I've been to San Francisco many times, and while I now know my way around enough as well as many locals, I never really feel like I'm in the United States when I'm there. It's so exotic compared to the Midwest or South, or even the Northeast. Nowhere is the influence of the Far East as evident as at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

My sister who has lived there for more than half her life, has always expressed a desire to take me to the Japanese Tea Garden, but there is never enough time; because she ... (more)