Welcoming Twenty Thirteen

"Cheers to a new year 

and another chance for us to get it right." 

Oprah

This marks my 900th entry since I started this blog in early 2007. Anyone wish to send an anniversary cake for my blog? Hahaha!

Happy New Year 2013 everyone!

It has been a while, isn't it? My last entry was more than two months ago, on me taking part in the Chiba Aqua Line Marathon. Probably some of you might have thought the marathon had took its toll on me and I took a indefinite leave from blogging, then you are wrong. I managed to complete the race, which I will blog on it very soon. So, look out for my marathon entry in the next few entries. In this entry, I will write briefly about how I celebrate the New Year's Eve and the New Year's Day this year.

Unlike the people in the West, the Japanese people welcome the New Year in a rather quietly atmosphere. On the eve, they will stay at home and watch some year-ending entertainment programs on TV. For those who don't mind the freezing temperature outside, they will pay a visit to the local shrines at midnight, while hearing to the 108 rings of the bell to "ring away" the evils of the old year.

My bowl of toshikoshi-soba this year, with miso soup and a variety of sashimi to go along.

The traditional evening meal to have on New Year's Eve, more commonly known as Ōmisoka (大晦日) in Japan is called the toshikoshi-soba (年越しそば), or "year-end soba". This bowl of soba symbolises the end of the old year and crossing over to the New Year. It is said that eating toshikoshi-soba on New Year'e Eve carries with it the promise of leading a long, trim lifestyle, suggested by the shape of the noodles itself.

So, if anyone out there who are planning to cut down their weight, I recommend you eating soba; at least twice a week hahaha!

My first meal this year - oshiruko (お汁粉), kinako-mochi (きな粉餅), ozoni (お雑煮), date-maki (伊達巻き ). Simple but taste great!

A closer look at the ozoni, a soup of mochi rice cakes in clear broth (in eastern Japan) or miso broth (in western Japan). 

On the New Year's Day, the Japanese will have osechi (お節), traditional food eaten on the first day of the year. Each food that make up the meal has their own symbolic meaning. For example, datemaki is a type of sweet rolled omelette mixed with fish paste or mashed shrimp, which symbolises a wish for many auspicious days.

Mention New Year's Day in Japan and another common term is hatsumode (初詣), or the first visit to the shrine of the year. This year, I visited the Kawasaki Daishiji Temple (川崎大師寺) in Kawasaki city.

The temple is situated just about ten-minute walk from Kawasaki Daishi station on the Keikyu Line.

Although it was quite cold, weather was great and the area was crowded with people wanting to pay their visit to the temple.

A huge sign board showing the entrance to the temple.

Daishi Nakamise (大師仲見世), the main street that leads to the temple. There are many shops selling souvenirs and snacks along this street.



The most famous sweet here. There are plenty of flavours to choose from, such as miso flavour to aloe vera flavour.

Daruma dolls, which come in various sizes. They are considered a talisman of good luck among the Japanese.

Amazake (甘酒), literally "sweet sake", a traditional sweet and low or non-alcohol Japanese drink made from fermented rice. One cup is sold for 100 yen.

After walking for approximately fifteen minutes through the large crowd, we came to a standstill somewhere near the entrance to the temple.

Dai-sanmon (大山門) or the Main Gate, was built in November 1977 to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the founding of Kawasaki Daishi.



And this is what I saw after crossing the main gate - sea of people ahead of me. As a precaution measure, the number of people who are allowed 
to pray inside the main hall are controlled.

As people wait for their turn until they reach the main hall, they fan the smoke from the incense as it is believed that the smoke has healing power. 
For example, fan some smoke towards your heart if you just had a heart-break.

Dai-hondo (大本堂), a splendid cathedral of the Showa period with an architectural style of the Heian period.

After doing my prayers, I looked down and this is what I saw! Feel like shouting at them "Merdeka!" lol!

Temporary-stalls were set up to sell souvenirs, amulets, etc at the temple compound.

Counters for people to get their omikuji. I tried to get my first omikuji of the year and guess what I got?

Kichi (吉), or "blessing". Not bad, eh? Mine is on the right by the way. 


 
Tokyo Station on New Year's Day evening.

My New Year's Day didn't end there. In the evening, I headed to Crystal Mama and Windell Papa's place in Toyocho for a New Year party. It has been months since we did a gathering at their place and indeed, it was great to see everyone again after some time. So, what were in the menu of the night? Well, the food at the party was a mixture of Malaysian, Japanese and Western food.

And here comes the list.

Baked penne with cheese and topped with shrimp and parsley sprinkle.

Steamed XXXL-sized crabs.

Roasted whole chicken.

Salad with onion dressing.

And more salad.

Chicken curry. Perfect dish on a cold winter.

Prawn noodle or sometimes called Hokkien mee in northern region of Malaysia.

Crystal Mama, the host with baby Yota.

With my senior Andrew and Kevin junior.

One big happy family.

And there goes my New Year's entry. Wishing that 2013 will bring more happiness, good health, more wealth and prosperity to all my readers and everyone out there. And you know what? I feel that the ending of this entry sounds more like a Chinese New Year message lol!

Anyway, my wish for this New Year is to get married! Hahaha, just kidding-lar!

Chiba Aqua Line Marathon 2012

"I've learned that finishing a marathon

isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind;

a state of mind that says anything is possible."

John Hanc
running writer

Yup, if you are wondering that I will be running a marathon, that is exactly I'm going to do come this Sunday. If you ask me half a year ago that I will be participating in a marathon race, what's more a full marathon (42.195 km), I would have laughed off that suggestion. For a person who finds it hard even to complete a 2-km jog several months ago, taking part in this grueling run is almost like a mission impossible to the power-of-two. 

However, let me just say that it was a twist of coincidence. Early this year, the Chiba-Kun Ambassadors were invited to participate in the first Chiba Aqua Line Marathon. Unlike normal participants who will have to go through a lottery draw to be selected as part of the 15,000 runners in the race, our places in the race are guaranteed. Without giving a second thought, and how grueling a marathon can be, I submitted my name.

One-year countdown held in Umihotaru of Tokyo Aqua Line on October 21, 2011. (photo taken from here)

I admit that I slightly regretted my action at first, but realizing that it will be unpleasant to chicken out and pull out after registering, I told myself that this would be it. I'm gonna go all out and give my best in this race – my first ever marathon in my entire life. Prior to this, I have never joined in any race, be it a 10km race, half marathon; nothing, not even the popular jogathon during my schooling years. And yet, I am throwing myself into a marathon race. Sounds very much like an overly optimistic person, ain't I?

How I will fare in the race is not my main concern now, although my target for my first marathon is just to finish the race within the regulation time. I started my training back in late June, by running an average of 1 to 2 kilometers once every few days in a park (Shinkoiwa Park) where I am currently living. There is a 650-meter running track around the park, and that became my running place for some time. However, I realized that such distance is not enough if I am talking about training for a marathon.

Countdown monument at the Chiba Prefectural Office in Chiba city. (photo taken from here)

On one fine evening, I decided to take a detour from my usual spot and pheww, it was certainly a great experience. Running on the Hirai Ohashi bridge that goes across Arakawa River and along the road which stretches along the river exposed my with the elements that I will certainly meet during the real race. A fantastic course for my intensive training, I thought. And as a bonus, there is the magnificent Tokyo Sky Tree and on a clear day, Mount Fuji is also visible during my run.

Soon, I drafted a training schedule, as I counted down to my race on October 21st. I have also set up a blog at fortytwo-point-oneninefive.blogspot.jp to track my training progress since then. To be honest, I would say I'm slightly undertrained for this coming marathon due to many reasons - tight working schedules on weekdays, business trips to outstation at times, weekends filled with plans, etc. I know that those are just excuses but well, I guess with all the training that I have done, I hope it will be enough for me to cross the finishing line at the Kisarazu City Hall Office, hence completing my first marathon in my life.

Lets hope I can bring this back after the race this Sunday! (photo taken from here)

By the way, I will be one of the three Chiba Kun Ambassadors, who will be part of the 39 guest runners invited to run in this marathon. They include TV show personalities, university professor, commentator, high school school teacher, reporter, artists, all who are closely related to Chiba Prefecture. I could be the sole representative from the South East Asia. So the stakes are high and must make sure I finish off the race, no matter how many hours I will take!

I would love to quote Fred Lebow, the co-founder of New York City Marathon, which is part of the World Marathon Majors.

"The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can't dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon."

It's okay if you are not there to cheer me along the way or at the finishing line, but a short comment to wish me luck would be very much appreciated!