A second day at LOHAS

Round two at LOHAS festival did not disappoint.  It was a relaxing day of just wandering around and being with my family. 

As we wandered around we found some really interesting wares.  We were really taken with some blown glass with driftwood bases.  The glass was blown right onto the wood, making it the perfect stand.  The little plant pots at a different booth were extra cute, but not nearly the conversation piece.

We decided to listen to a talk about refreshing the soil in containers.  Although my husband had to translate everything, I found it really helpful.  He even kindly stayed after and asked several questions on my behalf. 

At some point we decided to enjoy some soup that was being cooked in a huge pot.  The soup was simmering over a wood fire and only cost ¥100 for a bowl of veggies, tofu, and a bit of pork as well. 

The day was lovely.  We just had a great time together.  Nothing fancy and we didn't have to go far to enjoy the festivities since Hikarigaoka Park is just a short walk away.

Back for more sustainability fun

The LOHAS Festival returned to Hikarigaoka Park again this weekend.  I was super pleased it did because I had such a great time last year.  LOHAS, an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, transports me to the many festivals I have attended in Seattle.  A large group of hippies enjoying some time outside together and buying lots of eco-friendly goods. 

Although reminiscent of those festivals from yesteryear, there are lots of differences.  I noticed them last year but this year really had me thinking about how much more eco-friendly festivals could be. 

I love how LOHAS encourages people to bring their own dishes.  We put some plates and containers in our bags before we left as well as some silverware.  It was so simple to just bring them with.  Then nothing went into the trash after indulging in taco rice, shaved ice, and other goodies at the festival.  LOHAS goes beyond just encouraging people to bring their dishes, they also provide washing stations with sinks, running water, eco-friendly soap, and sponges.  This way people weren't dragging home dirty dishes.  Something so simple, yet so helpful.

Another thing I appreciate so much is the designated picnic areas.  It is commonplace in Japan for people to bring small picnic blankets, but having so many specific places for people to enjoy their food is grand.  In the US, there were often tables set up, but it wasn't the same as a lovely little picnic amongst the festivities.

Once again they offered free cold tea to anyone with a reusable water bottle.  I doubt it really affected beverage sales, because most of those go to fancy drinks and alcohol.  Speaking of purchasing beverages, in addition to dishes, most people brought their own cups.  For those that didn't they purchased one for ¥100 ($.93) that they could use again and again.

One thing that I participated in this year that I didn't last year, was the clothing exchange.  I brought 11 items of clothing that my son outgrew.  After writing size tags for each one and handing them over, I was given 11 tickets.  Each ticket allowed me to choose an item of clothing that was donated by someone else.  I could turn in the clothes at any time and use the tickets at any point during the festival.  What a novel idea.  No money exchanged and yet people get to walk away with some new threads.  And if you donate but don't get anything new, no harm, not foul.  It was super simple.  I don't know what happens with the leftovers, but I am guessing it doesn't go to waste.  Maybe I will ask tomorrow when I head back to check out the options.

I love this festival.  From the sustainability efforts to the quirky little things people can buy.  I've never been to another festival like it in Japan.

I'll be stopping by again tomorrow, as there are some things that happen only on Saturday of the festival.  I will also, hopefully, pick up some clothes at the exchange, as well as eat more delicious food!

Pain in the back

The weather was finally cool today, reaching only 24°C/75°F.  We didn't sleep with the air conditioning on last night (for the first time in a very long time) and I woke up with lots of energy.  As soon as I dropped my son off at school, I headed to the garden.  I haven't been there in some time because the heat has been really hard for me to function in, let alone do any gardening.

The garden was really overgrown with squash vines and weeds.  Getting right to work, I pulled and dug and buried the empty vines.  I worked and worked and worked.  It felt so good, until suddenly it didn't.  My back was starting to hurt.  As soon as I stood up, I felt a sharp twinge.  Something wasn't right.  I laid flat on my back on the bench in the pea patch for a few minutes.  Knowing I needed to be done, I headed home.

Since this morning, I have been in a lot of pain.  Oh, how I hate hurting my back!  Yet I do it again and again.  Tonight I am taking it easy and hopefully everything will be fine tomorrow.  So many plans are in store...

Cafe & Gallery

Looking for a little break while out wandering typically involves sitting down for a cup of tea.  It is a nice rest for our feet and re-energizes our spirits.

Sometimes we find more unique cafes than the norm.  The café known as Hattifnatt could definitely be classified as unique.  From its tiny door (I'm 5'6" and I had to duck to get through it) to its elaborate painted room, guests feel like they found themselves inside a children's book. 

The tiny door leads into a tiny entryway right next to the kitchen.  The staff tells you which table to sit at, all of which are located on the second or third floors.  Going up the steps is a bit like walking up a ladder.  That is, until you get to the second floor and realize the third floor access really is a ladder (it is more of a loft than a floor)!  Steep stairs are very typical in Japan, saving precious real estate inside homes. 

Going down the stairs was harder than going up.

For reference, I wear a size 8 shoe (size 25 in Japan).

The first room on the second story was a lovely, but fairly normal room.  With white walls and natural wood accents, it was quaint, but generic.  Luckily, we were seated in the back room which featured floor to ceiling mural with animals and storybook-like characters.  I loved the bright green background and vibrant colors used for the illustrations. 

My husband and son shared a Japanese pudding covered in whipped cream and served on a pie crust.  Both boys thoroughly enjoyed the layered dessert, diving in with enthusiasm and not stopping until every last crumb was gone.

I indulged in a chocolate mousse with raspberries, covered in cream and topped with a fun face.  It was incredibly rich and I loved every bite.  I also had a glorious chai latte that was very heavy on the cinnamon, just the way I like it.

They had an entire lunch menu as well, but we were only interested in drinks and dessert.

The café was super fun.  Although you would expect it to be very kid oriented, it really isn't.  There isn't a place to play and it is quite precarious moving about in the tiny shop.  As a somewhat accident prone person, I felt a little nervous moving about.  But my nerves were worth it as the café was really amusing escape from the world.

When the going gets tough, the tough gets Indian food

Sometimes I just wake up in a mood.  I don't know why, but today I woke up missing my house and yard in the US.  I felt a great desire to go and wander around the yard, prune bushes, pull some weeds, and just enjoy a day puttering.  But alas, I am in Japan.  I don't have a yard to wander in, bushes to prune, weeds to pull, or a place to putter.  This left me in a bit of a funk.  From there, I got frustrated with feeling all of my loved ones were far away (including my son being at school and my husband at work). 

It is hard to explain the loneliness to someone who hasn't experienced it.  First of all, I need alone time on a regular basis in order to reenergize, yet I also need to be around people to feel motivated and part of a community.  These emotions are in a constant tug of war with each other.  Today, the loneliness was outweighing the need for solitude. 

A friend, who happens to be an expat as well, randomly reached out to me today.  She sent me a photo from two years ago of our families doing fireworks (sparklers) together.  We met in temporary housing and immediately clicked.  Although we've only seen each other once since moving to our long-term housing (while coincidentally attending the same festival in Yoyogi Park), we've stayed in touch and helped each other through some rough days.  Her solidarity felt so comforting.

After picking my son up from school shortly before lunchtime, as I do every Wednesday, I knew I wanted to go out for lunch.  We had spotted a new-to-us Indian restaurant that had been on my list to try for quite some time.  I admittedly like Indian food a lot.  But in addition to this, I like to go out for Indian food when I'm feeling homesick because it is not Japanese food and the staff typically speak English.  As soon as I enter the restaurant, I feel like I am not in Japan.  It gives me a small mental break at the same time as filling my stomach.

Unfortunately, I have struggled to find amazing Indian food near me.  I found one that was really good, but it was over an hour and a half away.  I've been noticing a trend of curries getting sweeter and sweeter.  I am not a fan.  I also don't like really oily curry.  So, could I be classified as picky?  Sure. 

We walked over to Ruchi after dropping my son's backpack off at the house.  It is one block over and around the corner from the entrance to the Chikatetsu-Akatsuka subway station.  If you didn't know it was there, it would be easy to pass (like we did for almost 2 years) because we couldn't see it from the main street.

As is typical, the restaurant is small, with only 20 or so seats.  We were immediately seated and given a lunch menu.  There were a variety of sets to choose from or an ala carte menu.  My son picked the kid's set, which actually had choices for their curry.  Most Indian restaurants only offer chicken tikka masala in their kid's sets, so it was nice to have a choice.  I chose a set that included a curry of my choice, naan, a small salad, and a mango lassi.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much.  But I was hopeful.  The salads and mango lassis arrived.  They were just fine.  Shortly after, my son's kid set arrived.  He dug into his keema curry with enthusiasm, dipping small bits of naan into the light red food.  He offered me a bite and I agreed it was divine. 

My curry and naan arrived next.  The saag was a beautiful dark green color and the naan was huge.  I was so excited I took a bite before I remembered to take a photo!  I was very impressed with the saag.  The chicken was so tender and the flavor of the spinach blended perfectly with the spices.  I ate a bit of it before my son decided to steal it and refused to give it back.  I am not the parent who will take vegetables away from a child because they were mine.  If he wants the saag, he can have it.

After I finished my naan with his keema curry, I felt overly stuffed.  I was glad I did not order a bigger set.  It would have been way too much food.  While I didn't finish his keema, my son scrapped my saag dish clean. 

We left the restaurant with full bellies and smiles on our faces.  I know we will be back.  I immediately started thinking of all the people I could bring here. 

Knowing that an thunderstorm was headed our way, we stopped by the park for my son to run around for a bit before heading home. 

Later in the afternoon, I received another text from my friend checking in on me.  She wanted to make sure my day had improved.  It was so nice to have her reach out again.  It didn't make my American house any closer, but it felt nice to connect with someone who fully understands the mixed emotions of the day.