梅花 from the Kairakuen Garden in Mito, Ibaraki

A couple weeks ago I went to Kairakuen Garden, which is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, to see the ume (plum) blossoms. It was really nice there and the garden was filled with the scent of ume blossoms. It was such a sweet fragrant, I loved it.

I got there later than I expected, but was still able to enjoy the festival, saw a monkey show, ate yummy YUMMY festival food, saw tons of ume trees when the sun was still out and then watched the sun set at the garden.

click on the picture to view more pictures

Curry? anyone?

I've never been a huge fan of curry, but for some reason I decided that I'd buy a box of curry mix to make since it seems to be the popular thing to do here. It's quick (but not really...), easy and it's supposedly OISHII !!!! But I believe that because EVERYTHING here is oishii!!! I dont think I've ever used MAZUI (disgusting) for anything I've eaten here... well, except this Kirin drink... but that's a whole other blog entry. Anyways, back to my curry story. I bought this box of curry mix back in October because someone suggested it and I've never touched it. And at least once a month, I'd buy all the ingredients (carrots, onions, potatoes, meat) with the intention to make this curry. Yet, every month I'd use these ingredients to make either vegetable soup or chicken soup. But this month is different! I FINALLY made it!!! Although, I must admit, I was very tempted to make chicken soup since that's pretty much what I have to make before putting in the curry powder. lol. Curry turned out super oishii!


Clearly, I made too much for myself, so if anyone wants some curry fly on over! There's plenty to go around! ^_^

---------

Side story: Teriyaki Salmon

I'm a bit of a weird-o when I start cooking because I don't like to seran wrap my left over veggies or well... whatever leftover from cooking. So I either use all of it even if I know the portions wont be right (I'll just snack off the extra :P) or I'll use it to cook something else all in one night so I dont have to do extra dishes tomorrow. Tonight, I used only 1/2 an onion... meaning... haha... yes! I still have 1/2 an onion to use!!! So I decided to thinly slice up 1/2 of the 1/2 onion and cook it with my teriyaki salmon and mushrooms.


-------

Another side story: Green beans with ground pork and 1/4 onion

This is the final story of my little onion whose life was so meaningful to me. I didnt want to overwhelm my salmon with too much onions, so I left a bit for my green beans. I know it seems like I cooked a lot tonight, but I GUARANTEE that I wont be cooking for at least the rest of the week even if it means I'll be surviving on curry every night! Okay.. that's a lie... I'll probably be cooking something by the weekend just because I need to satisfy my cooking itch. I wish I had the same itch for cleaning... *sigh* Does anyone want to come over and clean my dishes and pots for me?

------

Special thanks: Andrew Maharaj!

Ever since my decision to come to Japan, I already decided in Toronto that I'd be collecting and trying every Pocky flavour that's offered here in Japan. They have seasonal ones, limited edition ones, and limited area flavours.

Andrew, being the sweetheart that he is, went to Hokkaido to attend the winter festival and came back with the, in my opinion, BEST omiyage (souvenir) from Hokkaido! You are super-duper Andrew Maharaj! :D

GIANT YUBARI MELON POCKY limited to Hokkaido!

I still haven't tried it yet, but to justify, it's because I still have a bin full of kit-kats (also another one of my weird collections) and other Pocky flavours to finish off.

-------

Speaking of Kit Kats....

Look at what I found....


White & Yellow PEACH Kit Kat! Personally, I don't really like them though. haha... The white peach taste like soap to me, while the yellow peach is better, but too sweet for my liking. But my co-worker likes the white peach better. Maybe it's a Japanese thing...

I still have tons of pictures and blogs to write. But I think that's all for tonight. I'll try to write again tomorrow so I can keep everyone posted on what's been happening the past month. Although, nothing really interesting has happened, so it's probably more about food!

Speaking of which... hahaha.... self note (must write about):

- experience at ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT DESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSERT!!! Sweet Paradise (that's the name of the place! I LOVE IT!)
- you can never go wrong to follow a lineup when ordering food! (Greatest meatball on earth and fresh donuts made by HAND not like Krispy Kreme or Tiny Tom... they squeeze the batter in, fry them, take them out, cool them and glaze all by hand)
- Shinkansen sushi (sushi delivered to you on a mini shinkansen train)
- Home cooked JAPANESE dishes (I attended a Japanese cooking class and made LOTS of Japanese food to celebrate the Hinamatsuri - Girls' Day)

Overjoyed!!!

Im BACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK!!!

I just realized that I've been disconnected from the world for a little more than a month and it feels great to have the internet again.

I've finally taken the time to upload some pictures of some of the delicious food I've eaten and cooked. I still need to upload pictures from Hong Kong, Chinese New Year and Ume blossoms.

I'll be back again tomorrow to blog more (maybe... :P)
Until the next time I get off my lazy butt to write... drool over these pictures :D

Cooking Class (link)

FOOOOOOOOOOD (link)

6 plates of sushi filled up my savory stomach, but 4 plates of dessert couldn't fill my sweet stomach... dessert here is too amazing!!!

feeling like a pervert

I've finally been cut from the internet I've been stealing since my arrival here in Japan. :(

I've ordered my internet, but I wont get it until March 9th, so now I've resorted to staying at a net cafe in my small town. I'm cooped up in a small room with a nice lounge chair and leg rest, tv with DVD and VHS player, and a sketch box (I'll upload when I get the chance to) that leads to who-knows-what. Gosh... I can only imagine what happens in this room... EWWWW I need to burn my clothes

------
Updated: March 11, 2009
Here's the picture of the sketch room with the BOX! I wonder what's in the box.... *ponders*


----------

Aside from feeling like a complete pervert right now, whats new in Japan?

Let's start bulleting since Im lazy...

- the crazy co-net is GONE and life at school couldnt get any better.
- I eat too much sweets for my own good, but dessert in Japan is made in Heaven I swear
- my manager continuously proves she is awesome
- I'm still teaching ridiculously adorable kids
- I've been getting homesick really often, so please email me at irene.fung@softbank.ne.jp to send some love from home to me!!!
- I made an apple pie, cheese sticks, fresh cream cheese cake and brownies since my last entry... all 美味しい　(oishii)
- long island iced teas here actually taste like an alcoholic beverage
- I'm addicted to Japanese dramas and recommend everyone to watch Hana Yori Dango!!!

There should be a lot more to blog about, but Im getting a writers block and need to get out of this sketch place...

So... until next month... Happy Valentines Day! <3

9 more hours

Just 9 more hours until the perfect experience in Japan!!!
No more high pitched whining... no more avoiding butt cracks when getting my textbooks... no more dirty grudge looks... no more door slamming...

Peace is finally coming to Kumagaya!!! YAY!!!

The year of the OX

I'm so excited for the weekend because it's CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

I'll be heading out to Yokohama, largest Chinatown in Japan, on Monday to celebrate! I can't wait for all-you-can-eat dim sum, 8-course chinese-style dinner, lion dancing, fire crackers, street dancing and whatever Yokohama will have to offer!

Hopefully I'll get off my lazy butt to post pictures up! I'm still working on the HK pictures... sorry dudes & dudettes

Sorry for the delay of this post. My body is still recovering from my trip to HK, hence random hours of passing out. My body is not made for traveling. :( ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maid cafe in Akihabara

Since there's a "no picture" policy at the Maid Cafes, I wasn't able to take any pictures of my experience. But I suppose it was an interesting experience. The server (maid) kneeled when she served the drinks. Then, I had to do this "magic" chant with her to make my drink sweeter before I was allowed to drink it -- mo-e, mo-e, kyun! <3>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roppongi Hills

Only in Japan would you find such an area in the middle of the city. Absolutely serene.

Tiffany & Co. - The Men's Store, only a few in the WORLD, and one of them is in Japan ^_^

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tokyo Disneyland ^_^


I think pictures speak for itself for this experience. I know how lazy some of you people are when it comes to READING! hahaha...

inside Minnie Mouse's living room

"It's a small world" ride... still the coolest ride ever

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hong Kong

This was my first time EVER in Hong Kong and I felt like I was in a TVB series lol All those red taxis, HK diners, and PEOPLE!!!! There's just too many people in this city, and they all move too fast! So sadly to say, I'm too slow for this fast pace society. I eat too slowly, I walk too slowly, I make decisions too slowly... :( I guess I can cross out ever working in Hong Kong! hehe...

I'd love to write more about my experience in HK, but I'll take my lazy way out and being my point forms :D

• I love the fact that there's a Hui Lau Shan (Dessert shop) at every corner! It's like Starbucks in New York City. - I didn't eat there nearly enough times... how I crave for some mango sweet dumplings... mMmmmm...
  
• I got to eat a REAL soup dumpling at dim sum! :D
  
• Curry fish balls in HK are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too spicy for me
  
• Fast food restaurants are way cooler than the ones in Toronto
• Taro/Chocolate gai daan jai is nothing compared to the original taste ~ but it was nice to be able to taste the other flavours
  
• I had Haagen Daaz fondue and it was D------------------elicious!!!
• I found a Modern Toilet restaurant in Mong Kok, so I don't have to go to Taiwan to check out this restaurant... it was FANNNNNNNNNNNNNTASTIC~! haha..
  
• I love the food! I love the food! I love the food!!!
• I love the panda's at Ocean Park :D
  
• lStanley Market is beautiful
• I LOVE THE FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!

Pictures to come.... :D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final update

The chapter of my co-worker ENDS! She has resigned and will be gone by the end of the month!