well can't find a better title for Christmas & new year countdown in Japan.
This year's countdown is a bit different in so many ways.
I don't know why but somehow it wasn't the exuberant, jubilant kind..it was filled with constant reflection and feeling a bit...weird if that is the correct word.
anyways here's some pictures for my bro, who decided to forsake the darkness and come to light by deleting his face book. Come on people!
This was taken at the Christmas illumination up Mt Haruna, which is about an hour drive from my place. To get there, my trusty van like going off road on snow laden road! Thank goodness it had snow tires and is 4wheeldrive. and the temperature was -7degree Celsius. I wasn't prepared for it and was freezing! but I took a lot of photos, because Goo said she wanted to see it but we didn't have a chance to go previously.
My Christmas eve was all white. wasn't prepared again for the heavy snow but what I was wearing was sufficient. Just had to use the scarf (given by PK) to act as a tudong. But the scenery was amazing. Going to an awesome outdoor hot spring naked, soaking half body in the water as snow falls all around you is pretty magical too.
My companions: Kiyomi and Yuzhi who were with me for Christmas. We bought a Christmas cake and was so hungry and sleepy but forced ourselves to wait till the clock strikes midnight. Right after eating the cake all I remember was crashing into my bed and sleep. We didn't even drink the alcohol or eat the tidbits we bought earlier!
Met Leebee, Goo, Cha, Yuzhi, Go and Thone (both not in picture) for dinner at Ginza. Haven't seen Leebee for almost 3 years since the last time I went to Laos in Jan 2008. A lot of good memories came flowing back.
Countdown at Zojoji- temple at Hamamatsucho, tokyo. We read that the temple gives out 3000 balloons at 10.30pm and we reached there at 9pm, thinking that we were early. What the website failed to mention was that we need to reach there at 8.30pm to get a wishing card which entitles us to the balloon. I was so sad but hey! the atmosphere was still overwhelming. In the end we (Shelley, Yuzhi and me) went Karaoke and shouted my lungs out before we wormed our way into the middle of the crowd and waited for the clock to tick. Funny was we ran into a big group of Singaporeans due to that distinct singlish accent. Turned out that they were all SIA stewards & stewardess!! whahah and they even offered us a cup of Sake which we trio used as forfeit item for our rock/paper/scissors game.
And right after new year countdown, Yuzhi and I went to Asakusa to meet our friends again. So we had some sake and finger food. It was just great catching up. For Yuzhi, she hasn't seen these friends since SSEAYP ended. It was really a great reunion. We all had so much fun.
And lastly..a present for Christmas./New year from Goo's family. Somehow I need a wardrobe revamp. Suddenly realised all my clothes are purely functional without any delight or style! have to be cooler to try to regain grounds.
