Photo blog of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

I've been curious about the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens for a long time, ever since I interviewed a lady in this old report at the park near the entrance. I saw here in the Palm Beach Post that its limited-time-only exhibit, "Samurai Culture: Treasures of South Florida Collection," would be ending on Sunday. So my husband Nathan and I ventured out to Delray Beach on my lunch-break today. The only downside was that I couldn't take photos of the samurai exhibit, it wasn't allowed... but it was cool to see, let me reassure you. :) 

Instead of writing a lot here, I just want to post these photos and link you here to the garden map, because it's interesting! It was really HOT and I kind of rushed through it a bit since I was so busy and had to get back to work... but we did enjoy ourselves. :)

Two necessities -- a map and cold water

The "Ancient Gate," or "Kodai-mon" made out of Japanese cypress is inspired by entrances of large mansions of high-ranking samurai during the Edo Period (1600-1868)

Love the Bamboo Grove

So much green-- it was really restful and beautiful

Karesansui Late Rock Garden

 Nelson Family Memorial Garden

Morikami Memorial, which are traditional gravestones for George Sujaki Morikami, the park's namesake. The marker beside it is in memory of Jo Sakai and Mitsusaburo Oki, founders of the Yamato Colony, Florida's first Japanese colony. I never realized the major street in Boca Raton, Yamato Road, had this rich history...<--click  to read.

Bonsai garden...

Koi pond and waterfall...

The below photos are of the previous Morikami museum, and they show Japanese culture/life:

 Showing mass transit in Japan

 Typical school

 Are you a Japanese student?

Sample Japanese kitchen-- note the noodles!

 Filipinos have rice cookers, too ;) 

Sliding doors

Someone should tell Nathan the sign says "Not a working toilet"

 Rocky Point

Waterfall

Tea house and traditional tea garden

The museum hosts an upcoming Sushi & Stroll event coming up on September 12, 2014... think you'll go? Let me know if you are interested in Japanese culture in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,

~Angela~

Lake Worth Beach and a beach wedding

I'm understandably obsessed with beaches, since I live near what I believe are some of the prettiest Florida beaches around. I am a #waterbaby and I first and foremost appreciate beautiful water! Although I admire the white sugar-sand beaches of Pensacola and the West Coast of Florida, NOTHING compares to the gorgeous ocean on this East Coast, IMHO.

Lake Worth Beach -- notice the restaurant on the pier!

Lake Worth beach is my new discovery! I first went to the charming Lake Avenue a couple of weeks ago when I had to go to the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County's headquarters for work. I was amazed at the beachy Main Street vibe, much like a mini-Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach a bit more south. So I knew I had to explore the beach...

My husband Nathan and I went there this weekend, and we enjoyed ourselves. Parking was reasonable, although I do prefer the free parking at Riviera Beach (we always go to the Two Drunken Goats strip mall there). I did like that it was a shorter walk to the beach in Lake Worth compared to Riviera, and I loved that there is an even better strip mall with a Mulligan's restaurant and a KILWIN'S ice cream shop! Yes, I did get a scoop of cookie dough ice cream after the hot beach. :)

The Lake Worth Casino is right there, and the pier has a restaurant on it. #Bonus

Best of all, we saw the setup of a beach wedding! So much fun!

I may have snapped a few photos while nonchalantly pretending to just walk by...

Very nice, very nice! They were lucky it wasn't raining, you know how hit-or-miss our forecast can be!

The DJ was already putting out good tunes...

I admit I took this bridesmaids photo while they weren't looking because I adored the seafoam-green, mint color palette they were working with. I almost snapped a photo when all 4 bridesmaids were together, but that would have been super-obvious and they would have known for sure that I'm cray-cray and nosy. Only you readers know that about me. ;)

While I was out in the water, I had my goggles on and I saw a BIG OL' FISH that made me jump and scream. Nathan flopped back because of my reaction. I'm told it was a tarpon (see below what popped up when I Googled tarpon-- looks about right), but whatever it was, I SWAM AWAY. 

Scary big fish or no, I will definitely plan to return to Lake Worth Beach. I also see they have beach yoga there! I SO plan to try that one day! Here's the website for I Love Beach Yoga.

I stole this photo from this webcam link.

Oooh, you know you wanna go! :) Note to self: invest in a better beach umbrella. Had to chase mine down once when it blew away, then I had to sit there all ghetto-fied and HOLD IT the whole time I was sitting under it. Rachet beach gear... But my friend Julia was right-- she wrote on Facebook, "Nobody feels sorry for you, you're ON THE BEACH!" #TrueThat #NoComplaintsAllowedOnTheSand