escapades of the elusive kat

Tokyo Day 6 - Lazy Excursion

notte0 — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:01:04 GMT

I was supposed to return on this day, but the airline cancelled the flight on this day and rescheduled me to the following day, so I had an extra day in Tokyo. Not really wanting to research and plan much, I decided to join a local tour. Meeting point was at Tokyo Station.

Basically it was simply like a carpool shared transport with a fixed itinerary. We went to 3 places. When we met, i was the only solo traveler and sat at a random seat in the car. When everyone arrived, the driver asked me to change the seat, because the last pair arrived and would have to be separated. The driver is mainland Chinese, and the last pair to arrive are also mainland Chinese, and they were discussing in Mandarin, "that's a solo traveler, just re-seat her." The driver asked me in English to re-seat and I was like "sure, cool" but I dunno. I have a resting bitch face? The driver was super afraid of me. (???) So I replied in Mandarin "Don't worry, I get it, I'll change my seat, no issue." .... and maybe that made him even more afraid of me lol.

The tour was to Ibaraki prefecture. First stop, 1.5hours away, Oarai Isosaki Shrine. The car dropped us off at the top (where the shrine is) but to take that photo we had to walk down to the coastline. It was such a beautiful place.

Well, having gone down meant I had to get back up.

The Goshuin-Cho is super pretty! But I'm not buying another one until I've filled up the current one. I didn't read too much about this shrine, but seeing as this is a coastal city, I guess it's like a shrine for the fishermen. Frogs are called "Kaeru" in Japanese, and it's synonymous with "Return home"... so my conclusion is the frogs are like trying to say for fishermen to "come back home."

Small shrine, gave us 40 minutes to roam around.

I think most of the tour group stayed down in the coast to take seaside photos. I did that already and roamed the shrine instead.

There's actually quite a lot of nooks and crannies and I found some interesting places within the shrine area.

Oh and then I found the display for these boats and stuff, so, kind of reconfirms my suspicion about this being a shrine for fishermen.

Very interesting display.

Then we made a short ride (30 minutes?) to the Nakaminato Fish Market. The driver/tour guide came to tell me that actually the fish from Tokyo is actually from Ibaraki (this place) and so the seafood here is even fresher than in Tokyo. We were given 1.5hours to eat and roam and shop here.

It's pretty lively and so I went for the full seafood lunch set first.

And then the roadside stalls I snacked on a couple of stuff. I've also since come to enjoy these Japanese pickled cucumber. I ate so much cucumbers throughout these 7 days here! I didn't buy anything. It's all seafood, I did think about bringing some furikake back, but then again, back at home I'd hardly eat rice, so was no point to buy any of that back.

Another 1-hour ride to Hitachi Seaside Park. The driver-guide suggested to buy a 600-yen ticket to take the in-park train. We were given 2 hours to explore this place.

I found a bike rental and of course... I went on the bike instead! It's pretty well planned - there is a bike path, and you can park somewhere near the main points, and walk there.

If you are a couple you can rent this two-seat bike lol.

The Nemophilia's in bloom.

The Narcissus were dried out already.

I should have taken more photos with my plushies.

There was a phone-stand and so I took a self photo.

... Poppies? Pansies? I don't know my flowers, sorry.

Hm...... tulips? No. Oh, there was an amusement park area and I was so tempted to go on the Ferris Wheel, but 2 hours really wasn't enough to explore all that.

I timed my trip pretty well, returned the bike and still had time to enjoy this "Nemophilia Float." Not that it was any good lol. It was just... sweet. Soda and syrup sweet. With ice cream. I finished the ice cream and poured the rest of the soda into my by-now empty tumbler.

And another 2 hours back to Tokyo station. I decided to have a walk around and found out apparently Tokyo Station as a "Character Street". Here's Goku (?) looking like a monkey. And you know what, Sun Goku started as a monkey, right? When he was a kid he had a tail and all? And in Chinese, his name is actually the name of the Monkey King in Journey to the West. And then another donut place had this HUGE donut.

Of course there's Pikachu station master!

The character street was pretty impressive - there were like actual character stores (Sanrio, Rilakkuma, Chiikawa etc)

And then there were also TV-channel specific stores. So like TBS store with all the recent TBS hot stuff.

Honestly, nothing around there caught my eye (I've got self-control lol). It rained this evening and I didn't feel like searching for new food, so I went back to some good old conveyor belt sushi near my hotel.

Tokyo Day 6 - Going out of the way

notte0 — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:09:33 GMT

On this fine day, I went eastwards. My actual destination was Sawara 佐原 but after checking the routing, it would pass by Narita anyway, so I re-visited Narita. When I went with my bestie a couple years ago, she did the silly thing of locking her Goshuin-book with her luggage at the coin locker, and apparently the Temple there gave out hand-drawn stamps. She has a super special Goshuin-Cho. Hers is made of wood, so only the hand-drawn Goshuins would look nice, if she had to stick a paper onto it, it would ruin the aesthetics. Anyway, since I commenced my Goshuin journey as well, I decided to go there.

Familiar road, familiar buildings, familiar shops. Narita-San Shrine.

Same steep stairs (not photographed).

When I went to get my Goshuin, I saw this map... so I decided to go on a quest and get them all. I don't know what part of human nature this is, say it's a set and you'll want to get them all (Pokemon, pop mart or any blind boxes, gachapons, etc...)

I saw this beauty along the way, this guy was huge. I didn't have time to get my raven plushie charm out to take a photo with... I assume that's a raven, I think it's too large to be a crow?

So, I found out while the main temple had hand-drawn Goshuins, all the others only gave out paper Goshuins.

Even though it's all one temple cluster it was a bit of a walk.

Once i got the last Goshuin I decided to have a wander in the forest. I have Austrian blood flowing in me too, I like to Wandern!

Nice and breezy in here.

Walked the wrong way here and had to go back.

Had a quick pause for a cold drink and a snack, then went on my way back to the station. Had to wait 20 minutes so I started reading, and then it sort of dawned on me, if I brought my regular sized e-reader I wouldn't take it out in this situation. So I think getting this tiny e-reader and bringing it on this trip was a good call. I posted in my book club about the joys of this small sized e-reader and apparently a sort of debate started whether an e-reader should have a backlight or not. I'm in "it doesn't matter but I like it without backlight" camp. I noticed my Kindle and Kobo with the backlight the screen looks like it's raised. Then people started to use words like purists and such. Ooops.

Arrived Sawara! I decided to immediately take the bus and go to the furthest point I was going, and from there make my way back.

Arrived Katori Jingu Shrine, this also had a bit of a maze-like walk.

Very nice shrine here. Also had Goshuin. Before I left, some ceremony was going on, so I stayed on the far-off sidelines to observe a little bit.

While waiting for the Goshuin to be drawn, I saw this huge tree. It's probably nothing compared to another tree my bestie wants to go see, but, I still found this tree impressive.

The hand-drawn map made it seem like this special rock is a huge one, but it's a tiny rock.

Maps wasn't too helpful with finding a way back, so in order not to get too frustrated, I went to get some food. Cold noodles with dorodoro! Grated yam, I loved it. And Warabimochi, they claim to be No.1, so I had to try. The lady gave me a plastic bag for when I finish and can put the paper plate away.

In the end I took the same bus that brought me here, but the return route. I stopped half way to walk to the my next destination.

It was quite a walk and on the way I saw a poster looking for a lost dog. You see? What did I say yesterday? I hate these stories, and it's happening live in front of me. I teared up a bit thinking about the lost dog and how scared it must be. Anyway, I reached the local Float Museum

So, similar to Kawagoe, Sawara was also a merchant city, so they had similar festivals. This museum was obviously older than the one I visited in Kawagoe, but this one had more international support. Signage's were also available in English and maybe Spanish (I didn't look well) and there was a movie time that they called me to go watch. Since I was the sole audience they let me choose the language lol. So I watched the movie in English. Nice to have a 15-minute sit down.

I'm going to have to ask my bestie to try to plan a Japan trip to see one of these floats festivals, sounds like a very interesting thing to be in. Though maybe if I ever go, on the day I'd be like "ugh... too many people...." lol

Continued my walk to look for the...

"JyaJya Bridge"! It's actually called the Toyo-Bridge ("Toyohashi Bridge" just means Toyo-Bridge Bridge). I don't know from where I read it but it's called the JyaJya bridge because of the sounds it makes? At certain times of the hour it would start flowing with water (like a waterfall).

Well, can't not do a river boat tour right? It's very safe, with life vests.

Quick visit to the Inoh Tadataka's Former Residence. And who is Inoh Tadataka? I forget if it said whether he's the first or not, but he's a Cartographer.

I probably didn't research enough about the place. I know it's the Soy Sauce and Sake city, but I couldn't find any shops selling that. Also Peanut Ice Cream. Found an ice cream place but it only had the fancy sorbet type stuff, not proper old-school ice cream.

Anyway, it could also be that I chose the wrong road to go to the station so I missed all that. There's always a chance for next time, right?

Back in Tokyo, I went for... Indian dinner! The naan I had at Kawaguchiko was still the best so far, but I also liked this one because usually the garlic naan I have is very oily. This one is nice dry, garlic crunch, oh yum yum! I asked for the minimal spicy but it was still too spicy. I was half done and the guy wanted to change, I said no need, I'll finish it. Also did my final tax free shopping, as I need to start planning on how to pack my back. Everything (including the new small suitcase) can fit in the one suitcase, I just need to weight it to see if it goes over.

Tomorrow is my last full-day here in Japan, I have a local tour planned, so hopefully it's going to be easygoing than the past few days.

Tokyo Day 5 - Ghibli Park

notte0 — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:04:17 GMT

I keep telling myself, I'm on a holiday, I'll sleep in tomorrow. But then I have my itineraries and then I have to wake up earlier than even when I'm going to work. I had to forego my hotel's breakfast (I've come to enjoy my hotel's breakfasts) and got myself on-the-go food as I was on the Shinkansen at 6:33am already. Once at Nagoya I had to go search for the bus stop - not too far away but a little complicated to get into the building.

Soooooo I went to the Ghibli Park! A friend had mentioned there are places to see that I need to get extra tickets for (because I got the regular pass only) so I toured around the "Factory" pretty quickly. Which, after I visited those extra places, wasn't really special, I should have spent more time at the Factory. Anyway! Today's movie was Koro no Daisanpo (Koro's Big ~~Walkies~~ Adventure). Although objectively, I know for kiddy animes nothing will happen to the dog but I hate... passionately HATE these stories. *Some reason* dog manages to escape home and tries to follow owner's scent and goes after owner - almost gets hit by a car, almost gets run over by a train, etc. etc. etc. I hate it. Yes they reunite in the end but more often than not, that's storytelling. In real life? The dog's toast.

This is where having a friend to holiday with is a good thing - photos!

Honestly speaking, I've only ever watched maybe... 3 Ghibli shows? Nausica was before they were Ghibli and I was actually too young to actually remember. Laputa is probably the only one I've watched from start to end and actually know the story because I've watched more than once (re-runs on the TV). Totoro... coming to think of it I actually haven't watched it. Kiki's Delivery service I watched twice maybe so know more or less, but the one that has the story more clearly etched in my mind is Laputa. Though for some reason I actually like Nausica (despite not really understanding it). Loved the field of gold scene.

That is to say.... all these scenes...... I cannot relate lol.

The staff said this is a new installation. Would have loved to have a photo taken here, like just poking my head out like the girl there.

The staff said this is from On Your Mark. Dunno, didn't watch. I can sing the theme song though. 🎵On Your Mark 僕らがそれでも止めないのは🎵 er,... it's Chage & Aska. Why do I suddenly feel old saying that lol.

Absolutely no idea what these are!

I suddenly came into an empty room with a staff.... with these?

Apparently the staff aren't allowed to help take photos, but since I was first in the room and no other guests, the girl helped me take a photo here.

Only AFTER did I see the cat bus... that is for adults! I can finally go in the cat bus!

So much interesting stuff on the two walls!

Random scene from some show I guess?

The people in front of me offered to take a photo for me. I would have asked the people behind me (I knew they were Taiwanese, and I was planning to give them heart attacks by asking them in Mandarin lol)

I can say I know this is from the Chihiro show but I can't say more.

The milk... wasn't anything special.

Walked over to Witches' Valley.

Awfully nice day.

So I paid extra to see the other 2 places that wasn't included in my pass, Witches' House and the house of some guy. Howl's castle was sold out, so bummer. But anyway, all these extra paid places were no photo areas. I'm not saying I need to take a photo of everything (ok maybe I am), but when I see something particularly interesting I'd like to take a photo and make a note of it. Like the Witches' kitchen there was a corner with all the herbs and stuff, I really wanted to take a photo, but couldn't.

Hey look! Jiji's Family!

Bought some bread from Kiki's Bakery.

The white bread with a flower was yuck. The Canale was normal stuff.

This part is Princess Mononoke's area, and... you guessed it, I haven't watched, so I dunno.

There was a warabimochi thing in the house but I was a little stuffed from the bread.

Oh, then I actually found a hidden mountain trail. I had basically finished seeing everything, and it was still 1pm, the next bus off wasn't until 3pm, so I walked around to see what else there is and found the trail. Half way up was this Wing thing from I dunno which show lol. Nobody here to help me take a photo.

And then I saw this rail car thing...? It was mad steep, but in the car it didn't feel like it. Also I got to sit in the car alone, private trip lol.

Slowly making my way back to the bus station, got ice cream.

Thus ended my trip to Ghibli Park.

Made my way back to Tokyo and then went to hunt for dinner. As I was sitting at the waiting area of a restaurant, what do you know, it's a small world after all. I saw an alumni from my university. I didn't think he'd know me since he's like 3 years before me, but apparently he did. He came over to greet and we exchanged pleasantries. We don't even chance encounter in Macau, yet we chance-met in a random restaurant in Tokyo.

By now I've sort of run out of places to go. I planned another excursion tomorrow and decided to join a day trip on Wednesday, so at least there's stuff to look forward to.

Tokyo Day 4 - Where are the cats?

notte0 — Sun, 10 May 2026 13:53:25 GMT

It being Sunday today, I decided I'd go visit the Tokyo Flea Market! You have to check the website and see which weekends they open. Mostly they are running on Saturday and Sunday, but as they're using the Horse Racetrack car park for that, I guess when it's race day they will not hold the flea market.

It was a beautiful day, but it was way too sunny. I had to take out my hat! And lucky I got the Uniqlo UV block windbreaker as well!

I was wondering if there will be any fakes but Otter Mascot guarantees there are no Copy stock here. I also didn't have enough time to switch to video mode to record those walking shadows. It was pretty surreal when I saw that happening.

Well, I sees dogs, I plays with dogs. The Chihuahua-Dachshund mix Shop Manager was just chilling. The Frenchie Shop Manager was way too crazy. He actually initiated play lol (butt up and snorting at me).

I noticed a lot of these second hand stalls selling bags are like 98% Coach. Does Japan so love Coach? I did see one red Burberry (dunno if it's proper Burberry or Burberry Blue label) for a pretty good price, but then I don't really need another bag, so I didn't buy it. I bought only 1 picture frame of a Frenchie which I doubt is really "vintage" or "second hand" but anyway. It was that art style where they use all the colors and splat it over the picture? Looked like my Frankie and was cheap, so I got it.

On the way back to Tokyo proper I got on this weird Monchichi themed Monorail. I.... hate.... Monchichi...

Before I saw the sign, when I was looking at maps, I thought Shibakoen was Shiba (the dog) Koen (Park/Garden). But nah.

So, I got here. Yanaka Ginza. The internets says it's Cat Town. I was expecting real cats running around. Not one cat that moved.

Lots of nifty shops though.

Yes, shops that featured names as "Cat's miscellaneous goods"

And textile/clothes with cat patterns.

Oh, I got myself one of these Japanese hanko? Name stamps. But of course mine's like fake. I used my initials for it instead of Chinese)

Since my hanko needed 30minutes to be done, I decided to have an early lunch. This mochi restaurant just happened to open and people had not started queuing yet, so I stepped in, and managed to get a seat.

The mochi was really good. Though, mochi is very filling. And since the lemonade was fresh made and had ice, I finished the water from my tumbler and poured the iced lemonade into my tumbler - I had a cold drink for the rest of the day.

After I picked up my hanko, I started to walk my way to Yanaka Cemetery - where the internets say there are cats here. I saw not one cat. Though I did pass by and see some interesting buildings

Don't worry, I actually had a plan. The cemetery of on the way to Kanei-ji Temple; I checked and found out they hand-draw their Goshuins, so I had planned to go there anyway.

After Kanei-ji Temple, I continued my way to Kiyomizu Kannon-do Temple which actually is just in Ueno Park. It's so well hidden, I never knew there was a temple there. They also hand-drew the Goshuin, so I was a happy kat.

Apple Maps taught me to take the Bus to get to Asakusa, on the way there's some festival going on. There's another temple. I might go there another day if I have nothing to do, it's pretty near my hotel.

Senso-ji Temple, or the place where people take the photo of Kamininari-mon, though this photo is not of Kamininari-mon, and I didn't feel like walking all the way to it. I remember Senso-ji Temple only giving out the stick-on Goshuin, but apparently now they hand-draw it too, so I got that too.

I made my way to Shibuya for a late lunch. Everything in Shibuya has the word "Scramble" now. I wonder if it's part of a marketing plan. Impressive skyline from around the 9th or 10th floor of Shibuya Scramble.

Had my late lunch at this udon place. I didn't realize their portions are like, American sized. That is not just what I ordered. Trust me when I said I was stuffed. And then my poop trip to the toilet was satisfying lol. Sorry for the TMI.

It's Shibuya, I have to go see Hachiko!

Crazy Shibuya Crossing.

Yessssss. Shibuya was for the Nintendo shop and the Pokémon Center, though the Pokemon Center figure was not so impressive here.

I did get something here (not pictured) lol.

Then I made my way to a Puma store, just to see if they got that Pokemon crossover sneakers, but it wasn't JUST for that, I will reveal more later... and it was quite a walk. Japan shop names can be weird. Psycho Bunny....? lol. There's an, I don't know, make up store or fashion brand called Snidel. Maybe because of the "Sni" I always associate that brand with "sneeze" or "snivel" or "snot".

Cool looking building, I couldn't tell if it's some museum, shop building, or residential place.

Look see here, it's Puma Harajuku Cat Street. So the whole street I walked past was Cat Street, but was there a Cat? No. Were there statues of cats? No. So where are the cats? Anyway, I checked out their shoes, they didn't have the Pokemon line, and their new Deviate Nitro 4 were boring, no exciting colors, so I'm still very, very happy with that Orange Deviate Nitro 3 I got in Korea last month.

After this, I made my way back to the hotel so i can start the laundry, and since it took 1.5hours, I made a quick trip to Loft and got a handy mini glue so that I could glue that paper Goshuin into my Goshuin-cho. Oh, and since i was stuffed, I went to buy some fruits with a stall guy that I know is actually Chinese. So when I asked him in Chinese (Mandarin too!) "Guaranteed sweet?" He was a little shocked and said yes. Then tried to reply in English. I just kept speaking in Mandarin to him lol.

Laundry done by the time I got back, so I'm all washed up. Just need to put my skincare stuff and I'll turn in earlier tonight. I have a very early train to catch tomorrow! Will need to skip breakfast but already bought something. Yay!

Tokyo Day 2 and 3

notte0 — Sat, 09 May 2026 14:24:32 GMT

Day 2 - Ashikagawa Flower Park

This place was on my go-to list all along. In fact, it was because of this place that I decided to go to Tokyo last year and then didn't (the whole Dad business). I did not expect for it to be this small, and as it was pretty far away I had planned a full day trip, but apparently just a morning was enough.

Had to take the Shinkansen which I found out was pretty nifty but the thing with how the tickets are sold is still a mystery to me.

Anyway, I was here for the Wisteria, and everything was purple here, even the ice cream was wisteria flavor. At least, it didn't taste like hand cream (as rose flavored ice cream does).

The roses here were mad large lol. It's as large as my whole hand!

The Wisteria though, has mostly dried up already. I came too late. No worries, this just gives me a reason to come again!

I even went totally à la Japonês and brought onigiri and a drink and had a picnic type rest and snack.

I was lucky too - it wasn't exactly too sunny but I think I still got slightly sunburnt.

Running out of things to say here lol

So... many.... flowers!

Very nice indeed!

I didn't really buy much. I sort of misread the information on Google Maps - it told me to leave by xx time, but I thought it meant the train departed at xx time, so I went there earlier and had to wait a bit.

But it was alright. With an extra half day available, I wondered what to do.

Had to sort out something for the Boss, so as I was on the phone I stood outside of Tokyo station to sort that out. Went to pick up my tickets for the Ghibli Park. I'll be going on Monday. The lady at the counter asked where I was from, to make life easier for me I said "Austria", and then she started to try to speak German (just the usual thank you and please). At the end she asked "how's your Japanese?" And I think I managed to fool her into thinking I actually knew more than I did lol. 大学でちょっと勉強しましたけど、今は大体・・・ I think what I nailed was the getting softer and softer at the end of daitai lol.

Since I was at Tokyo station, I decided to roam the area. Itoya is amazing!

I managed to not buy any crap, just 2 postcards which I've written up and just waiting until I see a post office.

Still had a lot of time on my hands, so I went hunting for some Pokémon related thing....

Pokelids! There are a few more but after checking on the map they are super far away, so, I'm letting it be. After this I went to hunt for dinner then went back to the hotel to retire for the night.

Day 3 - Kawagoe Day Trip

A friend suggested this place and it was a wonderful suggestion and I loved every second of it! Train ride was a little lengthy as there is no Shinkansen service for this place.

Hikigawa shrine, first thing in the morning and something wonderful happened to me lol. So first this part you can release a paper "doll" into the river, it's said it'll bring all your bad luck, spirit and air away from you. (You need to blow on the paper doll 3 times). I did that.

Then there's this Fishing Omikuji thing...

Daikichi! (The best luck!) Though I didn't read what the rest of it says. It

The shrine is a bit small, but I still managed to make a loop around it.

Since I'm a tourist i might as well do the touristy thing. I went to the City Museum, Art Museum, and then the Castle since they were all just across the street from each other. I don't have much to say, so I'll just zoom through the photos. No photos allowed in the Art museum and the interior of the castle though.

Next I went to Kashiya Yokocho by bus. It really was a beautiful day, but it was too sunny. Oh, yes, I bought a new UV jacket the previous day from Uniqlo. I already had something similar, but it was some China no-brand and it tended to trap the heat so I'd run hot. This one from Uniqlo is mesh I think so it's airy. Anyway, where there is food there is (are).... pigeons!

Snagged a fish pancak and a sweet potato and taro soft ice.

Oh the Kawagoe Matsuri Museum was also pretty nice. The old man there also asked where I was from, after I said Austria I think he thought it was Australia (again). After some back and forth, with me keep saying Europe ヨロッパ, I gave up and just let him think it was Australia. But then suddenly he went あっ！スイスの隣の？Next this Switzerland? Also technically yes but it's just that little bit of land, most would say next to Germany? But anyway, it was still a win, so I didn't argue.

Another old guy helped me take a photo with a very weird angle.

Then it was walking down along the Kurazukuri street. You can't imagine how much street food I got lol.

The cut of this dog just cracked me up.

An Unagi-don restaurant but I did n't eat here.

Hands-on made a pair of chopsticks!

The sweet potato was yum!

That's not a purple Woodstock. That's Raymond. (I don't know, don't ask me lol)

Snoopy Cha-ya.

Bought some stuff in this shop.

Kumano-jinja.

So I bought this Goshuin book at the shop I mentioned above. I saw this shrine did the goshuin on-spot so I decided to take it out and this is my first Goshuin.

Next went to Kitain, just so I could complete my trip here.

Still managed to get back early enough and had a quick snack.

Decided to roam Harajuku, but I am so sad to see these cafes. I'm against these because the poor animals, but then again, if they have no business, then it's the dogs/animals that will be affected. I didn't go to any of them

I remembered too late I wanted to go to Puma to have a look, but shops here close pretty early!

On my way back to the hotel...

Day 1 in Tokyo!

notte0 — Thu, 07 May 2026 14:49:34 GMT

Hello from Tokyo!

OMG! This feels so good! I'm traveling... alone! This feels wonderful. I told the Boss and a few people that I'm actually flying out for a holiday and while the people are being nice about it, the Boss still did a thing this morning. He asked the driver to call me while I was in flight so that I can help him arrange something, but I was in-flight. The Boss confidently said "there's Wi-Fi in the plane! She can work!" The driver was helpless, and when it was confirmed I wasn't online at all, the Boss sorted it out himself. When I landed, the driver told me all that. So i left a message to the Boss. "Give me a pay rise so I can pay for extra services or go on a fancier flight with Wi-Fi." He did not respond lol.

The flight was mostly uneventful except the lady behind me kept moving and kicking my seat and putting stuff in the seat pocket, and taking stuff out. The one thing she did that I did turn around and glared at her: she flicked her jacket or shawl (or whatever) and managed to whack me right on the top of the head.

My luggage tag got smushed. I wonder if it's because we landed in Narita and the people saw it's a Haneda tag lol (I'm joking of course)

I had originally wanted to stay at Asakusa again but after I planned out my trip and looked at the places I had to go, I decided to stay at Ueno instead. I managed to get a hotel that looks new-ish. Decorative elements are definitely new, but there are things you can see are old-ish. Doesn't matter. Location's nice, walking distance to Ameyoko and Ueno station, but far enough away that I don't hear the train passing through.

I am so successfully recharged on this first day that I feel like my old chatty self. Here's a recap of the day!

There was a shop I wanted to go have a look-see and Google suggested me take a community bus and it's such a tiny bus! Anyway, I looked, and didn't find anything interesting, so made my way to Akihabara.

My book club sort of branched out and made an Anime club which I decided to join in but I know I won't have time to watch any anime. But I was hoping to re-ignite something in myself to be passionate about at least some anime or other. But alas. Akihabara was interesting enough, but it reignited nothing. Very old, dusty, dirty-looking Pokémon plushies atop Gacha Machines in Akihabara station.

Fukushima on a roll?? Looks interesting.

Decided to get some sushi but their rice was sub-par imho. The uni also didn't taste good. The prawns were amazing though, I had to repeat that.

Roamed in a few shops.

This is so obviously Taobao or some other China bootleg lol.

Very cute earbuds but I assume the sound quality would be so-so.

I think I walked past at least 3 Taito Stations. Apparently Akihabara is very walkable towards Ueno.

I scored myself a carry-on luggage! I knew the thing having to pay to dispose of your current luggage and such, and I didn't want to replace the luggage I used in this trip.If I don't go crazy buying stuff, I'm going to stuff this into my luggage first. Or I'd take this with me as a carry-on when I leave. Another day, I will come with this small luggage and then get the bigger size one!

I know this is a branch off from Book-Off, but I don't know, Hard-Off always makes me laugh.

The hotel I'm at is just a footbridge away from the shopping street.

My points of departure for at least 2 trips (maybe I'll make it 3).

Back in Ameyoko looking for some snacks. In the end, I got strawberries (sweet), and packaged pickled cucumber (yum, must get more), ice cream, and onigiri for the road tomorrow. Apparently my hotel has a simple breakfast served. Nice.

I gave myself 2000yen to play around a Taito Station. Alas it was not meant to be and I didn't catch any of them!

Even non-Pokémon plushies.

Sad. But in a way, good. If not I have too much stuff to bring with me.

Community Consumption Grand Prize Scheme

notte0 — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:25:32 GMT

The local government has implemented numerous incentives to boost spending locally and they've started the Commnity Consumption scheme again. I liked it a little better in the previous times than they are doing it now.

Now the scheme goes as follows:
for whatever mobile payment platform you have (I have three, but most people have 1).
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, any spending over $50 and you get 3 lucky draw chances. Once for each mobile payment platform.
From these lucky draw chances, you get either, no prize, $10, $20, $50, $100, or $200 coupons. Basically, for every $30 you spend, you can use $10 coupon. To use the $200 coupon, you need to do a purchase/spending of $600 in one bill in order to use the $200. You can only use the coupons Mondays through Thursdays, and only in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
These are counted weekly. So say, I got a coupon on Sunday, the last day I could use it was yesterday Thursday. Today Friday, a new week starts and the whole lucky draw chances start again.
A friend laughed and said only people good at mathematics would know how to spend the coupons. I simply have an easy way to think about it. If, from all the 3 platforms I've got, and I got altogether $40 in coupons, all I have to do is times that by three, and I know I need to spend at least $120 in order to fully use the $40 coupons I've got.

In the past, it was Mondays-Fridays for the $50 and get a lucky draw chance, and shopping on Saturday Sunday. Which was good for me. My company has a huge supermarket that I can easily find a $50 item to buy, get a lucky draw chance, and any coupons I get, I could do my main shopping at the small supermarket near my home in the weekend.

Now, if I get any coupons, I can't use them at my work's supermarket because it's not an SME. I'd need to go home and do my weekly shopping on a weekday.

Anyway, the inconvenience is just for me, so no use complaining about it.

Book: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

notte0 — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:32:19 GMT

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin
Amazon.com Product Link

From the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom.

These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.

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I didn’t really like the book, but neither did I dislike the book. The storyline in itself is very sweet. But the characters, I don’t know why, I especially disliked Sadie. In a way I thought I should side with her, girls unite and all that, but I just thought she was a bully. A great big bully that didn’t really know what she wanted. I do concede that there were parts that Sam was being unfair too. Marx was mystifying in the “he’s supposed to be full of flaws but you can’t put a finger on it and turns out he’s great.”

This multiple POV and with jumps in timelines (sometimes the past, sometimes referring to the future, then changing POVs) was a little dizzying, but it also made the entire book more interesting.

The weekend past

notte0 — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:38:25 GMT

Wow, this weekend has been productive. I'm now in bed, post-shower, and using some freebie mask gift thing from Korea, the car rental place said "if you write us a 5-star review on google we will gift you a gift," so, google reviews there are mostly fake. How can I review a service if I didn't use it yet? But anyway. I worded it in such a way that i didn't drive yet, but the initial service was quick and efficient, got the gift (you'd think it's just 1 mask, but now, it's a packet of stuff).

First things first, Friday after work I went to break in my new running shoes. This Orange theme is getting ridiculous, even I think so LOL. Friday's run was a bit slower but today I went running again and I actually broke my PR (personal record) so these shoes are proving to be good. But I noticed the tongues would scrap my feet, so it's time to go hunt for longer socks!

I recently got this spiffy... grinder? Mixer? Cup thing from Pingduoduo (your Temu), and it's been a godsend. I just need a little bit of soy beans and water and the knives or cutters in this thing are strong enough and simply obliterates the soy beans and cooks it up and I get a fresh cup of unsweetened soy milk every morning now. Bit of a game changer. I'm not trying to turn vegan, though I agree with some vegan concepts... but I hate those vegan extremists. But anyway. I don't need to go buy milk now.

The newest toy I got was this XTeink's X3 ereader. It's so tiny! I do remember I had that other small ereader, but I think the company shut down, so the back-end system doesn't work. Can't connect to internet, can't use any of the ways to transfer books. So I can still read whatever's already in it. But this X3 is another level. It's way slimmer and lighter, and has MagSafe and I just stick it to the back of my phone. It's so small that when I'm in the office people don't notice I'm reading from it lol. I still like my 2 other larger ereaders, but this one is proving to be very useful and handy.

Random Frankie photos during his walks. Apparently the night show at Nam Van Lake is still going on (it has a schedule of a couple nights a week, but I don't have the particulars)

Currently there's some festival/fair going on and that thing apparently is a Kangaroo. I have no idea why and what relation it has, but.... whatever...

You can see the tail on this last photo, it's a Kangaroo.

So, the weekend has been busy. First order of business.... hairdresser! Then hopped over to China for a manicure!

I also went to the workshop.... bad luck comes in 3s right? I had 3 accidents and it seems... yeah, nothing else happened.

I wanted to get my car washed by then Dad called and asked me to do something, so I coudln't do it on Saturday. This morning, I went for yoga again. This time they did a wheel yoga thing. It started off easy enough, but the last few poses were really tough!

Sis suddenly decided to get Starbucks today - it was the last day for getting double points. I didn't really want to bother but since Sis asked me to come with, I went.

Weather's been really tricky with high humidity but not yet raining. Decided to give him a wash. Need to go get the de-flea stuff (Frontline) from the vet in the next couple of days, since we can't apply it immediately after wash anyway.

Back from Singapore, onwards to South Korea!

notte0 — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:20:15 GMT

Oh boy, I promise it’s just the timing that made it just seem so. I’m hardly a globetrotter.

Singapore was uneventful - got what I went there for work for done, also made some miracles happen for the boss, and so seriously thinking about asking for a raise, lol.

Back in town, then I’m just so busy every day. Day in the office, night Chinese class, then now Tuesdays I have a new class, Korean. I can introduce myself now! lol

안녕하세요! 저는 카테리나예요, 마카오사람이에요.

I am still amazed at how the grammar pattern is similar to Japanese grammar, and this specifically is really helpful in my understanding of the language.

But, I know for a fact it’s not at all helpful for my trip to Gyeongju this weekend. I don’t know enough. Am going to have to rely on Google Translate.

We’ve finally decided to drive there as well, since our international licenses are still valid, so, might as well. The run is on Saturday, then we will have Sunday and Monday free for our own plans. Tuesday is for flying back. I was originally a little worried that after I flew back I’d have to rush to my Tuesday class, but apparently the course considers Tuesday as holiday as well, so I’m lucky I’m not missing any classes.

Next thing I’ll be sorting out is my trip to Japan in May. I’m a bit saddened that the next Fuji Marathon Online run is right smack in my travel days. I may have to forego this Spring session. (I’m collecting the medals because apparently 6 medals can be put together to make a big medal lol). I did think about just go running in Japan as well, but then I usually run at night (in the dark) and while I know Japan is a safe place, but it’s an unfamiliar place, so I figure I better not risk it.

No more planned trips after Japan, but I do have my eyes on a few restaurants in Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Taipei that I miiiiigggghhhtttt be convinced to make quick weekend trips for.

I’m making something that I hope will be impressive in my ceramics workshop and I just can’t wait to get it in the kiln. The administration there is… I have no comment. I sent them a photo of the sign in sheet and apparently nobody from the administration has ever asked to see or go get the sign in sheet themselves.

I’ve said it so many times, yes, it’s all fun and games to joke that “nobody’s checking, I can come here and use the facilities for free!” But I also don’t want that in 6 months they say “the workshop is not making money, we’ll just have to close it down.” It’s not out of the goodness of my heart, but simply because I like investigating excel functions and formulas, that I actually wrote a speadsheet for them, but I’m not going to send it to them yet. I’m going to trial run it myself for a few months. If it actually works as I imagine it to work then I’ll send it over to them.

On the other hand, I’m now at the workshop almost more than 20 hours a month, I can actually skip the hourly payment and just pay for the monthly plan. But I also know myself, if I start paying for the monthly plan, then my hours there will dwindle and then I’ll want to pay by the hour again (it’s $900 a month, or $50 an hour, so I “break even” at 18 hours. If I’m putting in 20+ hours then the monthly payment is cheaper). I’ll see the next 2 months, if I consistently exceed the 18 hours then I will change to the monthly plan.

Singapore business trip

notte0 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:23:55 GMT

Here I am in Singapore again for business, but it has come around that this is a really bad timing. Boss has some ad-hoc thing which is proving to be most inconvenient to happen at this time but ohwell.

But, I've been having a string of bad luck! I had all hotels and flights confirmed already, but then I decided to check on any better hotel deals (usually non-refundable with days' notice only) and found a pretty nice place at the area I like, so I booked that. The room did not disappoint, and everything was very nice and as expected. But since it's a duplex type thing, and I was in my socks (lesson learnt), I slipped and slided down the last 3 steps of stairs when I was going down. I don't think I'm badly hurt, more frightened than anything, as I'm traveling alone, and for now it seems my worst wound-not-wound is this... light abrasion thing on my arm, I think when I skidded down the wall. You know, like papercut wounds, there IS a wound but it's not bleeding? But it kind of hurts doubly so? I suspect when I wake up tomorrow my... back... i assume probably my right side lats are gonna be in pain tomorrow.

Then I went out and wanted to console myself with an ice cream. I got it, and it was melting already. And when I opened my mouth, I kind of choked on my own saliva and had a coughing fit. That's 3 things of bad luck! I hope it's all over!

I've already gotten dinner, and I'm just lounging around and waiting for it to be like 8.30pm then maybe I'd go for a run. Singapore's got a lot of nice running routes now, I hear it's because the Singapore government wants to make Singapore a "healthy city" and so is pushing for these health related initiatives. With my luck today I better look at a map and plan out my route first before I go.

Also got a pack of Nacho Cheese chips. YES! This trip is gonna be a trip for rebellion! I never snack on stuff at home? I'm gonna snack on stuff here!

Book: Crying in H Mart

notte0 — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:58:18 GMT

Crying in H Mart
Michelle Zauner
Amazon Product Link

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American—“in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to life, Zauner became herself” (NPR). • CELEBRATING OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST

In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food.

As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band--and meeting the man who would become her husband--her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.

Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.

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This book was also one of the suggested books that went up for voting in my local book club. I just randomly chose to read this after I finished the book club’s selected book. I went in blind, didn’t know what it’s about.

I don’t have much to say about the literary finesse or style of writing, but I have to say much of this book had caused many a flashback on my own life and childhood.

Generally things like identity (so what am I?) and trying to fit in, trying to do something to be like therapy, and stuff like that.

Relatable sections were like, being in the US and people thinking she is Asian, and being in Asia and people thinking she is foreign. I guess I was luckier in that being in Macau, such ethnically mixed kids were a dime a dozen, the only difference usually was “what mixture are you of?”

Also as a kid being told “so pretty!”, “Mixed face is beautiful!” But then my own aunt actually suggesting me getting a nose job because my nose is too tall (I have the typical Dad’s family high and pointy nose).

Mom being overbearing, always in your business, trying to control my wardrobe. I wonder if these are all characteristics of Asian Moms? It’s true, while nationality-wise and language my Mom isn’t entirely Asian (she has Portuguese heritage, her Dad’s actually from Portugal, I think) but she’s also been brought up in a very Asian environment.

By the end of the book, I learn about the author actually being a singer (Japanese Breakfast) so I guess it’s about time to put my Apple Music subscription to good use and have a listen.

The book was an enjoyable read, just rousing up quite a bit of my personal experience and memories that I don’t want to write about here, not because I don’t want to write about it, I just don’t want to write about it in a book review.

Book: Yellowface

notte0 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:43:24 GMT

Yellowface
R.F. Kuang
Amazon Product Link

White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting psychological thriller from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel.

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars in the world of literary fiction. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice from a masterfully crafted unreliable narrator, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

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I was a little wary about reading another RF Kuang book (more because of the lengthy descriptions of everything) but when our book club voted for this book, I hunkered down and read.

I guess you could say June as a character was well written, because I hated her lol and had a lot of eye-rolling in her self-justifying explanations and diatribe.

It seems everything in there were… cliches? (Athena the “token exotic Asian presence”, reverse racial discrimination). I was particularly annoyed when June was writing her “second” book and said that “she double dipped and took Athena’s notes too”, when in writing the “problem book” she guaranteed that’s all she took, the manuscript of the first book, and that she was shocked that she forgot about the notebooks that Athena’s mom got later. Sort of felt like… there was nothing else to write about so this extra tidbit was added to be fodder to prolong the story.

The psychological game at the end was a little tense indeed but as June said “there are ways to say something that isn’t exactly the truth but isn’t a lie either,” I guess if she wanted to, she could spin that in her favor then.

Friday Five 2026.03.13

notte0 — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:56:26 GMT

These questions were suggested by Dreamwidth user spiralsheep.

1. Have you ever watched illusion magic? Close-up, or in a stage show, or on television? Did it work for you?
I think I grew up in the era of David Copperfield, all I've ever seen are on TV.

2. Have you ever wished on a star, or a lucky cat, or a coin in a wishing well? Did it work in some way?
I wasn't brought up with these "frivolities" lol. Also, light pollution's a thing here (this is a city after all) so never got to see a real life shooting star. Well, I guess when I'm in Japan I got to temples and wish upon their things there... like the fox god or the bunny god or whatever. We make wishes before blowing out the candle of our birthday cakes. Nothing ever really worked anyway.

3. Have you ever cast a spell, made a love charm, or tried a curse? Did it work in some way?
I do have a black magic book somewhere but I never did anything or attempted any spells or whatnot.

4. Are there any other traditional superstitions you pay attention to? Do they work in some way?
I do not eat gingko 白果, in cantonese "白果" word-for-word literally is "white fruit" but the meaning of this is "fruitless" or "comes to nothing" (like, all that effort but there's nothing to show to it). But... honestly, it's more a "reason" that I can use because I don't like to eat the bitter gingko lol lol lol.

5. Would you want major magical powers like in a fantasy story? Which powers, and how would you use them?
Nah. with more comes responsibility. I don't mind being responsible for myself, but then if and when people come to know about my power then one-sidedly expect that I'm responsible for them? Absolutely no thank you lol

My life has a lot of humour

notte0 — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:21:22 GMT

Why am I not surprised? lol

I just wrote about that problem staff I have, right?

Anyway, I had Friday off, went to the workshop to work on my things, lovely day. Saturday I went again to the workshop. There's some new class or meeting, I don't know. And as I'm wedging my clay, who walks out of there?

My problem staff *rolls eyes*.

I've been consistently going to the workshop for 2 years, every Saturday without fail (except when I'm traveling) and while I had always known that it's a possibility, because this workshop is run by a..... hm.... Portuguese association of sorts, so I knew there was always a chance to of this happening.

I just found the whole timing of it really hilarious.

Book: The Healing Season of Pottery

notte0 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:59:30 GMT

The Healing Season of Pottery
Yeon Somin, Clare Richards (Translator)
Amazon Product Link

This cozy Korean bestseller invites readers into a warm, sunlit pottery studio where a burned-out young TV broadcast writer begins to heal, working the clay, piece by piece, season by season.

After breaking down at the office and abruptly quitting her job, thirty-year-old Jungmin holes up in her apartment, speaking to no one for days on end. When she finally emerges, she stumbles upon a pottery studio in her neighborhood and is invited in by the mysterious workshop teacher. The smell of clay, the light filtering through the plant filled windows, the friendly cat, and the incredible coffee the students drink awaken her senses and make her feel alive and inspired for the first time in months.

As the seasons change, Jungmin slowly returns to herself and builds a new community with the other members of the studio, who are all working through their own pasts at the pottery wheel. When the holidays approach and snow piles up on the studio windowsill, Jungmin realizes how much she has changed—with her hands busy and her mind clear, she may be ready to face the memories she’s been running from and open her heart.

For fans of What You Are Looking For Is in the Library and Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, Yeon’s charming English-language debut is a testament to the joy of slowing down in a fast-paced world, and an homage to the art of ceramics and the power of friendship. Readers won’t want to leave the enchanting world of The Healing Season of Pottery after the final page.

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This is now the third (maybe?) Book by a Korean author I’ve read. I think I kind of agree with some of the comments I’ve read by other readers, in that these feel-good or “found a new me” books by Korean authors are better than those of Japanese authors. I guess since I’m also taking some basic Korean classes, I wanted to get a feel of the language/culture/mentality by reading books by Korean authors.

The only thing I still couldn’t get accustomed to in these Korean books are the names - takes some time for me to recognize the names.

I was drawn to the book by the title, pottery, as it is now also part of my life, a hobby I’ve picked up and been consistently taking part of for 2 years. Similarly, I started the hobby due to a rather painful loss (my dachshund) and wanting to find some direction in life.

Personally I thought the book had a better beginning, and then between the 50%-70% part of the book was a bit… dragged on and going around in circles. Luckily everything wrapped up nicely in the end.

Dog walks and way too many languages

notte0 — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:54:47 GMT

Started the day with a nice hike with Frankie. I'm actually pretty impressed by the hiking trail system implemented by the local government. Every trail rest stop is numbered and with a map. Though, today I noticed that the C5 location didn't really start where the map is showing C5, it actually started near the u-bend that's next the the C6 on the map, but, whatever. I decided to go on the Blue trail so had to start at either C5 or C6, then pass through C3andr C4 (depending on direction taken).

I misread the map and also due to some faulty memory (this area is near my Dad's restaurant from 30 years ago, I used to hang around and play in the "jungle"), I actually went to an area that I think was "illegally acquired land" and I guess (I reiterate, I GUESS only) due to some similar law in Hong Kong, they sort of got squatter's rights or something.

After finding the right way, we started at C6 had to go up quite a bit of steps. Three wild dogs joined us for a bit and they came really near, but they were actually more afraid than I was. At around the C4 point, they disappeared.

Short video clip on how near they come. I see one of them got a cherry eye. Told my Sis about it. Now whether her shelter will do anything about it is up to them. Most probably not as they dogs are usually hiding, they only came out because of Frankie. Amazingly, Frankie didn't get crazy and just walked with me when I asked him to move.

Twenty years ago when we had 4 dogs, our Sunday dog walks with Dad and Sis would be out in these areas, and we actually took the longer trails. But, Frankie's a Frenchie, I can't take him more more arduous walks.

The dog's destroyed lol sorry.

Today was the last class of the "Introduction to the Korean alphabet and reading" course I took. I could very slowly read the Korean alphabet now! Doesn't mean I'd understand a word lol. But now with a basic understanding on the writing, I'm able to type Korean, and when I can type Korean, I can also use the translate function. YES I KNOW THERE'S GOOGLE LENS, BUT I AM OLD SCHOOL. I'm now ready to take an actual Intro to Korean 1 class. I wanted to apply for the one that had the same schedule, Sunday afternoons, but apparently, no one is interested in having classes on Sunday afternoons. I'll have to wait until 21 March to see if there are enough intakes for the Sunday class that starts 22 March. If, 22 March Sunday classes can't make it, then my only choice is the 31 March Tuesday classes. I find it funny I'm using all the languages I know to write notes, like the Japanese half-beat （ッ）becuase I can't think of an equivalent way to express that in English. Sometimes Chinese because many Korean words are loaned from Chinese, too.

I've been trying out new things in my pottery workshop. That diamond/square box thing didn't come out exactly as I wanted... I think I need a pentagon or a hexagon to achieve the effect I want but... I'm lazy... lol! I also decided to combine my love for reading with this new pottery hobby and am making a bunch of these "page holders". I'm still thinking about how to final glaze these pieces. But first let me just bisque these and see how they come out. Might make another batch to test different glazes.

We had some leftover stone-pot glutinous rice 煲仔飯 (very Chinese) from a dinner the other day and had that as take-away. Dad added more preserved meats, made some Chinese style veggie, and then... a Caldo Verde (Portuguese potato puree and vegetable soup). Each dish tasted great, but my mind just can't accept mixing things up like that. It's not simply a mix of Portuguese and Chinese cuisine, it's more... we're already having a very starchy carb dinner, the rice... paired with a potato puree soup.... lol I think I'd be more accepting if it were a clear base soup.

Someone gifted me a bottle of white wine with a cat on it haha!

It was time for a manicure!

Book: Too Old For This

notte0 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:09:25 GMT

Too Old For This
Samantha Downing
Amazon Product Link

“Equal parts hilarious and disturbing, Too Old for This kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end!”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden

A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.

Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends.

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…

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This was a fun read. I read some reviews on Goodreads and learned to go at this book with a “it’s a lighthearted thing”, and so it was.

Many of the “killings” felt impossible for a 70+ old lady, the clean up as well. I was slightly ticked off when Norma attacked her and she could have used that incident to just settle everything perfectly (self-defense or such), but of course, it’s more theatrical with the way the book actually went.

Although I’m just past 40, I’ve been working for over 20 years, and I can empathetically feel her. There are very many instances that I think “I’m too old for this sh*t”, and Lottie has been thinking that many a few times too.

It’s a fun read where you’re questioning yourself just why are you rooting for the serial killer. But hey, everything was done out of a mother’s love.

Paranormal? OBE?

notte0 — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:31:04 GMT

The algorithms on my youtube has somehow meandered off true crimes and it's been pushing Chinese paranormal videos for me recently. Not actual paranormal videos, but videos of talks and recountings of paranormal stuff and hauntings. I probably won't be able to use exact terms or words, as I have absolutely no idea how some of these words translate to English, but, I'm not like super into that, so I won't go too deep about it.

I never really had a "third eye" (able to see ghosts and spirits) and I'm hardly sensitive to "hauntings". Sure, I'd get spooked if it's dark. As the joke goes, if you feel lonely on valentine's day, dim the lights and watch some horror movies, you'll soon feel as if you're not alone. LOL. Yeah, I get spooked too, though I try to be rational about stuff.

Have I ever talked about that one time when I went on my university graduation trip to Malaysia and "suffered" a "haunting"? (Rational term: Sleep Paralysis) It was the last night of our trip, it was a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. It was the last night and I had run out of the Malaysian money, so when my friend and hotel roomate J went out with other classmates for some local night market, I figured I'd just stay in and pack my bag. I was totally ok during the alone time, though, bored. Didn't feel spooked at the time.

Later, J returned, and she had to pack up. Since I had already got all that settled, I went ahead and went to bed.

In the middle of the night, I was awaken by some noise. I was sleeping on my side, facing the empty area to the room (whereas J was on her side of the bed that's just by the wall). I heard some old woman talking or yabbering gibberish. It was some kind of Chinese dialect, I think, and over and over again the granny was repeating the same thing. I was spooked, and didn't open my eyes, but I couldn't move. The noise got so loud, like waves rushing in my ears. Still granny was repeating the same thing over and over again.

I don't know how much time passed, just that eventually I was able to move, so I turned around so that my back was towards the empty area to the room. I then heard my friend sigh "ugh... so hot...." I didn't really care since I was still trying to calm down from the scare, and eventually fell asleep.

When I woke up in the morning, J was still sleeping, so I got up to pack away my pyjamas. It was feeling a little warm and stuffy indeed, so I went to adjust the A/C, only to find out the card wasn't in the slot to activate electricity to the room. When J woke up, I asked her if she took the card out, and she said "yeah, she couldn't switch off all the lights when she went to bed, so she pulled off the card. BUT OF COURSE IT WAS HOT. But she said she slept through the night and didn't say anything.

I guess... grandma was was trying to tell me it's stuffy and hot? Then used my friend to say that?? Absolutely no idea.

Actually, before this incident, in a hotel room in Genting, my classmates were trying to teach me a playing cards game. A folded paper flyer that was standing on the TV (big ass thick ones from before) suddenly flew off the TV. No one had opened any doors/windows/walked past. I saw the paper flyer fly off. J saw shadow swipe past the window when the paper flew off. Everyone else didn't notice anything.

This is my sleep paralysis experience. Was I being haunted? Dunno.

Anyway, these paranormal and horror talk shows made me think about a weird dream I recall having had twice.

It was a dream about being able to fly. I'm standing on the street just next to my apartment building, and had the idea that I would run a few steps, and just at the corner as I turned I could jump/skip three times and then I would fly. I know I dreamt this dream twice.

I always thought this was just a dream. Once in a while I would think back about this dream too.

But all these talk shows and people explaining their experiences, made me think, if what I had was actually an OBE experience. Because I remember around the time that I had that dream, I would (when not in a dream) walk by that dream and suddenly thinking seriously that "if I skip thrice I'll fly" despite also knowing for a fact it's impossible. I also remember feeling in my head a bit like the g-force or whatever the correct word of just when... like when the plane is landing you sort of feel you are floating but being pulled down? I don't know how to explain.

In these talks that's in Cantonese, the way they explain it is that the "soul is leaving the physical body" so it was something like my soul or my... mind's being was trying to float away but my mind got pulled back or was anchored to my body. I don't know. It felt like that. And every once in a while I would think about this dream, but I've never felt this "leaving the body" feeling anymore since that last time.

Book: Two Women Living Together

notte0 — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:19:34 GMT

Two Women Living Together: The Bestselling Korean Memoir
Kim Hana, Kim Sunwoo, Gene Png (translator)
Amazon Product Link

The big-hearted, bestselling South Korean memoir co-written by two best friends flouting gender norms and societal expectations with their decision to grow old together under one roof.

When most of their peers were moving in with romantic partners and having children, Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo chose independence—savoring solitude, quiet mornings, and the unmitigated freedom of living alone. But in their forties, something shifted, and they were met with a new, unexpected loneliness. Refusing to settle for the outdated choice between marriage or isolation, Hana and Sunwoo made a radical decision: to buy a home and live together—not as lovers, not as roommates, but as chosen family.

Now a bustling household of two women and four cats, Hana and Sunwoo still value solitude, but can do so while sharing a life and its meaning with someone else. Together they navigate the challenges and comforts of cohabiting in midlife, the growing pains of interdependence and the unexpected rewards of compromise when you’ve grown set in your ways. From sick days to career wins to aging parents and beach-side retirement plans, they are redefining domestic bliss on their own terms, where love, partnership, and home are defined not by tradition, but by choice.

With warmth, wit, and sharp social insight, Hana and Sunwoo share their blueprint for building a life outside the scripts of marriage and society’s expectations for women. Two Women Living Together is a quiet revolution—a celebration of female friendship, community, and the many forms that love and family can take.

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +

I was in a reading slump and then saw this book - sort of resonated with what I had been thinking about, so gave it a go.

This book is comprised of (almost) alternating essays, Hana’s and Sunwoo’s point of views.

I really enjoyed the sometimes self-deprecating parts of the essays (both authors). I kind of think I’m like Sunwoo, a little bit messy, but I’m also a bit like Hana, “tools have their own place.”

I wonder if further along the way, will I find a nice housemate or will I be living alone?

Friday Five 2026.02.27

notte0 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:13:22 GMT

thefridayfive

1. What made you happy this week?
I got some new ideas on pottery pieces to make!

2. What made you sad?
My car park cats went missing very suddenly. Though after 2 full days of disappearance, today one of the Mama cats came out again. So I fed just this Mama cat. My sis thinks it's spring and probably the cats have dispersed to mate or something, and since Mama cat is with kittens she didn't go hiding? (at least, we think so, she has a huge belly) I can now touch this Mama cat when I'm preparing her food, but outside of this interaction, she doesn't let me hold her at all. I've been seriously considering doing a private TNR type of thing for the car park cats, but the cats still do not let me carry them.

3. What made you angry?
oh my previous post - the ongoing bickering between mom and sis. It's a simple matter, no need to make so much fuss.

4. What are you looking forward to in the next week?
My sacred pottery time tomorrow.

5. What are you not looking forward to?
Nothing really, everything's looking to be going smoothly, I guess!

Eye-rollery and a work-hobby

notte0 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:03:06 GMT

I'm not trying to one-up my sis, but I was just so fed up with the nightly agitated half-discussions half-arguments with mom.

My sis is a little.... socially awkward and such and she works at a shelter. I'd guess she loves the job as she doesn't have to deal with a lot of humans.

So apparently the shelter has been owing her money for a while. She keeps saying it's fine that she's keeping track and that this month they've given her an astronomical amount of pay to her. Ping and pong with mom about the amounts, what is still owed, and such. She's confident that the shelter doesn't owe her anymore, mom is worried that she's being bullied, and every night it's the same fight, agitated half-screams.

My sis also is on the lazy side, or puts things off. For example, she'll promise that she will do this one thing. But then she's not going to do it now, because, it's dark. She'll do it tomorrow bright and early. And then tomorrow comes and she forgets or goes about doing other things. *shrugs* personality clash with me.

I was so fed up with listening to their bickering, I said just have 2 columns of what is supposed to be paid and what is paid, by month, and get the difference then you know, no need for long discussions. And then they both each hold a pen and pen paper and start saying things like "look, this payment is triple so it covers the past 3 months."

So. Secretary at work here. I took out my laptop, booted up excel, asked one question: "When have they started to short you your salary?" and she had a very resolute "2024 April". Started a spreadsheet starting with April 2024, looked at her pay slips and listed out every month what she's supposed to receive, then looked at her bank records.... there were no records of anything in 2024?

"Oh, i didn't update my passbook for too long, so the printing machine couldn't print so far back." Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

My blood pressure was seriously going up at this point. "I can't make any calculations if I don't have the figures. It's your salary, not mine, are you not worried about your salary?" and here mom chimes in to agree with me and such. Then I looked at her older bank records and noticed. "Why are the payroll items all irregular and so ridiculously low in 2023?"

"oh, they have also been delaying payments."

WTF. "So when did they START shorting your pay?" And she keeps quiet. She fucking doesn't know. WTF?

Her pile of pay slips go back till 2020, so I had to extend the records to 2020. Long story short, ignoring the inexistent figures of 2024, just between 2020 till 2023, they have shorted her almost 3 months pay. No figures in 2024 so I can't say, then 2025 also shorted her almost 3 months pay. And then this year 2026 they paid an astronimcal amount, saying all balance cleared, but after my calculations, it doesn't cover everything.

So today mom goes to the bank and gets her banking history for 2024 as well. And after I update the list, I have all the figures, and heh, Ok, they managed to short/delay her pay in 2020 but did settle the balance, but from 2021 up till now, even with the big amount today, they still owe her around 4 months of pay. All simply in less than 15minutes of actual work.

And to think mom has chosen to buy that I-don't-know-what-insurance-policy-that-can-only-have-one-beneficiary under my sis name because she trusts her enough that sis will share the funds with me in future. Geezus, I'm also confident my sis will not purposefully cheat me out of anything, I just don't have the confidence that she'll actually remember/claim in time or know to check the figures when the time comes.

oh, i must also pat myself on the back that THAT Excel spreadsheet is so beautifully crafted lol. The formulas and formatting are just on-point. A masterpiece lol. (I was mucking around and found an interesting function that I can in one click hide the monthly records and just show the aggregate annual, with the grouping function on a list using the subtotal formula. Whatever, that's just geeky talk.

(confession: when the company finance or accounts people send out spreadsheets and such I love clicking on every cell to check out the formula used and how to use these formulas for my own spreadsheets).

Similarly, I love to investigate Word functions as well lol.

Question of Reading Comprehension

notte0 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:51:58 GMT

This conversation came about from my reading group. I just got really, really baffled for a moment.

So… Is it I have a language issue, or has everyone gone bonkers? This conversation was had in February, if we were talking about a meeting in “next month”, that would be… March… and then someone says it’s the Easter weekend… but Easter weekend is April, but everyone’s still continuing the conversation as if Easter is in March?

And I don’t need a scientific/religion (whatever) reason as to how to calculate Easter, I just wanted to say that… it’s not the Easter weekend next month…???

After I light-heartedly repeated that “yeah, Easter is in April and combined with Chinese Holiday Ching-Ming it’s gonna be a long weekend,” I didn’t add on to the conversation after this… and… the group is still going on the assumption that Easter is next month.

We’ll see, we’ll see. I’ll probably not go to the meeting this time around as I didn’t really finish the book. My brain was just not accepting the premises of the book. Kept asking “but why?” (It’s a time travel book but there’s no reason for the time travel, no “loop” in the future that sort of refers back to the time travel. You know, in these time travel stories there’s something in the future that references something in the past that somehow is related to the future or some such concept.

I guess… I’m just too fixated on the J-drama type of time travel? I dunno. This book is just not growing on me.

Cat Loaf Success

notte0 — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:35:46 GMT

I actually bought this cat head bread tin thing last year already, but only recently did I actually decided to move my arse and do something about it. My first trial was over the holidays (day 2 of CNY I think) and today was my second trial.

I used this recipe but had to make some adjustment after the first failure. It was a little too much dough and when it came out it was all spilling and stuff. Also, I opened the tin right after taking it out of the oven and once I unlatched the side it basically exploded lol. There were parts of the bread that didn't look cooked, but the texture (cooked parts) and the taste of the bread was very good.

Today I got a little helper (terror really). I knew better what to do this time around so was able to knead the bread myself.

I took one quarter of the dough out and rolled up to 2 small bread rolls, so there was actually less dough in the tin. And this time, it was a success! My cat head came out beautifully!

This was a fun process. Next time maybe I'll add some cocoa powder to some of the dough and make a patterned cat.

This recipe is basically a milk loaf (I think it's what it's commonly called in English? We just call it white bread in Chinese). Will I fall into the rabbit hole of le Sourdough? Dunno, maybe not. I don't think I have the patience to cultivate the sour of it.

Day 3 of CNY

notte0 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:44:45 GMT

It's Day 3 of the CNY, and culturally speaking (not sure if is just limited to Cantonese speaking areas or all of China) and we call it the 赤口, "red mouth". So during the Chinese New Year, people should go visit families in their homes. Day 3 being 赤口 means you should avoid visiting people because it's "easy to get in quarrels" (you can think of it as red = anger). My group of besties (3 of us) have this "tradition" of specifically meeting up on this day.

It also so happened that one of the places I work for has a Lion Dance on this day, so... I know I posted a video last year already, but here's a video of this year.

Since we got a "new" office, I figured we might as well do the Lion Dance visiting the office. I didn't want my staff to have to show up on a holiday and not get any overtime pay, so I figured I'd just show up. It was just opening the door and hanging the bunch of veggies over the door. I've tried to trim in-between the boring stuff. I found the last part pretty funny where the event rep told the Lion crew it went the wrong way haha. I also liked just before the Lion came in and was like peeking through the door haha so cute.

We were to go to somewhere downtown for lunch, originally, but on the previous Saturday, I noticed the situation of downtown Macau and how it was hordes of people, I mentioned to let's go somewhere likely to have less people, where at least the place wouldn't be really packed.

Someone in a group chat I'm in sent this photo of downtown Macau. I can't imagine going down there, ugh...

My friends and I figured Turkish food would not be one of the first things people think about when eating out during Chinese New Year, but man, the restaurant was, although not packed, it was almost 100% occupancy. We ordered a Hummus and a... Pide? (I've forgotten the name already). Oh and a Turkish seafood soup, I think. Quite nice.

This is actually a weird restaurant combination - it's Turkish food and South East Asian Food. But, at least, the food is good. Crispy chicken (Chinese style) was surprisingly very, very good. We also ordered a "Low-Hay" 撈起, basically it's all auspicious things, raw fish, shredded carrots, ginger, whatever else, and then you have to mix it up "higher and higher". If you can understand Cantonese, feel free to listen to our weird conversation lol. Basically at one point we were dissing the "God of Wealth" because he was disturbing us from doing the Low-Hay.

I've mentioned, the surprisingly good chicken.

Dessert was a randomly chosen item, we were pretty full already, so it was just one sweet thing to sort of "complete" the meal.

And just like that, this 3-day break is over. Back to work tomorrow, and then it's the weekend. Why didn't I take tomorrow off as well? Nah, I'm collecting my annual leave for something else later.