November 22, 2008
Tokyo, Japan
Clear but cool temperatures (8-10C)
Fall or is it Winter?
Its hard to believe it has already been about 4 weeks since I returned to Bhutan. I arrived to fall weather in Tokyo which lasted about a week and then got warm for about 3 days and now its cold. I've heard its getting colder so fall season will be short this year.
Fall Plants in Bloom at my Apartments Garden (the building behind the garden with the huge satellite dish in the US Embassy)
A Sign of Fall in Tokyo, Sweet Potatoes roasted in Sumi Charcoal – One of My Childhood Favorites!
View of the Changing Foliage from Meiji Jingu Mae, the Chrysler/Empire State Building Look a Like is a Skyscraper in Shinjuku
Yuki-chan
I've been very busy since I've been back from Bhutan both personally and professionally. The day after I returned from Bhutan, I had to pick up Yuki-chan, a 2-3 year old female Westie rescued by ARK (Animal Rescue Kansai) from a horrible puppy mill. She came to me all cleaned up and friendlier than I saw her about a month ago thanks to her foster mom – Meg. She was a bit timid at the beginning and would shake uncontrollably from fear when I took her for a walk but after about 4 weeks, her terrier instincts are back and she is a bundle of joy! The potty training is going smoothly although, just when I think she's 100% potty trained she has an accident. She had a stubborn ear infection when she came to me but we got that all cleared up and now all she wants to do is eat and play to the irritation of Skipper as she always wants to play with Skipper. Skipper is now 14.5 years old and is OK with her about playing for about 5 minutes and then he's done with her. She also is a girl with expensive taste as she is getting very good at finding my expensive shoes and chewing them.
Skipper is on the Left and Yuki-chan on the Right. She is Half the Size of Skipper (8 kilos versus 3.5 kilos!)
One of their First Walks Together
Yuki-chan during Potty Training
Skipper "tolerates" Sharing the Bed with Yuki-chan. Yuki is on the left with striped collar, Skipper on right with black collar.
Yuki-chan exhausted after non stop playing with her pink toy! (all her toys are pink!)
Skipper sound asleep and not wanting anything to do with Yuki-chan.
Bread Making
Now that my assignment has been extended a year (albeit don't have it in writing yet!), I signed up for the master class. However, prior to qualifying for Master Class, I had to successfully complete the Basic Course C where I had 3 more breads to make. I'm happy to report, I successfully made the last 3 breads and was able to take my first Master Class which was on doughnuts and curry pan. Curry Pan was invented in Japan and basically its a savory doughnut stuffed with Japanese style curry. Its similar to a Piroshki. Its very common to see curry pan sold in bakeries all around Japan.
Basic Class C – Camembert Bread: This bread was very good. The key is to use both cake and bread flour.
Basic Class C- Stollen: I'm not a big fan of Stollen so gave it the concierge office of my apartment building. They loved it!
Basic Class C – Cream Pan (Cream Bread): This is a classic Japanese bread. Its filled with custard. Again I'm not a big fan so gave it to the concierge office. They told me it was restaurant quality.
Basic Class C – Fig and Walnut Loaf: This is the last bread we had to make prior to qualifying for Master Class. It was OK. Again we used cake and bread flour which made it soft. I would have preferred a crustier bread.
My first Master Class! These doughnuts were the best! I had so much fun making them and they were delicious!
In addition to Doughnuts we had to make Curry Pan. Coincidentally, my partner also works for IBM! The instructor is on the right
The Curry Pan that I made.
Fall Foliage
I have not had much time to enjoy Tokyo's fall foliage although given the weather, I might be missing it. However, I've seen some interesting developments in Tokyo. Firstly, Christmas season started on Nov. 1, exactly the day after Halloween where Tokyo had over the top Halloween celebrations including kid friendly parades and very wild adult parades. Christmas is very interesting in Tokyo as its huge yet its not a holiday and has no religious significance to most Japanese. Its another example of the innovative and influential consumer marketing . Speaking of innovate marketing, McDonald's launched one store in Ometasando, Tokyo called Quarter Pounder. Basically, the decor is a very modern red and black and all they sale are quarter pounders, french fries, shakes and refreshments. The lines are so long that I have not had the chance to try it but it looks like its the same quarter pounder dressed in very cool red and black packaging.
Only in Japan, Hello Kitty Silverware from Christofle
The New Quarter Pounder retail outlet by McDonalds in the Trendy Ometesando – I'm wondering if they are doing the same in the States?
Thanksgiving Plans
For Thanksgiving week,one of my BFFs Sandra is coming into town which I'm so looking forward to as we plan to have a small Thanksgiving dinner with some expats and new friends in Japan and also do some sightseeing – Mt. Takao for foliage, Kamakura and Hakone. Sandra was able to get a free nite and the very chi chi Hyatt in Hakone so am really looking forward to some pampering and beautiful scenery after a few very long but productive weeks at work. Stay tunes as I'll post pics of what we do during Thanksgiving week.
Tokyo Sunset from my Apartment
Nothing to do with Tokyo but the Wizard is my nephew Jackson who lives in Boulder and I miss very much!
The tall boy on the left with the black hat is my nephew Billy who is thirteen and I also miss him too very much