How to spend rainy days.

 Do you know that Japan has a rainy season? Most people say that there are four seasons in Japan but it's actually five. Between Spring and Summer, we have a short rainy season. It's not like the one in Southeast Asia where it rains in short periods in one day. A rain front stays over Japan and causes raining all day for a few days. Then there are a couple of sunny/cloudy days then back to rain days. The temperature hovers between 20℃ to 30℃, and it's humid. This lasts for a month so this one month is the most depressing month for Japanese.
 It really made me not feel like going out so I was thinking of what I could do insted of going out.

 Watching American TV drama is one of the options since I love watching American TV drama. ( I rarely watch Japanese one, nor British one except for Torchwood) My line-up recently is Glee, Bones, Gossip Girl and sometimes Law and Order. I'm curious about New Girl. My sister told me it was good so I'll try watching it.

 Did you know Jess from New Girl and Dr.Brennan from Bones are real sisters? I didn't know!! Zooey and Emily Deschanel.

Zooey Deschanel (Jess) from New Girl

Emily Deschanel (Dr.Brennan) from Bones

 Yeah, they are sisters. 

 I also want to watch something a bit more mature. Has anyone watched Mad Men? Is that interesting?? 

see a dentist

 In Japan, not so many people undergo orthodontics. One of the reasons is that it costs a lot, approximately 1,000,000 yen. So only people who medically need it or people with enough budget and those who are very particular about how their teeth look go to an orthodontist. That is the reason why lots of Japanese have bad set of teeth.
 Anyways, I've seen an orthodontist since 3 years ago and I came back to check up today. here is a waiting area. Bright and clean.

 And this is the front desk. You can pay by cash, credit card or e-cash. I've never paid by e-cash here but I know it's so useful!! You don't need to bring cash with you to pay but instead you can use a card or your cellphone.

 It's been 8 months since the last time I saw the dentist because I was in the Philippines. My dentist was introduced by another dentist in the clinic where my sisters work. Yeah, my sisters work at the same place. Crazy? I think so, too. Hahahaha. I like my dentist because I can get a treatment in a private cubicle so no one can see me. This is maybe because I'm an orthodontic patient. When I got my wisdom tooth extracted, I was led to an regular place with three dental chairs. And there is a VIP room, which I've been to once. Very nice place.
 I noticed that my two upper front teeth moved forward but he told me they were okay. Hmmm, but I don't like it!! Hope they won't move anymore. Then I got my teeth cleaned and left there.


 I was told to came after six months but I think I should see him earlier for maintenance. I really care about my teeth and I'm confident about them. Are you confident about your teeth?

The golden age of the Pharaohs

 It's Father's day today. What did you do for your fathers? I didn't do anything special for my dad but my parents and I went to the museum. We've been wanting to see this exhibition since it was announced to come to Japan.

 The exhibition is about Egypt, mainly Tutankhamun. They display treasures that were found at the tomb of Tutankhamun and other remains. It was a great opportunity to see those treasures because not many people have the chance to go to Egypt, where this exhibit is originally held. Maybe I can go there someday but not anytime soon, so going to the exhibition is like cherry-picking the good points of traveling.

 When we arrived at the museum, we were glad to see that there were not so many people, even when it's a weekend. We then proceeded to purchase tickets. Ticket price on weekends costs 2800 yen. Expensive! But I can understand since these treasures are incredibly invaluable. We entered the museum and we were given numbered tickets that indicated we can enter the museum at 1:20. It was 12:30 in my watch so we decided to have lunch first.
 After lunch, we headed to the museum again and saw a lot of people waiting in line! We also had to wait for another 20mins until we could finally get inside. The inside of the museum was so packed that I couldn't reach the showpieces easily. The way they are displayed were not right. The rooms weren't big enough so we couldn't walk smoothly. However, the showpieces were extremely amazing and gorgeous! I have no clue how the ancient egyptian made those stuff!! Engraving was pretty much fine and precise.

 Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside (even using a phone!) so I got some photos of the treasures I saw at the museum.

 The coffin of Tjuya. This golden coffin was insanely beautiful. I think Tjuya is King Tut's grandma.

 Canopic coffinette of King Tut. His innards were placed  in this small coffin when he died. This was also superb. You can also see an engraving of a man with wings inside the coffinette.

 This necklace and the dagger were found inside the tomb. They are made of gold.

  Scarab is a holy insect in ancient Egypt, which is a symbol of reincarnation and re surrection.

 It took us 30mins to look around. Actually, I was looking forward to the mask of King Tut but it wasn't there. Is it in the museum in Egypt or in England??

The museum is next to Kaiyukan, an aquarium in Osaka. I didn't visit there today but this is good place too.

cupcake wars

 What do you come up with first when you hear "cupcake?" If you ask me, it'll be Magnolia Bakery from Sex and the City. I didn't watch all seasons but somehow I know it's a Carry Bradshaw's favorite shop. When I went to NY for the first time, I passed by this famous bakery and saw heaps of people waiting in a long line.
 To be honest, I'm not that into cupcakes because of the frosting. It's a little too sweet for me. Though, I like the style: pastel colors, toppings...it can be so creative!

 I found this tv programme named "cupcake wars." In this show, 4 talented bakers battle it out in making cupcakes based on a certain theme. Every episode has three rounds, and in each round, one baker will get eliminated.

 The first round was that they had to bake one cupcake including 6 ingredients namely, pumpkin, oats, molasses, apricots, currants and kale. Kale is a killer. I have completely no idea how to bake a cupcake with it. I mean, I can make a dessert using the other ingredients, but kale? It's a green vegetable, right? So how?? I even can't imagine how the cupcakes which the bakers made taste like.
 The second and the third round, they also need to make a presentation. They have to make three cupcakes inspired by Spiderman's enemies. I'm not a big fan of spiderman so I didn't know which is which but I know Green goblin. And here's the Green Goblin inspired key lime cupcake that one of the contestants baked. Looks yummy, doesn't it? As for the rest of the cupcakes, I honestly do not the character from which they were based. Perhaps you could help me figure out?

 You can see more cakes from this baker here. 

 Watching this show made me feel like baking something. Hmmm, what should I bake? I like baking Italian hard cookies called biscotti but I'll try something new this time.

day first

 I didn't have anything to do today. I woke up at 5:30 first because my dad came to the living room ( yeah, I sleep there...) then went to my parents' bedroom to sleep again.

 It's a bit chilly in the morning and at night here in Japan. During daytime, they say it's hot, though it's still cool for me. I mean, comparing to the Philippines it's still a comfortable weather.

 I felt I had to do something productive. I got tired of staying at home doing nothing or just watching tv. So I went to a drug store and an electronics center by car. It's been 6 months since the last time I drove a car. I felt a bit nervous but thank god, I still know how to drive! Hahahaha!! I need a little practice in parking though! 

 I bought batteries for our cordless phone and a cable for blue-ray recorder. Yeah, my mom had bought the recorder while I was in the Philippines!! Unfortunately, that recorder sucks since it can't record satellite broadcasting which my family usually watches ( like FOX and AXN). So what is this useless recorder for? Just record regular broadcasting? I told my mom about it and she promised she would buy a new recorder!! hahaha then when?? anyway, I connected the recorder to the tv. I'll see how good blue-ray movie is.

 while my mom was cooking dinner, I drove to the station to pick up my sister. I dropped by a supermarket to buy some stuff I was asked then I found this.

 yes, Jack'n Jill cream-o.

It's really funny seeing something I used to see back in the Philippines. It's roughly 40 pesos. I already can't remember how much it is in the Philippines. Around 20 pesos maybe? That's twice the price!! As you know, everything is expensive in Japan.

 As soon as I got home, I had dinner with my family then we ate mangoes for dessert. Then somehow I craved for something salty so I munched boy bawang and chugged Nestea calamansi flavor. Yema is always the one I eat before going to bed. Obviously, I still haven't gotten over from the Philippines on the first day in Japan.