1 January 2008 – Happy New Year!

We reached hotel around 4am. I asked Mami to walk straight to the lift and pretend she stayed in the hotel. I went to ask for the hotel key. Mami stayed with me for the night. It is dangerous for her to hang out alone after the concert (she did not book any hotel). Although I stayed in a single room, the bed is rather big and can sleep 2 persons.

Luckily our plan went smoothly. Mami slept not long after reaching the hotel. I started packing, washed my face and eating while watching CDTV countdown “live” programme. I waited till around 4.45am, w-inds appeared! Ryuichi don’t look happy. Perhaps he was too tired? W-inds did not talk much as compared to 05-06 CDTV countdown. Anyway, I was rather happy to see them on TV, especially on “live”
programme.

CDTV Countdown ended at 5am. I tried to sleep but did not sleep well. I woke up at 10am, had a bit of breakfast (leftover snacks), took shower and finished my packing.

I had a late checkout at 12pm (the hotel allowed but I have to pay extra charges). Mami and I went to eat ramen at a ramen shop at Ours Inn Hankyu. Luckily the shop is opened!

We the proceed to 浅草寺(せんそうじ). This is the first time I went for 初詣（はつもうで）. 浅草 was so crowded! We waited for about an hour before we can enter浅草寺.

I bought お守り and went inside the temple to pray. Everyone was pushing like mad inside the temple. There were security/policemen guarding the place and controlling the crowd. We went to おみくじcorner and see our luck for this year. I got a good おみくじ. My luck is good for this year!

It was interesting as this is the first time I went for 初詣. As expected, it was very crowded. Luckily the crowd was under control and weather was good. There were many 屋台 along the streets. People ate New Year food and chit chat. I would have stayed there longer if I have the time.

I bid farewell to Mami around 3pm, rushed back to hotel. Dropped by at Ito Yokado bookshop to buy “Switch” (Masha on cover!) No time to buy gloves and Su messaged me to say that he will lend me. I managed to clear some emails and sent an email to BROS (wrote about Masha’s concert) before I met Su.

We changed train at 上野 to go 東鷲宮(ひがしわしのみや) in order to go Maki’s house. I bought 2 cakes (cheese and coffee flavor) at 上野駅. I was so hungry that I ate the 2 cakes and some snacks on train. I wanted to sleep but could not get to sleep. The journey took about 1hour 15minutes. 東鷲宮 was so cold! Maki picked us up at the station.

It was the first time I visited her house. She stayed in the second floor at a semi-detached house with her husband 田中さんand baby 孝憲くん(たかのり). Her parents-in-law stayed at first floor. Both storeys have kitchens and facilities. It is staying separately but under one roof. I have seen this in dramas but it is the first time I saw the real thing. 面白いです。

It was also the first time I met 田中さんand 孝憲くん (born in early Dec). Su also met 孝憲くんfor the first time. I looked at Maki and her family and find it 不思議. I’m so happy for Maki!

We stayed for a while at Maki’s house. I shared with Su and ate half piece of the cake. Arghh… eat and eat. Anyway, Su, Maki, 孝憲くん and I went to Su’s parents’ house. We will be staying there. Maki and 孝憲くん have been staying there as Su’s mum looks after them.

I last visited Su’s parents’ house on 1 Jan 2005. Wow! Time flies! We had a sumptuous dinner. Su bought お御節 (New Year food) from department store for 30000yen! I cannot believe it! It looks nice but I think the food is so so. I prefer Su’s mum’s cooking. We had sashimi too!

I stayed in the room next to Su and his dad. Both rooms are separated by sliding doors. The 4 cats in his house roam freely within the house. Sometimes they jumped onto my bed. One of them even likes to stare at my monkey cushion. When I said that the room was cold, Su’s parents were so worried. They quickly brought in an additional heater for me to put under the mattress. It was warm so I could sleep soundly.