Well, the last few days have been busy! Getting a vacuum cleaner, kettle and other appliances. Again, we're a bit numb from shock at the prices. (We have to get it here as the voltage is different from the rest of the world and in general adapters don't work on all things, depending on the items).
But the fun things we've done are: we've been out walking quite a bit here around our area on the weekend...
We checked out "Todoroki valley" which is right across the road from our flat and I didn't realise it! It's basically a piece of paradise in the middle of the concrete jungle! A broadish but trickling river with big tropical trees growing lushly around it. Lots of little insects on the water, big black butterflies that were almost topheavy with their size and other dragonflies. There was a shrine (?) in the middle where one or two people stopped and bowed their heads at the front part after ringing a bell (probably to wake their sleeping god?).
Josephine loved it, until she slipped and landed in some mud. Hmmm. We didn't have a happy camper for the next few minutes and it took a lot of distraction to get her mind off her black legs. Evie was again in the Ergo (baby pouch) and was flirting with anyone (nearly everyone) who afforded her a smile. After that we went down Happy Road and found a nice ice-cream parlour and cooled off in the 40 degree sun. There are few trees compared to all the concrete flats, so Todoroki Valley is really a little treasure.
What else?
Ah, yes. Last week, us 3 girls walked past a little shop that sells motorbikes for children. Josephine was jumping up and down "What about me!?!?". So we took Michael on Saturday just to show him. Those things are small, but potent! Many go 90km per hour!! (50miles p/h?) Um....nah! Anyway, the humurous part (I thought) was the salesman who spoke to Michael. He couldn't speak any English and Michael had tons of questions. Each time Michael asked something he looked to me as if I could translate that question into Japanese. Do I look Japanese? I don't think so. Amusing few minutes. Must have thought I'm a very unhelpful/doff Japanese person.
On Saturday we went to Jiagouka as a family and just ambled around finding our bearings. For lunch, we stopped at a tiny little restaurant. My first taste of Japanese food made by a Japanese person. DELICIOUS!!!! Big fat noodles in a soup. Doesn't look fantastic, but tastes brilliant! Kids both loved it! They were finally allowed to slurp...that's the norm. There's virtually no talking done during eating - just full concerntration on using your chopsticks to eat from the soupbowl (all the bigger pieces only after which you may use an unusual shaped spoon to scoop up the remaining liquid). The four of us were sitting in close company around a tiny square table; the kitchen is open-plan (just due to lack of space available) so you can see the cook preparing all the food on the gas fires. Everyone gets a big paper bib to put on. Michael didn't feel up to looking like a big kid so, I wore my bib alone with the girls. He regretted it after splattering himself with sauces! Now we know that they are necessary! It was a lovely experience and not badly priced in proportion to everything actually. Not much more than preparing the meal at home, value-wise. To put it another way: the food at the grocery stores cost a fortune. Restaurant prices are the same as in Germany. The other good thing is they bring you a big cannister of ice-water to the table which is free. Many of the Japanese people I saw there didn't order additional drinks.
Today was a public holiday (Marine Day) and we went to Yokohama Port to check it out. The atmosphere in Yokohama is very different to Tokyo, we thought. There's more space! Despite it being the 2nd biggest city (and actually there's no visible boundary between Tokyo and Yokohama), it's more green and a bit less hectic. It was only a 20minute drive to the sea! Where we landed up, it was lovely, but no beaches as it was just a harbour and waterfront. But very nice. However, we were only able to stand 1hour and 15minutes between 9.15 and 10.30 in the 40degree sun. It was so hot, humid, no wind. The weather really knocks it out of you. I don't know how sick people cope in this weather? And I've seen one or two morons running up the hill in front of our house. Can't be good for them, don't you think?
Anyway, one of the highlights at the Port were just experiencing a bit of a holiday feeling (one always feels a bit more relaxed at the ocean) and also seeing about 1000 jelly fish! "Kollagi" is the Japanese word. They are like graceful ballerinas wearing big white tutus...with their long thin legs kicking out and their skirts billowing and falling to propel them around. Josephine was very fascinated! Amongst all the white ones there was one bright red one which we thought looked a bit more potent!
Well, I think I better get to bed now!
