Sanuk Canadian

Each year, Yokohama port hosts "Sparkling Twilight", in which festival attendees can enjoy food, alcohol, fireworks, boats lit up and other events in the harbor. I joined my friend Samurai, who played host for the evening's festivities. A preview of the sparkling evening: These flammingos lined the street leading to the port. First, we explored the area near Sakuragicho station and visited the Yokohama City Library. Likely the best and biggest library with foreign language materials in Kanagawa, Yokohama City Library had a huge selection of English newspapers, magazines and books. It's highly recommended for expats living in or around Yokohama. The only downside: you must be a resident, student or working in Yokohama to take out materials. The library's website in English, is HERE . Google Map is HERE . If you continue up the hill from the library, you'll reach Nogeyama Zoo. It was closed when we arrived, but I did spot some cute graffiti: Tur...

In early September, after all the kiddies had headed back to school, I took in an exhibition visiting Yokohama from Russia. The focus was on the mammoth, the giant pre-historic beast that roamed many areas, including Japan. The exhibit proved to be much more than just a showcase of mammoths; displays also focused on the African and Asian elephants, and their relationship to the pre-historic mammoth. I quite enjoyed it! After asking, I was allowed to take photos inside, but not of the main piece -- a frozen, complete baby mammoth, with its hair still attached, called "Yuka". In any case, enjoy the photos... Displays of elephant skeletons: A mammoth skeleton, featuring large tusks: Close up of an African elephant's skull: More elephant and mammoth skulls: Mammoth skull is in the foreground: There were several interactive exhibits here, allowing patrons to touch tusks, teeth and even hair from mammoths. I enjoyed touching -- of course! M...

I spent a day in Yokohama last month, exploring the Motomachi area. While exiting the subway station, I spotted a sign that said: 公園[ko-en = park].  I have loved parks since living in Bangkok, so why not check out this one? The location was really unique -- it was on top of the roof of the subway station building! While the name reads (in English) America Mountain Park, there are no mountains. But it's quite a lovely garden, filled with many roses. Let's take a look around.... In the distance--the elevator from the subway station: Antique lamp: Wooden benches with Yokohama's Marine Tower in the distance: When I came across this area of the park, filled with wooden benches perfect for reading a book on, I was even more surprised to find... ....a real, green lawn, with real grass!! Joy!!! ^_^ For those who live in Japan, you'll know it's a very, very rare sight to see real grass. The summers are just too hot to support watering a lawn. As a ...

I'm sorry I've been away for a while. The summer was so hot here, I practically melted into a puddle. Today's post is a simple one, showcasing a taste of the Japanese summer -- watermelon. This fruit is a favorite treat for kids and adults in Japan. What's interesting about the watermelon here, compared to those in Canada, is the shape -- it's perfectly round, like a basketball. The skin is also smooth to the touch. I bought a whole watermelon during the summer and had a friend cut it up (ever since the kitchen knife accident where I sliced my finger, I'm anti "big things, big knife"). The watermelon, from Kanazawa:  Slicing:  An interesting note: In Japan, at beaches everywhere, there is a fun game many play with a watermelon. It involves blindfolding one person, spinning them around for a bit, then, handing them a thick wooden stick, you guide the blinded person, who hopes to hit the watermelon. The goal is similar to a Mexican pina...