Category Archives for Japan

Let’s Eat! Japan

My first trip to Japan in summer 2011 was filled with gratitude, consideration, courtesy, fun, joy, life experiences, freedom, heat, debris, tears, photography, fashion… oh yes, ramen, udon and Gyudon too!

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I realised I never once stepped into a sit-down restaurant for meals in my Japan trip! I know the trip was meant to be a frugal one to begin with, but the joy of eating in an open kitchen restaurants or Izakayas – (Japanese pubs serving just Japanese fried chicken, yakitori and sashimi). was indescribable! I enjoyed watching the adorable Japanese chefs (whether young or old, experienced or still learning, chatty or concentrating on their work only) do their tasks before my eyes. I might be dining there for the first and last time. I might return the next time I go to Japan. The Japanese chefs are always willing to go all out in sharing their knowledge and experiences even though I act like I understand them (I do a little actually)! Most importantly, I like how they take so much pride in preparing the dishes for me because you can see them through their eyes and I appreciate that.

This came to my mind when I read a blog post offering tips to readers who want to visit restaurants in Japan! Basic Japanese (Restaurants)

My Side of 3.11

Every single time I watch a film on Japan’s speedy recovery from 3.11 Earthquake, it’s another moment I gain courage and hope from them.

Every single time I happen to hear friends and strangers eager to head for Japan as their travel destination, it’s another moment I smile in my heart once again.

3.11 was one of the impactful incidents ever, especially that it happened close to us. It was also the incident that I really went forth to do something for.

If I could rewind those memories to July 2011, when I took my flight to Japan – Tokyo, Fukushima Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture… I know I want to be back in those days again, they were the happiest, they were the painful days, they were days I had to struggle with my emotions and camera…





And we remember the dreams of theirs:

This is my side of the 3.11, hereby wishing 3.11 though painful, to always remind us to be courageous and hopeful in life. And when things happen, there’s a reason why they happen. They happen so that we can help one another in life. Life’s about lending one another a helping hand…

My Magical 2011

2011 was lovely, it really was. Not just lovely, it was crazy, wonderful, educational, fun and all the positive adjectives that could describe it fits well here. It is indeed hard to believe that the time has come for us to say goodbye to the year 2011 and welcome 2012 in a few days’ time.

1. I had the best time of my life with Four Seasons Resorts Seychelles and Seychelles, no matter was it for internship or for holiday with the family. Seychelles Memories



2. A short trip to http://madeofballoons.com/category/travel/hong-kong/”>Hong Kong to get the family together once again was much appreciated.

3. Going around hunting for cafes or restaurants to dine at! Hatched, Strictly Pancakes, Food for Thought, 2D1N Soju Bang, Riders’ Cafe, The Knolls, Prego, Rochor Beancurd, Sing Ho Chicken Rice, Muthu’s Curry, Oomphatico’s, Old School Delights, Salted Caramel, Roti Prata House, Bedok 85 etc. Foodiefreak

4. Participating in Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town was an eye-opener! Stepping into the Africa region was new to me for certain!

5. Being part of Project Yume in Japan, Iwate and Fukushima prefecture was one magical trip. The fact that I left home to spend that precious one week in Japan to do what I’ve never expected myself to do, I did it. Getting to know a lovely bunch of friends in Japan, running all around the touristy attractions, rushing for trains, carrying the heavy luggage up stairs, lugging the camera everywhere I go and most importantly, eating the best meals of my life, meeting the most adorable kids and witnessing them drawing to change the world =)



6. Learning a language was never this fun, until I went to French Toast to pick up French!


7. Discovering the restaurant of my life: Red Pig Korean BBQ… Don’t mind having myself soaked in the fragrance of samgyupsal because my love for it never dies (at least till today and now that I am still penning this).

8. Graduating from Temasek Polytechnic with the Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management, and even though being the almost valedictorian already meant a lot to me. Sharing my future plans with my course manager and lecturers, at the same time hearing their points of view and advices…



9. Submitting my application for EHL, going all the way to Switzerland for selection day, family and friends who gave me so much support, and finally seeing myself in Lausanne since September as an official student of Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, also the first graduate of Temasek Polytechnic HTM to have applied there. It was one huge step nearer to dream :-)

10. The early arrival of En certainly added overflowing joy to the L family just right before I left for my studies in Switzerland

11. So fortunate to have met a wonderful group in school: members who enjoy working with one another so much, so cooperative, so thoughtful. May we continue to work well in the brand new year!

12. A memorable 20th birthday spent in Lausanne and Zermatt, Switzerland the winter wonderland! Surprise Surprise, Shinn you’re 20 years old / Birthday Trip to Winter Wonderland



This year 2011 has been magical. Thank you for friends who let me into their lives and thank you friends for coming into my life. Family and friends who shared their most magical moments with me, thank you. Family and friends who shared their most disappointing moments with me, thank you as well. I love growing up year by year, it feels like I build more blocks of education, maturity, fun, excitement, happiness, experiences, thoughts, inspiration and etc into this life of mine and that it gets even more precious day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year.

Cheers to the arrival of 2012!

Letter to Friends I’ve met during the Japan trip

I posted this on Facebook but I realised I missed out on documenting this on the blog. I want to remember these wonderful friends I’ve made in Japan, of how much fun and support they have contributed during our Japan trip. & So here we have here:




Letter to Friends I’ve met during the Japan trip

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▭ and • = Nihon

My last month trip to Japan also allowed some traveling, which I’m glad since it was my first time to Japan!

Reason for going was for Project YUME and story-telling of my beautiful recount in Iwate & Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.

Some little bits of Japan by the Superheadz camera made in Tokyo, with the ISO 200 film from Switzerland.

A wedding ceremonial procession going on in Meiji Shrine, Tokyo.

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The Boy I Met…

If I were to introduce to all about a boy I met, a boy whom have taught me so much ever since I met him.. here we have:

His name is Akito Nishi. He’s only 7 years old. I met him during my recent Japan trip, at Fukushima Prefecture.

He taught me so much.

I smiled at him. He looked at me, puzzled. I continued to smile at him. He continued to look at me and quickly lowered his head down and continued drawing. I didn’t give up smiling at him, I wanted to see him smile. I looked at him again and there you go, he finally smiled at me.

And I took a snapshot of him.

He taught me to smile in life. If you keep smiling to people around you, the first time they may not smile back, the second time they may not smile back, the third time or somehow the x time, they might just smile back at you. That’s where you know, you not giving up on smiling at them, it’s worth it because you saw their smile in return. Even if they don’t smile back, it’s okay, at least you smiled at them and they may just remember your smile from then on. Who knows, they remember how it feels to receive a smile from someone and there you go, you’ve changed their life – they’re going to smile to people around them from the day you smiled at him onwards…

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Project YUME – Iwate & Fukushima Prefecture

For the main reason of going to Japan this time round, was to make yet another part of Project YUME happen. This time round, it was the Iwate and Fukushima Prefecture that we visited.

夢のプロジェクト（岩手県・福島県）
Together with Peter Draw, Dennis, Baba Sensei, Bush and myself – we began our journey.

Peter Draw Singaporean Artist (Initiated Project YUME together with Dennis) Dennis Singaporean friend whom is studying in Tokyo, Japan (Initiated Project YUME together with Peter) Baba Sensei Ex-Primary School Principal in Tokyo, Japan whom assisted us with the execution of Project YUME in Japan through his networks with various primary schools in Japan Bush Taiwanese friend studying in Tokyo, Japan whom is in this together with us Shinn As a photographer for this trip, in hope of capturing the most beautiful smiles and memories


We embarked on a 9 1/2 hours overnight bus ride to Iwate Prefecture from Tokyo. A 9 1/2 hours overnight bus ride, our initial thoughts of it being rather uncomfortable and would result in us having a lack of sleep did not come true, because Baba Sensei had kindly booked a slightly more expensive bus ticket that allowed us such comfort on the 3-seater per row bus!

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Project YUME

Project Yume which was initiated by two gentlemen and it all started from the biggest earthquake, in fact the costliest natural disaster ever recorded in history, the one that happened to Japan on 11 March 2011.

What has been done as of now is that both of them has gone to elementary schools in Tokyo, gathering them to draw pictures and well-wishes for the children in the Miyagi Prefecture. What has made this even more meaningful and closer to heart is that they have also visited countries where earthquakes happened in the previous years, for children whom have been through the same like children in Japan, to show them support in their own special way. Taiwan, Costa Rica and the upcoming destinations such as Szechuan and Aceh etc. Finally, this will head to Miyagi Prefecture, showing the affected children the strong support from their own fellow Japanese friends and the world, we would like them to also draw pictures of their dreams, encouraging them to never give up. All these are not only recorded through visuals, but these lovely drawings will also be compiled into a book and featured in an exhibition – all proceeds to contribute to the rebuilding of Miyagi Prefecture and the lives of the affected children.

This time round, I’m excited to say I’m going to be part of it. Off I go to Japan – Tokyo and Iwate Prefecture for 11 days. :-)

If you might be interested to know more: Yume by Dennis is one of the two gentlemen!

Till then!