Life Digest. Sept 2023

STILL HOT, BUT BETTER

A belated self-guilty attempt to start journalling of my life whilst trying to avoid genre specific egotism and making it a practical guide for the readers.

JAPAN. LIFE.

September was still unusually hot in Japan. I started to believe the “climate change” theorists to the extent of a vague planning about where to spend July-September in the next year.

1. There were still a few interesting festivals this month in my area. In the beginning of the month, I was walking along the beach and bumped into Morito Shrine festival.

Colorful, noisy, peaceful.

Plenty of food stalls. I should come next year, as not so many events in my village.

OKONOMIYAKI STALL

Morito Shrine is near the Morito beach. It is around 50 minutes’ walk from Zushi station. Or 20 minutes by bus #12. From Morito beach you can walk towards Oohama beach which is a nice beach walk by itself.

2. 53 bear human attacks this year so far in Japan. Highest ever. I like to hike in secluded places, but I don’t want to spar with bears. Look in the eyes, move slowly back, get the bear spray, have a beer after the encounter. I have seen one in Hokkaido, but safely far enough. Link

3. I did my favorite hike from Mabori Kaigan area to Kurihama. Again. This one deserves a separate post, but I highly recommend it. Take Keikyu Line to Keikyu Otsu station and walk towards the water. Then all the way along the water.

   

   

   One of the highlights was a good reading spot inside Kannonzaki Park. It is above Tatarahama beach, a bit out of the main park area, but commanding good views.

   

   4. I can also recommend hike to Futakoyama. The trail starts from Nango Kaminoyama Park in Hayama.

   

   START OF FUTAKOYAMA TRAIL FROM NANGO PARK

   I combined it with my usual hike to Sokka mountain.

5. End of the month worked at the expo at the Tokyo Big Sight venue for a few days. Since it is a bit far from my home I stayed in a hotel. Sotetsu Fresa Ariake. Highly recommend booking premium floors facing Tokyo port. Should be beyond 15,000 JPY per night. And within walking distance you can have Odaiba eating and promenade district, Ariake Garden, Rainbow Bridge and many more. Ariake Odaiba is the area which I always think is something out of Tokyo flavor. In a positive sense. Good to have as a base if you are visiting Tokyo for whatever reason you might have. Rooms are equipped with a fridge and a microwave. Balcony in a Tokyo hotel? It is a RARITY!

   

   ROOM 2008 TOP FLOOR

6. But the highlight of the month was my trip to Shima Onsen.. A place to relax.

GOOD READS

1. Some people read a lot. Ryan Holiday is one of them. So, why not to use their experience? I have subscribed to the list of his recommendations. Not much into philosophy or biographies but will check out some of those too.

2. I like David thinking in most of his posts. This one is also gooood!

   This Will Not Always Be a Thing

3. Same thoughts probably are shared by many. But how beautifully are they presented in the Efficiency is the Highest Form of Beauty

4. Stuart is good as usual with a new initiative to introduce new places to us. Look for or subscribe at Wednesday destinations picks

5. Good take on fitness. At 73 kg I don’t follow any particular diets, but good capture of the existing trends.

   Staying Fit with no gym

6. I have nearly finished Damascus Station by David McCloskey. This is one of the books you don’t want to end. I will grab some of his other stories.

7. It would take seventeen years for this book to be published, then ninety-three more for the English translation, titled A Calendar of Wisdom. By Leo Tolstoy. I started to read in Russian but got bored. But I want to resume, as this is a compilation of the best minds done by LT.

GOOD WATCH

1. I liked this movie as an after-dinner digestive.

   Message from the King

2. Stillwater with Matt Damon may be not something I want to watch again soon, but this is one of the best finds in the increasingly uninteresting movie industry.

GOOD BITES

1. Found nice but expensive vegan eatery near my home. I am not vegan by the principle, but I do enjoy light meal days. In Japan vegan food is very expensive. For the luxury falafel roll on pita bread I am paying around 1200 JPY (12 AUD). In Sydney a more modest version will be around 9 AUD or so.

   

2. If you want vegan food paired with a craft beer, Bruntons in Yokohama Chinatown is a good place. I like to drink and eat outside. So, they brought out the table for me. Run by Canadian expat and his Japanese wife.

   

   I think it can be a cozy hide-in during a rainy day.

   

   BRUNTONS 2ND FLOOR

3. Yuko and I went to Shimo-Kitazawa to wander the streets of this secondhand apparel capital of Tokyo. At 65 yo I have enjoyed the vibe of young people searching for their dream clothes with clear determination in the eyes. For us, we just enjoyed banh mi. The owner spent three weeks in Saigon studying the craft and here he is with now six outlets in and around Tokyo. Best banh mi I have ever tried in Japan. Saigon will be #1 of course. Followed by banh mi in Canley Vale (Vietnamese community suburb in Sydney). Look for Banh Mi BaBa.

   

EXERCISE

I continued my routine of morning HIIT, augmented by frequent yoga classes and lifting stones on the beach. As the heat goes down, I have unpacked my SUPyak and did a couple of hours today. Nothing is calmer than a solitude at the sea.

Since this platform is also meant for a practical advice, you can always rent a kayak or SUP at the same place. There is a kiosk at Isshiki beach.