Are we ready to go back home?

Whew, that's quite a tough question, eh!

Emotionally, yeah. But when it concerns our stuff (read: all those balikbayan boxes), no answer for now.

If you get to see how things are scattered around our house now, you would probably think that we are "getting ready". We have already given away some of our things -- the bigger ones -- to the point that we are now kinda getting through our daily life without microwave oven, washing machine, no tables, and with a very small fridge. Our bed is still with us, no taker yet. ;)

I still have three weeks to do the packing. Just enough to finish everything that has to be done, including enjoying Sakura in most big and wide Kouens around Tokyo. ;)

Mark the date, my friends. Ready or not. April 18th. See you sooooooon. ;)

So, we're going home ...

Yeah, that's right! As to the exact date, it's not sure yet. I haven't even booked our flight yet. One thing is sure, though -- we're going home, probably not later than April 1st week.

So, am I glad -- or sad?

Truth be told, I would say more on the latter side. To put it bluntly, I don't wanna go home -- not yet, not now. It's not that I want to live here for the rest of my life. I only want to STAY A LITTLE LONGER. A few more months or years maybe, just to complete my enjoyment here. It is as if I have just come to know the goodness of life here that makes me want to stay. Yeah, I've been here since three years ago, but all I did and experienced in the first two and half years was trouble, complaints here and there, whining at all sorts. Of course, I still whine about pricey stuff here, but in a little different way, or should I say, in a more placid way. It was only since the latter half of 2006 when I (as far as I can recall) started to enjoy my gaijin life -- strolling around with my kid, liking the Japanese-y taste of dishes, cooking Japanese dishes, having a part time job (my earnings usually go to some luxuries, a.k.a. books), and vacationing to some nice places. This is aside from friends whom we get to hang out with once in a while.

Besides, it's election time once again in the Philippines, and all people are frenzy about it (take the word "frenzy" in a negative way). It's freeze hiring, and obviously I could not land a job right away. In other words, nothing to do but lull away the time while exhausting the meager hard-earned savings that we plan to bring home. Unlike here, at least I have some opportunities for part time job. There is even a possibility to have a full-time job, but my family commitment won't allow me to.

Nevertheless, we're going home. And that's final. Whatever awaits us back home, that's uncertain. And a chance to come back here? Hmm, that's all the more uncertain. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed in the hope that we'd be able to visit Japan again. ;)

Back to Tokyo, and what?

Okay, enough of our fairytale vacation. We have long been back to Tokyo, and to real life. Yes, life that is so real we feel we are being treated unfairly. Why? Let me tell you.

This morning, my hubby was about to take our son out when he noticed our jitensha (bicycle), standing rightly in the parking area of our building, has lost its chair. Yeah, a chairless jitensha is what we have now. And, who on earth would steal only the chair? What would the bad guy do with the chair? Can he sell it? I don't think so. Who on earth would buy only that?

Our jitensha has been with us for three years now, and needless to say, has been through a lot. No matter how stainless its parts are, rust still persist in all corners, and dents are everywhere. Rain or shine, summer or fall, it has been my hubby's loyal buddy. And it was even jitensha-napped twice. In these two instances, the nappers were kind enough to return it to the parking area after borrowing it for a couple days without informing us.

This time, will the napper/s bring back the chair to where it should be?

To the chair-napper (if he happens to read this blog -- and if he can understand Eigo), I have one message for you:

Couldn't you just wait for two months until we're outta here, and we will even voluntarily hand you over our jitensha -- the whole of it, not just the chair, if you want? But not now, it's too early. What's the use of the bicycle without the chair? You could have taken everything ...

Grrr ...

Haven't I told you about our Kansai spree yet?

Probably, you are overwhlemed by my foodie stories and other photos of our Hokkaido escapade. Now, I'm gonna lure you of the must-see places that we visited during our 4-day galore in Kansai.

Briefly, Kansai is just like Tokyo on the west side of Japan. Prices are still high, although comparatively lower than in Tokyo. Surprisingly, I didn't shop much. In fact, I didn't buy anything except for some diapers and baby milk for my toddler, and of course, oatmeal. ;)

While we greeted the New Year with a bang, our first night of the year was spent in Honmachi, a place somewhere between the Kita (North) and Minami (South) area of Osaka. If I were to describe our trip around Kansai, I would say it was such a walking saga. Read on to find out why.

To our luck, almost all shops were closed on the first two days of the year -- except Starbucks, I guess. On our first night, we strolled around the place somehow exploring the cityscape at night while in dire search for a nice place to dine. Probably, we didn't mind walking at all until we reached the next station, hoping there were some shops open. Sure enough, Pepper Lunch was the only shop open at that time (aside from Starbucks, of course).

The next morning, we headed to Kyoto. Again, in trying to explore the place, we volunteered to walk till we get to the next station (the oppposite side of the last night's stroll) where we departed for Kyoto -- and back.

On the third day, we went to Nara, and got back to Namba early afternoon. Perhaps, our strolling never got tired of us (or the other way around?) that we decided to walk again from Namba to Honmachi. That's 2 stations away, mind you. Of course, we're a bit exhausted already but looking for shops where we could buy baby products was our goal this time. Halfway through our walking saga, our luck had us enjoy our tonkatsu dinner --but not diapers and baby milk. So, that night, we gave Luke fresh milk instead, while observing him for any signs of allergy (none so far, thank heavens!).

Come fourth day -- our last day, strolling was only between sightseeing places, thanks to our friend who knows the way. ;)

In short, our Kansai tour was not only highlighted by sightseeing (see Kyoto adventure, Parts 1, 2 and 3) but also some sort of unplanned/forced wandering in search of food shops (first night) and baby essentials (2nd and 3rd night).

And oh, in most of the places we went to, toilets are not baby-friendly, and toilet paper not supplied. Just for the record. ;)

NY's Eve in Hokkaido

Sounding the bell -- hey, it's 2007!


Sleepy eyes? Still awake to welcome the new year. Jumping, shouting!


And of course, eating and drinking -- welcoming the new year with sweets for a sweet year ahead. ;)

Hokkaido foodie photos

As promised, here are some photos of our Hokkaido galore. Enjoy! ;)

Okunomiyaki and takoyaki are both trademarks of Kansai region, but we had the chance to munch them all in Hokkaido as our friend is of Kansai origin.

Check out sites about Genghis Khan and Hokkaido.

Highlights of our Hokkaido trip

Note: Pardon for this long overdue post. I have nothing but a few lame excuses for procastinating. I know you are eager to hear what we did, what we ate, where we went, so I won't keep you waiting. ;)

To start off, I must say that this was the first and the grandest (in terms of expenses) vacation we ever had here in Japan. Some friends even wondered why on earth did we want to have a vacation in the coldest part of Japan on the coldest month of the year? Many reasons, the most significant of which (at least for us) are to chase snow, and feast on Hokkaido's superb dishes. Not only did we achieve these, we also had grand time with our friends who unselfishly accommodated us in their house.

Food, food, and more food!
We ate at home during our entire stay in Hokkaido, but it was as if we were eating out because the dishes served to us were truly superb. The likes of Genghis Khan barbeque, chawan mushi, soba, tempura and lots more I forgot what they are called. And oh, grilled mochi with seaweeds! Of course, we always had soup, different kind each day.

We went with our friends for their grocery shopping, and my eyes (not jaw) dropped as I get to see the low, low prices of seafoods and vegetables. Pumpkin, for example, was only 50yen -- about 1/3 of the price here in Tokyo. A pack of bean sprouts was goodness gracious 10yen! Crabs, lobsters, prawns and many fishes and fish eggs were, if I'm not mistaken, about half the price in Tokyo. Not to mention, they were all sold FRESH (not seemingly fresh)! Oh, it makes me want to stay in this part of Japan and devour on all those. ;)

There is only one thing I find more expensive than in Tokyo -- my baby's milk! But no choice, I had to buy a few boxes.

Shiny, white snow
Meter-high snow welcomed us when we arrived in Fukagawa. It was a fine day when we arrived there but I felt I was freezing to death. Walking on snow needs an extra care so as not to slip (it melts when the sun is up the whole day).

We played on the snow, tried to make a big snowman which turned out to be a snowdevil (that's what our friends call it). My son and I tried to make snowball. It seems so easy to make one when we watched the Teletubbies, but in reality, it was rather difficult I gave up in the end. My son enjoyed it though not minding his already wet and very cold gloves. Our friend patiently made a snowhouse, and according to him, it was warmer inside.

Just the sight of snow makes me warm inside. I don't know why, but I am kinda happy to experience such a wonderful thing and endure the very cold weather, at least for one week. On a fine day, the rays of the bright sun shine through the snow below and produces a sparkling array of stars down.

Oh, we also went tobogganing twice. Hubby enjoyed it the most. Afterwards, we headed to the onsen.

Onsen
What a comfy feeling to bathe in natural hot spring overlooking the sky and falling snow, while having a nice chat with your friend? At first, I thought I could not endure the 41-degree hot water, but as I slowly immersed myself, I started to feel good. My friend and I hopped from one pool to another, inside then outside, and back.

After almost two hours insde the onsen (that includes bath, shower, dressing up, and a few sips of tea or water), going out didn't make us feel cold anymore.

New Year's Eve
We went to the shrine near our friends' house and waited in line for our turn to hit the gong. Striking the gong is the Japanese way of waking up the townspeople and saying, "Hey. it's already 2007!" At the strike of midnight, many people suddenly showed up and queud up for their turn to show those striking power. ;)

Photos coming up in the next post! ;)

Bōnenkai

Dear hubby is gonna be home late tonight because his Laboratory is having Bōnenkai (bon-en-kay) tonight.

Literally, Bōnenkai means "forget-the-year party", which is a Japanized English for "year-end party." From what I've gathered, this is a drinking party held to "forget the woes and troubles of the past year, usually accomplished by consumption of large amounts of alcohol." (see Wikipedia) But what about the good things? I don't think they're supposed to be forgotten, too. ;)

I haven't attended any Bōnenkai in my entire stay here in Japan. I envy those who are lucky enough to attend three Bōnenkais at the most (see this survey) -- all for FREE, usually paid for by the company. Although in my husband's case, each attendee paid 4000yen for the party. Why is that?!

Anyway, in the eikaiwa I work for, we had a "staff gathering" early this month, but I am not so sure if that party can be qualified as Bōnenkai for no one did not mention such term. Or could it be that because the school practices what English natives do, that is, Christmas. So, we had Christmas Party with the Japanese students.

By the way, Japanese don't celebrate Christmas as only about 1% of the population are Christians. Thus, Dec 25 is NOT a holiday. Bōnenkai is the most appropriate counterpart of Christmas in Japan. Of course, almost all Japanese are aware of this most important occasion for Christians. This can be gleaned from the oh-so-Christmas-y decorations in shopping malls, and other entities.

Whether Christmas or Bōnenkai, the most important thing is that we are all happy for the year that was, and all are hopeful for the year that is to come.

Happy Holidays! Or should I say, Kampai! (cheers)

P.S. If you are a gaijin in Nihon and happen to attend the Bōnenkai for the first time, check out these tips -- funny but informative.

Appreciating nature, and ...

Chichibu Island
University of Tokyo Forest Reserve
Photo by Al (my dear hubby), September 2006


Guess I'm in the mood to post good pictures that calm our weary eyes, and soften our angry hearts.

This one is especially posted for my dear friend, TM. When things seem to make life a little difficult for you, think of these other lifeforms that seem to endure the drastically changing environment, no matter how hard it is to adjust and conform -- in order to survive. Giving up is not an option, my friend. Going on is the way to go. Looking forward, thinking forward. Looking at better things in life amidst difficulties, scrunity, disparity and unfair reception from those you love.

Just like the water that keeps moving and falling; the trees that keep changing leaves and colors, we too should keep living ... and loving. YYY

Eigo de?

In my three years as gaijin in Japan, it's quite rare for me to talk to a Japanese who can speak English almost on a native level. When this happens, I feel like I've been freed from an skimpy cell where words are kept to their simplest forms.

In one of our visits to Shinjuku Gyoen (well, we are regulars here), I chanced upon a short yet entertaining conversation with Yoko-san. She is conversant and friendly, and she was the one who initiated the conversation (I had to admit I was hesitant at first). She had lived in New York for five years (if I am not mistaken) and have traveled around Southeast Asia except Philippines, my dear homeland. (As a backgrounder, most Japs have a not-so-good impression about the Philippines, thus shun away from Filipinas and avoid traveling there. I'll post a longer story about this, promise!)

Japs are very eager to learn the English language for various reasons, but mostly for travel and business purposes. As an EFL/ESL teacher, I have experienced teaching Japs of varied levels. The most difficult for me, and I take it as a challenge, is to teach those in the lowest levels for they tend to speak in Japanese in the class, which I don't and can't understand. The easiest are those in the upper bracket where I can freely use some difficult and/or longer words/phrases, and can easily create a lively discussion. And the most rewarding part of my "profession" is when these students go out of the class smiling and feeling satisfied with their lessons with me. This doesn't happen everyday though as some would say "musukashi" (difficult).

On my part, I make extra effort to learn Nihonggo, not only because it is a necessity to survive here, but also for me to somehow grasp what my lower-level students are trying to say to me. They are exerting so much effort to learn English, so I must put similar amount of work of understanding their language too.

And how far have I gone with my Nihonggo? All I can say is ... musukashi! ;)

The colors of autumn

I was almost getting desperate and frustrated that it's already December and most leaves have fallen rendering the tree dead-like, yet I haven't even seen the wonderful colors of autumn leaves!

Well, that was only almost. Before all leaves get to fall, I got MY chance to see and experience the vast colors of autumn -- where else but in our favorite koen, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park! (We visit this park once a month, I guess)

This is my first autumn in Japan, and firsts have to be good and beautiful. It is, indeed! ;)

More photos below:






Note: Cross-posted in my G.A.N.D.A. blog. ;)

The joys of teaching

What else could be better than hearing your students say these things ...

"I enjoyed your lesson."

"I had fun today."

"I've learned so many things today."

And nothing could even beat my happiness to hear them utter these little compliments without having to ask them the question, "How was your class?" (note: another person usually asks the question, not me).

Sometimes, I also receive heartwarming salutations from my students like,

"I've been looking forward to this lesson."

"I always look forward to your lessons."

Isn't that great? Hearing such lovely expressions from those who depend on you for their language learning makes me feel warm and comfy inside, despite the brrrr-y cold weather.

It's true. There is joy in teaching, and this is something that I will treasure as part of my (rather short) life in Japan. ;)

Note: cross-posted in my GANDA blog.

Sale...90% OFF

Just imagine that! 90% OFF? Unbelievable, isn't it? But it's TRUE. It is just like giving it away (this makes me wonder why don't they just give it away?).

I'm just one lucky person to have stayed in this part of the world where SALE is abundant. And I am NOT talking about my usual bazaars, coz that's another story, thus another post. I am referring to the discounted prices of baby stuffs in the luxurious shopping mall where, expectedly, prices are sky high. This is the same place where my son and I love to hang out, and where items I could only afford to look at and admire, wishing that somehow someday I'd be able to buy at least a few of those pricey stuffs for my son.

Good heavens heard my wish, I guess. For there's an ongoing mallwide price down of up to 90%. Of course, I am especially interested in baby stuffs (what else?). With my happiness, I instantly bought a "few" stuffs.

Due to necessity, I once bought my son a pair of shoes for 700yen at 50% OFF, but the same sets of shoes are now sold at 100yen. Even the fancy little girl's hats are also 100yen, which are originally priced 1800yen. Baby clothes of all sorts of styles are also on sale at 100yen cheapest, others are priced 300yen or 500yen, with original prices ranged from 1500 to 2300yen. It's as if I am in a 100yen shop (I'll tell you more about this in another post).

My bugdet is tight, I have to admit that. But I just can't resist this irrestible temptation to buy, for I know that this comes only once in a blue moon.

Happy shopping indeed!

Visit to Shinjuku Gyoen

Among others, Japan is known for its neat and wide parks across the nation. In Tokyo alone, you would find at least a small yet cozy park in almost every corner, where you can briefly take a rest from a long walk. And many, including myself, would (initially) wonder why this modern society takes a big step at keeping huge parks despite its nation's relatively small land area. I guess, one would have to personally experience the peace and calmness that these places give to their visitors, like us.

Last Monday, since it was a holiday (Health and Sports Day, Taikuu no Hi) and the weather was terrribly good, we booked ourselves to breathe through the greens and cool breeze in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, right at the heart of Tokyo. What more, a Jap friend of ours who works in the Garden, paid for our entrance fees. ;)

The place itself is wide and well-maintained, giving visitors the valued time to appreciate and commune with nature -- in the midst of the hustle-and bustle megacity of Tokyo. It is a classic example of a modern western landscape garden, and thus having the stature as one of the most important gardens of the Meiji era.

The large garden exhibits three distinct but blending styles of landscape:

English Landscape Garden: A wide lawn, dotted with zelvoka, tulip poplars and other large trees that create a sense of openness in this garden.

French Formal Garden: This beautifully symmetrical garden features central rose beds flanked on either side by rows of sycamore trees.

Japanese Traditional Garden: A stream winds its way through this circuit style garden. It also includes Kyu-Goryo-Tei (also known as the Taiwan Pavilion) and two teahouses known as the Shouten-tei and Rakuu-tei.

The Garden boasts of its luxurious sights throughout the year. It was all fresh green when we went there -- the awesome color of summer. At this time,

The trees turn a lustrous shade of green, and refreshingly cool breezes blow through the woods. The roses in the French Formal Garden and in front of the Greenhouse bloom in early summer, and the water lilies of the Middle Pond draw visitors with their white and pink flowers. In high summer, the songs of hte cicadas swell into a lively chorus, and dragonflies laze over the wide lawns.

Soon, the colorful autumn leaves will decorate the whole place. And yes, we'll visit this place again to witness the gold-yellow-orange-red colors of autumn, most especially the annual "Chrysanthemum Exhibition associated with the Imperial Household" slated on November 1-15.

Click here for more photos.

Enjoy nature at its best! ;)

Jitensha lost?

Last Friday, our jitensha (bicycle) just disappeared from where it was parked that morning. Hubby went home feeling a little exhausted, not only because he had to walk for 1.5 kilometers, but also worried about the lost bicycle.

So, what do we do now? Come Sunday, we went back to the parking area, and tried to search for it again, but no luck at all. We asked our friends what to do, and they said that reporting it to the police is the best.

We have almost given up, and even thinking of our difficulty without it. The bicycle has been our only means of transport from the eki to the house (and vice versa) and helps a lot in buying groceries.

To our surprise, the bicycle got back to the parking area a few days later. Definitely, someone "borrowed" it and returned it afterwards. Oh, that someone should have paid a rent! A huge rent!

I wonder if others have experienced this kind. Is it a norm nowadays? Anyway, what matters is that our bicycle is not gone forever. ;)

Train trouble

'Twas Saturday afternoon, just after my arubaito in the language school. I was on my way to meet up with a student-friend. I was sitting comfortably, almost asleep, when the train stopped in one of the stations. To my surprise, the train didn't just stop -- it stayed there for more than 30 minutes! Oh my! What happened? Why ain't the train moving? Obviously, there was some kind of trouble, as the train staff were on their megaphones announcing something I could hardly understand. As I tried to listen, and as far as my understading of Nihonggo can go, I figured that there was trouble between two stations which affected three train lines. For what kind of trouble, I wonder. Maybe, two trains collided with each other. Maybe, there was someone who tried to kill her/himself. Maybe a thunderstorm? Nah, it wasn't raining.

I was about to panic since I was already getting late for my appointment. Since I have no celfone (oh, poor me!), I had to stand up from where I was comfily sitting (and thus, giving up my seat) and look for a payphone to make a call. To make the story short, I arrived in the meeting place one hour late. Because not only once did the train stop, but thrice!

This "lovely" experience of mine brings back all the train-related glitches I had when I was still teaching in Tsukuba. Once, the train I was on stopped in the middle of the long bridge for about 30 minutes. And since my Nihonggo was really awfully zero at that time, I didn't know what was really happening. I was able to know the reason only when my students explained it to me, when I arrived in the class one hour late. They said the train stopped due to thunderstorm. Oh, boy!

I have had other train troubles, some are minor ones, others are my own fault. But if I were to tell them all here, it will probably take you a day to finish reading a single post. I could not exactly tell that I won't face another train trouble in the near future. Seems like this kind of thing is always near me, if not with me. I try to commute early just so to avoid any inconveniences. But sometimes, no matter how hard or careful I am, Murphy's law strikes without a warning.

Good buys

Most of my friends know that I am exceptionally addicted to the color brown, thus, my romantic fascination for wood.

In Japan, many wood-based home thingies abound, and expensive too (probably because woods are imported). Take for example our wooden stool, which is just as simple as something you can sit on -- no artistic whatsoever -- costs 1200yen each. And we bought a pair. It would seem lonely if we buy only one. ;)

Did I just say they are expensive? Well, everyhing here is pricey, so it isn't a surprise anymore, is it? Luckily, in my bazaar hunting and in some SALE days, I chanced upon some good things that I really like, and I can proudly say it is indeed a one good buy.

Take this thing I call a mega mini-drawer. The three layers are so small that I could only probably store pins and other flat things (like my precious lapad, hahaha!). But it doesn't bother me at all of its very limited usability because I am dead happy for its aesthetic beauty and elegance as a desktop ornament. For now, though, I shall be content with it as a flat base for my indoor sword plant (which, by the way, doesn't seem to grow; hmmm, is this a living thing?)

And here's the most recent addition to my sari-saring collection. It is not made of wood, but it is one of my best buys ever. Yeah, it is a plate but I have no intention of using it as one. It is a bit heavy and too beautiful to put your food on it. Its coarse finish just proves that it is made out by some good hands devoting some innate skills to draw a beautiful piece on a very solid material. And I believe this rare piece of artwork deserves its rightful place as a center ornament in my receiving room displayed strategically as a matching accessory to my wood-motiffed and/or wood-based interior design.

I'll show more next time. In the meantime, lure your eyes and envy me. Hahaha! ;)

Bazaar mania

These are my Pinoy friends whom I rightly call my bazaar-friends. These are friends back in Los Baños who are now somehow transplanted here in Japan. They have stayed here more than we do, so they know more of the ins and outs here -- especially about upcoming bazaars. Take a look at the large paper bags in the picture, you bet those are nice things bought at the recent bazaar they went to with only about 100yen spent on all those.

While bazaars are not patronized by all Japanese, they are most looked forward to by those who want to buy things at a cheaper price. Sometimes even at a jackpot price, as my friend has coined it, for buying a very-slightly-used kiddie bicycle for her son for zero yen. That's really a WOW.

Bazaars are done mostly for charity purposes, especially those organized by the church. Any proceeds go directly to their chosen/intended recipients. In fact, the annual bazaar in our church is scheduled in the first week of June. Hmm, I need to get ready with my coins. ;) Yeah, you only need coins, for prices are really low. And lots of freebies too!

So far, I have bought so many sari-sari (assorted) things from the bazaars that I happen to go to. Most of my son's toys were bought in the bazaar. Just recently, we bought him a big size of Pooh bear (again???) who now becomes his best buddy, a Sesame Street mini-toy kingdom, and a lego-like shapeblocks (om, what's its name?) I also enjoy buying kitchen wares which are unique only to Japan, and which I intend to display ONLY at my cabinet back home (weird? ah, please don't mind me).

I'd say my money and time are worth the things that I bought from these bazaars. Especially when you are trying to live frugally in an expensive and stlyish city such as Tokyo, bazaars are a good source of stuffs you need for your home -- stuffs which are either slightly used or unused at all. Quality is still valued even in this kind of market, and I assure you, your yen could go a long, long way.

Till next bazaar day!

Picnic and fun at Odaiba

Everybody has been busy going here and there. It is a season to enjoy one's [very limited] freetime with family and friends in this weeklong holiday. As for us, we spent our whole day yesterday at Odaiba, together with some Pinoy friends. As we had expected, our "pasyal" was so much fun -- the kids got along well playing all the time, while we, the mothers, spent most of the time talking about our life and all other things while taking care of our "bulilits." The daddies also had their own enjoyment.

To start off, we met at Nishi-nippori station of the JR Yamanote line. 'Twas just funny that our friend who kindly reminded us to be there ON TIME was the one who arrived the latest. Surprisingly, we were the first comers when in fact we were the farthest from the station (about 45minutes from the house). We looked a lot like a very big family all set for a grand picnic each carrying a basket (or backpack) full of foods. So we started our journey, rode the train and got off at Shimbashi, where we transferred to the Yurikamome monorail going to Odaiba-kaihin-kouen (Odaiba Seaside Park) station. Here's my first glitch of the day: I was getting a ticket at the ticket machine when it suddenly gone crazy and out of service after I dropped a 100yen coin on it. Amidst the crowd, we asked the help of the staff and told us to stay put and wait for the machine to spit out my coin. I waited till the machine went back online but no coin appeared. To make the story short, I didn't get my coin back because, according to the staff, "I left the line without waiting for the coin to appear." Well, somebody might have been lucky enough that day to unexpectedly receive 100yen. "It is just 100yen," said the staff. JUST 100yen??? Hey, my 100yen can go a long, long way, you know, especially so in a bazaar. ;)

It was my 3rd time to visit Odaiba so I somehow knew what to expect from the place. Despite this, though, I still enjoyed every hour of our stay there as if seeing the place for the first time. Who would not enjoy such a riot company -- noisy and in an upbeat mood, laughing our hearts out, moon-walking while stopping in every corner to have our [crazy] pictures taken, feeding our already full tummies, filling our eyes with the awesome sights, and feeling the cold breeze amidst the sunny day.

Now, let's talk about the place. Odaiba is one of Tokyo's best spots with a unique ambience to offer its visitors. It is said to be a reclaimed area in Tokyo Bay which was first developed towards the end of the Edo period (1603 - 1867) as a strategic geographical protection against possible enemy attacks from the sea. The development was greatly affected, though, during the "bubble economy" period. Not wanting to waste whatever had been started, the place was redeveloped and "purpose" realigned to now serve not only pure business ventures but what has come to be widely known as a shopping and entertainment district. I would personally say that this place is kinda 'mini-USA" having its own version of the San Francisco Bridge (called the Rainbow Bridge) and the Statue of Liberty. There is also a "Little Hongkong" inside the Decks Tokyo Beach (a shopping mall) as well as the Venus Fort, a for-ladies shopping center with an ambience of the Rennaisance-period Venice, Italy. Hey, you don't need to travel around the world to see these things, because it's all here! Other "must-see" and "must-experience" in Odaiba are found at Japan-guide.com.

Our route? We got off at Odaiba-kaihin-kouen station, and walked our way through the all-woodplanks road to Decks Tokyo Beach until we reached the front of the beach overlooking the Rainbow Bridge. We found a nice shaded place where we shared our "sari-saring baon". We had adobo, tortang talong, kare-kare and tamago sushi, and crema de fruta for our dessert. Afterwards, the kids went playing at the beach while the "bulilits" soundly took their afternoon naps. There was never-ending chatting while nibbling with some "chichiriya". Then, we breezed through the nice parks on our way to the Palette Town where the kids excitedly rode the biggest Ferris Wheel in the world. For 900yen, you'll get to see most of Tokyo from above through a 16-minute ride in the slow-moving Daikanransha. Before and after getting there, we stopped at the MegaWeb (car showroom) where latest -- and old ones too! -- Toyota car models are displayed. Test driving is allowed as long as you have a valid driver's license, which none of us have, so we just took pictures of our pick. There was even a 10-minute showcase of a car of the future which, to me, looked like either a movable bedroom or a one-of-a-kind vacuum cleaner or probably an elegant sofabed with tires. No, I don't -- and won't -- dream of a car like that.

It was getting late and some of our friends left early. With only three families left, we walked down the park while witnessing the awesome sunset. At 6:35pm, we took the sea bus (aka Tokyo Water Cruise and SuijoBus) and cruised the calm waters to Hinode Pier. Yes, I was -- and still am -- afraid to ride a boat. But for experience's sake, I tried it this time. I'd say it was an experience with all the nice sights and lights I saw from the window. Well, I did not have the chance to go up in the open deck because I was carrying Luke. Besides, it was so cold up there.

After that 20-minute sea trip, we took the train from JR Hamamatsucho station to get home. We arrived home a little past 9pm, exhausted, hungry, sleepy but happy and satisfied.

Lure your eyes with more pictures at my Flickr account.
More facts about Odaiba at: Tokyo Essentials, Sugihara.com, JNTO, Odaiba Decks

Greenery Day and Golden Week

Today, April 29th, is Japan's Greenery Day (Midori-no-hi), a holiday that marks the start of the most-awaited Golden Week. April 29th used to be the birthday of Emperor Shouwa, and following his death in 1989, this day has become a day of nature appreciation since the late emperor had a strong fascination for nature and plants. In patronage to this holiday and for self-enjoyment, we went strolling at the splendid 14-ha Ueno Zoo in downtown Tokyo. The weather wasn't cooperative, though, so we arrived home earlier than expected. Nevertheless, we enjoyed what we had seen there so far. Check out my other blog for some stories.

So, the Golden Week has finally arrived. Why golden? According to Web Japan, it was "first used by movie companies to get people to take advantage of the "golden" opportunity to go see a film. The term gradually began being used by other people to refer to this string of holidays."

Yup, string of holidays. What are these holidays, by the way? Here's a detailed description from Japan-Guide.Com:

April 29
Greenery Day (Midori no hi):
April 29 used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. After his death, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature, since the emperor loved plants and nature. From 2007, this national holiday will be renamed Showa Day, while Greenery Day will be moved to May 4.

May 3
Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi):
On this day in 1947, the new post war constitution was put into effect.

May 4
"Between Day" (Kokumin no kyujitsu):
According to Japanese law, a day which falls between two national holidays is also declared a national holiday, unless the "between day" is a Sunday, in which case it will be just a regular Sunday. From 2007, Greenery Day, currently celebrated on April 29, will be moved to May 4.

May 5
Children's Day (Kodomo no hi):
The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.

Golden Week is thus one of the busiest holiday in Japan. Especially so in this year, it will be a 10-day g-r-a-n-d vacation to many. Most people travel on this season, either around Japan or overseas (check out Japan-Guide.com's 2000 survey). As for us, we have no grand plans but we want to see some nice places around.

More about Golden Week at: Web Japan and Go Japan

Have a wonderful week everyone! ;)