lost.in.shinjuku

lostfirst sunday in tokyo.



 

this will be the last panoramic view of 42nd floor.  the view from the breakfast lounge, i think i pretty much cover the 360 view perhaps still missing one view from the gym.

i set out to church. i found a g12 church in tokyo and i connected to the pastor through facebook, so today i am going to visit shinjuku shalom church.  knowing how confusing shinjuku is, i leave early enough so that i can afford to get lost if i have to.  the metro trip is not a big deal, what is totally confusing is when i get off at shinjuku station, finding the west exit itself is already a challenge, the signboards are pointing toward each other with so many metro lines and so many rail companies sharing this crossing.  it took me awhile to get to the street level...

and these buildings welcome me as i surface from underground, still i don't know where exactly i am and where i am heading too.  thankfully there is a street map every 200m away.  so i eventually heading towards the right direction, they don't use street name in shinjuku, all the smaller alleys are signed by number such as 7-9-7.  i did my homework on google map and know that there is a hospital nearby. 

after asking 6 different people, i found my destination!  thanked God for that, just in time, a few minutes before 11am.

at shinjuku shalom church (新宿シャローム教会), the congregations are mostly japanese and most of them i believe are bilingual.  i am the only one that needs translation.  i can flow with the worship, the songs are the same except they sing them in japanese and i sing in english.  pastor elmer (left)welcomed me and mentioned briefly how we are connected through facebook.  he didn't preached today, instead a pastor from sapporo (right) preached about how we can make an impact to the world.  he also recently published a book on how to turn the mandarin orange's skin into an art and the book is well received in japan.  he is well exposed to media and that is how God uses the gift that He has given to him to make an impact to the world by sharing his faith through creativity.

i have to listen to the translation which is done by pastor elmer's daughter, whom bought me a lunch opposite and we had a good fellowship together.  bless her! 

she has to go back to the 1.30pm service which i decided to check out the shinjuku gyoen (shinjuku garden新宿御苑). 

the temperature drops significantly, in fact it's not so good idea for a park, but i go anyway. first walking through the train station again, lots of people, lots of noise and lots of neonlight...

and finally i arrived.  the sakura welcomed me. only one tree where the flowers are blooming...

and i can already imagine how shinjuku gyoen will be like when all the sakura blossom at once, must be an amazing hanami experience.  i walked to the japanese garden, it's cold and i didn't enjoy it that much...

some parts of the garden reminds me of new york central park.  a part within the city. a park surrounds by high rise buildings. a park with pond here and there...

although out there is busy and chaotic, but right here i actually can feel the peace of mind, a good space to breath and reflect on the sermon i just take in.  right here is an oasis not only just for shinjuku but also for me.

tokyo.midtown.ramblings

ohayo gozaimasu!!

i start my day with asa-gohan (朝食) at the 42nd floor lounge, a generous serving of green salad with with sesame sauce and apple ginger sauce.  i am addicted to this now especially the sauce...  i am not accustomed to have salad as breakfast but given that this is my only free source of green and veg, i enjoy them with delight...

view from 42nd floor again, from a different angle... winter in tokyo is sunny, eventhough the temperature is around the same as the lowland but the sunshine factor makes a lot of difference, at least i feel energetic and wanting to go out, whilst back home the sky is usually grey and cloudy...   i went for a swim this morning, my only portion of work out this week, i hope to pop up for a swim or gym tomorrow as well...

 

after my vitality portion, i check out the neighbourhood, a bit of ramblings around, go to another local groceries store called hanamasa to buy some local produces, a look back of my apartment block and the office tower next to it.

i was thinking about where should i go for a visit this afternoon, the first place that pop up i shibamata, but the journey takes almost an hour with two metro changes and a train ride. feeling a little tired after the swim and with the jet lag still in effect, i opt for somewhere nearby - roppongi 六本木.  roppongi is not new to me but i don't mind going there again...

tokyo midtown revisited.  i was here in 2009 but didn't have the time to browse through and this trip time is on my side, i have no other plan after this, so i took my time to explore the tokyo midtown slowly...

there is this exhibition on japanese arts and some obachans wearing kimono. it was so crowded at one point that i suspect some celebrity or famous politician or artist was there.  a middle age man but i cannot recognize him, all i know is the cameras were focus on him only... the craft displays worth the ramblings with the crowd though.  i like the otopus interpretaion of art.

outside, there is this ice ring, isn't it very new york?

i then decided to check on some art scenes, santori art museum is there, 21_21 design site and another art museum nearby, i just didn't have the energy to pay and take in the full art scene, so i opt for a free arts exhibition at tokyo midtown design hub...





tokyo midtown design hub with exhibition on 'design for human happiness'

the set up.  not a bad idea to set the stage by these carton boxes... cost efficient at least.

but most of the art works are rather lame.  most of them are the compilation of junks which is common in my modern art but this exhibition is rather how can i put it better than the word 'lame'...

i laughed when i saw this two kettles masterpiece.  it makes a lot of noise when i push it down.  it's hilarious! it made me laugh, perhaps it did achieve the objective as 'design for human happiness' only if laughter means happiness.

 

tokyo tower again on my way back to my apartment and when i take this photo it suddenly reminded me of paris eiffel tower. perhaps tokyo, new york, paris do share some commonalities?  i do find tokyo tower enchanting though as comparable when i see eiffel tower....

back home, i unpacked some goodies that i bought from tokyo midtown.  my crave for japanese wagashi.  i wanted to do a sit down at toraya but the queue is just too long, so i gave up and picked up some seasonal wagashi (not from toraya of course)....

spring wagashi, always associated with sakura, sakura mochi (桜餅 ) tokyo style a bit elegant than the kansai style (below)

sakura mochi - kansai style.

i like both of them, although the mochi texture is different but the saltiness of the sakura leave gives the same distinct flavor.

macarons from sadaharu aoki (青木定治) - salted caramel, matcha, earl grey and other flavors.  i picked up six pieces from the outlet at tokyo midtown.

it's almost the end of the day for me here, still tired from jet lag i guess....
tomorrow i am heading to church, i found a g12 in tokyo when i search on the internet, i have also linked up with the senior pastor through facebook, so i will be at shinjuku tomorrow. can't wait for that!

mori.living

well, my day two in tokyo. this is how i see my tokyo so far. i am a business traveller this time. so this is a total different experience compared to my last two trips to japan. my first day at work, in the financial district of chiyoda-ku, a japanese client, let says the lehman brother of japan. i must admit working hour is long, i left just before nine pm and most of them are still in the office. i see myself going back to the asia crazy working hours, and the constant con-calls that i need to have with usa and india will not cut the work hours short either. but that's what i have signed up for, in exchange for a short working experience in the land of the rising sun....

i made it to the 42th floor tonight, just to get a glimpse of the spa area and it's impressive.

love the swimming pool, although it is not big but the view from here is unbeatable. i will come up for a swim tomorrow before the breakfast.

tokyo tower right in front of me...

and the night skyline of tokyo and this is just one side of the view, the executive lounge where they serve the breakfast has equally matching view of the other side of the city.

back to my apartment, the japanese utensils that i requested yesterday are waiting for me when i reached home tonight. now at least i have a rice cooker, rice bowls, ramen bowls, miso soup bowls.

i made myself a simple ramen with wagyu beef strips, enoki and some japanese vegetable chrysanthemums green as dinner.

i guess life is never perfect after all. i am not complaining in fact i am really thankful to God for all the things that He has prepared for me here. i am just contemplating the fact that i have all the luxury now but no time to enjoy them. i have a fully equipped kitchen with great oven but will i ever find time to bake while i am here? the super luxury spa facility is at my disposal, but will i come back early enough to take a punch in the pool, dip on the hot bath and sport enough to keep a healthy lifestyle? i will have time to do so in weekend but i would probably busy exploring the city in the weekend....

so much for now and my mori living. i still haven't decide what i want to do tomorrow, i probably will take it easy but will definitely take a swim tomorrow before my breakfast and do a bit of grocery shopping.

jet.lag

i woke up at 3am (@_@) in hunger. thankfully i already expected this in advance so i bought two onigri (rice ball, triangle) to standby in the fridge.

now that i had eaten both, my stomach is at each and will dive to my bed soon for i have a new day full of new things and great experience yet to discover today.

p.s: the photo is not taken here in tokyo, but from the window of my study room awhile back home. i am fascinating with the bokeh and out of focus shot lately.

did.it.all.happen?

everything happened so fast, it was as if a dream and so surreal, yet the next thing i realized i am already on board the aircraft heading to the east - to the land of the rising sun.

and about eleven hours later i arrived at narita, wait for the coach and head to the city and checked in to my new 'home'. a modern one bed room spacious fully furnished apartment on seventh floor. the area i am staying is called minato-ku and too bad the spa is closed today (thursday), otherwise i would have go up and swim...

anyway, here are a few snapshots of my new 'home'...

master bed room with an adjuncts balcony and connect to the bath room.

the bathroom, all white and rather hotel-like but big enough in fact much bigger than my bathroom at home. plus i have this fancy japanese toilet set, that keep me warm and some funky options (you know what i mean)

view from my balcony, although next to the main street, the glass door and windows are double glaze so there is no noise so far...

and the changing view from day to night...

the only disadvantage is that i am in an expat area that means there is no sign for local japanese delicacies that i am craving for. i went to a supermarket to pick up stuff, but much to my disappointment there only stock on foreign items especially goods from the europe. i can't even buy a bento for dinner if you can imagine how expat this area is.

i am tired now, need to do a bit of preparation and tomorrow i will be heading to my client...

good night!!

templaux.annual.antique.fair

i got my japan visa today, so tomorrow late afternoon i am leaving for tokyo.  is it for real?  yes, it is set stone now...  i haven't go the excitement yet, i am just too tired to even think of what is ahead of me...
for now, i am going to leave you with another post from my summer 2010.  this is about an annual antique fair in belgium.
~~~

it wasn’t your idea but his of going to the largest annual flea/antique fair in europe. it’s in belgium, a good two hour journey from home but the weather is perfect and tempting to make such a journey. the heat is already soaring up as you approaching waterloo, then you journey into small country road wondering if you are at the right place and you got you confirmation as there is a string of endless car leading into a really small road. you have to park your car more than 2 km away from the town and sweat your way to templaux where the flea market annual antique fair begins.

this is your first ever experience in strolling an antique fair flea market, you have been to a few antique streets before in china, but nothing really compare to this european scale antique fair or flea market (you are confused here).


you take your time to look around, touching little things here and there, you take your time but he is in the hurry. he has no interest in these junks, putting this into his words….
he is right to some extends because you never consider empty perfume bottles, used books, tableware, used toys as antiques.

some are just merely retro but others are more appropriate as thrift/second hand items.

nonetheless there are some highlights, you are intrigue by the antique irons and coffee grinders, wooden bicycle and so forth.

it was a warm afternoon, without a shade it is almost impossible to walk on under the mid noon sun. you resort to ice cream while he nurse his hunger with belgium fries and mayonnaise. you both satisfied your hunger in your own ways…

with him never ending nagging you decided to stop browsing and leave the place, while walking some 2km distance to your car, you look at the surrounding and feel like posing for a photo with the giant toilet paper as he describes it, none other than a roll of pressed grass which usually use as the reserves food for cows in the winter…

with this photo you bid farewell to templaux and head to leuven. there is no special reason to pay leuven a visit other than it is a nearby city next to templaux and he heard from his colleague that leuven has a ‘gezelig’ aka nice atmosphere town.
~~~

eat.madrid

packing stress.  waiting impatiently for ups to deliver me the document and pretty much stay put at home (i cancelled a farewell lunch that my team organized for me and i may have to cancel the meeting with an vip from my company if i don't get the delivery in the next hour or so.) as i don't want to miss the delivery man.

i still need to learn the art of packing light, it's my third attempt and i still couldn't fit everything in my packing list into the luggage.  so i will further reduce and repack again after this.  here is an overdue post.  in fact, it's the first destination of my three parts of summer holiday in 2010, but i didn't get around to talk much about madrid yet. so this post is going to be about the yummy and delicious madrid beside tapas that i already mentioned here.

chocolate and churros

you had your breakfast is the famous chocolate and churros, a chocolatier tucked in a small quiet alley behind the oldest church in mardrid. at chocolatier san gilés, you had your portion, you like the chocolate because it is not sweet but thick and full of flavor. churro gives you enough energy to carry on with the sightseeing. you really don’t mind coming back here again for another choc fix.

thick choco and sinful churros, a perfect match. just like the good old time where you remembered your dad dung his youtiao into coffee...

cocido madrileño
at night you go to tarbena de la bola, you choose this restaurant because it is close to where you ‘live’ and you went to try your luck without a reservation but you succeeded. it was quite outside but there are quite a lot of customers.

everyone come here for the one dish – cocido madrileno. it comes in a small clay pot, you first drink the soup with some spaghetti.

the soup is naturally flavored and sweeten by the meat and saffron.

when you are done with the soup, the waiter will pour out the content of the pot and there’s lot of chickpea, a piece of beef, a piece of chorizo, a piece of pork fat and a piece of smoked leg of ham. extra steam cabbage is added to your plate for a complete meal. it is a full meal by itself, you had a great conversation (sign language, facial expression) with a couple sitting next to me. they are super friendly. although you couldn’t understood each other, you were able to comment on the food.

roast suckling pig


you wanted to try the suckling pork at la botin, but the restaurant is not open till 8pm. to kill time, you go to mercado de san miguel and hang around there till about 8pm until restaurant botin finally opens it door. there were already a long queue trying to get in.

you start with half pitcher of sangria, what a binge but it's the end of the day...


you had a gazpacho cold andalusia soup, that's cool and refreshing... it soothes your throat and eventually your body as you wash it down...


a portion of suckling pig, the pork skin is extra thin and crisp, almost as crisp as a filo sheet. all are great and delicious, although it is the most expensive meal so far.



asturian grilled chicken and cider

you walk all the way to casa mingo. it’s a hot and sunny day; you have to walk a good 10 min from the metro station to where the restaurant is located.

casa mingo serves asturian cuisine and is famous for its grilled chicken and cider.you had a chicken all by yourself...

your verdict: it is over rated. the chicken is not bad but is not up to the expectation plus there is no wing on the chicken. what a bummer, not to be able to bites on the wings...
you also order a chorizo to wash down the bottle of cider. The cider is good though.

you were full (after almost a chicken minus the wings, one chorizo and a bottle of cider).  it's definitely a good way to bid goodbye to this city.