California Dreaming - Japan Day

I know. The name of this blog doesn't seem pertinent anymore but I will try to wrap it up shortly about my vacation. I'm actually even starting to get over it and get on with my life. I got home Thursday night, March 10th. Friday night, while out in the pasture for the evening feeding, I heard a group on redwing blackbirds trilling in the cattails behind the house. This is the first definite sign of spring following the appearance of a few new ducks in late February. But even more reassuring, right before dark a lone meadowlark's sweet song drifted across the south pasture to seal the deal. All the gloom of the barren winter melts in anticipation.

Japan Day. Serena and I decided to spend our whole day together doing the town with most things Japanese. But first we had to stop on the way to Golden Gate Park at the Chinese bakery for black bean and a couple other sweet rolls. In the park, we walked through the botanical gardens to the Japanese Garden and Tea House. The gardens were ablaze with all colors, subtle and bright.





After taking in the serenity and poise of the East, we arrived at the Tea House. I don't have much experience with the black and green teas but here in the cold mists of the West Coast winter many partake of an afternoon tea for warmth and comfort. Fortified after our pots of tea, a small bowl of cookies and a sampling of our Chinese pastries, we headed down the center of the Park to the ocean.



We met Cole downtown to eat at Serena's current favorite restaurant serving Vegan Vietnamese. I was instructed that there are only two great dishes on the menu, so I complied and ordered a salad of noodles, tofu disguised as meat, cilantro, mint, spinach, peanuts, and a light, tasty dressing, accompanied by a sweet, strong iced coffee. Next stop, Japantown.



We looked at a rare gem-rock collection of carvings and monoliths for your living room. We couldn't ask any questions about these strange and wonderful rocks because the attendant didn't speak English. Next we went on the quest for a set of tea cups to go with the exotic selection teas that Cole had bought back from his trip to China. We bought incense and wind chimes (inverted mini-gongs) and looked through the Japanese supermarket for dinner. But first, the Kabuki Baths!

You disrobe and leave your things in a locker. Fortified with a bath towel, a hand towel, a wash cloth and a cup of rooibos tea, you enter the large, steamy bath house. Along the right wall, sitting on short stools, women are soaping up and rinsing with a large bowl of water; final rinse, pouring the bowl over you. The suggested routine is: sauna, steam bath, hot pool, ice pool. Notices posted on the wall remind you that this is a meditative experience, maintain a reasonable silence. A table on the left side of the spacious room offers a bowl of ice and clean washcloths, pitchers of cold water with either lemon/lime, orange, or cucumber slices, and small paper cups of salt for rubbing away any rough spots while in the steam room.

As much aversion I have for being cold, I have to admit the ice pool was, understandably, the thrill of it all! While sitting up to my neck in the near freezing pool, I came to terms with the cold water. Sitting on the bench after this exposure, I whispered to Serena, “Just close your eyes for a minute and feel every cell in your body going ‘YIPPIE!!!’. “


Text © 2004 Mona E. Dunn