T.I.D.K.(U.J.T.M.)

Things I Didn't Know (until just this moment.)

The correct word is "restaurateur", NOT "restauranteur." H.T. to John Derbyshire of National Review.

Georgia On My Mind

I just love the www.youtube.com site.

California Spring Weekend

UPDATE 2: "Rusticanium" was a placeholder. Mieko finally remembered that the red thingies are geraniums (gerania?)
UPDATE: To answer the questions from around the world, the blossoms, clockwise from top left, are: Rose, Calif. Poppy, Geranium, Japanese Red Maple, Rhododendrom, and Trellis Rose.









We're a bit late this year, because of all the rain I fear, but all comes to him who only waits, I hear. Enjoy! (And, as always, click on the images to expand them in a new window.)

Memorial Day 2006

Tokyo Lights

From BldgBlog, please check the pictures of Tokyo at night that have been posted here.

The lighting is surreal, but inspection seems to indicate that the pix were taken at night after an unusual snow storm in Tokyo.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Great Taco Hunt

All of you out there who, at this time, are pining for some Mexican food, you may wish to visit The Great Taco Hunt

Mmm, mmm, bueno!

Real Spring!

Thanks to www.lucianne.com for the above reminder that Spring has arrived, and the ladies get to wear their most flamboyant finery at the Kentucky Derby.

Ryokan Inn

Yes, the ceilings are a bit low. But the food is great.

And the communal baths even better (So I was told. Truth be told, I was too embarrassed to get into a bath with strange women, and there's no way I'd get into a bath with nude men.)
Happily, but uncomfortably, sleeping on the floor is de regeur (French lingo there). If you can get out of bed in the morning, it's okay.

Japan Jottings - A Potpourri

1. Bathroom switches are still outside the bathroom. No reason for this since the power is 100V.

2. ALL toilet seats are hi-tech, electronically warmed. Even at the 13th Tee on the golf course.

3. Braille is everywhere. Beer cans, stair railings, sidewalks, carpets all have it. And I never saw a blind person anywhere.

4. Coffee is now available in most restaurants. They have machines where you dial a brew (espresso, american, latte, etc.) and the machine grinds the beans and brews the coffee into your cup. Pretty neat.

5. Japanese still try to avoid transferring money directly; it's dirty after all. So you pay by placing your money on a tray, and you receive your change in a tray, on top of receipt, or in some other way that does not involve touching hands with money. Weird.

Fore!

Well, it was snowy in Karuizawa when we awoke, but we had a tee time scheduled and, after a while, the sun came out. There we were, on the slopes of Asamayama ("yama" means "mountain", remember.) playing just about as poorly as we do back in California. Ah, well. It was fun, and the golf carts had steering wheels on the left!



(That puff of white at the top of Mt. Asama is steam, not a cloud. It's hot 'cause that volcano is active, and blows every now and then.)

Land Is Dear

We were fortunate that we had friends in Tokyo who shared their house with us. We were within walking distance of the Shinagawa train station - a big station. These folks were fortunate to have a piece of garden land available, about 16' X 16'. See above for their tulip plantings. It was beautiful.
Now, from exactly the same place in the entry, I raise the camera to view the distance (note the reflection of the flashbulb...sorry) and what do I see?



That's the 40-story Shinagawa Prince Hotel in the left distance. It is a dense city, after all.

Earthquake Resistance

Japan has not really been made beautiful by mankind, sad to say. There are buildings of true beauty, both old and new, but they exist in an ocean of nondescript sad monotony. One troubling (to me) aspect is the plethora of wiring that obscures the sky everywhere!
I finally realized that the imperial government had decided on the country's unique defense against earthquakes; Just tie everything together with wires and then earthquakes won't have a chance!
Problem is, I don't think it works. Remember Kobe?

Lots And Lots of People

There are about 12,500,000 people residing in Tokyo. That's equal to 1/3 of all the people living in California.

The only possible way that a city that large could work is with superb mass transportation, and that Tokyo has. The many, many trains run on schedules that are only 1 or 2 minutes apart; they have to, since there are a limited number of train tracks, and the trains have to be exactly on schedule or they'll collide.

And there are taxis everywhere, even cruising around in residential areas. They're not cheap, at 660 Yen ($5.50) when you step in, but they're there.

And finally there's just plain walking. Not too many overweight folks in Tokyo since they walk (or, often, run) everywhere. All ages, too.
Consider, for instance this sidewalk shot from the shopping area in Harajuku.



These folks are waiting for the light, and that mass of people behind them in the center of the picture are more, and more, people on the sidewalk behind.

Truly a wonder to behold.

Western Dining in Tokyo

There's no question that authentic Japanese food is great, and that it's most authentic in Japan.
Having said that, however, a few days for a Westerner in Japan creates a fervor to taste some comforting "familiar" food. For that purpose, we heartily recommend a visit while in Tokyo to YumYum.
It's located near to the Rainbow Bridge in the city's industrial waterfront, currently being filled and built up with a plethora of futuristic offices/ convention-centers/ condos/ etc.
From the Shimbashi Station, take the new "Yurikamome" sky-track rubber-tired train to Shibaura-futo, and YumYum is a short cab drive (660 Yen) away.
The Owner is a third-generation fish specialist, a graduate of Pomona College and of Keio University, delightfully conversant in English, and a perfect host.
The food is fish and shellfish, prepared as you would expect and also in surprising fusion fashion. The scallops, breaded, were especially tasteful. Sea Bream, steamed, was also memorable.
Wine is mostly French, carefully selected, and served at an appropriate temperature, somewhat of a rarity in Japan where most red wine arrives chilled.

Timing. . .Is Everything!

Home again! And I'm the first to admit that our only concern during two weeks in Japan (of which more, much more, later)was that our new cherry trees, planted last July, would bloom without our being able to enjoy them. Fortunately, these guys are late bloomers (remind you of anyone?) and they are 50% full as of this writing.

We could not have asked for more.

BLDGBLOG

But, just before I leave, if you're interested in plate tectonics on Mother Earth, take a look at the amazing series of pictures for North America at BLDGBLOG today.

Change of View

The steady drip, drip, drizzle over California now threatens never to stop until our liquified State dissolves into the Pacific Ocean. Wishing to avoid that occasion, I'll be visiting the exotic Home of Sushi! and other expensive delicacies. Back soon.

(The bright lights in the center are the Ginza. Campai!)

Juxtaposition

Interesting "compare and contrast" from http://bldgblock.blogspot.com

The Masters!

Guess what's going on down in Augusta GA this weekend. . .



Ah, well. Weatherman says that Northern California just might begin playing golf sometime in mid June. Maybe.

Daylight Saving Time

That canny Bill Gates & Co. snuck into my computer last night while I was asleep and changed the computer clock for me. Thanks, of course. However, next year we'll do this in mid-March, as explained here. I wonder if Gates et.al. have accounted for that? Or have downloaded a patch? Or will blow it? We shall see: : :