rants~~

Settled for these 2 temples after some research.

Jyofuku-in (high tech temple)

English
http://templelodging.com/spot/05kinki/koya010.html
Japanese
http://homepage3.nifty.com/koya-jfk/jfk-2.htm
There are three grade.9500 yen / 11000yen / 13000yen.(Including tax)10 % discount when reserving it by the Internet.

Eko in

English
http://templelodging.com/spot/05kinki/koya023.html
Japanese
http://www.shukubo.jp/05_syukubo/a47.html

Koya-san main site
http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/index.html

Dunno if i can wake up at 6am?~~ Also wonder if the vegetarian food is fulfilling? Coz such meals barely filled my stomach...Ive had such an experience during one of my trip where i ate such set meals at a friend's house. For the whole night i cant sleep coz i was toooo hungry! Just hope i dont make a fool out of myself. I think i would be scared at night... haiz... Im supposed to be calm so i can blend with the tranquil surroundings.

Another interesting place ive spotted:

Shiseido Cosmetic Garden [C] Omotesando

Description : A showroom featuring Shiseido's cosmetic products. You can refer to monitors for guidance on technique as you explore the product range. Specialist staff are on hand to offer further advice.

Open : 11:00 - 19:30Close : Every Monday, second TuesdayContact : 03-5474-1534 (Japanese)

Address : 1F, Harajuku Piaza Bldg., 4-26-18 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, TokyoAccess : About 7 min. walk from Omotesando Sta. on Subway Ginza Line

im not a cosmetic person but i like to see their cosmetic showcases and brochures. Cosmetic biz is as big as their gadgets/manga industry..think was worth US$2billion or something.

SY, not sure what are the price range for punk clothes in Korea,,,so i think better dont take this risk,,,

Christine, all the best to you for your lucky draw!~~ You are soo hardworking, always mentioned "im going to do my homework now". It's good that you are such a self-discipline person!~ Your parents must be very strict with with you during your growing up years?! I remembered you said once that your dad even brought the modem to work, just to prevent you from going online,XD

Vonnie, nice pics you have put up. The MusiQ mag will be here tml~~

Lately it has been raining and being quite cold. im worried i might get flu again,,so today ate an apple and an orange... Kia si,,,,

yesterday told a regular customer tat our blog wld be closed from end march onwards,,till end april. her reactions was 'wah, den whole of april cannot find you how? den how to do special order". Had to informed her to wait.,, She likes to order from putumayo,,,, had rejected a few special orders where the goods are released in early to mid april..hmm,our customers will wait ba~~

"the Mother" like MIA,,didnt hear from her liao,,,her dateline is next friday~~~hope she dun go missing,,,

Temple Lodging sites in Engrish!!~

My friend said this phone is good and cheap,,with pre paid card and handset, total is Y10,000 which is within my budget. Not sure if it is 2nd hand. if it is, im ok. cant be too picky if you want cheap stuffs.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/prepaid/product/201sh/index.html

She has also found this, while i was busy searching for Japanese sites for temple lodgings. There are summary on each temple in English. Some priest can speak English too and also conducts the sermons in English..So interesting!
http://templelodging.com/spot/05kinki/013syukubo_koya.html

My friend is very hardworking to help me find out and arrange many things i need for my trip. I am very greatly indebted to her.

SY, noted about your suggestions for the Harajuku dorm. Ive just discovered that JR Ikebukuro has direct bus to and fro the airport, so i need not climb the stairs of JR Ikebukuro station with my lugguage..phew!~ the Ikebukuro dorm is near a busy street while Harajuku dorm is a little far from the station and quite quiet. I think i'll go out early daily and come back late at night,,so Ikebukuro seems safer?! No worries about many ppl in the Ikebukuro house,,,dont think i'll hve much chance to meet them coz im always outside.

Thanks for your kind thoughts of offering to buy some Korean stuffs and accessories. im not sure which korean artists are good, except for Tohoshinki. Moreover, i cant tell between official and unofficial goods (their fans dont really collect unofficial stuffs). Perhaps you can buy some punk/rock clothings from Korea? I believe their quality is equivilant to Taiwanese ones. Btw, when is your family's Korea trip?

Just now typed alot but all gone,,so, im not going to highlight anything anymore. will leave it as it is. It is really frustrating to have to retype it again,,,

So far had planned the first 10days of my trip..it seems so overwhelming and i feel like a hurried traveller. Maybe im too used to hurried life. If i slow down, i would feel guilty and unproductive...

Today received 2 funny emails. One said"i had a big fever to ask you" and the other's header was "Urgent! Help!". the first one was a spelling error. It should be "favour". The other was bidding some items at yahoo japan but we dont do auctions. Coincidently, so one had "fever" and the other had "Emergency"..lolz. Our customers are funny!~~

dilemma- place to stay?!

Wah, SY, has your family decided to go to Korea?? I think their fashion is not bad and quite cheap too. So are their Japanese cds. A mei mei bought some Japanese cds there and she said it was quite cheap. I think it is made in Korea. Perhaps you can find some X stuffs there too. Oh yes, Korea has nice fashion accessories too. Korea is ok for me except its kimchi..i just felt 1 will have stomachache if i ate it..dunno why..

ive just entered to win some special seats at the upcoming show that i am going to alone, if i win, the prize is two tickets...i have no one to take with me :(. i find out on the 12th. i am very nervous that if they pick up my entry, they will see my very long e-mail and not want to use it and pick another winner instead x_X. they said they will also call by phone though

Hey Christine, all the best for your lucky draw. Come on, dont be a pessimist,,must have confidence.

You are right, i think Caiko is very much like me,,we can do things alone. Perhaps you are young, so you are not used to being solo ^^

Smsed LP during lunch just now to see if she got back her S$200 deposit with that uncle.

LP: Havent get back

Me: ok. Btw, how to have monthly statement from the passbook?

LP: Must every month have minimum SGD$3000 inside, for at least x 3 months (SGD$9000) before can go apply for visa. (thought her father has so she can ask her father to act as her Guarantor?! Thought she had asked her father to email her all the scans of his passbook and bank book? It is like suddenly gone silence...)

Me: oh, ok.

Dunno why she havent take back her $. She said on Monday she will be taking it back on Tuesday (yesterday). Being passive again? Not enthu for her own issues at all..im being busybody here...

Now got a big dilemma. It's my lodging. Each has about the same facilities except their location is different.

Single Room

Y58,000/mth - 15mins train from town (ikebukuro). Includes shower fees (Y100 for 8mins - i take more than this!), transit train fare to this house from town.

http://www.tatami-guesthouse.com/

Dorm (share room with another 3 ladies)

Y50400/mth - 15mins walk from Harajuku - all things included. I have JR pass, so need not additional transport $.

http://www.oakhouse.jp/jpn/house/harajuku/index.html

Or

The harajuku dorm has a better location and is cheaper but i wonder who my room mates are..his house is a ladies house. Also, i will be in Osaka for 1 week, so this space will be vacant but im still paying for it. If i rent the Room, im paying for more expensive daily rental when im away.

Just spotted this Dorm (share room with another 3 ladies)

Y43400 - 10mins walk from Ikebukuro - all things included. Shorter walking distance from station. This branch is like more spacious??

http://www.oakhouse.jp/jpn/house/kamiikebukuro/index.html

Oh yes, these Dorms has strange billing system. The rental rate is the same whether 1 or 2 person rents it. Strange rite??? Any one want to share?!

My mum says selfish ppl like me is more suitable for single room. Think she is annoyed by my complaints about my fren when i chat with my sister-in-law.

Last Sunday saw a Taiwanese food programme and they were recommending Nagoya snacks. They have Miso swissroll..so amazing..lolz. I think i will be a bento person when im there...coz need to walk alot. Eat rice is the best.,.next is fast food...

Will only pack my luggage half full coz my friend said Ikebukuro station (if im renting the room), they dont have escalators!! I dont remember this station coz i went there once (Sunshine city). I plan to bring only 5 sets of clothes. Dread heavy luggage..have to bring 2 sweaters too coz it is still quite cold there despite its Spring time. Im a tropical animal...

Just received an sms from a customer. who is supposed to collect his Hideaki Tokunaga (he has a superb vocal!) live dvd this Sat. He smsed "it is ok, i am not in a hurry to collect. You may watch it first, i can collect it any time next week or you can leave at my friend's shop (in town)."

Me: Oh, thanks for your kind thoughts. I will watch if i have the time. If not, this Sat, will pass to your friend

He: It's ok, you can watch it first. You can pass to my friend anytime (he is soo persistent)

Me: Ok, will watch if time permits..thank you for your kind thoughts.

I dont have the habit of opening customer's items (no matter how close they are with me) coz i feel it is a basic courtesy to hand them the items brand new. He is the 2nd customer who offered me to watch the dvd. Previously, another girl (Luna Sea fan) also told me the same thing. I didnt watch.. Moreover, i am worried if i accidentally scratched their dvd or something. You'll never know what your machine will do to the dvds or cds. XD Nonetheless, it is their kind thoughts that counts. I have appreciated it!~~

Places i hope to visit

Temple lodgings- i will go for it (2 nites coz i read at some forums and ppl said one nite is too short)

http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/01_history.html

Sado-ga-shima Island - Niigato's ski sites are so amazingly beautiful, so are it's nearby snow covered mountains.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/niigata/sadogasima.html

Gald to know you had a good sleep Christine. Yes, for Single room, it is more expensive coz there is no one to share with you. But thank goodness, i save S$200 on the air tickets. Lately, yen is getting very expensive..so im holding my breath that it will decline soon~~

Vonnie, the Stacked rubbish bandscore has 225p and close to 1.5cm thick,,,seems like alot of goodies inside!!~ Ordered liao~

im lucky?!

SY, think you are right,,im getting lucky!~~

last nite had a sudden thought to browse the airfares.com.sg site and bingo!~ They had an air ticket NATAS promotion and all air tickets are on SALE!!~ Promotion ends 5th March!~ So, called them first thing this morning and book my air tickets. I saved S$200!!!!!~ Luckily didnt buy last week. Now it is S$775. Last week was S$975!~ PHEW!!

This morning, tot of another idea to save $$. Emailed my j friends if they had any spare phones. Den i only buy the pre-paid card. Cheapo i know,,,but save $$ mah...if not, i had to rent for 1 month either at narita airport or from our local telcom company. vonnie, do u know the rates or yours is auto-roam?

The Tatami house and the U-en Osaka house replied me today. They have vacancies of single room for me..PHEW!! I will need to pay more for single room though,,but den, it saves me the headache to babysit my friend if she goes with me. I think im selfish or freedom lover?!!~ Hmm..

I think im nervous about this trip that's why i had weird dreams... my friend cannot cancel the bus ticket coz the lines cant get thru,,,oh well, she said she will call everyday..lolz..else, i will lost Y8000 for the 2 way bus fare for the Toyama trip. I actually spend more than the concert ticket...Y10k for 2 nite's hotel and Y8000 for bus fare..Y18k..for a Y5000 concert. Still, it is worth it coz it is Gazette and moreover, Toyama has many natural wonders. They have a village called Hida Folk village which is part of the World Preserve Heritage.

Hope you are sleeping well now Chirstine ^^. To Caiko & Voni, thank you for your kind concern.

LP's visa was not approved

LP called me at 10.30am from our Japan embassy. Her visa is being denied coz she dont have monthly bank statement from November. The embassy do not accept compiled statements from her bank passbook or her father's passbook. Strange leh,,where got bank statement by monthly one?! So, i said "Ok lor".

LP: Then you ask your sister to go with you lah

Me: Nah, she said she April cannot take leave liao,,so it is ok, i can go myself. The uncle now is with you?

LP: Yes, but tomorrow i go back to that uncle's agency to take back my S$200 deposit

Me: Ok. (silent thinking) You think i like you need people to accompany? Go alone wont die lah.

Ive listed her X tickets for sale...mai tu liao!~ Hope there are some enthusiastic fans out there who appreciates the tickets more than her.

Had also asked my j friend to cancel all the hotels and bus trips and change it to 1 person. I've emailed to ask the Tatami guesthouse and the U-en house to change all to Single room. Hope they still have vacancies.

On friday nite, i dreamt LP cannot go. The settings is at the airport's check in counter. While i hand over my ticket and passport to the counter staff, LP came by and whisper to me that her visa is not approved. I just said "ok" and continue to process my check-in. Then, when i reach Narita airport,,i opened my wallet and only had Y20,000 inside! Gosh, i forgotten to change Yen!!! So, i quickly find an internet cafe and wrote to my sister to ask her to send Yen to me or something. After that, i was chasing the Shinkansen (i was in Osaka,,dunno why im there),,coz they dun have any seats left for the Tokyo bound trip..which means, i cannot go to Tokyo Dome on time!~~It was such a frightening dream!

I am relieved that i can arrange my intinerary now.

Oh, havent sell my gazette's 4/1 ticket,,,haiz,,tat place soo ulu,,who will want to go? I send it back to japan to ask my fren sell at their auction ba... Btw, gaze tour goods like very little and how come no tour pamphlet?! The T-shirt so colourful,quite strange for them to have a colourful tee (summer mood?). Vonnie, if u spotted the tour goods pic..pls update me..i know u wld be lurking at LJ,,kekeke..btw, u want to order the bandscore izzit? I havent order for u yet,,,pls confirm~

Warren Buffet Annual Letter to Investors on Friday.

Was happily typing and ended up losing all the wordings after i overshot in highlighting the fonts..sianz,,,too tired to retype again.

Spotted this interesting article.

Warren Buffet Annual Letter to Investors on Friday.
http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/smw/index.cfm?story=20080229051218

Always enjoyed reading what this Guru of Investments has to say. You can tell where the US economy is heading, which in turn affects the whole world.

Hmm,,must find some Brazil funds. Gold fund and oil/resources funds reaps alot of $$$ lately because the US$ is continuing to decline~ Too bad, India and China funds are sleeping now (deficits)..wonder when they will be awake??!~

Christine, this is why your school mate said his Euro has doubled coz the US$ value has continued to tumble again. Cant help but to feel the pinch for the middle class Americans. They have to work doubly hard now coz for the same amount, they can purchase lesser goods. Hope you are feeling much better now. It is quite a shock that your brother cuts off your credit line without giving you any notice.