Slack off

It has been a busy month since end of April, brother-in-law's wedding, mother's day and the visiting of the relatives from Australia. The events and activities involved a lots of works, dinners and some outing.

After those events, I feel very sluggish, I just want to stay at home, do nothing and watch TV. If you want to throw me a party, please be a slumber party, and that would be great! My tiredness is finally recovered after a long holiday, slack off at home. I have been slacking in writing blogs, scrap-booking and even gardening.

It's time to get up and be on track again, gambateh neh!!!!!

Shopping in Japan

Japan is a shopping paradise where every fashionista covets make pilgrimages to. Most people may think Japan is one of the world's most expensive country, but perhaps it is not as notorious as it once was. The fact is, it is cheaper to travel and shopping in Japan then some countries in Europe. There are wide range of choices, from budget flea market, middle range shops to top end houses of haute couture. It would not burn your pocket if you shop wisely, and you will get many goodies from small boutiques.

Harajuku is my favorite place for shopping in Tokyo, it is so trendy and spendy. Name any brand you want, Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Gap, Zara, Forever 21.... ect.. There are also small designer's boutiques and second hand shops. For other places in Tokyo, do not miss out the flagship stores, Uniqlo in Ginza and Muji in Marunouchi, but there are branches all over Tokyo. I get many T-shirts for myself and gifts for my brothers from Uniqlo.

Louis Vuitton, Harajuku

Sapporo was nothing compare to Tokyo for shopping, but there was a Kinokuniya book store near JR Sapporo Station. We spent an entire lovely evening there, while snowing outside. A small cafe at 2nd floor served smooth coffee, nice cakes and sanwiches. Kinokuniya has all branches all over Japan too.

I bought some scrapbook making books, scrapbooking is my new hobby and I was so happy to find these books. I get so many ideas and inspirations from these book.

Car repair day

I overslept this morning. My alarm didn't work and at the time I woke up it was already 9:30am. Stock market starts at 9:00am and I had not read any news from the internet yet. Gosh.... I got a bad bad feeling that it was going to be a bad bad day.

And yes, bingo! My shop driver called up to inform me that our goods delivery van was not in good shape. He claimed that he could not hold the break, so I asked him to send the van to a nearby workshop for check-up. Half an hour later, he called back and said that it was clutch problem and the repair cost would be around RM600.00. Well, this time my pocket is going to burst. Frankly, I do not know anything about car and not to say car repair, I always leave this kind of problem to my dad and hubby. How I wish there is a local reliable online car workshop that I can get repair estimation for price comparison purpose. After some consideration, I decided to wait for another 2 days when hubby and dad come back from KL to settle this problem.

Then, the worse thing come after i finished all my morning tasks. My car couldn't start after some tries. General knowledge, it must be battery weak. This time, I could not wait until Friday, i called hubby to get some car repair advices. Luckily, my car finally started after many tries, and I drove to a nearby car workshop for the battery replacement.

When all bad things happen, make sure you settle it with calm. The day is smooth after the two incidents ( I have to call it incident, because it was a very difficult task for me, lol!), and now I am sitting in front of my laptop, drinking coffee and writing my blog.

Snowing Sapporo - Otaru

1.3.2011 - Sapporo TV Tower

1.3.2011 - Clock Tower

2.3.2011 - Otaru Canal

2.3.2011 - Sapporo night view

3.3.2011 - Sapporo Morning

4.3.2011 - Sapporo to New Chitose Airport

Sakura & plum blossom at Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku-gyoen is one of top cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo. The cherry just started blossom when we were there, it was early of March.

Not as famous as cherry blossom, but unique and lovely in their way. We spent hours in plum blossom viewing in Japanese Garden. We were lucky to see both cherry and plum blossom at the same time.

Me, being taken a photo by my dad as a memory of this beautiful park. This was one of the best part of the trip.

A world with no barrier - Japan

My parents and I came back from Japan few days before the earthquake and tsunami. We were shocked and it was lucky that we escaped from the havoc. I felt regret and sympathy for the destruction, as it is a place of delicious cultural, beautiful sights, shopper's paradise, glorious food, and wonderful people!

However, I was most impressed by the effort Japan had made a heaven for travelers with disabilities, a world with no barrier for the disabled people. Many buildings in Japan have access ramps and lifts, traffic lights playing melodies when it safe to cross, train platforms have raised dots and lines to provide guidance and many disabled public toilets in town. And the most importantly, they help and give priority to disable society, not only by spoken but real action. We received immediate help when we had difficulties. Japanese are remarkably conscientious, meticulous and honest. I hope and I believe Japan can recover very soon result from the characteristics. Kambateh neh!

Mom traveled in Sapporo town on wheelchair. She able to travel again after 5 years from the accident that cause her on wheelchair. Dad was so great that he pushed her all the journey, even in the blizzard. I was touched, it was not easy, really.

Valentine's day fever

Valentine's day is always the busiest day in a year for florist. This year, the business is really good and we had to work through out the night before the V-day. Without any surprise, hand bouquet inclusive of red roses, chocolates and bears is among the most popular. Bear is a new popular item add in flowers bouquet for recent years.

One of my very favorite V-day special for year 2011 is the old shanghai style couple bear hand bouquet. The couple bear wear cheongsam and we used gold as the theme color to carry out the heritage theme. Inspired by the old shanghai fashion, we also add some lace to enhance the design.

Another cute and fairytale one, a frog prince holding a diamond ring, surrounded with hydrangea and silver butterflies. It tells : "Kiss me please.... and I will turn into your Prince charming!"

I have a deep interest in hand bouquet design, it can be elegance, heritage, cute, romantic, fashionable, seductive, artistic and etc. Truthfully, I really love Valentine's day, it's not only the money making day, but it gives us a lot of space and opportunity to create plenty of variety designs.