Weeeee!

It gets harder and harder, as the winter chill sets in, to go take a walk. Enjoy the ride while I still can, daughter.

Until next time,

Sak

Colorful Walk

Our daily walk through Akashi Park has come to be much delightful with all the colored leaves on the cherry trees. 

 

My only question is, where the heck are people? It's a perfectly sunny, rather-warm-for-an-autumn-day out. Three in the afternoon? In a park that's P-U-B-L-I-C? Hello, children and housewives and retired people!?

I'm telling you. The residents of this city have no idea what they're missing.

Until next time,

Sak

An Evening Stroll

While it's still warm enough to call it summer for my taste, the sun is setting earlier and earlier to feel the sense of autumn. Which suits me fine,  as I am a big fan of the melancholy season that brings me back memories of my solo trip to NY back in 2005.

My usual evening stroll with A has come to be my favorite time of the day. And she seems to be quite fond of being out, too, to feel the air on her fat cheeks. Stepping out of the apartment always puts her in a good mood.

As I am much in need of more exercises to lose the love handle, I've started walking for about 90 minutes, topping that with a half-hour grocery shopping before coming back home.

Here is the cherry tree path that goes right into...

...our future hangout, Akashi Park.

The leaves on these tress will turn bright and pretty soon. Can't wait.

Until next time,

Sak

Baby Fat

A shot taken while taking a rest on the stairs during our early evening walk.

I often forget how small A is. At 10 pounds and 22 inches (shy of 2 feet), she is probably the size of my nursing boobs put together. I see her up close all day long, either talking to her or holding her, instead of right next to a grown human being in comparison. Looking at her in my arms like this, I am amazed at her littleness.

Speaking of sizes, I can't seem to lose that last 7 pounds of my pregnancy fat for the life of me. It's all in the belly and the thighs, I swallowed my tears as all my summer pants and shorts have missed their prime season without ever being clad this year. Boo hoo.

Until next time,

Sak

Lunch in Woods

The last lunch together with E was had at Novo.



Much recommended to visit during summer on a sunny day.

Until next time,

Sak



Trip to Ise & Atsumi Peninsula

Here are the highlights of our three-day trip that we made during the Golden Week. I started writing a little more about the fun we had but I came to no end of it, so I'm gonna let the pictures speak for themselves.

Until next time,

Sak

Viva Vivova!

Japan is in the midst of a train of holidays called Golden Week. E and her hubby M came to visit us and we had a little lunch out at a cafe, called Vivavo, only a minute ride from our flat. Didn't know of the place till E took us there.

Vivova is its name, and it's very chic and nice. Has quite a selection of unique drinks and coffee.

I had their Sandwich Plate of the Day...

...and was very happy with the choice made.

Thank you, E! for the great place!

Until next time,

Sak

Mu Ga En - House of Philosophy

Found this place 10 min. drive from my flat, Mu Ga En, where visitors get to be philosophical and deeper and stuff. The guidebook said that it was free of charge, so there I was, 10 in the morning, walking into the "House of Philosophy", ready to find serenity within myself.

To my surprise, really, it wasn't too bad. On its premise were a tea ceremony house that anyone can participate without having been properly prepared (no kimono or knowledge of traditional manners for the occasion required) completed with a neatly-kept Japanese garden, and this museum-like building (free to enter) where displays of philosophers' famous sayings and philosophical lines from literature are on the wall, and you can sort of walk around the quiet corridor, haunted by their words and deep in thoughts.

The whole place is quite peaceful. Whether you care about philosophy per se or not, you are bound to calm down with your thoughts and find yourself inhaling deeper as you walk around and feeling good about life...

...or, you can just take advantage of the place for your morning stroll.

Beginning to really like the city I live in.

Until next time,

Sak

Bullet Train Me

My first time getting a ride on a shinkansen! AND my first time getting out of the city I moved into the end of last year, might I add.


Whoooo hoooooooooooo! Tokyo, here I come!

Until next time,

Sak

Back to Being a Bookworm

Have been going to the city library recently. Like the super market I last posted about, it's about 10 minutes on foot. A very good excuse for myself why I should go out for a walk.


Yea, it's pretty, ain't? But it kinda stands out in an ironic way, if you ask me, 'cause the rest of the city isn't exactly built on an as modern-and-architechtually-aware paradigm as this. The words are that my current home base has a lot of money, being a city with many supporting factories for Toyota in it. Well, I am all for building a good public library with the money that they can afford, so good job, mayor!

Very nice on the inside, too.



My current hard-cover enthusiasm is for Japanese novels by Kaori Ekuni and recipe books for baking with a rice cooker.

Until next time,

Sak

A Day Trip Made Perfect

On the last day of summer, we decided to make a day trip to Kiso, a valley-town that's just an hour drive.


Lunch time! After a very long wait, might I add.


A very old house that is very old-Japanese style.



And here, we visited a ravine that was divine (see how I just rhymed?).


A little hike down a path ...


... and


Ta-da!


They should have filmed The Lord of the Rings here.


Thank you, T, for a wonderful summer time!

Until next time,

Sak