasty and had the "crunch" that I like.

I also liked the fact that I could sit near the air conditioner while these simmered on the stove.

so...

Friday, BFF sent me a message letting me know that my license came...

less than 3 weeks! fast yeah?!

Relieved it came in the mail...

Saturday, we had a typhoon, #8, named Meari pass over our area.

Luckily, we just had a lot of rain. 

Other areas were not so lucky and had flooding as well as some damage.

Hope they will be able to get back on their feet soon.

this and that

Umeshu update: it is almost two months and the ume have sunk in the largest bottle and the color of the liquer is getting darker.

Recently with his tour guide friends, Satoshi learned how to make washi (Japanese paper) and also re-learned how to make origami cranes.

Sunday, he was folding and folding and folding, I helped him whenever he would get stuck...He was impressed that I already knew how to fold them.

My sun umbrella has a slit in it…I've had it for 16 years now, and I've also noticed there are tiny holes, I guess when the slit and holes get bigger, it'll be time to get a new one.

Made nasu kabayaki the other night and used the leftover kabayaki sauce to coat some aburaage that I sauteed in a pan with some red bell pepper, the aburaage gets crispy and the sauce caramelizes onto the aburaage. 

I liked this and want to try this with the thicker fried tofu.

Been wanting to try Roka’s curry for some time, but with the pandemic I haven't been able to get out to check them out.

Luckily 7-11 collaborated with them and came out with a Roka plate 702 yen tax included…lu rou fan and spicy chicken curry…delicious!

The spice creeps up on you, I would get this again and look forward to eating at their shop in the future.

Since returning to Japan, the heat had humidity has been pretty brutal in Tokyo. (apparently while I was in Hawaii, the heat and humidity in Japan was worse!)

While in other areas of Japan, they have been having non-stop rain and flooding.

Global warming is real.

Tried Omma Foods’ bulgogi bento…515 yen (tax included), it was delicious but seemed more like japchae…I also bought their homemade yakiniku sauce to try 258 yen (tax included)

It is supposed to be used as a marinade, and says to add garlic and sesame oil to your liking, we tried it last night.

Not sure if it makes the meat tender, the meat was tender though, but flavor wise it was delicious, not too sweet.

Gonna try marinating chicken next.

We tried nectarines called "Summer Crystal" that were grown in Nagano Prefecture.

These were sweet, I'm glad we got a chance to try them.

Yesterday was a holiday, Mountain Day, we laid low since the daily case count in Tokyo is quite high.

I've attached a photo of my favorite mountain...

Have a safe weekend.

the food

WARNING: this post is long and you may gain weight after reading it…

Checked out the “new” Foodland Farms in Pearl City…during the 3 weeks I tried their salads, the burrito station, mediterranean snack, turkey cranberry sandwich and kalua pig bowl

Uncle’s Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 sandwich is 2 servings!

So good though!

We also checked out the new H Mart which opened in July in Pearl City, the fresh fruit & veggie area was impressive, but they need to invest in a scale! 

Other than that, everything seemed overpriced and their food court was so teeny! meh!

Kamehameha Bakery…glazed croissant, malasada and HUGE apple fritter

Down to Earth…bird bars and carob bar

Used to be able to wrap your own bird bars with a parchment from their showcase, now they are already wrapped

Target…snacks 

Was disappointed with Target as you need a valid driver’s license or state ID to write a check, a passport was not acceptable identification…

Rainbow’s Drive In…chili fries and slush

BFF was disappointed with their BBQ meat, it was thicker and not so tender.

Cookie Corner… BFF introduced me to Brownie Cookies at Cookie Corner, so rich and delicious.

La Tour Cafe…food has sadly gone down hill and everything is a la carte now, oh and they are cashless ONLY!

Royal Kitchen…BFF introduced me to their Dim Sum Box, $10.68 tax included.

baked manapua, pork hash, half moon, rice cake and choice of chow fun or chow mein…so good!

I noticed they have a snack box on their menu, everything I just mentioned without the rice cake, so will try that one next time since I will eat rice cake but it isn’t my fave.

Checked out Kim Chee 7 for the first time (I think), so much food! I got the Mixed Plate Special A, $16.50, at least 3 meals!

Meat jun, mandoo, BBQ beef, BBQ chicken 

Even if it was blazing, I bought all sorts of new (to me) chocolate candies and some favorites too.

Big Island’s Tex Drive In’s malasadas were huge, but sadly seemed under cooked…meh!

KTA Supermerket’s soba salad, so ono!

and their chocolate doughnut, super moist!

Not so ono was their sushi which had a live bug walking around on it…ack!

On a trip to the Volcano, I got to try a gravy burger from Volcano Store.

Apparently this is a local favorite, just a patty and some brown gravy in a bun, so simple but so ono!

In Hilo, we had intended to take out for our meals, but ended up having dinner with Aunty M's classmates at their home…they made delicious Hawaiian food

The next day we had brunch with another classmate of Aunty M’s at Kuhio Grille.

They have a shop in Hilo as well as Kaimuki.

I tried their taro corned beef hash, scrambled egg & probably the best hash browns I’ve had in a long time.

For both of these gatherings I masked when not eating.

Our flight was delayed on the way back to Honolulu, the day before my license renewal!

Talk about stress eating!

We also got together at Aunty M1’s and Aunty M’s for a Sunday and a Saturday dinner.

Aunty M1 made banana cream pie, hadn’t had this in ages!

Aunty M made Italian delight, which I’ve written about here.

Appreciate the Aunties inviting BFF too.

Baker Dudes…macadamia sticky buns, so buttery, yum!

Brug Bakery…moo milk bread, so moist and chocolatey, neko pan filled with strawberry butter cream, monkey pull bread and hokkaido frank…everything was ono! 

Aunty M also shared with me Brug’s cranberry cream cheese bread and coconut bread.

The cranberry cream cheese was too sweet, but I loved the coconut bread.

I also bought some local items to take home from Aloha Sunrise Granola, Big Island Coffee Roasters, NOH Foods (char siu mix), Big Island Candies (they do not accept checks!), Big Island Delights (ate this at Hilo airport & brought back Coconut cookies for BFF) and Maui Nui (venison sticks)

We also received many snacks from Aunty M, Aunty M1, BFF W and Cousin C and enjoyed mango from Aunty V and cherry plums from Aunty M...Thank you!

Over the 3 weeks, I had culture shock from seeing everyone with masks in Japan, to not too many with masks in Hawaii.

Though I loved seeing the really big local men in Hawaii wearing Hello Kitty masks!

And as I wrote in this post, I also had culture shock about using cash and checks...

It was sad to see that there were so many businesses that had closed over the past 3 years too.

Overall, it was a delicious 3 weeks, I didn't get to visit all the usual places, many new places, nor did I get to meet up with friends on this trip, but I’m thankful I was able to do what I travelled to Hawaii for.

I'm also thankful for all the support from family and BFF, especially Aunty M and BFF, W for taking time out to drive me to different places.

If you're interested as to what movies I watched on my flights, "F9", "Sing 2", "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and “Encanto”

Still hopeful the pandemic will be over soon, and then maybe we can all travel without having to PCR or mask.

And am thankful I was able to return to Japan safely, it was stressful worrying about “the test”.

Have also been hearing horror stories of Japanese stuck overseas because they tested positive.

If you'd like to check out other photos from this adventure, click here.

the test and fast track

Last Tuesday morning, within the 72 hours before my flight back to Japan, I took the test I was dreading…The PCR

BFF W, was nice to bring me down to the airport where they are administering the test from 9:00-17:00, and wait for me.

After scanning my pre-registered QR code and checking my passport, I was given my test kit and instructed to the area where the test was done.

The guy administering the test asked if I had done this before, since I had not, he explained that I would be performing the test, all he would do would tell me was if I needed to put the swab further up my nose…eep!

He watched and counted 15 seconds as I swirled the swab around one nostril then 15 seconds on the other side and then it was over.

My results were supposed to be ready anywhere between 6 to 8 hours…so it freaked me out when the results came 5 hours later!

NEGATIVE!

talk about stress!

After I got the test results back, I started to fill out the items needed to get the "Fast Track" on the app for the Japanese government, MySOS.

You need to get the information sent to them 6 hours before your arrival in order to use the "Fast Track" (to smoothly go through without having to wait or show documents).

The screen starts out RED, this means you have not completed all the different data they need.

After filling out the Questionnaire, Pledge, Vaccination Record and PCR results, the screen will turn GREEN.

This means that they are reviewing your data.

If your data is accepted, the screen will turn BLUE.

According to the app instructions, if your screen is YELLOW there is some data that still needs to be reviewed.

If your screen is still RED, there was some kind of problem, maybe some info is missing.

NOTES: When you arrive in Japan, log in to the airport Wi-Fi so you can show them your info.

If possible, you should try to have hard copies of the PCR test results and vaccine record, just in case!

When you get to the Fast Track area, they will scan the QR code from the app as well as check your passport.

And they will give you this blue paper to give to the immigration agent.

Before getting to immigration, you will need to pass the Quarantine Desk, I think they are also taking your thermal temperature here, this is where you will receive the "red check" mark on your blue paper.

Then you'll go through Immigration and then go to get your baggage.

NOTES: I saw a lot of people trying to send their data to Japan before take off in Hawaii. If possible have it sent before checking in at the airport.

Also it was so weird, when we landed in Japan we had to walk to Immigration from our gate showing our blue screen to various agents, for what seemed like nearly the length of Haneda's Terminal 3, passing other foreigners/nationals with blue screens walking in the opposite direction.

All in all it was relatively fast, once you made it to Immigration (except my bags took forever to come out!)

On Sunday, two days after arriving in Japan, My SOS sent a message “thank you for your cooperation” which I couldn’t get a screenshot of, then when I opened the app, all of the data I had sent them, was gone, so I deleted the app.

I have a green card in Japan so I can’t say if the process will be the same for visitors, or others living in Japan with a different visa, but wanted to share my experience in hopes that it may be of help to others.

holo card

Did you know The Bus, Honolulu’s bus system, does not give transfers these days? I didn’t 

UNLESS you use their HOLO card..

(cash fares are $3 each, no transfer…with the HOLO card you can transfer 2 times within two hours.)

I found this out the hard way, I was waiting for the bus and a homeless looking lady came a little too close to me for my comfort and even if I tried to move away, she would come too close to me…

Not knowing what she would do, I panicked and jumped on the bus that just happened to pull up and when I asked the driver for a transfer he said “no more now”

So I got off at the next stop and then took the bus I was originally waiting for to take me past my childhood house.

From what I could see as the bus passed, it didn’t look like the owners made many changes except that the plumeria tree in the front looked like they cut it back and there was now a papaya tree growing near the garage.

When BFF got home, I told her about not being able to transfer and she called her friend R, who got me a HOLO card and was even kind enough to put some $$ on the card too. 

Thanks R and BFF!

oh em gee

I’m back, over the next couple of days I’ll post about my adventure.

As you know, I went to Hawaii to renew my expired license…

Oh em gee...I created my own drama...

After checking in, the lady at the license renewal counter wasn’t going to let me renew. 

I told her I had until the end of November 2022. 

She said no, “the extension was only until November 2021”

To add to the drama, I had already passed my birthday in February 2022.

I was almost gonna cry! ‘cause my main purpose (besides seeing family & BFF) was to renew.

She said, well, let's see if the computer will accept it...

After she punched in all of my info, the computer accepted it, so I was able to renew…whew!

It was technically called a “reactivation”, I had to pay a $25 reactivation fee plus the $40 for the license

When I got home I re-read the extension memo that I had printed out and realized she was right, I had mis-read the extension by the Governor, it was not until November 2022, it was 2021! eep! 

Anyways, major drama, but super grateful that she could reactivate my license, and hopefully my new license will arrive in 3 to 8 weeks.