Eating in English – in Japan

There might be just one thing worse than not knowing what you are eating, and that would be KNOWING. Look at the second column under ‘Innards’! I’ll list the items below the picture since the photo isn’t too clear. I really wonder about the other brands of beef if this one is a “major beef…

Eating in Japanese

Our first morning in Tokyo we headed out toward the Yasukuni military shrine and happened upon the Sunday antique market. There was everything from World War 2 helmets and memorabilia to old photo albums, kimonos and junk jewelry. Maybe there were real jewels too, but how would I know? As we exited from the East…

Electronics for the masses

“Electric City” is a district in Tokyo where there are hundreds of electronics stores – everything from big department stores selling all the TVs, etc, you could want, to hole-in-the-wall places that stack oscilloscopes and cables and spy cameras and ham radio parts and transistors, etc. At least I was able to get wifi on…

Arrival in Tokyo

I have emerged, finally and maybe only temporarily, from a wifi-deprived existence on the other side of the world. Arrived at Narita Airport at about 4:30 pm. Bought tickets at the obvious ticket place near Arrivals, for the Narita Express to Tokyo Station. Leaves every 30 minutes. Seats are assigned. We were directed to Track…

Blog research trip – Going to Japan

An opportunity has arisen which will send me to a conference in Kyoto. Japan has never been near the top of my list. I hasn’t even been ON my list. That is what makes it a true adventure! I am more anxious about this trip than going to the Amazon. In the Amazon I could…

Natalie Tran – Cooking in a hotel room

Here are some excellent travel tips (Cooking in a hotel room) from Natalie Tran, the YouTube sensation from Australia. Search on YouTube for more of her travel videos. However, I’m off on another trip soon, so maybe I’ll put these cooking skills to work.

Stanley Park

Daughter A is a volunteer Nest Box Monitor for the Stanley Park Ecology Society. She goes around the park once a week, observing activity and reporting the data. Usually she runs, but last weekend she turned it into a walk and we joined her, binoculars, camera and Peterson guide in hand. Husband and I took transit to…

Rhubarb and rhumba (or is it rubarb and rumba?)

I’ve been overly occupied with work during the last few months. But I’ve got a couple of difficult assignments behind me and am ready to lighten up. Let’s start with some music and Cuba – spend 11 minutes to watch this video shot in Matanzas. It is really good – I will be very disappointed…