36 Hours in Tokyo

August 31, 2009 Leave a comment

This is a city where you see many cute and sweet girls in brown hair. This is a city where you are discouraged to talk on your mobile in the train or on the bus. This is the city when big shopping malls close at 9pm. This is the city where one of the world’s most expensive streets resides. This is the city when you find Seoul + Taipei + Shanghai. This is also the city where you find many carrying transparent white umbrellas. This is Tokyo.

My first 36 hours in Tokyo has been more than just eye-opening. Right from the airport, I was detained for more than 15 minutes. I had everything searched – from head to toe. I was body-searched – and they emptied every single item in my bags – they even stuck their hands into my shoes. All because I gave them a "wrong" answer at the counter. I was asked if this is my 1st trip in Tokyo. I answered "yes". They then asked me how long is my trip. I told them "less than one day". And then they asked me if I am here for business and where is my meeting point. I answered "I don’t know the address yet." With that – off to the room I went!

The taxi fare is amazing! I am never the "bus or train" commuter. I am always the Taxi-Boy. However, I have to stick to the bus as it will cost me about SGD400 from the airport to the city! The 2-hour bus ride itself cost me SGD45! (Same fare from Singapore to Malacca!).

The Japanese are a different breed of people. They take huge pride in their job – bus drivers, waiters, bellboys, shop staffs. You can feel "their systematic way of working". 

My good Singaporean friend, Martin (who speaks very good Japanese now) played guide and my life-saviour throughout these 36 hours. Without him, I would have felt so lost in translation in this massive, complex city. My 2G iphone isn’t working and I can’t contact anyone. I have never felt so crippled before! Lucky I have my blackberry (it is running on 3G) – I used it to message / sms the folks in Hong Kong.

It was meant to be a quickie business trip. Believe it or not, typhoon loves to travel with me. It was a 36 hours of heavy rain and strong wind. I love the cool 22-degree weather. The stay was so comfortable. I accomplished 90% of what I was tasked to do. I had my favourite Coco-Curry Rice! And best of all, I spent good quality time with Martin around Shibuya (渋谷区) and Ginza (銀座).


Filed under Travel

Hot Sexy Play Things

August 29, 2009 Leave a comment

(Photo Taken: Causeway Bay, Hong Kong – If only my PlayStation looks like them!)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

The Big 30 Harshad

August 29, 2009 Leave a comment

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Another Amazing Weekend of Visitors

August 29, 2009 Leave a comment

 

This is indeed an amazing month of visitors – Hovman, Jimmy, Rovis, my sister and family, my mother-in-law and aunt, Yiyi, Desmond… and today, I greeted 4 more new visitors from Singapore. My 69th (Aimai) and 72th (Cousin Bin and family) visitors dropped by at my place this evening! Within a short span of 100 minutes, I met all of them seperately. What a crazy weekend – it was "touch-&-go" affairs for all my meetings. Our encounters were just too short and quick. In the end, I regretted not spending enough time with my friends and cousins.
 
Like what Cousin Mike said, I just have too much on my plate to manage. Just 5 minutes ago, Aimai texted me if we can meet at LKF. I have to say no as I am packing now for another quickie business trip tomorrow morning – it will be another crazy 36 hours in Tokyo.

I love my life… I just wish I have more time to enjoy these wonderful togetherness with my loved ones.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Welcome Hunk & Beauty

August 22, 2009 Leave a comment

Filed under Wahbiang

My Dream Home

August 17, 2009 Leave a comment

This is my shortest Singapore trip ever (only 20 hours) – Yet for some strange reasons and urge, I told myself that I need to stop by my granny’s old house to take a look. I managed to do that on my way to Changi Airport this morning. It has been more than 7 years since I last stepped into this compound. 

Everything has changed. Not just granny’s old house but the entire street looks very different now. Overgrown and untrimmed bushes and old-looking house. This place has lost its glow and warmth. It was a street that housed many generations of people. During the good old days like Mooncake Festival and Chinese New Year Eve, this place was a carnival. You see children running, adults chatting in front of the yards and neighbours greeting each other. It was a fantastic and homely neighbourhood – filled with sincere Kampong spirit.  Sadly, all these were history.

I spent about 15 minutes at granny’s old house. It was vacanted…The rusty gate (last painted by me back in the early 90s) lost its shine. The metal swing which accompanied us during our childhood stood there. Nature has taken a big toll here. The upper floor where granny used to drop down the house key for me was being recognition. Looking up at the balcony (where I spent many night sleeping), I wish I can see that familiar face again.

I pushed open the door. It wasn’t locked. Everything is neat inside. There was a black cat sitting calmly there. I saw granny’s tablet. I closed my eyes and paid my respect to her. 

Saying goodbye to this place was difficult. Granny used to walk me to the gate and waved goodbye to me. She will be standing there, looking at my departuring figure. I used to walk home from her place. A long walk to my Eunos flat – 20 minutes. Back then, I had all the time in the world. Walking was a leisure.

I tried looking around for familiar faces… my childhood friends had moved away. I spent the last 2 minutes talking photo of the "drainage expressway" where I used to catch guppies and spiders. This drain is an expressway connecting to my primary school and Malacca Hotel. Today, it is still accessible. 

For sure (and by God’s blessing), I will want to buy this place and restore it back. Not only putting back the bricks and tiles but also relive the true ties of a family gathering. This wasn’t the best looking house or of unique architecture.. For it is more than just any property estate. This is place where I spent many of my happiest moments (with my cousins and granny). It is part of my hertiage and family history. It is also the place that reminded me the very true meaning of "FAMILY" and "LOVE".   

Filed under Jo's Thoughts

Hotel Enchanting

August 17, 2009 Leave a comment

(Photo Taken: Marina Mandarin Hotel, Singapore ~ After all these years, it is still so beautiful.)

Filed under Travel

Her 60th Big Day

August 17, 2009 Leave a comment

In less than 24 hours, I rushed back to Hong Kong to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday! Felicia secretly baked this birthday cake during the wee hours last night (I bet it is the first cake for her old mum)! I bought my mum-in-law a very sleek Sony pinky handphone (time to replace her existing old one). Tracy bought all of us hot desserts from our favourite dessert shop. And Elkan? That brat fought poipoi to blow the candle and cut the cake ~ he thought it is his birthday!(Urghh…if this is not Felica’s homemade cake, I will take the whole pie and smack my son’s face!)

Filed under Family

A 82kg Presence (Updated)

August 17, 2009 Leave a comment

Bidding farewell to Rovis (leaving him with Tracy), I flew in to Singapore late afternoon yesterday – just in time to give my best friend, Meijie a surprising Birthday Presence! Thanks to Joanne, she helped me to stage this ah-hoc surprise for Meijie at Orchard Cineleisure Complex. Joanne tricked Meijie about a "BIG GIFT from Hong Kong" – she insisted Meije to pick it up at Billy Bomber at 6pm. (Meijie rejected her earlier on, citing that he will collect this gift from Joanne’s office next week!)

I was hiding behind the pillar with a piece of brownie. When Meijie walked in, an evil thought suddenly slipped into my mind. It kept echoed this: "Smack him with the pie… Smack him in the face.." For that spilt second, I almost activate my mind and hand to do such that! Seriously, that would be the best blog moments for Wahbiang and U-Tube. And a perfect Birthday memory for Meijie! Don’t ask me why I didn’t go ahead with that evil thought… somehow, I worried about bad karma. (I am sure Meijie can take such joke) 

Maybe I will strike the next birthday star… Mmm..let me see who’s next? (Shoot! It is my mother-in-law! Her birthday is just 1 day after Meijie!)

See Meijie’s birthday photos here (taken on 14th Aug, Friday!)

Filed under Wahbiang

My Longest-Known Pal

August 15, 2009 Leave a comment

My 68th Visitor is an extraordinary one – ROVIS is my longest-known pal. We knew each other for 29 years – since we were only 5! And this is the 3rd time we met overseas! (First in Shanghai, second in Hangzhou and now in Hong Kong!) Wanted to corrupt him in Dongguan but he is such a good boy. My treat for him? Shitty (at Modern Toilet) and smelly food (durian at my house)! He loves it!

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

← Older posts