Japan 2012: Nagoya + Shirakwa-go + Takayama

A wonderful trip with my dearest Ho Mei, and his bandmates, beautiful Iris, and very cool Kwong.

Thank you to Kwong who helped booked the flight and hotel, and information on the minshuku (民宿) and coach bus to Shirakawa (白川鄉).

Day 1: HKG-NGO, Fushimi, Sakae, Nagoya, CoCo Ichibanya

Flight HKG-NGO, dep 1020 31/3.

 

Arrived Nagoya without dramas, quick plane ride and a movie and we arrived. Took the train on the Meitetsu Line 名古屋鉄道 to Nagoya city. Got to Hotel Wing. Cozy, clean, small room, with easy access from Marunouchi station (丸の内). 

  

We arranged to meet up with Iris and Kwong in the evening, had a bit of time before redezvous, roamed around a little bit~ 

NB: Canon did not pay me. (they should)

The many sides to my dearest... 

Silly+cute:

 

  Cool dude.

 

 Walked towards Sakae, and came across a cute mailbox...

 Sakae Sunshine

Marunouchi station (丸の内), whilst waiting for the cute couple. L: ticket and fare adjustment machine, with Japanese man looking like he's doing a no. 1. R: cute courtesy umbrella stand. 

 We proceeded to getting the tickets to Shirakawa (白川鄉) at the Nagoya Bus Center. After that we were hungry! Had dinner at CoCo Ichibanya Curry House. It was YUM!

Day 2: Cafe de Crie, Nagoya Castle, Higashiyama Park, Onmyo-za

Breakfast at Cafe de Crie, simple tasty breakfast. Little versions of everything with plenty of packaging, even had little pot of lemon juice in case you want to make the tea into lemon tea...

 Lovin' my "deer-in-headlight" look!

All posters/ads/notices are quite cartoony. This is one of them we passed by on the way back to the rendezvous with Iris and Kwong.

 Nagoya Subway Map. (I did a similar photo at BCN, no funny facial expression though!)

Meijo Park, Nagoya Castle.

Plum blossoms. We were a little too early for cherry blossoms. Still, loved it.

 Street performer, doing tricks with diabolo, and solving rubick's cube behind his back in 2 mins... very entertaining and impressive! :D

Inside the keep, Honmaru Palace:

Other happy snappy's around Meijo Park...

 I particularly found this flower interesting...

Zodiac pix.

 Ad for peach-flavoured canned drink? :P

Nomnom... ^^

Snacky after morning stroll~

View along walk back to subway station - City hall

 Interesting subway station design~

 Sakae station - underground shopping malls.

Yummy lunch! Huge pieces of fish, proportionally less rice compared to sushi train in HK. R: menu - these sushi has functions, beautify skin, relieve stress... etc...!

Top train: foods; bottom train: tea cups and soy sauce dishes; table: aftermath.

Next stop: Higashiyama Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Absolutely beautiful flowers at the greenhouse~

Yummy Sakura-flavoured ice-cream! :D

Subway towards 中京大学文化市民会館 for Onmyoza concert. Females only car - to avoid 痴漢

 Onmyoza concert. Absolutely awesome.

Day 3: Shirakawa

Bus departs at 9am, so it was an early morning... HM getting brekkie for us... ^^

 Meitetsu bus center.

 Coach rest stop.

 Shirakawa!!! Absolutely beautiful scenery, gorgeous weather.

My v. cool bf.

Lunch~ Yum!

Sightseeing around Shirakawa: (fr top left clockwise: before+after renewing the roof of these 合掌屋,  cute cookies, "you and those figurines look alike", 坑渠蓋)

 

[hm's pic]

Back at our minshuku...

 

Dinner after going to the nearby bath house~ 

 Oishi-desu!

 - the evening ended early, but it was a quality evening <3

Day 4: Takayama (day) + Nagoya (night)

Breakfast at minshuku, so delicious!

Very helpful lady at the information centre helped us cancel our ticket to Nagoya from Shirakawa, so we could spend a few hours at Takayama because there's actually not too much to do at Shirakawa, and it was pouring down that day!

 

Takayama. Lockers for my luggage (note to self: please pack lighter next time, Japan is very civilised, no hot water bottle necessary).

 Lunch. Yummy local place. Plenty of different locals having lunch off work.

BUNNY SHOP!!! Very excited Karen around this shop. It's absolutely awesome. Didn't end up getting anything because it was difficult to choose! Went back twice to admire the cuteness though. :)

My uber cute bf. Raar~

Dango~ nom nom

HM @ turtle house.

Around Takayama...

 Hida~! Takayama~!

The rainbow after the rain, on the way back to Nagoya.
"If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

 The original tickets were cancelled and the helpful lady at Shirakawa information centre arranged for us to get our refunds back. YAY, got budget for ____ (pick one: food, souvenir, ... JAZZ at livehouse...)

 the B Nagoya - nice lobby ^^

 As it turns out, HM found out that there's a livehouse near by, asked if I would like to go for jazz. "Sure!" was my answer... and off we went.

 

It was HM's second time there... my first time. The food was much better than I thought. (we knew that they served pizza and pasta...) The place was cozy but professional (imo).

The music was FUN! Particularly love the pianist, vocalist, and the drummer.

 After set 1 HM had a chat with the pianist and I asked the vocalist for an autograph (I had a marker with me!). They found out we were visiting from HK... and they were such fun musicians, and asked HM to play the drums after their second set. IMO he should've (he's awesome drummer imo) but I guess perhaps next time...! 

A photo with the musicians (minus the bass).

HM got a CD from the drummer, it's a NEWLY released jazz cd that the drummer and his brother recorded with other musicians. Naturally we asked for his autograph too, and had a look, it was Ghibli jazz! Calculated probability.
Photo of a happy chappy HM. :D

Day 5: Last day in Nagoya

Breakfast at IRIS conference room. (This trip: Hotel Wing, Iris conference room. Destined to be Zodiac related...)

 the B, street view.

 

So, story goes, jazz ended up pretty pricy, and we ended up spending the refund we got from the bus at Doxy, (granted, it was well worth it!!) The morning we had to hang around Sakae because we pretty much juz had enough for the train ride to the airport! We went to Nagoya Park, which isn't really a park but a shopping mall. We indulged ourselves with the Japanese products, and concluded they are SERIOUS about EVERYTHING, nothing is JUST an anything. There isn't just a lunchbox, just a cushion, just a cleaning product...

 Street view, beautiful weather.

 Coffee back at the B to collect our luggages... free coffee...! HAHA!

 Scenery along the way to the airport... such beautiful weather... sad to go!

 

 Centrair. Doesn't this airport resembles HKIA?! Well they must've copied us because ours were built first! Also very cute Japanese mascots for the airport. I particularly like the clouds - there's a normal cloud and a storm cloud!

 

 Sky deck, solar panels.

 Nagoya from the air...

What an amazing experience for my first time on Honshu! Music and food were the highlights of the trip, and the sweetest photo taken (yet)!

I am the luckiest girl in the world with the bestest bf!

Some of the things that hurt us here the most, are your regrets over the past, insecurities over downtime, and self-doubts over decisions to be made.

Heck, the past was only warm-up practice, downtime gives us a chance to set a new stage, and it's you we call "the boss."

Fear, like joy, usually means that you're exactly where you should be, learning what you're ready to learn, about to become more than who you were.

The dots ...

So as it turns out I have decided to take on the offer.
Peanuts, and skeptical about how things will turn out. Nonetheless, shall go at it head on and see what happens.

It's such an uneasy decision and I must learn to make decisions without worrying too much what other people think. Though when it comes to my parents it is a little harder. It's hard to not feel judged.

I believe the dots will connect. Eventually.

Interview, round II

Thank You for staying close for my first interview, and thank You for making it a good experience.
I have got another interview in an hour, please let me present myself the best I can, and please guide the way for the perfect job for me. You're the man with the plan, I am ready.

Also thank You for making Dr. M.W. like me enough to want to see me again tomorrow.
But, one thing at a time, let me focus on the task at hand right now.

Crosses to Bear.

It is a true test for Lent, and Easter, this news.
Prayer for God's grace, may He grant me the wisdom and whatever ability I need to face it, to be the better person.

Iridescent

When you were standing in the wake of devastation
When you were waiting on the edge of the unknown
With the cataclysm raining down
Your insides crying, "Save me now"
You were there, impossibly alone

And in a burst of light that blinded every angel
As if the sky had blown the heavens into stars
You felt the gravity of tempered grace
Falling into empty space
With no one there to catch you in their arms

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?
You build up hope, but failures all you've known
Remember all the sadness and frustration
And let it go
Let it go.

梁繼璋曾給兒子寫過一封信

香港電臺知名主持人梁繼璋曾給兒子寫過一封信，這封信很快流傳於各大網站，很多父親看後感觸很深，我覺得不只給兒子，其實適合所有人看！

下輩子，無論愛與不愛，都不會再見----送給兒子的備忘錄

我兒：寫這備忘錄給你，基於三個原則：

1. 人生福禍無常，誰也不知可以活多久，有些事情還是早一點說好。

2. 我是你的父親，我不跟你說，沒有人會跟你說。

3. 這備忘錄記載的，都是我經過慘痛失敗得回來的體驗，可以為你的成長省回不少冤枉路。

以下，便是你在人生中要好好記住的事：

（一）對你不好的人，你不要太介懷，在你一生中，沒有人有義務要對你好，除了我和你媽媽。

至於那些對你好的人，你除了要珍惜、感恩外，也請多防備一點，因為，每個人做每件事，總有一個原因，他對你好，未必真的是因為喜歡你，請你必須搞清楚，而不必太快將對方看作真朋友。

（二）沒有人是不可代替，沒有東西是必須擁有。

看透了這一點，將來你身邊的人不再要你，或許失去了世間上最愛的一切時，也應該明白，這並不是什麼大不了的事。

（三）生命是短暫的，今日你還在浪費著生命，明日會發覺生命已遠離你了。

因此，愈早珍惜生命，你享受生命的日子也愈多，與其盼望長壽，倒不如早點享受。

（四）世界上並沒有最愛這回事，愛情只是一種霎時的感覺，而這感覺絕對會隨時日、心境而改變。

如果你的所謂最愛離開你，請耐心地等候一下，讓時日慢慢沖洗，讓心靈慢慢沉澱，你的苦就會慢慢淡化。不要過分憧憬愛情的美，不要過分誇大失戀的悲。

（五）雖然很多有成就的人士都沒有受過很多教育，但並不等於不用功讀書，就一定可以成功。

你學到的知識，就是你擁有的武器。人，可以白手興家，但不可以手無寸鐵，謹記！

（六）我不會要求你供養我下半輩子，同樣地我也不會供養你的下半輩子，當你長大到可以獨立的時候，我的責任已經完結。

以後，你要坐巴士還是Benz（賓士），吃魚翅還是粉絲，都要自己負責。

（七）你可以要求自己守信，但不能要求別人守信，你可以要求自己對人好，但不能期待人家對你。

你怎樣對人，並不代表人家就會怎樣對你，如果看不透這一點，你只會徒添不必要的煩惱。

（八）我買了十多二十年六合彩，還是一窮二白，連三獎也沒有中，這證明人要發達，還是要努力工作才可以，世界上並沒有免費午餐。

（九）親人只有一次的緣分，無論這輩子我和你會相處多久，也請好好珍惜共聚的時光，下輩子，無論愛與不愛，都不會再見。

Blessed.

FB album. Blessed.

A Sunday in March.

- Drove to Hamburg Villa, Ma did flowers for church... beautiful orchids.

- Went to Ricci Hall @Pok Fu Lum. Great sermon. It was about politics. It wasn't politics. The priest's sermon was about saving politics. It is good to have politics, and where there's people, there'll be politics, be it a family, church, office, or the very city we live in. No human being is perfect, we all have sinned before. It reminded me of how we shouldn't judge. I learnt not to judge through another way, another realisation, but a fact to me nonetheless. It was good to see Michael 哥哥, pretty much the only person I recognised. (Funny little side story: this must've happened when I was 2 yrs old, he was the first person who bought me 麥精維他奶, warm, in a glass bottle. This is actually my own memory... Apparently he's also the guy who gave me my first rose. Ha!).

- Lunch at 白玉蘭 @IFC. Beautiful plates... [photo ^^] Food was great - dim sum nom nom... comfortable environment, good service, very posh area but price was surprisingly affordable, not cheap, but for a place that class, not bad. @$110 (Auntie Flora [阿花] and family, Michael, Doris, Chan's) 

 

- HKJC HV for a few hours... Pa and Ma went Wan Chai... It was great set up for me. Did some reading about making a cat-friendly practice. Also watched the movie New York, I love you. Was a good movie imo, not fantastic, but I enjoyed it anyhow. :)

 

- Dinner at Heichirou with 波王張, Auntie Pat and Auntie Winnie. Uber yummy dinner, 片皮鴨 was the feature definitely, but plenty of other yummy foods completed with dessert.
- Drove home. :)

Be

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overn...ight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world your best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway."
-Mother Teresa


- from asanji's fb status.

曬命事件簿

其一:
HM treated me to 《東京事變 Live Tour 2012 Domestique Bon Voyage》戲院直播 yesterday. The experience was different, can't say I've seen a concert broadcasted before, but I enjoyed the date, a lot. It was perfect, in my eyes.

We met up at Tai Wo station, (I have spent the afternoon with V and her mum at Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Gardens), took the train to Tsuen Wan West. Along the way we had some funny conversations, not intelligent, by any means, but I had a good laugh till my cheeks hurt. Along the short walk to the cinema we passed by a bus station, where there was a bus he could take back to TP, but he said he'll take the train so he can accompany me (I practically melted?!). It wasn't long till we ended up at the mall we need to be at, and we had a meal at a cute cozy cafe, I ended up getting a vegetarian noodle soup, and bubble tea. I got quite a sweet deal - dinner was on me and HM got the tix...

It wasn't particularly crowded at the cinema, the seats were comfy, and I was well fed (maybe too well fed...). The feeling of it being streamed live from Tokyo, people actually watching this while we were watching it just felt funny for some reason. I shouldn't really be surprised, because Skype existed for YEARS?!!

The concert was great! To be honest I only know maybe 10-15 songs by Tokyo Jihen, and I'm sure the level of appreciation HM has is far greater than mine. I must admit the first half hour or so I was REALLY sleepy. Prolly coz of the food? The sleepiness dampened and I was really enjoying the concert, the performance was great. I like Shiina Ringo, but I never saw her perform, she was totally into it and a great performer! There was such glamour! The guitarist was awesome, with the MANY guitars he changed in between songs (I swear there was at least TEN). The drummer was very cute, he took his camera out on several occasions to document his band members, and the audience. I also liked his make up! He had stars/glitter on his eyelid and below his eyebrows! The bassist seems to be the most mature of the 5, he was 陶醉 in his own music too. Couldn't help but notice how his wrists were wrapped up for support, hope he doesn't get arthritis too soon. The keyboardist was awesome! He also played the guitar. I swear a keyboard makes a band complete, just doesn't sound nearly as nice when they don't have it (then again, I still like Zodiac's music though they don't have a keyboard).

I really enjoyed the live broadcast, although I must say I would prolly have more of a "high" if we were actually in the concert, definitely felt idle and not participating enough! However, I am by NO means complaining. It was a wonderful evening.

其二:
究竟誰陪誰...?
Ma took the day off, and we spent the day together. Went to SKM/SSP for food - had snake soup (!) and glutinous rice, fishball/fishcake noodle soup and vege, kaya french toast, then had hazelnut coffee. Before the coffee we visited a stationary shop and my mum bought me arts supplies <3. We also managed to visit a new design school in Hong Kong (SCAD). We had the coffee at Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre. Next went to Jordan for her haircut. I just waited with her while she got her haircut (thank goodness for iPhone games!). It was at a small flat in a building close to Kowloon Park. The hairdresser was this older man (retired) and only taking few appointments. The convo included how good it is for me to accompany my mum, but in all honesty I think she's accompanying me? If she didn't take the day off I'll be just at home, prolly moping. After that we went in a clothing shop, and she bought me a jacket, the style looks like the black jacket I'm wearing at the moment, only more stylish, better quality, and posher! SPOILT. 曬命-ing. We then went towards PCC and walking through Kowloon Park. The flowers 風信子 were beautiful... We went to the wet market and bought some vege, then I came home while she went to PCC.

...
So many more things to brag about but I think I should call it a night for now.

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the remedy. It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened. It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life. Remember, the less time you spend hating the people who hurt you, the more time you’ll have to love the people who love you."

- from dalal's status.

What is Love?

- found this in the "from people >> jas k" folder today (2003).

What is Love?

A group of professionals posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year olds.  "What does love mean?"  The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.  See what you think:

Rebecca – age 8
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.  You know that your name is safe in their mouth.
Billy – age 4
Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.
Chrissy – age 6
Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.
Terri – age 4
Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay.
Danny – age 7
Love is when you kiss all the time.  Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.  My mommy and daddy are like that.  They look gross when they kiss.
Jenny – age 4
Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday
Noelle – age 7
Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.
Clare – age 5
Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.
Chris – age 8
Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day

Jessica – age 6
When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.
Mark – age 6
You really shouldn't say "I love you" unless you mean it.  But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.  People forget.

Not finding time...

actually all these reflections are reposted from my private blog, the original entries were from ~2yrs ago. just wanted to put in a place where i'd like more people to potentially see it.a bit of bombardment of these "reflections".
maybe oldie, who knows, but i think goodie.

i think this doesn't have to apply to God. can apply to anything that you want to give but 'don't have time' for.



The Poem.

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down ...

But never found the time"

Emergency Telephone Numbers...

These are more effective than 911
When:-

You are sad, phone - John 14
You have sinned, phone - Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone - Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone - Psalm 27
If it feels though God is far from you, phone- Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone - Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone - Psalm 23
You are worried, phone - Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone - 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone - 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone - Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone - Matthew 11:25-30
If feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone - Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone - Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip, phone - Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone - Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone - Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone - Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone - Psalm, 27
Your bank account is empty, phone - Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone - Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone - John 15
You are losing hope, phone - Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone - Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone - John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone - Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/discovery, phone - Isiah 55
To get along with other people, phone - Romans 12

Alternate numbers:
For dealing with fear, call - Psalm 3:47
For security, call - Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call - Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call - Psalm 145:18

All these numbers may be phone directly.
No operator assistance is necessary.
All lines to heaven are available 24 hours a day.
Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.