A present to go NUTS for!!

From my dear friend, Adrian. Adrian is my fitness trainer in Seattle. (www.xgym.com) He knows I love fruit and how expensive it is here in Tokyo. So in true healthy form, he so kindly sent me a package of apricots and raisins and for protein- nuts and because he is so sweet...chocolate! Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu!!


rl

Cheese Cheese and more Cheese!!

A care package from my dearest friend, Celeste!! Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu!!!
(Thank you so very, very much!)

I have never had so much cheese at one time! So absolutely lovely. A gorgeous package from a gorgeous girl!!!

The night the package arrived, Stephen and I had an evening picnic. We opened up a nice bottle of wine -that we'd bought on a trip last year to Yakima Valley wineries. We lit some candles and had a picnic of camembert and blue cheese with biscuits and fresh bread. it was so lovely! It made me miss home...and all my dear friends...like Celeste!


Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu! Love you, doll! And miss you too!



rl 

Meg Ryan has sold out!

Meg Ryan. A very wide assortment of strange hot drinks. A video to watch while you wait. One stop shopping! What a brilliant machine! Stephen, can we have one of these in the lounge?


 

Cheeky likes to sing Madonna too!

Did you know...that you can buy special cell phones here that can double as portable karaoke machines?

Did you know...that there are actually proper courses in Japanese college for the study of karaoke? Karaoke 101....


-in Musashi Shinju 

Yogurito

Well...this isn't Japanese...it is from Holland (of all places!) but I have never seen it outside of Japan. Yoghurt Liqueur. This beats the strange American Christmas tradition of the drink Egg Nog.

 

They Came from Mars, or maybe Shibuya

Wondering along the sleepy narrow roads of Daikanyama (in between Shibuya and Ebisu), it suddenly became clear that a robot hand landed on top of a Japanese house or perhaps a Japanese house was turning into a robot? Certainly would not be able to get planning permission for this in the UK, assuming it is not from Mars.

A cup of water

Even a simple paper cup of water in Japan is a style statement.

Shibuya Subway

Shibuya, Shibuya, Shibuya desu gozaimasu.
(the whiny-voiced announcement upon arriving at Shibuya subway station.)

the sign underground showing which exit to take for your various destinations...


kyo, doko de shimasu-ka?
where do you go today? 

Cheeky shares popcorn

 

Little Orphan Annie

...and the Pied Piper...

A typical Saturday evening. At the Quality Bar in Mizonokuchi.

In one corner of the bar, there is a box...which has been accummulating - over many years- head dress in all shapes and styles. This is particulary fun to play in as the night wears on.



When I was little, my sister and I had a box of 40-50's style dress up clothes. I always dressed up as the rich lady of the manor and had my sister always dress as the man. hehehehe. Benefits of being the eldest...
-r 

These Boots Were Made For Walking

After one and a half hours, Rebekah could still not decide which boots to buy. Good job really, as this boot shop in Shibuya has thousands of pricey boots for sale.

Utsunomiya Giant Gyoza

Gyoza are very popular in Japan and Utsunomiya, two hours north of Tokyo, has a reputation for making great Gyoza. Just to show how great they are, Smele is standing next to a Super Giant Gyoza.

-s

Tokyo Webcam

Here is the view from the webcam. Image updated every 30 seconds. If you are lucky, you might see a group of young Japanese teenagers on their scooters hanging around at 4 in the morning.

Just for Gargling

Special water fountains are found in Japan, just for gargling.

Cheeky Cubed

Cooling off in a British pub in Ueno after a long day of site-seeing.

Lost in Translation

Our friend translated our names into Japanese characters... and then translated them back to English...




Top: Rebekah reads: Beautiful; American; Flower

Lower: Smele reads: Black Ink; Flow

...sounds about right..

Cheeky, Just trust me....

Stephen is convinced that he can get Cheeky airborne...


at tamagawa river
over golden week--weather was lovely- this day was 32C...coolest place was a picnic at the river's edge.

Oi ! ...and I trusted you!

...cheeky has a few hang-ups...

Look, Mom! I'm flying!

Cheeky Goes Airborne

Cheeky has taken up "hand-gliding"...
(at Fatama-gawa river)