Coffee Rings

By Oliver Jeffers (via Sho and Tell)

Sped right through summer, past fall, into winter. (I have been reading "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" and as a result, I have become self-conscious about my comma-usage (hyphen? no hyphen?). I am second-guessing all of the punctuation in the three lines of text in this post).

Summer Blues

The summer solstice was today and the iced tea post was weeks ago but the mosquitoes have made their appearances, so let's rewind a bit shall we?




One of two photos taken that day, walking from the train station to the museum. Tall rows of pink tulips along Park Ave. I was forcefully trying to channel summer: shorts and short-sleeves in weather that called for covered legs and a light sweater. I paid for it later when I ended up shivering outside of Shake Shack as I tried to finish my lemonade. (Sadly, attire, outdoor location, and beverage type were all my choices.)

"Wa"

Muji x Idee (via For me, for you) It's really a lovely set up.





Idyllic isn't it? Don't forget to play the music to experience what they're trying to sell in its entirety (top right). I thought so too, thinking how lovely it would be to live in a place with tatami again, especially one with a porch and with the wraparound "roka"(hallway). I was all set up in my reverie when that annoying little white Muji bubble pulled me down to reality, because anybody who thinks that a fan is going to cut it in Japanese summers...is not me. I have stayed at a house (and a hostel, in retrospect I suspect that the converted storehouse I slept in was not a legal set-up, more on that in another post) without air-conditioning and I slept fitfully, unable to get comfortable in the heat. Both times I had showered the night before and needed to shower again as soon as I got (not woke) up. Going back to the picture, once I noticed the fan I started thinking about all these other things like, how would you be able to leave the sliding doors open? The mosquitoes would come in. and that wooley-cotton covered couch would become sweat-beaded and damp in the summer. 「季節によるそう住まい」？ Sounding less attractive now.

On a different, related note, a blog post I read earlier today about housing insulation in Japan. I really didn't sell that one well. It's more interesting than I made it out to be though, and if it isn't, it's brief at least.

Back!

I'm not really good at this posting business, but I was away, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

As an aside, southerners really know their iced drinks. and fried delights. Fried green tomatoes with crawfish remoulade? Yes please!

(Pictured: Strawberry Lemonade, one size only, large. My fingers couldn't wrap around the cups the entire way.)

P.S. One of the many memorable exchanges from the trip.
Setting: A bar on frenchman's street.
In response to "What's in a New Orleans Lemonade?", uninterested response by bartender "Lemonade and rum."
"I'll take it."
"You know I say it like that, and people still order it."

Realize would have been wise to take her response into account after taking a sip.

Dancers in NY

お久しぶり。


Via Ballerina Project


Via Swiss Miss originally from Dancers Among Us

The first one looks and feels languid and relaxed, time goes leisurely in this seemingly empty station. The second one looks vivid and full of life (and color); I am half-scared for the dancer. The subject matter and backdrop share many traits, but the mood each evokes is decidedly different. It's fun to think about how the photograph was taken, now I want you to lie down on the platform and extend your arm out over the edge, arch your legs upward now...and just wait for the train to approach; I'll tell you when.
Okay, sure. Easy peasy. Right.

Nicely put!

via Design Crush via FuschiaMacaree.

Europe According to the U.S.

By Yanko Tsvetkov via Design Crush (from way back in October last year)

Totem, Alain Delorme

I stumbled across these images on Black Eiffel, a design blog. They're from Shanghai and while they appear to be photographs, it's hard to believe that they haven't been manipulated somehow. The coloring also contributes to a surreal feeling. It reminds me of photos of North Korea, saturated with bright, garish colors yet somehow washed out at the same time. His site doesn't strictly state that they haven't been altered, but isn't very straightforward about it either. In any case, they stayed with me and I snitched some from his website.

The expressions of surprise on the people around these load-bikers suggest that these are real scenes though.





(For similar color schemes but rather more creepy looking subjects take a look at his "Little Dolls").

Naoshima, Shodoshima, Teshima, Ojima...

I found out about this island called Naoshima out on the inland sea of Japan accidentally. I think I had been spending a lot of time on design websites over my internship and stumbled upon some gushing reviews. There wasn't too much information in English at the time, but enough for me to get around. It is a bit of the beaten path art island belonging to Shikoku but is actually closer to Honshu. There are sculptures scattered around the island, along with two, now three, museums. I went and loved it, but wasn't planning on going again. That was in 2008. Through a series of mix-ups and mis-communications I went again last year in the winter 2009. There were a few new additions in terms of experiences, a lot of new restaurants and minshukus. The experience was quite different as I went with some friends and took a lot less pictures but still got as miserably lost as I did the first time. I was taken off map duty before the end of the first day. Again, I didn't think of going again. But then the Setouchi International Arts Festival posters started circulating and I started thinking, maybe...and I didn't end up going. But I recently spotted a picture on Snow mag, which led to even more on Design Boom, and finished off today by this piece on Spoon Tamago on the newly completed Teshima Art Museum; I have to go back. The festival ends in a little over a week but I imagine the artwork will still be around. My goal is to stay at the Benesse House hotel next time. Fingers crossed.

A lunch on Naoshima, taken by my friend. (This was actually a second choice, we were looking for this other shop run by local university students but failed completely. It was a nice runner up though: one of the many chic cafes now on the island. The place transformed so much in one year! But there was still only the one place that served breakfast. I regret not having any good photos of that place. There was a tv in the corner, worn red carpet on the floor, mismatched furniture (not, in a cool hipster way, more like wobbly stools paired with end tables) well-loved stuffed animals in every nook and cranny. It felt oddly like dining in somebody, a grandmother's, living room. Breakfast was coffee, toast, a halved kiwi, and a hard boiled egg. Like the establishment itself, the meal felt thrown together from whatever odds and ends that happened to be around. )
And here are some photos I skimmed off of the Setouchi Art Festival site:

This is Shima Kitchen on Teshima, by Ryo Abe. I love the open, airy atmosphere.

My favorite perhaps, is this: "Tom Na H-iu" (also on Teshima) by Mariko Mori

Here is the explanation, copied directly from the Setouchi website:

"In ancient Celtic lore, Tom Na H-iu was the place where souls waited to pass on to their next life. Inspired by this myth, Mori has created a contemporary monument of glass. Networked to the Super-Kamioka Neutrino Detection Experiment, it responds when the observatory captures a neutrino, such as those emitted by a dying star. When it a neutrino is detected, the work emits a beautiful light."

Autumn

Just some images for now. I stumbled upon this over at Nowness. A series of images by Natsko Seki, a Japanese artist now based in London. It was done for a London Japanese deli (sounds odd to my New York ears) called Tombo. There's something whimsical and for me at least, so Japanese about these seasonal pastimes. Although I'm not entirely sure about the activities depicted in Autumn (unsure) and Winter (kite-flying I think), Hanami in the Spring and Hanabi in the summer are perfect, and so universal in Japan. This aspect rather surprised and amazed me about Japan, the appreciation for the changing seasons and how universal it is. I wouldn't admit it to some of my Japanese friends though as it seemed to be a point of pride with them that I didn't want to yield to. Not aloud anyway.

Which one is your favorite? I am wavering between Spring and Summer.




Images by Seki Natsko, from Nowness

Something Fun

It's definitely fall now in New York. It was still summer when I returned. Everything fell back in place so quickly that I didn't even realize until I uploaded photos.

There were a few surprises when I got back. Soho feels suffocatingly crowded now, all the time, I remember there being a reprieve on weekday afternoons. Now the streets are always packed. The meatpacking district has become almost unrecognizably chic. I remember going to bumble and bumble during my high school days to get those free hair cuts...it was one of the very few stores there. Western Beef was the other highlight. Now, name brand stores are everywhere and Chelsea Market is more crowded than I remember it ever being. It's become a tourist destination now; I don't think it was even a blip on the tourist radar four years ago. I'm glad for the sake of the vendors but it dampens my experience a bit. I think the addition of the high-line has helped make the area chic and happening-the meatpacking district! Chic! But, with that said, I still like the high-line a lot. What a great idea. I just wish - rather selfishly I'll admit - it didn't attract quite so many people sometimes.
Photos are actually from two different trips, had gorgeous weather on both days.

もう日本にいないけど/"Understanding Rap"

I found this post on Cool Hunting a while ago. A site with frequent postings about design, architecture, etc. It was about this book that decodes rap lyrics by translating the words into more standard American English. I had thought that I understand rap lyrics generally but it turns out I don't...at all. Probably never noticed because I don't listen carefully. and quite honestly, all that often

Anyway, the following "translation" had me laughing.


Both images from Cool Hunting

Breathe

In the process of seeing people and packing as I belatedly informed all of my acquaintances that I am leaving in a week and it's been a rush to do everything. I feel especially bad about a few of my kids lessons as I wanted to get them some small presents. Not happening I think. In my mind, I used to bequite good at this kinds of planning things. Now everything in my apartment is a mess and I try not to let anyone in.

Anyway, spotted on Seen and Said

excerpt from The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff (apparently, I haven't read it before but looks like now would be a good time for it).

"What's this you're writing?" asked Pooh, climbing onto the writing table.
"The Tao of Pooh," I replied.
"The how of Pooh?" asked Pooh smudging one of the words I had just written.
The Tao of Pooh," I replied, poking his paw away with my pencil.
"It seems more like the ow! of Pooh," said Pooh, rubbing his paw.
"Well, it's not," I replied huffily.
"What's it about?" asked Pooh, leaning forward and smearing another word.
"It's about how to stay happy and calm under all circumstances!" I yelled.
"Have you read it?" asked Pooh.

Sorry for the picture-less posts. A bit busy to dig for photos but not too busy to procrastinate/blog-post.

South Korea

I went to Korea a few months ago and blogged a tiny bit about that. But I was struck with by a sudden memory after attempting (very briefly) to organize my books a bit. Since I hadn't planned on going to Korea, I didn't have an English guide book with me. There wasn't one in the shelves here either, (there are several Japan ones of course and one or two China ones) but none for Korea so I bought one at a bookstore here. English ones might have been available, but I figured with the proximity of the two countries and the frequency with which people from Japan frequent Korea (see previous entries on Korea), Japanese guidebooks would be more detailed anyway. More picture and photograph-filled with many more suggestions for souvenirs than one would find in typical American guidebooks. I digress though...

On the train ride to Gangnam one day to do some shopping (my trip pretty much consisted of eating and shopping) I was standing on the crowded train, trying to read my guidebook while keeping an eye out for my stop. As it was in Japanese (aforementioned), it takes quite a bit of time and effort for me to get through a page of the book and maybe I looked a bit lost because some Korean grandpas sitting opposite me asked, in Japanese if I need some help. Seeing my book, they assumed quite naturally that I was Japanese, and started asking me questions...where I was headed, if I was traveling alone, and had mini discussions amongst themselves as to which was the best stop for my needs. They appeared to be strangers but started conversing in Japanese to each other as they started one of those back-and-forths one sometimes hears in New York, where a small circle of city residents bicker over the best subway route to get to the MET from Times Square or some such. It was so friendly and surprisingly so for me, as I would have thought (cynically it appears now) that they would have been bitter about speaking this language but they were so nice and friendly in trying to help me. I think they thought I was Japanese the whole time but the Japanese mother and daughter pair behind me probably found me out as soon as I spoke more than three words. They shot me a few glances during the course of my conversation with the group of harabojis. It could have been because of the conversation itself, Japanese with Korean grandpas, rather than my Japanese but I think my accent must have contributed.

All of the lines that were crossing in this little international exchange really left an imprint on my memory. Throughout the whole trip most store people I met thought I was Japanese. Almost never Korean though...my friend suggested that it was because I dressed Japanese. Maybe. People do tend to think I am native here but that might have to do with where I am as much as general appearance.

Natsukashii Kyoto

I thought I'd do some retroactive posts about Kyoto since I didn't write much about my experience while I was actually there.

では、

This was taken in Kibune 貴船. In the hot summers of Kyoto (every Japanese person inevitably mentions the basin in which Kyoto is located, when you mention Kyoto and summer heat in the same breath.) wealthy people since olden times have found ways to escape the heat. Kibune is one such escape up in the mountains of northern Kyoto. During the summer, restaurants along this stream lay out planks across the small stream, crisscross lights overhead to create a unique alfresco experience. A highly recommended, if a bit pricey, experience.

Guess where I am going!

It was the inspiration behind the setting of Mononoke Hime!


There will be this,and this,
and I will be staying here: All photos courtesy of Kairakuen Minshuku.
楽しみです！

Monet in Japan

Monet is quite popular here, and impressionist artists in general I think. But I didn't realize how popular until I heard about the Monet Gardens. These are gardens that were created to imitate the ones that inspired some of Monet's most well-known paintings, like his water lilies series. Instead of being in Japanese and English, all of the signs and explanations were in Japanese and French. I went the same day I went to the Morning Market.

This is the Water Lily Garden, it was the right season for water lilies but unfortunately not the right time of day. By the time we got there the flowers had mostly closed up.

The effect was quite nice, and I imagine it is quite lovely when the water lilies are all open. I realized that such overflowing greenery is something I miss about home. Japanese gardens tend to be more trimmed down and spare. I suppose any Japanese gardening book could have told you that but I didn't realize it until these gardens. A bit slow on the uptake huh?

And some kittens up for adoption that we found at a rest stop...so so adorable. They were just left outside in a box with a sign. They were mewing and just begging that somebody pick them up. And I did, only to realize the signs instructed us not to do so unless we were taking one with us...I guess that explains why none of the elementary school kids I saw were playing with the kittehs. Oops.

Sunday Farmer's Market

One of my students offered to take me to the morning market in the neighboring prefecture. It's quite famous in these parts and is open pretty much the whole year round on Sundays. In the spring and summer it starts at 5am (they get an extra hour of sleep during the colder months). This is something that I have been wanting to do and I was really happy when they invited me. It also turned out to be a really good day to go, sunny and warm. The market is about 2km long so many pictures were taken.

We started out on the end near the castle.

The area is famous for knives and scissors so there were a few stores that extended their shops a bit and laid their wares out on the sidewalk for the day.

Many flower and plant vendors:


and of course, my favorite, food. Most of the vendors had fresh produce but there were also stalls selling homemade miso and pickles. Added to this were a few stores selling snacks meant to be eaten on the spot, like this one selling tempura.
The line at this stall wound around the side and looped around the back of the neighboring stall.

Mochi! Daifuku with different fillings like Buntan and Yuzu-flavored anko. Freshly made this morning.


Saba-zushi, also freshly made. I can personally attest that this was quite yummy with a strong sesame accent. But I still prefer the vinegary Kansai (Osaka?) battera.

Ke-gani (Hairy Crab). This is usually found in Hokkaido but was caught somewhere locally for reasons I couldn't quite make out from her explanation. Upon hearing that I was a foreigner, she said, "big crab" (in English) and let me pick it up so that I could pose with the local (?) seafood. I didn't see the picture my friend took but based on the way the muscles in my face started twitching and rearranging themselves, it was basically squeamish city girl holds large moving crustacean for the first time. The professional is holding crabby in this picture (she obligingly pulled out the stops for the international tourist)

Finally, the culinary highlight of my day. Tomatoes! Well, actually just tomato. This (that perfect red one in the middle of the tray) was the most delicious tomato I have ever had in my life. If the tomatoes mom tried to force on me as a kid tasted like this, I bet she wouldn't have had to force them on me. These were iced and thoroughly chilled for immediate consumption. I should also mention that they cost 100 yen for one large cherry-tomato-sized morsel or two small bites. If I wasn't with my student-friends I probably would have bought a few more but I was a bit embarrassed so I refrained. Then, a few yards later I encountered 200 yen tomatoes and wondered if it was possible that they tasted twice as good...

Breakfast

Here they apparently don't know that granola ought to be roasted with honey or some kind of syrup to make it hard and crunchy so every time I eat granola here I can really feel that I am eating grains. No wonder people here think cereal is like bird food.

Would like some Bear Naked granola and trader joe's yogurt please.

My childhood

A print from 20x200 by Kevin Cyr that is unfortunately, completely sold out.