Of one Bday bash

Time certainly flies, and before I knew it, another year has caught up with me. As I edge pass the mid 30 stage, plus minus a little bit :P, it is extremely pleasing and am VERY grateful for all the warm wishes, greetings, pressies, CAKES!, and surprises!

Even had a watermelon as a pressie, supposedly all the way from a ship sailing in an ocean some place far far away, but heck! but I know your delivery secret! :) Haha!

This year, I think I had the most cakes ever, but I left out taking pictures of one earlier on when I was feeling under the weather. All in all, four big cakes over the span of 3 days (with a whole Pavlova to boot! Yum!!), and mini cupcakes numbering the age I am celebrating this year with candles galore! Certainly took a while to blow those candles out.




A heartfelt THANK YOU to all for the wonderful wishes, gifts, effort and time spent for a happy time. Xie Xie Ni!

A journey to the Land of the padi fields

Well, almost. More like the highly commercialised island of Phuket! So, here's a hearty "SAWADIKAP"! to all. :) Unlike the previous trip to Japan for work purposes (really!), this time, it was a family outing to take advantage of the cheaper flights offered by the local no frills airline.

First impression was that it was HOT (as in heat hot), requiring a journey of close to an hour by van to the hotel along Karon Beach. Stayed in Karon to enjoy a more serene atmosphere compared to the busy Patong Beach. All in all, felt that Phuket was way too commercialised with locals trying their best to fleece tourists, particularly when it comes to transport as well as food. There were some genuinely nice people though and some sights which were especially scenic. It was good to visit the place as I have never been there before, and took it more as a relaxing trip with the family.

Of time spent in The Land of the Rising Sun

Haven't blogged for a bit as was travelling as well as procrastinating too much. Towards the end of last month, was in Japan to attend a course related to my work. One thing I must say is that the people were extremely organised and even allowed us time to sight see by finishing at 4:00pm almost everyday that the course was on. Weekends allowed for even more shopping (but things are very expensive comparatively to Malaysia) and to travel around for the sights.

Was in Yokohama and Tokyo mostly, but managed to pop by Kamakura as well as seeing the sights of Hakone. Initially planned to blog my way through each day, but decided against it. Suffice to say that it is a beautiful place, but very hot in the summer. Came back with a tan just by walking around. It is a place intermingling the fast paced modernised world as well as the more zen like historically rich culture.































During the course itself, even managed to do a cultural exchange programme, whereby a few of us enjoed a cosy home style dinner at one of the staff's own private residence exchanging stories of our differing lifestyles as well as the type of food we have in our country. A wonderful experience indeed and a special Domo Arigatou to Taki-San and wife for the experience.