The Chaniwa Bonsai

[Daddy-O]

You are a wearied traveler wandering the through the countryside. Something caught your eye running up the dirt path just ahead. Was that a cat? The path narrows to almost nothing at the next turn. Motion - that was a cat. You press on, pushing away the branches that close in around your face. Up ahead there is a small homestead. The cat is sitting at the gate. Did it just wave you in? The cat turns and walks into the garden.

Through the chumon gate you enter the chaniwa garden. The smell of freshly manicured plants draws you into the peace of the gurgling stream that flows down a short waterfall into a koi pond. A man notices that you have entered the chaniwa. He nods, puts down his shears in front of the ancient bosai, and disappears into the wood shingled tea house. You follow.

It takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the dim light of the stone lanterns. Music from the koto played in the corner lifts your spirit and soothes your soul. Soon you notice details of the room. Colorful red, black, and gold sliding paper doors lead to tatami rooms for more formal dining. In the main hall, you take your seat on the white futon in front of the low table. Soon the man is back with a bowl of hot soothing green tea, and an o-shibori.

"Konnichiwa. I am Skrobichimu. How can I serve you? To drink we have tea, sake, biiru, and if you need something stronger - shochu. To fill your belly we have plenty of tasty dishes: sashimi, miso, tofu, onigiri, and of course a variety of sushi - just to name a few. These lonely roads are becoming more traveled - strangers with new yellow fruits. It seems that business will be picking up. Stay for a drink, or a meal. For longer stays there are bed rolls and baths in the ryokan."

The cat brushes up against your leg. Did it smile? You do as you notice the other travelers that have been led to this place. The cat disappears through the garden and back down the path.

*menu found here:
http://chaniwa-bonsai.tripod.com/

*And by popular demand The Geishas
http://chaniwa-bonsai.tripod.com/geisha

[Paddy]

ahhh most excellent

a cup of your finest thank you

[Daddy-O]

Here is a plate of onigiri with miso, and a cup of sake.

I hope that you enjoy your stay.

KAN PAI!

[ormuzd]

a cup of tea for me, please

very nice place

(and great introduction too)

[jagjef]

A new place, what a great place.
Can I have a sake and a plate of mixed sushi.

/Jagjef

[Micha]

*Michaitsu enters the tea house, nodding to the guests already there.

Konnichiwa. A cup of tea, please, and something to eat. I´m getting crazy... Must be the sun. First, I daydreamed of a faraway place where I wore a strange red toga and had a barmaid above my shoulder, then suddenly a cat appeared and dragged me into here... I guess it´s just too hot. Skrobichimu-san, where can I obtain a sunshade?

[Daddy-O]

Konnichiwa. Please rest and enjoy.

*Skrobichimu sets out cups and pours hot green tea for all. A bottle of sake is placed at the table with cups./*

I hope that you enjoy the platter of food that I brought you. There is a variety of sushi, sashimi, onigiri, and that of course is wasabi.

Michaitsu, I too had a similar dream. There is a thin veil between the waking and dream world. But if you fear it is the heat I can provide you with a straw hat when you continue your journey.

If you need anything, I will be in the chaniwa tending to the Bonsai, just call for me.

*Skrobichimu disappears into the garden. The koto continues to play softly in the main hall./*

[Paddy]

more sake thank you Skrobichimu

[Daddy-O]

Sake for the Scot! Don't mind if I have some myself.

KAN PAI!

[Paddy]

cheers mate

ahhh the pleasures and great rainfall of our wild island

[marcuspeddle]

Just tea, please.

[Daddy-O]

A bowl of hot soothing green tea, and an o-shibori for our friend from the south of Korea.

Can I interest you in anything to eat?

[Addled Platypus]

Cold Sake in bambo box and a walk on my back by your finest female

would that be Platypus-son?

[Daddy-O]

Here is some cold sake for the Platypus that the cat dragged in. Gomen-nasai, pardon me, but this is a tea house not a massage parlor. We do have relaxing hot spring baths in the ryokan just through those doors. Will you be staying long?

[planet]

sake please

[Paddy]

oh, so how far to the nearest play house of the Geisha?

[planet]

is there a menu?

[Daddy-O]

*Skrobism brings Planet a cup of sake.

To drink we have tea, sake, biiru, and if you need something stronger - shochu. To fill your belly we have plenty of tasty dishes: sashimi, miso, tofu, onigiri, and of course a variety of sushi - just to name a few.

*Skrobism brings some biiru to Paddy.
I know that you'd be needing this cold one. Who is this geisha that you speak of?

[Paddy]

/me thanks Skrobichimu for his service and raises his cup in salute

ahhh Skrobichimu , she moves with mysterious ways, and has the power of bringing me to my knees, its alright, but I so do feel in a trance when I have have the pleasure of passing by. I have not full knowledge of this lady at this time, my sources tell me she is new to the area, and ahhhh

may I have more of this fire in a cup?

[Daddy-O]

More fire for Paddy.

KAN PAI!

[planet]

Originally posted by skrobism
*Skrobism brings Planet a cup of sake.

To drink we have tea, sake, biiru, and if you need something stronger - shochu. To fill your belly we have plenty of tasty dishes: sashimi, miso, tofu, onigiri, and of course a variety of sushi - just to name a few.

miso

[Rubychaser]

do you serve rum?

[Micha]

(Would it be possible to get a brief description of the various dishes and drinks, maybe with pictures, in the first post? Some of us may come from a remote Ainu village and thus may have never heard of some of these... )

[Paddy]

Originally posted by Micha
(Would it be possible to get a brief description of the various dishes and drinks, maybe with pictures, in the first post? Some of us may come from a remote Ainu village and thus may have never heard of some of these... )

indeed, and not one of them sounds like bangers and mash

[marcuspeddle]

Originally posted by skrobism
A bowl of hot soothing green tea, and an o-shibori for our friend from the south of Korea.

Can I interest you in anything to eat?

A bowl of miso soup with cubes of tofu and a bowl of plain rice. And a few slices of pickled radish. Yum yum.
And keep the tea coming.

Thanks

[Daddy-O]

*tea, miso with tofu, a bowl of rice, and pickled radishes are brought to the man with the Nikon.

SoS - I don't have any of this "Rum" as our trade routes only extend over the hills. If fire water is what you are looking for please try the shochu.

*A plate of bangers and mash is tossed to the table in front of the heathen with the finger up his nose.



I'll have to talk to that cat about the people he's been dragging in.

[Paddy]

* Lord Samurai Paddiock Taronga enters, smiles and orders several dishes and sake

a wonderful establishment you have here Landlord

[Micha]

Originally posted by Micha
(Would it be possible to get a brief description of the various dishes and drinks, maybe with pictures, in the first post? Some of us may come from a remote Ainu village and thus may have never heard of some of these... )

*cough* *cough*

[Daddy-O]

*A platter of several dishes, all containing rice, seaweed and fish are brought out to the table for Micha and Paddiock Taronga.

Enjoy your food and Sake.

Pictures of your food will follow soon.

[Daddy-O]

* Skrobichimu strolls through the chaniwa, humming as the music of the koto mixes with the gurgling stream.