Aloha Everyone,
Ramen, pronounced rah -men is a popular Japanese noodle soup dish. Its origin is traced back to China as the soup base is usually pork and noodle used is wheat.
In Japan top ramen restaurants compete for their clientele by claiming that its recipe dates back 300 years. Awards and recognition by "Chef's Choice" and "People's Choice" are regarded seriously by ramen shops owners and patrons.
J.J. likes Tan Tan Men which is spicy, peppery noodle soup with an array of toppings including a large piece of sliced pork. His favorite ramen stand is located on the ground floor of Haneda Airport in Tokyo. He is a happy traveler with a dish of Tan Tan Men while we wait for our flight.
Ramen Hayatemaru specializes in Hokkaido-style noodle soup. Pouring over the menu, I was disappointed to see that I could not find any soup dish without pork or chicken stock.
Nobu, our waiter was sympathetic to my situation and recommended a hot tofu ( soy beans) dish. To compliment it, I also ordered edamame (soy beans in its pod). They were excellent choices and I was thoroughly satisfied.
For J.J., Tan Tan Men at the ground floor of Haneda Airport is still the best.
Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
We have three different systems of keeping ourselves warm in Honu.
When the temperature drops but still above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, we use a small portable electric heating unit called "My Heat" advertised as offering safe, ceramic warmth. It is a very small unit with 200 watts and only single on and off setting. But it is adequate to keep the interior of Honu warm and cozy. This unit is especially useful when we have no external electrical hook-up and only rely on our batteries.
The second portable heating unit we use has 5 different temperature setting modes; 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. We use this when we have external electrical hook-up and when the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
The most efficient heating system is within Honu. It's radiant heating which means the hot water pipes are laid under the floor . It is heated by liquid petroleum gas (LPG ). When in use, it maintains the floor and the interior cabin of Honu warm as well as our toilet/ shower room.
Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
J.J. and I've known Jim and Kay for over 11 years. What began as a business relationship has blossomed into a real friendship.
They know that my favorite meal is breakfast, so they invited us to a new restaurant in their neighborhood called Beach Plum Kitchen.
Carlsbad is located 87 miles south of Los Angeles and approximately 35 miles north of downtown, San Diego. It is an affluent seaside resort city, which locals call The Village by the Sea. As of July 2012, per the U.S. Census Bureau, Carlsbad's population is 109,318.
Food was excellent and our company was absolutely perfect. We especially enjoyed having their daughter, Kimmy, join us. She is an Applied Behavioral Analyst and works with children. It was very gratifying to see our friends' children growing up and becoming successful members of society.
Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
Located in Mission Bay, San Diego, Campland On The Bay offers RV camping on Mission Bay. The site also offers RV & Boat storage for both short term and long term.
This is one of the more developed, well-maintained and beautiful RV parks we've stayed thus far.
I believe the following photos illustrate better than I could describe.
Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
Driving on I-8, several miles south of Yuma, Arizona, J.J. and I noticed billboard after billboard advertising dental services in Mexico catered to Americans.
Los Algidones was once a small agricultural town. Today the town is one of the fastest growing dental tourism destinations in Baja California. According to the town's directory, there are over 350 dentists which equates to having more square feet of dental offices than any other place in Mexico.
Los Algidones promotes its dental services in four fronts:
1. Cost - about 70% to 75% less than in the United Sates.
2. Location - just two exits from Yuma, AZ and within 10 minutes walking distance from the US - Mexico border.
3. Easy to obtain appointments.
4. Guarantee satisfaction - Dentists stand behind their work as their practice depends upon referral business all from the US.
Back in San Diego, J.J. and I stopped by at a " hole in a wall " Mexican food take-out place. Kento (left) is from Okinawa and Yuki (right) is from Osaka, Japan. The students are in San Diego to study English. The Mexican food was authentic and excellent.
Aloha -- Cathi
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