I won!

  My favorite yarn podcast is “It’s a Yarn Thing”and I just won stitch markers Marly makes from the podcast! I was checking my email and posting a note on the site when I saw that I had won. I have not listen to any podcast because of all the running around so I did not know.

I was checking the yarn Thing Thread on Ravelry because I offered to get Marly some books from here before I go home and she mentioned I should look on her blog. I was so excited that I did a little wiggle dance. You know I am really tried or happy or alone to do that! Paul is still out working it has been a very long day for him it is 1am here and because it is noon at home my body has decide I should be up too!

Will I just really love the podcast she makes me LOL all the time! Plus she has really interesting things about knitting and crochet things. Give it a try I know you will be hooked!

EM

I walked 32,306 steps today all over Yokohama!

Long day but really great day! I went to the Kannai neighborhood of Yokohama. I visited the Silk Museum it was wonderful! It was about a 20 mintue walk from the Kannai train station. I pasted the baseball stadium and finally saw my first church! On the way back there was a wedding coming out and taking pictures in the open area next to it.

 

        The extra exhibit at the Silk Museum was the influences of Japanese emigrant’s textiles on Hawaiian textiles. They had displays of different Hawaiian shirts and women’s clothing form 1920’s to present. They started with beautiful men’s kimonos patterns and how they were transferred to the shirts.  They were stunning! There were birds and lobsters and people and birds. There were mountains and fish all brightly colored and the designs made the Hawaiian shirt what it is today. Tommy Bahamas has no idea where it comes from and how beautiful it can be. The display took it through the 40 when Hawaiian shirts became really popular because of WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  The men station there brought the fabrics and the shirts back to the main land states and it took off. There was a line of women’s dress MuMu’s and things that show the influence of Japanese artist too.  I really enjoyed the display and never knew of the link. But if you see the Kimonos and the shirts together it is so unreal! I spent about two hours there just looking and walking around. Many of the displays had articles and books and clipping on display that were in English so I was able to read the old stuff but not the Kanji explanations.

 

I then found out were all the second hand stuff from America lives. There was a flee market area in the lower level of the building next door.

I really thought it was a hoot! They even had used bedsheets from America for sale. And you were wondering what happen to all that stuff. I looked around just to see if some of my parent’s old stuff we gave away was there. I would not have been surprise if it did. They had old used cowboy boots, kids clothing all kinds of stuff. I thought I was at the Good Will except the prices where unreal! A little pair of kid jeans were $50.00.

 

I then went out and walked to the pier. There was a great view of the Harbor and ships. There were a lot of people sunning and walking along the pier. It was built with green spaces on top and you could use it is like a park area. It was really a large pier.

      

I left there and walked over to the Yamashita Shoreline Park /port Area. I spent sometime drawing the trees and port. But before I left the area I had another first. I went to use the bathroom and just stood there for a few minutes trying to figure out how to use the facilities. I had to take a picture to show you because I would not have been able to explain it. I guess I will try anything once!

  

I walked back to the train about 3pm and it was starting to get really crowded. Then I remembered it was Friday and everyone was starting their weekend.  I went back to Yokohama station because I promised one of the men with Paul I would pick up a baby sweater or shirt. I was unable to find the store I had gone to last time called Toyko Hands. I just got turned around with the crowds of people. I then walked back to the station and looked in the stores there.

It was hard to find baby anything so I had to go to the Takashinay store. It is like a Saks but more expensive. I finally had to ask someone with my handy dandy Japanese phrase book were the baby clothing was. The sales girl was so kind she walked me over to the elevator and pushed the right floor button for me. I thought she was going to pin a note on me too! Really people have been so very kind to me with my very bad Japanese. I did have a good laugh though when I finally figured out what the “Walking around calmly” section was. I have been seeing this on the floor maps at all the stores and could not figure out what it meant then it dawned on me they meant “Casual Wear” It’s true every store had a section called men’s wear, shoes, or what ever and then a walking around calmly section. I just love the translations! I did not buy anything I could not bare to buy a little shirt for $68.00. I finally went to the book store and got another “Hungry Caterpillar” book in Kanji for $10.00. I also pick up five toe socks for his wife. I am sure she well get a kick out of them.

 

There was a lot more to see but I was over it. I could hardly walk after four days of a lot of walking. I will go back and see Chinatown, the Archives of History, and the Yokohama Doll Museum on Monday. Now that I know how to get there it will be less walking.

 

Well I am beat so I am taking a nap before I go to bed! More tomorrow!

 

 

Visited Shin-Yokohama today!

 

Today I just walked around Shin-Yokohama and visited the Ramen Noodle museum. There wasn’t a whole lot to really see there. This picture is the rising sun from the 39th floor this morning in the land of the rising sun and the second picture is the hotel Prince, the tall round blue building that we are staying at.

  

I walked over to the museum and it wasn’t open yet, so I walk around and found the local park. There was a lot of day care groups of the cutest little ones. So in the park were the very young, the old, and me! I sat awhile and drew a few pictures of the stadium and the green area around the park. I then walked down to the Ramen Noodle museum.

 

  

 

The museum was really different. The museum part was the smallest part of the building.

The gift shop was three times larger than the information area.

 

All the pictures of the chiefs had the same look as the Iron Chief. I guess you have to look mean and intense to cook in Japan.

 

 I then went down stairs and there was a large area of restaurants set up to look like a town in the 1930’s. Each restaurant had a different noodle type from the different regions of Japan. It was dark and a bit weird.

 

   

 

I learned two important things about the Japanese today. One is do not fool around with their food. They are very serious about eating. They spend a great deal of their time gathering food. You don’t see anyone walking and eating but a lot of shopping for food. At noon all these little stations on the side walk set up and they sell their lunch dishes. There are a lot of people buying from them. It is really a small cottage business type of business.

 

 

The other is that they love animated, bright colored, everything! What we would think is for children in U.S.A. is loved and used and on their clothing for everyone. Even the very old! Oh the other thing I keep noticing is that there are all kinds of things people use and wear with English sayings on them but most don’t make any sense. It makes me think that most of the Kanji stuff we have on our stuff probably doesn’t make sense either. I laugh thinking about all the tattoos people have on them that probably say silly things. We think it says “PEACE” but it really says “May the calmness of world live in places with trees forever!”

 

Just recieved this as an email but it just what i was talking about seeing all the time.

 

Will maybe I noticed a couple of other things: Everyone wears uniforms for everything. The kids are all in uniforms for their schools. All the business people wear dark suits with ties that are similar in style.  Workers in labor jobs all have a uniform that tells you what they do.

    

 

The only group who has a variety of styles are older woman who are not working. There is a full range from very elegant to traditional kimonos. Young women who work are in black suits too some even wear ties.

 

Japanese people do everything with music. There is music for everything during the news on TV, on the streets, to queue you to cross the street, to make you aware you’re approaching something. The funniest was when I go shopping and the music is American from jazz to hip hop to the 40’s big band. There was one trendy shop playing hip hop and every other word was M ** or N word. No one there had any idea what they were listening to. Some of the older women there looked like they would have fainted if they did. It was so bad I could not stay I was so uncomfortable.    

 

I walk around for a couple of hours and found a great book store. I got Alaina the “Hungry Caterpillar” in Kanji. It is really cute. It was fun looking at all the children books in Japanese that I know in English but they were read back to front in Kanji. They also had all the Harry Potter and Star Wars books. There was a small section of English books but they were not as interesting as the others. I was looking for a book of  Kanji symbols to English dictionary so that I can use the knitting books I bought. I got a really nice book and two that teach you how to read Kanji. The characters are not individual sounds linked together but a concept that link together to tell a story. You do not read with phonics you read with comprehension of an idea link together. It is a whole different way of thinking.   I wonder how a dyslectic reads I guess they have you going instead of coming back. Who knows?!

 

Tomorrow I am going back into Yokohama and visit the Silk Museum. I bet it will be very different from the Ramen Noodle factory museum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Konnichiwa! Hello

Paul and I went to a great restaurant tonight that is known for its tuna. We had a wonderful platter with tuna from different parts of the tuna. I liked the cheek! We also had some tempera vegetables and fish.  It was very good.

    

I have had a request from Tracy to take more pictures of food so I tried to get some pictures. They are included in the slide show from this evening. We than went to a store in the Shin-Yokohama station that was all electronics seven floors it is call the Big Cube. Every camera, phone, game, rice maker, and refrigerator you could want.   There was three full aisles of Wii stuff. Peter would be in heaven.

 

 

I was also asked by Karen and Bill if Japanese people over 12 years old smile. The answer is yes but if they are on their way home no they are usually sleeping! They can sleep standing up holding on and swaying. Everyone was very friendly but orderly. Several would sit next to me and then lean over and say something in English with a big smile. Not many men in suits would speak or talk or look at anything but the games on their phones but all the others. More tomorrow!

May 14th. Kamiooka, Kamakura, Japan

these are todays pictures. I am going to take a nap and come back and write a blog with it. Right now I need to rest, it has been a long busy day.

 

Hi I am back!

I was really glad today that I did road rallies in the past because that is what I felt like I was doing today. I would get a clue here and talk with someone else about how to get somewhere and then get another clue to figure out. But the long and short of it I got there with a little bit of thinking.

 

I wanted to go to the store with yarn I was told about, it is called Yuzawaya. It is Japan’s version of Sears and JoAnn Fabrics rolled into one. The address was Kamiooka-nishi, Kona-Ku Yokohama-City, Kanagawa. It said it was in front of Kamiooka Station of the Yokohama municipal subway and Keikyu Line. Sounds easy. I figured go to Yokohama ask around for Keikyu line and there it would be. Not so easy! I went to Yokohama City then was sent on another train to Kanagawa which sent me back to Yokohama City to find the Keikyu line. When I found the station I found one person with a little English and he printed a map in English for me. Well it wasn’t English it just wasn’t in Congi. He then pointed to the station I wanted Kamioooka which was nine stops from where I was. Great I got on went over and found the store. It was a great store.

I found buttons, stuff for making purses, fabric, and YARN!

   

 I was surprise to see how many man where there buying yarn and fabric. There was a whole section of fabric to make suits and shirts for men. Thank God I don’t make Paul’s suits. God Bless them. I found four great books. I will share with you later. Two are knitting books (one with 250 different types of patterns, the other is hats), and the other two are Needle embroidery. They are really neat and beautiful!

 

I found many books and all kinds of stuff. The girls at the cash register there were very nice even when I brought all my buttons without the trays with the prices. They had to go back and match all the buttons to the boxes and then bring them to the register. It only took four girls to help. Two had some English put them together and I could pay.

 

I then took the train back to Yokohama station and found the rapid blue train to Kamakura. There are twelve temples in this area. I saw two, The Big Buddha – Kotokuin-Temple and Hasedera-Temple. I learned that Hitler took the Congi symbol for peace and temple to use for the Swastika.    The grounds were wonderful and so many different gods. There was statues for at least 10,000 if you count the small ones. The gardens were so wonderful and the trees just beautiful. I am so glad I have one true God there is just too many strange looking things for all kind of reasons. On the bus over to the Big Buddha a gentleman stood by me and started talking in English. He asked about my trip and where I lived and so many things. He said he doesn’t get to use his English often but enough. He told me he once spent a week in Nashville and it was big and he loves country music. He helped me get off at the right place and where to walk to get to the other temple. The Big Buddha had many children with their classes. One set of children came up to me with a clip board and said. “Excuse me, may I ask you questions? Then asked where I was from, and used Hello and a few other phrases. Then they asked if they could have a photograph with me. I said yes but I wanted one too. Took a little while for them to understand that but it was a great photo. I was their English lesson for the day.

  

 

I then went to Hasedera-Temple. It is a large wooden temple with many gardens and trees. You go through the temple and grounds and stop at a look out that is over the ocean and then you can see the mountains. To say it was beautiful does not explain the view at all.  I found it very interesting. Many priests were doing things and people were lighting candles and taking fortunes. I was slowing down a little so I stop and drew a few trees and the temple in my art book. I didn’t notice until I looked up and saw several older men watching and nodding at me. I learned they really love their trees and to draw them is very special. Who knew!

  

   

 

I then walked back to the station little did I know it was a 45 minute walk but it was pleasant and I got to see the real city and people. I asked one man for help to the train station and we worked at getting me headed in the right direction. He went off his way and I continued but just as I was confused as which left I needed he appeared and took me down the right street. I think he thought about it a little and then came back to find me and direct me the right way. He had no English but my little Japanese and cheat sheet had me going in the right direction but I bet he was sure I would miss the small street to turn. He was right and I was very grateful he came back! Gochisoo sama deshita! Many people act really surprise that I am by myself. They are always asking ichiban (one) and then put up one figure. I say yes and they give me the bow with the ohhhhhh ahhhhh, thing.

  

 

I then found my way back to Yokohama and then to Shi-Yokohama with out a problem this time. I figured out what I did wrong yesterday. There are two places to queue up on the platform. One is green one is blue. I got on the first one that came last time. It was blue and wrong. This time I waited for the green train.  I was Right! I ask less and less how to get around each time. 

 

Tomorrow I am staying in Shin-Yokohama and going to the Ramen Noodle factory and the art museum. Day after I will head out for the Silk Museum near Yamashita-Koen. I just need to figure out how to get there or at least get started to get there before I go. It will be another road rally I am sure.

 

More tomorrow. I miss everyone and wish you could be here with me. (need some one to talk to!)  But I am having a great time.

Love Emily

 

Tuesday May 13, 2008 Yokohama

Today I went to Yokohama and Back! Well maybe not straight back but close!

 

To day I took the train into Yokohama from Shin-Yokohama. Paul and I first got up and had breakfast together at the Prince Hotel.  

These are some pictures from the view in our room. We are on the 39th floor.

   

Paul then went off to work and I took a walk around Shin-Yokohama. It was really cold and winding this morning and it rained all night. I took some pictures as I walked around always keeping the train station and hotel in sight. A very nice young man asked me if I would like my picture taken in very good English and I did and thanked him. Everyone was hurrying to get on the subway or train to work or school. I felt like a fish up stream in some places.

 

   

Around 9:30 am here I decide to take the big leap and get a ticket and on the train to Yokohama station by myself. So I did. Several people were very helpful and there was always one person who worked at the ticket office that could speak a little English. I had my phrases written on a card. Suminasen (excuse me for help) Yokohama station wa doko desu ka. (Where is the….?). This was very helpful.

 

I wanted to find the store that had yarn I was told about in Yokohama but was mistaken about the directions when I got there. I walked all around the underground shopping and through the city street close to the station. I found one great store Tokyu hands. I was looking for a backpack but did not get one as all of them were from the U.S.A. There was Coleman, and one from Kansas, and North (can’t remember the name right now). Plus they were three times the price. $69.00 for a Coleman backpack is way over the line. I got a cheap one for $20.00. I hope it keeps together for the trip.

 

    

 

I walked and walked and walked and then I climbed stairs but I had a great time. When I was done I got my ticketed and asked what platform for Shin-Yokohama. I went to platform 5 as told and got on. About 40 minutes into the ten minute trip back I figured I was going somewhere but not Shin-Yokohama. I turned the very nice women next to me and asked “Shin-Yokohama wa doko desu ka”. She smiled pointed back and said a whole lot of things I did not understand. Then the lovely elderly lady across started pointing back too and shaking her head, then pointed forward the way the train was going and said a whole lot of things I did not understand until she sign one more stop and said Tokyo! Shoot I went the wrong way and a long ways from what I wanted. In this case east was not going to meet west. The two ladies turned me toward the door and when it was open pushed me out pointing to the ticket window and saying a whole lot of things I did not understand! I said thank from my cheat sheet and head to find the help.

 

I was at Hamamatsucho two stops from Tokyo. The nice man at the ticket booth told me a whole lot of things I did not understand then handed me an English Railway Map and made several circles. I was to get back on going back ten stops get off at Higashi-Kanagewa find the ticket booth and find the right platform from them. Success I was home in a hour and half for that ten minute train ride. But I sure got to see a lot of people and the backs of apartments. Really everyone was so nice and helpful. However, I am not letting go of the map until I am gone!

 

 

    

Things I learned so far. Japanese people are very nice to strange looking Americans. They are really helpful if you at least try to speak Japanese. Not all Japanese people look a like. They are as different looking as in any American city. They just all have a similar eye shape and dark hair but the rest runs the full globe.  I thought they would be more homogeneous. Boy am I glad I was wrong. Teenagers are the same everywhere. They all want to look different by looking like each other. And the girls talk loud and scream a lot. Teenage boys like to play handheld games and read comic books.  

 

Girls have this great look of long black stockings up to their knee with short short short skirts. With five blouses and at least two belts. They all wear high high did I tell you they were high heels. Everyone is on the phone.

 

And everyone says good morning to you.

 

I went to the really upscale store in Yokohama just as it opened. Every store employee there was standing at their station greeting and bowing good morning to each person as they past by. It was really impressive. Well I am going to take a nap! So I can make it through dinner. More tomorrow, I am planning on going to Kamakura by train to see all the temples there. It is famous for many temples.

On Our Way to Shin-Yokohama!

We arrived after traveling for 25 hours. Had dinner and took a quick walk around. I just put up the pictures taken as a slide show as I am just to dead to add anything else.

 

I will add more tomorrow.

 

Heading Off for a Huge Adventure!

 

I am going to Japan! Paul is going to Japan for work again, however, this time I will be going with him. I am very excited and want to see everything. The only little bump in the yellow brick road is that I will have to do much of everything by myself. He will be in meetings and work dinners most of the time we are there. This leaves me with a lot of touring time by myself. I will be fine but I am a little concerned about the language issue. I have gotten a Japanese Phrase book with CD and downloaded it to my iPod. I have been listening all day. I have learned to say hello, where is the restroom, help, and most important how much does this cost!

 

I will be in Shin Yokohama which is about a 10 minute train ride from Yokohama and about a 40 minute train ride from Tokyo.  I have been on the internet and found some great places to visit and I went to “Knitters in Japan” thread on Ravelry. Several places had great suggestions of where to shop for yarn. I even offered to trade sock yarn, which I am told is hard to find, for a knitter to show me around or have lunch. I will see if anyone bites on that offer.

 

In thinking about going I wanted to take a couple of projects with me to knit. The plane ride to Tokyo will be 14 hours. I figure I could get on with yarn and off with a sweater if I play my cards right. Soooooo I thought what would be any better than to make the lace project I have wanted to try. It is called “Voyager Lace Stole in Pakucho Organic Cotton” It is a free pattern from Vogue Knitting designed by Shui Kuen Kozinski and Benne Ferrell. The pattern was designed by them with thoughts of the women who came to the Canadian wilderness more than a century ago. On the voyage over other women would show them how to knit and this was the pattern they would teach for a beautiful but warm shawl. The pattern says that these young women emigrants would step on a ship and began their voyage to a new home in Canada. They brought with them their skills as knitters and spinners and the willingness to use those skills to clothe their families. Despite the need for utility items of clothing, they incorporated creativity, skill and beauty into garments needed for warmth in the cold Canadian winter. Well, I am all about creativity and in fourteen hours I will either love the stole or throw it overboard when I land.

 

If you would like to make the stole along with me I will be posting my progress as I go along. I will also post some of the pictures I take as I journey around Japan. The only tip I have is a trick I learned for Sticks and String Podcast. He suggested that when knitting a complicated pattern for lace to use a life line. A life line is a string or dental floss carried through the last row of the pattern that is repeated throughout the lace. So if it is necessary to rip out any rows you only go as far as the life line. It is best to make the life line a different color so it is easy to see and pull out when you are done knitting.

 

I look forward to keeping all of you up to date on my adventures.

Atlanta Zoo Outing!

Take a look at the slideshow of pictures taken on the trip to the Atlanta Zoo