Hello Tokyo!

Tokyo gave us a warm welcome - 34 to 36 degree celsius daily for the last 3 weeks! It's hard to avoid the sun here. Such a drastic difference from Hamburg. Luckily, we had a one week in Singapore to "acclimatize".

City is vibrant and well connected. Didn't seem to have changed much from the last time we had visited eight years ago. But people seemed to have. There were less thick make up (maybe the look is now "nude") and weird dressings.

Brothers sleep the same way in cab to apartment; apartment interiors; food grilled with "fish griller"; parks, shrines, areas of interest around apartment.

Foods here are expensive but extremely tasty. Corn is sweet like sugar cane, grapes taste like jelly with bubble gum grape flavour......list goes on!

We were informed that our location is highly desirable (Azabu Juban). Heard that it's sought after by celebrities (tv station nearby?) due to accessibility, green, foods, etc....Nothing to complain about the location and apartment though - it's serviced, comfortable and safe. Think there are also many Singaporeans here since the embassy is across the road.

Fireworks are a regular weekly affair. Here is Samba Festival at Asakusa (the famous temple) area and the annual Azabu Juban Summer Festival. It was extremely crowded outside the apartment.

Final week in Hamburg

After one and a half years, we are leaving Hamburg - fond memories, friends, food, travels and the beautiful city.

Went fishing with Martin and Paul in the villages. Caught nothing. This form of fishing is called "ground fishing". We try to catch pikes/perches by using a ball of "scent" to attract fishes to our lure.

Pictures of fun in Hamburg.

With Juergen and Steffen at the best fish and chips in town (no, out of town); Neighbours playing together; Greg and Nic in taxi leaving hamburg (sad expressions - it was heartwarming to see our neighbours gather and bid us farewell); Greg crying at the airport departing Sin (to Tokyo). Notice their hair disappeared in Sin (not my doing).

Nicholas eats anything

Nicholas is my idol. Unlike Gregory, he eats any thing that you give to him, enjoys variety, and as much as possible, feeds himself. Until last month, Gregory was still being fed by us. And Nicholas was already eating on his own since! With hands and sometimes a spoon.

I have tried lemon, curry, wasabi...with him...he tries, face changes, then comes back to me for more....
Here, he tries grapefruit.

Helsinki Jul 12

Probably the last European trip this year before moving off from Hamburg, on a two day stopover in Helsinki from Tokyo.

I think its a small city. Spent one day in the city and day-trip to Suomenlinna island. Overall, very pleasant (great weather), lots of nature and nicely designed interiors (shopping malls).

Observation no.1: whenever there's an outdoor space, there's people enjoying the sun.

Observation no.2: whenever there's a statue, there's a bird standing on the head.