oh, japan...

At first I was a bit puzzled. Why was there a note pad inside the jar of chewing gum? Then I realised. It's not a note pad.

It's a pad with small sheets of paper to put your gum in when you're done chewing it! 

Maybe this is a universal phenomenon, I don't know, I've never seen it before - but it feels so Japanese. Oh, Japan!

Jo x

travels part 3: Osaka

Shoutengai

 Osaka, Osaka, Osaka. This previous Olympic city proved to be something very different from Kyoto and Nara. Having been in such idyllic surroundings for 3 days, this bustling city with lively streets and traffic came as somewhat a surprise. If you've ever been to Tokyo, Osaka is much like it - only dirtier, rougher and generally more gangsta. The people are not as polished and it has an atmosphere of a freer - less structuralised if you will - Japanese culture. I'm not entirely sure what I mean by that, but maybe it makes sense. Nevertheless, it had its charm I suppose and we spent a nice day there. 

Our main two events were Shinsaibashi shoutengai (shopping street) and Osaka-jo (Osaka Castle). As follows.

More panorama! The famous ad of the running man (who looked a little chubby I must admit - I'm not the only one putting it on it seems!) was at the end of the shopping street. Lots of lights á la typical big city and lots of people despite it being a Sunday evening. Work on Monday morning, people!

The moving crab was not moving. Famous restaurant serving only, yep that's right, crab.

Takoyaki (squid balls). Osaka is famous for food, and especially this one - basically a big piece of squid inside a pastry (?) ball with flour, or something. Served with mayo, fish flakes and some sauce. Obviously nor for me, but Viv and Serr's excitement was entertainment enough.  

"Can you see how BIG the squid is? You can HEAR me chew it!"

Osaka Castle. It was built in the 16th century and has played a major part in Japanese history. We went inside to the museum, read a lot about battles, emperors and so on, but I can't seem to remember a thing. Lots of battles though. Lots and lots.

Pretty impressive! Although we agreed it looked more like a wedding cake than castle. Maybe we were just hungry.

Osaka sadly did not offer any tofu ice cream but we were not defeated by that, and instead got green tea and chocolate soft ice creams to continue our tradition. Cheers, Osaka!

After having been lied to by the train station personal about a certain location we ended up in Tennoji and walked around. Soon we realised we were close to the gangster area where our hostel was. After a while we found ourselves on a sort of dodgy shopping street with loads of restaurants. Hungry, we found one...

...and had this! Not sure what it's called, but there's rice, veggies, egg and seaweed base soup. Rice in soup, you ask? Good question, but it was lovely despite the rather strange (at least for me) combination.

Osaka was mostly walking around after that, and we did some shopping while waiting for the bus back to Tokyo. I definitely prefer Kyoto and Nara to Osaka, probably because they're so different from Tokyo. For once it was nice to be able to see the open sky in the city, meet animals (and I'm not talking just tiny dogs), and have a breather from the stress that is the capital. Will be going back in spring for sure. 

All photos here.

Jo x

travels part 2: Nara

 Day 3 and it was time to head off to Nara. It's about 40 minutes from Kyoto by train and is most famous for its deer (see below!). If you know me you know I simply couldn't pass on an opportunity to see some Bambis in the wild (as opposed to the traumatic experience that was Ueno Zoo). This sort of 'Mowgli of the Nara' is something of a symbol for the town (even though he looks creepy - I would not like to wake up to that face!) and he was e-ve-ry-where: pins, keychains, towels, note pads, pens etc etc. Creepy!

 Of course we had to go see temples too. 

 But then it was time for the deer! Oh, right, I forgot - we figured we might try and 'fit in' and so bought a pair of horns each on our way. Then simply walked around the huge Nara Park wearing those. I think we confused both humans and deer.

Nevertheless - they were so cute! About a thousand deer live in the park, and they literally walk around wherever they like! If you're carrying food they'll be all over you, biting, nudging etc, and you can buy senbei (rice crackers) to feed them. Although if you do, prepare to be hunted for the rest of the day by a herd of deer biting your bum (true story)! Me, I was satisfied with petting them a little. So soft and cuddly (well...)!

 Scared human. Confused deer.

 I also learnt how to take panorama photos with my camera (so expect a lot of them in the future). Pretty, eh?

 Bambi!

Some more food: yaki-udon. Like Kyoto, Nara was vegetarian friendly and we even found a vegetarian restaurant! I tried a tofu croquette thing which was so, so good. This here is udon noodles and veggies and some sauce put on a hot stove literally in the middle of your table. Then you eat while it's still cooking! Yummyness.

Next stop: Osaka.

All photos here.

Jo x

travels part I: Kyoto

Christmas was around the corner and since none of us were going home, we thought we'd escape Tokyo and go to a place where Christmas largely doesn't exist - the most traditional part of Japan. So, together with two other exchange students (one from Canada, one from Hong Kong) I ventured on the night bus to the Kansai region in the west. 

Our little trip begun in Kyoto. I adore this city with all its temples, stunning nature, and lovely people! Some photos below:

We started in Arashiyama (yama means mountain) where we walked the famous moonlight bridge...

...went to numerous temples...

...walked the bamboo forest...

...ate rice balls with kinako (soy bean flour)...

...tried the local speciality which was basically tofu in water and a bunch of pickled veggies. Not very exciting. Lucky thing then that we found...

...tofu soft ice cream! Wow, people, this is good stuff, let me tell you that. 

It later became daily practice for us to have one of these bad boys.

Some stunning views in Arashiyama with sunshine - and even a little sprinkle of snow!

The Golden Temple is one of the most famous ones, but I must admit it was semi-disappointing. Sort of like what they say about the Mona Lisa - you go, super excited and then it's, well, there. It was in a touristy area too so lots of cameras, waistbags, backpacks, and maps around.

But it was pretty.

Highlight of Kyoto: yatsuhashi. It's a sweet, similar to mochi. It looks something like a dumpling and you can get it in tens of different flavours: sesame (damn good), black sesame (yum!), strawberry (yuck!), grapefruit (waah - this is not made for fruity flavours), chocolate (worst one), green tea, red bean paste, orange (blah), and so on and so on. How, do you ask, is that I know what all of these taste like? Well, see the small box there? Yeah, they had tastings. Of every flavour. And not only in this place, no - in every single shop down the street we walked after the Golden Temple! Also, they'd give you a cup of tea to go with it! Seriously, we lived off yatsuhashi tastings that day, and by the end of it, neither of us ever wanted to see one of them again. I got two packs which are sadly gone now. No yatsuhashi in Tokyo either. But I hear them have an online shop...

Onwards to Fox Temple! Standard temple, really, except this long, long row of gates. There was another path which stretched over 4 km but lazy us didn't walk that one. We settled for this short one, but it looks cool, eh?

Food in Kyoto was amazing. So vegetarian-friendly and tofu-esque! This little gem here is tempura udon with udon noodles, eggplant tempura, radish, and nori (seaweed). Usually it's served with dashi, fish broth, but it's lovely-jubley without it too. Dash a little ground sesame on there, and a splash of soy, and you're good to go!

More temples - and a big one! Kyomizu is famous for the gate (above) and the Love Temple. At the latter there are two stones, and the practice is that you should walk from one stone to the other with closed eyes - and the closer to the second stone you end up, the sooner/more likely/easier will you get a loved one! There were also some seriously beautiful views here. (For more photos from Kyomizu, see below.)

Ninnenzaka - slip here and you'll get 2 years' bad luck. Close by there is Sannenzaka - slip there, and you get 3 years' misfortune! We didn't slip.

Tallest pagoda in Japan. 

More food! Agedashi soba (minus the dashi again). Tofu tempura with soba noodles and radish. So fricking good!

Just some park close to the pagoda. Very pretty here, and I can imagine it's even prettier in spring and earlier in autumn when all the leaves are colourful. We also had our second tofu ice cream here. Mm...

Obviously there are a gazillion photos from Kyoto, but as it would be far too much to put them here, you can see them if you click the link below. Watch this space for posts on Nara and Osaka as well. Nara was a bit more eventful with all the deer, and Osaka, well, let's just say they appreciate the blondes...

For all photos: Click here.

Jo x

merry christmas!

I'm back from Kansai! - Back from confusing deer, from the gangster hoods of Osaka, and from the wonder that is tofu soft ice cream. There is too much to tell, too much to show and too much to tell, but all shall be done in good time.

For now, however, the above photo from Arashiyama will have to do. Watch this space for more.

Jo x

a very merry skype christmas

Skype conference with mum, dad, and sister yesterday. Gifts were opened, gingerbread biscuits eaten (in Sweden at least), and the traditional Christmas songs were sung although the delay in sounds made it somewhat off tune.

Missing home with Christmas trees, snow, and corny covers of originally good seasonal tunes. Well, the weekend here will hopefully be an exciting one nevertheless - Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka await!

Jo x

talking 'bout the weather

December 21. Snow, rain, or cloudy. Take a leaf out of Sweden's epic book and give me snow, Japan!

Jo x

fourth of advent / fjärde advent

A week until Christmas and I'm cosying it up with Swedish glögg (mulled wine), lit candle, and the little Santa sent by my lovely family (along with pressies which I shall not open until later this coming week! Like a good girl.).

The only news right now is that I've started teaching Swedish to a Japanese man as well. He wanted to learn a different language and sure, he got one alright. Other than that life is quite boring and uneventful I'm afraid. Promise to put up anything exciting when/if it happens.

Merry Fourth Advent!

Jo x

bits and bobs II

Pasta elks from IKEA ♥

Met up w. Shanty from RoHo in Tokyotown!

Tofu cake. Yum.

Jo x

fail of the day: face your flaws

New fail, people (curiously these always get the highest number of page viewings)! And this one is good, I tell you, real good. In other words, very very embarrassing.

So I've been going to the gym here for about 3 months now. The instructors are always polite and say welcome and goodbye (at least I assume that's what they're saying; it's all jibberijabberi to me) and so on. Lately I've been involved in private conversation with 2 of them - one girl, one guy. And by 'conversation' I'm not talking about deep contemplative discourses, but rather 'where are you from' and 'why did you come to Japan' level (I wish they would stop asking me the latter one - I don't know! Why not?).

Anyway, today I was sort of clutching/massaging/feeling up my knee during squats as it was a tad painful, and the guy came up saying jibberijabberi (which I interpreted as 'is your knee ok?' as he was pointing to his own knee while speaking - genius, aren't I?) so I took a chance and said (in Japanese, mind) 'yeah, no problem'. This is not the fail. Turns out I was right. Then he started jibberijabbering even more and I had to ashamedly confess I did not speak Japanese (again, in Japanese) and he sort of gave up, as they usually do. Then the guy in the bench press next to me came to my rescue and asked about something knee-related in English. So far, so good.

So I ventured into a conversation with this guy who I always, always see in the gym as we usually train at the same time, both hijacking the stationary bar machine. Secretly I've always found him excruciatingly annoying as he takes a-a-ages on it. Have to forgive him now I suppose. So we talked, and he told me he worked at the gym. And brace yourself, because here we go:

I honest to deity-of-your-choice cannot recall ever seeing him in the Central (gym name) shirt that the instructors wear. I admitted this fact to him, thinking maybe I've just never seen him. Turns out he works every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. And here's the best part: for the past 3 months I have been there more or less every single Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. He said he's seen me many times. Oh. Dear. Deity. Then I got to use my Japanese skills again to apologise about a hundred times for not recognising him.

I must be suffering from face blindness or something, because that's just ridiculous. Then again I did think the PT and the instructor (who asked me about the knee) were the same person until I saw them in the gym at the same time, wearing different clothes a couple of weeks ago.

Jeez.

Jo x

whoopi-doo i wanna be like you III

Exciting news! The presence of orangutans on the blog is to be explained (not that it needs a specific reason - I mean look at them! They're über-cute!). Here it is:

I'm going to realise a dream, and do something I've been dying to do for a very long time.
And as you might have guessed it involves orangutans.

...

I'm going monkey volunteering in Borneo!


Yes, yes indeed! In early March 2012 I shall be heading off to Malaysia and Sarawak/Sabah for 2 weeks' working at an ape centre, spending some time with the indigenous tribes, and generally making a little bit of a difference for our lovely orange friends :)

I always say I help animals, not people, and here's finally an opportunity to live as I preach. Can't bloody wait!

Jo x

deported

For all of those who wonder what happened to trends such as scrunchies, turtlenecks, and the two-ponytails-hairdo when they were expelled forever and ever from Europe, I can let you in on the following: they are well and still very much alive in Japan. No need to sweat.

Jo x

whoopi-doo i wanna be like you II

Announcement that will clarify the orangutan pictures later today. Watch this space.

Jo x

ueno zoo

 Sunday and time for Ueno Zoo! Ever since I came here I've been seriously craving panda interaction, and today was the day. Ueno Zoo is huge and in central Tokyo, but costs about a tenth of what Swedish zoos charge. They do choose random things to sell cheap in this country.

They had all animals you could ask for, including giant pandas, giraffes, hippos, capybaras, gorillas, elephants - even my absolute favourite animal of all times maned wolves (who of course were sleeping like logs when I got to their area)! Photos below.

Vulture

 I must admit it was a little bit saddening, however. As you may know, I'm something of an animal friend and largely believe they should be out in the free. Nevertheless, I know zoos do a lot of good work in keeping species alive and so on, but when I see birds lying in a corner in a tiny cage-room with not as much as a rock inside, I am not happy. Or when each hippo is assigned an individual 'cell' if you will with a small water area + an elevated floor area. Or cages for eagles in which they hardly are allowed to flap their wings. A lot of Ueno Zoo was like that, and for that I'm not a happy lady. As incredible as it is to see all these animals up close, they should not be treated so badly. Also they looked sad. Except the seals - they always look so happy!

 Afterwards we went to a noodle (udon) restaurant in the Tokyo Building to eat this yummyness: cold udon with goma (sesame), soy, onion, and ginger paste. It may look little, but it was so, so good!

And some more Christmas lights in the posh, posh area in central Tokyo. Burberry, LV, and fancy cars everywhere one looked. Pretty as always. This coming week will be teaching (I got another teaching gig), volleyball, gingerbread biscuits (went to IKEA yesterday again to stock up...), classes, gym, perhaps a little party, and more gingerbread biscuits. Standard procedure.

Jo x