GlobalHopper Travels

Setting a goal to make it through

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:59:33 -0800

Cancer changes everything...

Surrender

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:52:08 -0800

We had worked hard on creating a plan that would take over two years to transition away from the safety and comfort of stability.

So, how did we end up here...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:51:45 -0800

Some point along the line Mikiko and I got on to a path that we had not planned, and was the exact opposite of our original intentions.

Updating the blog, Really...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:03:16 -0800

It's been a while since I was able to publish to the blog. There are a lot of entries that were started, but never polished. As we are coming to the end of our RV life and trading in the wheels for keels, I'll be getting the queue cleared and explain a bit about what has been going on and why.

~Keath

Freedom in London

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:56:37 -0800

Great news for Londoners, McD's has not yet stolen the right to deep fried apple pie. I guess this shouldn't be surprising since they are the home of a lot of famous deep fried goodies like Fish and Chips, Deep fried Mars bars and best of all Deep fried frozen pizza.

~Keath

The Ramen Master

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:07:35 -0800

Before coming to Tokyo Shimpei had mentioned a new Ramen place had opened about a block away from his station and it was really good taste. We headed off for dinner with the typical Japanese style directions, "from the station cross the tracks, then walk to the 7-11 and hang a left and after a bit you'll know when your there". It was very easy to find with a long line of people and a simple sign "eat ramen here".

The Deadly Poisonous Killer Japanese PufferFish

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:59:17 -0800

Yes... Challenging life, death or worse! Fugu paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious. There have been tales of people being taken to the hospital and put in the morgue and wake up at some point later if they don't die from that whole not breathing thing.

First Ramen of the Trip

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:37:41 -0800

There are few traditions in Japan that revolve around New Year, one of these it to do house repairs and yearly house tasks. For us this means changing all the batteries in the clocks, clean and repair all the light fixtures and what ever needs renewal. So, we needed to head off to one of the main stations to replace a gas hose for the cooking stove. There is a good ramen place up the hill in Minami-Senri, and they serve a good bowl of spicy tonkotsu ramen with really nice chashu (roasted pork).

The Land of Tanuki (Part 1)

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:53:04 -0800

You know you're headed off to a distant land when the final train in the journey is a single car, it's even better when it has a picture of the thing that represents the area that your headed off to.... TANUKI.... Ok, lets start form the beginning, a long time ago when Christen was still living in the valley she took it as her responsibility to make sure I had a correct understanding of Japanese culture despite Mikiko's objections. And it went something like;

Tan Tan Tanuki no kintama wa, Kaze mo nai no ni, Bura bura
(English) - Tan-tan-tanuki's testicles, there isn't any wind but still go swing swing

Welcome to Shigaraki, home of Tanuki-chon...

Freedom is an Apple Pie

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:36:28 -0800

I think we need to start a rebellion in America, we have become so politically correct that we have lost all our freedom, and in this case freedom come in the McDonald's deep fired Apple pie. Some time in the early eighties in California and then later accost the country we were robbed of the choice of baked vs fried Apple pies, and I'm betting there was some prude PC PTA group behind the loss.

Hot Springs in every house

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:58:25 -0800

Japanese style bath tubs (ofuro) are requirement in Japanese culture, but you have to take a shower and get clean before you can get in the tub. It's not about becoming clean, it's about soaking in very hot water and relaxing. In most households the tub is fulled and stays warn, then in order by household rank everyone takes a turn starting with guests, elders, father, kids then wife. Yes, if you stay late in at someone's house you might be invited to soak and relax and you might even get a few kids thrown in.

Back to Lilliputian Land

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:22:19 -0800

Another day starts with the alarm clock going off, and me heading off to LAX to jump on some airplane heading to a hotel in a far away land. The difference this time, Mikiko is not dropping me at the bus stop and leaving, we are dropped by my mom and headed home to Japan instead of a hotel, wow... home... For a first in my life I'm head off on this mysterious thing I've only heard others remark off-handedly about, vacation...

Kushikatsu

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 07:32:42 -0800

Kushikatsu is a style of food from the Konsi area of Japan (Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Kyoto, Suita). In a few respects it is like going to a sushi bar, the food itself is an art form of flavors and textures. There are also different levels of taste and quality, from sticks you can buy at the local market, stands on the train platform to high quality restaurants.

Japanese Lunch

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 22:36:56 -0800

After we unpacked and got the house in order Miki and her Mom made a nice lunch of Sesame bread, hand made sausages, Chinese Shumai dumplings with hot Japanese mustard and a salad made from seaweed, onions, cucumber and tomatoes. Nice strong Japanese style coffee, we are set.... The sausages taste similar to ones that our Uncle Sam and Elva used to get made from pigs they raised, the traveling butcher that serviced their area was something special ( and if you ever have a full sized pig rendered into meat products you will have more then you can store yourself and will end up just like Sam and Elva giving sausages to every family member, neighbor, friend and a few strangers).

Japanese Breakfast

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:39:20 -0800

After only getting a few hours of sleep, Okason made a normal Japanese style breakfast for us. It was a bowl of rice, bowl of Miso soup, a bit of Tofu and a plate of little fish to share. Nice typical breakfast in Japan.

Shinchon and Michon, brother and sister ( can you tell? ) - breakfast after driving 6 hours to Osaka

Japanese Breakfast - Along with fish we have Miso soup, Tofu and rice