Countdown! The time has come!!!

Time flies fast.

It was only several months ago where Carol and Jin both were saying "oh geesh, how long more do we have to stay apart?!" We had long waited for this moment. However, when the it is only ten more days, we really feel that the time really flew fast.

In this post, we would like to share with you, our friends, our upcoming travel plan, so that you can plan your reunion with Carol either in Hong Kong, Japan, or elsewhere (^-'b

2nd Sept: Carol comes to Japan
16th Sept: Carol goes back to Hong Kong (Tentative)
30th Sept: Carol and Jin meet in Taiwan
7th Oct: Jin goes back to Japan
7th Oct: Carol goes back to Hong Kong (Tentative)
11th Oct: Carol comes back to Japan (Tentative)

For Carol, I understand this is not a simple trip. It is more than a happy happy travel. There may be obstacles and worries in the future. However, as much as we had overcome the hurdles in the past, I am ready to be besides her at all times and be her most reliable and closest partner of life. We are looking forward for our happy happy married life!

After the above is over, we are planning to come back to Hong Kong for a CNY visit in late Jan 2009. Friends, hope to see you there!! If not, earlier ♪

The next step.

As written in the previous post, the most difficult step in preparing for Carol's immigration has past. Now, we can really get ready to move forward.

As for the next step, we foresee the following:
1. 25th July: Go to JP Consulate to apply for spouse visa.
2. In 5 days: Visa is ready and given.
3. Carol packs and prepares for her move.
4. Latest October: Carol moves to Japan.
5. Upon arrival, if Carol passes the passport control, she has entered Japan for good.

From this point on is just my note, but a review of what we need to do after Carol arrives Japan.
1. Within 90days after arrival: Go get alien resident card (外国人登録証明書): Gov't office (市区役所)
2. Before next departure: Go get re-entry permit (再入国許可書): Immigration Bureau (入国管理局): Expires one time single permit or 3yrs multiple permit.
3. Already done: Go to post office and apply for change of registrant: Post office
4. Whenever possible: Apply for social insurance and security (社保・年金): Through Jin's company

Other items to prepare:
- Before Arrival: Stamp (印鑑): Get in HK.
- After arrival: Mobile phone: Get in JP
- After arrival: Bank account: Get in JP.
- Credit Card - Jin's family card: Should be alright with Jin's.
- SUICA/EDY - Already has it: 無問題.

After the arrival, in order to sustain status, below needs to be considered:
・Renewal of Certificate of Eligibility: 在留資格認定証明書更新 （2009 March)
- current certificate has 1 year expiry.
- need at least three year, so need to renew once in order to apply for permanent alien.
・Permanent Alienship: 永住権
- after three years of marriage, and more than one year of residing in Japan
- this proves permanent eligibility to stay in Japan and thus does not need to be renewed.
・Re-entry Permit: 再入国許可
- expiry has two scheme: one time or three year multiple entry.
- the re-entry permit must be in line with the certificate of eligibility.
・Foreigner's Registration ID: 外国人登録証明書
- there isn't an expiry of the registration card, but there is an expiry date on the card (need to check).
- need to go to city hall government office (市区役所) for application.
・Naturalisation: 帰化申請（http://kekkon.homn.net/kika.html）
- over 20 years of age.
- has good status.
- has a way to live with his/her own work, or by his/her spouse or other family member.
- doesn't mind giving up his/her old nationality.
- has not performed terroristic operations to Japanese government.
- has married to a Japanese and lived more than three years in Japan.
- has married to a Japanese for over three years, and has lived in Japan for more than one year.
- has no problem living in Japan, both linguistically and understanding of culture.

That's it for now. It really the final countdown for Carol to move to Japan. やっとだね（＾＾ｂ

One month past...

1st of July marked the full 4 weeks since I had went to the Immigration Bureau. Indeed, the application takes much time. However, as time passes by, we are sure that the day the certificate will be issued is coming closer day by day.

During these worrying days, Carol had come to Japan for a visit. We feel more that we both are in dependence of each others' existence and closeness. We both feel extremely comfortable and safe when we are together. However, when we have any time where we cannot get a hold of each other, we feel soooo insecure.

We feel this is a very natural and healthy feeling. It is partially true since we are far away now. However, the real challenge comes in when Carol comes to Japan and we can ALWAYS be together. As long as we don't forget this feeling, we should be fine.


So, still another some time to go for the certificate to be issued, but we will just pray for it to be issued earlier!!!

It's 1 month old - Jin & Carol's marriage!

Dear Friends,

Today marks the first month celebration of our marriage!! *\(^o^)(^o^)/*

After our registration on Apr 27, we made visits to Macau, Shanghai & Suzhou. After a brief bye-bye, I headed Paris and then Belgium and met Jin again at HK airport for another week in HK...now that we are both back to our "normal mode" working hard in Tokyo and Hong Kong respectively. phew... The lucky thing was - we were able to stay together for almost half the month! yey yey!

It was a very colorful and busy busy month for us...yet, there is a call inside us keep reminding us to send this thank-you note to all of you!

Friends, we did not expect our day to be so marvellous until we had your presence. Your warm words of blessings, your true smile, big laughs, strengthful hand-shakes....your caring and support meant a lot to us. We could not thank you more but we promise to treat you a proper celebration next year either in Japan or Hong Kong.

In the meantime, let us share as much joy as we have with you:

• Photo album of the registration day: Our memories with you to last and treasure -
  http://picasaweb.google.com/jctakamura/OurWeddingPart1HKRegistration
• Preview version of our pre-wedding photos: (http://picasaweb.google.com/jctakamura/ZRuDzH)
  We took our pre-wedding pictures in Nara, Japan on April 8, 2008. (Exactly 2 months after Jin proposed!) Besides standard wedding dress and colorful evening dress, we also prepared "Kimono"/ "和服" (in Chinese) - it's the one and only "振袖" I wore in my life!! (Note: 振袖 is the type of kimono only for unmarried female, with long long sleeves.)
• Our wedding blog (http://jincarol.blogspot.com/):
  Many of you have asked the same question: "how's life after married?" "how do you feel being a husband/wife?" We are trying to address these questions via our blog - keep you eyes on it! You will also find detailed steps how we put together the wedding registration and other wedding arrangement - hope it will be helpful to the next brides/grooms!

ENJOY & STAY TUNED!

Warmest regards,
Carol & Jin

The Marriage Registration Day - 2008.04.27

On 27th of April, Carol and Jin made our eternal vow to be bonded for the rest of our lives. This is the day we start our married labu labu life!!!!! yey!!! yey!!! yeeeey!!!!!

It was supposed to be a humble & simple registration process but with all your presence, my dear friends, it became such a shiny memory for us. Thanks for coming, thanks for your blessings - we are so glad that you were there!

Friends, let us replay this very precious memory to you. Especially for friends who we did not managed to invite to come...(><

6:00 Wakeup
J: Today is a big day. I need to be fresh and healthy, ... but, .... my cold, ....... please let me sleep a bit more..... zzz

C: Wow, a straight-through deep sleep (although just 5 hours) without nightmare/ stupid dream! Mind sober, heart peaceful, Ok...let me start ticking my checklist...no conditioner for hair wash, dry hair to 100%, open button clothes..."to-bring" items ready.


7:00 Stylist (Helen) arrives to turn Carol to a princess
J: OK, gotta wake up!!! Rise and Shine!!! From this point on, the real and serious day starts!

C: I saw Helen from my window at 6:45 am. She arrived early and waited downstair...pressed my door bell at 7 am sharp. Helen knew my character & request (she remembered it so well!)from the trial make-up, thus, quickly started her art. The whole process was just relaxing and fun, especially with my cat, Ken Ken who welcomed Helen and sat still looking how Helen played the magic. I really like Helen, she is more than a stylist, she just wants to help. She also helped me to dress up, escorted & brought our stuff all the way to the car park....Thanks a lot, Helen!! I will defintely go back to Helen for my make up next year (make sure I book her well in advance to secure her timeslot!! ><).

9:00 Fiona (Carol's old friend) arrives to pick us up with her car

J: Whoa!!! The car soooo pretty pretty!!! Thank you soooo much to the sisters!!!!! Carol really does have very caring and gooodo goooodo friends around her!!!

C: Wow!!!! I did not expect my 'house members' to prepare the car decoration! When Helen pointed at the pretty car, I said I was not sure it's for us...coz my friend told me her car is just a not-so-good one...hey, Captain, it was GREAT, OK?! We were all very excited...and Captain said she washed the car the day before...hahaha...yey! Thanks 'house members'! It was a big present and a pleasant surprise!


9:30 Pick up kaachan (Jin's mom) at hotel
J: As kaachan (母ちゃん) and I had briefed before flying to HK, the outcome was as expected. Nicely done, as usual.

C: Wao! Kaachan looked so nice in Kimono. It was a humble one yet very elegant! Many of my friends are coming purposely for Kaachan's Kimono...(?_?) They won't be disappointed!


10:00 Meet at Cotton Tree Marriage Registration Office
J: A bit nervous, but more than that, my cold...... (>___<; But, I have a strong will, so I should be fine. Keep my integrity and I will be fine. But, since the guests are all of Carol's, I felt both envious and sad. I wouldn't have this much of a crowd on my side, ... and at the same time, but then, Carol has such closely bonded friends... iinaa...

C: My Papa arrived really early, he dragged my uncle all the way from Canada back to HK and escorted my grandma. I could feel the intense love they have for me and their welcome to Jin as a new family member. For every small move they take, especially my papa, was full of caring and love...(n_n. I guess my Papa was the No.1 nervous person for the day... Friends started coming, one after the other, some were long-time-no-see friends, some are super good friends, colleagues...I was so hyper to see all their faces! In fact it wasn't the full list yet...I still have many good friends that I wished to invite while either couldn't come or ran out of time to invite...(sorry!) in 2009...!!


10:30 Marriage Registration Starts

J: Nervousness had gone away, and I was fine all the way. I think Carol's father took all of our nervousness into him..... The feeling I had was more, ..... of a fulfillment of "finally, we have come to this stage". Throughout the registration ceremony, I was thinking of the happy image of our married life and thus, I couldn't even shift my eye focus to the guests (sorry all...!!)

C: Happy, hyper! But maybe too hyper that I didn't check/know what I was supposed to do...hahaha. It is indeed lucky to be a "junior" of marriage to enjoy the advices & help from my experienced married friend - Erica! I did some stupid things (e.g. pop in the marriage hall before guests were seated, wondered whether guests could see me from the veil....) (><

The other day a photographer told me that 9 out of 10 girls could not finish their vow smoothly becuase of the tears... I didn't feel anything at all. Probably same to Jin, I was filled with positive energy to anticipate our new life.

My papa looked really "heavy", as if a dark cloud is ahead of him....Papa, we will be alright, we are commited to be faithful partners to each other, we promised, together, we will make better lives. Papa...I know you really love us, I know you were surprised how fast time flied and worried how far we will be apart...we assure, our bond is always there, no matter the distance/ frequency that we could meet.

Photo shooting with everyone:

• scene 1: In the office

J: Still daydreaming. Really thank Daisy for the initiative in started to lead in taking the photos.

C: THANKS DAISY and FIONA as back-up cameraman!!! BIG THANKS TO ERICA on her help with my dress and all 'Dos & Don'ts'! (><

• scene 2: Outside the office

J: This is the first moment when we are out in public as a married couple. I want to scream out of happiness and accomplishment!!! But, ... can't still yet! Pictures pictures pictures. Take all as much as you wish!!! But more than that, Carol is sooooooooo wonderfully beautiful!!!!!

C: hmm...how can I treat my dear friends? offer our photo-shooting buffet...take photos photos and photos...we really wanted to make sure we entertained our guests and thanks every of them to come to withness our big moments. (hmm..but always keep my friends waiting..sorry ><) But it was a bit too dark and we moved quickly to another location.

• scene 3: By the small deck with white pillars

J: Better location la. Gooodo goooodo!!! Get them flashes and shutters sing a song to us!!

C: quick...I need to make sure everybody was taken into the photos. Friends, come come...

• scene 4: By the big stage of Beijing Olympic front sign; a group photo

J: Stairs for group photo la!!! C'mon everybody!!!!! :-D

C: ....this was the area with Beijing Olympic 2008....very patriotic. The stairs served as a platform for group photos. Yey!

• scene 5: By the waterfall in the back

J: Ooops, our crowd is sooo huge we're blocking the way... Sorry!!! It is then, kaachan elaborated her current situation, that her feet hurts, and thus she wants to change from the Japanese kimono to something easier. I quickly relayed the message to Carol and was able to pass the message to Fiona to snatch her items from the car. Thank you to Fiona for her kind and spontaneous act, and Stephanie's kind help in assisting kaachan change.

C: It was a great day for photo shooting, not too bright and no rain. It was probably a nice day for a walk in the park, too. Crowded crowded and we were blocking the way ><. We probably took quite some time for photos and the parents and elderlies get tired. Also thanks Eva, Shirley & Mavis to check availability and get them settled in the teahouse.

J: (to add to Carol) ... [thanks to Eva, Shirley & Mavis] also for passing the gift photo for those early leavers!!!


Photo shooting with some close friends and us two alone:

• scene 1: By the pond

J: yey yey yey!!! More pictures la!!! Getting hyper both from the medicine and the feeling. Carol's beautiful, her bouquet and hair flowers match so well with her, .... She is an angel!!!!!

C: Mic seems to be in his mood...started taking artistic photos of us...like the photo-shooting we did in Japan! hahaha...

• scene 2: By the barrack (I was learnt the other day that my colleague passed by us in HK Park, the couple was wondering "is this Carol???")

J: Kind of a silly picture, but was interesting. Still hyper hyper!!!

C: hehe...I always enjoy silly photos with Jin, and my secondary school friends...hahaha..we all couldn't help but laughing so hard...oops... I need to be elegant...(><


Family lunch at Lock Cha Tea House

J: More and more guests have left by then, and we only had the really close close friends and the family members share the lunch. The vegetarian dim sum was simple but nice enough for everyone to enjoy. Give gifts and received gifts. Gooooooooddo nya!!!!!

C: The first funny thing was...getting ourselves changed. There was no elegant place but a privacy place...W.C. (><) It was just simple food...everything was just simple enough to make a cozy environment with slow slow pace. We had the quality time chatting with family and family-alike friends. Thank-you all for today! We will treat you a better meal in our wedding parties!!! We finished at around 2:30pm and Mr & Mrs Takamura rode on Fiona's pretty car again and went back home.

Overall comment:
J: I think all went well with the limited briefing. I really feel that Carol does have very close mutual friends who can make a very close teamwork just on the spot. I think this is a treasure. Moreover, Carol was, ....... just toooooooooooo beautiful!!!!! Her efforts in making this event the one and only best one did indeed come true. Her body fit and slimmed down, her face so bright and smooth like a baby's face, everything was just perfect. On the other hand, how about me? I kind of was a bit shamed since I haven't done much; not as much effort in keeping myself fit or taking the steps to make the event one and only. Is this ok or not? I just cannot stop wondering and thinking.....

C: haha..Jin, please don't say that. You did of course, put efforts and did something revolutionary - shaved! Everyone said you look so refreshed in your new look =P hoho, handsome handsome yo~

Meeting Jin is a very beautiful thing in my life. Our path was indeed short and our passion has made it even shorter… (time flies all the time)! It was probably too short for me to portrait the details of our wedding and on THAT DAY, I was totally blank and in an inexperienced + curious + looking forward mode all day long…

With that psychological state, my sensor to the external world was so much more sensitive then to the inner self. I could only feel my darling Jin’s soft eyesight, mild words and heated heart, I could only see my dear family members’ and friends’ happy and touched faces…All these turned my smile and made me the “1/10” girl who did not cry while making the vow of love…

Apr 27 was in fact a rehearsal and a kick-off - we needed to register early to merge our lives together via the legal procedures. It could be a bit too rush that I was not well prepared and underestimated the joy we could bring to our friends…it was only a simple registration and nothing good to treat friends, I therefore, did not really plan perfectly and invite all my important friends to come. (><) Friends, please be patient with us. We need one year’s time to prepare our real celebration with you, and you will witness again our real love, where our passion, our caring and loving hearts are still as heated as we are now, and the warmth will be like ashes that bring every of you comfort.

There are always something "better than words" - snapshots of the day:

Our Wedding (Part 1 - HK registration)

Banquet Briefing ver. 1

We had the first briefing today (19th Apr.).

Until now, all we have was a verbal communication of "We're gonna do our wedding on that day!!!!!" and no confirmation. Today, I went to the banquet place to do the actual "reservation" along with getting further information.

The person in charge of us (they call themselves "wedding planner") greeted me and first thing she told me was "oh, yappari if you're alone, you look samishii", which is a indirect complement saying we are lovely being together... Honestly, I being alone does cause some furiousness around. When I was approaching the banquet hall, and I see people staring at me with a big big question mark over my head...

Well, so I don't fit in this kind of atmosphere, mmm... But I came for a reason.

1. Make the official reservation of our perfect wedding ceremony.
2. Get further information from the venue so that we are absolutely sure of what we want, can be done.

Original plan was that we talk for about an hour and be done with. As such, I had made some errands immediately after then. What it turned out, was that the discussion went on and on, and by the time I left the hall, it was already the time for the next errand. I had to cancel my errand... (>___<; Well anyway, this is more important and is of the top priority.

I truly think what we have decided is indeed the correct choice. The planner is sooooooooo nice in her detailed preparation for us. She made a handmade schedule (nicely colored and due dates marked) which is essentially the master schedule for our upcoming preparation milestones. I'm sure this takes some time, and she was soooo happy (I mean, she had a big smile in her face when she handed this to me) to provide this information to me. I really thank her of making this step for us.

We were quite frank and discussed lots of items. I think I may have been too detailed and too focused, but I kept the integrity and was also looking at the big picture to make sure all of our care abouts are clarified. The discussion went on with no room for chit-chat.

However much I requested for lots and lots of answers, I did teach the planner what Carol's guests will be expecting from this "big event of life". Photo shooting is a very important event which we value alot. And she was quite frank about taking in our request. Her kind-hearted "listener" attitude made my conversation go smoothly and this is something to be appreciated.

All in all, we now know clearer of what they can do for our big event. From now it's going to be our turn to make the ceremony one-and-only perfect one. Tanoshimi danya-!!!

Photo shooting - the day God shed light on us - v(^^)(^^)v

~ April 8, 2008 (Tue)~

06:00 - Wake up
We jumped up only 1 second after the alarm clock rang...

J: It's going to be a loong day la...hope everything will be fine..Can I stay awake?

C: Ah, it's time! wake up quick! it's TODAY!

06:15 - Breakfast
We needed to make sure we store enough energy for the day, as we only prepared some bread for the day due to super tight schedule. It was a proper Japanese style breakfast with rice, miso soup +...oops, my belly! ><

07:00 - Make up start
We wished to had a pre-photoshooting briefing but were told by my "account mgr" in HK only to meet with the photo-shooting team at 7am, for styling.

Well, the first 15 mins was no pleasure at all. Firstly, Jin was kicked out of the room for "girls only, pls come back again in 1 hour" (poor Jin, he could have slept for another precious hour and J: samishi nya><) Secondly, I was kind of blamed by the stylist for not showing up the previous night (come on, I was told NOT to make any contact until 7am...) ......ai, needed to suppress my fire and stayed clam, in order to build a positive relationship with them. But...my stylist was having a bad cold, kept coughing and complaining to herself...what an angry but straight-forward person...@_@

Anyway, we had ourselves dressed up in 2 hours... I was in wedding dress and Jin in Tuxedo.

So, without the "supposed-to-have meeting" the night before, everything was messy messy and promises from HK not fulfilled. Fingers crossed...

09:15 - Depart from hotel
All of a sudden, two guys grabbed our belongings at the entrance of hotel...they claimed themselves our photographers.

J: who are these guys? I have never seen them..where is the director? (note: we met a guy during the HK meeting who was "supposed" to be the director - who eventually did not come to Nara).

C: they look like gangsters and still not awaken!! I am soo worried!!

The first photo shooting spot - the closest temple to the hotel
Apparently, the photographers did not do their homework. None of our request was taken into consideration.

The photographer quickly tuned into his auto mode and brought us to his comfort zone - spots that they had been taking pictures for the past 2 weeks.

J: Why are we going here? I don't recall discussing such a thing. Didn't they receive the information that we have briefed so much?!

C: Oh no, this is not going to work. I need to stop and brief them RIGHT NOW!

While we were doing the short briefing, staff of the temple rushed out. It seems it was the Buddha's birthday and ceremony/festival will happen shortly. They did not permit us to take photos there. The photographer did not seem want to stop and the staff keep persuading/pushing us to leave...

J: I don't understand Japanese...I don't understand Japaneses...

C: @_@

I couldn't stand it and asked the photographer why we were there and what for. No photo was taken in that temple AT ALL. It's simply waste of time. Also, will all activities be stopped because of Buddha's birthday?

The second photo shooting spot - a nearby Sakura tree
Probably trying to make up for something, they brought us to a big Sakura tree and started our first round of photo taking.

J: Finally, the photo shooting started. But why this place? wanna go to places that we planned ...

C: Whatever you want to take...make sure we have good photos and I will tolerate only for 15 mins...!!

Wao! It was sooooo difficult to make good posture. "Head lower", "chin lower", "RELAX!", "RELAX!""look at wife" "look at head/hand" (???)...the photographer kept yelling at us...we had no clue...we thought we were already relaxed....aiyaya...I was a bit irritated for not being able to fulfill their request (but it's my responsibility to improve). Jin felt the same, too...(I hope my interpretation didn't make things worse).

At that time, a group of kindergarten kids went by....little kids kept saying.."kawaii~" at me...hohohoho...

Anyway, time's up, rehearsal done. We needed a "real place" to take good photos, we requested to move to a lake in the Nara garden.

The third photo shooting spot - 浮見堂
We got on the rental car and moved to the lake - 浮見堂.

Wao! It's a peaceful lake with an elegant pavilion, the whole area was surrounded by Sakura trees! Thanks Jin for locating this very nice location (sasuga Jin!). One surprise - the road along the lake was covered with Sakura petals which was brought by the strong wind and heavy rain yesterday!!! (Ha! we never knows! god purposely brought the rain to prepare for us!!)

I was totally drawn into that perfect environment, got into the mood immediately (poor Jin was still in the midst of communication barriers and could not relax fully). The photographers, too, was getting exited for the possibilities that he could create in that perfect environment ...we made a lot of postures, one shoot after the other, on a rock backed by the lake, along the bridge, on a small road inside the wood, etc. We started to enjoy it =)

(Jin took this from his mobile while he was told to "rest")

J: Finally, somewhere we have asked to take pictures. Goodo sakura trees!!! Lots of poses which we asked to do!!! yey yey!!!

C: This is so ideal...we are surrounded by sakura, sakura trees, sakura carpet, wind blows us sakura flakes...thanks god we are alive!

It was a hot season for 花見, many tourists were around for sakura appreciation. All of them were surprised at us - it is very uncommon to do outdoor and pre-marriage photo-shooting in Japan. Some took pictures of us (they thought it was an ? event and we were artists/ models! hahaha) and many of them sent their blessings to us...arigato gozaimasu! \(^^)(^^)/

Photographers got really excited, he kept pressing the shutter and went beyond schedule - we had an appointment at Kimono place at 12:00! We quickly called to delay but at that time the photographer tempted me to change to another dress for "just a few more photos". I did the change in the tiny rental car...and continue the photo-shooting....

I was really in the mood and it became easy at any poses that was required of me. More and more photos and more and more time consumed...it was already 13:40 when we left the lake...

13:50 - change to kimono at ふた藤:
Our apologies for being late m(_ _)m! That was so Japan - staff standby for us and kept their smiling faces. All our expectation was met (in term of time requirement, quality of service...everything!) We had 3 staff to help us. 1 of them was the student of the kimono master, it was rare occasion that people do such a formal kimono dressing like us!

While I took my washroom break, Jin had already gotten out of his tuxedo. After Jin was changed to 紋付袴, my hair was already half set. (it was only around 15 min!). Everybody then, focused on my kimono...in a total of 50 min, everything was perfectly done! I also received my Japanese style bouquet - how lovely! This is less than half of the typical amount of time taken!!! Thank you sooo much for the ふた藤 staff!!!

J: Each movement done by the staffs were very efficient and had not a single waste of time. However much they were efficient, their actions ended up in a very professional outcome. This was very surprising.

C: I want to clap hands...this is a magic! wow wow wow...........*o*

(taken the day after - my kawaii Japanese bouquet)

15:10 - full team again:
What a shame...the HK/TW team came late for the pick up (the photo shooting team went for lunch while we were changing). We went back to silence again...they were astonished at our looks and how serious we were for the photo-shooting. I felt the pressure of the photographer. His didn't react as sharp as he used to be and let us do all the instruction...

15:30 - The fourth photo shooting spot - 春日大社-夫婦大國社
This is a temple for blessing of all aspects to a married couple. We chose this place not only for this very meaningful aspect, but also for the fantasy of the heart shaped wish board called"絵馬".

(hehe..this is the wish that we made (^3(^^)

We made a request to this particular place, which was something unknown to the team. It supposed to be a 10 min walk from the car park to the temple, but we ended up taking almost doubled time... I could only take small steps in kimono and wherever we went, we caught people's attention... people amazed, congratulated us, kept taking photos of us, not only as a scene but also with us... we were like tourism ambassadors, waving our hands, smiling to the crowd. ahhhh, we needed to say no, walked quickly and avoided eye contacts to the people...sorry!

We were worried if we were allowed to take photos in the temple....especially it was the Buddha's birthday...Jin made a courtesy conversation with the staff at the temple and yeah! everything was alright.

We felt that the photographer was a bit nervous, did not know how to handle photos for kimono. No more sitting on the ground and everything had to be super cautious/ elegant. But gradually, he found his way, he focused more on the overall atmosphere of the pictures, instead of doing this and that actions, he wanted us to give more emotion and facial expression. Jin was 100% tuned into this photo style, we all were excited for involvement of EVERYONE! Jin even made surprises to us...he initiated a number of facial expression/pose for photos, HAPPY!!

J: Although I had to tell the staff some exaggeration, we were able to get an exceptional approval from the temple to take some pictures. This was a great thing!!! We even got a small gift (not on sale)!!! Thank you obasan!!!

C: My dream came true! I am in Kimono with Jin in an authentic Japanese environment. I used to be the tourists who takes pictures of kimono girls but I am taking opposite role...haha. We were also told that this is the one and only one temple for a couple's wellness in all aspects! We will definitely become "shiawase" yo!

The fifth photo shooting spot - Japanese tea house 水谷茶屋
A Japanese tea house is a must! (I always like Japanese tea house and it has been a must-go place for my every visit) Thanks to Jin's extensive research, this tea house was the most gorgeous one in the area. It was in fact also an unknown place for us, we needed to keep walking to find this place and we were there!

Again, Jin made a courtesy conversation and got approval from the staff. This time we got an easy "Yes". This was a very cozy place surrounded by the nature. Nice contrast of green (trees) and red (carpet & umbrella) which serves as a perfect background for our kimono.

I couldn't stand the temptation of Japanese green tea and started ordering... We thought it might be good for the team to take a break, we treated them green tea and snack as well. They were melted by our "hospitality" and became so nice to us, we started some heart-to-heart conversation, how Jin and I met, how was the typical life of photographers, etc. They even took out their personal camera and took photos with us. It was no longer "work" but a "tourist fun" for them. This was really GREAT!

The photographer was really like a kid, explored something new (kimono and Japanese places) and was totally into taking photos of his real interest (which of course aligns with our requests). He jumped here and there and suggested many ways of taking good pictures. We finally reached this ideal situation of "ENJOYMENT FOR EVERYBODY!!"

(Jin's mom said we look like 七五三 kid's birthday dolls)

They also helped us to take private photos via Jin's mobile phone...hehehe (which was supposed to be restricted)

J: This tea house was very nice. It matched very well with the Kimono. It was worth coming here.

C: Yeah! This is so nice. At this point, I am already 80% satisfied.

The sixth location: Dawn at 奈良公園
We enjoyed the time so much that we forgot when it was...probably after 5pm. Time became so critical as sun was setting. We named a few and the photographers suggested a place on the other side of the 奈良公園 , for sunset photos. It was a huge pitch of green. So spacious and peaceful.

We prepared a number of props but it had been too busy and messy that we were unable to plan/structure any...here we go - prior to the trip, we decided to write each other a message card, expressing our feelings. We kept it a secret and read only on the photo-shooting day. We wanted the photographers to take our real, touching emotions.

J: The 奈良公園 is very huge but there are items in the 公園 which each is very attractive. The section we took the sunset pictures was an open area of lawn. Very large yet silent place which went well with the sunset.

C: hehehe...how lovable Jin is! we had a lot of sweet sweet moments together and the photo team said they really envy us...!

The seventh photo-shooting spot - 人力車
We planned a lot of scenarios for our precious kimono look, including 人力車. The team was very committed and quickly located 人力車 for us...Jin again spoke with the 人力車 "driver" about our request. It costed some extra money and we went for it. We had the "driver" pulled the 人力車, Jin pulled the 人力車...funny photos!

J: This was an interesting experience for me. I hope the pictures turn out well!!!

C: haha, do we look like 華麗一族? The photo shows not only the authentic Japanese but also thickness of history.

19:00 The eighth photo-shooting spot - Nara old streets
It was getting dark when we return to the Nara old streets, which is somewhere near to our hotel.

However, our eager wasn't fulfilled yet. Night pictures were extremely difficult...the level of light needed to be so well measured and tuned. A few trial and errors and photos became PERFECT! I mean Jin looked sooooooooo handsome in those dim photos (haha!!!) The photographer was really in his mood and fulled engaged to take good photos for us. Trying this, trying that, and showed us the gorgeous photos!! We mean it!! sooooooooooooo gorgeous!!! Yey Yey!!

J: The pictures he started to take were very artistic. I can't wait for the outcome!!!!!

C: Wow...it was so artistic and classy...like movies of the 50s...I mean ...again, 華麗! hahaha

20:00 Return to hotel
We were so content! (despite that fact that we missed Chinese costumes) We continued doing some private photos with Kimono...but all of a sudden! I felt soooooooo painful in my chest, the kimono was really tight tight...I was able to switch off the pain mode when I was 100% focus on photo-shooting but...when everything was done...it blasted out. Jin quickly undressed me. We folded a thick level of clothes (for return on the next day)...n layers of clothes that we wrapped ourselves in the kimono. Whoa?! it was sooo heavy!!! I couldn't believe we were wearing such heavy weight and walked (moved) all over!!!

With such a "weight training" and after the undressing of kimono...I found myself lost the belly created from the breakfast (for time concern, I only had 1 bite of the bread for lunch)....we became soooooo hungry and rushed out for food. Due to door restriction, we needed to come back in 30 min, we bought some food convenient store and kept eating eating eating like refugees. ><

P.S: We had our own way of showing appreciation...it was a loong day with so much achievement, we really deserve something! It is our habit to "chop" a "well done" stamp on the other's forehand if something was done brilliantly. We both awarded this stamp!

It was sooo content..and we were full full....drawn into bed and a deep deep sleep.....

A few words from us:
J: This was an interesting experience for me. I had known that taking pictures is very much an important aspect of life for the HK people, but everything was new to me. I think the camera man was very tolerable to me since I could not understand his instructions. However, I think the outcome should be awesome!!! Because, Carol was soooooooo lovely and cute and kawaii and kirei and and and .......!!!

C: Jin, I know it was not easy for you. Thank you for tolerating everything...HK/TW service level, communication barriers, my temper....hahaha. For me it was a mixture of everything, but the happy memories with you and the excitement of anticipation (for the final products) worth everything! Let's keep our fingers crossed, hope everything will turn our perfect in our album!!!

J: hehehe. Thank you ne, Carol, for all your tolerance in smoothening out the communication. The outcome of the picture and my expressions are solely because your care was there. Although there were lots of efforts, money, and time spent, I think we did put EVERYTHING into this big event. I just cannot wait for the outcome already!!

P.S.#2: this is a bonus photo...thanks for reading this lengthy article...>w<

(This was the 'dorayaki" or "叮噹豆沙餅" as we call it in HK, it was of the size of my face! hehehe, so yummy and I finished it up at that night...)