Haze~!!

Due to haze, our HR is "generously" giving out N95 masks to everyone

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15 Days Central Japan Spring Trip (Total Expense)

Wow finally have the time to blog about my trip. My friend and I went on a 15days free and easy trip to central Japan in early April. The choice of destinations mainly revolves around spring festivals.

We spent around SGD$3,700 (exchange rate JPY75.5/SGD) per pax

The areas we have covered are:

• Nagoya
• Osaka 
• Tango peninsula 
• Kyoto
• Gifu
• Takayama
• Shirakawago
• Kanazawa
• Takaoka kojyo
• Toyama
• Tateyama - (Japan Alpine Route)
• Matsumoto
• Tokyo

Total expenses as below:

• Miscellaneous ($700++):
• Souvenirs: Food, accessories, toys (35,000yen++)
• B Mobile (14 Days Visitor SIM Card 1GB):  3,980yen (2 person sharing)
• Gloves - saving my freezing fingers from the cold (4,800yen)
• Museum, temple entrance fee and Others

• Food: $800++
• During the trip, we mainly go for street foods. Hence there are quite a few times we skipped lunch as we were not hungry 
• Osaka western cafe - 2805yen (per pax)
• Osaka Kinryu Ramen - 600yen
• Osaka Instant noodle (DIY) - 300yen (per cup)
• Osaka Katsu don meal (near Instant noodle museum) - 1800 (2pax)
• Asahishouten Gifu - 1,700yen++ (per pax)
• Takayama take away sushi - 900yen (grade 5 beef)
• Okunomiyaki in Kyoto - 1,380yen (2pax)
• Aoi Corner Tokyo - 1,700++ (per pax)
• Hidemi Sugino Tokyo - 2,300++ (600-700yen per cake)  
• Roppongi Fukuzushi - 2,625yen (lunch menu)
• Others

• Transport: $1250++
• Air ticket - $690 per pax + 30 insurance (Singapore to Nagoya | Tokyo to Singapore)
• Airport to Nagoya - 2,430yen
• Shinkansen from Nagoya to Osaka - 5,970yen
• Kitakinki Tango Railway Day Pass x (2days) - 2,400yen
• Kyoto Sightseeing 2 Day Pass - 2,000yen (not worth it for me)
• Shikansen from Kyoto to Gifu - 5,350yen
• Train from Gifu to Hidaichinomiya (Takayama) - 2,520yen
• Bus ticket - 4,200 (Takayama to Shirakawago | Shirakawago to Kanazawa)
• Bus from Matsumo to Tokyo - 3,400yen
• 4 Days Kansai Wide Area Pass - 7000yen (purchase outside Japan, redeem in Japan)
• Japan Alphine Route cost - 10,560 yen(trip) + 1,200yen (luggage transport)
• Others

• Accommodation for 2 - $1735 (per pax $867.50)
• Nagoya (1day) - 5000yen
• Osaka (2days) - 6000yen
• Kyotango (1days) - 28,000yen
• Kyoto (2days) - 12420yen
• Toyama (1day) - 5980yen
• Matsumoto (1day) - 8400yen
• Takayama (1day) - 15600yen
• Shirakawago (1day) - 18800yen
• Gifu (2day) - 7600yen
• Tokyo (3days) - 23100yen

P.S: Accommodation consist of mid range Hostel/Roykan/Hotel, except Kyotango and Shirakawago. Due to last min booking, most of the better accommodation in cities such as Takayama and Kyoto were already taken. leaving the more expensive ones.

Here are some useful links that you might find it helpful when you plan for Japan trip in the future :)
Hyperdia - Railway lines
Japan guide - getting around in Japan + place of interest
Hardwarezone Japan - Forum with information like sample itineraries, exchange rates, plane discounts, etc

   More about my trip will be posted soon. Stay tune

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Shin Minori Japanese Restaurant - Free buffet..Yummy~

Hahaha... good things must share.. esp when comes to food..
Shin Minori Japanese Restaurant is giving out free buffet to those who are having their birthday. :)

Disclaimer:
Mixed review for their food.
http://www.eatdrinknbemerry.com/2011/01/shin-minori-japanese-restaurant.html
http://susanwong.blogspot.sg/2012/12/shin-minori-japanese-restaurant-at-ue.html

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A touching story straight from the heart of a pet owner

Hiroyuki Ito went off to Brazil with dreams of being the next great documentary photographer. He came home tired and sick. The call to join Magnum never came.
Yet the same day he was ill in Rio de Janeiro, a cat was born in New York City. Before long, in one of those twists, Hiroyuki — a carefree art student — had better luck with the cat than with his camera.
A tale of the kitten being father to the man.


http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/one-cat-three-lives/

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Bkk 1-4Apr2011

Yes~!! I have finally complete one of the items that i have on my to do list.
And that is to go to watch an overseas concert.
I would like to thank my dear cousin who is a TVXQ's fan for asking me if I'm interested to join her to go watch JYJ's concert　：））

True enough the trip turns our pretty INTERESTING!!!

1Apr:

10.20am: reached the Airport waiting for cousin to check in together... still a little sleepy as i slept at ard 3am..

10.35am: cousin came and we went to checked in, it is only then that I found out that I brought the OLD PASSPORT and had to RUSH HOME to get it as the last check in is at 11.45~!!! Thanks to the Adrenaline Rush I AM NOW FULLY AWAKE.

10.45am: finally got on the taxi and started call my bro and mom (who was in the office) asking them for help to see if they know where's my passport.

11.05am: reached home to only find out that the passport is no where to be found and both my bro and I suspected that my mom took it and kept it in her drawer LOCKED...

11.15am: mom came home and True Enough it was in her drawer... and thank God that she made it home this early...

11.40am: Reach airport. Rush to the check-in counter.. and was happy that I finally made it before the counter close~~

3pm+: reached BKK~

5pm+: Reach hotel~ P2 Boutique. Not bad it a relatively new hotel, nice customer service and clean hotel room :))

6.30pm: Head towards Paragon Park to catch JYJ Press Conference. (i will not walk from P2 Boutique to Paragon Park anymore~!!! it's so damn far.. like 20-30mins quick walk)

Left my cous, right Lya


8pm: JYJ *Scream~!!*

I swear Jaejoong was looking at me, although I like super far away *laugh*

10pm+: Met up with cousin's friends who were also TVXQ fans to have dinner @ Chinatown

12am+: reached hotel... KO~!


2Apr:

9am:Wake up in the morning. Head down to shopping~~!!

1pm++: Set off to Concert Hall for JYJ with the rest of the group :)

3pm++: Finally reached after stuck in the traffic jam for quite some time. phew~!

Group photo :)

7pm: Concert Starts

Kyaaa~~!! Oppa~!! (although i'm supposed to be older than them... but hack ar~!!)

 

From left to right Yoochun, Junsu and Jaejoong

Jaejoong

Junsu

Yoochun

End of concert~! T_T

More photos can be found over here - JYJ Concert 2011

Post concert photos

Dinner in Korean Style of cos Lol~~
I must say the food is quite good in terms of budget and taste :p
After dinner head back to hotel and rest~~ :)

3Apr:
Went to Cha Tu Chat for some more shopping
Price was pretty much the same as SG
but manage to find some bargain on the rings kekeke

yes you look cool with 2 pair of shades.. heh~

Pets section: dogs, rabbits, squirrel, etc are available there.

Back in hotel... guess which belongs to me lol~

4Apr:
10am:

Went to Paragon Mall to get our Krispy Kreme before the we fly back to SG

our quest back to our hotel area after we have gotten our krispy kreme.
I must say: "cousin you look good in this pic :P" 

Spotted this within 3min walking distance away from my hotel after i came back from my krispy kreme quest~!!
Nevertheless I still ♥ the aunty's entrepreneur spirit

Head down to airport

Black Canyon's Club Sandwich is actually really good :)
will go to SG branch one of these days to try out their standards

Home sweet home~

Overall the trip was quite an eye opener.
 And had a great time over there..~ Thanks Cousin for this opportunity.. hope we have many more trips in the future :))

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你快樂嗎?

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So Miss Me...

― I did love you, Stephen.
― I know.
― But l still love you.
― So love me.
― But l miss you.
― So miss me.
― Send me love and light every time you think of me then drop it.
― It won’t last forever.
― Nothing does.

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New Company

Life's been ok for me so far...
Changed job recently... my second week in the new company to be exact..
New environment, New pple.. generally friendly.. Basically Honey Moon

Will be starting my management training next week which is what I imagine to be my hell life where i will be posted to Call Centre and Investment Centre for 3 months each dept, before coming back to the dept I applied for.. Dealer dept

Hope everything will turns out well...

Will try to post some photos of my Bali trip soon...

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One year after Michael Jackson Passed away...

It's been a year since he passed away in 25jun2009.
Time sure passes us really fast. It felt as though it just happened couple months ago.


To be honest...


I still feels that he hasnt gone yet.

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N.A

I accept the fact that not everyone want to be my friends nor can anyone be capable of being my friend.

I'm glad that I stick to my decision.



Quote of the day:
Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me

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康熙來了 決不能錯過的宵夜美食 2009-11-24

Kekeke.. after watching the recent episode of 康熙美食.. I have decided to dig out previous episodes...
Here are the following places which you can get the food from:
Source: Blog | youtube episode pt1/5
p.s: red wording are the places i thought of going myself


2009-11-24 康熙來了 決不能錯過的宵夜美食


◆ 布袋の鮮蚵(從從推薦台中的 布袋來的鮮蚵)

http://blog.yam.com/coolmac/article/14937757

地址：台中市西區向上路一段355號

電話：04-24731331

經過板友和此網誌主人的查證，應該是這家沒錯

那底下那個也放著讓大家參考



◆ 東石蚵麵

http://n.yam.com/ttn/life/200801/20080119256775.html

店名：東石蚵麵

地址：向上路一段２６６號

電話： (04)2302-8642

店面

http://p2.p.pixnet.net/albums/userpics/2/6/39926/normal_4968df4dd4061.jpg

鮮蚵

http://p2.p.pixnet.net/albums/userpics/2/6/39926/normal_4968df4951ad0.jpg

我是從這張圖判斷應該是這家店。因為圖跟納豆的那碗比較像。

而且也有芥末加醬油這樣。

一些菜的圖片

http://tienming.pixnet.net/album/set/14197782



===========================

◆ 老四川 (從從推薦麻辣火鍋)

官方網站當掉了 http://www.oldsichuan.com.tw/

網友分享 http://dodel.pixnet.net/blog/post/10572783

地址: （台北光復店）　台北市光復南路280巷37號 　　02-2778-1112

　　　（高雄明誠店）　高雄市明誠二路396號 　　　　07-557-7775

　　　（高雄中華總店）高雄市前金區中華三路23之6號 07-221-8036 07-221-3663

　　　（台中公益店）　台中市西區公益路343號 　　　04-2319-8789

　　　（台南店）　　　台南市東區中華東路三段128號 06-260-6266



===========================

◆ 鼎王麻辣鍋 (小S定位還訂到11點 但納豆卻很快有位子的那家 )

http://www.tripodking.com.tw/index.php



===========================

◆ 師大夜市 好好味菠蘿包 (小優推薦)

官網 http://www.hohomei.com.tw/

網友分享 http://gondola.pixnet.net/blog/post/15967131



===========================

◆ 東區 胡同燒肉 (蔡康永和友人也排不到位置，但納豆卻可以訂到位的)

官網 http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hutongblog



===========================

◆ 高家莊米苔目 (莎莎推薦)

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/vivianchiu/4951538

地址: 台北市林森北路279號



===========================

◆ 糜家莊 (趙哥推薦)

http://www.mehome.com.tw/in.html

===========================

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康熙來了 - 康熙美食 18-19 May 10

Following are the locations of food that I saw at 康熙來了on 18 - 19 May 2010...
Finally found a blog that posted all the places :D
I have decided to keep a copy of it in case the blog remove the post before i get to Taiwan....hehehe
Source: Blog | youtube 18-05-10 pt 1 | youtube 19-05-10 pt1
p.s: red wordings are those I wanted to try out myself :p


1. 馮記上海小館 節目推薦菜：蟹肉冬粉、夫妻肺片、紅燒魚。

地址：台北縣永和市文化路90巷14號
電話：(02)2929-4104
營業時間： AM11：30~PM14：00、AM17：30~PM21：00

2.田季石板燒肉 節目推薦菜：哇沙米燒肉、起司燒肉、牛舌。

地址：台北市復興北路323號
電話：(02)2712-0095
營業時間：週一至週日晚餐 17:00～隔天03:00
費用：晚餐、假日：499元/人。加99元可享生啤酒無限暢飲（用餐時間2小時30分。須加10%服務費）

3.張記專業生魚片 節目推薦菜：紫海膽、螃蟹

地址：富基漁港內
電話：0932-272690

4.祥發港式茶餐廳 節目推薦菜：三明治、凍阿華田、福建炒飯。

地址：台北市市民大道四段82號
電話：(02)8771-9392

5.佳佳牛排館 節目推薦菜：鹹粥

電話 : (02) 2533-0163
地址 : 104台北市中山區大直街41號

6. 馬祖麵店 節目推薦菜：麻醬麵 (其他來賓說普通)

總店：台北市遼寧街7號　　
外送電話：02-2771-5406

7.萊陽桃酥 節目推薦菜：綠豆糕。

地址：臺北市羅斯福路三段90號
電話：23688593

8.法蘭斯奶油麵包 節目推薦菜：奶油軟式法國麵包

地址：台北市建國北路2段151巷30號.
電話：(02) 25171593.
營業時間：07:00 ~ 22:00

9.今日食品行 節目推薦菜：蜜麻花

地址：台中市西區中興街中興7巷 12號（中興街173號巷口）
電話：04-23052099

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Rest in peace, Michael

26 Jun 09, Michael Jackson had passed away.

Until now i still cant believed what had just happen.
He was so young... 51 years old... and he was planning for concerts in London which was suppose to kick off in July 09.
What a great man he was, and yet he suffers so much because he was being perceived as weird. He had done many great things to help out the poor, the children, and people who were ill. I cant imagine someone like him would actually went to Iraq to visit the wounded during a time of war. It never did once crossed my mind.

Yet all those who were blinded by the press and those who cant accept people who are different, thinks that Michael is crazy, psycho, and a child molester. Because they cant accept or believe that anyone can be this great, selfless and remain child like through out their life. Micheal was not perfect, he had his problems. He never had a normal childhood since the age of 5. And he wasn't really emotion stable.

Granted, I'm not a hardcore fan and I didnt follow his news till he passed away. But I for one, never believe media's allegations towards him nor do i bad mouthed him. Because I believe that a man will remain innocent unless proven otherwise

But still I cant believe how evil a man can be.
To make money, press and media try to find ways to bring him down because gossip sells and everyone wants to dig dirt out of him even if it's non existence. Parents of the cancer children whom Michael open his home and heart to, turned against him by accusing him of child molestation. And now after he had passed on to the lights, the media starts making allegations that his children weren't his.

God, how hurtful these can be?
I dont know. And I hope I will never get to experience such injustice and betrayal through out my life. I only prayed that Michael will finally be able to rest in peace and hope that no harm will go to his family and children.


Here's one of the video that his fan made, and I really like how happy he seems to be.

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Time-Lapse

Got to know about time-lapse recently... it's a series of photo taken at the exact scene over a period of time.. and then compile it into a film.
din know tat's how some films are taken... haha i guess i still quite a noob when comes to photography.. it's really nice.. love the BGM

The song is: "The Departure by Michael Nyman"

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Coldplay - Fix you

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream, down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I...


Tears stream, down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I...


Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

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MTV Japan - Usavich

hehehe...~ Came across this while surfing the net for MTV rabbit.

Synopsis:
Usavich is a series of animated short films about an odd couple of rabbits being imprisoned in an russian prison. The initial story shows the absurd everyday occurances of the two rabbits' prison life, followed by their escape and life on the run in the later part of the story.

Character:


Puchin:
Cheerful and simple guy, but come across as somewhat slow...
however he's not someone to be belittled of...
(you will see...hehehehe)





Kirenenko:

Usually mind his own business.
A dangerous man that stops at nothing when he is being angered.
Virtually unstoppable...or so it seems







Here are the first few episodes of the series, the rest can be found in youtube:

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Cats - Musical

Finally bought the ticket and watched the musical~!!!
Lalalalala~
Ok.. so yes... as you guys know i was looking for pple to go with me to watch it... but drag here drag there.. =.=" i finally found Miss Hui Mian to join me :)

Synopsis:
The Jellicle Ball takes place once a year, and is a special night where all Jellicle cats get together in the junkyard and follow their urge to dance under the full moon. The antagonist of the show is Mcavity, a criminal (yet mysteriously irresistible) feline. At the end of the Ball, Old Deuteronomy, the leader of the cats, takes a selected cat to the Heaviside Layer (a sort of "cat-heaven") to be reborn.
http://members.tripod.com/~grittlebone/aboutcats.html

Review:
Am happy about the show and also the seat too.. at first i thought i was at the 3rd row... apparently i'm at the 1st instead~! kinda fun having the cats crawling in and out of the "drain" which is placed right in front of me.. XD
all in all i must say the show is enjoyable.. had a fun time watching it.. :)
Would definitely recommend to go for the Category B seats.. the only thing sad is that i din really know the actors and actresses will have interaction during the intermission... should have brought along my digital camera... bleah..

Here are some photos that I have taken tat day :D
ps:cos it's taken using iphone hence some of the photos are not clear.



Jellicle cats gathered at the Ball..



Listening to the old cat Gus telling his best roles and worries about the contemporary theatre


one of my favorite photos. :D


Photos taken after the Show:

Chocolate Bar

me :)


Hot chocolate & chocotail (notice the cat butt? :P )

Dear Miss Hui Mian..
ok i must say the photo doesnt do her justice.. should have retake it again.

Walking off to Marina Square...

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Kabegami - photo site

I was surfing net today on "Gu Gu the Cat"
when i stumbled upon this Japanese website.
Similar to flickr, but i must say... most of the members there are quite pro sia... :)
dont have to worry about understanding japanese language.. cos japanese are famous for making things self explanatory :D


Here are some of the photos i saw..
http://www.kabegami.com/shashin-bu

Note: they are in all wallpaper size~~ just double click on the photo in their website, and go to the right hand side to click on the last button to get it change to a wallpaper :)


pretty sure it's a cat... i think =.="


looking proud with its heart shape collar ;)


rows of "flying fishes"~

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