Day 9- 25th December X'Mas!! Curry is House.... courtesy of eh.... some company in Japan

Cold wind sneaked into the room and froze me awake. Dang.. no wonder, the heater was off. Wait....Woke up late!! Oh no!! 11 am.... so rude to have slept till so late. Japanese may wake as late as 8 but mine was unforgivable.

The housewife still greeted the 3 of us politely, felt quite guilty as the foods were already prepared.
Sandwiches and the leftover okonomiyaki and takoyaki from the party. Even realise the tea wasn't cheap, adds more to my guilt. Didnt dare to make a sound, not even a word during breakfast.

Today we went shopping, at Apita... again. But this ones located somewhere else. Daniel want to check out more swimming gears for his fellow national teammates.

We saw a few funny stuffs in Apita, can't recall what were they. The main reason.... we forgot our camera 6(._. )*scratch head*

Head off to the Niigata museum. There was a mini exhibition about the old retro toys they used to have and so are old day animes and the really old films of it. Astro boy was one of them.

Then goes a spiral stair way all the way to the 3rd floor with its walls full of Niigata history up to the recent earthquake during mid year 2007.

even got to know how artificial snow makers work, and also the snow fall cases in Niigata. It was suppose to reach a height of 3~4 meters . And cases of electrocution (as villagers leave through the first floor and trip high voltage wires) happens.

But the snow thickness has drastically dropped over the years to 70~80cm max. Next to the museum is a food centre where traditional Niigata foods are sold.

We get to eat a green tea dango with red bean paste in it. Was really nice. And awkward enough, we are chinese and we ate chinese food before... we somehow ended up in a chinese restaurant ._.

Well, at least its a no shoe restaurant where u gotta take of your shoes at the front door. And theres a drink bar where if u order a drink, you get to refill anytypes of drink there. So is the salad bar XD

Got back to Haku San jinja and rest. Coz we got asked to follow to the tuition centre again.
This time we had a conversation with 3 high school kids in english. Most of them are just self introduction with QnA.

Played poker cards again which is the sign of one thing... Times up for the tuition to end. alex says the kids were pro in playing the japanese card game.... but the outcome was, Hong pawned them all, 4 in a row. i came in 3rd most of the time.

Got back home around 9.30 pm. To our surprice, miss Reiko (Ikarashi-san's sister) prepared curry.. Japanese Curry. It tasted so nice~ T_T I wanna eat again someday.

I remember I ate 5 plates of it... thick faced I was. Chatted with the Ikarashi till late night and still can feel the curry before falling asleep. And I just realised theres an altar next to our room. So soothing to look at it.

Day 8, 24th DEc 2007 Reminiscence.... or is it Dejavu

The day to leave the 2nd homestay. It was another unforgettable experience living with the Yamaya family. I still can't shake off the feeling that I had since the very day I land my eyes on the view of the country side of Niigata. I still don't know why am I not surprised or excited to unravel whats not seen in this foreign land of the East.

Took a picture with the pets before leaving. Wonder will I see them again the next time I pay a visit.

A last photo with the laid back ones before leaving(theres more the day before actually)

It ignored me!! I know I have what you don't la kitty. Don't jealous (he was once a boy... once)

Last glance at the neighbourhood from the balcony of my room.

Sorry guys, Myme is 40+ and has 2 college graduated son. What combat?! you thought she's 24?! you womanizer as always ==" your eyes ain't pro enough yet
(anyway, its the 2nd last photo with the Yamaya, the last one won't be obtainable until I return once more)

Got back to Uncle Kensuke's house again, but our things were long packed up and ready to roll, so we went around the neighbourhood once more. Only to find ourselves walking on a deserted walkway... such loneliness... got to the AM/PM store (its a name) bought a few stuff. Spotted a Final Fantasy potion in the shelves. Wow... now I know where the people on the streets went.. the 18+ corner of the convenient store book section ==" nah.. just 2 guys.

Next off is another homestay at a Japanese English tuition teacher's house. She once visited Brunei just like Myme, well, they visited Brunei together to be exact.

Before that, we went to a special place which we failed to go days before. A ramen shop. I know I did ate at Musashi, but this is different. When I entered the store, I realise there were so many kites decorating the place. This explains why Kensuke-san brought us to the kite fair the other day and he kept asking about kite. Most likely its his hobby since childhood.

Why has a ramen shop with kites gotta do with Kensuke-san you ask? well... that's why I said it's special. This is where Kensuke-san grew up, his childhood home. Now his sister is running the shop I suppose.

Ordered ChaSu Ramen as always. I still felt embarassed about the day I was there. The one who brought us our meal is none other than the owners daughter who is just a year younger than us. Well... don't know why but both of us got embarassed on eye contact. Must be due to the haze effect of the hot ramen!! Must be it >D!! (the author is not available for comment or a less bullshit excuse for the moment) ahem...

Well the pictures > (-o-)/ (=.=") < you changed the subject...sly

....Well...

Note the framed japanese kites on the ceiling walls

Sorry, I couldn't take a picture of the daughter. She's a shinobi or ninja or something (true reason will not be revealed) ok i admit it ==" am shy ok. I know am a coward. Just spare me, please (,._.) I already got a lot of pressure when she kept looking when we left.

But seriously, the ramen was really nice. I doubt I'll go again though. Not because of the ramen.

Then we head off to the english tuition spot in Haku San (white mountain)

There we had a christmas eve party with the kids who tuitioned there as well!! And we met a russian who married a japanese wife there too ( he tutors english grammar). He's Alex.

Dang!! I just realise I didnt take a single shot of photo with the Ikarashis!! man... why... then thats it, I'll go bak to Japan once more, no photoes means i gotta meet them once more no matter what.

Tons of food and yes >3 yaki soba, takoyaki and also okonomiyaki is in the scene.

Note to photogenic selfpotraitors: Flash ain't always your best friend, and pimples are best unseen without one. Cheers.

Then we played 2 new types of card games. One japanese and one russian using poker cards. It seems almost like big 2 but more interesting, called Dai-Hime (the Commoner) although it literally means the poor citizens.

Went for Karaoke with them, and damn you Hong and Daniel ==" they pushed all the songs to me, and I ended up with a sore throat for 3 days starting this very day.

But the cool thing is, they had 3 bundles of catalogue for songs. Each is of a telephone book thick. And with choices of Japanese, Chinese, English and Korean songs. Sorry, no Indian and Malay la.. chi~

To call off the day, we went back to the Ikarachi's home.

Do I feel so weak when I reach there, not the body, its the mind. I can't help but feeling that I have been there. To top things off, I just had that stubborn decision to guess whats around me, all of em were correct.

A shrine next to the house, the trees and the garage. Man... I felt so depressed.

Forget about that, the Ikarashi owns the shrine, I never knew until then. Its called HakuSan Jinja (White Mountain Shrine)

The house is the most traditional one I have ever seen during my time here. But still I didn't fail to get to the spots in the house on my own.

We had to sleep with the gasoline heater over our head. But the cracks leaves entrance for the cold winds. I think I.... said Tadaima that night... not sure.

But at least there was a poster in the room to get Hong and Daniel occupied. The top model (also actors) of Japan calendar of 2008.