Attended Super T Market curated by Tomoko Mukaiyama @ Spiral, Omotesando
Hot debates, piano concert, art exhibition and networking.
Absolutely hot event in Tokyo!
Super T Market 2021
Category: International Culture
The Last Day of Long Weekend
First, I taught UNO to my niece based on rules that I remember.
However, I worried what if I taught her wrongly and she gets confused when she plays the game with friends.
I checked the official rules practices by Japan UNO Association and I changed rules; yes, to my surprise there is Japan UNO Association!
She is only 5 years old and can play with adults by remembering many rules such as same Colour, same Number, Skip, Reverse, +2, +4 and WILD Card and according to the packaging, the game is designed for 7 years old and above!
I am proud of her!
We were so full from lunch the previous day so we skipped dinner and souvenir – Panda Baum (Matcha Baumkuchen or layered cake) .
After playing few games of UNO and having a light breakfast, we opened the box….there is a cute Panda!
The cake is in Panda shape!
We decorated our Panda Baum with Macarons.
It’s cute and delicious!
We all got excited, regardless our age!
It’s fourth day and last day today.
While she was packing, she asked me what date would it be her next visit?
She is asking for DATE!
I told her we should plan again on her school holiday.
I’m glad to know that she enjoyed her stay at my condo and she is looking forward to visiting me again.
On the other hand, Choco looks happier to get attentions and his quietness after guests leaving.
Yes, we finished our roles as host and we shall get some rest.
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Tokyo Tower is in China Colour today!
Happy New Chinese Year!!!
Tully’s Seasonal Drink: Nutty Caramel Apple Latte
I faced a problem with my external drive; I cannot access to it.
I saved all my works in this external hard drive so that I need to access it badly.
I went to see my friend who is system engineer for help after office.
While he was diagnosing the external drive, I calmed myself with a cup of coffee: Nutty Caramel Apple Latte for Halloween.
My external drive was admitted; he needs to run the recovery software to save it.
Amen
Gift Rush
I was away to manage the project outside of office for a week.
When I returned to the office on Tuesday, I found two packages on my desk. (Yellow Box was inside of white paper bag).
In the yellow boxes, there are many nice confectioneries from Palace Hotel Tokyo.
In a gift paper bag, there are coffee and cooking ingredients from Malaysia.
Then my friend gave me special moon cakes (varieties of lotus paste moo cakes) from Malaysia because 24 September was moon cake festival.
So nice of them and touched!
Thank you for Mr. K, Mr. Z and Ms. T!
XOXO
Tokyo Station Now
Before exiting from JR Tokyo Station, there are small shop lots.
Each of them sell cute and attractive stuffs!
I enjoyed window shoppings there.
Specialized shop for JR Higashi Nihon (East Japan).
Train lovers should stop by to check it out their merchandises.
Across from this shop, there are other specialized shops for traveling, household, lifestyle, food and Japanese traditional products such as chopsticks, towels, etc.
I found portable tea and coffee brewer that I bought as souvenirs from Denmark. (Bottom Shelf)
Wow, these reached to Japan!
These are delicious and recommended to buy.
Business Trip to Wakayama (Day 2)
I started my day with a luxurious breakfast – Wakayama local specialties and Wakayama Castle.
I believe ONLY Japan can provide this scenery: breakfast with a castle. hahaha
I was pumped with this breakfast to attend the workshop for capacity building organized by International Trade Centre.
This is my first time to participate in workshop which applies mix format of theoretical presentation, group discussion and practical exercises.
All of us come from different countries; it was fun to discuss to practice exercises.
I would like to participate again in this kind of workshop for self improvement.
Trip to Bulgaria and Romania (Day 4)
Today is the main day of this trip: Rose Festival.
We are scheduled to leave hotel for Kazanlak at 6:45 am; as such, I took a quick breakfast at 5:30 am then Sayonara Plovdiv.
Bulgaria has rich soil so the country’s self efficiency is high.
Bulgaria imports food only during winter.
I can see many farms at the road side.
Kazanlak is famous for production of poppy, lavender and rose.
This is lavender farm, looks nice in purple.
The type of Rose suited for extracting rose oil is Damask Rose.
Bulgarian believes Damask Rose was brought by Thracians.
On the other hand, some claim Damask Rose was brought by Turkish/Ottoman.
This theory is also supported because production of rose oil was industrialized during Ottoman Empire.
Rose requires rich soil, enough sunshine and balanced humidity.
Due to above requirements, roses are commonly planted at winery grape yards to alert soil condition.
To produce 1kg of rose oil, it requires 3,000 roses; 1 drop requires 120 roses.
Once rose oil was traded equally as gold.
No wonder it’s precious.
Rose is national flower of Bulgaria.
This morning, we departed early for rose picking.
It is better to pick roses early morning to keep better/stronger fragrance.
Rose oil is commonly used as one of ingredients for major brands’ perfume to keep lasting fragrance.
Rose oil is also used as an ingredient for cosmetics because of its performance: anti-aging, antibacterial effects, moisturizing and even good for applying insect bites.
It is also used for supplement: kidney stone, constipation, etc.
When we consume rose jam, we need to be easy with it; it might force you to go to toilet often! hahaha
I bought rose oil, hand cream, jam and lokum for myself.
I can enjoy rose picking, shopping and even watching Bulgarian Folk Dance at Ethnographic Complex Damascena, Kazanlak.
Bulgarian Folk Dance and songs.
We moved to the Rose Festival Parade.
This parade started in 1903.
The total population of Kazanlak is about 50,000, but over 100 buses of tourists visit the town for Rose Festival.
They are Queen of Rose.
This parade is heart warming because it is obviously hand-made by local community.
At last, all of us (local people and tourists) dance together.
We had BBQ for lunch,
Drinks are included. Yeah!
After lunch, we visited Shipka Memorial Church, also known as Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ.
On the way to Veliko Turnovo, we stopped by at one of parking areas to try pure water buffalo yogurt with local honey.
Both yogurt and honey are so rich and delicious that I would recommend to try it.
We arrived Veliko Turnovo and checked in at Hotel Meridian Bolyarski.
It has a tremendous view.
We had dinner at hotel restaurant.
We also enjoyed live music while eating and chatting.
We had a good time at our table.
After dinner, we went for a short walk; this town is very peaceful.
It’s been a long day.
I soaked my body to rose bath to unwind my tired body.
Good night.
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Happy New Chinese Year!
I’m not Chinese, but it’s Chinese New Year.
I want to do something Chinese today.
Therefore, I watched a movie, Man Hunt, which is collaborated between Japanese and Chinese and directed by Chinese Director, Mr. John Woo.
I watched the movie with subtitle because Chinese actors and actresses speak in Chinese.
It was 7:15 pm show so I changed cinema mileage (yes, we can cumulate mileage by watching movies) to a free drink and popcorn.
After the movie, I went out for Chinese dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Tsim Sha Tsui, Roppongi.
It was late, but the owner is very kind allowing us in.
We wished her Gong Xi Fa Cai, then she gave us a dessert!
How sweet of her!
This is her way of giving me a sweet Ang pie (good luck red envelope)!
Thank you and….
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Long Friday Night
I went to Yokohama China Town to celebrate early Chinese New Year with Japanese friends.
I had dinner at Yokihi (Yang Gui Fei).
It’s usually opened as boutique and cafe.
My friend knows the owner so he asked to open for dinner.
We enjoyed home cooking dinner and these are very delicious!
After dinner, we continued talking at Nodoguroya Kakiemon, Nakameguro.
It’s nice casual restaurant: oyster house.
This is real TGIF!
sonokotchi 