Tulip Time

It was Sydney's gloomiest weekend since February, according to weatherzone, with less than an hour of sunshine all weekend, but it doesn't stop me from going to Bowral for Tulip time! The weather was much cooler on the highland but the beautiful garden blanketed by colourful tulips is worth the visit.

Heavens of Kamikochi

I was reading this 'Hiking with the gods of nature in the heavens of Kamikochi' from Mainichi news and it reminds of of my dream to visit Nagano.I've been to Japan three times and somehow never made my way to Nagano,  one of  the best alps in Japan. It was in 1998, the first time I dreamt of Nagano while watching the Winter Olympic and then few years ago I happened to watch 'Season of Snow', a movie taken in a snow resort showing the stunning view of the majestic white mountains of Hakuba, at that time I told myself 'why don't you go there on your next trip to Japan?' well somehow Nagano is still on my 'next-visit list in Japan'

Back to the Kamikochi, if you love nature, hiking and mountains this article about the priceless view of sacred highland of Kamikochi and the energetic 73-year-old mountain guide is worth the read.

Here are some useful links about Kamikochi and Nagano:

http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/index.php

http://kamikochi.org/

http://www.hikyaku.com/nagano/naganog.html

(The scenic beauty of Kamikochi, picture courtesy of Mainichi)

Animania 2011 Sydney

I've been a regular visitor of Animania in Sydney, I missed out on the first event last March but I made it to the event yesterday for this year's second one. It's always a good time when anime lovers of all ages get together enjoying the stage show, dance classes, video games, art workshop and taking pictures of fabulous costumes!

(A stall from Japanese Foundation Sydney) 

Butaebi Maki

It's a prawn wrapped in thin slices of pork fillet cooked with teriyaki sauce, a simple dish yet the taste will make you go back to Nazimi Japanese restaurant at 141 York st Sydney.

The crispness of pork fillet and the buttery prawn blended in teriyaki sauce doesn't taste greasy at all, so you won't get the guilty feeling from eating this special dish from Nazimi.

(Butaebi maki from Nazimi)

As I mentioned on my previous post, Nazimi, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in town also has the best Tasmanian salmon steak I couldn't resist. 

(Tasmanian salmon steak from Nazimi)