Macaron Making: Finally a success!

They looked so lovely I didn’t wanna eat them.

First snow (was hailing actually…) yesterday! Was stuck on the traffic for 45 mins on the way home from Metrotown! Anyway, I’m just happy we are getting a white Christmas. So after a shopping spree yesterday, May and I decided to make some Macarons to break our diets. I’ve done it twice before, and didn’t get them right both times… sad. But this time, with the lemon curd filling recipe from my cousin and the shell recipe from May’s sister- it was a great success (some were cracked but at least a good portion was lookin’ good!). Will try to increase the hit rate to over 90% next time though!

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Buck A Shuck @ The Fish Shack

Buck-A-Shuck!!

Before going for a show in Downtown on Sunday night, we went to The Fish Shack on Granville St. for an early supper. They have the Buck-A-Shuck deal (oysters for $1 each) from opening till 5pm daily, so we arrived at 4 and ordered 3 dozens of oysters for ourselves… and those were just the appetizers!

Stanley Park Bright Nights

Bright Lights @ Stanley Park

Finals are over, so are my gloomy days! Christmas is really my favourite time of a year- no school, no work, no stress. Instead, there’re good food, good deals, and good mood everywhere. Went to Stanley Park’s Bright Nights for the first time ever on the rainy Saturday night to brighten up our night. It was really a spur of the moment thing… We were gonna go shopping in downtown, and we thought it wouldn’t be raining (weather forecast let us down once again).

Has it really been 3 months?

Finally, the first time that I can really say caffeine works on me. I can’t sleep, even though it’s almost 4am! Might as well give up on sleeping tonight.

I know I’m really swamped with schoolwork… but to be honest, I’d rather force myself to sleep than to face reality, or be productive. Then I remember this blog… When did I last post?

Been back to Vancouver for just about 3 months, and all those recent memories from Japan are already tugged in a backlog… Back to being a Vancouver student with no life. I really want to find a weekend to sort through my photos, pick several of my favorites to print, and write some more posts about Japan (you know, to fill in the 3-month gap) … but I guess that would have to wait until this term is over.

It’s quite amazing how much has happened within these few months… and I’m back to being my old self, running after deadlines, sleeping late (or really early in the morning- it’s like I’ve never fixed my jet-lag). Really miss the good ol’ days of working and living in Japan… having regular sleep, regular fun, and regular diet! Yes- It was unbelievable how much weight I have gained in such a short time- I was really shocked, and at one point I though my dad damaged the scale by weighing his luggage…   Thinking back, I deserved every pound of it though… It all happened after coming back from the cruise to Alaska. I really have no self control with All-You-Can-Eats, and I seriously ate at least 5 meals a day throughout the trip. And being on a cruise ship, exercising would make me sea sick (haha, what an excuse)… So the weight just piled up and I notice I keep eating more and more lately. So I’m thinking…. I really should diet, this time for real (I think my weight gives me enough motivation to stick with it this time).

A classmate said he had lost over 30 pounds in 3 months.. best thing is it didn’t bounce back! He said he had turned into a “fat burning machine” since then lol

My goal is also 30 pounds – but I know I can’t be exercising twice a day like he did… so I guess I would take it slowly. My “soft” deadline is by Feb 2013 (if the world doesn’t end), and the “hard” deadline is by graduation! (BTW, had my grad photos taken they I was glad I could hide under the gown =P )

From now on,

• I will eat breakfast (preferably oatmeal)
• I will exercise at least 30 mins a day
• I will not snack
• I will drink more water
• I will reduce my sugar intake
• I will stop eating when 60% full
• I will not eat every two hours at least two hours before bed
• I will not buy any clothes until I make it!!! <- I hope I don’t regret this… as X’mas is coming T_T But I guess it’s good for wallet as well.

Fighting~~~!!!

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Staring at the computer screen in the dark makes me kinda sleepy… yay!

Awesome Vids: Abandoned Japanese Railways

Came across this inspiring series of documentary(?) created by this guy (Adam Dodge), who cycled 4 abandoned railways in Hokkaido with his girlfriend in a month’s time. The videos are very well made. Besides being entertaining to watch, they are also educational, touching on some history of the lines. During my time here, I think I’ve fallen in love with trains in Japan (some  were even major highlights of my Kyushu trip!)… and it is amazing how much respect the Japanese have for trains… They don’t just decorate them with themes, some people even go as far as saluting to the trains(Mostly from train operators and janitors… but I’ve seen several train otakus done that too)!

Come and Go

Second round of drinking at M-san and H-san’s Farewell Party.

‘Tis is the season when new hires come and old members are relocated to other group companies. During this month,two members left our team and two newcomers arrived. In roughly a month’s time, it’ll be my turn to say my farewell to all these wonderful people. My time here in Japan is really slipping away now… Looking at the calendar every morning reminds me of how much there is left to do.

Recently.

Some guy put this sunflower thingy by the office’s window, praying for the rain to stop.

Have not posted anything for a while. Posts are piling up, but I don’t have time to write them, or even upload photos. With slightly more than 2 months left in Japan, I’ve been working late and travelling my butt off. I guess those travel posts will have to wait until I get back to Canada. June is the typhoon season, so it’s been raining on and off for quite a while now. Trains were even delayed or stopped several days ago. Another Typhoon hit last Friday, and on my way to work, I saw this guy’s umbrella got ripped by the strong wind… so he just pulled the remains over himself and used it as raincoat lol My situation wasn’t much better either, pants were soaked… and I was wearing a pair of converse (dunno why I always wear the wrong shoes on the wrong days).

Mesmerized by Fujisan, Part 3: Kawaguchiko & Fujikyu Highland

Mt. Fuji floating on clouds… seen at Lake Kawaguchi.

This is the second day of my weekend trip to the Fuji-Goko area. It was such a perfect day- with perfect weather, views of Fujisan literally everywhere I went. The day started off with me biking around Kawaguchiko, then hopped on some of the world’s best coasters at FujiQ Highland, and finally relaxed at the Fujiyama Onsen nearby before bussing back to Yokosuka. It’s by far my most favorite day in Japan =D

Tonight’s Dinner: Spanish Egg Tortilla

This meal took the longest preparation time to date XD

Love how the sky is still bright when I leave work. It just feels like I have more time on hand… I loaded up my fridge with food last Friday after a grocery shopping spree, so it’s time to treat myself for a better meal. After dinner, I played with my new “toy” for a while and youtubed for a bit…. I love chill evenings like this.

Mesmerized by Fujisan, Part 2: Suicide Forest

Retro Bus that went around Lake Saiko

Continued from Part 1… After a short trip to see Shibazakura, I bussed back to Kawaguchiko station to take the Retro tour bus. There were two retro bus lines, one went around the Kawaguchiko lake, to places such as museums; while the other one (the one I took) was bound for Lake Saiko. I bought a 2-day pass for 1300 yen, but ended up using it for that day only.