The Honey House

my favorite at this place is their  grilled chicken with orange and honey mustard sauce

There is a lovely place in Okamoto area called the HONEY HOUSE.  This is a cafe/resto that also sells Manukah Honey, thus probably the name.

Sometime in 2005, a lady friend and I happened to pass by this area one day.  We were on our way to Kentucky Fried Chicken to have lunch, but decided to try this when we saw  this place.  We were not disappointed.  In fact, this place has become a favorite of mine.

When I saw the name, I had the feeling that this is going to be something different.  More so when we went in and I saw the flowery table covers. Lovely!   The place has a certain homey, warm and laid-back feel that ladies love. Meals and desserts are served in pretty china and silverware with floral designs.

The lighting from the chandeliers and wall lamps, the soft instrumental music , the plants and centerpieces make it more fascinating.

The owner of this place must be an antique collector because all over the place are interesting pieces on display.

a record player

 

a flat iron 

a sewing machine

a typewriter

another flat iron with an exhaust pipe

a writing table 

a camera

19th anniversary of an earthquake and a solemn promise

19 years ago, God cut short a planned 3-year-ministry in Kobe after the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit this city and killed more than 6,000. That morning, January 17th, 1995, as I went around my neighborhood and saw the devastation, God softly spoke to my heart, "You were ready to go and be with Me today, but what about these people here, those who died, the dying and broken people who never had the chance to know or hear about the God who loves them?.." (Romans 10:14) That was when I made a promise, "Lord, I'm going back to my country soon, but if You need me back here again to help in spreading the Gospel, I'll drop everything there and come..." Well, God did take me up on the promise, not once but twice...first time in 2005-2011 and the second time, March 2013 up to the present,... until when will I be here - only He knows! 

The marker at the park

time on the clock: 5.46 a.m - when the earthquake struck

every anniversary, people light candles in these cut bamboo- one candle for each person who died

a white chrysanthemum in loving memory of those who died in the quake

 

the eternal flame

the messages to the dead loved ones on the yellow paper flowers 

Christmas in Japan

I LOVE Christmas in Japan!!

First of all, Christmas Day here is not a holiday.  People work and kids go to school on that day. No Christmas parties at work and schools.  Only Christians (less than 1% of its total population - over 130 million) celebrate Christmas.

Only a few churches hold a Christmas Eve service.  Most churches have a special Christmas service and celebrations on the Sunday before Christmas.

But the amusing thing is that the Japanese do hang Christmas decorations, put up Christmas trees and lights, give Christmas presents , and for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinners  - they have a special Christmas cake with the  fried chicken (usually bought from Kentucky Fried Chicken).

Why do I love Christmas here in Japan?  Because it is here where I get to feel the true spirit of Christmas - remembering and celebrating God's gift  for us through Christ Jesus!   Christians here put Jesus as the center of the celebration. Parties at churches are simple, solemn yet fun.  No firecrackers or fireworks!  No rushing for gift shopping!  No binge eatings at rounds of parties!  Quiet, yet memorable celebrations.

at Harborland

I forgot the name of this store at Umie Mall

at Mosaic Garden (Harborland) with the famous Kobe Port Tower in the background

the spectacular Christmas decor at Umie Mall

2013 Christmas card given by my student, Shirai-san

the Christmas Mini-Party spread  of our Sat Adults class

made this white chocolate with a cookie cutter

trying to be artistic

the decor at Santica 

Christmas candy tree we made at kids classes

one of the hanging decors at Sannomiya Center Gai

more Kachoen fotos

my happy place in Kobe

I can't exactly remember the date when I first went to this place.  I only remember that it was the Dobashi Family who first took me to this place .

The place is called Kachoen- literally, Bird and Flower Park.  It's on Port Island, one of the two man-made islands in Kobe (the other one is Rokko Island).  To get there, one has to either go by car or by monorail, the Portliner.  The first time we went , we had to go by car.  The next few times, I went by Portliner, taking the one that goes to Kobe Airport and getting off at Kachoenmae station (P08).

As the name suggests, it's a place where you get to enjoy several kinds of birds and flowers.  I can spend an entire day there, if I want to, just to enjoy the beautiful creations of God.

 Last September 2013, when I went there with Akiyo (my friend from Takamatsu), I was given a small notice along with the receipt of my entrance ticket.  The notice said that the park management is randomly giving that time a huge discount on a year's pass to the place.  Of course, I right away bought one that entitles me to go there as many times I want to for a year -- for free!

My favorite area is the dining area - tables and chairs are set surrounded by blooming begonias and other petals arranged beautifully in pots on raised platforms and some in hanging pots.

Another favorite area of mine is where the Toucans are .  No, these birds with big bills are not placed in cages.  They fly around the wide enclosed portion as they please .  Some are perched on branches of short trees waiting for food.  You can buy a tiny cup of sliced fruit for a 100yen,  hold it between  cupped fingers, extend an arm and wait....soon enough a huge toucan will swoop down on to your arm or shoulder and pick on the fruits.  It's an incredibly fun, and a  bit scary experience for first-timers , especially  for those with bird phobia - with the toucan bill just a few inches from your face.

Kachoen also has tropical plants and water lilies housed in a part of the area set with warmer temperature. 

Here are some of the blooms and feathery creatures you can see in Kachoen.