Visiting Japan

No post for a long long time... I had to admit that it's because I had too busy to enoy my holiday in Japan for last 3 weeks.



It was a real "Satogaeri" (visiting mother-country) after more than a year.



Last year, I returned Japan for a wedding party and I only had 1 week there but this time was different. We rented an apartment and truly enjoyed Japan as "visitor".



Japan look different that before becuase now I can see my country as a third-person view.



Many positives and some negatives.



For example dressing dog like this crazy is only possible in Japan.



She even has a flower on her back!!



Foods are also unbelivably good in Japan. Actually, Tokyo is the city which has the most number of Michelin stars.



I ate ONLY Japanese food every day. (except breakfast!)



Japanese sweets are also amazing. This one is my husband's favorite!

Negative remarks are same like I knew from before. In Tokyo, I always have to fight with time since there are so many things I can do. I had to rush up from the metro station on basement 5 floor all the way up to ground. I'm so much in hurry and take a cab but ended up with traffic jam.. These stress always bug me in Tokyo even during a holiday..



3 weeks went by so quickly and of course it is sad to leave home country but I'm not afraid of going back to Switzerland anymore.



Since I moved to Switzerland, there was always some sort of lonliness surronded me.



It was a fear that I will be forgotten by everybody in Japan and lose all friendship.



But during this stay, I was able to catch up with many people and had great fun. We didn't feel any distance and I felt that we've never been apart. All the friendship and reliability has nothing changed.



I want to thank to my friends who gathered on the day I arrived, friends who celebrated 10th birthday party together since we met, high school friends who cracked up together like crazy and ex-colleague and bosses who spared busy time for me and enjoyed drinks all together.



Even though Tokyo is such a busy city, this is my homebase, most comfortable place for me.



I like Switzerland but I have to say that I won't live here without having my husband.



After living in Switzerland for a year, I realized how important my friends are in Japan and same time, how much I in love with my husband which makes me feel like going anywhere just because of him..



11.45hr flight went so fast thinking such a things and wenn I realized, the land of Switzerland was already there.



Green, green green.. Switzerland welcome us with full of joyful spring colour.



I could tell from the air that spring has arrived in Switzerland as well.



After we packed out our suitcase, we had our first dinner at balcony in this year. I hear birds and I smelled fresh green. I can't explain how comfortable it was.

I'm curious how I will feel in year later or more. Maybe in certain point, Switzerland become my home town as well where I can never let go, or maybe already it is..

Art on Ice

Again, we went to see this famous show held once in a year! Last year, I enjoyed the performance specially that of gold medalist from Russia.



Becauce our princess, Shizuka Arakawa, a GOLD MEDALIST FROM JAPAN will perform!!! I was really rellay looking forward to it!



Special thank to Odie who organized very front row.. I could see even the facial expression of all the skaters.



What's so interesting about this show is that since it's name is "Art on Ice" you can enjoy variety of performance on the ice, not only figure skating. All of the sudden, piano shows up on the middle of the ice!!



Skaters can perform with live music. The perfomance of dancers on the stage was also exciting!



But I have to say tht figure skating was more than impressive. I always love to see the performance of figure skate in TV. In winter olmpic, my only interest was to figure skate. How powerful the performance is to see in live..



and how elegant it is....



Here is the STAR of Japan, Shizuka Arakawa. I thought I will scream and be so excited when she performs but actually, I couldn't say a word. Her performance was adorable, even celestial. My eyes were following her but my body were frozen.



Her performance was unlike anybody. It's like a slow flow of the river.



There was also a Japanese skater who plays pair with Russian skater. Her name is Yuko Kawaguchi but I've never heard of her. I asked to some Japanese friends but nobody knows. Somehow I felt that these two doesn't match so well. She is too small compare to huge russian skater. But I'm curious how she goes.



Another performance I've enjoyed a lot was that of Stephan Lambiel, the most popular skater from Switzerland. To my surprise, he performed with the back music of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake!! He showed up on the ice with many sexy dancers, just like Britney:)



Ice turn out to be the stage of MTV music award:)



He even used chair during the performance! Wow, I've never seen such a pop ice skating. It's changed my image torward figure skating which suppose to be more classic! I understand why he is so popular in Switzerland.



The show continues. Many funny performance was also held. They were swinging rings like crazy.



One of the best part was here. At finale, all the skaters gathered once on the ice.



and here! This part!! We, the people having seat on the front row have right to touch hands of skaters when they skate around the link!! Zeno got also excited and he gave up taking photo but I did, I touched the hand of Shizuka!!
When she came at first round, I scream "Shizuka chaaaaaaaaaaannnn!!!" and she saw me! She recognized that me, a Japanese girl is here in the first row. So on her second round, she came to me and I touched her hand!! Ohhhhhh that was unforgetable experience... I was very very excited and again shouted "Aligatoooooo!!!"(thank you). Shizuka's special performance is called "Inabauwer" which bend body backward. This is so beautiful. After the show, our family tried Inabauwer together and see who bends back the best:)

When Shizuka got her gold medal, I was here in Switzerland to engage with Zeno. It was such a coincident that I happen to be in Switzerland and watching her performance with Zeno. Now I'm living here and seeing her performance in live in Zurich, again with Zeno.



Thank you to all the performers for such a touching night.

Sushi Party!!

Since I live in Zurich, I have been asked often "can you make Sushi?". My answer was always NO. Sushi look simple but actually it requires a lot of skill and in Japan, you only eat sushi outside, not at home. That was my explanation. This is in fact true, in Japan, no mother make real Sushi at home, we normally deliver from Sushi shop.

But one time, one of my friend said "really? but I saw one Japanese student brought sushi to party".

That must be "Norimaki" not "real sushi",,, that's what I thought. So I was still refraining from making sushi but finally I couldn't say no anymore. My husband really wanted to hold sushi party for his good friend.
I was at the edge and couldn't make furhter excuse. So finally I tried last weekend!!



Not so bad, isnt't it?? Inside is just like California roll, avocado, crub, sesami and so on.



Spicy tuna roll.



Tuna salad roll. Yeah, none of them are "real sushi" but still tasty.



We also bought the most fresht fish we could get in Switzerland and organized "self sushi". You pick up whatever you like and roll up with rice by yourself. Salmon were especially good.



Salad is also seafood.

Some people who know real sushi might complain that these are "fusion sushi" but the most important is that we had fun!



I'm glad our guests like raw fish and they enjoyed. All the rolls and fish are finished!! My husband,,, full of his mouth:))



So anybody who wants to try "home made sushi" in Switzerland, let me know! Hmm,, I might have to buy dishes which match better to Sushi and fish.. Then it looks even more delicious.

Private garden in city

European people like to take care of their garden. Specially here in Switzerland, it's normal to find some "eatable" plants simply from their own garden. This is quite amazing for me since Zurich is city and not a farm country. But even in the middle of the city, people own their private farm in back yard and growing vegetables and fruits.
A friend of my husband has a gorgeous garden. Once, my husband back home with full of apples and berries in a bascket. It was from their garden.


I really can't believe that this is a private own garden..



In the middle of the city.





In Japan, or at least in Tokyo, in order to enjoy this kind of beautiful garden, you have to go to the public own place, often named as "English Garden" with entrance fee.



After I went crazy to take photos in the garden:), a mother of the family offer us nice, tasty lunch. Hand-made cake came as a dessert. This was really delicious. In public "English Garden" in Japan, you also find a cafe where offer cakes but quality is not as good as this one.

Beautiful garden shows the spirit of Swiss people how they love nature. Switzerland itself is like a country of nature but even so, people try to grow their own greenery at home. This is such a luxurious life style. Flower from a garden add lovely atmosphere in the room and real BIO vegetables from a garden give you lots vitamins and fruits from a garden turns out to be a sweet cake coming out from oven. At same time, you really have to learn how to take care of the garden, otherwise it won't be a fruitful one. Lots of work come back as a reward.
Having a garden makes your life a little bit more precious one.

Letten

Letten, the river version BADI in Zurich. Here, you can just come by, quickly swim and go even during an 1 hour lunch time. (I also came often on hot days!). No entrance charge, I like this swim-and-go style:) This time, with my sister-in-law, I learned other face of Letten.



Letten can be a great outside cafe where offer good foods!! It was sunny autumn day which we could still enjoy a last tip of summer atmosphere. Before we go movie, we wanted to fill our stomoch at somewhere refreshing.
Letten is perfect for such a occation. There are grasses and wooden board you can lay down and sofa facing river side. These sofas are occupied with young people who enjoying chatting.





As we had a big hunger, we took a table and ordered something to bite. Selection of food is also quite stylish. Miso-Mayonaisse Humberger, Veggies Burger, Sticked Caprese,, and so on. We've chosen Grilled Egg Plant and Cucumber with Chili sauce and baked potato. Healthy but well satisfied our empty tommy:)




Having a refreshing river view outside in casual atmosphere something very special in Zurich. You cannot get this in other city or at least not in Tokyo. You have to go to real restaurant if you want to dine with river view.
Letten represent one of the life quality in Zurich.

First Hair Dresser in Zurich

One of the most important issue I had for living in Zurich is HAIR DRESSER. It seems that styling your hair is not so much important issue in here Zurich. My Swiss colleague, a pretty girl, really doesn't care where she goes to cut her hair. In Japan, hair dresser are actually called "hair salon" and girls are expecting more than cutting her hair. THE SALON I used to go offer variety of aroma shampoo and massage. I could enjoy relaxation while my hair being cut.

I had my BEST hair stylist in Japan. I had my whole reliability on him. I just walk in, tell him a little bit of tips that I want and he take best out of it, even more than my expectation. I always worried if he quit his job one day, than I never know how I can deal with my hair further. I always thought, "I'm not gonna let anybody to touch my hair expect him". This is the way we take "hair salon". It is not just the place to "cut your hair". It is about "how to arrange your hair"

I wish I could go back to Japan every time I want to cut my hair,,,, but the time has come that I finally have to let someone else to touch my hair. I decided to go hair dresser in here Zurich, where my sister-in-law recommended to me.

I left my home with my favorite casual, but also trendy and stylish one I had. On the day I have appointment at hair salon, I always wear something represent my style the most. It gives good impression to stylist and let them easier to understand what I want. It also has an effect to give the stylist a pressure that they can't do wrong:)

As I arrived the salon, my stylist was expecting for me at the reception. She instantly showed me a friendly smile and we shook a hand. Hmm, this is very European style to shake hand at the salon but I liked it. It wiped out my nervous feeling.
Than she consulted what kind of style I have in my mind. I always think that the hair style which looks very cute on western woman never match to Asian woman. (hair itself is totally different!) So I showed the script from Japanese magazine with Japanese model who has the style I want. She looked at it and agreed.

Hair shower was not that comfortable. The salon I used to go had a chair recline like the one at first class, so that customers don't hurt neck during long shower. My hair is too heavy to be patient until finish being washed. Also, there was no towel provided to put on my face. Towel avoid shampoo getting into your eyes and also gives you a peace underneath of it.

After the shower, a drink was offered. That was happy surprise. Cold ice tea tasted good after shower.

I was staring at the skill of my hair stylist. She was quite good, checking the length everytime and always asked me if she can cut so far. I was happy that she really paid attention to my wish.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed talking to her. She is very open and also gave me many fun information about the city. At the end, I even wish if she could be a friend of mine! She is indeed a cool woman.

My hair style was completed as a little bit different from a model girl in magazine. I say, my hair has been arranged as more European cut. But it was a good changes, otherwise, I always want same kind of style.

Overall satisfaction, I could judge only when I leave the salon. I left the place with big smile. Even I have to challenge with new hair style, I had a comfortable stay and that is also important. Beauty will not created without comfortable atmosphere.

I learned again something new in Zurich. Learning hair salon also takes part of learning the city. Step by step, I have to find my own world here.