Monday, June 23, 2008

3 in 1 Kyoto trip with Jap friends

Last month, 2 of my friends in Japan organised a Kyoto eating, shopping and sightseeing trip for me. We enjoyed a good trip together. Thanks to Naoko and Harrue. It was a wondeful trip for me !
First destination is to treat the stomach first. We had Italian lunch in a Japanese style restaurant. http://mrmd.co.jp/misato/ This is a good restaurant, the food was good. My friend planned for this place because she thought is special to eat Italian meal in a traditional Japanese environment, I agree ! very special meal I had.
3 pretty gals, Chinese, Japanese , Korean! Perfect Picture ! ;)

Soup, oishi ! very delicious and special soup, sesame cream soup.

I like this appertiser too, taste good and with varieties !

Pasta. I only learnt to eat Pasta in Japan. haha I love Nihon ( Japanese) style pasta not the creamy or tomato paste pasta. Back home, I hardly eat Italian food , pizza once in a while. But that week itself, I have had like Italian meals continously for 3 days. First was with boss and colleague, then second day I didnt' know what to eat , end up with Italian again, then 3rd day Italian meal was planned by my friend ahead.

My friend had the cheese with wine. I dont' know how to appreciate this as I don't drink wine but I think must be cool, cheese and wine.

After lunch, we started our shopping trip. we passed by this temple. I have forgotten the name. We walked around and I took some pictures.

My friends took me to Nishiki Market .
I enjoyed walking around in the market, checking out interesting food and good.
I saw the 'pretty sweets' something like Chiaki gave to me before.

Haha small macha ice cream behind big macha ice cream. My friend suggested me to take the picture in this position. Macha ( green tea) ice cream is my all time favourite. Each time I go Kyoto, I must eat green tea ice cream ! If i see it, I sure eat when I go sightseeing.

After the market place, we headed to the jewellery shop http://www.iiivko.com/. This shop is my 2 friends favourite shop. I bought my lucky key chain in this shop, bought a pen and 2 paper clip.

From iiivko shop, we went to Yujiya(Kyoto comestics). Yujiya has chain stores only in Kyoto.

I bought a set of face oil blotter & lip blotter and a lip cream ( 柚子 flavour). I like this ! I will buy somemore when I go Kyoto !

Then we continued our journey to a old Japanese shop called Kazurasei which sells some interesting Japanese stuffs. On the way, we passed by a bridge and river, this area is called Sanjo-O- hashi.

This place was an 'Execution' place in the ancient times. Today, it became a lovers dating place. Can you see the couples sitting side by side across the river in the picture, they leave a specific room in between couples ? hehe... funny, from history and how it turn into present. My friend told me, the houses near this area is cheap because people still have the concept of 'ghost area'.

Here we arrived at Kazurasei shop. This shop was established in 1865. It sells many traditional Japanese style, hair clips, assessories for Kimono, perfurme. I saw some hair clip for kimono cost 1k USD to 2-3k USD. Amazing ! You may have a look of what this shop sells :http://www.kazurasei.co.jp/giontop.html
On my way back, we passed through this place, this type of old Japanese style shops are commonly seen in Kyoto but not in Osaka.

Passed by this flowers and attracted by its scent. Smell so refreshing !

My friend purposely took me to cross this street, it is a narrow street. This street is famous with Geisha. However, I dind't see any Geisha walking on the street at that time.

Lastly, my friend sent me back to Kyoto station. I had my dinner in one of the restaurant at the restaurant floor in ISETAN, Kyoto.

Interesting dinner set with lots of varieties. After dinner, I headed back to Osaka ! Wonderful trip !

Sunday, June 22, 2008

2nd Practice of wearing yukata - Practise make Perfect !

I make it finally to tie the Obi(ribbon) !! Last Friday, my Jap friend gave me a personal training to wear yukata and tie the Obi. She is definately a good teacher, I think I have learnt the method to wear it . I have to practise more to remember and to wear it more nicely. Not bad right ? hehe. First, tie the Obi in front then turn it to the back. Like the below picture .

haha after turning to the back, 'senget' ( out of shape ) liow eheheh

Side way......



Full front picture, this time is follow right method but I still need more practice to fold it more nicely. Front is ok, back is difficult ( still not tidy).

Saturday, June 14, 2008

1st Practice of wearing Yukata


Last night, I did my first practice of wearing a yukata. I took yukata, himo( inside belt) and Obi(outside belt) out and also placed the manual in front of me then I started practise. hahahaha , this is how I looked with the first practise !

It is nothing near to perfect but at least I started right ? hahaha
The difficult part is because I am short so I got to fold more of the cloth in the middle , I cannot make it tidy and inline. The manual just said you make sure it is inline and tidy. I just need more practise and consult myJapanese friend.

Tieing the Obi into ribbon is another greatest challenge ! heehe I just simply tied something becuase I can't make it even I read the manual. My Japanese friend told me , there is ready folded ribbon, just need to attach. I think I wish to learn it. I saw the ribbon in other shop, quite expensive and i think it will take space in my luggage to bring a big ribbon back. hehehe. My friend will teach me how to tie the obi. I am happy with my first attempt and I think practise makes perfect ! You may see me wearing yukata in Malaysia next time !

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

3 months Anniversary !

Time flies, I am with my new hobby for 3 months now !!! My blog is 3 months ( san gatsu ) old today. I almost forgot about it, I suddenly recalled that tomorrow is June 12th where customer coming to office, so I got to go office earlier. Then I realised today is June 11th.
This is my 6th month in Japan , time is waiting for noone...... but after 6 months my Japanese language still not progress much ! I just don't have enough focus and time ( Excuse again !!!!)
Anyway, I am happy to develop a new hobby in Japan ( blogging). If you ask me what are my hobbies ? hmm Eating, Singing, Shopping, Body combat ,Gym, Music, Travel, Blogging, watching movies, ... I was making the ranking when I was back home , my mum said I need to make correction, shopping is first !!!! hahaha. Well , I also dont know, I like all of them, they are all part of my life! I do different thing at different time so I cannot rank it.
Lately I notice more and more overseas people reading my blog even I hardly receive comments. he he he ! Sometimes friends send me email or tell me verbally... but I will be very glad to receive your comments ! Cheers !

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Purezento from Li Mei- san


Today topic is about presents for myself :) I did lots of shoppings for 2 days on the last weekend before I came back to Penang. As it might be my last home trip back so I bought things I like so that I can bring back during the this last home trip.

I like the cutting of the pants , so I bought 3 colours ! so happy ! Sometimes not easy to find the nice cutting which is suitable, so sekali ( one time in Malay) get the 3 colours then,black one is actually with different design.

T-shirts. I like the black one, matches my burberry blue lable, I wore it once already for eating and shopping with mum in Queenbay mall in Penang :)

A blue coat, t-shirt dress, t-shirt and UV stocking ! I quite like the blue coat.

Face powder, mascara ( recommended by the salesperson as popular mascara) , eye makeup remover, Kose powder wash ( this powder wash is like laundry washing powder hehehe if I mix 2 together , I can't differentiate , recommended by my cousin who is using it. I just know that he also read my blog hehe..

Assesories

Finally , I have a complete set now, I bought himo also ( not shown in the picture, the belts hiding inside the Obi(belt outside) , a pair of shoes and bag which match my yukata !! everything is complete .......... but except one thing !! I haven't learn how to wear it yet ! kekeke, wanted to do it just now but too tired, I think to sleep soon after I complete this post .

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Purezento's' from my Jap friends

First post in June, I wish to tell about all the nice presents from my Jap friends.I have received many presents in the last 3 weeks from a few of my nice and kind Japanese friends before I am back to Penang for 1 week home trip now . To be secretive, I am not going to disclose names , but you know who you are when you read my blog :P

These perfumes and shower gel, big and minatures are from my 'neighbour' who is also my penpal. I was so surprised when I received the presents, they are just too many of them, they are also nice perfumes which I like, all suits my taste :) As you know perfume smell is quite individual but my friend knows so well of what I like :) Believe it or not, lady tends to have 6th sense !

Do you think this is a toy ? It is a pen and also a toy !! hehehe...I can write with the pen and also play it as a toy, I can move the hand by clicking behind , then it is like fighting action ! ( haha resemble me in my body combat class , but of course only the fighting action hehe) Once I make the hands move, the eyes also will lights up in red. Good pen to use in customer meeting !! This pen is from my another 'neighbour' , also my helpdesk :P , helpdesk as in my helpful friend. I brought this pen back home this time to show my brother and friends. My friend told me to show it to my Malaysian friends , I think the best way to show more of my friends is to 'advertise' it in my blog but NOT for SALES !

This is a present /souvenir from my Korean friend born and living in Japan. My friend visited Korea and got me this gift from 'The Face Shop' ( popular Korea skincare). It was so nice of her and she also took me for a shopping trip in Kyoto.I have used this mask, it is cool ! I know 'The Face Shop' because there is a branch in Penang in Gurney Plaza shopping mall near my house ( which is my second home) .

Lupicia tea from my friend who is leaving Osaka for Tokyo. I was very surprised to get gift from friend leaving. It is black tea(Guave flavour), looks very interesting and very well packaged.My friend had organised a dinner for me earlier ( Ladies night dinner we had).I wish her all the best in Tokyo !

This is another farewell gift from my friend leaving Osaka office. One surprise, two surprises because I received 2 times gifts from her on the same day.There are nice tarts, Afternoon Tea jams , a pair of earrings. wow I love this earing , also suits my taste and style ! Like I said before, lady has 6th sense and also sense of giving suitable present.


And not to be missed, this handwritten letter also very precious. to me It came with some stickers of hamutara cartoons . Moreover is handwritten, I can sense it was written with lots f patience and kindness.

I think all my Jap friends are giving presents to take care of me in all ways ! Nice perfume and earring for good style, skincare for beauty, toy for entertainment, tea for good health ^.^