At last... Ⅱ
As you may have noticed, I haven't posted to this blog so often.
I have a Japanese blog, where I post constantly. I have been just busy writing new posts for it, replying comments I received, visiting the blogs of my "blog friends" whom I got to know online with each other through my Japanese blog.
And of course, I must confess that since this is a blog in English which is not my native tongue, I tend to hesitate to write posts, feeling it's a bit of bother.
However, I will continue this blog too, so visit it whenever you like :) :)
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Now.
I said so above, but...
I'm gonna halt posting to this blog for a while.
The reasons are.
For one thing, my husband and I will move in about two weeks.
I sure know that there will be huge mess at both our old and new residences.
The packing has not yet finished at all. Uh... everytime we move, I'm almost in panic. But I have to do my best. And I know I can do it.
What also keeps me from packing efficiently is.
Pregnancy.
I got pregnant at last! The first time in my life!
Now I'm getting into the seventh week. Which means, morning sickness has been with me these days.
Here I have a big, big question. WHY is it called "MORNING?!"
Not only morning, but afternoon, evening, and night of course. Anytime it falls on me. Anytime.
...Well, maybe that's what it is. I'll stand it and stay still... difficult though.
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So, I think I'll come back here in April or May.
See you and take care, and have a nice day any day!! :) :) :)
Color of tea
Well, what I'm going to tell you now might be a little bit strange, but...
This is tea. You know, tea. This is of course one of the common drinks in my country.
I make and have it at my home from time to time. Many of you must be very familiar with it too.
Now I ask you: what do you call this tea in your language or country?
Strange question?
In Japan, people call it "kocha"(pronounced like co-chaa), which literally means "red tea." Because, its color is red, as you see.
(the picture above might look brown but actually it is more vivid red)
However, I still remember what I learned at junior high (about ten, fifteen, twenty...???) years ago.
"In English, kocha is formally called 'black tea'."
...
"WHY black? It's red!!" I thought then.
Later, I learned about tea further (at school, or through books or somebody else, I forgot).
It went like this:
"Why kocha is called 'black tea' when necessary is, that when it is made with water in Europe(especially in U.K.) which contains lots of minerals, its color becomes very dark, seeming almost black."
--Now, is it really true??
I understand that European water is often "hard" water, while that in Japan is always "soft" one.
Here I have only seen and had 'red tea,' i.e. kocha literally, so I can't imagine the kocha is being 'black.'
If water ingredients really decide the color of tea, it's interesting, isn't it?
By the way, about the word kocha.
Ko means "red," and cha means "tea drink."
Usually in Japan, when people simply mention "cha" or "o-cha"(o- is a prefix expressing politeness), they mean not "black tea," but "Japanese tea" i.e. "green tea," like this:
Which do you have and like better, black tea or green tea?! :)
Kyoto Station
Here are some photos of Kyoto Station. I took them last summer but I'd forgotten to post, so I post them now :)
Kyoto station was renovated about ten years ago. Now it has huge, modern appearance like this:
See? Looks as if it were an airport, doesn't it?
Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is famous for its historical structures like temples, shrines, images of Buddha, old Japanese-style garden.
But it also has such construction that seems to be on the cutting edge of "station construction trend." Did you know?
If you have a chance, visit and see it. Must be surprised.
Mt. Fuji and bridge
Here are some photos I took during the "year-end visits to our parents' home" that I mentioned in the last post.
This is Mt.Fuji. You must have heard of it if you are into Japan ;)
This mountain is the highest one in Japan, with the height of 3,776km (2346mi.), and quite beautiful corn shape.
In this country Mt.Fuji has long been the object of "mountain worship," and various kinds of art; painting, photo,
waka poem, maybe haiku, etc. It could be said that Mt. Fuji represents the "heart" or aesthetic feeling of Japanese people in many ways.
This is a scene at Tokyo, the capital of Japan. This city is just huge, I heard sometimes it's said to resemble New York. (I've never been there so I don't know if it's true)
Tokyo is full of people and cars, and many structures such as expressways and commercial buildings, as you see in the photo above.
What I wanted to take photos of this time is this: Nihon-bashi Bridge.
Yes. The bridge is just "covered" (or "pressed?!") with expressways, so it seems to be missed easily!
Nihon-bashi Bridge has to be one of the most notable bridges in Japan because it used to be the beginning point of Japan's important industrial and commercial ways hundreds years ago. Very historical spot.
However, this is what it's like amid the civilzational construction in this present modern era.
It was reportedly said some people frowned upon this regarding it as a destroyed landscape. But whether any measure was taken or not, I don't know.
At least, the bridge itself, which is no longer the original of course, is still there, not vanished. Must be lucky.
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By the way: as you see, the top of Mt.Fuji is covered with snow, but since it has been quite warm this winter, it has hardly snowed at lower land in Japan.
How is the snowfall in your country this winter?
Labels: travel
Today is...
Snowing!
The first snow I see here this winter.
And...
It is my birthday today.
Here in Japan, as well as many other coutries I imagine, on birthdays people receive birthday presents, eat decorated cakes, hold birthday parties or just eating out for dinner, and so on. Just have fun.
This year, my husband gave me a vivid red leather purse, saying he thought he would let me have this color's purse at the first glance of it. It sure looks stylish, and has the atmosphere of a 'grown woman.' ;D
Well, since I am a graceful and quiet person (TOTAL joke!!), I always buy gears of simple, plain design and color for me (half joke; rarely I buy distinct ones).
So yes, I agree him; I would never hit upon choosing this deep and bright color for my purse!
This will be a 'brand-new trial' of me. I will enjoy using it.
By the way, tomorrow my husband and I will go on a year-end visit to our parents' home and celebrate the New Year with family members.
It is customary for Japanese to do so every year. Usually homecomig visits are held twice a year:
O-bon(=Buddhist holidays) period in August, and year-end period in December.
We enjoy this year-end holidays watching season's special TV programs, playing games (video games?!), eating New Year's cuisines, going shopping, visiting sightseeing spots, etc. Many parents and children look forward to this reunion.
So, we two will meet our parents too. This post will be the last one for this year.
Take care, and have a great happy New Year!! :) :)
