japan day 9

Last day in Japan. Ate ramen for the last time. Weird one. Thought would go for the 'dry' one with soup. The noodles was cold and you had this hot white soup to pour over it. Didnt know how to do it properly and ended up dunking the whole noodle lump into my other bowl of hot soup. Knew I did somethign stupid because the chefs were giggling at the backgroud.


Packed up and went to the Sapporo JR station, got a Y1040 ticket to the airport and took a little envelope to keep your ticket safe. But the size is almost the same as the ticket. Dont see how that would help preventing loss.


The inside of the train.


Some really tall structure on teh left. dont knwo what it is.


Passed lots of fields of corn and other veggies. Very nice scenery


The airport had this market setting and they sold almost everythign including live crabs. Wonder how they bring them on the plane. Also lots of free tid bits to try out. After the tour, you are half full.




AFter the small plane ride, we ate soba at the Tokyo airport. Not bad, the chilli powder very good.


The plane.


HEY! Got upgraded to business class!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

Plush seats. Legroom enough for Yao Ming


The seat adjustor. Three settings: upright, relax and sleep. Sleep is the most comfortable one- of course. They even have a lumbar massage button. No more sore bodies!


Personal light for reading


A choice of welcome drinks: green tea or champagne.


Continental dinner. appetizer


Japanese dinner. Appetizer

Jap dinner main course


My steak. almost well done.


Dessert
z`



To wash it all down.


Foldable table for dining. It disappears into the left armrest.



Oh yes, the last thing they served on the plane. Leaves you with sweet memories of the whole ride.

That concludes my Japan trip to attend the IMC16 congress. I shant bore you all with the academic agenda raised at the event although significant, it will probably bore most people to semi-death.

two litters?

This is quite amazing. My PBS control mice pics taken today. What happened was two weeks ago I got a family (1mother + 4youngs) and I did some experiments on the young, then now, two weeks later, the mother gives birth to another litter of 4! You can see the big white furry thing on top is the mum with the pinkish ones the just born and the larger also white furry things the 2 weeks old mice. In total, 8 youngs + 1 mum. Gonna read up on the gestation period and reproductive cycles of mice today to find out what happened.

japan day 8

Lunch time bento. I think this is Zeiss day


After lunch there were 'no' lectures so me, Mic and S took off to a flower park on the outskirts of the city. While waiting for the bus after our train ride, we saw a muah chee shop and went in. Lots of choice.


The dissapointing thing was that they all seem different on the outside but on the inside, they are all the same - red bean paste. Cheat!


The bus came anyway and there's only one fare stage for this route, Y200.


The park plan. Looks small but actually quite huge.


Beware of foxes crossing???


Nice tower, climbed the circular staircase inside. Mic got abit dizzy after that.


Good view from teh tower.


Pond nearby. Doesnt seem well maintained


Interesting tree, top side green, bottom side white.


Daffodils?


Daisy?


Guys playing pitch on the nice grass. Not the rough cow grass you normally get in the tropics but a finer Taiwan grass type that you can sit on and feels like carpet when you walk across.


Mic's artistic pic


Dahlia


Looks like lavender



Rows upon rows of Dahlias


Peony?




Lily



OK enough of flowers, back to the food fair. Its the last night on Susukino and I'm all out for street food! There was actually a closing banquet at the conference but when we got there on time, most of the food was gone. Managed to get half a plate of food. So needed a top up from the night market. Ate and watched some groups perform. There was this group with little drums which was quite dull and monotonous. The picture above is the last one where they have this ribbon tied to their hats and when they move their heads, the ribbon moved. I think its quite dizzying for them.
Good food + free shows = happy flaviguy.


Trumpet shells! Chewy and quite tasteless. Just had to try it coz will never get to back home.


A foot long!



This is dessert. There were actually 3 sticks. One is coated in fishy sauce, another in red bean and the thrid in black sesame.