tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51285657845760216742024-03-14T00:00:52.016+08:00Two plus twoStory of our simple lives - of our family, of our beautiful children, Kate & Jakepyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.comBlogger1690125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-83152486510763477042019-09-03T16:30:00.000+08:002019-09-03T16:30:07.629+08:00It's already September Wow. Look where we are today. Already. <br />
<br /><br />
I have not been reflecting as deeply as I imagine, but I think it may be cathartic to list down my (random) thoughts. <br />
<br /><br />
The highlight in the past month has been me surviving solo-parenting. The husband went away for work for 3 full weeks, in a different time zone, and it was so amazing to welcome him home this morning. Hooray. <br />
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In this time, I realise that life is able to operate on auto-pilot. Yes, I still have to nag the kids. Yes, I still have to plan our time. Yes, I get cranky. Yes, we got into fights and I yelled at them. But overall, the moments pass and I hope the children remember more of our cuddles and discipline in routine (especially with doing homework) and our special time together (eating waffles and ice-cream, for example) than the boring/displeasing grind. I know I want to remember our fun outings, than the homework time. <br />
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Our weekends were relatively filled with baby-time (with the nephew and godson), and family time, and library time. The daughter and I definitely have a clear routine of Sunday breakfasts with each other and I kinda like that together. <br />
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My gym membership has ended and I am now trying to get back into the routine of working out by myself and the reliable youtube videos/Nike Training App. I still don't feel very fit but I think I'm still keeping pretty active. <br />
<br /><br />
Some key highlights in the past 6 months:<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>1. We went to USA!</strong><br />
Yes, for 2 solid weeks, my family and I were together. It was an amazing time together celebrating family love (even getting annoyed with each other), experiencing the Big Apple and more. We ate we shopped, we laughed, we drank... we also survived the very very long flight with 2 oldies >60yo, 2 young ones age 7 & 10, and an 11-month baby - what an experience! <br />
<br /><br />
<strong>2. I raised S$3,080 for my Race Against Cancer!</strong><br />
On a whim, inspired by some gfs, I signed up for a 15-km run. The highlights was that I ran it with the husband, and I started a fundraising site then unabashedly called for donations and pooled S$3,080. It's my first time trying this and I must say it was a humbling experience. I was so touched by the support, and also ran a good run with the husband. Win-Win!<br />
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<strong>3. I learnt how to rollerblade</strong><br />
While I did not invest time or money in the courses I thought I wanted to do, I did end up learning something I shelved for years (5 years, to be exact. Ever since K learnt how to blade when she was 5). I am not great, but I can blade and it is so fulfilling to do so!<br />
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<strong>4. Routine, routine, routine</strong><br />
It is already Sep and we have a decent routine. Yes, it is still painful at times, but generally the kids get it. They go to bed between 930pm-10pm, they play/do some work in the afternoons, I go home to them and revise work/hangout with them... the big girl has gotten into the hang of getting through her school term so far pretty ok - with no paid tuition. I think it has been fulfilling and the more we do it, the easier it is. Yes, we still fight but I think it is still pretty... ok. The boy has no issues with his school or work and is receptive to doing extra revisions that I set for him so yay. No drama. <br />
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<strong>4. Relationship work-in-good-progress</strong><br />
This is probably my biggest heartache/heart-love. It's still a work-in-progress, but it is still lovely and we are working at it. <br />
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In two weeks, my daughter turns 10. What a milestone!pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-23815083042408785712019-03-31T18:46:00.002+08:002019-03-31T18:47:38.056+08:00Reflections, quarter one, two oh one nineLast December, I wondered why I only did reflections end of the year. If it felt fulfilling to rewind the moments (<em>of course the good was better but the bad also made the good better</em>), why did I not just do more of it? So, I set monthly reminders - last Saturday of each month, recurring reminders from January to December. <br />
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Have I succeeded? Well, the below was a draft I started in January 2019. I did not get around to really sitting down my ass to truly <em>think</em>, and my feeble attempt was to jot down the loose thoughts I had. <br />
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<br />
<em>January 2019. </em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>1. I shall spend money on experiences, not material things.</em><br />
<em>2. I shall spend more time with my family - collectively as awesome-foursome; but also individually (alone with the husband and daughter and son) to have quality time together.</em><br />
<em>3. Read books</em><br />
<em>4. Continue with consistent exercise - HIIT / yoga / running</em><br />
<em>5. Take up a course - I'm considering a yoga-certification, or a personal trainer certification course</em><br />
<em>6. Save money </em><br />
<br />
<br />
===========================================================<br />
<br />
<br />
I remember thinking that it was just not good enough. I did not have <em>enough real thoughts</em>, that it felt lame to just toss those out as they were just a list of my resolutions. <br />
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<br />
Today is the last day of March. I realise that perfect can be over-rated. What is a perfect composition/post? Also, so much happens that the point of me reminding myself to reflect regularly is to just capture all that had happened; so it is not necessary for drama. I also think I did not bother enough to reflect. So, here goes... I'll start with my list. <br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Spending on experiences, not material things. </em><br />
I think I did fine on this. Truth be told, I did spend on some things. I got some new underwear, and skincare for myself, I also bought clothes for the children. I also have purchased groceries relentlessly - woe be to (too much) convenience of online shopping. I have browsed, ala 'window shopping' online, but never tempted to add to cart or check out. So good job, well done to me. <br />
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<br />
The husband and I also went for a concert together. It was a pretty understated singer, known to the <em>xin yao</em> folks in the 1990s; and it was enjoyable enough. We then had a bonus night of supper, which has also led us to more adventures of new supper spots in our hood. I hope we continue to do this - again, experience plus time together, win!<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Time with family.</em><br />
I never stopped doing this, but can I do more? Of course. <br />
Our family rolled into a new routine for Saturdays as the husband and I split duties per child to take on activities with them - rugby (new thing) for the boy, homework revision (constant old) with the girl. We paid to watch our first rugby match as a family due to this new interest of the son's, and we will be going for more. <br />
We continue our family meals when we can and Friday evenings with the family is truly the best way to launch into the weekend. <br />
The relationship with the girl can be better, as we seem to spend (too much) time discussing and fighting over work. The boy is adapting well into primary school and is pretty much a breeze to handle around academics. <br />
The husband and I have a pretty clockwork system of taking a child to school each on most days and it is working out well. <br />
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<br />
I have not done time alone too much with the children, and the movie tickets are still in the house somewhere, unused. Gotta use them soon!<br />
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<br />
<em>Reading and exercising</em><br />
The former is going a bit slow, the latter is going well. I have read some books, but lost the reading zest as I couldn't find more palatable books to consume. I'm currently re-reading a book from Jodi Picoult which I have read before; but because it is kinda moody and super touching to the core; it suits my pensive mood and so I am on it. May I constantly find good reads and have the luck to get sucked into the world of whatever it is. <br />
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<br />
Just took my stats at the gym 2 days back and it read pretty much 95% the same as end Jan, so I guess I'm doing well. I still get my cravings (which usually results in cravings 1 - self-discipline 0). The husband lamented that I was very skinny, and so I guess it is mostly my mind playing tricks than actually how much I look, so I shall not complain and be thankful that I have a healthy and fit body to keep active. <br />
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<em>Take up a course / saving</em><br />
I was considering a Personal Trainer course - I went as far as to write in to enquire about a course; spoke to a girlfriend about it but it has come to nothing. I cannot commit to it. <br />
I also considered a yoga certification, and went as far as to a yoga clinic which talked me through the course, schedule... my take-away was that I think that school is not bad and I quite liked the yoga teacher, but again, I cannot commit.<br />
<br />
<br />
A part of it all was money (which I wanted to save) but truth is I think it is just not a priority enough for me. It all takes time away from my family and I think I am ok to drop this thought this year. My want to be with the family is greater than the need for my certification; so I will park this guilt-free. I shall continue to keep active so that I can still find my happiness in sweating out on my own, or with the trustworthy apps/sites that has been keeping me in good company. <br />
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<br />
Saving up - I am trying, and I am also spending. We are parking aside good money for our travel plans this year, so I am willingly putting it aside. One clear area of improvement is in the grocery department, so I'll see how I manage that better. <br />
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<br />
There. Nothing too hard, nothing too exciting, and I've done a quick check against how I am achieving and it has been not too bad at all. <br />
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<br />
Now, for the hard, gritty part. <br />
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<br />
Three weeks ago, I celebrated my birthday. It started with meals with colleagues & family, a much-desired massage that helped with my stiff neck & shoulders, flowers, beach time and dinner with my closest, day with the kids and I collected pictures which I wanted to post and commemorate me turning 39. That day turned out to be truly memorable, in a very unexpected way.<br />
I believe 18 March will always hold a different for me hereon. <br />
<br />
<br />
The days that followed were dark and sad, and I was in a space that I had nearly forgotten of. Years ago, the macabre and dramatic June dwelled in that space pretty often (unhealthily so) and I was thrown back into those days of darkness. My sense of self-worth was very low, and I only managed to get through the days because I much preferred to pretend that all was well, and because the kids were priority. Having to support and take them through their days like clockwork made it helpful to move along; but I was in a very bad space. <br />
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<br />
The husband and I had a hard talk some days later and it has now been 3 weeks. Things are better, way better but I definitely learnt some good lessons. <br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>I learnt that my priorities are my husband and children and there is no need to test this in any form. </li>
<li>I learnt that I can be such an idiot because I am so dumb sometimes and that hurt. It hurts a lot but I am willing to suck it up because my top priorities are important enough for me to face my ugly. </li>
<li>I learnt that when I say that I am 'sad', it is probably real in some form but in the real deal when I was truly sad for those long-short-painful days, facing possible loss was the <em>real </em>deal; something that I am glad I have fleetingly experienced but not needed to dwell more on. </li>
<li>I learnt that respect is under-rated and I can show it more to those who I truly respect. </li>
<li>I learnt that love can be enough sometimes, just enough to get by. </li>
</ul>
I am in a good space today and I am so thankful for so much. pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-50874743606420972542019-01-06T10:41:00.001+08:002019-01-06T10:41:40.277+08:002019A whole year (& a bit more) has passed since my last entry. <br />
<br /><br />
I have an incomplete draft on one of my biggest athlete achievements from December 2017; and 2018 had been pretty eventful.... including <br />
<ul>
<li>Surviving Primary 3 (shaky and challenging)</li>
<li>Graduating from Kindergarten</li>
<li>Husband's national achievement during National Day</li>
<li>Getting promoted</li>
<li>Moving into our new home </li>
<li>Blessed with two babies into our family </li>
</ul>
These are on top of the easily-taken-for-granted-things like family, eating meals, exercising, little laughs.... all very important too. <br />
<br /><br />
I didn't intend to write. I haven't visited my blog for months and I have been spending too much time browsing social media for no reason at all. A random occurrence two days back had the sister ask, "<em>why are you blogging?</em>" (when I wasn't); but maybe that's how things are meant to be.. they happen for one tiny reason and was seeded in my brain and seemingly, as if for no specific reason, I set at this table and opened up my blog and decided that why not, pen something, a start for 2019. <br />
<br /><br />
So, a few <em>resolutions</em> (I say that with hesitation because I view it more as, continuous improvement; or things that always matter than a 'new start' per se):<br />
<br /><br />
1. I shall spend money on experiences, not material things.<br />
2. I shall spend more time with my family - collectively as awesome-foursome; but also individually (alone with the husband and daughter and son) to have quality time together.<br />
3. Read books<br />
4. Continue with consistent exercise - HIIT / yoga / running<br />
5. Take up a course - I'm considering a yoga-certification, or a personal trainer certification course<br />
6. Save money <br />
<br /><br />
Nothing revolutionary (except, maybe for the certification); and they are pretty similar to what I set out to do year on year. <br />
<br /><br />
It's all about the positive mindset we set off with to achieve. Let's go, 2019. <br />
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</div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-18749857514791557152018-03-21T13:35:00.004+08:002018-03-21T13:35:57.223+08:00I am loved.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkdZz233vuMSHF78L5dLXMH-ToPB259-J1yEhRdzSbGgNNdAr1jqy_6PM45ViH-eDUql_DAhlJwEhxWC8X2HQA6kOjA5WSpb1w0FuHzrAleH93sgRt6Rj_PuYnV_7LiqlL1co5wE3b8x0/s1600/20Mar+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkdZz233vuMSHF78L5dLXMH-ToPB259-J1yEhRdzSbGgNNdAr1jqy_6PM45ViH-eDUql_DAhlJwEhxWC8X2HQA6kOjA5WSpb1w0FuHzrAleH93sgRt6Rj_PuYnV_7LiqlL1co5wE3b8x0/s400/20Mar+bouquet.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminder that I am loved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-3027532660939727502017-12-04T17:49:00.001+08:002017-12-04T17:49:18.419+08:00Kids dash #SCSM2017It's 2 December and the day of the Kid's Dash! The children skipped this run for 3 years, since their first / previous experience in <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2014/12/kids-dash-2014.html" target="_blank">2014</a>. Look at how teeny J was then!<br />
<br /><br />
This year, the t-shirts finally fit them both (I got them the same size) and being the seasoned racers they are, we left for their run with not just bibs on, but game faces too!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizavlJ37XJsEF8F3ubFlq2KjuqgDO32WniWchwaOwpz3MyBuwECv-yz403BeyEEhRJPKnMaDJsZBbmkLqUbKpr6z5T_2uT9_ZvSea1vn7gx9s6WLWO6OhRA_b_cETtGxPif_pWIh9w3I0y/s640/blogger-image-2013101845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizavlJ37XJsEF8F3ubFlq2KjuqgDO32WniWchwaOwpz3MyBuwECv-yz403BeyEEhRJPKnMaDJsZBbmkLqUbKpr6z5T_2uT9_ZvSea1vn7gx9s6WLWO6OhRA_b_cETtGxPif_pWIh9w3I0y/s640/blogger-image-2013101845.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roads were so packed. We strolled to our start point.</td></tr>
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It was manic madness! There was no scheduled starts despite the organiser's best intents and by the time we got through, it was a mishmash of everyone who signed up for the run. It was a good mix of children running with parents / sans parents though, and I wonder if the kids will be fine to do so independently next time. After squeezing through crowds and crowds, we waited in the holding area. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpUoh6jDYDQREAP6tbCaHy3ourUd9stJ1UkcmqSI4c7AuazAtZxSFS7VUDjIZUGJeFeBbbmBt9ttNtvM1HqzfHXfdMIyxMhHZ3tCinGYJoBl1CTdM3L9WhxTAPTbb2XugbVhyphenhyphenQANCwsS9/s640/blogger-image-1384434944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpUoh6jDYDQREAP6tbCaHy3ourUd9stJ1UkcmqSI4c7AuazAtZxSFS7VUDjIZUGJeFeBbbmBt9ttNtvM1HqzfHXfdMIyxMhHZ3tCinGYJoBl1CTdM3L9WhxTAPTbb2XugbVhyphenhyphenQANCwsS9/s640/blogger-image-1384434944.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superhero and Princess</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqHdBivCxFb4bDa0DhLLsHKuiCBohr_LrVJw6_lHJtlCNZLWxXGtvL0K13M4PMTD5cllZtbqH0Pc5-U911v7m2Xg16qdYk-d3HDRr5aMJkeqBWf072L2ocgukQJmre-V-b4M0GwOtsCZT/s640/blogger-image--1590538972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqHdBivCxFb4bDa0DhLLsHKuiCBohr_LrVJw6_lHJtlCNZLWxXGtvL0K13M4PMTD5cllZtbqH0Pc5-U911v7m2Xg16qdYk-d3HDRr5aMJkeqBWf072L2ocgukQJmre-V-b4M0GwOtsCZT/s640/blogger-image--1590538972.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SCSM 2017!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijob81hYFv2qLgA09Tc_uUKCRM_hK7eyBsMnX3Yfvgihmyvb-zMmWY2o5gygJXJlUFq4-BoxKJjn_2GK51LsJdXPjzLJ4-7Kia2nIJ6dNf8z2SC3Gyk6MrK5bvIShMV85Itze0P2Nsch0b/s640/blogger-image--697080019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijob81hYFv2qLgA09Tc_uUKCRM_hK7eyBsMnX3Yfvgihmyvb-zMmWY2o5gygJXJlUFq4-BoxKJjn_2GK51LsJdXPjzLJ4-7Kia2nIJ6dNf8z2SC3Gyk6MrK5bvIShMV85Itze0P2Nsch0b/s640/blogger-image--697080019.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One with my princess</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mfppmb1CdIARqOVjvKt99m7r5u38NBzDxgQnaM3SWpegZsy5d0RoR6lTL7fA_SqFs0Do36p8GWeoHOWC0IXijjLkVL7VIipV63n4o4w1o638t5MWfJkKQ9e8MgH0LnhRGIq2kz6v-SMd/s640/blogger-image-196269878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mfppmb1CdIARqOVjvKt99m7r5u38NBzDxgQnaM3SWpegZsy5d0RoR6lTL7fA_SqFs0Do36p8GWeoHOWC0IXijjLkVL7VIipV63n4o4w1o638t5MWfJkKQ9e8MgH0LnhRGIq2kz6v-SMd/s640/blogger-image-196269878.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team boy - the hanging bunting's kinda cute</td></tr>
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By the time it was our turn to get into the <em>real</em> start pen, the skies were dark. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7RYKF2-6KPRTtgkP0OON3ymOY48IT7c0Ee0Omkg9nxctN0f-JCXe9Bwc2vKO4ZseFgJ7BV0yhRKjozweAV7RQJxxJay85vblRTpsfmAiBETxVFcsbIM-LeT5byCeCNohyCt3_LFAUCEw/s640/blogger-image--1386847157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7RYKF2-6KPRTtgkP0OON3ymOY48IT7c0Ee0Omkg9nxctN0f-JCXe9Bwc2vKO4ZseFgJ7BV0yhRKjozweAV7RQJxxJay85vblRTpsfmAiBETxVFcsbIM-LeT5byCeCNohyCt3_LFAUCEw/s640/blogger-image--1386847157.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, we can see the start line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98u9TjGw18Yi-itckmSylvoLnByzteWmzdgeE8FFtilr6D1tL8lmKEd7sFAZqDSEKEaBvc5UF4JWmmfrA26ohfT6cmXACLHlRQ1XNK0QOOXS1-hOCWFxwN6vupqUA5UfNDYSCSBNg6KmL/s640/blogger-image--1467956474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98u9TjGw18Yi-itckmSylvoLnByzteWmzdgeE8FFtilr6D1tL8lmKEd7sFAZqDSEKEaBvc5UF4JWmmfrA26ohfT6cmXACLHlRQ1XNK0QOOXS1-hOCWFxwN6vupqUA5UfNDYSCSBNg6KmL/s640/blogger-image--1467956474.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her nervous face </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjLvdVfAehNV0RywKbq3rCzyjL2T_2K5H3UHfpsYh1rLzvvtdNbyyCNe-eFZmGx7bQhsr2UEN34nWk4FWTEPi75E5NfAFP_R04Q40b6IMTBPPHo-249R5AKOS_arQltZn3X-efFLbVbQA/s640/blogger-image--14896752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjLvdVfAehNV0RywKbq3rCzyjL2T_2K5H3UHfpsYh1rLzvvtdNbyyCNe-eFZmGx7bQhsr2UEN34nWk4FWTEPi75E5NfAFP_R04Q40b6IMTBPPHo-249R5AKOS_arQltZn3X-efFLbVbQA/s640/blogger-image--14896752.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His excited face (he has been raving about wanting <br />
to "run on the road" since forever before!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The children made it to the front of our pen's starting line and it was so amusing to see them all excited/nervous/raring to go. J even wanted to do a proper runner's start (akin in a race on the tracks) and we had to tell him to chill. The husband and I devised a plan for him to race after J as he would be super quick, and me to run after K. <br />
<br /><br />
When the bell went off, the kids all DASHED! K really surprised us as she totally took off! They were so super speedy that I lost K for the first 50m of the race. I was able to catch sight of the husband then traced J in front of him speedily; and at some point we switched roles quickly for me to trail J and him to race after K. Phew, I felt all giddy from the stress of being cramped with the crowds, sticking close to the family and taking off so suddenly. I managed to snap some video of J doing what he does best, hi-fiving people for encouragement/fun; he picked this up from our past experiences at races and he does so love to do it. I think he just loves jazzing it up and passing on the love. What an extrovert. <br />
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The kids felt accomplished after the race and I made it a deal that they received their very own medals! Then just before we stepped out of the race zone for dinner, we had to take this family shot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0PiOwTQ0fmeVePHNzSi6bBlLhx-_RGlWs35Ht9-dtMNHyuJgQ7t0Sy42cefavDyZF8LGIRTKhowO4owltW1yHw62bs3xbT4O2tI9PGKRhcTbh60sahWDXk_gkzik5kAGjp_DVtL48sjg/s640/blogger-image--2091381959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0PiOwTQ0fmeVePHNzSi6bBlLhx-_RGlWs35Ht9-dtMNHyuJgQ7t0Sy42cefavDyZF8LGIRTKhowO4owltW1yHw62bs3xbT4O2tI9PGKRhcTbh60sahWDXk_gkzik5kAGjp_DVtL48sjg/s640/blogger-image--2091381959.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my champions, on the roads, Xmas season - life is good!</td></tr>
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<div>
The kids were on such a high after, recounting their race over and over; us giggling over their antics and moments that made them laugh/excited/annoyed. <br />
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They also enjoyed drinking H20 ("<em>after exercise can drink this u'noe!"</em>) as they felt entitled to it. Ha! So adorbs. As always, it is such a pleasure and joy introducing the children to the fun dash. They are already so used to playing with devices that I am thrilled that they still seek joy in wanting to partake in such runs/outdoor physical activities. It will be impossible to limit/not have them play with devices, but I hope that the husband and I act as good role models for them to at least still appreciate and yearn for outdoor play. <br />
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This ends the race that they were looking forward to, and they did so well! I'm so proud of my little champs!</div>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-24336621720718083602017-12-02T15:21:00.003+08:002017-12-02T15:21:46.752+08:00Pre-run jittersThe children are on a short cruise with their beloved grandparents and the past few days have been peaceful and busy. On Thursday, the one night that the husband and I were free, we met to pick up the race packs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ9QFRAx-h8YJAlHL67BvRuka6vDwHlAX2f2TmqBdmda49Vq7YRMrtJXBRjG_6HCJJkn6LPLj_CyUdY7rfytmb3Bwyx5ukzrV8N7TbTcLK4FgMettwcm6EndPWxyuHf5RiGXKGoQzzrxn/s640/blogger-image--1054184386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ9QFRAx-h8YJAlHL67BvRuka6vDwHlAX2f2TmqBdmda49Vq7YRMrtJXBRjG_6HCJJkn6LPLj_CyUdY7rfytmb3Bwyx5ukzrV8N7TbTcLK4FgMettwcm6EndPWxyuHf5RiGXKGoQzzrxn/s640/blogger-image--1054184386.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One for posterity</td></tr>
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After which, we had dinner and stopped by a bar for 1 beer (his) and 1 dessert (ours). I have been taking carbo loading very seriously (<em>cannot make my sister un-proud of me!)</em> and after a week of eating full; I am quite tired of it already (<em>hah</em>). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDExO9Vp-aKle5f7YzUGrhI1p0BEhjbrouDe2afLkG6RHJlHqSWOt5gXD90FK95-pPCw7hShDHSDYPfTVOcfj28rRGnoexpEeUvIKCTMBmFggxca5-E7mQkAx1dQUwoE2tyq68JvqHqciL/s640/blogger-image-195371643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDExO9Vp-aKle5f7YzUGrhI1p0BEhjbrouDe2afLkG6RHJlHqSWOt5gXD90FK95-pPCw7hShDHSDYPfTVOcfj28rRGnoexpEeUvIKCTMBmFggxca5-E7mQkAx1dQUwoE2tyq68JvqHqciL/s640/blogger-image-195371643.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the bar</td></tr>
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That evening, we talked about our home renovations, our upcoming holiday plans and the run. The husband asked, "<em>what's your strategy?"</em> I stared at him, clueless. I hadn't thought about it at all; I am doing this to complete and tick off the bucket list. I want to enjoy running it to some degree, with little pressure or pain. He told me that he will run it with me and that is one of the most romantic and sweetest thing honestly; I truly appreciate it (<em>inside joke, though one person will appreciate this more than the other</em>).<br />
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As part of the training, which is actually as hard as the run, I have some reflections:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sickness sucks. There were a few weeks I was on total form, killing kilometres by the bulk and while my body ached, my mind was so happy and determined to keep on track. Then came the flu bug and it just made me all slothy and unwell. </li>
<li>Running can take place anywhere: having a partner who takes exercise as part of life is great, as we just run on-the-go; like <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-bye-bye-tokyo-airbnb-hello-tokyo.html" target="_blank">on our trip to Japan </a>within training period. As part of our upcoming holiday planning, I am talking trekking, walking, lots of nature and fresh air. Woot!</li>
<li>Doing only one thing is boring. I quite like running - it is efficient, it gives me fulfilment to see distance clocked (<em>I'm not being on speed/time; accomplishment and finish is more for me</em>) and my kilos on the Nike app go up steadily. However, when training, I <em>have</em> to run to train and over time, that makes it slightly dreary. Some days, I wish to do other forms of exercise so that's a bit of a strain. </li>
<li>The body is amazing - many have said that I should run at least 30km to get myself ready but I have not done so. I only did 2 runs that are longish, at <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/11/yolo-my-4th-half-marathon-my-practise.html" target="_blank">21km</a> and <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/12/23km-my-last-long-run.html" target="_blank">23km</a>. These runs were a week apart and with the testing of gels on these runs, I felt pretty good from the 1st to 2nd run. It's been 2 weeks since and I hope that my 3rd and final long run will be as ok as can be!</li>
<li>Diet: I have always been pretty ok in my diet, eating whenever and whatever. The past week has been fun in carbo-loading (eat eat eat away!) and I have intentionally watched my alcohol intake the past month. I can actually count what I have had - no more than 4 glasses of wine and no beer. It was my company's D&D last night and I had 3 sips of beer. Proud of myself!</li>
<li>My toes: lessons picked up are that Vaseline works better than tape for my toes. I have also given up having normal toe nails (or any at all). I have also learnt how to manage and treat my own blisters. It's a good skill to know!</li>
<li>The husband is my rock. I deem my husband to be a fit man. He is an ironman, he is fit for work and besides being a great partner in sport, he is my rock. For him to be by my side will be so reassuring for me. <em>Thank you, babe.</em></li>
</ul>
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On the eve of the run, I still cannot imagine how my run will be, especially past the 20km mark; and I hope to remember these:<br />
<ul>
<li>Try to enjoy it. On my YOLO run, I walked and did not beat myself up about it. It is ok to walk. It is still making distance (no matter how slowly - ever hear the story of the tortoise and the hare?)</li>
<li>Don't stress. I think I a quite a serious runner. My face is kinda frowny and I seem worried. I will try to remember to not worry about anything!</li>
<li>Look around - I will try to take in the sights, the people around me, the weather, the everything. It's all part of the experience. </li>
<li>I will be ok. Having no expectations can only be a good thing!</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSCplzJ4Q8nBCmhgtCe4eicTF5HBSUNDRRwLHpZspeyUajXcJDVYkkqXK6VMCm3f_5nAYqJnkJN_4bzQTZVXpxIZ1RIjITYcJfVavkLetyK7UAvNuezLzXgTDuBkdS0EoEw-oKZwvAIYU/s640/blogger-image-378130951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSCplzJ4Q8nBCmhgtCe4eicTF5HBSUNDRRwLHpZspeyUajXcJDVYkkqXK6VMCm3f_5nAYqJnkJN_4bzQTZVXpxIZ1RIjITYcJfVavkLetyK7UAvNuezLzXgTDuBkdS0EoEw-oKZwvAIYU/s400/blogger-image-378130951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1-2-3-4.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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First up, the children are doing the run this evening and I am going to have some fun with them - hoorah! Counting down... 13 more hours!</div>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-42089263349950727402017-11-27T14:56:00.000+08:002017-12-02T14:56:43.977+08:0023km - my last long-runAfter my <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/11/yolo-my-4th-half-marathon-my-practise.html" target="_blank">first long run</a> during this practice period, I asked the husband to go for another with me. We set off on a Sunday morning, not too early; and I felt tired.... I wasn't sure how far I could go but I had an idea that I wanted to hit at least a 21km. <br />
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What made this run more challenging (<em>and shady, a good thing</em>) is that we ran the MacRitchie trails, which added challenge of trail and undulations; the run a week before did me good as I persevered and did not stop the entire trail; I felt proud of myself! The husband was in good form, despite not training at all (<em>though to be fair, he'd been swimming/running for his biathlon so... still some training</em>). Our route was sorta planned; estimated at about 20km. <br />
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We started off from the Polo Club, then through MacRitchie, past the trail forest to emerge at Thomson Road... past Upper Pierce Reservoir to Seletar Reservoir (<em>I don't know if it's the right name, but it's past the Casurina Road roti prata</em>). We only had 1 water point which we stopped at both to-and-fro directions. I also prepared to consume my gel (1 pack) and I learnt how to feel it course through my body and provide me with energy. <br />
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<br />
We stopped at about 19km, as we rounded back to MacRitchie and chanced into V2.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB6a_AdaLjd_wxwcYihxXjvPuSsad8HRW4-UNehLQvk4eAIr_b97OXuJI5MqkVigDhTWv4WkS3WkZSK_XgWSy-S9ddOhMuqlreFiAc1ryraR66JrkOp5WHljdPMIHuJyEWUsrxsYLl1mh/s640/blogger-image-763101002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB6a_AdaLjd_wxwcYihxXjvPuSsad8HRW4-UNehLQvk4eAIr_b97OXuJI5MqkVigDhTWv4WkS3WkZSK_XgWSy-S9ddOhMuqlreFiAc1ryraR66JrkOp5WHljdPMIHuJyEWUsrxsYLl1mh/s640/blogger-image-763101002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23km at final stop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At 19km, we were both tired and the chance encounter was a good break for us to chat and stretch. After bidding goodbye, the husband and I slowly walked our way back to the start point to end off our last long run before <strong>the</strong> run.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMY9pZYL_HQVdJDP-xVwZxEYFGBpqP-jZvuSrBGRVVNeWUqrm900qG-0brJcIc52ChNAqLwZgKCg-DPEvpzY2EEJfMZLg2GSzrRLa5mw81knBWxTHyvpvwux22cDvPTAADmdEwnp3qfmq/s640/blogger-image--1909401830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMY9pZYL_HQVdJDP-xVwZxEYFGBpqP-jZvuSrBGRVVNeWUqrm900qG-0brJcIc52ChNAqLwZgKCg-DPEvpzY2EEJfMZLg2GSzrRLa5mw81knBWxTHyvpvwux22cDvPTAADmdEwnp3qfmq/s640/blogger-image--1909401830.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful end</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
We have never ventured to this end of the club and it was a peaceful end to our morning. That afternoon, we refueled with a ton of popiah and kueh pie tees and my body was not in as much pain as the week before. A much needed training slot indeed!</div>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-37974711950070723562017-11-23T18:33:00.000+08:002017-11-30T15:05:25.992+08:00YOLO - my 4th half marathon & my practise runRunning a marathon was one on the bucket list; it was kinda an idea that snuck around in my brain since my past halfs - my <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2013/12/01122013-210975-kilometres.html" target="_blank">first in 2013</a>, my <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2014/06/211-kilometres-31-may.html" target="_blank">first night-run but 2nd half in 2014</a>, and <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2015/12/215km-round-3.html" target="_blank">my 3rd</a> where I ran because it was paid for (cheap, but true!). Through time, my impetus to run faded slowly but surely as<br />
I discovered yoga and HIIT. If I can keep fit and in good shape in different ways, why not? Why do I need to sign up for runs? Thus, the bucket list item of running a marathon disappeared.<br />
So, I kinda gave up on signing up for runs. Until my not-sure-it's-most-brilliant-brilliant moment when I got sick and tired of muddling about (just about <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/08/what-are-my-priorities.html" target="_blank">this point </a>when I sure felt muddled)... and I signed myself up for a marathon. <br />
-insert shocked face-<br />
So, it started. My training. I started trying to do longer runs; and after months, I can comfortably hit 10km. I scheduled in more paid runs including the <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/11/asics-relay-2017-2nd-year-running-new-pb.html" target="_blank">Asics one</a>, to help clock distance. This YOLO, was one that came about quite serendipitously and thank goodness I ran it because it was my first long run and it hurt. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq6bag8MYKQKJdURRrA-vDV2BYwU3hfrkQNTi_49ZEdN0JILN1B3jphsA67nqFjetmUBsB4gOyzFr5uh3OfmlvXV4V4GiGw73sl299R3jKaHbqyAPSrK3qPps6vYEPvoM6z483FLeeI50/s640/blogger-image--2041795103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq6bag8MYKQKJdURRrA-vDV2BYwU3hfrkQNTi_49ZEdN0JILN1B3jphsA67nqFjetmUBsB4gOyzFr5uh3OfmlvXV4V4GiGw73sl299R3jKaHbqyAPSrK3qPps6vYEPvoM6z483FLeeI50/s640/blogger-image--2041795103.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waking up at an unearthly hour.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zZGsi4ROmdHrwdanwCGOlINS0ZfKqEmQv6tmQivKB9Ai51fIODpWT_lNzZtbsWnT8QNEU0I3-ce3PeLngItMi2MRmy_-JWXcUN8XV9ONnpUnd1z8pKx0L_4hNa1z5LxR58jc0xtLJAQ8/s640/blogger-image--513494205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zZGsi4ROmdHrwdanwCGOlINS0ZfKqEmQv6tmQivKB9Ai51fIODpWT_lNzZtbsWnT8QNEU0I3-ce3PeLngItMi2MRmy_-JWXcUN8XV9ONnpUnd1z8pKx0L_4hNa1z5LxR58jc0xtLJAQ8/s400/blogger-image--513494205.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creeping about the kitchen to feed myself</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMI2RxhLKWwyarUzGKNUb9hy8suptV_GEut0dE3yHHQeG0UIr6sqbZk6BwS5sKkJhMcJ5wDrIEixJxuM9tt500UUbTgplg9EceJMUylGq9fSUF1l-avYAA39aa3BvPhMgD_a5XJ5XP5Ay/s640/blogger-image-1365411935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMI2RxhLKWwyarUzGKNUb9hy8suptV_GEut0dE3yHHQeG0UIr6sqbZk6BwS5sKkJhMcJ5wDrIEixJxuM9tt500UUbTgplg9EceJMUylGq9fSUF1l-avYAA39aa3BvPhMgD_a5XJ5XP5Ay/s400/blogger-image-1365411935.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading material - I was trying to take note of drinking stations</td></tr>
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<div>
I was meant to do the run with the husband, but he didn't make it (overseas travel), so I went all by myself. Yup. At the last minute, just as I was stepping out of the house, I remembered to tape my toes (preventing blisters through friction) - not that it really helped, so that's one lesson I learnt. <br />
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I drove myself to the Singapore Flyer carpark, very close to the start/finish line. Best decision ever - and honestly, while the area was slowly swarming with people, and there was some traffic, it's generally a really quiet and smooth drive. <br />
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Upon arrival, I headed to the loo. I held nothing at all except for things I needed during my run. Then I headed to the start pen. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dzShyGf6YlOaH03FFjCk81YaD21XsQGFiWSCTg3GDzEcDcjYd46SYLMtSD9WHYgoO80wOFgSZI8h5bK3zP2y1PZ2TY7dAeqUq3BBnlFTZFDxZpkF1pB3J68rfNKId4Dw6-pnRU2siaBu/s640/blogger-image-1366427133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dzShyGf6YlOaH03FFjCk81YaD21XsQGFiWSCTg3GDzEcDcjYd46SYLMtSD9WHYgoO80wOFgSZI8h5bK3zP2y1PZ2TY7dAeqUq3BBnlFTZFDxZpkF1pB3J68rfNKId4Dw6-pnRU2siaBu/s640/blogger-image-1366427133.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As far as I could worm forward</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
The start was delayed and here, I'm going to bullet note my run progress:<br />
<ul>
<li>Drinking water (3 big gulps) and not starting the run caused me to need to pee. Flag off was delayed (logistics error, boo to organisers) and everyone stood waiting around for 50 minutes. My wait was probably about 35 minutes as I only entered the start pen past 5am. </li>
<li>At the 2km mark, I made a toilet stop. </li>
<li>At the 11km mark, I saw a professional runner on his way back. How mad quick was that!</li>
<li>My right hip muscle started to twitch and ache past the 10km mark and it escalated.</li>
<li>In sync with my plan and hydration station, I consumed my first-ever gel. It was orange flavoured and not awful. </li>
<li>The plasters did not help my toes. </li>
<li>I walked at several points in the race because I was just not feeling it.</li>
<li>I felt energetic with the gels, but I felt heavy and could not push myself more.</li>
<li>I started to walk but enjoy the walking; not worth stressing as I was not gunning for any time at all. </li>
<li>It was a relatively cool morning and I am thankful for that. </li>
<li>At the 16km mark, I had to stop at a hydration point to stretch. The ache in my hip was increasingly uncomfortable/painful. </li>
<li>When the mind is weak, the going is near impossible. </li>
<li>I was in pain towards the end because my toes were squishy and rubbing hard against each other (the tape!) </li>
<li>I managed to jog the final 2km because I wanted to finish the race.</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kl-FVNvcfF9zo6u-nlAO1iXSuuo9AatYxs44WP93xzbtX2j2Epg25XYd7u7VVaaN8tkLOae-p4jkZFJxD2uniZjadHeHhGILaMRkRIPyC1Gi0tILF2N2l_ZywNOymI4n3VG-FZk396Lg/s640/blogger-image--794943578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kl-FVNvcfF9zo6u-nlAO1iXSuuo9AatYxs44WP93xzbtX2j2Epg25XYd7u7VVaaN8tkLOae-p4jkZFJxD2uniZjadHeHhGILaMRkRIPyC1Gi0tILF2N2l_ZywNOymI4n3VG-FZk396Lg/s640/blogger-image--794943578.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZOMG so long.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMbm7LgxBRjgRSQTNigB2SKBy_1ITEo6zYmfusdmqLm2Siq7e1KZUpqXh_IE22c8pJ3QBHbh7ldeQ9l10NRvTBb-97NOP3TrpItJc6fumHFtzWPwHItWisg1f9Osb-2CdEwK6dkqQcvyA/s640/blogger-image--1050901406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMbm7LgxBRjgRSQTNigB2SKBy_1ITEo6zYmfusdmqLm2Siq7e1KZUpqXh_IE22c8pJ3QBHbh7ldeQ9l10NRvTBb-97NOP3TrpItJc6fumHFtzWPwHItWisg1f9Osb-2CdEwK6dkqQcvyA/s400/blogger-image--1050901406.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot with the girls who did 10km, except that the silly organisers<br />
shortened the run to 7km without informing any runners.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was totally aching when I met with the girls. My hip ache was screaming for me to do something about it (it was one of those pains where I couldn't resolve just by stretching) and my legs super achey that I nearly-cramped on a few occasions as I was walking - ouch. I made it to the car safely and spent a good 45minutes stretching the sh*t out of my legs because oh-so-painful. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldKmQ-wOvrJ1OPX_fPoA_ImxhZzJavw_-Ro72AYliVUuSX_xVu0pw6usXv8QzdRicV68oDysrrk80Ylahs-95sbfAxxZjxtzpO54tn4Syn9jlXL7yYaZbwtK-oTRB0nRsv5MNaMhepGsh/s640/blogger-image-403494042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldKmQ-wOvrJ1OPX_fPoA_ImxhZzJavw_-Ro72AYliVUuSX_xVu0pw6usXv8QzdRicV68oDysrrk80Ylahs-95sbfAxxZjxtzpO54tn4Syn9jlXL7yYaZbwtK-oTRB0nRsv5MNaMhepGsh/s400/blogger-image-403494042.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">arghhh the pain, and arghhh I did it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD50IXz0Srrw7AuVPuVWc6iSquki9qtCcnVuoPdv4xb3yD7DWohxrtry5bWEbMqGO7OCnaCBgSDS6b6PHnVSf1xHS-YUALVrwM99vkjQVjpBRhMlGQyqb0zoF09haieBlax_LAp1c2n_NY/s640/blogger-image-1663015445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD50IXz0Srrw7AuVPuVWc6iSquki9qtCcnVuoPdv4xb3yD7DWohxrtry5bWEbMqGO7OCnaCBgSDS6b6PHnVSf1xHS-YUALVrwM99vkjQVjpBRhMlGQyqb0zoF09haieBlax_LAp1c2n_NY/s400/blogger-image-1663015445.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesson to self: don't only tape random toes. I had a <em>giant </em>blister on my <br />
3rd toe (right foot) and I had to self-operate it <em>thrice</em>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwellyG_cZXPxbnT3WsZYOWytzTkTAf1u9NLPtn114TDAL-TBS8W0KP-ZJ6syGoG99bdP61-kfi6FHIfE9h3T0F8zCD2Q6-CBkWIVRh_I0P8vm8d5q9OL9ANEFPZDfTktQ7NEd0z9ZQhcJ/s640/blogger-image-655348430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwellyG_cZXPxbnT3WsZYOWytzTkTAf1u9NLPtn114TDAL-TBS8W0KP-ZJ6syGoG99bdP61-kfi6FHIfE9h3T0F8zCD2Q6-CBkWIVRh_I0P8vm8d5q9OL9ANEFPZDfTktQ7NEd0z9ZQhcJ/s640/blogger-image-655348430.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooray at least NIKE applauds my achievement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Truly, the run was an awakening for me. It was necessary because I had not done any long runs prior to this and it gave me a taste of how much pain I would be for the real run. It also taught me that the gel that I ate helped me. While I could have been mentally stronger and ran more, the gel surely helped in my energy levels not crashing; and I actually felt better than I expected. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrgkTAW2Rvtb0tKihSq0vtyWgsLLLsYxyixOEK7kuuCuD7Efw32gEetrWkUodDmpvxb9TIBASmitkah_x6wno05ial7nKdsj1QOQUQPPhJvH1LfUpL1PyC5-Ms-rSLBETVnAgSi66sS4M/s640/blogger-image-597151208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrgkTAW2Rvtb0tKihSq0vtyWgsLLLsYxyixOEK7kuuCuD7Efw32gEetrWkUodDmpvxb9TIBASmitkah_x6wno05ial7nKdsj1QOQUQPPhJvH1LfUpL1PyC5-Ms-rSLBETVnAgSi66sS4M/s400/blogger-image-597151208.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still running - last 2km </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5BYiYPOrBd-JCIZgA1e0-4_gl687YOx94WeFXuqe9CwqBkjuKx0D8yxDePCJ0NwTaY3BcKTThSu_lb2FzTnMOgLTkN9v_SfUEDepSJeGeLdd9kzih5mSpdG15xkaTvO8-gkK6hc5zkiL/s640/blogger-image--553316052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5BYiYPOrBd-JCIZgA1e0-4_gl687YOx94WeFXuqe9CwqBkjuKx0D8yxDePCJ0NwTaY3BcKTThSu_lb2FzTnMOgLTkN9v_SfUEDepSJeGeLdd9kzih5mSpdG15xkaTvO8-gkK6hc5zkiL/s400/blogger-image--553316052.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
I learnt a few key lessons and here are my parting thoughts:<br />
<ul>
<li>Not pressuring myself to perform helped me just cruise along</li>
<li>Consuming the gel made me more aware of my body and how it can help</li>
<li>I held the small bottle of water throughout the run but I did not need to actually, so it's a decision I have to make if I want to hold something for the full run </li>
<li>Aching legs are surely a pain and this made me realise that the pain will go away. </li>
<li>Just keep going. </li>
</ul>
A good overall experience to add to my training, gahhh!<br />
<div>
</div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-45760363454586378822017-11-17T11:15:00.001+08:002017-11-17T11:15:13.792+08:00Day 8: bye bye JapanIn a blink of an eye, we have come to the last day of our #happyfamilyinjapan holiday. Oh, good times fly by indeed. On this morning, we decided to take it easy. Breakfast was on our own - the girl went to Maccas with the grandparents; the boy and I headed out to seek food while the husband finished packing up. <br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKMA6mDu9Bi3IB5iuyBH0STgVpUCpJ7S2Gsscwgv76mFl0PKFCR8lx3FGCr4M7h9sEhUWXy_ScOOZP-9K_8WZOVxlanFiroEIP0e5XlsA1n0VSnHT7WTLtRC5jQiMCu5evWg1bG4SURXF/s640/blogger-image--445508774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKMA6mDu9Bi3IB5iuyBH0STgVpUCpJ7S2Gsscwgv76mFl0PKFCR8lx3FGCr4M7h9sEhUWXy_ScOOZP-9K_8WZOVxlanFiroEIP0e5XlsA1n0VSnHT7WTLtRC5jQiMCu5evWg1bG4SURXF/s640/blogger-image--445508774.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnXPLFVM8aKvq-nEGnb49yH1bmcFqdHZnzNLvtdDkx9Xgb41KroJ7kOSkReigqP4ykcAQT_CrXBaacyl5Ay3F9FqZv02xxfW5uOg4hpm5Ibwjf74M4F8AiS8RL7Ec0p2RywOz76WZwVAJ/s640/blogger-image-2081374894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnXPLFVM8aKvq-nEGnb49yH1bmcFqdHZnzNLvtdDkx9Xgb41KroJ7kOSkReigqP4ykcAQT_CrXBaacyl5Ay3F9FqZv02xxfW5uOg4hpm5Ibwjf74M4F8AiS8RL7Ec0p2RywOz76WZwVAJ/s640/blogger-image-2081374894.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYJx6Ic-6EokyBDTcSM_fBDcK4CeHeGxj73sjBvdjCFhgvts7_LCYkW2PZXg9VzhItvpwh_Cu-qE7pNylPwfa-dIJJQWTvpqvHCPT_mPRCev_Ljxu65fjIJW003jwLtwb22bvk4DfLpKN/s640/blogger-image-706543356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYJx6Ic-6EokyBDTcSM_fBDcK4CeHeGxj73sjBvdjCFhgvts7_LCYkW2PZXg9VzhItvpwh_Cu-qE7pNylPwfa-dIJJQWTvpqvHCPT_mPRCev_Ljxu65fjIJW003jwLtwb22bvk4DfLpKN/s640/blogger-image-706543356.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because he let me get coffee first, I let him choose his breakfast (Maccas bleargh)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
On the way back (we tapaued everything because we needed to feed the husband too), we spotted a role model in the form of a local Japanese man. Look at his choice of beverage - this was at 10am in the morning! Given our running count of beer through the holiday, I had to sneak a snap and share it with my fellow beer-chuggers.</div>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnK5LiX1nsYPqo_k2L4vUzsxkaFer2Vq2DqiDeNnxSVqz0Zi1be4FdYMtYAQGN7M5fSPDQUNEo9kjW8mKWzjNPufFKJ6dFbGThHt0xnkZzT-0ltV8ylQqUWfNYWTtMSbVqIrpW0KYnwDb/s640/blogger-image-1854944496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnK5LiX1nsYPqo_k2L4vUzsxkaFer2Vq2DqiDeNnxSVqz0Zi1be4FdYMtYAQGN7M5fSPDQUNEo9kjW8mKWzjNPufFKJ6dFbGThHt0xnkZzT-0ltV8ylQqUWfNYWTtMSbVqIrpW0KYnwDb/s640/blogger-image-1854944496.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast beverage - beer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE1PBlpsreSaUQEswx1m8hVsiP9dMXFYlBNkaRYm-imTaj-p9mm0BllEImr_WY28VTVJVxBL79UTz1GYw2po0AgzfkzsvTtGV2bj5BsyGtHiK7JGundJsvJDHv-1PSpoi-LbBX_N-hFpq/s640/blogger-image-596823877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE1PBlpsreSaUQEswx1m8hVsiP9dMXFYlBNkaRYm-imTaj-p9mm0BllEImr_WY28VTVJVxBL79UTz1GYw2po0AgzfkzsvTtGV2bj5BsyGtHiK7JGundJsvJDHv-1PSpoi-LbBX_N-hFpq/s640/blogger-image-596823877.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A worthy team-mate for sure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
We checked out of the hotel and made our way to stroll down the street to <a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3009.html" target="_blank">Tokyo Tower</a>. It was less than 30minutes away and while it was pretty hot, I thought it was way better than rain. Off we went.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbadhl0Bbb0EKKVjo1t6bYW5tqOUQi8YsZli5dVyLtLSZbZXnLwgFMYqQJtSReHD0-H63wrUTMsNrdgmTmryD0noyC1cmftRkBe-vgmzBe6pPqYR4ZKSadmZdC8HGayMrYrP_M9Zlt034/s640/blogger-image-1744179822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbadhl0Bbb0EKKVjo1t6bYW5tqOUQi8YsZli5dVyLtLSZbZXnLwgFMYqQJtSReHD0-H63wrUTMsNrdgmTmryD0noyC1cmftRkBe-vgmzBe6pPqYR4ZKSadmZdC8HGayMrYrP_M9Zlt034/s640/blogger-image-1744179822.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa-girl duo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy25VihEcabxZwzwAol0lDxCit-6Z3AuVZPMCd-Uq8S7L81NW4Njl0sHKs84ivzlguCGF3TGzHrVq_a0GS9aImBw66uSSAAF4zHIQkJqMQQ3yRUaf7QPrtmB1VpsOEqGUsNadHiy-B4Hs/s640/blogger-image-1602302733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy25VihEcabxZwzwAol0lDxCit-6Z3AuVZPMCd-Uq8S7L81NW4Njl0sHKs84ivzlguCGF3TGzHrVq_a0GS9aImBw66uSSAAF4zHIQkJqMQQ3yRUaf7QPrtmB1VpsOEqGUsNadHiy-B4Hs/s640/blogger-image-1602302733.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Tower spotted! But first, the shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxxyg4YVDDvgOIWU9eaJ1vOekV2HgpHA_5urjEij4J_G3USepDQ3YzKDJ8IvcHpvENBbVL1RfeCx5mW7y5fVS68r2P6CSki8xDNA6DW27TwzvNM1Wx74wA-N9RQVMuohI50SmzrsS_gJA/s640/blogger-image-1842697775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxxyg4YVDDvgOIWU9eaJ1vOekV2HgpHA_5urjEij4J_G3USepDQ3YzKDJ8IvcHpvENBbVL1RfeCx5mW7y5fVS68r2P6CSki8xDNA6DW27TwzvNM1Wx74wA-N9RQVMuohI50SmzrsS_gJA/s640/blogger-image-1842697775.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blessings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
We strolled through the shrine compounds for a while and then made it around it through to the main sight.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHFkc6FzIx0zREa10QKd_F4MxrpUg2zDaK-m80GxUJ_mNapPhbs2vv7YDLtrf6ggWODWo64r5BaSURVHkOfZntwJQyKi4d7rm1MgSWEcemhQwo76Eo0czJDDNDuvu0AKiJU9HoM4CZq9e/s640/blogger-image--378644309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHFkc6FzIx0zREa10QKd_F4MxrpUg2zDaK-m80GxUJ_mNapPhbs2vv7YDLtrf6ggWODWo64r5BaSURVHkOfZntwJQyKi4d7rm1MgSWEcemhQwo76Eo0czJDDNDuvu0AKiJU9HoM4CZq9e/s640/blogger-image--378644309.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upclose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The truth is, we drove past this on <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-6-highlight-mario-kart.html" target="_blank">Mario-day</a>. But I guess it's not the same if we did not step foot within it.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSIcR5flAuwpXceDy6NfcJUIk61aelW24YRqTGRAHACBDwcyG6edUUitin_kGjuhlBoEI9hvPCe4udXbUPVHE3wgOZL396ZNMMLm5dXCk3v2a4E-BM3VN3t6MyBXvAU3KF4GGCxlTJvkC/s640/blogger-image-1564954793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSIcR5flAuwpXceDy6NfcJUIk61aelW24YRqTGRAHACBDwcyG6edUUitin_kGjuhlBoEI9hvPCe4udXbUPVHE3wgOZL396ZNMMLm5dXCk3v2a4E-BM3VN3t6MyBXvAU3KF4GGCxlTJvkC/s640/blogger-image-1564954793.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ticket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QBOcpoyv8yOR-QFHphHBTeO9jPc0QLu5K6nAgZOFsjlMXCp6j5R0SdtWxlEpHigaKuFClLKOeuGfJTdvwEDG9b-RAQp0PbM8B_C6MXFP6cUOgPZxbcVn1JqgQhiR_PR9fOvZzoNKuTXE/s640/blogger-image--727135481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QBOcpoyv8yOR-QFHphHBTeO9jPc0QLu5K6nAgZOFsjlMXCp6j5R0SdtWxlEpHigaKuFClLKOeuGfJTdvwEDG9b-RAQp0PbM8B_C6MXFP6cUOgPZxbcVn1JqgQhiR_PR9fOvZzoNKuTXE/s640/blogger-image--727135481.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mascot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyttCoB_9he8LXDTqaXUXsf5DyqdV_0O899ME9deIc9Y-uGjssEcjLk7rCD11T_uVJyaMMU9Rtp3zG7S_nCP3Qzc0NbnWkpMlRM7ucXWy9vTLvPbLLInyh0ND8NGo-7nA5tnQLKlQF5CPt/s640/blogger-image-380584207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyttCoB_9he8LXDTqaXUXsf5DyqdV_0O899ME9deIc9Y-uGjssEcjLk7rCD11T_uVJyaMMU9Rtp3zG7S_nCP3Qzc0NbnWkpMlRM7ucXWy9vTLvPbLLInyh0ND8NGo-7nA5tnQLKlQF5CPt/s640/blogger-image-380584207.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up on the tower!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl4C7tuM6vWlxkDBBsSt6whcG8MrTAqrxkWoYB7e0C7CBcJePKpaegOADCk9qdcTzeyN5vweeT4WJ-tosyk08EcV0CGp7cvaXxEWHauRiIvRLPsTAOC9g1a91sY3LbWZli1vYSHKeKJ_Q/s640/blogger-image-1819722876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl4C7tuM6vWlxkDBBsSt6whcG8MrTAqrxkWoYB7e0C7CBcJePKpaegOADCk9qdcTzeyN5vweeT4WJ-tosyk08EcV0CGp7cvaXxEWHauRiIvRLPsTAOC9g1a91sY3LbWZli1vYSHKeKJ_Q/s400/blogger-image-1819722876.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peeking all the way down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA-d23wJu3FwXM-9ENgSsBcoL2jxVpZH6I1fKSyoWnuHp0yC7OZcbsxDTOJRXJm9-FAsr-aRy55AoCHMMBSzuWoBxgk1xJ0rLSG19UrlQ5sq8LVtcLAD5-twNa3QTiBw1LgC6b8dQiJNJ/s640/blogger-image-436544396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGA-d23wJu3FwXM-9ENgSsBcoL2jxVpZH6I1fKSyoWnuHp0yC7OZcbsxDTOJRXJm9-FAsr-aRy55AoCHMMBSzuWoBxgk1xJ0rLSG19UrlQ5sq8LVtcLAD5-twNa3QTiBw1LgC6b8dQiJNJ/s640/blogger-image-436544396.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a very clear day, we could possibly see Mount Fuji (we didn't that day)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a touristy event that I guess is apt for our last day in this country, and I tried to spot as much as I could with the help of maps they provided. We finished off this episode with our last Cremia.... I recall not being hungry at all but it felt like something we needed to do for no-reason at all but just because we could (ice-cream at anytime on a holiday? Checked!)<br />
<br /><br />
We made it back to the hotel on foot (coffee stop on the way) and began our adventure to the airport. We had to lug all our luggage with us from hotel to subway to change another subway train then the airport. No pictorial evidence of how we looked (maybe a good thing? though similar pictorial references can be seen from our <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-bye-bye-tokyo-airbnb-hello-tokyo.html" target="_blank">last luggage commute</a>) but we made it. All luggage and humans were not harmed in the process of commuting. Woot!<br />
<br /><br />
At the airport, we checked in our luggage (<em>WE REALLLY MADE IT</em>!) and it was time for lunch. There was a difference in preferences, so we split up - which made it easier for us to snag a table too. <br />
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Gx7A9qt-pvJDPjEH-3NlU9MBaM-XOryM3MqVc7ta8duYe_0JBUCXqGhBpmarI8h-eRlYsUBL8SNz6nsWlTttDl4dDkq-gIro8OZ1aYZOtR64piz3OUYaXbjNp_KIh2H09WGOkY0vpaO/s640/blogger-image-1091924810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Gx7A9qt-pvJDPjEH-3NlU9MBaM-XOryM3MqVc7ta8duYe_0JBUCXqGhBpmarI8h-eRlYsUBL8SNz6nsWlTttDl4dDkq-gIro8OZ1aYZOtR64piz3OUYaXbjNp_KIh2H09WGOkY0vpaO/s400/blogger-image-1091924810.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team ramen - the husband, the boy and I.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu7TMuXm2z86zRi5UVzNy3XJvdAqoJ0voR8LmvAvFa9AcB7bhKLy4fqJaQFsKCzxK_jDfY2Y2xwxk-6T_GLvCLczJGteRdfZTzos4hdB7CvvOIIIk7XhyXYNn04fM8pvKHd95Us7fm5zP/s640/blogger-image--1685668368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu7TMuXm2z86zRi5UVzNy3XJvdAqoJ0voR8LmvAvFa9AcB7bhKLy4fqJaQFsKCzxK_jDfY2Y2xwxk-6T_GLvCLczJGteRdfZTzos4hdB7CvvOIIIk7XhyXYNn04fM8pvKHd95Us7fm5zP/s640/blogger-image--1685668368.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping him occupied. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0DgFNKsPrqN9ue97W4cVvPvsLRDVZRG2OJ3Y0pqYbA_cIq42G5SNku0RK0i6Dk6d4j-tSc6gTi3C_W5OtDj82JNFo15cxYlku8OM0RvMHLwjTuhcofC2-YlZdYcOqgk5FCK0fg3MmHJ0/s640/blogger-image-1336670900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0DgFNKsPrqN9ue97W4cVvPvsLRDVZRG2OJ3Y0pqYbA_cIq42G5SNku0RK0i6Dk6d4j-tSc6gTi3C_W5OtDj82JNFo15cxYlku8OM0RvMHLwjTuhcofC2-YlZdYcOqgk5FCK0fg3MmHJ0/s400/blogger-image-1336670900.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team K with the rest with their choice of Japanese restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div>
After lunch, we met up and went for a stroll within the airport. We headed to a Hello Kitty shop, the boys went to play with some fake planes and the viewing gallery... <br />
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9sNjkjZ-Sf_XWuCJCUB5EX47RsmrQ7NWtV_njnIw-syX0-zK5osB7r9NsVmVMD6trot3rMHEyuAUg2T8-aY7RdsLql8TSpaEqWBjz8xKy9jy8Qx5Em6bNO1ulCtaEbjhCIM_SSWQQ_x4/s640/blogger-image-724003336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9sNjkjZ-Sf_XWuCJCUB5EX47RsmrQ7NWtV_njnIw-syX0-zK5osB7r9NsVmVMD6trot3rMHEyuAUg2T8-aY7RdsLql8TSpaEqWBjz8xKy9jy8Qx5Em6bNO1ulCtaEbjhCIM_SSWQQ_x4/s640/blogger-image-724003336.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up. Up. And away!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
We met a friend at the airport who was on their way back too; how fun. What a pity we didn't plan better so that we could have met them at Disney too. Ah well. <br />
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The flight back was uneventful (<em>or maybe I should not wait 2 months over to recap the holiday</em>...) and I think we all came home with full tummies and happy memories. <br />
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The trip would not have been made this amazing... if not for...<br />
<br /><br />
1) The sister and her busband - they were so active and deserve full credit for planning and suggesting the itinerary <br />
2) Everyone's patience - travelling with kids is never easy and everyone in the group helped share the load of the children which made a difference. I didn't feel too judged for their behaviours (not that they were bad, but it's not the same with children on holidays)<br />
3) Everyone's can-do-attitude - whether it was what we wanted to eat, or do, or play, or go; everyone played a part in contributing (<em>sometimes silence is the best form of contribution</em>) in one way or other. We would not have met our beer count if we didn't all pull our weight (<em>this may rank higher on the pleasurable can-dos</em>); nor would we have had this much laughs if we didn't just go with the flow in the spirit of fun (<em>our Mario adventures was a key highlight for sure and ranks most-talked-about-highest-hits-on-social-media-cos-we-cool-like-that)</em> <br />
<br /><br />
I know the children had fun because they had the company of the extended families to play with, they went to <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-3-sapporo-to-tokyo.html" target="_blank">Disneyland</a> (<em>even I had fun because the children are old enough to take fun rides - whee!)</em> and it's definitely a check off family to-dos - fun for all, all for fun!<br />
<br /><br />
A full recap of our holiday here, from day <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/1-sept-day-1-sapporo-fish-market.html" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-2-sapporo-fish-market-chocolate.html" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-3-sapporo-to-tokyo.html" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-3-sapporo-to-tokyo.html" target="_blank">4</a>, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-bye-bye-tokyo-airbnb-hello-tokyo.html" target="_blank">5</a>, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-6-highlight-mario-kart.html" target="_blank">6</a> and <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-7-visiting-tsukiji-shopping-and-our.html" target="_blank">7</a>. </div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-4193482646770562602017-11-09T09:03:00.000+08:002017-11-21T14:31:14.027+08:00ASICS Relay 2017 - 2nd year running, a new PBColleagues rallied to sign up for this <a href="http://asicsrelay.com/singapore/race-info" target="_blank">ASICS relay </a>again this year, as it was a pretty <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2016/09/saturday-funday.html" target="_blank">fun event last year</a>. I signed up gamely, because I am meant to clock mileage (<em>gasp</em>) and this year, I ran with a different team.<br />
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<br />
With the experience from last year, I was more prepared with my diet through the day. In the morning, I had my usual breakfast then headed out for a short volunteer stint. By the time it was over and I met up with the family, it was time to go for lunch by the time we headed out. <br />
<br />
<br />
We ran an errand of picking up the race pack for YOLO, had this pretty nice ramen (Nagi), and I bade farewell to the family as they headed home to rest pre-class; while I had the afternoon to myself. Knowing that I had the run, I devoured all my carbs from the ramen bowl, which I know would come in handy (carbo loading FTW).<br />
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<br />
I was truly tired, and I decided to head to a safe haven to rest - my office. It didn't make sense for me to go all the way home, as my race was nearer to where I already was; plus I was well-equipped with all that I needed; and so that's where I spent my afternoon. I was so tired that after arranging some seats for best-possible comfort, I fell asleep. I needed the nap and it actually felt pretty restful! I took my time to get ready for the run and at 4+, I made my way. It was just a few train stops away.<br />
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<br />
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuP9elIqddMVD_h8BwRmAIUfEIJy5lVrE9KuJOXnc5F3-CFpbaJJ7W_rfara9Or2DayBTphOwV-YupZEPrDD03T_92U_HMT4ATwc5b6urFw5ftpLMKQClWK-hsL9zDrcxFxh-9R2EZYoJt/s640/blogger-image--660612258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuP9elIqddMVD_h8BwRmAIUfEIJy5lVrE9KuJOXnc5F3-CFpbaJJ7W_rfara9Or2DayBTphOwV-YupZEPrDD03T_92U_HMT4ATwc5b6urFw5ftpLMKQClWK-hsL9zDrcxFxh-9R2EZYoJt/s400/blogger-image--660612258.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race village sighted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was such a crowd! We had a rough meeting spot and by the stipulated meeting time (530pm), not everyone had rocked up, so this was the group that made it into this first shot.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlDWVvrl5xo8bJMooIGWLEesJkBPI9eX0r-zr__HuxHpWOxkMIgtJRox7PVg22ze7PHC2mNos3HMC483UXL3lTo6gWnJEgRTuO7bH-xEo4fJJvlfeNiuZMMmFWrNcS6NdmQcQuKV3FgkF/s640/blogger-image-659480003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlDWVvrl5xo8bJMooIGWLEesJkBPI9eX0r-zr__HuxHpWOxkMIgtJRox7PVg22ze7PHC2mNos3HMC483UXL3lTo6gWnJEgRTuO7bH-xEo4fJJvlfeNiuZMMmFWrNcS6NdmQcQuKV3FgkF/s400/blogger-image-659480003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The earlier ones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
D, C and I were first runners so we left our stuff with the rest and headed to the start pen. Flag off was at 6pm.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnocz2dTnlHtI6_upuzl1vg2OvVM1g42yovP3-tWA4PV_EgeJ8j6cKKEKRbg_QZbUaz6puA1GzH0AARxxHLmIKI9SphXiBqsQRSSmk1MvtVYnoYFfeoMmoBuYgWdbJriseFEc6XReY-Rh/s640/blogger-image--1882681829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnocz2dTnlHtI6_upuzl1vg2OvVM1g42yovP3-tWA4PV_EgeJ8j6cKKEKRbg_QZbUaz6puA1GzH0AARxxHLmIKI9SphXiBqsQRSSmk1MvtVYnoYFfeoMmoBuYgWdbJriseFEc6XReY-Rh/s400/blogger-image--1882681829.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start pen</td></tr>
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And.... off we went! I was kinda pumped (slightly) because after running sub-60 last year, I was kinda hoping to do it again. I was also trying out running in a face with my new race belt (Fitbelt) and newer set of shoes. <br />
Happy to share that I did it! According to my Nike app..<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaUg_Pj46dXxeF8Tl8GWNpsJltJiXg0AfqggH-SqU6ebRxR6NYxmq-qQu6voV_9ytwTqnL5HVCR87tYtNLnnzVntxhj-OPzFPk7Gv6tvgNsv0Ai8YrzhTqRqe-WoqoZOM2NHXwQ58K0tL/s640/blogger-image--806320053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaUg_Pj46dXxeF8Tl8GWNpsJltJiXg0AfqggH-SqU6ebRxR6NYxmq-qQu6voV_9ytwTqnL5HVCR87tYtNLnnzVntxhj-OPzFPk7Gv6tvgNsv0Ai8YrzhTqRqe-WoqoZOM2NHXwQ58K0tL/s640/blogger-image--806320053.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastest 10km recorded - woot!</td></tr>
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</div>
To be honest, there's may be some untruth to this because<br />
1. I did stop to have water on several occasions <br />
2. I did walk on some occasions - 2 were due to slopes and fatigue, 1 major stretch was due to a human roadblock in a bottleneck area of the race. <br />
3. I had to jog slowly on 1 occasion where I nearly came to a stop clarifying the race information with the marshals - it was not clear which item was meant to be passed on to my next relay runner <br />
The app stops if I come to a standstill which doesn't take into account the true run wholly, but given that I did put in decent effort to run when I was running, I'm quite happy with my performance. The weather was lovely, sunset was a quick descent due to the pending rain and I got caught in it the last 1km, so I'm quite lucky. The rest of my team (esp runner #2) got more of it, so I can't complain. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsw7DHoKdGG24PR6KA6ntlPR8fQIdK5mhZTHrxeCyVmgNHn-tYDUjyn2x_JF5ldplVo0RVeXdVln-sajiVFPCCg0p2nilcKEvt0idithqjn67A40OaP-UUn6uF4qeB4N_iDH0J9tSNzcX/s640/blogger-image--300802185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsw7DHoKdGG24PR6KA6ntlPR8fQIdK5mhZTHrxeCyVmgNHn-tYDUjyn2x_JF5ldplVo0RVeXdVln-sajiVFPCCg0p2nilcKEvt0idithqjn67A40OaP-UUn6uF4qeB4N_iDH0J9tSNzcX/s400/blogger-image--300802185.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helpful colleague who prepared all these - our personal food/hydration point</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BOC1PvjOeWJvbJhZX8uU2Nd05qo151wPVvYAFmOec_O1EdY8ku89J3MVG_0ZebfGUwa6Fp25YNT_Lv92RfwHjBKILAjai9fjWgDw1VTu870gzK8_GR2Sx9cBnH05QzE4nfIxrP8w1AVB/s640/blogger-image-1911577569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BOC1PvjOeWJvbJhZX8uU2Nd05qo151wPVvYAFmOec_O1EdY8ku89J3MVG_0ZebfGUwa6Fp25YNT_Lv92RfwHjBKILAjai9fjWgDw1VTu870gzK8_GR2Sx9cBnH05QzE4nfIxrP8w1AVB/s400/blogger-image-1911577569.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's one of all of us runner #1 post-race</td></tr>
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</div>
Running log has been sporadic, but I do have this record from <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2016/12/my-running-journey-personal-best.html" target="_blank">last December</a>. It's been a love-hate r'ship with running these past few months, primarily because of my training (inserts weh weh face); but it all adds up to my personal strength and experience. So, all good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rILlujvVHIg_us01ieBRosxsldvm5TP87jLlf1mCshkVYS6nzz6rfw3cnKXcSdQubBg56R7Klo3dTPzbpXCw7qKxl66XjkkqTIVUAwGPy9nrnzkaKdenAg_77GUz2GiUjtFxmXGl1OiX/s640/blogger-image--723840956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rILlujvVHIg_us01ieBRosxsldvm5TP87jLlf1mCshkVYS6nzz6rfw3cnKXcSdQubBg56R7Klo3dTPzbpXCw7qKxl66XjkkqTIVUAwGPy9nrnzkaKdenAg_77GUz2GiUjtFxmXGl1OiX/s400/blogger-image--723840956.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race village - pretty lit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another run, another record, another lesson to self. Checked!</div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-75596700453864907432017-11-02T18:55:00.001+08:002017-11-08T21:02:38.337+08:00Date night<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o5G-FodEoifTLY70Etvt4b76o_UIiw7vqCIS3fVNwJhTcHBtDSKADd5V93EFaHrDKqOro27QtymwHmBQ312A3t9QwWSod2SIdBr_1aVeBMkiss9Y-1nP_jJwjJRWMpqf9lVb6T2XQWjp/s640/blogger-image--39696798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o5G-FodEoifTLY70Etvt4b76o_UIiw7vqCIS3fVNwJhTcHBtDSKADd5V93EFaHrDKqOro27QtymwHmBQ312A3t9QwWSod2SIdBr_1aVeBMkiss9Y-1nP_jJwjJRWMpqf9lVb6T2XQWjp/s400/blogger-image--39696798.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good food. Good company. Good life.</td></tr>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-1097324346504341462017-10-26T12:08:00.002+08:002017-10-26T12:08:58.760+08:00Day 7: Visiting Tsukiji, Shopping and our last night in TokyoThe plan was for us to have breakfast at Tsukij this morning. Ever since our last visit to Japan, the husband has yearned to be head back to <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2013/10/japan-day-three.html" target="_blank">Tsukiji again</a>. So finally, this day has come where we managed to tick this off his want list. After grabbing coffee and feeding the kids some bread (their version of breakfast), the #happyfamilyinjapan crew met at the lobby and headed to the markets. It was just a few stops away from our hotel/train station. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cq3giHIO-cP5RVnSlWRn0FBKd_dOc6pX0b6VF-wtQYTJWA9m9kTQeDwsQNh4DULnkUglhrTA-_6CWlAIxP2an18i49bkdtda7ctboLVzNwqEJDrCbxcPnqPcgLwAZb_l2Xu4lVOQ78Z6/s640/blogger-image--366548696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cq3giHIO-cP5RVnSlWRn0FBKd_dOc6pX0b6VF-wtQYTJWA9m9kTQeDwsQNh4DULnkUglhrTA-_6CWlAIxP2an18i49bkdtda7ctboLVzNwqEJDrCbxcPnqPcgLwAZb_l2Xu4lVOQ78Z6/s640/blogger-image--366548696.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandering the stalls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUa2vuJk37ebS9wwPINY3IvNHQbFFRgLz0OovOAWKI31xVkBSiuQOQKCXLtWLf-bVi2HQe0TD4BtgTWhFllQJP45v7TC6dat5cVDRCGpHMetlOzHSXTsExmpvim-SAVP_PW24mN2SAD_T/s640/blogger-image--659928306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUa2vuJk37ebS9wwPINY3IvNHQbFFRgLz0OovOAWKI31xVkBSiuQOQKCXLtWLf-bVi2HQe0TD4BtgTWhFllQJP45v7TC6dat5cVDRCGpHMetlOzHSXTsExmpvim-SAVP_PW24mN2SAD_T/s640/blogger-image--659928306.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#ootd</td></tr>
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Our aim this round was simple - to just eat our way through whatever tickled our fancy! The husband picked one particular hole-in-wall restaurant which had very limited seats, so we split up for a while.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sITaC18i-bV4La35eOwR9vtJSmm8KPiGTFqsvkGVg8nVxB-VDgSAvLa9WJJ-hs2fBl3rsp8Lw4zOMV4wrj8nYYx8SKtLqfhhoTqoysl4DluC9ZwvFUyWiw6TPnuoOj42aUv8sYCfFS06/s640/blogger-image--1727273173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sITaC18i-bV4La35eOwR9vtJSmm8KPiGTFqsvkGVg8nVxB-VDgSAvLa9WJJ-hs2fBl3rsp8Lw4zOMV4wrj8nYYx8SKtLqfhhoTqoysl4DluC9ZwvFUyWiw6TPnuoOj42aUv8sYCfFS06/s640/blogger-image--1727273173.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little boy chose to eat with us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa0Nfn-PVJIfq__9QA8nr7539zkERndg6O2lXqny6R0d8FVjnXiWswa4BTcRP4joB9gDQ0NMllInoeR5YZdpOEbiwOxGwIgAoLttbHOvY57xwEpbumpV3XL-mCNSLCabKJNt-pZzjUKO4/s640/blogger-image--2055149987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa0Nfn-PVJIfq__9QA8nr7539zkERndg6O2lXqny6R0d8FVjnXiWswa4BTcRP4joB9gDQ0NMllInoeR5YZdpOEbiwOxGwIgAoLttbHOvY57xwEpbumpV3XL-mCNSLCabKJNt-pZzjUKO4/s640/blogger-image--2055149987.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J's rendition of our breakfast situation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SVaVGiWs4DFFlnvdwNw57UbbnoT3Kk-iOQfBgqXnNn-O2q4iy7nhSTa3Gi2puzpMEgmtAwIhdkhyphenhyphenHKN-5TZ0ovhh36MgnZDTX44WpGpYUImTHXJhd25115bBu36mqwcFnStJA2Bd-UaC/s640/blogger-image-609269478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SVaVGiWs4DFFlnvdwNw57UbbnoT3Kk-iOQfBgqXnNn-O2q4iy7nhSTa3Gi2puzpMEgmtAwIhdkhyphenhyphenHKN-5TZ0ovhh36MgnZDTX44WpGpYUImTHXJhd25115bBu36mqwcFnStJA2Bd-UaC/s400/blogger-image-609269478.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh fish = happy boys</td></tr>
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<div>
We had some sets of fresh, fresh sushi and it felt so amazing to sit on the stool to absorb all the buzz in the area. The chefs all looked rather intimidating as they skillfully packed sushi with their nimble fingers. It still felt a bit much to have raw fish for breakfast, but an experience is an experience so one off the list! After eating, we headed off and ventured to meet with the rest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B7KpzP0SMDn1Vrnv4-uW1s97MEYJSiCL_vOYeL3R9THlwCiM4DjdBRT3GX-AQ7WZ2MHcaBNMO2_E6o_Y1NVmy0Kuh-Y5TgEYDSUkn3MyeiyCIl3zCjFPTxOhKIU4f9bFObBqrbwp8AXA/s640/blogger-image--771778560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B7KpzP0SMDn1Vrnv4-uW1s97MEYJSiCL_vOYeL3R9THlwCiM4DjdBRT3GX-AQ7WZ2MHcaBNMO2_E6o_Y1NVmy0Kuh-Y5TgEYDSUkn3MyeiyCIl3zCjFPTxOhKIU4f9bFObBqrbwp8AXA/s640/blogger-image--771778560.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun up in full glory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21FArZaxqf1CYP4L5vZTzsns1aCymI6yI0ut9b5f7Q_VfELWce4yxCcCy8TitiNMzuuksHxGhlrGATnrhFsrd5tAMYSiLo2RBUQG-AbDVPpYIzuwKJWgdCj-7vWBRbu1molRHS1Pg4OdQ/s640/blogger-image-221531028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21FArZaxqf1CYP4L5vZTzsns1aCymI6yI0ut9b5f7Q_VfELWce4yxCcCy8TitiNMzuuksHxGhlrGATnrhFsrd5tAMYSiLo2RBUQG-AbDVPpYIzuwKJWgdCj-7vWBRbu1molRHS1Pg4OdQ/s640/blogger-image-221531028.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making our way through more food stalls</td></tr>
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Reunited! And look how happy everyone is! They were well into their meal; don't let the shabby setting fool you, the food was pure gold!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbGkvYprWWu43sKB95Uh4gDuYX1YbRllgVHKB6M-r6XtU4RsXgeIuKksasYrBloRqOALHKE2E7qzLUrKLlljl-7KRRKzk3-Y1n56U9Dw0v2QtGPsuOO_oYq6gGma2lR6svGGjBAth_wPy/s640/blogger-image-206353205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbGkvYprWWu43sKB95Uh4gDuYX1YbRllgVHKB6M-r6XtU4RsXgeIuKksasYrBloRqOALHKE2E7qzLUrKLlljl-7KRRKzk3-Y1n56U9Dw0v2QtGPsuOO_oYq6gGma2lR6svGGjBAth_wPy/s640/blogger-image-206353205.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy street-side eaters</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEkMGsZ4psahQAIOjYvGX8iCPHgiv2sHCpF7MdH9R1MwfZ1uMzTfa991juinwfsPvi4-mXF-OxB0WyhyphenhyphentxRGFjEQxdQhnniKug714UpNkn-fh73IH-cRFyTkakmdp1q84_hjtfyAxD3Yc/s640/blogger-image--1786050228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEkMGsZ4psahQAIOjYvGX8iCPHgiv2sHCpF7MdH9R1MwfZ1uMzTfa991juinwfsPvi4-mXF-OxB0WyhyphenhyphentxRGFjEQxdQhnniKug714UpNkn-fh73IH-cRFyTkakmdp1q84_hjtfyAxD3Yc/s640/blogger-image--1786050228.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uni, anyone?</td></tr>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcjzwKyT5NNh73N0BxySWBOJV6s-im9tHPXf2MWlVIdEIDGqgOdA0QeHCNbMroEWfHv2b11BBV1UICpcPpcHL5QfvCbn2pCmdHipMeey9mPavr3kN5Jc82j5kCVxVdERNxOn5Nwl2tI3g/s640/blogger-image--1670693285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcjzwKyT5NNh73N0BxySWBOJV6s-im9tHPXf2MWlVIdEIDGqgOdA0QeHCNbMroEWfHv2b11BBV1UICpcPpcHL5QfvCbn2pCmdHipMeey9mPavr3kN5Jc82j5kCVxVdERNxOn5Nwl2tI3g/s640/blogger-image--1670693285.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uni. Oysters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnZmWMjLbAReyYf97gVrc2k1w7b59Dijcd0tQGLiRT0-ZWPvpSR-JOVRNtYK3J9AQaiQIh2bIoEU8WgnTK2MPjHxxPde1d_g3K_2J9Mn-wRzzW_TWGEyOiRlwRM4op2rsNaetO35iPJBe/s640/blogger-image--607675907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnZmWMjLbAReyYf97gVrc2k1w7b59Dijcd0tQGLiRT0-ZWPvpSR-JOVRNtYK3J9AQaiQIh2bIoEU8WgnTK2MPjHxxPde1d_g3K_2J9Mn-wRzzW_TWGEyOiRlwRM4op2rsNaetO35iPJBe/s640/blogger-image--607675907.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh the uni experience</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYJzpdOLvtB1pZjCfJypbNgB1_pn1phwTRaJRebQZ07vDszQC_TGJFf54thZzuRV2EDQbIXKB5Q2EozLe7j8IM70qHe7422I1UzVQPiCgB1aYCD-G_KEz0Baxcvd1KOCXFpzLchcoZFmG/s640/blogger-image-919695839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYJzpdOLvtB1pZjCfJypbNgB1_pn1phwTRaJRebQZ07vDszQC_TGJFf54thZzuRV2EDQbIXKB5Q2EozLe7j8IM70qHe7422I1UzVQPiCgB1aYCD-G_KEz0Baxcvd1KOCXFpzLchcoZFmG/s640/blogger-image-919695839.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K loves her ikura</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtreJE-fewlLZoqD-AvewTgwD7TbKVHLvONmVcCQdtGh3kX4Eg4Q8q9taSo7Y9aWGnLuIZZR3Oa0-Aft3McOOhxpDpBWpWxA9IkQcH1A9G-k7wbhvcoVK0avgz9f-PhIGKureSqTxC4XLG/s640/blogger-image-1991374378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtreJE-fewlLZoqD-AvewTgwD7TbKVHLvONmVcCQdtGh3kX4Eg4Q8q9taSo7Y9aWGnLuIZZR3Oa0-Aft3McOOhxpDpBWpWxA9IkQcH1A9G-k7wbhvcoVK0avgz9f-PhIGKureSqTxC4XLG/s400/blogger-image-1991374378.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soft-serve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKww8Nx7s0X75jjcfbOUFGqCbXTbwNtDfqbDdhQxthKbCXpr_3ZyturhLWvFsv4n_5aX_qvdFcnqE4wBylZB35ekJsixxyfJ-ZpLTGrF1t7sPPlgAz-j-2rAQAoR_9XNPmf_bm8BMNbGd/s640/blogger-image--877442824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKww8Nx7s0X75jjcfbOUFGqCbXTbwNtDfqbDdhQxthKbCXpr_3ZyturhLWvFsv4n_5aX_qvdFcnqE4wBylZB35ekJsixxyfJ-ZpLTGrF1t7sPPlgAz-j-2rAQAoR_9XNPmf_bm8BMNbGd/s400/blogger-image--877442824.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so good, we went back for thirds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfpmyfha0Te4mb27xtwuED6VrKkfpsh7Zej6CcufHZ28uJSN5Si1fE1qxk06ieMsa4G-dxVfA1DV1JFsF0riwUsrG79NdputAyyGh20M3qgMH-kcQoPhgLun33HGPiMrb_IUBW6Otrq94/s640/blogger-image--804519143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfpmyfha0Te4mb27xtwuED6VrKkfpsh7Zej6CcufHZ28uJSN5Si1fE1qxk06ieMsa4G-dxVfA1DV1JFsF0riwUsrG79NdputAyyGh20M3qgMH-kcQoPhgLun33HGPiMrb_IUBW6Otrq94/s640/blogger-image--804519143.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled seafood goodness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
We stayed at our food corner for a (long) while, going through food (some purchases more than once), then finally, when we felt satisfied, moved on to venture other parts of the market we haven't went to yet.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn6qke32GofQsINGhM65Sy7kX0IWnydtmPHAfyd8ksp1uA48ZuVLUB8Ran8APFK7YtCLPwYx7ZSILzqQU5yh3wnDQID3P79kQsPm4knnlGcpgp3QK0hFlNbCuvzCxmqEMFZWOifx9k1z0/s640/blogger-image--1878079954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn6qke32GofQsINGhM65Sy7kX0IWnydtmPHAfyd8ksp1uA48ZuVLUB8Ran8APFK7YtCLPwYx7ZSILzqQU5yh3wnDQID3P79kQsPm4knnlGcpgp3QK0hFlNbCuvzCxmqEMFZWOifx9k1z0/s400/blogger-image--1878079954.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us in the busy streets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI594tAbYUSF1OxvWHtao-xkkH4eqr_j4M6L4sO8SwhaFcD-l2I8CfRhj9Tx5gohfxI8qqhBVtzMQTZdu3GLWUKOkgDLBvMdKl-AZcBVlHhu6hQSv69VR23e3gJSSkaWyrIBt-UY9PLVJs/s640/blogger-image-89248339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI594tAbYUSF1OxvWHtao-xkkH4eqr_j4M6L4sO8SwhaFcD-l2I8CfRhj9Tx5gohfxI8qqhBVtzMQTZdu3GLWUKOkgDLBvMdKl-AZcBVlHhu6hQSv69VR23e3gJSSkaWyrIBt-UY9PLVJs/s640/blogger-image-89248339.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See food, seafood.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoW1MnZd6OM8k6tngWe9KJGmZsQYMvNR7TtqSvbc5IIFyqcinkopIqy4Upw2RU2FSc2lkiNAxcRh1zhzArn5vG9-GrGZoAmhr0NRT5J-Fb0159gj_vRGXuZs3MAVUaOZ_xqjxCrtRJ0dR/s640/blogger-image-1925762207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoW1MnZd6OM8k6tngWe9KJGmZsQYMvNR7TtqSvbc5IIFyqcinkopIqy4Upw2RU2FSc2lkiNAxcRh1zhzArn5vG9-GrGZoAmhr0NRT5J-Fb0159gj_vRGXuZs3MAVUaOZ_xqjxCrtRJ0dR/s640/blogger-image-1925762207.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a moment with her strawberry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca90s2d8lrXp10BRDOcGCn1N_UaRBEUNmOF6773Prn4Y0C2OjRLUBa1_hFyBJj30z_l8odKGi8Nw6ho1_nuwCr4LsH__JaQSsDaMVeTqyZxeXLQzYtBlpjURZPBqITqcRfoakQy1-uf9l/s640/blogger-image--1657326081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca90s2d8lrXp10BRDOcGCn1N_UaRBEUNmOF6773Prn4Y0C2OjRLUBa1_hFyBJj30z_l8odKGi8Nw6ho1_nuwCr4LsH__JaQSsDaMVeTqyZxeXLQzYtBlpjURZPBqITqcRfoakQy1-uf9l/s640/blogger-image--1657326081.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This made me smile :) I love watching the children enjoy food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmum3V3jId8OsPjs-L61YyODns4f_PEC_87dO5I1LGJo7kIA6OwHkHqiK5ydBg-edetk7zrRLFXpYw7wbOnvDBQE8wi29BtS3KP_l5ntYyAf8fwKnNZFuKRP41R0LhQgHhKwp5Zrv6Rzn/s640/blogger-image-1251851597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmum3V3jId8OsPjs-L61YyODns4f_PEC_87dO5I1LGJo7kIA6OwHkHqiK5ydBg-edetk7zrRLFXpYw7wbOnvDBQE8wi29BtS3KP_l5ntYyAf8fwKnNZFuKRP41R0LhQgHhKwp5Zrv6Rzn/s640/blogger-image-1251851597.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cannot remember what they were eating but we ate it all</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
This walking-around-to-eat journey was very different from what the husband and I experienced before. The highlight then was the auction, this time it was sheer enjoying of food. Having good company made it even better. <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5cjRDX21cMH3H_hjicsxPgJQMgdBqunAJ_dumcT_Av5V83jx_o8BmzbVD4jcz3-H8_oGf3I2QlApj44c-4wB3o04xjOeW3plKOE15WEw_FDWQ7gpqi3P_gku_mpCq9jgJhRk40Z0ehIQ/s640/blogger-image--965756603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5cjRDX21cMH3H_hjicsxPgJQMgdBqunAJ_dumcT_Av5V83jx_o8BmzbVD4jcz3-H8_oGf3I2QlApj44c-4wB3o04xjOeW3plKOE15WEw_FDWQ7gpqi3P_gku_mpCq9jgJhRk40Z0ehIQ/s400/blogger-image--965756603.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our final stop for sashimi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq110jGIVzIoNQo-fAxTY0k67rzfgxmIp81e9dIEm57gxU3VGStU2g3FBFkkBTzGck7wlCb9NzbKx2YPrZI5tA6NLCIx5HtlfZIlTZLeLgEciPI-oRGpbz15_4xQafCNn-lk_KdUTcUti/s640/blogger-image--1333507745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq110jGIVzIoNQo-fAxTY0k67rzfgxmIp81e9dIEm57gxU3VGStU2g3FBFkkBTzGck7wlCb9NzbKx2YPrZI5tA6NLCIx5HtlfZIlTZLeLgEciPI-oRGpbz15_4xQafCNn-lk_KdUTcUti/s640/blogger-image--1333507745.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seahs at Tsukiji</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div>
By then, it was mid-day and the sun was so hot. We were full from an extended brunch and decided to head to the city for some shopping. Off to Shibuya we went.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIB_E98X_1EfIyQVEerQTrAq01ePwqeMoihPEYzUtNHGGjuKQoZgqgNLHcIFGR0LQj_km_DgoyldXtyPNbPithOJWrIij8VOesjrPipKpq1kWxzW0Tx9gFDQr7GPDSCzRZZr_qq2eF6hH/s640/blogger-image--635881116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIB_E98X_1EfIyQVEerQTrAq01ePwqeMoihPEYzUtNHGGjuKQoZgqgNLHcIFGR0LQj_km_DgoyldXtyPNbPithOJWrIij8VOesjrPipKpq1kWxzW0Tx9gFDQr7GPDSCzRZZr_qq2eF6hH/s400/blogger-image--635881116.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the busiest crossing in the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
We were at this mall (Hachiko, refer to <a href="http://afoofub.blogspot.sg/#!/2017/10/t-o-k-y-o-part-four-x-17.html" target="_blank">sister's post</a> for that family pic) and the family split up for some time to just walk about free-and-easy. As the husband and I were not inclined to buy anything, I requested for us to go to the Lindt café that I spied earlier.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuyZy0qXPLjln_16BqDKMrS_7_jvUw5CA3uJH_1ZnB8FmYOOXNLuT8IUmW5bxtByMh58FmlR3P2vmB9nuR0HqCgEU3yjnNragnoHeGlmF_p8o7aai243iWNfyGI1BOonpCUkFIIwoX7d_/s640/blogger-image-1560893124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuyZy0qXPLjln_16BqDKMrS_7_jvUw5CA3uJH_1ZnB8FmYOOXNLuT8IUmW5bxtByMh58FmlR3P2vmB9nuR0HqCgEU3yjnNragnoHeGlmF_p8o7aai243iWNfyGI1BOonpCUkFIIwoX7d_/s640/blogger-image-1560893124.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a 4-storey building that sold chocolates and had a bar/cashier on level 1, levels 2 & 3 were seats for diners and level 4 was a toilet. We indulged in some major-chocolate-overloaded beverage (YUM) and spent our hour sitting within, enjoying the cool air-conditioning with our amazingly-tasty choices. <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISgKjyHJtPSXw8ytqI1dAlStpwBx4Y27XXdHaHfl42R8d57Uy-P_mlHvLsLzGRvgD4K61AvbXJEVes8urX1KVyP5IOQm8_OLOUSMYOL5ZeOham2DGIeF722WzBXXy67EKfgm1Ehe9Ajeo/s640/blogger-image-470156787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISgKjyHJtPSXw8ytqI1dAlStpwBx4Y27XXdHaHfl42R8d57Uy-P_mlHvLsLzGRvgD4K61AvbXJEVes8urX1KVyP5IOQm8_OLOUSMYOL5ZeOham2DGIeF722WzBXXy67EKfgm1Ehe9Ajeo/s640/blogger-image-470156787.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing, researching on what to draw and <br />
<em>look at the chocolate goodness</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the designated time, we met back with the family and headed to group-shot to select places (Adidas, Under Armour, Uniqlo, ....) <br />
So, a funny thing happened at Uniqlo. It was a 3-storey building of Uniqlo, and I had K with me and we were browsing around. We were on L1 when I registered a sound calling my name.... I thought I was imagining it, but I wasn't. I headed to the middle of the stairway, and I looked up into the upper levels and saw my parents waving at me from above. <br />
<br />
<br />
"We are stuck, we cannot go down!" said the mother. <br />
?!?!?!?!<br />
<br />
<br />
Turns out, they had taken the escalators up and up, not realizing that the top level was not Uniqlo. It was a level of restaurants which were not open. There was only an escalator leading up and none coming down. So, they were stuck.<br />
<br /><br />
I quickly asked help from a staff and - no need for panic- the parents made their way down eventually. After this point, we headed to different places. The sister, her busband and the parents went walking about and ended up at Muji. My family headed to H&M to get clothes for the children. <br />
<br /><br />
The boy needed to poop so the husband brought him to locate a loo. The girl and I continued shopping.<br />
<br /><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R2Q81k4PVTY56DJARHxPOdgILsWy3LfnHbtWGXox4_cSkPd_mbeHEJ6W32MlkdDCU9hrO9LcdoV7YiOAgHnM5zBO3JpUpV6d2wwbN3a-QjhV02k6YtWZ97ysl5hoeFZtyXeS_dHcYbj5/s640/blogger-image-9787880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R2Q81k4PVTY56DJARHxPOdgILsWy3LfnHbtWGXox4_cSkPd_mbeHEJ6W32MlkdDCU9hrO9LcdoV7YiOAgHnM5zBO3JpUpV6d2wwbN3a-QjhV02k6YtWZ97ysl5hoeFZtyXeS_dHcYbj5/s400/blogger-image-9787880.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone very happy with her new cap</td></tr>
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As the boy had the runs the day before, I was worried that he was unwell. Turns out that not only was the boy fine, this need to search for a toilet turned out to be a blessing. In this place which had the loo, we also found the <em>Michelin-Star cup noodles which was something we had been hunting for our whole trip in Japan! -cues amazing applause-</em><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzf4ln7l1LJ-886qXA3HwoaTK_CW0IwtAdHIVGOJhu0ZhuSW6bgVnyaQp8VxFUrUceJ74smtp-YvILnnJtWSVGiS3QQI7GZm9gh7nMNH1ONhNZVrmfDMk-IBGK3VrvqIZOPchAPLcuATO/s640/blogger-image--115546416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzf4ln7l1LJ-886qXA3HwoaTK_CW0IwtAdHIVGOJhu0ZhuSW6bgVnyaQp8VxFUrUceJ74smtp-YvILnnJtWSVGiS3QQI7GZm9gh7nMNH1ONhNZVrmfDMk-IBGK3VrvqIZOPchAPLcuATO/s640/blogger-image--115546416.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husband and his proud <em>ah-ha </em>moment</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6J4La0EaWuaTU2dgm7APxowd1NKnOSBsJgYcEplq91wmZW8T7t-0TVcIw0o5givzgEPs3PvpFb6gZ48rKphgm9bSB-WzP9oTmcIzHndSAkJXpbEMj4wEXUpETEn5Hecu_yd0Sodx9t7/s640/blogger-image--1079552638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6J4La0EaWuaTU2dgm7APxowd1NKnOSBsJgYcEplq91wmZW8T7t-0TVcIw0o5givzgEPs3PvpFb6gZ48rKphgm9bSB-WzP9oTmcIzHndSAkJXpbEMj4wEXUpETEn5Hecu_yd0Sodx9t7/s640/blogger-image--1079552638.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winner winner cup-noodle-winner!</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxNWwuByc0ut8KfM4SNsvCjseLqvcdmeXcnzdKcKRRa2d-4EyOOJIUfle0p6kbPQkXpoQdP9boin1ac-bJ-agbhD0NQJudwKOzVFaMf98sHVZwOtRSKOABd2xDIE-GK3Ph5YF7cOJv4Al/s640/blogger-image--1991466372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxNWwuByc0ut8KfM4SNsvCjseLqvcdmeXcnzdKcKRRa2d-4EyOOJIUfle0p6kbPQkXpoQdP9boin1ac-bJ-agbhD0NQJudwKOzVFaMf98sHVZwOtRSKOABd2xDIE-GK3Ph5YF7cOJv4Al/s640/blogger-image--1991466372.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noodle mules as we made our way to MUJI to look for the rest</td></tr>
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<div>
The Muji café was quite nice. The whole building was full of Muji stuff from clothes to furniture to café; and I kinda wish I had more time to stroll within. All 4-storeys of Muji! I was kinda tired though, so was happy to just sit down at the café and chill. After raving about how we <em>finally</em> found the noodles, just in time too as we fly out the next day, we decided that maybe, what we had bought was not enough. Just 4 cartons?! So the husband made a decision to go back and get more. I accompanied him and this is when I had my second encounter with instant noodles - the first being <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-3-sapporo-to-tokyo.html" target="_blank">here</a> as I nearly killed someone with flying cup noodles).<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfrNZoErKWo_2zLI9UH2YhsQ8kLirDUkkI6ds5Hx92opnn17rYX5vxeQ6AlsyfH4cN9d0VS_vp8QhNMZnYFKYjRkF9RwF-dqUn2PyEUxRevpMxnR2bSw5rM_s6p6h68YGdvdZNTAh0Uz5/s640/blogger-image--332877557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfrNZoErKWo_2zLI9UH2YhsQ8kLirDUkkI6ds5Hx92opnn17rYX5vxeQ6AlsyfH4cN9d0VS_vp8QhNMZnYFKYjRkF9RwF-dqUn2PyEUxRevpMxnR2bSw5rM_s6p6h68YGdvdZNTAh0Uz5/s640/blogger-image--332877557.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my best moment.... photo credit: the cruel husband</td></tr>
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Besides being shamed, I was not hurt otherwise - ha! We then made our way back to the hotel to drop our cartons before heading out for dinner. Just as we were leaving the café, we had a mini episode where we nearly lost the boy. After some mild moments of near-panic, we were reunited and everyone was safe again. Phew! (The sister wrote an account <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-3-sapporo-to-tokyo.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
<br /><br />
We ran through the list of things we had eaten and decided that it was time to have some BBQ beef. Not before we (1) continued to add to our beer tally (2) made a decision to go to Isetan (because in Japan) and (3) we were not that hungry yet anyway as we had a bite at the Muji café. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlQJgDDhJUAJAdL_HCSkBei7qSLgYy4XHs_p3veDvApOEcnKLVJx0HplOnta3zSUQFyv8oyS9jQZohoC8NlEYBkDTYD9NZ6d0xYuHrGBzN-w3jS9JwBpHamnXa7C4NGOpPtZXoxFzcvim/s640/blogger-image--1537680525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlQJgDDhJUAJAdL_HCSkBei7qSLgYy4XHs_p3veDvApOEcnKLVJx0HplOnta3zSUQFyv8oyS9jQZohoC8NlEYBkDTYD9NZ6d0xYuHrGBzN-w3jS9JwBpHamnXa7C4NGOpPtZXoxFzcvim/s640/blogger-image--1537680525.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The B caught in action chugging down beer. TSK.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVdXV-PpyQbsVEKnMGHcW47EbyJYkgxjZ-s-KIVWX6qbeCjk5Dxnz7Qtb6FUue95O_TA8bkmiDwzVn0SYUOgb91B8cTMSFfS-EE-aC5eKUQ12eCb-F52hsld703RlnF_txAyVNe_lYqqH/s640/blogger-image--1280435731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVdXV-PpyQbsVEKnMGHcW47EbyJYkgxjZ-s-KIVWX6qbeCjk5Dxnz7Qtb6FUue95O_TA8bkmiDwzVn0SYUOgb91B8cTMSFfS-EE-aC5eKUQ12eCb-F52hsld703RlnF_txAyVNe_lYqqH/s640/blogger-image--1280435731.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The men figuring out navigation</td></tr>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLivoyLMc1zEcbVrxQ7lcTDwkjZbXehxCJV5TAl5nE_xO08fm8GaDEo_5dJBd_rt76ByuNdRt276Z3jE78gJLjlhcCjOXZ-d1xdS93F-HKMmuPVbqMCyF-jaHHlkOyevk6wwbH0rzuRhXg/s640/blogger-image--1447176871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLivoyLMc1zEcbVrxQ7lcTDwkjZbXehxCJV5TAl5nE_xO08fm8GaDEo_5dJBd_rt76ByuNdRt276Z3jE78gJLjlhcCjOXZ-d1xdS93F-HKMmuPVbqMCyF-jaHHlkOyevk6wwbH0rzuRhXg/s640/blogger-image--1447176871.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rest, just... hanging (our value-add was keeping the kids <br />
distracted so they did not destroy the men hard at work)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoffeyKjZHys7EvzkVPw_bvwPGUymwv89lYfh_1yx9OMW64O8OHKs6zzjVNJYJmu5pXbDo6ci9OkYyfjQptKolYmKsBSlHv_kheL3DaR-W6oVbJieAxEbyKjyAOiAP8JJwNDrWlaTWGruO/s640/blogger-image-1787636858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoffeyKjZHys7EvzkVPw_bvwPGUymwv89lYfh_1yx9OMW64O8OHKs6zzjVNJYJmu5pXbDo6ci9OkYyfjQptKolYmKsBSlHv_kheL3DaR-W6oVbJieAxEbyKjyAOiAP8JJwNDrWlaTWGruO/s400/blogger-image-1787636858.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHINJUKU TRAIN STATION (that's what it reads in the light glare area)</td></tr>
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<div>
We made it to Isetan (yay) but it was closing in 30 minutes (boo). We split up to make moving about more convenient, and so the parents went off in one direction... and turns out the sister and her busband were telepathic with us as we met each other a very short while later at the food area. HAHA #eatingourwaythrough indeed. <br />
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I know it was pre-dinner, but it was just so glorious to be able to walk around and eat as happily as can be. We had donuts, some tasters and the sister was so sweet she was already in the Q to buy a strawberry shortcake as I wanted to go get one to fulfill that craving!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqwHBOcWWPaH31WE_aXp7IDWTeB2-Hk9NBaE_ZbfZgO3N2iLR9BD7xJiSpwGaQN4HwDNcB1MmAeSTs1JmaAcab3qm-8e29jYVREmhzjbATYVUZ_DnE0SdxQbSB-xjmhO9mjXPH1IrBaWp/s640/blogger-image--1052124191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqwHBOcWWPaH31WE_aXp7IDWTeB2-Hk9NBaE_ZbfZgO3N2iLR9BD7xJiSpwGaQN4HwDNcB1MmAeSTs1JmaAcab3qm-8e29jYVREmhzjbATYVUZ_DnE0SdxQbSB-xjmhO9mjXPH1IrBaWp/s640/blogger-image--1052124191.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
We ate a lot more snacks, and we discovered that we were not allowed to eat in the food zone (go figure). We met up with the parents and then headed out to the streets to locate our dinner. We ended up walking up and down a bit because we had no plan, but the final destination turned out to be ok, we had beef and bbq and beers and we all walked out smelling like our dinner.<br />
<br /><br />
We took the train back to the hotel and started the task of needing to pack - groans. That did not stop us from our nightly gathering (without the sister who was sick) where the B briefed us on the next day's plan. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1ACtOgEovkgMIJGFLtezNGWHmrKII57km2aT6XB4N8e3teaDxxqQcWF_Vz8lzYZ3vvWPMAgShn7isqJln2cRPGGSy05vcX_En_M3hbyTyHOGQZ1COMDEcoxnYsIngJEsj__UgeVRNCjT/s640/blogger-image--79917408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1ACtOgEovkgMIJGFLtezNGWHmrKII57km2aT6XB4N8e3teaDxxqQcWF_Vz8lzYZ3vvWPMAgShn7isqJln2cRPGGSy05vcX_En_M3hbyTyHOGQZ1COMDEcoxnYsIngJEsj__UgeVRNCjT/s400/blogger-image--79917408.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view from the bed. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmUig25pq_7p0ljnHjhSW9J6rS5IGwhGchuzW3FuSnnPdSvOVR1gJCfQe3d3vwGALASM6xd69eDFmW0tplfr46H14BCnQbVVBDmv_MtjFdBzyMLNjgP79oPoWUW8nkX9JmmU4s8q_vB-T/s640/blogger-image--755330373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmUig25pq_7p0ljnHjhSW9J6rS5IGwhGchuzW3FuSnnPdSvOVR1gJCfQe3d3vwGALASM6xd69eDFmW0tplfr46H14BCnQbVVBDmv_MtjFdBzyMLNjgP79oPoWUW8nkX9JmmU4s8q_vB-T/s640/blogger-image--755330373.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruits of our labour - tasting the Michelin-noodles!</td></tr>
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<div>
It has been such an amazing week and I was quite tired by this time. I think we really maximized our days fully from day to night to late-night as we conducted our own parties. We also steadily kept to our beer count and made really good progress!<br />
<br /><br />
As I attempted to pack a bit that night, I definitely felt happy and very full - in my tummy and heart #happyfamilyinjapan</div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-49672814086246912492017-10-23T11:00:00.000+08:002017-10-24T13:29:58.909+08:00#babysisterturnsadult<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">My earliest recollection of you was when you were a baby. A teeny one whom I loved to smother, because who doesn't love the small of baby youth? You were so adorable and it was like I had a mini toy that moved, batteries not included. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we all grew up and I became a selfish teen. No one has time for baby sisters when we have liftepriorities like... well, you know, superficial stuff #truth I recall you trailing the brother mostly, as you became his sidekick and even though you were my responsibility as I had to chaperone you to go to school together, I have little memories of those days except of you reminding me / claiming that I was a bully (it is called training you to buy your own food please).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast-forward to me being a grown-up (well, 20s was a big deal when you have never been in your 20s before) and it still seemed that you were little. Even my friends who were close also always remembered I had a little sister. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That little sister dished out sagely advice to me as I struggled through a rough patch in my life. How did those wise words come from this little youngling? I was then 24, she was 17. We then led close but separate lives as I continued to find myself in my life, and unknowingly, she found herself too. The years apart seemed very short as I think back now, but she established friends, found her faith and blossomed into a young lady. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got married at 28, she seemed still so little - the pictures prove this as she looked still like a big-little girl. When the sister graduated from uni, she came home and that coincided with the birth of our first grandchild in our home. Then started the beginning of how we truly became friends, I think. As much as we were at different phases of our lives, we started reconnecting as adults because (1) we were both in Singapore (2) we started doing more things together as a family unit (3) we get along like two peas in a pod (4) we started (over the years) to travel together (5) despite not living together, our undeniable sister-bond was real. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, like they say, the rest is history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will never ever change anything in the world for our family, and I am thankful that I have a fellow sister who can help me pull this family together through our greedy shenanigans, our siblings-together-ings, and I always have someone watching my back and be there to laugh at/with me at anything/everything in this world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy birthday sister, I love you.</span><br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhs06lx9pIIAEIE4mV-s7H5YAmhR_1_HyUTRcH4edIKh3B1j9Wsx2I_hqkWHAhYGKtFKjFh68cipi__YiHe2kxyGSzUxvbUJyGis7EpW0TfYlDEUjTUHSnd3ttpIldvyEomPugzc9Dupe/s640/blogger-image--1424893832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhs06lx9pIIAEIE4mV-s7H5YAmhR_1_HyUTRcH4edIKh3B1j9Wsx2I_hqkWHAhYGKtFKjFh68cipi__YiHe2kxyGSzUxvbUJyGis7EpW0TfYlDEUjTUHSnd3ttpIldvyEomPugzc9Dupe/s400/blogger-image--1424893832.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sister turns 30</td></tr>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-12031117134204665772017-10-20T13:43:00.003+08:002017-10-20T13:43:38.657+08:00Day 6 highlight: Mario-kart!After taking it easy on <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-bye-bye-tokyo-airbnb-hello-tokyo.html" target="_blank">transit-to-Tokyo day</a>, we decided to take it easy on breakfast this morning. We agreed on a time to meet; but decided to spend the morning free-and-easy. I knew I needed coffee, so after the recce from the day before, I knew where to go. I headed straight for it, while the children settled their breakfast with breads and their choice of food from the supermarket run the evening before. Right on time, we met at the lobby and off we went!<br />
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We had an exciting plan for this morning; i.e. to drive around the streets of Tokyo. The sister was very hyped about this and it was pretty much the only big thing we had planned (besides her own omakase dinner). We took the trains and found our way pretty fine. It was a drizzly morning which was a bit troublesome, but like a good auntie-in-training, out came my umbrella and the kids' windbreakers with hoodie!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iV97f0e49AGR_qnYhH3hOOWRtUSl35aqp5RzuA_blQrRcHD6ji39ZO3hMAyMHM6-PhWCxczBvYzSh3mnjJk8yS4GIvreMqGWP4plhwadOyAUnAAzSWgP90Lr2ZveYAO2W7jwwufsyF1h/s640/blogger-image--182968507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iV97f0e49AGR_qnYhH3hOOWRtUSl35aqp5RzuA_blQrRcHD6ji39ZO3hMAyMHM6-PhWCxczBvYzSh3mnjJk8yS4GIvreMqGWP4plhwadOyAUnAAzSWgP90Lr2ZveYAO2W7jwwufsyF1h/s640/blogger-image--182968507.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the boy with hood, the man who didn't care and... the mother.</td></tr>
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It was a short stroll to the shop and along the way, we first passed some huge shopping buildings, then little low shop houses.. and it was a cutest thing to see babies-in-carts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS72rNqktwG9NmufLgMfbaBMgx2UqhwwvkPznXldBx9CPCPl0DUJYWGDSp8SJK3u5ZEuo_qRfeUcGWv9oir2jpoMj6tm8SUCboSm9YDBu2isbEB_5RFkgEkh7xXoQZ5NUhTx7GCB_F1uPO/s640/blogger-image-1220359089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS72rNqktwG9NmufLgMfbaBMgx2UqhwwvkPznXldBx9CPCPl0DUJYWGDSp8SJK3u5ZEuo_qRfeUcGWv9oir2jpoMj6tm8SUCboSm9YDBu2isbEB_5RFkgEkh7xXoQZ5NUhTx7GCB_F1uPO/s640/blogger-image-1220359089.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babies-not-for-sale!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iV97f0e49AGR_qnYhH3hOOWRtUSl35aqp5RzuA_blQrRcHD6ji39ZO3hMAyMHM6-PhWCxczBvYzSh3mnjJk8yS4GIvreMqGWP4plhwadOyAUnAAzSWgP90Lr2ZveYAO2W7jwwufsyF1h/s640/blogger-image--182968507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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Finally, after walking (I'm sure it wasn't veryyy far but it did feel a bit.... cos so lazy) and turning a corner and being so thankful we have GPS, we found the shop! It was quite a nothing-much-to-look-at-kinda-door. The only hint of it being a kart-shop was that there were some parked at the front, and we heard a batch of 2 karts zooming off just as we were approaching it. Other than that, it looked... normal. <br />
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We entered and it just looked like a shop with a ton of clothes hanging around. That, was the cherry on top of the cake - costumes! While waiting for the admin to be done (payment, checking of licence...) we got started to pick our costumes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ60pVavgT-os-0pSzQNMtwInpU52YMRpEfUeCZFy_ztP2P_s-8TL13rtfvpybwqOgXFVFSaoQsyoPKFcDXEmavSxpjNYpsMi0DrGcDCsw_F41HC6di7LEOJp3sM0ZToGocP6qEPvAlJHT/s640/blogger-image-648123288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ60pVavgT-os-0pSzQNMtwInpU52YMRpEfUeCZFy_ztP2P_s-8TL13rtfvpybwqOgXFVFSaoQsyoPKFcDXEmavSxpjNYpsMi0DrGcDCsw_F41HC6di7LEOJp3sM0ZToGocP6qEPvAlJHT/s640/blogger-image-648123288.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Jedi. OK, not really. Buzz Lightyear!<br />
<em>(It was totally his first choice because at Disney, he picked a toy and it was a </em><br />
<em>Buzz Lightyear gun! He's holding it in the pic</em>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5zlAFf6haHr-kwj1asZT6d2x45hb77zpUlcAfXBhvBSwoFUmt-5vuHoDcDFGKXwoGFwmHuimPGCEMFOCiEZlz6gTXh5EuWpWwS2_3fwjkLsDWnFVJtuglbZyS-PYMq0RzTdC3y98q_g/s640/blogger-image--638691515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5zlAFf6haHr-kwj1asZT6d2x45hb77zpUlcAfXBhvBSwoFUmt-5vuHoDcDFGKXwoGFwmHuimPGCEMFOCiEZlz6gTXh5EuWpWwS2_3fwjkLsDWnFVJtuglbZyS-PYMq0RzTdC3y98q_g/s640/blogger-image--638691515.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yee-haw! Says the cowgirl (friend in Toy Story)</td></tr>
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Then the boy changed his mind and settled on this</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYf3LZgehMgC0izV_iuOufO3gd2qbGNU_uAhjPU77_CJNUaj3Uk_06HINYOKEzmQHmveCIub4U7ZzHBoGMo5hZwctcdzlXuu61Ip4AHfLDDMMnCXgYazECbdqGH66qXjt1RfSGpUtJeph/s640/blogger-image--769994809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYf3LZgehMgC0izV_iuOufO3gd2qbGNU_uAhjPU77_CJNUaj3Uk_06HINYOKEzmQHmveCIub4U7ZzHBoGMo5hZwctcdzlXuu61Ip4AHfLDDMMnCXgYazECbdqGH66qXjt1RfSGpUtJeph/s640/blogger-image--769994809.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUPERMAN!</td></tr>
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When the sister was sharing this game with us, she cheekily suggested that the husband be a cake (as seen on social media). He gamely said 'ok' and that was that. Then some weeks later, we saw that F1 driver Jensen Button had visited and he put on a princess dress; so we said "if it's good enough for Jensen..." So truly, while the sister and I were totally clueless what we wanted to dress as; the boys were ready! Unfortunately, the cake suit was not available so the husband picked another outfit that looked just as pretty. It tickled so bad as the men were <u>such</u> good sports - applause -<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5zlAFf6haHr-kwj1asZT6d2x45hb77zpUlcAfXBhvBSwoFUmt-5vuHoDcDFGKXwoGFwmHuimPGCEMFOCiEZlz6gTXh5EuWpWwS2_3fwjkLsDWnFVJtuglbZyS-PYMq0RzTdC3y98q_g/s640/blogger-image--638691515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-pUe_wmHi3dBpPSjN4uvZQzppYcUCTqpOlHdn8PTRbxZkMJl_Leyd3zzBYkT0AbtjlP-fSgHK_DxP-8vdjqBSNNklMI3UXe3bfRkKvYIr1DBMND4jMfyVvvBbbBfQ6f2_qtKe0fJ8dZZ/s640/blogger-image-438769159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-pUe_wmHi3dBpPSjN4uvZQzppYcUCTqpOlHdn8PTRbxZkMJl_Leyd3zzBYkT0AbtjlP-fSgHK_DxP-8vdjqBSNNklMI3UXe3bfRkKvYIr1DBMND4jMfyVvvBbbBfQ6f2_qtKe0fJ8dZZ/s640/blogger-image-438769159.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The princess and her pet dino</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7y1Y8rfkhpq4VPCAqlOwINctil4n4ieW8-tfxliMGz9FPe7Aq31MahhQM87cPTsI6SbHU5O4d9ydJ9_uGlJwixRRznY0Rc-3sZJlIs7VP3WqxCLHyc66DCGSPhXASbG3M49lSe0KnTYY/s640/blogger-image-1623460583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7y1Y8rfkhpq4VPCAqlOwINctil4n4ieW8-tfxliMGz9FPe7Aq31MahhQM87cPTsI6SbHU5O4d9ydJ9_uGlJwixRRznY0Rc-3sZJlIs7VP3WqxCLHyc66DCGSPhXASbG3M49lSe0KnTYY/s640/blogger-image-1623460583.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-headed chipmunk w Superboy-mushroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNMqqauQtKt1M95SPmu9ReBnDbLZIF3RCe83C2pt07LnShBXtKhVZ-DKNhhZg2BPB9dhp8KFruJhvaPGYUHL6_QJrTHYrKRhyphenhyphen-KAmJMCekltCBzW40BYZCtxEG0JbTNCiCX6r2LOTk8SX/s640/blogger-image--973289459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNMqqauQtKt1M95SPmu9ReBnDbLZIF3RCe83C2pt07LnShBXtKhVZ-DKNhhZg2BPB9dhp8KFruJhvaPGYUHL6_QJrTHYrKRhyphenhyphen-KAmJMCekltCBzW40BYZCtxEG0JbTNCiCX6r2LOTk8SX/s400/blogger-image--973289459.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our adorable family of weirdos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTG-KfxLQKXPBNfoIWkkspija7kuf-u1f4t6YyuVZv71AFLaMHkOiCzWJroU-XtqZdsGSNNrjF_9bZsACwgjPMX_xop86vzWZ7YqumEOB-mRZqjLNEfVp4yWX_GTSUBp9jqpfeRdEOGQN/s640/blogger-image-756494204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTG-KfxLQKXPBNfoIWkkspija7kuf-u1f4t6YyuVZv71AFLaMHkOiCzWJroU-XtqZdsGSNNrjF_9bZsACwgjPMX_xop86vzWZ7YqumEOB-mRZqjLNEfVp4yWX_GTSUBp9jqpfeRdEOGQN/s640/blogger-image-756494204.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little family mish-mash of animals, weeds, humans and superheros</td></tr>
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The adults who converted our licence to an international licence were able to drive the karts. The grandparents and children followed behind us in a tuk-tuk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHp3EnyTL46W_u6qc-rpWcYcIQZaIUygr2XUESKdKZ7rbIeOWep6dUZmIPNoVDD_M1vo5rio60_MUKobiUw_wbbDdWhPh8uzOBkNSXq4Iek9nErtH7A1Dx1q5EFWr2D4g5kj0Bis4h2bG/s640/blogger-image-639232963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHp3EnyTL46W_u6qc-rpWcYcIQZaIUygr2XUESKdKZ7rbIeOWep6dUZmIPNoVDD_M1vo5rio60_MUKobiUw_wbbDdWhPh8uzOBkNSXq4Iek9nErtH7A1Dx1q5EFWr2D4g5kj0Bis4h2bG/s640/blogger-image-639232963.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy mushroom</td></tr>
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After a short briefing of how to operate our karts, we were ready to set off! We had to walk a short way to our vehicles...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs5F7gyz4umDFe0qpBzUfoystH8xakoHVRgXnwvt9OTlr1Ld2AuoMcZ1juyXvgFlpd4njfpToCaUSCVeLOMdCediNwUTwORttXAF38G2g3VIZ1lPQ7q8d92jFFWHYCF8lBtRObCK4rvtt/s640/blogger-image-2025783466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs5F7gyz4umDFe0qpBzUfoystH8xakoHVRgXnwvt9OTlr1Ld2AuoMcZ1juyXvgFlpd4njfpToCaUSCVeLOMdCediNwUTwORttXAF38G2g3VIZ1lPQ7q8d92jFFWHYCF8lBtRObCK4rvtt/s640/blogger-image-2025783466.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No award for being lady/princess-like!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxN49e0WvgnW3zHmYNNUplN7r8y9tN6bEtSEuM7BIxzOg_kwwfMHCvU1s2dM3vFks49LLqYvIh-JymgHAXF_b-8jFN6lDqZp_YNUq6r4qaVOiQ2ZV1lc3oovI9-_aOr70DaDS379yRckt/s640/blogger-image-751572265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxN49e0WvgnW3zHmYNNUplN7r8y9tN6bEtSEuM7BIxzOg_kwwfMHCvU1s2dM3vFks49LLqYvIh-JymgHAXF_b-8jFN6lDqZp_YNUq6r4qaVOiQ2ZV1lc3oovI9-_aOr70DaDS379yRckt/s640/blogger-image-751572265.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is how you curtsey beside your kart</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJfZdfXeCWgJFYgxATODabwbK4Rpt7PDtNkf1IDgSY88lL1NHO2hyphenhyphenb3emTA0B8u_34IlRBNCi7CyGJeOlVcdjnml9pOU-8JbJXWxS9ANrX4tbh7CB6IXbS5M51vNaqdNuh4-ncP9o2aNv/s640/blogger-image-1056149901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJfZdfXeCWgJFYgxATODabwbK4Rpt7PDtNkf1IDgSY88lL1NHO2hyphenhyphenb3emTA0B8u_34IlRBNCi7CyGJeOlVcdjnml9pOU-8JbJXWxS9ANrX4tbh7CB6IXbS5M51vNaqdNuh4-ncP9o2aNv/s640/blogger-image-1056149901.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team tuk-tuk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBHcaQjCk6Mm7tbvzMDSm-26yHl9fgYGLxvxKZCSchCAKZQ8WfJAaT7pGche5JgE97Xcpfhvns1YB1zgNFPL6QLN0reQSjzyNfD5iV7psaJBxi_jW_6UipeOGzHOeV1irNk6Z_yHpFNVi/s640/blogger-image--334332521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBHcaQjCk6Mm7tbvzMDSm-26yHl9fgYGLxvxKZCSchCAKZQ8WfJAaT7pGche5JgE97Xcpfhvns1YB1zgNFPL6QLN0reQSjzyNfD5iV7psaJBxi_jW_6UipeOGzHOeV1irNk6Z_yHpFNVi/s640/blogger-image--334332521.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at his open legs - guffaw -</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6G3Y1Kl0EGJNlXqi9e3mEeMx7jcULmmk0I4PBTo21fn6zjJUzFlUFqIjzqSdONBb2-qfvMKJT8CPwVgA4d_L1Lan3lobFrAV6iRCO3_LlwbZRNmv2tPTT1SIuQhYZr1j74MGJ1A5JXrY/s640/blogger-image-655639473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6G3Y1Kl0EGJNlXqi9e3mEeMx7jcULmmk0I4PBTo21fn6zjJUzFlUFqIjzqSdONBb2-qfvMKJT8CPwVgA4d_L1Lan3lobFrAV6iRCO3_LlwbZRNmv2tPTT1SIuQhYZr1j74MGJ1A5JXrY/s640/blogger-image-655639473.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up, if you wish</td></tr>
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Though there was a briefing, it still felt rather scary driving on the roads. The sound of the karts was loud, the fumes were pretty awful (it was a major downside!); we looked ridiculous and in retrospect, it was pretty dangerous as we were really driving on the roads in Tokyo, with no helmets, no part of a car to shield us, no seat belts.... just our international driving licence - inserts stunned face - <br />
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Thankfully, it was an accident-free drive. Ok, so I ran a red light (I thought we could go!); the sister skidded on the wet roads (do not jam brake!) and also thought she was playing bumper cars (as she kissed the back of her busband's kart).... everyone remained unscathed. Phew! We ended up driving for a total of 3 hours! There was a break in between, which added to the fun and hilarity of our drive.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSkW849VsYzt3f-9tXLeRq_k9pBR9M0Fl60urBa-CYWs9s4jaLMoSivt1gw-xrPay5OYnUrmapPeOSAKzy0U7nN3jDBqbJvWxmh9Ogz5WHqpBHSyym6ZPHqY9X0IVqEatSsOHYdK7BJAM/s640/blogger-image-1273997559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSkW849VsYzt3f-9tXLeRq_k9pBR9M0Fl60urBa-CYWs9s4jaLMoSivt1gw-xrPay5OYnUrmapPeOSAKzy0U7nN3jDBqbJvWxmh9Ogz5WHqpBHSyym6ZPHqY9X0IVqEatSsOHYdK7BJAM/s640/blogger-image-1273997559.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3Aps2psXJwb6oJCww8mK0f2vXuRir2argmoxbIaHMTXdjQZm3zt5c-hkQ84SzJkLtBhVVESa3gja3rO1xkG7Z6LyQXcaROos8J1sTBOcFVwkC4lBAhy52yUPc87HBNir47PpPrHVR6lM/s640/blogger-image-471146167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3Aps2psXJwb6oJCww8mK0f2vXuRir2argmoxbIaHMTXdjQZm3zt5c-hkQ84SzJkLtBhVVESa3gja3rO1xkG7Z6LyQXcaROos8J1sTBOcFVwkC4lBAhy52yUPc87HBNir47PpPrHVR6lM/s640/blogger-image-471146167.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Minnie Princess had to pee</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly2ErNH-f5SgfRIDzdatoSo-Hyg2Cg4GtK3TDNU9ioV79UIxEJXR94g-Xqt9ldtqlBp5fT2abNT2QUd73mHF5ykqw_tqDJB6M76B1vyOCTAFW9rVmD7gi0fxSDFGYWpkfo8Ru1aGmwwwh/s640/blogger-image--850554826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly2ErNH-f5SgfRIDzdatoSo-Hyg2Cg4GtK3TDNU9ioV79UIxEJXR94g-Xqt9ldtqlBp5fT2abNT2QUd73mHF5ykqw_tqDJB6M76B1vyOCTAFW9rVmD7gi0fxSDFGYWpkfo8Ru1aGmwwwh/s640/blogger-image--850554826.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dino takes drink-shopping seriously</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ_pfSItSimYf_n5P51fMLHUR5GOQHlbL0xDjMLgZo1XwHIRBm2Km0669QLCSfjgv8pRpOQL85n-4bM4L9CZUBPLPNg9GhxVWbqzDW1w7yJOhIgvaiOn8fVouULEK9k6lk14ie2WvxUYU/s640/blogger-image--1496422411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ_pfSItSimYf_n5P51fMLHUR5GOQHlbL0xDjMLgZo1XwHIRBm2Km0669QLCSfjgv8pRpOQL85n-4bM4L9CZUBPLPNg9GhxVWbqzDW1w7yJOhIgvaiOn8fVouULEK9k6lk14ie2WvxUYU/s640/blogger-image--1496422411.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batman-Mario having a laugh</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5xpisXCzBwhLvrDH6PczbzFgaxcKPL8RV1zaPR97HOD4AXeTYmN3eNB_7SDvXybEcPvcUZPriOxO583fW_z890hVvqxAvzPHtGqY5phDHlHKRfr5ISZUU1qh4pZ4gtuehVqFaO9ZUQ2v/s640/blogger-image--1127522679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5xpisXCzBwhLvrDH6PczbzFgaxcKPL8RV1zaPR97HOD4AXeTYmN3eNB_7SDvXybEcPvcUZPriOxO583fW_z890hVvqxAvzPHtGqY5phDHlHKRfr5ISZUU1qh4pZ4gtuehVqFaO9ZUQ2v/s640/blogger-image--1127522679.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little munchkins fuelling up</td></tr>
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We were such a sight! People on the streets snapped pictures of us, we waved as we swung by, trying to look valiant in our silly costumes; someone even wound down his window to have a tiny chat with the dino - oh boy. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85UceOM1lSs5j8WYO5QD6NCBkD-wz2mUl2wL2mWujpzrT0jv-JDd1riOdGvQPGmAcvTQS-SRJW90edDe8dr_LQcu43lpNo0KO2HngWdfmp0LzUyiG4zwM3VdU2czmzkv5AOT_iEhQcc8u/s640/blogger-image--931366125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85UceOM1lSs5j8WYO5QD6NCBkD-wz2mUl2wL2mWujpzrT0jv-JDd1riOdGvQPGmAcvTQS-SRJW90edDe8dr_LQcu43lpNo0KO2HngWdfmp0LzUyiG4zwM3VdU2czmzkv5AOT_iEhQcc8u/s640/blogger-image--931366125.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look Ma, I'm driving on the roads in a chipmunk suit!</td></tr>
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<div>
All good things must come to an end, so at the end of the drive, we parked and heaved a huge relief that we made it. It took me a while to get into driving and managed to feel more secure with the steering and the pedal. What. An. Experience!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAJia0csF19hzGFlqNrWr6r2rzp1-mpb-cjarQvd7xN_NFuPjG45Zd9qUhlyFzh_wV8j6usUsfOuCOQe3VNk_ULyGsfc7NlyZ8jN2Z8wQOGgQVJPZ4X6DqMKwuv8W1UKDaq3knQVK9eiT/s640/blogger-image--470256576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAJia0csF19hzGFlqNrWr6r2rzp1-mpb-cjarQvd7xN_NFuPjG45Zd9qUhlyFzh_wV8j6usUsfOuCOQe3VNk_ULyGsfc7NlyZ8jN2Z8wQOGgQVJPZ4X6DqMKwuv8W1UKDaq3knQVK9eiT/s640/blogger-image--470256576.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One for the road. The stepsisters</td></tr>
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<div>
I need to say that we were very fortunate the weather was cool. It was drizzly and wet (added to the excitement) but what made it all amazing was how cool the weather was. Our costumes were made totally fun because the temperature was kind. If it had been a regular summer's day in Tokyo, we would have been so uncomfortable in our costumers! We were very lucky. It was also a good decision we made to pick the 11am slot. By the time we returned to the shop, it was packed with tourists and another round of drivers; but it just felt so uncomfortable and squeezy; whereas in the morning, it was just mostly us and we had the luxury of space and no-stress selection of costumes; so hoorah!<br />
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After undressing ourselves, we returned their stuff, gathered out stuff and left. We re-traced our way back towards the main station. The husband had a need to eat yakitori so off we went in search of a place... but after attempting to find the place and then finding it; the experience was not perfect as the restaurant only served yakitori in the evening, not daytime! <br />
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Thus, while we got to feed ourselves, we did not get to eat what we endeavoured to. Regardless, everyone was pretty tired after the morning's shenanigans and we decided to take it easy. The sister and her busband and a private dinner that evening, so they headed off. Together with my parents, we headed to the city and browsed about. In the end, we did not buy much - instead, we stopped at a café for a snack (we had ice-cream, strawberry shortcake and an apple pie) and pretty much to rest our feet; before window shopping again. <br />
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It was just pre-dinner that we had an incident. It was just after we had bought some clothes for the kids that the boy said he had to poop. The poop turned out to be bad diarrhea and we spent some time waiting for him to be done and cleaned up. Euw.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRhemT2VIQIQHiqfFc2rI7HI9vbpd8bNsLfwAPbPDHGesxNLtIzC8jGRJkyb6hXYUGTQ1euJ9-3VNTpW0qzbgVixVwnFrxK0-m-S6J8OdfSyjTkDwQZaJwUCFEWhtIjMNdwJUEgeZC9Xc/s640/blogger-image--749539212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRhemT2VIQIQHiqfFc2rI7HI9vbpd8bNsLfwAPbPDHGesxNLtIzC8jGRJkyb6hXYUGTQ1euJ9-3VNTpW0qzbgVixVwnFrxK0-m-S6J8OdfSyjTkDwQZaJwUCFEWhtIjMNdwJUEgeZC9Xc/s640/blogger-image--749539212.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clothes change and a photo opp with the policeman</td></tr>
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<div>
Thankfully, he seemed ok and we managed to adjourn to dinner nearby. The husband searched for yakitori (yup, we do not give up) and located a whole street of bbq stalls. We headed into a store and it was a very cosy affair of many people squeezing into a tiny table in a tiny room. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKx63hhOxKVPIMx_6kGJCEFD_zdB53CXpEH9eods5qDddMXq7ubWVZ1Ha-DHFIuW0FWJnZwN-PXoUx1ZnzPFhg6fY2u_EeUGnjSg1rXdqnPTadktxCMJdmLOPrcOUCWsKrjaTSYa8y5gX/s640/blogger-image-827688898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKx63hhOxKVPIMx_6kGJCEFD_zdB53CXpEH9eods5qDddMXq7ubWVZ1Ha-DHFIuW0FWJnZwN-PXoUx1ZnzPFhg6fY2u_EeUGnjSg1rXdqnPTadktxCMJdmLOPrcOUCWsKrjaTSYa8y5gX/s400/blogger-image-827688898.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner</td></tr>
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<div>
The toilets at these streets were gross. It was kinda open concept and squat and I (do not) thank my daughter for needing to pee at this moment (why couldn't we have gone when we were in the shopping malls?!) to have introduced us to this fact. It was also here that we uncovered (with a shock) that there was a cover charge' to restaurants; that they imposed a fee for each person that took up a seat within. Boo. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzdHi0ZrYv-5Xn4mjV_BoHfTbWckWs5Haj2wLXQyaBGMhLJdeGZQyqrqY94La6GCYri_8ZJ45TgSD_Tf0qDdJSdeDZggG_hrzoQFGqtgB9bV1r82ABh8nDBYuYx6vtRcyflM90GEe0Bd0/s640/blogger-image--873247218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzdHi0ZrYv-5Xn4mjV_BoHfTbWckWs5Haj2wLXQyaBGMhLJdeGZQyqrqY94La6GCYri_8ZJ45TgSD_Tf0qDdJSdeDZggG_hrzoQFGqtgB9bV1r82ABh8nDBYuYx6vtRcyflM90GEe0Bd0/s640/blogger-image--873247218.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yakitori Street (I made this up)</td></tr>
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After dinner, we strolled about the streets and found our way back to the train station to commute back to the hotel. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtJYh_uERJuekRtvF33Mo_vTuLMRO3YYpQ_wmryQXeiojNwzvUk8TDIq8AJ6hW-8hg2nbfV2OJc4pCf7pHrL4QN5HzRJqx3hmUMSNcp1_dvgUkZef8mJLh6evDgLZUHhuJ5Bb52gi0Rm4/s640/blogger-image--1299262385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtJYh_uERJuekRtvF33Mo_vTuLMRO3YYpQ_wmryQXeiojNwzvUk8TDIq8AJ6hW-8hg2nbfV2OJc4pCf7pHrL4QN5HzRJqx3hmUMSNcp1_dvgUkZef8mJLh6evDgLZUHhuJ5Bb52gi0Rm4/s640/blogger-image--1299262385.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No more tummyache hooray!</td></tr>
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<div>
The sister and busband were still at dinner by the time we got back, but they did join us in our room for a bit. That night, we had their atas chicken rice with nuts amidst our beers and night-time snacks. <br />
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The end.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Read more here: </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/1-sept-day-1-sapporo-fish-market.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 1</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-2-sapporo-fish-market-chocolate.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">day 2</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-3-sapporo-to-tokyo.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">day 3</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-we-take-on-disneyland.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">day 4</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-bye-bye-tokyo-airbnb-hello-tokyo.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">day 5</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-62220894019701463822017-10-17T16:15:00.000+08:002017-10-19T16:16:17.130+08:00New adventures; 家12 October is - in the words of my kids - the birthday of our new home #2. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaHJHQJd88trEqWnCbGNvpGSmVnIhKXYadjUQZ1rtPSEs43KuixqEnnt9lTJbB4Llx6bpL_I6MGpu7kGtOZz0asKY0k5n2iq9zS7LFiTSObvD3v2Jys7TDxDfdhqvdto6IePFPm2QzBi4/s640/blogger-image-1603143436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaHJHQJd88trEqWnCbGNvpGSmVnIhKXYadjUQZ1rtPSEs43KuixqEnnt9lTJbB4Llx6bpL_I6MGpu7kGtOZz0asKY0k5n2iq9zS7LFiTSObvD3v2Jys7TDxDfdhqvdto6IePFPm2QzBi4/s400/blogger-image-1603143436.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <em>huat </em>crew</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW9S-4ctKUFGUU-G9GC4SXVsoFbrkhBdfYuRAikcx_gnsetJoLwjA26qYdJf6DgFkliw-0YmzP36EWJeA1TaO5S4h8t44RtiPpELjEjSp2YSdTpFgmTlNTRB6wY06GI9IO1T-i-yEIQs3/s640/blogger-image--1264189986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW9S-4ctKUFGUU-G9GC4SXVsoFbrkhBdfYuRAikcx_gnsetJoLwjA26qYdJf6DgFkliw-0YmzP36EWJeA1TaO5S4h8t44RtiPpELjEjSp2YSdTpFgmTlNTRB6wY06GI9IO1T-i-yEIQs3/s400/blogger-image--1264189986.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My adorable children </td></tr>
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<div>
This marks a new journey of our lives where we build a new home for us. OMG so exciting!</div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-82088763241817394502017-10-13T13:52:00.000+08:002017-10-19T18:34:29.906+08:00Day 5: Bye bye Tokyo airbnb, hello Tokyo hotel It is now mid-point through our holiday and we have been stuffing ourselves silly #alldayerrday. After our <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-2-sapporo-fish-market-chocolate.html" target="_blank">previous run</a>, it's now time to move our bodies again. We were all kinda lazy but I am super glad that we did it. The weather was beautiful, the skies were overcast and it was amazing running in the crisp, fresh air. Love it!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzWpoSgLXzAiOa3YDb5iCjuASgTDto-I2cJgYc5Dj9cgLhSvzl5vvk24JBgkBr13JLxQCyc7Q4qX1N3svkh8uXYupMXx0TLcbNWazZY_NLtRklkx4XSDDFEgMml0PITV5ylf3QgbdjDJI/s640/blogger-image--1702074637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzWpoSgLXzAiOa3YDb5iCjuASgTDto-I2cJgYc5Dj9cgLhSvzl5vvk24JBgkBr13JLxQCyc7Q4qX1N3svkh8uXYupMXx0TLcbNWazZY_NLtRklkx4XSDDFEgMml0PITV5ylf3QgbdjDJI/s640/blogger-image--1702074637.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reservoir</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtZyGYHl4dMjOF3h2yu1xbFmELY7ZDJo0ijj-f4WZcplJoSL-0L5-Dw5FlXJNledIhYwX6Gy7V4TYJNC4-Ec_naWi7jVuEOCKXl57OyBK-sGIeZPAICXzhT-C9LLlUlw65qB6zkoVApWa/s640/blogger-image-1593239941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtZyGYHl4dMjOF3h2yu1xbFmELY7ZDJo0ijj-f4WZcplJoSL-0L5-Dw5FlXJNledIhYwX6Gy7V4TYJNC4-Ec_naWi7jVuEOCKXl57OyBK-sGIeZPAICXzhT-C9LLlUlw65qB6zkoVApWa/s400/blogger-image-1593239941.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the Mickey train (Mickey-eared-windows)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJAWj7Wg0SIpUNs5REg8SJOk-UoAVVBYFrGY4MltchrKRL15Em8qI5XxJs7qYra1gWeAEQXu4RyhJEJ_Kw3eeH3li4FDSc6B-Ty1FZYgR5QoioIWXdtfog9c80NvnqdnxOFqruGYjA5wt/s640/blogger-image-449474427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJAWj7Wg0SIpUNs5REg8SJOk-UoAVVBYFrGY4MltchrKRL15Em8qI5XxJs7qYra1gWeAEQXu4RyhJEJ_Kw3eeH3li4FDSc6B-Ty1FZYgR5QoioIWXdtfog9c80NvnqdnxOFqruGYjA5wt/s640/blogger-image-449474427.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Major ship (it's a ride at Disneysea)</td></tr>
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<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2GZY_eZ8iG0RfIo1sr5uiENNZozLS2siM6MA3XNDEm3M4ZZATKncmn6IzrNZogtGH6Um9MiBY4UaU9UXqzx1YGcw83Xkl9Fsu57VGmb9WACdChWVy3kTlYTWcSnq-pAyJqxAmmk5PGTG/s640/blogger-image--1396472542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2GZY_eZ8iG0RfIo1sr5uiENNZozLS2siM6MA3XNDEm3M4ZZATKncmn6IzrNZogtGH6Um9MiBY4UaU9UXqzx1YGcw83Xkl9Fsu57VGmb9WACdChWVy3kTlYTWcSnq-pAyJqxAmmk5PGTG/s400/blogger-image--1396472542.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sister running very fast (that's why blur)</td></tr>
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<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcKwWTPFWB3dZMp2CbB-quT5qdeKHHUhfeY1XMAjwSwRVdcNH0xhOdEZ-LO_Hv7Xkqd8UqwoNeImpmgh6M_4QdJ9TgjTswvdhI7jpb8-iyl6frCdkGpjFTNZq6e-n-UQet-Q-rXw8H1Wv/s640/blogger-image-84218696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcKwWTPFWB3dZMp2CbB-quT5qdeKHHUhfeY1XMAjwSwRVdcNH0xhOdEZ-LO_Hv7Xkqd8UqwoNeImpmgh6M_4QdJ9TgjTswvdhI7jpb8-iyl6frCdkGpjFTNZq6e-n-UQet-Q-rXw8H1Wv/s640/blogger-image-84218696.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final dash that made it 10km</td></tr>
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We clocked a total of 10km and after 'carb-loading' the past few days, I definitely felt energetic and able to run. Along with the cool temperature, the run was thoroughly enjoyable. It started to drizzle then rain in the last 10 minutes of our run which wasn't that great, but at least we were near home when it happened. <br />
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It was nice running this route (perimeter of Disney) as the husband and I had done one similar on our last Japan trip, but it was night then and we did not see much. This time, I could see for sure and it was nice. Even though it was about 9am, it was relatively quiet. I guess the dreary weather makes it seem more peaceful. The sister mentioned in her blog something I had nearly forgotten about, which was how the adorbs father (bless him) was hovering around, expecting our return. With only one key for the apartment, we couldn't have been able to go in if no one opened it for us. We can always count on Papa for such stuff!<br />
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<br />
While we went for our run, the grandparents took the kids for a stroll in the neighbourhood. (The B was <em>'guarding the house' </em>- his words, not mine). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik165mhtS6w1Y-b7E-5U2P7h58ZaGQwvjnyCxIXISFGkDPbCIwfNAcv0lhhFf4gt27yTuSyi2lVOCDruKprPrOS0ooIKP2-6uPoOiHjMRHJd_6Ba-xjEU7CoSlQA1G2gJujygfgbOIDd_h/s640/blogger-image--1169629097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik165mhtS6w1Y-b7E-5U2P7h58ZaGQwvjnyCxIXISFGkDPbCIwfNAcv0lhhFf4gt27yTuSyi2lVOCDruKprPrOS0ooIKP2-6uPoOiHjMRHJd_6Ba-xjEU7CoSlQA1G2gJujygfgbOIDd_h/s400/blogger-image--1169629097.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting sightings in the hood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
We all huddled in our cosy home as the rain beat down and prepared to check out. The kids had a fun time jumping off the double-decker bed, stomping like giants across the thin Japanese floors, and the adults dutifully continued to fill the can-trash with beers, steadily increasing our beer count #goals<br />
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Right on plan, we left the apartment. In case you are ever interested to see how the Foo-Seah-Yeap family looks like let loose on the streets...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistWns-oNIYhzWXxWeNWpTVLGaCBRC5elhtdTPWYLCUjA6jRvTgbFEYVzYE7biii_iJA9_XYMt0KJkRZ2AR-Qqsf09fUDJgLLuk6d7FRCHr1M0b3lN99qSkVePO4ylfsS5xRCNLfAy-I-C/s640/blogger-image-1161392441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistWns-oNIYhzWXxWeNWpTVLGaCBRC5elhtdTPWYLCUjA6jRvTgbFEYVzYE7biii_iJA9_XYMt0KJkRZ2AR-Qqsf09fUDJgLLuk6d7FRCHr1M0b3lN99qSkVePO4ylfsS5xRCNLfAy-I-C/s640/blogger-image-1161392441.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the pavements</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-JcgakrePccP1xl0spTs7AGRj9uvYa2OquQ05O0uuL4hEG5x2pSyHqBsyals4CH7SAFMwuc_-dK4CAbl63YAdEjwMR4FmLAXFYeUQeH_4FaHBEvs7nikiPw4sw7LSUZi-g7Ku_gtNLQA/s640/blogger-image-78606334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-JcgakrePccP1xl0spTs7AGRj9uvYa2OquQ05O0uuL4hEG5x2pSyHqBsyals4CH7SAFMwuc_-dK4CAbl63YAdEjwMR4FmLAXFYeUQeH_4FaHBEvs7nikiPw4sw7LSUZi-g7Ku_gtNLQA/s640/blogger-image-78606334.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaywalking with pride</td></tr>
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<div>
We all made it safely, harming no one (<em>even the sister was unharmed though she seemed to enjoy crashing into the bicycle lanes</em>) and made it back to the original bus terminal. It was also the start of our using the special-3-day-train-pass that the duo helped purchase; except that we had to get another small ticket to travel a segment of the trains (we had to change). While waiting for the brains to sort out the train ticket situation....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaTo9_BNgq94cTy_V3Mp06TGidkj85xsRY0LjL59TkukId9cdTV66IrrIYjmsGSRp-RnZimQs11t1Rvznv_sPiW9qu_DiXI_IimfC-cSBaJ-qkVYsXgEjdYQWvt3xasE8F-kc42R5wSxy/s640/blogger-image--601920227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaTo9_BNgq94cTy_V3Mp06TGidkj85xsRY0LjL59TkukId9cdTV66IrrIYjmsGSRp-RnZimQs11t1Rvznv_sPiW9qu_DiXI_IimfC-cSBaJ-qkVYsXgEjdYQWvt3xasE8F-kc42R5wSxy/s640/blogger-image--601920227.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were all obviously having a good time</td></tr>
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<div>
After getting the tickets, you'd think that we'd have made our way off. Well, we did; but not before needing to purchase another ticket (<em>yup.just 1 minute after all the tickets were purchased</em>) because the little girl was clumsy enough to drop her ticket, not just onto the floor but right between the holes of a tiny drain. What are the chances?<br />
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So, if you ever wonder how 8 adults, 2 children and a ton of luggage looks like commuting on public transport...<em> </em><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPWRfzD-mzLYt1bGneowAs-TUGoTULqhF04CrbAJsf4iBk3BeY_rGnyYbWKQdtCSfI0At42GsmbctZoi9qJjl4iWI7c3xnhaoN6QCPrE3K0xUDpdyGz4uwaQn0tW6jWKCdhhgI4hyphenhyphenJzWW/s640/blogger-image-64528847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPWRfzD-mzLYt1bGneowAs-TUGoTULqhF04CrbAJsf4iBk3BeY_rGnyYbWKQdtCSfI0At42GsmbctZoi9qJjl4iWI7c3xnhaoN6QCPrE3K0xUDpdyGz4uwaQn0tW6jWKCdhhgI4hyphenhyphenJzWW/s640/blogger-image-64528847.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Life memory #1</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnHCVU_2dXed85vuXhkvpZsp1s6sxePkgs7aZ1f2PLQOjHqfDl-fi4Ov984Mbf5zUf576UiTYqwC1OwZBWjnQ-1bYXcL_E5ajS_fPsU46v3Y06RKnhZcAh_s5C_Xe3Q_wbC-T4KjWccNc/s640/blogger-image-1484027074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnHCVU_2dXed85vuXhkvpZsp1s6sxePkgs7aZ1f2PLQOjHqfDl-fi4Ov984Mbf5zUf576UiTYqwC1OwZBWjnQ-1bYXcL_E5ajS_fPsU46v3Y06RKnhZcAh_s5C_Xe3Q_wbC-T4KjWccNc/s400/blogger-image-1484027074.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Life memory #2</td></tr>
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<div>
Hope the pics did not disappoint and brought some giggles. I keep thinking back how simple it seems to move from one spot to another; yet how complex it can be because of the sheer amount of weight we are carrying (both ourselves and our stuff)... but seems like everyone seems to be real champs about our adventure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_364qrOks-3GHSc8fJJ3kTWS_KUI83XM4SqwvqGxhHPlyt9UBdA3g42861ffkiN-TBsnvyqLM0WFNrcQKIGJR1KIDUmtaDRiAe83C8MdU4wjapwLSI3fHtLjcIgqBvjVjxxN2qhaqO3v/s640/blogger-image--1532200473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_364qrOks-3GHSc8fJJ3kTWS_KUI83XM4SqwvqGxhHPlyt9UBdA3g42861ffkiN-TBsnvyqLM0WFNrcQKIGJR1KIDUmtaDRiAe83C8MdU4wjapwLSI3fHtLjcIgqBvjVjxxN2qhaqO3v/s640/blogger-image--1532200473.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles!</td></tr>
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It took us several flights of stairs and escalators, a few train changes and we finally made it to Daimon Station. It is the nearest station to our hotel accommodation for our last few days in Japan. The location was pretty convenient, there was a suitable number of convenience stores around the vicinity, and if we hadn't collapsed from horror at needing to lug our luggage up the flight of stairs at the station; it was all pretty good! The hotel was a basic one that provided all basic amenities, the rooms were smaller than that of Hokkaido's but then again, we were in Tokyo which is prime area. All in, pretty fine.<br />
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After checking in the hotel; we agreed to meet up and eat a very late lunch. After eating-on-the-go and forgetting what hunger feels like, I was not in a good state. I was just <em>starving! </em>We headed to this building (we were kinda in a business like area) which had restaurants at the basement and settled on this little shop (they were all kinda little) which served noodles. I'm not sure if it was my hunger, but the noodles were so good! Between the husband and kid and I, we had tempura soba, ramen and some rice bowl. YUM. I instantly felt happy after filling my tummy!<br />
The sister then spotted a corner coffeeshop that sold Cremia (<em>yup, the same milky ice-cream we discovered in Hokkaido!</em>) and though we said we'd not eat it (because so full, and the shop was smoky from patrons who smoked); we made a U-turn to buy it afterall because, greedy. We then headed back to the hotel for a short rest, before meeting again at the agreed time. <br />
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We then ventured the train system. The train tickets that the duo helped purchase was so helpful! It saved us figuring out tickets each time we took the train and gave us so much freedom to take the trains as and when we needed on the JR line. Woot!<br />
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We headed to a particular station (I forgot what) as it was near our dinner venue. When we got there, we had about 2 hours of free-and-easy time of which I spent hovering obsessively at Uniqlo, the husband got a tee from CDG, and the sister, her busband and I managed to sneak in more beer counts ravaging through the supermarket in the mall. <br />
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Dinner for this evening was a highlight - Ichiran! The husband and I first discovered <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/07/day-5-our-last-full-day-in-osaka.html" target="_blank">Ichiran </a>in Jun this year. What started as a random decision to join this ridiculously long queue along the canal in Osaka, turned out to be the best decision! The ramen we had then was tasty and amazing, and we were so thrilled to have this shared experience with this #happyfamilyinJapan crew. There was, however, no queue when we went. What was nice through our reservation though, was that we had a private space just for all of us. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x4yKmtF7EkpQ7PoVgW9_qhYGwHRGY1cnm9IDt2l9XWRzH6Wx30wEYnZOMmDEl5VM03NqV_qWpFumivJxJl0njJH1pF1QQzzgDGO8cSS6ZoODkgqkLLm-gGNZDS_A68i8n6FppUklyecB/s640/blogger-image--1325570414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x4yKmtF7EkpQ7PoVgW9_qhYGwHRGY1cnm9IDt2l9XWRzH6Wx30wEYnZOMmDEl5VM03NqV_qWpFumivJxJl0njJH1pF1QQzzgDGO8cSS6ZoODkgqkLLm-gGNZDS_A68i8n6FppUklyecB/s640/blogger-image--1325570414.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eager beavers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMvD3PyagHDHFVwDIJ8-uLYiWjLBTBJO3v-nXerv84tKTteyon_GiTy60sNs6vs1RfdM8E4vmsdXFg-m3jt4mOGX1uyYjotzlHtHWQcqg2Spu0LKIJx_3LRvnUybhGi6uyzvLgDbR4Xd_/s640/blogger-image-1565536324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMvD3PyagHDHFVwDIJ8-uLYiWjLBTBJO3v-nXerv84tKTteyon_GiTy60sNs6vs1RfdM8E4vmsdXFg-m3jt4mOGX1uyYjotzlHtHWQcqg2Spu0LKIJx_3LRvnUybhGi6uyzvLgDbR4Xd_/s640/blogger-image-1565536324.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place your stakes everybody!</td></tr>
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</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSLe9pcy5h_r7gRi4ns6igrJnHLYY5_q0B98Kuwf8168SEjRXFRfT_Xj_tBq9_vo-8dIHewABzqtRzV9OcTu3izsyeob8RAaeExSgZUnHokAHzbFwnv69GJ5PSbmMgncIONbZfQ7z_zZC/s640/blogger-image-748184106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSLe9pcy5h_r7gRi4ns6igrJnHLYY5_q0B98Kuwf8168SEjRXFRfT_Xj_tBq9_vo-8dIHewABzqtRzV9OcTu3izsyeob8RAaeExSgZUnHokAHzbFwnv69GJ5PSbmMgncIONbZfQ7z_zZC/s640/blogger-image-748184106.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyes on the prize</td></tr>
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I finished it all; and then some (the kids' leftovers). It was so indulgent and I definitely overate but it was one of those things where it only tasted THAT good when you're there, so why not?! Everyone seemed to really enjoy their noodles too and it was such a positive dining experience. It was also a nice end to this leisurely day as we did not need to rush about too much and yet managed to accomplish things quite easily (i.e. not losing anything in our commute, mini-bouts of shopping and amazing Ichiran). <br />
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That night, we went back to our hotel and gathered in our room. I cannot remember any highlights of the night, just that we continued to feast on beers, talk and laugh a lot and Dad, who usually always never hangs out has started looking forward to hanging out at night too. <br />
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Good night world, said me-so-full-I-would-have-burped-ramen... haha!<br />
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PS: my legs were still sore from <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-4-we-take-on-disneyland.html" target="_blank">Disney yesterday</a>, and the run this morning sustained my leg-aches! </div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-20816409315150029292017-10-12T12:01:00.001+08:002017-10-13T11:28:59.028+08:00Day 4 : We take on Disneyland!We dedicated a full day to Disneyland. It was such an exciting day that everyone looked forward to. I always enjoy Disney and I know the children were stoked too. We had a simple breakfast at home just to fill our tummies (<em>note to self: Starbucks cup coffee sold at marts does not taste nice</em>) and off we went!<br />
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It was a short bus ride (4 stops) away to the main bus station; and the Disney gang - the sister and her busband, the Mother, the children and me - set off. The bus came and in no time, we were on our way. The weather this morning was slightly wet (post rain), the sun was up and it felt nice and the temperature just right. <br />
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The husband and the Father opted out from Disney and they planned their small adventures on their own. It turned out to be a good break for them from us and I think it worked out very well for all of us. -thumbs up-<br />
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On the stroll off the bus to the entrance of Disney, it felt really festive. There were many people all dressed up in Disney-gear, large throngs of people of all ages and it just felt so <em>happy</em>. I was so excited! It was just past 9am (opening hour) and we were right on track of our day's plan. YAYYYY<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in line to get through the gates</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listening intently to instructions - where do we go!</td></tr>
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Again, the sister had a plan. She and her busband researched this beautiful concept called the <em>fast pass</em> and for the first time ever that I have been going to Disney in the past years with my children, I used the fast pass and got to take rides that are outside of toddler-land! WOOT! We grabbed the first pass for this super ride - Space Mountain. It was an hour before our turn, so we turned the corner and went on this ride Star Tours. It kinda looked like something Star-Wars-y and there was practically no line and I'm so thrilled to say that within an hour of us stepping into the theme park, we were on our first ride. Oh yeahhhh</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 Star Tours</td></tr>
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I sent the above pic to our family chat, and got the below response:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9llFCzv3v8wDZRfMNlaUzM97HLcgXFoIikT9bAZwiJH-aRiEJATLKn6kPbk6k4fqZo-YkXS61uX9oBOKXL75M03yakqIDTrBFW4rAeTDzLIruxqfYo48pRnyKHdRN0BEMP6QRLwgHnTMA/s640/blogger-image--754336162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9llFCzv3v8wDZRfMNlaUzM97HLcgXFoIikT9bAZwiJH-aRiEJATLKn6kPbk6k4fqZo-YkXS61uX9oBOKXL75M03yakqIDTrBFW4rAeTDzLIruxqfYo48pRnyKHdRN0BEMP6QRLwgHnTMA/s640/blogger-image--754336162.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We are also on our first ride"</td></tr>
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That made me LOL. The duo were on their way on their foodie adventures, and it felt so good that everyone was having a good time. The first ride was a simulation-type and even though we did not understand Japanese, it was still a fun ride. <br />
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Our #2 was Space Mountain! We proudly used our fast pass and whizzed through the line. May I just say that this feeling feels absolutely victorious - happy dance- <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oh yeah.</td></tr>
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I have heard of this Space Mountain ride but had not much impression of ever taking it before (<em>apparently I have, said Mom</em>) but this time, with the boy with me; it felt a bit of a rush. It was pitch dark and it was kinda pretty with fairy lights, as if we were really in space (if that how it really is like) but I felt a bit disconcerted not knowing where we were going. It was so dark that I could not even see my fingers when I put them up in front of my face. The boy felt a bit shocked I think but we all made it unscathed.<br />
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No time to waste, so off we moved for our next ride - Monsters Inc!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-enough queue that moved pretty quickly</td></tr>
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The ride was adorable - we had to use torches to spy for monsters in the cupboards and home. I kinda watched the movie (bits) before so I found it pretty cute. It wasn't scary nor fast; and we wasted little time moving on. After this ride, the boy spied the ride Buzz lightyear and wanted to take it, so we did. The downside was that the queue was really looooong and time passes really quickly when you're having fun because it was already late morning and we felt a bit peckish.<br />
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While I stood in line, Mom entertained the kids by leaving the queue and bringing them to get snacks, I brought them to take pics, the sister and her busband took the chance to get our next fast pass ride... and we all regrouped at Buzz Lightyear (<em>it was a long queueeeee</em>) to take the ride.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aliens - all of them :P</td></tr>
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This ride seated 3-people in one vehicle and we split up - kids with the B and the ladies altogether. One person sits in the middle and steers the vehicle, the other 2 sit on the side and shoot aliens. Mom was the steerer (<em>who didn't steer!</em>) and the sister and I were shooters (<em>who tried our best to shoot properly). </em>While we all tried our best, let's just say our vehicle did not score the highest (<em>yes, the kids beat me with their scores</em>).<br />
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After this ride, we made a decision to move away from this land (<em>yes, all morning was spent in this zone</em>) and headed to another land... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We couldn't drive the car so still had to walk on foot haha</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also got distracted by shops</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mickey and Minnie</td></tr>
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At this point, the husband sent us a pictorial update:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duo also waiting in line... for their food</td></tr>
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It was truly time to fill our tummies, and so we did a stopover.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overpriced hotdogs and chips and fizzy drinks</td></tr>
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Our lunch view was the beautiful castle and we definitely had to do a memorial shot right there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best bunch of people in the world</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPdwwpHSayfdxd-oicQVL-eGge6UGluhkNQr28eAAauZKAa9ViCp7fC-TECN0NprsIUnJ8tU0M8UE1WCNWyEW5ovIEC4BNEe6huPAUwmyXDtnUCLaK6dben_-GQfU-HNH7VoIMfpV-sOj/s640/blogger-image-2058115476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPdwwpHSayfdxd-oicQVL-eGge6UGluhkNQr28eAAauZKAa9ViCp7fC-TECN0NprsIUnJ8tU0M8UE1WCNWyEW5ovIEC4BNEe6huPAUwmyXDtnUCLaK6dben_-GQfU-HNH7VoIMfpV-sOj/s640/blogger-image-2058115476.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my munchkins</td></tr>
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Post lunch, the sister had to fulfil her churros craving (it only took her 10 years to come back here).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ezcelnlukXXAjQtxfmWH1umvpAr-uM-JnzkTbu403Prmmtp-T62OHVfxuv329_O85mDLqyBD_tPTtdbxnpdZ8Ns1PYwXTfJAE0rxfbgmqvDER8R1XPAbOLVHS68rbLk9QjiILG09xy8K/s640/blogger-image-1129177284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ezcelnlukXXAjQtxfmWH1umvpAr-uM-JnzkTbu403Prmmtp-T62OHVfxuv329_O85mDLqyBD_tPTtdbxnpdZ8Ns1PYwXTfJAE0rxfbgmqvDER8R1XPAbOLVHS68rbLk9QjiILG09xy8K/s640/blogger-image-1129177284.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Churros crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
We kept walking and moved on with more rides... but not before continuing to stuff our faces.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAbLWskHytT4b7AYKBmTIV8Bl8YCZmh0iA7jps0rgvzbimaTxAaRBgnNcVDv9mrWWw8y7eHMmn6x5VD8P1oVDMgDo1z-mLO3QZo0j9VpPkRy23ISKn99DJabKW8uSDU0DlJXpAe6mrDs0/s640/blogger-image-323712238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAbLWskHytT4b7AYKBmTIV8Bl8YCZmh0iA7jps0rgvzbimaTxAaRBgnNcVDv9mrWWw8y7eHMmn6x5VD8P1oVDMgDo1z-mLO3QZo0j9VpPkRy23ISKn99DJabKW8uSDU0DlJXpAe6mrDs0/s640/blogger-image-323712238.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice-cream pitstop</td></tr>
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</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-g0jzE-Xj1U5SLCt527-J9hJtvrRnshw0m0kgaXLMynW7lG4Pjjw0SulegZfcjSyNsl46xDPMjlEm9xmww3sJX-Cmm22jX1KrrflogSgH2YX5QbI2XmWDcYKzTtwY_UuHCpEPrH5j6PPr/s640/blogger-image--453259838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-g0jzE-Xj1U5SLCt527-J9hJtvrRnshw0m0kgaXLMynW7lG4Pjjw0SulegZfcjSyNsl46xDPMjlEm9xmww3sJX-Cmm22jX1KrrflogSgH2YX5QbI2XmWDcYKzTtwY_UuHCpEPrH5j6PPr/s400/blogger-image--453259838.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choo Choo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiFEYU2GW4OFXhanVvlgt-noF2ajUOnQ4PcmiW2eOlU7UF3Zn6JxOK6-mkYAV2cZh-x2QoZ79W6f3H5dCwQV67KbiXQY-2Zn1kWdepKfmVS-Wk1-9T7e7btgahtJKzngT9sdSH57qz6LO/s640/blogger-image-1559103269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiFEYU2GW4OFXhanVvlgt-noF2ajUOnQ4PcmiW2eOlU7UF3Zn6JxOK6-mkYAV2cZh-x2QoZ79W6f3H5dCwQV67KbiXQY-2Zn1kWdepKfmVS-Wk1-9T7e7btgahtJKzngT9sdSH57qz6LO/s400/blogger-image-1559103269.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All aboard!</td></tr>
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<div>
The boy truly velcroed himself to the B cos they tight like that #teamsweaty<br />
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In between the snacks, we boarded the pirate's ship (of the Caribbean) then the choo-choo train that provided us with a birds' eye view of the whole park as it looped around the perimeter. It was relaxing and while it doesn't sound like we did much, we had been our feet all morning -groans-<br />
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We then joined the short-ish queues for Snow White (short and swift around the evil Witch's haven), and the sister fulfilled her love affair to reunite with Dumbo. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc0OQfYxrCHWS9ngt0tWfZ2Wo12nFGRNH3gu2xPx0cLLiOO8Ex1qEYg0E_DuA1mrYAQIwdW9UZIzYfXGaIMKockC5BPN_xlhrrLIYO9BquI3PHzEmWaGwZRTmyyoZFrIRr8Q80tSEzTIY/s640/blogger-image-1564565058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc0OQfYxrCHWS9ngt0tWfZ2Wo12nFGRNH3gu2xPx0cLLiOO8Ex1qEYg0E_DuA1mrYAQIwdW9UZIzYfXGaIMKockC5BPN_xlhrrLIYO9BquI3PHzEmWaGwZRTmyyoZFrIRr8Q80tSEzTIY/s640/blogger-image-1564565058.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enroute to Dumbo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk_YM9yH8AJu6Go_qyFR3khfH1SjtT_OOgjDaSq7obGxp-9YEYRbywm55c_bAVEkGinEviGjUAbhPwLsWswsiZfB2yFZdtd0qUqjlMcuZslIzvb0pEcc2pNszVE_dfHmZC6xEc90HvoLy/s640/blogger-image-2039235181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk_YM9yH8AJu6Go_qyFR3khfH1SjtT_OOgjDaSq7obGxp-9YEYRbywm55c_bAVEkGinEviGjUAbhPwLsWswsiZfB2yFZdtd0qUqjlMcuZslIzvb0pEcc2pNszVE_dfHmZC6xEc90HvoLy/s640/blogger-image-2039235181.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the big kid</td></tr>
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The B and I opted out from Dumbo and we hung around chit-chatting and waiting for them. There was a haunted house across Dumbo and he was teasing me to go in but I declined politely. Horror is not my thing. At this point, it was about 4 or 5pm and it was time for <em>the parade</em>. I LOVE the parade as it is such a happy affair but no one seemed to share my enthusiasm. Instead, they opted to join the queue for horror house and after some tug-of-war between yes or no, the boy said he still wanted to go to the horror house so I joined in the line too. While in the queue, the music for the parade started up and the boy changed his mind. Happily, I brought him to watch the parade. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXEA4W2t2Eq_Pg0_T2ILJDHoeOjvqYXwmChrHqhJ0Kn9-2VI0nva1JjUE8TQOBGpMajBcOD51VjyJ8oj8XUJ4ikFxQqUB3bTYpYtkj1pXmCWMbKjTt_uTVDnNJlNViw_VdCit1Ed2QJO7/s640/blogger-image-1217584205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXEA4W2t2Eq_Pg0_T2ILJDHoeOjvqYXwmChrHqhJ0Kn9-2VI0nva1JjUE8TQOBGpMajBcOD51VjyJ8oj8XUJ4ikFxQqUB3bTYpYtkj1pXmCWMbKjTt_uTVDnNJlNViw_VdCit1Ed2QJO7/s640/blogger-image-1217584205.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love how he still waves at the characters :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqKgU74k93UVYnUlc9OUuiJM3xWosAe1dezJiGKTIg5PwfIEhGmToDJ7tB6tkj1CAGCUaDRpaTwdPVTAhcRSnO0bLFU_HNQtUBX_YVOC69PeEeVqWIeXijZlNPrY9Xz64eWlFUyOVvx6L/s640/blogger-image-1988886724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqKgU74k93UVYnUlc9OUuiJM3xWosAe1dezJiGKTIg5PwfIEhGmToDJ7tB6tkj1CAGCUaDRpaTwdPVTAhcRSnO0bLFU_HNQtUBX_YVOC69PeEeVqWIeXijZlNPrY9Xz64eWlFUyOVvx6L/s400/blogger-image-1988886724.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My baby boy and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The horror crew managed to catch the tail end of the parade as they stepped out from the ride, which was supposedly not too horrific. <br />
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It was late afternoon by now and we were all tired. At this point, we had accomplished 9 rides, had junk food, and walked miles and miles. We still had our fast pass for Splash Mountain to use, and at this point we decided to join the line for Winnie the Pooh. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKNs5q7IZCkInHlLVMmit6IyhAUhhUtp50nu7qjvbdkOA5_L83z2ZPqVwE8468OfR2i15c_RSaqvsK7IFokzyKxERSDGSiyeqhgnDDg68IcL8iyfRWOEb1KRRs80KWSxhGM1CkkQazY7L/s640/blogger-image--595345492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKNs5q7IZCkInHlLVMmit6IyhAUhhUtp50nu7qjvbdkOA5_L83z2ZPqVwE8468OfR2i15c_RSaqvsK7IFokzyKxERSDGSiyeqhgnDDg68IcL8iyfRWOEb1KRRs80KWSxhGM1CkkQazY7L/s640/blogger-image--595345492.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took us forever to get to the inside of the house - wails-</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkp-oqVJUpFUaKtD69P6KTrTzM3QfPuttSMHc6VZ7nYivMABUXUu5yi6Ms8xCg7v4bux8kyiOSZjRvNWG7GtnwnLrhJcZzb_eGUM0GK-gATgXh_AbQRWbtuWhV2HY9gwouM_1NI-VOwV3/s640/blogger-image--33029492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkp-oqVJUpFUaKtD69P6KTrTzM3QfPuttSMHc6VZ7nYivMABUXUu5yi6Ms8xCg7v4bux8kyiOSZjRvNWG7GtnwnLrhJcZzb_eGUM0GK-gATgXh_AbQRWbtuWhV2HY9gwouM_1NI-VOwV3/s640/blogger-image--33029492.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness to finally be at the front</td></tr>
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This line was probably the most painful. It was long, and slow and it was also many hours since we started our day (8 hours!). While this ride wasn't scary, it was still very pretty and nice as we whizzed about on teacups within the book pages of Winnie and his friends. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXEA4W2t2Eq_Pg0_T2ILJDHoeOjvqYXwmChrHqhJ0Kn9-2VI0nva1JjUE8TQOBGpMajBcOD51VjyJ8oj8XUJ4ikFxQqUB3bTYpYtkj1pXmCWMbKjTt_uTVDnNJlNViw_VdCit1Ed2QJO7/s640/blogger-image-1217584205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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Next and final ride of the day: Splash Mountain. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK20LiBAg6eVPIX0-TnBgSu6etKlyGlacz9frSqEyWfRd9UWRpNIQUri0SoZUJZ8io1428tM4AyISCI7PjMGfvUEuc2X4PdSW1F2c3191s4v9mSabULK_lBXnJ5nPwzGjYUXSkynEoYZ1e/s640/blogger-image-899447598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK20LiBAg6eVPIX0-TnBgSu6etKlyGlacz9frSqEyWfRd9UWRpNIQUri0SoZUJZ8io1428tM4AyISCI7PjMGfvUEuc2X4PdSW1F2c3191s4v9mSabULK_lBXnJ5nPwzGjYUXSkynEoYZ1e/s640/blogger-image-899447598.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mersmerised</td></tr>
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This, like Space Mountain, was a very popular ride and it was an amazing decision to have secured the fast pass for this. It was also a really good ride - probably my favourite! - as it had the right balance of scenic story views (of the rabbit and his adventures) and thrill (the splash and vehicular turns were yay!). It truly was a nice finale to our day.<br />
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By this point, it was darkfall and we were famished. We had not had proper food all day and we were ready to eat something properly. We headed to the main street where there were restaurants and it felt so comfortable to sit down and be served warm food. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynWlemOatyYLScPg_2WfJtgnaOwV5Pc7C2OkYcvubS69HTPgOeBKlLVJ3PfeYR6CP6ZoKcZq5GyDVTiQ9rUprcwLiafvzKsCmGCEi2YSS7usK0f5Rqc-gvh9FqapIuKrjl7P_3jyUsrLD/s640/blogger-image-552112021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38_R9BEDgHfWx3o2zMruSzV9Mf1OtMqYL_sSZXW-j48O6ZIChR0byBHaNd6MzasIvsr4nw3so3A2d7RBWuLuDrCS_7N78GK-OkIYf1_WrKPJ6RZJ2Ts7ptuEjqv1E3fIijnkREeOv2eVg/s640/blogger-image--1130277896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38_R9BEDgHfWx3o2zMruSzV9Mf1OtMqYL_sSZXW-j48O6ZIChR0byBHaNd6MzasIvsr4nw3so3A2d7RBWuLuDrCS_7N78GK-OkIYf1_WrKPJ6RZJ2Ts7ptuEjqv1E3fIijnkREeOv2eVg/s640/blogger-image--1130277896.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mickey jelly, anyone?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemDzibcaWKFbuEim2VQTQ63JgDKA9sOCgn7bu4Hk9oBGcFEWUgLCzsT_jxGRhGVIrU56VpgmQycgJFzkuFBo3OQLA0bJoPfWb3EEViVL6gFt-IQPLAwObpCqsTdosIEVR1ib4NXLCtR82/s640/blogger-image--407646894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemDzibcaWKFbuEim2VQTQ63JgDKA9sOCgn7bu4Hk9oBGcFEWUgLCzsT_jxGRhGVIrU56VpgmQycgJFzkuFBo3OQLA0bJoPfWb3EEViVL6gFt-IQPLAwObpCqsTdosIEVR1ib4NXLCtR82/s640/blogger-image--407646894.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How about Mickey waffles?</td></tr>
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We were suitably energized after filling our tummies, and we stayed on in the park for the fireworks (8.30pm) and light show (9+pm). We only left the park right at the end and it was truly an <em>amazinggggggg</em> day! Fireworks were something we have caught before and it's a classic that never gets old; but it's the first time we're catching the lights show and it is so pretty. As tired as I was, my spirits were super high. <br />
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We took a bus back and when we got back, the kids were happily and loudly and enthusiastically sharing their day with their father and grandpa. It was so nice. It did not take them long to crash.. it was indeed an eventful day.<br />
The adults stayed up to chat abit, the sister discovered that we had taken about 13,000 steps that day (explains my achey legs) and we also savoured the yummilicious cookie snack that the duo queued and got for us to enjoy. Besides this lovely treat of a special cookie, the manly duo also went to secure the 3-day train passes! It turned out to be one of the best things ever as it brought so much convenience to us all. Woot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsu-QrXaqWEXJkuQBylxJFPcVJ1KHYqnHnczUP8V5RlA6cLBIEUEF_HYhj1Ysz8XqxAQOgJiKlMiOtjlb3itcHPdGCL5OI-BQW42nkP4NCsjLyhQq2dFzubyiHnl_vhh6HYSF81SFf0oM/s640/blogger-image--724123783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsu-QrXaqWEXJkuQBylxJFPcVJ1KHYqnHnczUP8V5RlA6cLBIEUEF_HYhj1Ysz8XqxAQOgJiKlMiOtjlb3itcHPdGCL5OI-BQW42nkP4NCsjLyhQq2dFzubyiHnl_vhh6HYSF81SFf0oM/s640/blogger-image--724123783.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynWlemOatyYLScPg_2WfJtgnaOwV5Pc7C2OkYcvubS69HTPgOeBKlLVJ3PfeYR6CP6ZoKcZq5GyDVTiQ9rUprcwLiafvzKsCmGCEi2YSS7usK0f5Rqc-gvh9FqapIuKrjl7P_3jyUsrLD/s640/blogger-image-552112021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynWlemOatyYLScPg_2WfJtgnaOwV5Pc7C2OkYcvubS69HTPgOeBKlLVJ3PfeYR6CP6ZoKcZq5GyDVTiQ9rUprcwLiafvzKsCmGCEi2YSS7usK0f5Rqc-gvh9FqapIuKrjl7P_3jyUsrLD/s400/blogger-image-552112021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We worked hard for our beers tonight</td></tr>
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I didn't remember that Disneyland doesn't serve beers, which would have been a nice pick-me-up mid-day. But we did make it through and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, so this proves that we are not alcoholics #justsaying<br />
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That night, I truly felt like I could not walk anymore... it felt so victorious to have conquered #11 rides in all in 1 day at Disneyland - it is truly a record for us! #WIN. I cannot say it enough that it was a truly, nice and happy day at the happiest place in the world!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Read the sister's account of Disney <a href="http://afoofub.blogspot.sg/#!/2017/09/t-o-k-y-o-part-three-disneyland-abit-x.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-3913353675878255972017-10-11T17:32:00.002+08:002017-10-12T10:27:29.022+08:00Day 3: Sapporo to TokyoIt's the day we are to fly out from Sapporo, so we decided to try out the hotel buffet breakfast. It was also convenient and minimized travelling and other logistical challenges. The family met at the restaurant (<em>I was last because I let everyone wash up before me. And I couldn't get out of bed - yawns</em>) and it was a simple but sufficiently filling spread of Western (tomatoes, egg-cooking station, sausages) and Japanese (miso, pickles, Jap-egg tamago) options... I was feeling pretty stuffed after the jolly feasting the past few days... not as if that deterred me from eating to the point of <em>full</em>. Hahaha.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE6KEm-aiU2oi3bG5ZkpagSP09MEMhHtytjdCSm3dkX-Kx1UQumKHxQkK9pglNGiWgCbwvt8f1HSsHadcR6H15iCp11eLkCFWckuhIFIiTvIYB_dK9oum_p2lIljMmZE1duasQOBItDry/s640/blogger-image--2098412925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE6KEm-aiU2oi3bG5ZkpagSP09MEMhHtytjdCSm3dkX-Kx1UQumKHxQkK9pglNGiWgCbwvt8f1HSsHadcR6H15iCp11eLkCFWckuhIFIiTvIYB_dK9oum_p2lIljMmZE1duasQOBItDry/s400/blogger-image--2098412925.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K takes a wefie - you can make out the husband's tiny head</td></tr>
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Anecdote: the restaurant is located at the basement and because I was the last to go for breakfast, it was the husband who brought the children down. In the lift, he asked the kids, "<em>what does B stand for" </em>and our 5yo boy chimed loudly <em>"BREAKFAST!" -LOL- gotta loveeee the things kids say!</em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s7gdCicEM0s7dDkSNCBNMRnxE2nZM0vVQoq86RvjYO2ZwfJ_TkXbioi7RLNER2tRyGJtDcMhZsJPWOvh50vBfosJw_grXbBHG61YcOL-c2ZFYt8tLOXzJorb4MvTmQGkbzzV3gQLF6-i/s640/blogger-image-321467365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s7gdCicEM0s7dDkSNCBNMRnxE2nZM0vVQoq86RvjYO2ZwfJ_TkXbioi7RLNER2tRyGJtDcMhZsJPWOvh50vBfosJw_grXbBHG61YcOL-c2ZFYt8tLOXzJorb4MvTmQGkbzzV3gQLF6-i/s640/blogger-image-321467365.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B for breakfast.</td></tr>
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After breakfast, we split up to grab our luggage to the lobby to check out. The husband and I encountered some room issues this morning - <br />
(1) our safe door was a bit <strike>stuck</strike> wonky. Thankfully, it was resolved by calling concierge. </div>
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<em>Note: when I told them our safe door was stuck, the Japanese did not process the words "safe door" properly. They came to my room with a door stopper/set of master keys. These tools were not helpful at all. Thankfully, they saw the real problem and managed to open the safe door for us. Yay.</em><br />
(2) <strike>the husband</strike> we misplaced the vehicle valet card and when you need to step out of the hotel room with 3 giant luggages, and 2 children and 5 hand carry pieces (<em>only day 3 and we have grown extra bags...</em>), it was a bit troublesome to be searching through pockets and bag pockets to try to locate a tiny piece of paper. But hooray, we found it!<br />
Check out was smooth, and it was a rewind of <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/31-august-flying-to-japan.html" target="_blank">day one</a>, as we retraced our steps from the hotel, back to the car rental mart, bus-ed back to the airport terminal and can I say that it was <em>such</em> a relief to check in our baggages. <br />
At the airport, we had time for lunch; so we settled down at the food court. There were many stalls selling different types of food and we did our beers BYO style (<em>the sister went to buy it from a supermart</em>) and heartily added to our beer and calorie count. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsbVDkIrVbCiLbYACwSNScVV8Qbiq0bGWHVSXBfajmwUVLTjcn0Hb2ZuoLywOPlXrqDVRfRF0FjJxL_YNy87f38RfoaE4AZf0OowTS4md3nuv8IWbSyQVkyDX_TQzMgsQMYusqolVW4F-/s640/blogger-image-39429954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsbVDkIrVbCiLbYACwSNScVV8Qbiq0bGWHVSXBfajmwUVLTjcn0Hb2ZuoLywOPlXrqDVRfRF0FjJxL_YNy87f38RfoaE4AZf0OowTS4md3nuv8IWbSyQVkyDX_TQzMgsQMYusqolVW4F-/s640/blogger-image-39429954.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the food court</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJucDXOxLYCWJ2kd7zZdoP3QyrXuxbGZ63mOziZbbji0ypArKvXQbjFMGvKiG1jqhdHcFerMPwb0jm6Hd3ukI0ie7xk4_RDbPA4KhlIUUqaVyhX9L74Af4cGtM0NaQ79TIp-5-oAPs1OR/s640/blogger-image--127806839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJucDXOxLYCWJ2kd7zZdoP3QyrXuxbGZ63mOziZbbji0ypArKvXQbjFMGvKiG1jqhdHcFerMPwb0jm6Hd3ukI0ie7xk4_RDbPA4KhlIUUqaVyhX9L74Af4cGtM0NaQ79TIp-5-oAPs1OR/s400/blogger-image--127806839.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One for the road - goodbye Sapporo (<em>backdrop prop is not by accident</em>)</td></tr>
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The flight from Sapporo to Tokyo was short, and the children requested to sit together again. However, I felt that they needed to keep their brains active and the husband and I took one child each to talk to/be with. I spent the hour+ doing some math problems with J.<br />
We arrived in Haneda airport in the afternoon, and the plan (<em>credit: the sister and her busband!)</em> was for us to commute to our accommodation by bus. We had two things to accomplish: <br />
1) Get the bus tickets for everyone<br />
2) Get the 3-day train pass for everyone<br />
3) Catch the bus and make it to our home<br />
We started off with (1). We stood in line (remember, we have 6 adults, 2 children and a ton of luggage to wheel <em>and</em> to carry!) to get our bus tickets. Just as we were joining this queue, the BIL said that this was the line to join and I jokingly said "<em>it's great that you know Jap and can direct us"</em>. We then discussed briefly that the bus we were going to take was coming at 5.10pm.<br />
Just then, a friendly lady in uniform approached us and asked if we needed help. I said, yes, we are wanting to get tickets... she pointed to a vending machine about 5metres away with no queue and said she will help us. The human line was pretty long, so we decided to go with the shorter queue option at the machine. She also referred to a timetable she held in her hand and said, "<em>the bus is coming in 5 minutes"</em> - my brain went into overdrive mode! <br />
I left the sister and her busband to purchase the tickets, I went to gather the parents, the husband and the children (<em>they were already scattered browsing in some random shop!)</em> and we started charging our way to the bus-stop because <em>the bus is arriving in 5 minutes! </em>It was <em>just </em>at the point <em>before </em>we began charging, that the lady clarified and said that the bus is only coming in 20minutes... at 5.10pm... that I realised I was holding my breath. -insert appropriate face-<br />
Nothing has really changed, we just made our way to the bus stop in a more elegant manner. Ha! And this is also where the running joke started - that indeed, the BIL was very accurate in the info he dished out about the bus station/timings so the BIL must know Japanese, indeed!<br />
While waiting for the bus, at the bus-stop with our bus tickets in hand (item 1 ticked off the list), the sister and her busband ventured to tackle task (2). They left to get/enquire about the tickets and in this time that they were away from the rest of us (6 adults, 2 children and a ton of luggage), I went to pee and the father was one anxious parent as he walked up and down, sticking his neck out to look for the sister and her busband. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief when we were reunited. Turns out that the train pass was only available at the main airport terminal; so task (2) remain unchecked. <br />
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<br />
Undaunted, our bus arrived as punctually as can be and up we went on this bus (6 adults, 2 children and a ton of luggage). Task (3) checked!<br />
The bus was a regular bus ride, so most people dozed off; while some of us kept chatting about nothing much in particular. The plan was for us to get to Tokyo Disneyland's main bus station and it was with delight that we disembarked the bus! I had nearly forgotten about this, but the sister's blog mentioned it and I need to also say that when I was getting off the bus, I was -ahem- so strong in lifting a drawstring bag off the ledge above our seats in the bus, that the bag opened and <em>out flew cups of instant noodles</em>. Besides being mortified that my food is flying, it was made only slightly better that the noodles <em>nearly, but did not</em> hit this man who was innocently trying to make his way off the bus. I had to pick up the *%$^ cup noodles <em>and</em> accompanying wooden disposable chopsticks... *I seem to have some affinity with falling cup noodle<br />
The bus station kinda looked like what I remembered it to be, though I was not certain of my bearings entirely. All I did was follow the BIL who was leading the circus comprising 8 adults, 2 children and a ton of luggage (<em>not all luggage are created equal - inside joke</em>). We had to loop around the station to get across a road, that led us to another bus terminal where we needed to take a bus to our hood. In the midst of crossing this road, part of us made it, part of us had to run to make it, part of us had to jay-walk to make it and one little girl did not make it across the road. Thankfully, she was <strike>too stunned</strike> calm enough to stay on her the side of the road and waited for the next green man before the sister went over to fetch her. I must be honest and say that I was in camp 'jaywalkers' (along with the husband and our luggages and the boy) so we totally missed out witnessing this story of the girl who got left behind. <br />
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After making it across <em>one</em> road safely, we then found the bus stop that will bring us to our home. Of course, it was at the <em>other</em> end of the terminal so off we went (8 adults, 2 children and a ton of luggage). <br />
Anecdote from the past: It's an open secret that on our last family trip (back in 2013), among 3 adults, 2 children and a small ton of luggages, there were some harrowing street experiences. This was a common reference that the sister and I will dig up to joke about and our benchmark was "<em>as long as we're not in as bad a state as then..."</em><br />
So, in the queue, the sister and I kept wiggling our brows at each other and we were giggling as we referenced past-street-horror-story; and it seemed as if we may be in an ungreat state as we witnessed the long queue at the bus line.... but somehow, we made it. We made it on the bus, across 4 bus stops and made it off the bus. Everyone say, <strong>Hooray!</strong><br />
We had to take a short walk around a bend to our apartment and we were such a big cluster, it took us separate lift rides to get to our apartment; but... we made it! <strong>Applause.</strong><br />
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The apartment was really nice! <em>(Credit to the sister and her busband for sponsoring this stay!) </em>It felt cosy and clean and it only took us 30 minutes to figure out where everyone wanted to reside. It was beginning to get dark and dinner beckoned, so we decided to take a stroll in our hood in search for food.<br />
We settled on this place that reminded me of Yoshinoya, except we ordered food from a vending machine. How complex was this? Apparently, very.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Cyo62BJNrEVajJi50csbE8QodkuQvs_V0ObkwBLLYOsLTX_WrWFk0-p7bbiUQqPyTGXsgvef9XUS-ogvQzRHFzGlMe7HmQNTEgD3UTZdHiDtikkuzkhmXFLMDzk7x3YNSgNNyRsO-qN0/s640/blogger-image-398665557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Cyo62BJNrEVajJi50csbE8QodkuQvs_V0ObkwBLLYOsLTX_WrWFk0-p7bbiUQqPyTGXsgvef9XUS-ogvQzRHFzGlMe7HmQNTEgD3UTZdHiDtikkuzkhmXFLMDzk7x3YNSgNNyRsO-qN0/s400/blogger-image-398665557.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many does it take to figure out how to buy dinner? </td></tr>
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After a relatively simple dinner, we strolled back (3minutes) to our home. But, not before we hit the friendly neighbourhood mart just at the base of the block.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5LWk9o3-frPa6TqDFXURRFq9Eo-uIb-ZzTjMHb81LmAak6FkqlqbBYHn9GNwaFTBigZbWqhkPHukvGnv7etp66DYN5oMwb7X-wSdwzs1jooZ0yEIxbcHtHT-3DUDj9Yabi36ZhYD0cdU/s640/blogger-image-127782712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5LWk9o3-frPa6TqDFXURRFq9Eo-uIb-ZzTjMHb81LmAak6FkqlqbBYHn9GNwaFTBigZbWqhkPHukvGnv7etp66DYN5oMwb7X-wSdwzs1jooZ0yEIxbcHtHT-3DUDj9Yabi36ZhYD0cdU/s640/blogger-image-127782712.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Priorities</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkR3w-uOtu4KWN4mn9jQAfS7XMjz4YSLqcA-aVG86TFmYm4kqkRzs_Y2tEiPf62KS48ABMhZE3y4R2tC6BhBEEUG_9rE9qU2bsfctYwzvqiathT4qlg851uc_HKteBSIBOn_Cc5T5ilKk/s640/blogger-image--1165534340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkR3w-uOtu4KWN4mn9jQAfS7XMjz4YSLqcA-aVG86TFmYm4kqkRzs_Y2tEiPf62KS48ABMhZE3y4R2tC6BhBEEUG_9rE9qU2bsfctYwzvqiathT4qlg851uc_HKteBSIBOn_Cc5T5ilKk/s640/blogger-image--1165534340.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corridor leading to our home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjf98gNb6YmLQWECYJukxkd8Z0HBEu_mUsrTsDt0JQLM3_SjQA_nhmyTW2ET3lpXlEaEi9SNqiW29bIrQ10RRAWc1KGaM8r0DJmwS0YU7oXV4jIidanVUu2IckAl51x3d1r9AQxm0REJr/s640/blogger-image--512678303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjf98gNb6YmLQWECYJukxkd8Z0HBEu_mUsrTsDt0JQLM3_SjQA_nhmyTW2ET3lpXlEaEi9SNqiW29bIrQ10RRAWc1KGaM8r0DJmwS0YU7oXV4jIidanVUu2IckAl51x3d1r9AQxm0REJr/s640/blogger-image--512678303.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home - we made it <strike>messy</strike> homely real quick!</td></tr>
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The concern we had about our airbnb apartment was that it only had one toilet. Strangely, all the airbnb apartments we researched only provided one toilet. In our case, the toilet was <em>huge</em>. That made it better; but we all kinda started a courteous system where we'll let the kids go first, then the father or mother, then the sister or I, then the men didn't really seem to be in a rush to get clean at all; so it all worked out well! It felt really nice to have a home to cosy up in. It is different from us living in our own hotel rooms. Again, credit to the sister and her busband for this excellent choice of home stay<br />
On this night, we huddled in the living room together and listened to music together and had some snacks together. Tomorrow, would be Disney day!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Read about </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/31-august-flying-to-japan.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">coming to Japan day</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, our first </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/1-sept-day-1-sapporo-fish-market.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">full day 1</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, and </span><a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/10/day-2-sapporo-fish-market-chocolate.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> here.</span>pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-75723383779726669402017-10-05T10:57:00.000+08:002017-10-12T10:58:14.027+08:00Mid-Autumn FestivalMid-Autumn this year fell mid-week. The weekend before, the mother had a celebration with her family and I brought the kids to join in the fun. We had (bad) food, entertainment in the form of games etc, and the most important objective was met with the children gathering with their cousins and having a ton of fun, so checked!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon dance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Games on-stage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOnSdQJg1njeAv4dJd5r5PZLcPAvFIbeMPvcgHRTRGOPqI8TSJW4MGko2x-VlMGsheMl39N6NSggx27UYYDb_GbbkH05SETEHY2K2HmiCXHIL075Y7i1ZXvfWQo-CKDVHGgP4N8zYUhyphenhyphen-/s640/blogger-image-2031479001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOnSdQJg1njeAv4dJd5r5PZLcPAvFIbeMPvcgHRTRGOPqI8TSJW4MGko2x-VlMGsheMl39N6NSggx27UYYDb_GbbkH05SETEHY2K2HmiCXHIL075Y7i1ZXvfWQo-CKDVHGgP4N8zYUhyphenhyphen-/s400/blogger-image-2031479001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was very enthusiastic - do not be fooled by the glum face</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1SdMe3zRMJbuuM0p0WEsALzMSBhTS9JLZ396sq8JSxxXJ_U-fPldi5A8lwl3wVNfDnnDRpNYOdMd9jhQ3XFHSt8Dz0s315icgTnV8nu8lRLI3HvR-iPCtaaDfBOJ2bfbq-0NK39tl6BK/s640/blogger-image--1876427292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1SdMe3zRMJbuuM0p0WEsALzMSBhTS9JLZ396sq8JSxxXJ_U-fPldi5A8lwl3wVNfDnnDRpNYOdMd9jhQ3XFHSt8Dz0s315icgTnV8nu8lRLI3HvR-iPCtaaDfBOJ2bfbq-0NK39tl6BK/s400/blogger-image--1876427292.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the games to begin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VH6pBXM7f1EWY7U3qBLshs6mOlasInIuq7UpXNa1cKza2bPfi3VP59H8QpeHWnm6ViPgUexaI2Oew2j2OQ5KLIKhJKP4QLCHV2j8Khr_g-24sQ5mKz7aIEwkleSx7RvNTISVGf39VzHR/s640/blogger-image--772226931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VH6pBXM7f1EWY7U3qBLshs6mOlasInIuq7UpXNa1cKza2bPfi3VP59H8QpeHWnm6ViPgUexaI2Oew2j2OQ5KLIKhJKP4QLCHV2j8Khr_g-24sQ5mKz7aIEwkleSx7RvNTISVGf39VzHR/s640/blogger-image--772226931.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy shot with cousins and uncles</td></tr>
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On the actual day, we made it a point to have dinner together. Though the sister and her busband didn't make it for dinner, they made it in time to have some mooncakes with us too so that was nice #famiyrocks<br />
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It's not a complete festival without some lantern play, so off we went.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWotMdV9u1V0_3TBRGDdUUDzKuYHr39jalFwDEtDLpmW1WIpbYHlpyGaEZJ-DISulKSoNfAizVuw7nV3hJI5_OjFGHI5_HMABK8b-_sXawG10PCOA13fw5JHfMXsapbiKMhlTvtHLJLrW/s640/blogger-image--952035284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWotMdV9u1V0_3TBRGDdUUDzKuYHr39jalFwDEtDLpmW1WIpbYHlpyGaEZJ-DISulKSoNfAizVuw7nV3hJI5_OjFGHI5_HMABK8b-_sXawG10PCOA13fw5JHfMXsapbiKMhlTvtHLJLrW/s640/blogger-image--952035284.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My munchkins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNz4L18H2X3GNc7C6YjjcqR5cvvXbp8nTcKFcPbk8RvO_NcmGmLa7bE5garQZVqUfrovJGLzeBAXds6abD0Od9-8YwselRtb_4Xgrp72_Nmwl2PDhcAkKbsQPiQjtn6-lCSDxSlamPcFR/s640/blogger-image--1285800584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNz4L18H2X3GNc7C6YjjcqR5cvvXbp8nTcKFcPbk8RvO_NcmGmLa7bE5garQZVqUfrovJGLzeBAXds6abD0Od9-8YwselRtb_4Xgrp72_Nmwl2PDhcAkKbsQPiQjtn6-lCSDxSlamPcFR/s400/blogger-image--1285800584.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lit lanterns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9ZAW1C9RkyEEW8XMmYq8OQXoumG_g6OG3ekexSLDdgXUy1_OJLlrtp88ST9sHNwDRXjnAuRrPErY_rgPkaP5M3FMdavSUO2QIvNgsjowTl7zD_-gBCO2H9IJu38zCnDKkUIzrRZVaMK6/s640/blogger-image-1200364717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9ZAW1C9RkyEEW8XMmYq8OQXoumG_g6OG3ekexSLDdgXUy1_OJLlrtp88ST9sHNwDRXjnAuRrPErY_rgPkaP5M3FMdavSUO2QIvNgsjowTl7zD_-gBCO2H9IJu38zCnDKkUIzrRZVaMK6/s640/blogger-image-1200364717.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparklers</td></tr>
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It isn't how elaborate a celebration is, but how we feel and the effort we put in that makes it special. As little as we seem to have done, I hope the children remember the little pockets of fun that we do together as a family. pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-22784414842185603502017-10-04T17:08:00.003+08:002017-10-13T13:18:13.023+08:00Day 2: Sapporo Fish Market, Chocolate Biscuit Factory, Whiskey Factory, OtaruThe husband, the sister and I woke up to meet for a run. Especially after our we-make-gluttons-look-ungreedy-dinner <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/1-sept-day-1-sapporo-fish-market.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a>, it was truly time to <em>try</em> to balance our intake-versus-output. It definitely took some effort, but up we got and off we went.<br />
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I expected the weather to be colder, and was happy I managed to wear my new Nike long-sleeved top that I got just the day before; but it turned out to be really sunny and hot with no winds and it turned out to be pretty dry. The route was also quite boring as we ran on tarmac and pebbled walkways. The most interesting thing was observing Japanese homes.. they are somewhat similar yet not. Quite odd. We managed to clock 6km and it was also this morning that the sister educated me that the Nike app on the phone <em>does not require internet to work. GASP.</em><br />
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After the run, we split up and washed up and the husband and I were (<em>surprise surprise</em>) last to meet at the lobby. The sister and her busband made good of their waiting time by doing coffee run! Yay to fellow coffee-lovers! With our coffees in hand, we headed back to the Sapporo market for breakfast. We decided that there was ample places we could visit to fuel ourselves with unnecessarily amounts of raw fish and Japanese goodness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY2wTpewi8cqaNpqUt_ien33duKF3Wf52t2O6LmwIdezq3Ijz9skQ8vRt6nXU-QKudRlzAO-KH5YUHYkBYKvpTKoXXNiwSPNs0sgWeBfZqVJPoqGkWTEZKQEsbomObRKPPRb2twNFbj_U/s640/blogger-image--1924606700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY2wTpewi8cqaNpqUt_ien33duKF3Wf52t2O6LmwIdezq3Ijz9skQ8vRt6nXU-QKudRlzAO-KH5YUHYkBYKvpTKoXXNiwSPNs0sgWeBfZqVJPoqGkWTEZKQEsbomObRKPPRb2twNFbj_U/s640/blogger-image--1924606700.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy cup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AdPtRM_ETI2DeQwtTZOQg5rvv6sToZEdqSEA4KuHqYiwTshd0yEfMTjGXj9HaIAmXt90GPoiPC8JlojfpyTiD7mf3yWHnfguk03RqJkrdhKpz_yO02YDy_a2GjUgOMZRh4KlbmdTHX5I/s640/blogger-image--948520176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AdPtRM_ETI2DeQwtTZOQg5rvv6sToZEdqSEA4KuHqYiwTshd0yEfMTjGXj9HaIAmXt90GPoiPC8JlojfpyTiD7mf3yWHnfguk03RqJkrdhKpz_yO02YDy_a2GjUgOMZRh4KlbmdTHX5I/s400/blogger-image--948520176.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enroute to breakfast</td></tr>
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This time, both cars parked at the same place and we crossed the street to the other side to venture our options. Again, we were distracted by melons and snacks... but we still made it to this random restaurant picked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZxWEDjs7WAw6FU9GIkk3n30umhjUhUG1Nb7UpacD8LZKD_PPcROvrC2odqHCHH_XUgZV2mt3ngFP83L1zQ77zi2YctYOd8xOlQU_CoQZhmuLlXrBQd__a_sMyc4LIE18jpHfKx9FEhaU/s640/blogger-image-592906741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZxWEDjs7WAw6FU9GIkk3n30umhjUhUG1Nb7UpacD8LZKD_PPcROvrC2odqHCHH_XUgZV2mt3ngFP83L1zQ77zi2YctYOd8xOlQU_CoQZhmuLlXrBQd__a_sMyc4LIE18jpHfKx9FEhaU/s640/blogger-image-592906741.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOvZuzUc43v09PoTJFKnN4raq2T2MO8U-F18-h3nKOaM0FkSV21M9Gdn6M9b6zwid7-8QrUSRi-a8liWkEiQblDHSFkIKpaynWr6KwBzaw4WooMAb6euuCA52E1cqKBcq_kWzH5H1vbNg/s640/blogger-image-115024044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOvZuzUc43v09PoTJFKnN4raq2T2MO8U-F18-h3nKOaM0FkSV21M9Gdn6M9b6zwid7-8QrUSRi-a8liWkEiQblDHSFkIKpaynWr6KwBzaw4WooMAb6euuCA52E1cqKBcq_kWzH5H1vbNg/s400/blogger-image-115024044.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MMmmmmmmm</td></tr>
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Truly, the food tasted as good as it looked. I always have a good time eating with the husband because he tends to order a lot (yay) and we are greedy like that. Abundance is blessing! <em>Burp.</em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeHR3ig7rnTN8j1Qc4crkoKrajO4Y2hAxA8JoXMErigHh3wRDZQ2ZkV_MEkHD5Wfw2B-hHpd0-NHM37CLXdy7KcJY_tP2T0p41qzVGsuFBcFk88ym_4B3YAlhm0_kAGIPqWES6nkUs5zi/s640/blogger-image--1997608267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeHR3ig7rnTN8j1Qc4crkoKrajO4Y2hAxA8JoXMErigHh3wRDZQ2ZkV_MEkHD5Wfw2B-hHpd0-NHM37CLXdy7KcJY_tP2T0p41qzVGsuFBcFk88ym_4B3YAlhm0_kAGIPqWES6nkUs5zi/s400/blogger-image--1997608267.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to our vehicles post-breakfast</td></tr>
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Next stop, the white-chocolate-biscuit-factory. The husband and I have been before, but we were happy to go again with the family. Especially so with the children, as there were activities that they could engage in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObvgtmk8mYWzh5FTlYAL5XOwwxJyOjt8e3tm2qpg69EObEWn_yI8JZynay00z10wdmQEmMYkcO-r9v5kNLteTZ8EVTVEEfRNX5QdDgnxFXYegaFMWufJvr0di-R-i6_pZjDKgcfVnafXY/s640/blogger-image--642647632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObvgtmk8mYWzh5FTlYAL5XOwwxJyOjt8e3tm2qpg69EObEWn_yI8JZynay00z10wdmQEmMYkcO-r9v5kNLteTZ8EVTVEEfRNX5QdDgnxFXYegaFMWufJvr0di-R-i6_pZjDKgcfVnafXY/s400/blogger-image--642647632.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunno why this fountain is a photo opp but it is!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgVDwmiPvGCw_zzQlBXsGZgdPJtOspTv5Zc7QrHH6UB-HXDZaxe7E1AnhoE87xZcskhpOpt4ZYVmO8yBBzBcXvXwDe8lxzbB1t1V9QTU0tV6o2Ux7VAzfhoPfqpJZPC7E9P7hyphenhyphenwmMJswL/s640/blogger-image--1516347081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgVDwmiPvGCw_zzQlBXsGZgdPJtOspTv5Zc7QrHH6UB-HXDZaxe7E1AnhoE87xZcskhpOpt4ZYVmO8yBBzBcXvXwDe8lxzbB1t1V9QTU0tV6o2Ux7VAzfhoPfqpJZPC7E9P7hyphenhyphenwmMJswL/s640/blogger-image--1516347081.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observing the factory food-chain</td></tr>
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We looked through glass panels to observe how the cookies were made through the machinery, like clockwork. It was quite fascinating to watch. Even better when we also got a cookie to eat. We paid for this cookie-decorating activity, look how happy the kids are. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb7ol0DXbrrQDmiGox5S4ZxRXAHdvg_WOH28txrg8U8YYjMcfyr5ZO2DORY2zRgc3u59C8Dun2xMJjljFddewLclkwTFncNPUEKKYbel66jyY7xP5s36xW2Nw12DQIOskIKAaWIybsdeH/s640/blogger-image--471611573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb7ol0DXbrrQDmiGox5S4ZxRXAHdvg_WOH28txrg8U8YYjMcfyr5ZO2DORY2zRgc3u59C8Dun2xMJjljFddewLclkwTFncNPUEKKYbel66jyY7xP5s36xW2Nw12DQIOskIKAaWIybsdeH/s640/blogger-image--471611573.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All cleaned up and ready to start!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDsmstbsY9d6HI5ectGh96WkOy6z1xwGRWlJ3ZKFPnlBpvt5sVLH1ThCFAc1X6n9JZFxS1ViJkuezssBVwB7FcTWyB5OdgxAdZGvpwIq_Kl4TwehuLxsLOhW_Oqhlaz8CLVB0EB5VS9mm/s640/blogger-image-1776038172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDsmstbsY9d6HI5ectGh96WkOy6z1xwGRWlJ3ZKFPnlBpvt5sVLH1ThCFAc1X6n9JZFxS1ViJkuezssBVwB7FcTWyB5OdgxAdZGvpwIq_Kl4TwehuLxsLOhW_Oqhlaz8CLVB0EB5VS9mm/s400/blogger-image-1776038172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVyN9J8dRFMcge79xB737KS3bQVwerH59A6QbDq-ZjBg21bu4EL8aBXfUzFFPNqhAM2Mf8qdWs2mpIx9Yjj_Cd5RRXY3Fno6Nfvy-Gf4FgSFlyckfHuq4AetuBbZTKXwWUflLI5f8uuPk/s640/blogger-image-1807915412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVyN9J8dRFMcge79xB737KS3bQVwerH59A6QbDq-ZjBg21bu4EL8aBXfUzFFPNqhAM2Mf8qdWs2mpIx9Yjj_Cd5RRXY3Fno6Nfvy-Gf4FgSFlyckfHuq4AetuBbZTKXwWUflLI5f8uuPk/s640/blogger-image-1807915412.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the serious face</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKV2IOyRA3KAn4TJfs_wym-b3e_OQLGT9wLRxbfrvlvccOAVhg0a1u7VBwaADWrhmktu8D5RTBg-W0IRbnHBYEUcIkx4DQsedg3iEUJfj1yLc8cyk9NL_O8aLK2Sg9qfkjYvtaC7-g7bi/s640/blogger-image-2040437527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKV2IOyRA3KAn4TJfs_wym-b3e_OQLGT9wLRxbfrvlvccOAVhg0a1u7VBwaADWrhmktu8D5RTBg-W0IRbnHBYEUcIkx4DQsedg3iEUJfj1yLc8cyk9NL_O8aLK2Sg9qfkjYvtaC7-g7bi/s400/blogger-image-2040437527.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate is for decorating... and eating</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ35X2TKEx_yCPocIm5ivfOQd1nNng7-fZdawtHVC5CsN531e_zyrULGW1BsSgkhe7aE1r2l3o8SwQPk9itW6VfLNSe6qE2Ir20V9gDrzx0MYMYoqNYLuYN-z_h23KaSe6nobDu5aJuXik/s640/blogger-image--707207141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ35X2TKEx_yCPocIm5ivfOQd1nNng7-fZdawtHVC5CsN531e_zyrULGW1BsSgkhe7aE1r2l3o8SwQPk9itW6VfLNSe6qE2Ir20V9gDrzx0MYMYoqNYLuYN-z_h23KaSe6nobDu5aJuXik/s400/blogger-image--707207141.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With their final products</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiBM7fYbYyxnFNlefOP2XK0AtbHYTDmZasM1F9kE7cb4dNCfLLNlHg7-txCjIE2Fm3v1VTlzv0XapvcKPmlwXXlO9MOLWCeIXwotLgtX9LE95QKiTsVwAr6Dtw9Qiq_50MvqyWy2YUX4U/s640/blogger-image--1511727082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiBM7fYbYyxnFNlefOP2XK0AtbHYTDmZasM1F9kE7cb4dNCfLLNlHg7-txCjIE2Fm3v1VTlzv0XapvcKPmlwXXlO9MOLWCeIXwotLgtX9LE95QKiTsVwAr6Dtw9Qiq_50MvqyWy2YUX4U/s640/blogger-image--1511727082.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family shot. Happy Halloween at Shiroi Koibito Parks!</td></tr>
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While we accompanied the children, the rest of the family went to explore the rest of the factory. There was a giant mart with different types of cookies; and soft-serve. We enjoyed the cool winds, lovely weather and ice-cream and chilled for a bit. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx4f0P8nam05_CgYE_4zXdKfNAWU3WlZD23nPzYl5_dy45dxSV08P_GAc9ZyL4zQx0hXyYJxrpUBZ1TSevzUnw_UoaNgR4sMdwwzj9ilpscnTcooypyYdF9kT4l_e_V_o0dQMJtyBPIvH/s640/blogger-image--347981101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx4f0P8nam05_CgYE_4zXdKfNAWU3WlZD23nPzYl5_dy45dxSV08P_GAc9ZyL4zQx0hXyYJxrpUBZ1TSevzUnw_UoaNgR4sMdwwzj9ilpscnTcooypyYdF9kT4l_e_V_o0dQMJtyBPIvH/s640/blogger-image--347981101.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yummm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7I7P1dXW3WolW5DW8wP1qSEmA0pe7DUeNSphqIbfOj-D3bG4Wv1AkknaIxtoMJqbQ0sDmOqKx75KzRRvfVQ08YH_RO4IF3EBdZkRjefQoONwR1at2DlCMAucmMhLHvPgv-tODs-2DWv7/s640/blogger-image-509144635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7I7P1dXW3WolW5DW8wP1qSEmA0pe7DUeNSphqIbfOj-D3bG4Wv1AkknaIxtoMJqbQ0sDmOqKx75KzRRvfVQ08YH_RO4IF3EBdZkRjefQoONwR1at2DlCMAucmMhLHvPgv-tODs-2DWv7/s640/blogger-image-509144635.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the factory that entertained the children, we headed to our next destination - a factory for adults; a whisky factory. The drive was quite long.... and thankfully the kid managed to nap some.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoCAEGeK5pAsW0c5S0xqfTnhcVvmoo2HlUHMpptczJdQNYt9l-NHBhaHOhYVv2vR6VDaQPfn5yYOcP5qUnkeq7q3kz1h7OAZZ_4xG9KMwUgL4kbC3YeZdvOGOo_8064dXE_VXR4dG6HDY/s640/blogger-image--61589554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoCAEGeK5pAsW0c5S0xqfTnhcVvmoo2HlUHMpptczJdQNYt9l-NHBhaHOhYVv2vR6VDaQPfn5yYOcP5qUnkeq7q3kz1h7OAZZ_4xG9KMwUgL4kbC3YeZdvOGOo_8064dXE_VXR4dG6HDY/s640/blogger-image--61589554.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sight for sore eyes</td></tr>
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We drove by the sea and it was beautiful!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLu-oxLb4rdrdz2ttfZXA0wQ6tnKauCBNZZvjn9D6aHI38os69R1r2f1H3O7pZBKwXSilaBRvoKWdrS648Czqp9cPkbBfox69JGaLjPZjIFIV41BYwTDm1PFpQi72Vky2HHbZGXi7bNsv/s640/blogger-image--1873982272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLu-oxLb4rdrdz2ttfZXA0wQ6tnKauCBNZZvjn9D6aHI38os69R1r2f1H3O7pZBKwXSilaBRvoKWdrS648Czqp9cPkbBfox69JGaLjPZjIFIV41BYwTDm1PFpQi72Vky2HHbZGXi7bNsv/s400/blogger-image--1873982272.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful ocean driv</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
After an hour+, we arrived.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcXFppjBTl7We9EfW9agBYo8S9crqnkRpv00J7jWuonoBHBCXdwlThWcVMFjPFOozK4-MRhsrOxO7u6Jd_C6uSaBYqf74E2UP7BBUBjLRHIU_fEIG0frkpFSfRXcFRnl2LesyuI45xZrV/s640/blogger-image--1091904422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcXFppjBTl7We9EfW9agBYo8S9crqnkRpv00J7jWuonoBHBCXdwlThWcVMFjPFOozK4-MRhsrOxO7u6Jd_C6uSaBYqf74E2UP7BBUBjLRHIU_fEIG0frkpFSfRXcFRnl2LesyuI45xZrV/s640/blogger-image--1091904422.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikka Whisky</td></tr>
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<div>
This was definitely a highlight - anything that involves tasting (<em>cookies then alcohol</em>) was perfect for our little group. There were conducted tours which were not exactly helpful for us because they were conducted in Japanese only, so we opted for the free-and-easy-browse about. Honestly, I missed a whole chunk of this because I just did not truly understand how it was done. Some grain, some processing, some casks... some output. Ha!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpgp4XTowCb7aSn0oIKKdc_XwtjKPmC2zMrvoYu9fx9Hnih4P8oq62lJq_lRvrM2uTnIdojNgYupGcdoGDHdbjjCcISEauuHkgOqVAV-T_WIHOnk2vLd182pxPW6MNKL4lsfIzjIQ1VLz/s640/blogger-image-1218974965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpgp4XTowCb7aSn0oIKKdc_XwtjKPmC2zMrvoYu9fx9Hnih4P8oq62lJq_lRvrM2uTnIdojNgYupGcdoGDHdbjjCcISEauuHkgOqVAV-T_WIHOnk2vLd182pxPW6MNKL4lsfIzjIQ1VLz/s400/blogger-image-1218974965.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers to whisky!</td></tr>
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The highlight was <em>definitely</em> the tasting session! Every adult of drinking age was allowed to test-taste 3 different samplers of whisky.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ5JQtmdbWi8YCH5jO9n_j5UEp5P0CjxTlGAj-4L4WR3hRtvn1v2-CHN6auuBSUwYnS6guUT67NQLSvE-SQJoVDE2jdx-upFoNEonftGUSANZp6XLTYyRsQS4esyWU-ihM9JYxAbyYH-j/s640/blogger-image-934940307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ5JQtmdbWi8YCH5jO9n_j5UEp5P0CjxTlGAj-4L4WR3hRtvn1v2-CHN6auuBSUwYnS6guUT67NQLSvE-SQJoVDE2jdx-upFoNEonftGUSANZp6XLTYyRsQS4esyWU-ihM9JYxAbyYH-j/s400/blogger-image-934940307.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving our samplers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQQyhwCxtqpnqiQARykDKWb3zC84ZXCwdvvrnlRXaJXHU53PXfIt3XQXsYMFAJOobyhyg1TiAmODWtfmzN_wyPg2v6XGdqJcAhwb08c-HkZRMyMoJBamYuytKi9-Y6KthTRiQq0IIWjN6/s640/blogger-image--1457176694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQQyhwCxtqpnqiQARykDKWb3zC84ZXCwdvvrnlRXaJXHU53PXfIt3XQXsYMFAJOobyhyg1TiAmODWtfmzN_wyPg2v6XGdqJcAhwb08c-HkZRMyMoJBamYuytKi9-Y6KthTRiQq0IIWjN6/s640/blogger-image--1457176694.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1, 2, 3.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcXFppjBTl7We9EfW9agBYo8S9crqnkRpv00J7jWuonoBHBCXdwlThWcVMFjPFOozK4-MRhsrOxO7u6Jd_C6uSaBYqf74E2UP7BBUBjLRHIU_fEIG0frkpFSfRXcFRnl2LesyuI45xZrV/s640/blogger-image--1091904422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfD02cRx5XrUjwvHU14dvM0OR_c8027WfoWNzkSnpbOaZ4irzyXV3j5g02K67DVPZpfXJIBEhXd2VUF30G-WiYBwzwmor8ouQVmDm6IzsAAazrvhAyfDy8Y-W44f6mPOfDMRScPwb3AbI/s640/blogger-image--1873174479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfD02cRx5XrUjwvHU14dvM0OR_c8027WfoWNzkSnpbOaZ4irzyXV3j5g02K67DVPZpfXJIBEhXd2VUF30G-WiYBwzwmor8ouQVmDm6IzsAAazrvhAyfDy8Y-W44f6mPOfDMRScPwb3AbI/s640/blogger-image--1873174479.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's the happy boy!</td></tr>
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Although I was not a fan of whisky, I still enjoyed drinking these! The husband and B were probably the happiest because they actually like the drink and were going on about how 'smooth' or 'fragrant' or... whatever. I just enjoyed the alcohol in the afternoon giving me a healthy buzz... ah, gotta love the holiday life (<em>no, I am not alcoholic).</em></div>
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Besides the free tasters, there was also a drinking bar where you could pay to taste more exquisite whisky. The husband caved after hearing how awesome it was from the B who tried a rich-drink from the bar. So back we went to the club to taste more whisky.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfG9o8CWsRwr2lfl3XrGOG1DjLdjY1GJkc5GuNhaw1nG-E7DUMG8cDhpnxc_FhqgkdiXkG_iwV_6sH_j2UYLGKp09KPmXlQ9MsaaG4X8-PZ3hN-dU_0tFiLFPqwWgR_ayLKu9h9-4fwHO/s640/blogger-image--1105262388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfG9o8CWsRwr2lfl3XrGOG1DjLdjY1GJkc5GuNhaw1nG-E7DUMG8cDhpnxc_FhqgkdiXkG_iwV_6sH_j2UYLGKp09KPmXlQ9MsaaG4X8-PZ3hN-dU_0tFiLFPqwWgR_ayLKu9h9-4fwHO/s640/blogger-image--1105262388.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whisky club (its darkness made it seem even more bespoke)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2A5BlkH-a65ne2abGXzyg_fEwrnzGVbomR3S-xX-hjODQ7WF4UuAY5Arg0VONIzbetSL45roIiqcRWgbs0cxCMO2tjja4fQg0IAYdnShwvnlNgoaHS44HG4UKNcxPfbwvSry5g6a_Kxa/s640/blogger-image--163662129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2A5BlkH-a65ne2abGXzyg_fEwrnzGVbomR3S-xX-hjODQ7WF4UuAY5Arg0VONIzbetSL45roIiqcRWgbs0cxCMO2tjja4fQg0IAYdnShwvnlNgoaHS44HG4UKNcxPfbwvSry5g6a_Kxa/s640/blogger-image--163662129.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEml2Kdf2WdYynXo3_lih6-EzXGhV2sBJtKzYFdHR3H9t5g09TLgIhBvh8I2jNN3yHwGo5TnUps1JWAGWUtDYozBEvd3FI4Aw5vWyQo9qA6OznZ4ovtkTtp4AJhFQFgoRbMOZPNUOGHTVq/s640/blogger-image-1432867738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEml2Kdf2WdYynXo3_lih6-EzXGhV2sBJtKzYFdHR3H9t5g09TLgIhBvh8I2jNN3yHwGo5TnUps1JWAGWUtDYozBEvd3FI4Aw5vWyQo9qA6OznZ4ovtkTtp4AJhFQFgoRbMOZPNUOGHTVq/s640/blogger-image-1432867738.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The special whisky</td></tr>
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I took a sip of the husband's and while I do not appreciate whisky, I must say it was still very enjoyable. It was also very strong. After inhaling happiness, we headed back to the gift shop and this was one time the husband was quick to pick up his wares. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYb4fmmci-cPE0uVCAMnWofXS9RjWCLUvkulkXMiY9-obJlx4RaGFV4ICOe_q0H3w0zgGP1KTylQ4grDJ1e3WQlwCmvo11BbimYjjNhMQkSXLGBLYf2gLyrbl6hdLzeS-uwSMhpQYdnDmD/s640/blogger-image-2009412847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYb4fmmci-cPE0uVCAMnWofXS9RjWCLUvkulkXMiY9-obJlx4RaGFV4ICOe_q0H3w0zgGP1KTylQ4grDJ1e3WQlwCmvo11BbimYjjNhMQkSXLGBLYf2gLyrbl6hdLzeS-uwSMhpQYdnDmD/s640/blogger-image-2009412847.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping suited for the man</td></tr>
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By this stage, we had not had proper lunch. Everyone had been snacking in bits and bobs through the car rides with accompanying snacks while tasting whisky (<em>for the record, the children had water and apple juice. Responsible adults we are.)</em> We decided not to stop anywhere because we still had a relatively long drive to Otaru, the nearby town. So, off we went.<br />
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The sister had planned for a canal ride and even though I know it is an attraction, I decided to give it a miss. I'm susceptible to vertigo and I did not want to risk suffering from it so early on the trip. The husband opted to accompany me. We bade them farewell as they went off for the boat ride, but not after we hunted down some street softserve. Eating ice-cream in cool weather <em>is the best thing ever!</em></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat ride in the canal into the sunset</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, the husband and I decided to look for proper food. He was determined to locate good ramen (<em>him and his ramen!)</em> so we went. The first place we located was closed - boo. Undeterred, we continued to search until we chanced upon this shop that... was empty. I was a bit hesitant if it would be good but after walking till sunset, I was just ready to sit down. </div>
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Turned out to be a pretty good choice!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, food!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich, tasty broth. So good.</td></tr>
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It felt really nice and chill to have hot ramen in cold weather. Truly such a nice feeling. The husband and I had time to spare so we ate slowly, unwound before heading back to the canal-side to wait for the family. I must mention here that even though it was quite chilly, there were these <em>men</em> who were dressed in tiny shorts and kimono tops whose jobs were to pull rickshaws. And they <em>ran</em> with passengers in them! It was quite a sight and I did not take any pics, but let's just say that it was kinda like our Singaporean-type of trishaw (except pulled by men on legs and not bicycle), plus these men were young and very fit. It kinda seemed like they themselves were a kind of an attraction, how bizarre. </div>
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After we met with the family, we introduced them to the stretch of shops we saw and they opted to have ramen at this tiny hole-in-the-wall. It sat a total of 6 people at full capacity. How quaint.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to take a pic from the outside because there was no space!</td></tr>
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The reco turned out to be very, very well-received. After the cool cruise, the family was very happy to tuck into a hot bowl of soupy noodles. YUM. We headed back to our vehicles which were conveniently parked next to the mart and as always, topped up our personal pantry stash to gear up for our nightly party. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snack basket - never turn up to another's room empty handed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was our last night in Hokkaido so the kids got to stay up too</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We never stop eating</span></td></tr>
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Just like that, we have come to the end of our days in Hokkaido. Was it amazing? YAS. Did we eat a lot? YAS. Did everyone have a good time? YAS.</div>
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Though the getting to Hokkaido was quite rough, the full days we spent was nice that we all got to unwind and get right into the holiday mode. The sister was lamenting that she usually takes a while, but I thought it was quite easy for me to ease right into it because we were altogether, talking and laughing all day long; we did not restrict our activities or diet, just doing what we wanted to do or had planned to. </div>
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Our nightly routine of holding an in-house party in each room also organically became the norm and that was another precious moment that I'll hold dear to my heart - it allowed the adults to just hang and chill, and it is definitely something we cannot take for granted because we seldom have this leisurely time/opportunity to do so at home. </div>
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I definitely went to bed with a full heart (and tummy).</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Read about <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/1-sept-day-1-sapporo-fish-market.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a> and how we travelled many miles to get <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/31-august-flying-to-japan.html" target="_blank">to Hokkaido from Singapore</a>.</span></div>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-85341615098096247842017-09-28T14:54:00.001+08:002017-09-28T14:54:33.809+08:0017 September, Kate turns 817 September. This date is very special, because it is the day that I birthed my first baby. Eight years ago on this date. <strong>OMG. Eight. Years. Already. </strong><br />
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So... we usually always celebrate it with K, like her party <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2016/09/kate-turns-7.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, in <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2015/09/17-september-kate-turns-6.html" target="_blank">2015</a>, her epic <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2014/09/kate-turns-5.html" target="_blank">Elsa-themed birthday party </a>when she turned 5, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2013/09/kate-is-four.html" target="_blank">4</a>, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2012/09/kate-turns-3.html" target="_blank">3</a> (we still have that bear), her special <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2011/09/kates-barney-day.html" target="_blank">narnee-turned-up-at-her-party </a>party, and <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2010/09/happy-birthday-kate.html" target="_blank">her special 1</a>. <br />
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This year, we downsized the party because we already informed her that <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/31-august-flying-to-japan.html" target="_blank">Japan</a> was part of her birthday treat; but we still planned small stuff for her special day. It lasted a whole weekend as we did small stuff with her from Friday through to Sunday (actual day). <br />
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Coincidentally, she had no school the Friday before her birthday so I brought her along with me to work. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting coffee with my lovely</td></tr>
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This meant that she wasn't cooped up at home, I got to spend extra time with her; she managed some work and had some play time making new friends with other children who happened to be in the office on this non-school day too. </div>
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She requested for dinner at Haidilao, so I made arrangements for us to eat there on this Friday evening. While the children were not very interested in the food, the girl had her wish obliged with the crew singing her a birthday song loudly.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Seahs celebrate K turning 8</td></tr>
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Keeping in line with tradition of eating with the family, we decided to keep it simple and let her have whatever she wanted. No surprise she opted for junk food. It was a nice effort everyone made to turn up on this Saturday; and it was made special because (1) I scored some party hats - hah (2) we all indulged in eating fast food voluntarily (<em>shudder)</em> (3) everyone rocked up. </div>
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For posterity's sake, let it be known that it was the first time I tried the nasi lemak burger which is the current craze at McD. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No birthday is complete without cake</td></tr>
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On the actual day of K's birthday (Sunday), she spent most of the day with the grandparents. It happened to be moving day and it was pretty hectic. I barely saw her all day as she was playing/whatever with my mom, and one special moment worth mentioning was when Mom brought both kids over to our home unannounced. It was a surprise to see them amidst the busy day and the kids had a chance to take a walk-through (<em>they ran)</em> the mostly-vacant house. It was void of any furniture and it was quite a difference from how we lived in it. <br />
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It was only in the evening, finally, that our family was altogether over dinner; and a highlight was us bringing out a birthday cake for her. I am quite particular like that; that a birthday must be celebrated with cake. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday cake for the birthday girl </td></tr>
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While it was only our family at dinner, I made it a point to invite Godpa (<em>on holiday in Amsterdam on this day</em>) and the siblings (<em>the sister + her busband were at Formula 1</em>) to join in the birthday song and it warmed my heart to have people loving her from near and afar; bothering to sing those simple but meaningful celebratory words to this little girl that they have all watched grow up. As both my phones were used for <em>facetime</em>, I did not manage to capture the special moment, but my heart is full remembering that moment. <br />
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What a journey these 8 years have been; clicking the past 7 birthday celebrations definitely made me feel so blessed that I had enjoyed such precious years with this child. <br />
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<em>Dear baby Kate, no matter how old you are, you will always be my baby. It can be challenging growing up, I know - for both you and me; but let's remember that we are both learning and growing each day and I will always love you no matter what. </em><br />
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<em>I know it's not always fun for you, but let's remember that it's all to equip you with skills on this long road called life. You have definitely grown to become a witty, sometimes snarky girl; you have an infectious laughter and your arms and legs are so lanky I'm surprised you don't trip over yourself more. You have a beautiful button nose that I truly adore and your teeth are so big, I cannot wait to watch you grow into them. You are sweet and sensitive and you can be mature and so understanding that it breaks my heart at how soft you are inside. </em><br />
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<em>Let's continue holding hands no matter how old you get, I hope you will always tell me silly stories no matter what age you are. </em><br />
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<em>I love you baby girl. </em><br />
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<em>Love forever, Mommy</em></div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-68836896700629440682017-09-25T14:12:00.002+08:002017-10-06T14:53:15.834+08:001 Sept (day 1): Sapporo - Fish market, Hokkaido Shrine, Curry for lunch, Shopping and DinnerWe had a plan for today! <br />
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Actually, we pretty much had a plan every day - <em>full credit to the sister and her busband.</em> They were so amazing in their suggestions, planning everything from accommodation, to transport and pick-up points and including things we wanted to eat/see/buy... the whole trip was a breeze because of them so <em>thank you dear sister and your busband. - lots of loveeeeeeee; I hope we played our part by being as obliging and agreeable as possible :)</em><br />
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So, back to our plan. It was to stuff our faces with <em>fresh fish. Mmmmmmmm</em>.<br />
When on holiday, do things that we do not normally do! After a quick stop to 7-11 (steps away from our hotel lobby) to grab a make-shift coffee, we headed off. Destination was the Sapporo Central Wholesale Fish Market (<em>Jyogai Iciban</em>), a 15-minute drive from our hotel. We had 2 vehicles, so we agreed to meet there. <br />
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This was our view when we'd parked our car. Turns out, we had parked at different places (2 roads away), but we managed to meet up anyhow. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1F6e1G6tKPME53VLcAQ2vzba2BcZ5tCtjg-Ca5t9gpBi40ZoXaM7GOfOjwEms-gtJ6BmmU0frxSnL9N1eHbbicgotYzAbioVSWU1DXcYmPNUAbG3jKZZag7XvgBQ3ZQZDOokHjEDnmI5/s640/blogger-image--1054718956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1F6e1G6tKPME53VLcAQ2vzba2BcZ5tCtjg-Ca5t9gpBi40ZoXaM7GOfOjwEms-gtJ6BmmU0frxSnL9N1eHbbicgotYzAbioVSWU1DXcYmPNUAbG3jKZZag7XvgBQ3ZQZDOokHjEDnmI5/s400/blogger-image--1054718956.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wholesale market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While waiting for the other car, we headed into the wholesale market and ventured within. There were stores of raw food, selling fish, vegetable and other stores selling cooked food. We walked the grid about 3 times trying to locate an entrance we can find the rest. This was one of the beauties I saw...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H2vMZL9P9a5WBElvnoTFwZxr-WILKfv0fus6AI_r6oe8wxLpkitU8jBA-48o3o_2qA8LSAPJlPMXxv2OcIr1wi9dgT3YX7Z0RjuGubS6jRGQMvGpbYG7EwgQb9lNe-arfi2abi6gX5k7/s640/blogger-image--1074286177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H2vMZL9P9a5WBElvnoTFwZxr-WILKfv0fus6AI_r6oe8wxLpkitU8jBA-48o3o_2qA8LSAPJlPMXxv2OcIr1wi9dgT3YX7Z0RjuGubS6jRGQMvGpbYG7EwgQb9lNe-arfi2abi6gX5k7/s400/blogger-image--1074286177.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hole-in-wall-sushi-bar</td></tr>
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We ended up not eating in this place anyway, but before we headed out to the main food street, the mother scored a palmful (<em>yes, a lot of balls in her palm</em>) of ikuru.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCVIDpWJKiBKFbCZtEJmpkmmAdlwEE0Nr0MztpBJ0UgENTYubC3b699yjtYirmkSbq5MrkVvfA1qHLROOCxqrphTylGqjEGZnkC0FPK4OFERrdrEEZU1icuQU6G3zfg3hMzaO0N7IA7JT/s640/blogger-image--1301910406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCVIDpWJKiBKFbCZtEJmpkmmAdlwEE0Nr0MztpBJ0UgENTYubC3b699yjtYirmkSbq5MrkVvfA1qHLROOCxqrphTylGqjEGZnkC0FPK4OFERrdrEEZU1icuQU6G3zfg3hMzaO0N7IA7JT/s640/blogger-image--1301910406.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikuru sampling!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57f-183O8-1GKVGVlqgktSqha-soAjJ96EFhVfUHNEt1alqnnjV_2MeWmZeC7X7QB_nONjxDBsMvhVq9v9-_AQcLq4wLuEPSmeqbvJoDDWn4TkfsP6O5SoZHLrdl87rcIsE1XC7bt-e_g/s640/blogger-image--119386082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57f-183O8-1GKVGVlqgktSqha-soAjJ96EFhVfUHNEt1alqnnjV_2MeWmZeC7X7QB_nONjxDBsMvhVq9v9-_AQcLq4wLuEPSmeqbvJoDDWn4TkfsP6O5SoZHLrdl87rcIsE1XC7bt-e_g/s640/blogger-image--119386082.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikuru 0, family 1</td></tr>
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The weather was beautiful, and so we had to take a picture, just because we are happy!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XBkLFZwV-s0Zwz9lblFKkqikYO08mJt7u7wb6xmC0ZLVR8_7kKbXuZM2zUuLiyJdpqWwFkdWH4OQrgV94ahsXlWuXKWzBRgs1bf7H8iVWjxSf-bro_z0JNThm461hk6XBkw16cBiwnYR/s640/blogger-image-1930062192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XBkLFZwV-s0Zwz9lblFKkqikYO08mJt7u7wb6xmC0ZLVR8_7kKbXuZM2zUuLiyJdpqWwFkdWH4OQrgV94ahsXlWuXKWzBRgs1bf7H8iVWjxSf-bro_z0JNThm461hk6XBkw16cBiwnYR/s400/blogger-image-1930062192.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-fmvicTMtCEBxtvyCd1J3R1Y4zvtXQ2_XYKrzumgQvuDwMecZGacXtAWWq7_JbLrEWX617zIoHntRAdS3ZL21nme2Mw11QWqV9f-G0zvzkN13almpnR9djP2xaYLkdo9grp_C8bYrGTf/s640/blogger-image--430620294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-fmvicTMtCEBxtvyCd1J3R1Y4zvtXQ2_XYKrzumgQvuDwMecZGacXtAWWq7_JbLrEWX617zIoHntRAdS3ZL21nme2Mw11QWqV9f-G0zvzkN13almpnR9djP2xaYLkdo9grp_C8bYrGTf/s640/blogger-image--430620294.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast</td></tr>
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After walking along the streets (trying not to stop to sample <em>every thing</em> we saw), we ended up at this mart that sold fresh food on the first level, and served as a restaurant on the second. What we saw on the menu made us very happy, and it was even better when the food arrived. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26tpjRzj42oDXYPwoZ-SZP-ROS5s7fptvDYVf1GGTc1Kel7ns_Kh3e0BXh-xY9NNvmekx3Jk7FJo_oerMki08sflZnRezU70BCo78sZLcCLi9AqkM6cCZK19yMTgsIOFYVpr_A6kmZNZ1/s640/blogger-image-1829458774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26tpjRzj42oDXYPwoZ-SZP-ROS5s7fptvDYVf1GGTc1Kel7ns_Kh3e0BXh-xY9NNvmekx3Jk7FJo_oerMki08sflZnRezU70BCo78sZLcCLi9AqkM6cCZK19yMTgsIOFYVpr_A6kmZNZ1/s640/blogger-image-1829458774.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's not easy travelling with kids, especially when they are as active and loud as mine. However, I found a way to occupy this active boy - drawing. He loves to draw and if you gave him a task, he was quite happy and willing to accomplish the brief. It made me so happy to watch him concentrate in his task. I am also very proud of his drawing - he expresses details in his own way and it always makes me smile. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6aeC6sCenvKMcea78B27-tl0-Y5wMNvsiLf_c19zFpaPlG_J_laIBndQVyHRRfHwA2hAu0RVOeNUIaTdAOzFjADS4yepPCA72z-ccJRgsiBTb5BdQDwyRptNTmdyG7rMXiyyb5Zl27gt/s640/blogger-image-1016994574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6aeC6sCenvKMcea78B27-tl0-Y5wMNvsiLf_c19zFpaPlG_J_laIBndQVyHRRfHwA2hAu0RVOeNUIaTdAOzFjADS4yepPCA72z-ccJRgsiBTb5BdQDwyRptNTmdyG7rMXiyyb5Zl27gt/s640/blogger-image-1016994574.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping him entertained</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj2lV14cPnNiO7OE11UBXi5CeCw70grPXLq7DOZCR65FQeFcdY3SolUH2OBy6ZivEam3Hj1O8E3-R19cUSjGxXnJ_m31rwPmjYjzp_SzkVG5eGkWS2uPrBE1xd-G0bBix2X-OPX2VrnsL/s640/blogger-image-1364073930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj2lV14cPnNiO7OE11UBXi5CeCw70grPXLq7DOZCR65FQeFcdY3SolUH2OBy6ZivEam3Hj1O8E3-R19cUSjGxXnJ_m31rwPmjYjzp_SzkVG5eGkWS2uPrBE1xd-G0bBix2X-OPX2VrnsL/s640/blogger-image-1364073930.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh-supermarket-browsing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTitKNSJyLg7Qr8145BvU4sAfAJMKMxgy_liyzuyQlf8az96IZZ9fo-MqBz5VVw16EabBqizKmrMHmXXJ2OmG4DRWmujecn7XygIRi91A2JtLNCndvdsZPw7kwzWckFAyKXwP515GNPfVw/s640/blogger-image--1704539137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTitKNSJyLg7Qr8145BvU4sAfAJMKMxgy_liyzuyQlf8az96IZZ9fo-MqBz5VVw16EabBqizKmrMHmXXJ2OmG4DRWmujecn7XygIRi91A2JtLNCndvdsZPw7kwzWckFAyKXwP515GNPfVw/s400/blogger-image--1704539137.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly edible</td></tr>
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Above was a snapshot tease only of all that we saw at the mart; it was very refreshing to fill our tummies and then continue shopping with no specific aim in mind. Ahh, the joys of being on holiday with no serious agenda. Woot! After eating, we made our way to the next stop.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt94JT9jsLcttX3L4ccsKiOy9tvT75Z86zwf5t6BjPQXhA-kXIbVzDwgR1MgSSwcR_fwumucjRf-u-XDW9RznX-TAEQ8i2xLfylRGK6x9dQz3UHLNx4S-FinCvwLXTFHZgk9T4f7pubOzd/s640/blogger-image--908863082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt94JT9jsLcttX3L4ccsKiOy9tvT75Z86zwf5t6BjPQXhA-kXIbVzDwgR1MgSSwcR_fwumucjRf-u-XDW9RznX-TAEQ8i2xLfylRGK6x9dQz3UHLNx4S-FinCvwLXTFHZgk9T4f7pubOzd/s640/blogger-image--908863082.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool winds, cloudy skies, family = love</td></tr>
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We headed to the Hokkaido Shrine, about a half hour's drive away. While we are very greedy, we decided that we should try to do something different in between the main job of eating, and so we did. The shrine was quite lovely, and it was nice to just walk about, just because. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWpzRKh_2soAQ5GiaI3Geo37GwYcIOpZp4z707N0dQDQgOFgKrgX-BNdc2KmFAK88ZhNVrinM7pNF6HpxXKOB1uIFmWtzMhJ5ElfVJQmtlxk362g2nJ5BabwiXS8tdnI3r26kW3wZT1oc/s640/blogger-image--798489591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWpzRKh_2soAQ5GiaI3Geo37GwYcIOpZp4z707N0dQDQgOFgKrgX-BNdc2KmFAK88ZhNVrinM7pNF6HpxXKOB1uIFmWtzMhJ5ElfVJQmtlxk362g2nJ5BabwiXS8tdnI3r26kW3wZT1oc/s400/blogger-image--798489591.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to shrine</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78S5PQPVJtOMXPVZOapGdxBXNYnRpl_FsV_drwIPL4qAU6Ce-jzyYqvThCKEqOA3W_Q7KXSzucEW_F2WfIznAjUM0zimxS8yGIa9PL_LLq0MNf0O2AkD4CHsVFWjTfacdNdfPGQs7VbeD/s640/blogger-image-2039930404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78S5PQPVJtOMXPVZOapGdxBXNYnRpl_FsV_drwIPL4qAU6Ce-jzyYqvThCKEqOA3W_Q7KXSzucEW_F2WfIznAjUM0zimxS8yGIa9PL_LLq0MNf0O2AkD4CHsVFWjTfacdNdfPGQs7VbeD/s400/blogger-image-2039930404.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We chanced upon a wedding </td></tr>
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After a short tour within the shrine, we decided to venture the external compound. There was an abundance of trees, fresh air and space, so we just walked. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi1wFRVMggwOnfiWpU-vaNCoMWArMz0UYcR9CY4ZWTL6DKYjqbeFjLS6qT-AJ80CQdCEKvzXzVHwnuF-UtUeaHj_tNdp34QjNGel9IPFOS88T1BTObFnMgLTDRPRYS8Q5eYqTFrrEe_7d/s640/blogger-image--1655639071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi1wFRVMggwOnfiWpU-vaNCoMWArMz0UYcR9CY4ZWTL6DKYjqbeFjLS6qT-AJ80CQdCEKvzXzVHwnuF-UtUeaHj_tNdp34QjNGel9IPFOS88T1BTObFnMgLTDRPRYS8Q5eYqTFrrEe_7d/s400/blogger-image--1655639071.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHEE!</td></tr>
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<div>
The children saw a sign that said "zoo" so we obliged and headed where the arrow pointed. We never found any zoo <em>(sighting a squirrel did not qualify)</em><em>;</em> instead, finding a lovely spot where the parents took a <em>tian mimi </em>shot...</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYoRArmsvCCFmI8lM8IaVlWKQ-Ug60jACQDV7FMJ3HlDrux9aVFF0uXFV5aNJoK5ROpXqWyqM5RbPXmx__pHgWKyoeTrEbZPXNbcu7hsNG-Kuy3eA46GXsyUkffWvtLJ4bXCjXWdQ9Qy8/s640/blogger-image-25708172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYoRArmsvCCFmI8lM8IaVlWKQ-Ug60jACQDV7FMJ3HlDrux9aVFF0uXFV5aNJoK5ROpXqWyqM5RbPXmx__pHgWKyoeTrEbZPXNbcu7hsNG-Kuy3eA46GXsyUkffWvtLJ4bXCjXWdQ9Qy8/s640/blogger-image-25708172.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love goals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
The men found food like bees to honey...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G-JiOEOe-8hSatzxxG2s0253tpOGU0hBw7ams4DovS9up0nbA2yyOdhW-5QU8cXTLGNQz0uMOhjdqxdbPvrA9survSZdAzc-dysHI2nrUada7C8_metNsj7Mq1tcvIbhxcMTkOPzeklC/s640/blogger-image-1614566897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G-JiOEOe-8hSatzxxG2s0253tpOGU0hBw7ams4DovS9up0nbA2yyOdhW-5QU8cXTLGNQz0uMOhjdqxdbPvrA9survSZdAzc-dysHI2nrUada7C8_metNsj7Mq1tcvIbhxcMTkOPzeklC/s640/blogger-image-1614566897.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What an adorable yellow food truck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUjOLyBpKQk_M5v8Q7_PTlsQ-S9BbccyreT35BFogBEpGOgwqkfVWj-xNgsXxoNpCrThYMiqctbkxZn62P_RnlMn8lV3XISax8YTygiDLW6hqWHAAI4G5lmPS38l2blmeu15xz6c_yPLK/s640/blogger-image-1630268770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUjOLyBpKQk_M5v8Q7_PTlsQ-S9BbccyreT35BFogBEpGOgwqkfVWj-xNgsXxoNpCrThYMiqctbkxZn62P_RnlMn8lV3XISax8YTygiDLW6hqWHAAI4G5lmPS38l2blmeu15xz6c_yPLK/s400/blogger-image-1630268770.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the kids found a playground where they very happily got all sweaty and active on!</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ87KpXsKfInCHVZ7zHLKiBqoHlcNTJAL-hot1l2e14I539cDQAGsbuUdO6WB50EGImrxqNASAzTNBIECeyC75jf3SCq-nQnNUjUkpdR9hbStxq5Rcr0a9Fp_uxWLJu4-xEcxrkloNZ8wV/s640/blogger-image--489177366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ87KpXsKfInCHVZ7zHLKiBqoHlcNTJAL-hot1l2e14I539cDQAGsbuUdO6WB50EGImrxqNASAzTNBIECeyC75jf3SCq-nQnNUjUkpdR9hbStxq5Rcr0a9Fp_uxWLJu4-xEcxrkloNZ8wV/s400/blogger-image--489177366.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hbODDjMGhFvJj-rDW3B9gU4RpB4fEs7PvePprdFc3sIMi-beuG9u3HJbOyYFaGPX39Uf953oXkpPqv9j6cWBEz0T5vjvDXyLsXWkCQa5xy36Trme4afT2OyU3uMuEMG13Ww_lRd7fJNT/s640/blogger-image-308334992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hbODDjMGhFvJj-rDW3B9gU4RpB4fEs7PvePprdFc3sIMi-beuG9u3HJbOyYFaGPX39Uf953oXkpPqv9j6cWBEz0T5vjvDXyLsXWkCQa5xy36Trme4afT2OyU3uMuEMG13Ww_lRd7fJNT/s400/blogger-image-308334992.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice-cream cone and whipped cream crepe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We spent some time there just resting in the lovely weather and eating our sweet fare. Then finally, as it got a bit warmer, we decided to head off. Lunch was a short walk away and we took a while to get there... because, well, there was hopscotch to jump on, pictures to take and things to see and time to will away... <em>ahhhh</em>, lovely.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GLtjmtUMBpWZcX_rVVpGK-aFMaHk7d0BWddDZXpKKufw0Eskf_WJqqc7N0gk7zLtEI9UCgvO-2SIuXZWHUzAmTv9QUCWJksyP5rS0XHtEyFt7igkX9CWEF-ywsRCV92HinVrFF0Q4UDf/s640/blogger-image--1484422054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GLtjmtUMBpWZcX_rVVpGK-aFMaHk7d0BWddDZXpKKufw0Eskf_WJqqc7N0gk7zLtEI9UCgvO-2SIuXZWHUzAmTv9QUCWJksyP5rS0XHtEyFt7igkX9CWEF-ywsRCV92HinVrFF0Q4UDf/s640/blogger-image--1484422054.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: K</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUnQi542z_JcpGy04sWgOnS6TlP3v1GAteyiVLVlHW9MLnlOW274-Ey1Sh63MRORfG1nlng9WdPbliWCLK4oF3ehv8dcN3udG_oxwFR-OV-c-tRwS4wD-A7NkjUHGyVIwauR4A4b-873I/s640/blogger-image-668120098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUnQi542z_JcpGy04sWgOnS6TlP3v1GAteyiVLVlHW9MLnlOW274-Ey1Sh63MRORfG1nlng9WdPbliWCLK4oF3ehv8dcN3udG_oxwFR-OV-c-tRwS4wD-A7NkjUHGyVIwauR4A4b-873I/s400/blogger-image-668120098.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: J</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVe4qx0d7yB4fLptRlVICRsOwFfo8EJHhYauDaolKi4XZk3NGJYq6XvSkgxclv4VnIrnD8C1WQu0VLTijdUTReNV1l9kl4a9ZT09WUSjYOn5kF0Cwc1H2Evggih4MAwWXAmc7b5-WeicG/s640/blogger-image-716952048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVe4qx0d7yB4fLptRlVICRsOwFfo8EJHhYauDaolKi4XZk3NGJYq6XvSkgxclv4VnIrnD8C1WQu0VLTijdUTReNV1l9kl4a9ZT09WUSjYOn5kF0Cwc1H2Evggih4MAwWXAmc7b5-WeicG/s640/blogger-image-716952048.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One more at the main entrance to the shrine. <br />
In blossom season, the whole stretch behind us would be full of lovelies... </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51jDvpoz25AlQf3-Mxsonp7K34LpAJrlcH56ZLtLVnpablWQsuYWFQHx-fq2OE6QIYhI1QyznhYnemhP2lwbJhG2P6IXYncv-rYwUD0wW5D84CM1sMV2t3A8loSeOx_ZPhC84qA6K_yq5/s640/blogger-image-100296375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51jDvpoz25AlQf3-Mxsonp7K34LpAJrlcH56ZLtLVnpablWQsuYWFQHx-fq2OE6QIYhI1QyznhYnemhP2lwbJhG2P6IXYncv-rYwUD0wW5D84CM1sMV2t3A8loSeOx_ZPhC84qA6K_yq5/s640/blogger-image-100296375.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello! </td></tr>
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As soon as we made some progress in walking, we found another reason to stop. There was a little space where I could get a proper coffee... and the rest found entertainment in the form of a little mart. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p8q-pVKXT9VQQXmfCic8dq2FGRIR5Es8ApaXmTm2a7sk2ZFhZmtd1fiK1DqV0aG19DaxTCKl_2tT8UeATnyTrTbJxk0M9oIQQU7C_LFBxURooy-7aPRULnwoQzT3rKg2fVSHwLDw3z3C/s640/blogger-image--422240589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p8q-pVKXT9VQQXmfCic8dq2FGRIR5Es8ApaXmTm2a7sk2ZFhZmtd1fiK1DqV0aG19DaxTCKl_2tT8UeATnyTrTbJxk0M9oIQQU7C_LFBxURooy-7aPRULnwoQzT3rKg2fVSHwLDw3z3C/s640/blogger-image--422240589.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quaint little cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzBrR2Vl-6TkMzxN2eaYna5_GBgjLV5YxE4-98uHlbkHUS80Hvz-MNqFU0N2lUEoAoCq8UN8SLyP2dA_O3mR7k6Sr_yEa9sQJLKmhTwZZOBlQ-4sgw9MYsora4RmNrB6m9qyQdCJyFoiG/s640/blogger-image-2020061528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzBrR2Vl-6TkMzxN2eaYna5_GBgjLV5YxE4-98uHlbkHUS80Hvz-MNqFU0N2lUEoAoCq8UN8SLyP2dA_O3mR7k6Sr_yEa9sQJLKmhTwZZOBlQ-4sgw9MYsora4RmNrB6m9qyQdCJyFoiG/s400/blogger-image-2020061528.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a photogenic exterior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
It took us longer than expected, but we did make it to <em>Soup Curry Okushiba Shoten Okushiba Chan.</em><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0QTNbkLWNTvc8MiZaRjrwOFN8_oI8bdHynIHOKtwPjCYGM00lI9-kDCtwgqcj0wwct4e16LKVarqbBuxazWZllX4Px0jNRXSJD_B2mlnHypMh85_X8oac0rFJgKPyjOt9TWgjClS7OqO/s640/blogger-image-1916295256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0QTNbkLWNTvc8MiZaRjrwOFN8_oI8bdHynIHOKtwPjCYGM00lI9-kDCtwgqcj0wwct4e16LKVarqbBuxazWZllX4Px0jNRXSJD_B2mlnHypMh85_X8oac0rFJgKPyjOt9TWgjClS7OqO/s400/blogger-image-1916295256.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An unassuming shop-front in the middle of a housing estate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
There was a queue, a pretty long one, so we found entertainment. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzewHL9-jqtiH7BQLbWSZEyA30us3_DtUIOU7C4AVKf6DV3BuVEQILDnDVCxx6e8j11bCO4YphqTR_O5mmYj7OHD1ou1borMT03ntP0SXTXlQcV_UtILSEScI5MuqIIUQbxa47IEMjYIY/s640/blogger-image--564515460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzewHL9-jqtiH7BQLbWSZEyA30us3_DtUIOU7C4AVKf6DV3BuVEQILDnDVCxx6e8j11bCO4YphqTR_O5mmYj7OHD1ou1borMT03ntP0SXTXlQcV_UtILSEScI5MuqIIUQbxa47IEMjYIY/s640/blogger-image--564515460.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While the kids amused themselves this way...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sPhBiHtNtA9HNYAJ0oj-T6NXvl9mPXgsTCDfUpi9ulPvOfUDLVztxxVJMKdSpBuMIweVGcb-Z7BpuExgmvMEOhuHzuD8bnlzr10vvFzhkAi84RFjqL1rXIlXVEXlsuddMdQP-GmXy4cp/s640/blogger-image--250255177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sPhBiHtNtA9HNYAJ0oj-T6NXvl9mPXgsTCDfUpi9ulPvOfUDLVztxxVJMKdSpBuMIweVGcb-Z7BpuExgmvMEOhuHzuD8bnlzr10vvFzhkAi84RFjqL1rXIlXVEXlsuddMdQP-GmXy4cp/s640/blogger-image--250255177.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The husband and I trekked back to the mart and <br />
bought entertainment-liquids for the adults. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVxyd5VSd7BtqsQMNSbX_gjO2rrTQ0SQeYyj5VKcRR9rs_EKVacFjNyTrWK5XAafqtDDTa3Vugl0IZuc8F6VDkn85HNCURpaz1uU9rIdpc_2OY0OnD3M7JhKUn1TlN26G27pKQDPb4DoQ/s640/blogger-image--664100632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVxyd5VSd7BtqsQMNSbX_gjO2rrTQ0SQeYyj5VKcRR9rs_EKVacFjNyTrWK5XAafqtDDTa3Vugl0IZuc8F6VDkn85HNCURpaz1uU9rIdpc_2OY0OnD3M7JhKUn1TlN26G27pKQDPb4DoQ/s640/blogger-image--664100632.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosy interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtMl18rIIYvSIYVR_wH-fj4ohjjpn4sA2vUhTGmi9rOTIGQRaukB5imn_5G71P96P2TxAFhhB-pSz3vZWOml8rN0qd3g9WuGw_nz3mg8s0hAUiiCdYqUd-yiT5UXG2SZpbsv2j5n3i6-q/s640/blogger-image-2073922529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtMl18rIIYvSIYVR_wH-fj4ohjjpn4sA2vUhTGmi9rOTIGQRaukB5imn_5G71P96P2TxAFhhB-pSz3vZWOml8rN0qd3g9WuGw_nz3mg8s0hAUiiCdYqUd-yiT5UXG2SZpbsv2j5n3i6-q/s640/blogger-image-2073922529.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our private room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lunch was different forms of curry in soup form. It isn't like anything I'd tasted before, so very interesting. Between all of us, we tried seafood/pork/chicken/tempura; soba, as well as different levels of spicy curry. It was a lovely and novel lunch. We were all stuffed after this lunch and it was quite a relief to trot back to the vehicle. <br />
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<br />
But, full is only what we think we are, until we decide we need to try something else. And here is where I reveal the super-hero talent that my family has - we have bottomless stomachs. Just as we were bursting from lunch, the sister says we have to try this rice-cake; so we did. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3xYbTj7mNuEfXa_KbelkFFtgwJIx3bCaRFBnepDFDyjwjnk2DJtDZDbLC_5CK3rGnxwgrkNJlYizz9Np-c1zjlvTFwBjQCJzuttXa7vJbn5BLIiJ0XEW8Mb-2U6Ohrr6W2MJ81EzbfvJ/s640/blogger-image-1551827393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3xYbTj7mNuEfXa_KbelkFFtgwJIx3bCaRFBnepDFDyjwjnk2DJtDZDbLC_5CK3rGnxwgrkNJlYizz9Np-c1zjlvTFwBjQCJzuttXa7vJbn5BLIiJ0XEW8Mb-2U6Ohrr6W2MJ81EzbfvJ/s640/blogger-image-1551827393.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy in the queue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7xLzaINLpGWRNAh7VF0yXo7n0iCbOP1cqd9QH9F9K9kHkVVw6yqWnFmU-WheF70cY9k2If213lYCOBwNSfdUO_EojzBF10hTibJ0LdokJjdgCUjtJzeDEgJCVbYOhr4ehwAC_eMnfPK/s640/blogger-image--1665612870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7xLzaINLpGWRNAh7VF0yXo7n0iCbOP1cqd9QH9F9K9kHkVVw6yqWnFmU-WheF70cY9k2If213lYCOBwNSfdUO_EojzBF10hTibJ0LdokJjdgCUjtJzeDEgJCVbYOhr4ehwAC_eMnfPK/s640/blogger-image--1665612870.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One rice cake for 8, pls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09wirkZ5D_KIZEE6AS_oSEaPnzjKu0ytozQomD6m2BkrMq1a-uypZizlygMaHWzir6hN_kKUX_PfCI1GpaYhlCqsstUunszebe4xvpXnrvZ3y6nZffmZ7AUu5_fOgjazadiYEqwh7rLjp/s640/blogger-image--1902835650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09wirkZ5D_KIZEE6AS_oSEaPnzjKu0ytozQomD6m2BkrMq1a-uypZizlygMaHWzir6hN_kKUX_PfCI1GpaYhlCqsstUunszebe4xvpXnrvZ3y6nZffmZ7AUu5_fOgjazadiYEqwh7rLjp/s400/blogger-image--1902835650.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what food coma looks like</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
At this point, we had missed the opportunity to visit the beer brewery as we had originally planned. Instead, we decided to head straight to the park after, and off we drove. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-rKO4K3J0XGtLqKuh3vEpV373ClQWEoGfJynRDJM4SVHYgXZZ21PjBzzoiDyreDE31aYD9BY-X-vmgHFtsAwqhGfzkh720kL2zTwV-s8Md5BJFH615DYL9BhrJk3I4KH-XX00f6gJYuG/s640/blogger-image--1570643710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-rKO4K3J0XGtLqKuh3vEpV373ClQWEoGfJynRDJM4SVHYgXZZ21PjBzzoiDyreDE31aYD9BY-X-vmgHFtsAwqhGfzkh720kL2zTwV-s8Md5BJFH615DYL9BhrJk3I4KH-XX00f6gJYuG/s400/blogger-image--1570643710.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon snooze. </td></tr>
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It took us nearly an hour, but sadly, it was a futile trip. Turns out, the park was closed by the time we reached there and we were not able to venture in the park. I was looking forward to it actually, just sitting in nature and frolicking in the fields; but that was not to be. <br />
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Undaunted, we moved straight on to the next plan in the agenda - shopping. <br />
It was the Mitsui Outlet and after about 2 hours there, most of us managed to get something. It wasn't as cheap or as amazing as we'd have preferred, but it was fine. We then made plans to head for dinner and the adventurous husband, who was <em>intent</em> on having the <em>best possible</em>, searched for food options; and after nearly getting lost, all was well as we figured out the way to the restaurant and park our vehicles and not get lost. Hooray!<br />
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By this time, the temperature has dropped and it was pretty cold (<em>bbrrrr) </em>so our dinner choice was perfect. Shabu shabu FTW!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJHdzcgC1cwX_Sa5UsD9YwmY0MIF1zzCusYJ6y1T1FspDZMlmda96_sATR9ElpbbZwo0VtZHPEfGx6kXuNG0ulZAmVYyaFJkSrE8-e1Kkl8GrubMfqwmke4uGJ5Ij7c2_YhScVbLNnftB/s640/blogger-image-100792203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJHdzcgC1cwX_Sa5UsD9YwmY0MIF1zzCusYJ6y1T1FspDZMlmda96_sATR9ElpbbZwo0VtZHPEfGx6kXuNG0ulZAmVYyaFJkSrE8-e1Kkl8GrubMfqwmke4uGJ5Ij7c2_YhScVbLNnftB/s640/blogger-image-100792203.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for our table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8EHghDOGUgoOgVkdZKb1wJJoQZIBg-9AQ4VC8QBznUOgauqYE3nTTdqlq3ZFPpIF0lQXjbLV4iy3tAX3bLOrOB8EqspEFP_VHoCQgFoYp3vswhGA2eZtBIIdhv0CxOy-M7X7j3XHUisP/s640/blogger-image--1142697057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8EHghDOGUgoOgVkdZKb1wJJoQZIBg-9AQ4VC8QBznUOgauqYE3nTTdqlq3ZFPpIF0lQXjbLV4iy3tAX3bLOrOB8EqspEFP_VHoCQgFoYp3vswhGA2eZtBIIdhv0CxOy-M7X7j3XHUisP/s400/blogger-image--1142697057.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovebirds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA42IHzMLLflyKRkw_CaM-TUJ2InNHo094Z4ilzM42IrvsHLN9OyXIHbPjeFB8JiSgsPzfkRFOKR3103fwRmVSWnsqytjmlfwIXiFNuxIjskhN2guKKcdY7wK6VUD1QWNybe5XgRSSCBNl/s640/blogger-image-1241811459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA42IHzMLLflyKRkw_CaM-TUJ2InNHo094Z4ilzM42IrvsHLN9OyXIHbPjeFB8JiSgsPzfkRFOKR3103fwRmVSWnsqytjmlfwIXiFNuxIjskhN2guKKcdY7wK6VUD1QWNybe5XgRSSCBNl/s640/blogger-image-1241811459.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sight for sore eyes</td></tr>
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We spent ages at dinner, a good 3 hours, I think. It was a buffet where we had free-flow of meat and drinks and I was <em>so stuffed from dinner</em>. I think I managed only 2 beers? But I had like, 3 cows and 2 sheep and 4 little piglets. It was a very full dinner!<br />
We bade farewell to the kind and attentive restaurant manager at closing (<em>we were the last ones to leave</em>) and it was a hearty exchange of goodbyes and namecards as the men bonded (<em>ah, whisky forms friendships). </em><br />
We were hit by the cold winds as we stepped out from the building and it was a refreshing walk back to our hotel. We even found energy to step into a multi-purpose shop where we bought some random stuff, before continuing our journey. Again, we contemplated heading out for another drink, but that plan failed as the kids clung to us like velcro; so we stayed in and did another round of in-room entertainment. <br />
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We had a picture taken with some big clock/tower telling us the time as we walked back to the hotel.. but I need to find that pic. <br />
<em>Edit: I found the pic on the sister's blog! It's the last pic of this post; <a href="http://afoofub.blogspot.sg/#!/2017/09/t-o-k-y-o-part-one-x-17.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</em><br />
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What a lovely day, and it was only our first full day in Hokkaido. WHEE!<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read about our flight to Japan, <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/09/31-august-flying-to-japan.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></em></div>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-70557691190968669352017-09-22T10:52:00.001+08:002017-09-25T14:13:49.476+08:0022 September<div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 15px;">Today, I sent my daughter to school. She was in cheery spirits and it made me happy to observe her. I love her button nose. </span><br />
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Today, I went for a run with the husband. The sun was hot and it was breezy, there were park-goers and while it wasn't the best run I had (such low energy -ugh-), I felt so thankful to be able to move (albeit like a sloth) and be outdoors. </div>
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Today, I kissed my son goodbye while he was sleeping and I love him so. He is such a rascal. </div>
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Today, we handover the keys of our first matrimonial home.</div>
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We moved in when I was heavily pregnant with baby #2 and we had such naïve expectations of managing a young toddler and a new house - all by ourselves. </div>
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We welcomed our son and this was the only home he ever knew. The husband and I owned this place and enjoyed the quiet space we had. Never really quiet cos he watches TV so loudly, and come to think of it, we never truly owned the master bedroom as it was forever invaded by the children. </div>
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The house was ours, as we understood it's nooks and corners; we messed it up and made it our home. </div>
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Today, we handover the keys of our first matrimonial home.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmyvTDomBWdO10S-6zmaqcCKGkZfuCSCWE4vXbU_ma-AjJe6pbc384n-TcBV3pvYkcgwXvMNRt1sOY69fx-vlGQAf-7vLoShbWeCy1ImxYnG550BdlyggrTLnW74bWW2fMekRmFOVds1A/s640/blogger-image-1954409796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmyvTDomBWdO10S-6zmaqcCKGkZfuCSCWE4vXbU_ma-AjJe6pbc384n-TcBV3pvYkcgwXvMNRt1sOY69fx-vlGQAf-7vLoShbWeCy1ImxYnG550BdlyggrTLnW74bWW2fMekRmFOVds1A/s640/blogger-image-1954409796.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craft project I did years ago...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-lGsI7O17ZO8TgxmwkDU5pGzrs4E8EFCWEGrYATF6Ds1CJ7z7N47AotR4TJKgASWzZOa2OCc3PGn9SEzH-d2ZhQKKznOqV-rDikzIS7nqSGJIgKrZV2tmv5KhfoEsg3RCb1WhnCqlW6S/s640/blogger-image--100945254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-lGsI7O17ZO8TgxmwkDU5pGzrs4E8EFCWEGrYATF6Ds1CJ7z7N47AotR4TJKgASWzZOa2OCc3PGn9SEzH-d2ZhQKKznOqV-rDikzIS7nqSGJIgKrZV2tmv5KhfoEsg3RCb1WhnCqlW6S/s640/blogger-image--100945254.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J and his Spiderman phase as he plastered his drawing all over the house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2ym5a5ISxk4sYg7m4JdAqE-1DRSX2RnenmNv0XHtF9Bxa0ZE9oVLmu5gm2MmnQ_fF5PqYZehqYPKfRFYvNf70P2mRSlJA9qRj6lp4avfOL4h304klc-_Crj47F5LsYfuu_CQPdL5XDgM/s640/blogger-image--342965385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2ym5a5ISxk4sYg7m4JdAqE-1DRSX2RnenmNv0XHtF9Bxa0ZE9oVLmu5gm2MmnQ_fF5PqYZehqYPKfRFYvNf70P2mRSlJA9qRj6lp4avfOL4h304klc-_Crj47F5LsYfuu_CQPdL5XDgM/s400/blogger-image--342965385.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view. </td></tr>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-22023034151074681272017-09-14T16:13:00.002+08:002017-09-14T16:13:57.408+08:0031 August, Flying to JapanI was so excited that this day had come. It felt like we had been talking about it / planning for <em>ages,</em> and when this day rolled along... OMG! HAPPINESS!<br />
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The day (Thurs) felt like a really long one. Why? Because we still had to go through the whole day like a regular person; when I actually did <strong>not </strong>feel normal at all! I just wanted to jump through hoops and sing out loud and tell everyone "<em>I am goin on a horrrrrrr-leeeeee-daaaaaeeeee"</em>.<br />
Whoopdeedoo!<br />
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But adulting, I did and accomplished a full day of work (groans) then finally, <em>finally</em>, finished packing for the kids and me and had dinner. Then we all washed up and got ready to leave. It felt sooo good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj790kZ-N3dX3q0RMJ5ddb815imH7HKf8kY7d9MCxJBK38f22KSAaT2e_zB0p8FIgWS5uXSzoZgP7FatT1soMjzuDuPDEKZD5jDvgxEO_V44JX3LRAPbbYcosIXMYhWtpi_KXe57MjWcWa8/s640/blogger-image-1578170774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj790kZ-N3dX3q0RMJ5ddb815imH7HKf8kY7d9MCxJBK38f22KSAaT2e_zB0p8FIgWS5uXSzoZgP7FatT1soMjzuDuPDEKZD5jDvgxEO_V44JX3LRAPbbYcosIXMYhWtpi_KXe57MjWcWa8/s400/blogger-image-1578170774.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving for the airport at 9pm, in the cab. </td></tr>
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We arrived and met our parents, then split up. The dad babysat them at the playground, while the husband, Mother and I headed to the lounge. We had simple food and some beers (<em>more for uh, those not inside. ssshhhh</em>) then all regrouped. Headed for the gates:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHEE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjW7xPt_S42lMIDIpPOa3jfnE0a0WCKQ0YJQNhFqPBE9Zvw67V4TECvceM-4oP4vaochYhTJOHbQlahUCXinbcu58EsFAQMjLJJ_PocP3lZQVsQ-5oEFI1RToVI-UD5hSG_OjulkdxzUI/s640/blogger-image-1582641876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjW7xPt_S42lMIDIpPOa3jfnE0a0WCKQ0YJQNhFqPBE9Zvw67V4TECvceM-4oP4vaochYhTJOHbQlahUCXinbcu58EsFAQMjLJJ_PocP3lZQVsQ-5oEFI1RToVI-UD5hSG_OjulkdxzUI/s400/blogger-image-1582641876.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group pic before embarking!</td></tr>
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I was pretty tired, actually. I was brain-fried from all the work; and I went for a 13km run in the morning, so by this time (midnight) .... zzzz.... not everyone felt tired though, obviously...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWNRcUsEcNv_kzfjsXuv3M3GF9KrxnOlUTXHazIghSvBLFs7o7colO_qs9GNEfc9-iGGBsRwicTnRc2SpRdbPhvQeov0wwjqrBFdoZM69x6cqPRZcd_xCWL_ZGu4NgTnaO1zMVPozxW44/s640/blogger-image-581285635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWNRcUsEcNv_kzfjsXuv3M3GF9KrxnOlUTXHazIghSvBLFs7o7colO_qs9GNEfc9-iGGBsRwicTnRc2SpRdbPhvQeov0wwjqrBFdoZM69x6cqPRZcd_xCWL_ZGu4NgTnaO1zMVPozxW44/s640/blogger-image-581285635.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying his supper snack and TV</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYt3jy1iA2jf-baR33pFghvVEkpEZzU4ueSbffbrTI5vo0TuGo4NngQFn3NdST1XnkI-zGCotxu2BHy68E0bcdeoZ7nzpr1ziDBYcTofnTEqfm4VPhP6kmZYCZ5GSiOp1hYl7gZxg_FbY/s640/blogger-image--614236117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYt3jy1iA2jf-baR33pFghvVEkpEZzU4ueSbffbrTI5vo0TuGo4NngQFn3NdST1XnkI-zGCotxu2BHy68E0bcdeoZ7nzpr1ziDBYcTofnTEqfm4VPhP6kmZYCZ5GSiOp1hYl7gZxg_FbY/s400/blogger-image--614236117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twinning (the ill-fitting earphones crack me up)</td></tr>
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I had little interest to watch anything (too fuzzy-brained) and dozed off at some point. Like this little one:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivpE_Ie4ZI7g36xXX0rRuqeC_GnZCN6-PZe5OIcmrkSLqQKMo6-H47Rw0qx934I-dJV1xA1Ph7PdRuqz_AduiekOa05NmfXgUiwoYzkL01qfoI774ZPkOri76qZWO5Kw1RYGr6ETj2ZQb/s640/blogger-image-1483437500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivpE_Ie4ZI7g36xXX0rRuqeC_GnZCN6-PZe5OIcmrkSLqQKMo6-H47Rw0qx934I-dJV1xA1Ph7PdRuqz_AduiekOa05NmfXgUiwoYzkL01qfoI774ZPkOri76qZWO5Kw1RYGr6ETj2ZQb/s640/blogger-image-1483437500.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor girl felt motion sickness, luckily she managed to snooze.</td></tr>
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After 7 hours, we made it to Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan! After disembarking, we headed to wash up after a rough night (red eye flights... argh) and everyone was pretty zombified. But, we had a plan (<em>thanks to the sister's busband!)</em> and stuck to it. We were greeted by our driver who led us to the Haneda Airport.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zWLMg8R3PJk4hVNRD7JKIUaHJHraGNJGMqRKYCOzubBKxcYs7jWn9QIKG8X22C-SHPxJsCoEZi_4Ere6dTcUs6Z9vGJhvmrkPq4BDk-IkWi_PTS1zCxrCrREES1ZPmS8pLZ71jaH6eD7/s640/blogger-image--1044038138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zWLMg8R3PJk4hVNRD7JKIUaHJHraGNJGMqRKYCOzubBKxcYs7jWn9QIKG8X22C-SHPxJsCoEZi_4Ere6dTcUs6Z9vGJhvmrkPq4BDk-IkWi_PTS1zCxrCrREES1ZPmS8pLZ71jaH6eD7/s640/blogger-image--1044038138.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning in Tokyo </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHftzZVqjMbu_1RvSVqy7LtD6kOe7n2PBwfpIxGtjrQSWqta_KARJiizaG0bzSJWSvh5CeJLDT9UQhDtkvNIRK4k1sQ5HQapybDSKqSVkNk1TRPTn5fpxnuVvFSlerWWvGs2X6L4hNWrPX/s640/blogger-image-1976834709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHftzZVqjMbu_1RvSVqy7LtD6kOe7n2PBwfpIxGtjrQSWqta_KARJiizaG0bzSJWSvh5CeJLDT9UQhDtkvNIRK4k1sQ5HQapybDSKqSVkNk1TRPTn5fpxnuVvFSlerWWvGs2X6L4hNWrPX/s400/blogger-image-1976834709.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the van</td></tr>
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<div>
I crashed on this van ride, totally needed the whole hour's nap. I truly had zero recollection of anything on this van ride... except that my water bottle leaked and I wet my stuff. Thankfully, it was only water. <br />
<br /><br />
Upon arrival at Haneda, we were ready to eat and the husband picked a ramen restaurant literally steps away from where we stood. Our first proper meal in Japan - <em>ramen</em>. After filling our tummies, we had time to kill before our flight to Sapporo. We headed to check in our luggage and could move around freely. So, what did we do? EAT!<br />
<br /><br />
We zoomed in on the eating hall and sampled everything we could see. <em>HAHA</em>. The kids had soft-serve and I was just happy to snack. The sister decided on something cheesy that she eyed for buying back. After we'd walked around a bit, we found a coffee place to liven up my sleepy soul. Nothing more comforting (and boring) than Starbucks. We sat there until time was up and we then headed through the gates. <br />
<br /><br />
At this <em>very early</em> point, the daughter made an observation. "<em>Why do we go into every supermarket?"</em> - looks to my sister. HAHA.<br />
<br /><br />
While waiting for the flight, we had some (more) food, snacks and the sister bought beers. Yum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr25LmRWMAZBpXOwOIAF-sAfkyVA8uyOQnt3u7nzH1c7IrkPSS88ePE557Oz2ZCWGPNCc5PJ9vCf2RLUevUhVc3jBQp_mxOVw-g5V2AhEKSbd2HFu1XPCObK__PKBSF_wEgEjeSt19Y7g/s640/blogger-image-368092791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr25LmRWMAZBpXOwOIAF-sAfkyVA8uyOQnt3u7nzH1c7IrkPSS88ePE557Oz2ZCWGPNCc5PJ9vCf2RLUevUhVc3jBQp_mxOVw-g5V2AhEKSbd2HFu1XPCObK__PKBSF_wEgEjeSt19Y7g/s400/blogger-image-368092791.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supermarket sushi that tasted pretty good</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL66KA_RLZjrptJTVJqIrNNCw8QvSlYCqWtj0hV7PrPYjoNY0UqobztnA-I7rP6Ed8-00hyphenhyphenTobl6uUocGDLNbZvTq0TuJAd9QsY1ZxZZA_W3i5rVuJFVqOFb7v8F4hyphenhyphenLU5YUH-WmyHGfF8/s640/blogger-image-2128229212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL66KA_RLZjrptJTVJqIrNNCw8QvSlYCqWtj0hV7PrPYjoNY0UqobztnA-I7rP6Ed8-00hyphenhyphenTobl6uUocGDLNbZvTq0TuJAd9QsY1ZxZZA_W3i5rVuJFVqOFb7v8F4hyphenhyphenLU5YUH-WmyHGfF8/s400/blogger-image-2128229212.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biru!</td></tr>
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<div>
It was a short hour+ flight from Haneda to Sapporo and when we all arrived, I'm pretty sure we felt relief. It has been a loooong travel and it felt good to finally touch ground properly again. After collecting our luggage, we walked to the rental zone and got on a shuttle bus that brought us to the car yard. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS3I_G-w3SiBGSvGPyuS2F7Ea-M4NPEO0qKhGL4ay6ObnBxtrcKMxRFQ2bM8rKY6R4nsJQy0AUOrqw0V2nswySLQdbxrxEtXK4_tPT4AN3jlMo3N_W2YTGjQY_V042b6KqV-XZj7MALXy/s640/blogger-image-125624079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS3I_G-w3SiBGSvGPyuS2F7Ea-M4NPEO0qKhGL4ay6ObnBxtrcKMxRFQ2bM8rKY6R4nsJQy0AUOrqw0V2nswySLQdbxrxEtXK4_tPT4AN3jlMo3N_W2YTGjQY_V042b6KqV-XZj7MALXy/s640/blogger-image-125624079.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men doing the manly thing</td></tr>
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<div>
We got the vehicle, figured out the GPS (<em>him, not me</em>) and we were on our way to the hotel!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWMFYRWrWT5dUzQ50h9lpFZOvC3jypPwR0IaRz9MvTmD_U8cwuVTohgHRN3FOGDfIO_Uy0YP6H61fUtNCT5s-g-ofYeb3iAiDHbuHcpEMAeJUhocEXbLIr2ZWVNxrS7En16Q2p4Aw1MOQ/s640/blogger-image--1511560998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWMFYRWrWT5dUzQ50h9lpFZOvC3jypPwR0IaRz9MvTmD_U8cwuVTohgHRN3FOGDfIO_Uy0YP6H61fUtNCT5s-g-ofYeb3iAiDHbuHcpEMAeJUhocEXbLIr2ZWVNxrS7En16Q2p4Aw1MOQ/s400/blogger-image--1511560998.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are in Hokkaido!</td></tr>
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<div>
The car ride was about an hour, during which the children snoozed. They must be tired as it was already late afternoon by then, and sunset (approx. 6pm). I even got drool on my sleeve, compliments of the boy. We arrived to the hotel by darkfall and decided to head straight out for a meal. <br />
<br /><br />
We strolled towards the food street that the B researched and along the way, before we found our destination, we made a pitstop.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW9ysZ9P3PEZmEGDHofG95TG7wWlGgSzjk_w-kPO8UKFd7yb_zkuHEJy1FPrz97ERf2v84MRwMuL49ALXuXa6PkFEpAjwYNzKusYOuMoekIMgi4sWbJf2XG-oUQ53dyKhftVtxnuifXFE/s640/blogger-image-2125371003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW9ysZ9P3PEZmEGDHofG95TG7wWlGgSzjk_w-kPO8UKFd7yb_zkuHEJy1FPrz97ERf2v84MRwMuL49ALXuXa6PkFEpAjwYNzKusYOuMoekIMgi4sWbJf2XG-oUQ53dyKhftVtxnuifXFE/s400/blogger-image-2125371003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tako ball from a van</td></tr>
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The husband picked a spot for dinner and we were all happy to sit down to end the day. It felt pretty cold on this first night but we still decided to sit al fresco because sitting inside meant inhaling second-hand smoke.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGA1t1vSSel7_gN1ULMivVPZz0cY-1DvtmWPnYda9SnVuSAOGpKNWJhO_kprfZLCJL47oz9p3xiEd6nL1LlNaER1fZhcnKFsWqEjgSnh60ZT2xe1kkIiDbRXHVxYHxxLTZbUh6_Wkqr4t/s640/blogger-image-302052384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGA1t1vSSel7_gN1ULMivVPZz0cY-1DvtmWPnYda9SnVuSAOGpKNWJhO_kprfZLCJL47oz9p3xiEd6nL1LlNaER1fZhcnKFsWqEjgSnh60ZT2xe1kkIiDbRXHVxYHxxLTZbUh6_Wkqr4t/s400/blogger-image-302052384.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First dinner in Hokkaido</td></tr>
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<div>
Dinner was a mix of cooked and raw food, yakitori grill sticks and beer. After dinner, we strolled along the streets and stopped at the kit-kat shop, the giant pharmacy, and the sister introduced me to this evil-in-a-good-way-soft-serve called Cremia.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzeII_n6DkX4JCANaZAh6pLAhFxowQR4-ocUQrEq8jMNCiq0LJI7dOt1lCmQlCCfJd02-rGc48mD25znvGPKyLV-j2T02IfMZrcSUqqfopz4mLSlHWpEP9Ggr1icOalcjsgxAiF25hxjt/s640/blogger-image--616925818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzeII_n6DkX4JCANaZAh6pLAhFxowQR4-ocUQrEq8jMNCiq0LJI7dOt1lCmQlCCfJd02-rGc48mD25znvGPKyLV-j2T02IfMZrcSUqqfopz4mLSlHWpEP9Ggr1icOalcjsgxAiF25hxjt/s640/blogger-image--616925818.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOBAOffrp6PMsth0xY3JjTRSemRTAL2Z3ORariVPesA81JBw3Er-s7aB6GiCXEY9lFKMgD2KfPfbyFuIEtsyTjQ-Ly2O8L6jxcf8-_lBz-IJTbApn4T3lFZdj6lk-uG4ovlEJkO6eSrt-/s640/blogger-image-416627182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOBAOffrp6PMsth0xY3JjTRSemRTAL2Z3ORariVPesA81JBw3Er-s7aB6GiCXEY9lFKMgD2KfPfbyFuIEtsyTjQ-Ly2O8L6jxcf8-_lBz-IJTbApn4T3lFZdj6lk-uG4ovlEJkO6eSrt-/s400/blogger-image-416627182.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cremia girls</td></tr>
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<div>
At this point, right after this pic was taken, we discovered that we had lost the husband and her busband. They had snuck off to a bar (just to the right of this pic actually) for a whisky. We saw them and their one drink was really just one drink and we all headed back to the hotel. We talked about going out for another drink and we saw a little shop that had this crazy long Q and thought to have that... but the kids got clingy and we decided to bring them back to the hotel to settle them in first. <br />
<br /><br />
Turns out I was pretty drained by this point and after washing them up, I wanted to wash up too. It had been too long since my last shower 24 hours ago; and <em>oh boy</em> was it a good decision to stay in. Of course, I'm sure we missed out some walking around time in the cold, but it truly felt so good to be clean again. <br />
<br /><br />
Instead, we had a mini picnic - the first of many (every) night in the sister's room. We played cards, chit-chatted, drank and ate. The mother (not pictured) actually rocked up in the hotel kimono because the sister said so. HAHA - ok, it's mean but it was so cute she took it so seriously. Love!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu8h0oEFD6fOQY8Vhk4ixW-mpk45mNG8pM_CGewp9hOgnLED3Mw4sGNjh2kSuIyCBCVmleWnpqtp8TkUXIaFGcNyHS-vk66M3bZiKtoWOuygyUnEmuZdH_v7f8QMkn50p_6gScs9k3G-q/s640/blogger-image--878210381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu8h0oEFD6fOQY8Vhk4ixW-mpk45mNG8pM_CGewp9hOgnLED3Mw4sGNjh2kSuIyCBCVmleWnpqtp8TkUXIaFGcNyHS-vk66M3bZiKtoWOuygyUnEmuZdH_v7f8QMkn50p_6gScs9k3G-q/s400/blogger-image--878210381.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the only time we had this "damn smooth" beer. It was so good but<br />
we never found it again :( </td></tr>
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<div>
That ended our travel from Singapore to Tokyo to Sapporo... and a very eventful 24 hours++ for the family. <br />
Our holiday had begun!</div>
pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128565784576021674.post-55522904361958274822017-08-28T12:08:00.001+08:002017-08-28T12:08:03.748+08:00Sundate - a different kinda show So on this cloudy Sunday, the husband and I got help from the grandparents and after depositing the children with them, we headed off for a brunch of a different kinda show (after our <a href="http://iheartbabykate.blogspot.sg/2017/08/tgif-movie-night.html" target="_blank">family TGIF movie </a>night).<br />
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It's the much-anticipated, debated / talked-about Mayweather vs McGregor fight #thehypeisreal<br />
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The husband arranged for a viewing at his friend's and it was a nice hang about and chill out with food and drinks kinda morning. It was a nice coupla hours to spend with each other. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji22PFg5iC-e0wh7KINwwJMIj7_KKMQWWP0TIfTpsIgc4NhHBUsNSpwayJmbqTrcVrpgaleD7NHUvnzm0g5S4rIAzjsAKRCuZuu3eUlyz5yxNgydc29cgr-dJHoKO3-9aNMLofa03qMrOS/s640/blogger-image-1652743410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji22PFg5iC-e0wh7KINwwJMIj7_KKMQWWP0TIfTpsIgc4NhHBUsNSpwayJmbqTrcVrpgaleD7NHUvnzm0g5S4rIAzjsAKRCuZuu3eUlyz5yxNgydc29cgr-dJHoKO3-9aNMLofa03qMrOS/s640/blogger-image-1652743410.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast, chips, bread, sausages, egg, bread, beer... </td></tr>
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I think the husband was disappointed with the way it turned out, but I felt like it was a nice fanfare regardless. There is so much training and hard work that athletes put in and respect is warranted for sure (regardless of how a**holic some of their behavior may be); MMA or boxing or anything violent is not my choice of sport to spectate, but it's admirable the dedication and effort put into each sport/craft. This is especially brought to light in the recent spate of SEA Games 2017, the husband's accomplishment of the Ironman 70.3... all hard work comes to fruition.<br />
<br /><br />
My parting words for this, is that all who put in hard work will walk away with their heads high. Though McGregor did not win the fight, he is still in a decent place, the loss not tarnishing his name in any way. This is possible through the hard work and good show he put on. As for Mayweather, it's definitely a feat to remain undefeated for 50 matches!<br />
<br /><br />
And finally, <em>finally</em>, 90 million or 300million - <em>seriously, what do you do with that much money?! How obscene! Yes, I am admittedly very very jealous!</em> </div>
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pyjamashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208131260913895662noreply@blogger.com0