Sophie's birthday

The cake that I made and Oli decorated!!!

She had just woken up so she was still a bit blur..

Decorating work took place while Sophie was taking her afternoon nap.

The just-turned two year old with her HUGE present!!

Cutting the cake.

Guillotin

So during my shopping trip to Tenjin Chikagai, i went into a shop to try on some clothes. As i went into the changing room, the sales girl hands me a little bit of cloth. I ask her what am i to do with this? I was communicating to her mostly in broken English and sign language. So she signaled something over her head, which i guess meant that it was to go over my head. Hmmmm so i just smiled and said ok. Hahahha.. here's what i look like. I later found out that it's to protect your make-up when you try on the clothes. Especially ones that go over your head. Hahahaha.. Japanese girls are sooo vain. I cant believe they even came up with this!!!. Looks like im going to be beheaded!

My shopping trip to Tenjin Chikagai

Lovely kimonos...

But just check out the price. Thats over RM6000!!!!

What i had for lunch. Tonkatze. I quite like this dish. The meat and prawns are fried in batter, eaten with a sweet sour sauce and rice and cabage salad.

I simply cant finish the cabbage salad. It way too much!!!

A Hello Kitty shop. Yuccch..

Talk, talk, talk...

(Me trying out various hats. Oli was quite malu to take pics of me in the hats that i wasnt going to buy)

Japanese people like to talk a lot. When at the grocers, the cashier will talk, talk, talk, mentioning every item you buy. After you pay her, she talks again, and they dont say thank you once, but twice or even trice!!! 'Arigato Gozhaimas', then when you reply 'Arigato Gozhaimas', they respond 'Arigato Gozhaimas' and again for good measure. And when they give you back your change, they count out the money in front of you, saying donno what else lah, i dont understand.

In the pharmacy just now ( i was looking for an ankle guard), the shop assistants were shouting out words continously. I dont think they were greeting those who came into the shop, but were simply shouting things out!!

I went to Town (Tenjin) just now by myself...while Sophie was at school.. Oli took me to the subway and told me how to get htere. It was rather simple, so got there sans any hitches. However once i came outa the subway i got kinda lost. Was supposed to walk along the long underground shopping area, where things are reportedly cheaper than in the malls, but somehow i missed turning and went above ground instead. Wandered aimlessly for a while before calling Olivia... Learnt where i went wrong and retraced my steps. Found the turning and walked for a bit before my foot started giving me problems. Had hurt it a few weeks ago and it has yet to heal completely. If i do a lot of walking and put pressure on my right foot, it starts to hurt. And today it hurt soooo much, had pains shooting up my foot. So much so that i had to limp. Not very becoming i tell you. So i found the nearest place to have my lunch (which wasnt very cheap - i later found out) but couldnt really help it as i neeeeeeded to rest and sit down. After lunch got up but my foot was no better. Had to cut short my window shopping (after buying one top that is =)) and got back on the subway home. I thought maybe i can browse around Nishijin for a bit before walking back home, but my foot hurt too much. So i limped back home (pooorrr meee..=()

Another pic of Emma

Little Emma

Little Emma has arrived! She is teensy and soooo cute as you can see in the picture. She has just arrived home. She sleeps sooo much. Was just telling Olivia that she's probably stocking up on sleep for all those sleepness nights ahead!! hahahahha...Dont think Oli was that thrilled to hear that..=P Enjoy the pictures!!

The land of the rising sun.

Its day 6 for me here in Fukuoka. So far so good. The weather is nice. Not too cold and not too hot. Sun shines everyday but its about 22 degrees on average. The Japanese are pretty friendly, except the older generation. They tend to frown a lot and arent very tolerant.. especially of kids ...noisy active ones like Sophie!! =P

Some interesting things ive noticed about Japan.

1. A song plays when the lights go green for pedestrians to cross the road.

2. The taxi drivers can open the back doors from the front, so we dont have to open the doors by ourselves.

3. I DONT LIKE MISO SOUP and they serve it with EVERYTHING!!!

4. The japs bundle up even when its not so cold!!! Here i am wearing a normal top, 3 quarter pants and sandles, and they are wearing a few layers of clothes and boots and scarve and gloves and hat!! ???? Huh???

So far these past few days have consisted of visiting Oli and Emma at least once a day. The rest of the time is playing blanket, shapes, ball, puzzle, and reading to Sophie woo...Hopefully Oli and Emma can come home soon!!!