It’s Sunday, but we’ll start our programme early on Monday; we arrive Nagoya a day before.
I’m staying at Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel.
It’s new, convenient and functional.
New – this hotel is newly opened on 17 April 2017.
Convenient – it’s connected to Nagoya Station.
Functional – the size of room is only 20 sqm, but it’s functional.
We can experience IoT world.
We can operate light, AC, etc from a tablet.
I’m lucky to have a Nagoya Castle View.
I didn’t upload for few days; I was simply busy with work.
After busy days, I went for a quick bite and went to bed early.
On Thursday night, I went to my regular Sushi Restaurant, Sushiya no Goto.
On Friday night, I went to a new restaurant, Niku no Rakuem (Meat Paradise) at Roppongi Yokocho.
At First/Ground Floor of ROI Buildig, Roppongi, about twenty restaurants operates.
Is this a typical Asian style restaurant corridor for you?
The most recommended restaurant there is Niku no Rakuen (Meat Paradise).
If you are a meat lover, it’s casual and delicious.
Yesterday, on Saturday, I drove to Kamogawa, Chiba to attend a Buddhist Ceremony for our Grand Father which is scheduled on Sunday.
It takes three hours drive to reach there and the ceremony is scheduled at 10:30 am in the morning.
We (family members) decide to arrive one day earlier to enjoy staying in town.
We used to visit there often when our grand parents were still alive.
We have many memories here and there in town.
We used to stay in Kanpo no Yado Kamogawa, a hotel operating by a Japanese former national insurance company (currently, privatized).
We used to dine at a restaurant to enjoy local food and bath in a large public bath over looking Pacific Ocean.
This hotel is reasonable and located in front of Kamogawa Sea World (aquarium) and our Temple, Eimeiji (Eimei Temple).
I attended a ceremony and we also enjoyed eating lunch and talking after the ceremony.
They gave us a box of Soramame (broad beans) as a sourvenir.
I love this beans so quickly boiled and ate when I got back.
It’s so fresh!!!
I miss my Grand Parents.
Please Rest In Peace.
It’s time to go back.
Sayonara & Arigatoooooooo!!!
Since it’s a last day of Japanese Golden Week holiday, a plane back to Japan is full.
I had to divert to Singapore: Tawau – Kauala Lumpur – Singapore – Haneda/Tokyo.
On the way to Singapore, I already started feeling sentimental by looking at movies and photos.
I arrived Singapore happily and saw a disturbing word on a signboard – Delayed.
Soon I found that my flight delayed for a half day – I missed going back to office on Monday. Ahhhhh
We get a free accommodation in Singapore, but this is unexpected.
It is a nice hotel, but didn’t have much time to enjoy my stay.
We arrived midnight and left hotel at 5:15 am to catch 7:45 am flight.
Luckily, I’ve been waking up at Kapalai/Sipadan early.
Hotel quickly prepared supper for us.
At the Changi Airport, I found a wine tasting server – interesting!
As usual, I enjoyed food and movies on the crowded plane.
Breakfast
Passengers
Collateral Beauty
I read a manga on the screen: Tokyo Tarareba Musume (Tokyo What If Girls).
My first time to read a manga on the airline screen!
Finally, I reached Haneda/Tokyo.
What a trip!
This trip become a memorable one for sure!
Would I do it again?
Absolutely!
Last day to dive…I’m lucky, I am going to dive at Sipadan again!
When we dive at Sipadan, we leave the pier at 5:30 am to catch early risers, bump fish.
It’s still dark.
I’m not good at waking up early, but for diving, I can wake up. hahaha
It was worth waking up early.
I swam with many Bump Fish!
There are many sharks!
A stream of horse mackerels.
My friend took a photo of me dive into bourse makerels.
Wahhhh her photo is so sharp!
Shall I consider getting a proper camera…?
We were looking for a barracuda.
We swam and swam looking for baraccudas at Barracuda Point, twice.
At last dive (4th dive), we decided to enjoy diving with beautiful coral scenery.
But we are lucky!!!
There are baraccudas…
I got closer to them, then they started making a Barracuda Tornado!!!
Breath taking.
I’m so so lucky!
First Sipadan Trip, I witnessed a Barracuda Tornado!!!
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I appreciate whatever I see there.
This is a long living shell.
It grew too large unabling to close now.
I watched so many things: various tropical fish, sea slugs, turtles, sharks, Bump Fish, hourse mackerels…and…Baraccuda Tornado!
I had so much fun diving here!
Today, diving at Mabul.
Mabul is Macro Heaven.
We can meet sea slugs, shrimp, etc.
I was thrilled when I found a sea slug by myself!
Flop fish in two different colours…. gray and brown.
Ugly fish…hahaha
What’s that Big fish!
And the place is shark and turtle heaven.
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Today, we are going to dive at SIPADAN!
I was nervous.
So many what if crossed my mind.
But soon I know I’m going to have good time here.
Many wild dolphins greeted me!!
And this is SIPADAN!
We rest between dives at station in Sipadan.
Under water, I met a family of bump fish.
They have scars on their heads because they fight and bump their heads to each other.
Wahhhh there are many horse mackerels – so beautiful!
They are always in group.
They look yammy!
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Cute turtle
I’ve been seen him, but don’t know his name.
What’s his name…?
I want to buy a fish illustrated book to check its name.
Dolphins surely brought me good luck.
I managed to catch a school of barracuda!
Yeahhhhhhhhh
We departed Kapalai at 5:30 am for Sipadan.
We dived at four points: Coral Garden, Barracuda Point, South Point and Barracuda Point.
After dinner, I went to bed early. Zzzzzzz
hahahaha
I took a midnight flight so it is technically day 2 even though I didn’t have a proper sleep.
I finished watching the movie, Silent.
I’m lucky that I could continue watching before I forget a story.
Breakfast was served on the plane.
In addition, I watched Miss Sloane, a story about a lobbyist.
I’m amazed how she reads people’s mind and plan a plot.
This movie is a must-watch-movie on a plane.
I arrived at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for transfering to a domestic flight.
I’ve been to Malaysia many times, but I don’t remember walkingn through here.
Could it be my first time? hummmmm
Oh, I’m nervous, getting closer to Sipadan!
I asked for a typical Malaysian breakfast – Nasi Lemak on the plane; however, I couldn’t enjoy much because I was still full from a breakfast served on ANA.
We are approaching Tawau, Sabah soon…
This is Tawau Airport: a gateway to a diving heaven…
It takes 1.5 hrs to Semporna Port to take a jetty to reach Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort.
There is no land; it’s a water cottage village.
Absolute quietness.
I say ABSOLUTE because there is no TV in a room and hotel WiFi was broken during my stay!
Resort serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in buffet style.
There is no AC, fan only.
Don’t worry, this is sufficient.
I love relaxing at the balcony overlooking emerald green ocean.
Isn’t this gorgeous?
Bath room is spacious with a toilet, sink, bath tub and shower booth.
After unpacking and getting ready, we went for a check dive.
First, we dived with a Dive Master to learn the House Reef so that we can dive on our own with a buddy.
A beauty about this resort is unlimited dive at the house reef is inclusive in a diver’s package.
I spotted a colourful sea slug.
And hello Nimos!
I wanted to share what I see under the water; therefore, I bought a small camera and housing for iPhone 5S for this trip.
I also bought a mask!
I’m glad that I bought these because these enriched my diving.
I will share many beautiful photos with you!
I selected three kinds of roses to arrange for Mother’s Day.
Well, sorry that I couldn’t upload my trip to Sipadan.
Hotel WiFi was broken and since I stayed at a Water Cottage, the reception is weak to get roaming.
I had so much fun and will try to share it with you soon.
Unfortunately, it was raining in the morning.
But it didn’t discourage me to enjoy Chinese breakfast at the Grand Hotel.
First, I visited National Revolutionary Marty’s Shrine to pay a respect for people who lost their lives for the WWII.
A war will create many victims and they are all victims.
We should not start any war.
Next I went to National Palace Museum.
There are so many great things there and I could share some great master pieces with you.
I have no idea how these were created.
This is must to see at this museum: Jade Cabbage.
And a set of carved openwork concentric ivory balls with cloud-and-dragon decoration.
There are 24 layers and each layer/ball can move!
There are many more.
I don’t mind to visit the museum again to spend more time admiring these arts.
Next, I visited Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan.
He is a Mascot of Taipei 101.
It is 101 floors building and it takes only 37 seconds to reach observation floor, 89F.
There are many unique buildings in town according to Feng Shui.
There is a twisted green building that is currently under the construction.
It’s lunch time!
I really look forward for Din Tai Fung (Dim Sum) and I enjoyed, really enjoyed every bites!
Their XiaoLongBao (soup dumplings) is highly recommended!
MUST EAT!!!
I ate five today. hehehe
I requested additional dessert.
I wanted to try a famous Taiwanese style Mango Snowflake Ice.
Since I didn’t have time to eat there, I asked for a take away.
It supposed to look like this.
It’s so Mango because ice is not normal water ice, it tastes Mango!!!
And it’s so soft and melt like snow!
A take away style is like this.
After lunch, I visited Longshan Temple.
The stone curving on pillars are just amazing.
I’m here to pray, but at the same time, I get anazed by these breathtaking arts!
After praying, I watched the ceremony of changing the guard at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Last stop was Jiufun.
This little town is located in the mountain because it used to be a gold mining town.
Now it became a hot tourist spot because it’s traditional looks and there is a rumor that Mr. Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese Animator, got an inspiration from this town to design a town for a story of Spirited Away.
We need to go up stairs to go to a main road.
A main road is narrow.
I tried Taiwan’s Stinky Tofu!!! Mmmmmmmm
I think trying once is enough for me.
To my surprise, many people, even youngs, like these Stinky Tofu.
Well, I love Chinese tea and one of my missions for this trip is to get nice Chinese tea.
This tea house strictly controls quality of products and I love their products: smooth, delicate, nice aroma and delicious.
I bought varieties of tea and even bought new kinds.
Chinese tea is like herbal medicine; it can assist to detox, beautyfy and slimming.
After tasting Chinese tea, my skin improved drastically.
My parents already asked me to mail order before I open my tea.
I haven’t touch my stock!
I can enjoy them for quite some time.
I continued to walk the town.
I reached the building/area that Mr. Miyazaki got inspired…
This is a tea house, but in the movie, it’s a bath house.
If you watch a movie, you can easily spot the scene.
I left Jiufun for dinner for a nice Taiwanese local food at Shin Yeh, Taipei.
It’s very delicious or was I too hungry…? hahaha
Earlier I achieved one of my missions.
Now I’m achieving another one: to try papaya milk.
My friend recommended me to try papaya milk.
(Hummmm, same friend recommended to try Stinky tofu…ahhh.)
Papaya milk is nice and I also recommend it to you.
I also tried a nice dragon fruit smoothie; it’s not a guava juice.
Guava Juice is the name of shop. hahaha
sonokotchi 