Cream Puffs

I was craving for these! When I heard that there was a Beard Papa's Cream Puffs branch at SM Mall of Asia, I just could not pass the opportunity. I asked Ruther to get a box for us and it was heavenly!! A box of six cost around P270. I think that's a fine price to pay for something that originally was in Japan, don't you think so?

Reminiscing

This photo was taken at Minato Mirai 21 while Ruther, the boys and I were having a stroll. I think that being a first timer in Japan, I just was too afraid to go out on my own during the first 3 months. If it were only me, I would not be too scared to get lost but since the boys were with me, I just could not risk it. But of course, now that I know my way around most of Yokohama, I think that the next time I visit Japan, I will be more adventurous.

Yup, that is a promise.

Autumn

10 Things I Love (and Miss) About Autumn:

1. the falling leaves that carpet the ground from the many trees
2. the wonderful shades of orange, yellow, red and brown that fill my vision with color and life
3. dressing warmly, wearing my really handy ear muffs and my gloves
4. cuddling on cold nights with my lovey (okay, and my boys as well)
5. hot chocolate that warms my insides and my heart
6. shorter days and longer nights
7. the autumn sun (believe me, there's a difference)
8. visiting the parks to photograph the wonderful foliage (and people)
9. the really cold water that comes out of the tap and shocks me to the core
10. holding hands and hugging while strolling with my sweetie

See you soon, Autumn? =D

Snoopy

This is me with the biggest stuffed Snoopy I have ever seen in my life. Of course, this was right outside the Snoopy store. It was just sooo cute! Anyway, we had a family trip to Odaiba (a place in Japan) and I had loads of fun. One day was not enough at all and I was so disappointed when we had to go home come evening. Too bad. Hopefully we will be able to visit the place should we make it to Japan again next year...

With Pluto

The day I became a child again. This is one of the reasons why I love Tokyo Disneyland so much. It's like you can be as silly as you want and it's perfectly okay. In a society that always approves of decorum and frowns on poor etiquette, Disneyland is such a refreshing and lovely place to be myself, to just go with the flow, to laugh out loud, to breathe, be with family, to be with people who love the same thing I do. If I manage another visit to this wonderful place, it will be like another dream come true...

My Yukata

I got this yukata at ukay-ukay. If you don't know what ukay-ukay is, I won't bother telling. =D Anyway, I was extremely happy with this find. I have been asking Ruther to get me one in Japan but of course, they are all so costly. I especially loved the really cute print. When I told my cousin about it, she was so jealous! Her yukata has black and fuschia colors and mine is so girly. So she really loved it. And another great thing about it? It only cost me P50!! Yes, FIFTY pesos. That's like ONLY 100 yen! So wonderful, isn't it? I think if I make it to Japan, I'll be wearing this at a matsuri (festival) there. I would really love that. =D

From Wikipedia:

Yukata (浴衣, Yukata?) is a Japanese summer garment. People wearing yukata are a common sight at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events. The yukata is a casual form of kimono that is also frequently worn after bathing at traditional Japanese inns. Though their use is not limited to after-bath wear, yukata literally means bath(ing) clothes.

Yukata is a cooling garment to wear. Like other forms of clothing based on traditional Japanese garments, it is made with straight seams and wide sleeves. Unlike formal kimono, yukata are typically made of cotton rather than silk or synthetic fabric, and they are unlined.
Traditionally yukata were mostly made of indigo-dyed cotton but today a wide variety of colors and designs is available. Like the more formal kimono, the general rule is the younger the person, the brighter the color and bolder the pattern. A child might wear a multicolored print and a young woman, a floral print, while an older woman would confine herself to a traditional dark blue with geometric patterns. Since the late 1990s, yukata have experienced a bit of a revival, and many young women now wear them in summer in personally distinctive ways not limited by tradition. This garment is very traditional.

The proper way to wear a yukata is not necessarily obvious. The left side of the yukata is wrapped over the right side (the reverse is to be avoided as only the dead at a funeral wears the right over the left), and an obi (belt) is used to keep the yukata from falling open when worn in public. In private, as after a bath, the yukata is usually simply belted. Also, a type of thonged wooden sandal called geta is usually worn with the yukata.
Amongst men, the most common use of yukata in public is when it is worn by sumo wrestlers. Junior ranked sumo wrestlers are expected to wear yukata when out in public, irrespective of the weather conditions or time of year. During the summer all wrestlers tend to wear this attire.
Both men and women often wear yukata at traditional Japanese inns, especially ones with their own hot-spring baths. After checking in, people often change into a yukata provided by the inn. Many go for walks outside, to the public baths, and even to dinner and breakfast (taken in a communal dining room) in their yukata.

Driving Sticker

Today, I finally learned what those yellow and green stickers are called; you know, the ones Japanese put on their cars to warn other drivers of their inexperience on the road. They are called wakaba stickers. And according to my blogger friend Mieko, wakaba means, "young leaves". Interesting, isn't it? It actually does apply because the sticker looks a lot like a leaf and "young" represents the lack of expertise.

The first time I saw a wakaba sticker was when Ruther and I watched a Japanese drama. It really made an impression on me because here in the Philippines, the only way you could tell you are behind an inexperienced driver is because of a huge signboard on the car saying "CAUTION: Student driver" or you could see that it's a car owned by a driving school because of the painted signage on the car itself. However, for those drivers who are not yet savvy on the road, we really can't say who they are until they stall in the middle of the street or drive at the speed of my grandmother's gait. So yeah, I think these wakaba stickers are a great idea. I actually have a cellphone accessory that has a wakaba design but I gave it to my brother because he likes yellow and green together. He is however, a great driver so good thing he doesn't know what it meant. =D

I'm thinking, the next time I visit Daiso, I'm getting a wakaba sticker just because it's a great idea. I figure, I can always use it should I decide to live in Japan years from now. =D

New Things

This photo was taken at a museum in Yamate. One day, after church, we decided to take a different route and decided to visit this place. It was really nice. I love museums and looking at how history unfolded. I love Japan and how there are many things and places to see. Even you have been to a place once, there are still some things, some sceneries you failed to see the first time especially since Japan has beautiful changing seasons. Everything always looks new to me. New and wonderful.

A Kid Once More

At Tokyo Disneyland, one of my favorite places in the world. Would love to go back here with my family. In time.

Reminiscing

Posing in front of Queen's Square. Tower A is Ruther's office building (there are 3 towers). It was a windy day my hair is all over my face in the photo. I remember the wind because as we were walking towards Yokohama Jackmall, I remember Nikki commented about the dancing leaves. It was a lovely chilly afternoon. =D

First Day

My first day in Japan. It was a bit rainy but not enough to dampen my spirits and my excitement. This photo was taken at Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT). We had to take a taxi home because of all the stuff we brought. We just came from Narita Airport but it was already late afternoon. I can still remember that day so clearly in my mind: September 1, 2006, Friday.

You can read my all about my first day in Japan here.