.SOMETIMES RAW.

I have seen many bookstores all over the world but none of them comes close to The Strand Bookstore. I usually make it my goal wherever I am in this beautiful world to find the bookstores in town and just browse along. When I just moved to Manhattan I walked the city which I think is the best way to discover new things in town. Cab and subway is okay but walking beats it all. And I walked Manhattan, believe me it was the best. I discovered so many awesome restaurants, stores, thrift/vintage stores, café’s you name it. I wrote the addresses down as I walked by or checked the location out right then and there. Sometimes I came back a couple of days later.  It was a great adventure and somewhat challenge. I lived in New Jersey before duh! So back to Manhattan: One Saturday morning I packed my bag and started walking downtown to explore the East and West Village. I ended up in front of The Strand Bookstore because I got somewhat lost after taking some wrong turns.

As soon as you get there you see many books placed nicely on bookshelves around the store. These are mostly very cheap, used and some even for free. Browsing through all those was taking me forever and I found a bunch of books that interested me right there and then. I decided to go in to see these 18 miles of books as they advertise on their logo.

The store: 

As soon as you walk in you find a multitude of books in diverse topics that are nicely placed on large tables right at the entrance. One table for example was labeled “The best of the best” – or “New Fiction and New Non-fiction”.  At the entrance are the cashiers and this is also where you pick up your pre-ordered books. Next to the register they have all sort of stationary and gifts with the Strand bookstore logo printed on. Cups, pens, pencils, stickers, t-shirts, bags you name it. And yes, I always purchase something from this section of the store as well – usually pens or a little notebook. Guilty as charged. As you walk further all you see is bookshelves from floor to ceiling. You can only reach the books on top with a ladder.

You do have to have patience sometimes because there are a lot of people in it. It does not even matter when you go there. I have been there last on a Friday afternoon and it was packed. However, I was there on a Monday afternoon and it was quite the same. People are just walking through the isles and then suddenly stop and stare in awe at some books. Sometimes I just do the same – sucking in this atmosphere of awesomeness. If you are a book lover you know what I mean. 😉

There is an information desk all the way down the isle and they are very helpful. I never experienced any rudeness or attitude and believe me, Strand bookstore could have been my second address. Some of my friends suggested I put my mailbox at the entrance of the store.

Usually browsing along is just great if you have a lot of time and you will find what you are looking for on your own. There are stairs and an elevator to access the three floors. (One floor in the basement and two upper floors).

I love that you can find pretty much everything you are seeking, used and new and also a good selection of discounted books. The bookstore is great to visit with kids! On the top floor is the kids-section with many possibilities to sit down and read or discover new books with them. The restrooms are also on the top floor.

So if you are a book nerd like me you have to check out this bookstore whenever you are in New York. Their selection is amazing. Definitely a  New York must-see! If you are loaded with bags once you come in make sure to use their “free bag-check in” at the entrance. This way you can enjoy the bookstore without additional weight.

Enjoy book nerds!

(My title picture shows what I purchased on Friday!)

“Don’t dunk your nigiri in the soy sauce. Don’t mix your wasabi in the soy sauce. If the rice is good, complement your sushi chef on the rice”. – Anthony Bourdain

I love Sushi. The fist time I tried is was when I was 20 years old… but better late than never. I was hooked ever since. I just love this freshness of the fish, the taste, the soy sauce and wasabi and just feeling happy after I ate all my rolls. Not stuffed or at all bloated, just fine.

So last week my family and I had been in Canada. We love this country btw and are there as often as we can (more on that later). We booked a night at Algonquin College Residency and were very hungry when we arrived. Hungry for Sushi. My husband and I have already eaten at this Sushi Restaurant before and we loved it so we took the rest of the family there.

Location: 

Hao Sushi in Ottawa, Canada.1580 Merivale Road, Ottawa, ON K2G 4B5, Canada, Phone number (613) 680-0188

Ordering by Tech: 

Once you enter the restaurant you will be seated and the first thing you see is an iPad on your table. You order via this iPad and it is super easy. You click on everything you want and hit the “sent” button. Done. The waitress actually comes to your table and asks you what you want to drink as soon as you sit down. They offer everything from non-alcoholic to sake. You do not have to bring your own alcohol if you prefer to drink some during you meal.

Ambience and Style:

I describe the restaurant as okay. I would change the mirrors on the wall for example and give the place some new paint. But overall it is very clean and has this Japanese Style to it. The staff is very responsive and friendly and seating is very comfortable if you choose to sit in one of their booths. If you go there on a date it is definitely a great intimate experience. Well, we went there with two kids and it was good as well and we sat in one of the booths. My son is almost two years old and he climbed all over the place, played with the chop sticks and soy sauce and the iPad of course after we ordered which meant: WE enjoyed eating in peace. 🙂

Food: 

We ordered way too much with the iPad so the waitress came and told us that we ordered Sushi for like 5-6 persons and how “big” these rolls really are. Well, then again, they do not know my husband when it comes to eating Sushi… also, I love it soooo much too but get stuffed and full way quicker than he does. 🙂 We were impressed with the food when it arrived. We ordered Ramen Soup and Edamame for Appetizer and they came quickly, literally a couple of minutes after we ordered. The rolls looked amazing, also did the Sashimi. The soups were hot and tasty and the Edamame slightly salty and crunchy. Not soggy and overcooked or slimly.

The rice tasted really good, fluffy and fresh and was not gummy or too cold which proves that they made it fresh. The toppings were all awesome, fresh and of the best quality. We had their spice tuna roll and it was just to die for. Also check out their Dragon Roll! I have to add though that the sashimi pieces were really small but very fresh!

Service:

I thought the service was great. Very helpful, especially after the waitress came to our table to let us know we ordered way too much and they do not want to waste the food. They were also very accommodating to bring the rice bowl for my son right away so I could feed him first thing.

Price:

We (3 people plus one baby who had a free bowl of plain rice) ate a lot and were really stuffed for 60 Dollars (Canadian) which is cheap!

Overall:

I definitely want to go back to this place and we do every time we are in Ottawa. It is some sort of tradition at this point. This place is definitely a treat to the tastebuds and made me want to go to Japan to eat Sushi all day long – this is how fresh it felt. There is just a lot of variety when you order which is great. They have so many different roles, appetizer and other stuff that you will find something you like for sure.

This is just the place to go for great fresh sushi.

Enjoy if you are ever in this area by chance.

Thank you for reading.

“What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter – a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.” – Henri Matisse

What is balance? Balancing things out in life…. I have been thinking about it for a long time. Especially today and I realized that things can be balanced but there will never be a routine of some sort. One phone call from someone and everything in your life can change. I talked to my father today via Skype. My grandfather is in hospital since yesterday and I do not know if he is making it out alive. He is almost 86 years old. Wow, if I will ever be that old? If I will ever make it that far? Hearing this I realize again that I have to balance out my life. That I cannot go to crazy in either direction. Life can change or be over so soon. There is not need to stress too much.

I know I have responsibilities in life and I know there are expectations from others that I live my life a certain way. Well, I just cannot balance this all out anymore. Life has changed. My life is a constant change and I love it the way it is. Others might think it is crazy and that there is no “routine” but it is okay with me. I am working on not feeling too bad about leaving my family behind  in Germany and not having enough personal time with them that I can spend anymore. This hurts me so much still. I lived with my parents for almost two years with my son and now things changed. My son and I are back in the U.S. and waiting for the next change. The Congo-change.

Life changes constantly and you never know if you even wake up the next morning. I just have to do what makes me happy.  If I am 100% into something it is hard for me not to give 100%. I like to do things how I envision them. When life throws you a curveball you have to change – your expectations need to change. Even your life has to change sometimes. I just do not like to run around with this sense of guilt all the time that I haven’t done something, haven’t called someone, haven’t done something according to someone’s expectations. My life is not perfect. Far from it. Life will get busier and busier and I will have to adapt and change – my perspective has to change.

No matter what anybody tells me, I know one things for sure. I know for sure that  I go to bed at night with this feeling that I was present as a good wife and mother. Even though there are points when my husband and I argue (mostly because of me I have to admit) but I know I am doing a good job and I am balanced. When I make mistakes I am aware that I can change the situation by improving so my family which is my biggest priority in life never gets pushed aside or down any ladders. I also know that I have to live up to MY expectations and nobody else’s. Everybody lives their own life. And to realize this just feels good. I realize that this is helping me fixing my feelings of being so un-balanced at times. I simply realize that I have a priority list for MY life and some things are higher up there and nobody needs to worry about those things but I!

With me stressing sometimes about all kind of things I have to just balance things and chill. Being married to a Frenchi it should be all clear. I mean, all the French people I met so far are so laid back and stress-free it is amazing. When my husband is having his coffee and breakfast in the morning he can just chill, sit, and relax. I on the other hand try to find a cure for AIDS and split an atom. Trying to do everything at the same time, stressing – because this is embedded in my mind. Why? Because this is how I have been raised. Always worrying about everything and stressing. I try to please something, someone, balance things out to simply please. I have to realize that if I cannot finish something there is always tomorrow. Simple as that. Many times life is just difficult and things do not get done on time. But it is all okay. I always try to remember that I only have this ONE shot on life.

To realize this and apply it on a daily basis – tough but manageable with time.