THE LIONS OF FUKUSHIMA, TOHOKU SAFARI PARK: TRIP TO SENDAI, SITE OF JAPAN EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI DISASTER.
I went to Fukushima, Japan as part of my recent TV show shoot. It wasn’t my decision. One of the locations happened to be in Sendai.
The half-day experience and lingering impact are hard to sum up. Weird, mixed feelings are ongoing… it doesn’t add up. Such as these lions, which were in the same park.
I posted a new video on YouTube and above, showing the lions caged in Tohoku Safari Park. Take away what you will from it.
I can’t reveal exactly what went on during the TV shoot, but we were in this location for the racetrack. Hence the revving car noises in the background.
The lions and tigers were in the hardest-hit zone of the earthquake. They all survived. Proud animals, and sad.
This male lion kept roaring. What do you think he’s trying to tell us?
Spot the differences between the lioness and my spoiled Scottish Fold, Basil Farrow.
Without doubt, my cat has more confidence in his eyes.
In the video, I speak a little about the ethics of having these creatures in cages…
This was my first sight of Fukushima. The TV crew took the Shinkansen to Koriyama Station, then taxied to Nihonmatsu.
The city was active — cars in the streets — yet felt empty. Shops were open, but many roofs were in repair.
To my surprise, the area was gloriously green. The natural beauty of Fukushima isn’t conveyed in the usual media coverage.
Recent health reports of Fukushima children are grim. There’s still much that we don’t know, and Japan has a huge road of recovery ahead. Let’s do what we can to help.
Proceeds from our HOPE t-shirt collection go directly to the Sendai government, to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. There’s more info about the shirts here. And we’re going to launch yet another charity project next week.
Were you surprised, moved, broken by these images of Fukushima? What are your thoughts on the ongoing recovery efforts? Please take a second to view my video of the lions; there’s something poignant in there…
Song of the Day: Bauhaus – Dark Entries
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CHARLIE BROWN CAFE, HONG KONG: SNOOPY THEME RESTAURANT! CUTE DECORATED CAKES, TSIM SHA TSUI NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS.
Guess who visited the Charlie Brown Cafe in Hong Kong!
As you know, I’m a connoisseur of bizarre Asia theme restaurants. So I was keen to see a cafe dedicated to Snoopy, Woodstock, Marcy, Pigpen and other Peanuts comic characters.
The cafe’s dotted with giant character statues and murals. It felt like we entered the world of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz.
The set-up’s casual, compared to Japan’s intense theme restaurant experiences. You order food and drinks, and munch beside your favorite characters — while watching Peanuts cartoons! (La Carmina wears a necklace gifted from Soho Hearts.)
Our lattes were decorated with Lucy and Charlie’s faces, created by shaking cinnamon or cocoa over a stencil. (You can learn this decoration technique and more in my book, Cute Yummy Time.)
The pumpkin tofu rice dish was healthy and filling. We ended the meal with a mango Woodstock cake.
There was a full case of cakes, decorated like Peanuts characters. (Remember when we visited my cousin’s cute cooking school and made panda bread?)
I hope I get one of these for my upcoming birthday! (August 17)
The cafe was mostly populated by women.
The cafe also sold merchandise, such as t-shirts and toys.
When you visit Hong Kong (and I hope you do), stop by the Charlie Brown Cafe.
Address: G/F-1/F., Kok Pah Mansion, No. 58-60 Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (map).
Isn’t Hong Kong stunning at night? I have more HK nightlife photos in this post.
You’ll be seeing more weird theme cafes on this blog… I have a new TV job that’s taking me back to Tokyo in September. Stay tuned for news. Til then, you can check out my cute food and crazy theme restaurants books (available here).
PS: The latest Alt Noir magazine — with La Carmina on the cover — is now out! You can purchase the issue here, and see more preview photos in this post.
PPS: Speaking of cute and scary things.. On the left, ridiculous animal donuts, made by this Japanese woman at Floresta in Tokyo.
Are you a fan of the Peanuts comic strip? Which cake would you order from Charlie Brown cafe?
Song of the Day: Queen – The Show Must Go On (my current state of mind)
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LA CARMINA
