十和田湖冬物語 2014 (Towada winter festival)

The weather finally was getting better after blizzard and we were able to head to Towada winter festival! Intially we thought that it was going to be a hr ride but it turned out to be 2 hours, by the time we reached, i was feeling stuffy with my curry rice inside my stomach. As the festival had yet to start, we went to have some snacks inside the food stalls and to avoid the harsh coldness. Its was around -5 that day and kristi and i came prepared with gloves and ear muffers. Shota did not bring his gloves nor long johns, he was complaining cold towards the end. 

As it got dark and the decors were lit with pretty blue lights, it looked so romantic! A good place to come in couples and enjoy in magical atmosphere. We had plenty of fun, this was my 1st time hanging out with emily and shawn, they are fun to be with. I had seen them couple times before but didn't talk much, just hi and bye. Towards the end, the guys were already tipsy with beers they drank and the girls had to drive home. Thanks to Kristi for driving us back to Misawa safely, it would be a mission impossible for me to drive back along the mountain with low visibility and 2 lanes road that become 1 lane due to all the snow. 

p.s i will remember how all of u show ur individual dance moves on the stage lol! like we own the stage .... 

u can sit with ur legs soaking in the onsen and drinking warm sake

ice bar

always w their beer

another ice bar with dinosaur sculptures

we are avatars!

drinking sake in ice mug.

escaping from the cold

back to misawa and eating yakitori

Blizzard!

The worst snow blizzard ever experienced this winter! Remember that my earlier post that i had difficulty driving back from my friend's house. During the next morning when i woke up, never would i imagine the snow can pile up so high! Shota had woken up a hour earlier than usual to plough the snow but the moment he drove out out our house he got stuck just outside lol! 

The snow is around 1 metre tall, since there was no way he can go to work, we went back in and started calling his boss. Apparently none of them can go to work anyway since everyone were stuck as well. 

On the base the road was clear as there are workers around the clock with snow remover machines but outside base where all japanese residents live, this will have to depend on budget that each town caters for snow removers. Usually they will plough the main road but side roads leading to residential areas will arrive much later. In fact they only came around 2pm to clear the road in my area. Luckily for Shota, his senior was able to drive to the main road hence shota had to walk out to the main road to catch his ride. What a day it was!

yup thats the height that snow accumulated since yesterday

1 hour effort to clear just the driveway 

then he got stuck just in front of our house lol

my front entrance was completely blocked w snow and Shota managed to clear a small pathway

until today, its still the same. I'm hoping that it won't snow any more!

Day after Valentine Day

Belated Valentine Day! I have been reading everyone posts on Valentine Day and was blind by everyone sparkling flowers and love actions. Shota was at work that day so i spent it alone but we brought chocolates for each other. The next day, we went to our friend's house bringing over crab crowder, yummy!!  On the way home, i drove back since Shota had drank beer.... Its was my first time driving in winter and the weather was horrible that night. Phew! At least i made it back home safe and sound despite the terrible road conditions and along the road the cars were stuck in snow.

Kristi made breakfast last week! 

soso chocolate looks nice but taste ....

shota's choice is much better

game night with girls losing 1st! i had the worst luck

3D movie

kristi made strawberries chocolate drips

all baked by kristi

finally back home!

Visa extension

Back to Aomori as i received my notification confirmation visa extension is renew successfully! Ya!! i got the 3 years this time! Do not have to apply annually and spend 4000 yen each time!

Each time we go back to Aomori, we always left with our car boot filled with food that my parents in law prepared for us. Okaasan's potato korokke, gyoza are the best! She also made us egg sandwich to bring back in case we got hungry along the ride. While otosan prepared beef stew and silently gave it to me when i reached their house. He knows i love to eat lol!

お父さん		, お母さん いつも　おいしかった 食べ物準備しました、ありがとござました！

lovely breadshop in aomori, the aroma was heavenly

shota said he never seen me so happy in a breadshop, since i do not like bread so much and i never wanted to step into breadtalk lol. 

my father in law prepared beef stew for me, he toasted the bread specially for me as well.

lunch treat by my parents in law knowing i love sushi

crazy shota in e car! every driver in opposite direction was staring him and allowing him to go 1st haha!

back home exhausted and eating my father in law beef stew!

Ducklings day

Shota brought me to a lake nearby and it has plenty of residents there! So many swans and ducks! They are so adorable! 

mister donuts

tacos rice by shota

Setsubun - 節分

Setsubun 節分 is the day before the beginning of Spring in Japan where Japanese welcomed the arrival of Spring. It is hold on 3 feb annually. During that day, they ate makizushi called ehō-maki 恵方巻 in silence while facing the lucky direction. Every year depending on zodiac symbol of that year, the lucky direction will be different.

This year, i forgot which direction was it but i know both of us were eating the rolls and staring my water tank pipe in silence for at least 5 mins lol! I was the 1st to break the silence as i could not stand looking at pipe anymore! That's a pretty funny experience but who cares? The most important thing was that i get to eat the roll!

Scallops Trip!

Shota had his craving for tofu doughnuts in Yokohama town again! This time we brought our friends along since Kristi love scallops just like me! Near the tofu store, the town is famous for its scallops, 1 bite and the flavour will linger in your mouth! The weather is so warm at 10 degree, that was the warmest day so far since winter.

fried scallop set

hotpot set

my scallop don

3 of us were so engrossed, didn't realise shota is taking photo of us

funny huh

i managed to be 3rd in the end ok!

only 300 yen and still alive!!! They closed their shells when shota is prying it open. Thanks Kristi & Bao!