Category: Surprise

Posted in Books & Magazines, Diving, Experience, Feelings, Food, Movie, Place, Surprise, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 6)

Posted on by sonokotchi

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!

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Experience, Feelings, Place, Surprise, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 5)

Posted on by sonokotchi

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! 

Posted in Diving, Exercise, Experience, Feelings, Food, Place, Surprise, Tokyo, Travel

Trip to Sipadan (Day 3)

Posted on by sonokotchi

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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Sharks – handsome!


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

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Surprise, Tokyo

Omotenashi (Japanese Hospitality)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had dinner with my old friends from Malaysia.

We enjoyed Robata Yaki (grilled) in Shinjuku.


We haven’t met for years so we laughed throughout dinner, sharing good memories.

We were asked for last order; we said we are fine.

Then light went out.

I thought there is a problem with the light, worried.

Then a lady who has been serving our table neared to us with a welcoming plate.

It’s simple, but touching.

This is my first time posting a photo that I didn’t take.

We were all feeling overwhelmed.

I didn’t want to spoil the moment so I asked my friend to share a photo with me.

 

All of us are overwhelmed by this.

I am so proud to show my friends Japanese warm hospitality: OMOTENASHI.

The chemistry was right: good friends, good food and good moment.

It is a wonderful night.

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Food, Health, Surprise

Nuts

Posted on by sonokotchi

I try to replace my snacks to nuts.

Now I love nuts and I cannot stop eating.

Today I check its nutritious facts…it’s high in CALORY and high in FATS!

Really…?

I’m addicted; I cannot stop eating… Ooops

I didn’t know it’s addictive…dangerous.

On the other hand, there is nuts diet – we won’t suffer from hunger and get good nutrious facts from nuts. 

Hummm I didn’t know that.

I try to be careful, not to overeat.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Surprise, World Culture

Surprise Gift

Posted on by sonokotchi

I received a gift; I don’t know what.

It seems it’s from China.

It looks Chinese tea…?


I don’t understand Chinese, but being Japanese, I can understand Chinese characters.

I read it these are Chinese tea that served during 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.

It must be delicious.

I look forward to enjoying it!!!

Posted in Feelings, Health, Surprise

Sudden Swelling

Posted on by sonokotchi

I don’t know what happened to me over night.

I woke up and found myself swollen.

My face is so rounded, making a HQ officer to gesture I blow up.

This could be a sexual harassment, but I just laughed.

I myself couldn’t believe what happened to my body.

Last night, I slept as usual, but I feel surprisingly over tired today.

Hummm

I was told that it could cause by unstable weather, frequently changing atmospheric pressure…?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a fun news to report.

I want to attend the seminar tomorrow so I had to clear my work; I continue working at home.

It’s 2 am now….I hope I’ll be okay tomorrow.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Place, Surprise, Travel

Short Trip to Canada (Day 4)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I woke up and found a card…

I opened a door as it says…

Yeah! Thank you Santa!

Stocking can always make us happy.

It’s time to leave Banff; but, finally I had a nice clear day.

I could clearly see Canadian Rockies.

I didn’t know that I had this view from my room till now…departure…

On the way to the Calgary airport, I could observe numerous mountains clearly.

Cascade Mountain 

Overlooking Banff

Rundle Mountain

Due to the angle, it looks like a caterpillar…?

Ha Ling Peak

The pointy mountain on the right.

Three mountains at far left are Three Sisters.

Three Sisters


Rohido Mountain 

It’s trapezoid/trapezium topped mountain.


Mt. Yamnuska
The end of Canadian Rockies.

It looks like a Gyoza (dumpling).

It was fun to hunt for mountains.


I became thirsty after hunting for mountans.

At the Calgary Airport, I enjoyed detox cold press juice, Jugo Juice Max Vege.

It looks vege, but it is easy to drink and delicious.


Time to head for Victoria.


Sayonara Banff!


I thought I can take a nap on the plane.

However, I enjoyed watching Canadian Rockies. 
I could clearly see them from plane!

Aren’t they gorgeous?




Started decending.


Konnichiwa Victoria.



First, went to the Butchart Gardens for afternoon tea (lunch).




After afternoon tea, visited few gardens.

Sunken Garden

Japanese Garden


Italian Garden


Then left for the Parliament Building.

The Parliament Building is nicely decorated for Christmas.

Tonight’s’ hotel, the Grand Pacific Hotel is just next to the Parliament Building.

Hotel room is cozy.


And their hospitality is sweet.

A hotel staff visited my room to extend me a warm Merry Christmas, a greeting card and Christmas cookies!

So sweet!


After freshen up, went out for a seafood dinner.


Salmon was cooked on a board of cedar (perhaps, to get smoked aroma…?) and vegetables were hiding under a board.


I’m glad that I came during Christmas because a town itself dresses up for Christmas and everybody is in a good spirit wishing for everybody’s happiness. 

Merry Christmas!