Goodbye Coco

Coco is our pet at home. A tiny fish barely 1.5cm residing in a miniature tank.

Just a couple of days ago, I noticed a heart at the center of its home.

After cleaning the tank, I left the pebble where it was, for Coco. Happy I was with the find, but little did I forsee a tragedy coming.

Coco leapt out of its tank yesterday, we discovered it on the table at night. My fault, I failed to put the cap on for its tank. =*( Sigh... It was a sad mistake, but a point taken for good.

In a way, I'm glad that the heart-shaped pebble caught my eye. At least, I got to take some last pictures of Coco

Goodbye Coco, you've been loved.

Good to have a Merlion come perhaps...

Wish me luck! I'm doing a presentation on Singapore in church this Sunday!! =P

Pretty nervous. I wonder how much do the folks here know about my dear little red dot. Bear was totally confounded when our serving company arranged for his expatriate life in Singapore 11 years ago. ' Where on earth is Singapore? ' was apparently the first question he threw.

Don't be surprised. Many Japanese do actually presume that Singapore is an unnoticeable nation at rear end. Zzzz...

Oh well... Come see this funny commercial that promotes Singapore tourism in Japan! =D

These Summer days have been incredibly comfortable and breezy, otherwise I would be tempted to have a Merlion summoned my place. Hey, good to have a Merlion equipped for a memorable presentation perhaps. =P Nice weekend!

Up, up and away...

Japan has resumed from the odds of the Obon holiday : awful congestations and sweaty hordes!! We actually stayed within the prefecture to avoid frustration, and gladly embraced the break that came timely. =)

With the majority flocking out of town, this place is perfect for leisure shopping, gourmet experience and light travelling. Nicest of them all, Bear put us on a hot air balloon. =D

It was our first time on this carrier that flies!

Huge, plumply round and invitingly colorful, they made me forget everything! My boldness got the better of me, I opted for the fella that is arranged to rise higher and ooops... my knees started giving me away before the flight is halved at 15th storey!

It all began when you realize that you're peeping out from a weaved basket, and the cute balloon just never stopped elevating! 6 of us passengers and pilot, put our faith in a basket and a balloon, how's that?

Anyway, the pilot's advice to look up and far, helped. I bet the balls of fire expelled from the burner eased many cold feet too. =P By the peak at 30th storey, fear left me and I was happily admiring surroundings. =) Here you go, a sleazy panorama of a quiet countryside.

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Knowing that many have been disappointed due to climate jitters, we're totally thankful for the great weather that enabled this event! This is by far, the best experience of the year. =D

Ask me if I'll try again given the chance. Absolutely. ;) But I'll still need the Bear's paw to make myself comfortable. =P

高い、高い、高い！

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Honey, hold me close!

Hot holiday

It's 130% Summer here, I tell you! (@@)


I must have sounded disrespectful with a somewhat ' rainy and cool Summer ' in the previous post, and now Lord Heat is punishing me! =P


Ok... see this little ornament on the right, with 2 goldfishes? ( Yes, think goldfish, inspired by olden Japanese game, 金魚すくい ) Simply looovvveee such decorations the Japs prepare for their lifestyle throughout the year. They're cheap, cute, very Jappy and the profit of this purchase goes to some welfare organization. =)

And I'm conferring it to my prized pot, Rowndy. For its blooms have sustained for more than 2 months. ;)


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We're in the midst of the Obon holiday actually, hopefully the heat subsides a little when we're having fun outside. Another fine aspect about living in Japan : lotsa holidays! ;)

Bits & pieces

Been away for a while...
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Bear has assigned me stuff to see to. Much concentration needed but I simply loooveee proving my competency. ;) I'm not just solely good in household matters, you know?!? =P By God's awesome grace, everything's in place and progressing great! =)




A little odd Summer we're having here however. There's been constant downpours, raging typhoos and a loud earthquake that shook us from bed at 5 plus this morning!


Too much pitter patter doesn't sound good actually, for it renders the harvest pretty bad this year. Landslide has been occuring across the country, taking several lives too. And though this place is well shielded thanks to geographical merits, we genuinely hope that the climate doesn't cross beyond what's already bad.








May many gets to see positivity, like a streak of colors across the gloomy sky! We catch rainbows quite often recently, sometimes even seeing double, like the one in the picture below. =D

Caught the second band above?


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A guest has been helping itself at my pots. It ascends to my herbs pot at the balcony by night, and decends to the porch by daytime, very much making itself at home. =P


Huge guts for a tiny guy my-thumb-sized. Bear says that it's obviously happy staying with us. =D

Here at our wonderfully green suburb, sunflowers are overlooking everywhere on behalf of Mr. Sun. Car rides are wonderfully pleasant along the sunflowers-pitched-roads, truly exclusively Summer. =)

Then on alternate nights, hour-long fireworks are all ours to marvel by the windows at home. And though much has been hindering us from taking taking a decent break for long, such little bits and pieces are spicing up days of an evanescent Summer.

Summer night fever

Living in Japan has certainly roused certain senses that have been unknown to this city girl in me.

Say Summer. It's all-year-round-ours in Singapore, nobody bothers to celebrate the canned heat.

Summer in Japan, on the contrary, throws the entire nation into a celebrative mood. Come rain or fiery heat, they parade, dance, party and sing their regional or nationwide festivals to life!

Pretty girls meet up or date in their lovely 浴衣 ( Yukata : casual summer kimono ). Both young and old prepared themselves over weeks just to display their talent for a single night show.





Jap's culture is so carefully preserved, even games of olden times are still entertaining people today. Like the 金魚すくい ( Kingyo sukui : gold fish dip / scoop : ) Kids and mums fumble across the tank with their scoops attached with paper net so flimsy, that it breaks once a tiny goldfish makes a dash across. =P Consolation is, you get a pair of darlings even if your net fails you. Nobody goes home unhappy. =D

It's delightful to see, kids who finger psp games today still fall for ancient playthings as well.

People gladly queueueueueue for snacks and bites. Bear was trying to convince me from the BBQ squid line. Summer is not quite complete without food from stalls, even though he may not be hungry.

And Summer nights are always lit up with breathtaking fireworks, even though economy may look tad bleak.

The Japs are a bunch of hardworking people who show great passion for their lifestyle. They fashion Summer their own even if it means extravagance sometimes.

I was pining for a quiet weekend night at home but Bear insisted that we catch the night fever. Glad that we did, and that's how I came up with these neon coconut trees.





And afro hairdo.





I guess, living in Japan has made me a little bit more enthusiastic about having fun, ( though I'm still yearning for a quiet weekend rest ).

The Summer night fever goes on.

It's officially Summer

From yesterday!




Just how do I know? Here in Japan, 　when ’梅雨明け’ ( tsuyu ake : end of monsoon season ) is announced over the weather forecast, that's when Summer is officially here!

And if you're thinking I'll be smiling at this familiar season, summer in Japan is too unfriendly to mention. A sudden shot of 10 degrees and beyond takes place right after monsoon. The island is uniformly roasted at 36 to 40 degrees daily, turning inhabitants into strippers alike. =P

Ok, I exaggerated. But we're definitely seeing more thighs exposed on the streets. I luv shorts to pieces during this season. =D

*****

Much weeks have been spent on serious matters lately... Bear needed a spin while I needed a break bad. So off we spun to seek some floral peace at the Lavender field over the weekend.

A perfect getaway though we might be slightly late for the season. Tender breeze wafted a loving scent in the air even before we could see the field.

This is what's so special about Lavender, always inviting. Happiness is when I see this beautiful flower dance in the wind, as it shares a gentle scent.

And this is what's so special about God's creation, always awesome. Joy is when I know God creates such beauty with His marvelous hands, and offering it free.

The regulars were at the field too. ;)

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So glad that we went. This week is boosted with a good bolt of energy. =)