FANKEOW!

Day 5 in Tokyo

i spent a great (but kinda hurried) 6 hours (okay on hindsight, it was cos time just whizzed past when i’m having fun, doesn’t it happen to all of us?) at Isetan Men and Marui Men. there’s just simply too much to cover and i was stuck at the two most frighteningly credit card damaging floors – 1st and 2nd – in Isetan Men, for the longest time. how could i ever cover 8 (in IM) + another 8 (in MM) floors in all? i wasted no time in quenching my lust for Jam HomeMade and Alfredo Bannister. YUMMY! i have a pair of boots i need to collect from Lumine2 (which is just 10 min away from where we stay) tomorrow cos that’s the only size 40 in whole of Tokyo! 39 is totally sold out in whole of Japan, and i tried the 41 with insoles but it’s still too roomy.

all the great stuff in Commes Ca Men Platinum (limited edition range only available in select stores) are not available in my size (ho hum!!!) but i did score a pair of pants with nice leather trimmings and back pockets.

i’ve got 5 pairs of shoes so far. 6th tmrw. so only 5 more to break May’s record. LOL. okay i can see HH sweating in the corner there… hahaha.

the best thing about shopping in Tokyo – the perfect sizes that almost always fit off the rack, the immaculate cuts that flatter the average Asian body, the packaging, and the service. retail therapy really has to be done here to reap its full effects.

speaking of therapy. i had a funny encounter with a lady which stays in the same service aparto. it sums up my day really. i was carrying 4 HUGE PAPER BAGS of loot together with my day bag, four layers of clothings with a swirl of muffler round my neck, so i was virtually a bulldozer trying quite impossibly to meander down the sardine-packed lanes of Kabuki-cho. upon reaching our residence, i bumped into the lady, who was very helpful in helping me through the security gates and eventually into the compact lift. we exchanged a brief conversation and she was very amused by the amount of shopping i was carrying. before she got out, she passed me her namecard and asked that i check out her website and call her sometime. for mental counseling. now how funny is that!?!?

we went out for Tonkatsu in Shinjuku thereafter. Mr Nietzsche came along too. =) spent a very short but fun visit to the Sky Lounge where Shaz and Kenji entertained with their piano “skills”. had a cuppa Nespresso (this machine is only available in Japan. it makes the most drinkable espressos in the world i swear!). finally, we had supper in the room when a boozed up Kei joined us for Bah Kut Teh. and guess where that local delicacy came from? Mr Kenji Tan!!! he stayed in all day to cook that for us specially. that boy is just too sweet at times.

Day 3+4 in Tokyo

a belated Merry X’mas to all.

waaaaah, it’s been a great 2 days of celebrating this special day. definitely a x’mas to remember cos it’s so different. making new friends all round, visiting new eateries and cafes, stuffing myself silly with yummy treats, endless cuppas, and just walking down the streets engulfed by the Tokyo winter winds. and not forgetting watching Akina live tonight.

maybe cos i’m gearing up for my intention to study here in 2009, i have a new-found compulsive disorder – reading every single Japanese sign that comes my way. i think my Katakana reading has improved tremendously. keke. and i realise one of the best ways to learn Japanese is to watch their late night infomercials. haha.

more and more, i discover the Japanese to have idiosyncracies which are hard to understand, and they get on my nerves sometimes.

tomorrow, my retail therapy will commence. i’m all geared up for Isetan Men and Marui Men. okay, time to snuggle under my blanket.

Day 2 in Tokyo

minchi ichi ni san!

the weather is very lovely today – it’s cold, but very pleasant cold. not like yesterday cos it was rainy and very windy. makes a big difference.

today, we met up with Shaz’s schoolmate Enhui who’s 19 and speaks Jap so fluently like a native. i’m so inspired! i did some shopping at HMV (at Shibuya) and grabbed quite a few hot new releases. we have a Bose player here in the room (it’s small but exquisitely stocked and furnished), so now we have music to listen to. also stepped into the Starbucks in Shibuya, which incidentally is the world’s MOST PROFITABLE outlet. =) all the coffee chains here have special X’mas concoctions and they taste divine (Marsmallow Vanilla & Chocolate Mint Lattes anyone?). i’m already eating and drinking to my diet’s detriment. but oh well, i’ll hit the gym when i get back. haha. there’s a nice gym here and i’ll be working out too, so i can binge more!

we had dinner at a Izakaya called O-Tofu. and Isakaya is where the Japs love to gather with friends for nice eats and drinks. it’s very laid back and casual, and always filled with loud banter (and smoke!). this one we went to serves all sorts of Tofu dishes. met up with Kei (Shaz’s pal whom we met back in May – he speaks so many languages fluently, including Mandarin!), and he brought along a friend Masa san. both are young and “ikemen” doctors. they call the pretty boys here “ikemen”. i’ll post photos of them soon. hee.

we’re going to T-san’s place for x’mas eve dinner. yay!! saba fish isn’t in season now, so we’re having another type Shaz said. i’m sure it’ll be equally lovely. we’re going to shop for a joint x’mas gift tmrw, and a x’mas cake as well to bring up to the Tatenos. and after dins, we may be going clubbing. that could be fun.

i love Japan!!

p/s: i forgot to mention that we tasted Macaroons from Pierre Herme (if it sounded expensive, that cos IT IS! it’s like the Hermes for sweets) and what Shaz said was the current craze, also made popular by Namie Amuro’s public display of affection for them – - Mochi Cream – so nice we’re definitely going back for more. they have 20+ flavours and we tried the top 8 best selling flavours. the Japanese have charts even for their food.

moshi moshi anone!

heylo peeps! greetings from Tokyo! it’s super cold and raining! lovely!!! this is when you appreciate things we rarely do in Singapore – cashmere scarves, leather boots, gloves, and yes, beanie caps!!

Shaz brought Kenji and i to Park Hyatt Hotel for a scrumptious dinner as a belated birthday celebration for Kenji. i’ve always wanted to go there, having seen its gorgeousness in Lost In Translation. and yes, it’s every bit as lovely!! we also got to meet Mr. Nietzsche finally. hajimemashite! =))

we’re going to sleep in and take things easy cos we’re staying quite a bit longer this trip. Kenji is showering right now – my lil ploy for him to warm up the bathroom for me first so i won’t shrivel freeze when it’s my turn. hahaha.

it’s great to be back in Tokyo. and Oakwood Shinjuku is really cosy. i love our room!!

pictures to come soon – stay tuned!

R8

we’re going to get a test drive of the R8 (a close contender of my dream car that is the Aston Martin Baby Vantage) when HH is back and when i return from Tokyo. i’ve seen it in the flesh and it’s gorgeous. Paulina said “wait till you drive it.” but of course we both know i never test drive. i am always happy being in the passenger seat. HH will drive. and i drive after we buy it. *kekekeke*

shaz's whirlwind singapore tour

i counted. 38 hours. shaz was back for 38 hours. and i am beginning to wonder if Waseda isn’t some prestigious school where top-notch field agents are secretly created. take a look at the numbers: she finished the Star Awards show at 10pm, and had to be on the flight which was to take off at 11:25pm. boy, you ARE Sydney Bristow, Sharon! i didn’t see any helicopters extracting you from the stage. did they send in a teleporting machine? oh wait, Mediacorp is probably too cheapo to afford anything like that. glad you made it on time. and may i stress that it’s “on” time and not “in” time. the former is used when there are no extra seconds laying around. close shave. and very.

but we did steal a lil catch up over eggs benedict and nicoise salada. Kenji’s birthday celebration continues evidently. sorry, no snaps of me cos no one freaking offered to plow the iPhone from my hands!

see you very very soon!!! in 3.5 days to be exact. get ready the heat packs for us!!!

gym report 171207

i had another one of those gym encounters which i must write about. there was this other guy who got into the gym about 2-3 minutes before me, clad in his grey ARMY singlet no less (hey i love wearing those too) and young, probably an undergrad. i could sense he was keen to make small talk with me but i wasn’t really in the mood to talk (juz wanted to hit the weights, sweat it, and get out. okay, and to post some vanity shots for my lovely readers *kekekeke*), especially to one who works out in flip flops. dude, there’s such a thing as proper gym attire. so then he made some loud calls on his mobile in between lacklustre sets, arranging for his friend to come meet him “later” at 1015pm and bragged about how he was “working out” in the gym.

i was minding my own business, down to my last set of ab crunches on the gym ball with free weights (i’m up to 10kg now), when he decided to sashay outta the gym, calling it a night. we need to draw keys to our gym (note to self: please take this nuisance procedure up to management) so he passed the keys to me to drop it off at the security. and that was when i gave the basic courtesy, thanks, bye, goodnight, see you around. and THAT he decided was apparently his cue to dish out some fitness advice to me.

“by the way, you may not want to strain your ab muscles that much. they may get damaged.”

“…er, thanks for your concern… i have been doing that for a few months now and gradually building up resistance…”

“…ya, you better be careful. cos i study Sports Science.”

i was thinking to myself, yah big deal. so why are you still so FAT? and did they teach you to work out in slippers so you won’t “strain” your cow calves? and only the ill-motivated need to brag to their friends about how they’re working so hard in the gym. boo hoo. you want me to give you five golden star stickers?

but being the nice neighbour who intends to become the chairperson of the condo committee, i mustered a cordial smile and said “oh wow. damn! they didn’t offer that course during my time. so i did Public Relations and Advertising, and they did teach us how to cope with those strenuous situations. you know, strain and pain? by the way, can you show me your tummy?”

okay, i didn’t really say that. and i dun wanna run for committee. i had enough of those shit back in my school days. i was in every fucking committee inside and outside of school.

so that was my funny encounter. my 4 pack going on 5 had a good laugh.

Bubbly – Colbie Caillat

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYT2HOhmTDY]
bubbly nice. and we share the same birth date.

I’ve been awake for a while now
You’ve got me feelin’ like a child now
‘Cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tingles in a silly place

It starts in my toes
And I crinkle my nose
Where ever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Where ever you go

The rain is falling on my window pane
But we are hiding in a safer place
Under covers staying safe and warm
You give me feelings that I adore

You start in my toes
Make me crinkle my nose
Where ever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Where ever you go

What am I gonna say
When you make me feel this way
I just mmmmm

Starts in my toes
Makes me crinkle my nose
Where ever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Where ever you go

I’ve been asleep for a while now
You tuck me in just like a child now
‘Cause every time you hold me in your arms
I’m comfortable enough to feel your warmth

It starts in my soul
And I lose all control
When you kiss my nose
The feeling shows
’cause you make me smile baby
Just take your time now
Holdin’ me tight

Where ever where ever where ever you go
Where ever where ever where ever you go
where ever you go
I always know
‘Cause you make me smile
Even just for a while