Jean's wedding Part 1

Coming back to Spore, I tasked to be part of the bridesmaid group (Technically just support group since I did not participate in the meetings). Jean, the bride to be came over with the dress for me to try on. When I wore the dress, it was pink fluffy NIGHTMARE! I looked like a gigantic pink ball~! No matter how slim you are, you will look 5 months pregnant and its was so short that everything can be seen once you bend over! Jean brought it online and did not realised it was that bad, she was also laughing away lol! Feeling bad, she wanted to go buy another dress at the mall but I told her I had another dress that I wore as the bridesmaid previously. Turned out 3 of the bridesmaid including me wore our old bridesmaid's dresses (Same group of friends so we took turns becoming bridesmaid for each's wedding and hence we got the same dress). Thankfully I did not throw or bring it to Japan otherwise Jean would have to buy another one (She wanted to but I insisted since I did not want her to spend more money). 

preparing bitter and sour drink

going through all the games

waiting for the groom and his brothers

trying to burst the balloons all at the same time

On the way back to Spore

I had arrived Singapore last Thursday. My 4th uncle and mum came to pick me up at 6 plus in the morning and he went to straight to work. Thank you 4th uncle for driving us back and getting up so early even though your work start much later! Was exhausted from midnight flight without a wink since there were 3 noisy old Japanese men merrily chatting and drinking free liquor throughout the flight. Even when the air stewardess came to tone down, they just went back to regular volume after few minutes, even when i was blasting my music through my earphones didn't help much. In the end I watched 3 movies and was on my 4th movie when we arrived in Singapore. 

having dinner at misawa airport

the popular misawa burgers

waiting for boarding to start

 view taken around Haneda airport

at Haneda international airport

super cute akita dog! 

Praying that the flights will be on schedule

Since yesterday, there was massive snow storm throughout Japan. Trains in Tokyo were cancelled, many flights were cancelled and many car accidents occurred. The bad weather is said to be lasting for 3 days. Over in Misawa, it was raining tiny ice cubes. Usually we are not that worried since we are not going anyway and our region is famous for snow anyway. Unfortunately tomorrow, i am flying to Singapore. I was constantly watching TV news weather forecast and checking the airport status online. Today, Tokyo seemed to be fine but many areas were still in snow storm. Please let me go back hometown safely and on schedule!

The ramen by my father in law. Tasty !

Fried rolls by my mother in law! brought back home to eat the next day. Oishikatta

Tsushima @ Aomori

We went back to Aomori again and brought the dried scallops to bring back Spore. S suggested to try a new Japanese styled restaurant. The interior looked new and stylish. A nice choice to go apart from the usual places we always go.  A recommend for those who visit Aomori!

Entrance of the restaurant 

we ordered this set. The seafood in the pot picture abit misleading as we had to choose what type we want when we ordered.  The choice was either crab, scallop, chestnut or chicken.

upon closer look

S's crab set

my mother in law set with all fish.

so many of them (small birds) chirping away! 

Shrines visit @ Hashikami

S brought me to another shrines visit after our blood donation. One of them he had went up on the day before the New Year as he read that there would be a ritual and its the best chance to try his luck to get the stamp. In the end he went, climbed the mountain in stormy winter and waited 2 hours with no one around. Came back home freezing and looking dejected, then told me no to bring up the topic that night lol!  (Not all shrines have shrine master standing by all the time, some only appear at certain times or certain occasion, the shrine masters might have several shrines to handle). So he wanted to try his luck again. I rejected his offer to climb to top of mountain as I knew it was not easy and I wanted to pee once I was out in the cold. 

The good thing was while he was climbing half way, the shrine master came down and both of them climbed up again so he finally got his stamp this time!

Ushioyama shrine

one coin lunch at Hashikami again! super delicious, they replaced their uni don.

Ryukosan shrine

takes 40 mins to climbed to the top of the shrine

S came back to the car sweating and panting.

First meeting of adorable bb R.

Kristi's sister and mom had came to Misawa to visit them and arrival of the new one. Originally intend to book restaurant, however due to the New Year, all shop were closed throughout the 4 days. In the end, we (actually is S) decided to cook and show them normal Japanese home cooked food instead. We also get to visit their newborn, Reagan! She was sleeping most of the time and so adorable! Kristi still looked as skinny as before after birth! Some people have all the luck! It was our first time to meet Cindy and she taught me how to make egg rolls and said it in Vietnamese. I must say I had forgotten it by now lol! 

Yaki soba by S

making karrage, making a face when he noticed i was taking picture

Soundly sleeping Reagan

sorry to post with ur eyes were closed since S did not send me the photo taken on his hp.

made by Cindy and their mum, super crispy and delicious! 

Happy gathering!

Last Day of 2015

Was watching the 66th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Singing Competition), finally the Red team (girls) won! That was their first win since 2011, I was hoping no the guys again! When it ended at 11.45pm, we dressed up and drove to the shrine. I was reluctant to go as S initially wanted to walk all the way (take around 20 - 30 mins ) under the freezing weather (-2 degree). He was afraid there was no place to park, since many will be heading to the shrine. In the end we drove to try our luck and I went since we should be together to welcome 2016. After we parked the car and walked towards the shrine, the road was frozen! To the extend I was slipping and about to fall couple of times in my snow boots, those Japanese ladies in heels were hopping and exclaiming! My retribution for secretly thinking that I would laugh at them if they fell lol! 

I was surprised to see majority was young people with their friends. S told me that was the time for guy to pick girls up (at the shrine?!). While waiting, I was fairly listening to the group of 3 (should be in early 20s guys) passing comment on some girls that passed by us. One of them was passing remark how he would not choose this type of girl (The girl was dressed in bright pink shorts (very short type, everyone was eyeing on her when she passed by including me!) with black stockings with holes and boots. Just that I was thinking... Omg.... So sexy but ... she was not freezing? 

Happy New Year everyone!

Unryudaigongen shrine in Misawa. I was seriously lack of exercise, my legs were cramping the next day after the flight of stairs.

top of the shrine

crab feast! some of it we brought, the nama crab (raw) was given by obaachan. Only realise now S dislike the raw crab.

expensive cha siew we brought for this special day

Following Japanese custom: A must to watch 66th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Singing Competition)

did not expect long queue to pray at the strike of 12am

it was all the way down the steps

Happy New Year 2016!

Pre-Shougatsu Family Celebration (Japanese New Year's Day, 正月)

S has to work for this year on Japanese New Year Day, so we went back to Aomori to celebrate earlier. My okaasan and obaachan prepared and brought plenty of food, too much in fact. We ended up not being able to eat the hot pot (nabe) and the crab. Didn't know there was a hot pot until I reached the house and we brought sushi and KFC as well. We brought along cakes from our place which is our favourite cake shop. I was so full that I was burping non stop. 2015, we had P-Chan (S's pet bird) left us and I hope 2016 will be a good year ahead. Everyone safe and sound.  

just some of the food

the crab that I was too full to eat

cakes we brought along. Yummy! 

Shocked at the volume of snow that covered our car over the night!