http://www.chandraclan.com Living and growing in Tokyo Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:54:57 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Finally! I got one hanami organized at Sumida Park where: 1. It didnt rain (the few drops at the end dont count) 2. It wasnt too cold 3. Flowers in full bloom  It was a nice time and a good chance to catch up with old friend and make new ones. Hopefully everyone had a ... http://www.chandraclan.com/2009/04/05/hanami-2009-demons-banished/% My first trip of 2009!  Nice relaxing dip in Kusatsu's sulphuric waters. Spent about 4 hours in Ootaki no Yu! Next morning, had a refreshing walk with Pritty in the snow and then back into the onsen! http://www.chandraclan.com/2009/01/15/kusatsu-2009/% I was taken to this restaurant by a Nepalese acquaintance. My cynicism of good indian/indian like food in restaurants was with me when i was taken to the restaurant but i was pleasantly surprised by the coziness of the restaurant and the good homely taste of the food. My favorite ... http://www.chandraclan.com/2009/01/13/saino/% Cicada is one of the few places that i have been to that are open till quite late in the night i.e. 2am. The place doesnt have unbelievably good food for great price, if anything the food is above average, great wine list and NishiAzabu prices (so slightly more than reasonable) ... http://www.chandraclan.com/2009/01/13/cicada-mediterranean/% A vegan restaurant in Shibuya a friend of ours goes to for lunch. Neither Kishore nor I have actually been there so we cant say for sure, but according to her, Nagishokudo has a pretty decent lunch. Address: Shibuya-ku Uguisudani 15-10. (050-1043-7751) Royal Palace Shibuya, #103. http://www.chandraclan.com/2009/01/13/nagishokudo/% I have completed 2.5 years in Japan. I guess i can call 2008 my `settling in` year (though i am still rebelling)...i focussed on my job and spent more time at work than i wished to but learnt alot and had some very interesting experiences least to say. Highlights of ... http://www.chandraclan.com/2009/01/06/happy-new-year-2009/% Around Christmas, I had a chance to go back to Pune to attend my cousin Nimmi's wedding. Going back, I relived a LOT of my wedding 2 years ago (especially the Sangeet, the location, band, almost everything was the same!!). After seeing Nimmi's wedding I had a chance to objectively look at ... http://www.chandraclan.com/2008/12/29/namrathamahesh-wedding-pune/% Before going to India for Nimmi's wedding, Mom and Dad visited us for a few days in Tokyo.  Of course they have seen the Mt. Fuji before, but always from the shinkansen, so I thought it would be cool to get up close and personal, so Pritty and I took them for ... http://www.chandraclan.com/2008/12/22/mt-fuji-with-mom-dad/% Can you believe it? This year Pritty actually AGREED to wear a Halloween costume! Unfortunately she couldnt find anything she really liked to she got this sissy hat and called it a costume.... Me? Well... what do you think I went as? ;-) http://www.chandraclan.com/2008/10/31/halloween-2008/% This year, we were able to get a few friends over to our house for a Diwali dinner and fireworks! Thanks to all of you Diwali this year was an unforgettable experience!  http://www.chandraclan.com/2008/10/28/diwali-2008/%