Meeting Misai

A year ago I met Yukari. She had left a message on my photoblog after an exchange of email, we started chatting over im (she lives in Kyoto where she runs a hostel owned by her family). A few weeks ago, she told me that her sister was coming to New York and asked if I could show her around. I said yes. Last night I met Misai and her friend for the first time.

We met at Markt, a Belgian brasserie in the meatpacking district. The night was warm; the windows were thrown open. Our waitress had to keep returning to take our orders as we navigated the menus. We started with beers I've never heard of and a selection of oysters. Misai ordered a tuna tartare to share. Her friend had the saumon au fenouil, a grilled salmon with her roasted fennel and plum tomatoes. She had the potage de fruits de mer markt, a sampling of seafood and shellfish stewed with vegetables in a tomato saffron broth. I had the thon grilled, et confit de legumes, which consisted of ahi tuna with tapenade, steamed potatoes, and provencale vegetables. The tuna was fresh, and Misai gave her approval.

After dinner we shared a lemon tart served with a side of raspberry beer sorbet. Misai ordered another glass of beer, choosing the beer I had chosen after sampling all the glasses at the table. We talked about Japan and our past travels. She is in town to try to find a sponsor for her fashion line, and we talked about her studies in Italy.

For drinks, we went to APT. The wind had picked up, blowing sand all around us. We found the nondescript doorway and entered the bar. Misai laughed and said that had we not known, we never would have found it. I pointed out that the two large bouncers outside made it a little more obvious. We sat by the bed and ordered drinks. I ordered a Sapporo, and when the can came, they both remarked on how different it was from the cans in Japan. Misai said she was going to keep it.

We listened to the music and watched as the room filled. We talked about relationships and the relative height of her siblings. She said that Yukari was very tall. I told her she was tall. She said, yes, in Japan she is especially tall. She said that the bar was especially large, which surprised me. She said that in Kyoto all the bars are very small, and that when guests of their hostel ask for bars to hang out in, she is hard pressed to recommend one that can accomodate large groups. She asked when I was next to come to Japan. I told her I didn't know. Although the wheels in my head are spinning with ideas for travels next year.

At midnight, we left the bar. Misai washed out the can in the bathroom on our way out. I found them a cab. She asked me what I was doing Friday and we made plans to meet up. She wants to go dancing, but I'm not sure where to take them. The air was thick with the smell of rain, and as I walked home a light rain came and went. Posted by eku at April 21, 2005 11:35 AM