Winter stroll

More pics at my Multiply page.

Santa Sucide

Ok, this year, someone will step in for Santa.

Sa wakas! (take 2)

Sa wakas OUT na si Jodie! My partner read about it last Friday night at MIXI, so I frantically googled it and it was not a rumor this time! Here's one story.
Kaya tanong ko ngayon kay kabocha... "So when are you going to have a "Jodie moment?" she asked back, and you? We have to wait for an awards night where we should be getting one, then at the acceptance speech, " this goes out to my cranky partner..."

Yehey! Sa wakas nakapanood rin ako!

Thanks to a friend who gave me a ticket to the semi-final match of the FIFA Club World Cup, I saw the match between AC Milan and Urawa Reds! Getting to the stadium at Yokohama was an experience itself! Since it was my first time to watch a game at the stadium, I did not take into account the 67,000+ people who would be packing the trains and the streets!

My friend thought her ribs were about to crack as we pushed our way into the train car and more people were trying to get in! I nearly did not make it, it was a good thing I was small, and was able to fit onto the threshold, tip toeing to allow the train doors to close! WHEW!

I only watch live football games on TV, and I missed the instant replays and close-ups at the stadium; even if they were shown on the huge screens, I could not take my eyes off the field. There was an exciting and charged atmosphere at the venue, even at freezing weather, we did not mind it. The match was a bit lopsided with AC Milan dominating the game, but watching these football superstars play in person was truly fantastic! Hanggaling nila! Napapasigaw nga ako ng Tagalog, at times. "BILIS!", "Baba na... AY NAKU!".



Urawa Reds fans. I just love the way they raise and wave all the huge flags at the same time.
I have some favorite Reds players, some of them will be playing at the World Cup.


GOAAAAL! The stadium rang with cheers and sighs!

Hapunan, kainan na!

December is when we pack in the kilos. The season of year-end parties has begun and we just had to take a break from the party food sometimes. For dinner, that's goma (sesame) tofu with sweet miso dressing, grilled eggplant with soy sauce and grated ginger, grilled hanpen (fish cake) with soy sauce and wasabi, kimchi and a small bowl of rice, plus nihonshu - atsukan (warm nihonshu) to drink.

Free Rice

Interesting website - http://www.freerice.com/index.php - you get to build your vocab and help in donating rice at the same time! One can even keep a track of his/her vocab level and equivalent in donated rice.

The Terminator goes to the dentist

Ganito ang hitsura ng Terminator kapag nasa dentista. According to this article, this robot cries in pain if the drilling goes wrong and will therefore alert the dentist-in-training. I guess it says..."ITAI!!" (that's "aray" in Nihongo)

old and new

Parang sa atin rin, may sampayan (kaliwa), tindahan, mga kable ng kuryente at telepono, pa-gewang-gewang na mga bintana na circa 1960s pa yata; ngunit ano ang pagkakaiba ng larawan na ito? Walang sandamukal na mga batang maiingay at minsan pa gusgusin na naglalaro sa kalye. Walang mga tambay at tri-sikad o tri-sikel. Sattelite dishes. Vending machines. At yung bisikleta na hindi ninanakaw.


Heto naman, tawag sa kanila "chindon'ya" (marching band, street musicians). I also learned that they are very rare now in Tokyo, and this profession is looked down upon in the old days. Kids used to taunt others with "your mother/father is a chindon'ya!", tapos awayan na yun! These street musicians are advertising a lottery ticket shop, the sax player looks kind of out-of-place with those two in traditional costume with musical instruments.



Have your eyeglasses cleaned - FREE! Most eyeglasses shop have at least one of these ultrasonic cleaners infront of their store. This one has a bank of them, complete with mascot and a jingle that would stick to your mind.