One fine late afternoon. We cruised the smooth tranquil road of Tokyo. That Sunday, road was open, not much car. Our car was heading toward Rainbow Bridge.
On the bridge, we viewed Tokyo Bay under the clear sky.

Dear Hubby (DH) : "Look at those airplanes lining for their turn to land at Haneda."
Sweet Wife (Me) : "Yeah, look, one, two, three, four, and five including that tiny dot are in line. What a traffic! So many airplanes…. I wonder how many in a day."
DH : " I wonder when we will have our own private jet."
Me : "Hm…. yeah…. well, let’s imagine if we have one."
DH : "OK…. how big?"
Me : "Well, not jumbo surely, that normal private jet, say, can accommodate 12 people comfortably, with nice bar, huge screen and unlimited choice of movie."
DH : "Oh, I will definitely invite family from Pakistan to visit us here."
Me : "But you got to select twelve people only, not everybody can come."
I remember our huge big family back in Pakistan. When I visit the country, a bus was rent and more than 50 people of our big happy family came picked us up at the airport.

DH : "Hm…. OK. Ami and Abu are definitely."
Me : "Deal."
DH : "Lala D and family too."
He addressed our big brother and the family.

Me : "OK, that make two plus four, you got six seat left."
DH : "I want Lala T and family too."
Me : "Well, that add up five, only one seat left…"
DH : "Oh that’s tough, I want to bring M as he is my favorite and best friend and cousin. But He can’t come alone without wife and his two kids."
Me : "Maybe you should give up the kids."
DH : "No kids is good, they should see Japan for exposure and open up their mind."
Me : "But we got only twelve seats, give priority to the adult first… specially those who gave impact to your life. The trip should be an appreciation."
DH : "Well, but…."

"RED HONDA CRV CAR PLATE NUMBER 1234 GO TO THE LEFT SIDE AND STOP!"
A voice in the loudspeaker behind our car followed by loud police sirens broke our day-dreaming.

OH!!! That is our car the police called !!!
A traffic patrol officer on the CHIPS motorcycle followed our car to the side.
The smooth and open road, the conversation, unintentionally invite the speed. We were over-speeding! The 80kmph speed limit was 20kmph less than our speed at that time.
Rest of the story, you can imagine.
____________________________________________________________________________
Language help: Ami : mother, Abu: father, Lala: big brother from male side.
Photo credit: my own

My honest feeling is, I am not fond of circus. To be precise, the animal show part. For me, animal not belong in the cage, let alone being push to perform the non-animal act like walk on two feet while it has four, do the math, etc. I hardly enjoy the zoo, circus is too much. There is no need to prove and  show human dominants over animal. It obviously clear all over planet Earth (already).
But as parent, I should not limit the opportunity of positive exposure for my kids, they should learn from the abundance opportunities and experiences, get the essence and conclude by themselves. Circus, is one of those you see in your childhood. So when my boss at the office said, Dian here you go free tickets to bring your kids to the circus (that’s 12,000 yen), so we went.

Kinoshita Circus is the one of the oldest and biggest circus in Japan. They tour around the country and always attract super long line of bystander.
Started in 1902, the circus stand comparatively strong in the era where all form of children modern entertainment from game center till amusement park are offered.
The almost two hours show with one intermission was wrapped nicely combining man and animal show. Detail program and pictures can be seen here.
My thumbs up for man and women on the show who have full control of their body and extremely well-balanced and super flexibility. Although acrobatic act is not my favorite, but I have to admit, the show gave me thrilled (my eyes always busy to ensure I can see the safety harness is in placed) and excitement.
Zebra, Giraffe and elephants didn’t have to do much, only by being exist in the show already spread the happiness and invited warm applause, they are so exotic here. I almost shed tears for the super tall and beautiful giraffe. Though she was well-groomed and huge, my eyes see her as an old lady. Difficult to comprehend the fact that an old lady get collar and lace on the long neck, only to be shown to thousands human-being thousands miles away from the origin land. Am I too much?
The animals were at perfect body shape. They are well-fed, well-groomed, better than you can see in the zoo or (some) National Geographic channel. Well, no surprised, they are the celebrity of their kind.
Six beautiful lion (four male and two female) and four Asian tiger/tigress (can’t tell the different) were impressive. Despite their reputation being king and wild of the jungle, they acts like a group of real tame pet cat. Human in full control.
I told my husband, if Lion is really the king of jungle like it is in The Lion King, there are four jungle lost their king as they are being export to Japan.

Although Kinoshita is a pure Japanese circus. More than half of the show performer came from the continent considered as the master of the circus, East and Central Europe.
I want to mention also, the logistic team was great. All set changing was done quickly without we the bystander noticeably realize. Thanks to the two funny clowns act nicely as the attention catcher/switcher.
Facility was OK, tent is sturdy (important as outside was windy and heavy rain), enough toilet and clean, safety device at places, and good enough seat (though hubby complaint the foam layer on the bench should be thicker but well you can’t expect to sit on a sofa inside the tent).

All in all I can say, it was entertaining, a bit steep at the price (specially if you want to get the front and central seat, additional money and price come so close to the entrance fee of full day at Disneyland), good experience for kids to give them a break of digital entertainment in the nowadays world.

Photo credit: Pictures taken from Kinoshita Circus website.

My small project which hopefully give big happiness to children.

www.recycleforlove.wordpress.com

For friends who like to participate (specially in Japan), you are welcome.
Let’s put smiles on children faces.

C my good friend, complaint that she doesn’t seem happy if husband help her with chores as the help rather give her extra work or a deep sigh (like he let the tap water keep on running while soaping all the dishes in the sink, what a wasted, she said).

Well, not for me. I love love love it, when dear hubby help me with the chores. I don’t really care how he does it (but he does it great, at places, he is better than me, specially at floor and garbage department).
It shows his care and concen, it shows his ultimate understanding that the speed of parents tidying-up is nothing compare to the speed of children messing-up, it shows  his willingness to equally share the burden of work and run the house in the land where servant/helper is no common, and I feel it’s really…. sexy ! Indeed it is, many times he complaint when washing the dishes, I would hug him from back, disturbing the process, but I can’t help it !

Well, I’m just part of the statistic. Research said, spouses share the household chores is positively affect the sex life. Good reading, encourage your man to read too.

So husbands, go put on the apron and take to mop… for a happy evening, and night.
(and dont you guys think this is easier than hit the gym regularly to look sexy?)

"Oh I can’t believe the gasoline is this expensive…" I said after filled my tank with 3000 yen which gave me only a little over 17 litter. Far away from a full tank.

"How much is the price? " Asked Raisa, she was the only passenger in the car at that time. Lately since she has been practicing with numbers at second grade school’s math, she like to ask question related to numbers including price of the things.

"It is about 170 yen per litter. So expensive. When you were born, the price of gasoline was about 86 yen per litter. That mean, half of now. That mean, the nowadays price is doubled. With the same money now, you can only get half of what you can get seven years ago."

"Wow so expensive…" followed by quiet like she really understand how depressing the price increase is. Then she said,
"It’s OK Mommy. The gasoline now is fresh and better quality. You pay money for better quality, so you must be happy."

I was a bit puzzled, but then I remembered. The week before, when we went to a supermarket and I showed Raisa a special mango priced 5000 yen each, she asked me why there is mango with that price while another mango price only 400 yen.
I replied her that because the expensive mango is more fresh and better quality.
So the girl pulled the conclusion.

There is always a first time.
I never thought I will ever own a pair of killer heel, namely over 4 inches (10,5cm) high heel.
The fact is, I am a no standard size woman (in Asia). I am tall (but well, looking at kids nowadays, I will no longer be tall). Nor am I slimy skinny gal.
I move a lot. Work days, I may move from A to B to C to D offices in back to back schedule. And yes, this is Tokyo, I got to run and climb the stairs of subway station.
If not on train, I drive. I never take out shoes when drive, and we all know how dangerous it is to push the accelerator with the heel.
On holidays, I got to carry more bags that my hand can handle and at times Ken still need to be picked (and he is 17kg), plus I got to run and play ball in park too.
My shoes philosophy is, comfort at par with the look. Any heel over 6 cm wear me out. So I usually go with  4cm pumps for work or at days when I have to move around much, a chic loafer will do.
Weekend goes with anything from sandal to boots, but all with the comfort sole.
I think, I justify my heel’s decision enough.
But hubby has been pushing me to own pair of super heel. When I said, that will make me taller than him, he said "Katie is taller than Tom, and that’s sexy".
So I ended up with Stuart Weitzman black satin pumps peep-toe, 4.5 inches heel.
I hardly walk in it, but hey, honestly, this one is not for me. For him.

Happy Birthday, my husband, to whom the opinions I’m addicted.

Inspired by one of my fave cooking blog here are my kitchen rules. What is yours?

- Always have at least two litters milk standing in the fridge. Better three, we are milk-mania family.
- Utilize whatever left in your fridge drawer. Feel bad to throw rotten raw ingredients.
- Avoid impulsiveness in food. Buying, trying new recipe. Many times it end up wasted.
- Always have those quick frozen food for the sudden companion’s pop-up.
- Buy food product only when the ingredient is recognizable.
- Dinner preparation time: 15 minutes in a weekday, 60 minutes in a weekend.
- Cooking is an art, it should only done when you are into doing it.
- Mass cook in the weekend, distribute in containers, freeze for weekdays.
- Fresh herb tastes ten times better than the dried one.
- Never ever own a sharp knife. It end up cutting my own nail/hand.
- Invest in a good quality kitchen utensil and machinery, they are more economics and efficient.
- Recipe from Mother and Grandma is invaluable inheritance.
- Good cooking and recipe book is an investment.
- Groceries plastic bag piled-up, bring own eco-shopping bag. Trace your carbon print.
- Be frugal, eat food made from local ingredients. Tempe is cheap in Indonesia, but it is a luxury in Japan.
- Reduce deep-fry. For your health. Beside, throwing used oil is troublesome.
- Microwave oven is the most genius machine ever invented.
- Cooking is fun, but it is not all. Remember you have to wash the dishes afterward.
- I love to try recipe of dessert, unfortunately my family doesn’t eat sweet that much, so: be my neighbor for a weekly free cake and pie tasting.

Big smile and warm welcome to my two new member of kitchen troops: Cuisinart Waffle Maker and Mini-Prep Processor.

Not only I’ve been eyeing them for a while, but I got them at super bargain, thanks to Williams Sonoma’s store at Woodburry Commons Premium Outlet at Central Valley, NY.

The waffle maker at $39.99 with 20% discount, down to $31.99 = 3,327 yen only ! While the price in Japan is 15,200 yen !!! Almost 80% bargain… !!!
The processor I got at $39.95 with 20% discount, so it tagged at $31.96 = 3,323 yen only! While the price in Japan price is 19,800 yen !!! I saved over 80%  !!!

Raisa was happy with the waffle for breakfast on Sunday. The marvelous round golden waffle made from Bellegem Waffle mix and the new machine. She declared: "From today, this gonna be my everyday’s breakfast".

Friends in Japan. If you are targeting any cooking machinery originated from the US, do not, I repeat, DO NOT buy it in Japan.
Even if you buy it online, plus the shipping cost to Japan, you still get a bargain. And yes, the electric voltage and plug is exactly the same.

Pictures from Cuisinart website

Been out of Japan and these what welcome me home:

- Further crazy hike of the price of gasoline. It is now 171 yen per liter compare to 151 yen when I left just eight days before.
- New traffic rule to buckled up for every one sit in a car. If  passenger don’t buckled the seat belt, the driver risks to a fine and  penalty point on the driving license.
- If you are 75 and over, by law, you should put the sign mark visible on your car (a yellow and orange leave shape) to let other driver know that; senior behind the wheel.