My Experiments with Radish

Japan is an exotic place with exotic food. But of course we still remember home food and cook that here :). Chicken & Fish u get tons of it. Vegetables also are in-numerous n a variety never known. Now thats the problem, half of what u see you dont know in the first place. So best is play safe n pic wat u know. Now there is stuff which we dont like... like radish.

And this time out radish it it was. Honestly u get real good radish, a kingsize variety. I cant eat any vegetable preparations but parathas wud b just fine. On the other hand Salini cant tolerate radish! So it was a challenge. Well one day she ate it in the fried form. She was busy working so I cooked, she had no choice but to eat it ;). But she did say she liked it; wonder if she really did :) but I honestly did. I m notorious for eating anything in the fried state. Well it was not so a bad combination with Rice and Sambar.

But yes today when I was to cook, she refused outright to eat it again! So I changed tactics. Thot I will make parathas but for that we need it in grated form! We had nothing to grate on so ok... no probs, lets use the mixie! Now the mixie here is great. It knows nothing @ coarse grinding. It just refuses to grind or grinds into a pulp! And thats wat I had a pulp of Radish paste.

So started my experiments. I put in it some garam masala, red chilli powder and salt in this pulp. Took some wheat flour and kneeded it into a dough using this paste. No water was needed. Rolled them into thin parathas, roasted them and added a blob of butter on each. These garama garam parathas with a blob of butter on them were enough to tickle the taste buds. They had even blown up just the way phulkas do :). Eating them with palak, another one of her enemies was a nutritious way of filling the stomach. Wonder if she gonna trust me cooking again.

Laura- Change of mind

Laura, a very aggressive business user was what the image we all had. I was really nervous about coming to Tokyo because was really nervous about her queries which are always numerous. I knew her scheduled departure to New York was November 17, 2005 and I was waiting for that day.

Soon after moving to Tokyo I saw her during my first meeting with the users. I was pretty nervous n barely looked in her direction. In the next few days I did have very limited conversations with her over phone regarding some work.

And finally I did meet her personally on November 17, 2005 at the dinner party in Roy's. This first encounter just left me wondering whether she was the same person all used to talk about. She was really sweet and very nice to talk to. Very jovial and like a small kid giggling and cracking jokes at every behest. I felt bad that I got to know her at the onset of her departure.

The next day I had a short meeting with her where again she was pretty serious n businesslike till we had all the points discussed n at the end of it back to the same Laura I had seen at the party previous day. To mark the farewell we had a small cake cutting ceremony. Finally it was time to bade her good-bye. She did come down to our floor one last time before she left to meet all of us last time.

Perceptions are not to b built without personal touch... I learnt it that day n will keep it with me forever.

Diwali in Tokyo

Just wanted to tell u all about the Diwali here. It was my very first diwali away from home n was feeling a bit homesick but then unexpectedly got an invitation from my colleague, Anurag to visit him home :). My room-mate and me were more than happy and there we had a small pooja, a nice dinner and finally burst crackers!!! Btw we tried a computerized aarti and it flopped miserably so finally Anurag sang! Of course I didn’t try, didn’t want them to repent their decision to invite me….

Crackers indeed :) I had to strain my ears to hear a bit of noise. One of them did make some sound, bit more than others n Anurag’s daughter was in tears due to fright. I can imagine if she ever is in india for diwali wat will her state be.

And imagine already 1 month ahead... the place is getting all decked up for christmas, with all the shops decorated with Christmas trees and mistletoes n other decorations!!!

Just another cold day

It is getting colder here! Cannot go out without sweaters/jacket. Rgt now inside I am sitting with a sweater on. Actually we don’t know how to operate the stupid AC in warm mode!!! All the switches are in JAPANESE!!!!! Got to talk to the owner, he will give us some clue…

Well as all of u must have seen the snaps, I was at the Motor Show on November 6, 2005. It was really good. It even had a section where there very old models of cars from different decades displayed with the details of the motor show then, being telecast on a small screen. It was very much crowded but I wonder whether the people did come for the motor show or the model show. Now now I don’t mean model as in vehicle model. It was awful watching gals giving all those stupid poses for any passerby who stops to click! and the people too wudnt wait after 1 pic!!! But overall it was real good. Had read about Porsche n convertibles in all those novels n finally had a feel of them! Of course I didn’t try driving them around yet, maybe next time ;)

Yday it was one other party to attend and this time it was hawaiin food. Stuff was good, n I had lot of seafood which I guess turned out to be allergic and today I am looking like an Japanese wat with the weird swelling round my eyes n they almost popping out!!!! N add to that the consultation fee for a doc here turned out to b 20,000 Y!!!! thank god we have an insurance! Anyways hope to send across the party pics sometime (I have to get them, didn’t click them myself ) btw u know wat I took a sip of champagne, it was raised as a toast and……………………… guess wat I will NEVER touch it again!!!!!

Besides that have tried out Pizza hut, Mc D’s, KFC out here n they are pretty different from the ones in India! Yet they are the safest bet! But the most shocking part was in pizza hut they don’t have, garlic bread! And I was really yearning to eat one! Anyways maybe somewhere else, I will find out!

Btw, today I experienced my first earthquake in the wee hrs of the morning. And her highness thot it was my room mate tossing around n slept away without really bothering! Not that my roomie is better, she thot the same about me and slept as soundly as ever J so that was the most unimpressive touch I had with an earthquake. Hopefully next time I will have more details to write.

N tonight to commemorate the event we had self prepared, fried mackerels for dinner with rice, that was a good dinner. Feeling good and now time to tuck into the warm bed! So till then Sayonara…

Akhibara - The Electronic market

Akhibara, a city of gadgets n gadget crazy junta. You name it and you will get it.

It was a week since I was in Japan and one decision I had taken while flying out here was 'never sit at home on weekends'. So here arrived the weekend with us scratching our heads over wat to do, that is of course after waking up which was at sometime best not discussed. But of course wat is the point of going anywhere if you do not have it captured with a photographic lens???

So we started out on acquiring the basic requirement of a camera! I wanted on small and handy little one using which I could go click click andwhere anytime. We had no idea of where this place was except that it was very close to the main Tokyo City. So we just took the train to Tokyo n lo n behold in the train we saw the map telling us to get off exactly 1 stop before Tokyo!

Great, there we were at the Akhibara station at 6:00 in the evening but the surroundings said another story. It looked as if it well over 9:00 pm! Okies, we were at the station but how to get to the market??? Well we are in Japan, a place where you never have any difficulty in getting help and hence we were easily directed! The market was just outside the station! Actually I guess the station was specially build to make it easy for shoppers of our kinds.

So started our tour of the place. So many shops, so many goods... There were multi-storeyed shops and smaller ones too. Competetive prices with offers encouraged shopping at one particular shop. Finally Salini found her choice. She went in for a small compact Sony T5. It is so slim, with 3x zoom. Very handy to carry, just like a mobile! I loved it at first sight but then the 3x did not apeal to me. I was looking for better one, so our search continued.

Walking around looking left and right, finally we came to a huge store LAOX and after looking at numerous models, all compact ones but with 3x finally I laid my hands on Sony DSC-H1. It was much more bulky but had 12x zoom!!! I asked for a demo and WOW I didnt think twice after that, just picked it up! I required couple of accessories, bag for it and memory stick. Got it all at an incredible price with special discount too. Finally I have got points on my card which I can use for future purchases :)

At the end of day, after walking around and looking at so many models we were really tired, but satisfied. Reached home happy n excited to try out our new hot shot cams.

Adventures with Food

The second day was real adventurous so was the night! I came home n sat to chat!!! Its obvious with whom... Salini had work so she was really busy n I had decided to cook dinner. Finally after chatting till late, I finally started cooking!!! I was planning to make pulav. I started only at 11:30 at night!!!! Then cut all vegetables n so by the time dinner was ready was 12:30. n finally we sat down to eat at 1:00!!!! That was one gr8 time to have dinner.

There is something with food since I have come here! Our very senior manager from NY is currently in Tokyo so we had a dinner party yday! We went to a Japanese restaurant! The ambience was real good. Then on the table were chopsticks n small porcelain bowls. We had choice of 3 types of lunch sets. Veg/ Veg chicken/ NonVeg. Indeed, chicken is veg out here. So as per the lunch set, one by one things started coming. I hardly know wat all I ate but I did try all the things! Liked some, some I just cud not tolerate! Tasted bland!!!

Wat I liked lot was bamboo shoots. N also cabbage leaves. Ya they served us whole cabbage leaves. We shud take them on plate, pour sauce on it n then eat it. But with the sauce it tastes real good. Then there was fried chicken; somewat like KFC but no masala, just salt. But it was ok. There there were chicken balls, they too tasted good!!!! real good. they were prepared in some type of sauce! After all this came the desert – ice cream. I was just waiting for it!!! N can u believe it was potato ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok ok just joking! But it tasted just like sweet potato! I … of all people, left it!!!!!!

Anyways… it was my first dinner with my entire team out here n it was a nice way for knowing them all!!! So all u out there… I didn’t yet have a chance to taste lizards n stuff though I did go to a Japanese restaurant lets c in future… will keep ya updated!!!

An Adventurous Day!

I had to make my train pass and that too using a mani achine. We chose the English option and started putting in the details but got confused at the route! We chose one option n the cost of the monthly pass came out to be 20,000 Y!!! So we cancelled. We realize we had to try till we get the figure to b 11,530. That’s wat Salini’s pass had cost! But then we had a nice lady who chose to help us. She hardly understood English so it was tough communicating but somehow we discussed and got my pass done! N imagine the lady spent ½ hr just getting my pass done for me!!!!! That’s helpfulness to the utmost extent!

On my second day itself I took my lunch to office. It had rice and prawn pickle given by ayee. Then on the way we bought curd and took it to office. In office we kept it in the fridge and then at lunch time heated the rice in the microwave. Dont remember making use of such luxuries before; in office that is. The pantry is real nice n lot of stuff is kept there. Coffee machine with decaf & coffee. Lots of teas – hibiscus tea n wat not varieties! Even lot of canned drinks (paid ones) to be bought from vending machines ;).

After another days work it was time to go home. Salini had to stay so I just thot, y not go home on my own. She tried to talk me out of it but I thot it wud be one adventure n indeed it turned out to be one! I had to travel from Roppongi -> Ebisu -> Shinjuku -> Nakano. I cooly walked to the metro and took the train. I knew Ebisu was the 2nd station so got off but there I could not see the Yamanote Line board. The line tells the track!!! So I realized I was lost. Now I was standing there all lost wondering wat to do. So I asked one guy, he pulled out his mobile, getting all the list of routes on it n explained to me the way to Shinjuku. One thing about the Japanese, they are very very helpful. They will go out of their way to help and this I experienced 2 times in 1 day!

But even after listening to him I didn’t really follow it. I stopped to check the map there and realized I had taken the train in exactly the opposite direction from office. I should have gone north but I took the train to south. So instead of stepping out of station and takin local as suggested. I took the next metro back in the direction from where I had come n luckily the gamble payed off. I was at Ebisu. Then the next 2 trains I took correctly n reached Nakano. Though I had to wander on the station to ensure the correctness of the train I was taking!

Finally at Nakano I got out of the station on the wrong side!!!!! Another mishap. Now I cud not figure the way at all! All I knew was I need to take the Nakano Broadway to reach home. I looked around and saw some policemen standing so decided to ask them the way. They cud hardly understand me! No English u c!!! but somehow they told me the way n then asked me for n identity card! Now that’s something I didn’t have!!! I showed them my Office ID card but that does not have my photo as yet!!!! Almost 5 of them there were trying to explain n ask me for card n I was trying to explain that I have applied for ARC but no use. So there I was in a soup n guess wat……… I visited the police station!!! But all along they were very soft spoken n polite. I of course was nervous when taken there but then I decided I ll just call up one of my office guys out here! There 1 officer knew bit of English, better than the rest n I was so excited meeting him!!! Then we both spoke n got things straight! I had 1 identification – my Indian driving licence!!!! He finally let me go telling me to carry my passport along all the time till I get my ARC! N at the end they were even more helpful; started explaining the way so that I don’t get lost. One guy even drew it out for me!!!

Finally I was home in 1 and a half hour while actually it shud take me just 45 mins! Anyways another day – rather adventurous day!!!!! Hope to have many such more!!!

First Day in Office

Model of Roppongi Hills

Well here comes Monday and my very first day at work in Tokyo n was I excited??? Well honestly I refused to wake up! Seriously! After sleeping at 3 in the night getting up at 8 was absolutely crazy! And Salini is no better; its really tough out here to get out of the warm bed in the cold weather! But finally we left for office! On the way we went to the Ward office to get my ARC (Alien registration card) done. That is wat each foreigner out here has to do. Ya indeed I m n FOREIGNER… sounds so bad. Anyways but the place didn’t look anything like a government office n the service was real quick. We were out in about 15 mins flat in which I filled a form, got passport verified and was out with the receipt n date to collect my ARC.

Well then we went to the railway station, and there I was standing in front of a machine to buy a ticket!!! Its real fun to put in money n the machine giving the ticket as well as the change! I stay at Nakano and have to go to Roppongi hills so got to take 3 trains. The first ticket I bought was for the first 2 trains. To enter the station u need the ticket which when u insert at the door, only then the door opens. Once I m inside I can travel in trains as many times as I want as joyride! Well we took the ‘rapid’ – apoon ke Mumbai ka ‘fast’. We got off at the station- Shinjuku, took a local to Ebisu . Inside the train there are continuous announcements telling u next station, side of door that will open. So its not a problem at all n yes the announcements r in English along with Japanese. The only problem is reaching the correct line n getting into the rgt train. Well we alighted at the station here the machine at the door ate my ticket up. We walked over to another station to take the metro where I had to buy another ticket. The metro takes me to Roppongi Hills.

Finally I was there… Wow a high rise!!!! Wat an place! Its called Mori tower where I work n my office is on the 44th floor!!!! We got into the elevator n in a min I was at the 44th floor before I cud even bat n eyelid! Then it being my first at the client office, I met all the ppl there. It was really nice. For lunch went out to a Indian restaurant where I had lunch set. It consisted of unlimited chapattis n rice. Any drink (lassi, teat, coffee) + 1 big bowl + 1 small bowl. In the bowls we can ask for any dish. For big I asked for butter chicken n small aloo gobi. N the food was real yummy!!! Finally the desert was Gulab jamun!!! Enjoyed my lunch totally!

By evening(my 4 pm was really tired n sleepy. But still remained in office till 8:00. Finally came back home and I cud not tell one way from other at all!!!!!!!!!! On our way back ate at Mc Donalds! Well entered there n the menu was in Japanese! The lady there cud not understand wat we sayin! But luckily she handed us a English menu card and there was not much to choose from though, just 2 types of chicken burgers so salini took one n I the other. Finally back home my sleep was gone. Once again sleep time was 2:30!!!

Mumbai->Singapore->Bangkok->Tokyo

My first flight abroad... so much to say...

First did the baggage check in and of course as expected my bag was overwgt!!! I had to shift 2 kgs from my luggage to hand baggage and ended up having a 10 kg bag!!!

As I was waiting in the lounge I heard a guy talking on the phone in Konkani so went n spoke to him n was really relieved to meet him! He turned out to be from Goa, GEC(the other engineering college) from our batch. Then we boarded the flight to Singapore n I had 2 doctors sitting next tome. Nice guys! We chatted for sometime n I watched movies for most of the flight! Also played a few games. I had a fruit spritzer n lots of juices. The lunch they served was great. It was chicken with boiled potatoes n other vegetables in some sauce. (similar to sizzler) real tasty! Plus the desert for this meal was chocolate cake!!!! That was actually what helped me choose my lunch ;)

Finally after 5 long hrs we reached Singapore! Wow wat a view I had from the flight! Beautiful!!! Just beautiful! All the lights on in the city, I cud see the roads, bridges, rivers clearly! It was gr8. then finally we landed n at first the airport was confusing but thankfully Pranab was there n I roamed a little, called home n then back to lounge. We boarded the next flight where I was served the Indian veg meal (ivml). This was good too... then we flew to Bangkok where we reached in 2 hrs! There was no need to get off but since I was getting a chance to see another airport, y wud I not n specially when I had company and hence no chance of getting lost! So saw this airport tooo... not as good as the Singapore one. Singapore one is more like a mall !!! U know in the flight I cud have made phone calls but then the call rate showed US $5.6 for 1st 1 min and then 5 cent per 6 secs!!!! So I chose to forget it!!!!

From Bangkok flew for 6 long hrs to Tokyo, had 1 uncle next to me who irritated me a lot! So many Qs he asked n gave his card n all asking me to b in touch! I m never going to call that fellow! Also here again I was served, what they called supper! I was so startled at the idea of having another meal that I refused it and the stewardess looked so shocked that I thought I had done a crime! I just accepted it quietly and ate as much as I could. Finally I just slept for 2 hrs in my journey before I reached Tokyo. They even gave me a tooth brush n paste on the flight! Wow!

When in Tokyo, I got to see Mount Fuji as we flew over, n it was one hell of a thing to c! just tooooo good! A huge mountain, with a cap of ice, just as we see in pictures. It was fabulous. I decided then and there, I am gonna visit it soon. Then finally we landed n I got off the flight. I was too tired to feel anything much n everywhere as I got off the flight I had to carry that 10 kgs ka hand baggage! That was too much. My arms r still painin! Then as I disembarked, had to fill all the forms n get the immigration check done. First time I realized I was a foreigner!

Well finally after 1 hr of standing in the immigration check line n getting it done, went ahead for my luggage. N I was on my way looking for a phone booth n bus ticket counter. I did find a wending machine, wending out calling cards n bought one too but never ended up using it! Just cud not, she said all instructions in Japanese!!!!! Well then bought my ticket to the limousine (as the airport buses are called) I had to pay 3000 Y for a 1.5 hr journey! N another 1540 Y for a taxi to home from the station where the bus stopped!!! I got off the bus n was lost. Could not see Salini in sight n didn't know wat to do... I felt really lost in a strange country, more and more the realisation was sinking in that I was away from home... far away! I crossed the road n then met her! Dont think had felt more relieved than at that moment. Well the trip form airport to Tokyo was uneventfull, was too tired to notice much. But still remember the numerous huge never ending flyovers, subways thro' which we drove. The huge sky scapers... it was very different. Btw here it is the right hand drive just like India! N the limousine is a proper fundu, Volvo bus which just glides over the smooth roads!

Finally I was home!!! Salini led me up a flight of stairs to the first floor n then told me to wait with bated breath as she opened the door. 

My 'room' upstairs 

Well, I entered n that was the end of it!!! That was the flat! It ends before it starts! But it has everything one wud need! Everything, u name it n its there. Imagine later in the day I tried to plug in my laptop but cud not do so as it has a 3-pin n here all sockets have 2 pin n believe it or not but 3 to 2 pin converter was lying in the cupboard!!! We have furnishings as in a sofa, 1 shoe cupboard, 2 wardrobes, 3 cupboards for kitchen. All appliances like vaccum cleaner, mixie, oven, otg, electric cooker, fridge, tv, cassette+cd player, video, ac... all! Imagine we have crockery + cutlery + utensils!!! All things. Hangers toooo for clothes! N I have a wonderful room, you really need to see it. It has just a nice thick, soft bed with a warm quilt plus blanket. Its too good! 

Then for bfast we had dosa with chutney. Lunch was rice, curd, prawn pickle, mixed vegetable( ready-to-eat) and dinner was chapattis and aloo matar plus of course prawn pickle. All I did here was unpacked everything n put it in the cupboards. Then chatted with salini for hrs n finally slept at 5 in evening with plans of getting up at 6 to go around closeby but I slept so soundfully that finally got up only at 10 for dinner!!! N then till 3:00 am at night was sitting n typing out a mail!!! As sleep is the last thing on my mind!!! I m sure gonna sleep in office!