Food Food Food and a movie!

This morning I was up at 5 am. Jetlag is still playing me tricks. Today we decided to stay put and visit Ota instead. We left early and stoped by Lawson to buy some onigiri for breakfast. Then we biked our way to Ota. On the way, I saw the biggest Subaru car plant. That is where they design and test the cars… you should see the security. They even have a dig surrounding the compound. We kept going and made it to Aveon mall. A huge americain style mall. On my way I was surprised to see how diverse the food was. I had notice, last year in Tokyo, that the only food you could get there was japanese food or american fastfood. Here it is totally different. You can easily get italian, indian, chinese, french, bresilienne, portugese, philipino… food.

Blue Kitkat Ramon flavored

After the movie we went to eat lunch. I payed 210 yen for my whole lunch (2.50$) and it was absolutly tasty!!! After we went arround and did a little bit of shopping. I bought some eito’s keychain for a great bargain price. Ohhhhhhhhhh shopping in Japan is so fabulous!!! I really wished I had money to spend…. It’s heart breaking to see all the cool stuff I could get but this year I intend on keeping my money to travel as much a possible… so no shopping for me.

At night, we had dinner with my sister’s boss at a Korean restaurant!!! OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the wonderful food!!!! I tried so many new things and everything was tasty beyong belief. It was a meal we would never have been able to afford. We are truly lucky to have been treated to such great food.

That ended our weekend on a very good note. Now this week will be really uneventful. I will mostly be staying home and doing some reading for university.

Subarashii Takasaki

Before leaving for my trip, I was a little bit worried that I might be disappointed. Last year’s trip was simply unbeleivable and would be hard to surpass. After yesterday’s amazing day, I have no more doubts. This year’s trip is already as (if not more) amazing then last year’s.

Today was our first official TOURIST day. Marie does not work on the weekend so we planned do as much sightseeing as possible together. The very first place I wanted to go to was Takasaki! Most of you probably heard about out amazing encounter last year with one of the most known artist-painter of darumas. He had been so nice to us last year, this year we were going to bring him a little gift (omiage) from Canada.

Takasaki is about an hour away from where my sister lives and is known for his umeboshi (plums). It is not a city tourist go to although it has lots to offer from a culinary and cultural stand point.

Yesterday morning, I was wide awake at 5:30 am. I waited for Marie to get up at around 8 and after breakfast we left for the train station. We got to Takasaki at around 12 and we went straight to the temple. Once more there were only a few people. We took some pictures, bought some omikuji daruma (fortune teller) and started walking to the Daimonya (Factory).

For the first time since we I arrived in Japan, it was not raining!! Yeah!! The sun even peak out from behind the clouds a few time. We got to the factory and we were a little bit scared the old man wouldn’t be there. I went straight to the workshop door and took a peek. There he was working… I ask one of the girl working there if she could ask him to come out. The old man seemed really surprised. And then he recognized us. What a relief. We gave him out gift from Canada and we chatted a bit. He was so surprised. He couldn’t believe we had come all this way to thank him for last year!!! He was also happy to know that Marie was now living in Japan. He asked why Tristan wasn’t there. I explained to him he had to work ;-)

While we chatted with my broken Japanese, he had sit down and had one of the girl bring cold ice tea. I showed him the pictures of my kids making Daruma and he was really amused by it. And then the magic began… after about half an hour of chatting, we went around the store and I choose to buy a manekineko. He lowered the price and then gave me a bunch of blank Daruma to pain!!! Then we walked us to a garden outside to show us giant lotus flowers!! It was my first time seeing them. I can’t believe how big it is. He then offered to drive us back to the train station, but I explained to him that this time we had plan to visit the rest of the city so he didn’t need to do that for us…  

Well…. He took us on a grand tour of the city!!! From the mountain top garden to the Byakui Kannon and then (as if it wasn’t enough) he brought us to his daughter’s store ( a very fined Kimono making store) so we could have traditional Japanese green tea and mochi! It truly was delicious. His daughter was so pretty all dressed up in her kimono and spoke french!! A few years back she had studied in Paris. She was really happy to practice.

Once more our trip to Takasaki this year was unbelievable. I didn’t go in all the details but I feel truly fortunate to have had such an amazing experience to year in a row!!

Japan 2009

So here I am, off to Japan again this summer. I feel really lucky to be able to continue last summer's adventure where I left it off.

Day 1, July 1st 2009

Got up at 4:30 am after 3 hours of sleep. Tristan and I had Tim Horton's while driving down to Pearson's airport. We got to the aiport at 6:30 and went to process my check in. Eveything went well, I left Tristan at the security check point. I really didn't cry that much so I was really proud of myself. The lady at the american security check yelled at me for going too fast!!! I was really upset about her absolute rudeness. (I was only going fast because the other lady from the otherside of the metal detector keep asking me to get through... ahhhh border checks....

I boarded the aircanada aircraft towards Los Angeles. It was a nice plane, really roomy, good entertainement... and a total lack of services. No food too. Not even a tiny little pretzel snack pack. I was glad I brought food with me.

En route, I saw the Rockies (somewhere between Denver and Salt Lake city) and I also saw the Grand Canyon. It was really impressif. I got to LA. What an ugly city. I was not impress... the airport was also horrible and old and shitty. I think only Manila has a worst airport. People were also really rude. I got lost changing terminal with another girl from Toronto that I had met on the plane. We found our way and got there 30 minutes before boarding.

From LA to Narita I flew All Nipon Airway. Wow what a difference!! The plane was nice but smaller than what we flew last year with North West Airline. The entertainement on board was really limited but who cared... they fed us none stop!!! There was always more food comming and drinks too. You never had the time to go thirsty!! Juice, pop, wine...  Now I have to say the food was not the best. It was just ok, but I was glad to finally eat. The service was great but I would not have expected anything else... it is a Japanese company after all. The plane was roomy. I had a window seat but saw nothing for it was really cloudy the whole time.

Day 2. July 2nd

I got to Narita at 4pm on the 2nd. I had already been 3 times to that airport so I found my way really easily. My suitcase was one of the first out and I didn't have to stop at the quarantine inspection. I zoomed through security talking in Japanese. The poor kid who was about my age seemed really relief and let me through without asking me to open any bag (unlike last year). So 20 minutes after landing I was out in the fresh.... humid air. It was only 20 degrees but I was already sweating like a pig. I quickly found the bus compagny and bought my ticket. It was more price than the train but at least I didn't have to connect 4 times, so I could just sit and relax. The bus ride took 3 hours and 1 minutes. It was through the country side and rice field most of the time. I got off at Ota Minamiguchi and waited for Marie to pick me up. She arrived with her japanese friend Mariko. They had a car so that was great. On the way we listened to Puzzle: Kanjani8's new album.

We stoped by the bento place and bought dinner 390 yen for a whole meal (like 4.50$) I had fish, rice and salade.

We got to Marie's appartement, I gave her all her goodies and then we went to bed at about 11 pm.

Day 3. July 3rd 2009.

I got up at 11 am. Marie had cooked breakfest Japanese style. Salmon and rice with bonito flakes. Then at 12:30 we went to her school to pick up my bicycle. She showed me arround quickly then she went to work. I went arround Oizumi and got to the 100yen shop (dollar store) I found lots of things I want ;-) I really like Japanese dollar stores. Then I went to the grocery and bought myself lunch. UFO ramen. Off course ;-) I also bought Pepsi. (Note to self : Pepsi here sucks, so buy coke zero next time). At 14:30 I was back at Marie's place. I had lunch while watching a travel show. They were in Chichibu national park. I went there last year and did white water rafting there.

I went for a nap. Woke up at 4:00pm and then slept again till 7:30pm. Emily woke me up with some delicious cake. Then the 3 of us went for Sushi at a rotating belt place. It was ok, but really great for the price. I had maguro!! We got back home at 10pm after doing the grocery. I bought the magasine Wink Up and read it. (well more like looked at the pictures). We planned our weekend which will involve a trip to Takasaki and a trip to Nikko.

We finally went to bed at 12:30 and I hardy slept...

Mount Fuji

In Japan there is a saying. Only a fool would climb Mount Fuji twice!! Lindsey, you’re a fool! But a cool fool!! Thank you so much for climbing Mount Fuji with me! Marie, I am sorry we had to leave you behind but like I said… there was going to be casualties on the way up! You were one of them!

YATTA! I DID IT!

I climbed Mount Fuji! It could really well be the accomplishment of my life. It was hard. Really hard. My body and my mental were pushed to the limit. It was amazing. I will not go in details. I think the pictures talk for themselves… so please look at them.

 

We started our climb at 10:30. Total darkness. We climbed in the darkness… then suddenly at 4am the light started to peek out. Suddenly we could see. The colors. Amazing. The colors after a night of darkness… How can I say. The sun rised. It was more than a beautiful sunrise. It was the light coming out after a night in hell. It was colors. Energy. Spirit. It was LIFE. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. The sun rising.

We made it to the top at 6:30 am. After 8 hours of none stop climbing. After shivering in cold sweet. Tired. But it was amazing. The way up was long… it was like walking in a snow storm in 3 feet of snow… with the wind blowing and the dirt in your eyes… but the way down was harder. It was hard and scary. So slippery. Just like skiing. My quads still hurt. 4 hours of slipping down mount fuji. I fell. I scratched my left leg. It didn’t hurt… my body was hurting. My scratch was nothing.

So now I am back home… resting for a day. My body is not that soar and the cuts on my leg not infected. Outside there is a mean thunderstorm. I am so happy I climbed mount Fuji. I can’t wait to do it again… one day… call me a fool… will you ;-)

Palawan!!

I just came back form Palawan. We spent the last 4 days there on a Resort. It was amazing. I have such a nice tan. We went to visit an underground river, a mangrove forest, a rain forest, a jungle. We went snorkeling and waterfall climbing and we saw monkeys. It was a much deserved holiday after all the craziness of the last few weeks. We got to lay on the beach and watch J-drama every evening. I watched the first 3 episodes of Gokusen 3 (ok is Hey Say Jump a joke???)  we also restarted Nodame because my boyfriend really wanted to see the beginning. I think he has a crush on Juri. We just told me he wanted to finish watching the rest of it tonight. Yeah!!!  Ok back to Palawan.

Wow! That place was so beautiful. We took over 500 pictures!! lol. It was a one hour flight south from Manila and then a 2 hours car ride on unpaved roads to get to the remote resort. We had our own beach house and since it's the low season for one day we were the only guest there. I hope I get to go back one day, I really wanted to scuba dive but didn't get the chance too.

Last week I also went to Tarlac. There I learned a very important bit of information. My boyfriend admited that he was planning to propose to me while we are in Japan on top of Mount Fuji. But that since he won't be able to climb it with us... that his whole plan was ruined. I thought it was very sweet of him and I told him he could just figure out something else. ;-0 It's too bad! The mount Fuji thing would have been so great!! oh well. Anyway his parents have been asking us to pick as church since most of them have 2 years waiting list. I found a small one 3 hours away from Manila in the mountain. Both me and my bf love the place but they don't do weddings there (it's only a monastery) anyway my cousin's uncle said not to worry about it. He is the main money donator to the place as well as furnishing them with food all year round. He said he would make it happen. I don't know what to think of it. I mean it feels a bit forcefully to me... but I really like the place.

Good News from Japan in Manila!

I got home today around 10 pm. We spent the day outside the city. The air felt so good. We went to visit a marble quarry (it belongs to by BF's god father) it was sooooo cool and interesting, I also saw rice fields, a water buffalo and avocado trees.

It was the first really good day I had here in Manila. My stress level went down a bit and I got to spend time outside the four walls and the mall. I am still covered in rashes (eczema attack) but it seems to be getting better.

In the evening we went to the grocery and we bought junk food (my bf and I were going to watch HYD1) and eat donuts... so we got home and settled down for it... untill I saw the comment on my last post.


I got Kanjani8 tickets for their first show in Tokyo. I am so excited about it!!! there's no way I will get any sleep tonight!!!  The funny thing is that my BF seemed disappointed that he doesn't get to go!! I was a bit surprised by that!!! lol. He might look for tickets on yahoo auction for the same show we are going.

So anyway,after getting teh news I tried reaching my sister all the way back in Canada. I didn't know if she had seen the comment. I left messages everywhere. I finally got a hold of her on MSN and I thought she already knew. So I was telling her how excited I was and blah blah blah.. after a while she stopped me and asked... Ok but what are you excited about??? Then I realized she DIDN'T know yet!!!! 

Ohhhhhhh. Ok I really have to get some sleep. Tomorrow we are going out of town to another city. I forgot the name. anyway.

Good Night!!!

Manila week 2

I barely get a second for myself and I am suffering deeply from it. I have now been here in Manila for a week. My sister is arriving tomorrow night. The only reason I get to post today, is because it is 6 am and I can't sleep anymore. This week, I got to visit the historical part of Manila (Intramuros) and yesterday we went to Lake Tahaal  to see the volcano. The scenery was amazing! I took hundreds of pictures. I also got to eat more philipinos food. Everything is really good here!!!

Earlier this week I got really sick. I am now better. I think it was a combination of jet lag and dehydration. Now I am being careful and drinking lots of fluid.

2 days ago was my bf's cousin's wedding. It was beautiful! I have to say thought.... Italian weddings are nothing compare to Philipino wedding!!! Scary eh!!! If you get the picture! Such a big fuss... I couldn't believe it!!! Anyway...

So by now I have met his whole dad side. Now I have to meet his mom's side! So many names and faces to remember. (A funny side note) On his mom's side, I met one of his cousin yesterday. Him and my bf are just like twins!!!! Scary! Apparently there is a third one which makes them triplets. 

I am just not getting use to his family pressure.... and also the driver, the maids... the cooks and all that. I need my freedom back.. oh and I want to choose my own food and cook it...

Today I think the plans call for more shopping and visiting a marble factory....

Sick in Manila...

Things I learned  since I got to the Philippines:

-Always carry your own toilet paper.

-If you need to go, McDonald has some of the best public washroom.

- In some cases, it is worth it to pay the extra and go to a pay washroom.

-If you are not use to the weather make sure you drink plenty.

-Bring your own Gravol... they don't sell it here!

-People are extremely nice, especially if you need to jump the line in the washroom!!!


Ok, from this short list you can probably guess it: I have been extremely sick for the last 24 hours. Right now I am feelign a bit better. I probably suffered from dehydration or else maybe sometime from the water. No food has been stying in my body. With such a busy schedule I couldn't stay home and sleep it off... so I visited every public washroom everywhere we went... I also drank my weigth in Gatorade, Gastrolyte and some othe discusting re hydration medecine.

Yesterday I tried the dress... it is ok. The cut is nice, the color is horrible. (Pink) I bought blue satin shoes to go with it... my revenge ;-)

Other than that my bf's family has been so nice. I get along with all of his cousins and we are really having a great time!!! (Oh and I found out none of the girl cousin like the dresses they have... the mom's all pick the fabric... so we are all in the same boat lol)

Madness in Manila

Life in my boyfriend's family is crowded. I barely have a second for myself. Lately its been all about shopping till you drop and eat till you explode. I am not made for this life style. Yesterday we ran back and forth between the mall and the tailor and the dress maker to get fitted and all. The fabric for my dress is hideous... and the dressmaker well... I think I could have done a better job myself. So out of politeness, I am letting my boyfriend's aunt play dress up with me and I just nod and agree... It was their idea after all. I have also just been asked to sing at the wedding. The 500 guests will include some entertainment and art industry personality... they said they would introduce me... Once more, it's all his aunts idea. They also told me not to worry about when we get married... they would take care of the planning... ohhhhhhhhh, I can already see the disaster... but I just nodded and agreed.

Since dinner last night, I have been sick. Nothing I eat will stay in. It,s horrible.... especially with the state of the public washroom here.

Last night we went to a fancy Chinese food restaurant. I was so disappointed to find out that Chinese food is so much better in Toronto!!!! My bf agreed,. The meal was disappointing. Anyway, I gotta go get ready, we are going back to SM so I can buy shoes...

Manila Day 1

Here I am melting in Manila. I arrived last night 2 am local time. What a long trip to get there... nonetheless everything went well. I even got to get out the plane in Japan for 2 hours. So technically, the first place in Asia I've ever been in Nagoya!

Manila is like another planet to me. This morning we went to the dentist! Yes, the very first thing I will have done in Manila is go to the dentist!! after we went to a seafood market and got fresh seafood. I got to meet some of my boyfriend's cousin. In the afternoon we went shopping at Shangri-la. I bought children book in Tagalog (mostly folks tale) I bought postcard, some flip flops and then some Bench clothing.  When we came back we took a nap, later tonight we will head out to visit some more family.

I have seen lots of very unusual things and I have already taken lots of pictures and videos.