White Day in Japan

My first White Day celebration in Japan! Well, technically I'm not in Japan at the moment, I flew back to KL a few days ago (to start planning for our wedding!!). So Y* said I could open my gifts which were given by him and his boss and colleague before I left.

Everything is so pretty! And the truffles were sooo gooooodd! Especially the Speculoos flavoured one. It was a box of 18 and we errr polished it within 3 days. Valentine's and White Day in Japan is like a trap for consumers who can't resist packaging and chocolate. I found it so hard to resist the aisle and aisles of chocolate the few weeks leading to this day.

Not a fan of chocolate pastries and cakes but chocolate by itself, in a drink or mousse form- I love!

Thank you for the gifts!! I can forsee myself collecting more tins/boxes in the coming years LOL.

Valentine's Day in Japan

I've shared this on my Instagram post and I'll share it again; I believe that Love should be expressed whenever possible to all whom we hold dear- family, partner, and friends, not just today.

In Japan, Valentine's Day seems to be all about the guys- they get the chocolates whilst the girls wait until March 14 (a month later) to see if the guy reciprocates. In mid-January I had already started to see displays of different chocolates in-stores, they were all packaged so beautifully and they had different price-ranges so you could definitely find something for the guy(s) in your life or even yourself.

I say "guys" because in Japan, it is common to give out giri-choco which is chocolate which has no romantic feelings attached, more like a thank you, and given to all or most guys which you know or work with. Honmei-choco is usually handmade (with love) and given to a lover or spouse. 

This year, I bought giri-choco for Y*'s boss and also workmate. I had a hard time picking from the vast selection and everything was packaged so nicely. In the end, I went with a sake assortment of chocolates for his boss and a box of cat shaped chocolates for his co-worker. It was so cute! 

The weeks leading up Valentine's Day, I didn't buy anymore chocolates nor did I mention anything about it, but little did Y* know I had already bought the ingredients to make him a little something. To throw him off, I pretended to browse the chocolate aisle and then never picked anything up. 

On the morning itself, Y* admitted that he was delighted when he saw me reach into the *hidden spot* to retrieve his box of sweets in the morning. He said he would've been a little upset if I had not given him anything, seeing that I did get his boss and co-workers gifts. How could I forget you, my love! 

Dinner was Spaghetti Bolognese with the best garlic bread I've made (a friend shared her recipe with me), followed by Nutella & toasted marshmallow on toast. 

This is our first of many Valentine's Day together, last year whilst we were still doing long distance, I sent him a box of goodies. 

Thank you for being so easy to love, my forever Valentine.

Snow!

Woke up this morning to discover that it had snowed the whole night and everything was covered in a blanket of white.

Something about fresh snow that makes everything look calm, clean and pure to me. 

Y mentioned that it's been over 50 years since Japan has had any snow fall in November. It usually only starts snowing in mid or late December. 

Lucky me?

Of Earthquakes in Japan

Early this morning an earthquake with a 7.3 magnitude hit close to Fukushima, and although Yamanashi is about 300km away, we too felt fairly strong tremors in our home. 

As a traveller, I never once felt tremors, not when I was in Tokyo, Osaka, not even Fukuoka. When I started living here, I became more aware of the earthquakes in Japan. No one can tell when it happens, and in Yamanashi weeks can go by without a single tremor but then you also get days where tremors occur on a daily basis.

My previous experiences were fairly short and small, lasting only about 5 to a maximum 10 seconds. Though short, even in slumber, the slightest quake wakes me and I always wait it out before dozing back to sleep. Y usually just sleeps through it, I imagine he must be used to it. However this morning's quake was strong enough to wake us both from the start. We lay in bed for a few seconds waiting to see if it would slow down or become weaker but it didn't. Y rushed me into the "safe room" the smallest space in our home which was the toilet to wait it out.

I felt so relieved as the tremors became smaller and soon stopped. We went back to bed but spent the rest of the morning watching earthquake videos in YouTube before Y had to get ready for work. Y let me listen to the "Earthquake Emergency Announcement" so I would know how it sounds like. Our street has a speaker which announces certain times of the day and is also used for emergency alerts, apparently they are all over Japan (I never noticed).

Y also told me the Tohoku earthquake in 2011 was the scariest he had experienced. I hope never to experience such a disaster but Y has told me to just be prepared, although Yamanashi hasn't had any major quakes, no one knows where the next one would hit. In contrast to my home country, Japan is relatively safe (in relation to theft and crime) but at high risk for earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. Wherelse in KL, snatch thieves are rampant and heartless but Malaysians are safe from such natural disasters. Hmm.. 

Might be a little over-cautious, but I'm going to pack an emergency bag and leave it near the door of our home.

Going to be Googling more about earthquakes today.

Wedding Venue!

Checked out our wedding venue today and had lunch there to sample the food (again). We have had dinner here before and the food was excellent but since we were having a lunch wedding reception, we both felt we should at least try their lunch fare out. Any excuse to fine dine.

As we expected, both the food and service were top notch. I really fell in love with the decor and ambiance the first time I visited and I still felt the same today. Simple and classic but tasteful, lots of natural light and wood. LOVE!

We aren't going to decorate the place because I really like how it looks already and it saves us a fair bit too. Don't want too much going on which detracts from the beauty of the place. The restaurant also over looks a vineyard but unfortunately it would be bare when we have our reception in October.

Nevertheless, still a beautiful place and I hope our guests would think so too!

We also checked out the hotels along Lake Kawaguchi and a few restaurants in the area for casual dining. The colours of autumn are really so beautiful.

A very productive day out with my love!

Gotemba Premium Outlet

Finally got to visit the Gotemba Premium Outlet in Shizuoka today! Possibly the last time I will be able to enjoy "tax-free" shopping in Japan. It took us about an hour from Yamanashi but it was an easy drive (I just played Pokemon Go). The Outlet has a good mix of high end- Balenciaga, Prada, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo and street fashion brands- Sly, Snidel, Nike, GAP, Abercrombie, as well as Sanrio, Disney and even a Pokemon Store.

We had lunch at the much raved about Uogashi and it did certainly not disappoint. It took us about 15-20 minutes to get from the end of the long queue to our seats, which is quite fast. Do note that they will only seat you when your party is complete.

Food was great, didn't capture everything as we were too busy eating. My favourite sushi is no longer salmon. Since Y* ordered me my first plate of arburi engawa (torched flounder fin) months ago I have been hooked. I must have it everytime we eat sushi now. Hello engawa (bottom left)!

If you get a seat at the counter, sometimes the sushi chef announces special sushi combinations or fish which is not available on the menu. On our visit we got to try the engawa kombu sushi. Yummy but arburi is still the best to me. Sooo gooood! They also had the "overflowing" sushi, which of course we had to order.

So much uni and ikura!!! I don't have to imagine how it feels to eat a plate full of eggs and sea urchin anymore. It was so fresh and satisfying! Immediately after, I told Y* to never let me order the uni sushi anymore. But looking at it now... *slurp*

After walking around for 6 hours, yep we were there from 10am until 4pm, we decided to head home. But not before pickup up a Godiva 90th Anniversary blend- Raspberry and Rose Chocolixir.

Smooth and sippable white chocolate topped with a rose and raspberry swirl, raspberry crunchies and a drizzle of raspberry sauce. A wonderfully unique flavour that calls up sweet memories of springtime. I want another one!!

One of our purchases today, the perfect white shirt for a groom-to-be! We managed to save a fair bit on the suit so we decided to splurge on this beautiful shirt. Each brand has a different fit and after trying on so many shirts, Prada and Armani fit Y* the best. He chose this in the end because of the feel and it has a slight stretch. I love it on him! Can't wait to see him all suited up.

♥

Beauty Review: Wonect August Box

Update 3 Sept: Use the code "XEN<3" for 15% off the items reviewed below. Offer ends 8 Sept 2016, Worldwide delivery available!

I've finally tested all the products Wonect sent me for August! Whilst they were sent to me complimentary, all opinions are honest and of my own. 

First up, the skincare products!

I've never heard of morning masks (without the need to pre-cleanse the face) until now! Saborino Morning Masks are meant to be used that way, they are an all-in-one: face wash, skincare (tightening which reduce puffiness) and moisturizer. Just pop one on when you get up or whilst still snoozing in bed. Instructions say to leave on for at least a minute, I had mine on for about 5. So what's in it? For cleansing- apple fruit acid, tightening- peppermint extract, cucumber extract, tea tree leaf oil and grapefruit leaf oil, and for moisturizing- collagen, hyaluronic acid, orange oil, avocado extract and honey.

Saborino masks are folded but do not stick together when taken out. Nothing more annoying than accidentally pulling out 2 sheets and "contaminating" the second when you only need one. The mask looked a little small initially but it does stretch out.

The mask has a light minty-tea tree scent which I found energizing in the morning. On the skin it tingles slightly, however it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes at all. The scent does linger and it's not as "wet" as other sheet masks which I've used, but then again it's not meant as a moisture mask. Overall, I found it super easy to use, my face was clean and I experienced no irritation at all. Really great for mornings when you need an extra pick-me-up but are short on time, also on long haul flights before landing.

Aside from the latest in sheet masks, I also got to try a top ranking cleansing product- Kose Softymo Honey Whip Cleansing Foam. I've seen it many times at drugstores but I never picked it up as I felt it would not be suitable for my skin (sensitive, acne-prone, and I prefer natural/no parabens). Looking at the pink and adorable packaging, I just assumed it was laden with synthetic and drying ingredients. Oh, how wrong I was!

This foam claims to be a makeup remover and cleanser all in one, you can use it with dry hands and after massaging the foam in, rinse it off thoroughly. Key ingredients include- 5 types of 100% pure honey (lavender, damask rose, lycium, orange blossom and lychee) and glycerin for rich moisturizing properties.

My skin is sensitive-normal, and I can't use cleansers which are too harsh or drying. The best cleansers for me are low-foaming and which provide some moisture. I tested this cleanser in the morning on my bareface, and also with makeup swatches below:

Top to bottom: Eyebrow powder, Maybelline Gel Liner (love this! super black, long-lasting and doesn't smudge), Clarins Kohl Pencil Liner, Clarins BB Cream, RMK Lipgloss and Chanel Joues Contraste Blusher in Rose Tourbillon.

The liquid pumps out as a dense foam, sorta like whipped cream and pillowy to the touch. I massaged it in with ease and rinsed off with cool water. As you can see, it took off the powders without difficulty but the eyeliners still remain as well as a hint of the BB cream. That said, the eyeliner is crazy hard to remove (water-based doesn't work, it only moves with oil) and if you use light makeup, this could function as both your makeup remover and cleanser. On days when I use a compact powder instead of BB cream, I don't even need to double cleanse.

I like that the Softymo Honey Whip Cleansing Foam is free of preservatives(parabens), mineral oils, silicones, ethyl alcohol and colorants. Even the floral honey scent is natural! I would never have guessed that this was a "gentle" cleanser based on it's packaging. Because gentle and natural products are usually housed in more basic/generic packaging. I have been using this for 3 weeks as my morning cleanser and also nightly second cleanse (after cleansing oil). Very gentle, no irritation and soft skin after each wash.

Next up, the 2 makeup products! The first is the Fujiko MayuTint in 01 Chocolat Brown which is very popular (saw it on many Japanese instagrammers page). Whilst my eyebrows aren't sparse, I still need to fill them in, else I end up looking unpolished and incomplete. I can step out of the house without eyeliner but definitely not without filling my brows.

The liquid is thick but spreads well and is not gloopy or runny at all. Instructions say to wipe off any oils on the brow area, paint the tint on (it dries in about 15 minutes) and leave it on for at least 2 hours before peeling off. It has a nice floral scent and the brush is a good size and easy to paint with. Check out my before and after below:

The end result was so much better than I anticipated! At first I was worried it would be too dark, but the colour was definitely natural, even and matched my hair colour well (medium brown). It was so easy to use and my brows lasted for 5 days before completely fading off. I highly recommend this as it saves time not having to do my brows daily, and on top of that I look polished even sans makeup. Love!

Lastly, I also received the RMK Lip Jelly Gloss in 04 Orange Pearl. This lip gloss is one of the top ranked beauty products on @Cosme for the first half of 2016 (read more here).

From their website- "A colour whose tone is so sheer, so pure, it positively bursts with lustrous juiciness! Our newly developed spatula allows you to apply a highly concentrated moisturizing gel in great abundance for full and captivating lips." The applicator is rather unique, it's a silicon foot which is kinda shaped like a spoon. It makes for easy application and I can easily clean it.

I wore it on bare lips and I found the formula to be moisturizing and whilst it was glossy it didn't feel tacky or overly sticky. I liked that it made my lips plump and juicy, and there was micro-glitter (you can see it in the swatch above) but wasn't visible once on unless I stared really closely. I could not detect any scent nor taste in the RMK Lip Jelly Gloss.

Hope you found the reviews helpful, you can purchase these items at most Japanese drugstores or department stores (for RMK) and also online:

Saborino Morning Masks 5 sheets
Kose Softymo Honey Whip Cleansing Foam 200ml
Fujiko MayuTint in 01 Chocolat Brown
RMK Lip Jelly Gloss in 04 Orange Pearl

http://wonect.com/sg/special/featured-by-the-wonderful-starlets.html

I'm in Japan!

It's been almost two weeks since I arrived in Japan, everything has so far been good- albeit a little scare at the airport, I was flying with a one way ticket and honestly did not know I could be denied boarding and even entry to Japan. However, the check-in staff at the counter went through my passport and was convinced I wasn't attempting to live in Japan illegally and advised me to just answer Immigrations confidently should I be questioned for not having a return ticket. 

Despite having a really good reason, I was worried whilst waiting to board and I kept reading results for the Google search "No return ticket denied entry to Japan". There were so many people that were denied entry even those from first world countries just because they did not have a return ticket! I was determined not to give the Immigration any reason for doubt so I filled up the Landing Card with my fiancé's number and full address. I pre-amped Y before I boarded that they may call him but he was sure I would be fine.

I was so nervous when I landed and as I handed over my passport to the officer, all I could think was *look confident, look confident, smile but not too much*. She did ask me to note down the person whom I was visiting and also reminded me that my visa was only valid for 90 days before smiling and returning my passport. I was so relieved! I can only assume I was not held for questioning because I have multiple previous Japan visas in my passport and thus am not a high-risk for overstaying.

So that's my experience with trying to enter a country with no return ticket. Reuniting with Y at the airport was just.. I don't know, so many words- happy, ecstatic, speechless, surreal. We were apart for 2 months and before that, 4 months! I could not stop smiling and looking at him as he drove us back. 

Packing up and moving so far away from family and friends is definitely not easy, but when I'm with him I know I've made the right choice. I love this man for so many reasons and count my blessings each day that I have met him.