Japan Travel Log - Day 4

Yesterday, we were up at 6am and slept around 2am this morning. We were up again at 6:30am. So basically, we managed about 4 hours worth of sleep. Yet, I felt quite fresh and ready to face the day.

The weather was lovely this Sunday morning (final day of festival). In fact, we've been having lovely weather since Friday, with only an occasional drizzle which quickly stopped. Unlike the day we arrived (Thursday) and got lost in our 2-hour 'adventure'. That day was really wet.....and cold.

Today would be a rather short day with just 4 workshop dances (compared to yesterday's 9):

1. Crazy Foot Mambo (Paul McAdam)/Hana
2. CT Girl (Maggie Gallagher)/Mei Ling
3. Give It Back (Rachael McEnaney)/Yuki
4. Your Place Or Mine (Judy McDonald)/Judy

Dances from the previous 2 days were reviewed several times during the day: first thing in the morning and after the first round of workshops.

Then finally a Mega Review (of all workshop dances by the instructors) was done before general dancing got underway. Instructors walked through the previous dances quickly and everyone danced it once over. By now, you could hardly forget the steps to all the workshop dances if you've been diligently going through every review since morning..heheh :-)

Ivee and I met a lot of nice people and made many good friends during these 3 days. Yet, everything must come to an end and we had to say our good-byes. Though we don't speak a word of Japanese and they, English, we discovered that line dancing was the international 'language' that brought us together.

Me, Toshiko, Yuri & Ivee

Ivee & I with Michiko

Mio

From left (clockwise): Sachiyo, Me, Yuri, Ivee, Hana & Big Bird :-)

Yup, I shall miss Big Bird too, who's accompanied us the past 3 days

Whilst most of the attendees live around the Tokyo area, there were also quite a number who came from other cities like Osaka. That just goes to show their dedication to line dance and their support to Hiro. Look up a map of Japan and you'll see just how far Osaka is from Tokyo (550kms). At least 1 hour by flight and about 3 hours by train (Shinkansen/bullet train).

And so, on Sunday, we bade farewell to those who had to catch the train or plane back to their respective towns. We were sad, but glad to have had known them and danced with them.

Sad because it's 'SAYONARA'

But we'll meet again someday :-)

Before wrapping up, the instructors were asked on stage again and Hiro said his thanks. We, the instructors, also got to say our 'thank-you's and thoughts.

Finally, we got together for one more picture.....the group photo.

Happy faces all around. Good job Hiro, and thank-you!

The workshops are officially over! My 'job' is done. Time to relax and let my hair down!

To get to dinner, we took a leisurely stroll from the hall down the street, past a Shinto temple

To get to the temple, you'd have to take on those stairs.

and a street lined with Shinto shrines on either side.

Each shrine is dedicated for different worship/respect/remembrance: for unborn children, for ancestors, etc

White sakura blossoms

We saw a lovely 'weeping willow' sakura tree and just had to pause for photos.

Further on, we passed a house that had a cute garden and again, we couldn't resist. We had to take some photos.

We then walked over a bridge, past narrow streets and back lanes and finally arrived at our destination: a chinese restaurant. The walk would probably just have taken us 10 minutes but it ended up being much longer because we'd stop every now and then to capture the scenery on the digital camera.

Entrance to the Chinese Restaurant

A typical restaurant in Japan isn't like the ones we have back home. Here, there is no luxury of sprawling space where you can fit in 30 - 50 tables for a wedding dinner all within one hall on the same floor. Everything is cramped into a single shoplot that is probably just 16 - 18 feet wide.

The restaurant in which we had our dinner was the same, and our reserved tables were on the 2nd floor (or 3rd floor if you're using the Japanese or American system). We had to negotiate up two very narrow and steep flight of stairs. Though the room was small, it didn't feel cramped. In fact, the atmosphere was warm, cosy and lively.

Hiro asked me if I'd like to have beer or wine. I decided on tea but with some Asahi beer on the side. It isn't everyday that I get to travel so I figured I might as well live a little 'dangerously' ha ha. I'm not a beer drinker so before long, even after only a few sips, my face was turning red and I was feeling flushed. But the beer tasted nice. A little bitter but yet sweet at the same time. Not at all like the ones I tried back home.

Those who opted for white wine were really flushed in the face not too long after drinking it as well.

Many different dishes of chinese food were served but I do not know their names. Some looked familiar and others didn't but I gave them all a try. I especially liked the one which had 'sotong' (squid) in it. The 'sotong' was really fresh, soft and sweet. Not at all stringy as they're sometimes known to be.

It was a lively dinner with several conversations going on at the same time. Judy mentioned that she still hasn't mastered the chopsticks and immediately everyone tried to teach her heh..heh..

This time, with some proper instructions, she managed to get a piece of vegetable, I think, up from her plate and into her mouth. Hurrah! Success at last! And claps all around.

Aren't I a clever girl ;-)

Dinner was good, the company great! I was thoroughly enjoying myself. It must have been the beer I had consumed (though I only had half a glass) but honest to goodness, I can't for the life of me remember how we got back to the hotel that night. Either Hiro drove us or he hailed us a taxi. ......Or did we walk. No, no, no.....I'm sure we didn't walk. LOL

A lil' tipsy? Nuh-uh!

Another wonderful day concludes. Tomorrow we're going shopping! (BIG smile)

My Line Dance Party - October 19, 2008

Dear Friends

Please mark your calendars and keep October 19, 2008 free. I'm organising my annual line dance party for friends and students on this date.

• Event : Line Dance Jam/Party
• Date : 19 October 2008 (Sunday)
• Venue : Lakeview Club, Subang Jaya (may change location if venue found to be unsuitable)
• Time : 12 noon (lunch); 1:30 - 6pm (dancing)
• Theme : (yet to be decided; may make it a no-frills, come dressed-as-you-like, party)
• Ticket $ : to be confirmed.

Dance list will be prepared nearer the date. Email me (linedanz@gmail.com) if you're interested in getting the list and attending the party.

Hope to see everyone there.

Happy Dancing! (^<>^)/

Mei Ling

Japan Travel Log - Day 3 (Part Two)

During this festival, I met up again with many familiar faces...people whom I had gotten to know briefly when they were in Malaysia in 2004 for the APDC Line Dance Competition. I also made a lot of new friends. It's almost impossible not to make friends as they're all so very warm and friendly :-)

After lunch, we continued with more workshops. Two from Judy, and one each from Yuki, Michiko, Mr Miura and myself. We also reviewed the dances learnt earlier in the day and the day before. The speed at which the Japanese line dancers absorbed the new dances is wonderful. They're quick, they dance beautifully, they're attentive, respectful and most importantly, they dance in lines...everytime! Something seldom seen back home.

When all the dances for the day had been taught, we took a break and headed for the room set aside for us to relax and unwind. Meanwhile, in the hall, they were busy setting up the tables and bringing in the food for the party.

Relaxing in our room

Soon the party was underway. Hiro started it off by declaring a toast. I know it's a toast because everyone was holding up their cups of wine, beer or tea....but of course I couldn't understand what he was toasting too :-)

Digging in

The spread of food for the party looked delicious. I tried some but couldn't really eat much. Not because it wasn't good but again, by this time, my stomach was all in knots once more because I was the first up to do my performance.

I had prepared a medley of 3 songs, each one representing the 3 major races in Malaysia: Malay, Chinese and Indian. The medley was 5 minutes in length with pauses in between to allow for costume changes.

For the Malay dance, I put on a baju kebaya (the top belonged to my grandma and the sarong, I borrowed from Mum).

For the Indian dance, I wrapped myself in a sari cloth and put a 'bindi' on my forehead.

Lastly, for the Chinese piece I was in a chinese blouse and did a fan dance.

Next up was Yuki's performance. Hers was a dance-story which tells of a geeky-looking girl discovering herself, searching within and finally transforming into a confident, sexy young thing :-)

Finally, the 3rd performance was given by Judy accompanied by a group of Japanese line dancers, Ivee and myself. Ivee who has never performed before and has only 8 months of line dancing experience, makes her debut internationally :-) Good show, Ivee!

In the front row: Hana, Yuri, Mei Ling, Judy, Toshiko, Yoko & Miho

The dance: Judylicious choreographed by Judy herself.

For the record, I enjoyed doing this dance with Judy and the Japanese ladies tremendously. Fond, fond memories :-)

With the performances done, it was time for the party to get underway. Everyone got onto the dance floor and grr..ooved.

Grooving to BORN TO ROCK!

Having fun!

Lucky Draw Winners: Satomi

Ivee

Utako

3 Cheers! to our hardworking Dee Jays

The night ended around 10.30pm and by the time we got back to the hotel, freshened ourselves up and prepared for bed, it was well past midnight.

YA....WWN. Tomorrow's going to be another great day!