Lovely Desserts in Japan

I love desserts especially pretty ones thats too lovely to eat.... :)  When we saw this at Kyoto Train Station, I told DH we have to go back and try it later in the evening before taking the train back to the hotel.

We did and when we got there at about 6pm, the place was packed and the waiting was going to be ~ 45mins or so.  We asked what time they were closing and decided to catch them before they do.  It gave us the opportunity to browse around other shops and enjoy ourselves.

So an hours plus later we found our way back to this lovely pastry shop and praise the Lord, no line.  I couldn't choose.  They were all so pretty and deliciously tempting.  I really wanted to order one of each .... :):):)..... so after not being able to decide, I asked the waitress in universal sign language(she does not speak english) which ones are good and she recommended these two.  So we did and they were lovely and yummy.  I am glad we tried it.  It was worth the pricey tag.  Enjoy the pretty pictures.

Japanese Hotel

During my Japan trip, I stayed in a new and old hotel. The differences are the size, amenities and furnishings.  As you can guess, the old is much bigger and even came with a separate lounge and bar area but the furnishings were old and outdated. The bathrooms were western style with a full tub and toilet (no bidets).

The new hotel is small, small, small....about half or less the size of the old one but very practically designed and furnished.  They provided everything like hairdryer, teapot, cups, towels but in very simple, practical and limited amount.  For example, one big towel and one hand towel for each person and extra would incur a ridiculous charge as they are very environmentally conscious. But they are also very fair in that if you opt not to have your rooms made everyday (every other day instead), they will give you a couple dollars discount.  The new bathrooms are like modules, prefabricated and brought into the room and hook up for electrical and plumbing needs.

Both hotels also provide night robes and slippers which we don't get here.  I actually quite enjoy the night robes and do wear the slippers if they are new.  Some of the hotels actually recycle the slippers so I didn't use those....they didn't look very clean and I felt yuck ...lol

 Look how compact these new hotel rooms are but they managed to include everything even a refrigerator.

 On the bed are two fresh night robes.

 To the right of the entrance door is the bathroom.  You have to step up into the bathroom.  Some rooms you do have to step pretty high up which can get uncomfortable for your knees.  I had to remind myself I had to step down everytime I was done.  That would be a bad fall....

 The shower is controlled by the knobs at the sink.  So practical and functional.

 The 'old' hotel bigger rooms.  I didn't know what to do with all the space....lol

 Not one but two side desks.

The bar area and to the left is the bathroom.  Closet is behind the bar.

Japanese Toilets/Bidets

One of the nice features I enjoyed in Japan are their 'Bidets'.  Because these bidets are modern inventions needing electrical wiring and plumbing, these can only be found in new hotels, malls and buildings.  The old sight seeing venues like temples, shrines, parks etc... still uses the 'squating' kind.

At first, it was a little strange to be using it and most of the instructions were in Japanese so it was trial and error as I go...lol.  Some of the toilets were set on 'Auto' where as one sits on it, water starts generating and then you have to press the right button to tell it where you want it to 'shoot', how 'strong to shoot', etc.... and I found out the 'wet way', not to stand up before the water stops shooting. I had thought since it started when I sat down that it would stop when I stand up but noooooooo.  A few times, I would come out after visiting the toilet 'wet'......lol.

These bidets has a number of neat features like blow dryer, seat heating, massage options, water jet adjustments, automatic lid opening, automatic flushing, and probably lots more others that I didn't dare try cos I didn't wanna get wet anymore.

The last hotel I stayed before leaving Japan actually had 'bilingual' instructions on how to use the bidets......if only it was the first hotel I stayed in then it would have saved me from all the messy mess... lol

But onces I am comfortable on it, boy, I do not want the water to stop doing its job.  It was very relaxing and some bidets, I can choose different shooting actions so it kinda became a 'sit and try' all the buttons and see what it does......lol

 This bidet is actually quite plain and easy to use.  It does not have as many buttons and functions as some others I have used.

'Squat' toilet - picture from the internet.  Problem with 'squat' toilet is the smell and wet spots around the step area.  I guess some people do not know how to aim probably.....lol.  It does take alot on your knees and it sure gives you a good workout if you are new at this.  Anothing bad is they often do not have hangers on the door for your purses/bags so try figuring out how to carry those big purses/bags while having to squat over this and aim right....lol.  The ones in China do not even have toilet paper....lol... so I carry toilet paper with me in China and it was a hot commodity among my friends.

Ginger Bread House

I love making these Ginger Bread Houses. I 'try' to make one every year since making my first one in 2006 but have not got around to it this year or last year or the year before last :) so pictures below are borrowed from previous years.

I find it very relaxing and so much fun to make these.  You can be as creative as you like.  After having made a couple, I learned that the more frosting you add the better it looks.  Somehow the white makes it look a whole lot better and really like snow.

Japanese Grocery Store

Most shopping malls in Japan have a huge grocery store on the basement floor which is what I really appreciate.  Most malls in other Asian countries have that too.

We were actually looking for fresh squeeze orange juice and tangerine and decided the grocery store would be the best place to find them and tada.................look what we found too.............gorgeous array of beautifully prepared and packaged sushi and fresh fried tempuras of all sorts............I wished we were hungry and had more time in that city so we could enjoy these foods..............my heart was just breaking I couldn't buy any of them ..........I was telling DH I should spent a month in Japan to really enjoy their way of life and these beautiful foods...... :):):)  They were very affordable too. Enjoy these yummy pictures.

Unagi - Freshwater eel

One of my favourite japanese foods is Unagi - freshwater eel.  They are fillet, grilled and baste with sweet thick sauce and serve over sushi rice.  I also enjoy the Unagi sushi and roll or pretty much anything with unagi.  Eventhough they are deboned, I can still feel small pieces of the eel bone while eating but they are so small and delicate that they don't bother my throat.

We came upon this lovely Unagi restaurant in Narita, Japan.  The grilling aroma drew us to this place and we had the chance to see them kill, debone, skew and grill the eel.  The place was crowded and we just had sushi for lunch at another place so we decided to try it on our way back instead.  Because the place was again crowded on our second visit and we were short on time to catch the bus to the hotel and to the airport, we decided to do a take-out order and eat at the hotel while waiting for the airport bus.

 I love the architecture of this building.  It looks original and untouched from the past but kept clean.  I love the wood and the color and all the expose beams and connections.  Walking down this street alley kinda brings you back to old japan.

It is a three storey building and we were told that upstairs could be the family residence.

 The older gentleman kills the eel and fillets them while the younger guy skewers them.

 These two guys as you can see grills them and occasionally baste them with the lovely sweet thick sauce.....yum yum yum......I love the sauce ..... :)

When we got back to the hotel to eat while waiting for the bus, we were gently surprised to see how much thought they put in packing our foods..... with ribbons and wrapping paper. The box is actually made of bamboo.  Who would have thought that homemade delicious food is in these boxes until you open them up.  It would be so nice to open up a box of these for lunch everyday ...won't it?... :)

It didn't take long for us to devour them........it was absolutely delicious.  We were already wishing we had bought more to eat on the plane..... :):):)

Vacation in Japan

This year for our end of the year vacation, we decided to go to Japan.  I have stopped over at Japan's airport many times and even stayed a night at the nearby hotel but never wandered far from the airport.After having travelled to many asian and european countries, I have to say, Japan is the most safe, friendly and easily accessible for first time tourist who do not speak their language.  It is also very clean even in Tokyo city with millions of people and traffic.

By the grace of God, I was able to locate a huge fabric store in one of the busiest district in Tokyo and managed to use the subway to get there without speaking a word of Japanese.  I really praise God for His guidance and knowledge to move about freely and safely.

While I was happily introducing myself to the fabric store (I feel kinda lost as everything is in Japanese) and trying to shop the fabrics (kimono fabrics are sold in ~13" wide unlike the usual 45" wide), DH left me alone and went sightseeing.  He came back a few hours later and help me check out so we could go get lunch.

Japanese fabrics are really beautiful especially the ones for making kimonos.  I gave in and bought several rolls of the kimono fabrics but I probably would be using them to make dresses, scarf, or quilts.  I also bought some patterns and fashion books (but they are all in japanese so I will have to look at the pictures to decipher them)

Praise God we also found the famous Kinokuniya bookstore and I bought some lovely japanese quilt and dress pattern books.  Here are pictures of some of my shopping in Japan (only craft items shown). 

During one of our sightseeing trip, we happened upon a vendor that sells vintage kimono fabrics and I was blessed to buy some.  They are the ones in the clear plastic bags.  I am thinking maybe making a collage art quilt with these fabrics as they only come in about a quarter yard or less.  We shall see.  I am so inspired and maybe alittle over creatively stimulated right now that my to-do-wish-list is just growing..... :)

IQF 2011 and Thankful

It has been awhile since I wrote my last entry but I have not forgotten about it.  It just has been really hard for me to get back to my routine.  Lots usually happen end of the year for us.

This year after my birthday within 2 weeks, it was IQF and within another week, we were off to our vacation and now we are getting ready for Christmas.

For IQF 2011, I didn't take as many quilt pictures as I did last year but spent more time at the vendor side shopping for more 1930's fabrics for my Dear Jane quilt.  I did however spent quite sometime playing with the longarm quilting machines and it was fun.  I am not sure whether I really want one as it is quite high maintenance interms of time, space and finance.  I already have alot going on in my life right now and am not sure whether I would have time to fit in a longarm machine so I am really glad and 'Thankful'  I stood firm to the salesman and didn't bring home one.  I don't have the peace to do it right now but maybe someday in the near future.

I am 'Thankful' I found quite a few pieces of 1930's fabric as two vendors that specialize in 30's fabric didn't show this year.  I was blessed to find few pieces here and there from different vendors and by the third day, my stash grew and I was excited and happy.  I also bought the movie 'Stitched' and decided to try the blade seam ripper which I have read about somewhere online.  I also try new brand of markers, needles and scissors.

Because I didn't volunteer this year at the teaching booth, I was able to relax and didn't have a care or worry about the time.  I showed up whenever and took my time browsing and shopping and chatting with vendors.  Overall, this was a good year.  I bought the 4 day tickets but decided to pass on the forth day as I was quite exhausted and DH and I had to go somewhere but I can't remember where now.....lol

These fabrics have been washed but not pressed. I will do that as I need them.