08-09-2011

I have always loved biscotti.  They're the adult version of cookies and milk (don't tell anyone, I still eat cookies and milk too!).  Like cookies, they can be made in almost any flavor and can be dipped in a variety of things or left plain.  These are chocolate-orange and cranberry biscotti.

08-01-2011

One of the things I hate in this world is coffee.  It smells great and tastes like plumbing.  Bitter plumbing.  Anyway, for those who do like coffee, these buns are pretty little mocha twists with almonds on top.  I'm going to try substituting green tea powder or even black tea for the mocha next time.

8-31-2010

Flowers Moo Cow got at his last day at work.  Flowers are rarely given as date gifts in Tokyo, just as leaving presents, table decorations and grave offerings.  Of course, when Moo Cow gets flowers it means I get flowers.

8-30-2010

My boss came over from Osaka to help with our training tomorrow so it fell to me to entertain him instead of leaving him to be bored and alone in Tokyo.  Since he's vegetarian, I opted for the Brown Rice Cafe, a place that came with high recommendation.  Here's what I had, served with a side of brown rice, some dipping sauces and a soy chai latte.

8-29-2010

 
Went out for Israeli food again, but that's already been posted here and the photos didn't turn out how I wanted anyway.  Need more practice with indoor lighting and using the white balance on my camera.

In lieu of my intended photos, here's the gate of the temple near my company's GHQ in Osaka.

8-28-2010

As is often true after I travel, I didn't do much today.  Here's more from the shrine in Osaka.  I have no idea what the purpose of these stones is, but they look neat.  maybe it's the style of the stone that I like so much.  It's amazingly photogenic and old-looking.  The ones in Tokyo never seem to photograph so well.  Maybe it's an age thing.

Edit: I've been told that these are the donors who funded construction.

8-27-2010

Near my company's GHQ in Osaka there is a temple that I love to take photos of.  These are the lanterns that run across the front of one of the buildings.  There's also a small historical record building / museum, shrines and other small structures throughout the area.  It's not particularly large, being rather close together, but it's beautiful and never particularly crowded.  I tend to go before heading to work if I do an overnight business trip to Osaka.

8-26-2010

The Italian restaurant we always go for work has pretty good presentation.  The food quality is good too but I always want to take photos of the food.  Grapefruit gelatin, peach cream puff and chocolate cake with ice cream, lemon biscuit and vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce.

8-25-2010

Went to Hanayashiki in Asakusa for work today and found this little waterfall and shrine.  Sometimes the little details here are the best.

8-24-2010

Sometimes it's amazing that a photo taken at night with the correct exposure doesn't even look like it's night.  This photo was taken in full darkness by my eyes.

A lonely train station without people or trains, as viewed from on a bridge behind a chain-link fence.

8-23-2010

I've always wondered if it was possible that the food handed to you at a restaurant would look as good as the advertised photos.  In Japan sometimes they come close, but I don't think that's the case with this Waikiki Cobb Salad Sub.  The taste was good but even after a little post-travel fluffing it didn't quite perk up to that level.  Would help if the lettuce was green, for starters...

Of course, everyone knows the foods used in adverts aren't the foods you think they are. Mashed potatoes become ice cream, etc.  But it would be nice if the images were kind of accurate.

8-22-2010

Koshigaya Laketown mall has some interesting art hanging in various places.  I wonder how often someone goes up to clean the dust off of them.  The wall designs are made with plastic bottle caps and are sealed behind plexiglas.  There's a message written in the bottle caps on the opposite side from this photos, but I don't remember what it says.

Today I got my hair cut and wanted to take photos of the inside of the salon but there were so many people I wasn't comfortable asking if it was okay.  Maybe next time I'll show up when they open so I can get photos without people.  Hmmm...

8-21-2010

In a moment of super-awesomeness my Nikon was left at home and the bag I carried was not my usual one so the Tamagawa fireworks photos I have were all taken with my phone.  Well then.  Not too bad for a 3MP camera.

8-20-2010

A nice little flower display in the hall of one of the many department stores attached to Shinjuku station.  I'm honestly surprised it hasn't been knocked over and broken.

8-19-2010

Unusual to say the least (to an American) and hard to find in Japan, I didn't end up getting the Roo Rump.  Ultimately dinner became a seafood chowder 'pot pie' with a Bisquick top crust.  It wasn't photoworthy though so the kangaroo made the cut instead.  A careful eye will notice the lower right is cheesy bratwurst too...

8-18-2010

It's festival season in Japan.  Sure, there are festivals all year, but around now they are rampant and you can be sure that there are some within a reasonable distance of you every weekend so you can take your pick.  Of course, some places like this little Japanese-style bar have lanterns hanging year-round.

EDIT:  And maybe a month after this photo was taken, the lanterns disappeared with the shop.  Sadly, many businesses are being hit by the new, slightly more frugal Japan.

8-17-2010

Climbed Mount Fuji overnight and saw the sunrise from the summit.  It was nice but I wouldn't do that again if I could avoid it; have you ever tried to climb a mountain at night?

8-16-2010

Giant construction spools sitting patiently on the sidewalk.  Yes, the cone makes them much more visible...

8-15-2010

We made rock cornish hens for dinner today; they were excellent.  If you've never tried putting olive oil (or butter), garlic and rosemary underneath the top skin of a hen you're really missing out.  Put a bit of white wine in the pan with a diced potato or two before tossing it in the oven and you won't be disappointed, but be sure to baste the meat if you don't have a lid for your roasting pan and if you do have a lid be sure to take it off for the last bit so the skin browns a little.

8-14-2010

I didn't do much of anything today but there were a ton of nice photos from Hong Kong so instead I'll post one of those.  Here I am "supporting" the Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha, 天壇大佛) in Ngong Ping.