New Wallie

Bought a new wallie a while ago. It's my big summer buy, and I am writing this post to big fat brag about it. Duh!

It's from Miu Miu spring collection.

I had my eyes, yes both, on it for the longest time. The color I wanted, canary or pineapple or lemonade or sunflower or whatever you call it, was sold out in Hong Kong in May, which I was really counting on. So it was tough trying to find it. But find it I did! And boy, am I happy!

Until her, my wallies have always been very, very chic and classic, in colors like black or beige. At one point I had a very chunky D&G that was very rock'n-roll and had whoever saw it go gaga, but I gave it to my gay friend J who wanted it so bad he wouldn't shut up in my face, and it was a little too bulky for my minimalist self anyway.

But in the last one year or so, I have been turning to colors, and bright ones at that, too, from my chic and classic black-and-gray-proneness. Only black that I can't get enough of now is my eye lash extensions. Colors make me happy. And I've been told I look happier in colors, too. So why the hell not?

Besides, in Feng Shui, yellow is supposed to invite in lots of fortune. What's better than a yellow wallet, then? But I'm not gonna testing my luck and shall put my credit cards to rest for a good while.

Until next time,

Sak

List of 10 -Things I Cannot Live Without

1) books
2) blotting sheets
3) Shu Uemura eye lashes
4) Issey Miyake fragrance series for women
5) soy milk
6) Vogue
7) FANCL skincare products
8) my glass nail buffer
9) internet
10) fruit

In no particular order.

Until next time,

Sak

Mad About Fruit

My dinner last Tuesday at my favorite fruit parlor:

Calorie-wise I think the plate sufficed as a meal. In my defence, it was a really hot day in Tokyo and I did not want anything that involved having to chew a lot.

Until next time,

Sak

Guess What I Have Just Done!

No. I did NOT slaughter and butcher a human being in my kitchen and then nicely packaged the blood and flesh. That is not what I do on Wednesday night after work. I am not a psycho. If I was, I don't think I'd be posting the picture here. Well, a real psycho might, but I don't think I would be that kind of psycho. I might be a little sick-o for starting my post with the pic like this but hey, who isn't?

I just got the best-ever tasting kimchee is all. I had to cut up a big bunch of it and it sure looks gory on the cutting board, though, right? Hehehehehe, it's great.

Anyway, I am a huge fan of Korean food, and I've given all kimchee a fair chance, but let me tell you. This is probably the best I've ever had. The spicy level is just perfect, and it's crunchy and juicy to the degree of perfection, and what's more perfect is that the after-taste won't stay behind for more than 3 minutes, meaning that you won't stink up the whole place like the many other kimchee would. A relative gave this home-made kimchee to mom the other day. Non of my family members are fond of spicy food, so mom fast-handedly gave the whole package to me.

I am totally asking for the recipe to whoever it is that made it.

Until next time,

Sak

My Cousin and Breakfast

I was at cousin A's last night. She is leaving Tokyo in October to go back to her hometown in Miyazaki, saying her tearful farewell to the city where she spent 6 years of her young life. I think I know how that feels. Both excited and remorseful, but more hopeful than anything else because the idea that would have been impossible to conceive of when she was a little younger doesn't seem all that bad now because she's seen goods and bads of the life in the big city, and there is a bit of longing for a more settled life near the familiar.

So, I'm just gonna spend as much time as possible with her while she is only two hours away by train, before she will be two hours away by a plane.

Breakfast at a cafe has always been our thing. And this is one of our favorite place, Bagel Bagel, near her house. I remember as if it was yesterday when... well, let me just say A has the biggest sweet tooth I have seen or heard or dreamed of, and the first time we went to this place, she ordered a triple chocolate muffin. Well that's fine. How about a drink? I said, and she pondered about 3 seconds, and said, "Can I have a hot chocolate with the muffin, please?"

Anyways, my choice of the day was a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese and honey, with iced tea.

I'm gonna miss our breakfast together a lot, A.

Until next time,

Sak

A Shrine in Woods

On 13th, I went to one of the most famous shrines in Japan, Togakushi Shrine, and had a very spiritual 5 mile hike in the mountain.

The cyders are over 500 years old! They look awesome, and together create this really lovely path to the shrine from the gate. I was thinking the Ent from The Lord of the Rings the whole time, assuming at any given moment they would start talking and walking.


Prayed for the world peace.

Until next time,

Sak

Hot Spring Getaway

Went to this hot spring called Shirahone o 12th, and spent a night at a very traditional ryokan.

Better shown than described:

Complementary tea and sweetbuns for the guests.

The food was gorgeous. Wish I could do this once a month.



We had a little private bath house, and it was quite nice. The hot spring water in Shirahone turns white after it's exposed to the oxygen, and it's supposed to be really good for you. My skin turned really smooth and supple after taking the bath.


Until next time,

Sak

Pink French

The nail art of summer break 2010.

"Color French" using Le Vernis by Chanel in 217 Spelendeur and Maquillage by Shiseido in WT931, topped with pearls.

I don't think the pearls will stick for longer than two days... but we'll see. I shan't be opening coke cans for a while.

Until next time,

Sak

Let The Sun Shine!

Yay for me! Starting today, I'm on a much-anticipated and very-much-needed 8-day summer break! Whooo hooooooooooo!

I have a lot of little things planned instead of a couple of major events this time, starting with a Gospel concert that one of my students is singing and invited me to tonight. I have been looking forward to that for the last two months, and am quite excited.

But before anything else, I shall head to the dry cleaner and give all my work clothes that need cleaning... and let the summer blast begin.

Until next time,

Sak

List of 10 -Favorite Restaurants

1) Brown Rice Cafe - Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan
2) La Creperie Cafe - Belmont Shore, California, USA
3) Hotel Auberge de Noves - Noves, Province, France
4) Pho 2000 -Garden Grove, California, USA
5) Coctus Club Cafe - Vancouver, BC, Canada
6) Hatake Aoyama - Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan
7) Original Roadhouse Grill -Long Beach, California, USA
8) Seoul Soondae - Garden Grove, California, USA
9) Shore House Cafe - Orange Country, California, USA
10) Tofu Sosai Dining Ao - Jingu-mae, Tokyo, Japan

In no particular order.

Until next time,

Sak

Hello to A Kitty!

I am not one of these Hello-Kitty-crazed grown women in Japan who has no idea of what is age-appropriate. But come on! How can you deny me this?


M brought this cuteness in for donation yesterday, and I kindly offered to be its caretaker.

Until next time,

Sak

A Portrait of the Sky

Doesn't this look like a painting by Monet or a Romanticism painter alike? It's a close-up shot of one summer evening sky from the balcony of my flat.

Until next time,

Sak

Lilies Lilies Lilies

Went to this park in my hometown known for its lilies, and totally loved the place! And the walk on a pebble path in the woods makes it very summery and romantic.

Until next time,

Sak

List of 10 -What I Wish Changed About Japan

1) the ridiculous prices on fruit
2) anti-cofrontational behaviors among grownups
3) how a visit to a gynecologist makes me feel like having to go on a trip to a China Town just to buy some bok choy and non of my Chinese speaking friends is coming with me
4) that no one knows how to make jokes
5) heterosexual guys with no muscle in his arms or abs who wear a tank top, worse if they have pale skin
6) men who use "girlfriend" and "cooking" in one sentence
7) uselessness of credit cards at so many stores and restaurants
8) how everyone makes a complete stop at a "stop" sign
9) what "cute" seems to mean, especially to school girls
10) the way "a stranger" acts really strange to a stranger

In no particular order.

Until next time,

Sak