Saipan 2013

That's right-- Saipan.  I did not misspell Spain.  :)

Just in case you didn't know where Saipan is, it is part of the Mariana Island archipelago, located north of Guam.  You would have to travel by plane for 50 minutes.  The one we rode was so tiny that my friends and I would joke that it was our private plane.  ^__^

I went there for work- Pacific Educational Conference.  It was a great learning experience.  We also presented.  But the best part was bonding with my co-workers and by the end of the trip, we were friends. ^__^

Saipan is a beautiful island, and it is much cleaner and more quaint than Guam.  Going there really felt like going to the countryside, where there aren't any large buildings and my friends would find these little houses that were actually stores known for famous local treats like apigigi (dessert like rice cake) and ice keki (popsicle).  It was such a cute place.  But after doing most of the tourist-y things, we were like, "We miss Guam!  We miss the Mall!  We miss GPO!  We miss the restaurants back home!"  T^T

Mandatory bathroom shot.  I'm so neat ^_^

Mt. Tapochau
We forced our rental Corolla to do 4x4 off-roading feats to get to the summit of this mountain.  Poor car T-T  

Bird Island
Unlike Guam, Saipan still has its native birds. Sadly, Guam's native birds have nearly been annihilated by snakes brought in by (I'm guessing) US military ships at the end of WWII.

A nearly perfect symmetry

My no make-up face.  This was at the American Memorial Park.

Banzai Cliff
This was the site of where many Japanese soldiers committed suicide by jumping off the cliff when they learned of the Americans advancing and winning in the War in the Pacific during WWII.  Today, all that remains are memorials erected in the memory of those who died.  You will also hear the thundering surf pounding against the cove.

Russian apple pie for dessert.
I tried Russian cuisine for the first time in Saipan.  I had a beef soup called solianka before this dessert.   

That's all for now, friends!

Good night! ^_^

Japan Days 4 and 5

This is my last post about Japan, just to quickly cover the last couple of days of our trip ^_^

*Photo heavy*

Miraikan: The National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology.
A really cool museum with a bunch of interactive things to do.  This is
the glass bridge in the museum.  I tried to walk up but my knees buckled
and my heart was pounding!  >.<  I chickened out... bleh...  I know, I'm such
a wuss.

Ueno Park...  This path fills with sakura blossoms in April, I've read.

Tokyo National Museum

Ueno Zoo
It makes me pretty sad to see animals in cages.  :'(  Not really for any moral
reasons, unless if the animals are maltreated...  I just think they look really
bummed out that they aren't free in their natural environments and that they
have to see hundreds of people curiously and intently stare at them
all day. :(

I spy a clapping otter. :)

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

From my glimpse of Japan, I observed that it is full of beautiful people, disciplined and polite as their culture and standards have taught them, yet are really in need to hear the Gospel of peace and hope.  I ask that we keep praying for Japan with their current national issues such as the nuclear situation in Fukushima and the nation's suicide rates, which has continued to exceed the 30,000 mark for fourteen straight years, according to The Japan Times.  My prayer is that people would hear that in Christ, there is hope and a future, especially for those devastated by calamities, unemployment, and other drastic changes in life.

My heart goes out also to the Japanese Christian churches.  I pray that growth and encouragement would be with them always.  I hope that when I do visit Japan again that I would be able to visit one of the churches there.

Just a little gif I made of the view from the window of our hotel.

I'll always miss you, Japan♥

You've been so accommodating in every way.

Until we meet again (^.^)v

Japan: Food Paparazzi

Hi everyone! ^-^

Thank you for bearing with me for the past few days as I go on and on about my trip.  I hope it's not a dull topic.  I like it though ^___^  Seeing places aside from endless blue skies and seas that is so much of home is so exciting for me ^^;;

Anyway, this post is dedicated to the nom-noms of Japan.  Yay!

In addition to theme parks, I think Japan takes food quite seriously, too, especially their sweets.  *I've got a rumbly in my tumbly* as Winnie the Pooh would say.

First Meal

Hamburger steak and chicken

Some meat dish

 Disneyland/sea

Spaghetti bolognese

Seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce

Carbonara

Tiramisu

Corn chowder
I think I ate twice of this -_-

Tea with lemon- pretty~ :)

Fruits and kiwi mousse with souvenir cup
I love how everything is so intentional and thematic ^^

Even the churro is in the shape of Mickey Mouse

Food Wherever We May

Some kind of rice topped with egg, chicken sausage things, and a generous
amount of kewpie mayo :9

Sister deciding what to get at an ice cream vending
machine.
Oh, vending machines, how they muse about you back
home!

Takoyaki topped with cheese.  Looks unappetizing here. Hehehe!
But Dale wants some, too!

Breakfast before we left.  Was this Pokemon sad
because we were leaving or because he's about
to be eaten.  Kekekek!

Crepes and the Praises Hailed About Them

(Not my photo)

The story: 

I really wanted to eat crepe in Japan after hearing all the stories and seeing all the pictures (along with takoyaki), and I stated that I will eat as much as I could till it made me sick!  I didn't get sick, though...  I only got to eat three :(  That's good, so I won't be so piggy.

This was the best: strawberry, banana, almond, and
cream from à le Loïc.  So fragrant and delicate- a
touch of Heaven~*reminisces*
à le Loïc is located on the 2nd floor of Venus Fort.  

Banana chocolate cream from Donatello, a cafe near our hotel.  Pretty good, too.
This was my last one T___T  Brought it a long way and ate it at the airport.

One more crepe from Tokyo Crepe Girl at Diver City.

Hehehehe!  Yes! ^0^ I somehow made it a goal to be able to name all the food I ate.  Ha!  Although, everything had been more than great, food in Japan is expensive :(  I don't know if it's because we only went to tourist places, but even the food courts in the malls were not cheap.  Nope, nope, nope...  No 5 dollar meal, yo!  However, I gotta say, I miss them foods... T___T

Don't forget to join my first giveaway! ^____^

Thanks for staying tuned...

Image:

Crepes

Japan Days 2 and 3

Our Japan itinerary:

Day 1: Aqua City
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Miraikan Museum, Venus Fort, and Diver City
Day 5: Ueno Imperial Park
Day 6: Hang out; leave Japan :'(

I'll just combine the Disney days.  I had a blast- took tons of photos!  No fear!  I won't kill you with hundreds of those- just 30, enough to share the experience! :D *wacka-wacka!*    I think it's one of those things that you'd definitely want to include in your bucket list.  I'm not scratching it off mine yet, though- 5 more times, at least!  ^0^

*Photo Heavy*

Disneyland: the day remained gloomy, rainy, and cold...  "Real nippy..." as my little sister liked to say.

Welcome!

Japan sure does take theme parks seriously!

I liked that Mowgli was crazy on his(her?) roost.

It's the Stitch in me, "Rawr!"

Disneysea: Thank God that the sky cleared up, was blue, and was ready for some fun!

Clear, blue sky!

I couldn't help it! I just had to take photos
of the flowers!

Magical~

Photography wasn't allowed in this show.  I only found out later
so I was able to take some shots.  Hehe ^^;;

I'd like to wake up to this *sigh*

Finale

A perfect ending to a perfect day

I'll miss you, Mickey :'(

My new friend- Stitch♥
Dear 山崎さん、you won't ever remember me
but thank you for your service and being cool
and perhaps, thinking that Stitch was pretty
cute, although all the others opted for something
girly-kawaii, like Minnie Mouse.  You made
Stitch's day ^____^

I had wonderful memories in those places...  I'll always be thankful for that.

♥♥♥