Sweet Home Yokohama

Whilst my husband was gallivanting around China with his folks, I took a spoonful of cement and tried to embrace a boy-free weekend.

Our satellite TV here is rather ordinary – we have ~10 sports channels (mainly baseball and golf), one TV show channel and ~3 movie channels so when two romantic movies screen back-to-back, it’s a great start to a girly weekend! Sweet Home Alabama and The Legend of Bagger Vance – lovely doubleheader… add a glass or two of Rose` and you’ve got a good night in!

In an effort to improve mind, body and spirit, my Saturday started with a workout DVD, followed by a 1 hr “massage seto” at Greenwood Massage centre, under our apartment building. I had an aroma foot reflexology, body care, head massage combo – a painful version of heaven. There was limited chit-chat, but the masseuses’ parting message was “neck and legs very tight – not good”… tell me about it! I booked a follow up treatment for after my exam in October :)

Kid's clothes - I prefer the summer PJ style outfits

My motives for going shopping Saturday afternoon were twofold – I was scouting Japanese kids clothes for my sister-in-law Chelsea’s niece; and my Goop newsletter this week said I needed a striped boat neck top and a summer fedora – you can’t argue with that! Granted they don’t match, but they will both go well with the black tights and denim shorts look, which I’ve fully embraced of late. It goes without saying that I have not embraced all Japanese fashions - scrunchies are still a disaster!

My purchases :)

My spirits improved with a fabulous game of rugby played by the mighty Boks! Unfortunately the Wallabies were less impressive and went down to the Irish (ouch).

Sunday – the 3 month heat wave continues in Yokohama – 32 degrees with humidity – when will it be winter!?!?!? I spent the morning copying my Strategic Mgmt textbook to study cards in prep for my exam in 4 weeks time… a good job to clear my conscience… whilst being able to watch tv shows simultaneously … women can multitask you know.

At lunch I jumped on my Mammachari and cycled the 1km to the Yokohama Museum of Art. I was expecting small crowds and a 500 Yen ($6) entry fee… silly me. The Yokohama Triennale was on so the ticket queue was 100 people long and entry was 1600 Yen ($20). I was hoping for some traditional Japanese art but this was limited and the most popular pieces were the interactive, visual arts pieces… bit fruit for my taste… but I only use one side of my brain… and it’s not the right hand side :) Few pics below.

Yokohama Museum of Art - Triennale Exhibition

The ticket queue - great

My favourite piece

Interactive piece - the coloured circles are rolled up fabric...hmmm

There were heaps of video pieces - I didn't get them

This one was cool - it's a pipe organ - so it played whistling notes through the scaffold

Someone lost his marbles...

Wooden carved dragon

People queued up to go in the glass maze

Art museum gum ball machines - bit different

I had my second hair cut down at Glam – United Works downstairs from our apartment – I meant to ask for the lady to straighten my hair at the end to avoid the wet poodle look I came out with last time, but alas I sat quietly and nodded as it was easier… thus came out a wet poodle… I don’t think curls are prevalent here! As I’d planned to spend the rest of the day admiring my sleek, straight hair, I now had no excuse not to go for a run so I waited til 6pm and went on my usual route down along the port front. There were lots of people about – Red Brick Warehouse had a performance stage with a group of guys skipping to hiphop music… each to their own :) It really is a magically area along the water front – I’ll do it again tonight and take some photos.

Today is a Japanese holiday, “Respect for the Aged” – I’ll be respecting the aged by studying their theories on Strategic Management :P followed by some house cleaning in preparation for our 4 visitors arriving on Wednesday – can’t wait!

Xoxoxo

Karate Kate