Where Globe-Trotting meets Beach-Combing
If it were just me, I would unequivocally stay. Three days of ‘sheltering in place’ and listening to the Japanese kids playing in the sunshine up and down the street was making me feel like a crazy person, so I walked along the river to several konbini (convenience stores) nearby. There are no noodles, no…
We are “Sheltering in Place,” which means I’m staying home from work in my jammies and reading books about geisha. First thing this morning, measurable levels of radiation were detected in the air on Atsugi Base. Normally that would not concern me at all, but the day after I found out we’re having a baby…
So here’s what’s going on around my house just southwest of Tokyo: nothing. Literally. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said, “Maximum efforts by the nation are indispensable, such as avoiding going out unless it is necessary or urgent,” so I am being a good resident and staying put. Chris and I woke up to echoing…
We got back to our Chiang Mai hotel room and collapsed on the bed. We’d just finished two long days of price negotiation, product inspection, bargaining, measuring, baht conversion, price calculations, and tromping around from shop to shop in mid-90s Thai humidity. We spent all our money; we filled all our suitcases—we were exhausted but…
We are headed to Thailand tomorrow! I was told when I first became a merchandise buyer at Ichiban Collectibles that a merchandise buying trip was probably out of the question. A what?! Wow!! I thought. I knew my job would entail shopping flea markets, thrift stores and antique shops around Japan; the rest of Asia…
How do you come down from something like afternoon tea at The Peninsula? That’s easy—don’t come down; go up…to the 24th floor, that is! Peter: The Bar (東京都千代田区有楽町１丁目８−1, 100-0006, Japan, tel: 03-6270-2888) adjoins The Peninsula’s predictably expensive restaurant, Peter. The Bar is pretty lavish too, but happy hour from 5-8 pm boasts some nice drink…
“Ooo, nice planner,” said Nicole back in September. Together we went shopping to find her a date book. She ended up liking mine best, so anytime we make plans we pull out identical black, hardbound calendars and a round of compliments ensues. The first time this happened we decided to get the most out of…
