Pink, white and green trees are all over Ueno Park this week, so GORGEOUS!!! Small, white petals of sakura surrounds me like confettis as in a wedding or white snow in winter in Canada while a gentle breeze sweeps them from under my feet with each step. Sakura trees leave me speechless as I admire their refelction in the pond around sunset while lanterns start to light up the evening to illuminate these beautiful trees. A dream about a park couldn’t be more beautiful than this and the best part is that it’s not a dream.

Since I’ve moved to Tokyo, it has been a constant struggle on a daily basis with the crowd, air pollution, rats, homeless in Ueno park, and high costs of living. To reduce some of these negative aspects of living in Tokyo and to bring a little sunshine into my soul I got more into doing yoga. Instead of once a week now I go to yoga studio at least twice a week and try to refresh as much as possible. Yoga has brought so much relaxation and flexibility into my life. It’s not easy living in a big city like Tokyo so I figured why not shoot two birds with one stone and get healthy and relaxed at the same time by doing yoga. There’s a Lava Hot Yoga studio near Akihabara station and if anyone is looking for a way to relax in Tokyo please give it a try, you might surpise yourself.

One of the advantages of living near the Ueno Park is that during the warmer months there’s a flea market in Ueno Park where you can pick up some traditional japanese goods. As I was walking home after work last week, I bought a beautiful bamboo flower holder for only 500yen while it would’ve cost me much more if I had bought it brand new at a ikebana shop. Even if you don’t wana buy anything, it’s still nice to check out some new things in Ueno park.

There are many sayonara sales in Metropolis magazine. This is a free magazine in English and we can find it in most British pubs or Ueno Keisei Tourist Information centre. My roommate recently got a FrancFranc blender for FREE from an advertisement in Metropolis Magazine which is amazing for a brand that would cost a lot of money if he had bought it from the FrancFranc Shop. Also we can find lots of housing information in Metropolis magazine in which there’s also an advertisement of OAKHouse so check it out everyone there might be good rooms available from Spring:)

One of the best movies that I’ve ever seen!! It was very entertaining and easy to sing along. We were so inspired after the movie to go to the nearest karaoke bar to sing all night long all the Abba songs that we know. Tokyo has so much entertainment that it is very easy to have a good time anywhere, anytime!! Enjoy TOKYO everyone!!!

The pink ume (plum) trees are in full bloom in Mito-Kairukoen and they are so beautiful. If anyone is tired of winter and would like to feel closer to spring can go to Mito to enjoy these cute pink trees and can even buy several fallen branches to take home for a little spring fest of your own in your house. Spring is around the corner but as the cold days of winter are dragging on it might be a nice get away for most of us to refresh and enjoy some colour during the dull winter season.

Although I really don’t enjoy shopping, recently I realized how valuable shopping in Tokyo can be. I was looking for a pair of spring shoes with a friend of mine and we went through a dozen of shoe shops. I was so tired but I noticed that shoes that are made in Japan have a unique style and excellent quality. I never used to check where a shoe was made as long as it was the right style and comfort until I bought a pair of shoes that are made in Japan, which I have been wearing for the past 4 years, still with the same comfort. It’s true that we always have to pay a little more in Tokyo but we are also paying for a great quality that comes with that price. Enjoy your quality shopping in Tokyo everyone, you can’t find it everywhere!

I picked up 2 of my good friends at Narita airport last week. As soon as they arrived, they wanted to use the restrooms at the airport. Surely after a long flight from Canada that would be quite necessary I thought to myself. I waited 20minutes until they returned from the restrooms wondering if the airplane food had been terrible on their stomach so asked if they were alright. Their answer came back with 5-10 pictures on their digital camera of the toilet that they’d just used with all sorts of buttons for cleaning, wiping, deodorizing or even heating your bottom that they were so impressed with it that they couldn’t leave it alone for 20minutes. Not to mention they also looked all around Akihabara to take one with them back to Canada but couldn’t find a matching voltage. I was just glad that their stomach was alright.

There has been several incidents where certain guest house members bully other residents. There has been several incidents such as- turning off the computer continuously so others can’t use it, to waste their time, or can’t recharge their ipod’s battery while it’s connected to the computer; using the microwave at 6am with full sound for an hour to wake up others, never cleaning up or taking out the garbage, and always leaving the toilet seat up when there’s a female resident living there as well. These are very inconsiderate behaviours and bothers everyone living together. It creates tension and leads to arguments, house meetings with the landlord or even knife pullings. If everyone could be a little more considerate and respectful towards others life could be a lot simpler living in a guesthouse.

Last month I went to Palau island for 4nights/5days to get my advanced scuba diving license. Palau exceeded way over my expectations with it’s beautiful beaches, pure turqouise colour ocean, vast marine life, lush jungles, pretty waterfalls and most importantly with it’s friendly people. As a solo traveler I was a bit nervous as to how to fit into a tropical island full of honeymooners but the local people were so kind that I didn’t  feel lonely at all. Coming from Japan we are also very lucky right now with the exchange rate between the japanese yen and the us dollar so it was nice spending a little extra in Palau by getting a traditional chinese oil massage on the last day before a 7 hour flight. I went there to get an advanced diving license and I got it anway but it turned out to be a much more rewarding trip for me. I hope more people will travel to Palau and enjoy all the beautiful things this gorgeous island and it’s people has to offer.