久しぶり Pics and Vids Post!
Remember the Miracle Fruit?
I forgot about it, but I just remembered. According to that article, a second cafe opened in OSAKA. (That's not too far!) Someday.. Lol, I wonder how many packs I'd buy (or if they have a limit, haha).
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I had dinner with Tomoko today in Gifu City. She picked me up at my apartment, and we went to a place called DaBappo Pizzeria (Italian). It's really small inside, with only 3 booths and the counter. We had the day's special (spaghetti noodles with mushrooms and lots of buttery sauce), carrot salad, and mixed cheese pizza (no tomato sauce). I FINALLY had my first peach iced tea since leaving Los Angeles. Dessert was baked banana with ice cream with chocolate syrup. I'd go back again. There's a parking lot nearby, too (have to pay the machine though). It's near the Gifu JR Station (金華橋通り/Kinkabashi-dori and 岐阜東西通り/Gifu Tozai-dori).
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My entry for the weekend, written earlier (just copy-pasting it now):
Saturday, I took the bus to Nagara Kami-Tenjin, and got off by the Denny's/31 Baskin Robbins/McDonalds. Since I was early, I got lunch at McDonalds. Then I called Mrs. Inoue (Yasuyo) and she came to pick me up.
First we went to their house, which was very nice! So modern. I dropped off my stuff, and we ended up going to Gifu Castle. We took the Ropeway up, went in to the "castle" (museum), and walked down the mountain. Then she drove me to a quiet place in the niche of a mountain, where there was a lake with lots of giant koi and ducks. There was one old-style thatched house that was converted into a restaurant.
Afterwards, we went back to the house, and she started making dinner. Mr. Inoue came home, and he taught me hana-karuta. (I think Nicole taught us last summer...) We had loose sushi (cooked), cold salmon, salad, meatballs, and boiled spinach with soy sauce and bonito flakes. Dessert was sweet, boiled chestnuts. One of their three daughters, the eldest one, Ana, came with her husband of one year, Junichi, to have dinner with us. The whole family speaks English pretty well.
Mr. Inoue (Hiroshi) was argumentative, and I think the other members started rolling their eyes at him after a while, haha. We took pictures after dinner, and I gave Mrs. Inoue's English training DS game a try. I apparently suck at trying to understand the Phillipino accent they have for one of the trial tests...
After that, I went to bed. My room was part of what looked like the music study. Especially since there was a piano and a whole wall of music-related books and CDs.
Sunday morning, I woke up too early, since I heard them moving around already. I gave myself another hour before getting out of the futon. I told them I'd rather take my shower in the morning, so they had the light on in the ofuro. I took my shower, then had breakfast... traditional JAPANESE breakfast: miso soup and rice (with scrambled eggs, Japanese sausages, boiled spinach again). Also had hot tea and Japanese pear.
Following breakfast, they took me to Nagara River, and we went to the old buildings (I went there before on a tour). More pictures taken. Then they took me to Gifu Station. Apparently they were having a "Tanjou Matsuri" with a play on the words 「誕生」 and 「誕城」 since second "jou" means "castle" which represents the Gifu Castle but also the new building (a really tall one, 43 floors!). So it was basically celebrating the grand opening (been a week already).
We saw a kimono performance and some taiko. We took the elevator up to the 43 floor, where the sky lounge was (they have a restaurant up there too, but you need reservations), and looked at the scenery.
Had lunch at one of the places inside the building, kind of expensive for average food, I think... Then we parted ways. I met up with Ran, and I showed her the building I had just been in.
Afterwards, we went to LOFT, bought some stuff, then walked around. Most places were closed though, so we stopped at McDonalds to take a break. We tried the McPork burgers... weird, but ok. We went back to the Gifu Station and walked around in the Active part. I bought a set of 5 mini bunnies. (Really cute!)
Once we were tired, and it was nearer to dinner time, Ran called Sumi-san (her husband), and he picked us up. We went to dinner at a place called Seika / 成華, it's owned by a Taiwanese man and his Japanese wife. Chinese food! And good Chinese food, too. Then we went to Babble Cafe for ice cream. They call the guy who runs the place "Master," and he gave us 3 scopes of different ice creams rather than just what we ordered. (Nice!) He said he remembered seeing me there before, since I did come once with Duncan. He also said he remembers females that come, but not guys. Lol. He went to high school with Sumi-san, so they kept joking about being jijis (old guys). Then I was dropped off at home.
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As I mentioned before, my camera really is dying, so I resorted to using my cell phone's camera a lot. Until I found out that sometimes, my camera still works. Oh.
The pics (and a randomly spliced video! 久しぶり！) of the weekend plus tonight, here:
On the Sky Ropeway up to Gifu Castle
Gifu "Castle"
Views from the top floor of the castle
Walking down the mountain
Things I picked up on the way down
Inside Gifu Park (Gifu Koen)
The lake and old house (restaurant) that Mrs. Inoue showed me (near the cherry blossom trees area)
(I love how this picture looks...)
Remember that cartoon series "Noozles"? The koalas are mascots here for some real estate company..
Waiting in line to take the elevator up to the 43rd floor.. if you look at the top of the picture, you can see where the building ends.
Sure looks more populated from up here
On this corner...
... you can find...
... and from this menu...
... you can get this.
When I was looking at this (the actual sky, not the picture), I was thinking to myself, "I can see where Director Shinkai gets his inspiration from for the backgrounds. They really are like that." Of course, my camera does it no justice.
Say "Hello" to my futon. It's what keeps me warm. =D
And lastly, a video. Can of corn stew, remodeled laundromat, and the parking lot machine. Yay. =P
I forgot about it, but I just remembered. According to that article, a second cafe opened in OSAKA. (That's not too far!) Someday.. Lol, I wonder how many packs I'd buy (or if they have a limit, haha).
---
I had dinner with Tomoko today in Gifu City. She picked me up at my apartment, and we went to a place called DaBappo Pizzeria (Italian). It's really small inside, with only 3 booths and the counter. We had the day's special (spaghetti noodles with mushrooms and lots of buttery sauce), carrot salad, and mixed cheese pizza (no tomato sauce). I FINALLY had my first peach iced tea since leaving Los Angeles. Dessert was baked banana with ice cream with chocolate syrup. I'd go back again. There's a parking lot nearby, too (have to pay the machine though). It's near the Gifu JR Station (金華橋通り/Kinkabashi-dori and 岐阜東西通り/Gifu Tozai-dori).
---
My entry for the weekend, written earlier (just copy-pasting it now):
Saturday, I took the bus to Nagara Kami-Tenjin, and got off by the Denny's/31 Baskin Robbins/McDonalds. Since I was early, I got lunch at McDonalds. Then I called Mrs. Inoue (Yasuyo) and she came to pick me up.
First we went to their house, which was very nice! So modern. I dropped off my stuff, and we ended up going to Gifu Castle. We took the Ropeway up, went in to the "castle" (museum), and walked down the mountain. Then she drove me to a quiet place in the niche of a mountain, where there was a lake with lots of giant koi and ducks. There was one old-style thatched house that was converted into a restaurant.
Afterwards, we went back to the house, and she started making dinner. Mr. Inoue came home, and he taught me hana-karuta. (I think Nicole taught us last summer...) We had loose sushi (cooked), cold salmon, salad, meatballs, and boiled spinach with soy sauce and bonito flakes. Dessert was sweet, boiled chestnuts. One of their three daughters, the eldest one, Ana, came with her husband of one year, Junichi, to have dinner with us. The whole family speaks English pretty well.
Mr. Inoue (Hiroshi) was argumentative, and I think the other members started rolling their eyes at him after a while, haha. We took pictures after dinner, and I gave Mrs. Inoue's English training DS game a try. I apparently suck at trying to understand the Phillipino accent they have for one of the trial tests...
After that, I went to bed. My room was part of what looked like the music study. Especially since there was a piano and a whole wall of music-related books and CDs.
Sunday morning, I woke up too early, since I heard them moving around already. I gave myself another hour before getting out of the futon. I told them I'd rather take my shower in the morning, so they had the light on in the ofuro. I took my shower, then had breakfast... traditional JAPANESE breakfast: miso soup and rice (with scrambled eggs, Japanese sausages, boiled spinach again). Also had hot tea and Japanese pear.
Following breakfast, they took me to Nagara River, and we went to the old buildings (I went there before on a tour). More pictures taken. Then they took me to Gifu Station. Apparently they were having a "Tanjou Matsuri" with a play on the words 「誕生」 and 「誕城」 since second "jou" means "castle" which represents the Gifu Castle but also the new building (a really tall one, 43 floors!). So it was basically celebrating the grand opening (been a week already).
We saw a kimono performance and some taiko. We took the elevator up to the 43 floor, where the sky lounge was (they have a restaurant up there too, but you need reservations), and looked at the scenery.
Had lunch at one of the places inside the building, kind of expensive for average food, I think... Then we parted ways. I met up with Ran, and I showed her the building I had just been in.
Afterwards, we went to LOFT, bought some stuff, then walked around. Most places were closed though, so we stopped at McDonalds to take a break. We tried the McPork burgers... weird, but ok. We went back to the Gifu Station and walked around in the Active part. I bought a set of 5 mini bunnies. (Really cute!)
Once we were tired, and it was nearer to dinner time, Ran called Sumi-san (her husband), and he picked us up. We went to dinner at a place called Seika / 成華, it's owned by a Taiwanese man and his Japanese wife. Chinese food! And good Chinese food, too. Then we went to Babble Cafe for ice cream. They call the guy who runs the place "Master," and he gave us 3 scopes of different ice creams rather than just what we ordered. (Nice!) He said he remembered seeing me there before, since I did come once with Duncan. He also said he remembers females that come, but not guys. Lol. He went to high school with Sumi-san, so they kept joking about being jijis (old guys). Then I was dropped off at home.
---
As I mentioned before, my camera really is dying, so I resorted to using my cell phone's camera a lot. Until I found out that sometimes, my camera still works. Oh.
The pics (and a randomly spliced video! 久しぶり！) of the weekend plus tonight, here:
On the Sky Ropeway up to Gifu Castle
Gifu "Castle"
Views from the top floor of the castle
Walking down the mountain
Things I picked up on the way down
Inside Gifu Park (Gifu Koen)
The lake and old house (restaurant) that Mrs. Inoue showed me (near the cherry blossom trees area)
(I love how this picture looks...)
Remember that cartoon series "Noozles"? The koalas are mascots here for some real estate company..
Waiting in line to take the elevator up to the 43rd floor.. if you look at the top of the picture, you can see where the building ends.
Sure looks more populated from up here
On this corner...
... you can find...
... and from this menu...
... you can get this.
When I was looking at this (the actual sky, not the picture), I was thinking to myself, "I can see where Director Shinkai gets his inspiration from for the backgrounds. They really are like that." Of course, my camera does it no justice.
Say "Hello" to my futon. It's what keeps me warm. =D
And lastly, a video. Can of corn stew, remodeled laundromat, and the parking lot machine. Yay. =P
Click to view