California Daily Life

Hello from California!

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It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?

I’m home, at last. My boxes from storage have been unpacked, suitcases are hidden in the back of the closet, and dusty books have been neatly tucked away. To make my west coast dreams truly come true, my new place has a backyard garden, complete with an avocado tree and an apple tree.

Thank you for still remembering me. Here is a belated hello from the sunny side of the San Francisco Bay!

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Here’s a sneak peek of my studio space!

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During my hiatus from blogging, I’ve been keeping up with my instagram and making time for snail mail. With spring’s arrival, I’m emerging from my hibernation.

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Isn’t my new Snugg case the perfect shade of violet? I love having these card holders on the side, where I usually carry the illustrated owl tag made by my talented friend, Jannese.

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Japan

Sayonara, Kyoto!

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Welcome to Tachibana-san’s lovely garden home in Kyoto, Japan! She opened her doors to me when I was just 18 years old, inviting me to stay with her and her cat Shima-chan. She gently pushed me when I was prone to getting lost, helping me come up with strategy for returning home. I learned to explore the city alone on a bicycle with a small map in hand, making friends with monks and solitary travelers along the way.

After all these years, it was wonderful to be able to return to the place I once called home. I arrived from Kobe by evening, walking past the garden in the shadows. The next morning I woke up in the second floor bedroom, laid my feet on the warm tatami mat, and peered out the windows onto the mountains. I walked downstairs for breakfast and tea, and watched Shima-chan nap by the windows. We packed our cameras, put on walking shoes, and headed out for a stroll around the neighborhood.

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“Are we to look at cherry blossoms only in full bloom, at the moon only when it is cloudless? The moon that appears close to dawn after we have long waited for it moves us more profoundly than the full moon shining cloudless over a thousand leagues. And how incomparably lovely is the moon, almost greenish in its light, when seen through the tops of the cedars deep in the mountains, or when it hides for a moment behind clustering clouds during a sudden shower! The sparkle on hickory or white-oak leaves seemingly wet with moonlight strikes one to the heart. One suddenly misses the capital, longing for a friend who could share the moment.” – An excerpt from Essays in Idleness by Kenkō

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That summer must have stirred something within Tachibana-san, too. I was astonished to find out she had started studying Korean history and language. We were able to make a small conversation in Korean while looking for a teashop in Gion. She remains just as adventurous as ever, chatting about her travels and an upcoming trip to a tiny island community.

I hope to see her again soon, perhaps here in California!

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Japan

I Heart Kobe

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I arrived at Kobe’s Sannomiya Station early morning feeling a bit under the weather. The streets were damp, my backpack hung heavily on my back, and the city wasn’t yet awake. Clutching my umbrella in one hand and my phone in the other, I miraculously located rogue wifi in front of a convenience store and Beyang somehow found me. With a huge smile on her face, she took me inside a quaint bakery, where we loaded up a basket full of pastries. After a sip of my hot black coffee and a bite of the deep-fried curry donut, I realized it was going to be a really good day. We were chatting as old friends do, and I felt right at home, in Kobe.

Beyang, my good friend from college, had visited me both Mexico City and Seoul. In her home base for a day, I was very excited to be a visitor in her charming port city.

Come along on our adventure with these snapshots!

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Beyang, full of abundant energy!

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Kobe, one of Japan’s first cities to open its doors to the world, is home to architectural diversity and good international cuisine.

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How fun are these retro signs! I loved Kobe’s offering of themed restaurants.

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When in Kobe, one must try the namesake beef!

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After our delicious steak lunch, I somehow lost one of my contact lens and almost fell into a blurry funk. But then we stepped inside this lovely vegan cafe…

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Cake, hot drinks, and friends!

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Kobe’s Chinatown had so many cute goodies. We shared a pork bun and croquette.

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A tiny jar of Kobe’s specialty custard pudding! It tasted a bit like flan + creme brulee.

UntitledJust when it started raining, we caught this festival performance under a tented area. It reminded me of high school marching band competitions.

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Rain can’t stop us!

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Best of all, Beyang took me to meet Totoro!

Feeling re-energized, I hopped on the train to my final destination and the city where I learned to travel in 2006: Kyoto.