February CNY celebrations

We had CNY celebrations in the office, lou hei and buffet lunch. Everyone went back with a box of cute macarons.

As usual when everyone is office there's no seats so I just went there for the lunch and came back in the afternoon. Oh and I got angbao from my team leader, my boss and my colleague. So nice!

 

For dinner we went to Xiao Long Kan, the first time I had this spicy hotpot in Singapore and it is quite pricey tho. The food was okok, I'm kinda addicted to spicy hotpot lol.

The next day the choir peeps came over for CNY, I bought food from Chin Chin and we watched the dragon drone show again. Caleb was super funny as usual.

Sida will be going Taiwan until end of the year, the topics we talked about includes how to use air fryer, water dispenser, which chicken nuggets are the best etc. Omg adulting.

2024 Chinese New Year

When I was in Japan my mum texted me saying that they are heading back to Port Dickson and I was like so early?! So after I came back to SG I had 1 full day before deciding whether I want to go to Port Dickson or not, eventually I texted my cousins and they said they won't be going back, just a dinner at JB. 

Friday we met at Kranji MRT, clearing the customs and crossing the causeway was surprisingly fast. They had a special bus lane and crossing the Msia customs took about 10-15mins. Within 2 hours his twin came to pick us up for lunch. We ate at a bad Japanese restaurant lol, then went shopping. I bought some stuff from Daiso since the Daiso there was cheaper than SG, considering exchange rate. 

Then dinner time at my uncle's place. It was a feast as usual but without my mum's seafood soup.

My cousins also took out the fireworks lol everywhere was lighting up. I decided not to stay over so I asked the twins to send me back to the customs and I took the last 170 bus back.

First day of CNY I did laundry, went to Si Kor's place for lunch and met Jessie, got some plants and back home, then to Stanley's place for dinner and to bai nian. His sister drove us back home and her bf was so impressed with my house haha. Dining was very limited coz most places were closed during CNY.

Second day we had lunch, then went to MBS to shop for card holder. I really like the new Dior and LV sneakers collection urge. Evening time Jessie asked me to go over for dinner and yu sheng, then we saw the dragon drone show which was quite nice. 

2024 Tokyo Day 7

Although we slept late we woke up around 9-ish 10am because we wanted to go to Azabudai Hills for an architecture tour. Breakfast at Mc Donalds, then we took metro there. It was quite amazing the architecture and interior design - and Neab said they went really over the top. Each tile and wall had to be custom made, every wall on different levels had different designs. It was quite a sight how Japanese design are so detailed. It must have costed a lot. Most shops weren't open because the building aint' ready. It should be ready by end of this year.

I booked Manten omakase sushi for lunch at 1pm, so we headed there. Lunch was still good, but I preferred counter seats. After that it was shopping time at Ginza! Uniqlo, Dover Street, Ginza Six, Liquor mountain for my alcohol hehe.

Then we went to Isetan Shinjuku for more shopping - it was really quite amazing they have almost every of our favourite brands there. Angus brought us to Gyukatsu place for dinner and it was really quite good - now it's one of my listed place to eat. 

Then it's Toriki time again haha. Neab's and my favourite izakaya. Then we went to Eagle to meet Angus, and back to hotel.

2024 Tokyo Day 8, 9, 10

We were meeting Neab's Korean friend at Mori museum for the Kit Harring exhibtion, then it started snowing in Tokyo.

He treated us lunch at a really good unagi restaurant, then we treated him cakes at Harbs haha. It was a really satisfying meal with all the cakes and coffee at the end. He was telling us about working in a hotel in Tokyo.

By then it was snowing heavily, we went to 21 21 for another exhibition about illustration and graphics, like Noritake. The exhibition gallery was designed by Tadao Ando so all concrete. 

We headed back to Shinjuku for Hermes and more shopping. Everywhere was so wet and slippery so we bought an umbrella. I bought all my Matsuki stuff, dinner at some mediocre tempura place. I wanted to buy a pair of glasses but couldn't find a suitable one. Then Toriki again hehe. 

Next day morning we went supermarketing - to buy all my stuff, checked out, then took a taxi to Hotel Indigo Shibuya. Our room wasn't ready yet, we walked to buy my Kihara cup. Finally I completed my pair of cups. Walked back, checked in, then went for more shopping. The room was not bad, location was good.

I finally bought my Le Labo Lavende because it is the cheapest in Tokyo. Neab bought some AMI, we went to Beams and bought more jackets hehe. I wasn't looking for anything but this one really caught my eye, and when Neab first saw it he was like this is yours. And it was on 50% discount, which is a no-brainer.

Walked to Harajuku to meet Angus, shopped more, Miyoshita Park, dinner at isomaru suisan, drinks at Angus's place. We were Team (Bel) Ami hehe.

Morning we checked out, went to Shibuya Scramble for udon, shopped a bit, went to Mega Donki to buy more stuff, had coffee, then the airport transfer came. Luckily for us, Neab's mum's credit card had free airport transfer and it was so worth it to use it in Tokyo. 

Everything was so smooth at the airport, I bought a lot of snacks and also there's a Matsumoto there for last minute buying. The flight was good was well, the food everything, and they serve Hatendo bun for snack wow. I regret not asking for one more heh. Reached home after midnight, showered and slept at around 2am.

It was quite a fun trip, a lot of injuries haha. Also new food places, a lot of shopping, a lot of discussion lol mostly FAQ from Angus. Towards the end we couldn't buy more things because our luggage were too full as usual. 

Angus is flying to BKK so he will see Neab in 3 more days.

I will see Neab in a months' time when he comes to Taylor Swift. 

We will all go Chong Qing this year lol.

2024 Aomori Day 6

We checked out at 10am in the morning and while waiting for the 11+am train at Appi Kogen we went around taking photos haha. The white snow is perfect for photos, the hotel shuttle took us to the station and more photos.

We took the shinkansen to Shin- Aomori station, looked for luggage lockers but all were occupied, so we took JR line to Aomori station and luckily there were lockers. It was late 2pm and most restaurants were closed after lunch time, we had to end up at the dodgy fish market for lunch lol. It was okay.

Next is the famous Nebuta Museum at Aomori - the building itself was really nicely designed. The exhibitioons in the museum were also very big and extravagant. Worth it!

And then we walked around the bridge. Aomori has a really nice scenery, there's beach and snow and mountains and it is very very cold. We bought some souvenirs from A-factory, I was hoping to buy more but there wasn't enough time. Then headed back to the station to go back to Tokyo. 

Really nice place Aomori. Reached Tokyo, checked in hotel, then ate mos burgers for dinner, headed to Mr. Tokyo for drinks and dragon. Neab met his Thai friends haha what a coincidence. Angus met Michael. I think we ended around 2-3am? Then we took taxi back to the hotel hahaha.

2024 Appi Kogen Day 3, 4, 5

We had to wake up at 7.30am (6.30am SG time) everyday because our breakfast time was 8.30am. This is too early and very difficult to wake up because it was so comfy under the blanket. Breakfast was good and we had full view of the snow by the window. 

The hotel shuttle sent us to the slopes, we rented skis, bought ski passes and off we go to the slopes. I decided to ski with them for the first day and I realised I forgot how to ski -_-. I was using my boarding techniques and I was so unstable. Neab fell down and hurt his knee -_-. 

We had lunch at the foodcourt, the best was the Indian food, then we continued to ski. Angus and I decide to take the gondola up to see what's up there, and it turns out it's pretty easy and long. It was a wonderful long slope all the way down but super windy. 

We went a few times before ending the day. I decided skiing isn't for me haha snowboarding is much easier, so I returned the equipment, and the hotel picked us up at 4.30pm. There was still sunlight so we took pics at the private onsen again haha.

Dinner was BBQ seafood and beef and it was good. Angus was on the phone after 5pm because it's the UK morning time. Neab and I just had a lot of drinks haha.

Day 4 was too windy so the gondola closed -_-. I rented my board, Neab didn't want to continue but he explored the complex. There was a snow storm but powder was so good. I was like riding on cloud because the snow was so good. 

Angus was skiing and filming at the same time and we knocked into each other and he dislocated his shoulders. I was so worried but he pop it right back and continued like it was nothing. In the end we had to stop early because the snow storm was too crazy we can't see anything at all. The powder was flying all around.

Neab and I went to the public onsen to shower before dinner while Angus worked. Dinner was Suki Yaki which was really good! I love how they serve every course slowly, with sashimi and end with dessert. 

The next day Angus decided to ski again, I wanted to the sailor course while Neab decided to do onsen at Crown Plaza haha. After one time to sailor course, he decided it was too difficult for him so he went back to the longer and flatter run. I went 2 times before I went back as well. Sailor course is just too rough, no wonder nobody goes there.

End of day, returned everything, onsen, dinner was Shabu Shabu, then we packed to check out the next day. 

Every night was like chalet time again, we made jokes at everything, talked about shit and Trex haha.

They said they enjoyed Appi more because of the new onsen facilities, the good food and powder snow. But travelling there takes about a day and we waste 2 days just for travelling. Although it is more expensive than Myoko, I really don't mind coming back again - I want to stay at intercon at least once. I also want to train my skiing for a day haha.