Ogakijin Blog

The dish of the Trip! Fresh mango with sweet rice. It's dessert! Way better than I expected. This was great match. Really. Trust me. You don't be disappointed too much.



Thank you for everything, guys!

Lunch.



Dinner at hotel. Yeah, I am spending as many as 5 days here in the Regent Singapore... The idea was that I should get something to eat at hotel. Comprende?

Before making this trip, I was told by many people that I never wanted to miss famous chicken rice in Singapore.
Today, I came to a chance to eat that particular dish at famous restaurant whose speciality was this:



at restaurant called "Chatterbox" and this is THE DISH.



Chicken dish, chicken soup, and... everything was chicken.

Everyone kept telling me that I just try this dessert. Called "Hashima."
Little chewy stuff inside was of frog fat. Supposed to be good for skin.



Wait. I am supposed to work, right? Yeah, look at me! Still (?) wearing suits in hot and humid Singapore! No one else wears jacket over here!!!
Wow, am I missing your point? (BANG!)

How come Lufthansa?



Udon noodle before flight. Missed the breakfast.



In-flight meal - pretty good!



First meal in Singapore... How come American steak? Just found an American-style restaurant. Hehehe.



This time, not Hyatt. Rather, it's Regent Hotel. For my last-minute booking, didn't have much luxury selecting hotel because of lack of vacancy at many hotels.

Ready for another business trip? Tomorrow I will head down to Singapore as planned.
Better finish packing all into my suitcase. Trip is for a week... should pack everything!!!



Bought souvenirs for friends working in Singapore.
My flight is 11am tomorrow. I should pack and sleep!

Playing golf... for the first time this year. Really finally. After passing two opportunities due to work so far this year. Finally I made it today. Played along with coworkers... all management consultants.
This was periodical tournament... first time for me to participate. 19 people were there. It was surely fun... even though, I missed the first shot. I tried to hit the air, instead of ball. Hmmm.

However at the end...

50 - 50 = 100

My round score was 100... the second best gross in my entire life. WOW! What happened? I must have slept well last night. Should be the same tonight.

I made the 3rd place and got cash award!
It was long day for sure... but fun.

This is interesting, folks. Canon just made announcement about new debut of D40 replacing D30 digital camera. Now Nikon will bring D300 replacing "legend" D200 to take over the market again.
Wow, interesting marketing strategy.



D300 looks nice and advances with higher specification. Now time for me to switch from Canon? Like quitting Mac user for PC? Hmmm.
Wait. D300 is surely expensive... I should hold 3k or so to buy this and lens... too bad... that's impossible.

Oh boy... should stick with current KDX. Don't think it's okay for me to hold heavy camera all the time.

At least I faced a good dish... thus, this should be the motive for me to work harder... at least I should catch up with everything.
So I presume. Reality is too severe, though. Hmmm.



My lunch took place in Grand Hyatt's "The French Kitchen." Really expensive place like I can never afford any dish for either lunch or dinner.
This chicken dish was good... Too good for me, I guess.

After dinner like that, I realize that I come to have additional task... duty supervising a new consultant. Another one underneath myself? Yeah... what's wrong with this? What's going on... really?

I should no longer be a player... should be manager.

Am quite behind... Client's expectation is too high for me to make, I guess.
Hmmm... like said yesterday, I am no longer needed here for any assignment.

Sometimes, I hear very scary thing... like:

"Oh what for? We don't need him."

In this case, The word, "him," refers to myself. Not personally... professionally. This refers to consultant.
This is because I cannot create value out of work... or people cannot recognize such value. Difficult for me to have them recognize sometimes. Why? Because the judging measurement is per personal scale.

In other words, it's not like "right or wrong" but "like or don't like."

Yeah, "tangible" vs. "intangible" theory here. Yeah, I learned this at Thunderbird. Sometimes (?) learning at business school gives me some better clue or understanding. Hahaha.

Well, I cannot be negative about hearing such say from someone else.
No choice. I have to do what I need to do. No rest... no luxury!!!

Well, remaining three days of the week already booked up with full of appointments and agendas. Hmmm... no easy time before Singapore trip. Oh boy, I better get much more serious. Hmmm.

I try my best to complete all before departure.

Oh, FYI - I will be in SFO / SJC area from October 14th for 2 weeks. Who is out there then?

What's up, folks? Well, today one thing got fixed. What? Well, business trip. This time, gotta go to Singapore. Yeah, SIN... clean country.
When am I going? Huh? Very good question. Actually, next week.
This was once planned and cancelled. Now plan again. Yeah... hectic. Things got changed.
This time, I represent someone else... thus, this delegation is quite important... so I think.

For lunch... went to Korean restaurant. That was because four other coworkers agreed and I followed the decision. Hahaha.
Yes, I then certainly remember that I just ate Korean food last night.



To be frank... don't know how to call this in English. Famous Korean dish for sure. Hahaha.
This was a big soup dish with big chicken (half size) in it. Supposed to be healthy dish. Yeah, I get energy from the dish.

Work? What about it? Oh, it all sucked! Not good today. It was not my turn... maybe tomorrow! I'd better cut all bad stuff out, not carrying any negative feeling over tomorrow. Today's wind ain't tomorrow one.

Yeah, nothing happened until late afternoon... about the dinner time. No energy to do anything for all day long. Yeah, pretty much.
Woke up around 8am... watched TV, looked at some magazines, and read some books. That's it.
For dinner, I finally went out and breathed tick hot air outside!!! Hmmm, too hot!



Hot climate called hot food? Hahah... MoonFlower and I got together in Akihabara Station... Ended up in a Korean BBQ restaurant. Yeah, big dinner... Great BBQ!

Definitely, have to work hard next week. Yeah, that's tough deal, too.

Made it very early. Today it was MoonFlower's free day. Thus, we made it early. Yeah, I was still half sleep when I saw her this morning.



Ocean's 13... Good movie. I liked it. Fun for sure. I can give a solid B to this film. Recommended.
Wait. What happened to those two SUMO wrestlers in the movie? Cannot find them, Akebono and Musashimaru... Where were they? They didn't make the cut, huh.

Even after the movie, we still could enjoy the time... plenty of afternoon! Went to Tokyo Station. Purpose? Daimaru department store. Big bargain was going on there.



Got new shirts for work. Expesive? Not really. Somewhat.

Long day... it was fun. Though, we walked so much. My legs... I feel fatigue. Hmmm.
Oh bought some magazines and books... all related to work. Yeah, for sure. I still have to learn.

Tough day. Rough day? What's the difference?
Long day... just like yesterday. Was quite serious business day... more than usual for sure. Lots of new missions just listed.
My schedule for next two weeks is now fixed. Seems very crowded. Hmmm.

Only good stuff was about lunch. Good lunch.
Yeah, good thing was not of work... but just food!
All members of the section went to business lunch together. To one of restaurants in the Tokyo Midtown. All restaursnts in that buiding are prestigeous and always have full of guests.
Without reservation, we walked around and checked place out.

"Coppola Vinoteca" - Italian restaurant. Yeah, movie-legend Coppola's restaurant.

Good was great! Loved pizza there.
Lunch course was at 25 dollars. Yeah, just for lunch. Coffee was 7 dollars.

With my budget, this is definitely NOT easy destination. Hahaha. I would choose some place else for sure.

Yeah, better thing something better... about work. It was not of my day...

What's this? Difficult to see? It is FIREWORKS in the middle of Tokyo. Tonight, it was Jingu Fireworks Festival from 7:30pm.
Of course, I was still at work... here we go.
From the high-rise, I was easily able to see them!!!

Fireworks in the middle of below picture. With cellphone, this is the best I can do!!!



Working very late... I left work around 11:30pm. Way passed my bed time! Good day? Somewhat quite productive and am ready for next day.
One more day to go! Tomorrow it all will be tough... though, weekend is just ahead, right?

August 15th... Japan's Memorial Day... when Japan's Emperor Hirohito declared that Japan was defeated in the World War II. Hiroshima bombing was on August 5th... Nagasaki one was on 7th. Then on 15th, we decided NO MORE.

A little history session, huh?!

EXTREMELY HOT in Tokyo!!! Unlike the climate in Phoenix... humidity is much HIGHER. Meaning that it makes us feel heavy warm air around. Not conformable at all. You'd better come and firsthand experience this!!!

Okay... here is an idea.
I almost get final okay from the client about my summer vacation plan.
From October 9th to 12th. Just 4 days?
Wait. Monday, 8th is national holiday. Including weekends before and after the week ---

October 6th to 14th: total 9 days of the vacation.
Two weeks after 14th... have to be in SFO. Yeah US. Meaning I can be in US in advance. Yeah, that's my plan.
The biz trip got shortened by one week... down to two-week trip. Not bad... Longer, busier for sure.

In addition to SFO (SJC to be precise, though)

AVL
ATL
PHX
NYC

Four possible destinations... Hmmm. I think PHX is out... I have no longer people whom I know on campus... Most of them are now gone! (True, right?)
AVL - my home in US... I can relax...
ATL - I can see so many friends... Tyson, Kack, Bettina, Kazem...
NYC - Lots of T-birds working in the City... Just chatted with Tiffany... she's there, too!

Well, have to decide it all by the end of this weekend so that I can get tickets...

Pay day is around the corner... I have to survive until them! Let me work on that...

Who said that I would never see that movie?



Movie, "Transformers" - today's pick! (BANG)
Yes, yes, I admit it... Over million times, I refused to see this movie.
Remembering of last year while in US... kept telling friends like Abhijeet and Abhishek that I would never see this childish movie... or movie for children.

Hi, folks. Big day? Not really. Didn't go to work but hospital. What happened to me? Well, it was mandatory medical exam.
I'd better say, medical check?

The result doesn't come in handy. Have to wait for a week or two. Will see.
It was first time to take a barium meal. Yeah, really first time.
This was for stomach check... I thought. (Maybe I am wrong?)

Hmmm, that's not something that I would like to do time to time. No wonder there are some coworkers refusing such exam. Hahaha.

After hospital, came home. Hmmm, not work? Sure. I had decided to work home today.

Gee, didn't work as planned. Originally, I thought that I would spend time for material production.
Instead, I spent all time for budgeting... Totally unexpected. Hmmm.

Wrapped it all up by 6:30pm. Had to go to Shinjuku to meet someone tonight.
It was tkoich... a buddy of mine. Haven't seen him for almost half year. He just came back from Indonesia.





He's already big daddy. Almost to be a father of 2... 1st is boy... what about the next one? Due in December...
Congratulations!

Hi, folks. It was so unfortunate that I came to close the day with email message that I didn't like at all about some "extra" work. I totally disagreed.
Anyhow, had a nice lunch... TEMPURA dish for 1,000 yen. Pretty good!



What did I do wrong? This implies to some decision just came out this morning.

What then?

I called it Japan Tour... business trip to many locations in Japan:

Nagoya
Osaka
Hiroshima
Fukuoka
Sendai

My client told me NO. Meaning that I don't have to be part of the tour. I just need to concentrate about setting this all up. Just for that?
Yeah, just like that... whether I like it or not.

So no domestic travel for me.
At least still some travel plan... going to HKG and US in September and October, respectively, is still on... as far as I know at this point. Tomorrow, the story could be different.

Anyway, hectic week comes to the mid point... will see how this goes for the rest of week. Hmmm.

Doesn't sound good, does, it?! Well, I guess, it is not my turn at this point. I have to be patient until this storm goes through. Started at 9:15 in the morning and left the office around 10pm. Usually, I take work home... tonight, I didn't. Rather, I stayed in the office, working until the end.

No luxury to take lunch time.
Got one sandwich picked up at convenience store for lunch.
One rice ball for supper. Not enough energy and nutrition. Hmmm.

No personal time home, either.
Usually, I do a little research for my education and interest. Even Yahoo! Auction as well.
For now... probably this week, don't have such personal time. Better stick with work. Otherwise, I may NOT have work next week. Yeah, this is critical, isn't it?

Oh tonight, I was supposed to join other coworkers... most of them were from India... Farewell to one Indian fellow quitting the job. Place was TGI Friday in Roppongi. Well, had to miss due to work!!! Too bad... It was definitely free food and drink. Hmmm.

I'd better suck it all up...

TMT - Tokyo Midtown... I go everyday for work, right? Over weekend like today, still went there? For what? Hehehe.
MoonFlower and I went there for shopping.
Got together in Kinshicho first. Picked up new pair of glasses for her and checked the movie. None of them was good for us to see. Maybe we'll see "Transformer" next time.

So we decided to go to TMT from Kinshicho then.
First time for us to be there together.
Famous sweets by "Takatora" - we waited in line for 15 minutes or so... got three cream puffs. They were very good... though, I thought that it shouldn't have been dig deal like you had to wait in line to buy... just cream puff. Hmmm.

Walked around in the TMT for a while. Didn't buy anything... just checked many places.

For break... didn't go in to the nearby Starbucks. Rather, went to the lounge in the Ritz Carlton Tokyo... Yeah, we did.

Wait. 15 bucks for coffee? Man, super duper expensive... my god.
I ended up paying $35 for two having drinks in the coffee shop within such luxury hotel like that.

MoonFlower loved it, though. No doubt.

Man, weekend is over. Already, huh? Too bad.
I believe that things are still behind for work... have to make a great catch-up. This week... I have to make it so.

Hi, folks. How's it going for your weekend so far?
For me... since suffering from the pain in my neck... no golf for today. Yeah, I was supposed to go and play!!! Once again, missed that opportunity. No luck for this year to play fun game!

My pain... since Wednesday... still remains. Oh boy. Could be serious? Hmmm.

Playing golf... double-booked with dentist. Since cancelled the golf... dentist appointment became valid. Hahaha. So I went.
This third visit made the conclusion. Clean-up is complete and doctor told me that I should check up with him in 6 months.

2,890 yen ($25)
1,340 yen ($11)
1,850 yen ($15)

Total three visits, I paid those amount. Japanese dentist is costly? I think this dentist is pretty expensive... Overcharge? Hmmm.
Well, the way dentist proceeded is quite good and I liked it.

Then, got massage to ease my pain. 30 minutes... 3,000 yen. Still spending, huh.

Today, it was regional fireworks festival. JR Koiwa was way beyond crowded. Millions of people went through to reach the festival location for tonight's fireworks.

Wen to nearby cafe for food. Lady in the restaurant asked me,

"Aren't you going?"
"Nope."
"Don't you like it at all?"
"..."

Leave me alone! Don't want to go by myself. Of course, I like such fun stuff. Maybe next time.
Anyhow, I was able to see some large fireworks from my apartment. Really. It was cool.

Friday - supposed to be "HAPPY" Friday along with time coming into a weekend. Not this time. I spent quite time in the office for work. Showed up first and remained in the office last. Hmmm. Bad cycle... cynical, huh. I know.

Last and this week... it wasn't all for me. Lots of unexpected issues emerged. That's why I realized that I was in the position that I wasn't supposed to be in. In fact, I am behind!
August and September schedule look SO crowded.
Man, this is an emergency! No kidding.

Next week... I have to bring all back on track. Yeah, I have to accomplish that within next week. No luxury.
Meaning that I have to be dead serious about work.

Man, this isn't exciting...

No particular plan over this weekend. I should have some fun to freshen myself up for sure.

Forget it? What happened in July? That quick? Who gave me a memo that we're already in August? Hmmm.