Monthly Archives: March 2009

IKEA

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We had decided to go to IKEA today. Chie’s mother, Coco, Chie and I. It took us about an hour or so to drive from Tokorozawa to IKEA in Saitama. It is one of the latest IKEA to open in the Tokyo area.

It was the first time for Chie’s mother to visit an IKEA. And it took about 10 seconds before she put the first thing into the basket. Going to IKEA is always a challenge. The biggest challenge is to try not to buy anything. Many say it is impossible but I have managed… Once 🙂

We spent about 2 hours walking around, zig-zagging between people. More people than what you can find on a Saturday or Sunday in a Swedish IKEA.

With some money less in our pockets and few bags in our hands we left IKEA. Just to reach the next challenge. How to get home? The signs for the express way were a little bit confusing and the junction looked more like a roller coaster with roads going up and down and hither and thither than anything else.



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Eventually we find our way up on the express way. Once there the drive was as smooth as a baby butt.

In the evening we had tori-udon at home. At 8:30 pm we left Tokorozawa and headed back to Tokyo. A little bit later than we usually do.

Spring Time in Tokorozawa?

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In the morning while I was walking Coco it felt like spring was finally here. Sunshine. 20 degrees. Colorful trees. And Fuji-san in the background. A great way to start the day.


Yellow tree Plum trees in bloom Fuji-san

Tahiti

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Sure as a Swiss clockwork this week had a Friday too. At 6:15 pm I left the office. Rushed to Shinagawa station, zig-zagging between all the thousands of people. And got on the Yamate-sen bound for Shibuya. In Shibuya I changed to Ginza-sen and got off at Omotoesando station.

At Exit 4 I met Chie and we walked to Tahiti. Our destination of the evening. A beautiful restaurant with a nice atmosphere.


Tahiti's menu Chie at Tahiti

After a while Mina-sensei joined us for dinner. We had great food and talked. I had different virgin cocktails (Mojito and Mango daiquiri) that was delicious. And then, suddenly, it was 11 pm. Time flies…


Mina at Tahiti

We usually do not spend much time in this area so it was like being in another world. No “sallarymen” (men in dark business suits). So the atmosphere was much more relaxed. And on the train back to Shibuya it was packed with people.


Ginza-sen at 11:30 pm

From Shibuya Chie and I got a taxi back home. While we were waiting in line to get a taxi two Brittish girls in front of us asked about good place to go out partying in Roppongi. I must have looked something like ? (a question mark) because I have no clue where to go in Roppongi. But Chie said “Gaspanic” without hesitation.

The two girls said “Thank you”, took out a crumbled pamphlet and found the club there. Something to show the taxi driver I guess. Then they froze. Totally fascinated by how the passenger door of taxis in Tokyo open by them self… Like magic. Next subject to discuss was how they would look so stupid once back in London, waiting in vane for the taxi doors to open 😀

Dinner at Red Pepper

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Tired after a day full of things to do Chie and I went to Red Pepper in Ebisu for a dinner. Dry tomato. Octopus carpaccio. Olives. Green salad. Pizza. Beef cheek in red wine sauce. Gato chocolate cake with whipped cream. Strawberry sherbet. Apple tart. There is only one word to describe it… Yummy 😛

Thaini Kitchen

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Chie and I met Club Leo in Roppongi Hills at 1:20 pm. Today we watched the Benjamin Button movie at the Toho Cinema theater. It was an odd movie but quite good. It made you think about life and death.

Afterwards we took the subway to Ebisu where we changed to the JR Yamate-sen to Shinagawa. At Shinagawa we changed again to Keikyu-sen. We got off at the Omorikaigen. And was a bit lost. We found a map that not only had “You are here” marked in the wrong place but it was turned around so it was really difficult to find where we should go.

Eventually we found what direction to go in. But then we had to ask a few people to find our way to Thaini Kitchen. A small Thai restaurant with great Thai food. Spicy. Fresh.


Ryo and Non Johan and Chie

Either it was the warm weather during the day or it was some spices in the food, but Ryo got some of allergic reaction and her nose started to run. Not around like a dog would run but more like a waterfall would run.

Actually, in Japanese a runny nose is called はなみず (hana-mizu) which basically means nose water. Inspired by Ryo’s nose water we invented a new Japanese word はなたき (hana-taki) which means nose waterfall. I think everyone had a fun time making jokes about her nose the whole evening. Except maybe Ryo. Or at least I can understand she had a tough time with her nose… But she could keep from laughing at our nose jokes.

Before leaving I gave Ryo and Non chocolate cookies as a White Day gift.


White Day gifts

In Japan Valentine’s Day (14th of February) is the day when girls give boys chocolate or some other gift, which is a little bit different from the rest of the world. But on White Day (14th of March) it is the boys turn to give the girls chocolate or some other gift. Quite fair I think… Though I like the Japanese Valentine’s Day better 😉



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