Japan picture entourage

伍家辉 - 虽然我愿意
Some of my random favourite 'takes' in Japan for this backpack trip..

Amazing wonders a Digital camera can do to a picture different takes "Divine Lots" A bad lot for me though.. hmm... (read from right down to left)

The practise in Japan is to tie bad lots to this structure located around the temple, so that you don't bring these bad fortune with you. Instead, if its a good lot, you will keep it with you.

Bamboo forest - machiam 十面埋伏。。。

Kids always makes the best subject ina picture. not to mention cute little ones.. hahaa

Awesome food presentation for a street stall

This is the REAL thing lor...

Hokkaido Street

Music box melody just along the street.. thats why they say Hokkaido is romantic...

under-prepared

4 am and i'm still up.
Well, not surprisingly, since its only abt 1 hour plus since i left the work-station. which is teh norm for the past 1yr 20 mths.

After the 1 week hiatus, am getting that sense of paranoid and "so many things NEEDS to be done, but so little time" kinda syndrome.

Paranoid becos I felt to be lagging alot for the past 1 week plus.
Its only 2 more weeks to the 'D-day' at Bedok reservoir, but i felt so "under-prepared".
Just felt i needed more than the 2 weeks, and more than the remaining 4 training session to 'gear up'.
I don't wish to disappoint, and I long to share the joy.

I need to work even harder from now...

Style meet Substance - IXY 25 IS

Guess what...
So far, I think the best bargain and satisfied shopping item i got in Japn is the below Digi Cam.

Known as Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS outside Japan, its the 'improved' version for the Ixus 70 /75..

So glad whn i saw S'pore retail at $529, and I managed to get it in Japan for $309
Wah!!!! And the Japan Version name I think sounds better..
Canon Digital IXY 25 IS.

Hmm... tmrw going to check out the next extravagant gadget that I planned to get here...
Its goona be the GPS system for my new "babe"...
Its supposed to be cheaper here too..
Wished me luck

hmm.. i fore-see eating bread for the next couple of months liao.... =(
Singapore Version
Japan Version
p.s. even the physical looks nicer for the Japan Set.. hahahaa... self-full-filing prophecy

再等。。。

Since Thursday, this thought has been always on my mind...

My little "小白" which i can't wait to see and touch...
arrggh...
Waiting is an agony....

Pre-occupied Mind...

Day 2 in Kyoto, and I got a pleasant phone call from Singapore..
Hahaa.. something Ihave been waiting for for the past 1 month!
The good news that i secured my COE at $14K!
Means a "paper gain" of about $4k!!
Which more importantly, means I get to bring home my "Snow White" very very soon.....!
Haha..
suddenly got so distracted from travelling.. wished i could fly back immediately to settle all the admin stuffs.. lol..

Then also, been checking my mails on my lappy (yep, i bring along a lappy, cos from previous experience, its a necessity to cary a lappy with u in Jap, expecially when back packing)
And the mails always put a smile to my face and have been very encouraging..
The exchange of info/admins/communication that leads up to the building of 'THE' team.
Am glad at the involvement and committment shown by people who cares.
Another strong pull factor that i wished I could be back in S'pore real soon!!

Well, but a third factor though not a really pleasant "pull" factor, revolves around my work..
*sigh*, becos of a delayed system launched next week, and I'm supposed to be the 'guru' for the system should the team hit any obstacles..
Wished Icould be back soon, to help resolve any issues (hopefuly no ssues!) and let us all get off work early every night after this system introduction!
1:30 Am latest possibly..?? hahaa

Ok, something less dampening and to put my mind "right on track" for now....
More photos of the beautiful Hokkaido!
**Photos of below are all from Sony Ericsson T650i 3.2 mega-pixel camera phone**

A vry cosy hostel in Hokkaido. its like a cosy little home..
Hostel interior

part of teh living room..

How can miss sushi and seafood in Hokkaido!!

Natural Spring Water!

Thats what Hokkaido is famous for!

Salmon Roe Don!*squish* *squish* *squish*

Lake Toya

Flowers blooming!

More photos 'akan datang' in my Face-book....

I Love Japan!

Hokkaido- Otaru

Picure shall do the talking...
Enjoyng it .... haha

The infamous toilet bowl in Japan.

Caught! sleeping overnight at Haneda airport lobby for next morn flight..
Welcome to Otaru in Hokkaido! The coast line to Otaru

He is "Otaru". Town named after him....
Mixed Architecture of Japanese and a touch of European

Signature symbol of a Music-box shop. Music box melody is heard along this street! 极浪漫一下哦。。。

Sony Ericsson....

something about SE handphonoe just drew me to them....
I just can't change to another non-SE phone.
If you like music, they have the 'W" series.
If you like to take picture, you have the "K" series.
If you like the 'solid' type, they give you the "T" series, and of cos, many more other family series..

Just added another SE to my 'collection'..
T650i.
Got it at $0, by just renewing my contract.. hehee.. Cos i wanted a 3G enabled one to be used in Japan. Getting it for 'free' is a bonus..
After owning two realiable and 'no-regrest' W series, i tried this 'T'series..

Haha.. believed it or not, before i got the "T", am utilising still both W810i and W580i.
Now with T650i, hmm.. how to juggle with 1 sim card?
but all 3 just attracts me in a special way, and serve different function well.
If I can have them 3-in-1...

HOKKAIDO ROAD TRIP!!!

A self-declared and "certified" procrastinator.
No doubt about it.

Finally started my hostel accommodations booking for upcoming Hokkaido-Kyoto-Mt Fuji-Tokyo trip, on Monday.

and fortunately, managed to get them all "reserved", including the 1.3L Toyota Vitz for the Hokkaido road trip. Yeah....!

Wouldn't say i have a "fool-proof" planning..
Infact, missed a few pointers and thus, wasted some travelling time...
hmmm.. see how bah... Gonna be another great backpacking experience this time..

Road-trip Hokkaido cum Backpacking Kyoto-Mt Fuji- Tokyo.

Am so looking forward to the road tip in Hokkaido.. self-drive and the wonderful scenery.. hope they turned out as the pictures and in "Japan Hour".

Label me a Japan-fanatic, cos its already the third time going to japan within 10 months!
Haa.. cannot blame me, Japan is too big to cover all at one good and in one season...
Some more , the food just beckons me to go back for more..!

Can't believe I managed to come up with a transport/accomd itinerary in just couple of hours.. ahha
At least that makes things more organised...
What's left is just teh places to go within the cities..
Well, that would be my travel buddy job, and also base on our "Male instinct"
I.e. - Go where the heart please....
Tha's my terminology for "Backpacking"!

I'm Lovin' It!

Saturday
How time flies.
Yesterday night we were celebrating CY's birthday over a dinner gathering and our "infamous" cheong-ing session, but the venue is not mambo zouk this time, but DragnFly. Nice place!

Its amazingly shocking.. That, 7 years ago we just got acquainted under "One Roof" in Hall 9.
Reminiscene the yester-years of fun and fenship during the hall days. nolstagic Nostalgic!
And its already 7 years on!
That really shows how fast time passes once we stepped into the reality of the concrete jungle.
But am glad that its 7 years on, and we could still talk like those uni days.
Nothing seems to change much.
Thanks to everyone who make the effort to keep this frenship going on with the regular meet-ups and gathering, amidst everyone's busy schedule.

Sunday
Its a scorching hot sun today. Felt as though the rays are penetraing through my skin when i stepped out of the house.
Not to mention that 12-2pm sun under the Kallang water.
Killer...
But must applaud the efforts from every team-mates who made it down for trg despite teh "unkind" sun.
No Doubt a "draining" session, but its once again, one of the (many) meaningful, fun-filled and endurance trg session!

Then went to my corporate trg session at 4, after like missing it for 2 weeks...
Damn tiring one after the other, but felt it was worth it.
A good "cross-training" between the afternoon team and the evening corp team.
One seems to complement the other.
Strokes emphasis and endurance trg in the early noon session, then endurance trg again and competition sets in the evening.
Think I'm "hooked" to them liao...

Shamelessly, ".. I'm lovin' it..." lol

What's one of the worst feeling you can get.

The "so-near-yet-so-far" kind.
Seems to be within grasp and then, it just slips from you.
What the Fuck... @%#$*^&%

Sometimes, I just "Detest" this kinda uncertainty built-in element.
Stupid COE bidding scheme...
Damn....

Back again

haha.. it was so nice to "re-live" the
'after-trg' kopi session with the same 'kopi kakis' at that same killiney kopi haunt..

感觉还是一样的哦。。。

Still on more or less the same topics.. lol.

Thats the best after-trg 'reliever' after all the sun and water.

Adaptability/Split Personalities?

Its amazing how one's mood and mindset can change base on companions, activities, day, night , place and subject.

Attributted to high level of adaptability?
Or more appropriately a case of multiple split personalities?

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Don't you find this week's Crawling...??

Its only Wednesday....!?

zero sugar = BAD!

Don't be-little the awful effect of a viral infection/food poisoning..

I believe that new soft drink formula of "Zero sugar" level is teh main cause.
Broke my record of not falling sick for the past years...
until that faithful night when i down half a bottle of that awful drink. (cos its so awful I cannot finish a bottle)

The next thing i realise hours later, I started to feel the "morning sickness" effect
That nauseous feeling...
threw up nothing but water in the middle of the night..

teh after effect was worst...
Makes me felt so lethargic for the next couple of days, losing appetite for the next 2 days...
even til today, felt so weak and sleepy...
well, the times i felt my energy level was high was during this afternoon trg and saturday's volleyball (cos its been months since we had hard-court volleyball!!)...
Maybe the effect of synergy?
Managed to brace myself up for today's trg though, but was dead like a log when i reach home... not that becos today's trg was tough or weather was hot, but i think i have used up my "reserved energy", after the remaining was lost "unknowingly"

just slouch in front of the TV finishing up 4 hours of DVD straight...
I felt so weak first time since dont know how long..
As if my energy level is slowly seeping away just like that...faster... Doing nothing....
sianz... , i hate to be sick.....

Yes!!
It Fell!
and fallen by $4k!!

A "Star
shall be "re-born".....

Fall, Fall ,Fall.....

4 more hours to go...

Pray hard that COE this month will drop...
Drop please!
Or at least, dont increase.....
Per last bidding results, Demand short supply, and judgging from the increased in food prices, etc, demand for this week should not exceed supply, since Supply has increased this bidding....
Prove me right please...

April 2008 - 2nd round bid

According to fundamental Economics Theroy, It SHOULD fall....

US downturn, prices of basic consumption goods increases, peopel should have less disposable income.
Also, people's consumption for Luxury goods should fall...
So , less people should be bidding for COE comparedto teh last round...


So, please fall, fall, fall, fall , fall!!!
Results in 4 hours time....
*pray* *pray* *pray*

我的决定就在于你了。。。。。

FOR SALE - HYUNDAI GETZ - SOLD.

So if you see the below on the road, Driver no longer me...
Not I "Tao", dont wanna wave back, etc....
anyway, the "trademark" stickers will be gone...

Still a sense of reluctance...

I'm getting all psych up and excited.
Sleepless nights...

"For what!"
"snap out of it lah!"

DREAM

woke up with a pleasant dream this afternoon...

Makes me think about what mabel has pinned in her blog.
"... did you know, that your dreams actually help sort through data in the brain, throw out useless information and then document and store the important stuff? apparently, when you sleep, your brain swells due to an increase flow of blood and every single part is in sort of an overdrive. every single portion of your brain is working then, except for the logic centre, which explains why we can dream of becoming billionaires, flying cows, become madonna or donald trump or i don't know, ryan reynolds?

was back rowing again like ''last time'.
Seems as though nothing had changed.
We have someone jump off the pontoon into teh water to get onto the boat because we reufuse to row near to the pontoon and pick him up...
Haa... so illogical actions that only appears in the dreams..!
It was lotsa fun, but 'short-lived'....
I woke up...,
with a smile on my face...
日有所思，夜有所梦？

Paddler in Pink

蔡琴- 被遗忘的时光

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2 traffic accidents yesterday hit the headlines in today's (Sunday) 2 local newspaper.

The first in The Chinese newspaper was the "flip" over of a "concrete slabs carrier", that block out all lanes on the PIE , exit to Steven's road. Traffic Jam lasted for over 6 hours.

Earlier in the day (saturday), a freak accident in Sim's Avenue took the life of a paddler away.
A strong, courageous lady's life was mercilessly ended by some reckless/careless driving ethics.
Well, the rule of thumb in the driver's "hand-book" read, the pedestrian always have the right a way.
I certainly agree with that, though many a times, I admit I do curse and swear at any reckless pedestrain in my way.

But still, their life are just as precious as any of us in this world.
Some reckless/self-fish driving ethics can take away a life that's so fragile, and important to another person.

I read with a sunken heart at how a brave woman picks herself up from the suffering of a critical illness, had her life ended so abruptly.
The Pink Paddler, Mdm Chan Yoke Chan, 61, took on the sports of dragon boating and proved that it's not one for only the youngs.

Another inspirational paddler gone from the arena gone, just like that...
My friends,
Drivers, PLease watch the road... Paying road tax doesn't means you own the road. Even though you are making a living on the road...

Pedestrain, Please cross in care. Green Man is never 100% safe to cross... PLease look out..

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
On a lighter note,
Had a pleasant "surprise" after today's "Donut" trg.. (That's how our coach makes tyre training sound less "enticing")
Coach handed out the Medals from last week race.
Am surprised becos we get Medals for being only the finalist in the Northeast CDC race category.
This medal shall be dedicated to Mdm Chan, Cos i rmbr at last week races, you were just passing by me with your team in Pink.
You ladies are a courageous lot...!
Rest in Peace.