Gujo Hachiman - Kyoto (Day 4)

Yet another year had passed. At least for me. It was sales closing yesterday and come Monday, we'll start a new financial year with new team & product structure. It was a tough year but really glad that I managed to meet 100% target and that means I can look forward to another incentive trip next year! Yippeee!!!

Talking about incentive trip, I realised that I had not finished blogging about my incentive trip to Japan in March. March??!!! Haha ..... I know it was impossibly long ago but still I am going to try blogging them because I just love going through those photos again and again. My memory is kinda sketchy now but I'll try my best! ^-^

The last Japan post ended with me staying the night in Gujo Hachiman Hotel

This bear/ mole (really don't know what it is now) is a mascot of Gujo Hachiman

It was an authentic Japanese experience walking through the small town of Gujo Hachiman & seeing their traditional ways of living.

Breathtaking sights

Stopped for a drink

Koi-Nobori

Part of the tour was food treasure hunt. We were given coupons to redeem a variety of food at different places.

Something like our chinese 'Tang Yuan'

The villagers uses this stream to wash their clothes

But interestingly there are many many fishes swimming in here! It seems the villagers uses some kind of biodegradable soap for the clothes so that it doesn't harm the fishes. In fact, they even build little boxes along the entire stream to keep the fishes warm. (You can see the fishes swimming into one in the lower left pic.)

Taking photos at every chance I get

We came to a food model making factory. (You know the ones that looks so real displayed in front of restaurants.) We saw a bunch of little girls learning to make cabbages from wax. It was so life-like!

Here's the area where they make the models

Ooooh ..... such a huge variety of food & all looks totally yummy!

How I wish they were real ~~

Now ..... this IS real!Delicious lunch at a local restaurant

After lunch, we travelled to Kyoto

After spending our 1st few days in villages, Kyoto felt so different. It was bustling with life as compared to the serenity of those traditional villages.

Hotel Granvia Kyoto was so luxurious that I can't bear to leave the next day. Imagine I had the entire room to myself!

Shabu-Shabu for dinner

But I don't eat beef & so it was virtually a vegetable hot pot as the restaurant doesn't carry other kinds of meat. *miserable*

The 4 of us don't take beef so we're always grouped together during meal times - Jesslyn, Nicholas & Allan

We were way too hungry & ordered a shashimi platter with our money

Anna & I went around sight-seeing while the rest went shopping. That's Kyoto Tower, the tallest structure in Kyoto. But the Japanese hated it as they think it spoils the skyline of Kyoto. I personally thought so too. Kyoto has the most beautiful of ancient houses & temples plus they are all low-rise & thus modern Kyoto Tower sticks out like a sore thumb.

Hidden above the Kyoto Station is a resplendent courtyard. I think it's most likely used for weddings.

In wedded bliss

I was halfway through with blogging about Marilyn's and Edmund's wedding. There were just too many photos! So now presenting part II!

P.S. If after reading this post and you still want more, go to their wedding website to satiate your craving :p

Our lovely bride glamming up for the dinner

Other than being a bridesmaid, Meg's 2nd role was a flower girl

Meg writing her blessings for the couple

This pic is so heart-warming, isn't it?

I had hunted down this alluring cheongsam specially just for Marilyn's wedding dinner

The 2 sweetie pies, Meg & Irene

Can you believe I didn't manage to get a pic with Marilyn the entire night!

The many faces of Meg as captured by Jude

Meg's an expert at handling the train by now

I was also the MC for the night! Beside me is my suave co-host, Marcus.

An old pic of us being flashed on the screen. Ah ........ sweet memories ...... those were the days :)

Clever Ed came up with the idea of a lucky draw so that the guests stays till after dessert.

Edmund & his guards-of honourHere comes the dazzling bride & her entourage of charming flower girls The guys couldn't take the lying down in the morning & made the 'sisters' down a drink. Tsk ..... Tsk ...... They really don't know who they are messing with here. Come on ...... it's only 1 drink :p Wahahaha!I was the last on the floor since I was on stage. So by then, the babes had all selected their drinks & left me with the Guiness Stout! Yucks! (But task accomplished nicely all the same *smug smile*)Break time & camera whoring time as wellBoth of them don't look too keen to have me back at the table :pBut they seemed to be having a whole lot of fun after I had left the table -__-Darling MikoMy cam whore 'partner-in-crime' of the night

Eh ..... armpit anyone??

A little indulgence for the ego-maniac

Edmund serenading Marilyn. It was so romantic! *swoons*

Here's me looking a tad bit too animated & Marcus looking at me funny. Haha!

Poor Marilyn held captive at a table, drinking the vile concoction that's considered a norm now for wedding dinners. Sadly, I haven't seen a groom & bride escape from this gross practice yet. (Funny things that people think up of to tease the wedded couple. I think the folks that came up with this idea, must have really hated the bride & groom then :p)

Darling Marcus who totally eased my bundle of nerves. It's a delight to partner him on stage!

Oh ..... & did I mention that Marilyn had the most stunning gown ever? It was love at 1st sight for all of us when she tried it on.

Bidding farewell at the end of the lovely night