Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The break up... :(
Once I got back home, I heard a stocking news... :( Tina and Hans was breaking up :(:( I was really really worry and feel very sad lerh~~~ I kinda know hows it happen a few days after and um.. it's really a difficult situation... but Hans gonna make his step, actually he started but things happen before Tina knows it... Hope that it's not too late la~~ It doesn't seems too great at the time I was leaving tho ~_~ finger cross~
A week in LA
Was working in LA for a week. I was feeling a bit weird that everyone in the office just tried too hard to be good to me... ~_~ It's a good sign anyway... I know I have nothing to complain... just felt a bit weird... I know it's so bad to say it but I did feel a bit embarrassing...
I still prefer working in SB... but seems that next time come to the State, I will probably work in LA office... hope that they will still save me a place to work in their SB house... :P I still enjoy to work a bit, talk to Zag a bit and play with Nina a bit and then go back to work... :)
Stayed in Darius & Carina's home... I love their house... :) good environment
Made friend with their neighbors Billy and Ethan. They are Jewish, and big fan of Lakers... We spent a few fantastic NBA payoff nights in their flat :D It's interesting to meet people with different background, different culture~~
At the end of the week, I went to the LA Museum of Natural History to see the butterfly exhibition :) love it!!!
The weather wasn't very warm and all the butterflies were being lazy lying everywhere. And it's the best time for photograph!!!! :D haha... the first second I step into the room, a butterfly just laid on me and not leaving even I try to put it away softly :D... how amazing~~
It's a bit dangerous on my way back to SB :S I almost fell asleep when I was driving again :( super scary... actually on my way to LA I was very tired too but I kinda knew it and stop by somewhere, rest a bit and go again.. but on my way back, it's a bit late and I wanted to go home asap and... yep... I will really take rest next time when I feel I gonna fall asleep lerh~~~scary scary
I still prefer working in SB... but seems that next time come to the State, I will probably work in LA office... hope that they will still save me a place to work in their SB house... :P I still enjoy to work a bit, talk to Zag a bit and play with Nina a bit and then go back to work... :)
Stayed in Darius & Carina's home... I love their house... :) good environment
Made friend with their neighbors Billy and Ethan. They are Jewish, and big fan of Lakers... We spent a few fantastic NBA payoff nights in their flat :D It's interesting to meet people with different background, different culture~~
At the end of the week, I went to the LA Museum of Natural History to see the butterfly exhibition :) love it!!!
The weather wasn't very warm and all the butterflies were being lazy lying everywhere. And it's the best time for photograph!!!! :D haha... the first second I step into the room, a butterfly just laid on me and not leaving even I try to put it away softly :D... how amazing~~
It's a bit dangerous on my way back to SB :S I almost fell asleep when I was driving again :( super scary... actually on my way to LA I was very tired too but I kinda knew it and stop by somewhere, rest a bit and go again.. but on my way back, it's a bit late and I wanted to go home asap and... yep... I will really take rest next time when I feel I gonna fall asleep lerh~~~scary scary
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Burn After Reading (7.5)
It is such a cool weird film~~ I think the story is really good and the actor did very well too... It's ridiculous in an imaginative way~~~ And Brad Pitt is so hilarious. Maybe when those the handsomest guys act funny, everyone would love to see haha...~~~ and I love it~
Kids (6.5)
I'm a bit disappointed by this movie... maybe because too many people saying it's such a good movie and I'd too high expectation... or maybe I found it too much emphasis on the sex scene.. um... but more or less it's the reality and part of the society. um... maybe just about the timing... it would be much surprising if I saw it when the movie just out... It's not a bad one really... lalalalala... it's not a waste of time at all... I put it into my can-see list~~
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Ladybird~~
Yea the baby goat in our house, she's given a new name and she just keep running with me, eating everything in the garden... jump jump jump~~~ she actually jump quite high lately~~ :D:D:D super super super... dont know if she might forget me when I come back again ~_~
Thai dinner~~
I was asking Tina what can I make some dishes with my peanut butter on Friday and it's how we start thinking of this lovely Thai farewell dinner :)... She suggested making a Thai Satad sauce and roast chicken~~ ^__^ and then she gonna make Thai chicken coconut soup~~:P woooohooo~~~~
So I woke up on Sat morning~, went to hardware shop and make the office key I've lost :P went to Peet's and spend a morning there~~ back home, had a simple lunch... and go to shop and get things prepared... everything were running smooth~~ and I marinated the chicken and prepared the sauce before I went out~~:D I went to Goleta beach, laid under sun a bit... and went for basketball, gym (I realised I should train up a bit my thigh muscles so that I can jump higher)~~ Super nice day~~~ start cooking lazily....
The dinner was super nice~~ I do love the soup and of cause the roast chicken and the sauce was super good.... everyone loves it lalallalala :D
After dinner I went to Darius' home and meet Carina's friends. Both of them are super cute~~ They're from Canada (French Canadian) and one of them works in Paris and another worked in London and moved to LA~~~ they are just super nice~~~
It's such a great day~~ ^__^.....
So I woke up on Sat morning~, went to hardware shop and make the office key I've lost :P went to Peet's and spend a morning there~~ back home, had a simple lunch... and go to shop and get things prepared... everything were running smooth~~ and I marinated the chicken and prepared the sauce before I went out~~:D I went to Goleta beach, laid under sun a bit... and went for basketball, gym (I realised I should train up a bit my thigh muscles so that I can jump higher)~~ Super nice day~~~ start cooking lazily....
The dinner was super nice~~ I do love the soup and of cause the roast chicken and the sauce was super good.... everyone loves it lalallalala :D
After dinner I went to Darius' home and meet Carina's friends. Both of them are super cute~~ They're from Canada (French Canadian) and one of them works in Paris and another worked in London and moved to LA~~~ they are just super nice~~~
It's such a great day~~ ^__^.....
Big Green Big Sur~~
So happy to have a half day off and go camping~~ The only time I went for a camping was like 10 years ago... with Chow Chow and friends~~ It was pretty horrible experience tho. Yellow rainning alert~~ got wet through out the whole day and night...wao... can't believe that I did that really...
Anyway, we've got ready and leave SB at 3...a bit later than we thought but it's great day to go... It's a warm sunny day (normally it's quite cold over there)... It was a nice drive too... I've slept for a tiny bit :P and we arrived at around 7:30. It takes quite a bit longer than I thought... but it worthy~~:D
The red wood there was amazingly tall... It's such a beautiful place to go.... Thanks soooo much for Amber's the best camping planner...~~ woohooo~~~ She's prepared everything and all the meals when we're there~~!!! We set up the tants, and setlle down everyhting... start cooking dinner... played a game called Blockus... which is a very fun stredgy game :) and I won Amber in the first game... lost the second one with Darius. When we were waiting for grilling the salmon for dinner, we smoked too much weed :P and me and Darius we soooo stone, couldn't even really taste the dinner and had to liad down ~_~... Supposed it's some life music there in the bar,,, but we couldnt make it :( aiya~~~~~
The second day was super chill out~~ basically did nothing but eat eat eat and eat... big breakfast, big burger lunch and big steak dinner~~~ We went for a hike, took pictures around~~~ super relax and had a nice dinner. We'd played some games again and I really get the blockus game this time, I won Darius for over double points~~ woohooo~~ We've played another game, I cant remember the name and a card game called Romera too...~~
On Sunday, I've waken up a bit earlier than them and did a little bit yoga... really a tiny tiny bit~~ haha... and being lazy again... packed up a bit of things... had a breakfast and did nothing until we have to leave...
We then went to the Pfeiffer Beach... it was an amazing place too~~ dont know how to explian... see those pictures~~ I just love those foggy beaches in general~~~
We then went to see some Elephane Seals~~ wao wao wao~~~ it is just soooooooooo many of them lying down on the beach~~~ !!! amazing amazing~~~ They are super funny doing stupid things but quite smelly >_< ~~
Just when I thought it's the end of the trip, Amber brought us to a very interesting Hotel, Madonna Inn~~~ and it's just sooooo over the top~~~ everything are super crafted a lot of pinky stuff~~ pink sugar pink rooms... balblablalbal wah~~~ the cakes there are amazing tho~~~ Somehow... I was just thinking too much about how great if would be if I come with someone that I love... wao... and I did imagine and put someone in that fit for the sinerio~~ haha :P yea~~~ shit... I was just thinking too much.... ~_~ just about to arrive SB, Darius got a speed ticket >_<>
Anyway, we've got ready and leave SB at 3...a bit later than we thought but it's great day to go... It's a warm sunny day (normally it's quite cold over there)... It was a nice drive too... I've slept for a tiny bit :P and we arrived at around 7:30. It takes quite a bit longer than I thought... but it worthy~~:D
The red wood there was amazingly tall... It's such a beautiful place to go.... Thanks soooo much for Amber's the best camping planner...~~ woohooo~~~ She's prepared everything and all the meals when we're there~~!!! We set up the tants, and setlle down everyhting... start cooking dinner... played a game called Blockus... which is a very fun stredgy game :) and I won Amber in the first game... lost the second one with Darius. When we were waiting for grilling the salmon for dinner, we smoked too much weed :P and me and Darius we soooo stone, couldn't even really taste the dinner and had to liad down ~_~... Supposed it's some life music there in the bar,,, but we couldnt make it :( aiya~~~~~
The second day was super chill out~~ basically did nothing but eat eat eat and eat... big breakfast, big burger lunch and big steak dinner~~~ We went for a hike, took pictures around~~~ super relax and had a nice dinner. We'd played some games again and I really get the blockus game this time, I won Darius for over double points~~ woohooo~~ We've played another game, I cant remember the name and a card game called Romera too...~~
On Sunday, I've waken up a bit earlier than them and did a little bit yoga... really a tiny tiny bit~~ haha... and being lazy again... packed up a bit of things... had a breakfast and did nothing until we have to leave...
We then went to the Pfeiffer Beach... it was an amazing place too~~ dont know how to explian... see those pictures~~ I just love those foggy beaches in general~~~
We then went to see some Elephane Seals~~ wao wao wao~~~ it is just soooooooooo many of them lying down on the beach~~~ !!! amazing amazing~~~ They are super funny doing stupid things but quite smelly >_< ~~
Just when I thought it's the end of the trip, Amber brought us to a very interesting Hotel, Madonna Inn~~~ and it's just sooooo over the top~~~ everything are super crafted a lot of pinky stuff~~ pink sugar pink rooms... balblablalbal wah~~~ the cakes there are amazing tho~~~ Somehow... I was just thinking too much about how great if would be if I come with someone that I love... wao... and I did imagine and put someone in that fit for the sinerio~~ haha :P yea~~~ shit... I was just thinking too much.... ~_~ just about to arrive SB, Darius got a speed ticket >_<>
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Milk (8.5)
Love it love it love it!! Really can't imagine, it is just 30 sth years ago... The people in US was still so uncivilized.... um... it's really lucky that we're born in this era... ~~ btw, Sean Penn was doing great in the movie! :)
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Way We Are 天水圍的日與夜(7)
It's just one of the stories around us happen... super simple, real story of the framily probably just next you. A lot of people might find it boring and I wouldn't say I love it very much neither. Yea... A single mum, a kid who's not drug addict, doing okay in school, having a normal relationship with his mum, gradma and his relative. People help each other. We do see the kind of love and connection from it. And ya, it is just the way we are... I am so glad that some people have made this film and I did enjoy watching it...We seldom find this kinda film in HK anymore which simply recording real, nothing-really-specail, no violent, no sex kinda stories.... I am more appreciate the intention of making a film like this really...
I like its English name more than the Chinese one... it's just simply about the movie... while I m feeling the name with 天水圍 is kinda a talking point at that time... well... maybe that's the whole point of taking the movie, at least the starting point I guess... Well, Im just saying it. I dont dislike it or what...
Life in SB (1 month passed)
4MAY09
Switched the car in the morning after paying the penalty on parking ><>
5MAY09
Work work work... and basketball today, I am feeling I m getting much fitter then when I just came... esp in basketball court!! :D
7MAY09
I did play some good basketball games today~~ :D And then watched a nice movie...
The fire in SB is getting more serious! The smoke is just next to us...super close... and we might needa evacuate.... >_<>
Switched the car in the morning after paying the penalty on parking ><>
5MAY09
Work work work... and basketball today, I am feeling I m getting much fitter then when I just came... esp in basketball court!! :D
7MAY09
I did play some good basketball games today~~ :D And then watched a nice movie...
The fire in SB is getting more serious! The smoke is just next to us...super close... and we might needa evacuate.... >_<>
Poor Car
03MAY09
Actually it's poor me ~_~... It's a nice weekend but not for my car~~ First I've got a packing ticket which I really didn't know it was a time limit parking zone! It's no sign around I sware!
And then on the lovely sunday morning... Tina found that it's a flat tire on my car! kinda undrivable flat tire...~~ Hans was just super nice helping me to chage to the spare tire... The first time I realise that it's actually pretty simple to change tires~~ :D Hans does it all... but I kinda know how to do it now :)
Actually it's poor me ~_~... It's a nice weekend but not for my car~~ First I've got a packing ticket which I really didn't know it was a time limit parking zone! It's no sign around I sware!
And then on the lovely sunday morning... Tina found that it's a flat tire on my car! kinda undrivable flat tire...~~ Hans was just super nice helping me to chage to the spare tire... The first time I realise that it's actually pretty simple to change tires~~ :D Hans does it all... but I kinda know how to do it now :)
An Inconvenient Truth (9)
Everyone of us should see it! It's the only thing in my mind after seeing it... It's a documentory about saving the world... All of us really should do something urgently. I did know some of those but it made a very storg statement that it is serious, it is urgent, we all can do something, and it could be a significant change if we do. It's not just slowing the world breaking apart but we could heal the world.
City Without Baseball (2)
I m sorry to say it but I do find this movie disgusting... A lot a lot of random naked scenes, the director dont even know what's he trying to say himself kinda movie. Well I guess the marketing of the movie did save him a bit I guess but I very much feel the actors were cheated to show their muscles and dicks to satisfy the director's own desire. They might have dreamed their naked acting could help promoting their love baseball development in HK... yea... I dont want to be mean but it's never gonna happen~~ The movie wasn't cool, the people inside wasn't cool, the story was boring, kinda shit movie that I had to fastforward quite a bit when I watched it. Unless you are interested in those not very handsome guys taking shower and run naked. Don't waste your time~
Not having Internet is okay sometimes...
I dont have internet here at home most of the time... and I m really not feeling disappointed... well... it's not very convenience sometimes but most of the time I do enjoy without it... I m feeling I m having much more time to do other stuff.... play basketball, watch movies, play with animals... whatever I dont have much time to do in HK I can do here~~ :D
Death Note 1,2 & 3 (5, 4.5 & 1.5)
Have seen quite a few movies that I wanted to see for a while lately... not that I think they would be good... but somehow... I wanna have a look... Death note is one of them... I kinda expected it wouldn't be good (I did love the comic!) but I keep asking people if they have that DVD... finally I've got them from DV998 :P I did feel a bit guilty but um... Even Daat Daat and Leo do that... plus the whole Advertising industry... I really can't find a reason not to... and HK don't have Amazon ma... quite a lot of those DVD are just not worth the money~~~ I wouldn't even thought of watching them if they are not as cheap~~~~ anyway... all are just excuses I know...
Back to the movie, first of all... the casting of Kira was really disappointing... He is so not handsome and not looking smart which lost most of the charm of the movie... L was fine. Probably his acting was good... He's that kinda weird which just fit the charactor. Another good one was Misa Misa... haha she is very cute, looking exactly the same as the comic book~~ haha... They have cut off a lot of necessary scenes and some interesting stuff from the comic... Anyway... it's just boring and not great.
The third episode was just a lie... nothing related to the original story... Just a money making kinda film follow with the heat from death note. hate it hate it hate it.
Back to the movie, first of all... the casting of Kira was really disappointing... He is so not handsome and not looking smart which lost most of the charm of the movie... L was fine. Probably his acting was good... He's that kinda weird which just fit the charactor. Another good one was Misa Misa... haha she is very cute, looking exactly the same as the comic book~~ haha... They have cut off a lot of necessary scenes and some interesting stuff from the comic... Anyway... it's just boring and not great.
The third episode was just a lie... nothing related to the original story... Just a money making kinda film follow with the heat from death note. hate it hate it hate it.
Soundless Wind Chime (8.5)
Forgot to say something about this movie~~ I do love it! It's one of the best, most touching low budget movie taken by a new director (he's only 29/30) I have seen these few years... I hate people making this kinda comment saying it's not a gay moive but a love story really... Yep... why can't it be labeled... It's nothing wrong with it really... The way the director treat the way to tell the story and the editing was very mature as a new new director. He does put a few not-really-necessary-sexual-scene in the movie but he also kinda gave them some reasons to happen... Well maybe that how we make up stories and have more "selling point" to people... And it was 1 scene that I wasn't sure why was it there... but anyway, I was touched and I would give it an 8~ haha... yea.... recommended~~~
Friday, May 1, 2009
Tracy in SB 09
Tracy just came to SB for a weekend~~ We hanged around SB a bit...
We were (acutally it was only me) thinking to go to Solving but didn't get ourselves too rush and decided not to go... Played with the animals... taken some pictures.... super lay back~~~ wowohooo~~~ The beach was super windy and we only stayed for 20mins maybe? and left. Had a very very very nice dinner in boat House, a restaurant by the beach... super nice food :D except the fish wasn't as good as the one I had in the Harbour.
We went for a crazy shopping in an outlet on the way to LA... I was more crazy than Tracy as usual... I m a bit scared of myself if I am prepared to do some shopping... Everytime I prepared to do some shopping, I would really buy a lot... maybe I really shouldn't plan any shopping really...
And then, it's some more shopping in Melrose. Mainly got some super cheap stuff but nice and cool~~ :D
Dinner with Henry in a Spainish Restaurant... nice nice~~ except the seafood rice wasn't that nice.... meatball pasta was unexpectedly delicious~~~ had some good time with Henry... :D:D Suddenly found that he's really handsome... haha... yea yea~~~ Bought a way too sweet cheese cake from cheesecake factory... went to sleep just after the cheesecake...
We were (acutally it was only me) thinking to go to Solving but didn't get ourselves too rush and decided not to go... Played with the animals... taken some pictures.... super lay back~~~ wowohooo~~~ The beach was super windy and we only stayed for 20mins maybe? and left. Had a very very very nice dinner in boat House, a restaurant by the beach... super nice food :D except the fish wasn't as good as the one I had in the Harbour.
We went for a crazy shopping in an outlet on the way to LA... I was more crazy than Tracy as usual... I m a bit scared of myself if I am prepared to do some shopping... Everytime I prepared to do some shopping, I would really buy a lot... maybe I really shouldn't plan any shopping really...
And then, it's some more shopping in Melrose. Mainly got some super cheap stuff but nice and cool~~ :D
Dinner with Henry in a Spainish Restaurant... nice nice~~ except the seafood rice wasn't that nice.... meatball pasta was unexpectedly delicious~~~ had some good time with Henry... :D:D Suddenly found that he's really handsome... haha... yea yea~~~ Bought a way too sweet cheese cake from cheesecake factory... went to sleep just after the cheesecake...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Super nice Saturday~
Was struggling a bit on the website project yesterday~ after a night of good sleep, I finally figure out something this morning~~ :) It's such a nice weather this morning... I couldn't stop myself going out to the beach :D
haha... I went to the nice nice beach in Montecito~ :) super happy... slept a bit... get some sun tan and think a bit further on the project~~ :)
Got a lunch from Habit~~ Double Char~~ wao~~ so full... and then went to basketball~~ :) my feet is still a bit painful after like half an hour running tho. My stomach was a bit pain coz of the heavy late lunch :P But I was in good today... scored quite a bit~~ :) Ho ho ho~~~ and did a bit of gym... and go back home.. dinner's waiting for me :D vegetable soup plus a few piece of ham :) simple and nice~~
um... hope that I can get the whole plan done tonight ^__^ and tmr I can continue with some other things~~
haha... I went to the nice nice beach in Montecito~ :) super happy... slept a bit... get some sun tan and think a bit further on the project~~ :)
Got a lunch from Habit~~ Double Char~~ wao~~ so full... and then went to basketball~~ :) my feet is still a bit painful after like half an hour running tho. My stomach was a bit pain coz of the heavy late lunch :P But I was in good today... scored quite a bit~~ :) Ho ho ho~~~ and did a bit of gym... and go back home.. dinner's waiting for me :D vegetable soup plus a few piece of ham :) simple and nice~~
um... hope that I can get the whole plan done tonight ^__^ and tmr I can continue with some other things~~
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Finish a season~~
It's taken me 4 months to finsh the first season while only take me 2 weeks to finish a season of Six Feet Under here~~ :D the 2nd season is getting boring tho...not sure if I will start the 3rd when I go home :P maybe just return it to Josphe ba la~~
Easter Dinner~
It was such a warm Easter dinner ^__^... a huge piece of harm and some very nice vegi soup~~
The first time I've done Easter eggs in my life~~
And Ishi shows us how he play with a rat until it dies when I was doing the Easter eggs~
The first time I've done Easter eggs in my life~~
And Ishi shows us how he play with a rat until it dies when I was doing the Easter eggs~
Basketball Days~~~
Start playing basketball almost everyday now :) and start workout a bit too... you know my chest part only :P
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Drive a Porcshe
I drove Hans to work so that I can use his car during the day~ When I was sitting in a cafe, playing with the car key, I suddenly found that the car I was driving is actually a Porcshe! The model that looks nothing like a Porcshe in my mind but like a family car tho :Phaha... but it's such a once in a life thing~ wooohooo~~~ it worthy a whole project.. I should do his project for him for free~~ :D hohohoo~~~ for that experience! But I have to say... I feel like I m driivng a very heavy car... I have to keep giving gas to have it running while the cheap car I drove before would actually go for a while even I dont give it gas~~Everything in the car is actually very convinence... I can feel all those little details from the people who create it~~~~
Arrive SB
I m feeling I love here much more than I thought~ The air, the weather, the places and people... I m not very sure about LA but I would love to come to SB once a while really~ :) Tina and Hans were just sooooooo nice to me... I m staying in a room that much nicer than the one I used to stay... we have dinner together and talk a lot~~Met Hans friend Eddie and his wife from Austria. They are just super nice people came to west coast for 3 weeks travelling around. just about to leave tmr~ She's cooked a very good meal with Pumpkin! all pumpkin meal :):) happy happy~
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Kinn n Japan - Tokyo again
2/1
(11.00a) It’s similar to HK’s CNY, except some chain store and chain restaurants open. So, I went to a temple nearby with Paulo and walked around Nakano area. There was a big queue in front of a city hall building. It seems like they are having a New Year short trip together. ^_^ very local lerh…
(4.00p) Paulo was having fever and had to take rest. And I went out by myself to Shijuku to have some random walk. Actually most of the department stores were open. I heard that they would have big sale from this 2 days, but obviously it’s not started yet :). Kinda meaningless walking and walking, trying to look for a headphone to replace my broken one T____T. Somehow I went to one of the food market section. Their sushi were in big sale!!!! Wao wao wao…. A box of long leg crab rice was selling 800yen only and a pretty nice sushi box (10+ pieces) were selling 580yen!!!! Yea… even cheaper than those lunch box stores :D I’ve bough dinner for me and Paulo + lunch for next day too… But then I remembered I would meet up YJ and Aya for whole day~~~ oops… maybe that’s too much then :P. but a big sushi for 2 was only 1500yen! How worthy was it!
(9.00p) Nothing much to do. Had a dinner and sort out some photos and work on the proposal a bit. Sleep sleep sleep~~~ and ready for the meeting next day!!! I’ve 5+ years haven’t seen them ^__^ woowo…. So exciting :)
3/1
(10.00a) Sorted out some photos taken during the trip, I started preparing to go out to meet YJ and Aya ^__^.
(11.30a) Meeting them in the JR station called Kichi Jo Ji (吉样寺). Taka, Aya’s brother and his gf, Heishi (hope that I it’s the correct spelling :)), Aya’s best friend and her bf (can’t remember their name lo) has come too~~~ woowowow… and we went for a walk for a while around the area.
I’ve bought a next year forecast for myself in the New Year day and forgot to ask for the meaning from the guesthouse in Kyoto. So I asked Aya about it and it seems that it will not be a easy year lerh… it said, I have to be patient and keep waiting and the solution of problems will be appearing eventually. On my love life, it will be someone comes up to block the real one. Just needs to be honest and do not care that much about that person who block the way, and it will be fine :D. It also said I will lost something that I can never find it back -_-…. And THE MOST IMPORTANT one it recommends me not to travel by myself but to travel with friends or lover next year! Otherwise, I will be in accident or what T_T okay… lover and friends, listen, go with me if I tell you I gonna go travel :D… etc etc…
Aya’s bought a pair of glasses from an optical shop. Surprisingly, the glasses there were actually not expensive at all and in quite good quality. Some okay nice frames including the lens, it’s around 6000yen. Of course it’s some more expensive ones but most of them are pretty reasonable price. I was thinking to buy a pair of sun glasses but finally didn’t buy it.
(1.30p) We then went to a curry shop and the curry there were very nice… it’s like 1000yen each and much much better than the one I’ve had last time in Osaka station! And the environment there was very nice too. very closy and friendly ^__^ + good food :D love it…
(2.30p) We went to Inokashira Park, quite famous part locally, for a walk and went to a shrine to make a wish (again). Yea.. they told me and YJ that we can go to the 工崎俊 museum quite close to the part while local people have to make an appointment to go there. Um.. and I decided not to go lu… everyone has been there anyway :)
(3.30p) We walked a bit around and then we went into a coffee shop to have tea :P haha… keep eating and eating… I’ve ordered a glass of ice-cream. I wanted to have ice-cream from the first day I arrived Japan and never had one. Haha… the one I’ve chosen was very very good. Sesame ice-cream + coffee jelly + some mesh beans + cream. Nice nice… ^_^ btw, Heishi was super nice! I don’t have enough cash and wanted to change some money from US dollars but the bank will not open these 2 days. She said she could change it with me first and she could do it later in the bank. :D soooooo happy lerh… feeling so good to have cash with me again!!!
(5.30p) We went to Shijuku together and had a walk in a department store. :) I thought it would be big sale around but seems that it’s not much on sale. There are a lot of shops selling their “lucky bag” which you don’t know what they put in but normally worth more than the money gum lo….
(8.30p) Went back and sort out some more photos… and think of a bit the proposal for Hans’ product. It’s such a peaceful relax day :)
4/1
(11.00a) Went to Yokohama today by myself:). It’s just 30mins train from Tokyo directly from Shijuku.
(11.45a) Yokohama is much nicer city than Tokyo to me. It’s much spacious and less crowded than Tokyo. Maybe partly because of the weather (sunny and much warmer) and also it’s by the sea (it’s just an add-points factor). Went to the information center and asked for directions and started my half day walking trip in Yokohama.
(12.30p) Anpaman Children Museum!!!!! Woooo… It’s such a great place for families to spend a half day. I can so much feel the happiness around. The whole thing, inc. the foods, the souvenirs, the entrance fee… probably earns a lot of money. Regarding the conversation with Paulo about fairness, I mean, you can tell people who made the museum have spent a lot of time and money to create something which makes a lot of families enjoy some time there. They should be paid some good money. Also people who invest money on the park has take the risk of not earning money from it and made a right decision to trust some good people who finished the project nicely. Of course they are earning much more than the people who sell breads and check tickets in the park. And eventually, the difference between them (in terms of wealthiness) is getting much bigger. But to be honest, it’s how the world moved forward. Maybe there is making some kind of unfairness but this idea itself isn’t the problem, ya? It might be some other ways to reduce the unfairness but I really can’t see the problem of some people earning more than some others. Anyway… nothing much gonna change anyway. haha… it’s a nice place to go.
(1.30p) Lunch time~~~~ I sat in an area under the tallest building in Yokohama (quite an ugly one) and 2 western guys were juggling. A lot of people were looking but actually they weren’t playing that brilliant.
(2.00p) Yokohama Pier was amazing!!! The wooden architecture was entirely impressive! I had seen some photos about it before but still I was very impressed when I went there.
(4.00p) China Town + Yokohama Stadium + area around. To be honest, I like Yokohama much more than Tokyo. Well, the part of Tokyo I’ve been. (I quite like Kichi Jo Ji and Nakana but still Yokohama seem to be a bit nicer to me). I walked a bit around more and passed through Anpanman Museum again and went to buy something for Sui Hang… :) ya yea yea
(7.00p) I went to Shibuya by myself. I think it’s not my first time to be there but I had no memory to this place. I thought I would see a lot of people dressing up weirdly but turn out it was kinda normal and I feel that I was in Causeway Bay. I really find the area around shijuku quite boring really. Either buying or eating, and really nothing much to do.
(9.00p) Went back to Nakano and had Indian food with Paulo. It was nicer than the western food I’ve had here. At least the chicken was quite juicy and taste good.
(10.30p) sorted out photos and feeling a tiny bit illness.
5/1
(11.30a) Went to Tokyo Dome with Paulo. He is still on holiday until next week… lucky him… It is quite a nice area with a big rolling coaster on top of a shopping mall and a lot of attractions like free falling and stuff. We went into a Jump shop and found quite interesting toys there too :D suddenly really want to read One Piece a lot!!!!
(12.05p) Had lunch in American Restaurant which Paulo recommended. The food there was not good indeed but….. the DESSERT was absolutely amazing! I ordered a cup of dessert called “very chocolate” or something like that. It’s actually a baked brownie with ice-cream + cream + raspberry sauce on top. It’s just so delicious and made me super stuffed!!!! Really need a lot of exercise once I get back to HK!! Yoga tmr :)~~~
(14.00p) Akihabara. The very famous electronic street. We went into a video game shop and played a bit. I still want to try the Gundom game but it’s a bit expensive (500Yen) for 2 games lerh. Anyway after the game shop, he had another meeting and I just hang around by myself. I wanted to buy a headphone there but walked for almost an hour and couldn’t find any nice one or they are super expensive. I finally saw a Panasonic one and find it quite familiar. It’s quite an old model but I do like it. Thought for a long time and decided not to buy it. It probably cheaper in HK I thought.
(5.00p) D-Department is one of the places I planed to go in Tokyo. They collect old furniture and old design products and fix them and resell them. Unlike a lot of 2nd hand shops that they only trade the used stuff, they really take extremely care about the things they are selling. I quite like the idea but it would never work in HK I guess. I saw a headphone and wanted to buy it too… very simple and old style, 6600yen is affordable too. But I guess I really should save money. The only thing I’ve got from there is a magazine that I think it might be useful for reference for the meeting with Alex.
(6.45p) Left the D-Department. It’s actually a little bit outside the central part of Tokyo. I went to Harajuku afterwards. I leave the train and walked down the street. It’s just some more shopping in MK quality maybe a tiny bit nicer. I keep walking down the road and found that it is actually connected to the place I went last time nearby the MoMA Design shop. Walked a bit and still nothing really worth buying… Almost the time to meet up Eiji and Kauru for dinner.
(9.00p) Dinner with Eiji and Kauru. We had Kansai style Okonomiyaki (關西燒). The one I’ve had in the market called Hiroshima Okonomiyaki (or Hiroshima-yaki 廣島燒). They didn’t let me pay for the dinner and offer me a gift too T_____T such a pair of nice couple. Well, they are having some problem between but I do hope that they will be together again eventually. The problem was actually all about the changing environment and different expectations but I can tell they do still care about each other. Finger cross~
(11.50p) Keep on thinking to go back to HK these few days in Tokyo… didn’t really enjoy the time here to be honest. It was super good to meet up my old friends and having good food with them but still not entirely. Probably not the first time I so much feel I miss HK but it’s the most recent one thus most real one :D. Packing my stuff and prepare my last day morning trip and heading bed :)
6/1
(10:00a) I went to the famous fish market in Japan. Surprisingly the fish rice there was quite cheap. They are very delicious though. I think I will go there again when I come back to Tokyo next time. There is actually not much making me love or hate Tokyo but I guess it’s a place that I don’t mind to come again. I wouldn’t really pay to come again soon :)
(2.00p) Carried a lot of luggage and take the train by myself. The Shinjuku station is still confusing and too complicated to find the right way. Go go go go go go…. Going home soon :)
(6.00p) In the last minutes, I’ve decided to buy 2 travel magazines which just cost 2880yen altogether. I didn’t plan it but I just spent alllllll of my coins on my pocket and I have 1000yen left at the end! wao wao wao~~~~~~…
Finally come to the end of the trip, 2 of the wealthiest regions in the world, the 2 most materials countries. They are very different in terms of everything basically. People have different concepts of good and bad. They are having different lifestyles different way of spending money. In a way, ya, unfortunately, I think I do prefer the American way of living more. And, if it’s the choice of Japan and HK, I would definitely choose HK. :)
After this 7 months, I still haven’t much saving (probably still a bit more than I could save if I stay in HK) but I’ve earned so much different things that could never get from staying in HK. Hope that everything will be smooth in the coming year and it’s my new year from today :) Bye~ my lovely 2008~~~
(11.00a) It’s similar to HK’s CNY, except some chain store and chain restaurants open. So, I went to a temple nearby with Paulo and walked around Nakano area. There was a big queue in front of a city hall building. It seems like they are having a New Year short trip together. ^_^ very local lerh…
(4.00p) Paulo was having fever and had to take rest. And I went out by myself to Shijuku to have some random walk. Actually most of the department stores were open. I heard that they would have big sale from this 2 days, but obviously it’s not started yet :). Kinda meaningless walking and walking, trying to look for a headphone to replace my broken one T____T. Somehow I went to one of the food market section. Their sushi were in big sale!!!! Wao wao wao…. A box of long leg crab rice was selling 800yen only and a pretty nice sushi box (10+ pieces) were selling 580yen!!!! Yea… even cheaper than those lunch box stores :D I’ve bough dinner for me and Paulo + lunch for next day too… But then I remembered I would meet up YJ and Aya for whole day~~~ oops… maybe that’s too much then :P. but a big sushi for 2 was only 1500yen! How worthy was it!
(9.00p) Nothing much to do. Had a dinner and sort out some photos and work on the proposal a bit. Sleep sleep sleep~~~ and ready for the meeting next day!!! I’ve 5+ years haven’t seen them ^__^ woowo…. So exciting :)
3/1
(10.00a) Sorted out some photos taken during the trip, I started preparing to go out to meet YJ and Aya ^__^.
(11.30a) Meeting them in the JR station called Kichi Jo Ji (吉样寺). Taka, Aya’s brother and his gf, Heishi (hope that I it’s the correct spelling :)), Aya’s best friend and her bf (can’t remember their name lo) has come too~~~ woowowow… and we went for a walk for a while around the area.
I’ve bought a next year forecast for myself in the New Year day and forgot to ask for the meaning from the guesthouse in Kyoto. So I asked Aya about it and it seems that it will not be a easy year lerh… it said, I have to be patient and keep waiting and the solution of problems will be appearing eventually. On my love life, it will be someone comes up to block the real one. Just needs to be honest and do not care that much about that person who block the way, and it will be fine :D. It also said I will lost something that I can never find it back -_-…. And THE MOST IMPORTANT one it recommends me not to travel by myself but to travel with friends or lover next year! Otherwise, I will be in accident or what T_T okay… lover and friends, listen, go with me if I tell you I gonna go travel :D… etc etc…
Aya’s bought a pair of glasses from an optical shop. Surprisingly, the glasses there were actually not expensive at all and in quite good quality. Some okay nice frames including the lens, it’s around 6000yen. Of course it’s some more expensive ones but most of them are pretty reasonable price. I was thinking to buy a pair of sun glasses but finally didn’t buy it.
(1.30p) We then went to a curry shop and the curry there were very nice… it’s like 1000yen each and much much better than the one I’ve had last time in Osaka station! And the environment there was very nice too. very closy and friendly ^__^ + good food :D love it…
(2.30p) We went to Inokashira Park, quite famous part locally, for a walk and went to a shrine to make a wish (again). Yea.. they told me and YJ that we can go to the 工崎俊 museum quite close to the part while local people have to make an appointment to go there. Um.. and I decided not to go lu… everyone has been there anyway :)
(3.30p) We walked a bit around and then we went into a coffee shop to have tea :P haha… keep eating and eating… I’ve ordered a glass of ice-cream. I wanted to have ice-cream from the first day I arrived Japan and never had one. Haha… the one I’ve chosen was very very good. Sesame ice-cream + coffee jelly + some mesh beans + cream. Nice nice… ^_^ btw, Heishi was super nice! I don’t have enough cash and wanted to change some money from US dollars but the bank will not open these 2 days. She said she could change it with me first and she could do it later in the bank. :D soooooo happy lerh… feeling so good to have cash with me again!!!
(5.30p) We went to Shijuku together and had a walk in a department store. :) I thought it would be big sale around but seems that it’s not much on sale. There are a lot of shops selling their “lucky bag” which you don’t know what they put in but normally worth more than the money gum lo….
(8.30p) Went back and sort out some more photos… and think of a bit the proposal for Hans’ product. It’s such a peaceful relax day :)
4/1
(11.00a) Went to Yokohama today by myself:). It’s just 30mins train from Tokyo directly from Shijuku.
(11.45a) Yokohama is much nicer city than Tokyo to me. It’s much spacious and less crowded than Tokyo. Maybe partly because of the weather (sunny and much warmer) and also it’s by the sea (it’s just an add-points factor). Went to the information center and asked for directions and started my half day walking trip in Yokohama.
(12.30p) Anpaman Children Museum!!!!! Woooo… It’s such a great place for families to spend a half day. I can so much feel the happiness around. The whole thing, inc. the foods, the souvenirs, the entrance fee… probably earns a lot of money. Regarding the conversation with Paulo about fairness, I mean, you can tell people who made the museum have spent a lot of time and money to create something which makes a lot of families enjoy some time there. They should be paid some good money. Also people who invest money on the park has take the risk of not earning money from it and made a right decision to trust some good people who finished the project nicely. Of course they are earning much more than the people who sell breads and check tickets in the park. And eventually, the difference between them (in terms of wealthiness) is getting much bigger. But to be honest, it’s how the world moved forward. Maybe there is making some kind of unfairness but this idea itself isn’t the problem, ya? It might be some other ways to reduce the unfairness but I really can’t see the problem of some people earning more than some others. Anyway… nothing much gonna change anyway. haha… it’s a nice place to go.
(1.30p) Lunch time~~~~ I sat in an area under the tallest building in Yokohama (quite an ugly one) and 2 western guys were juggling. A lot of people were looking but actually they weren’t playing that brilliant.
(2.00p) Yokohama Pier was amazing!!! The wooden architecture was entirely impressive! I had seen some photos about it before but still I was very impressed when I went there.
(4.00p) China Town + Yokohama Stadium + area around. To be honest, I like Yokohama much more than Tokyo. Well, the part of Tokyo I’ve been. (I quite like Kichi Jo Ji and Nakana but still Yokohama seem to be a bit nicer to me). I walked a bit around more and passed through Anpanman Museum again and went to buy something for Sui Hang… :) ya yea yea
(7.00p) I went to Shibuya by myself. I think it’s not my first time to be there but I had no memory to this place. I thought I would see a lot of people dressing up weirdly but turn out it was kinda normal and I feel that I was in Causeway Bay. I really find the area around shijuku quite boring really. Either buying or eating, and really nothing much to do.
(9.00p) Went back to Nakano and had Indian food with Paulo. It was nicer than the western food I’ve had here. At least the chicken was quite juicy and taste good.
(10.30p) sorted out photos and feeling a tiny bit illness.
5/1
(11.30a) Went to Tokyo Dome with Paulo. He is still on holiday until next week… lucky him… It is quite a nice area with a big rolling coaster on top of a shopping mall and a lot of attractions like free falling and stuff. We went into a Jump shop and found quite interesting toys there too :D suddenly really want to read One Piece a lot!!!!
(12.05p) Had lunch in American Restaurant which Paulo recommended. The food there was not good indeed but….. the DESSERT was absolutely amazing! I ordered a cup of dessert called “very chocolate” or something like that. It’s actually a baked brownie with ice-cream + cream + raspberry sauce on top. It’s just so delicious and made me super stuffed!!!! Really need a lot of exercise once I get back to HK!! Yoga tmr :)~~~
(14.00p) Akihabara. The very famous electronic street. We went into a video game shop and played a bit. I still want to try the Gundom game but it’s a bit expensive (500Yen) for 2 games lerh. Anyway after the game shop, he had another meeting and I just hang around by myself. I wanted to buy a headphone there but walked for almost an hour and couldn’t find any nice one or they are super expensive. I finally saw a Panasonic one and find it quite familiar. It’s quite an old model but I do like it. Thought for a long time and decided not to buy it. It probably cheaper in HK I thought.
(5.00p) D-Department is one of the places I planed to go in Tokyo. They collect old furniture and old design products and fix them and resell them. Unlike a lot of 2nd hand shops that they only trade the used stuff, they really take extremely care about the things they are selling. I quite like the idea but it would never work in HK I guess. I saw a headphone and wanted to buy it too… very simple and old style, 6600yen is affordable too. But I guess I really should save money. The only thing I’ve got from there is a magazine that I think it might be useful for reference for the meeting with Alex.
(6.45p) Left the D-Department. It’s actually a little bit outside the central part of Tokyo. I went to Harajuku afterwards. I leave the train and walked down the street. It’s just some more shopping in MK quality maybe a tiny bit nicer. I keep walking down the road and found that it is actually connected to the place I went last time nearby the MoMA Design shop. Walked a bit and still nothing really worth buying… Almost the time to meet up Eiji and Kauru for dinner.
(9.00p) Dinner with Eiji and Kauru. We had Kansai style Okonomiyaki (關西燒). The one I’ve had in the market called Hiroshima Okonomiyaki (or Hiroshima-yaki 廣島燒). They didn’t let me pay for the dinner and offer me a gift too T_____T such a pair of nice couple. Well, they are having some problem between but I do hope that they will be together again eventually. The problem was actually all about the changing environment and different expectations but I can tell they do still care about each other. Finger cross~
(11.50p) Keep on thinking to go back to HK these few days in Tokyo… didn’t really enjoy the time here to be honest. It was super good to meet up my old friends and having good food with them but still not entirely. Probably not the first time I so much feel I miss HK but it’s the most recent one thus most real one :D. Packing my stuff and prepare my last day morning trip and heading bed :)
6/1
(10:00a) I went to the famous fish market in Japan. Surprisingly the fish rice there was quite cheap. They are very delicious though. I think I will go there again when I come back to Tokyo next time. There is actually not much making me love or hate Tokyo but I guess it’s a place that I don’t mind to come again. I wouldn’t really pay to come again soon :)
(2.00p) Carried a lot of luggage and take the train by myself. The Shinjuku station is still confusing and too complicated to find the right way. Go go go go go go…. Going home soon :)
(6.00p) In the last minutes, I’ve decided to buy 2 travel magazines which just cost 2880yen altogether. I didn’t plan it but I just spent alllllll of my coins on my pocket and I have 1000yen left at the end! wao wao wao~~~~~~…
Finally come to the end of the trip, 2 of the wealthiest regions in the world, the 2 most materials countries. They are very different in terms of everything basically. People have different concepts of good and bad. They are having different lifestyles different way of spending money. In a way, ya, unfortunately, I think I do prefer the American way of living more. And, if it’s the choice of Japan and HK, I would definitely choose HK. :)
After this 7 months, I still haven’t much saving (probably still a bit more than I could save if I stay in HK) but I’ve earned so much different things that could never get from staying in HK. Hope that everything will be smooth in the coming year and it’s my new year from today :) Bye~ my lovely 2008~~~
Kinn n Japan - Kyoto
30/12
(8.30a) Take a train to Kyoto. It’s only 30mins from Osaka to Kyoto. Everyone told me and also the travel books say Kyoto is a city full of traditional buildings and old temples. The first impression for me is, the architecture of the station is so contemporary, pretty cool~ :D
(10.00a) Changed to subway for 3 stops and I was arriving the guest house.
(11.00a) Settled down everything and had a little rest, I started my bicycle trip lo :) It was quite exciting to ride around the little streets between those little old houses… The first temple I went to which is quite close to the guesthouse was closed though. -_- and then I head to one of quite famous temples in Kyoto called Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺).
(12.00a) On the way I passed through the most famous Nishiki Food Market. It was extremely crowded! It’s like the flower market during Chinese New Year in HK. So so so many people tried to stuff into the market from outside. The sell fish, fresh meat, a lot of traditional Japanese foods and New Year food too! It was one shop specialize on selling eggs and the Japanese egg cake. You know the one they use for sushi but of course not the very yellowie one you see in cheap cheap Japanese restaurants. Everything are very expensive there though. I’ve seen a extremely ridiculous one which is a pack of red beans. I think it’s about 500g, they sell it 1500Yen!!! I was like… huh?! A pack of red bean should be 50 Yen, no? I’ve bought a piece of Tofu sushi, they stuffed octopus inside :D very tasty and it cost 130 Yen. And then I’ve bought a piece of fish cake for 250 Yen. To be honest, I prefer those from HK lo… they made it a little too sweet lerh. Ah, it remind me now, the best fish cake I’ve had in Japan is one they stuffed bbq eel with a bit of sauce inside. It was very delicious. Will try to find it next time when I have enough cash :D. Btw, even it was so crowded and they almost sell everything wet and dry in the market, I can still find my shoes very clean after going there. Very impressive ^_^…
(1.30p) Arrived the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It’s built by the mountain with a lot of trees. The environment was super nice. It cost 600Yen or something, so I didn’t get into it :P. haha very budget Kyoto tour I m having. I just keep on riding around the area and found a lot of girls wearing Kimono and walk around. It’s quite interesting that there are quite a lot of Kimono rental shops around that area.
(3.00p) I keep riding and riding around and passed a few more temples. A funny thing is, on this street, there are like hundreds of people, but the next one you can almost find no one and super quiet too. I tried to ride into all those streets without people. Haha made a turn when I see people ahead… It’s just too many temples and old buildings in the city. I guess it would be much nicer to have a company to walk around to be honest. It’s actually a lot of nice ceramics around too, but they are all quite expensive. The cheapest one I like was a little cup cost 2800Yen . Those a little bit nicer and irregular shape ones are at least 5000-6000 Yen, which I can’t really afford ~~… maybe someday… I mean, will be someday. I wanted to learn ceramics too… ya… will be someday.
(3.30p) Found a bakery in a street called 古川町商店街and bought a piece of amazingly delicious bread! Crispy outside and soft inside, Black sugar taste with red beans and some black beans:P:P.
(4.00p) Went to Jusco! And they accept credit cards!!! Went back to my room quite early today and took a nap. My body was pretty tired after the skiing day :D
(8.00p) I went out and buy some more food for dinner… 2 pieces of dai gun and and 1 piece of something I don’t even know its name. Did some works and finished the cover for Little Diggtak ^_^
31/12
(9.00a) had a nice breakfast in the guesthouse and it was quite nice. Interesting that Japanese use to put crème in coffee. It seems that they never thought of putting milk. Anyway, it wasn’t a bad coffee.
(9.30a) Saw some emails and worked a bit for POP/Pixi
(11.00a) Why are those works taking so long to finish?!?!?!!? Ahhhhh… anyway… went to Arashiyama for one little temple. It’s 7 stops by JR from Kyoto. Btw, I called Aya finally this morning. :) We gonna meet up on 3rd Jan just knew that her family is actually not in Tokyo but she will make a trip to Tokyo as a tourist with YJ :D… Haven’t seen them for sooooooo long!!!! Miss them very much.. and she told me, YJ is arriving JP today ^__^ yeahey~
(11.30a) Arrived the main temple in that area and didn’t go in again :D budget trip ma… haha… It’s a nice area to walk around even not getting into any temple, Somehow, although there are quite a lot of people around, it’s still quite a silent place, and very beautiful. It’s quite cold and windy today, even that’s sunshine. I finished walking around the main area, and heading to the little temple called Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (愛宕念仏寺). It’s pretty small and doesn’t even shows in my Kyoto map. On the way I passed through a path full of bamboo on the side. A big big bamboo area, it’s just bamboo and more bamboo after 5 mins walks. The sky start getting dark and raining ~_~ and it becomes even colder.
(1.30p) Passed by a leather shop, I pop in and have a look. The designer told me he designed everything in that little workshop. The wallet I quite like was hand made too… and of course the nice stuff cost money which I can’t afford :) I gave him a smile and shouting to him in my heart, “good job! You are talented, work hard, mate! You are getting there.” Yea, I would buy something from him next time when I have money and if he’s still there.
(2.00p) It’s raining and start a bit snowing too… I still haven’t got there… It takes longer than I thought. It’s a bus to go there indeed, but budget travelers walk :D
(2.30p) I found it super worthy after that long walk in snowy rain and a 300Yen entrance fee. Don’t know how to explain. See photos :D They are just so cool! Yea… cool to me :D I love this temple sooo much! It’s small, quiet and very few tourists going but super interesting. :D At least to me, I’ve been in so many big temples since I was young. Japanese ones smell better but other than that, they are the same as the ones in China, even in HK. But this little one is just unique… :D
(3.30p) Tried not to spend anything for lunch today but still spent 110Yen for a bun from convenience store. I got back to the guesthouse and had my yogurt as lunch. it’s quite a good yogurt. Somehow, I don’t know how they do it, but Japanese foods, even yogurt, are much fine and mild taste.
(4.00p) I was quite stuffed but I remember the bakery yesterday and couldn’t stop myself to go there again :D
(4.30p) The bread was a bit cold but still tasty :) and then I was in a rush to go that very famous Fushimi-inari-taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社). Why I go there because I remember I’ve seen a programme about this Shrine when I was really young, probably 6-7 years old. And I still remember it!! :D See, this kinda promotions really work ga and last for over 20 years ga! But I didn’t spend any money there bor :P dead poor ghost. It’s the most people visiting shrine in western Japan during the New Year. I’ve seen a lot of counters are preparing food and stuff for the even tonight already. Very exciting!! If it’s a bit closer, I would go there for New Year. I thought it’s quite close but it took me 45 mins by bike to get there! I couldn’t ride too fast in the city, but it’s still quite far.
(6.00p) Getting really cold and I went back to the guesthouse to sort out some stuff… gonna go to a closer one at night.:)
(11.00p) Went out to a Shrine nearby called 八板神社 for New Year. I ride a bike from the guesthouse and it’s super cold even I wore 5 layers clothes! It’s so so so many people when I reach about 500 meter from the Shrine. The police just block people in different sections and let people go into it section by section. I was waiting in front of the Shrine for 45 mins and didn’t know what’s going on and what’s gonna happen. I didn’t even know why people are queuing there. I was expecting something to happen like count down to stuff… so, keep waiting and waiting…. And New Year had passed, and no one even do a count down. Only a few foreigners were shouting happy New Year~ and that’s it. -_- Super disappointing and boring! Since I was expecting to buy something eat from the Shrine, I didn’t have my dinner. Super cold and hungry ~_~ But I was trapped in the block of people, couldn’t go anywhere T__T. About 15mins later, the police let us passing through the road and we walked up the Shrine. It’s actually not much happening there still… some counters sell food and stuff. The queue was still going. In not too far away, and we arrive the temple. And then I knew that what I was queuing for finally. Well, I made a wish and went to buy something eat… walked a little bit around. It’s actually quite boring to go to this kinda thing by myself. Had some food and start having stomachache >_<… And the first biggest decision I’ve made in 2009 was I decided to eat something from McDonald’s! Yea, it helps a bit to fill myself up… around 1.20a, I head back to my guesthouse.
1/1
(11.00a) A homemade Japanese New Year breakfast this morning :D how exciting!!! I do love everything she made ^__^. Another great thing is I met some new friends in the house!! The girl (oops, what’s her name?), the landlady’s nephew, she speak perfect English and Mandarin with me. Again, she found my European ascent cool :p. I never expected to speak Mandarin with someone here in Japan. She’s studied 1 year in China, 1 year in US and she is working in Japanese embassy in Canada! She looks like she’s just graduated and quite a bit younger than me. Another 2 guys from America, Nathan from Boston and Andrew from Washington, they both came to Japan to study Japanese for 1 year. It’s quite fun to talk to them while having the nice Japanese breakfast :D.
(12.40p) Left the house and decided to walk to the JR station to save the 210Yen! It’s such a nice day, sunny and not as cold as yesterday. Spent about 15mins to walk to the station thinking of the good time in the morning :).
(1.56p) Got on the train, heading back to Tokyo :). Gonna be a doing nothing day, and I decided to take no photo today! And to set 1st Jan as a “No Photos Day”. These years, people are spending too much time to take pictures that they might not even have time to look at again. We spent too much time to look at the screen of the cameras instead of looking around the world and probably missed a lot of good moment around us and also forget to enjoy ourselves. Haha, lets take a break in the new year day! :)
(4.30p) it’s quite a nice journey. The train passed through a lot of places that’s raining, snowing, very sunny, a bit cloudy and finally very nice and cloudless sunset when we almost arrived Tokyo. :) Such a good doing-nothing day!
(8.30a) Take a train to Kyoto. It’s only 30mins from Osaka to Kyoto. Everyone told me and also the travel books say Kyoto is a city full of traditional buildings and old temples. The first impression for me is, the architecture of the station is so contemporary, pretty cool~ :D
(10.00a) Changed to subway for 3 stops and I was arriving the guest house.
(11.00a) Settled down everything and had a little rest, I started my bicycle trip lo :) It was quite exciting to ride around the little streets between those little old houses… The first temple I went to which is quite close to the guesthouse was closed though. -_- and then I head to one of quite famous temples in Kyoto called Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺).
(12.00a) On the way I passed through the most famous Nishiki Food Market. It was extremely crowded! It’s like the flower market during Chinese New Year in HK. So so so many people tried to stuff into the market from outside. The sell fish, fresh meat, a lot of traditional Japanese foods and New Year food too! It was one shop specialize on selling eggs and the Japanese egg cake. You know the one they use for sushi but of course not the very yellowie one you see in cheap cheap Japanese restaurants. Everything are very expensive there though. I’ve seen a extremely ridiculous one which is a pack of red beans. I think it’s about 500g, they sell it 1500Yen!!! I was like… huh?! A pack of red bean should be 50 Yen, no? I’ve bought a piece of Tofu sushi, they stuffed octopus inside :D very tasty and it cost 130 Yen. And then I’ve bought a piece of fish cake for 250 Yen. To be honest, I prefer those from HK lo… they made it a little too sweet lerh. Ah, it remind me now, the best fish cake I’ve had in Japan is one they stuffed bbq eel with a bit of sauce inside. It was very delicious. Will try to find it next time when I have enough cash :D. Btw, even it was so crowded and they almost sell everything wet and dry in the market, I can still find my shoes very clean after going there. Very impressive ^_^…
(1.30p) Arrived the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It’s built by the mountain with a lot of trees. The environment was super nice. It cost 600Yen or something, so I didn’t get into it :P. haha very budget Kyoto tour I m having. I just keep on riding around the area and found a lot of girls wearing Kimono and walk around. It’s quite interesting that there are quite a lot of Kimono rental shops around that area.
(3.00p) I keep riding and riding around and passed a few more temples. A funny thing is, on this street, there are like hundreds of people, but the next one you can almost find no one and super quiet too. I tried to ride into all those streets without people. Haha made a turn when I see people ahead… It’s just too many temples and old buildings in the city. I guess it would be much nicer to have a company to walk around to be honest. It’s actually a lot of nice ceramics around too, but they are all quite expensive. The cheapest one I like was a little cup cost 2800Yen . Those a little bit nicer and irregular shape ones are at least 5000-6000 Yen, which I can’t really afford ~~… maybe someday… I mean, will be someday. I wanted to learn ceramics too… ya… will be someday.
(3.30p) Found a bakery in a street called 古川町商店街and bought a piece of amazingly delicious bread! Crispy outside and soft inside, Black sugar taste with red beans and some black beans:P:P.
(4.00p) Went to Jusco! And they accept credit cards!!! Went back to my room quite early today and took a nap. My body was pretty tired after the skiing day :D
(8.00p) I went out and buy some more food for dinner… 2 pieces of dai gun and and 1 piece of something I don’t even know its name. Did some works and finished the cover for Little Diggtak ^_^
31/12
(9.00a) had a nice breakfast in the guesthouse and it was quite nice. Interesting that Japanese use to put crème in coffee. It seems that they never thought of putting milk. Anyway, it wasn’t a bad coffee.
(9.30a) Saw some emails and worked a bit for POP/Pixi
(11.00a) Why are those works taking so long to finish?!?!?!!? Ahhhhh… anyway… went to Arashiyama for one little temple. It’s 7 stops by JR from Kyoto. Btw, I called Aya finally this morning. :) We gonna meet up on 3rd Jan just knew that her family is actually not in Tokyo but she will make a trip to Tokyo as a tourist with YJ :D… Haven’t seen them for sooooooo long!!!! Miss them very much.. and she told me, YJ is arriving JP today ^__^ yeahey~
(11.30a) Arrived the main temple in that area and didn’t go in again :D budget trip ma… haha… It’s a nice area to walk around even not getting into any temple, Somehow, although there are quite a lot of people around, it’s still quite a silent place, and very beautiful. It’s quite cold and windy today, even that’s sunshine. I finished walking around the main area, and heading to the little temple called Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (愛宕念仏寺). It’s pretty small and doesn’t even shows in my Kyoto map. On the way I passed through a path full of bamboo on the side. A big big bamboo area, it’s just bamboo and more bamboo after 5 mins walks. The sky start getting dark and raining ~_~ and it becomes even colder.
(1.30p) Passed by a leather shop, I pop in and have a look. The designer told me he designed everything in that little workshop. The wallet I quite like was hand made too… and of course the nice stuff cost money which I can’t afford :) I gave him a smile and shouting to him in my heart, “good job! You are talented, work hard, mate! You are getting there.” Yea, I would buy something from him next time when I have money and if he’s still there.
(2.00p) It’s raining and start a bit snowing too… I still haven’t got there… It takes longer than I thought. It’s a bus to go there indeed, but budget travelers walk :D
(2.30p) I found it super worthy after that long walk in snowy rain and a 300Yen entrance fee. Don’t know how to explain. See photos :D They are just so cool! Yea… cool to me :D I love this temple sooo much! It’s small, quiet and very few tourists going but super interesting. :D At least to me, I’ve been in so many big temples since I was young. Japanese ones smell better but other than that, they are the same as the ones in China, even in HK. But this little one is just unique… :D
(3.30p) Tried not to spend anything for lunch today but still spent 110Yen for a bun from convenience store. I got back to the guesthouse and had my yogurt as lunch. it’s quite a good yogurt. Somehow, I don’t know how they do it, but Japanese foods, even yogurt, are much fine and mild taste.
(4.00p) I was quite stuffed but I remember the bakery yesterday and couldn’t stop myself to go there again :D
(4.30p) The bread was a bit cold but still tasty :) and then I was in a rush to go that very famous Fushimi-inari-taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社). Why I go there because I remember I’ve seen a programme about this Shrine when I was really young, probably 6-7 years old. And I still remember it!! :D See, this kinda promotions really work ga and last for over 20 years ga! But I didn’t spend any money there bor :P dead poor ghost. It’s the most people visiting shrine in western Japan during the New Year. I’ve seen a lot of counters are preparing food and stuff for the even tonight already. Very exciting!! If it’s a bit closer, I would go there for New Year. I thought it’s quite close but it took me 45 mins by bike to get there! I couldn’t ride too fast in the city, but it’s still quite far.
(6.00p) Getting really cold and I went back to the guesthouse to sort out some stuff… gonna go to a closer one at night.:)
(11.00p) Went out to a Shrine nearby called 八板神社 for New Year. I ride a bike from the guesthouse and it’s super cold even I wore 5 layers clothes! It’s so so so many people when I reach about 500 meter from the Shrine. The police just block people in different sections and let people go into it section by section. I was waiting in front of the Shrine for 45 mins and didn’t know what’s going on and what’s gonna happen. I didn’t even know why people are queuing there. I was expecting something to happen like count down to stuff… so, keep waiting and waiting…. And New Year had passed, and no one even do a count down. Only a few foreigners were shouting happy New Year~ and that’s it. -_- Super disappointing and boring! Since I was expecting to buy something eat from the Shrine, I didn’t have my dinner. Super cold and hungry ~_~ But I was trapped in the block of people, couldn’t go anywhere T__T. About 15mins later, the police let us passing through the road and we walked up the Shrine. It’s actually not much happening there still… some counters sell food and stuff. The queue was still going. In not too far away, and we arrive the temple. And then I knew that what I was queuing for finally. Well, I made a wish and went to buy something eat… walked a little bit around. It’s actually quite boring to go to this kinda thing by myself. Had some food and start having stomachache >_<… And the first biggest decision I’ve made in 2009 was I decided to eat something from McDonald’s! Yea, it helps a bit to fill myself up… around 1.20a, I head back to my guesthouse.
1/1
(11.00a) A homemade Japanese New Year breakfast this morning :D how exciting!!! I do love everything she made ^__^. Another great thing is I met some new friends in the house!! The girl (oops, what’s her name?), the landlady’s nephew, she speak perfect English and Mandarin with me. Again, she found my European ascent cool :p. I never expected to speak Mandarin with someone here in Japan. She’s studied 1 year in China, 1 year in US and she is working in Japanese embassy in Canada! She looks like she’s just graduated and quite a bit younger than me. Another 2 guys from America, Nathan from Boston and Andrew from Washington, they both came to Japan to study Japanese for 1 year. It’s quite fun to talk to them while having the nice Japanese breakfast :D.
(12.40p) Left the house and decided to walk to the JR station to save the 210Yen! It’s such a nice day, sunny and not as cold as yesterday. Spent about 15mins to walk to the station thinking of the good time in the morning :).
(1.56p) Got on the train, heading back to Tokyo :). Gonna be a doing nothing day, and I decided to take no photo today! And to set 1st Jan as a “No Photos Day”. These years, people are spending too much time to take pictures that they might not even have time to look at again. We spent too much time to look at the screen of the cameras instead of looking around the world and probably missed a lot of good moment around us and also forget to enjoy ourselves. Haha, lets take a break in the new year day! :)
(4.30p) it’s quite a nice journey. The train passed through a lot of places that’s raining, snowing, very sunny, a bit cloudy and finally very nice and cloudless sunset when we almost arrived Tokyo. :) Such a good doing-nothing day!
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