Three Things

Junebee tagged me for this (my first tag!):

1. Three people who make me laugh:
Mr. Octopus and his family (I’m counting them as one person)
Chris Rock
Jon Stewart

2. Three things I can do:
Write backwards (like in The DaVinci Code)
Scuba dive
Drive stick shift

3. Three things I can't do:
Roll my tongue
Butterfly stroke
Fix cars

4. Three things I'm doing right now:
Sitting on the couch
Looking forward to dinner (spicy vegetarian chili)
Watching Everybody Hates Chris

5. Three things I want to do before I die:
Speak Vietnamese without an American accent
Run a marathon
Go on safari

6. Three things I hate the most:
People who are perpetually late
Drunk drivers
Hearing politicians talk about God

7. Three things that scare me:
Water that I can’t see through
Reptiles
Public speaking

8. Three things I don't understand:
Guilt
Overly emotional people
Grammar (never learned it)

9. Three skills I'd like to learn:
Speed reading
Public speaking
Cooking

10. Three ways to describe my personality:
Zany
Active
More influenced by my parents than I’d ever thought

11. Three things I think you should listen to:
Children
CarTalk
Yourself

12. Three things you should never listen to:
FoxNews
People you pretend to like
George W. Bush

13. Three favorite foods:
Vietnamese soups (particularly Bun Bo Hue - pictured)
Kamonan soba (duck soba)
Kimchi

14. Three beverages I drink regularly:
Coffee with skim milk
Tea (usually green or peppermint)
White wine

15. Three shows I watched a lot:
I Love Lucy
Sex & the City
Three’s Company

16. Three people I'm tagging to do this:
Hoosier’s Nest
Tonic Blotter
Guardedly Optimistic

Firmly Back in LA

And back to watching TV. Project Runway. How do we feel about last night's episode. Did Jeffrey cheat? Do we feel bad for him? I'm starting to like Uli. Not sure that I want her to win, but I'm starting to like her more and more.

Marie Antoinette. I've seen two trailers for this movie and already I feel nauseated. I can't explain what it is that bothers me. It's not the story, because I don't know anything about it. I think it's the presentation. Overstylized. Overcool. Over-something. I like New Order, but I don't want it in a Marie Antoinette trailer. And The Strokes, too? Is it too familiar? It's like a trailer I would make if I had the money and the connections. Perhaps I'm flattering myself. I'll probably see the movie, but I'll fight it all the way.

Back to the New Grind

Vending machine in Tokyo.
I've been back in LA for over a week now. I've started my new job. So far, so good. Just trying to adjust and fit in. I'm hoping to turn a new leaf in my life generally. I have pretty regular hours at the new job, so I'm thinking about creating a schedule of sorts for myself-- e.g., work out M-W-F, cook dinner T-Th. Something like that. I think I need structure, otherwise nothing happens.

I want to get back in yoga. There was a time in NY when I went to yoga classes at least three times a week. I was so into it that I would actually take the subway downtown to take the class. The whole thing (class and travel time) would take a good three hours. There is a studio in Los Feliz that I like quite a bit. I should stop making excuses and just go. I've started to feel a little creaky in the morning (feet and legs feel stiff) and my shoulders are sore in the evenings (must be the way I have my computer set up at night), so clearly something needs to change.

Door in Kyoto.

Day 7: Kyoto and Tokyo

Kiyomizu Temple. Originally built in 798; rebuilt in 1633.

The interior of Sanjusangendo Hall, a Buddhist temple famous for its 1,001 life-size wooden statues of Kannon (Buddhist goddess of mercy). It was quite a sight, and more than a little creepy. As photographs were not allowed, this is a picture of a postcard I bought.

A street in the Gion district, famous for its geisha houses.

I spotted a geisha, much to my surprise. She scuttled away quickly and disappeared down this narrow alley. I was really tempted to follow her.

Waiting for my train back to Tokyo.

The Park Hyatt Tokyo.

Loved it!

Day 6: Kyoto

I took the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto (2-1/2 hours).

Ginkakuji (the Temple of the Silver Pavillion). It was built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482. It was never painted silver because he died before it was completed.

I bet this moss has a superiority complex.

The Philosopher's Path. So named because philosophers and priests have strolled along this canal for centuries. I pondered what I should eat for dinner.

A view of Kyoto from Eikando Temple.

Further Thoughts on the Trip

Traveling alone is a unique experience and I'm glad I did it. I would heartily recommend Japan to those traveling on their own (especially women). It's a safe and clean place. I didn't feel vulnerable. I didn't catch anyone leering at me. I wasn't groped. People went on their merry way and didn't pay much attention to the tourists.

Not as many people spoke English as I'd expected. As a result, I made an extra effort not to get lost because I would have a really hard time asking for and understanding directions. Some folks looked frightened when I approached them. I think they would've run away if they could. I've heard that many Japanese have never really interacted with foreigners.

Hotels weren't as expensive as I'd expected, but other things, like clothes, were crazy expensive. Jeans at the Gap went for over $100. Even average clothing stores were expensive. Food, however, was good and cheap. I ate mostly soba and sandwiches during the day and bought my dinners in the department stores in the evening (the basement floors are a mecca for wonderfully prepared dinners and desserts). The two times that I had sit-down meals in restaurants, I had difficulty getting the check. I'd forgotten my conversational Japanese book and didn't know the word for check, so I opted for what works in the U.S.-- I flagged down the waiter and pretended to write my signature in the air. It's the international sign for 'check, please,' right? Ummm, no. Both times I did that, the waiter brought me a pen. Yes, a pen. I eventually realized that since Japan is still a cash-based society, waving your hand in the air doesn't necessarily mean that you want to sign for a credit card.

Day 5: Ueno and Akihabara

In the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno.



Ueno Park.

Stray cat (there were many) in the park.

Homeless tents in Ueno Park. I saw one man carefully cleaning off his tarp. I've heard that the homeless typically take off their shoes before entering their tents.

The neighborhood of Akihabara, electronics central.

Day 4: Tsukiji Fish Market

The fish market was the highlight of my trip. If there is one thing I would recommend on a visit to Tokyo, this would be it. Unlike the rest of Tokyo, which is so tidy, well-mannered and stylish, the fish market is smelly chaos. The delivery area is teeming with trucks, cars, bikes and pedestrians. The market is a cacophony of men yelling, slicing up sea creatures and throwing them on trucks. It's an experience like no other.
The entrance to the fish market. I walked past it twice thinking this couldn't possibly be the place. Turns out, the front is the main delivery area; the market is tucked away in the back.

This guy helps keep the peace.
.
At last, the market.



Frozen tuna, anyone?

Weird red sea creature.

Day 3: Shibuya and Harajuku

I'm back in the U.S. Home sweet home. Here is the first of several installments from my trip to Japan. Days 1 and 2 were spent in transit. I flew JAL and stayed in Shinjuku. I was mildly jetlagged and woke up on Day 3 around 6am. I headed straight to Shibuya, which I'd heard was one of Tokyo's bumping neighborhoods, and arrived before the shops opened at 10am. I watched from the Starbucks at Hachiko Crossing as people headed to work and children to school.

Folks heading to work. A shot of Hachiko Crossing in Shibuya.

Kids flocking to Takeshita Dori after school, a popular pedestrian lane in Harajuku.

One of the two torii (entrance gate) to Meiji Shrine (shinto). Made from 1,700 year old Japanese cypress trees.

Meiji Shrine.

Afternoon rush hour at Shinjuku Station, Japan's busiest commuter station.

Last Night in Tokyo

I just returned to Tokyo after a quick visit to Kyoto. Kyoto deserves much more than the one night I spent there. It is home to over 1500 temples and shrines that are interspersed, often inconspicuously, among the residential and commercial areas. In my brief visit, I managed to see a few of the more lovely and important temples. I hope to post pictures when I return to the States tomorrow.

I just checked into my hotel, the Park Hyatt, and all I can say is wow. When the bellhop opened the door of my cab, he said "Welcome back." I'm not sure if he was mixing me up with someone else, but it was a nice touch. Mr. Bellhop accompanied me up to reception, which is on the 41st floor, and somewhere along the way, he got my name off my luggage tag, passed it discreetly to the reception, and before I knew it, my registration card was awaiting me. The hotel is luxurious without being overdone and the service is great. Best yet, my room is fantastic. I lucked out with a corner room and I have expansive views south towards Shibuya and Yoyogi Park. I'm on the 47th floor and I feel like I'm suspended in midair. Looking down I see the lacing of roads and freeways; it reminds me of some of those sci-fi movies.

This vacation has been hard work and I am pooped from my week in Japan. I overcame the isolation I felt initially, and soon went about my days with a hop in my step, poking around here and there. This being my last night, I think I may just relax in my room, soak in the tub, and, of course, get a drink at the bar a la Scarlett Johannson. Who knows maybe I'll see Bill Murray.

In Tokyo

I'm in my second full day in Tokyo. So far it's been great, but is has also, as I feared, been quite isolating. I'm in that no man's land where the Japanese recognize that I'm not Japanese and don't talk to me, and the (very few) American tourists don't think that I can speak English. As a result, I've been spending my days having very abbreviated conversations with shopkeepers and hotel staff. Whenever I hear someone speaking English I have the urge to join in the conversation. I've been carrying my TimeOut Tokyo guide conspicuously in the hope that someone will strike up a conversation with me.

I went to the Tsukiji fish market this morning, which has got to be one of the weirdest experiences I've ever had. I didn't get there early enough to see the wholesale tuna auction (that starts around 5am), but I did get to see the retailers and restauranteurs come to buy. The fish market is huge and overwhelming. The aisles are narrow and I had to get out of the way of the minitrucks carrying fish and other sea creatures. I walked in fear that I would be splashed with fish guts. Aside from fish (dead and alive), there were shrimp, squid, wormy-looking things and a whole array or unrecognizable stuff. The whole place smelled of the sea and cigarettes. It was slightly nauseating. There were very few women and even fewer tourists. I was fascinated and mesmerized by the entire place.

I'm off to the Asakusa Kannon Temple now, which is the city's oldest temple. There are a bunch of other yummy sites in the area, including a shop that sells all that fake looking food.

Lame Duck

I gave my two weeks' notice two weeks ago. Tomorrow is my last day. I've been at my company almost six years. This was my first 'real' job. There were times when I liked my job and times when it was brutal. Now I'm leaving. The last two weeks have been really cushy. No work. Just play and taking care of some administrative stuff.

I have some time off before starting my new job, which is why I'm taking a trip to Japan. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be my first trip where I'm not researching and planning down to the details. I'm just going to go with the flow. I have the general stuff planned out (i.e., where I'll be staying), but not much more than that. It'll certainly be a change, a personality experiment, considering I can be sort of a control freak.

The Area Code

What does your area code mean to you? I've been in LA for nearly a year and I still have my 917 cell phone number. Am I too lazy to change it (possibly) or do I want to hold on to my New York number (quite possibly)?


These days new area codes are popping up all the time. Am I the only one who may hold on to an old number just because?

Chanchow Eats: Polka

Have I mentioned that some of the best things in LA are found in strip malls? No? Don't believe me? Check out Polka, a family-run Polish restaurant at the corner of Verdugo and York in Glassell Park.

Polka doesn't look like much from the parking lot. Every inch of the windows is covered with restaurant reviews and tinsel. We couldn't tell if it was crowded or empty. When we poked our head inside and saw that each table was taken. A five minute wait, the friendly owner said.

While we waited, an older couple opened the door and told us, unsolicited, that everything was wonderful and that the vegetables were delicious and fresh. They were right. I ordered the klopsy (meatballs with rice, potatoes and veggies) and Mr. Octopus had the vegetarian pierogi. Our meals came with mushroom soup, salad and dessert. All yummy.

Hollyhock House

We visited the Hollyhock House today. The house was recently restored and is now open to the public. It is situated on a hill (Olive Hill) in Los Feliz and was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Aline Barnsdall.

Barnsdall was an oil heiress from Pennsylvania who moved to LA in the 1910s with her daughter. She was an arts patron and a political and social activist (an early suffragette and a single mother who never revealed the identity of her baby's father). She bought the 36-acre hilltop for $300,000 (those were the days!) and commissioned Wright to build her residence, along with a performing arts complex on the site (only the residence and a couple other structures were ultimately completed). It was Wright's first commission in LA.

The house was built between 1919 and 1923 at a cost of $150,000. Eventually client and architect parted ways for financial and design reasons and Wright's son, Lloyd Wright, and Viennese architect Rudolph Schindler oversaw and finished the project.

It is named Hollyhock because the hollyhock (tall, flowering plants) were abundant on the site and were one of Barndall's favorite plants. Wright incorporated a hollyhock motif throughout the interior and exterior of the house (all those tall, pointy-like things).

Land of the Rising Sun

I'm going to Japan later this month. It'll be my first visit there and I can't wait to see what it's like. Everyone I've talked to raves about Tokyo. I imagine it to be like NYC, but multiplied by ten or a hundred. I can't wait to see the Japanese kids all punk and goth and Victorian. I can't wait to eat soba and ramen and more soba and more ramen. I can't wait to see the shrines and temples and walk around the manicured gardens. I'll spend the bulk of my time in Tokyo, with a short jaunt to Kyoto. I'll be traveling alone, which is both exciting and daunting. I look forward to planning my day the way I want, but afraid I'll feel a little isolated.

Hopefully it won't rain while I'm there

Diary Entry

I'm not one to keep a diary. I've tried to over the years, but I always peetered out after a couple weeks. My entries usually centered around what I did on a particular day (woke up, went here, talk to so and so), which is pretty boring fare. I didn't keep a journal on 9/11, but I remember the day in detail, just like everyone else. I was living in NYC at the time. Here are the broad strokes of what I experienced.

* * *
I was living in midtown Manhattan. Within walking distance of my work. I didn't have set hours, so on a slow day I could stroll into the office when I needed to. Consequently, I didn't always set my alarm clock.

I woke up naturally on 9/11. It was a little after 9am. I turned on the tv to NY1, which was the local news station that I always checked to get the day's weather. They were showing images of the the twin towers, which had been hit by the planes at that point. There was a suspended moment in which I didn't understand what I was seeing. Was it real. Was it now. Was it the local news.

I figured that I shouldn't go into work. Although my office wasn't in a famous high rise, I would probably be better off staying in my apartment building. Then NY1 showed footage of people fleeing the United Nations, which was very close to my building. As I sat in front of the tv, I saw the first tower fall. I decided to go into the office.

I arrived to find people fairly calm. Anyone who had a radio had it turned on and turned up. Someone said that the second tower had fallen. Mr. Octopus, who was my boyfriend at the time, was at work in Brooklyn. He was much closer to the towers than I was. We spoke on the phone. He was going to find a way back to his apartment in Queens. I called my parents. I assured them that I was in midtown, not downtown. The distinction did little to comfort them.

Later that morning, office admin sent an email to all personnel saying that everyone was free to leave if they wanted to. Most people didn't know where to go or how to get out. There were images to people walking across bridges. Many people lived in NJ or Long Island or Westchester. Too far to walk. I ended up leaving the office with a friend who lived on the Upper East Side. I didn't want to go back to my apartment alone and neither did she.

It was a quiet night. We watched the tv, even though we didn't want to. We were about three miles from the World Trade Center. We could smell burnt metal and see debris in the air. Landlines were working so we called our families and friends.

Julian, CA

Although there are lots of authentic pioneer-era features about Julian,
the horse drawn carriage is not one of them. It's primarily for tourists.
Julian is a charming gold rush town, approximately an hour northeast of San Diego. It's a good one-day stop. There's Main Street, an old gold mine you can tour and, most importantly, famous apple pie.

San Diego Wild Animal Park

I'm no fan of zoos (poor caged animals!), but I think it's worthwhile to visit one every so often. The Wild Animal Park isn't your typical zoo. It began as a breeding facility, so that its sister facility, the San Diego Zoo some 30 miles to the south, wouldn't have to take animals from the wild. Many of the animals at the WAP roam large areas. Some areas are so big that your only opportunity to see animals is by taking the tram. It's nice to see tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos and other beasts have some space in our modern world.

End of Summer

We spent the Labor Day weekend in Escondido and Julian, both near San Diego. We hit the Wild Animal Park in Escondido. The WAP was until 9pm over the weekend, so we managed to visit during the late afternoon/early evening and avoid the hot summer sun. We stayed in the HoJo Escondido, which I thought would be cute and kitschy (my first time at a HoJo), but in reality was dumpy and sketchy. In Julian, we stayed at the historic Julian Hotel, built by a former slave over a hundred years ago. The older I get, the more I interested I am in where I stay. I'll post pics of the animals and Julian soon.

We were on the road to Julian when Agassi lost to B. Becker. I wish I'd seen it. I remember when Agassi first came onto the scene in the mid-80s. My parents, like many Asian parents, signed me up for tennis lessons and hoped that I would really take to the game. The only thing that stuck was that I liked watching grand slams on tv. Over the years, I've like Lendl, Edberg (huge crush-- probably the last blonde guy I ever thought was hot), Martina and Steffi Graf (in her later years). I never liked Connors, Sampras (Boring), Chris Evert (also Boring), Boris Becker (annoying) or Martina Hingis (bitch). I can't get too revved up by any of the new players, although I do like Federer, James Blake and Justine Henin-Hardenne.