daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
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I braved the rain and headed over to Kōbe today for some shopping, walking, and lunch. I hit all my favorite spots, Loft, Muji, a walk down Motomachi Shopping Street, and a couple of used camera shops along the way. Such a fun way to spend the day!
I ended up at Harborland, the mall right on the water. I’ve been here twice before, the last time with Mariko and our two kids when they were still little. We ate at Fisherman’s Market with a whole group that day, and being back brought on a wave of natsukashii. This time though, I went with omuraisu at Chapeau Rouge, and the wagyu version did not disappoint. I was a little soaked from the rain by then, so the hot omuraisu hit the spot in more ways than one. 🍚
After lunch I went a bit overboard at the nearby Muji, picking up two bags, a pile of hair products, and another packaged curry. Then it was a short walk to JR Kōbe Station for the ride home. Another wonderful day living the dream. 🌧️
I had the afternoon free, so I hopped on the Kishin Line for a solo trip to Himeji. First up was some shopping, then a burger at Brisk Stand. Mariko and I had walked by this place before, and after reading a few reviews about the beef being on the sinewy side, I figured I’d try it for myself. The burger was tasty, though I do prefer my ground beef with fewer chewy bits. The fries were crispy and good, but there weren’t many of them, so overall a solid burger, just a bit pricey for the portion.
After lunch I wandered over to Kōko-en, the garden right next to Himeji Castle, and wow, I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. It’s split into several distinct gardens, each one with its own personality, and I was especially taken with the ponds and streams full of huge koi. Admission was only ¥400, so there’s really no excuse to skip it if you’re already visiting the castle. I’ve seen the castle itself before, so I’m saving that return trip for another day.
After an hour and a half at Kōko-en, I wandered back toward the station and stumbled onto Last One Himeji, a fantastic little craft beer spot. I tried a flight of local brews and ended up chatting with the proprietress and one of the regulars. They were so warm and funny, and it turned into good practice for everyone, my Japanese, their English, and a handy little translator device whenever we got stuck. They also serve taco rice and wild boar tacos, so I already know I’m coming back with Mariko to try those. 🍺
What a great day in Himeji. I really do love this city, and Hyogo in general. 🏯
Piplup and I got out for a ride this afternoon. It’s been a while since the two of us hit the bike path together. Temps were up in the 90s and the sun was beating down hard, but the path was nearly empty and a nice breeze kept things pleasant. Good to be back in the saddle. ☀️🚲
I picked up a little tripod from Ulanzi for my iPhone. I’ve been wanting to make more videos, and I actually borrowed Mariko’s model first to try it out. She uses hers constantly though, so I finally grabbed one of my own. Turns out it’s just as handy as I hoped, folds up small and holds the phone steady without any fuss. I love it! 🎥😊
I like the curly wisps at the top of these clouds.
This summer’s pepper plants are thriving! A friend recommended watering plenty and fertilizing often, and it’s really paid off. I’ve never harvested so many peppers from our Scotch Bonnet plant before, and the others are doing amazing too. I’ve been enjoying them every day, little by little. They’re super hot, but I love it. Yay! 🔥
We were on our way to a friend’s house for dinner when we got a flat tire, right in the middle of a busy highway. We pulled over and got it changed pretty smoothly, and only ended up 30 minutes late. The drive home was a different story though. The spare tire tops out at 50 mph, so we stuck to surface streets the whole way and it took quite a bit longer. Still, it could have been so much worse, so I’m counting it as a minor inconvenience and nothing more. 🔧
