My first rice balls! Or rice triangles, really. I think I forgot to mention the secret weapon that got us through Eejanaika Day without either fainting from hunger or OD-ing on amusement park junk were the home-made rice balls that Hiroe brought to the party. Ridiculously satisfying, healthy, inexpensive, portable, easy to make...what's not to love?

My seaweed wrapping skills need a little polishing. But I am very happy--thank you Hiroe--to have learned this great alternative to energy bars for on-the-go sustenance, which I require more of than the average bear.

This is a problem. People here don't walk around eating or drinking, it is considered very bad form. The exception is if you buy something from one of the ubiquitous vending machines, it is ok to stand next to the machine and drink it. I have been reduced to furtively chomping off a chunk of Soy Joy while dodging between parked cars. Although really there is nowhere to hide in this city. On the bright side, it turns out that I CAN go for more than half an hour without food. Who knew?

(My brother Roland informed me, by the way, that at the recent Olympics in BC people stood in line for 8 hours to ride a 30-second zip line. Whatttt?! I bet they were wishing they had some rice balls....)