Wednesday, April 25, 2007
ah, spring. with it come tons of festivals. one of the most beautiful one is the one in a quaint mountain town called takayama. i went there last summer already, but it's one of those places that you revisit time and time again, if you get the chance that is. and since paul's lanuguage exchange partner/friend yuka offered to drive, we all went together. after a long drive we finally got there and were greeted by the funniest sculpture i've seen so far. this and more in the album.
paul and i left the girls to do a blockie and headed for a local brewery, which served very cheap but nonetheless high-grade, fresh unpasteurized nama-sake. it was delicious but also unexpectantly potent. within no time at all we were standing outside the place, giggling uncontrollably and waving in more people. 'twas a beautiful sunny day and the place was packed with tourists.
other highlights included the many floats, or dashi that were paraded throughout the town and the traditional costumes worn by the locals. there were plenty of parades, rites, concerts and the like. very colourful and powered by more sake.
the town is also famous for its beef (sold broiled on skewers on lots of street stalls. juicy, tender and delightful), soba, pickles (my favourites are the red turnip and the local pine mushrooms). we tried some of the soba in a cute restaurant and it was indeed great. it had plenty of bite and flavour, the buckwheat coming through strong. i ordered the ume, which is pickled plum paste, a very pungent and ferocious concoction if tasted by itself, but together with the mild dashi broth, the mountain vegetables and the omnipresent colourful fishcake, which i could have done without, but hey.
more soon.
gg; 12:37 am
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
ah, spring. with it come tons of festivals. one of the most beautiful one is the one in a quaint mountain town called takayama. i went there last summer already, but it's one of those places that you revisit time and time again, if you get the chance that is. and since paul's lanuguage exchange partner/friend yuka offered to drive, we all went together. after a long drive we finally got there and were greeted by the funniest sculpture i've seen so far. this and more in the album.
paul and i left the girls to do a blockie and headed for a local brewery, which served very cheap but nonetheless high-grade, fresh unpasteurized nama-sake. it was delicious but also unexpectantly potent. within no time at all we were standing outside the place, giggling uncontrollably and waving in more people. 'twas a beautiful sunny day and the place was packed with tourists.
other highlights included the many floats, or dashi that were paraded throughout the town and the traditional costumes worn by the locals. there were plenty of parades, rites, concerts and the like. very colourful and powered by more sake.
the town is also famous for its beef (sold broiled on skewers on lots of street stalls. juicy, tender and delightful), soba, pickles (my favourites are the red turnip and the local pine mushrooms). we tried some of the soba in a cute restaurant and it was indeed great. it had plenty of bite and flavour, the buckwheat coming through strong. i ordered the ume, which is pickled plum paste, a very pungent and ferocious concoction if tasted by itself, but together with the mild dashi broth, the mountain vegetables and the omnipresent colourful fishcake, which i could have done without, but hey.
more soon.
gg; 12:37 am
ah, spring. with it come tons of festivals. one of the most beautiful one is the one in a quaint mountain town called takayama. i went there last summer already, but it's one of those places that you revisit time and time again, if you get the chance that is. and since paul's lanuguage exchange partner/friend yuka offered to drive, we all went together. after a long drive we finally got there and were greeted by the funniest sculpture i've seen so far. this and more in the album.
paul and i left the girls to do a blockie and headed for a local brewery, which served very cheap but nonetheless high-grade, fresh unpasteurized nama-sake. it was delicious but also unexpectantly potent. within no time at all we were standing outside the place, giggling uncontrollably and waving in more people. 'twas a beautiful sunny day and the place was packed with tourists.
other highlights included the many floats, or dashi that were paraded throughout the town and the traditional costumes worn by the locals. there were plenty of parades, rites, concerts and the like. very colourful and powered by more sake.
the town is also famous for its beef (sold broiled on skewers on lots of street stalls. juicy, tender and delightful), soba, pickles (my favourites are the red turnip and the local pine mushrooms). we tried some of the soba in a cute restaurant and it was indeed great. it had plenty of bite and flavour, the buckwheat coming through strong. i ordered the ume, which is pickled plum paste, a very pungent and ferocious concoction if tasted by itself, but together with the mild dashi broth, the mountain vegetables and the omnipresent colourful fishcake, which i could have done without, but hey.
more soon.
gg; 12:37 am
name:gido
b`day:09101979
lokation:back in oz
music:
food: focaccia and latte
air force!
call me ice man or maverick..
other designs from yangg
hot his week:
my_neighbours_are_listening_to_this: