Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Tokyo - Chocolate
Avant Garde Smores in Asakusa
While we were walking in the Asakusa neighborhood we noted a fancy looking chocolate shop and took refuge from the cold wind.
While we were walking in the Asakusa neighborhood we noted a fancy looking chocolate shop and took refuge from the cold wind.
Tokyo - Ink
Not Tattoos...
File this under "strange things that I've never seen before." Another Tokyo weirdness. This is a store that is for pen lovers. Ok, not exactly. This is a store for ink lovers. We stumbled into it while walking around.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Tokyo - Noodles
Ichiran - Redux
After the museum, we went to a nearby ramen restaurant. This is one we visited before and is pretty famous in Japan. It starts as most do, with a visit to the vending machine outside the front door. You pick your poison, insert some money and out pop paper tickets which you take inside with you.
After the museum, we went to a nearby ramen restaurant. This is one we visited before and is pretty famous in Japan. It starts as most do, with a visit to the vending machine outside the front door. You pick your poison, insert some money and out pop paper tickets which you take inside with you.
Tokyo - Mori Art Museum
View Included
The Mori art museum sits on top of a skyscraper in the Roppongi neighborhood on the 50-something floor. They were exhibiting the work of N.S. Harsh, an artist from Southern India whom neither of us had ever heard of.
The Mori art museum sits on top of a skyscraper in the Roppongi neighborhood on the 50-something floor. They were exhibiting the work of N.S. Harsh, an artist from Southern India whom neither of us had ever heard of.
Tokyo - Landing
The Redeye
After an overnight flight from Singapore to Tokyo, she looked much fresher than I. I don't know how she does it.
After an overnight flight from Singapore to Tokyo, she looked much fresher than I. I don't know how she does it.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Singapore - Family Goodbyes
Over Dinner, Of Course
On our last day we had a big goodbye dinner at the house. Everyone was in a great mood, we'd had a fun visit. I'd spent every minute attempting to become a better son-in-law. My approach was simple - act like Jean. Say yes to everything, try to pay for things and smile a lot. I must say - I felt happier after I started doing that.
On our last day we had a big goodbye dinner at the house. Everyone was in a great mood, we'd had a fun visit. I'd spent every minute attempting to become a better son-in-law. My approach was simple - act like Jean. Say yes to everything, try to pay for things and smile a lot. I must say - I felt happier after I started doing that.
Singapore - Hawkers
The Best Thing About Singapore is Disappearing
Each time I come, there is one fewer. Long gone is my beloved Lavender hawker - a ramshackle open-air food court not far from our condo. I would come once every few weeks to nurse a beer or down a savory pancake or two. It was across the street from an assortment of karaoke bars and cheap hotels - the people watching was second to none. The shiny condo tower that replaced it casts a long shadow and no doubt will sanitize the whole neighborhood.
Each time I come, there is one fewer. Long gone is my beloved Lavender hawker - a ramshackle open-air food court not far from our condo. I would come once every few weeks to nurse a beer or down a savory pancake or two. It was across the street from an assortment of karaoke bars and cheap hotels - the people watching was second to none. The shiny condo tower that replaced it casts a long shadow and no doubt will sanitize the whole neighborhood.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Singapore - Friends Dinner
Birthdays and New Years Celebration
I took the bus downtown and walked the last 1/2 mile to the National Gallery, a museum made from the former supreme court. The clouds were threatening as I walked past the padang (cricket pitch.) I was on my way to a dinner with all of Jean's friends.
I took the bus downtown and walked the last 1/2 mile to the National Gallery, a museum made from the former supreme court. The clouds were threatening as I walked past the padang (cricket pitch.) I was on my way to a dinner with all of Jean's friends.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Singapore - the Condo Roof
Even Greener
I went over to our condo to re-stain the teak deck on the roof. It's clear our tenants love the roof, they've doubled down on the greenery. Raoul, a Frenchman, explained that he decided to rent our place because of the roof. His wife nodded in agreement.
I went over to our condo to re-stain the teak deck on the roof. It's clear our tenants love the roof, they've doubled down on the greenery. Raoul, a Frenchman, explained that he decided to rent our place because of the roof. His wife nodded in agreement.
Singapore - Changes
Before and After
When we bought our condo the neighborhood was one of the few which had never voted for the incumbent government. It was known as an "opposition neighborhood" and was thus starved of funds. It looked to be about 30 years behind. One year after we bought our condo, the neighborhood voted the opposite way. Soon after, the towers began to sprout. This is the view looking north from our roof 4 years ago.
When we bought our condo the neighborhood was one of the few which had never voted for the incumbent government. It was known as an "opposition neighborhood" and was thus starved of funds. It looked to be about 30 years behind. One year after we bought our condo, the neighborhood voted the opposite way. Soon after, the towers began to sprout. This is the view looking north from our roof 4 years ago.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Singapore - the BEST Friend
Giselle
Jean and I picked her up from school one afternoon. Imagine trying to pick out a small four-eyed asian girl from a sea of identically dressed four-eyed asian girls. Thousands and thousands of them running out of school at the same instant - a yellow and blue wave. We stood waiting, looking - nothing. Eventually, she found us.
Jean and I picked her up from school one afternoon. Imagine trying to pick out a small four-eyed asian girl from a sea of identically dressed four-eyed asian girls. Thousands and thousands of them running out of school at the same instant - a yellow and blue wave. We stood waiting, looking - nothing. Eventually, she found us.
Singapore - Friends Five
Jiahui
Jiahui's nickname is Efficient Doggie. Amongst all the friends, she simply gets things done. If you talk about a movie you want to see, she'll ask in Singlish "got free tonight?" type on her phone and seconds later "booked, lah, 7pm." If you have a dinner appointment with her at 6pm, she'll text you at 5:50, before you even arrive at the restaurant "hey, what you want, ah? Ordering arrreddy, ok?"
Jiahui's nickname is Efficient Doggie. Amongst all the friends, she simply gets things done. If you talk about a movie you want to see, she'll ask in Singlish "got free tonight?" type on her phone and seconds later "booked, lah, 7pm." If you have a dinner appointment with her at 6pm, she'll text you at 5:50, before you even arrive at the restaurant "hey, what you want, ah? Ordering arrreddy, ok?"
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