Tacoyaki in Hawaii

Adventuring

This is going to be mostly pictures, but they’re pretty cool.

We went SURFING!

…with a bunch of Japanese people.

We went with Hawaiian Fire, a surfing company run by the local firefighters.  We were shuttled out to a secluded beach near a campground, given a quick demo and safety lesson, of course, then supplied with big boards, which were perfect for newbs like us.

It was pretty easy on land:

In the water was a different story, but we were able to get up most of the time. :)  Dylan’s teacher was sure proud of him.

The camera certainly loved Harrison.

Balance!

Riding a good one.

We smiled a lot that day.  It was so much fun, and going with Hawaiian Fire made it all the better.  On our way home, our shuttle driver gave us an exclusive restaurant tour of Waikiki, and we even got to practice our Japanese!

A few weeks after surfing, Dylan set us up with a morning of snorkeling.  We took an underwater disposable camera, but have yet to get the pictures “developed”.  We need to finish the “roll of film” or whatever it’s called, so we’ll work on it.

Waiting to climb aboard our catamaran.

We were taken off shore of Waikiki to a place called Turtle Canyon, where the turtles meet to get cleaned by little FISH.

Snorkeling was a lot of fun and quite easy.  We saw some turtles, eels, and swam among all those fish.   None of them touched me luckily, eeeww!  It was cool being under water, at least up to the snorkel and not hearing anything around you, just enjoying the swimming sea creatures.  After a while, though, the pressure changes of going up and under got to me and I started feeling a little sea sick.  We got back on the boat and I still felt a bit sick, but things leveled out after a while and after our complimentary pastries that our captain and first mate, Rabbit, brought for us.

That’s Diamond Head behind me.

We were a bit warn out, but our impromptu snorkeling trip was a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Shaped Like a Coconut

Holy crap I updated my blog!

Yesterday was Dylan’s birthday.  Not only did he make the long trek out to Hawaii Kai so we could have lunch together, he also made us dinner reservations at a restaurant we’ve been wanting to visit since we knew we were going to be living in Honolulu.

Pretty late for us, we made it through the chilly night winds for our 8:30 reservation.  The restaurant isn’t near the water, it doesn’t have a nice view, it’s on the third floor of an inconspicuous building not ten minutes from our apartment.  We could have ridden our bikes, but again, cold, harsh winds to contend with.  We were immediately shown to our table, had napkins placed on our laps, and were given menus (Dylan’s signed by all the staff for being the birthday boy).  Sure there were words on the menu I didn’t understand, and Dylan had to point out that I looked confused or maybe awe-struck after the waiter’s explanation of everything, but it isn’t everyday that we go to a restaurant owned by a world-renowned top chef that has actually been a judge on one of our favorite shows, Top Chef.

We took our time to look over the menus, then ordered the Chinatown Roast Duck Nachos and Chili for an appetizer.

I asked our waiter for a wine recommendation and for once went with the one that was suggested, regardless of the price.  I was even given a taste before he poured the glass, and yes, it was delicious.  Here’s Dylan happy with a Lilikoi Margarita.

Next course was our Hamakua Springs Tomato, Beet and Avocado Salad.

Li Hing has a unique flavor if you ever get the chance, and I didn’t like it when I tried it a while back, but it went very well with the salad, and holy moly were those vegetables fresh!  Eating those tomatoes was like eating a hearty, juicy, crazy expensive steak.  All organic and all locally grown.  Very refreshing.

Then came our entrees when I actually did eat a hearty, juicy, crazy expensive steak.  Only this wasn’t crazy expensive and it was worth every penny anyway.  I got the Surf and Turf, with a beef tenderloin and the meat of a lobster tail on top, with a side of shrimp and scallop fried rice.

The steak was seriously made of butter it just melted in my mouth.  And the lobster was what lobster is supposed to feel and taste like.  I believe I showed surprise that it wasn’t chewy and went on to curse Red Lobster and it’s rubbery shellfish.  Who knew?  I certainly do now and there’s no going back.   Dylan had one of Alan Wong’s signature and highly reviewed dishes, the Ginger Crusted Onaga.

It was also very good, but I was pretty enthralled with my steak.

For dessert we got what Dylan picked out before we even got to the restaurant.  The Coconut!

Chocolate shaped like a coconut shell and filled with haupia sorbet.  It was big and covered with fresh fruit and delicious and less than $10!  Dylan was also presented with a trio of pineapple desserts with Happy Birthday Dylan written in chocolate sauce on the plate.

The waiters sang happy birthday, maybe not with the best enthusiasm, but it was 10:30 by now and I don’t blame them for being a little worn out.  After all, they did swoop in every time someone got up from a table so they could refold any napkins lying around.  To go along with dessert, we thoroughly enjoyed a perfectly brewed and French pressed cup of Ka’u Forest coffee.  I think the description from the menu says everything, “This is unlike any other Ka’u coffee Chef has tried so far and probably a testament to a new vintage and a different terroir. This is like a very big cabernet. Very forward, very loud and very strong.”

So, yes, Alan Wong’s was great.  The ambiance, the staff, THE FOOD, and even the prices will have us returning before too long.  We all but made a reservation for our 1st year anniversary when we plan on having the 7-Course Menu Tasting.  Mmm, 7 courses….

Happy Birthday, Dylan!

And in other great news, our friend Kristine was crowned the 57th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen last night!!  Here are some beautiful pictures of Queen Kristine!  Can’t say that I’m surprised because she’s so awesome, looks the best in kimono, and overall kicks ass in her cute, pretty-in-pink way.  Go Kristine!

Halloween

Does anyone else besides my brother and I think that Halloween is slowly dying?

It was such a big deal when we were little, and it wasn’t just because we were young and naive.  It was actually better then.  Throughout the last 15 years or so, though, a few razor blades, shootings, and wrapped up cat turds have spoiled the fun.  Malls and churches are taking away trick-or-treaters with their “safe” Halloween propaganda, and most people don’t even turn on their porch lights anymore, acting completely spiritless and unwelcoming.

Now we didn’t have the money to spend on costumes this year, but even if we did, the idea of dressing like a skank and going to a party or a bar to drink sounds even more lame than what we did this year.  We stayed home and watched horror movies.  I made cookies, which was my one pleasure of the failed day, and we were in bed by 11:30.  Zero trick-or-treaters to take our candy that was waiting.  It totally sucks that even if we had had some knocks on the door, and even if I had wanted to share my delicious homemade cookies, all the media scare tactics that are ruining Halloween would have prevented A) me from offering them cookies, and B) them from taking any for fear of being poisoned or some such nonsense.

Maybe my brother and I are a little weird when it comes to Halloween.  We have some of the best memories of the holiday, and really enjoy all the scariness that comes with it.  By the time I was seven, I think I was a witch almost every year, and never wanted to be anything cute or pretty.  We have a collection of old shows that we’ve watched every year since we were like six.  Shows that probably wouldn’t even be allowed in school these days, but I was lucky to find some of them on the internet.  Watching them almost made me want to cry with nostalgia this last week.  I love the feelings Halloween brings, the eerie uneasiness, and the scents and sounds to go along.  I suppose I’ll do my best to keep the traditions alive, and then someday I’ll teach my kids all the wonders of Halloween, complete with pumpkins, proper costumes, trick-or-treating, baking, games, and everything else that Halloween should be.

Victory

A little over a month ago we experienced the cruelness of defeat.

This last Friday, we were given a second chance.

It took five of us, but banded together as one, we tasted the sweetness of victory that night.

So sweet was this victory that we went for popcorn and frozen burritos afterward.

Delicious.

Seasons

…Or the lack there of.

I recently received these pictures from my brother.  He and my parents took a trip up to Denver, Colorado last week and got to take in all the splendor of autumn while driving through the Rockies.

It’s been strange not feeling the coolness of fall rolling in this year, and not seeing the array of colors typical of the season.  Sure I’m excited for the three best months of the year, but it will be a bit different for our first year in Hawaii.  At least there are plenty of decorations at the stores here, and I can bake all things cinnamon and pumpkin.  These are cinnamon raisin muffins with brown sugar and cinnamon streusel.  I can’t wait to make something for Halloween and I’ve already been brainstorming about Christmas cookies.

And while I’m missing the scent of roasted green chiles and the need for sweaters, a trip to the beaches on the North Shore of Hawaii never disappoints.

Dylan and I took advantage of our unemployment and finally managed the two hour bus ride to one of the best beaches in the world.  We soaked up some rays and tested the cool waters here at Waimea Bay Beach Park.

The sand was fine and soft, the water was cool and clear, and there were little schools of fish and apparently turtles according to the shrieking children.  It was pretty cool being at one of the top surfing spots in the world, even if the waves were on the small side being that it’s early yet.  I think we’re going to invest in some snorkel gear and then when the swimming skills improve, surfboards! It was definitely not a bad way to spend an afternoon in early fall.  Maybe not traditional as we know it, but a good start at making some of our own.

Aloha!

Living in Hawaii now and haven’t been much for writing.  Not from lack of doing stuff, though, so I want to give a little rundown.

Went to New Mexico to be rejuvenated by the desert and reunited with my spirit-animal, the mighty and fuzzy Patty.

Moved to Hawaii!

Got married!  It’s been over a month already.  Shouldn’t the honeymoon be over by now?

Been baking!  A full-size oven has to be one of the coolest inventions known to man.  Same goes for cooling racks.

Dylan and I have been bulking up our bodies and brains during this free-time of ours.  Going to the gym three times a week and marveling at A) how damn cheap it is, B) how much stuff this facility has, and C) how damn huge everyone is.  To remedy that last one, we’ve also been eating a lot of steak.  We’ve now taken a cooking class all about knife skills, and I’m hoping to get into some of the upcoming baking classes.  Yesterday we spent about nine hours at the American Red Cross getting CPR/AED and First Aid certified for adults, children and infants.  I’m also a new volunteer for the American Cancer Society and will be taking part in my first health fair next Saturday.

And that brings us to the apparently everlasting search for employment.  This is about how I feel:

“Oh, get a job? Just get a job? Why don’t I strap on my job helmet, and squeeze down into a job cannon and fire off into JobLand where jobs grow on little jobbies!”

Thank you, Television, for being so hilarious and free.  You keep us warm at night and entertained during those long hours of the day here in paradise, in between the trips to Waikiki and Jamba Juice.

*In Loving Memory of Maya.  A kooky calico and sweet member of our family since 1996.

Miscellaneous Ends and Sayonara Japan

It’s early in the morning on Friday the 25th over here in Japan. I can’t sleep anymore and I have a flight to catch in seven hours to head back to America. Finally? Too soon? At this moment, I’d say the timing is just right. I’ve had my ups and downs the last two years, but overall this has been an incredible experience. One that is difficult to explain and one that I will remember always. Sure, I’ve had those feelings like, “I can’t do this anymore. OR I’m not cut out for this.”, but now that it’s over I’ve realized, “Huh, no problem.”. I came out of this a stronger and more worldly person. I’ve made some of the best friends a girl could ask for, and I’ve seen and done things most people only read about. It’s almost weird to think about the person that arrived in Tokyo about two years ago right now. She was crying because she didn’t quite know what she had gotten herself into. Now though, I’m sad because I’m leaving my home. I have much to look forward to in the next few weeks and for the rest of my life. I’m happy to be moving on, and I’m grateful for the last two years for making me more willing and able to take on, or even to search out, whatever life may throw my way.

Here are some pictures of my last couple of weeks.

Bye bye, Brenda! (and MisDo) Our last dinner in Akashi on 7/17/08.

Bye bye, Kelly! Kel’s party in Osaka on 7/19/08.

Bye bye, JUMBO! Our last Jumbo with Stuart, Hide, and Yuusuke on 7/19/08.

Bye bye, school! Taken on my last day, 7/24/08.

One of my favorite JTEs. We taught until April my first year and have been buds ever since. She’s planning on visiting us in Hawaii!

Bye bye, students! The girl on the right was really awesome. Students were obnoxious and frustrating at times, but those like her made my life easier. She loves punk music and wants to move to America so she can dye her hair pink and meet the guys from Blink 182.

Bye bye, classroom! It’s the three windows on the second floor.

My last supper at Vivre with Lena, Kristine and Chris, and Dylan. 7/24/08 Delicious tonkatsu and matcha soba!

Our last grind! Grinding sesame seeds before dinner.

Bye bye, L-Kizzle!

I have some last minute pre-flight preparations, like showering for the last time before my 24 hour trek, EWWW. Thanks to everyone that has made my two years in Japan better than I ever thought possible. You all rock and I’ll miss the hell out of you!

So, 気を付けて and またね Japan! Or as my students say “See you!”.

Yukata Matsuri

Following the ticket fiasco a couple weeks ago, I wasn’t really feeling up with Japan and wanted to do little more than grumble on my couch. However, I had already made plans the day before to meet some friends for some Japanese fun. I really contemplated staying home, and I’ve never really been into the whole dressing up in Japanese garb thing. BUT, I ended up having a great time and it was actually very therapeutic to talk about my horrible day with my friends.

Lena and I met up and biked to Brenda’s where we met her and Tu. The long bike ride helped release some of the rage I was feeling, and it’s always nice being around the girls. Plus, I got to spend some more time with Tu, our buddy from New Zealand who is always good for a laugh. We dressed, or rather wrapped each other in yukata, did our hair and makeup and then headed out. I was in one of Brenda’s yukata, a nice purple/blue number from Uniqlo.

We met up with another friend, Ann, and all of us had a good time on the train heading to Himeji. Wrapping and tying obi and sitting in yukata while showing leg isn’t really the most appropriate, but no one was complaining. Not with such pretty girls to gawk at.

Ann was an obi-tying master on the train!

Tsk, tsk, ladies. Nice legs, though!

When we finally made it to Himeji, we were greeted with crowds of colorful yukata. Here’s our rainbowtastic group!

We met up with a few other people and walked up the street towards Himeji-jo. The sidewalks were lined with all sorts of food venders and I of course bought some takoyaki! It’s one of my favorite Japanese dishes, but it never fails to scorch the roof of my mouth. So piping hot that my eyes start to water and all I can do to keep from spitting it out is breath in and out in an attempt to cool things down. In the end, my mouth was shredded for at least a week. Still tasty, though!

I also got some kakigoori, or shave ice. I discovered that Tu is also a big fan, so we jumped at the first stand we saw. I went for my favorite, いちごミルク. Here’s Tu drizzling some condensed milk onto his melon flavored ice.

We made it up to the castle, but not before we ran into a monkey!

Then we enjoyed photo time in the dark cover of night, with the castle shining in the background.

Ah friends, you make all my worries fade away :-). I didn’t get home until after midnight that night, but it was so much fun. Sure I dressed in yukata which I said I’d never do, but it did make for some mighty cool pictures.

Thanks to everyone for the photos. I’ve found that I’m a bit lazy with pulling the ol’ camera out.

Rock on!

Where the tumbleweeds roll…

My countdowns are moving at full-force these days. I’m not sure where the time has gone, but I definitely don’t have much left. Exactly two weeks from tomorrow I will be heading to KIX to go back to America! It’s rather bittersweet, maybe a little more on the sweet side, but I will miss Japan and of course my friends that I’ll soon have to say good bye to. We’ve all been trying to do as much as possible with our remaining time, and I’ll pretty much be busy right up until the end. Have to enjoy for the precious memories! Let’s!

Being that I’ll be flying away in two weeks, it’s good to know that I have a nice, free ticket that was properly set up by my office ladies and the Hyogo BOE. All because of my assertiveness, I might add, and the fact that I asked about my itinerary two weeks ago, since I had heard nothing.

I knew the meeting in the office wasn’t going to go well from the start. The one JTE that I’m least close with and who takes a good minute to translate back and forth was my go-between with the office lady. I caught enough of what she said to understand perfectly well while he was thinking of the correct words, but anyway. When I got a pack of papers about my pension refund and it was all in Spanish?, I knew I was in for a long afternoon. At first I thought maybe they thought I spoke Spanish, because I am from Mexico after all. Then I realized, no, it’s written in the same funny letters as English, so it must be English, right? We quickly got that sorted out.

Next we talked about apartment schtuff and I signed and hankoed a paper stating when my last day will be. No info about my ticket was being offered, so I asked. How about my itinerary? Another lady came over with tons of forms and proceeded to tell me my flight schedule. Going from Osaka to Detroit. Sure, ridiculous, but whatever. Then Detroit to Denver. The End.

Uhhhh, and then to Albuquerque, New Mexico, right? Proceed with a half hour of mass confusion and me just dumbfounded with their completely illogical reasoning. My JTE just kept saying the same thing over and over again that the BOE sent this paper saying they can only buy tickets to certain airports. So, you’re getting me to Denver, Colorado and expecting me to get my own way home?? Hundreds of miles away with no shinkansen in sight? I have to buy another ticket to get to NM? Were you planning on telling me this before I got to KIX and would end up stranded? Why can’t I fly into Abq, they have an airport?! What’s the difference between going from Detroit to Denver or Detroit to Abq? That’s when the atlas was brought out. They actually measured it right in front of me, after they finally found Colorado, of course. LOOOONG story short, they used that atlas to find the next closest “international” airport to New Mexico. They thought Abq just didn’t have an airport or that it was some podunk little local hut, because it didn’t have an icon in the book. I said it does have an airport and it’s a big, international one at that. Send me there!!

Other JTEs were informed that actually knew my situation and with whom I had cleared the ticket change to NM months ago. They were just as confused and could clearly see that I was pissed. Yeah, I’m pissed. They already have the ticket purchased and it’s completely wrong. I tried explaining that it would be like them being sent home to Japan, and dropped in Tokyo when they live in Osaka. Get your own way home, my ass. America doesn’t have trains! That was Monday and by Friday the crap ticket was canceled and I made myself well-known in the front office by making sure they were doing things correctly. I even made them tell me the itineraries they were working on and I choose which one I wanted, not giving them any leeway. I was originally supposed to leave on the 26th, but since I will be arriving so late, I told them I wanted to leave on the 25th instead. Done. One day sooner, but I’m not complaining.

Lessons learned:

Don’t expect or trust that you will get something until you have it in your possession.

Use the INTERNET…oooooh scary.

New Mexico is a fully-functioning STATE in AMERICA!! I mean come on! It’s bad enough that my fellow countrymen think I need a passport or that I automatically speak Spanish, but I expected more from you, Japan. For shame.

Haircuts and Up-dos

A couple weeks ago Dylan and I met up with Lena to go to our hair stylist’s newly opened salon. He’s now the owner and operator, and as such, he was the only one allowed to wear colors other than black. The salon was very modern, almost futuristic, with dramatic lighting and clever use of mirrors and dividing walls.

As always, we were offered free refreshments while waiting to be styled, and of course we were given fresh towels to dry off from the downpour outside. Lena was there for a digital perm and I was hoping for a cut and to try some wedding up-dos. After my initial consult with tencho (Mr. Hip and Cool Owner), I had my hair shampooed by pretty much my personal assistant. She was obviously new, but very friendly and she took care of me during all three hours that I was back there. She made sure to comment on my “small face” and to ask what color my hair was and if everyone where I’m from has the same color? Oh, Japan, you’re silly

I’m too dramatic for such silliness!

Tencho did his thing with his scissors and before long my hair was perfectly trimmed and ready to go. But wait! Time for the second shampooing and a scalp and shoulder massage. No tipping required, I might add. Upon returning to my chair, there were magazines set out, opened to pictures of potential up-dos I might like. I picked a couple and tencho went to work.

He of course used the pictures and added his own flare. Maybe a little too much flare, I’d say. My hair was pulled, and twisted, and pinned and sprayed, and the final do was perfect maybe for a Japanese girl in a fancy kimono on her Coming of Age Day.

For me, however, and my beach wedding, it wasn’t quite right.

Still fun, though, and I’m glad I got to get my hair done one more time in Japan, and at tencho’s new salon, no less! I also got 29 free bobby pins out of the experience!

We <3 you, Tencho!

(pictures by Dylan)