tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67811975345054301602024-03-13T20:33:23.458+09:00jollygootokyo and japanese stuff through tokyoite's eyes and lens.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.comBlogger396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-6528205173391177482018-07-09T15:43:00.004+09:002018-07-09T15:47:39.361+09:00JULY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, summer really did arrive so early this year. Our rainy season - <i>Tsuy</i>u- was over before July even arrived. Apparently that is the <i>earliest in the history</i> for the <i>Tsuyu</i> to end as usually it goes on for a couple weeks longer.<br />
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Things with nature, there have been just so many record breakers. Biggest snowfalls or rainfalls in history, earliest cherry blossoms blooming in xx years, coldest day in the month of xx, etc etc. We hear it all the time and it's a real worry...almost everything is a record breaker these days when it comes to the weather.<br />
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In the western part of Japan over the last weekend, there have been torrential rains causing massive flooding and landslides that destroyed tens of thousands of homes. A horrendous natural disaster like this seems to be happening almost every year now. Can we only pray and hope there will be no more...?<br />
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Today my thoughts are with those who suffered from this disaster, may many more people will be rescued and be reunited with their loved ones.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-12092208651174159322018-06-28T13:41:00.001+09:002018-06-28T13:51:18.740+09:00SUMMER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is still supported to be rainy season in Tokyo but we have been having very sunny and very warm days it feels like the real summer has already arrived. It's not even July yet. I was just reminded of our two weeks trip we had back in March when we travelled from the very cold wintery Tokyo to the really warm Brisbane, Melbourne and then Singapore. This picture here was taken on our first day in Brisbane, I thought it was end of summer there but it was still really hot and it was very much like how it feels in Tokyo right now. It kind of felt a little strange that this feeling of being in a hot and humid weather seemed somewhat more familiar than experiencing it since last summer, but now I know that is because this is already my second summer this year. Tokyo's summer is very harsh, it's not nice. But I guess I have to face it, oh summer please please be gentle....hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-37180391266987085182018-06-18T16:02:00.001+09:002018-06-18T16:14:49.981+09:00Light and Shadow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WE848IQXyTU/WydWYbsDR4I/AAAAAAAAU7M/05c8WwjtLjgg3WGwWHifDUfwfYda5KedwCLcBGAs/s1600/02100031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="680" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WE848IQXyTU/WydWYbsDR4I/AAAAAAAAU7M/05c8WwjtLjgg3WGwWHifDUfwfYda5KedwCLcBGAs/s1600/02100031.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>There are many places I really love in my own city, not many of them are actually that difficult to get to but I never really get to visit them any more. You know when you know that you can visit any time you tend to leave it till later and then you would just forget. Or maybe that is just my excuse.<br />
Hara Museum has always been my favourite, it's small, has a lovely garden, beautiful old architecture, and it's located somewhere that you really have to aim to get there. I visited there last summer after many years, nothing really had changed but one big change I noticed was that we were now allowed to take photos inside. Most of the Japanese museums didn't allow photography inside but it's changing and you'd notice that you can take photos at many of the places, often with some limitations.<br />
I don't remember how hot that day was when we visited here but it looks like it was a very hot day, that light and shadow tell it don't they.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-14894300578055656782018-06-13T22:30:00.001+09:002018-06-13T22:35:58.846+09:00June in Tokyo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n0xnSiReckc/WyEXZFafk2I/AAAAAAAAU6Q/GWaBZsTNYYUiRnLTaOHje4WYtL5zk_wSACLcBGAs/s1600/umeshu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n0xnSiReckc/WyEXZFafk2I/AAAAAAAAU6Q/GWaBZsTNYYUiRnLTaOHje4WYtL5zk_wSACLcBGAs/s1600/umeshu1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I went looking through my old photos (and got a bit carried away actually) and found so many fond memories from the past years, of all the places I went to and all the beautiful things I saw and enjoyed. It seems nothing has really changed but so much has actually changed and I missed the good old days. I mean, we all know that things always look better in distance.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For many years I kept saying I am too busy, I have been working so hard and hadn't really had time to enjoy other things for a long time. And that was why I could not keep up with blogging, or so I thought, but maybe that is not true. It's not always so easy to keep doing something for a long time, to keep the passion and motivation. There can always be excuses, for not being able to keep doing something, I don't know for how many times I have thought but now I really want to come back here and start posting again whether or not anyone is still around to read it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So JUNE. It's rainy season in Japan, it rains a lot but it doesn't rain hard like it does in the rainy season in the tropic. It's not my favourite season, but I like it because it is the season for the beautiful hydrangeas too. You would spot hydrangeas here and there and everywhere if you walk around Tokyo right now, on the side streets and in the parks, and these days there are so many varieties, different types in different colours - they are just so beautiful and the rain makes them look extra pretty. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another thing I always think of June is the <i>Ume</i> - Japanese plums. For many years until some years ago it was our tradition to make our own Ume-shu plum wine, we used to get the beautiful fresh organic ume delivered from the farm. I don't drink umeshu any more and we have no space to keep the large jars so I just stopped making it. When I see the fresh green ume which are only available at this time of the year I remember those days, maybe one day I will make it again.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hydrangeas and Ume plums, they are the things that make me happy in the month of June :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy June!</div>hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-56044111048910164912018-06-12T21:30:00.001+09:002018-06-12T21:31:30.611+09:00BLOG!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello BLOG! I have been thinking about you and wanting to come back but why is it so hard???? I have a lot that I want to say but I don't know what to post... Maybe I should just go back to when I first started this blog 9 years ago, how I didn't care or didn't even think there would be anyone who would want to read it.</div>
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So I am starting to dig all the photos I meant to post and share, hopefully they will make it here soon!<br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-50784102939570193922017-10-07T23:33:00.000+09:002017-10-07T23:33:28.768+09:00BELATED SUMMER: HOUSHI ONSEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, my last post was belated spring post and now it is time for belated summer. It's already October and is starting to feel so much more autumn.<br />
This year we had a rather strange summer weather-wise, we had many really hot days but we also had many not-really-that-hot days and it was so much easier. (I mean when compared with previous years, summer had been insanely hot and intolerable.)<br />
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Anyway, this summer I had a mini brake and went on a little trip to this gorgeous <i>onsen ryokan</i> - hot spring inn. Our lovely friends from Melbourne Michelle and Steve were travelling around Gunma and R and I joined the two. I had been really looking forward to visiting this ryokan<a href="http://hoshi-onsen.com/english/index.html" target="_blank"> Choju-kan</a> at Houshi Onsen and to see this beautiful architecture built in the Meiji period - 140 years ago.<br />
This secret onsen is at the very end of the road so deep in the mountain in the Minakami area in Gunma prefecture. So quiet and peaceful surrounded by nature, it was just so incredible.<br />
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To tell you the truth, I had never really been a huge fan of <i>onsen</i> - hot spring - but obviously I had never experienced the really great one. There were not so many people when we went here, so I was lucky to have the whole bath to myself for half an hour each time I went in to all the different baths. Both Michelle and I were shy to go in at the same time, so we went in all at different timing. I never feel so comfortable being in the Japanese bathhouse with other people although it is totally normal here. But when we met in the bath (it's quite a large bathroom where maybe 100 people can go in at once, and it's pretty dark you don't really see much you know) we shared a little moment together sitting in the huge wooden bath and even a cute little grasshopper (!) joined us it was really nice :)<br />
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I got up at 5:30 in the morning to enjoy one last bathing at this amazing onsen before breakfast, and again I had the entire room all to myself. Sooooo nice. Now I am dreaming of visiting another secret onsen.... There are so many places I have yet to know in my own country, I feel so lucky to have my dear friends M & S to tell us about all the things they discover in Japan that we had not known. Gosh they know so much about Japan!<br />
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<br />hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-89650913260409087242017-05-17T14:17:00.002+09:002019-02-24T14:52:31.935+09:00SAKURA 2017 : Meguro Canal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My favourite season, back in early April when it was all magical, cheerful and beautiful. I took the courage to go down to to Nakameguro although for some years now I have only seen the cherry blossoms in Nakameguro from the station platform but soon after I started walking along the canal I could not cope with the crowd so I walked away from it towards Meguro along the canal <i>Meguro-gawa</i>. It doesn't take so long before you are free from the busy area, the canal gets so much wider and it feels nice. (<a href="https://jollygoo.blogspot.jp/2011/04/sakura-in-nakameguro.html" target="_blank">See my post from 2011 to see the Nakameguro sakura</a>) It was meant to be a quick stop after my dentist visit but it was hard to stop and I kept on walking to Shirokanedai past Meguro taking so many pictures. It was really beautiful.<br />
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人ごみに耐えられずここ何年かは中目黒の桜は駅のホームからのちらっと見にしていたのですが、思わず途中下車で下へ降りてみたのです。こんなに混んでも浮ついてもいなかった「あの頃はよかった〜」系の思いを引きずりすぎているワタシには、やはり難しくて、歩き始めて間もなく早歩きで遠ざかることを決意。駒沢通りを越えればあっという間に人ごみはなくなり、それと同時に行き違う人たちの年齢も上がり、広い空も見える。ホッとして、ゆっくり、じっくり、桜を楽しむにはやっぱりこうでなくては、と。来年は中目黒に間違って降りることはない、と思う。(<a href="https://jollygoo.blogspot.jp/2011/04/sakura-in-nakameguro.html" target="_blank">あの頃はよかったバージョン、過去の記事はこちら</a>)hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-24085942360763799742017-05-09T22:16:00.002+09:002017-05-09T22:17:06.277+09:00MAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had an American gentleman visiting my store the other day, out of the two stores option he was given to visit and purchase some items for his wife he chose my store as mine<i> looked more independent</i>. I thought that was a really nice way of choosing things, and of course I felt so grateful for the kind thought. There are hundreds of nice stores across Tokyo and especially for my store being so hidden people have to have a good reason to take a bit of effort to come and visit, so I really do appreciate people who visit my store each time. Some really kind people say to me it is a good treat for them to come to my store but that sweet thought and gesture always make it a huge treat for <i>me</i>.<br />
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I love people who can naturally make others feel so warm.<br />
<br />hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-48374021892715408122017-04-24T20:58:00.001+09:002017-04-25T08:42:45.891+09:00APRIL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I think I wrote in the last post that I had loaded a new roll of film nice and fresh just as the new year started. I did mean that and I felt really motivated.....until I found out that the film had not been set properly and what I thought had photographed never existed. I don't know how many more times I will do this, if you take film photos I am sure you know how it feels when this happens. And you can not blame anyone or anything for this to happen except yourself.<br />
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So I loaded the film again, paying extra attention this time and really finally I have the first set of photos from this year. I can't remember what I had seen and captured (or so I thought I did) originally, you can never take the same photos again. The first shrine visit on the New Year's Day and all the special things from New Year - my favourite celebration in the year is kept in my memory, which is also nice I suppose. The pretty mimosa that kept me amused outside my windows, I can keep that in my heart until next year. I have all the things to look forward to and that is nice. New Year was gone, mimosa was gone and it was a bit too early for sakura so I just took random shots of everyday things around home, of little things that make me smile each day. Days are getting longer, air is getting warmer and it is a fun and loving season in Tokyo right now. Hope you are all having a wonderful April.<br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-16623622691211229752017-01-24T18:33:00.000+09:002017-04-12T17:55:17.080+09:00JANUARY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't visited my own blog for so long, and why does it happen when I have deadlines for some work submissions coming up that I finally post something. It seems to be the way it is. <br />
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I stopped having "new years resolutions" but still, I will try to go back to the basics, all things I used to really enjoy - photography and movies. New roll of film loaded as soon as 2017 started. Already seen 6 movies. Feeling inspired. So far so good. <br />
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Photos are from the beautiful Happoen garden in Meguro/Shirokanedai. Peaceful place if you go on the day when they do not have 30 weddings a day(!)hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-13019495890002966372016-09-07T11:03:00.000+09:002017-04-24T21:09:45.763+09:00THE WHITE ROOM FITZROY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APQ1Xzdyskw/V89qnh_yxFI/AAAAAAAAUEw/6489PU5LE0Y5FBOMFkfIFdnZ2-hFpBOUACLcB/s640/FH020028.JPG" width="640" /></div><br />
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A really dreamy place we stayed in Fitzroy, everything is so beautifully and thoughtfully decorated, everywhere you look is picture-perfect and amazingly inspiring. It is one of the four beautiful houses a Melbourne interior stylist Lynda Gardener offers, this one <a href="http://thewhitehousedaylesford.com.au/rooms/the-white-room/" target="_blank">The White Room Fitzroy</a> is in a lovely neighbourhood so convenient and close to all the cool spots to explore. She has just opened <a href="http://theapartmentstkilda.com.au/" target="_blank">The Apartment St. Kilda</a> which also looks really amazing, in a 1920s art deco building. I just wish we were staying here for a holiday sleeping in an enjoying drinks in the garden etc!! Next time!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">メルボルンで泊まった本当にすてきなお部屋。どこを見てもどう切りとっても、完璧な絵になるすばらしい空間でした。って、写真で伝わるのではないかと思いますが・・</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">メルボルンでは知らない人はいないというぐらい名の知れたインテリアスタイリストリンダ・ガーデナーさん(20年近く前からインテリア雑誌によく出ていた し、蚤の市でもよくお見かけしていたあの方だ!と)が手がける宿のひとつ、<a href="http://thewhitehousedaylesford.com.au/rooms/the-white-room/" target="_blank">THE WHITE ROOM</a>です。泊まったのは最初の、とにかく猛烈に忙し過ぎた数日だったので正直十分には楽しめなかった気がしてもったいなかったな、最後にとっておけば よかったな、なんて思ったのだけど、でもエンドレスな仕事の一日を終えて帰ってくるのがこんなお部屋だとそれだけで癒し効果があり、朝は朝で明るい光の射 す時間を楽しみたいと早起きできたりと、やっぱりちゃんとそれなりに楽しめたように思います。</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">おしゃれなエリアにあって、あちこち行くにはとても便利な場所だし、かといって全然がやがやしているわけでもなく、暮らすように滞在するのが好きな人にはおすすめ。ただ、入り口が分かりにくく(そこも良いポイントではあるけれど)、さらに入室するのがちょっと難しくて、そういう意味では日本の旅行者にはハードルが結構高いかなと思いました。ちなみに私たちは、現地の友人たちのおかげで無事に入れたのですが、それでも若干のすったもんだありで。このときだけじゃなく、2人のちから無しではどうしていたんだろう、というぐらいお世話になってしまったメルボルンなのでした。</span><br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-28043644179835684602016-08-30T10:16:00.000+09:002017-04-24T21:09:45.767+09:00MELBOURNE<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/29293363846/in/datetaken-public/" title="southbank"><img alt="southbank" height="432" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8748/29293363846_9017db480f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Another typhoon is hitting Tokyo this morning, my July (and August) also seems to have came and gone almost like a typhoon. <br />
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This July marked 7 years since I started <a href="http://uguisustore.com/" target="_blank">UGUiSU</a>, and in this special month I was lucky enough to have made my long time dream of having a pop up shop in Melbourne to come true. My last visit to Melbourne was 7 years ago so it had been a long time, when I first moved to Melbourne was something like...almost 20 years ago so, that is like another lifetime. Scary.<br />
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I am also realising that it was right after my last trip to Melbourne when I decided to start this blog (which then led me to start UGUiSU), I did not care if anyone would read it or I really thought no one would be interested but I felt I needed to use English more to keep it up so I made this blog and started posting some photos and blurbs. Maybe no one saw them but my first posts were actually Melbourne. (It's sad that <a href="http://jollygoo.blogspot.jp/2009/03/hatton-hotel.html">this beautiful hotel</a> I stayed is no longer there.)<br />
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I was just super crazy busy during my trip but I did enjoy some really great food and places so I will start posting about them!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">怒濤のごとく過ぎ去った7月(と8月)のツケが、思わぬ形で出てしまった夏の終わり。突然片耳が聴こえなくなり、この先ずっとこのままなんだと受け入れたものの、ひと月とにかく休んでいたら何もなかったかのようにまた聴こえるようになるという、とりあえず良かったと胸を撫で下ろし、でも本当に気をつけないと、休むって大事なんだと心底おもい、ようやく現像したメルボルンの写真の整理をし、ようやくブログにまとめようと向き合いました。この7月でちょうど7周年を迎えたUGUiSUのポップアップをメルボルンで、という秘かに思い続けていた夢が実現されたんです。もちろん、たくさんの人たちの力をお借りして。<br />
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10代の学生の頃、住む目的で初めてメルボルンへ行ったのはそれこそ20年近く前という、いつの時代の話しかわからないぐらい前のことになってしまったし、最後にメルボルンへ遊びに行ってからも早7年が経っていて、もはや「自分が昔住んでいた街」という感じはかなり薄れているけれど、それでも当時から変わらない場所を見つけると懐かしさでくすぐったくなったり、何より大好きなメルボルンの家族に会ったりして、この場所やこの場所で過した時間、そしてこの人たちが今の自分をつくってくれた大きなパーツになっているんだ、なんてしみじみ感じたりしたのでした。<br />
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このブログを始めるきっかけになったのも、7年前のメルボルンへの旅。たかだか数年住んでいただけで、日本に帰ってからはほとんど使うことのなかった英語が、自分が思っていたよりもずいぶんと怪しくなっていることに気がついて、英語で発信してみようと思いついて始めたのがはじまりでした。誰も見ないだろうし、見なくても良い、そう思うとなんだか気が楽でやっていたのが、いつのまにやら見てくれるひとたちが増えて、そしてそれがひょんなことからうぐいすを始めることに繋がって行った、という、そんなことも改めて思い返してみたりして。<br />
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うわ、こんなダラダラを書いたりして、やだな。でもこれも、誰も読まないから、と思って、そうすると気が、楽。日本語も、英語も、要精進。</span><br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-50586619999002093012016-05-18T11:06:00.000+09:002016-05-18T11:06:07.560+09:00SAKURA AT YUTENJI - APRIL 2016<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26988830972/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="429" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/26988830972_edf85dde10_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26479556243/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="429" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/26479556243_581b89bfc9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26479556843/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="429" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/26479556843_470068cd50_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26479557393/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/26479557393_0c20d12d57_z.jpg" width="429" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26988833912/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7506/26988833912_fe9724b527_z.jpg" width="434" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26988835272/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7628/26988835272_a4bbef76ae_z.jpg" width="429" /></a><br />
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My favourite place to see sakura in the neighbourhood, Yutenji-temple. Enjoying it quietly and peacefully with my camera avoiding crowd is my kind of ohanami. Because of the weather how it got quite chilly after starting to bloom, blossoms stayed longer than usual this year which was nice. No blue sky in the background, but I actually love photographing sakura on cloudy days, don't you think it looks extra pretty?<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/26988831812/in/dateposted-public/" title="sakura at yutenji temple"><img alt="sakura at yutenji temple" height="429" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/26988831812_746b8fe4f9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-5481178405905691062016-03-31T09:33:00.001+09:002016-04-07T21:21:35.522+09:00SPRING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally it's spring. Cherry blossoms are bursting towards peak bloom right now and it's just so exciting! I've just got a roll of film developed and loaded a new one ready to shoot all the sakura blossoms. So I thought before it gets all pink I'd share some of my latest film shots of my space. I hope everyone enjoys the season the way that is perfect for each of you!<br />
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<i>I love having <a href="http://at-swim-two-birds.blogspot.jp/" target="_blank">Renilde</a>'s works (mobiles, potholders and cushions) in my shop, <a href="http://www.hannakonola.com/" target="_blank">Hanna</a>'s illustrations are very enchanting too. <a href="http://antipodeuse.blogspot.jp/" target="_blank">Mary'</a>s beautiful photography post cards... I really enjoy having works of the lovely people I have met through this blog♡ </i><br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-39104888453250797982016-02-01T10:39:00.002+09:002016-02-01T11:25:22.117+09:00FEBRUARY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-94KVTXHtg/Vq6yQa6PY6I/AAAAAAAAToM/vzdyYCXUwPw/s1600/FH010017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-94KVTXHtg/Vq6yQa6PY6I/AAAAAAAAToM/vzdyYCXUwPw/s640/FH010017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yellow is my favourite colour especially in cold winter as I see it as a sign of spring - end to the cold. Uplifting! Mimosa right outside my shop started to bloom weeks early this year as we had strangely warm weather at the beginning of this winter, I thought they must be regretting for popping out too early but they seem to be doing pretty well and there is a little bit more of that yellow now each day, will be so much more in the coming weeks. Enchanting!<br />
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February to me is a special month, I like to think that January is the time to prepare for the rest of the year and I can start from here now feeling all fresh. Maybe it's just a poor excuse for letting the first month of the new year go without really fulfilling much of the new year resolutions.... Well anyway, I am excited for my new year starting today!<br />
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Happy February!<br />
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Photos are from the always special mina perhonen kyoto store.<br />
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<br />hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-43715400448604751822015-11-02T22:57:00.001+09:002015-11-05T09:00:35.945+09:00FEELING GRATEFUL<img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rjL1s4qRMo4/VjdhT75_n2I/AAAAAAAATlE/qmu7Kgd0-js/s640/FH000025.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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Today more than ever I feel so thankful and spent my day thinking of all the happy faces and kind gestures so many people have performed on me and my shoppe in the past 3 years . My physical store turned 3 today, I could never imagine it to come as far as here, especially in the first 2 years when keeping positive thoughts often seemed the hardest thing. I've had so many ups and downs but I could make it through because of everyone who supported in all possible ways from near and far. It feels almost miracle but I always saw a tiny light of hope in every compliment someone gave me with the kindest words or in the glow in their eyes, when you know they mean it it becomes the best gift to wish for. When someone personally recommended to their friends who they think might enjoy my store, that also really touched. I am a very lucky person obviously but I hope I can also be the one to give as much love as I receive. My journey will go on and I am ready to challenge what's more to come. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7b8ZQWlF4o/VjdiGoHbuRI/AAAAAAAATlQ/yI-_2-tG7-0/s320/u3.jpg" title="photo by kazuhiro terauchi" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by <a href="http://kazu5253.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">kazuhiro terauchi</a> for <a href="http://www.the-weekender.com/ausgaben/ausgabe-15/" target="_blank">The Weekender</a> (big thanks to <a href="http://schorlemaedchen.blogspot.jp/" target="_blank">maria</a>!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8f883qnvH1A/VjqbFmkh3oI/AAAAAAAATlo/WkN7VgXd_rY/s1600/tokyoprecincts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8f883qnvH1A/VjqbFmkh3oI/AAAAAAAATlo/WkN7VgXd_rY/s320/tokyoprecincts.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Included in an amazing Tokyo guide by <a href="http://michellemackintosh.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Michelle</a> & Steve - <a href="http://theprecincts.com/tokyo-precincts/" target="_blank">TOKYO PRECINCTS</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-3upVHyNZ4/VjqbFoE6bAI/AAAAAAAATls/w63bJoesx3U/s1600/isabelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-3upVHyNZ4/VjqbFoE6bAI/AAAAAAAATls/w63bJoesx3U/s320/isabelle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Included in one of <a href="http://i.boinot.free.fr/" target="_blank">Isabelle</a>'s 53 favourite addresses of Tokyo.</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1961642361"></span><span id="goog_1961642362"></span>. hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-71462420761516416362015-10-17T23:13:00.003+09:002019-02-24T14:52:19.480+09:00SAKURA 2015<img alt="sakura spring 2015" height="428" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/569/22059745849_3985f2d2cd_z.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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I know it's October now not April, we are going into Autumn and not Spring. Even though my life has been crazy Spring did exist and I did enjoy it and I did document a bit of it with my camera, so here they are, this is from my favourite time of year to be in Japan. Cherry blossoms <i>sakura</i>, how magical you are to turn this entire city so dreamy all at once. This spring I went to enjoy sakura in Chidorigafuchi Park around Imperial Palace with my dear friend <a href="http://polkaros.com/blog/" target="_blank">Ros</a>, it was breathtakingly beautiful. So perfect. I always wish they last longer but they don't and that is what it makes it more special. We all know it, it's all in our soul and it is so special to us. I hope you don't mind me sharing these photos after so long, if anyone is still out there to come see my blog that is though. Thank you for coming to check if you did and I wish you a very happy autumn! (or Happy Spring!)!hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-57899951693407471402015-09-01T10:31:00.000+09:002017-04-15T18:56:53.678+09:00KAWAI KANJIRO'S HOUSE<center><img alt="Kawai Kanjiro's House" height="434" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/702/20860260679_11a843d573_z.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<img alt="FH010008" height="429" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/593/21020827796_065db226c4_z.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="FH010011" height="429" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5744/21054694351_f8054d593b_z.jpg" width="640" /></center><br />
Old and beautiful things, houses and architecture always attract me so much. If it is hidden away on a narrow backstreet it's perfect. <br />
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Kawai Kanjiro is a Japanese master potter, sculptor, calligrapher, designer, poet and writer who is also known as a key figure in the <i>Mingei</i> (Japanese folk art) movement in the 1920s. In the Kawai Kanjiro's House, which is Kanjiro's home made into a museum, it shows the incredible beauty that he lived with. The garden, a little tea room and a big kiln at the back are all inside this wonderful gem of a place and I was deeply struck with admiration... Could easily spend the whole afternoon here but the cold January weather (of Kyoto!) and the lack of time helped us end our exploration. <br />
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<a href="http://www.kanjiro.jp/" target="_blank">Kawai Kanjiro's House Website</a> (Japanese)<br />
<a href="http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/museums/kawai/" target="_blank">Kawai Kanjiro's House information on Welcome to Kyoto Website</a> (English) <br />
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.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-51546682804988693752015-07-29T09:22:00.001+09:002015-07-30T01:06:09.741+09:00RANDOM KYOTO (FROM JANUARY) <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/20099803215/in/dateposted-public/" title="kyoto in winter"><img alt="kyoto in winter" height="430" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/530/20099803215_5c180f8c41_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Random shots of Kyoto from our January trip (finally). We were told that it was the most quiet time of the year in Kyoto when we visited, it was very cold, but it was so good. It's Kyoto afterall, how can it be not good? It was perfect.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-84951075293780710252015-07-14T11:06:00.001+09:002015-07-29T09:37:23.887+09:00HOTEL OKURA TOKYO<img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/482/19488457279_523800651f_z.jpg" width="640" height="430" alt="hotel okura tokyo"><br />
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End of another Tokyo gem coming really close now.... <br />
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Yes their main building -a beautiful 60s architecture- will be closed at the end of August and then will be demolished to be replaced to a modern high-rise building. (the hotel will remain) <br />
If you are interested go ahead and read about this by Monocle --><a href="http://savetheokura.com/" target="_blank">http://savetheokura.com/</a><br />
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It's only about 12 minutes walk from my shop, so hopefully I can go back one weekend morning before it closes at the end of next month. If I can survive the heat that is though....<br />
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<a href="http://www.hotelokura.co.jp/tokyo/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Okura Tokyo</a><br />
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.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-54338165397397607372015-07-14T10:33:00.001+09:002015-07-14T10:41:32.116+09:00FAVOURITE ADDRESSES IN SINGAPORE TO EAT(this post had been saved as draft for god knows how long...)<br />
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Just a quick walk from the Red Dot Design Museum there is this most amazing <b>Maxwell Road Hawker Centre.</b> <br />
You'd really need another (or a few more) stomach while in Singapore! I sometimes get a bit worried when buying food from markets or food stalls but in Singapore they are kept amazingly clean and we were really impressed! Ros had taken us earlier to another hawker center near Ann Siang Hill called <b>Amoy Street Food Centre</b> where we had the best fish ball noodle soup and some curry of the type I had never tried before anywhere, they were both really delicious and we could not have tried these if not for Ros!! We were very lucky :)<br />
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At the <b>Maxwell Road Hawker Centre</b> we had Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice and LOVED it. It was the best Singapore chicken rice we have ever tried and I can tell you that we have tried at so many places. I could eat it everyday, it was sooo good, was perfect. Once is not enough to go to each Hawker Center, we learned. <br />
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For the Chicken Rice we also tried <a href="http://boontongkee.com.sg/" target="_blank"><b>Boon Tong Kee</b></a> (thanks to the tip from <a href="http://rebeccatoh.com/" target="_blank">Rebecca</a>!), this place was also very special, if you prefer dining restaurant style then this is the place to go :) We tried the one in River Valley Rd as it was (kind of) close to our hotel but I want to try their other restaurant next time.<br />
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Another place that we loved from Rebecca's recommendation was YA HUA BAK KUT TEH EATING HOUSE. I had tried Bak Kut Teh once in Tokyo before but what this was completely different. 200 times better. <br />
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We also tried the black pepper crab at kind of a fancy restaurant in Orchard Road. There are too many things to try and enjoy! We also went up to a glittering place for dinner and drinks at one of those high rise buildings, it was fine, the night view of the city was amazing, but it was not really our kind of place. It was hard to tell where you are, if I didn't see Marina Bay Sands in a corner of my eye I could have thought we were somewhere in Shinjuku or Manhattan. If you know what I mean.<br />
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Reviewing and trying to finish this post I am getting hungry and now craving for some good Singaporean chicken rice.... Or another trip to Singapore! Can not wait to go back! <br />
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Now it's finally the end of my Singapore posts....! Now onto.....Kyoto trip (from <b>January</b>.. haaaaa!) !<br />
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<br />hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-51858739143155073762015-05-07T17:42:00.001+09:002015-07-14T10:43:27.170+09:00MY FAVOURITE ADDRESSES IN SINGAPORE<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/17211891528" title="singapore - the little drom store by hiki, on Flickr"><img alt="singapore - the little drom store" height="429" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/17211891528_192e18f887_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I never finished my Singapore posts and it has *again* been a long time since the last one! These are what I have been wanting to share most from my trip, favourite addresses!! Although it was a super quick trip we managed to visit some really lovely shops and had amazing food, so here they are! (I was going to include all of them together in one post but later decided to do one for shops and another for food.) <br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" target="_blank"><b><span id="goog_2124870970"></span>The Little Drom Store</b></a><span id="goog_2124870971"></span> (pictured above)<br />
As I wrote in the earlier posts (ages ago), visiting our friend <a href="http://polkaros.com/" target="_blank">Polkaros</a>' pop-up shop was the main purpose of our trip and it was at <a href="http://www.thelittledromstore.com/" target="_blank">The Little Drom Store</a>. Since I met the two cute owners of this really charming store Antoinette and Stan when they visited my shop earlier when they were in Tokyo, I had wanted to visit their store so it was perfect! Going together with Ros was very special too :)<br />
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They had moved from Ann Siang Hill to this current location which is inside SOTA, School of the arts and it's really really nice! The store is full of unique and lovely products from stationery, homewares, jewelries, books and a lot more. They are very clever with their displays and we admired their original store fixtures! Polkaros display (seen in the second picture above) was very cute too, I could not resist some pompoms!! <br />
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After we had some good exciting moments at the Little Drom Store we all had nice cakes and tea at the next door <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kki.sweets" target="_blank">K-Ki</a></b>, the sweetest Antoinette gave us a long list of must-try local delicacies and she even took us to the <b><a href="http://www.supermama.sg/" target="_blank">Supermama</a></b> - a great design store which was also in my list of want-to-go places. It was quite close from The Little Drom Store but it surely was not easy to take anyone around in the pouring rain but she so kindly did!!<br />
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We also visited the <a href="http://www.museum.red-dot.sg/" target="_blank"><b>Red Dot Design Museum</b></a> (again thanks to the tip from Antoinette!), where we enjoyed exploring around. The building was very interesting and it houses many little shops and offices of creative companies. <br />
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<b>Haji Lane </b>was fun to explore, it's lined with so many beautiful looking stores for both clothing and homewares, even spotted Tokyobike!<br />
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I really loved the <b>Tiong Bahru</b> district, one of the places I really wanted to visit in this area was <b><a href="http://www.booksactually.com/" target="_blank">Books Actually</a></b>. It's a really great book store that is way more than just a book store, a kind of store that I wish were in my own neighbourhood. There are some more lovely independent stores around this area, <b><a href="http://www.bloesem.blogs.com/" target="_blank">Bloesem</a></b> was one of them although we didn't get to go in as it was closed when we got there. <a href="http://www.40handscoffee.com/" target="_blank"><b>Forty Hands Coffee</b></a> was also in my list but it was also closing for the day. It turned out that he wonderful design team <a href="http://www.foreignpolicydesign.com/" target="_blank"><b>Foreign Policy Design</b></a> has an office right across Books Actually, so hopefully next time we can visit them - great people & amazing work!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/16777150954" title="singapore by hiki, on Flickr"><img alt="singapore" height="429" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8763/16777150954_ac7eec96a8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Maybe it's a little too touristy, but <b>Raffle's Hotel</b> is well worth a visit to check out the wonderful architecture and to have a glass of famous Singapore Sling at the Long Bar! <br />
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There are so many hotels in Singapore from budget to luxury, but we picked this boutique hotel called <a href="http://lloydsinn.com/" target="_blank"><b>Lloyd's Inn</b></a> and I'm glad we stayed here. It's located near Orchard Road so is very convenient but it's in a lovely and quiet residential area with big open space with lots of greens around the building. The best thing staying here was to wake up to the birds singing looking at the lush green view from our room in the morning! Check out their website, those beautiful photographs made me want to stay here but later it turned out that they were photographed by the very talented friend and a photographer <a href="http://rebeccatoh.com/" target="_blank">Rebecca Toh</a>!<br />
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Food places to follow in the next post! (promise!)<br />
<br />hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-64536218959261723742015-03-16T10:20:00.000+09:002015-03-16T10:29:31.595+09:00RANDOM SINGAPORE #2<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/16208868063" title="singapore by hiki, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/16208868063_4f34e6d9b7_z.jpg" width="640" height="429" alt="singapore"></a><br />
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Back to Singapore memories...<br />
Looking at the photos from our Singapore trip back in November I just wish I could be here right now. I am quite happy with the way the colours came up on the film shots, I have not edited them except I did cropping on a few of them. The light was just perfect I think, and oh everywhere I looked I had to snap!<br />
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The first 3 photos are from Ann Siang Hill where our dear friend <a href="http://polkaros.com/" target="_blank">Ros</a> took us around to (thank you Ros!). This area had a really lovely atmosphere with many nice looking shops and eateries, I would love to go back and do more exploration in Ann Siang Hill next time. Ros showed us this beautiful and quaint building with amazing mosaic work on the facade that belongs to her grandparents where she spent many weekends in her childhood days. Ros told us a little history of her family which is very interesting and I imagined the time she grew up and spent as a teenager in Singapore before she came to Tokyo 10 years ago. Very special.<br />
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From the 4th photo and below are from the Joo Chiat and around, Ros recommended this are so we took the MRT to the nearest station (which was far) and tried to walk to Joo Chiat. Without wi-fi and google map we walked up and down many directions but wondering around this residential neighbourhood was very enjoyable. Finding the street full of beautiful pastel coloured Peranakan houses after a long wondering around was a real joy! I wish I could live in one of them.... I am always fascinated by things old and beautiful with history especially interior and architecture related and it was very nice to find those things in Singapore. It was actually a little bit of a surprise to me, a good surprise, since I had imagined scenes of Singapore to be of pretty much just a modern high-rise city. But wow there are so many lovely neighbourhoods of the kinds that I love and wish to live in! I'm sure there would be lots more that I didn't get to see of course!<br />
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♡ Singapore!<br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-16926721692711245782015-03-11T10:02:00.000+09:002015-10-17T22:19:46.664+09:00311<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZoNofLu3zk/VP-OUlQ2lhI/AAAAAAAATZQ/LJHz7jQzGfQ/s1600/IMG_5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZoNofLu3zk/VP-OUlQ2lhI/AAAAAAAATZQ/LJHz7jQzGfQ/s1600/IMG_5487.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I recall that day which was supposed to be just another ordinary day, I do this every year I can remember it so clearly it still makes my heart tingles and tears come up. 4 years since the great east japan earthquake today.<br />
I have so many feelings that I wanted to put into words this morning but they don't seem to come out, in the right way. So I will keep them in my heart…. I just feel so grateful today for being able to live everyday with just what I have and how I can.<br />
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Peace.<br />
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.hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781197534505430160.post-3417929036347130452015-02-18T01:13:00.002+09:002015-02-18T01:15:31.844+09:00RANDOM SINGAPORE<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/16373747540" title="singapore by hiki, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/16373747540_b2dfc3cec4_z.jpg" width="640" height="429" alt="singapore"></a><br />
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Hello, it's been so long... I don't know if anyone would come to see my posts any more but I am slowly trying to get back here. As promised (too long ago) here are some film shots from my time in Singapore. Such a beautiful country Singapore is, I miss it so much especially on this cold Tokyo night. <br />
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Hope February has been a good month to many of you.<br />
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Oh, I almost forgot, it's Lunar New Year isn't it. We don't celebrate Lunar New Year in Japan but if you are Happy New Year!!<br />
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xx<br />
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hikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14598600150963504342noreply@blogger.com20