Typhoon again.

Tomorrow's a holiday, declared by the school.
Reason? Typhoon's coming again. As usual, strong gust of wind and heavy rain comes together with the typhoon, is like a combination.

Kinda funny, as you can see from the picture, the typhoon is like making a U-turn from Philippines towards Japan. The path of wind is pretty unpredictable huh....

Anyway, on the good side, now my university application left the interview's essay part. The rest documentations are all done, so hopefully I can pass it to the university by Thursday or Friday.

Then, if plan goes smoothly, this Saturday, Tokyo Motorshow....

Windows 7 upgrade?

Been reading lots of articles bout the newly launched Windows 7 lately, almost certainly positive reviews about it.



It's said to be a much competent OS compared to the failure Windows Vista (which I'm running currently). Many changes has been done and improvement over the known issues from the previous versions.

I curiously tested my current system whether can support Windows 7 via the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft.

Windows 7's system requirements are as below:
- At least 1.0 GHz processor.
- At least 1.0 GB RAM.
- At least 16 GB HDD.
- Graphic adapter that can supports Windows Aero.

My current com specs easily passed the requirements.

The rest result is pretty promising.... (click for larger pic)

Mostly no problem, all green....


A few non-compatible programs, which can be easily fixed later on.


Given the positive results, I'm a step closer to be lured to upgrade my com to Windows 7, heh.
But things aren't as easy as one would actually hoped for.

Upgrading the OS needs $$, and it isn't cheap. For my case I can opt for upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, but that would cost USD 120 (~RM 406). Full version of it would cost USD 200 (~RM 677). O_o

Also, If I were to get it here, I have to be very careful with the language version. If not mistaken Windows is not that flexible when it comes to the language version.
I would be horrified to mis-installed the Japanese version of Windows, which I'm totally not used to it at all.

Windows 7, looks like a promising operation system. Will be keeping an eye for further updates.....

Busy Week Update

Finally it's Friday.... be thankful of that!

Well then, it's kinda troubled to see this blog haven't been regularly updated as last time. Life in Japan should have many things to blog about, it does but currently am busy engaging with school lessons & university application so didn't really get to explore out that much. Last outing was to Ginza almost 2 weeks ago.

Life is not dull, and I can't stand boring routine life either. There must be some occasion where I can find excuse to spend a little more than usual, or sacrifice some of my time for other things.

A little update on what happened for this week....

Tuesday after school, went to the nearby sushi restaurant again to had late lunch with bunch of close friends. Main purpose was to celebrate Caphy passed her university exam.
It was her first time (my 4th visit) and see whether she can take in the raw fishes of Japan, heh.

Hamazushi's having a special offer on weekdays, 94 yen per plate instead of the sual 105 yen. Cheaper sushi YAY!!


Whenever I visit I must order these 2 plates! Top grade maguro (tuna) and well-marinated fatty salmon!


Me with the favourite sushis lol.


Don't wanna overflow this post with too much of sushi, if you're interested do read my 1st and 2nd visit to this sushi restaurant. Salivating pics....

Total kill was 12 plates of sushi. Was actually going for more (current record is 15 plates) but later the gang called for another round at a yakiniku (grill meat/BBQ) restaurant nearby, which one of my friend worked.

Kok Wai deciding on the menu....


The boss taking down the order, while Leang and Caphy wonders.


Pose...


Pei Ki & Kok Wai.


Caphy & me, posing with the kimchi.


The raw meat before being grilled.


Grilling...


May not look the best but tasted nice. If not mistaken this is the pork's intestine?


Grilling another part of the pork.


This is how the kimchi looks like after being passed around....


Some sort of stone rice where you have to mix it up fast or the rice on the bottom will be "grilled".


Danielle joined in later, eating the big bowl of noodle dish.


For that day we basically ate 2 meals all together. It was great to hang out, and to have long chat with friends.

Besides that, for the past few weeks I've been busy preparing my university's application. Not an easy process as I've to prepare the documentations, settle the registration fees, waiting my interview essay to be corrected by the teacher.

So far everything seems to be working on fine. Gonna collect the final bits of documents from the school next week. Do some final checks, and then might be submitting the application personally to the university, which means I've to go to the university's main campus further away at Kawagoe City in Saitama-ken (埼玉県川越市).

Hope things will turn out to be fine for me next week eh. :)

Here's an excerpt from the interview essay which has been approved by my teacher. Will post it up here when it's all done.

音楽家は作曲から、録音、編集まで一人するのは難しいと思います。ですから、サウンドエンジニアは音楽家にとって重要な助手です。どんなに素晴らしい音楽家もサウンドエンジニアの協力がなければ、成功できません。

It must be a tough job for a musician to do everything from composing, recording to editing. That's why sound engineer is such an important assistant for the musician.
No matter how great the musician is, he/she needs to work together with sound engineer to produce good results.

I think I would be a little relief once I'm done with my application. After that I can only concentrate on other things such as the interview practise and preparation for upcoming major exams.

The busyness is likely to end by the mid of Nov. Once I have more spare time, am likely to search for a part-time job to fill in the bank account.... :P

Oh yeah.... next weekend might be "visiting" this baby. :D

Lexus LF-A at TMS

Quick Update

IMG_3592, originally uploaded by CLF.

Currently am busy dealing with university application stuffs. In case you didn't know, I'm applying for Shobi University at Saitama-ken (埼玉県).
The university entrance exam (+ interview) falls on Nov 14, and result will be out on Nov 18.
Until the result has been announced, I bet I would resume into normal blogging routine soon.

Oh about this picture, it's the food vouchers I received from restaurant outlets, most are special service vouchers (extra side dish, more rice for free etc.). Been eating outside quite frequent lately, heh....

Adventure at Ginza

Last week there was a public holiday (体育の日 to commemorate Tokyo Olympic 1964) which falls on Monday, so I've decided to explore one of the famous places in Tokyo, Ginza (銀座).

Back in early May when we're having the Golden Week holiday I went to the nearby Imperial Palace and actually planned to visit Ginza during that evening (since both are within walking distance), but had to cancel the plan as I wasn't feeling well that time.

In case you didn't heard much bout Ginza, it is the prominent shopping district in Tokyo where many international brands set up their flagship stores over the area. In other words, this is the place for the rich to plunge their money in as a form of entertainment.

Going to Ginza isn't that hard, I just took the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line to one of the station close to the Imperial Palace, and walk towards Ginza. Ticket cost 190 yen btw.

Just after I get out from the station, spotted this monstrous limousine.
Maybach 62S.


As expected from rich Japanese, their ride equates their wealth.

Checking the map to make sure that I'm walking on the correct direction.


When you can see the big neon billboard advertisements on top of the buildings, you're pretty much sure that you're stepping closer into the commercial area.


Read it as GIN5ZA, or GINZA 5?


Blue sky and white clouds, perfect weather for outing!


First stop, Sony's HQ building.


Looking closer, advertising Michael Jackson's "This Is It" movie, which will be released on Oct 28.


Inside the Sony building, spotted these trendy jeans which are made from recycled banner ads.

You can see the process of making the jeans here.

Sony VAIO X series. Slim and lightweight!


Sony VAIO L series. Touchscreen desktop.


Testing out the new Sony Walkman A840 MP3 player. Was deeply impressed by it and tempted to get it heh..... aiming for the biggest 64GB capacity (filled up my 16GB relatively fast).


Testing out one of the King of Pop's songs, Black Or White.


Comparison with my current Walkman...


Self-portrait while testing the MDR-NC600D noise-canceling headphone.


I've spent quite some time inside the Sony building and have to force myself out of the building as there're still a lot more to see in Ginza lol.

Sony building shots from the outside.



I can't believe that such cool-looking foreigner is actually working part-time to pass out tissue papers!


Nikon House, dedicated to those who love Nikon cameras.


Moving towards the centre of Ginza with heavy traffic.


Wako department store, one of the landmark building in Ginza. More of it's photos will be posted later.


Japanese in traditional cloths.


RICOH's HQ in the centre.


Crossing the road at the centre of Ginza....


Pedestrians' Paradise. Motorbikes & cars are prohibited to travel across the main street during certain hours for the sake of the shoppers.


The crowd.





Ginza & me.


Was disappointed that this Nissan Gallery Ginza only hosted 2 cars, the Cube & Skyline Crossover. No GT-R though..

The Nissan Skyline Crossover.


The Wako department store.



It was around 3:15pm and I happened to stumbled upon the underground restaurants. I haven't take my lunch, so yeah, give it a shot. Lunch at Ginza lol.

The menu.


My set, 伊達鶏と茄子の味噌照り焼き丼 (Miso Teriyaki Grill Chicken & Eggplant rice). Cost 1,000 yen.


One of the better rice don I had so far.

After the lunch had more energy to explore Ginza. Yeah!

Mitsukoshi department store.


Uniqlo at Ginza 5-chome.


Tiffany & Co.


H&M. Heard just opened not so long ago.


Godiva at Ginza.


Mont Blanc.


Lots of people lining up outside the Matsuzakaya to buy some snacks.


A photographer and his pet dog.


Lots of ladies waiting outside the bookstore for the autograph session with an author named Daigo, if I'm not mistaken.


Matsuya Ginza.


Louis Vuitton!


Apple's flagship store at Ginza.


Time display at Ginza 2-chome.


Nice clock outside Ginza Diamond Shiraishi.


Limited edition tumblers from Starbucks.


Colourful Vitamin water! Cost 200 yen each though...


Bentley Continental.


Mercedes Benz CLS unloading stuffs.


Some sort of politician giving a speech where nobody listens..


Typical Japanese right-winged activist's vehicle.


Briefly went inside a local Bic Camera store to check out something. When I step out of the shop it's already getting dark.
The Ginza in the daylight is very different than the Ginza under the moonlight, so decided to walk back to discover more hidden gems in Ginza that surface itself in the dark.



Sony building shines with colours!


Bustling streets of Ginza in the evening.


Mitsukodshi shines in the dark as well!


Shines....


Wako department store again, but different time.



A random department store.


One of the many entrance to the Tokyo Metro Ginza station.


Notice the picture inside the picture.


Tokyo Olympic 2016 banner. Unfortunately they didn't made it.


Heading towards the Tokyo station where I'll be catching the metro back to my hostel. Decided to walk a little more distance to another station rather than taking the one I came earlier.

Tokyo station is kinda huge, but too bad it's currently under renovation so many parts of the station are being sealed up.


Giant Meiji chocolate hahah.


Menu for the bento set meals. More expensive compared to other places due to it's prime location.



Walking in the underground pedestrian walk towards the Tokyo Metro line station.


Was kinda worn out from walking all around Ginza, but there're still parts which I did not covered yet. Might plan to go there again some other time....

OK, so here's what I've purchased in Bic Camera.
Camera pouch. 980 yen.


Audio Technica ATH-ANC3 noise canceling earphone. 5,980 yen from the original 9,980 yen.