ROJAK ROJAK

Kappabashi Street is an interesting shopping street we visited today. There is a giant chef on top of the one of the building at the entrance to the street.

The street itself is lined with many shops selling wholesale items from pottery, cooking utensils to plastic food displays and even uniforms for chefs and waiters.

10 Sep – Everyone woke up quite early, including the children. After breakfast, we headed towards Kusatsu Onsen Town. En-route, we stopped at a shop selling fresh vegetables and fruits. We also paid 150 yen for maize grilled and coated with yakitori sauce. It was truly oishi!

The place to get information is at the Information Centre just as you enter the town area from the direction of Karuizawa. English brochures are available from the counter. Kusatsu is the land of onsens! But with the children it was difficult to try the many onsens at Kusatsu. One of the main attractions is the Yubatake area.

According to a brochure, 5000 litres of hot water comes from the ground and passes through the wooden channels on its way to the numerous ryokans and onsens.

If time is on your side, you can carefully study the inscriptions around the Yubatake that record the numerous scholars, poets, doctors etc. who have visited the area.

There are many eating and shopping spots around the Yubatake. Along our shopping route, we also sampled local delicacies.

We drove to Karuizwa, Nagano Prefecture with Richard's family over the weekend. We set off from Tokyo at 8am and reached Karuizawa train station at about 10.30am. Our first stop was the Factory Outlet, where we had lunch. After lunch, we did some shopping before checking in at Hoshino pension.

The evening was spent at Kumoba Pond and Shiraito Falls, before we had dinner along Karuizawa "Ginza".

Should have started blogging earlier. Its difficult to recall everything we did and every place visited since arriving last year. But as the saying goes, "It's never too late".

Since returning from home leave, we have done as much as possible to enjoy the warm weather (and before winter comes about again!). We visited the Tokyo Sea Life Park at Kansai where we took a ride on a giant ferris wheel. No big deal except if you have the fear of heights, like me.

The children attended the summer music bible school in church, before returning to school for the new academic year.

Of course, most importantly, we celebrated Kristy's 3rd birthday.