Surprise Bday(s)

Since I came to the UK 2 years ago, we have never "properly" celebrated Ben's birthday.

Why? I did not on purpose but because

2 years ago, I had to go back to Japan urgently so on his birthday, we were at a business hotel nearby Heathrow airport for my flight in the next morning. 

Last year, while he was in the UK, I was in Japan to attend an anniversary of the death of my grandma and also to start planning for our wedding this summer. 

So finally the third year truth! 

I put much efforts for this first very special occasion! 

Plan 1: a few days before his birthday 

We were invited at friends' place for dinner. So I asked them to help me to surprise Ben for this birthday. They offered a so funny and nice cake with my (our) champagne♪

Ben was indeed surprised and very happy. Big success!

Plan 2 : On the day

It was a bad timing because my appointment for a wisdom tooth removal was planned on the same day... It was out of question for me though to reschedule the appointment because I had waited for this to happen for about a year! No way to wait any longer.

Being put under anesthesia (for the whole body!), I had no idea what my condition would be after the treatment, would I be normal by the end of the day? would my mouth be too painful to eat anything???

I did not want to take any risk to plan something for only us and ruin it because of my condition. So I decided to invite a few of his friends to join us for his bday dinner in a restaurant, of course without telling him! So that even if I could not eat at all, he could enjoy his bday dinner with his mates: Contingency plan ;)

In the end, despite constant dull pain in my mouth, I was able to eat even too much! 

As he likes Malaysian cuisine, we went to a Malaysian/Indonesian restaurant

Of course, Ben seemed happy to celebrate his special day with many people he likes.

Wish you another nice year, well let's make it great and special together☆

First time in my life!

What comes up in your mind if you think of England?

No, not "Fish&chips"! but "Afternoon Tea" !

I have never had a proper Afternoon Tea in a cafe or restaurant although I have lived in this country for more than 2 years. 

Besides, we recently found out that there was a museum (Hove museum) in the city where we have been living for more than one year!

Our main interest was not the museum itself but the cafe within where they offer a "Truly Scrumptious" Tea.

This Saturday, we went to see how truly scrumptious this tea would be!

This place is really a hidden spot because firstly the museum is not so famous and located in a residential area but also few people know this afternoon tea set that its cafe sells. Plus, you can only get it if you reserve in advance for minimum 4 people. 

Anyway, the tea room interior was very nice with the wall packed with cute tea pots, plates and vases.

Once we sat down, we ordered a type of tea each. Of course you could order coffee but we were there to experience a "proper" English ritual so no way!

After about 10 minutes, here it comes!! 

A tour, no two tours of feasts! (sandwiches, scones, cakes and cup cakes)

We got also hot savouries including cheese toasts, raison buns, cinnamon bread.

We were so excited and delighted of the food, so were those sitting in nearby tables.

My favourite was raison scone. According to Ben, it was not as good as the last time when he came for a cup of tea in the morning. It was more fresh as probably they were just made.

Nevertheless, it was not too sweet and greatly matched with clotted cream and jam♡

We enjoyed it so much with nice chats but it was impossible to finish them all. Most of them were quite sweet and heavy, indeed. 

But we could not leave them on the table. So although asking a doggy bag has not been so common and considered so well in this country, we asked it and waiters at the cafe were very nice to accept it. 

It was a very nice experience, indeed!

If you come to Brighton, I would be very happy to take you there! 

Special summer in Japan

Winter is approaching the UK. This will be my 3rd year/winter in this country.

Since my last blog on the experience in Ethiopia, I have been away for a long while (from the blog)...

After I came back to the UK in August, I finally got a job which has kept me busy, too busy in fact.

But it has calmed down this week and I had a proper weekend so I thought I should recall my summer in Japan.

10 days after my return to Japan from Ethiopia, we had a Japanese traditional wedding ceremony in my hometown as we had planned it since our engagement last year. 

It followed by a reception in a hotel nearby with a beautiful Japanese garden.

We invited people really close to us either professionally or personally (family and friends). So it was very intimate small reception.

My Kimono (wedding dress) was super heavy and thick. It is the worst clothes to wear in the summer in Japan, hot and humid. But I managed it anyway until the end.

Now it is a good memory: never again:)

The reception went by so quickly that we did not really have time to chat with individual invited and even to taste looking so delicious meals.

But as long as the invited had a good time, we were happy.

The party went smoothly and was great thanks to my parents who worked much more than us for the preparation.

We appreciated their support so much!

From the UK, Ben's parents and some close friends came to Japan to attend the series of our wedding parties.

They spent a few days in Kitakyushu. I hope they enjoyed their stay in rather small towns in Japan.

Water-Environmental museum (under water)

Kokura chastel (There were many interactive displays and objects)

One week after, we had another more casual party in Osaka by inviting our friends living in the area or above like Tokyo.

The time passed by so quickly again but it was really nice to see my friends again that I had not for ages!

During our stay in Osaka, we did not forget to go to our favourite restaurant, Kathmandu (Nepalese).

After the crazy 2 weeks, we took a week for a sort of honeymoon to travel in Shikoku island by motorcycle. I was just behind him though.

Olive garden in Shodoshima 

Tosa where a famous Samurai (Ryoma Sakamoto) is from

It was so nice weather, well hot that the touring was sometimes tiring but it was very refreshing to be surrounded by the nature (mountains and sea) with very nice Japanese local cuisine.

Beach side BBQ (over there is the ocean)

Deer fresh meat, salted and grilled river fish, etc...

Sunset from a ferry going to Shodoshima from Hyogo

 

I feel really lucky to have had 2 or even 3 wedding parties in my life with people I love and appreciate.

Thank you so much for those who came to our wedding(s) and made special occasions for us!

Time in Ethiopia

For the first time since I started this blog, I have left it for more than three months...

So sorry, but I had never experienced a period of time so busy...

Today's blog, I recap my time in Ethiopia since my colleague's wedding and a weekend trip to Lake Langano.

In terms of work, firstly, it was very challenging because I could not gather the information needed for my biggest task...

However, thanks to my bosses and colleagues, I could visit 6 districts in 3 regions and leave some outcomes by the end of my three month internship.

I have earned not only further knowledge and experience in the domain of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) but also great experience with local people who are so generous that they let an Asian stranger to look at the toilets and water storage at their place.

Homemade shower (He does not take shower like this everyday, this was just demonstration...)

For the WASH facility observation, we went into people's yard and field (of course with them or with their permission)

Very powerful and kind women in a village.

I loved the old lady left side of me with her big smile and her great hospitality.

Kids probably from South Sudan in a village close to the border with the country (South Sudanese usually have much darker skin than Ethiopian)

Kids playing at school in the afternoon when there is no class for them (double shift for younger grade and older grade in one day)

 Highlands in this country are often located over 2000m altitude.

I think the roads are in general in better condition in Ethiopia than Burkina.

In one region, goats have their own house while in another, cows sleep in the same house as their owners.

I presented what I learned and produced at the end of my internship in front of my bosses and colleagues in WASH team at UNICEF Ethiopia.

After that, they offered me a huge chocolate cake and a traditional shawl.

I also enjoyed my private time with my roommates and friends at capital.

We went out almost every weekend to eat, drink, dance and watch European champions league...

Local alcohol (not really my cup of tea...) at a Ethiopian restaurant.

With traditional dance and music

On the way of hiking to the top of a hill where the capital Addis Ababa started originally. (quite good exercise to walk up for poorly trained foreigners for highlands lol)

Then the thing that I always do in a new country is to try local drink and food (culture).

Like tea in the UK and green tea in Japan, in Ethiopia, many people drink coffee (called Buna in Amhalic) after meal.

In my house, there was a 3D picture hung on a wall.

Local wine (not bad but funny to see it in a beer bottle)

Grilled or fried beef (called Tips/Tups) with spicy sauce and bread or Injera.

Fresh and very rich juice (from the top, mango, papaya, avocado and mango).

DELICIOUS!!!

A sort of crepe that especially Muslims eat often for their breakfast with honey.

They can be served in two ways: One as an entire crepe, another cut in small pieces and put in a ball.

The locals add scramble eggs in it (too much for me...)

I really appreciate Japanese Committee for UNICEF for giving me such a great opportunity .

A brief report on my experience in Ethiopia will be uploaded very soon on the website of the Committee. If you are interested, please check it out although it will be in Japanese.

Out of Addis

Last weekend, for the first time, I got out of the capital, Addis.

I went to Lake Langano, about 200 km from the capital in the South, with the newlywed couple, their friend and my roommate. 

Until the Saturday morning, the day of departure, we were not sure exactly what time and with which car we were leaving...

But this is Africa! lol

Although the distance is 200km, you cannot reach in 2 hours...

The condition of the road is one of the best apparently in the country but the drivers on the road are very bad, plus, animals like cows, donkeys, sheep and dogs come out on the road without any hesitation.

If by accident you hit any of these (domestic) animals, you will pay a lot to compensate their loss for not only the animal itself but also the future income from the livestock.

Fortunately, our driver, my roommate was well experienced and prudent so we had even a close call for any accident although we saw several totally destroyed trucks on the roadside and one accident between a car and a donkey. 

Sign in Amharic

The landscape of suburbs and countryside seemed quite similar to the one of Burkina.

The electric pole made with a tree supported by another trunk

Right now is just before the rainy season thus there is little vegetation.

On the other hand, there are also certain things that I have never seen in Burkina.

In small towns on the way, there were so many these three wheel cars that you may see many in Asia.

Trees in unique flat shape 

Not only in rural area but also in Addis, I see very often ladies using an umbrella to avoid the strong sun like Japanese ladies :)

The water of Langano lake is brown...which makes you think it dirty.

However, in fact, it is because of magnesium in the water and it is the only lake in Ethiopia where you can safely swim in without taking any risk of getting the Schistosomiasis which can makes you blind.

Ethiopia is an inland country like Burkina so such water area is very popular for holidays.

I did only put my feet and not swim though...

We played very much on beach side.

The area of Langano is lowland with temperature of about 30 degrees.

So although normally I do not drink or enjoy beer but it was so good (well, for alcohol, you do not really have other choices)!

St. George Beer: one of the most popular beer in Ethiopia

Luckily or by chance, the day when we were there was the night moon was the closest to the Earth.

Under such a bright moon, we did campfire, danced and had really fun.

It was such a relaxing weekend.

Nearby this lake, there is a forest reserve where you can find so many wild animals including a large number of endemic birds only in Ethiopia and/or Eritrea.

We only stayed nearby the lake so we saw only some types of birds. 

On the way back to Addis, we got a few storms,

But we bought cheap but fresh veggies from the local farmers and

we could see (apparently quite famous) Secretarybird.

Next time, I would love to stay 2 or 3 nights and enjoy the hiking in the reserve :)