WOW! 8 months! DONE!

When I left London eight months ago, I had two feelings in my head... Either this will fly past or this is going to be a drag, and I am still not sure which one it has been! Some weeks and months have flown past, some days and hours been going so slowly...
I have had absolutely amazing year, and bowing deep and thanking all my friends in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia & Japan for their kindness, hospitality, friendship and champagne over the past months.


I have experienced champagne parties in Singapore, private helicopters in Hong Kong, casinos in Macau, tea ceremony & karaoke in Tokyo, Sydney Fashion Week and SO MUCH MORE! 
But now in Helsinki and flying to London tomorrow!


London friends, let's get the party started! I am coming back!

Kris, Anna & me at Sydney Fashion Festival 2010
And photo? You guessed it correctly! By Getty Images!

Tea ceremony!

Hah! Survived and learned for the next time all the tricks, and also learned that it is very complex traditional ceremony! 
Huge thank you for Takada family for having me as guest at their home!

Michiaki, Yoshi, me, Michiaki's nephew and niece,

Sayako, Mother Takada, and the two lovely helpers.

Etiquette problem?

I have always thought that I have fairly good understanding of etiquette, and how to behave in different situations, what to do, which fork to use and so on. Big thanks to my parents being so strict on manners when I was a child.
But I have now received an invite to Japanese Tea Ceremony for Saturday! Not for a tourist place, but to my colleague's family home, for ceremony hosted by his mother. 
And my mind is blank! I have heard all the stories of the strictness of the traditions and rituals, but never been in one before and it is not something that you get exposed as westerner that often.


I have had a look of this website: Japanese Tea Ceremony , but I think I got even more confused when reading it!
If you reading this, and been in one before as guest, please do send me your tips!

Picture from the same website: Japanese-tea-ceremony.net. My current guide!

I will post story and pictures afterwards. Keeping fingers crossed that everything goes well and that I don't embarrass myself or my hostess!

Time flies!

There has been moments that it has felt that this last month of my travels is dragging by, but same time, there has been moments that it has flown past!
And now it is my last full week in Tokyo! 
So much has happened since my last post, so cannot update everything, but here is few highlights:-


- Had fantastic birthday brunch for Mika at the Westin Tokyo hotel! Champagne was flowing non-stop and our table was having such a great time that we actually got told to be more quiet! 

- Did my second trip to Tokyo Disney Resort!!! This time went to the Disney Sea, which is more targeted for grown ups. Had superb day out with Anna and Mika!

 - Drinks @ Peak of Joy! At Park Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo! Who could resist free flowing cocktails and canapes at the home of the film "Lost in Translation"

- Enjoyed traditional soba dinner with colleagues in Shinjuku, fabulous!


- Enoshima! All day walking with Shikibu at the Enoshima island. Such a wonderful and relaxing day (until we spotted the huge spiders!) 

Entrance to the main shrine.

We got horoscopes for us, and Shikibu kindly translate mine to me, before we tied them on the rope with hope that all those good things promised will come true.

Back in Tokyo

Week has now flown past. Arrived back to Tokyo at the end of September with overnight flight from Sydney on Qantas B747. I actually managed to get some sleep during the flight so felt fairly human when landed to Tokyo on early Friday morning.
I have nice flat in Ningyocho area of Tokyo, it is central Tokyo, but more residential area than my previous location here. The building where I am staying is called Bureau Nihombashi East.

My lounge

My bedroom...

Last weekend had a change to meet up with my friends in Tokyo, and we had fantastic dinner at the Mario 
Frittoli in Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku. If you are in town and are able to get a table, do try! 

Mario Frittoli i sentieri

Then partying at the Black List. It is private members' club in Ginza, really nice extrovert crowd! This Saturday spotted sumo wrestlers in traditional outfits, young business men dancing with ladies in kimonos, young models showing off their latest fashions... anything you can imagine squeezed to one room!http://www.blacklisttokyo.com/

Stopover in Sydney

En route to Tokyo, had quick stopover in Sydney. Had superb time with lovely Sydney colleagues, got lovely pressies! So many fond memories to take with me back home!


And tried whale watching again... nope.. unlucky! But spotted this friendly dolphin following our boat ;)

Holiday at Fiji

Sleeping, reading, eating, relaxing.... I think that is exactly what the doctor ordered! And now have got it for days worth! Been now at Denarau Island, Fiji since Friday, and have done basically nothing!!! Normally like my holidays being more active and adventurous, but this time, rest and sleep was all that I needed! And few good books of course!!!


Radisson Fiji Resort:

Sunset at Fiji...

My comfy room at Radisson

View from my terrace...bit blocked by the palms, but loved the privacy it gave.

More sunsets...

Deck chairs overlooking the Pacific Ocean

The main swimming pool which I didn't try even once due the number of kids in it...

Adults only area... So much more relaxing! And waiter service for drinks!

Oh and the books I have been reading! I have totally fallen in love with James Rollins's style of writing and the story lines. He writes the stories of Sigma Force and full of adventure, crime etc..

Auckland, New Zealand!

I never thought that I would actually one day visit New Zealand, so when I realised that could do stop over en route to Fiji, I booked the flights almost without thinking!


So here is few highlights from Auckland!

Top of Mt Eden looking towards Auckland Central Business District

And view to the other direction...

Auckland Museum

At the top of Skycity Tower enjoying the views on Auckland

Rugby 2011 stadium been prepared

That red square is your target spot, if you do the skyjump from the tower, no, I did not jump...

...but was walking on glass floor, almost as exciting :)

After short ferry ride, arrived to lovely, cute village of Devonport.

Auckland central

Skycity Tower

Melbourne weekend!

First stop on my holiday - Melbourne!
Cannot say how much fun this weekend was! Meeting Riia and Mark and celebrating Riia's birthday in Melbourne!!! Then bit of sightseeing and and lunch with Peter and Scott! 

Me, Riia, oysters and champagne!!! Happy birthday darling!!!

The happy couple! Mark & Riia

Around Melbourne

Shrine of Remembrance

View of Melbourne from Eureka building

Eureka Building

Me, Scott and Peter!