In Japan...7 months after I arrived here, it happened...am going to put the full details in here so you can see the ups and downs of my amazing race to retrieve the phone in the previous 24 hours...
@18:00
Happily finished my wine tasting session and escorted by two friends to a taxi, I swear I am conscious, not drunk. It was raining and I have got 4 bags of stuff and holding my own umbrella. I arrived home early to prepare for my snowboard trip finale of the season..."Gunma I am coming!"
Finished dinner early, I packed and got ready, just to discovered that my mobile phone was NOT in sight! "Shxt, you gotta be kidding..." I said to myself. Flipping though my bed, my bag, my sofa, even wardrobe, no joy! Getting furious, I reached out to a friend, luckily I there's internet in this world coz I have no fixed line... He called my mobile, nope, nothing heard in the house, so definitely it's dropped...somewhere...
Then luckily I didn't throw away the receipt right away...so someone called the taxi for me...no joy, no phone in his cab...
@22:00
There came my friend again, someone picked up the phone! And didn't switch it off right away, he even gave his own mobile no. to my friend! So he was drinking happily with his friend so going to drop it in the nearby police station where he's drinking..."OK, at least the phone is in ~some~ hands."
The next day ~ Morning
Story didn't just end here...Woke up at 10:00 am, I asked for help to call the police station that guy mentioned...answer is "Sorry, no mobile phone submitted." Geez, so we quickly called that guy, who was, apparently, still in bed. And so drunk last night that he didn't drop the phone at the police station.
Lucky, he is living nearby so he will do it later in the afternoon, so he said..
@14:00
I was still at home waiting for some good news, so tried to call the nearby police station to check...NO PHONE YET!!! OMG, WTH! I started to worry, "Is he expecting reward of something?!" But then he won't say taking it to police station if that's what he wanted...He probably is just one lazy and drunk good person...
Can't stand staying at home in such a sunny Sunday afternoon. So I left my no. and went to Shinjuku, all the way, to go shopping!!! To distract my attention, hopefully!
@17:00
Finally got a call that my phone is delivered, at the police station!!
Still it's not the end, yet...I arrived at the station and started to, tried to "communicate", with the policemen, in Japanese, limited edition...
They gave me some forms to fill in, and finally a paper, saying "If the police find the good samaritan, will you be happy to pay some cash rewards?" Surely do, but I just didn't understand why they said IF, wasn't the guy delivered the phone the good samaritan? So...surely they were unable to make me understand this in Japanese, so they called, another station's policeman, who speaks Mandarin, and thank god, what they mean is...the good samaritan said don't want any rewards, but they will try to find the cab driver..."But the taxi driver didn't do anything, it's this guy to send the phone, and if he said he doesn't want rewards, case closed. Correct?" No, it's not the case according to the Japanese police, they need to "try" hunting down the driver..."Anyways, whatever, I am OK to pay if you find the driver." So I signed off the final paper and DONE...actually still wondering why they bother to find the driver...Anyway...
Whooo, I left the police station at 18:30, so tired, so exhausted, but so relieved...
The story ends ~
Special Thanks to my friend, Shiro, and all those who helped and stayed in touch with me throughout the amazing 24 hours race. Owe you guys lots of drinks!
After thoughts:
I was very upset to have to cancel my snowboard finale trip for the season, but then was so glad that I finally retrieved my phone...so again, you gain some, and lose some.
And, Everyone who heard this story, said "Lucky you are in Japan!" Yes indeed, so lucky, I once lost my phone long time ago, the moment I called, that person who picked up my phone, switched it off right away, I never saw my phone anymore...That was in Hong Kong. :)
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
22 Apr 2011: Fun Chefs
A proven phenomenon: "The more the merrier!" Never knew cooking can be so much fun!
Some team mates came over to share some cookings in my kitchen.
We do the shopping for ingredients after work, and start washing and cooking.
So excited that we stood and ate at the bench whole night, then the back is aching now, haha.
So here you go, some pics to share. Yes I am not in there, too busy laughing and joking and taking pictures. aha!
Thanks to Hitomi and Ping Ping for sharing the joy at my place.
Special thanks to our honorary advisor: Chika, for recommending the toast and rosemary potato to us, they're delicious, awesome!
Some team mates came over to share some cookings in my kitchen.
We do the shopping for ingredients after work, and start washing and cooking.
So excited that we stood and ate at the bench whole night, then the back is aching now, haha.
So here you go, some pics to share. Yes I am not in there, too busy laughing and joking and taking pictures. aha!
Today's Special:
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Tuna Melt Toast
Stir Fried Beef with mushrooms
Steak with asparagus and potato/rosemary on top
Fruits
Thanks to Hitomi and Ping Ping for sharing the joy at my place.
Special thanks to our honorary advisor: Chika, for recommending the toast and rosemary potato to us, they're delicious, awesome!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
17 Apr 2011: Kamakura
Kamakura 鎌倉 trip today! Joining the gaijin club for some re-union with folks after the earthquake last month, catching up, and long journey today! Loads of temples and hikes, still some sakura, and best of all, super nice weather!
First Stop: Kenchoji 鎌倉五山第一位「臨済宗建長寺派 大本山 建長寺」
Zeniarai benzaiten 銭洗弁天（銭洗弁財天宇賀福神社）-鎌倉の名所
Lunch time ~ tried Sakura soft icecream! oishii!
Heading towards one of the best in Kamakura - The Great Buddha 鎌倉大仏と高徳院 http://www.kotoku-in.jp/ . I am not gonna post all the Buddha pics, but I had lots of happy shots today, awesome! Lots of post-processings I have already in mind, yeah!
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| Guess what? They opened two windows at the back of the Buddha, pay 20yen and you can get inside the body and check it out, hmmm, I didn't do it, feeling bit odd about the idea... |
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| Buddha with Sakura! |
Yet another temple ~ 総本山長谷寺 http://www.hasedera.or.jp/
Lastly, we went to see some actions, 鎌倉流鏑馬 http://www.yabusame.or.jp/english/index.php
Not getting in a good spot for photos, but the performance was spectacular, very eyes opening!
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| Note: See what's at the back of him? hehe |
Finishing off the day with chicken skin BBQ 鳥皮焼き in a very special sauce, can smell it from afar, super crunchy and tasty too! Well, better don't think about what exactly is being taken in...
After thoughts for today? haha, not much thinking today, too much sightseeing, hiking, chatting, eating,
these itineraries have been filling up my brain and body,
let me take a break today mate!
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