Good night, Kero-chan :(

People close to our family know who Kero-chan is - our trusty little guard dog with stubby little paws. Only a handful know that her real name is Carebear though (because the markings on her face made her look like a chubby little bear cub when she was still a puppy). As with all our pets, her name evolved into a couple of nicknames: Keroberos (because of Card Captor Sakura), Kero-chan (obviously taken from the latter not because of Jackie Chan), Kero, Kerocchin (because of Slam Dunk's Ryota or Ryocchin), Keroppi, Fluffy, Fluffy Tail, Fatty (for when she eats like a vacuum), etc. And anyone who's ever been to our house know the SOP: you have to find a seat ASAP or suffer the consequences of unlimited barking/scolding from Kero-chan.

But today, our home is unusually quiet as we finally had to say goodbye to our dear Kero-chan. It has been a difficult month for our family, especially for Kero-chan. After Chippy passed away in 2010, we knew we only have limited time left with Kero-chan as dogs live up to an average of 10-12 years. As she reached geriatric age, she developed lumps in her mammary glands (an illness old female dogs are prone to) which could only be removed by surgery. However, her weak heart prevented her from being a candidate so the vet put her on maintenance meds instead and we switched her diet to a healthier one.

She remained her jolly old self until a month ago when her condition suddenly worsened. I immediately got scared as it brought back memories of losing Chippy. She was so weak, she had to be carried all the way to the vet. I left the office to accompany her because I didn't want 2010 to happen all over again. I promised her that I will stay by/on her side - that I would fight for her and do everything to bring her back home alive. And that I did. Even when the vet suggested over and over again that we have the option of putting Kero-chan to sleep to relieve her pain. I refused because I can see in her eyes that she's still fighting. She has always been a fighter - even as a pup. We gave her away like all of Chippy's pups (because we can't raise more than one dog in our humble condo unit) but she refused to be given away. When our neighbor (her new human) went to the bakery with her, she made a run for it and came back to our house. So we decided to keep her. I figured, if she's going to leave us now, I don't want it to be my choice but hers.

Still, the vet advised that we should start preparing because it seemed like Kero-chan would only last a couple days. I cried countless times, praying for a miracle. I was so scared to let Kero-chan go because losing her will be twice as painful. It's like losing Chippy all over again. But God gave me the miracle I was asking for. After a few days, Kero-chan was back on her feet, happily welcoming us home again. I knew it wouldn't last - that God was just giving us time to prepare ourselves to slowly let Kero-chan go. Three weeks passed and she remained in high spirits. She was back to fighting Coco-chan again. But a couple of days ago, her arthritis kicked in and she fell ill once again. We took turns nursing her, feeding her, giving her sponge baths, and spending late nights by her side if only we could relieve some of her pain by being there for her and petting her. We even said our final goodbyes a bit early just in case she doesn't make it through the night. But she did. Dogs (or pets in general) usually go into hiding when they fall ill or are nearing their deaths. Chippy did. All our previous cats did. But Kero-chan refused to leave her favorite spot right outside our bedroom door. She remained the clingy dog that she is until the very end.

No matter how many times I prepared myself for the worst, I still wasn't ready when it happened. I was getting ready for work when she started crying. Really loud. I was panicking because she was panicking but I rushed to her side to pet her, make her drink water, and give her a sponge bath. I was already telling her that it's okay to let go, that everything will be okay. She calmed down from time to time but I knew it was happening soon so I called mom and cried over the phone because I don't know what to do and I just can't make THAT decision for her. But after a few minutes, she stopped crying. We were all relieved to find out that she just pooped. False alarm but still, I've never been more scared in my life. I didn't want to go to work but Ate Elsa made me because Kero-chan already went back to sleep. So I did but not without saying good night to her (like I always do before she falls asleep), and not without reminding them to just keep petting her in case she starts crying again. After an hour, I received the devastating news. I tried to fight back my tears because I need to drive home but I just couldn't. When I came home, Kero-chan looked the same way she did when I left her - sleeping. But this time, she was sleeping for good.

Mom and Nee-chan came home from work too. We all gathered to say our final goodbyes for Kero-chan and buried her near our house because that's what she would've wanted. My heart is still aching but I'm glad we never gave up on her. As weird as it is for me to say this, love is indeed watching someone die. It was painful to see her in pain but we were there for her as she has always been for us. She left us two days shy from my birthday. And despite all the tears, I know she gave me the best birthday gift she can - the peace of mind that she's now in a much better place, free from any kind of pain. A place where she can sleep all she wants, and eat all the Dentastix she wants. A place where she can be together with her mum, Chippy, once again.

Thirteen years (or 77 in doggy years) might seem too short but for a sweet puppy like Kero-chan, that's more than enough time for her to bring happiness and cheer to our home. As they say, dogs are not meant to live for as long as we do. They come into our lives when we need them, and leave us when we need to start a new chapter. So good night, Kero-chan! See you in the resurrection morning. :)

Japan 2014: Counting Stars

スターズオンアイス!!!

Today's the day! Right after checking-in at City Hotel Lonestar, the front desk staff handed me the coveted package I've been waiting for since February - my Stars on Ice Japan tickets! It wasn't easy for a non-Japanese speaker like me to get them and I have this post to prove it. But nothing's impossible for a determined fangirl. Haha So yay, I will finally get to see my Romeo on Ice in a few hours!! Cue: “'Cause I~I'm seeing youuuuu ohhhhh~” to the tune of Des'ree's Kissing You (R+J 1.0) lol #kalandiansajapan

Dream come true!

After a quick lunch at Mos Burger, Nee-chan and I walked all the way to Yoyogi First Gymnasium. Sure, the venue was pretty close but the entrance was all the way across from where we were. Still, it was quite easy to spot since there were a lot of people making their way over there. As in exodus levels! The gym's capacity is 13k+ and it looked like a sold out show. Before anything else, I searched for the souvenir program booth. All signs were in Japanese except for one which had BACK NUMBER (yes, in caps!) written on it. Nee-chan and I wondered what it was but the Yuzu fangirl in me thought, “Uy that's the band Yuzu was listening to before his FS program in Sochi. Are they selling albums here?” only to find out that BACK NUMBER = back issues. Haha Assumera kasi!

My Stars on Ice goodies

After getting a copy of the souvenir program (¥2,000!!!), we went along with the crowd to the entrance. There were no clear queues so I just let the people around me guide me through the doors which was surprisingly chaotic and organized at the same time. Chaotic because there were just too many people around you and yet organized in a way because there was absolutely no pushing. Everyone had their personal spaces all to themselves. Weird, I know, but it works. As we entered the doors, they handed us glow sticks which we were instructed to use during the finale of the first act. The amount of people got even more overwhelming once we were inside the gymnasium - it felt like standing in the middle of Shibuya Crossing during rush hour. Despite that, we were able to spot a Free WiFi sign on a vendo machine so we decided to queue up as well to get the code or something. But as I looked around the venue, I saw the familiar Ice Rink Sendai sign so I left Nee-chan in the queue and went to buy some merch. The key rings and skating gloves were already sold out (BOOOO!!) so I bought an Irene mobile accessory and some Yuzu* candies instead. The merch don't come cheap but it's for a good cause so that makes it worth it. #excuses Also, proud moment for me because I did it all by myself (and all in Japanese!) without my ever reliable translator. Hihi After returning to the vendo machine and getting our drinks, we found out that the wifi is indeed free (kulit ng lahi e haha) and there's no need to buy anything. Hahaha Badtrep!! Madami lang pala talagang nauuhaw. =))))

Look at all those pretty lights! And pretty boys? Haha
Photo credit: Maia Shibutani

The show started on time and as the lights dimmed, the crowd quieted down as we waited with anticipation. As the first skater stepped onto the ice, the sound of the blades touching the ice sent chills down my spine. I still can't believe how lucky I am to be here. The show opened with the cast skating to "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?" Watching the skaters perform live is a whole different experience from watching them on Youtube. They just draw you in and it's a magical feeling. My eyes can't help but search for that one person though. Hihi Spoiler alert: He wasn't part of the opening number. Haha #kalandiansajapan

Being among the Japanese fans is another experience in itself. I've never seen such a responsive crowd. No, they're not rowdy nor hysterical. They don't even sing along. But you can hear the ooh's, ahh's and gasps all throughout the show. They just stay seated while ceaselessly clapping along to the music. My hands were actually aching by trying to keep up with them. By the end of a performance, the applause becomes deafening. You'll even see some fans giving a standing ovation but they'll sit right back once the lights dim in preparation for the next skater. Throwing of flowers and gifts may be prohibited but the sound of applause totally makes up for it.

I can't remember the exact order of performances so here's the official list from TV Tokyo:

And here are the highlights for me:

• Nobu was the first solo skater and it was my first time to see him skate. He was so serious! Totally different from his personality off-ice.
• Seeing Akko on the ice made me teary-eyed. How lucky am I to see her skate after her retirement from competitive skating? I will surely miss her elegance on ice.
• I love Javi but I was kind of disappointed that he didn't skate to "Aerobics Class" which is my favorite program of his. :( His SP was fantastic though and he looks really good in person.
• The Shib Sibs' "Michael Jackson medley" was so fun to watch. I love their vlogs but I also love the way they skate.
• Kana!!! I love how she skates super fast which is unusual for a girl. She fell during one of her jumps but her performance was nonetheless entertaining.
• Tatsuki!!! I was surprised that he was the next skater because his silhouette was so slim. His jumps were beautiful and I held my breath as he took off for each one. Amazing skater.
• Seeing Shizuka skate made me realize why Yuzu looked up to her so much. Her Ina Bauer is flawless! The best one I've seen so far. Yes, even better than Yuzu's. *goosies*
• The all-boys "The Walker" number is hands down my favorite from the first act where we get to use our glow sticks as the words “みなさんもご参加下さい” (Everyone, please participate) flashed on the big screen. Define organized fangirling! The entire gymnasium was lit up like it was filled with fireflies. So pretty! Oh and the prod number included lifts and guess who was the lucky liftee?? JAVI!!! Haha It was too funny!
• There was a 25-minute break which I initially thought was pretty long but it turns out, it was just right as the queue for the restroom was also excruciatingly long. MRT levels!! So we spent the entire break queuing up then running like mad to make it in time for the second act.
• The second act opened with Shizuka introducing Team Japan. She gave a little speech about how we all have problems that we are going through and how we can conquer them all as long as we stand together as one. ♥
• Then Team Japan came out to skate to Fukuyama Masaharu's latest single "Kazoku ni Naroyo" (Let's Become a Family). If it's not obvious enough, I love Team Japan! Their rapport truly shines through which made the performance really moving. I especially love how Yuzu stood in front of our section most of the time. Hihi Meant to be! ♥
• Jeffrey's rendition of OneRepublic's "Counting Stars" was really fun and I couldn't help but sing along. His energy on the ice is really something. I can totally picture him skating to "Parisienne Walkways" which he choreographed for Yuzu.
• I'm not used to hearing "Romeo and Juliet"** without seeing Yuzu on the ice. But since it was being performed by Qing Pang and Jian Tong (Sochi Pair Bronze Medalists) it only made sense for a pair to use it for skate music. I've liked them ever since I saw them skate to "I Dreamed a Dream" in the Sochi Gala. I found myself standing by the end of their performance. So amazing!
• Surprisingly, I really liked PChan's program. The way he utilizes his entire body when he skates is truly exceptional. No wonder he's a favorite even among his fellow skaters. I also felt that his choice of music was on point with what he's currently going through as a skater.
• MAO-CHAN!!! It was amazing to see her skate in person. Without any pressure to win, her confidence was at an all-time high and you can really tell how much she enjoys skating which resulted to a flawless performance.
• HANYU YUZURU-SENSHU!!! Aaa the moment I've been waiting for is finally here! Tatsuki introduced him as the gold medalist who loves Pooh-san and who is, of course, a genius skater. Yuzu skated to "Hana ni Nare" and surprisingly, I didn't cry…a lot! Haha As usual, Yuzu sang along (I did too) and maybe he got caught in the moment (yet again) because he failed to land his opening quad. :( Seeing him fall in person was even more heartbreaking but knowing Yuzu, he recovered quickly and skated the rest of his program flawlessly. Ah his axel is just perfect~! And the Ina Bauer? Dramatic as ever. A dream come true indeed! The only thing missing is Sashida Fumiya himself.

The cast skated to "Don't Stop Believin'" to close the show and it was wonderful. During the encore, I witnessed a Yuzu x Javi moment as Javi brushed Yuzu's head when he came up to his side. I nearly died from too much kilig. ♥♥♥

Lastly, the cast skated around the rink to greet fans and on the last lap, Yuzu stayed behind to show off/try and land his quad loop…which he failed to do so. Hahaha The crowd gasped as he struggled to tuck his feet in which resulted to him just jumping in the air with his legs spread out. Haha The crowd laughed along with him as he realized his mistake which was just too cute!!! *u* Not to be discouraged though, he skated one more lap in preparation for another attempt. This time, he was able to take off with his legs tucked in but failed to land it. Seeing him fall on the ice again (and closer this time) was even more heartbreaking than the first time. </3 I hope he masters his quads soon in time for the next season.

The cast bowed once more as they thanked the crowd and left everyone wanting more. We left the stadium with exclamations of “Subarashi~!” (How wonderful~!) all around us. And indeed, it was a wonderful experience. I promised myself that I would do everything I can to be able to watch Worlds 2015 in Beijing. I just can't wait to see Yuzu skate again! <3


*Yuzu = lemon
**And now I can't stop listening to Josh Groban's Un Giorno Per Noi. Sooooooo good!!! :(((((

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), and Sera
Travel date: April 13, 2013 [Day 5]

Romeo on Ice

I've never been into sports. Heck, I even used to cut PE all the time back in elem. I'd rather read books in the library (bookworm alert!) than do lay-ups in the hot sweltering heat. No, thank you. But every now and then, something sparks my interest. For instance, I got interested in volleyball because of the FIVB World Grand Prix, taekwondo because of Japoy (HS crush lol), UAAP basketball because of the Blue Eagles (sige, Fighting Maroons na rin :p), football because of the Azkals, and now figure skating because of Michael Christian Martinez. As the lone representative of the Philippines in the Sochi Winter Olympics, who wouldn't be interested in him? A figure skater from a tropical country where the closest thing to snow is probably in the form of halo-halo. I instantly admired his determination and courage to pursue such a sport. At such a young age too! But this post is not about MCM. Haha

Princes on Ice
L-R: Patrick Chan, Yuzuru Hanyu, Daisuke Takahashi, Javier Fernandez

Before the men's singles SP event last February 13th, Erin and I took to Google to scout the competition. We googled and watched videos of the current male top skaters such as Patrick Chan, Yuzuru Hanyu, Daisuke Takahashi and Javier Fernandez. We were instantly in awe (after getting over the frilly costumes and unusual music choices) at their performances. Yuzuru Hanyu and Javier Fernandez were easily my favorites - Yuzuru because of his smooth skating and his ability to execute one jump after another without much effort, and Javier because of his Hispanic looks and manly moves. I knew right then that MCM needs to up his game to get on their level.

MCM proudly holding up his Philippines jacket at the kiss and cry.

So I stayed up late and tuned in just in time to catch MCM's SP. I've never watched a figure skating competition before so I was instantly mesmerized by the skaters' dedication to their programs and passion for the sport. As much as I wanted MCM to place well, I didn't want the other skaters to fall. My heart broke each time a skater falls on the ice (even going as far as blaming Sochi for the lackluster ice lol) and I cheered them on every time they get back up. I even shared their feelings of either triumph or despair at the kiss and cry. I was surprised at how much an FS competition virgin like myself was already so invested in the sport! Haha Ang drama e!

Yuzuru Hanyu at the Flower Ceremony.

As much as I wanted to catch Yuzu's, Javi's and PChan's (yes, we call them by nicknames now haha) performances, my eyelids just couldn't hold up any longer by 1 AM! I did the same thing the following night but gave up again around the same time. Darn you, 4-hour time difference! But thank God, TV5 aired a replay of the FS event last February 16th. I was giddy to finally see Javi perform but got heartbroken upon realizing he got 0 points for a jump because of a schoolboy mistake. Apparently, you can't perform the same jump twice and he under-rotated one of his quads to a triple so yeah, one jump got 0 points. When it was Yuzu's turn, I couldn't help but snicker a little at his costume. He looks so delicate - almost like a girl! For someone skating to Nino Rota's Romeo and Juliet, he totally looks more like the Juliet part. But once he started skating, I couldn't take my eyes off him. His movements came naturally, it's almost as if it didn't take any effort on his part at all. So I was really surprised when he fell on his first quad! </3 But he stood right up as if nothing happened and carried on with his program. Boy, his jumps were spectacular. Maybe it's his lean physique that enables him to jump beautifully across the ice. Nevertheless, it was a performance worthy of a gold medal even if he fell twice.

One of the most creative memes I have ever seen. Haha I especially love how Pooh-san is in there too!

As expected, the internet responded in the form of gifs and memes after Yuzu won the gold medal. The more I looked/laughed at them, the more I got fascinated with the kid. So I did the next step: google him. After reading his back story, I couldn't help but admire him even more - his courage in believing and pursuing his dream is amazing. Not to mention, his unbelievable love for his hometown, Sendai, which was terribly hit by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The next day, this was obviously inevitable...

Initial stages of fangirling. :))

Before you know it, I was browsing through photos in every social media site you can think of, reading articles and interviews, and watching videos on Youtube. But it's not his super adorable face or obsession with Pooh-san that made me a fan. It's the way he skates his heart out on the rink that not many skaters can do. Sure, the jumps are my favorite part of FS and a lot of skaters can jump beautifully as well but only a few skaters can make you feel something when they skate. And Yuzu does just that (to be fair, Yuna and Mao too). I watched most (if not all) of his programs and even ranked Romeo and Juliet 1.0, Parisienne Walkways and Hana ni Nare as my top 3 favorite programs. I watched interviews and documenteries, some of which didn't even have subtitles or translations. Haha It brought me back to my Johnny's Jr fangirling phase where I used to watch Shokura regularly even if I couldn't understand a thing. :)) A Yuzu-filled day turned into a Yuzu week then a Yuzu month and yup, it's still going! Erin, Mabel and I even created a Yuzu (Love hahaha) group in Line and Skype to regularly update each other about FS but mainly Yuzu stuff. Hahaha #FFFs

And as if the universe wanted to take my fangirling up a notch, I happen to be flying to Japan later in the afternoon. This was totally coincidental, okay, as this trip was a year in the making so yeah why am I even explaining myself. #defensive =))))))) And if that wasn't enough, I will be watching Stars on Ice Japan on the 13th. How lucky could I get?? But luck won't get you anywhere if you don't work hard for what you want. I already blogged about how difficult it was to get tickets but yay my fangirling woes finally disappeared last week when I received these:

Best news ever!

So yeah, I can't wait to get to Japan and finally see my Romeo on ice! Lol Too bad, my fangirling buddies won't be coming with me. :( But I promise to bring back as much Yuzu/FS omiyage as I can because that's what #FFFs do. Hihi

うれしい~☆

Nee-chan and I have been planning our Japan trip for the longest time. But it was only after we got our visas (multi yay!) last February 17th that we started finalizing all the details of our trip. As usual, Nee-chan's in charge of the itinerary (sights to see, things to do, how to get where, etc.) while I'm in charge of reserving everything that can be done online - accommodation (5 different hotels in 5 different cities!), bus tickets, attraction tickets, etc. Of course, I'm also responsible for anything that has to do with food (what/where to eat, what omiyage to buy, etc). And Karly? He's responsible for taking pictures, reading maps, and carrying our daily supplies in a backpack. Haha Team work at its finest, eh?

I don't think I've ever seen an Olympic gold medalist as happy as him!

Coincidentally, February 17th also marks the day I started researching Yuzuru Hanyu ((羽生 結弦), the Japanese Olympic gold medalist for Men's Singles Figure Skating event. After watching his performances and learning he's from Sendai, I just had to google him. His back story touched me and I admired the kid even more. But! That's for another post. Hahahaha So basically my week turned into a Yuzu week (okay, it has now turned into a Yuzu month lol) and I ended up watching some more of his performances including ice shows he participated in such as The Ice and Stars on Ice. I could only wish to see these shows someday. And because I was on a Yuzu high, I managed to accomplish all the online reservations come Februray 24th so we're basically all set for our Japan trip.

Lucky~!

However, the universe begs to differ! Because the very next day, I found out that Stars on Ice Japan 2014 will be held in April instead of the usual summer dates. WHAT!!!! Not to mention, the Tokyo dates also happen to fall on the same dates we're traveling to/arriving in Tokyo! MEANT. TO. BE. *cries happy tears* Now the only problem is how to convince Daddy and Karly to watch the show with us as tickets don't come cheap. Nee-chan is practically a sure deal since she supports all my crazies like a true sister would. Hihi But yeah, our itinerary would have to be adjusted to make way for Stars on Ice which means more work for Nee-chan. Oopsies.

Even though I was ecstatic as hell, I didn't rush to buy tickets because the line up of skaters is yet to be announced and it will depend on the skaters' availability. Something tells me though that Yuzu's gonna be there. And my ever supportive friend, Erin, suggested I check out ISU's event schedule. If there's no major competition in April, then Yuzu will most probably be there. Still, I decided to wait it out but I was already thinking of purchasing either the ¥7,000 or ¥9,000 tickets. *ouch*

Feeling Stars on Ice!

Coincidentally, February 25th also happens to be the day us converted FS fans went to SM Megamall's newly renovated Ice Skating Rink to catch Michael Christian Martinez (MCM) in action. Funny how we've been planning to try out the rink way before the Winter Olympics started but it only took MCM for our skating sesh to finally happen. It's been years (almost a decade?) since I've last skated and ahh it feels so good to be back on the ice! Indeed, there are skills you never forget - like biking and skating.

Clockwise from top left: Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki, Kanako Murakami, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir.

February 27th. The first batch of skaters was announced which included Sochi olympians Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki, Kanako Murakami, and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. The feeling that Yuzu will soon be part of the line up only became stronger so I read up on how to purchase tickets. Problem #1: I need to sign up for the ticketing site (I chose Rakuten) and it's in Japanese. Thank God for Google Translate but there's also Problem #2: The site requires that I type in my name in kana (Japanese writing system - either Hiragana or Katakana). Again, the internet helped me out on this as I signed up as モピア サラ using an online Japanese keyboard. Finally, Problem #3: Sure, tickets can be bought online through credit card but there are only two options for claiming tickets - through 7-11's ticketing machine or home delivery. Patay. I immediately thought of asking a favor from our friends in Japan but unfortunately, they will all be home for summer. I even asked Szet who will be in Japan in March (she comes back this week actually) if she could buy tickets for me but that might be too late. So I did the most obvious, touristy and kapal thing to do - I emailed our Shinjuku hotel and asked them if I could use their address for ticket delivery. Thankfully, the kind City Hotel Lonestar staff were accommodating enough to grant my request. Huhuhu I'll make sure to bring them dried mangoes as a token of gratitude!

Tickets are selling like taiyaki**!

But my sorrows just seem to never end. Problem #4: As I checked the available seats, 4 sections were already sold out - the 3 cheapest sections and the most expensive one! WHAT. Japanese fans sure are dedicated. :(( So now the cheapest available seats were priced at ¥13,000 (roughly P6,000). I thought about it hard. I do want to see Yuzu but the ticket is almost the same price as the Section A ticket I plan to buy if ever I watch Wicked for the second time. In the end, I chose Stars on Ice over Wicked. Yes, I want it that much! And because tickets were expensive, I had a feeling Karly wouldn't want to splurge on them so I convinced him to just skip the show with Dad (whom I know might just fall asleep during the show :p) and roam the streets of Harajuku/Shibuya while Nee-chan and I watch the show. When he agreed, I went ahead and bought our tickets. There's no going back now. All that's left to do is pray to God that Yuzu will soon be part of the line up and that our tickets get delivered to the hotel. Yup, I'm relying both on God's and man's goodness to make my dreams of seeing Yuzu come true. :)

Last Wednesday (March 5th), the second batch of skaters was posted and I was shaking (and praying!) as I waited for the site to load. Like an answered prayer, this was the first thing that greeted me:

Hanyu-senshu!!!

AAAHH YUZURUUUU~!!! I wanted to cry right then and there but I still checked the Tokyo page just to be sure. And there it was! *cue happy tears* I was only wishing and praying for a chance to see Yuzu - kahit si Yuzu lang. But OMG there's Javi and PChan too! AAAAAHHH うれしい~!!! GOD IS SO GOOD! I couldn't help but cry tears of joy and relief as it wasn't easy for non-Japanese to get tickets to SOI. But as you can see, it's not impossible. If you want it bad enough, you'll find ways to get it. Still, print-at-home tickets would've been nice. Haha

Complete Stars on Ice Japan 2014 cast.

Good thing, I went with my intuition and bought tickets right after the first batch was announced because when I tried checking the ticketing sites, all of them went down with the announcement of the second batch. :O As expected, the demand increased because of the newly added skaters - they even added another date to the Tokyo show. Now my excitement for our Japan trip just doubled - tripled even. And I can't believe I'll be seeing Yuzu in a couple of weeks! Huhu Thank you po, Lord!!! *cries even more happy tears*


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* うれしい (ureshii) - means 'happy' in Japanese; used as an expression for happiness (i.e. "I'm so happy!").
** Taiyaki - Japanese fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean paste, custard, etc.

Japan 2013: Mata ne!*

On every trip I take, I make it a point to save the best meals on the last day so I can have a good memory to hold on to when I go back home. So for our last dinner, we headed to Aqua City in search for a yakiniku restaurant. We've been craving yakiniku since we landed in KIX but our sked is always hectic so we kept putting if off.

Food is always a serious business.

Since Ariel is a vegetarian, he decided to have more tamago sushi at the nearby food court while we headed to Heijouen and got down to business. Heijouen serves the best of both worlds where Korean and Japanese barbecue meet - or should I say meat? Hihi

As usual, Nee-chan and I were in charge of picking out the food. It was pretty tough looking at all the yummy-looking choices but it's a job we enjoy doing. Just look at our serious faces! Haha

Melt in your mouth goodness.

We settled for their best-selling platters where you can sample their best-selling cuts. And can I just say, BEST YAKINIKU EVER! Sure, it's a bit pricey (at least for Pinoy standards) but melt-in-your-mouth goodness don't come cheap. I promise you, it's so worth it! It was actually pretty sulit. We were reluctant to order rice since we want to savor the meat but Pinoys will always be Pinoys. We just can't live without rice, eh?

Happy tummies!

We were all stuffed by the end of our meal. And good thing we were because we sure needed energy for the upcoming (mis)adventure we're about to experience. Oh I forgot to mention that the booths in Heijoen have wooden blinds to separate the customers so you can have all the privacy you want while enjoying your meal.

Oishiikatta!

After billing out, we met up with Ariel and walked back to the station. Remember how full we were? Well, Dad was so full, he had to stop for a bathroom break which made us miss the train by just a couple of minutes! And now we're pressed for time as we have to wait for the next train to arrive.