Happy XMAS~~~~ ^^

everyone kept asking me: why you never update ur blog de....?

okok something I want to share today!!
I've got a huge surprise at work, a secret admirer sent me very beautiful roses keke nolah from my dearest da jie, all the way from Singapore ^^ to thank me for helping her with her wedding wah~ keke

very pretty!!!!~~

our receptionist, Jenny loves the flowers!!!! and said it must have cost a fortune for jie2 to get this n she kept telling all the clients jie2 got me these roses from Singapore keke

woooo~~ Love you too!!! MUAKSSSSSS~~ hahahaha

Wedding Prep for Jie2

Am finally back in KK~
Everyone so busy doing so many things for Jie2's coming grand wedding
It scares to see how much effort needed n $$$$ spent in such a short time keke
I managed to do my last minute shopping for an evening gown + high heels
Cant wait to see the rest of my family, relatives and friends soon ^^

For Salia from Yuuyu mama~

My host mum, yuuyu mama is sooo nice!!! She bought all these kids stuff for Salia @ toys r us, my boss's 2 year old daughter >< I'm sure Salia will b very happi happi~

Pic 2/3: Bath balls which will turn into rabbit n stitch, so cute!!!

Lucky Salia~ ^^
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Stickers for Jie2

Jie2, I've got some stickers for u, shud b enuff for 40 kids but takes time to cut each sticker ><

Pic 2 - my fav!! Very cute hehe
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Letters for Sheri-chan~

Sheri-chan~ I met your very lovely host family in Kobe!!! They very very nice!!! They were so shocked to see me @ hippo club n they talked a lot about u!! Muahaha your 2 sisters very cute!! They quickly wrote these letters n asked me pass them to u (pic 1/2)!!

Ps. Hinching, I saw ur msg n I will try to get some Japanese newspaper for u :)
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Returning to Kyoto tonight ^^

Met Xiao Hua in Tokyo yesterday, a friend I met in Perth who comes from China, she married to her Japanese Husband a yr ago >< She's very nice!!! Took a day off from work to take me around Tokyo ^^ We first went to the famous *Akihabara* n then *Tokyo tower*~ although I've been to these places with my family 2 yrs ago hehe Really great to catch up with her.. Felt bad that she paid everythg for me though >< she's too kind!!!

Am leaving Yokohama for Tokyo now, meeting T after his interview @ Roppongi station n we'll go back to Kyoto together by midnight bus :D did a fair bit shopping with Miki-san @ Yokohama station before I left n really hav to stop buying stuff >< am still carrying lots of stuff >< very very heavy T.T the train quite packed @ this hour (pic 3)...

An old lady just sat down right next to me n told a young lady (next to her) off for using mobile near priority seats, she wasn't really talking on the fon, just texting or playing with her fon keke so fierce >< I wonder why she didn't tell me off bcuz I'm prettier?! Muahahaha jkjk I bet she didn't realize bcuz my blackberry doesn't look like the typical Japanese "flipping" mobile fon (pic 2) keke she's looking around 60 to 70 yrs of age, wearing black skirt n coat with gold color buttons >< sitting so straight reading a book, her nails are nicely trimmed n polished (dark pink color) keke

Pic 4 - bought a stylish dinner bag for mum as requested ^^ mum got most souvenirs bcuz she gav me a list of stuff to buy keke

Hav to find jie2's 20-30 candies tomorrow ><
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Oiwai for Sashi n Jie2

Jie2, Masa-san n Miki-san said sorry for not able to attend your wedding~ n they ask me to pass this "oiwai" (oh-yee-wa-yee) = Japanese Ang Pao n a card for u!!!

So nice ler~~in Japanese Yen I think ^^
also, sim yun young is attending ur wedding :D
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Mii-Chan

Safe in Yokohama @ Kitagawa-san's place ^^
Mii-chan as cute as before~

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Kawaguchi Family ><

Continue from prev post...

I must mention Keiko-sensei's parents, Yoko-san n Koji-san are very very very nice people!!!! I must say Yoko-san is the *Queen* of *obasan* if u understand what I'm saying, I thought mum is worse n then I met Takashi, I thought T is worse, n then I met Yoko-san!!!! I'm carrying more stuff than before, she basically insisted me to take everything: from a wooden green tea scoop to her old Japanese stamps series >< but she's sooo lovely~ Yamagata won't be as fun without them ^^

Pic 1 - my 1st gift from the cute couple, Yoko-san told me to put it on straight away to keep me warm when I got into the house ^^
Pic 2 - typical Japanese tatami room + futon (+ electric blanket)
Pic 3 - Had to wear mask while making panda sushi~ learning from Yoko-san ^^
Pic 4 - 044's Panda sushi~~ a bit ugly ==
Pic 5 - n panda sushi made by Yoko-san~ same ingredients but hers somehow taste nicer keke
Pic 6/7 - Koji-san in living/dining room, + my fav kotatsu!! (low, covered table with heater underneath) u basically keep your legs underneath the table to keep warm, eat n watch tv etc.. I shoo want one in Perth ><
Pic 8/9 - my bag is full of souvenirs from Yamagata >< couldn't squeeze more in n Yoko-san found this green big bag with wheels for me to put more stuff in >< damn heavy!! Again I thought it would be rude to reject so I took everything: big bag of fruits, lots of soumen (Japanese thin noodles), Japanese pickles, Japanese curry, dried mushrooms, lots of senbei (Japanese snacks) to eat in the train etc etc etc ><

Example heavy breakfast I had this AM before I left Yamagata:
- Yaki (fried) Salmon
- fried egg
- Salad: tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce
- Scallop sake rice (very nice!!!)
- Miso soup
- Japanese pickles x 3 types
- 2 pieces of apple
- Japanese tea x 3 cups
- 2 x desserts: cream puff n vanilla swiss roll (lots!!!) ><
- Lipton tea x 1

Imagine me eating like this 3 times/day T.T

Example conversation in the car on our way to train station before I left Yamagata:
(I've been having runny nose for 3 days)
Koji-san (otousan/dad): have u got a small pack of tissue with u?
Me: yes!
Koji-san: Have u got it in your pocket? So its easy for u to take it out?
Me: ...... Yes!!!
Yoko-san (okaasan/mum) busy looking for a box of tissue that's usually placed in the car: Take this tissue box with u!!
Me: ....... nonono!! I'm okay..... ><

Muahahahhahaa I can't describe enuff abt them >< shoo cute :D missing them already ><
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Yamagata vs Onsen vs Kudamono~ 2009

I somehow felt relieved for staying in Yamagata for 3 nights only; Keiko-sensei' parents wouldn't stop feeding me >< I thought it would be rude to refuse so I've been literally eating like a pig, heavy breakfast, lunch n dinner everyday, lots of snacks n desserts, I've seriously put on another 3kg T.T yes I said another T.T Traveling before Jie2's wedding is definitely not a good idea T.T T.T T.T T.T

Tendo 天童 in Yamagata is where Keiko-sensei comes from, a small town famous with lots of onsen (hot spring bath)~ Yoko-san took me to onsen almost everyday n am lucky to experience "rotenburo" (outdoor/open-air bath) for the 1st time in Japan! Love onsen!!! Very very very "kimochi"~~ haha n relaxing ^^

Tendo is also famous with a variety of fruits production; "ra-furansu" (La France) being the most famous one, guess what leh?! The name sounds so nice n I was surprised to find out it is what we call *Pear* but huge ones (pic 2)~ Other famous kudamono include "ringo" (huge apple), "kaki" (persimmon), "budo" (huge grapes), "sakuranbo" (cherries), momo (peach) etc.. u'll see lots of colourful juicy fruits on trees on side of the road n feel like picking them n give them a bite keke (you'll get told off though)

My most to least fav fruits in Japan
1. Definitely Budo!!!! (Pic 1) - I have not eaten this kind of grapes in any other countries!! Its bigger than usual ones, texture is firmer n the sweetness is beyond imagination keke somehow tastes like wine/alcohol~ very very yum!!!! One of the must eat in Japan n make sure you peel the skin 1st keke am so gonna carry lots home ^^
2. Kaki (Pic 1) - taste similar to persimmons in Australia but bigger n look fresher~ always love persimmons :D Yoko-san mixed this with mashed sweet potatoes + raisins as entree, damn good!!
3. Ringo (no pic) - about 2 to 3 times bigger than the normal one keke n again very sweet~ Yoko-san taught me how to make apple jam in 3mins >< will share later keke
4. Ra-Furansu - not a big fan of pear unfortunately, but I hav to say Yamagata has great pears!! As sweet as apple keke I had ra-furanse soft cream (icecream) too!! ^^

Didn't get to try sakuranbo (cherries) n momo (peach) bcuz they only have them in June/July, am hoping to bring my family here again if we r going to Hokkaido mid next yr~ I'll get to try them then :D

Ohh, arriving in Tokyo soon ><
Ps: "kudamono" = fruits
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Got a Cold

My nose wouldn't stop running == Keiko-sensei's parents kept taking my temperature today keke was going to blog abt Yamagata before I sleep, but am struggling to open my eyes after taking meds...

Comfy in this electric futon, am sleeping now....
Oyasuminasai~
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Email from all Excited Bride-to-be

"OM gosh
this is sooo exciting
i can't wait
mum is looking for diamoond necklaceeeee
let's go to LV"

...... kekeke
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Shinkansen

T and I missed the 8.56am Hikari train this AM >< we didn't want to run late so we took Nozomi instead, the fastest train to get to Tokyo (even though my railway pass is not valid on this train keke) lucky they didn't check my ticket in the train >< it took 2hrs+ from Kyoto to Tokyo; I need to change train to get to Yamagata n T has an interview in Yokohama this arvo. We had yummy curry rice @ San Marco @ Tokyo station n did a bit of shopping keke

Am now in a different train on my way to Keiko-sensei's hometown, Yamagata~ a place famous with On-sen (hot spring) ^^ Keiko-sensei's mum, Yoko-san will be picking me up @ tendo-station ^^ Very excited to see her!!! Am staying @ their place for 3 nights before traveling to Yokohama ;)

Pic 1 - what the bullet train looks like keke
Pic 2 - @ Tokyo station
Pic 3/4 - looking out the train window~
Pic 5/6 - spacious n comfortable seats in the train; I've left one luggage in Kyoto n can't bliv I still hav a lot of stuff to carry to Yamagata ><
Pic 7 - glad I could charge my phone/camera in the train :D
Pic 8/9 - I want to buy obentou (lunch box) in the train but T bought me too much snacks =.=

The train somehow is slowing down, ohhh ohhh I see white snow (last pic, sorry very not clear)~~

Ohhh ohhh I see.... I see.... I saw cemetery ><
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JR railway pass

Freaking lost for an hour ><
Freaking crowded @ kyoto central station!
2 main tasks for me today:
1) Obtain my 7 days JR railway pass @ JR office @ Kyoto station - *only for foreigners* I bought the pass @ HIS in Perth, able to use on most trains except Nozomi (the fastest one ><)
2) Exchange the rest of my travellers cheques, I need cash!!!! kekeke

Pic 1/2 - lots of ppl @ kyoto station/my JR railway pass
Pic 3 - the cash exchange rate for aussie dollars very low (70.49)!! Lucky I didn't carry much cash >< the rate that I got for my travellers cheques in Aus was a lot higher 82.39!! 12% is a lot of difference!!
Pic 4 - takashi's name tags from his seminar today
Pic 5/6 - we had okonomiyaki* for dinner after his seminar ^^

Am heading to Yamagata (keiko sensei's hometown) tomorrow which will be a lot colder than kyoto, so we r shopping for boots @ a shopping mall now; I need a good pair to keep my feet warm ><
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Raining in Kyoto ><

T doesn't finish his interview until 7pm today n I don't feel like going out, just relaxing @ mansion, enjoy watching some funny Japanese tv programs keke recovery day for me today~

Pic 1/2/3: supper last night, takashi felt like having "oden" so we went to a nearby convenience store to get them, didn't taste too bad, okok for me hehe

I must say I really love the convenience store in Japan!
Pic 4/5 - I got some uuroncha, yebisu (beer), umeshuu (plum wine) n starbucks green latte n expresso~
Pic 6 - my fav onigiri!!! (rice balls), they hav omelet rice too (yellow one, eggs wrapping tomato rice), yum yum~
Pic 7 - I've got some healthy* instant diet* noodles, normal instant ramen 440kcal, and these ones only abt 85kcal each muahahaha plus they known to be nutritious, made of natural ingredients like beans, oats etc.. Price is reasonable too!! Waaaah, I'm thinking to send a box of these instant noodles to Australia ><
Last pic - my fav fav fav pudding~~ :D

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