Kohi Kan (Coffee Shop)

We had our breakfast at this cafe known as Kohikan literally means coffee shop in Japanese. Since we are early there was no other customers. Slowly, the flow of customers trickled in and when we left it was 50% occupied. Nice and quiet environment to have a meal and relax.

Gusto Family Restaurant

Gusto Family restaurant in Japan serves inexpensive meals. My wife and I visited Gusto for breakfast this morning. The breakfast we had (in the video) was slightly less than SGD6. The drinks both hot and cold beverages were refillable. On top of that there was a 5% discount on the total bill for seniors over 60. Food and service was excellent.

Goliath beaten by David

Two weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine. Putin's forces badly beaten back by the courageous Ukrainians soldiers, the Ukrainians and volunteers from all over the world.

Pity the Ukrainian civilians especially the children and elderlies who had to endured the war. Pray the war will end asap.

Sweets and Desserts from Japan

Onsen hotspring hotel Japan

Hotspring onsen hotel

 Spending a night in a hotspring or onsen  ryokan in Fukuoka. The attraction is the private hotspring bath that is attached to the hotel room. Paid about S$180 for the 2 of us , food not included. 

Covid-19 is no respecter of vaccines

 My ex colleague who is now in Changi Hospital told me a while ago that he has recovered. Many said that he was fortunate he had his booster shot otherwise he may have died. I disagree because if he had his booster he shouldn't be infected in the first place.

I was surprised to see Putin met Xi Jinping for the opening of the Winter Olympic in Beijing without wearing a face mask and so was Xi. You may check it out in YouTube.

My ex colleague kena Covid

 

He had his booster jab and yet got infected

Oysters in Japan

Oysters are in abundance here in Japan. We went to a wet market and bought 1 packet of 23 average sized oysters for JPY 1,000 which is about S$12. Had the oysters for dinner. This is the 3rd time this year we had oysters. They are fresh and delicious. The top temperature of the day is 2c and is ideal for having the oysters as they're fresh.

Chateraise Bouchee Japan 【シャトレーゼ】季節限定ブッセ、豊酪食べ比べ

It is snowing here!

Bought the bouchee from Chateraise Japan. They are a delight, sweet and pleasant to the taste bud. 

It rarely snow in Fukuoka but we had it this morning. It wasn't that cold with temperature ranging from 1c to 4c.

My passport has been renewed in Japan

Today I have received my new Singapore passport via a self addressed registered envelope to my house in Fukuoka, Japan. This was after the Singapore Consulate staff verified and confirmed via Zoom that I was the one who applied for the passport.

What I need to do is to send via post an acknowledgement that I've received my passport and send a copy of the signed passport to the Consulate in Osaka.

Had we (my wife and I) travelled to Osaka to collect my passport we will probably spend at least S$1,000 on transport and a night hotel accommodation. But thanks to the pandemic, the renewal of my passport was done online and through the postal services of both Singapore and Japan.

Renewing my Singapore passport in Japan

 In my earlier post I said that the Consul General representing Singapore is going to post my new Singapore passport to me in Japan instead of travelling to Osaka.

I was asked to buy a self-addressed envelope and post it to her together with a copy of NRIC and my old passport. Now that she has received the necessary documents, I have been asked to appear in an interview via Zoom. Hopefully all will be fine and I should get my new passport latest by end February.

Spending our Chinese New Year in a Japanese ryokan

 

Start watching the video from the top one first

It was a nice holiday for my wife and I. We spent our CNY in a hotspring (onsen) hotel in Fukuoka, Japan. The hotel was newly completed in December last year, barely one month old. Please watch the 2 videos and click on the Subscribe button if you like to see more of my videos in Japan.

PS: You need to go to the YouTube main page to click on the Subscribe button. First of all, click on the YouTube icon on the right bottom of any of the above 2 videos and it will direct you to the YouTube main page.

mister Donuts, Japan

 Nice weather temperature averaging 10c during the day. Visited mr   Donuts for donuts and coffee. Average price of a donut was about JPY 120 or S$1.45, coffee was JPY 230 or S$3 a cup but unlimited refills. Good value overall. The crew are young, pretty and service oriented. The place was almost empty as many customers "take-away" their donuts. So far, we are happy and satisfied with the mister Donuts' crew as well as the McDonald's crew.

Hurray, I can now collect my new passport by post

 My new passport has arrived at the Consul General office in Osaka. I have been given a choice either to collect it from the CG's office or request them to send to my Japan home address by post. The latter was due to the high number of  Omicron infection in Japan.

I am glad the CG's office has allowed me to collect my passport via post. This is the only and one "gift" from the pandemic.

Renewing my passport in Japan

 My SG passport is going to expire end of the year and ICA has emailed to remind me of the expiration. I am not going back just yet and am going to renew it in Japan. The nearest place where I can renew my passport is in Osaka which is 640 km away. In Singapore, I don't have to travel so far for the renewal. In Japan it's so inconvenient not only because of the distance but the wintery condition. I have no choice but to renew my passport otherwise I could not return to Singapore in the future.