Monday 31 December 2012

Good Bye 2012 & Welcome 2013!

I think year 2012 has been really kind to me. I live, stay and eat happily. That comes with significant evidence where I have grown so much horizontally. Well, at least I survived through the so call 'DOOMSDAY' predicted by Maya. Phew!

Looking back to the past one year... well... hmm... what have I done? Not much, but yet meaningful. I adopted AHU from someone who was going to leave him in the palm estate. This furrykid joint the family in February but then later when missing on the Halloween day. Not sure what took him away, but definately he took my heart away. Hubby and I have been really sad since he was gone. Missing him so much, even until today.

One month plus after AHU was gone, we had Kusky, a little cheeky ASH (not really pure but still fit some of the ASH criteria) that looks like a little siberian husky. This little furry friend has thrown lots of joy to the family. Love him to the max!

In 2012, hubby and I have also started our dream to concure Asia, we started with Japan. Osaka and Kyoto are definately an eye opening to both of us.

Learnt a few new dishes too. However, I have done less cooking nowaday. Too bad.

Bought a cross over for myself in May this year (there start my 5 years commitment). Before this, hubby has to wake up much earlier just to send me to work. Also, driving Merz in town cost very high petrol consumption. That was why I have to think of a second family car that could help to save more petrol. Basically Nissan X-gear is a good car with very satisfying performance. Well, what else a mid age lady like me could request for? I just want to be PRACTICAL.

About work... I spent most of my time for work. Had a new boss in end of the year, from a man boss changing to have a lady boss. Works always are challenging and busy, however I quite satisfied with my job at the moment. Developing talents in the company, dealing with universities on university collaboration issues, conducted a few sessions of soft skills training to higher managerial positions & etc. Work performance has been fairly good, up to my boss expectation and most importantly up to my self-expectation too. Few months bonus plus good increment, considered good for an economy downturn year.


So that are all about 2012. What about 2013?
1. Confirm visiting Vietnam and Cambodia.
2. Thinking of 'resurrecting' my OMeow Comic.
3. Thinking of investing a new camera and a good new lens.
4. Hoping to utilize my kitchen and huge oven more so that I could post up more new and delicious recipe in my blog.
5. I WANNA SLIM DOWN!! So I will do more exercises and eat more healthy.
6. I want to dress up more properly to work and put up some make-up. All these while I know I have been really slack. It's time to change!
7. I will not keep on shouting like mad when someone doesn't want to help in housework. I will learn to take it easy. Be cool and be calm, act and behave like a lady!
8. I will produce more blogs in my blogspots.
9. To go home and visit my parents more often.

That's my KPI for year 2013! 

Happy New Year to all of you! May you have a wonderful and marvelous year ahead!!  

Monday 24 December 2012

こんにちはJapan (31) - 黑门市场 *Kuromon Ichiba (9 Aug 12)

早期,黑门市场(Kuromon Ichiba/Black Gate Market) 本来是叫圆名寺市场,原因是因为圆名寺就在附近。黑门市场是大阪最有名的市场,一共有600米长。走廊的左右两旁大概有170家商店:卖海鲜的、卖小吃的、卖干粮的、卖日常用品的、卖腌菜的。。。基本上应有尽有。由于黑门市场是个indoor market,夏天到这里走的时候会感觉到气候的闷热。

最接近黑门市场的地铁站:日本橋駅 (Nippombashi Itchome)


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黑门市场的生活是忙碌的。我们是在午餐时间才到达这里。虽然是午时,但这里人来人往的数量还是属于繁忙的。


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这里有很多新奇古怪的东西可看,很多新奇古怪的食物可以试吃。


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和服后面绑的大蝴蝶结的价钱竟然不低。


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边走、边买、边吃。。。向来都是我们最爱做的事。


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串烧


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好美、好新鲜的鱼蛋


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麻子


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豚鱼


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黑门市场除了卖生食品外,也有很多熟食。所以哦,要来黑门市场前最好是饿着肚子来,不然你可会后悔哦!


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长脚蟹


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炸好的海鲜类和鱼饼类


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Sunday 23 December 2012

こんにちはJapan (30) - 四天王寺 *Shitennoji Temple (9 Aug 12)

在大阪,我们同样的也买了大阪(Osaka)的两天周游卡,价钱是¥2700 (RM108)一张,一人一票。其实大阪也出了一天周游卡,价钱是¥2000 (RM80) 一张。两种价码、两种选择,要买哪一种就要看游客自己会在大阪逗留多少天了。

买周游卡的好处是:
1. 两天内可以搭unlimited ride 的市区巴士和地铁
2. 可以免费参观28个景点
3. 可以在13个观光地点享受优惠
4. 不用烦买车票、搭错车、算错交通路线budget的问题
想知道更多详情,可以到www.osaka-info/jp/osp/cht/阅读。

由于第一天到达大阪市已经是傍晚的事了,所以我们在大阪的第二天和第三天才动用到大阪周游卡。大阪周游卡的第一地点便是四天王寺。四天王寺成了大阪最受欢迎的第八旅游景点是有理由的,因为它拥有大阪终庙寺中最悠久的历史。在593年时,日本的Shotoku王子发现了这庙寺,Shotoku王子也是把佛教最先引进日本的人。后来四天王寺经过多次的火灾,但为了保持四天王寺原有的外形,日本人不惜把它恢复当年的本样。

要来到四天王寺并不难。只要搭上地铁然后在四天王寺前夕陽ヶ丘駅(Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Station) 下车就行了,四天王寺与这个地铁站的距离并不远,只是当天我们因为下错了车站,所以得走一段蛮长的路。


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日本的地铁真的和传说中的一样,非常的干净。和我们国家的Komuter比一比,我真的是paise到很想学鸵鸟把头埋到地里去


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四天王寺的地图。地方是相当的大。这庙寺有好几道入门:东、南、西、北隔一道,要看你是在哪一个车站下车就会先遇到哪一道大门了。


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从车站走到四天王寺的路上都可以看到这样的小shrine。而且来到了这里我才晓得原来四天王寺是大阪人摆放骨灰灵塔的庙寺。


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这一些都是摆放骨灰灵位的地方。


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这里的香火很旺,但来这里的人多数是银发人。


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随风左摆又右摆的吊饰品,为四天王寺带来了生气。


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原来这是死者家人为死者祈祷的吊灯。这也是一种为丧者表达思念的一种方式。


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丧者家人在祭品上写下他们对丧者的思念。


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我们爬四天王寺的塔。塔是4层高,里面的楼梯很窄,不但楼梯的空间有限,连塔外的走廊圈也很窄小。小华还得稍微蹲一蹲,才能顺利的走完一圈又一圈。


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经过的人,都回用右手去转一转那个贴在门坎的圈子。
 

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离开四天王寺前看到两位这样打扮的人在庙口掏钱。因为他们的装扮很特别,就想说拍张照片。哪里知道其中一个很反感,把我给赶走,然后比手划脚的好像在表达不可以拍他。。。

Friday 21 December 2012

冬至。12

今年的东至比去年的东至多做一包的糯米粉。结果用了三个小时的时间:搓、拆、揉、煮,才把500多颗的汤圆煮好。三个小时都是站着做,有点累。但第二天把汤圆带到公司,分给同事吃后,尤其是那些家里没有搓汤圆的同事,心里满满的满足感。

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