Japanese snacks~~

Last few days when the weather was fine,I went to a nearby temple which was having a ceremony...

I saw these japanese snacks sold inside the temple's ground with other stalls too.

I would like to share this photo with you all..these banana choco's..they are actually bananas dip into melted chocolate and then decorated with small chocolates fillings.

This is a popular japanese snack found in temple ceremony or in carnivals.

Other shops will sell other things like fried potatoes,fried chicken nuggets and their japanese version of" ban chang kueh" called "tai yaki" and "oban yaki".The filling inside these japanese" ban chang kueh "is red "tau sar".

The above photo is the "tai yaki"(grille fish banchang kueh)and the next photo is the "oban yaki"or anothe name which it is also know is "imakawa yaki"(the round ban chang kueh)

Another favourite of the japanese snack sold there is the "yaki soba"(fried japanese noodles)They are different taste from our malaysian,"mee goreng" as they use their japanese sauce to fry them.

Then, there is also the "okonomi yaki" (japanese style pizza)stall too...This japanese style pizza"okonomi yaki" is actually consisted of slice cabbage,egg,pork and slices of red ginger mix with flour batter and fried into pancake.Then it is eaten with the japanese sauce.

Summer(part5)~~~

Now is late summer and the day temperature is not so hot and the evening and night temperatures are getting cooler...
Even my plants in my garden are enjoying the temperatures change..

My mini roses are flowering well..Just to let you see how they grows and how mini they are,please take a look at these 2 photos..

See,I use my fingers to let you all compare the size of my mini rose..cute..right??? hehehee...


The photos above are my kacang botol plants..They are growing beautifully...I learn how to eat those young kacang botol raw with sambal belacan from my dear friend Amy Cheah...hehe..
I also cook these kacang botols with sambal heibi(sambal dried prawns).. Taste wonderful...went well when I eat them with nasi lemak and boil eggs..
Well all these summer plants will soon died when autumn comes,so I better enjoy all these wonderful summer vegetables this year,coz I will have to wait for next summer to enjoy them again....

Summer(part4)~~~

Every year whenever summer is here,I will use these summer gadgets to cool me down.You can all follow my cooling fashion..and don't worry ,they are not expensive...haha..

Anyway,let me introduce my summer cooling gadgets in the photos below..

The hot and cold pack are like mini cushions,but inside are gels.You can keep them frozen in summer or heat them up in microwave when in winter to warm them up.That is why they are called "Hot and Cold Pack".

Then the above two blue in colour packs are the cold pack which we use to put in our cooler box when we want to put in fresh food,drinks or also when we go fishing,we will put in the fish in the cooler box with these cold packs.you will also need to keep them in freezer,and their cooling power can last about 3 hours..

This is what I do...I take out the cold pack as shown above and wrap a face towel around it.I make 2 sets of these hugging cushions and I hugged them whenever I feel hot.You will be surprise..it really cools you off.So whenI feel they are not cold enough(which is about 2 or 3 hrs later,I will change another new sets from my freezer..hahaha..

I also put the hot and cold pack(frozen) under my head when I want to lay down to sleep or just relaxing..it cools my head...hahaha...another way of using is is when I goes to town,and in summer I ususally wear a summer hat to prevent the sun's ray...I then put one of the hot and cold pack(frozen)on top of my head then only, I put on my hat.Keep my head cool...hahaha...

Another of these summer gadgets is this neck cooler..the green pack is the gel. You need to keep it in the freezer and then insert it into the towel neck wrapper.This neck wrapper is attached with a magic tape..but the cooling power is abit bit short..can last about 30 to 40 minutes only.

But this year it is the summer hot gadget..I use this neck wrapper when I am working..it also cool the body temperature down..Well if you do have these items,do please try them..and I can assure you ...you will sure cool down...hahaha...

Japanese Yukata~~~

Now in Japan is mid summer,the weather is very hot and humid...

So,many festivals are held to celebrate summer,and usually on the last day of the festival,there would be fireworks display.

The young japanese ladies would wear "japanese yukata" to these festivals,along with their japanese clogs(getta).

The japanese yukata comes in various colour and designs..dark blue,red ,pink,light blue, green or black..with flowers or dragon flies designs.

Here are some photos of my daughter in a "japanese yukata".I manage to snap her photos just as she was about to go to a summer festival.

Summer festival in Toyota City~~~

On July 26th, I went to visit Kacang in toyota city where she stays.

It was also the day when the whole city turn into a canival atmostphere..the citizens will dance to compete with each other groups.

The canival started at 6pm..where the first batch was the kids groups from various kindergarden...

After that, the adult groups started with the hot dances..

The temperature was very hot that day ..about 36degrees..but later in the evening ,it went down to about 25degrees.

On the way back,we stop over for Indian crusine...makan "nan and curry "by the roadside..hahaha..

Those Indian nationals show know how to make business..taking advantage of the canival..(doing business on the roadside)

Then later ,we accidentally spotted a Nepal shop,selling various curry powder and DVD...Know what??? We saw " Dettol soap" and also "Dettol antiseptic liquid" in bottles.We were so surprise to find this product in Japan..and we both bought a detto soap and a bottle of detto antiseptic each...hahaha..

Well,I stayed overnight at kacang house and we both chat until the early morning...

I did enjoyed myself very much in her house and would like to thank her for the warm hospitality and kindness..

Kacang... kam sia..kam sia...thanks a million....hehe...

Summer (part3)~~~

Now is mid summer in Japan..and today I would like to show some flowers which are rare to some of us..

This is called the "prawn flowers" in japanese..hehe..I don't know the english name for it...Reasons for having this name is because the flowers looks like prawns..That what the sales lady says to me when I bought this plant at the nursery...hahah..Do you think it looks like a prawn???

These red flower plants is the fortune telling plants...That is also what the sales lady told me..hahaha..

She says that if your luck is good it will turn more red..and if your luck is not so good ,it will turn light red ,then later it will turn yellowish...than..to heaven it goes...hahaha..I really can't stop laughing when the sales lady told me that..plants also can go to heaven...hahaha..

Then on my way back home,I noticed a particular type of grass growing in my friend's neighborhood..

So as usual ..I did the next best thing when I saw the house owner pruning her garden.I went over to chat with her..and I ask her what is the name of that particualr grass which is of two tones colour(yellow and green)..and to my surprise...you know what she told me???

She say it is called the "leopard grass" as the spots resemble the leopard's skin..and I politely thank her for kindness...then went back to my car ..

On the way home,I just can't stop laughing with "Today specials"..."red fortune telling flowers".."leopard grass" and in my garden "prawn flowers"..hahahaha...wonder next,what the japanese will name their plants and flowers...Hahahahaha...

Fruits~~~

I love to eat cherries,and there are two varieties..the dark red ones which are from California,and the pinkish red ones who are from Japan.

I found that the dark red ones are a bit sour and the flesh is also a bit hard..but the pinkish red ones are sweet and soft.

I found that those california's dark red cherries are much cheaper than the japanese pinkish red cheeries.

Really wonder why ,the imported cherries are more cheap than the local cheeries...hehehehe..

Anyway,here is a photo of the pinkish red cherries from japan..

Talking about fruits again,I would like to let you all see the golden kiwis from New Zealand...I love to eat this golden kiwi as they are called that in Japan,coz they are so sweet compared to the green kiwi.I can also assure you ,their price is also a bit different..kekeke..These golden kiwis are abit expensive than the ordinary green kiwis..

Next,I would like to show you all how does the baby persimmons looks like.I am sure that we all know that persimmons are dark orange,right???

Do you know that when they are still young ,they are green in colour,looks like small green apples,and later ,they will turn into yellow and then to dark orange in autumn..Here is a photo of the baby persimmons taken from my family's orchard..

Since I was in my family's orchard taking those persimmons photo,I thought I might as well take a photo of the chestnut tree,as they are also in my family's orchard.They already bear chessnuts(lak chee)..and do you know that they looks exactly the same as our rambutans when they are still not ripe.

Even the leaves and tree looks exactly like our rambutan trees.When I just arrive in Japan,I mistaken them for rambutans,as when I touch the"fur" of that young chessnut,it is also the same as our rambutan skin..hahaha...

Well ,the persimmons and chestnuts will be ripe in autumn...then I will be able to cook chestnut rice and post them for you all to see..hahaha..

SUMMER (part 2)~~~

Yesterday while passing through the nursery,I found some nice plants which I would like to show you all...

First is the grape plant..and bearing grapes already!!!

I just can't resist it so I took its photo!!!

Next are the photos of the miniture chillies and ferns..

The miniture chilles are only for decoration and cannot be eaten...I like their colours,as they are very colourful.

Take a look at all the baby ferns in the next photo..they are so cute..but I can't buy anymore of them, coz my house is now fully booked with ferns...hahahaha...

Before I end this post,I would also like to show you my handmade "car handphone holder".

I was shopping for some materials at Daizo shop,and I deceided to make myself a summer image "car handphone holder"..

This is how it look after I am done and installed it into my car....colourful ,right ??? Notice the three birdies flying at the top...hahaha....

SUMMER (part 1)~~~

In Japan,now is the beginning of summer...the weather is very warm now,about 31 degrees in the day time in my area..

When we talk about summer,automatically..my mind shoot to the mosquitoes..hahaha..

In Japan we have cute designs to put the mosquito coil...

Here is a photo of them,but of course there sevearal other designs too..

But in my house I have only these designs..

Next is the liquid type of mosquitoes repellents...They have alot of designs,but my choice is still the piggy as they are very cute.

When we talk about summer in Japan..we always have the windchimes..on sale..

They have so many varieties,and we are spoiled for choice,once in the shop that sells windchimes..

They also have windchimes which are covered with greenery such as moss too.This is a photo of the windchimes with moss...so you need to water the moss every morning to keep it alive and moist...

The photo above are the minitures windchimes of my daughter's.She like to hang her windchimes on her room's door..they are cute,right???

Summer Resolution~~~

This year I am going to have a summer resolution....That is I will not be planting any flowers...

So,I have deceided to plant several vegetables such as tomatoes,brinjals,cucumber,kacang botol and eda mame(japanese beans)

Now in my garden , I have two pots of tomatoes,one pot of brinjal...
The kacang botol plants is still to small to be tranfer yet,maybe I will do it next week...

Then,I hope I will be able to cook kacang botol with sambal hebi ,this summer...yummy...
My eda mame plants is also still small to tranfer also,and ya maybe next week..I will tranfer them too...

Yummy,in my mind..I can imagine drinking a cool glass of beer and eating my eda mame at the same time...hehe..

Well,I will post all my plants for you all to see when they fully grown and bearing all those tomatoes,brinjals,kacang botols and eda mame...
Hmmm...just can't wait for that day to come....