My third time in Tokyo and though there is finally a sense of familiarity it doesn't lessen the joy that bubbles up in my heart whenever I set foot in this city. It must be the anticipation for uncovering new secrets of this layered city, eating the best meals of our lives every single day, …
Our first onsen stop was Shirahone. Shirahone literally translates to "white bone" because the hot springs in this area are so saturated with minerals that they appear milky white. Mid-November is a quiet time for the Japanese Alps when many popular mountain passes like Kamikochi are closing down for the winter and the ski season …
I can't say for sure when I actually started to like the maneki neko. Maybe because growing up I've always been accustomed to its presence. Whenever we went to a Japanese or Chinese restaurant, or any other Asian establishment, the playful figurine is sure to be lurking somewhere, waiting to catch my eye. Now whenever …
In the couple of times I've visited Japan, it always struck me how Japanese people strive to coexist harmoniously with wild animals, from deer to the Japanese macaque monkeys, these animals have come to trust and even depend on humans for their survival. I'm not a wildlife expert so I can't say for sure if …
After soaking in the love story of Victoria and Albert at Kensington Palace, we spent the rest of the afternoon playing under the giant sycamore trees of Hyde Park. It's one of the most beautiful parks I've ever been to, in part because the fall colors were at their prime. It was just the perfect …
E: Mama, what do they speak in London?Me: They speak English, just with an accent. Like we say tomato and they say to-mah-to.E: And they say spaghetti and we say NOOOODLESSSS!M: Erm....right Traveling with one toddler can already have me questioning my sanity sometimes, but deciding to go on a trip with three other moms …
Entering sketch is like stepping into a world where everything really is seen through rose colored glasses. But the best part was the David Shrigley gallery whose twisted humor made me chuckle as I sip my tea from a dainty tea cup. So even though the plush velvet decor may suggest this place is very …
He'd board at Canal and watch the train fill and empty at each stop with an ever-shifting mix of different peoples and ethnicities...the only thing uniting them being their newness to America and their identical expressions of exhaustion, that blend of determination and resignation that only the immigrant possesses. The other aspect of those weekday-evening …
Whenever we visit my mom Ellie always looks forward to "laolao's" good cooking. My mom always seems to be able to mix up some dough and make noodles in a matter of minutes. Now that I've tried it myself, I realized that it really is that easy to make noodles at home. You don't need …
Hello October. School was probably as big of an adjustment for me as it was for Ellie. Suddenly our house got a lot quieter and feels a bit lonelier with Ellie gone most of the day. I feel a new urgency to work and create, yet somehow the hours slip away and before I know …
milkywaypicnic 