Japan Dec 2005

Greetings from Japan! For this trip, we visited Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto for a total of 11days.

Some interesting facts about Japan:

Their toilets are really small. The bathtub was only big enough for me to sit in.

They have these funny functions on their toilet bowls to help you wash your ***. Be prepared for the intensity of it!They have many many vending machines along the streets, selling everything from food to drinks to cigarettes.

Energy saving car. When did we have that in Singapore?A board at the bus stop which tells you how long the next bus will take to come. I think this only appeared in Singapore in 2007, no?

Disneyland

There are Seven themed-lands filled with fun and fantasy. Quaint reminders of bygone days. Everywhere you find that magical touch of Disney. Feel like a child again! Spend a day each at Disneyland and Disneysea. If you only have a day, go for Disneyland. Because there's where you can frequently see your micky mouse and donald duck.

Everthing is in the shape of mickey mouse:

Stage performances

Day parade

Night electrical parade

How can I not take a picture with POOH?

Yokohama
Chinatown and the Ramen Museum

We took the Shinkasen to Yokohama from Tokyo instead of the regular JR train. The train was fast, shortening the trip from Tokyo to Yokohama from 50mins to 15mins. And you could hardly hear the movement of the train from inside the cabin.

The Ramen Museum: Making your own NISSIN cup noodle
1. Choose your ingredients

2 . Seal it.
3. Pump up the bubble bag to wrap the cup noodle

Giant NISSION instant ramen hahaha

Tsukiji Fish Market

You will see all sorts of FRESH seafood used in making Japanese cuisine. Definitely a good place to satisfy your craving for sashimi. I had the item below for breakfast!

Asakusa Kannon Temple

Harajuku

Famous for its numerous crepe stalls.

Meiji Jingu Shrine

For the Emperor and Empress of Meiji. Catch a glimpse of Japanese youngsters in their cosplay costumes along the pathways out of the shrine!

Yurikamome Line - Odaiba

A huge amusement area for shopping, entertainment and a view of Tokyo Bay. Among the attractions are Palette Town (shopping mall), Joyoplis (games arcade) and the Rainbow bridge. We visited Palettetown on Christmas eve and there was a 3-hour queue to get onto the ferris wheel close to midnight! Even though it was freezing cold out there. You bet I was amazed by the determination of the Japanese.

The rainbow bridge in the day and at night

Cars of the future by Lexus/Toyota featured at the Car 'museum'. So cool, i want! Haha.

Osaka
With the help of a Japanese friend of my Jap class classmate, who reserved the bus ticket for us, we took a night bus from Tokyo to Osaka to save on a night's accomodation and day time. The bus fare was cheaper than taking a train too. Most passengers were local Japanese who travel from one city to another for school, work or just to visit their relatives and friends living in another part of Japan.

Osaka Castle
Symbolic of the civil wars and the campaign to unite the country

Universal Studios Osaka

A wide choice of action-packed, thrilling, high-technology 3-D/4-D/interactive/digital vision rides revolving around the themes of San Francisco, New York, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity village, Snoopy Studios, Hollywood, Old West and Lagoon to last you a whole day.

Yes, we are very very happy =)

Queuing to get onto the Spider-Man 3-D Vision goggles ride. Most rides require you to queue for some time. The longest wait that day was for the Shrek 4-D ride, which lasted 2.5 hours. But it was well worth it. The 4-D ride was an experience.. feel spiders crawling on your arms, water sprayed at you from dunno where....

Snoopy and friends performance

Presley lookalike performing with Hello Kitty and friends

Kuidaore restaurant - recommended by my Japanese language tutor from Osaka

Pork katsu with beef stew & mixed katsu set. YUMMY.

Fugetsu Restaurant

One of the most established OKONOMIYAKI restaurant for more than half a century.

How to cook an okonomiyaki (done by a chef at your table):

1. Arrange the cabbage in a round shape on the hot plate


2. Flip over

3. Smear with mayo and sweet sauce

Authentic Okonomiyaki ready to be eaten!

Market at Osaka

Soya donuts and tofu dessert, all freshly made.

Japanese setting at a mochi restaurant

Japanese afternoon tea - mochi and tea

Kaiyukan - Osaka Aquarium

Dolphins showcase in the open. Possible because it is winter and temperature is low. Amazing!

Tenpozen Market Place - Ferris wheel ride

View from the ferris wheel - Tempozan Ohashi Bridge

Kyoto

Rokuon-ji Temple - Famous for its Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion)

A world heritage site since 1994. Exterior of the building is coated with Japanese lacquer and glided with gold-leaf. An indulgent living premise of a Shogun after he abdicated the thone in 1394. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I simply love Japan.

For its food.

For its culture.

For its weather.

For its themeparks

For its service

For its architecture.

I really want to go again!

Taiwan Feb 2005

Hi everyone! This is my first plane ride at the age of 20.

Don't you love the sky when you are in the plane? when the clouds are below you.. not above.

Food oh glorious food


But I must say these items below are nothing to rave about, though they are part of taiwanese cuisine. The best food was in shilin night market - which was so good I did not bother to take any picture because I was busy eating.They include

1. XXL Crispy chicken

2. Hu Jiao Bing (Black pepper biscuit-bun)

3. Taiwan sausage

4. Da Bing Bao Xiao Bing (Flavoured crispy bits wrapped in a pancake)

5. Da chang bao xiao chang (Taiwan sausage wrapped with glutinous rice)

6. Tian bu la (Tempura)

7. Lu rou fan (stewed minced pork with rice)

8. Or ah jian (oyster omelette)

9. Ah zhong or ah mee sua (oyster vermicilli)



Below:

Dan bing (like roti prata)

Carrot cake

Fen yuan - a specialty available at Jiu Fen. DO try their zhong hen wan (meat balls) and ma shu (mochi) too when you are there!
Takopachi with generous serving of bonito flakes - i like!
tian lu fan he (railway lunchbox - pork chop and egg)

Taipei


View on top of Jiu Fen

Lovers bridge at fisherman wharf. Freezing cold... a cup of hot chocolate in your hands always feels good.
Star glamourCKS Memorial hall

Hualien

View from the train to Hualien The Pacific Ocean from Hualien

Tai Lu Ge (Taroko Gorge)

Ocean Park Hualien

Amazing dolphins Playing a trick on us!

Conclusion for Taiwan:

Distinct culture of its own: Bing la mei, super deh girls, very gentle man, tai ke, very sweet(and expensive) fruits (i bet they soak the fruits in some sugar syrup).

A place for cheap and very good food. Do visit other parts of Taiwan eg. Hualien for a glimpse of the nature and to experience countryside life.

Would love to visit again for the yummy food!

Tioman July 2004

Some people find Tioman boring... ya, I do admit there isn't much to do there, besides

1. Just lazing round on the beach for the whole day as people in other parts of the world slog their lives away,
2. swimming among the fishes in the sea where the water is much clearer than what you get at east coast park/sentosa/any other seas surrounding singapore.
3. getting a soak in the waterfalls in the forests
4. watching that very beautiful sunset
5. sipping a cocktail and chill the night away

Well, the 3D2N getaway surely did not seem boring to me.

f.r.i.e.n.d.s

i am someone whose decisions are easily influenced by others and jump to conclusions fast. which also makes me a fickle-minded person who keeps changing her mind and views.

i really ought to be less judgemental and give myself more time to know a person before i decide what kind of person he is and if i want to make this friend (or should just be an acquaintance).

i also tend to zoom in on one's flaws and based my impression of the person on that. but overtime, i realised that people whom i disliked have a good side to them too. and that everyone has a good/bad side and i should learn to accept a person as he is (but of cos some people are really just plain irritating to me and i really dun want to associate myself with them).

oh.. but there are some people who seems so nice at times but behave so differently at others, and that makes it so hard to know what kind of person he really is. today i met up with such a person. and i really want to be positive about it. because i feel that we are somewhat alike and you don't come across such a person everyday.

i also realised that i prefer small group outings, or even just two person, cos its really the only time u can pour out ur inner thoughts and have little reservations over what u say. and i conclude my definition of a best friend is some sort of like a soul mate: someone whom u can click with (or what u call 'chemistry'), who may not have the same opinion as you on every issue but who can provide you with a different perspective without the feeling that one is trying to prove the other wrong, and who is there when u need him, knowing when to provide advice and when to remain silence and just lend a listening ear.

disclaimer: i used 'he' as a general term for both male and female here

happy happy

i m a happy becos

1. i helped made my fren happy
2. i found a wonderful place that sells baking stuff
3. i had my best attempt at oreo cheesecake
4. i know my dear really finds me attractive, and so other people's views dun matter
5. i had a great sunday chilling out with the girls, talking about our times in NJ and our love
6. i m going to be A2 soon
7. dear is coming back soon!!!

yes, i m a happy lucky girl =)

the old faithful friend

You're not a shining start in your group, and that's why they love you. You're smart, easy-going, reliable and, most of all, a very loyal friend - which makes for excellent company.

Because of your level-headed nature, you're respected by those around you who often seek your advice or ask you to mediate. And because you're known to your friends for such a long time, they rely on you for the final say on group decisions, like which resort to stay at for your all-girl spa trip, or what present to get for whom.

However, it's very likely that you're a small-group friend - meaning you're faithful to and comfortable with just this bunch and no one else. You don't tend to make very close new friends, not because you're unsociable, but because of inertia and laziness.

With a friendship style like this, you may feel neglected and taken for granted when your friends get caught up in their own lives. Go out and make a few more lasting friendships - we're sure there'll be willing candidates.

HOW TRUE! But with respect to the advice given at the end.. i think there is still a lot of inertia and laziness. Haha.

Love

Love came in all different shapes, sizes and temperaments. Love exists in many forms. Anyone can love anyone.

Some love their other half because he/she is good-looking.
Some love their other half because he/she has a kind heart.
Some love their other half because they get the love and security when they are with them.
Some love their other half, and they do not know the reason.

Whatever the reason is, TRUE love can withstand the test of time, distance and external forces.
Some people break up because they feel that they are so used to each other, that there is no passion anymore.
Some people break up because someone 'better' comes along.

To these people:
We should all understand that in a relationship, the honeymoon period does not last forever. Very soon, things will become routine. That does not mean the realtionship ends here and it is time to look for someone else. Cos, when will we stop looking for that someone 'better'?
These are just cycles that happens to all relationships, and what is important is how much you treasure what you have.

True love doesn't stay in one phase. It transits from one phaseto another. And we should learn to make the best out of every stage, cos only then will you understand what is love, and truely experience it.