Spring in Tokyo, Japan

Its my first spring in Japan. And I was very excited to see it. Frankly I was a little bored with the veryy looonnngggg winters. It was already cold when I got here (in September). The autums here are as bad as the winters in Pune I would say. So well after the winter...where we had light snow a couple of times...it is spring time in Tokyo. And it lovely the couple of week when the cherry blossoms are at its fullest..its simple beautiful..the trees are covered with pinkish white flowers. And it looks very beautiful. Not a single trace of leaves..leave alone A LEAF !..
But these dont last for a long time...and thanks to the heavy blow of winds..the trees are pretty soon left with no flowers.

We spent to lovely weekends checking out the cherry blossoms in Tokyo. We first visited the Kitanomura Botanical Garden @ Kudanshita. Beautiful setting for a garden...with a lake which is surrounded by lovely cherry blossomed trees.
Looking at people boating away slowly is a site to watch. But since it was very crowded..we decided to skip the boating. We had a lovely lunch at the wooods of the garden overlooking the pretty pond/lake surronded by cherry blossoms. People really enjoy themselves here..with lots os time to kill they come in hordes....friends, family, office parties...

We even saw some people painting there...sitting with there foldable chairs, canvas and colors looking and painting a pictures to their hearts contents. :) Looking at them I too had a strong urge to get my painting material next weekend..and start painting :D .

In Japan Cherry Blossom viewing (Hanami, hana - flower, mi - to view) is celebrated as a festival (Sakura Matsuri, Sakura - Cherry Flowers, matsuri Festival).

Other places that we checked out were the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, attached to the Tokyo University, The Enokashira Park @ Kichijoji. Both places are good. Ideal for a day of leisure, sun basking and prolonged picninc lunches ....

Macroni with red sauce and cheese

wow...macroni with red sauce and cheese sounds yummy doesnt it..
here how it can be made pretty simple...
Buy a packet of macroni. It comes in spirals, or rod shaped..please exuse me I do not know (have forgotten) the technical names for these types of macronis. Well once you get them...cook them in water...till it softens. Covering the container while it cooks helps cooking it faster. Darin the water after it is cooked and put that cooked macroni in cold water...so that it does not become slimy. Keep this aside

Time to make some red suace. This is my very own version o red sauce. Finely chop onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger.
Heat oil in a pan...add garlich ginger paste...fry it...add onion..fry till it turns brown...Add tomatoes.. Coook it well so that no more pieces of tomatoes are left. Add red chilli ppowder, salt to taste.
After that add the cooked macroni in it. Finally add cheese to this. The more the better ;).
And bingo the yummy macroni and cheese in red sauce is ready !!!

To get a more italian taste to it...make the sauce in olive oil...pretty much sure it will be tasty enough ... :D