Visiting the Sensouji Temple: Asakusa, Tokyo
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Wow, the last time I was here in Asakusa was 10 years ago with Emiliano. Then I was 10 pounds lighter with big afro and Emi had big mustache and it was our first time to Tokyo together. I decided to re visit the Temple and fun alley filled and lined up with Japan’s traditional snacks, restaurants and souvenir shops! Daniel is off to Tennis match so I’m off to Asakusa on Early Sunday morning, the perfect thing to do before all the shops are open in Tokyo. The temple’s open to public from 6:00 am and the alley is open from 8:00 am.
20 minutes from Shibuya by car or maybe 10 minutes by Subway, The Asakusa is a perfect place to visit if you need a quick fix of good old Tokyo. Ladies with Kimonos are everywhere and also there’s a beautiful temple called ” Sensouji”, which was built 1300 years ago. Two fishermen caught the Kannon statue in their fishing nest in the Sumida River in Tokyo then and this was the genesis of Sensouji temple. Now the temple attracts thousands of people daily.
The perfect scene greets me! Me getting out of the taxi.. Love the driver’s outfit! Below the drivers are waiting to hitch some riders. See the split toe shoes were NOT invented by Martin Margiela! They wear two different heights. One right below the knee and one up to the ankle. The closure is hook and bar. Cool, ha?
The entrance to the Alley. You will walk through all the shops and snacks then it will lead you to the Temple. The fun begins here!
Bean snack shop and Keda Shop. Keda goes up to many hundreds of dollars! I love the last one I am holding. It reminds me of Vivianne Westwood’s Geisha shoe collection with wooden platform.
Kibi-Dango: millet and sticky rice ball with sweet syrup or the black sesame. These are delicious! Below are Mocci with Sweet red bean inside…
Chopsticks and more chopsticks. They are so pretty…
“Osenbe”, the rice crackers. The good thing to come here to buy them is that they are made in the spot and you can taste warm and fresh of everything!
It was early morning, so some of the shops have not opened up yet and the store front is just pretty as Asakusa. You know the “Sakura”, cherry blossom is the flower of Japan.
There are many fan shops on the alley and also side little streets. They go from $10.00 each to hundresds of dollars depends on what’s involved and who made them and so on. You will see many many folks in Japan still use the fans on the street. I mean you need it. How hot is here now?!!!
This is kind of a Japanese waffle maker except that is a more like a cake form with sweet red beans inside. The shape usually comes as gold fish but this looks more like square..!?
Finally made to the entrance to the temple! It was getting packed with visitors!
So, You know what this is? These are the fortunes of visitors! Here I show you what you need to get your fortune read! The first fortune was not fabulous for me so I tried for the second one and the second one wasn’t all that good either, but when I tied my OK fortunes to this metal bar, I realized that I was overcoming my almost misfortune by letting it go from me. I felt much relived and good about it!
This is the fortune box with thousands of small drawers containing millions of fortunes. Pay 100 yen first.
Then grab and shake well this box where contains wood sticks that just look like chopsticks. Each stick has number written on it and you will go to that drawer that matches the same number on the wood stick.
Here me grabbing one stick out of little hole. What’s my fortune number..!!! It’s…. number SIX!!!
Like I said earlier, Don’t get caught up on your fortune. I felt good leaving my fortune tied to this metal bar here. I felt I overcome whatever that was.
Now it’s time to pray and get blessed. Let’s go get some incense.
Praying for everyone and everything. Yes You! For you too! And the smoke of incense will bless you. I inhaled it too! I feel much blessed…
Getting inside of Temple. You know it’s Sunday morning and there are lots of people here. It would have been much more tranquil during the week day, but hey I’m squeezing Asakusa for a good break from on going shopping in steamy Tokyo. The fresco on the ceiling below…
Hustle bustle coming through…!
More praying and wishing and asking for forgiving…. I go for this one too! Either that is at the church or the temple, I think it’s all on the same human behaviors… Interesting… Isn’t it?
Leaving the temple and walking down on a quite street, many things cross my mind. Mom, dad, brother, Emi, Gael, Suzy, Mom in law, Dad in law, Beppe, Dani, Tania, Tamara, grandma, Yoonhee, aunt, uncle, family at work, work, boss, friends, myself and my and our life together… It was a short visit all worth to do. Next time you are in Tokyo, you must visit the temple in Asakusa and the alley to the temple. You will love it for lively old traditional Tokyo and also little time for yourself and your loved ones…
Tokyo Shakes! : Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya!
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Ahhhh, It has been Sooo hot in Tokyo! My my my! Steamy too. Tokyo seems handling this hot weather just fine with their crazy fashion. I saw a girl with Arm warmer sort of thing too. There are many couples and friends dress alike here with ton of layers. These pink ladies have even fur minis and wigs on! I guess anything is possible in Tokyo…?! Enjoy some eye candies from the streets of Tokyo!
Seoul Story 3: Walking Myung Dong
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OK, Come with me to walk Myung Dong!!!!!!!
It has been years for me to stroll Myung Dong again. Hustle bustle of million office buildings, clothing shops and all the street vendors you can imagine. It’s the Mecca where Korean consumerism truly breathes. It was then steal cut sweet yam fries in newspaper cones and how many of them I had? Haha! But now I see the sweet yam is replaced by this amusingly fried potato chips on a stick! I find them fascinating. They look quite beautiful to me. ” Ajumma” (: a middle aged married woman usually with couple kids) below overseas her “fried” table. Very typical scene in Korea!
A cute little shop called Silk Button, Everything here is made out of Silk covered buttons! And…cousin Yoonhee.
More street food vendors. Oden on stick, ttuck bocki and more… Ahh nostalgia..! This so reminds me of my junior high’s… And cheap street shoes
Just like Tokyo and HK, sea of signs greets you in Myung dong. Wait until the night . They will all lit neon lights…!
More cheap high street fashion of Seoul. Wow the street is getting really packed!
Forever 21 in Myung dong. Entire just hired greet the customers. Did you know Forever 21 is a Korea brand?
You know Emi and I have been really embracing the good old vinyls these days. It became Emi’s weekend routine to find some great albums, which means good music, good cover or good anything you can imagine. Now I try here in Seoul. I love how this place has this mini stools in various colors and height where you can put down your heavy tush. Haha. I got a few my nostalgic vinyls from my high school years like “Lee Mun Se”, ” Lee Seng Chul” and also one album called ” Thank God it’s Friday!” which comes with fancy 3 vinyls inside from this place right here. tHe shop is located on under passage to Shin Se ghe department store in Myung Dong.
It’s now the time for ‘Shaved Ice=Bing Su’!!! Yoonhee finds this place on the second floor while I was taking the photo of potato chips. Nice and Spacious with delicious Bing Su that comes with Red Mango on top! Yum Yum !!
This was mine. Grapefruit and Tangerine Sorbet over the cool shaved ice and shaved banana and to top it off, red Mango!!
This was Yoonhee’s. Green tea Ice cream over the bed of Shaved ice with toasted Almond, sliced banana soft cubes of Mocci covered with toasted Soy bean flower…and Red Mango Frozen Yogurt. Mega Yum! A hot day? No problem with one of this this!
Pretty much Myung Dong is a big melting pot of everything. People with different point of view, street life, food, shops, finance offices, embassies, coffee shops and so much more. It’s a place to definitely check out if you are in Seoul!!Seoul Story 2: Garosu Gil
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After a long day of fitting and all with our vendors in Seoul, Daniel, Amy and I headed out to Garosu Gil in Seoul. Garosu means “Trees that are lined up on the side walk” and Gil means the Street. Garosu Gil is a small area in South side of “Han River” that has many cafes, Restaurants and small boutiques that reminds of Nolita in NY. Bit Young, lively, bohemian and somehow also bit polished.
Here a home style cooking Korean Restaurant, “Modern Bapsang”. You will find many places that are literally residential property transformed into a lovely small businesses in Seoul And I like it for it’s approachable warm attitude. I love the pink wall against the green along the rustic wood paneled passage way. You pass the small alley then you will hit the open yard staging the open door restaurant filled with people dining. It’s very Lovely!
One After another plenty of open door restaurants are lined up along the Garosu here in Garosu Gil. It was a Monday evening but it seemed like it did not matter to anyone here. Hustle an bustle, the night is just not long enough!
A open kitchen Japanese Restaurant.
A sake house.
Sorry I didn’t pay attention to the name of this place, but You can’t miss it! This hugely open rustic modern coffee shop is quite fantastic with a roof top as well. The street becomes the coffee shop and the shop becomes your street.
Here’s another good example of a private residency turned into a lovely Italian restaurant. Every inch between the building has been used up for outdoor space business here in Garosugil.
This little and very much old school ” Oden” house is epitome of bohemian soul of Koreans. Just right amount of space and your perfect friends sitting right next to you chatting and sipping. I find this place superbly designed thinking of your tired soul in mind.
Any Second floor offers just important business opportunities as the ground floor in Seoul. Just like in Tokyo it’s a big metropolitan city that needs endless space for endless ideas.
After bit of wondering, here we sat down and had some street food with a modern twist at ” School Food”. It’s a restaurant where offers all the street food that every Korean had grew up on during the school years. Above pic shows 9 flavor mini kimbap ( korean style maki roll)! Can you see the Squid ink rice maki with spicy squid inside? The rest futures toasted baby anchovies, kimchi, tuna with fresh sesame leaf, bulgogi ( thinly sliced bbqed sirloin) and more. Yummy!
This Ttuck bocki will put your tongue on fire! The #1 street food for all the students in Korea. Rice cake simmered in spicy chili broth with onions, cabbage and oden bits. Water please!!
Here some of cute shops on Garosugil. This shop called ” Happy Lady” had some great soft tops at reasonable price.
If you are visiting Seoul one day, Garisu gil is a place to check out. You will have fun strolling!
Seoul!
NYC. Today
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” Wake Up!” Flyer at 14 street A line station
A dude on a Harley-ish All Green Bike
Momofuku cook book! ( Get it for you and get it for dad)
The most Handsome lady in Jill Sander ensemble walking most handsome dogs at West Village and the Super Model and her son across the street.
Heavenly drinks at Marlow and Son.
Abramovich at MOMA. ( just ended)
A colorful man on the F train.
” The night life is for you” at Sammy’s Noodle West Village.
A NY kid at Academy Record, East Village
Oh so stylish mom, Mercer hotel, Soho
Hipster filled Sand Box Bar at Clement soto Velez cultural + Educational Center, Lower East Side.
Wine tasting night.
Sweet and Flirty!
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Good Windows Good Dresses: NYC
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Anthropology at Chelsea market, NYC, Not my favorite brand ( too cute for me) but not bad skirt Ha?
Bloomingdale’s, Soho, NYC, These are quite good!
What a great movie! Saw it again and falling in love all over again with Woody. Woody’s genius witty lines and Woodie’s love for NYC. Adorable and lost Annie and hilarious and depressed Alvy. Woody’s study on Annie and Alvy’s relationship is classic yet so refreshing. And True. His ability to articulate all of that in such details. Ha! Only Woody Allen can do. All the scenes around beautiful 1977’s New York City. Here I feel almost sort of triumphant of being a New Yorker all the way having come from Seoul. Yes I feel proud!
And Can we talk about their matching couple outfits?! So subtle yet Super obviously matching outfits just add more fun to this delicious film.
After their meeting for the first time at Annie’s home and her famous boy meets girl khaki pant, white shirt, the vest and the neck tie. Sort of Gap in a nostalgic way… And Alvy looks handsome(?) in a simple white shirt.
Annie storming off the NY street after her first lousy audition for singing at a small bar… love her wide leg pants!
Alvy convincing Annie how good she was no matter what and making a deal to get over with “Having a first kiss” .
What a smart couple! Remember the first book Alvy gets Annie? At the book store.
Sort of confessing how much they love ( or Alvy insists more like L-O-V-E) each other. Love this scene with Brooklyn Bridge behind. Pretty romantic, ha?
Hahhahaha, love this Scene. Look how fabulous Annie’s shrink’s office is and her green Crock.
At their friend’s Party. Woody sneeze over couple grand worth substance here. Hahaha. The shirt and the vest.
Their amicable breaking up/ moving out matching outfits. that’s that first book Alvy got Annie for her cat.
Annie and Alvy in NYC. Ahhh INSPIRED!! Now, I’m off to MOMA and get lost in the city today!
Fall in Love with New York Again folks!
The Meeting!
Back to Lafayette: The Fort Greene Booklyn Flea!!
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Don’t get me wrong. I loovvvee the space of 1 Hanson Clock tower, but it’s never the same as when they are on the Lafayette!! The outdoor. The trees, sunshine, good old simple outdoor but it is way easier to look around and somehow the Red Hook family’s Pupusa’s way more delicious on the stoop of the playground than the bank’s basement safe.
It was so beautiful and lively at the market! I completely enjoyed warmth of sun on my back.. Ahhh… A few new great vendors with awesome pieces and the character watching is always the big part of hainging out at the fleas…!
I Luuuvvved this vendor! These poly/plastic letters are quite cool over the sand box!
And we loved this 8 foot long old farm table from PA. Not so bad I thought priced at $350.
This is not a camera trick. This KWICK Marine tin can is like 5 times bigger than me.
His mustache and red blazer and his purple shirt and 50’s neck tie
Loved her with her old camera.
and her for her swanky sexy argyle sweater.
and these 3 fantastically 80’s kids
and my Favorite of the day, “Singing in the rain girl !”
her for her french-ish great spring coat and well fitting matching boots,
and this kinda expected but always good looking couple
for her spirit filled with all the picnics she will have this spring!
and the seller and the buyer
and I digged these hipsters digging and digging
the porchetta station, yum!
to top it off, a live nordic brass band!
And now we leave all the fun of the flea market behind and off to Fort Greene Farmer’s market!
We got basils, mints, lemon verbenas and more…!
Oh we chatted for a while with this lovely farmer. He has 30 grand kids! Gael guessed his age at 100 years old but he was wrong… haha. He’s 71 years old! God bless you!
Into the park, I mean look at this tree, How amazing is it!!!
And my 2 handsome boys. Love you guys!!!
Spring is here!!! : Walking home with Gael
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After I picked up Gael at Washington avenue corner and walked and played the new pink and yellow $4.99 rubber edged Frisbee ( yes I thought it would be gentle on Gaels fingers) on the side walk as we walk, so we got to stop at every block. Dusk is coming down and it is still beautiful with fully blossomed cherries and more cherries as our neighborhood Clinton Hill slowly blooms together. Our neighborhood-go-to-gardener Charlie’s Tulips, Sister’s Community hardware’s Daffodils and everyone’s cherries, white cherries, pink cherries and weeping cherries…! And my first day of Celine wedges… Yeahhh, The Spring is here…!
