Archives for November 2019

Fushimi Inari: torii gates, Chiyo wannabes, street food galore and a secret garden

21 November 2019

We took an Uber taxi to Fushimi Inari because our tour guide stood us up. About five seconds after alighting from the taxi, I wanted to crawl back inside. There were so many …

Valuable lessons learned when riding trains and buses in Kyoto and Osaka

15 November 2019

Riding trains and buses in Kyoto and Osaka was a goal for us. Not only to avoid horrendous taxi fares but also to experience what is often referred to as one of the most …

In my eyes, Japan is still beautiful and the Japanese are still a lovely people, but…

08 November 2019

Last year’s trip to Japan was a whirlwind; this time, it’s a two-week trip. When you travel more slowly, you get the oppotunity to observe more closely. Visiting Kyoto and …

Easy noodle soup with Tai O style clam sauce

14 November 2026 » Cooking» In the kitchen

Frozen dumplings and hotpot-style seafood balls, chicken broth straight out of a carton, instant noodles and fresh spinach. It would have been just another noodle soup were not for the addition of a lovely sauce I bought in Hong Kong.

Holiday paper crafts

13 November 2026 » Creating» In the den

The girls and I used to make holiday paper projects together once Christmas vacation started. Creative activities to while away the long days. It was fun. It was a great opportunity for bonding. It felt good to create something pretty; it felt even better to be able to create together.

A story about a fish, a volcano and a book

12 November 2026 » Elsewhere

This is a story about a fish that can be found in only one lake, and that lake is in the caldera of a volcano. But to tell that story, I first have to write about a book I found lying around in a house overlooking the lake and volcano.