Sumpu Castle's Hitsujisaru Yakura

About 2 years ago ... i been passing to Sumpujo Park and been seeing the restored Hitsujisaru-yagura or Arsenal Tower constuction

 and i did not know that it was completely opened to public last year of spring... 

Below is some info about the tower....

 (reference from Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Guided Tour)

 http://www.fusion-guide.org/sumpu-park.html

Hitsujisaru represents sheep and monkeys. It indicates the direction of southwest. It looks like a two-story arsenal tower, but it has three stories inside. It was faithfully rebuilt in 2014 based on some archives. It was open to the public recently. Here you can enjoy a hands-on activity which is called Mix Reality. You might feel as if you were in a time tunnel, with special goggles on. 

 Hitsujisaru Yagura or turret

The tower served as much for defense as it did as a lookout post.Also,ancient records indicate stocks of spears were kept there,suggesting a third role as an armory.

http://www.360cities.net/image/hitsujisaru-yagurahitsujisaru-turret-of-sunpu-jo-castle-aoi-ward-shizuoka-city-japan

I'm interested to see the wonder of the inside of this tower ... 

 if i will get the chance ...
I will tell u more about the inside. 

God's faitfulness

We're so blessed today! 

Thank you Lord for the 8th years blessed journey of our JCOB Shizuoka City Outreach... 

We did celebrate our past and rejoice the present ... we're looking forward to a better future.  

Please continue to guide us, sustain us, protect us and bless as always Lord xx



Our guest speaker ... Pastor Lem
One of my fav Pastor ... thanks for the inspiration :)

We enjoyed our worship and praise songs today :)

Rise Higher

JCOB Shizuoka City Outreach is celebrating tomorrow the 8th years of God's faithfulness!
In behalf of our group ... i'm inviting everyone tomorrow to celebrate with us. 

This is all about fellowship, worshiping and preaching about our dear Lord Jesus Christ.  

Party follows after fellowship service.  

Rejoice with us tomorrow ...

Come one ... come all and be blessed :)

Torn between two cute puppies xx

After our beloved Lucky, a Labrador Retriever ...
This time Sachan and I wants a medium-sized doggie.

Sachan wants Cavalier King Charles Spaniel because they are well proportioned doggie.
She likes their silky medium hair ... and she is eager, active, affectionate and happy dog.  

They are easy to train too.   

while on the other hand... i want Beagle because she's a hound type.
I like her pendant ears too ... and Beagle's short haired coat seems easy to look after. 

They said that Beagles are sweet, gentle and smarty xx

Wooow this gonna be a tough decision ...

they are both so  cute ...

i wish we are rich so we could buy them all lol :P

ummm ... we might end up in Pomeranian which is a spitz type and also in our list ... lol 

let's see ... we are not in a hurry anyway coz we will be busy from now on ... 

not bad to have a day dream sometimes ... 

but who knows !!!  :P

Another good day!

It's a good day to have a good day!

My fav photo shot for today :)

'am smiling because it's Friday! 

You can do it Mel ... up up and away!

Life is good and i am just enjoying it!

Sometimes we need to be alone ...
Not to be lonely but to enjoy our free time being ourselves :)

Wacha thinkin of?

"Daddy's-Long-Legs" novel, remember?  This is my version! lol

Thank you Lord for another beautiful day

Tomorrow is another day!

Having fun alone

Yeees after almost a week of cloudy and rainy days ... at long last the sun appeared today! 

I had a chance to go out cycling in the afternoon. 

This time ... i went to Abe River ... 

I used to go here before by car or bike. 

It's a good place to stroll, bike or picnic.  

 I got the chance to sit down and have a rest...
I enjoyed meditating here and reviewing my home work from work and activities 

Thank you for the nice day xx 

Starting tomorrow ... it's gonna rain again! 

My Chicken Curry version

There are many variation on how to cook curry but this time ... i am going to introduce to you my curry which is a combined Filipino and Japanese curry style.   

The difference between Filipino and Japanese curry is that the Japanese curry sauce is thick while Filipino curry is a mild one and use coconut milk. 

So here's my easy way cooking of curry.  

Chicken Curry

Serving:  4 people 

Ingredients:  

300 grams of chicken pieces -- thighs, wings, legs

(option -- pork, beef or shrimps)
80 g Japanese curry roax
( I usually used House Vermont Curry with apple and honey taste)

2 potatoes chopped into chunks

1 carrots chopped into chunks

1 onion chopped

crushed garlic 

grated ginger 

1 green bell pepper 

1 red bell pepper 

1 can coconut milk 

3 cups water

2 tbsp fish sauce

salt and black pepper 

chicken broth 

1 tbsp cooking oil 

How to cook: 

In a large pan, saute garlic and ginger ... then add chicken pieces ... cook until brown.

Add onions, potatoes and carrots... stir continuosly 

Add salt and pepper, chicken broth 

Then put water... bring to boil 

Add Japanese curry roax ... stir and let it simmer until sauce thicken

Add coconut milk ... stir 

When potatoes and carrots tender, put the red and green bell peppers.
Add fish sauce (optional)

Serve with rice on the side. 

召し上がれ !!!

OK Go - I Won't Let You Down

This won't really let you down... 

This official vid of OK GO's "I won't Let You Down" was shot, directed and choreographed in Japan.

スゲ～～すぎる!!!

Enjoy watching :)

Keep on shining Rei chan!

Thanks to my dear close friend Cecil for inviting me at her daughter Rei chan's 9th birthday today
 which was held to their karaoke pub in Ryougaecho ... 

It's been a long time since i never saw them and this was a good chance to bond with them again.
   Cecil and her family are like my family too here in Japan.  

I'm really happy to see them again ... 

and i was surprised to Rei chan ... she's growing up so gorgeous :) 

Happy birthday れいちゃん☆

これからも元気一杯なれいちゃんでいてね。

大好きなことがたくさん見つかりますように ...

Love, mama Mel xx

Sakura blooming season is almost over

The bloom of sakura trees don't stick around for long ... 

they only last for about 2 weeks especially when the weather is not good ... 

the rain and wind usually damage the delicate flowers ...

and when the flowers gone ... the baby green leaves started to appear.  

While the sakura petals started to fall around ... 

Our 5 years old sakura tree at home is still on it's bloom ... 

Ganbatte p(^^)q sakura chan!  

Cherry blossom blizzard :)

I had an appointment to one of my working place 
to get the data of my translation work this afternoon...
I went there by bike ... 
then after my appointment ... i went cycling around ... 

and on my way ... i passed by to some park with many sakura trees ... 
and i found some amusing things ... 

 Petals of sakura were falling in the light breeze and carpeting the ground ... 

Cherry blossoms petals are falling like snow :)

It's so lovely xx

It's another gloomy day!

Wherever you go ... no matter what the weather ...

always bring your own sunshine ;-) 

Forgive and forget

Forget who hurt you yesterday,

but don't forget those who love you everyday... 

Forget the past that makes you cry... 

Focus on the present that makes you smile. 

Forget the pain but never the lesson you gained.

When you love and laugh abundantly ...

you will live a beautiful life :) 

Pork Menudo ... my style :P

Pork Menudo is  pork stew and this is one of the popular Filipino dish.

There are many variations on how to cook Menudo. 

 You can also cook this with chicken or beef instead of pork. 

This is my basic and easy pork menudo. 

This is for my bestie who was asking for the recipe ;-)

Ingredients:
(Serving: 4 people)

* 1/2 kilo pork cut into small cubes
* 1/4 pork liver cut into small cubes
* 1 small red and green bell pepper
* 3 wieners, sliced
* 2 medium potatoes, cubed
* 1 small carrot, cubed
* 1 small red and 1 green bell pepper
* 1/4 cup raisins
* 1 tomato sliced
* 1 small onion chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, chopped
* 3/4 cup water
* 1/2 cup of tomato ketchup (1 cup tomato sauce)
* 3 tbsp soy sauce
* cooking oil
* pepper
* 3 dried bay leaves
* 1 lemon

* Optional --- oyster sauce, any condiment, liver spread
you can add green peas too.

Note: It's best to marinate pork liver in soy sauce and lemon in a bowl for about an hour.
Then saute the marinated pork liver with garlic in a pan ... then set aside.

Cooking instruction:

Heat cooking oil in a pan.
Saute garlic and pork until brown... then add onion and tomato
Season with soy sauce and pepper.
Pour in tomato ketchup (or tomato sauce) and water.
Stir well.
Cover and simmer over low heat for at least 20 minutes or until tender.
When tender, add the sauteed pork liver, potatoes, carrots, raisins, wieners, red and green bell peppers.
Add dried bay leaves.
Cover and simmer stirring occasionally until carrots and potatoes are tender .
Adjust seasoning according to taste.
Turn off heat.

You can serve this with rice or bread.
Bon appetit!!!

Biking helps gives my body a break

Starting this spring ... i started working out by cycling! 

 At Sengen Shrine

Cycling is one way of exercise that can improve our physical and mental health... 

besides this is my fun way to get fit... i enjoy the adventure and buzz i get from coasting down hills and being outdoors means i am more likely to continue to cycle regularly, compared to other physical activities that keep us indoors or require special times or places.

Lately it seems cycling strengthens my respiratory muscles ... i can breath better this time ;-)

This is fun... cheap and good for saving our planet earth :)

My new Lifebook :)

After our fasting session in JCOB Shizuoka last Saturday ...
 i was able to visit Kojima Electronic Shop in late afternoon and finally, i decided to get my own LIFEBOOK!  

After more than 5 years of service of my Fujitsu red laptop ... i am enjoying now my new white Fujitsu laptop!  

Good thing is... it's made in Japan! 

Thanks a lot to my dear provider ... our Almighty Lord ...
Nothing is impossible to Him ;)

Enjoy life :)

The older i get... the more i realize i just need the simple things in life ---

 a comfy home, good food, amazing travel, interesting books 

good health and be surrounded by the people i love.

  

The older i get ... the more i enjoy life :)

Hello spring!

Spring is here ... wishing everyone a bright and warm spring! 

This is the afternoon view from one of my work place ... in the heart of Shizuoka City.

Don't miss Shizuoka Festival on April 4 to 5! 

... and please don't miss the HANAMI Picnic 2015 of my NAKAMA group.  

Sad news is ... it will gonna rain on Sunday according to weather forecast.  

But no worries ... i will declare it "fine day" in Jesus name! :P

Missing you ...

Missing someone isn't about how long since you've seen them 

or the amount of time you've talked them. 

It's about that very moment when you’re doing something 

and wishing they were right there with you.

(This is the most liked photo in my spring_2015 album in FB ... thanks everyone!)

When you meet the right person, you know it. 

You can't stop thinking about them.
They are your best friend, and your soulmate.
You can't wait to spend the rest of your life with them.
No one and nothing else can compare.

Yaaay... what am i talking about???

Happy April fool's day!!!  :P