JAPAN TRIP #3 KAWAGUCHIKO

Finally after months, here is part 3 of my Japanese trip. After leaving Tokyo we headed for an onsen in Kawaguchiko, one of the five vulcanic lakes at the feet of Mt Fuji. We spent 2 super relaxing days there. Good food, fresh air, hot spa baths. What more can you ask? We even experienced one night of typhoon. Amazing non-stop downpour. The sound makes you feel extra cosy whilst snuggling in your futon :)

This is the Fuji trainline that took us to Kawaguchiko. So cute!

On the train. We can't wait to see Mt. Fuji!!!

This is the yukata provided by our onsen. We stayed at Sunnide Resort Village, a really nice and quiet place by the lake in a forset outside town. I would definitely go back. The staff was so helpful. They even come to collect us at the station when we arrived. It is wrongly listed as a hostel on the net, but I can assure you it is not.

We chose a traditional Japanese room. It was very comfortable. Here I'm preparing tea :)

Our stay at the onsen included breakfast, dinner and unlimited use of the spa with a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji. I would have never expected to be fed so much considering the small price we paid. Everything was so good and beautiful! I was shocked! Look how many yummy courses they brought us...

Home-made lavender ice cream... bliss!

Time for bed.

Sightseeing. We took a long walk through the countryside and along the lake. We stopped to visit shrines or anything interesting we found on the road. We were also given complimentary umbrellas by the hotel staff in view of the approaching typhoon.

Kawaguchi Sengen Shrine. The shrine was built in 865 for Konohana Sakuyahime goddess.

Immerse in the forest... so peaceful and silent.

Nanahonsugi (Seven Japanese Cedars). Ancient and holy.

Rice paddies.

Traces of family fun abandoned by the shore... It must be busy here in the summer months.

You can find one of these anywhere. This was literally in the middle of nowhere. Quite addictive...

Even the sewage signs are pretty in Japan...

Traditional Kawaguchiko noodles called Hoto, a rustic udon soup garnished with vegetables. Very delicious and filling.

Fresh deep fried little fish straight from the lake...

We wanted to order tea, but the lady of the restaurant insisted we drank Fujisan water "very good for you!". Maybe it was all in my mind, but I really felt great.

Up to Kachi Kachi Mountain! I'll tell you the story of the racoon and the rabbit later :)

View for the top.

I hate that stupid rabbit.

Lavender soft cone!!!

Dinner on the second evening. Magnificent once again.

Not to mention that the breakfast at Sunnide was also amazing! It was a buffet including continental, American and Japanese food. I opted for the full Japanese experience including natto, pickles and onsen egg :D (to name a few things).

Fujisan looked angry after the typhoon.

Eirik, Volpe and Panda.

Retro bus at Kawaguchiko Station.

Mt. Fuji's peach. Very sweet with pink flesh. So juicy! Perfect!

HOT DAYS :)

Lately the weather has been lovely. It was about time!

On Friday night after work I went to the British Museum to see the new exhibition Hadrian: Empire and Conflict. Objects from 28 museums worldwide and finds from recent excavations were shown together for the first time. It was very interesting and provided a fresh insight into Emperor Hadrian’s character and challenges faced during his reign.

After the exhibition I went to Abeno for okonomiyaki. I tried a new one this time, it was called something like "modernyaki". It had noodles on top. It was quite nice, but I still prefer the traditional style.

On Saturday I slept until very late. I can't believe how much I slept. I must have needed it :)

Then I cleaned the kitchen cupboards... the excitement!

On Saturday I meet with my sister for early dinner at The Elk in the Woods in Angel. It is a really nice place with good food, lovely atmosphere and deco.

At 8pm we went to see The Dark Knight. I thought it was ok, but Heath Ledger's Joker was amazing. I was kind of curious and wanted to see for myself whether the hype was all due to his tragic death. I was very impressed by his last performance.

I still feel very tired today. I prepared a quick and easy pasta bake tonight because I couldn't be bothered to cook anything too laboriuos. Lazy cow... I wonder what is wrong with me these days. I also had some Ben and Jerry's. My favourite flavour is Cookie Dough, but tonight I had Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Hi, hi! I think Ben and Jerry's is so much better than Haagen Dazs.

A BREW FOR THE SUMMER

It finally feels like summer. I hope this weather will last for a few more days. Unfortunately I cannot enjoy the sun during the week at all because our office is in the basement and it is always dark, stuffy and cold. Therefore I need the weekend to be good, too!
Anyway, I've been drinking a lot of Moroccan-style tea lately. I think it is great in the hot weather and it is very good for your digestion, too.
Here is the way I prepare it. It is very easy and probably not the real traditional way, but it tastes very good.
You will need:

Chinese Green Tea (Gunpowder)
A bunch of fresh mint
Sugar

Put all the ingredients in a teapot. I use 2 tablespoons of Chinese green tea, 2 tablesp of sugar and 2 handfull of fresh mint. Boil a kettle and pour the hot water in the teapot. Let it brew for 4/5 min. then taste it for sweetness. It is meant to be drunk very sweet, but I think 2 tablespoon are just right for me. You can always add more later.
Pour the tea in heath-proof glasses. If you are not sure whether your glasses can take hot liquids, just put a spoon in as you pour and they shouldn't break. Mind you, I bet this trick doesn't work if your glasses are very thin...
You should be pouring from high above the glasses, so that the tea foams nicely.

Courgettes are a very versatile summer vegetable. I've been cooking them quite often in the past few days. They are good with pasta, as a side dish or in a very quick and simple frittata.

A DAY IN THE PARK

On Saturday the weather seemed good, so I decided to prepare a nice lunch and go up to Kenwood House. The sun was shining, but the wind was a bit strong. Never mind. You can't be fussy about the weather in London!
I made some brown rice omusubi and spread them with a miso and ginger paste. They were really tasty.
Sitting in the park was very relaxing and peaceful and the air so fresh that it didn't feel like being in London at all. At the entrance of Kenwood House there is a kiosk that sells Marine icecream. I bought one and took a walk up to Parliament Hill. There were many people enjoying the weather and walking dogs. I met really cute ones :)
On my way back I bought some nice sunflowers to bring a bit of that summer feeling back home.
Soaking up the rays...

My omusubi...
Fancy one?

A VERY CUTE PICTURE...

My pupe-friend Kawaii has sent me this lovely picture. These are our pupe avatars on the beach with our new bikinis!!! Beach babes!!! So cute :)

I am the one on the bottom right with the black hair and the pink bikini. Kawaii is at the centre of the picture on the top with the hat and the blonde hair.

This was really a nice suprise! Thanks <3

A SHORT TRIP TO LAS PALMAS

Last week I went for a short break to Gran Canaria, where my friend Marcos lives. I have been there once before. It is a beautiful place to visit. This is if you stay well clear of the South of the island, where all the tourist resorts are. I mean the beaches down there are amazing, but there are too many pubs and German cafes for my taste. As usual, I stick with the locals :)

This time I went to see the mummies at the Museo Canario (rather small, but very interesting). I also made it to beach! It was quite windy and the combination "strong wind/sand/sunscreen" wasn't ideal and made me turn into a croquette...

I had a lot of nice things to eat. The best dish I had this time is without a doubt the "Octopus a la Plancha" at a newish restaurant called "Que Tal". Jorge, Marcos' friend, is the head chef there and he is the best. The octopus was so tender and fresh! The restaurant has been open since February, I think. It is very central and rather fancy. The ground floor is a trendy bar and upstairs is the restaurant, with an open kitchen. Very nice.

I think that the old part of the city is beautiful. I took a lot of pictures of balconies. The architecture is amazing and the narrow streets are extremely clean and well looked after. The colours of the sky, the ocean and the flowers are really vivid, as if in a postcard. Pity I was there for 3 full days only...

The beach at Telde, with the statue of Neptune in the sea.

Happy Feet!

Croquetas at Le Monde. Another place I like.

Queso a la Plancha with Membrillo (quince paste). Delicious!

Time to go... good bye :'(