Christmas decors at home

Are you done with your Christmas decors? I just finished mine. I was able to finish our decors at home before my daughter Sachan came home from Niigata to celebrate her birthday with us. On the night she arrived home last Thursday night... we lighted up our decors already.
Welcome home Sachan!

El Taco Loco

Amie invited me yesterday to have lunch together. It end up that we had lunch with our other buddies-- Liza, Sarah and Dang.

We had lunch today at El Taco Loco, a Mexican restaurant in front of Shizuoka Center.

We ordered lunch set. It's really good and reasonable in prize. Rio, the owner entertained us a lot. She's not only a beauty... she's very friendly and frank. We had a barrel of laughs! Angela, a Peruvian friend is also working there... she was working in SAME Shimizu that time so we missed her. I bet... if she's around... we'll gonna explode to laughters! I will surely go back to this place.

Sachan's birthday in Tokyo

Here's a treat from pappie for Sachan's birthday... a stroll in Tokyo. We visited some memorable spots in Tokyo that we used to visit before.

Ahhh... natsukashi desu! Nannen buri daro? Maybe it was tatay's first visit in Japan since the last time we've been in a place like Asakusa and Akihabara.

We stayed in New Otani Hotel in Akasaka, TokyoView of Akasaka from our room In Asakusa... a well-known Japanese traditional place in Tokyo.The Kaminari-mon gate... entrance to Asakusa ShrineNakamise Street......a bustling venue with different shops on both sides.Hozo-mon GateThe back of Hozo-mon GateFive story pagoda--- Goju-no-toTry your luck...Here it goes... Large bronze incense burnerPeople also burn their paper wishes in this large pot... and part of the process is inhaling the smoke or waving it to heads and bodies. They also believe that the smoke has a divine power... it heals illness and keeps you healthy. Throwing coins and making wishes for goodluck...then worshipping inside the Asakusa Shrine.

Asakusa Shrine......also known as Senso-ji TempleStroll in Akihabara...Yappa... lots of OTAKU around! Down town of AkasakaAkasaka Prince HotelHotel New Otani's Japanese Garden at night. Happy 19th bday Sachan!Last day in TokyoMorning breakfast at the hotelOur amulets from Asakusa ShrineBye-bye time...Sachan... enjoy your teenage life!

My new digital camera

Last Saturday... Sarah and I bought our new digital cameras. Mine is Canon's IXY 91015. But it doesn't mean that I am saying goodbye to my old Nikon Cool Pix 5200. I will still gonna keep on using it... sorry Leng! (^-^)v

XMAS FENGSHUI tips.... from Emily!

Time for sharing... Christmas is just around the corner! Handa na ba kayo sa mga Christmas decorations ninyo?! Ok... here's Emily's tips...

hi mel,kamusta na ulit kayong lahat dyan?malapit na ang christmas.alam kong di ka pa nakakapag decorate kaya bibigyan kita ng ilang xmas FENGSHUI tips:

ROUND o OVAL TABLE ---maswerteng hugis daw ito kase nagsasaad ng kasiyahan sa buong pamilya.wag maglagay ng kandila sa ibabaw kase di nag aanyaya ng positive energy
SQUARE TABLE at RECTANGULAR ---masayang hugis ito at mas mainam kung lalagyan ng kandila sa ibabaw as decor.

ang BLUE decor sa xmas tree,magandang decoration pero di nararapat dahil nag aanyaya ng negative energies
ang RED,GOLD at GREEN masasayang kulay at LUCKY COLORS ng pasko.
ang RED at GREEN na kumbinasyon maging ilaw o xmas balls ay sadyang maswerte rin,ganoon din ang kumbinasyon ng GOLD at RED kahit walang green.
subalit ang GOLD at GREEN na walang RED ay di dapat sapagkat itoy magdudulot ng misfortune atdistraction sa buhay.

ang XMAS TREE ay di dapat nakalagay sa tapat mismo ng inyong front door.di rin ito dapat ilagay sa sentro ng bahay o nakagitna.di rin sya advisable na ilagay sa gawing kanan ng dingding ng bahay.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING :
pinakamainam na dekorasyon ang paglalagay ng ilaw sa entrance door ng bahay.at ang pinakamagandang ilagay dito ay ang PAROL o STAR LANTERN na may liwanag.mabuti din na hayaang nakailaw ito sa magdamag dahil magbibigay ng liwanag sa inyong kabahayan at di magdudulot ng lungkot sa pagsapit ng pasko.

iwasang maglagay ng mga BLINKING LIGHTS sa inyong garden lalo na kung ang punong paglalambitinan ng inyong xmas lights ay nagbubunga.di ito kasi nakabubuti sa spirits ng mga halaman at naiistorbo ang kanilang pamamahinga.

ang NON-BLINKING LIGHTS ay mainam dahil bukod sa maganda na itong tingnan ay di pa nito naiistorbo ang kapayapaan at spirits ng halaman at garden....

yun lang ,kaya pagpapalitan mo na yung mga nag bi-blink mo sa puno...
MERI XMAS....hohoho !!

The meeting and Nao's bday

Good day! We had a fun gathering today. We celebrated Nao's 5th year bday and the general meeting of Phil NAKAMA group headed by uncle Jo at Analyn's home in Heiwa cho.

Then, we went to Sto Nino Fest gathering to hand-in the Phil NAKAMA's donation.

Time travel with Steam Locomotive

Liza and I had a wonderful adventure today. Actually we planned to go to Ikawa for sight seeing but going there takes about 3 hours by bus or train, so due to our limited time, we just finally decided to experience riding the steam locomotive (SL) in Kanaya. The steam train run on the main line of Oigawa Railway and passes along Oi River. It took us about one and a half hour trip from Kanaya to Senzu. Ready to board!

Inside the old train↓ An old woman?! Nope... don't mind her!

Oikawa furusato bento... ↓
This was tasty and filling!
From the window of the locomotives... during our peaceful trip... we were able to enjoy a scenic view of grean tea plantations, the lovely natures of Oi River, the mountains and some local typical houses.
Smokes coming out from SL... powered with water and coal↓We're in Senzu Station! Autumn leavesfreshly picked mushrooms↓Giant faucets... it also produces interesting sounds! ↓Metal organ?It's autumn!Time to go home!Hand-made craft
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil! ↓On the way to Ikawa→! Steam Locomotive at Sensu Station↓We rode on the ordinary train on our way back to Kanaya Station↓This train is also cool!Kawane's tea plantation and tea drink↓Taking a nap↓... hoooy gising!
Ang poise titahhh!!! The train is not yours!Some coal ... our omiage! At present, steam locomotives are very rare in Japan and they are still existing more for tourist attraction. It was really a unique experience for me to be able to ride on a real steam locomotive. Somewhat... there is something fascinating about this black locomotives... I had this nostalgic feeling!