May 24, 2009

Lake District, UK

Surprisingly, it was sunny every single day during my stay in UK. Even the person went here (Lake District) 3 times, said she never saw a blue sky.
I love the scenery of the countryside of UK like the photo below.





Dubrovnik, Croatia

This is one of the country I've always wanted to visit. Such a beautiful place with terrible past, finished not so long ago (1991). Because I didn't have enough time, I only visited one city. I really want to visit other cities as well. well, next time...





Apr 15, 2009

Ryuzo Nakata Private Salon Party @Tokyo

Went to Ryuzo Nakata's private salon party the other day.
He's a famous designer in Paris, not too commercialized in Japan but has lots of fan who is crazy about his clothes.
Only his friends or his friend's friend can go to this event so there was lots of clothes that can not buy at the store, with very good discount.
I wasn't planning to by any clothes (cause I need to save money for holidays), but I finally bought 2 dresses... it was too adorable. His clothes are amazing cause any age can wear (20-60 yld) and is sexy, cute, feminine, sensitive, elegant... has all the concept that all women want to be. Or I would say it has the style how men want women to be. Has men's collection too.

He features embroidery, swarovski design attached to jeans, jacket, dress etc. He was saying in one interview that he puts the embroidery where he wants to touch on womens body. He design the clothes imagining how elegant it will look when undressing the dress. wow... that is so romantic...Every single clothes are made one by one, by hand so there are no other person wearing that clothes. It is very special.

I met him directly, drank wine together until late at night :) I got the image that he is very friendly, energetic, creative, wine and women lover.
One more thing that was so interesting were the people who came. Wine freak, president of one company teaching women "how to get married" or "how to get a better man and not losing", lives in Paris, wife of a doctor who's crazy about his clothes (she bought 12 clothes!) etc. Everyone was energetic and positive so I got lots of energy from them. ( I'm kinda stressful at work these days...)
Went there around 6pm, stayed there until 12am... trying all kinds of dresses, drinking wine & champagne, chatting with all kinds of people. I had such a wonderful time!
Thanks to my friend who invited me to this party!
Ryuzo Nakata Exclusive Paris

Feb 22, 2009

Sunday Church Live

Today, I went to visit my co-worker's Sunday church ceremony. I'm not Christian and am not planning to be one either, but since I am interested in religion and she invited me, I thought "why not?".

This one that I went was more like live music show, live band, singing, dancing etc. but talk about bible, sing about Jesus and make community. Many were young (18-30 yld) and very international community. What I was surprised was that there were so many young Japanese who believe in Jesus, and they were so energetic, so positive.

I've been to church quite a few times when I was living in US, with my friends or family so going to the ceremony it is nothing new to me. I've met people who believe in God, and some were non-believer but became a strong believer when they are grown up.
I am not for or against religion, I think as long as one is happy with that, it is completely fine.

Sometimes I feel envious for the people who believe in God. Sometimes I wish I believe in God. Because they have something to believe, believe that God is there to help you, I think you are stronger than others. That strong belief will help you and lead you to overcome difficulties.
In my experience there are 2 types of beliver. One is the ones taught by their parents since they were born so religion is part of their life. Two is the ones who once got lost in their lives but met god and was saved by him. When they were struggling and needed someone's help, somehow they met religion/God. Maybe through friends or accidently went to the ceremony etc. but however people met God, there is one thing that is common between them. They were all lost. They were desparate. By listening to the what God wants to tell you, that God is there to help you, and sharing their experiences with other people in the same community, they feel that they are not alone and be resuced. A lot of my friends who I know is this second type of people.

If religion can encourage people to live, to survive, I think religion is a wonderful thing. I said in the former paragraph that beliver is stronger that others (non-believer) but maybe people who has weak mentality, who is feeling alone, who needs help tend to believe in God. People who has strong mentality, who is succeeding very much may not become a believer.

As I said before, I'm intested in religion. To be more specific, I'm interested in mentality side of religion. I'm curious why people became a beliver, how they were rescued, are they happy compared to the time when they did not believe in God?
If some of the readers who can share their experience/opinion, please let me hear what you think.

P.S. One more thing what surprised me was that people were so friendly to me. Everyone came and talk to me, asked me many questions, looking like they really want to get to know me. I asked my co-worker, "why everyone is so friendly? why do they want to know about me?" and she said "we are happy to have someone new in the community. we want as many people to know about us, how fun it is to come here even though they don't join the group. We want to share our experience and want to know about others too." Everyone (I mean EVERYONE) seemed to enjoy being together. I also asked her "what if you met someone you feel you are not comfortable, or you don't like?" Then she said "there are no likes and dislikes. we are like brothers and sisters, like one big family. There is no likes/ dislikes to your family, your family is your family, right?" I totally understood what she meant.

Jan 18, 2009

My recent activities

It's been a while since my last post.
Here is what I've been doing for the past few month.

Birthday in HK..


Hakone Onsen at the end of the year...


Okinawa (Miyako Island) on New Years...


and San Francisco (Mac World) for biz trip... came back last week.

Nov 16, 2008

Kabuki

First time I went to see Kabuki, one of the traditional Japanese culture. Something similar to musical stage but story in old Japan times, speak old Japanese language, using traditional costumes and instruments.
It was very very interesting. It was a bit modern style Kabuki so I could understand what they are saying. The story was about a beast who was envious of one guy who could get beautiful girls. Unfortunately, they always liked the same girls so the beast got very jealous and started to kills the girls one after the other which was man's girlfriends. The man got so depressed and could not recover from his sadness. Then one detective decided to seach for this beast and...

I've seen lots of western cultures like opea, musical show, ballet but never Japanese ones. It is nice to know about your own culture as well. I guess as you get older, you (or just me?) have more interests in your own culture and want to know more. When I was little, I was more interested in US or Europe culture and style, tried to be like them. I travel a lot but these days everytime I go somewhere, I re-recognized how wonderful Japanese culture is, especially in people's behavior and mentality. I am proud to be Japanese.

My Travel Map 79 cities, so far that I can remember


Oct 18, 2008

Biz trip to Kanazawa

Went to Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on a biz trip. This city is famous for hot spring and older genernation come here to relax. Not much to do here but I went to a road called "Nagisa drive way", where you can drive on the beach! No road signs or street lanes, so you can drive however you want. You need to becareful not to get stuck in the sand though.

I didn't expect to see this so I was so excited! Isn't this nice?

Oct 13, 2008

Chagall Museum @ Nice

I love Chagall!! I've been to many museums but this was one of the best. Not big but very satisfying.
I was so happy being surrounded by lots of Chagall paingings. His drawings make me feel happy and positive. I still cannot forget the celling of the Opera House in Paris, my first contact with Chagall.





My favorite museum so far would be Dali Museum @near of Balcerona and this Chagall museum. Dali Museum is one of the most unique musuem, would take you deep inside of Dali world. What is your favorite??

Trip to Monaco and Mysterious Rich Man

30 min drive from Nice and you'll arrive in Monaco!

In one of the richest country in the world, we met this mysterious, richest man I've ever met in my life. He was something ralated to F1 (of course), but did not ask exactly what he was doing. ( I didn't want him to think that I'm interested in him)When we met this guy, he was carring a big bear body (he said he hunted up in Swiss mountain) and was about to take this to his storage.

Anyway, we were lost so asked him the direction and also if he know any good place for a cafe. Then he offered his apartment to have a coffee. We thought about it for a little bit, and decided to take a look because not everyone can see a apartment in Monaco! We followed him with curiosity and arrived at the entrance 1 min walk from the Palace. Wow, who can live in such a place!? His place was 2nd and also 4th floor of the building, loved arts especially paintings. He had many many paintings on the wall, probably incredibaly expensive. Surprising thing was that he hired this Russian artist for 2 years to paint just for him, payed for his rent and salary. wow... (below is view from his room)

Another info I found out is that he just broke up with his wife, and looking for a girlfrind(s). I'm sure he can get anyone he wants but I felt a little sorry for him. He was interested in us, and it was obious that he was not interested in us personally but just wanted to have... you know, physical relationship. What was surprising was that he asked us to spend the night together so directly without any hesitation (and was shortly after arriving at his place) so was shocked to answer his question. He probably has difficulty finding a woman he really loves or a woman who really loves him from bottom of her heart and not for money.

Anyway, there was not so much to do and see in Monaco, unless you are a big fan of cars. It's a place you would like to go once in your life to say "I've been there!" but no more than once. Oh, but I'm talking about as a tourist so it's a different story if you are going to live. Not everyone can live, only the selected ones and probably one of the safest country in the world (but of course you pay for that).