Half Day Trip to Nara (14 December 2024)

A visit to Kansai wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Nara, especially for the kids. The journey took about an hour by train from Namba, Osaka.

We arrived in the afternoon and made a stop at Nakatanidou, famous for its freshly made mochi. Watching the dynamic mochi-pounding process was not only fascinating but also entertaining.

The highlight of our trip was feeding the friendly deer in Nara Park. To top off the experience, we treated ourselves to delicious soft-serve ice cream—a sweet ending to a delightful outing.

Late Autumn in Osaka (13-15 December 2024)

Autumn seemed to arrive late in Japan, allowing us to catch the last glimpses of the season’s foliage at Osaka Castle. We took memorable photos with the vibrant ginkgo and maple trees, capturing the beauty of autumn.

In Osaka, we explored several iconic landmarks. We visited Osaka Castle, strolled through Kuromon Market to enjoy fresh seafood and Kobe/Wagyu beef, and headed to Dotonbori to pose with the famous Glico Running Man. Of course, we couldn’t miss indulging in local street food like takoyaki and the delightful 10-yen pancakes.

One of the highlights was dining at Gyukatsu Motomura, a favorite for everyone in our group. The delicious meal left us all thoroughly satisfied.

At the end of our time in Osaka, we attended Sunday Mass at the Catholic Osaka Umeda Church. The church's modern minimalist design exuded simplicity, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere during the service.

The Winter Adventure in Japan (13 -25 December 2024)

This trip marked our final vacation of the year. We chose Japan not because it was planned, but because we found discounted tickets from Singapore to Osaka. Having already visited Osaka before, we decided to explore a new destination, and Hokkaido became the highlight of our journey.

Our adventure began on December 13th with Peach Aviation, a low-cost carrier that had just launched its new international route from Singapore to Osaka on December 5th. The flight, scheduled for the odd hour of 2:15 AM, presented some challenges.

Unfortunately, the departure was delayed by two hours, and turbulence during the flight made it hard to relax or rest. By the time we landed, we were sleep-deprived and exhausted.

Upon arrival at Kansai International Airport's Terminal 2, we needed to transfer to Terminal 1 to catch a JR train to Osaka. The reserved seating was completely booked, so we ended up in the luggage coach for the 50-minute journey. After that, we walked another 15 minutes with our luggage to reach our hotel.

Once we settled in, we had a late lunch of omurice at a small restaurant near the station. A much-needed four-hour nap followed, and we rounded off the day with a late dinner of comfort food—McDonald’s.

And just like that, our winter adventure began.

First and Life Time Experience at Papal's mass

Last Thursday, September 12, 2024, was a truly memorable day for our family.

By God's grace, we had the incredible privilege of attending the Papal Mass. Papa and koko Richie even had the honor of serving during the Mass—papa as a Communion Minister and kook Richie as an Altar Server.

Being just a few meters away from the Pope, especially witnessing him bless the little children and people with disabilities, was an emotional experience for me. I couldn't hold back my tears.

I felt the profound, unconditional love of God and witnessed the essence of what humanity truly needs.

Attending the Papal Mass felt like a glimpse of Heaven, with God on His throne, surrounded by Angels and Saints, while the rest of us worshipped Him. In that moment, there was no judgment based on race or worldly success; we were all equal in God's eyes.

Though we couldn't choose our seats, we embraced our place with deep gratitude.

Much like in Jesus' time, people came for various reasons—to see the Pope up close, some for selfies to share on social media, others to experience God's love more intimately. Only God truly knows each person's heart.

For my family and me, while we did hope to capture a close-up picture with the Pope as a keepsake, the real gift was the love and joy we experienced there.

One key message that we will always remember is:

"Without love, all are nothing."

Happy 41st birthday papa !

As we were occupied with house renovations, we didn’t plan a couples’ trip this year. Instead, we went to the neighboring country, JB, to eat, change a tire, and run errands.

We had a simple celebration at home with the kids, which, while different from the past two years, was still meaningful as we enjoyed quality time together.

Happy birthday, papa! May God grant your wishes, guide you with His wisdom, and provide for all your needs.