Dan

Yakushima 屋久島

One less lonely boy...

End.

Zasshounokuma and Petra

Zasshonokuma 雑餉隈 

I believe in this world of strangers, there are people who only exist in your world during that brief one second when you make eye contact, and people whom you meet and make incredible connections with, and sometimes meeting them will change your life in ways that you can never imagine. It was during the last dregs of Spring in Japan that I met Petra, a strong, beautiful woman with an equally beautiful mind.

Petra translates into rock in German. In many ways, Petra was like a rock. She likes and she doesn't like. She likes watching movies, technology, seafood. She dislikes bad table manners, the heat, camps. She has a dogged determination to master Japanese, no easy task I can assure you. Most importantly, she was my rock. She pulls me back when I am too far off in my fantastical world. She scolds me back into reality. She taught me my German numbers. Together we could eat thirteen plates of sushi in one seating, watch a detective Japanese movie without subtitles AND understand the story, just simply walking and talking for hours. 

It was strange because despite our very different backgrounds, and having never met before, I felt that I have known her for the longest time.

During one of our first dates, we sat on a wooden bench, eating strawberries and tomatoes that were in season. I don't quite remember what we talked about, but I know I found her a little strange, and she thinks I'm weird too (for eating strawberries and tomatoes together), but I didn't mind. I felt comfortable enough to be myself around her.

Petra laughed at my taking pictures of trees (she finds trees like these mundane because she sees them all the time back in Venice). I laughed at her attachment to her iPhone.

Together we laughed at the Japanese who were walking their tiny Chihuahuas and Pomeranians.

Petra, I miss you.

End.

Language exchange

Katherine and I were English conversation teachers for a day. We were paid 4000yen for talking about random things to Japanese strangers (who later on became friends) for two hours. For my part, my group of Japanese students were fascinated by the fact that I speak Chinese as well as English (surprisingly Japanese consider Chinese to be one of the most difficult language to master.), so we spent the better part of the session translating Japanese verbs into English into Chinese. The other half of the session we talked about Singapore (the country I am from), cakes (my profession), and Japan's flagging economy (go figure). 

End.

Ijiri, Fukuoka

My long overdue post.

It's been too long since my study break in Japan. 6 months to be exact. I was afraid if I don't pen it down soon, I would start to forget the details, ie. the temperature of the streets, the colours, smells and sounds of the people, how I felt about everything I have seen, heard and learned. In fact, the forgetting has already started, but thank god for cameras and its ability to capture time and space, for I would have forgotten even more. :P

I think it is important to record the place I lived in during my 3 month stay in Japan as it was my base where my introvert self would return to to recharge after a day of making new friends, finding new paths, and learning new Japanese vocabulary. So I stayed in a dormitory style apartment in Ijiri, a small suburb of about a 20 minutes train ride away from the city of Fukuoka. My room is a tiny thing, that is right at the end of the corridor of the second story, and has a bathroom attached to it (that was mine and mine alone), and a slightest of a balcony that looks over a Japanese cemetery. It was clean and functional so I had no complaints. (That being said, if I had more money, I would get a bigger room. I am mildly claustrophobic.) 

 

On days when I literally have nothing to do (after school), I would fill my bathtub with scalding hot water, empty a packet of onsen powder into the bath, and sit in there till my head starts to buzz. Then I would challenge myself to stand up with my head still spinning, shower, pop back into my room and help myself to dinner that I had bought from the food heaven at the department stores in the city on my way back from school. Most of the time I would have a huge futomaki,a wakame salad, and a flask of hot green tea. 

Life was good, and free. I didn't have anyone to answer to except myself. I did whatever I liked. I didn't particularly want to make friends, so I didn't care what other people thought of me. I skipped class when it suited me (not that it happened very often), ate whenever I felt hungry, smile only when I felt like it. It was liberating. It was great. And, I ate a LOT of cakes. Yay.

The pictures in this post were all taken in Ijiri, on my trusty Leica. 

Really random things that caught my attention.

In the most beautiful light which is dusk,

When the air cools, and colours saturate.

 And you know that the only reason you are walking around with a camera in your hands is because

you are not quite hungry for dinner yet.

I own a Nissan March, and it is nice to see that it is very popular in Japan. As in, if I ever need to hijack one in an emergency, I know I'd be completely comfortable driving it. :)

The coin laundry that never closes.

As spring bleeds into summer, these creepers grow leaves and bloom flowers which colour I don't quite remember.

My room.

End.

Genki JACS

This picture was probably taken during my third week at Genki JACS. A class of the strangest, weirdest individuals, who have brought me so much joy and laughter in the ensuing weeks. 

And you, 

yes you, 

the one in the middle with your head bowed and hands in a praying gesture, 

I am gladdest to have met you.

Daizaifu 大宰府

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Here's a couple of thousands for you.

Inari Shrine 稲荷神社

いなりのかみ

Umegaemochi 梅が枝もち

Inari Udon　いなりうどん

"Heidi, the only two uncertainties in your life right now is Dan- and what you should do in life.
And you should be laughing at them."             
 - Petra

Thanks.

Meeting good people

After all the bad things that has happened, the few good people that you meet, that is the silver lining I have been looking for.
 

Dinner with Kim, my first ever German どいつ人 end, at the local Sushi bar across Ijiri Station.

It is Kim's first experience with Nigiri sushi (also her first experience with chopsticks), so I ordered us Omakase set おまかせセット 8 pieces. (Kim ate with her hands in the end)

 

It's a really old style sushi bar, see how the sushi is placed directly on the wooden table?

Clear soup to go with.

The chef was so understanding with Kim, who was struggling to finish all the sushi. In the end, he packed the leftover sushi for her to bring home. (sorry Kim! we should have went for Okonomiyaki instead..)

Murasaki Sushi　紫すし

Cake of the day: Apple pie りんごパイ from Fortnum & Mason.

I shall not comment much except that it was very disappointing for a signature product. I guess apple pie is still best served warm.

Breakfast the next morning at Doutor cafe ドトル, which a chain cafe littered all over Japan. I wanted to see how is Doutor like in Japan, since we are supplying them cakes over at the Singapore branch. I am impressed. Doutor in Japan gives off a completely different vibe compared to in Singapore. Maybe Doutor Singapore should relocate to somewhere busier and smaller instead of that stupid Financial Center.

Maccha Latte 抹茶ラテ

Croque Monsieur

Cake(s) of the day from Bleu Fonce Fukuoka.

フルフル Baked Souffle. Plain baked souffle dressed in cake crumb and whipped cream. Simple yet lovely.

Seasonal Mont Blanc モンブラン. Different from their normal Mont Blanc, the colour of this Mont Blanc cream is darker in colour, and tasted exactly like chestnut, which had me totally baffled. Does Japanese creme de marron taste different from French creme de marron? I must find out.

The construction of this particular Mont Blanc is special in that it uses a feuilletine base, which allows you to concentrate more on the Mont Blanc cream itself. Not a bad idea except that it got a bit too sickening in the end. 

After a particularly sick and twisted Japanese movie that the school showed us (every Friday is movie day), I went to an Izakaya with Daniel and Jimmy (both unabashedly American).

Tofu salad 豆腐サラダ.

Stir-fried burdock root ごぼうきんぴら.

Fried chicken 鳥から揚げ.

Pizza ピざ. It puzzles me to no end. Why on earth would an Izakaya have pizza on the menu?

I hereby declare that Americans, it seems, have little or no inhibitions. (translation: they are the craziest people ever.)

I had breakfast with Kim the next morning at a cafe in Shintencho 新天町that she really likes.

BLT. A surprisingly very good one. I would definitely return for the egg and cheese version.

Ueshima Kissaten 上島コーヒー店

Cake of the day: Fruit tart フルツタルと from Hanako Fruit Cafe はなこフルツカフェ.

Told you I'd return. I originally wanted to try the Fruit Cake フルツケーキ but it sold out. Oh well. Fruit tart was quite good, and had all sorts of fruit of it, fruits that you wouldn't even think of, like pomelo.

I went back to school to attend Kim's graduation ceremony.

And went to the ultra-gay (depending how big of a fan of Pokemon you are, it could also be ultra-cool) Pokemon Center at Hakata Station.　ポケモンセンタ　8階

Pikachu I choose you!

Dinner at the Hakata Daruma Ramen 博多だるまラメン, Ramen Street in Hakata Station 博多駅. I was actually craving for gyoza  餃子, and I know I wouldn't be able to finish both ramen and gyoza if I ordered the set. So it's just gyoza for now.

Mentaiko mayonaise gyoza  明太子マヨ餃子 since Fukuoka is famous for its mentaiko.

おいいしかった！

End.