Life is Genki in Gingko Time!

Title Translation = Life is Fine (or Happy) in Gingko Time!

November in Tokyo is the season for viewing the brilliant golden gingko trees that adorn parks and line some of the long beautiful avenues of the city.

During the great fire after the earthquake in Tokyo in 1923 many Ginkgo trees survived while other trees died. A temple was saved because of the many Ginkgos that surrounded it. The bark and  leaves are thought to secrete a sap that acts as a fire retardant. This, along with the water-retentive nature of the tree, is why the Gingko is seen planted in parks and around important buildings in the metropolitan area.

The avenue leading to the National Diet Building, home to Tokyo's House of Representatives and House of Councillors.
(The word diet derives from Latin and was the common name for an assembly in medieval Germany.)

The Gingko is Tokyo's official city tree, and the gingko leaf logo can be seen throughout the city.

Gingko Avenue (Ichou Namiki), is the popular gingko-lined avenue leading to Meiji Jingu Gaien gardens. The trees lining both sides of the avenue are unique with their pruned fashion and pointed shape.

At Meiji Jingu Gaein Gardens, you can walk over a carpet of brilliant yellow leaves while the pleasant autumn breezes send more fluttering down in spiraling dances above and around you. Bring your camera!!!

In late November, Icho Namiki draws crowds of people to Meiji Jingu Gaien Gardens to stroll under the leaves or relax at one of the sidewalk cafes along the street. 

Aerial view of the 175-acre park surrounding the Meiji Jingu Shrine, sacred home of the remains of Emperor Meiji.

Enormous torii at the entrance to Meiji Shrine

Central sanctuary where the emperor is enshrined

Next, a friend's November birthday meant I ventured out to try Nobu in Toranomon and was not disappointed.  This one merits a return visit!!  I even loved the front door!

Bento boxes with Spanish mackerel, pork ribs and asparagus, soft shell crab, tuna sashimi, egg, pickled veggies, and California rolls....YUM!!

Nobu chefs hard at work just as the restaurant is opening for the noon rush.

The gorgeous backlit glass and bamboo bar at Nobu.

Birthday celebrations are extra special at Nobu!!

On the family side, the autumn season saw Jane Ellis being honored during half-time at one of our high school football games.
The school slogan she created won first place and was made into the t-shirt sold for Spirit Wear!

Half-time show recognition by the President of the Booster Club

The Mustang's winning slogan!

November also meant the end of Grant's remarkable season playing JV football.

He was praised in speeches given by his teammates and then his coaches for his fearlessness on the field, as well as his ability to lead and motivate the rest of his team.

The Mustangs had an undefeated season and Grant was named Outstanding Defensive Player!!!

And then....a November party with a view!  This time we were at the private Roppongi Hills Club on the 51st floor of the  Mori Tower celebrating George's birthday!

George's wife spared no expense with fabulous food and champagne to toast the birthday boy!

The 54-story Mori Tower is hard to miss as it dominates the Roppongi skyline.

Beautiful views from the Roppongi Hills Club

 This is a view of Tokyo from the open air observation deck at the top of the Mori Tower.

After dinner and drinks, we joined George at his favorite karaoke bar.

George waves, proudly wearing his "Super George" t-shirt!

A week after this, we hopped a plane from Tokyo to the Philippines for our first tropical Thanksgiving!

Tune in to my next post for that adventure!!!

Meanwhile, I hope you are GENKI!!!

Halloween or HELLoween???

Japan is redefining Halloween.

I know we are well past Halloween as I finally post these pictures, but the insanity that overtakes Tokyo on this holiday deserves at least a belated mention.

For the Japanese, Halloween is all about the adults.

Ten years ago, the holiday went by almost unnoticed in Tokyo.
Corporations started to realize that combining the Japanese love of costumes with a holiday like Halloween was a marketing gold mine.
Bars, nightclubs, and other industries that involve debauchery recognized this as the biggest business opportunity of the year.
With their support,  October in Tokyo has become a month of decorations, costume parades and wild parties.

Prior to 2009, Halloween in Japan was mostly celebrated by visiting and resident foreigners.
For the most part, the Japanese had taken little notice, other than expressing annoyance with the rollicking foreigners riding trains in costumes.
As years went on, the holiday steadily gained popularity with many members of the Japanese community.  Each year the crowds on subways and streets grew a little bigger...and the parties went on later and later into the evening.

On Halloween, more and more people showed unprecedented disregard for the respectful, polite and peaceful environment that embodies the usual Tokyo subway experience.
Don't get me started on all the beauty that is Tokyo subway...
I'll just say it is operating-room clean,  no one boards until politely waiting for everyone that needs to get off, cushioned seats, luggage racks, zero litter anywhere, immaculate bathrooms, non-existent graffiti or vandalism, fully handicap accessible including footpaths for the blind, helpful clerks everywhere with no bulletproof glass, fully wired everywhere for internet access, and so well-known for being on time that the stations quickly hand out late certificates to workers and students in the rare event something actually goes wrong. 

In 2009, frustrated Japanese protesters angrily lashed out against loud gaijin (foreigners) riding the subway in costumes on Halloween.  Holding signs and shouting, the Japanese yelled "Go to hell!  Get out of Japan" at both Japanese and gaijin costumed revelers.

Still, for most people, Halloween seemed like a good idea.
Good for retailers...good for bars and clubs...and an annual chance for citizens to dress up and step outside of their daily dignified and orderly ways.
Today, it seems the participation has gotten a bit larger than anyone imagined.

Shibuya on October 31, 2015

Now Halloween is one of the biggest holidays in Japan, and the excited participants are mostly adults, not children.

Yes, the little elementary school children do participate in orderly, polite trick-or-treating from precisely 5-8 pm.

For the adults, however, Halloween activities FILL and define October, many wearing costumes all month, with parties and parades every weekend.

While I will admit my husband and I did attend a party...


...ours was considerably more sedate than what goes on out in the late night streets of Roppongi.

On October 31, the streets, clubs, bars and stores are jammed with costumed adults....and the partying goes on until morning.

This year saw the largest crowds ever...and the biggest mess to clean up.
The normally gleaming, litter-free streets of Tokyo were a depressing sight.



Once again, many are speaking out against this holiday that has spun out of control.
Unfortunately, too many have a vested interest in keeping this scary but profit-making party going...indefinitely.
Loving the dignity of Japan as I do, this makes me more than a little sad.

.

Our Hunt for "Rad" October

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

 -L.M Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables-

For our first trip in the new school year we decided to go to Thailand in October...as seen in my previous blog "Chiang Mai...Land of Gentle Giants."

We also took a little time in Chiang Mai for a cultural excursion.   My kids don't love touring temples ("wat" is the Thai word for temple), but this one even impressed my two skeptics.

 We drove to the top of the mountain "Doi Suthep" where the ornately decorated wat is perched.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Only 309 stairs to the top!!

We thought this was IT, but this is just the entry to the sacred part of the temple.

To enter the sacred uppermost area of the temple, we all had to remove our shoes.

Females are only allowed to enter if their shoulders and legs are covered.  Shawls and skirts were available at the entrance...Jane Ellis gamely models her outfit.

In front of the enormous chedi inside Wat Phra Dat.

Prayer candles being lit

Worshippers walk a path three times around the massive chedi while praying.

Young monks

Back down on the main pavilion area

Jane Ellis makes friends with one of many "temple dogs" cared for by the monks.

They named a dragon after me!

Grant getting into his pose...

Precious little Thai girl singing for coins

Finishing the long walk back to the bottom.  The side rails are beautifully intricate serpent-like dragons.

We also had a little time in Bankgok while in Thailand.

Even though we had only two days, we certainly made the most of them!

First we checked into our hotel...here are views of the capital city from our rooms:




Then, having heard that Thai street vendor food is the best way to get the true taste of Thailand, I dragged my stubborn pizza/hamburger crowd out for a foodie adventure.  Once again, I was right!

Mark, going back for seconds and eventually thirds!!

This was my Thai "chicken soup" and there were no leftovers!!! Yummy!l

After lunch our concierge recommended a boat tour of Bangkok which would let us out for a short walk to the Golden Palace and Wat Pho...a must see temple for first-time visitors.

First, we hopped in a tuk-tuk to get to the river.

We really loved our private boat!!!

Seeing the water-monitor lizard sunning on the riverside rocks was also very cool.

Turns out river-vendors are a big thing...boats approached ours constantly with food, drinks or trinkets for sale.

This aggressive lady was not letting go of our boat...quite the saleswoman!

My little shopping diva was happy to comply and she is now the proud owner of a hat that folds into a fan!

Moments later our skipper took us by the popular fish-feeding spot...so crowded with aggresive hungry catfish that the churning water was a little scary!

We were given bags of bread to feed the fish.

Later we took a tour of Wat Pho next to the palace.
Only 100 baht for entry.

Wat Pho is the largest and oldest wat (temples) in Bankgok and is home to more than 1,000 Buddha images, 
as well as the single largest Buddha image in the world, at 160 feet long.  She is the "Reclining Buddha," covered in gold leaf.  



The temple is considered the first public university of Thailand, teaching students in the fields of religion, science and literature through murals and sculptures.  Wat Pho is also one of the best places to get a fabulous massage, as the temple is home to one of the earliest Thai massage schools...so you know you will be in good hands!

There are lovely English-speaking tour guides wandering the complex. I highly recommend hiring one at the low price of 200-400 baht.   A bargain to receive a wealth of knowledge on everything you see within the temple grounds.


My camera-shy son catches me sneaking a shot.


Our guide called this the Winston Churchill statue...still not quite clear on why WC is here???

Standing in front of the ornate bell-shaped stupas (or chedis.)  There are 182 stupas at Wat Pho, more than any other wat.  Each stupa was built to honor a specific Buddhist monk, with a special chamber containing their ashes and relics.

That night, we jumped in a tuk-tuk outside of our hotel.

We decided to visit the Bangkok Sunday Night Market, winding through rows and rows of vendor stalls and tables.  

Lots of trinkets, baubles, and clothing.  Mark and Grant bought shirts and silk boxers.

Jane Ellis bought a purse and a pair of harem pants.

After shopping we treated ourselves to "fish pedicures"...a very strange experience, but fun!

After 30 minutes of letting fish swarm our feet eating the dead skin, we sat in comfy chairs to have our feet sanded and massaged.

On our last day in Bangkok, our concierge recommended we tour a Thai silk factory.
First, we were thoroughly educated on the life stages of silk worms.

Boiling cocoons...


Silk weavers at work.

 Mural of the Silk Road

 Modeling traditional Thai outfits

 Of course we have to go for the full Thai experience!!

For our final meal in Bangkok, our driver recommended a Thai restaurant surrounded by canals and overlooking their man-made lagoon.

 Kinda corny with all the fake birds and animals....

but the food was good!


 Time to go back to Tokyo, but not before promising ourselves we would make another trip back to this beautiful country!!!