Chinese New Year 2009

I had never been through such a lonely Chinese New Year my entire life. Last year, I lost my grandpa, so we were not celebrating Chinese New Year, it was lonely but I had my family with me and this year, I am not celebrating either because I am stuck in Japan preparing for exams.


Penang Kek Lok Si Temple

It gets most lonely when you look at home country news and everywhere is showing the CNY decoration at home. How Midvalley, KLCC and Pavillion are competing in turning their main lobby into huge giant lantern or plum flowers. How Jenjarom Dongzen temple Flower Festival for the ox year gonna be like, a glimpse of the giant ox with happy monk and laughing children infront. As though they are laughing nincompoop like me who couldnt celebrate CNY this year.


Midvalley Kuala Lumpur, decorations for 2009. Photo by SooHK, Flickr

I decided not to call home during the reunion dinner. I dont want to hear the gathering knowing that they are having delicious home cook cuisine and I am not there.

Side story, I had my Japanese presentation for my Japanese Science Technology class. I presented about basic antenna and electromagnetic wave. Nothing fancy, just about how wavelength related to antenna length. I did the whole presentation in Japanese, it took me more than 1 day to prepare the slides, and script. (Nope, I cant present impromptu without script). In the end, i forgot most of the script and speak like a layman beginner. Kore wa antenna desu. (This is antenna). Sore wa tokyo tower desu. (That is tokyo tower). I felt myself such a failure after almost 1 year, I still couldnt speak Japanese like I should have.

Anyway, learnt some Japanese related to EM waves:

Frequency 周波数　 しゅうはすう　 syuuhasuu
Frequency Band 周波数帯　しゅうはすうたい　syuuhasuutai
Wavelength　 波長　 はちょう hacyou　
Speed of light 光速　 こうそく　 kousoku

以上です！

Long Time No See

The last time I met Naoyo was 8 years ago. When she was an exchange student in Re's house.

Last few days, She stopped by Tokyo before going back to her hometown in Fukuoka.

We went Yokohama China Town. The chinese food we ate reminded me of home, alcohol white chicken, siu long pau, dim sum.....

Then went red brick wall in Yokohama. Learnt new word, brick = れんが　(Renga) in japs.




Then appointment for dinner at 7pm with Naoyo's friend in Shinbashi. But we were there few hours earlier.




Walk around Nippon telebi. Guy nurse showing off sexy leg hair.





Had Korean food with Naoyo's friend, 太三さん, Kenny, Yap, and Boon.



The clock behind was designed by 宮崎　駿 (Miyazaki Hayao) from the anime 千と千尋の神隠し (Spirited Away).

Kenny is flying off next week. ::sob sob::

2nd Tour Guide Training

First training, I practiced on David, he had to suffer quite a lot with my ability to speak Japs, of course, the too-much-walking too.

2nd training, I used it on Boon Chun and his colleague Kah Meng.

It's good to be able to show off my broken Japanese in front of Bc and Km, because they couldnt understand as well as David. Nyek Nyek Nyek!!!

The only Japanese I could speak spontaneously is everyday, greeting OhaiyoGozaimasu sometimes Konnichiwa and Sayonara to the bicycle parking keeper. With a little bit of brain juice, I am able to ask for directions to the Toilet, certain famous location and recognize 'Left' and 'Right' in Japs.

With a lot of nodding, occasionally 'Hai' 'Hai' 'En' 'En' during conversation, and smoothly finish a conversation by saying 'ArigatouGozaimasu', with a perfect 90 degree bow. HuahLa! I cheated both of them that I CAN ACTUALLY SPEAk. Little do they knew, most of the time, I was just recognizing the hand gesture for the direction given. ::evil::

Yokohama

Got a bit lost in Shibuya, couldnt find that particular shop for dinner, although we did passed by the shop once. Do Not ask me how was the dinner. I still feel sin. Worst still, I didnt pay for my dinner.

Later, went Kabuki-chou. Classic routine for Japan Tour.

TakoYaki stall in the middle of Shinjuku

Boon Chun brought Granny's chicken soup herbs for me. The herbs scent are so strong, it made me misses home. Miss good old homecook food. Gonna get some chicken tomorrow, for my chicken soup. :)

Last Weekend Photos Diary

David reached Odaiba at around 9pm. After dinner, there's nothing much to do except killing the scenery by shooting. We were hoping to catch some steamy actions of young couples while walking along the beach on the way back home. Too bad it was a quiet day.

Next morning, woke up at 5am for Tsujiki Fish Market, the biggest wholesale fish market in the world, departed from Odaiba at 545am. I was really reluctant to get my butt off the bed!! But the trip was all worthwhile.

As a tourist, we were not really welcomed here. We might just ended up dead sleeping with the fish and get carried away in one of those carts. They were speeding like no one's business all around the road. Hay! People might really get killed here! Who say Godfather's Fulton Fish Market was scary? Beat this.

Every morning 5am is the Tuna auction, Fishes fresh from the ocean every morning. We missed the auction but saw the aftermath. People were sawing the fish apart, chopping, hooking.... I feel for the fish though they were frozen.

Found Mr.Octupus and Mr.Krab.

Before visiting the Imperial palace, stopped by Ginza for Kabuki-za. In this picture, I wasnt suppose to be on the grass. It was precious grass, step only by the all mighty Emperor. -_-"

Next was Ueno. Ueno's Ameya yokocho, Ueno's park. This Thinking Man with The Crow is in front of the Ueno Art Musuem. I insisted that he is having headache, David reckons he was having a bad hair day instead.

Ended the day with Thai Food in Ginza.

Next day, discovered a new place in Venus Fort, The History Garage - by Toyota.

Wanna hop into my zhng Ferrari car?

Wall of Fame.

The Notorious Wall. Mob Collection.

I actually like this place better than the modernized toyota showroom. They decorated this place down to the very detailed details.

Suddenly, We were in Hong Kong.



Shiu Long Pao!

Hair-Cut Experience

Kenny, You are so right, I should really tell my 'B.R.A.V.E' experience of walking into a NON-ENGLISH speaking salon A.L.O.N.E!

Normally in Malaysia, you walk into the salon without thinking what hairstyle you wanna get, you talk with the hairdresser, exchange some opinions, Satisfy... Chop chop chop!

BUT IN JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WAS SERIOUSLY OUT OF MY MIND. I WALKED IN.... shit! I WENT BLANK!

ME: カット　と　カラー　お願いします。(Cut & colour please).

Receptionist: !"#$%&'()('&$# (I dunno what he asked).

ME: ...................................................... ::Blurred look::

Receptionist: (THINKING: This is gonna be a bad business) [Gesture me to sit]

Wait....

Hairdresser: !"#$%&('%#(# (I think she asking what style I wanted).
ME: 短くて...................... 何でも大丈夫！　(Shorten...... Every style is okay)

I did some fingers pointing to my face, indicating it's round, pulling my hair to cover my face.

She somehow understand that I meant "Face fat, Hair Cover!" PHEW!

Hairdresser: カラー ?(Colour?)

ME: (Try to think very hard)................... (Point at her hair colour and smile.)

She smiles back. Another Phew! Agreement done.

So, she flip flip my hair, and started cutting immediately!!

I was like waiting for my christmas gift not knowing what kind of hair I gonna get, what the colour gonna turn out on me........

I din EVEN DARE TO START THINKING I AM ACTUALLY IN JAPAN AND their appreciation of hair creativity is WAY BEYOND ABSURD!

WHAT IF IT'S A MOHAWK? How shud I tell my mum?! I sat there regreted my impromptu decision.

I started recalling the wonderful moment I had picture taken by David in Tokyo Tower, thou easy flammable but 'normal' looking hair, I started reminiscenting the cheerful moment of myself playing with my own hair before sleep.... (Maybe this is a bit exaggerated :D). And I started thinking where shud I get a cap? and maybe later should invest more on getting a wig....

2 and the half hours later...........

I look something like that.

Well..... Kenny says I looked better. Others say I looked younger. Thanks to Kenny, Thanks 'Sis' for condemning my previous hair without giving any face, indirectly forcing me for the haircut. I am just so glad it's not a Mohawk!

PS: Pictures taken by David with his SLR. :) Thanks!

Brief Update

To Foong:

The reason I didnt reply your SMS was becoz I was half dead last night from my trip to Tsujiki Fish Market, Ginza, Ueno Park & Shimbashi.

During the earthquake, I was eating Sushi in Tsujiki Market. We did felt the quake, but we didnt noe it was that serious until we saw the news update.

I am fine. Just in case you are concern. Muackss!

Your 2nd Sis.

Lost in Translation

Who would ever thought, After 12 years aparted since Standard six , We meet again, and this time in Tokyo.

Last saw Zhan Wei was in Harajuku during my first week here in Tokyo, I think my first sentence was 'Hay, you are so much taller!' ...........

Second meeting, was for the food in Komaba Asean Festival and Karaoke in Shibuya.

Yea, the problem with enrolling in a technology school is that most of my friends are guys. Took this picture in front of Tokyo University.

I bet you've already knew that Japan is a Vending Machine country. But do you also know Japan is a 'Tissue-Giving' country? Need tissue? Just ask from the Geisha standing in the middle of Shibuya street.

And, the condom shop in the background, are purposely accidently shot into the picture. It wasnt meant to be there.

I was ecstatic to see David's head pop out among the crowds in front of Hachiko the Dog. It's like finally you have a familiar face with a familiar language and similar topics to yak about!

Went up to Tokyo Tower.

Saw Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba Ferris Wheel from the other side. Finally a change of view instead of looking to the Tokyo Tower from Odaiba.

Braille showing the direction of Fuji-San. Come to think of it, they really think the blind have the mood to go up Tokyo Tower?

Did I mentioned that I did badly in my Japanese test exam today? I spent whole night up chatting studying and I can do nuts.

Friday the 13, unlucky day for my wallet, my easily flammable hair finally got chopped off.

When the result out, I really wish I would not need to suicide from the hole in Tokyo Tower above.

Statue

Great statue, can't you agree?

night view & day view


However, Sweety realised Japanese have a thing for statue that look like stick! Like below:


This statue is award-winning-statue okay?

She laughed especially on the lightning grounding needle statue


That got my nerved pissed! This batang looking statue has a name okay?!

It's La Flamme De La Liberte!!

See or not?! E with a cap somemore!

Sked or not!

Shout out to Avago Fella

A shout out from Tokyo to my dearest colleagues!

* Dumb Moment *

Stay Gorgeous!!!