What's on Mee Mind?

OK, so I couldn't help myself. It is day one back in Japan but after 22 trips you would think I might have outgrown sniggering at the unusual and often comical use of English words  - but no. What is actually on my mind? Kyo-yasai (Kyoto Vegetables), Wagashi (Japanese confectionery) and my home for the next few months - Kyoto. Here she is - the view from my balcony - it was a rather dark and chilly morning but the sun started to peek through the clouds over Higashiyama, the Eastern Mountain range about 9am. Manganji, a quiet temple frequented by Kyoto's infamous large black crows is like a friendly neighbour watching over me protectively and I am happy to make his acquaintance again. (yes, it is a he, I am sure of it) 

 The late red autumn leaves still boldly dot the scenery but the now gold Ginko are preparing for landing.

After breakfast with a friend I took myself for a long walk to re-acclimatise. It feels incredibly surreal - I have been back in Australia for 8 months but it seems like I was just here yesterday. Everything is familiar and comfortable. Possibly more home than home.  I love my little pocket of Kyoto - there is something in the air here that makes me float. It is beautiful, friendly, quirky and zen-like - even if the monks zip around on mopeds...

I head over the Kamogawa (literally duck river) into the city to gather some provisions. The sun has burnt off most of  the cloud cover and people are making the most of the weather before it grows cold over the next few weeks. 

I remembered the "ecofarm" market in the "Zest" underground arcades from this time last year and hoped to find it still operating - I was not disappointed. And am happy to note that the err, delightful? if slightly irrelevant Christmas decorations also remain.  And there's nothing tacky about these umbrellas.... sorry did someone say irrelevant?  I just had to share.

Veggies, rice, pickles, eggs and some prepared items from local farmers fill a small underground courtyard providing a handful of Kyoto-ites ( including me!) with super fresh organic produce. Personal photos accompany each item  - leaving no doubt that the farm folk stand proudly by their product! Ebi-imo ( prawn potato - for its curved shape and stripy appearance), Nanohana ( the buddish tips of rape/canola), Daikon in hot pink and purple, Kyoto's famous red carrots, tiny Kyuuri ( cucumbers), feathery Mizuna, large immaculate shiitake and Kaiware ( daikon sprouts) all went in the basket with some eggs with the sunniest yolks you will ever see. 

Returning home along Nijo dori I stumbled across a small store selling Wagashi so naturally purchased a few essentials including some intricately decorated sweet peanut senbei ( rice crackers), Kuri manju (a type of crumbly sweet containing a thick chestnut paste ) and yomogi mochi (the green outside layer is made with glutinous rice and both coloured and mildly flavoured with mugwort - in the centre is anko ( sweet azuki bean paste). The pretty jellies have a modern edge as does the curious pumpkin sweet which turns out to be a small Japanafied version of pumpkin pie - basically a puff pastry pocket filled with pumpkin puree.

I throw together a quick dinner including a few small squares of local wagyu with stir fried shiitake and lotus root and a petit salad of mizuna and sweet kyuri ( Japanese cucumbers - the best cucumbers in the world in my opinion) with goma (sesame) dressing - but not before I gaze once more at the view, this time awash with sunlight,  to remind myself how lucky I am to be here.  Apparently it will dark ol' rainy day tomorrow. Perfectly timed for my morning shiatsu and afternoon gallery view the exhibition of my friend Myong Hee's artwork. 

In my happy place. And yes, I look so natural here (perhaps a little constipated?) bathed in sunlight while I pretend not to take my own photo...