SL made me have an urge to buy something online.

I saw this limited edition Dr Martens' bag online,

only 350 pieces for each colour

worldwide. In another words, only 1750 pieces available.

Like it but I know I will never buy one

so I search on ebay for similar design.

And I found this from a seller in UK !

About the same design and 100% leather.

However was informed that this kind of design

is common in SG already,

so I had a change in mind.

Continue searching on ebay and I saw

this from a seller in India...

Perfect to my liking too !

Furthermore, handmade !

It should be on it's way...

But *touch wood*
If I get cheated then that's too bad !

What am I doing in JP actually?

If I were to pursue studies in an Arts University,

I knew it wouldn't be Design anymore

but something related to craftwork.

When I went to the Nagoya University of Arts'

open campus in July last year,

my main objective was to see the ceramic course.

We were given a piece of paper to collect stamps

at various courses' booth and upon completion,

you can get a prize.

I have only collected 2 stamps that day.

The first one was the course Fred

was interested - Industrial Design.

And the second stamp was from

the Glass Department.

When I saw the stamp booth

outside the glass workshop,

My intention was to stamp-and-go.

But I had the

" oh shit, pls don't approach us " thought

when Niimi-sensei, who is

my teacher-in-charge now

came forward to speak to us.

That became my first encounter with glass.

And then he brought us to the ceramic course,

which I think I have lost interest

quite immediately after the glass experience.

Did I hear him wrong that time?

I believed he said he was an instructor to the workshop

but no, he's actually a teacher.

Anyways,

The workshop that seems so dangerous then

doesn't make me a little frighten at all now.

Below are some photos I got from our course's blog.

2 weeks ago, Kousei san's assistant

from his glass studio in Tokyo came

and they together made some glass pieces.

Glass work is team work.

Finish product :

And this below, which I didnt get to see because

I was having a lesson.

Amazing.

The year 2 ( 3 of us only ) are currently

practising cup making in blow glass.

Apart from lesson time, every student

has their own glass blowing time.

I have done some but far from passable standard.

Nothing is easy in this world,

but I must not give up !

And,

the next time I go Tokyo,

I will definitely visit Kousei san's glass studio.

Money on

Season sale

will usually start 1 & a 1/2month

before the next season.

So that's the best period to come shopping.

Although Winter began in November ( I am not sure ! )

I only did winter shopping in late January

Leggings / thick pyjamas / gloves / scarves

50% - 70% OFF !

And I could wear them for another 2 months

before it finally become not so cold in Spring.

Items below are from CLAIRE'S ( 70% and above discount )

http://www.clairesn.co.jp/fashion/index.html

FASHION

I usually only buy clothes during sale period

and I have a low budget of $32 and below.

I just have to wait before I can buy

nice looking and yet affordable clothing...

I feel sad for myself for being thrifty sometimes.

Another shop where I think it's easy to buy things is

3 COINS

http://www.pal-blog.jp/3coins

Everything costs $5 and below are

some of the items I got from there.

Frames / Stocking / First aid box / Earring holder

SHOES
Boots are also cheap during season sale

I bought these at $16.

But quality is so-so,

so dont expect them to last.

Better quality shoes at $32 and above

One of the must-buys I think is

Beauty Products.

And you can spend hours in their drugstore !

The beauty products I am using.

All below $13 and highly raved

Haven gotten the above scar lightening cream yet !!

Soon ...

I do not fancy the exclusive brands in Japan

like Samantha thavasa, Liz lisa

because the quality and feel

of their items are not worth the prices.

I like the things they have in Takashimaya.

But too expensive... for me.

A nice and small keychain at $48

Elegant dresses from $200

I don't dream of buying things

from there but it's a good place

to do window shopping...

Good-to-buy items:

Instax camera or films.

E-MOOK

$19 - $23

Good to shop for these catalogue bags in bookstores too.

But when you see the real item,

I don't think you are keen to buy it anymore.

Japanese Bra designs

are super pretty !

$16 a set is very common

Next, being a tourist :

you will also spend $ on ....

ADMISSION FEES

NAGOYA CASTLE - $8

HIDA FOLK VILLAGE - $11

NABANA NO SATO - $24

LITTLE WORLD MUSEUM - $26

Summary,

Maybe

$500 on shopping is good if you spend like me.

& 

$150 on tourist attractions

( Disneyland not included )

BUT

you will see and want to buy a lot of new things,

so having a debit / credit card is the most ideal.

I really hope someone will come and visit soon !!

Pricing in JP

About how much you should

expect to spend in JP !

NOTE :

This guide is more accurate if

you are a close friend to the one

who is writing this

Because,

Firstly HOTEL

is F.O.C -

But if you, my good friends decide

to come with people whom I am not close to,

I highly recommend a hotel chain called

TOYOKO INN.

You pay about

$95 for a single room /

$127 for a Twin room

and you get a room like this

 

The interior and exterior of this

hotel chain is not impressive and

it's a 2 star hotel, maybe.

But, the cleaniness is 5 star.

Plus, they give female guest freebies,

and they provide free breakfast

from 7am to 9am.

Not only that,

the all-english Online reservation is

convenient and easy to use.

So, TOYOKO INN is good enough !

SECONDLY

TRANSPORTATION

- Probably you will spend quite a bit

on the public transport

Train / Subway / Bus, no Taxi.

I only know about the shopping areas in Nagoya City,

in another words, you have to take a train from

where I live -

North Nagoya city to Nagoya City

and then take the subway system within the Nagoya city.

From my rural place to the city,

single way, it's $4.70 ( 17 mins )

And the subway rides within Nagoya city

start from $3.20 - $4.70

On Weekends, they have the ECO PASS for the

Nagoya subway and buses which cost $9.60

IT'S UNLIMITED RIDES ! So you can cover more attractions.

Plus the Train fee from my place to Nagoya , to and fro

I would say a day : About $16 - $19

If you are planning to take a bus to other prefectures,

it should cost about

$32 - 1 hour bus ride ( MIE - KUWANA )

$80 - 3 hours bus ride ( GIFU - TAKAYAMA )

$112 - 6 hours bus ride ( TOKYO - SHINJUKU )

NEXT, FOOD

You should be spending about twice - thrice

the amount you spend on food in SG.

Starting from the more economical food.

And that is a restaurant call Saizeriya.

About $6.40 to $11.20

 

Ramen prices range from $10.40 to $16

 

Below is food from restaurants in shopping malls,

and they range from $14 to $19

 

Authentic Japanese restaurants :

$11 to $16

 

The better food,

Buffet or Hot pot

$32 to $56

Cant miss this out when you come to JP:

Dessert from $7.20 to $13

I am not done with this post yet

but I think it's getting too long...

So summary for this,

LODGING - $0 a day (ﾉ´▽｀)ﾉ

TRANSPORTATION - $19 a day

( SIA flies direct to Nagoya and it's about $1300 )

FOOD - $30 a day

The continuation will be on SHOPPING !

......................................................................................

......................................................................................

Today is Today

好可爱，好想要！

A HELLO KITTY COLD STORAGE BAG.

YOU CAN BE CUTE IN THE SUPERMARKET !

Only about $21 but I am sensible to

know that a freezer bag is not an essential

because the supermarket is less than

3 mins away by bicycle.

This will do :

Save the EARTH,

remember to bring a shopping bag

when you go to the supermarket !

( That's on the surface )

( To tell you the truth )

I just want to save

that 5 yen on plastic bag.

GOING HOME !
Be environmental friendly, use a bicycle !

( That's on the surface )

( To tell you the truth )

Fred will choose to drive even the distance

of a 1 min drive to 打包 food in SG.

Anyways, today I went to the supermarket alone

while Fred went for an exhibition.

And he just came back with gifts for me.

It's a bag !!

And I am so thrilled when I saw it !!

Not because it's the design I want but

it's the B R A N D !!

Hello kitty?

A branded one?

No no, it's more meaningful than those luxury bags.

Si mi lai a ?

帮助狗儿啦。。。

We went to the same exhibition last year too

and I bought a bag from the

Japan Service Dog Association too.

They are great dogs.

He also came home with a toy he got

from Mcdonald and a Hello Kitty sticker

which he said he

stretchhhhhed out his hand to grab

while they were being given out

at the exhibition.

Going to prepare dinner liao !!
See you next time !

Essential animals

Piggy : I am a mosquito terminator !!

Some DIY

Let's do some B L E A C H I N G !

This is the one-piece-suit I wear to the workshop.

All Black.

Effect varies by the way the bleach is applied.

For the suit, I tried out 5 ways.

And they are,

1) Dipping in a container

2) Spraying with a spray bottle

3) Dripping of bleach through a small hole

4) Movement of Bleach droplets

5) Lines drawn by a toothbrush

1) Tie a knot and dip it into a container of bleach

to achieve a fiery effect

2) Spraying creates a splatter effect

3) Dripping creates a water droplet effect

More interesting than the above stagnant effect is

4) Dripping and then make the droplets run.

5) Drawing lines using a toothbrush.




Final Outcome.

I was expecting the bleached areas to turn white but

.... well....it's the kind of the look I was looking for.

Hanging it out to dry and then washing it tomorrow.

Is it real ?

What is this ?

是美容食品 COLLAGEN 啦。

看了30分钟的电视购物，

觉得好有说服力，就订购来试试。

Furthermore, delivery is F.O.C

for 2 boxes and above and

payment can be made upon delivery.

Like what was said in the commercial,

it's easy to consume. I have tried the

Meiji Amino Collagen which I find it

super hard to drink even if mixed with juices

and also the HAKUBI whitening pills

which I think was troublesome to swallow.

日本女生真lucky...

So many beauty / health products

and make up brands to try...

Fred will be sending 1 box to his mother

as a Mother's Day present.

Same as last year,

I am sending a card back.

A V E R Y P R E T T Y O N E.

You should do something here !

(^-^)/

Let me know you are here !
Or maybe you tried but didnt succeed ?

Let's start :

Click on コメント　at the end of the post.

( After the advertisements )

Then コメント記入欄を表示

And write in the POP-UP BOX

BUT there is a problem

And lastly　投稿する

I went back to check and SL had successfully posted one that was without japanese / chinese characters and no smiley faces... How did you do it SL?

TRY IT NOW !!

Lastly....

our choices in donuts.....

does tell the roles in our relationship...

ヾ( ´ー｀)

Shocking photos I found hidden deep in the files

2004: The real me !

Not quite true.

It's not 100% real since I was born single eye-lids

and without eye brows...

(-_-メ

What's the big difference?

Everyone can tell, I guess ??

Doing braces was a RIGHT CHOICE !

and it applies to everyone !!

( Photos are not cropped, click to see who was beside me! )

歯の矯正をして、今まで本当に良かったと思ってる！