Japan.. the second time around!

January 27 - April 24, 2008


Well, it's been 2wks since I arrive in Japan together with Steph (my roommate), Raymond and Sir Kit. Tonette followed a week after we fly to Japan. We will be here again for 3 long months. Will be missing Carlo and my friends. Sigh. We just have to do finish our project as well as start a new one I guess. Well, that's work. Nothing else to say.

It's winter season here. The average temperature is from 2-7 degrees. I'm wearing 3 layers of clothes: a thermal wear, regular clothes, and a thick jacket. At first it felt awkward wearing those padded or bubble jacket as they say, but if you're already here and experiencing winter season, you'll be thankful you're wearing one. If not, you'll be freezing to death. I usually wear complete accessories less the bonnet.. the scarf, gloves and jacket.. I'm even wearing tights just to keep me warm. But sometimes, when the wind blows hard, I still freeze!!

Anyway, it's also my first time to stay in DOI Mansion coz last year I stayed in Luminous hotel. It's an apartment with complete home appliance less the TV. Fortunately we have our laptops with us. Here's a sneak peak of our room.



Picture of Me and Steph before going to Office.


I have no adventure yet, very busy during weekdays and time to rest, wash clothes and clean the room during the weekends. I did went to Church last Wednesday to hear mass coz it's Ash Wednesday. And then it struck me.. we will be having our Lenten Season here in Japan. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we will be working in the Office?!?!? waaaaahh.. I realized that there are lots of Holidays or Events in the Philippines that we would not enjoy. Sigh. Let me enumerate, Ash Wednesday, Valentines Day (oh no!!!), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday (wwwwwwwaaaahhh, the egg hunting!!! huhuhu..), Company Anniversary in FTSP, Team Building in Enchanted Kingdom, Sportsfest in FTSP. wwwaahh.. pretty much huh?! We're stuck here til April.. we just have to accept it.

What else happened this 2 wk stay? hhmmm.. Besides work, err.. nothing else? I went strolling in Motomachi after mass last Sunday then found a great trench coat in Benetton. It's on SALE! From 16800 Yen to 7800 Yen. Beat that?! However, didn't bother to buy even if I really wanted to coz I can't use it in the Philippines. Unless I'm going to Japan or better yet the UK or US every year maybe then I won't have second thoughts buying it. I also found lots of boots here. Look below:



Then I took a photo of myself inside the Comfort Room. haha!



Didn't buy anything, just walked and hoping that will burn some calories. It's been 2wks and I gained weight already?!?!?!? wwwwwwwwwwaaahhhhh.. It's hard to lose weight you know.. sigh.. well, need to think of an alternative to lose weight. hehe.. I can't starve myself here, I need those for our project.. I bet no one can be productive if he/she is hungry, right?

By the way, I had my Nihongo Speech last Friday (2008-02-08) after the morning exercise. It's simple but I did practice the night before but still I didn't deliver it well. At least they did understand. Hehe. It's an anything under the sun speech. I talked about Cooking.

- 日本語 -
私の話題は料理です。
本当は私は料理できません。
しかし、現在は昼ごはんは料理を必要がありません。
だから、私は料理です。
でも、私の料理は失敗です。
先週は、もやしでエビを料理しました。
ですけど、調味は置くのを忘れました。
味がありません。だから、パンとミルクだけは食べます。
多分、フィリピンへ行く前に、私はすでに料理することができます。

- 英語 -
My topic is about cooking.
I really don't know how to cook.
However, currently I need to cook for lunch.
That's why I cooked.
But my cooking has failed.
Last week, I cooked shrimp with bean sprouts.
I forgot to put the seasoning therefore, it has not taste.
And so, I only ate bread and milk.
Perhaps, before going back to the Philippines, I can already cook.

So simple huh?! But it's hard to deliver it in Japanese!!! Nosebleed!!! hahaha.. my hands are both cold after that. Sigh. Need to prepare another speech for the next 2 wks. It's a rotation basis. Next will be Steph. I wonder what is her topic. Oh well, she's already good in Japanese language. No need to worry. hehe. :)

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. May your blessings coma a thousandfold, may the joy in your hearts never grow old, may you find treasures more valuable than gold. Have a happy holidays everyone!

By the way, I have completed the 9 mornings of Misa de Gallo. Hurray!! I'll be blessed this season and the coming years. God bless you all too. =)

Christmas Season

Relax Mode

At long last, I saw my dearest friends Zeny, Pache and Gen a.k.a “Barangay”. Last Nov. 10 was the submission of our initial deliverables to FTL (Fujitsu Ten Limited, Japan). So I had the time to see my friends and relax after … hhmm … almost 3months I guess. I didn’t even get to celebrate Ate Crispy’s Birthday. I’m such a loser. Sigh.

Anyway, what’s our agenda for the night? Body Spa!!!

First, we went to Wensha Spa but they didn’t agree with the price and the “common” room means we have to see each other side by side. So we went to City Lifestyle where they usually go. It was my first time to join and so I just followed them.

Zeny, Gen and Me had an Aromatherapy Body Spa while Pache had a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu Body Spa. Since they know it’s my first time, they told me what to do. I will then enumerate what are the essential things to bring and what to do when you go to a spa for the first time.

Things to bring:

1. Underwear
1. Disposable – so it is easy to bring and you can just throw it after.
2. Non-disposable – for those who are sensitive to use disposable undies.
2. Swim Suit
1. If you want to take a Jacuzzi without exposing your whole body, you can wear a swimsuit. You can also use this when you want to take the sauna bath.
3. Hot Oil Treatment and Shower Cap
1. For those who want to maximize the sauna bath, you can do your hair treatment. Just like in the salon!
4. Extra Cash
1. This is for the tip box.

Procedure:

*This may vary for each customer. I’ll just share what we did.

1. Paid the counter in the Lobby
2. Get the receipt for reference
3. Proceed to 6^th floor (Women’s wet and dry area)
4. Go to the receiving area and give the receipt.
5. Pick your preferred oil for the massage.
6. Since we chose Aromatherapy, we get to choose what scent we want.
7. Get the locker key and proceed to the locker area.
8. Give your shoes to the staff and get your slippers (by the way, it is a big-sized yellow plastic slipper.)
9. Get a towel and change your clothes.
10. Proceed to the shower room to stabilize your body temperature.
11. Now, you’re ready for a sauna bath.
12. First, steam bath.

- Here we used our Hot Oil Cream.

13. Next, dry sauna.
14. Then we planned to use the Jacuzzi, however it was still not prepared during that time. So we decided to take a shower and be ready for the massage.
15. Ask for your robe.
16. Cool down. There is a complimentary drink for everyone. The drinking water is free.
17. Then we went to our designated rooms for the massage.
18. The Aroma oil comes first.
19. Then the masseuse came.

The body massage took around 1hr. The back massage is longer than the front massage. It felt weird since you’re naked and someone’s massaging your whole body. It felt good though and very relaxing. The masseuse will give you a tip envelope.

20. After, you can rest for a while. My friends told me that you could even sleep for a bit. I didn’t have the time to do that since after the treatment, I saw that their room lights were already turned off. So I already went outside.
21. Put your clothes on and breath.
22. Drop the tip envelope in the tip box located in the Lobby area.
23. Finish

It was a new experience for me. And I kinda like it. I’ll invite my friends and Carlo to join us sometime. It also helps in your blood circulation and definitely a stress reliever. Many will get addicted to it. Its price is worth it I guess. Php500-600 wouldn’t hurt that bad especially if you’re ALWAYS working overtime! You must reward and pamper yourself from time to time. Don’t you think?

Dinner Time

Location: Heaven and Eggs

Let’s keep this short. Basically, we ate a LOT since we shouldn’t be eating before the body spa. We ended around 10pm already so we were starving already. What’s our menu?

• Zeny – Tapa Meal (she loves breakfast food)
• Pache – Porkchop that comes with 3 side dishes
• Gen – Chicken that comes with 3 side dishes
• Kath – Minute Steak that comes with 3 side dishes

Sorry, I can’t remember the exact order we ate. Also, I only got to take some pictures during that night. My camera battery was empty!!! My bad, I forgot to charge it. So we end up using our camera phones.

I stayed in Zeny’s for the night coz we have to attend a Kiddie Birthday Party, where we are both God Parents. Waaahh… we’re getting old already!!!

New Layout

It's been ages since I posted here in my blog. Maybe this is now the time to update it coz I've been having a lot of adventures lately.

Hhhmm.. sorry but I'm really so lazy to update a lot of blogs.. (sino ba naman kseng nagsbeng damihan ang blog no? tsk tsk.. hehe.)

Okay okay, I'll try to update this from time to time. I'll just copy my post from my other blogs. hahaha. ;)

Happy New Year

2006:
reunion, valentines, baccalaureate, puerto galera, bicol, pangasinan, resignation, probitionary, ftspi, responsibility, bills, welcoming, bukluran, birthdays, mobile, laughter, beer, vodka, tears, pain, heart, field, italian, bellini's, sbarro, aioli's, grappa's, seminary, ust, don bosco, lunchkit, issues, pain, anger, hatred, fun, joy, friendship, love, family, self.

2007:
may this year bring me happiness and contentment. may i grow in faith, hope and love.


Thank you for another year of realizations and lessons. May we continue to face life with firm faith in the Lord and joy in our hearts.

God bless us all and our endeavors.

Merry Christmas!!!