My Fave Food in Japan - Updating in the Process

As I write this entry, its interesting to see what made it to my list. I think it was food for the much needed occasion. I love authentic Japanese food - for its taste, for the integrity of the ingredients and its preparation - for everything [despite the radiation scare]. 

N/B Huiling, this entry is specially for u as you travel to Tokyo:)

Kyo Hayashiya Japanese Tea Sweets

I was on a lookout for a genuine green tea dessert shop. In my mind, I had envisage a bowl of cold, light mochi like green tea dessert. So, I was literally  'Over the Moon' to stumble upon Kyo Hayashiya. There are several branches of Kyo Hayashiya and I frequented the one at Lumine which was connected to Shinjuku station. It was definitely my fave Green Tea dessert shop in Tokyo. It is a tiny branch that seats 6 persons the most. And the seats all face the wall [like almost every little tiny eatery in Japan]. 

On my first outing there, it was interesting to note that almost everyone indulging in their little green tea desserts there were women. For two reasons, most women were free during the afternoons and women love green tea. But of course, men are not excluded from this green tea indulgence.

On a hot afternoon, sitting there alone, and enjoying my green tea dessert was nice. Real nice. 

Tokyo Disneyland Ice Lolly

I never could imagine that I would spend 300 Yen on this pure ice lolly without blinking an eyelid. But I did and not just one - but 4 - one for Sarah, one for Sammy, one for Rubi and one for me. And we loved it! Because after spending hours in Tokyo Disneyland in the sweltering heat, this was indeed a life saver and a relief. Our ice lolly break allowed us to rest our tired feet, stare blankly into the sky and people watch. Largely for mommy and rubi to stone awhile:) before we headed out to conquer Disneyland again. For the record, we left our hotel at 8:30 am and only reached back home at 11 pm. And the kids were still not tired!! 

Yayoiken

This makes it to our family's fave comfort food joint. Hassle free, easy and freshly cooked food. Yayoiken is a typical Japanese joint and this was just round the corner from where we live. Ordering from a vending machine, getting the ticket and handing it to the staff behind the counter is the modus operandi. I like it this way - where cooks don't handle money and they don't have to wait tables but just concentrate on doing their trade right and good.

Hina Sushi Buffet

This was a really delicious sushi buffet [slightly on the steep side] and I thought the ingredients used were really fresh. Great place to enjoy good sushi. But then again, you can eat good sushi almost in any little shop in Japan.

Osaka: Okonomiyaki 

Tried a few Osaka pancake when we headed to Osaka. These pancakes with some sake were really good. Nothing much like what we are served in Singapore - these were huge, delicious and perpetually kept hot as they were served on huge hot plates built into the tables. 

Menya Muashi

The famous flagship ramen shop in Tokyo was surprisingly near to where we live and tucked in an obscure lane. I guess no trip to Japan is complete without trying their ramen. This was a huge bowl at 1000 Yen and I think we burst ourselves at the seams trying to finish our bowls. Sarah and Sammy did well to share a bowl but I think when they were done, there was still half a bowl left:)

Karuizawa: A Summer Time BBQ

We headed to Karuizawa over one weekend and the owners at the inn prepared a BBQ dinner with the yummiest marbled beef and lots of local vegetables. 

Lastly, the best we did almost everyday in Japan was to stuff ourselves with Kyoto grapes, peaches, nectarines and champagne grapes. Those were the best desserts ever. 

Updating of Three Countries

It's going to be between Japan - America - Canada - Japan. I think I can never organize these entries anymore:) So I thought I better give a prelude before swinging all around for our updates.

Linvilla Orchards

We were one of the last to leave the Orchard - simply because we were the only tourists among the sea of locals and we didn't have a car. Thankfully, our hired taxi was reliable and came to pick us up.

We are really city bumpkins:) The acres of land filled with apple bushes and pumpkin patch were jaw dropping for us. Once we entered the orchards, all our senses were tickled. The sight of kids and parents carting off wagons of apples, the sound of music and laughter coming from the playground and many competitions that were held that day - hula hoop, pie eating etc, the smell of deep fried churros and pizza was enough to make Sarah and Sammy sprint across the undulating land towards everything:)

It was a good day, a fantastic day in fact! And the icing on the cake - was the obscure row of raspberry bushes which we stumbled upon. Even though it was 'savaged' by pickers perhaps a few weeks ago, we had so much fun, stooping and nibbling at whatever was left. And like Sammy and Sarah pointed out accurately, "Mommy, we are like Sal! Blueberries for Sal!" 

I am sure Linvilla Orchards is a money spinning farm that is perhaps too commercial for its own good - but well, for city bumpkins like us - we lapped it all up.

For the Record

I Love Washington DC!

And my inspirational fave - the National Portrait Gallery !!
[and to think we only spent less than half an hour there. We will definitely be back]

Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Love

While I am doing catch up with my updates of Japan, we are kinda making Philly our home. We have been here for 18 days to date and it has been an eye opener. Kids are excited that they have finally arrived in America [the country that they hear so much about] and we are observing and learning as we go along. 

So far, we have explored Philadelphia's Historical Monuments, celebrated my Mommy's birthday at Penn's landing, spent a day at the kids' absolute fave spot - Please Touch Museum, headed to New York City, seen Central Park,visited the World Trade Centre, plucked apples and gobbled up remnant raspberries from bushes from Linvilla Orchards....not to forget, learning to read, write and do their Math and swimming a lot in the hotel's indoor pool:)

I think I will never be able to catch up with my updates....oh well...

Exploring Takashimaya Time Square

Exploring Tokyo is such an easy and safe endeavor. The streets are safe almost anytime of the day and the city lights are bright. With two toddlers in tow, it was still easy. It was one of those mornings out where we spent the entire day playing at Tokyu Hands and reading at Kinokunya [Foreign Book section]. Out of inspiration, I bought two books only to learn that they would have cost me much less through amazon. Oh well - inspiration is priceless:)

A Day at Ueno

Headed to Ueno for a Saturday with Dan's Japanese colleague. 

National Children's Castle at Shibuya

We had no idea that this place existed until we found ourselves there. Our day started when mommy wanted to bring the kids out to play at the 'free' admission Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hall at Shibuya. As we headed out of the station, we were lost. It was a massive and busy junction - pedestrians and cars zipping right across our faces. My attempt to ask for directions fell flat as my English could not be understood. And a major part of the reason why we couldn't find the place is that the Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hall has been closed since the March 11 2011 earthquake in Japan.

But of course, we knew nothing of it. So, right in the middle of busy Shibuya, we did a 'Pied Piper of Hamlin'. Since it was Japan's summer holiday, we saw Japanese mothers, with their distinctive hats, umbrellas and sun sleeves and their children all walking towards a particular direction. So, we followed the 'silent music' and found ourselves at National Children's Castle - a 6 storey playarea filled with lots and lots of children. But it was so big that we were comfortable. I think we spent a total of 5 hours there, only scooting to a nearby onigri shop because Sarah and Sammy wanted to eat and pop right back to the play area.

Settling down in Tokyo - Konichiwa!

Here we are - at our hotel apartment which is to be our home for the next month. Things are settled down nicely because everything is very convenient - a 24 hr Tesco Express just beside our lobby, the local Chuo Line station which is 2 minute walk from our lobby and many many restaurants line our street, including the famous Menya Muashi Shinjuku flagship branch which is a 10 minute walk from our apartment.

It's back to our usual routine of studies for the kids, home cooking, heading to the gym - peppered with lots of sightseeing and exploration. 

Three and Half Countries - Transit through Thailand

According to Sarah, Thailand is her fave country ever. Haha... and we only stayed there a night, did not even enter Bangkok city because we were transiting there enroute to Tokyo. What sealed the deal for Sarah was that  there was a pool [albeit small one] which Sarah had a whale of a time jumping in. Armed with 2 ring floats, Sarah would sprint about 1 meter from the edge of the pool before flying right into the pool with a great splash and emerge exhilarted with the experience. I would have stopped everything to snap a shot but I was enjoying the moment too much. I think she did about 30 jumps in total. Sammy had already long retired into his hotel room, complaining of the cold. Haha.

For Dan and us, revisiting Thailand was memorable for us. Squeezing in those short getaways whenever there was a uni break, hopping onto to budget flights and enjoying the yummy, spicy and very affordable Thai food. Those were the days - without kids:)

Thailand was fun while it lasted.