Saturday, January 31, 2009

House wife role model


Miho in sensei's kitchen.

Ikebana


Basic slanting style.shin 45, soe 15, hikae 75.

Friday, January 30, 2009

2 Smiles on 1 rainy Day

1. I was offered to borrow a umbrella during Lunch, even if it meant that he had to share with somebody else.
2. Man on the train dropped his umbrella on my leg, bowed 3 times very apologetic.

See there are smiles out there even on a rainy day :)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I'm a Brown Sheep


You are Brown Sheep type, who seem to be well composed and calm.
Your personality is also very gentle and never forgets consideration for others.
But you believe you are the best. You are a proud person, and only to those that you have become real friends, would you show this side of your personality.

You have a will power and a smart mind to carry out a business from planning to sales to marketing all by yourself. You have a brilliant intuitive ability.

You can use this ability in personal relationships, and effectively induce the other person's psychology. Even if the other person was insisting on black, you can easily lead him/her into choosing white.

It is easy for you to persuade people.You ought to be in an environment where duty and obligation is thought highly of. You are good at exercising power over someone who respects duty and obligation.

Because your point of observation is rather different from that of ordinary people, you can come up with extremely unique ideas. Nevertheless you lack decision making and putting into action
.
Also because you are an optimistic person, you tend to act as though you have already succeeded, even if you have not yet done so.You may experience great failure, if you get carried away too much. You must be very careful.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Don't Tell the Married Women

...that they could have ex-husbands like mine.... divorce ratio would sky rocketing.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Leaving on a jet plane


... Again. Already tired. Don't know if it's good or bad. Tiny town anxiety syndrome - is that something that could be treated by the Swedish wellfare system? Paying me to stay in Tokyo also in the future; at least october to beginning of may. Tokyo may make me tired, but Lund makes me not able to wake up at all, and this lack of daylight sucks away the will to do that too. I promise from now on to smile back at the tokyo sun every day it smiles at me:).

Suit up!


This is totally going on my blog.

Announcement!


Hm... Have i missed something, that my Swedish mail box knows?

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Friday, January 23, 2009

Lunch



Morning Mint



In bed with my boys



Dias Margarita



Lounging


Waiting for the flight. Had a pleasant taxi trip. And now motown - get ready - in the speakers at the restaurant. Life is good today.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Bed Sweet Bed



12 hours later


I'm longing for my hotel room in Manchester, best case scenario at 9 pm... 4.5 hours more...

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Time to do some soul-lagging


Once again... I feel weird, maybe part of me is all ready on its way and i will catch up with myself midair...

Saturday, January 17, 2009

I have said it before and will do it again...

Damn! I wish I was, and that you were, too
So I could fall in love with you



There are cool girls, and then there are ultra cool girls... and then there are my friend... and btw there is a 30x40 printout waiting for you in Lund... or it least it has been ordered.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Fruity Cocktails at bar in Ebisu

This is not a photo of the drinks, but of the light ramp underneath the bar counter.



Friday dinner at Medusa

Jelly fishes in the walls, oysters on the plate, champagne in the glasses and cosiness all around.



Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Shibuya Trend Spotting January

December was the month of the round "tofs" (fur or yarn, and placed in hat, ear rings, on shoes or as mobile decoration (keitai strappu)). This month the shape continues, but now it is hair style... you should make a round "tofs" on the top of your head. It looks silly, I know but just do it, it is theeee thing right now.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Photo from the office party




Relaxing Saturday




If you want to know more about the Jizo - children status

Martin


A boy, trying to get me to feel better and good. Please save me from the blackout!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Friday, January 09, 2009

Betty Sawayama

One of my dear collegues seems to have ended up bring home a very special blond girl after Wednesday's party. He says her name is Betty Sawayama.



And to Mr. Sawayama... nice sofa, carpet and table!

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Monday, January 05, 2009

Drinks with Brian


Even though it seems like he is at the otearai when this photo was taken, since it is Kaz and Erlö on it...

Friday, January 02, 2009

Playing with Myself



Siamese Surfin'


This ancient breed, perhaps the oldest of all our cats, is able to communicate like no other. The Siamese voice is legendary. They speak both with their voice and with their body. They are the quintessential “people” cat, for they love to be in your lap, on your bed, at your table--and in your heart!

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Blue Tower 2009



A Shark's Tale



New Year's Eve and the Morning After

Me and Mathias was invited to spend new years (お正月). I recommend you read a little bit about what should happen during this celebration, since it really differs from how it is celebrated in Sweden. Japanese New Year

This is my new years make up, you cant really see that it is sparkling but it is.

We met in Ebisu around 8 pm to have the traditional soba (noodles).

We had to stand in line to wait for our table, but was treated with very nice tasting soba tea while waiting.

Inside the very cozy restaurant. I will go back some other day because the soba was really good.

Itoko looking like a princess I think. Too bad it is out of focus.

I had cold soba with tempura. Very tasty.

After eating, we went to a bar in Ebisu, to kill some time and to have a glass of champagne.Then the real fun starts. We took the train to shinjuku (the trains that btw are running all night) and changed to OEdo line to get to the temple where the Hanami family grave is. It was super interesting to be invited to take part in this Buddhist tradition. We brought the talisman arrows that Itoko and Mathias had received last year. They have hung in their flats to protect their home from evil the whole year, and now it was time for it to go back to be burned at the temple.

Around midnight, people are lined up to ring the big bell and say a prayer. This is itoko's father ringing the big clock. After ringing the bell we were served very sweet bean soup. Then Itoko's dad invited us to go see their family grave. We had to use a flash light when walking through the graves over the grave yard around he temple. Itoko's dad put some incense at the grave and said hi to their dead grandfather and grandmother.

Then we were invited into the temple and was actually allowed to sit down in the back of the room where the priest sat praying in front of the altar. The protection arrows was in that room too, I guess to collect good protective ability. It was super cool to sit there and hear him read the prayers very rhythmically. I have seen priests at temples before, but never have been invited to sit in the room before. (the old student of religious science awoke inside me again... this was very special).

After this we went inside to get warm and have some tea. But it turns out that the priest's wife and daughters had prepared a whole meal, with tea, mikan, sushi, beer, soup and snacks. We talked to the other people there and it was very cozy and nice atmosphere.

Then it was time to head of for Harajuku and the Meiji-shrine for the first shinto prayer of he year. 

Lots of people were there and we had to wait in line for quite some time before being let up to the centre of the shrine. But we practice the clapping and bowing while waiting. Throw the coins, bow twice, clap twice, say your onegai and then one last bow.

The gates to the shrine was decorated, protection arrows and also Ema (plates to write prayers on) was displayed there (obviously bigger versions of them). And if you have not guessed it by now, this year is the year of the ox. 

Since both me and Itoko have a "oh look how good we look" photo in this post, I have to add one of Mathias too. 

And then we walked back to my flat, opened a bottle of sparkling wine, set the alarm for 6.30 am, and started to wait. Instead of staying awake to wait, all 3 of us ended up under blankets on my warm and nice floor, listening to Rolling Stones and sleeping. 

So why did we want to wake up that early after just an hour's sleep? Well the next step of the New Year celebration was await. To see Hinode, the first sun rise of the year. We stood on the bridge at Yoyogikoen and saw the daylight coming and the the glowing sun appear between two houses. It was very pretty. A good sun rise this day is a good sign for a good year to come. I hope the sun is right.

This old couple was looking the in the wrong direction... why?

Well they had been around before, in the oposite direction of the rising sun, you could see fujisan in his pink morning glow. The air was so clear and you could see him very detailed through my big lens.

It is good to know a good spot for next year. And also next year I will bring my arrow and have it burned. I think I will keep the Ema because that plate is just too cute.



I feel very happy and lucky for having been allowed to spend a very special new year celebration with two very dear friends. I would love to do the same next year if it is possible. And another good thing... a new year's day with out hangover. 

Now I will go call Mathias, because enough cuddling in bed for him now... more breakfast/lunch/early dinner with Mz B.