Photos of the week

A tiny baby lizard - there are many small lizards in my garden. I don't know what kind they are but they are really cute! This one is the smallest I've seen.





A stick insect - crawling up the window frame on my veranda. It didn't move even when I opened the door. Then again, it's defence is camouflage so remaining still could save its life. The foolish thing was that the background was white so I could see it perfectly well!







The sky after the typhoon - clouds after a typhoon are often beautiful, and then it becomes fine and hot.






A passionfruit - easily my third favorite food after apricots and mushrooms. This one is organic and I got it from the Kiva/Pod shop on Gakuen-sen.

Wonderful chocolate

Nowadays I only buy the best quality of any kind of food or drink. This is especially important when it comes to 'unhealthy' foods that are a treat. If what you buy is SO expensive but VERY delicious, you only need a tiny amount to satisfy your cravings.

So here is my answer to chocolate desires ...

http://www.pierremarcolini.jp/index.htm

Pierre Marcolini is one of the world's best chocolatiers and his creations are superb! They should be too, because one tiny square of chocolate is about 300yen! In this picture you can see a box of plain chocolates (75% cocoa) from various regions in the world, and two flavored chocolates that I bought seperately.

Next time you are in Ginza, or at Haneda Airport, drop buy and pick some up. Or if you are really enthusiastic, you can order online.

A day in Tokyo

Have you ever lived in Tokyo? I lived there 6 years ago, in Arakawa which is an old 'downtown' area. I loved the convenience of being able to walk everywhere or to use the subway or train system. Tokyo air mightn't be clean but walking and all of those stairs is certainly healthy! I miss Arakawa and wouldn't mind living there again some day.

But these days I rarely go to the metropolis. Of course the Tsukuba Express has brought Tokyo that much closer in terms of time and effort, but I just don't have any reason to go! I only go about twice a year and then only because of business or passing through on my way to Haneda Airport.

Last Friday I managed to arrange my schedule so that I could go to Tokyo on a weekday for some business errands. I finished up quite early and then had the rest of the day to wander about. Japanese have an affectionate term for wandering around in various parts of Tokyo - well I did 'Ginbura' (Ginza de fura fura suru???) Actually, it wasn't so interesting and it was VERY hot! Worse still, lunch was awful. After going to the one store that I purposely went to Ginza for, I went back to Tokyo Station and to Maruzen Bookstore.

I wonder if there is a word for aimlessly spending time in a bookshop? 'Honbura' perhaps? :)