December 2009 Archives

• Did you know the first Christmas celebrated ever in Japan was in 1552..long before pilgrims celebrating their first Christmas in the New world? Three years after the Jesuit missionaries came to Japan, the first Christmas mass was held in Yamaguchi, Japan (where my main family is from).
• Do you know why Santa's Coat is red? It's because Coca-cola did the massive campaign and colored the coat with their corporate image color, red. :)
• I still don't understand why there is a long line in KFC in Tokyo on Christmas eve. However, they do have "Christmas package" that comes with a little Christmassy gift.
• I am going to midnight mass tonight even though I will be so tired... I sometimes curse the fact I was raised as half Catholic in the country where Christmas is not observed as a holiday....

Happy Holidays, everyone!

It was a different trip and I want to go back there again next year as well! Happy Weekend!

I had wanted to come here for a long time but could not because there were things. Anyway, this is not the first time to be here in this country for me because I have come to this country several times for business. However, my work strictly prohibits going out and the policy tells me to stick with the hotel food, I was not exposed to the local culture during the biz trip. However, right now, I am on my own. I deal with local people. I am not sure if I can explain this right in English since my English is bad (and, yes, I still use this "I have not used English on a daily basis" card) Anyway, I got here to my dream vacation destination this afternoon and I am enjoying it. The weather is beautiful and my driver is very friendly and nice. The hotel staff treats me nicely with the usual nice Asian attentive services. But this country is still on the difficult side in the world. Whenever I am about to buy a bottle of water in front of the touristy spot, many, i mean more than ten different street vendors, try to get my attention. It was like selling a $1 water bottle is the life and death competition. There is a child free clinic and in front of it, I saw more than 500 people in line to wait for their turns. (Will they all get the necessary medical attention by the end of today?). Children try to get tourists' attention to get them buy some things. On the other hand, in the same place, in the same city, I am typing this on a newly bought mini computer in the huge spacious suite room at this 5 star hotel. I am a tourist so I enjoy good food and nice safe water in the same city while there are people who are not lucky enough to get everything they need. I have mix feelings about this. Do I feel guilty? hmm.. maybe. maybe not.... However, one thing I can clearly say here is that it totally made me realize that I was missing how great my life was even though I seem to complain about things from time to time. It did not even cross my mind that I should appreciate what I have and what I can get. I thought that was normal until very this afternoon. Yes, I sometimes think something like that when I watch a documentary for Africa or something on TV but this is me witnessing the real things with my naked eyes. I am thankful I can enjoy my vacation like this and I should appreciate it more. However, I am not going to think about this all day long during my visit. I will not think they are unfortunate, either. That would be too cheap for me to be pity like that. I still see smile on their faces. :) I will enjoy my vacation here in this city. And I will upload my photos when I return. (the internet and cell phone systems are unstable here...) anyway, I hope what I wanted to mention came out right. Yes, this vacation is more than what I expected. in different ways :) anyway... Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Happy Hump Day!

This is from last Sunday after the previous video I posted earlier this week. I know it's nothing special but I thought showing a boring driving thingy in Japan can be actually something you don't see everyday. so here it is.
Happy Weekend!