Might as well post something

I am on the bench. Itu means tadek project assignment so duduk 'folded arms doing nothing' is what a manager said we are doing. Wah. Emoism aku baca. Eh eh.. sape yang suruh release awal dari project. Pastu nak keluarkan ayat kongajaq. Cets. Dah tu training material pon tak bagi lagi untuk new upcoming task, pastu nak emoism lak. Kan aku emoism. 

Geram taw pagi2. Naseb baik traffic jam di pagi ini kurang. I think people had already started their raya holiday. Mine started on Friday till 5th ( which is Tuesday the following raya week) . Lama. Itu pon manager tak approve lagi cuti, angin gak aku. Apply dah awal dah. Tadek assignment tapi approvenye tak lagi. 

Nak talk about pregnancy ni, tunggu la another checkup by Dr Tan soon-ish this Friday. Wanna ask about induce after caesar, because I really do not want to be induced and after reading about Dr Seri case and asking my sister about it, she told me the risk associated with induce if you had undergone caesar recently ( summary - bad for all around ). So kena la tanye nanti. 

Aziz is gonna be two soon. And I had seen marked improvements in language and social skills. He is a bit of a bully. But not too bad. Lagi budak tu nangis, lagi die suke aggravate. Tapi kalau barang die kena ambik, taw pulak nangis. Budaakkkk. Also at least these past few days die takdela mintak nak tengok Mr Peabody and Sherman. Naseb baik cerita tu best, tapi ade la limit berapa kali kena tengok dak. 

Also just heard the news that a schoolmate of mine in JB dulu died last night due to a road accident. Kinda jolted me a little on how sudden death is. We think we have all the time in the world sometimes but we always forget death can comes everywhere and in any form. 

Makin hari pon makin malas masak. Tapi rase malas nak makan luar. Sebab mesti overate. Pastu nanti mula la loya esok. Blergh. So plan today. Masak spagetti aje. Abeskan barang dalam fridge cepat2 sebelom raya. 

Puasa pon setakat ni baru 2 hari lopong. Satu sebab cirit birit. Satu lagi last Monday pagi2 dah throw up and rase weng sepanjang masa. Fuhhh.. tapi maseh bertenaga gi makan buffet kat Mandarin Oriental. MAKAN FREE JANGAN TOLAK! 

Anyway. Ini random update to whatever la. Kalau rajin I post mende lain. Petang ni. Kalau dah tadek keje sangat2. Hahahha.

Berharap semoga boss aku approve cuti sebelom balik keje ni. Nyampah sangat last minit baru die nak tunggu. Ape la wehhhh. Approve je la. Orang tu nak assign project ke tak, that is their problem sebab lembap sangat. *muka emoism* Sebab semalam suh aku cuti start dari hari ni, tetiba tuka tune lak.

Another tragedy

Right now people are reeling from the tragedy of the alleged shooting down of commercial flight MH17.

And from what I can see in the news the Australia PM is especially furious. Very quick response from US which is no surprise since anything related with Putin they will interfere. UK are still cautious.The Ukraine and Russia conflict will now be rehashed. God only knows what will come out of this.

I am pitying my country. I am pitying MAS. Most of all, pity is not the word I will describe my feelings towards the family and victim. Sadness is. And angry. As this should not happened.

Al fatihah to the passengers and crews who lost their life in that flight.

Reviews of books

My short reviews. I had read a lot of books during this pregnancy. Even I was quite amazed. Last pregnancy I was only resolved to finish the Fire and Ice series ( well ... what is now on store lah..). 

This pregnancy, I felt constantly the need to read. And Candy Crush. So these are some of the books I had read. There are some I had read but not yet reviewed, because there are currently 3 ongoing books I am reading! Two I left off because it gets a bit boring and another a bit of a downer. I can't read too much downer books. I think there are many more books I read but can't remember I had read it. Will update that soon. Also there are a few other books I reread. Those I won't review. Malas.

Black Sunday by Thomas Harris
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

About: Basically about a terrorist plot to kill thousands of people during the superbowl. I think.

Review: It was ok in the beginning, then it patters off . The characters are boring, not delved enough into even those with the deep psychological damage. His motive never really makes sense to me. Have a very slow buildup and the climax is like 5 10 pages long? I can barely read the end.

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 About: July 2005. In the Pyrenees mountains near Carcassonne, Alice, a volunteer at an archaeological dig, stumbles into a cave and makes a startling discovery-two crumbling skeletons, strange writings on the walls, and the pattern of a labyrinth.

Eight hundred years earlier, on the eve of a brutal crusade that will rip apart southern France, a young woman named Alais is given a ring and a mysterious book for safekeeping by her father. The book, he says, contains the secret of the true Grail, and the ring, inscribed with a labyrinth, will identify a guardian of the Grail. Now, as crusading armies gather outside the city walls of Carcassonne, it will take a tremendous sacrifice to keep the secret of the labyrinth safe.

Review: I quite like it. The book while very thick, moves fast and though I do think some scenes are a bit unnecessary but it is ok.  I like the current and past characters. Though at time I do feel frustrated at Alais naivete and the husband. She can be annoying and her husband even more. I like the mystery being setup but not really impressed with the 'supernatural' elements of it. I think it could be more. However this is a good introduction to her books and look forward to read more of her works.



The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About: Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry--he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield--the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands--and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister--but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...

Review: The Bridgerton family is my favorite book series by Julia Quinn, though the best have to be The Duke and I. All the subsequent Bridgerton series, went a bit downhill after a few I think... but nice to read that the only 2 I haven't read yet (Anthony and Benedict stories) is very enjoyable and the chemistry between the two seems right.

The plot is just as you would predict from reading the synopsis, though the reason to 'not want to fall in love with wife' feels crazy for a supposed sensible Anthony. The reasoning just do not match. But I guess an obstacle is imminent and this is the best she could come up with?

A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets by James Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About: The moving, uplifting true story of an unlikely friendship between a man on the streets and the ginger cat who adopts him and helps him heal his life.

Review: This book is a simple story about how a cat turn a man life around. I am bonkers about my cats, I think my cats are the best. However reading about Bob, this is a very special cat. I can never get my cat to a walk, ( maybe I haven't tried hard enough) but my cat also would not keep still on a busy street.

I like the story. James story is about a man who lost his way in life and found purpose through adopting Bob ( or Bob adopt James. Many pet owners would say,it is the animals that adopt us). It can be a bit repetitive and the truly ugly bits are never shown, but it is a good clean story which I devour quickly.

A heartwarming book with simple writing to sum it up. Hence the 4 stars. I was never bored by Bob.

The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-wise Cat by James Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About: Continuation from the book before this.

Review: Again Bob and James adventure begin anew. Actually not begin anew. It just continue. Like how life really is.

This time I thought it would be not as good. But it was ok. I am hooked well enough. It deals more with James health struggle and how Bob was there for him. ( well seems like it ).

The book continue to be an enjoyable simple read. I would suggest this read on a lazy day with your cat nearby.

Bob really seems like a super cat. No wonder James really do not want to let him go, he is a one in a billion cat. They are both lucky to have each other. I wish them both the best.

Campor aje

It had been a tiring Ramadhan so far for me. 

For one thing, waking up at 5 is not something I am used to. Also waking up early also mean caffeine buzz which I can't have during puasa because caffeine is not something you take during sahur also not so good for a pregnant mom who can sometimes still have to fight her way trough nauseousness. I need my caffeine with food! Without it I can get headache. That being said cakap caffeine fix macam I am a huge coffee drinker. No. I only drink a little coffee, just enough to get the spring on my feet so to speaks.

Also this puasa my routine change. Usually I arrived at office at 10.30 am. That is early mind you. Heh. Nowadays, I make it to the office at around 8.30 am. Just so I can go home at 4 pm. Aku tak sanggup mengharungi jam kul 5 ke atas. Lagi sanggup bangun awal dan pergi awal so can balik awal. And the traffic at 4.15pm is hectic jugak! Gile. Die orang ni keluar office kul 3.30 pm ke? 

Setakat ni masih tidak tinggal puasa. Yeay! Ade la a few times macam tempted especially those few times I missed sahur, but I felt not too bad, so I carry on. I am not saying I am hoping for full puasa sebab takleh nak predict kan. But if larat go through, tak larat takpela. 

Also I manage to cook after monthsss not being in kitchen. Laki aku lega. Tapi tadekle full lega. Simple2 je aku masak. Tapi memang dari dulu aku reti masak simple je. Heh. Lagi2 dengar kes budak masuk icu makan roti john. Terus buat roti john sendiri. Eh senang je rupanye. Hah. Memang tak beli sangat laa kat pasar ramadhan. Bukan tak beli langsung. Laki aku rajin membeli kueh mueh and air. Though I got so many desserts in my fridge still uneaten! Bread butter pudding, my blueberry pie, creme caramel. Siap buat blueberry pies sendiri lagi. Hebat tak? Tak hebat sangat sebab guna ready made pastry tu. Tapi tak best la. Kena buat from scratch gak. I pon rase tak thrill makan. Tah bile nak buat lagi tahh. Bile dah ok baru tayang di blog. Tayang subpar result di blog ni malu la. 

Haven't say much about my pregnancy. OK la so far. I am reallyyyy behind in taking multivitamins. Most of the time I forgot, some of the times I was feeling too pukey to bother. Maybe I should put in reminder in phone. Hoping the baby is safe and well and so far he is.

My gynae pon baru tanye delivery plan. I told her most probably cuba jalan normal dulu, if macam dulu csect je la. Gile cool aku jawab. Ko tunggu laaaa nanti bile tibe labor pains. Fuh fuh. I can still remember puking because of the intense pain. Though a few nights ago I mimpi I kena csection. Hoho. 

My sister had just delivered a baby boy! She delivered early, on 35th week,  partly due to her condition ( prone to early delivery, she had contractions from 30th weeks! Thank God all is safe) also partly she said to the horrendous rush hour traffic during puasa. Hehehe. But the baby is fine, no need to be in incubator and so sweet looking. Baru tengok sekali, tapi bukan main pandai pandang kiri kanan cari source of sound. Especially bile cousin2 die menggile keliling die. Aziz even try to rock his hospital basket bed tu. Hoi cuak. 

Oh last night saje kasi Aziz main bunga api. Memula his father start with mercun, terus la meloncat Aziz ke kaki ku, 'akuuuttt' cakapnye. Bagi bunga api he ran for the door. 

cuak

 Then cousin2 die ajak main kat rumah die orang. Still takut but boleh la pegang sekali.

Lepas tu die cakap. "nanak . akuuut"

Heh sian. Dah habis die main satu bunga api die sibuk nak main buih pulak. My sister maid layankan je. Memang die tengah phase takut. Takut bunga api. Takut bunyi guruh. Takut tido dalam gelap. Dah kenal erti takut. Tahun lepas siap nak pegang bunga api kat api tu lagi.

Day 6 & 7 of our trip in Tokyo

Berhabuk dah gamba2 ni. Details masa pergi sana pon dah blurry. Tapi sebelom lupa dan malas menerpa, baik teruskan. Alang2 system defect kat office tengah down ni. 

On day 6 I told my husband let's not hurry up. We took our time, woke up late and then head out to Asakusa area. Before that I had been looking up at the weather forecast for Tokyo daily, and that day 6 was the coldest, so we came prepared with extra layer of clothes. It also rained a bit, but did not require umbrella or raincoat. 

Our first stop is at the Sengakuji Temple. The temple of the 47 Ronin temple as also known. I watched the Keanu Reeves movie, while not historically accurate (AT ALL) haha, but it did gave me some interest to look further into the stories. Interesting lah.

The graves of the Ronin.

We walked around the temple and it was a small temple and I think some area are locked off kut, because  I couldn't find the well. Ah well. It was an interesting visit nonetheless.

Here they provided the information about the temple. There is a nice old man manning things here.

We the proceeded to Sensoji Temple which is one of the oldest temple in Tokyo.

It was raining a bit so I just walked around in places that have shades since I am pushing Ajis stroller . Husband walked around more freely which gave him opportunity to shoot pictures of Japanese girls in their kimonos. Terlupa pulak nak letak sini.

It was a very crowded place, but not unpleasant to be around. That's the thing about Japan. Even in crowded place you don't feel crowded. Then husband take charge of Ajis a while and I walked around the temple to people watch. Intriguing. I don't think so I can appropriately describe it. But watching the devotees prayed is really interesting. And watching other people watching other people pon interesting gak. 

We walked along the famous Nakamise Dori. Didnt buy anything here. Sorely tempted nak beli neko yang lambai2 tangan tu, tapi i dah ade satu kat rumah yang waving tail die. Banyak songeh, last2 malas. Sebab I couldnt find one that is attractive enough.

Bought a snack since I was a tad bit hungry, taste a bit like rice crackers but fuh masin.

There were also a row of shops adjacent to Nakamise Dori. And as this place is shaded I am more keen to go here. Some souvenir shops, some snack shops, drugstore. At the end of this street, we found a kebab place.

Stop for a moment to eat our lunch and push little Aziz for his lunch. He was really not into eating at this time, and it took forever for us to convince him the rice pudding is good. And it is good! The kebab was good but still salty.

M y kebab, husband rice with kebab and the rice pudding. It was ok though the kebab a bit too salty for my taste. Rice pudding tu sedap.

Eating a little bit of my kebab.

Then we saw the Skytree and it seems walkable , so we walk!

Stopping a while for a photo. Sejuk wehh time ni. Aziz then cried for his milk and we stopped just ahead of this bridge at a nearby bus station to make his milk and he drank his milk then tidur.

The Tokyo Skytree! We didn't go above, but just decided to walk around the mall under the Skytree instead.

It was not a large mall, but I did manage to buy a skirt! Then some cakes and biscuits and pastries sebab aku memang lemah bab pastries ni. Lemah!

We head back to the hotel to rest a bit, eat a nearby Turkish Restaurant. I can finally have my pide ( aku terbayang2 nak pide walaupon I kinda suspect it is kinda easy to make, tapi aku tak rase aku boleh match kegebuan roti pide tu) !

It was delish but kalau dengan daging mesti lagi sedap. Ni cheese and spinach I think.

I didn't take husband punye gambar food. I think he ordered the kebab, it was ok.

This was delish! Memang lagi sedap dari lunch punye rice pudding la. Damn it now I want a rice pudding.

 Afterwards we went out to Bic Camera to shop. Bic Camera tu opposite je hotel.  Husband bought me a GShock and these!

Placemat untuk main jigsaw puzzles. Hahaha.

Sementara we shopped, Aziz main this keyboard. Since he threw down a fuss whenever we yanked him away from there, we asked the salesperson kat mana nak beli keyboard ni, sekali sold out da. Sian Aziz, but we bought another almost similar one at Toys R Us here.

The main thing is to buy toys for the anak2 sedara since most are quite cheap.

Malam tu we packed since tomorrow we dah balik Malaysia. Itu juga bermakna, aku kena habiskan pastry aku beli tengahhari tu. I love the fruit tart.

Nice!

Ini adalah sangat muak! I can only eat one and i bought 4! Pffttt. 

Our last day in Tokyo, we went to Imperial Palace East Garden. And 2 hours is not enough to walk in the park! Maybe 3 kut... we checked out then went to the garden and it was beautiful!

Spring and that means flower!

The Oriental garden was beautiful! Picture does not do it justice.

Remnants of an old castle, or part of a castle. I kinda forgot. Aziz tu tengah makan power bar. Lama betul die kunyah bar tu. Dari masuk park sampai keluar park tak habis2.

Sempat beli and makan aiskrim sebab favorite aiskrim aku in the whole world is wafer aiskrim. Dan ini did not disappoint!

Jalan di park sambil makan power bar.

Maseh lagi dengan power bar.

Then we went back to the hotel just in time for our airport bus to Narita. At Narita airport had the worst takoyaki ever, and went out to hunt for some various flavors KitKat and Royce chocolates!

Also this!

Amik gamba ni nak tunjuk kat korang! I encountered this in most public toilets in Tokyo, especially for mother and child going out alone,  we can do our business in the stall and at the same time our baby is safe in here ( while maybe kicking and screaming but it is pretty safe for a short while ). 

Haha.. aku suke sebab dulu kalau aku nak kencing masa bawak Aziz keluar sorang diri, selalu kena tahan sampai balik rumah. 

That is that! 

It was fun in Tokyo, though there are some places I wish I could go or have more time to, but this trip is ok jugak. We will never get our fill of a city unless we lived in it pon. Though I have to say, pergi sekali pon ok la. (Unless kalau free I tak tolak pergi lagi :D ). 

Selamat berpuasa to you all.

Sad excuse of a mother

Inundated with a neglect cases, as a mom it breaks the heart. Macam kes budak kena culik or rape or bunuh. There is a special kind of sadness and rage. 

But when the perpetrator is own blood and kin, especially mak sendiri, rase macam tak masuk akal. There can only be sadness in this kind of case.

Macam kes budak kena dera sampai mati and the latest neglected OKU boy. What kind of pressure does it took that you can do that to your own child and not feel pity to them?

I am not a great mother, I am still learning to be a good mother. Especially sensorang jaga Aziz 2 3 minggu ni with morning sickness rase macam fuhhh. There was a low point yesterday when I realized I didn't take care of Aziz good enough these past weeks and that brings me down and I promised to do better. 

Semoga Tuhan will always keep my conscience with me even when things get hard that I don't lose my way like these mothers did. 

And sorry to say, walaupon I kinda get how they can get to the point of tiredness and not caring, to neglecting/abusing their kids, I hope they get what they deserved here and hereafter on their treatment to them. There is no excuse whatsoever that your child gets to be just a bag of bones while you are very well fed. And no excuse whatsoever throwing boiling water to any living things.

Aziz favorite book

My husband and I went out shopping groceries at Carrefour, well I think it is now Aeon Save is it? Sometimes there are a piles of books longgok in between the aisles. The price can be cheap ranging from RM4 to RM30. Depending on the book. 

Can't remember the price of this book though, less than RM12 most probably. Bought it for Aziz because I think he would enjoy a story of a boy. 

It is about a boy name Harold who likes to eat junk food and fries and basically no greens. His mother forbid him to eat the stuffs and he decided to eat himself. Aziz is tickles at every page. 

And he loves it! Wants it to be read to him EVERY SINGLE DAY. I put the book on the living room bookshelf that he can reach. Whenever he got bored of playing his mainan, he will take out his book and go to whoever is available and asked us to 'Aca' ( 'Baca'... sekarang ni kalau cakap semua hurup depan tu silent ).

It is either this or the little dragons pop up book. But this book came way more often. Kenkadang tengah tengok TV he will come with us with the book untuk 'Aca'. Kalau dah macam tu ko mampu lagi nak tengok tv? Semalam pon I was busy since bapak nye tadek outstation, die nampak buku tu he will goes 'Aca'. Lepas tu 'Agi' ('Lagi') . I cakap habis dah.

Anyway, it is funny what sorta book a kid will like. Yang random punye aku amik time grocery shopping la suke. Yang beria-ria aku pilih buat bodoh je. 

Macam mana you people read the book to toddlers who barely understand ABC? I found it easier to just 'summarize' the thing itself in BM while pointing at the pictures. He is more interested in that rather than just I repeat the lines off the book. 

Exhausted and pukey most of the time

I have a bun in the oven!

This is the my third pregnancy. As some knows my first was a miscarriage at 7 weeks, then got Aziz and now this lil bean in my uterus. Hoping and praying that all goes well and smoothly. 

I should be in my 13 weeks or 14 weeks now. Actually my app says I am in my 13 weeks, but my gynae said I am in week 14. Ok. Tak kesah la. excited jugak because Insya Allah, this year all the sisters in our family had or will have a brand new baby to the family. My sister dah deliver 3 4 months ago, my eldest will be delivering her soon in a month time I think and me probably end of November ( laki tak puas hati  November sebab banyak hadiah kena beli nanti)

Continuing with my previous gynae, Dr Tan A.E at PCMC. Senang. Was thinking to go to Gleneagles, tapi Jalan Ampang time bebile buat aku sakit kepala bile nak buat checkup ( also nanti nak deliver I nak bilik sorang hehe ).  

Anyway suffering from the usual first trimester woes. Morning sickness. But this time it is added with exhaustion and back pains. The morning sickness also a whole lot worse from my previous pregnancy. There were days when I can't eat anything. Not eating rice since thoughts of rice make me feel queasy. Hoping this will pass SOON. The house is  a disaster and I can't seems to move a lot without feeling like I want to throw up. All I wanna do is lie down. Guess that is why I am also not really into updating blogs. Datang keje pon kenkadang macam menyesal. There were days I just stared at the screen not comprehending anything because I am feeling so nauseous most of the times.

Here's hoping things would get better for me! And this pregnancy continue to go well with a healthy baby. 

Sonogram and my mum's book.

Day 4 - Kawasaki area & Day 5 - Studio Ghibli and Tokyo Tower

Let's get it on..

The next 2 days are where we headed a little out of the way from Tokyo.

Went to Fujio F Fujiko museum which is in Kawasaki and Studio Ghibli in Mitaka. We bought the ticket from a tour agent. You can buy the ticket at any Lawson convenience store I think which have the ticketing machine, just google it up. You CAN'T buy it at the museum which is so weird to me. I think they want to limit how many people can enter it at a time . 

However since I heard Studio Ghibli tickets can go really fast I first asked a website that handled in buying and sending things in Japan to people all over the world, however we had some language barrier issues which caused me to unable to purchase it. However husband have contact a tour agent there who is willing to take the extra steps to purchase it for us and mail it to our hotel a week before arrival. So those who are interested to know how we purchase it from Malaysa, that is how! Easier if you have someone you know la. 

So on the day 4 which is on Tuesday, we woke up just in time to get to the station and catch a train to Noborito Station. I was worried a bit because the ticket is for 10 am.  and I think you only have a half hour window to enter it from the time you bought. We got to Noborito Station just in time around 10 am, and reached the museum at 10.15 am via the shuttle bus. Not to mention Aziz was cranky during the whole train ride. Ade la sorang pakcik Jepun who tried to tease Aziz back to good humour and a group of Thai ladies who offered him candies.

The shuttle bus to Fujio F Fujiko museum is very easy to spot!

We queued up a bit and was told no stroller are allowed which is a bother because Aziz really wants to drink his milk and he only do it lying down! 

Went to the nursery and let him drink up a bit but then he was excited seeing all those toys and patung to drink! So tak jadi minum pulak! 

My tips to those bringing toddler here, bring the toddler straight up to the play area and you and your partner take turn to watch him so the other people can see the exhibit in peace. At first we tried bringing Aziz along with the exhibit but he is a tots and not really interested and he was acting up. So yeah we took turn for both of us sanity. Sempat jugak Aziz berak time there, which is way better than anywhere else since the baby room is incredibly nice. 

Our ticket!

Passport!

This is actually at the entrance display

The exhibit mostly contained their sketches of Doraemon comics and one of their earlier works that looks incredibly like it.

They will give you an audio guide and this is the best audio guide I had heard. It have the option for English so that makes the exhibit more informational than we just roam around and seeing it. Also there is a replica of their home office which is amazing! Their home office looks like my dream library! So many books and posters and Star Wars memorabilia. Fujio Fujiko were a fan of Star Wars. We can't really take pictures of the exhibit and that passport picture are taken by my husband illegally I think.

Most of the time were spent here. The play area.

There are Doraemon comics all over for people to read but it is all in Japanese so we didn't bother.

One of the things Aziz try to play. I don't quite understand it either.

I actually realized we didn't take picture of the whole place, oh well, there is one part for reading and another for playing. There is a movie, actually more like you can watch a trailer for an upcoming Doraemon movie, but we didn't go in.

Then we went outside for more picture taking opportunities and let Aziz roam around.

I suruh die sayang Doraemon and this is what he did.

Also those who read/watch Doraemon. Remember this!

Ade la few others patung around the outdoor area, the biggest draw is the Pintu Suka Hati, which is a pain to get a picture with because a couple of photographer snapping like 30 pictures in one pose while adjusting their settings. Amateurs! But we manage tapi I tak upload sini la.

There is a cafe but we just opt to eat the melon bread from the stall selling breads and drinks outside. Bought Aziz a dorayaki. He likes it enough that he finished his off.

Then we went to Nihon Minkaen ( Open Air Folk House museum ) which is just 5 mins bus ride from the museum. At first I thought we have to walk there, but my husband asked the guard outside the museum and he informed us that there is a shuttle bus to take us there so we waited around 15 mins for the shuttle bus. Naseb baik tak jalan. Dah la hari panas .

So yeps! This is one of the house in the area. The Nihon Minkaen is a collection of real rural houses that they transported from all over Japan to one area so we can see what old rural house looks like. It is located in a park so it is very beautiful. And hilly!

I love it there, though after 10 houses I kinda give up reading the histories.

Some of the interiors.

The walk is uphill and the houses are really fetching. I bet in winter during snow it is even more beautiful.

 

Comel

Muka Aziz dah ngantuk gile dah time ni.

So we gave him susu in stroller and pushed him up around the hilly area looking at houses and die tidor dalam stroller.

Tea in one of the houses

You can also join in for tea and conversation with these men if you like though I excused myself politely.

That is the exit, and the park is gorgeous! We didn't have enough time to go into the park though. This time we missed the shuttle bus and we had to wait close to an hour for another bus to come! Asked the guard nearby and the walk to the train station is not far. I timed it myself, only 15 minutes! So we walked as the weather is beautiful at the time.

We headed back to Tokyo, rested up a bit and went to Akihabara. At first I was really stoked to eat naan at an Indian place but after many searching the place is closed! Booo! I was hungry and annoyed. 

Not to mention pissed. We were walking out of Akihabara station when a Japanese guy approached us wanting to help us asking where we want to go, we just want to go to the Electric town exit, he showed us the way ( wrongly I may add ) and after he shown us the way he asked us for money! So never say you won't be scammed in Japan. I can always say No but he was insisted saying he is hungry so please give him 300 yen, I eyed him sidewise while smiling thinly which he then change to 200 yen. Since I want to get rid of him I just give him 200 yen. Annoying. So yes, we were in for a rude shock since I never heard tourists got asked for money when Japanese people giving directions. So that is my tale of caution. Maybe only in Akihabara because that guy really looks super otaku. Said to my husband probably this is one of the guy who is addicted to those pachinko machine. 

That unpleasantness aside we walked around in Akihabara. I actually was underwhelmed. Foreigners seems to gush at the place, to me it just look like a bigger Low Yat. Hahahaha. Maybe I don't really appreciate the Electric Town. *shrugs* 

We did spot a Caucasian girl working in costume at one of the shops. To a lot of guys delight. No photos are allowed though.

I don't really find maid cafe or these costumes appealing since these are too objectified , so I guess maybe that is why Akihabara looks blergh to me.

 

Anyway my husband manage to ask from one of the Indian man wearing kopiah buying stuffs at Akihabara if there is any halal shops nearby. And just our luck that the guy do know where to find one since he actually is living here. 

So we went to this Yodobashi Akiba place where at the 8th floor there is an Indian place which served halal food ( chicken ye, not beef). 

So yes! I got my naan. It was a good naan too and the tandoori chicken is actually really good and Aziz ate a lot of it too. 

Aziz actually threw down my naan to the floor when I still have half left and I think the waiter saw that I am nearly in tears ( people just don't mess with my food, I get emotional with my food ) that he gives me another naan free. That waiter is the best ever ok. 

So that is it, we got back to hotel and prepared esok for Studio Ghibli pulak! 

On Day 5, we woke up and got ourself to the station. We waited a while to get to Mitaka Station with increasing anxiety. Rupanye the train going in that direction is delayed. Our ticket was at 10 am and at 9.20 am we are still waiting for the train to go to Mitaka.  Nasib baik sempat jugak. We arrived at the station close to 10.10 am and there is the shuttle bus waiting at the station.

We arrived there at 10.20 and have to queue up for a while but that does not take long. Our visit to Studio Ghibli Museum also coincide with a junior high school trip I believe. So that was interesting and madness to the whole museum. 

 While we were queueing there was I think an Australian guy with his daughter who was pissed and trying to make the worker there understand while showing them a piece of paper that he had bought the ticket from their website online and this paper stated that they only needed to show their passport and this printout to them to collect the ticket. I think that they had been scammed from some weird website or misread which place they are suppose to collect it, since we can't collect the ticket at the museum. 

Anyway. The queue does not take long and as we guess since at the Fujio Fujiko museum we can't bring stroller in, we had closed the stroller by the time we get to the entrance. 

The exhibit is magical! I can't describe it, a lot of it are animated or interactive and most of them wondrous. Aziz enjoy the exhibit very much. We took turn in bringing him to the things which we think he would enjoy, and the rooms that he I think he won't care about ( the replica of the animators office, home and works) we took turn looking at. He especially like the peek and boo sorta exhibit shown in there. Photography is not allowed inside the museum, so yeah.. no pictures here. 

But husband did manage to get Aziz picture on the Neko bus! 

A japanese girl helping Aziz to get into the bus.

See! A neko bus! This is a play area for toddlers and children, and it is nothing much just a cat bus with cuddly round fur things inside but the kids do enjoy it! And I had half a feeling to jump into Neko bus myself! Aziz was really stoked and I think this is the highlight of the day for him. He even cabut Neko bus tu punye bulu to the protestation of the worker. Nasib baik buat sekali je, lepas tu tak buat lagi. Kalau tak kena halau dari main.

He was the youngest child there and got bullied once by a boy who wants to take away his fur balls, Aziz cried and the worker intervene so that's that. Then he continued to play happily in the bus sampai kena tarik dengan mak bapak die untuk amik gambar kat atas. 

Alamak. Gamba ni tak bersedia. Lantak la. There were so many schoolchildren hopping impatiently to take a picture here so aku macam malas nak beria.

The water fountain Aziz main sampai basah baju. Geram. Anyway, lepas amik gamba die terus terpa balik area Neko Bus tu and tanggal kasut nak sambung main. So we let him in there for 10 or 15 mins before going out of the  museum. 

While at the cafe so husband can buy me ice cream, noticed a park next to the museum.  with few sakura trees. Sebab jakun kena pegi amik gamba. 

Then we walked back to museum to take a last photo before going back to Mitaka Station and head back to Tokyo. 

At Mitaka station, we had lunch at KFC. No.. not the chicken but the fried fish. Boleh la for hunger pang. Beli extra for Aziz in case he wants it, but he wants only the biscuits.

 

Got back to Tokyo and decided eh, let's go to Roppongi la.

A place where expats thrived. Memula nak pergi Mori Tower to see the whole view of Tokyo but then saw that the entrance fee cekik darah amat. Don't want. 

So we walked a while and singgah Hard Rock Cafe for the usual tshirt purchase. 

Then we went to Tokyo Tower! 

I really wanted to go here because I heard souvenirs here is cheap and it is! Tips2 mengatakan Nakamise Dori tu lagi cheap,... no the one selling here is the cheapest so far I seen. 

Also partly I was an avid fan of Japanese Drama which then used to have a lot of Tokyo Tower as background and the rainbow bridge! Since I did not plan to go to Odaiba, it was ok by me seeing it from afar.

Ni laki aku la amik. One of the Tokyo sight. Bukan, ini bukan miniature. 

Up there, there is a large robot gliding here to provide interactive information. Aziz suke. Campo takut.

Stayed there nearing sunset time.

Oh the souvenirs I mentioned that are cheap there, it is Level 2 ke 3, not the same level as the observatory.

Afterwards we walked back to Roppongi and had dinner at a kebab place. Not so nice , so salty, maybe that is why I didn't take picture.