Fuji San (The Prominent Mount Fuji in Japan)

A Japan trip is never complete without seeing the famous Mount Fuji, visiting the lakes around it (such as Yamanaka and Sai), eating soba in the famous restaurants, and venturing into captivating sights of flowers, animals, and placid waters.

Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest and most prominent mountain, can make lifelong memories. It is a well-known symbol for the country and is frequently associated with Japanese art and photography.

The classical cone-shaped mountain, with its ice-capped peak

A little trivial fact:

I asked Japanese friends why they call Mount Fuji as Fuji san, instead of Fuji Yama (yama for mountain). This ‘san’ may sound like the honorific after someone’s name (sometimes translated Mister or Miss), but it is actually an alternative reading of the character for mountain, usually pronounced ‘yama’.

Some mountains are called yama. It can be called Fuji Yama. I learned that the ‘san’ is an indication of deep respect. Some locals treat the mountain as sacred, even as a god, that’s why they use ‘san’.

Here are pictures of Fuji san, the historic mountain in Yamanashi, which the Japanese people take pride of.

Enjoy ;)

Fuji Hakone Izu-National Park

View from Lake Yamanaka (Yamanaka-ko)

Lake Sai (Sai-ko) overlooking Fuji San

Sai-ko Garden


The famous Fujiyama Coaster at Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

Never visit Fuji without trying the yummy Yakisoba,
which comes in big servings and various flavors!

For more pictures, please click here and let me tour you in the marvelous world of Fuji san. ;)

Claustrophobic

“I am afraid of small rooms and narrow places. I find it difficult to breathe. I feel the walls and ceilings slowly closing in on me, forcing me to be pressured. I feel suffocated and lost control. Panic-stricken, I look for an escape but found none. Slowly, I lose all my senses.”

This is what a claustrophobic feels.

I remembered an instance when I was riding an elevator and people started flooding in. A girl shouted and made her way out. She cannot stand the limited space inside a closed elevator, for she might faint. She’s claustrophobic, That’s why.

This shot reminds me of Robert Langdon, the protagonist in the work of Dan Brown.


Having claustrophobia (from the Latin word claustrum “a shut in place”), an individual, like the fictitious Robert Langdon, feels an anxiety disorder, fears of having no escape, and being closed in. As I was walking in this corridor, no voices, no noise and no one nearby, I remembered the claustrophobic girl and the account of Robert Langdon. I walked slowly, pretending to be in a movie. :P

And I thought of a figurative lesson: Do not venture into other people’s personal space. Let them be free to do the things they want. Everyone shall be responsible for each action undertaken. A sense of freedom and responsibility can make an individual matured and fully-developed. =)

It’s Not Pink All the Time

She captured the hearts of a lot of individuals – from the three-month old infant wearing her baby dress, the chic teenager carrying her handbag, to the forty-year old mother buying her sweet candies.

This simple round-headed cat with a few whiskers, a spot (which serves as her nose), no mouth at all, and the signatured ribbon hanging on her head; is one of the most famous characters in the whole world.

Being a lover myself, I had a chance to visit my favorite character in her hometown, and I sort-of, had a getting-to-know date with her ;)



Let me share a few trivial facts about her:

• Born in 1974 (She’s much older than I am, yet never looks matured! Haha She remains a kitten forever)
• Japan is her hometown, technically speaking for she was created by a Japanese designer. Sanrio is her world.
• However, in her own make-believe world, she lives in London, and her surname is White!
• Full name is KITTY WHITE.
• She is popularly called Kitty-chan, but Westerners made her famous as “Hello Kitty”.
• The first Hello Kitty product is a vinyl coin purse.
• She has a twin sister named Mimmy! (maybe her twin doesn’t want to be on the spotlight)
• Hello Kitty - a cat that was kittenish – has earnings of about $1billion!

Certainly, it’s not pink all the time. Most of her products are pink stuffs, yet the real Hello Kitty wears a kimono, and sometimes a summer dress and hat!


Lesson learned: Don’t always stick to your trademark. Pink may be good, yet explore different hues and combination. As I go on with life, I learned a variety of “colors” suitable enough for me. I am not the mechanical pink-lover anymore, but have learned to adjust to the varieties of colorful hues around me. Thanks Kitty-chan for an insightful chit chat.

Yihee! Sobrang Cheesy!

Cheesy. Mushy. Whatever label people use to describe extreme or unlikely sweetness.

Here's a shot that may be tagged under this category.

Believe me, I didn't take this on purpose. I don't want to be a paparazzi. LOL

The truth is, I was shooting the disciplined audience waiting for a street parade. While browsing my shots, my eye caught sight of this cheesy couple.

I find them cute, though.

They may be models for the next Greenwich "sobrang cheesy commercial." (winks)

Girl: Gimme a kiss sweetie.
Guy: Do I know you..

Restroom Talks

It was a typical Sunday night which is not so extraordinary from any other evenings...

...until, something happened.

I entered the restroom and stayed there for more than a minute...Fixed my hair, powdered my face, and checked out my looks.

Suddenly, I was surprised to see a guy came in.
Amused, I just smiled said to myself, "He was mistaken. Very funny."

Then, two more guys came rushing in.
I raised an eyebrow, and said to myself, "This is the ladies room. They aren't supposed to be here... Unless..."

It was the MEN's comfort room! Pretended I saw nothing and walked out... LOL

Lesson learned:
Always pay attention to signs.
And if you don't, always be poised despite embarrassment. :P




Restroom Trivia:

In Thailand, there are some buildings with three types of restrooms:

• Ladies
• Gentlemen
• Lady Gentlemen - for the gay people :P

That's how they value the so-called third sex population.


In some Eastern countries like Japan, they have this restroom bowl for ladies. Ladies have to squat on the floor to pee. I find this better than the Western style, for this is more hygienic.




That's all. Enough with too much restroom talks. :)