2018.4.29

It was fine.

It is a national holiday in Japan and the Golden week has just begun.

Today is a free day, so we attended the one day tour to Abu Dhabi where is the capital of UAE. There were so many tours from Dubai that it was hard for me to choose the one. Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque was the only must visit place and most of tours include it. I felt like visiting the palace hotel but after all we chose the one with Louvre.

It took about two hours from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus.

The dress code to enter the Mosque is really severe. I am glad to wear the one I bought the other day. The Mosque is really big. It's hard to get the whole picture.

We had lunch at a restaurant near the Ferrari Museum.

Then we wento Louvre where we had two hours. There were some Japanese related exhibitions.

The tour ended at the Emirates Mall where there is a ski-related amusement.

We took a train back to the hotel.

We had dinner near the lake.  The fullmoon was so beautiful.

2018.4.28

I was so tired but woke up at 6 am as usual because I forgot to cancel the alarm.

We had a relaxing breakfast at the patio this morning.

Before lunch we walked around the hotel and visited the 5 supermarkets along the lake. I love visiting local supermarkets to see people's life.

At 3:30 we got together and headed for Desert Safari. I wore the costume I bought yesterday. It took nearly one hour and a half to get the desert by 4WD. It was  so different from my expectation, and it was like a jet coaster.
We tried camel riding, watching belly dances, watching fire performances, and eating BBQ. I also tried on the black costume .

It was a nice experience.

2018.4.27

It was fine.

I started at 6 am this morning. We had a big breakfast.

Today is the day of city tour.

We left the hotel at 8 am and went to the beach to take pictures, then took a water taxi, visited spice souk and gold souk.

Then  we had lunch and visited the museum. We moved to the Mall. Some people went up to Burj Kharifa but since to change the date it costs AED80, we decided to go there on May 1 as scheduled. We walked around the world's biggest mall.  We watched the water fountain show at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00pm, and projection mapping during having a big dinner at the restaurant on the water.

We came back to the hotel around 9 pm.
I got so tired and sleepy.

2018.4.26

I arrived at Kuala Lumpur at 4:56 am Japan Time which is 3:56 local time.

Since I had about 6 hours transit time, I went to the Lounge and stayed there about 4 hours and enjoyed eating and drinking.

Then I left Kuala Lumpur at 10:20 for my final destination, Dubai. After seven hours flight, I arrived at Dubai at 1pm  which is 6 pm in Japan.

Someone came to pick me up.  I checked in the hotel around 3:30pm.

At night there was a welcome dinner at a seafood restaurant. There were 11 participants in this tour.

2018.4.25

It was raining in the morning but became fine in the afternoon.

When I got to the office there was a bag of souvenir from a professor who went to Kobe on a business trip yesterday. Since there was the PCM seminar of the second  day in the afternoon all of the staff from our office could taste a piece of the special Baumkuchen only sold at the mainshop at the tea time break.

After work I headed for the Narita Airport to leave for Kuala Lumpur. It's been so long since I went there last, maybe at the time of Sydney Olympic in 2000 when I went there for transit and met my friends.
This time my final destination is Dubai where I have wanted to visit for a long time. This is the first trip to the Middle East for me. And this is the first trip abroad with my new passport.

I am very looking forward to this whole trip.

2018.4.24

It was cloudy in the morning, and rained in the afternoon.

In the morning we had an annual meeting and in the afternoon we had a PCM (Project Cycle Management) seminar. All of the staff of our office attended. We were divided into two groups when we had discussion. This measure is not only applied to the project improvement but also to daily life events or problems too. We thought of causes and results of the issue first, then goals and actions to solve them next.
It was an interesting workshop.

Since this is two-days program, we have the latter half tomorrow afternoon.

2018.4.23

It was cloudy, and a bit cooler than yesterday.

After work I visited the Fuji Film Square. There were some new exhibitions. I liked some pictures taken in the world of  Fahrenheit zero and Resort places. The former is mostly ice and frost, the latter were colorful clouds and red and yellow leaves of mountains.
They were very beautiful.

2018.4.22

It was fine and hot like summer.

I went to Hinodecho to get massage. This is my once a month treat to my body which is very stiff.
Last time we talked about omlett cooked by rice cooker and she promised me to cook it for me next time. As she promised I could eat it. It looked like cheese cake or pudding rather than omlett.

After massage on my way back to the station, I enjoyed the baloon art performance and kind of circus at Noge. Yesterday and today there are famous performances called "Noge Daidogei (野毛大道芸) The International Street Performers Festival." It is the 43rd festival.

I went grocery shopping after coming back.

Then I listened to the webseminar instead of attending the real one.

I washed many winter clothings while packing the suitcase.

The sunset was so beautiful today.

The pick up driver came around 7:30 pm.
I am glad that I do not have to bring the heavy suitcase to the airport during rush hours. Thank you for the card-holder benefit.

2018.4.21

It was fine and became a very hot day, the first summer day this year.

I went to Shinagawa to meet old friends in the morning.

Then I went to Shinjuku to attend Morinda's President's Lecture for two hours and Company tour. I measured my AGE and was so surprised to see the results which reflected last night's event, drinking too much, eating too much, and sleeping too short.

After that there were some options but I decided to go home to attend the last 10 days website meeting.

2018.4.20

It was fine and warm in the daytime but became cool in the evening.

Today is the 26th anniversary of the opening of Expo'92 in Seville, Spain. This experience of seven months working and five months traveling around Europe had changed my life a lot.

After work I organized a surprise birthday party for my ex-colleague. Seven of us got together and enjoyed a full course dinner with unlimited drinks at the half price. We talked a lot and explored each other.
It was a fun night.

2018.4.19

It was fine.

There was a meeting in the morning. It finished earlier than expected.

At lunch time I went to the flower shop which was closed yesterday. It closes at 7 pm. I ordered a bouquet for tomorrow.

2018.4.18

It was raining in the morning but became fine.

On my way to the office my train delayed. So I was a bit late. With the certificate from the train company I won't be counted as "late" but it is counted from 10 am and I needed to work for 7 hours and 45 minutes.

After work I visited three flower shops to consult about the bouquet for my friend. One was already closed. The other will open until midnight. Another opens until 8 pm. Depends on the size the price of rose varies, but a big red rose costs yen 500 at both shops. Much bigger one costs yen 1200 or so for just a piece. The one requires the wrapping fee, the other wraps for nothing. The former can make a bouquet from yen 1,000, the other from yen 1,500. They are all in Roppongi. Isn't it interesting?

I like roses and orchids very much. What flowers do you like?

2018.4.17

It was slightly raining and rather cold.

After work I went to Shinagawa to see somebody. We went to a coffee shop at the first floor of the hotel.
I was going to contract something today but decided to postpone it until the expiration of the current service comes in a few month to avoid penalty.

2018.4.16

It was fine.

It is the new moon, shingetsu (新月), today. Do you have any rituals on the new moon and the full moon, mangetsu (満月)?
They say it is a good time to make wishes of what you want to increase on the day of the new moon and of what you want to decrease on the day of the full moon.
I have started writing the 10 wishes on the notebook since last year. Every time I check the wishes of last month if they were granted or not before writing the new ones.
Some were granted and others are not yet.
What kind of wishes do you have?
Whatever wishes you have, I think to write them down is a very good exercise to concentrate on your dreams.

After work I went to see friends in Shinagawa and ate the cake set.

Then I went to Yokohama to learn about Arimatsu shibori (有松絞り) tie-dyeing. It has about 400 years history.  They have some patterns. Each pattern has a special meaning of inviting fortunes. For example, kanokoshibori (鹿の子絞) is to drive away bad luck therefore at the shichigosan(七五三) celebration and Coming-of-age celebration we use the one with kanokoshibori.
One more thing, all tie-dyeing kimono is the formal wear of the Imperial family.

2018.4.15

It was stormy in the morning, heavy rain and strong wind. In the afternoon it stopped raining.

Since I was sick yesterday I canceled attending the ISD adviser's seminar today.

After all I went to the nearby shrine and grocery shopping in the afternoon. Besides that I stayed home and did many house works including cleaning, washing, and cooking. It's been a long time since I stayed at home in the weekend last.

They say it is the 35th anniversary of the  Tokyo Disneyland's opening.
Congratulations!!

2018.4.14

It was cloudy and rainy.

I had two appointments today in Tokyo. However since early this morning I have been sick and had to cancel both of them.

One was a reunion of the club from the university and I had been looking forward to seeing old friends after a long time.

So disappointing. I stayed at home all day long.

Health is the most important.

2018.4.13

It was fine.

I took a half day off to attend a semina in afernoon. It was the first time for me to go to the venue, and I took a wrong way. But I was in time fortunately. I am glad to attend it. After that we went to have tea.

Then I could make an apointment at the salon for hydrogen inhalation in Ginza. It took 20 minutes. Last time they measured the flow of my capillary tobe which was so interesting and gave me a bag of hydrogen bathing. But this time neither of them was happened.

After that I had dinner at the fancy restaurant of the 30th floor in Shinagawa. The night view from  there was nice. Then we went to anorher bar in the same building.

2018.4.12

It was fine.

After work I went to Shinagawa to see my friends. It's been so long since I saw one of them last. We enjoyed talking and eating the reasonable cake set. Usually drink costs about yen 1,000 and cake costs about yen750 respectively. But after 6 pm you can order the cake set at yen1,100. Isn't it nice? Today I chose the Easter special cheese cake which looked like a bunny.
After that we went to eat something for supper which was not schduled at first. If I knew I tried to find a reasonable restaurant beforehand but we just went to the nearest restaurant. This was the fourth or fifth time for me to be there and it was almost for the first time not to order the course dinner. If we had time, we would have enjoyed some dishes, but we just ordered one dish respectively. I am glad to have it because I have wanted to order it someday.

2018.4.11

It was slightly raining in the morning and became cloudy and windy later.

At lunch time I booked the picking up service of the suitcase for my next trip abroad. This is one of the complementary services of having the gold card. I really appreciate this service and the usage of airport lounges. Because of this I could choose the night flight after work.

After work I visited the Fuji Film Square.The exhibitions were the same, but still I can enjoy the beautiful pictures.

2018.4.10

It was fine.

I had two meetings today. One is the team meeting in the morning, the other is the office meeting in the afternoon. The former is held once in a week, the latter is held once in two weeks.

I got two Japanese sweets today too. One is called dorayaki (どら焼) which is like a pancake sandwich of sweet adzuki bean paste. The other is called Siberian roll. I am not sure the name of origin but it is also made from adzuki bean jelly and sponge cake. Both tastes similar. So it was coincidence.

2018.4.9

It was fine.

I have just watched the sports news about US baseball games. A Japanese pitcher Shohei Otani won the game. Within 11 days or so he had three home runs and won twice as a pitcher.
Isn't it amazing?

2018.4.8

It was fine.

I went to Shinagawa to attend "The 10th Wealth Dynamics Festa 2018." It started at 10AM to 7PM. The main lecturer is Mr. Roger James Hamilton who has many titles. I have never read his book, so I bought three of them at the venue and got a present. I wished to get his autograph but I could not.  But at least I could talk with him.

The guest speaker was Mr. Masanori Kanda whom I wanted to see once.

First there was a lecture by Roger, second by Mr.Kanda, third panel duscussion, and fourth the lecture by Roger again.

To my lucky I was invited to this precious program by applying for the offer of the mail magazine.

I am very glad to have applied because it was such a nice one day seminar.

Since I wanted to hear the detail of the programs I stayed at lunchtime and after the session too. They even provided lunch, drink, and snack for those who stayed to listen.
Unfortunately I did not apply for his course, but I applied some trials instead.

I was glad to see some friends at the venue.

It was a nice day.

2018.4.7

It was cloudy and windy. I am glad that it did not rain today.

I went to Shinjuku to attend Morinda's monthly meeting.
After that I went to Meguro to see my friend's art exhibition. It was rather different what I thought.
The season of cherry blossoms was over, and the famous cherry trees along the Meguro river have already become hazakura (葉桜), all leaves.

Then I went to Kimono-style Miya to get dressed and hair-set to enjoy Rakugo(落語), Japanese traditional talk performance. It was very intetesting.
Before that an enka (演歌) singer sang four songs. 

At night we went out for dinner at izakaya (居酒屋) Japanese-style dining bar restaurant.

It was a nice day.

2018.4.6

It was fine but very windy and scary.

After work I went to Fuji Film Squre where had new exhibitions. There were many beautiful breath-taking pictures. Japanese four seasons are really nice.

After coming home, I prepared the kimono for tomorrow. I hope it will be fine tomorrow.

2018.4.5

It was coudy in the daytime but slightly rainy at night.

I walked to the station to have dinner with Argentines whom I attended on April 25 to Kamakura tonight to drink.
I booked the venue in Asakusa from the Internet coupon site.  So we could have dinner about a half price.
They traveled  Hiroshima, Kyoto & Nara, and Nikko in 10 days.
I am glad to hear that they enjoyed everything in Japan.

2018.4.4

It was fine and very warm.

I had lunch with a colleague of the different section after a long time.  So I thought I have missed watching TV dramas at lunch time, but it seems there was the final baseball match at that time and that the drama was not broadcast at the regular time.

After work I went to attend a monthly meeting of a club. There were many attractive information. I was so motivated by listening to the good news.

Today I decided many near future plans such as having birthday lunch, attending two great seminars in April and May by invitation, and having my mother's 17th death anniversary service in early May.

I feel like traveling both in Japan and abroad. They say if you make up your mind, future is decided. Everything depends on ourselves.
So I will make these wishes come true soon.

2018.4.3

It was fine and warm.

At lunch time we had a welcome luncheon for a new staff.
Since there were 12 people in total, we had booked the tables and sent the orders in advance.
There were many choices, first antipasto, second main dish, third rice or bread, and fourth soft drink. Price range is from yen 900 to  yen 1500.
The meat dishes were rather impressive and voluminous.  But not for salada dish.

2018.4.2

It was fine and warm.
Since there was wind, petals of cherry blossoms were like snowflakes. We call this sakura fubuki (桜吹雪). Sakura is cherry blossoms, fubuki is snowstorm. There must be hana ikada (花桴), flower rafts on the rivers.

Today is the first working day of the new fiscal and academic year 2018. There are new staffs started working today.

On January 1 and April 1 and on my birthday May 8, I want to start something new. Today I started using the new tout bag and connector.
When do you feel like starting something?

2018.4.1

A new month has started. April is Shigatsu(四月), the fourth month or Uzuki(卯月). It is the beginning of the new fiscal and academic year in Japan.

As a ritual I visited the nearby shrine in the morning.

I went to the beauty salon to have my hair cut and permed.

Then I went shopping.

And I went to Tokyo to attend the 77th first ladies luncheon for the first time. It has been held on the first day of the month for seven years or so except January without any break. In January it is held on January 11. I knew about it last year, but since it is held at the lunch time on the first day of the month, it does not always fall on weekend. Therefore this is the first chance for me to attend.
There were about 14 ladies. Aftet having lunch we heard the speech about Oyster. Every time there is a guest speaker by the recommendation from the speaker of the previous month.

It was very interesting to get to know new people. Everone has something to tell. There was the founder of Mind Block Buster. To my lucky I could get her treatment.

There was an acquaintance there, so we decided to have tea after luncheon and enjoyed knowing each other.

It was a nice day.