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.

London Jun 12

Decided on a last minute trip to London with family. Managed to redeem their tickets with frequent flier miles.

Overall, was a great weekend. Not too much walking (but carrying Nicholas in his stroller up and down the Underground was good exercise); had authentic and tasty Thai, Japanese and Chinese foods.

Random photos:

"Spidey" at Tower Bridge.

London Eye

Big Ben

Nic running on grass patch outside Westminister Abbey.

Not your typical Brits.

Portebello market on Saturday.

Damn bird sure know how to choose where to make droppings - on a 300 million year old fossilized wood exhibit outside Natural History Museum.

Gregory's favourite site in London - The Natural History Museum with fascinating exhibits. One of my favourites too (plus it's free!)

Exhibits in the museum. I think the monster outside the glass is scarier...what do you think?

Nicholas outside St Paul's Cathedral.

Recent Trips

Finally, some time to blog besides work and travels.

Party at Greg's kindergarten; picnic with friends; who's taller?; playing outside with neighbours.




Nice areas around Hamburg.
Top row - Blankenese
Bottom row - Zoo (Hagenbecks Tierpark)





Weekend in Copenhagen. Charming. Unfortunately, it was the wrong weekend because it was cold and windy.





Fortunately, there were many muesums with fantastic exhibits.







Malmo, Sweden is nearby. Another charming little city with nice parks and interesting architecture.





Munich is impressive and full of world class sites. From churches to castles, museums to parks.





Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau (Castles) and interiors





Around the castles and a nearby town called Füssen. A little gem on its own that should not be missed.





Weekend trip to Luneberg. Only an hour from Hamburg and full of historical buildings.






Recent trip to Dublin. Downtown area is an open air museum. Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university (1592).




Brazen Head is Ireland's oldest pub. Guinness here tastes different but better than other parts of the world. Was also at Tom Petty's concert at the O2 area. Great atmosphere.

Haircuts

A haircut costs at least 11 Euros each. An electric hair trimmer costs 9.90 Euros each.

Before

An hour later.

Took only 10 min to trim one head. Not bad...looks good too...

Both at one years old. Left: Nicholas. Right: Gregory when he was one years old.
Compared to Nicholas now, he was smaller (lighter) but much more mischevious (as you can tell from the face).