Feeding Deer in Nara

While in Nara feeding the deer we discovered that the paper wrapper for the deer crackers was edible for the deer. We found a gentle deer and Boeun-chan was brave enough to feed it.

Tokyo-ites visit Nara

Me, Watanabe Sensei, Mihwa-san, Boeun-chan (front)


Last weekend some friends from Tokyo visited and we needed a couple photos to prove they were actually at my house. So above is the group shot by the front door and below all of us in the living room. For breakfast we enjoyed some Flinsin (German crepes) and had a relaxing morning before heading out to see the sites.

Nara - The city where I live is known as the first permanent capital of Japan. Its main attraction is Nara Koen (Park) with no fewer than 8 Unesco World Heritage sites.

Nara Park is home to about 1200 deer, which in old times were considered to be messengers of the gods and today enjoy the status of national treasure. (Hunters while it may look like fun place to find some easy targets- hunting is illegal.) For 150 yen a person can buy shika-sembei (deer crackers) and feed the deer. Some of the deer just sit there and eat out of your hand. Others will chase you across the park and put their nose in your pocket searching for the food. While the gentle deer eventually got a hand out from Boeun-chan, the aggressive deer, as might be expected, scared this 4 year old.This was the 1st visit to Nara for my friends from Tokyo.
It was fun to play the role of tour guide.

Despite the fact that it is rainy season, we were blessed with a sunny (and hot!) day. The umbrella Mihwa-san has is to protect her from the sun - not the rain. (This is a very common thing among Japanese women. White skin = beauty, not tan skin or sun spots.)In front of Kofuku-ji.
A five-storey pagoda dating from 1426, the 2nd tallest pagoda in Japan.

Shiroi Kao - White Face

Gion is a location famous for its geisha. At dusk many visitors come to this area to catch a glimpse of these rare beauties dressed in gorgeous kimonos and shuffling quickly down the street on their way to an appointment. In this area an empty taxi parked on the street is a good indication that geisha will soon be appearing (the crowd of camera carrying tourists is another big hint).

"白い顔を見つけました！”　　－ボウンちゃん

"I found a white face!" - Boeun chan.

While visiting Gion in Kyoto on Saturday, Boeun-chan - my 4 year old friend, was quick to spot geisha in a taxi at the end of the evening. She pointed them out to us and then was rewarded with a rare smile from the geisha in the taxi.


Facts about Geisha
Their Kimonos are worth thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is reported that a patron may pay more than US$1,000 to spend an evening in the company of a geiko (Kyoto term for a fully fledged geisha). A geika or maiko (apprentice geisha) is a kimono-clad woman versed in an array of visual and performing arts (playing a three-stringed shamisen, singing, dancing, flower arranging, tea ceremony, etc.). According to my Kyoto guide book they estimate that there are perhaps 80 maiko and just over 100 geiko in Kyoto. It is thought that there are fewer than 1000 geisha and maiko remaining in all Japan.

From Kyoto with love

Dear Reader -
Yesterday I spent the day in Kyoto with some friends. (1 Japanese, 2 Koreans, & 1 American - all of whom I met (one way or another) through language study in Tokyo. We visited some famous sights, enjoyed some delicious food, and pressed on to end the day, despite the heat, with smiles on our faces!

Visiting Kinkakuji - the Golden Pavillion.

Watanabe Sensei, Mihwa-san, Boeun-chan, and Andrea.After Lunch (Tempura & Udon at "Omen")

We visited Ginkakuji - the Silver Temple.
(The photo is black/white but the actual building is wooden and not a silver color as the name would lead you to expect.)

The rock gardens were impressive . . .
As was the view from the top of the hill.

Strolling the Philosopher's Path or Tetsugaku no michi.
Hydrangea or Ajisai were in bloom.
(Boeun-chan took a nap while getting a ride from her mom.)

Skipping stones in Kamo-gawa near Shijo-Ohashi,
before heading to Gion for some Geisha gawking.

By the time one of them smiled at Boeun-chan we had seen 4 Geisha and decided it couldn't get much better than that so we began the 1 hour trek back home.

With Love from Kyoto,
a TCK teacher, enjoying summer vacation

Summer Vacation

Schools out and that means it's summer vacation!

The thing I'm looking forward to most this summer is spending time with friends.

Last week my friend Grace came for a week to visit.

She was a huge help during the last crazy and exciting days at school. I put her to work lifting lots of moving boxes at school before we enjoyed some potlucks, visited a church and went to Osaka for an adventure with fish.
I have more photos than I have time to post but here are a couple.Checking out Cookie's vertical Eating Hawaiian Hamburgers in Osaka

Adventures with the underwater world
More food! Can't leave Kansai without eating Okonomiyaki!

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Today, my friends Mihwa and Boeun-chan are arriving from Tokyo. And tomorrow my former Japanese teacher Watanabe sensei is coming. It'll be a weekend of fun, communicating all in Japanese. We're hoping to meet up with our friend Andrea in Kyoto tomorrow too.

Thanking God for time during summer vacation to enjoy the gift of friendship!
And a home big enough to host them!

Chocolate Revel Bars

I made these bars 3 times in 4 days for potlucks/parties I was attending and was asked for the recipe so many times I thought I'd just post it and save some time. I found it in the Better Homes and Garden's cookbook and discovered it for the first time when my friend Erica made it - although I think she may have had a different name for them. It looks a little long but is a fairly easy and quick recipe to make. Enjoy -

Chocolate Revel Bars

1 cup butter, softened ( I used 200g)
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cup cup all-purpose flour
3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
1 14 ounce can (1 1/4 cups or 397g) sweetened condensed milk or low-fat sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts of pecans
2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the butter. In a large mixing bowl beat the remaining butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and 2 t. vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in the rolled oats.

2. For filling, in a medium saucepan combine the reserved 2 T. butter, chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring occaionally. Remove from heat. Stir in the nuts and 2 t. vanilla.

3. Press two-thirds (about 3 /13 cups) of the roalled oats mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15 x10x1 inch baking pan. Spread chocolate filling evenly over the oats mixture. Dot remaining rolled oats mixture on filling.

4. Bake in a 350 degree oven (170 Celsius) about 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned (Chocolate filling will still look moist). Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

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Peanut butter-chocolate Revel bars - Prepare as above except substitute 1/2 cup peanut butter for 2 T. butter when making the filling and substitute peanuts for the walnuts or pecans.

Surprise revealed . . .

I have a new housemate.
新しいホウスメトです。

He will be 4 years old in July.

Likes to go for walks both morning and evening,

7月、4さいになります。
朝と夜の散歩に行くがすきです。

He is pretty mellow and relaxed for most of the day- spending it napping.

Listen's well and doesn't speak much.
親切砂な　犬です。聞くは上手とかあまり話せません。


I'm learning that his favorite spot in the house is right in front of the sliding glass doors in the living room. When the the door is open it provides a nice breeze to go along with the view of the back yard, rice paddy and walking path great for people watching.
Last night he found a way to look out even though the curtains were closed.


家の中で一番好きな所はまどの前です。
いい景色があるので。

He came with two houses of his own - one inside and one outside.
二つの家が持って来ました。一つは家の中にも一つは外です。
His name is Cookie.
名前はクッキーです。よろしく！

He actually belongs to my friends the Chapmans, who had the pleasure of training the dog and helping him become comfortable with children. The Chapmans are going on Home ministry assignment in USA Sunday, so I'm taking care of Cookie for the year while they're away.
Let the adventure of caring for a pet begin!