January 2004 Archives

It's been warm in Tokyo for the past 3 days. We've had some sunshine with temperature going up to 12. So, I took the opportunity to go to the Braille Library last wednesday.

Hi all,

I think I am getting bored of posting weather forecasts on here, and I know you are too, so if you are interested enough to check on the weather in Tokyo, just go to www.weather.yahoo.co.uk to find out! I think I had better concentrate on posting more interesting stuff than the snow, celcius etc. Have a good day. It's sunny today with just 1 celcius in the morning, but this is the last one, excuse me!

Well if you think that's way too blunt, washrooms then. My latest discovery about Japan is its toilets. People are willing to spend lots of money sometimes up to a half million yen (15,000 RM) just so they could be comfortable and truly enjoy those few minutes on the throne everyday.

Last sunday, I accompanied a friend house hunting. We went looking at several apartments. It was in a place called Kokurio, close to a developing town named Chofu. It took us just 9 minutes to walk to the apartments from the train station, with tactile blocks for the most part of the journey. There were some schools and a university along the way, post office, and right across the apartments an ongoing construction of a large supermarket premise. I'm sure there were more shops and stores we passed on the way but I can't recall them now.

I had my first ride on the bus going to Shibuya in December. The bus stop was only 5 minutes walk from where I was staying, along the main road. There is an overhead crossing next to the bus stop, and tactile in front of the bus stop to indicate that it is a bus stop.

There was a steady drop of snow this evening and I went outside to touch it. It fell on my hair and clothes, just like drizzled of rain. I touched the snow-covered ground and it felt cold and soft, fine like sand that melts. It was wonderful, but then I had to rush back inside as I began to shiver.

the first person who provides the answer to this question in a form of a comment on this page will get a packet of bokun habanero (a japanese spicy snack).

I had dinner with some friends at a Brazilian restaurant the other day. The restaurant is located in Omotesando which is in Downtown Tokyo. We took a subway from Shibuya
station. We had a variety of Brazilian barbecue. I especially love the dessert.

I'm so proud of myself today because I managed to make my own way to Shinsen by train. I was not as worried about the route, directions etc, compared to my ability in carrying out basic conversation in Japanese. It is ok to get lost, but it is very frustrating not knowing where you are and not able to communicate with anyone let alone making yourself understood. That happened to me in December.