Today my lovely girlfriend and I went on a pre-birthday celebration adventure to the city. When referring to the city, I obviously mean San Francisco (where else - puh-lease).
A couple years ago we had gone to the Japanese Tea Garden (under her recommendation) and we found it to be very lovely. So, two years on the dot later, we decide to go again. Perhaps we didn't find the need to visit last year because we were both preparing to fly out to Japan ... yeah.. that seems about right.
Anyway, she isn't coming with me this year, so we went.
Finding the place was a lot easier this time, I will admit. Since then we have had a lot more experience driving around San Francisco, and I am not too bad with the street map nowadays. Parking, which last time was also a pain, was easier to come by as well. Really I think the only thing that was exceptionally annoying was the fact that the Tea Garden only took cash for admission and there was no ATM to be found (of course there was one inside the damn place though, what a conspiracy).
Eventually we made it within the garden's walls - the flowers were nice and the walkways were none but a pleasant stroll. These sorts of places always make me feel nostalgic for the real Japan, and I am glad I am going back there again so soon.
We sat down and had some tea (after I pulled money out of the god damn ATM, 2.50 fee my ass) and a squirrel was hopping around under the tables eating the crumbs; he was a brave one.
The cherry blossoms were soon going to drop all of their flowers, and it was very beautiful, so we came on a perfect day.
Later on we met up with her grandpa at his office and he took us out for a birthday dinner at a restaurant aptly named "Herbivore". It goes without saying that they had a good menu.
The pad thai was pretty good, but it doesn't beat Dharma's version at all, not even close... (I am seriously addicted to it).
After that we drove home. Pure excitment.
I don't know why I feel compelled to document this in so much detail, I can't imagine who would want to read this...
