Day 7: Shanghai Old City

Financial district (Apple Store)

Fake Market

Shanghai Old City (Yuyuan Garden)

Xingjiang Restaurant

Lounge (the Apartment)

Blue skies are rare in Shanghai. The weather was nice in both countries. Less humid than usual at that time of month because of the typhoon.

Shanghai Old City

Yuyuan Garden

Jess invited some of her friends to go to a Xingjiang restaurant known for its meat because she knows I love meat :) It was a party! Dancing and crazy costumes. Really fun!

Day 5 and 6: Shanghai

Maglev

People's Square, People's Park

South Bund Fabric Market
Xintiandi (Dumplings at Din Tai Fung)
The Bund

Dumplings and an old friend! Got to see Daisy, who I met at Berkeley when she was studying abroad 4 years ago.

The Bund :)

Day 4: Tsukiji, Ginza

Tsukiji Fish Market (Sashimi)
Ginza (Shopping, Cafe Dourtor)
Shibuya (Ramen)


On to Ginza afterwards, which is a high end shopping area. Rested at Cafe Dourtor with Helen for coffee and people watching :)

One more trip to Shibuya. Japan would not have been complete without ramen!

I stayed with the Jea's, in their home above a concrete block. It's supposed to be more stable in the case of an earthquake. Thank you so much Helen!!

Day 3 - Kamakura and Onsen

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Shopping at Komachi-dori street
Onsen


It was interesting seeing the shrine. The structures are beautiful, but it's sad to see people worshiping false gods. The shrine actually sounds scary because of the noises the bugs make. They were really loud...



After visiting the shrine, the Jea's took me shopping at Komachi-dori street, which is a popular tourist destination to buy souvenirs.


The souvenirs were naturally very Japanese, meaning cute and childlike. Lots of bunnies, and even a Miyazaki store.


Last activity of the day was relaxing at an onsen. It felt really good after a long day of walking. Onsens are Japanese public baths/spas. That was pretty scary as well because everyone is naked. I obviously don't have pictures of that, thank goodness!

I'm off to Shanghai tomorrow!! The Jea's were so accommodating and good to me. I was really blessed by them.

Day 2 - Shibuya, Harajuku

Self-control

I'm a big fan of being intentional and purposeful in everything we do. So when I found my mind wandering one day I googled "Desiring God self control" and came across this article - The Fierce Fruit of Self Control. It was a refreshing reminder that being sober-minded is an intentional, self-denying, painful process to seek after Christ.

"The very concept of self-control" implies a battle between a divided self. It implies that our 'self' produces desires we should not satisfy but should instead control."

"The Christian way of self-control is NOT 'just say no!' The problem is with the word 'just.' You don't just say no. You say no in a certain way: you say no by faith in the superior power and pleasure of Christ. It may be just as painful to say no. But the difference between worldly self-control and godly self-control is crucial."

The latter part really hit me because when my mind wanders, my reaction is usually "stop, you know better." But I need to remember the purpose of self-control. We don't say "no" out of duty and obligation and knowing what's right. It comes from a relationship with God and believing in His promises. I have to remind myself that indulgent, emotional reactions, although satisfying, do not lead to happiness and contentment. Striving after wisdom and sanctification does.

Lots of thoughts have been running through my mind, as usual, but I never find the time to blog, and I always feel like my writing is crap. That's all I'm going to say for now, the article articulates the concept better than I can. Read it.

In other news, I am writing from Yokohama Japan! I'll be in Japan for 4 days, then off to Shanghai for 5. My first self-paid vacation in a foreign country. I feel all grown up... Will try to post pictures :)

24

Wrote this on April 20th in that journal I always carry around. Thought I'd share since I always tell myself to blog more and there are a lot of summer birthdays.

__

I love being young. I love the energy, the zeal, the freedom, the naive dreams colliding with reality. Youth is all I know. So it's a conscious effort to not feel a small sting about turning a year older. Feeling like "the best time of my life," although still in my hands, is slowly slipping through my tightly clasped fingers.

But I cling on to the reminder given on my 20th birthday - the pivotal day I moved out of my teens and started my journey into the twenties. A housemate wrote in a birthday card - don't be sad about turning older, because another year marks another year of God's faithfulness to you. A reminder to look up. In many ways life becomes less fun because we have more responsibility and are challenged to become less self-centered. Youth is "me" time. Finding yourself, doing what you want... freedom.

But as we age, I think life should get sweeter. We learn more about God, about His character, His grace, His faithfulness in our lives. And as our purpose is to glorify Him, it is sweet to grow closer to Him each year He teaches us, whether through trial or blessing.