After a long day's work......

I am lazing on my bed, aimlessly and wanderlessly.... after a long day's work. We have to work hard and play hard, don't we? Most importantly to relax when u need to. The luxury of lazing is always wonderful, and it gives me the sense of peace, calm and feeling cozy and some nice soft music enhances the cozy ambience. Seeping my tea occasionally. Which is why, this is always the best part of the day. This is also a reason I do not want to sleep early, as the moments are luxurious.

Happy Chinese New Year Folks

This Chinese New Year brought us a 4-day long weekend. I have spent 2 days with friends and another 2 days resting at home. This is quite a good mix of play and rest. Although it can be tiring or busy, I like to play host to gatherings at my place and have catching up time. Yes, Yusheng, Bun-Luck, friends gatherings and my long sleeping hours are the highlights this year. Perhaps, this is my RAT year, I have won a little bit of money at Bun-Luck, but most importantly, it makes me cherish those around me even more and made this holiday a more re-charged and cozy one. Thanks, G-san and all for everything.

This is also the first time I debut using my new mac-book, having J-boy (my real nephew) teaching me and G-san how to switch from Microsoft to Mac. It's fun and interesting, and suddenly G-san and me became young students exploring new toys again.

So far, this year, I have enjoyed myself so far, be it at office or home. And I certainly hope it will continue. Last but not least, I wanna wish all everlasting health, beauty, youth and prosperity for the new year! Cheers


(Attached picture is my re-union dinner at my parent's place)

It's blogging time again

Life in 2008 has started quietly and busily ..... the new job has been challenging and different after a long while. I have been learning and adapting to the new job environment, and the experience, so far, has been enriching, despite the generally longer hours. That explains the long absence from blogging. It may be physically tired, but mentally, I am feeling good and 元気　(genki). Colleagues around me are friendly and positive, and that's good too.

Despite in a Ninhon environment, I have not been practising my Japanese language due to timing constraints, but I hope to start again. This is one of my resolutions this year, though there aren't any serious ones this year, really. I have only want to be put in my best in life and work this year.

Well, this few months, while I am grounded due to job probation and the longer working hours, I have also realised that I tend to spend more on myself. It is worth it, I think. If spending money can help you to uplift your spirit, it is worth it, so is spending money to save time and reduce inconvenience. At last, I think I am beginning to pamper myself.

While the economic situation may not be good for the coming months, I feel that this is not going to impact my spirits :) I believe it will go away some day this year or so. So let's be positive on that.

Blogging today may not have a particular subject, just my thoughts all over.....

May tomorrow be a good day too, and yes, it is Friday again!

New Year, New Wishes, New Hopes.....

It is 2008 today! We are one year older naturally. There are new resolutions, new hopes and we should all feel recharged and refresh.

Unlike the usual Christmas celebrations that were merrily party-ing with friends gathering, I spent my new year and the eve of new year fairly simple. Eve was a movie-cum-supper gathering with friends, while new year was a desperate-housewives-cum-jogging-cum simple dinner sesson. Now at this juncture, I just feel relaxed and good and prepared for the coming challenges ahead :)

寂しい？ちょおと neh, since G-kun, Melodii and D-chan are all having new year nabe dinner together at Tokyo tonight. Well, I will join them next year and I certainly hope that they have a good trip. If you folks are reading this, gambarimasho neh!

As for my work, I have not really commenced on the real challenges, but I felt that I am able to adapt to it, and like it, since this is something I have always like to do. So for that, I am looking forward to conquering the challenges neh :)

Yes, it will be a new year with new hopes, challenges, and most importantly, we all know, it is a good one!

Life commences as a Salaryman this week..... while hearing the Christmas Bells

After a 3-week break, I start on a new career journey at a Japanese bank, with a new career path in relationship management and credit. I am still trying to settle down. I believe there should be no problem, just gimme a few weeks. Starting work at a more relaxed festive season certainly has certain advantages.

Christmas is really around the corner, I can smelt it. The Christmas aroma in the warm Singapore has been still unmistake-ably felt. I look forward to a good time with my friends, and loved ones as usual. The year is coming to an end, and we should celebrate all our achievements and good memories before going into a new year.

Cheers folks! Let's all have a merry time counting down to Christmas! It will be beautiful, no doubt!

Settling Down, After a Recharge Trip

I am back after a 13-day break in 東京. Very different experience as I was alone most of the time, since my travelling partner was not with me this time. His companionship was missed but I had to make the best out of it :). I walked in parks alone, lunch-ed alone, tea-ed alone and shopped alone most of the time.

I ate cakes and donuts most of the time, which explained my expanded waistline. They were too tempting. I did my shopping, despite there were no sales and it was not intended even. I walked the gardens, since I wanted to have a truly good re-charge, and it was amazing that one week the trees were yellow and red, and the other week, they disappeared, due to the gradually lowering temperature.

I went to:
1. 東京Disneyland, which has a truly magical Christmas theme.
2. 御殿場市(Gotemba), which was a breeze from the city, since it is a factory outlet, biggest in asia, under 富士山.
3. 箱根町, yes it is a mountainous area and not a lake mistakened by tourist. I have my on-sen retreat, as well as, a relatively nice みかん plucking session in the みかん farm. 万葉御園　was a pleasantly surprising bonus, with a nice stroll under the 紅葉。
4. Simple Christmas illumination lightings, from 東京 Midtown ( http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/index.htmland ) 六本木ヒルズ (Roponggi Hills).
5. My first shabu shabu in 東京: buffet-served style with australia すき焼き beef and mouth-watering buta-niku (pork), which is simple and light. This is followed by another nice dinner occasion at the 居酒屋 beside 北綾瀬駅 。
6. 青山一丁目、 外園前/ 明治神宮/ 皇居 Gardens: For the beautiful parks.
7. Blistful　and quiet shopping at the usual　下北沢 and 吉祥寺.

Of course, I wanted to thank my wonderful host, 銀座onechan, for taking good care of me, and my travelling companian most of the time when we are there.

There is one other incident that makes me love the city more: I lost a new scarf that I bought on the 銀座 line subway at 表参道 station. I was upset, and luckily onechan helped me to call the lost and found of 東京 metro. Guess what, they found it at 渋谷　station and I collected it in an hour's time. This is amazing as 東京 was so so big and it is something that will never happen in my small country, what a shame. That makes the memories of this trip truly sweeter.

I would look forward to go back to this city again with my travelling companion and also looking forward to seeing 銀座onechan again.

Greetings from 北あやせ、Tokyo

Hi folks at home

I have been in Tokyo for about 3 days. I have been alone in the day, but I have truly enjoyed myself. I have already went to Harajuku / Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, Aoyama University Sports Park (to see the red / yellow maple trees), Kita Senju, Ueno and of course, my favorite CD shop, Tsutaya (to get my stock of J-pop CDs)

G-san, our favourite Little Spoon, Labrador T-Shirt Shop, Harajuku Book-Off have ceased businesses :( So sad neh, but yesterday, I ate organic vegetarian curry rice and one of my Japanese friend, Minamina has brought us to a very nice donut shop. This is a premium donut restaurant by Mister Donut, and we thought, the standard is better than Krispy Kream. All of you donut lovers should not miss it. See below picture.

Today, I will pop by the Kita-Senju and Shinjuku.