Great Island naoshima

 I went on a island hopping adventure! 

So there were no photos allowed at any of the places. But I am risa sama and I'll sneak a photo if I want! (Or when I can!)

I'm on a boat!

Yayoi pumpkin greets us as we dock onto the island

I had to bike up this steep ass hill but this was what I was greeted with! Worth it!

So first stop the chichu art museum 

There's the Claude Monet room with four of his works, but the room that they made him have these amazing floors that are hand cut dice. I can't tell what was better. The painting the room itself or the floors. Integration yo! 

Obligatory selfie

This place was really inspiring. I always liked the minimal design concept but it never seemed plausible, I guess trying to achieve it in your actual life is really hard since no one ever lives in a glass house. But the grand scale of all this made me feel kindda warm and fuzzy inside. Ando did a really great job 

Next stop the lee ufan museum. 

Nature meets human touch

I might get in trouble for this photo. but this painting was one of my favorites. I have a bunch more in my camera :X I'll only post this one. 

Next stop, the benesse art museum 

Ocean views errywhere!

More ando great space use!

As you bike along the road yayoi kusamas pieces are plopped around the island. I really like this one. One side is smooth and clean but the back side has been battered and withered by the ocean. I liked back side better

Nice

Nicer

Best of both!

Those were the three main museums, then there's the art house restoration project and the ando museum. The art house restoration project is where they are taking old japanese houses and restoring them to their greatness and adding some well known artists work and incorporating it into the house. So far there are 6 houses that they have done. I only got to check out one of them since I was getting tired and it was starting to rain. The ando house was also really nice to check out since it was a timeline of his projects that's he's worked on and a place dedicated to what his intentions are. Is my English getting much bad?! I think so...

 I sea pumpkin! Ha ha ha!! Get it!?

I'm super exhausted. I'll have some more fun adventure stuff next time!

Back home!

I finally made it to kochi! Whoot whoot! The last 4 days I think I slept a total of 12 hours. I powered my way through Tokyo and now I get to do some r&r. 

I'm home!

Got myself a snazzy bike for some sight seeing and to get my growing sideways belly from a to b

Headed straight to the bakery to find my new obsession. And I found it!

Mochi mochi kinako pan (mochi soy powder bread) Nom Nom!

It was raining today so might as well just go eat some more!

Let's start with some smoked bonito fish with shiso

Then a beer and some fruit tomato. This tomato is some hybrid they make here that really sweet and not acidy like most tomatoes. This gets a thumbs up 

Then to the good stuff! Katsuo tataki! Seared to perfection and just a bit of salt on top. Grab some garlic slices and consume

saba sushi! yessssss

gyu sushi! yessssssss

flounder with uni! yessssssssss

and ice cream! yeah, bitches!!!

oy too much food back home and lets have some bourbon

ok, im off to naoshima tomorrow. adventure to art island awaits

Host boys

So I met up with my japanese host boys (old studio members) they were so spiffy! Wearing their swanky business suits and all

Hiro and Taka kun

I first met up with Taka, who got is lost for a good 20 minutes looking for this Oden spot. We walked through nihon dori maybe 3 times... Might as well Hanami while were here!

And finally we found some delicious Oden and yakitori tonight 

The white block is hanpen best part of Oden. Also top right daikon was bomb! 

And some delicious chicken skin. Crispy and wonderful

And to top it off ebisu beer on draft

Check out the foam on that delicious beer! And you order a beer, you get a free block of tofu! What what!

A little jet lagged, but it was so good seeing my host boys. Hopefully on my way back we'll have lunch together before I head home. 

Tomorrow I'm off to kochi city! Can't wait to see my uncle. Flight is at 11am, be one hour early, one hour to get there. So tired from this trip already. Let me get to bed before I miss this flight 

Katsuo tataki! Here I come!

 

Ps I forgot to mention the uber drunk guy on the train ride home

Look at that skill of being so wasted! Only fell twice

The long road traveled

I finally made it to Tokyo! No delays, no big issues. I guess my only issue was the newly retired old man that talked to me the whole plane ride! I guess since he told me his WHOLE story, I'll tell you too. He went on a 11 day cruise it was a tour with 15 people and a guide. They flew into New York and then headed town to Miami then Jamaica  then Mexico and I think he said somewhere else. He showed me all his photos but doesn't remember any of the spots he took the photos at. Wtf?! I guess when he was in Jamaica he saw some 'hip hop' dancing and he said he was really down with it and now he wants to be a Jamaican hip hop dancer.... Then he told me about what he did for work and then how his parents died... This flight was torture! I ran off the plane 

Well I made it to my Tokyo airbnb in koenji. I read online that this neighborhood has a great live music scene, but I won't be here long enough to check it out. The room I got is super small and I think it might be a closet...

Worlds smallest room 

My block!

So I had some lunch by myself today. I had the beef bibimbap lunch for $4.50 the egg was some ooey gooey goodness

All done!

Then off to shibuya to meet up with takeda. We did the 'shibuya meet up' infront of hachiko statue

Found you

Shibuya was too crazy for us so we ended up going to the japanese folk art museum (mingeikan) it was a good choice! Lots of edo period ceramics and a big lot of pieces from Kyushu and Asia. So we weren't really allowed to take photos, but I found this amazing urushi box and I went snap happy. 

So good!

And then I found this portrait

I hope whoever draws my portrait will give me crazy eyes like this lady. Isn't she pretty!

Then we found this shop with some awesome nerikomi pieces! 

I was so happy! I found out this artist lives in Kumamoto, and I'm going there in a few days, I am on stalker mission mode! 

Ok I have to go meet Taka and Hiro for some more eating now. So sleepy, but need food! 

2014 adventure time!

Ok ok. I know I haven't blogged anything since last year,  but I am going to start again! Starting with this upcoming trip to Japan! Land of food and great weirdness.  I think I am all packed and ready to go... My flight is a 6pm so I have finger twiddling time, it's making me anxious and nervous. I know there is no excuse to be late, but somehow I always run late. 5 more hours minus the  2 hours of international flight blah blah blah. So technically 3 hours... Plus the hour it takes to get there . Maybe I should get moving 

Here I go! I'll be in Tokyo for the next post. Behave while I'm away, ny. You always do something sneaky! 

Chu chu

Blizzard nemo!!!

So New York was hit with a big winter bang! At first it was gross and rainy but now it's piling up!!! Maybe Hiro and I can make our snow cat again this year!!!