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I'm totally crazy about foods from different countries. When I was a child, I didn't use to eat so many different kinds of food because I grew up in smaller cities around the USA, where, outside of Italian and Chinese, there wasn't much of a selection. But ever since I began traveling abroad and visiting bigger cities, I have been exposed to foods from all over the world. I'm crazy about falafels from Israel, Masaman curry from Thailand, dal with roti from South India, cous cous from Northern Africa, roquefort with a good Cote du Rhone from France, and Mexican tamales for breakfast with fried platanos from Central America. I could go on and on heaping praise on food from many different cultures. I think variety is the spice of life.
Sometimes I feel like we all live in a yellow submarine, only I see it usually as brown, green, and blue.
Last Saturday I went to beach with my family on Lake Biwa. It was a pretty nice day. The sun was peaking out from behind the clouds, people were having BBQs with their friends, and jet skiiers were zipping around in the water. I was playing with my two daughters in the sand. We were making a sandcastle. I was helping my older daughter put a stick on the top of the castle, when suddenly I looked over and saw that my youngest daughter had a whole mouthful of sand. She started to cry when I began using my fingers to try getting the sand out of her mouth. It was pretty funny. If my daughter had been able to speak, I wonder what she would have said?
Have you ever tasted sand?
People watching is something I like to do when I am in a very crowded place and I am waiting for someone to meet me. I just find a bench or a curb or a wall and I sit there and watch all the people walk by. It is so interesting to see different facial expressions, hair stlyes, clothing arrangements, body language, etc. Sometimes I entertain myself to see if I can guess each person's age and where they might be going.
I have people watched in many cities around the world, but I think the most interesting place to people watch is Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, you can see many fascinating characters wearing all kinds of crazy clothes. It's wild!
Do you ever people watch? If so, where did you do it?
One of my interests is hiking. I like hiking because it combines my love of nature with cardiovascular excercise, which is really good for the body and mind. When I hike, I like encountering animals, such as snakes, birds, and deer. Occasionally I see monkeys. Also, the forest plants give off oxygen, which we need to breathe. Conversely, we give off carbon dioxide, which the plants need to breathe. So I think hiking in the forest is an excellent combination. My favorite thing to see when hiking is a waterfall. On hot days, I like to stand under the waterfall and feel the refreshing water fall over my body. I hope all of you can try hiking if you ever get the chance.
One of my favorite movies is Cabeza de Vaca, by a Mexican director, so most of it is in Spanish. Based in North America during the 1500s, it is about a Spanish explorer who becomes shipwrecked off the coast of Florida during a storm. He is then captured by native Americans and lives with them for 8 years while traveling West toward Mexico. During that time, he learns the way of the Indians and becomes a healer. Finally, he is re-captured by the Spanish and ends up back in the society where he originated. The ending of this movie is extremely powerful.
Overall, it is a movie about a man who has a powerful cultural experience that leads to his spiritual discovery and personal awakening. I highly recommend it.
I have been to Kanazawa many times over Golden Week. It is a great time to visit that part of the country. The air is fresh, the food is delicious, and the scenery is lush with flowers and green leaves. This weekend, I'm going to visit Kanazawa with my wife and daughters and we are going to have a BBQ with family, take a walk in Kenrokuen, and eat tons of good sushi.
Have you ever been to Kanazawa?
This weekend was a very fun time for me. I did many things with my friends and family. On Friday night, I went to visit a good friend of mine at a bar. We had some drinks and then went to eat ramen in Ichijoji. On Saturday, I took my daughter to the park and we had lots of fun playing on the swings and slides. On Sunday, I baked a cake with my oldest daughter and had a great dinner together with my family. It was a happy weekend.
