Summer Concert

     Los Awkis will be having another concert soon and if we're not moving that exact date, Efrain will be playing. 

     Actually our current move date is just 5 days prior to the concert date, so let's hope that he doesn't lose any instruments during the shuffle...

     This time the show is  a bit far from our place, in Koto-ku:  Friday, July 29.  Doors open at 6h30pm and the show starts at 7pm.

     Hope to see you there!

Adoption

     We could not resist bringing another little creature into our home...  An acquaintance was looking for a new home for this sweet little hamster and we decided to adopt him, even though we already have Pompom! 

Meet Sweety!

     Today we welcomed him into ours and although at first he seemed a little agitated, he now seems better settled.  Our daughter insisted we spotlight him on our blog, like we did with Pompom...  Cheers!

New Family Member

Isn't this little guy just adorable? 
Meet Pompom, our new pet!

      Our daughter has been reading up on hamsters for months now, and trying to convince us to get one. Her class' hamster spent the Winter Holiday with us and we all adored him. And it’s really true: hamsters are really easy to take care of. All they need is a bit of food, water, a clean cage with lots of grass, and space to move around. They are playful and a joy to watch. And they also like to be cuddled gently.

      Unfortunately, hamsters have a very short life span, and the poor thing died in the Spring at the old age of 3. Naira was devastated and her only consolation was that she helped bury him at school. She was the one who found him inert and alerted her Life Sciences teacher. The death of this little creature saddened us all, and we had been thinking of getting one of our own, but with everything that’s happened in the past month, we had delayed that decision. We are now very happy to have brought home Pompom who is now getting cuddles from everyone.


      This is the book Naira's been borrowing again and again from the library, a great resource with lots of pictures and information on what's best for your hamster.  Highly recommended by our Expert.

      We got Pompom from Kojima Pet Shop in Nerima-ku, which is located just a short bike ride away from Kichijoji Station. Kojima has shops all over Tokyo and you can also order products online. They carry other animals including marmots, rabbits, birds, and of course, cats and dogs. At the Nerima Branch, there is also a vet on the second floor of the building in case your pet gets sick.

Spring in Kyoto

      We're straying a bit from home building-related topics today...  The kids and I just spent a glorious 3-day week-end in Kyoto, for a much-needed break from the accumulated stress in Tokyo.

      Expecting warmer temperatures, we were surprised that it snowed on Saturday, but we still managed to get around to see a few of Kyoto's gems: the Golden Pavilion and the Ryoanji Garden. 

      For a short while, our worries took a bit of a back-seat and we were actually able to enjoy ourselves visiting these sensational places, and so did the kids!   Spring is definitely on its way here. 

Here are some still shy Cherry Blossoms from the Roanji Garden:



And some stunning fully-bloomed Plum Trees taken at the Kyoto Zoo.

      I can't remember the last time I strolled leisurely taking photos of nature in Japan.  Our life is always so full of other "important" things to do, especially now with home-planning, and it really felt wonderful to take the time to truly enjoy the simple but amazing beauty of Spring in a Japan that is feeling so much pain and so much grief at this time.

Spring will have a bitter taste this year in Japan.

Andean Music Concert

     Still on the subject on Family Entertainment, I thought I would share a bit of news about an upcoming concert of music from the Andes. 

     In his spare time, Efrain likes to play music.  It's been a hobby of his for most of his life...  Music is very much a part of his home country, Bolivia, where everyone learns to play one instrument or another and all social events bring out the best of all musicians out in the countryside.

     Grandpa taught him the basics and he learned the rest on his own, out of passion: Quena, Zampona, Guitar, Charango, and Singing.  Once in a while he'll have a show and we like to come and cheer as a family, even though the kids sometimes find it difficult to sit quietly through 3 hours of music...  But they love the cheering part and going backstage 'to help' pack up the instruments after the shows. 

     The great thing about these events is that we not only get to enjoy hours of great fun and relaxation listening to Andean music, but we also get to visit a new hall each time. The last concert by Los Awkis took us to Katsushika Symphony Hills, in Eastern Tokyo. His next show will be right in our neighborhood, at the Mitaka City Arts Center (三鷹市芸術文化センター).  We hope you'll enjoy the rhythms of the Andes!

Outdoor Skating

     After a few days of feasting and relaxing, we thought it would do us some good to exercise a little.  On January 1st, we gathered our skates and hit the Akasaka Sacas Outdoor Skating Rink.  The rink is conveniently located at Akasaka Station, just up the stairs and amid beautiful illuminations.   The rink has apparently increased in size this year and is now the largest outdoor skating rink in the city.

     The last time we went ice skating outdoors in Tokyo was way back when we were just a couple...  This time, we never even got to hold hands, as we needed to check the kids, make sure they didn't hit rough spots; they know how to skate, but they haven't yet mastered the art of stopping!  When we first started skating the rink was full of snow so part of the fun was throwing snowballs at each other.  But then, the "Zamboni" came on and cleaned the ice leaving it perfectly shiny.  What a joy to skate on freshly-cleaned ice!

     With the kids, we've been to every other rink in and around the city, from Citizen in Takadanobaba, to Meiji Jingu in Sendagaya and even the Higashi-Fushimi Arena (ダイドードリンコアイスアリーナ) close to our home.  We also went to Toshimaen Skating Rink, which used to be amazing - huge rink, great music,wonderful scenery - but has downgraded so much over the years that we feel it isn't worth the trip anymore.

     Anyway, no matter what size the rink, Nighttime Outdoor Skating is definitely the best!  Hours and times vary at Akasaka Sacas, so it's wise to check their website before heading on there.  If you have your own skates, the price is ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for students.  Skate rental is an extra ¥500. Bring gloves or you may have to buy them!  This year, the rink will be open until February 14, 2011.  

And by the way, if you're looking to fuel up before sliding, Akasaka Biz Tower has loads of great restaurants.  We went to Dragon Deli, which was one of the few diners open on New year's Day.  It was just delicious!  What a great First Day of the Year!