March 2015 – Page 2 – Have you eaten?

food+coffee+books+travel+dogs+music: my life

March 21, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

Weekends are great. I usually have insane weekdays so I love to have little moments make me realize I have such a fruitful and joyous life. Food, coffee, books, travel, dogs, and music make me happy and I realize that I have it all. I do.

Seattle offers such wonderful coffee joints like Stumptown Coffee Roaster which is from Portland, OR

My stubborn, overweight Chihuahua waiting for Archie to return to his car. We were waiting outside of Stumptown while he was getting coffee for us.

I am reading this book to prepare for my trip to Kyoto in April. The title of this book is “Alleys of Kyoto”

While I am writing this, I am listening to Damien Rice (one of living geniuses)’s raw and heart wrenching voice.

I cannot be happier. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

personal view

Complicated Times: Simple Reminder

March 20, 2015March 20, 2015by have you eaten?2 Comments

All I need is a very simple reminder when it feels like my life is getting complicated.

WAKE UP – yes, I did that. I got out of the bed this morning. Barely, but I did it.

KICK ASS – I am not sure I did kick ass truly but at least I tried.

REPEAT – OK, I will see tomorrow.

Only three things. I think I can handle that. I would add one more here, “Stay Humble.” I look forward to welcoming tomorrow.

japan, travel

In Three Weeks: 1200+ Years Old City – Kyoto

March 19, 2015March 19, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

I called our dog sitter today and she told me she was going to take care of my overweight Chihuahua. Right after getting off from the phone with her, a flush of excitement went through my body. It was quite strong.

I am leaving for Kyoto exactly in three weeks. My parents and my brother’s family still live in Tokyo and I am not telling them that I am coming to visit Japan. This is a huge deal. Please don’t get me wrong, I enjoy visiting my family every time I go back. I have to admit however, I don’t feel like I “travel” when I visit my family. I enjoy the food, hanging out and catching up with them but it is visiting my family, not a travel experience.

Kyoto’s history starts in year of 794 when Emperor Komu stated Kyoto as the capitol city. It is 1200 years old and there are over 3,000 temples in the city. Millions of old buildings are still intact. Not like in Seattle (ugh! Ugly new developments!), they don’t demolish old architecture. During World War II, the Allies actually did not bomb Kyoto because of the conscious choice not to destroy tons of historical sites. In a way, it is like Paris. Kyoto tries very hard to preserve the way of living and Japanese historic culture. It does not mean they are not open minded. It just means they embrace and respect its history.

My grandma was born in 1906 who passed away in 2004. She had been through a lot. She was a strict Asian grandma yes. I remember she never wanted to do things in a convenient way. For example, she taught me how to make bonito/kelp stock (dashi) from scratch instead of buying ready-made packets at the store. She showed me how to filet a fish yourself instead of buying fileted fish. Those thing take time. To me, people in Kyoto in general seem that they choose traditions over convenience.

I am beyond excited. I have my passport, Green Card and the bestest travel companion that I can ever ask for. I am all set.

What would you like to do if you have a chance to visit to Kyoto?

japan

Sakura: Cherry Blossom

March 18, 2015by have you eaten?2 Comments

Every year I experience this bitter sweet feeling. I grew up in Tokyo, Japan. I had been waiting for getting out of that country since I was five even though I am very proud Japanese. I felt like I was living inside of small box and there was no way to go and I was dying to search for my independence and freedom. Now, I love Seattle. This beautiful city has been treating me so wonderfully and it has been delighted to be here.

It is spring and cherry blossom (sakura) season. I think sakura is very special to majority of Japanese people and the most admired flower/tree in Japan. I see gorgeous sakura trees in Seattle as well. Every time I see it, my heart aches. I feel slightly homesick. It is interesting indeed to feel that way because I always tried to be away from Japan.

When I retire, I want to go visit Japan every spring to see these sakura trees. Then I die, I want my ashes to be spread underneath of my favorite cherry tree. It would be nice if the tree is one of these in the photo (this is very near to where I used to live).

Personal

Alphabet Questions: T-Z (Y: crying is good for you)

March 17, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

T – Time you woke up?: 2:30

U – Umbrella color?: blue

V – Very best friend?: Archie who is currently suffering from allergy

W – Which celebrity I’d marry?: Jimmy Fallon

X – X rays I’ve had?: chest

Y – Your last time you cried?: Today. I was reading this Japanese book and this one character who is 70 year old cancer patient and has a daughter who is about to be married. He didn’t want to tell her about his illness before her wedding so he was trying to hide it from her. But she knew and he also knew that she knew. That scene.

Z – Zodiac sign?: Libra

restaurant

Not Too Odd (actually quite nice): Oddfellows Cafe + Bar

March 16, 2015by have you eaten?5 Comments

Rustic, funky, vintagey, hip and eclectic. All of it.

This place is one of a few cafes where you want to spend for hours. One of those places you get immediately comfortable and hanging out with hip crowd. Oddfellows Café is located inside of Oddfellows building, built in 1908 (my house is built in the same year!). This café still has original old wooden floors, bricks and windows and offers rustic and environmentally sustainable fare.

Please sit for hours when you visit here. You will enjoy music, handcrafted espresso drinks, dishes made with locally sourced ingredients and lots of charm. This is one of places I proudly can say “very Seattle” – rustic, funky, vintagey, hip and eclectic

personal view

Lazy Blue Sunday: Raining Too

March 15, 2015March 15, 2015by have you eaten?3 Comments

It is raining in Seattle. I actually get so relieved when I hear sound of the rain. This one tiny little thing has been bothering me for a while so I decided to have a very lazy Sunday. Pajama all day Sunday. My quality life however can’t be affected so I had:

Starbucks Kenya

Almond Cherry Pie from Seattle’s finest, High 5 Pie

And Ginger, my overweight Chihuahua

So I have to say, I still had a lovely Sunday. I stayed inside all day but I am not regretting a bit. It is raining in Seattle. I kind of like it too.

restaurant

Dum Sum in the Evening: 飲茶 Yum Cha

March 13, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

Silk Road travelers. They must have traveled under severe and harsh conditions but I can’t stop fantasize about the time period. Transporting silks, gold, precious stones, fabrics, animal skins, exotic fruit on the back of camels…

飲茶: 飲＝drink 茶= tea

Dim sum is linked with the old tradition from yum cha (tea tasting). Silk Road travelers needed a place to rest and teahouses were established along the roadside. Those teahouses offered food and tea…that’s a short history of yum cha.

Dum sum is traditionally eaten during morning and late afternoon. In Seattle Chinatown however, Chinese restaurants offer limited dim sum items for dinner as well (thank goodness). I wanted to eat out but wanted it to be quick and easy. Dim sum can be the perfect supper.

Dim sum in the evening in Chinatown. It could be a good place to take your date as well J

personal view

Who is Your Most Wonderful Friend?: Books

March 12, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

“Books are the most wonderful friends in the world. When you meet them and pick them up, they are always ready to give you a few ideas. When you put them down, they never get mad; when you take them up again, they seem to enrich you all the more.”-Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

They are also emotional. They can be mad, sad, lonely, happy, glad, scary, apprehensive, shy, wonderful, helpful, merry, confused, relieved, amused, crushed, curious, nervous, fearful, annoyed, hopeful, funny, brave, numb, safe, loving, confident, quiet, blue, angry, stressed, tender and loving.

Sometimes you can’t even handle how emotional they are. However you can never stop being friends with them because you feel alive when you are with them.

Spending hours on reading books at my favorite café with some kind of espresso drink on sunny day or rainy day means contentment to me. When taking a short break from reading and happen to look out to the window of the café, you realize you are the happiest person on the earth. Books are the most wonderful friends because they teach you that life is beautiful like that.