Friday, October 24, 2014

Lu Ann Sidney Saves a Penguin in Tokyo

A small crowd was gathering around a display promoting Hokkaido tourism.  When I got closer, I could see why.  There were two live penguins waddling around on top of a pile of snow.  Everyone in the crowd was laughing and enjoying the funny penguins.  All of a sudden, one of the penguins fell off the display right at my feet.  The crowd gasped.  I immediately grabbed the penguin and put him back on the snow.  The crowd cheered.  When I recounted our trip to Japan when we returned home, this was the first thing I said:  "I saved a penguin in Tokyo."




Thursday, September 18, 2014

Just Past the Caravelle Hotel

Not too far from the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, walking past the street vendors shouting, "Madame, Madame," is the colorful and vibrant Ben Thanh Market.  It very much has the feel, just as was supposed to, of Les Halles in Paris, but with a vastly different assortment of shops and merchandise. I could have spent hours and hours winding through the market, viewing the colorful displays of exotic (to me) produce, spices, meat and fish.  Surprisingly, to this day, I can still remember the pleasantly spicy and fishy odor of the market.




Thursday, August 14, 2014

Eating Eggs in Hakone Japan

Not too far from Mount Fuji is the town of Hakone.  We took the Tozan switchback train up the hillside in order to catch the Hakone Ropeway overlooking the hot springs of the Owaku-dani valley.  Plumes of sulfurous steam dot the valley creating an other-worldly view as you travel overhead.  We were treated to a clear view of glorious Mount Fuji at the end of the trip.  Walking a bit father led us to a surprising and truly Japanese experience - eating eggs cooked in the hot springs.  The egg shells turn black because of the sulfur in the water.  It is said you will have good luck from eating these special eggs!


Hakone Ropeway above the Owaku-dani valley 
Lu Ann Sidney eating an egg
 
Special hot spring-cooked eggs