Thursday, September 30, 2004

After Anaheim Stadium...

After we knew the game was over, we thought of what we should do with all these time in our hands....we could do either Disneyland or shopping..we thought we can always go shopping anytime and anywhere... So instead we decided to go to Disneyland since it closes late and just a short distance from this stadium on Highway 5.

Since it's almost 7pm.. we thought if they would still charge us the full entrance fee or will it be discounted? As we were in line at the parking entrance, we were still unsure if it was worth it to still go because for the 2 of us..it's 100 bucks.. so expensive for next few hours.. then just as we went thru the parking entrance, we finally decided...ok.. we are in LA...Disneyland is our destination no matter the time of day.. We were told that the ticket was going to be full price and it was suggested that we can decide to go to Downtown Disney which is open late and it's free, but in the end we still stuck to our original idea to go to Disneyland..

I don't know why they don't have any discount.. Tokyo Disneyland has.. We could get discount after certain hour.. I think if Disneyland here has one, they will be able to make more money.. some people might want to go here for a date or something after work.. but they might avoid to go to disneyland cos it's expensive... if, for example, we can go to disneyland for only 20 bucks after 6pm, I think more people would go.. If I live in LA, I will definitely go.. doesn't matter if we will ride or not.. Even if we just walk inside the park, it would be nice...They should cater to this type of market. Disneyland isn't for vacationing people only and/or isn't for family only. Disneyland is also for everyone in all walks of life. They should think through the customers' point of view.. !!

Last time we came here.. hmmm.. I think 3~4years ago..that time..California Adventure just opened.. compared at that time, it had changed a lot... probably more new rides.. then they opened Downtown Disney.. But just too bad.. I am not sure because we came late...a number of major rides were closed in Disneyland... no space mountain..no indiana jones.. no haunted mansion..the only available good ones were Big thunder mountain and Star Tours.. of course we took these rides and some 3 more in between..

We saw fire works after we were about to finish small world ride.. it's so beautiful..

We stayed here until 10:30pm.. 2 reasons.. 1st.. we are actually tired after such a long drive.. 2nd.. we were staying that night at her aunt's place..so we didn't want her to wait up for us...so we called it a day.

We needed our rest and to get ready for next day's drive back home.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday. So we sent this for him.

I hope he likes it. I know somehow Japanese people like European Brand. I tried to check for something in the gift web-site..couldn't find a good one. So I decided ..doesn't matter which brand it is. I don't believe in the brand myth like other people. I do look for the quality of the product more than the name on it. If it looks sturdy and has good workmanship, it's worth the money I pay for, the brand wouldn't matter at all. I showed it to my wife and she liked it too.

My dad will retire in a few more years. Hopefully he will be able to use both comfortably to work.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Baseball Game and Proverb

A friend in LA is an Anaheim Angels season ticket holder ( 4 seats ) and offered me 2 free tickets to see a game. I told him I am an Oakland A's fan. So he set up for my wife and I to see a game between the Anaheim Angels and Oakland A's on 09/25/04 (Sat). The game starts at 7:05pm. So we left for Southern California at 9:30am on Saturday by car. We arrived at Anaheim area around 3:30pm... so 6 hours driving..not bad. We still had time. So we went to her aunt's place in Orange County. We rested and ate dinner at a buffet with her aunt. Then we headed on to the stadium around 5:30pm.



Upon arrival, we felt something was wrong.. the parking lot is almost empty. Usually before the games starts, we can watch the visiting team practice in the field. So, normally, even this early, people would have already arrived. When we reached the parking entrance, we were told by the parking attendant that the game was over. They rescheduled it to an earlier start time which was at 1:05pm. We totally didn't know and I guess so many people didn't know either since there were still a number of people still coming to the stadium...the ticket office gave us a few choices, they could either refund our money or exchange our ticket for another game. We decided to just take the former since we weren't the owner of the season ticket. Since the season is ending, we are told that we can use these tickets for next season (any game). Of course we will choose " Anaheim Angeles vs. Oakland A's " game again.

When things like these happen, I always remember a couple of proverbs I live by. I actually shared this proverb in one of our recent department meetings that I conduct.

1. 石橋を叩いて渡る " Ishibashi wo tataite wataru "
( To hit the stone-made bridge before crossing )
[ To make double assurance ]

2. 初心忘るべからず " Shoshin wasuru bekarazu "
( Never to forget your roots or your original purpose )
[ Try never to lose your freshness of attitude ]

I don't know how these proverbs became the words that lead me in my adult life. Since I was in college or since I started working in Japan... I've always kept these in mind. However that game matter is exactly related to the first proverb. I forgot to check and was careless.

Even if the ticket said the game will start at 7:05pm, I should check their web-site before we left San Francisco. hmmm.. I am still not sufficiently trained.

Friday, September 24, 2004

The Fish Express

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Ukulele from Hanalei

If you've read my early enty "Back from Vacation" ( 09/19/04 ), you know my wife and I did some kayaking. Whenever we go to Kauai, we always go kayaking. We love it. Mainly people do kayaking in the East Shores of the island. But this time, instead of the East Shores, we tried it at Hanalei bay and river (North Shore). My wife had written about our adventure in her page.

We took a tour with the Kayak Hanalei company on 09/13/04 and their booth was located at Ching Young Village in downtown Hanalei. So we needed to wait for the rest of our group here. Our hotel was located in the South Shore. For the sake of avoiding the morning traffic, we had to leave early. Then of course we arrived there early so we had time. So I walked around Ching Young Village and a music shop caught my attention. On the window I saw Ukuleles hanging inside, so I really wanted to go in to check them out. I have the love for music since I was a child. This store called Hanalei Video and Music . Unfortunately it was too early. The store didn't open yet. I was curious...but didn't have a chance to see the store.

Then 3 days later ( 09/16/04 ), we came back to Hanalei again because we planned to do kayaking at Hanalei River. This time it's not a tour. we just rented a kayak from them. then after we did kayaking, we ate at Hanalei Mixed Plate [ see my early entry " Hanalei Mixed Plate " ( 09/22/04 ) ]. Then we finally went to this shop which is even better inside... a store clerk showed us several models. I didn't know Ukulele has two types, the regular type and the pineapple type. The regular type looks like a mini guitar while the pineapple type is just like the its coined term. I listened to the sound....it seems the sound from the pineapple shaped one is milder. Also we thought the shape itself is more traditional. So we decided to buy this one.

The store clerk had thrown in a how to play book. I just have to find the time now to learn to play this new instrument.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Hanalei Mixed Plate

Location : Hanalei ( North Shore in Kauai ) , next to Ching Young Village S.C.

Whenever my wife and I went to Hanalei, we ate here. Their food is all reasonably priced and the people behind the counter is always friendly.. This is a very casual place. Some people came here after they swam in Hanalei Bay. So some people are just wearing swimming outfits, others even barefoot. We order and eat on the covered patio outside. But this place is always a little windy. If you leave an empty cup or paper napkin w/o putting weight on it will just be blown away.




I think their specialties are Kalua Pork w/ Cabbage and Shoyu Ginger Chicken. Last year when we ate here, we ordered both and shared these between us. However this year... we have started to quit eating any meats except fish or seafood. We ordered one order of fresh mahi mahi fish and Chips instead. They have the regular (from the freezer) fish and chips, too. Of course the fresh one is more expensive than regular one. But if we choose the fresh one, they will fry coated fresh mahi mahi... mmm... sounds yummy... and delicious and tasty. I still couldn't forget the texture of the fried mahi mahi. It's totally worth it.

But if you are a meat person, I recommend to order either Kalua Pork or Shoyu Ginger Chicken. Just in case, for those who doesn't know what shoyu is. Shoyu is really just soy sauce such like Kikkoman brand Soy Sauce.



Enjoy your eats!

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Mango Mama's

Location : Kilauea ( North Shore in Kauai ) , near Guava Kai Plantation.

Monday, September 20, 2004

Guava Kai Plantation

Location : End of Kuada Road at Kilauea ( North Shore in Kauai )

When you drive from the East Shore to the North Shore, you will see the "Guava Kai Plantation" signboard on the left side before Kilauea Road intersection. If you see the Shell Gas Station on your right, you've already passed the plantation. So keep a watchful eye for the sign on the side of the road. When you on Kuada Road, your destination will be a few miles ahead. You will pass through some residential area and the plantation located at the end of this road. That's how far it is from the main road which is HW56 Kuhio Hwy.

I bought Jam, Jelly & Preserves for my colleagues at work. Four different kinds of guava combination. Guava Jam, Guava Strawberry Jam, Pineapple Papaya Preserves, and Passion Fruit Jelly.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Back from Vacation

My Wife and I took a vacation from 09/11/04 (Sat) to 09/18/04 (Sat) and went to Kauai. We love Kauai. This trip is our 4th visit to this island.





I will start to write about our trip to Kauai, specially the restaurants and little places we went to eat, from now.

Friday, September 10, 2004

Company Hotdog Pictures

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Small World

I was checking the internet during lunchtime today. I had an urge to search on one of the Japanese baseball player playing in the U.S. Major League, Tsuyoshi Shinjo. He played w/ the NY Mets ,SF Giants, and back to the NY Mets until last year. This year, he went back to Japan and joined one of the Japanese baseball teams, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

I read up on the team's Roster in this team.... then something cought my attention.. Gyosei International(*). It's the same school I attended in HS.

I didn't know one of the players came from my high school cos my school is not known for any sports.

This Gyosei Alumni, Michihiro Ogasawara is the team leader and he plays well.. He was Highest Avg. as Hitter in the Pacific League in 2002 and 2003. Then also Golden Grove award in 1999 ~ 2003...etc.

It's such a small world...


* Gyosei International : International de L'etoile du Matin

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Value

We had a long weekend due to a holiday, Labor Day. We just mainly cleaned our house during this long weekend.

I recently received boxes from my parents. They sent a total of 9 boxes stuff from Japan. We planed to take advantage of the long weekend to unpack them.

Although the boxes are smaller, I still didn't realize I had so many picture albums from my childhood. Almost 2 1/2 of 9 boxes are packed w/ these albums. They also sent my school projects, memorable stuff including our year books, my school uniform & diplomas/awards.

My wife saw my childhood pictures for the first time and she said my face didn't change at all... mmmmmmm??

If other person saw my stuff, they might think it's all junk, but it's treasure for me. most of these were my parents work so that I will always have a remembrance of my life back in Japan. For this alone & for nicely storing them for me all these years, I am very grateful to my parents. I really hope we can also do the same thing for our future children.

Thank you, mom and dad...

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. So we sent this flower.



This flower shop in Japan has good service. Before they deliver, they take flower pictures and send them to customers by e-mail.