Cold Noodle ― 2010/09/11
Although it is September when it is supposed to be the beginning of autumn, I assume it’s still OK to talk about a summer food as the temperature is still well over 30 Celsius.
During summer we wash noodles with running water and chill them with ice. Every kind of noodle, from pasta to ramen, can’t escape from this fate once they are produced in, or imported to this country.
I think this instant noodle is particularly 'Fukuokan’.
Instant chilled Chinese noodle (JPY398 for five packs) manufactured in a factory just 10 km away from my flat.
If you are not a born-Fukuokan, like my husband, you may find the noodle rather unappetising; chemical-laden, seasoning or preserves, and you are not my friend.
Those who were borne and brought up in
You can have ‘proper’ Chinese chilled noodles with plenty of toppings at restaurants and some fast-food outlets, which might be better when it comes to nutrition. But, I’d like to strongly recommend you to have this instant noodle on its own to sample our taste heritage.
Little Flood ― 2010/09/13
Although there was no warning about the tide, an estuary of a small river where boats were anchored was nearly overflowed. The lapping water was coming over the edge of the bank.
What happened?
Melted Arctic ice came to this town?
Are we following
Today's Cat ― 2010/09/15
Pawn Empire ― 2010/09/17
A physically close, but for some reasons very distant, maybe more distant from Mars, place to me…
This is probably one of the biggest pawn brokers in
As long as I know, there are four shops around my local underground station. Each of the shops offer different service; pawning, buying, and selling the fortified items.
They deal with everything; a variety of tickets and coupon ranging from plane tickets to stamps, jewels, electric appliances, designer’s bags and shoes—everything that you can forgo. In fact, I haven’t been there because I have nothing valuable enough to be pawned, and I don’t need a Louis Vuitton costing some JPY60,000 (I don’t know whether this price is reasonable as a bag in general) to go to shopping for fish or second-hand books on a rusty bike (sour grapes).
I didn’t know pawn shops were so popular in this town. I assumed these kinds were operating their business discreetly, literally out of way. Fukuokan people, however, seem to openly pawn something and buy the forfeited items. In fact this shop offers drive-through pawning service and advertises on TV quite often.
When I was active as a young woman, it was said that young girls got jewels and bags from their male friends, then pawned the gifts and earned some pocket money unless it was from their true love. Very much bubble age! Of course I was not one of them…sadly.
Today's Freebie ― 2010/09/18
A bike reflector, a pack of facial tissue, and a leaflet teaching how to cycle safe.
A real ‘free’bie. They were handed out everyone walking around as a part of traffic safety campaign that I don’t know who sponsors.
Whether this was funded by our tax money or Bill Gates-type people, I hope people will stop cycling in the wrong direction after reading the leaflet.
I With the reflector, my bike became even safer— I don’t cycle at night, though.
But isn’t it important to get ready for unexpected evening going out, such as romantic date, going to an all-night supermarket to get bathroom tissues or something?
Today's Freebie ― 2010/09/19
A bottle of rose-scented water that helps correct dishevelled hair
To be precise, this isn’t a freebie that should be given free of charge. This is a reward for my loyalty to a hairdressing salon, a rather primitive form of store loyalty cards.
This is my first time I got any reward from my loyalty card since I was back to Fukuoks in 2006.
Strangely, despite the fact that the salon is so keen to keep its customers as to give this card, they don’t ask me any of my personal information. They don’t know my phone number, my address, or even my first name. So ha haven’t got any direct mail or New Year card from them. What they know about me is only my surname which is necessary to make an appointment.
While most of hairdressers nose into your private life, asking your job, age, where you go on weekends, and so on…this salon doesn’t show any curiosity about the person in front of the mirror. I like this simple, or somewhat dry, relationship with my hairdresser because I have nothing to talk about. Ah, maybe I’m not interesting enough for them to ask anything …
A Fukuokan in Tokyo: Second Tour ― 2010/09/27
Accessible Establishment
I can’t imagine myself living in
In
On the other hand,
Also, the staff in these establishments are very kind to a rural woman like me. With the homely atmosphere of the venue, you would feel as if you were in your grandmother’s home built fifty years ago.
Their kindness is not pushy at all (I don’t like conspicuously designed service, such as toothbrushes at toilet or customers’ satisfaction questionnaires—“would you recommend this to your friends” type things), but you may well feel warmly looked after. This may be because the majority members of the staff are a bit senior to me, probably in their late sixties or something. They might know how to deal with their customers through their long career.
A Fukuokan in Tokyo: Second Tour ― 2010/09/28
Labyrinth
The most frightening thing I found in
As you know,
As in
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