Truthfully it is well past midnight and I have repacked ...again..as have been shopping like crazy today. Will give you all the gen later, but am just letting you know I haven't forgotten you all. It is coming to the end of my 'jolly holly' and it is going to end with a bang, if today and yesterday afternoon are anything to go by. That is good since Okayama ended up being frustrating and I have yet to tll you about the following day which was even worse. Will catch up eventually, but just trying to be organised to make the best of what little time is left. I took lots of market photos as well as doing lots of shopping, so some interesting things for you to look forward to! Will be clicking these keys again as soon as I can, so keep checking in to see if I have managed to do it!
Saturday, 26 November 2016
Friday, 25 November 2016
Sorry things getting out of order a bit.
Just a very quick one while I rmember...remember th tsunami that wasn't worth worrying about....the picentre was at fukushima, worrying or what!!
Today (Friday) and I am in Kyoto, but watching the news reports of he snow in Tokyo (I think!) lokts of people clearing a good 2 inches off their cars.... glad I went to evrywhere in this order! More later...the markt is calling...
Today (Friday) and I am in Kyoto, but watching the news reports of he snow in Tokyo (I think!) lokts of people clearing a good 2 inches off their cars.... glad I went to evrywhere in this order! More later...the markt is calling...
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Monday more photos as promised!
Japan's answer to Dell Boy!!
Brunch anyone??
The platform above is so that these little chaps can get out of the water and bask in the sunshine...assuming there is some! Just for those turtle-phobes out there ...I know there is at least one!!
A chap hard at work - I can see why the price of bamboo ware is what it is - there is a considerable amount of time spent stroking and pruning for want of a better way to say it!!
um
This is what was being cooked above....it looked safe enough...... stuff as a base layer with shredded ? mouli radish then handfuls of things - spring onion, peppers and dried (tiny bit) shrimps....swil about a bit and make a hole then drop a freshly shelled egg in the centre - doing 2 at a time of course!!......cook a bit, turn it over and serve! Add soy sauce or whatever othr evil brew is on offer (or not in my case!)...and scoff sedately with your chopsicks.This lady was laughing at me I think as she could see I wasn't adept at breaking the stuff up jus twith the chopsticks...we shared a giggle or two!
More stuff being cooked - rice balls with something to make them green...I dread to think!
Watch out BriVi, you have competition on the calendar front.....see those sumo chaps...!!!
More to remind me to have a go.....
Your old wooly pully has a use....
Another eggy brew ....this time it even has bacon....wish I had seen this before I had one....
This obi was Y2500 ....5 times the cost of the normal ones....and I decided it was too much as I have to be reasonably good...
Meat!!!! bad though as it is covered in soy sauce...another of my no-nos!!
Woner what he is thinking....how to get another ice cream perhaps.....
Another would be actor!!
v
There was a video to explain the print of the Summer Wars....
Subway promotional poster
Just so I remember about these...
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That's your lot for tonight!!! ttfn!
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
Mondays are difficult...so go shopping...sort off
So I decided to go to Osaka today because most museums are closed everywhere because it's Monday. Didn't have a plan for going anywhere in Osaka apart from the castle, as I know there was a monthly market at the Tennoji Temple. That was likely to take much of the day. First I had to get there!Left Okayama on time for a straightforward trip...or so I thought. I hadn't taken into account that I had to change trains at Shin-Osaka and thta station was enormous and badly signposted for the tourists! Somhow or other I managed to transfer to the right bit and got the connction to Osaka. Then the trouble started! I walked what felt like miles up and down subways, trying this way and that to get to the surface near an information office. There is one at all big stations - finding it was a problem and I needd a map and directions....Eventually I find the office - in the subway
not at ground level. I quite possibly went past it at last twice!
Finally I am off, with map in hand, and need to find an underground station for a specific line....I see it on all the maps but could I find it?? At last a couple of Japanese people took me - or got me to follow, as they were going that way too. I think the husband knew the route but the wife didn't seem to agree too much! When we had been walking about 15 minutes I could see purple train signs which meant we were on track, so to speak!
Left to my own devices I think I would be still fighting my way out now!
So catch the train and get out at the right place, but which way to go next?....I just followed the general flow as I had been told the markets are extremely popular. I was late by local standards, but as it went on all day, I wasn't worried. It was a cross between a car boot, antique fair and normal market....lots of interesting things and odd food kiosks and cooking stalls.... had no idea what some of the things were. I avoided disaster at the last moment as had tasted a few dried fruits on a stall, and was working my way along the samples, dried orange, cranberry, fig, crystallised ginger and what is that....I luckily asked the stall holder as it turned out to be black garlic ....YUCK!!! and phew that I didn't risk it!
I did try some seaweed tea which tasted better than epected....learned from my sister afterwards that it is similar to using sea-water which the Africans do when they need to purge themslves.......funny as my stomach has been off today!!!
I had a good root around and bought an obi and some braids because I liked them and they were cheap. I resistd a kimono, a bit expensive compared to other stalls, but kicked myself as I think it was lovely....and also turned down an obi that I wish I had bought. Again the asking price was too dear and when I said that, the stall holder shrugged, so no deals to be made with him!I watched the cooking of som sort of egg and pancake dish with pils of veg on/in...and thn tried one. Basically there is a layer of flour and ? water mixed in with something, laid on the griddle. Handfuls of grated mouili radish and other things is piled on the top and stirred about a bit....then a hole is made in the centre and a raw egg droped into the hole. Within seconds the 'omelette' I will call it, is turned over and soon cooked. It was on a plate in front of me very promptly, time to tuck in. It was fine, not like anything we have at home...well the egg was an egg and a really good colour but the rest....ok, not brilliant!! Needed some sauce but not theirs!! Oh no, that would be a disaster if ever there was one!
Eventually I tired of resisting the bargains and decided to head to the castle, so first retrace my steps to get to the station, then a simple 4 stops back and off we go again.
The castle was Ok, not as good as some and bettter than others. Climbed about 150 to 200 steps and all that was at the top was the view! Good explanations about the golden tigers, dolphin and chrysanthemums though. There was a big screen with the story of the Summer wars, so that made it come to life a bit. 8th floor, average 24 steps per floor plus a load of steps to gt to the ground level inside as you enter from below the first floor inside.
sorry falling asleep...will do more tomorrow. ttfn
Had to show you this..taken on train...hard to see but nail varnish was only on half each nail and made a triangle...all diagonals same direction! Bizarre and time consuming to say the least!
Followed by ...market...elastic anyone?
.
Ah ha!!! is that braids I spy....
Nice fruit but dear!
Don't panic folks more photos coming in a short while - in separate post for technical reasons!!
not at ground level. I quite possibly went past it at last twice!
Finally I am off, with map in hand, and need to find an underground station for a specific line....I see it on all the maps but could I find it?? At last a couple of Japanese people took me - or got me to follow, as they were going that way too. I think the husband knew the route but the wife didn't seem to agree too much! When we had been walking about 15 minutes I could see purple train signs which meant we were on track, so to speak!
Left to my own devices I think I would be still fighting my way out now!
So catch the train and get out at the right place, but which way to go next?....I just followed the general flow as I had been told the markets are extremely popular. I was late by local standards, but as it went on all day, I wasn't worried. It was a cross between a car boot, antique fair and normal market....lots of interesting things and odd food kiosks and cooking stalls.... had no idea what some of the things were. I avoided disaster at the last moment as had tasted a few dried fruits on a stall, and was working my way along the samples, dried orange, cranberry, fig, crystallised ginger and what is that....I luckily asked the stall holder as it turned out to be black garlic ....YUCK!!! and phew that I didn't risk it!
I did try some seaweed tea which tasted better than epected....learned from my sister afterwards that it is similar to using sea-water which the Africans do when they need to purge themslves.......funny as my stomach has been off today!!!
I had a good root around and bought an obi and some braids because I liked them and they were cheap. I resistd a kimono, a bit expensive compared to other stalls, but kicked myself as I think it was lovely....and also turned down an obi that I wish I had bought. Again the asking price was too dear and when I said that, the stall holder shrugged, so no deals to be made with him!I watched the cooking of som sort of egg and pancake dish with pils of veg on/in...and thn tried one. Basically there is a layer of flour and ? water mixed in with something, laid on the griddle. Handfuls of grated mouili radish and other things is piled on the top and stirred about a bit....then a hole is made in the centre and a raw egg droped into the hole. Within seconds the 'omelette' I will call it, is turned over and soon cooked. It was on a plate in front of me very promptly, time to tuck in. It was fine, not like anything we have at home...well the egg was an egg and a really good colour but the rest....ok, not brilliant!! Needed some sauce but not theirs!! Oh no, that would be a disaster if ever there was one!
Eventually I tired of resisting the bargains and decided to head to the castle, so first retrace my steps to get to the station, then a simple 4 stops back and off we go again.
The castle was Ok, not as good as some and bettter than others. Climbed about 150 to 200 steps and all that was at the top was the view! Good explanations about the golden tigers, dolphin and chrysanthemums though. There was a big screen with the story of the Summer wars, so that made it come to life a bit. 8th floor, average 24 steps per floor plus a load of steps to gt to the ground level inside as you enter from below the first floor inside.
Had to show you this..taken on train...hard to see but nail varnish was only on half each nail and made a triangle...all diagonals same direction! Bizarre and time consuming to say the least!
Followed by ...market...elastic anyone?
.
 |
Ah ha!!! is that braids I spy....
Nice fruit but dear!
Don't panic folks more photos coming in a short while - in separate post for technical reasons!!
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