Living in a multi-cultural city has many advantages. It's not your 'same old, same old' atmosphere. There are many advantages for 'visiting' foreign lands without stepping out of the County. It does require some travel. You don't need a plane, of course, your ol' trusty roadster will get you there. However, considering that you are tooling around greater L.A., you have to consider the traffic. Therefore, no one will tell you the mileage between destinations because it's just a waste of time. You have to inform someone how LONG it will take to get there because of our monstrous traffic problems.

A couple of Sundays ago we went down to Gardena with some friends of ours to shop at the MARUKAI market. Gardena is a Japanese neighborhood with many Japanese stores and terrific Japanese Restaurants. While Akemi was shopping for food on the first floor, Nicholas showed us the teasures of the second floor.

We walked around looking at Japanese lanterns, Futons, Rice Paper Lamps(got one for my nightstand),Japanese dolls, Swords, Kimonos, Antiques, furniture, pajamas, children's clothes, fabric Kitty houses(got one for Sammie), and Parasols.(got one for myself). Parasol actually means 'against the sun'. Here in L.A. you will only find women in Korea town and in Hispanic neighborhoods who wear those things. But If a Caucasian woman wears one, she might appear strange. But considering the incidence of skin Cancer, I don't think it would be such a bad idea. There were handing them out at the Getty Museum, and I saw a young woman at the U.C.L.A LA Times Book Fair carry one. She said she got in Japan Town(downtown L.A). Anyway, I may not take it out in the street after all......might appear too strange. I sure wish that 19th century trend would come back, though. I think it's cool.

We were up there for a while, and finally went down to join Akemi before the market closed at 7:30. Her shopping cart was totally filled with all kinds of groceries. What seemed very different to me was the way the meat looked. It looked like the livestock it had come from, was raised in a totally different environment. All the meat was pinky red with absolutely no marbling. They must have special farms. It certainly didn't come from stockyards in the Mid- West.

After the market closed, we went to pick up Aiako and headed for Musha Restaurant in Gardena.

We were given perfumed hot towels before our food was served. Saved me a trip to the Restroom or opening up my little bottle of 'Zap Germs' gel I carry in my purse. I wish I could remember the names of the Appetizers. Every single one was a "I want another one" . They served us raw meat on a little Hibachi served and cooked at the table. The meat again, as I said, was very different looking and very delicious. Just as I had seen in the market. Possibly it was the 'real' Kobe beef, but I am not sure where that kind of cattle is raised. By the way this is not one of those chain Benihana Reataurants. This is a 'real' Japanese restaurant, as Nicholas informed Luigi and I.

I also was surprised about the Tofu. It tasted different and so much more delicious from what I buy at the Market. Aiako said it was because it was made 'fresh'. After so many 'entrees' and salads we were still ready for dessert.

At one point Nicholas showed us the Dessert Menu. There was a misspelling of the word Cream Brulee. It was written as Cream Buree. I think that is the way they pronounce it anyway. Nicholas was living in Japan for about five years and met Akemi there. Their weekly trip to Gardena from Santa Monica helps them to overcome their homesickness for the food with their trips to Marukai Market.

If you have been reading my Blog, you probably can tell I enjoy talking about my Food experiences. What can I say. I'm no Chef Extrodinaire, but I do love to eat. And my experiences as a former Flight Attendant gave me many opportunities for eating Foreign cuisine.

Our little trip to Gardena was a little bit of a nostaligic experience for me in my memories of traveling to Japan.

If you see a woman on the street in L.A., who is neither Asian nor Hispanic, with a little blue Parasol, it's probably me.