snow town Fujiten

We had so much fun. Yesterday we went to snow Town Fujiten, a ski resort in Yamanashi city, on the north side of mt Fuji. It's a great place for beginners like us the stunning backdrop of mt Fuji is right there, it's like in your face all the time. Another thing whenever you go, you'll likely be sliding under blue skies and blazing sun.If you're nearby in Yamanashi or Shizuoka or even Tokyo, the place is worth a visit.
There are only four main slopes and for those who are beginners and don't know how to read kanji you'd do well to avoid the far right one. Actually it's just the top bit, the rest will leads to some interesting tabletops, ramps and rails.

versatile calamansi

About this fruit. Calamondin or calamansi is a fruit tree in the family rutaceae and very popular in Southeast Asia , especially in the Philippines.The fruit of the calamondin resembles a small, round lime, usually 25-35mm in diameter, but sometimes up to 45mm. It has the inviting odor of a tangerine with a very thin green or orange colored peel. In spite of its appearance and aroma, the taste of the fruit itself is quite sour, though the peel is sweet. Popping the whole fruit into the mouth to combine the sweet and sour tastes is quite pleasant, though a surprise the first time.Wikipedia
Bringing back the memories. Calamansi juice used to be my favorite drink to bring in school. My mother also use this fruit for herbal medicine and it works in our family, I remember when I was a child suffering from a bad cold, this juice was all I needed. And now whenever my kids suffer from coughing and sore throat during our stayed in the Philippines, I also used calamansi as a remedy and I would like to share it with you.
I used to cut in half a couple of calamansi to rub on their throat then wrap a clean handkerchief around their neck and also drinking a warm calamansi juice helps loosen congestion and good for oral remedy. I used to squeeze two to three piece of calamansi and add one teaspoon of honey. Here in Japan we use lemon as an option. The versatile calamansi is even use for personal hygiene such as deodorant and a whitening agent. Some expert says that after several application of calamansi to elbows and armpit will helps the skin exfoliate. Other soap manufacturers are incorporating calamansi in their products. But still, most Filipinos are following the old fashion way. During bath time, rub calamansi in dark areas of the skin and leave for at least 10 to 15 minutes then rinse off. Others use it as detergents, removing the grease from the hands, and as a cleansing scrub to dirty or stained clothes. What a fruit!!!

akasuri

Have you ever heard about this scrub called AKASURI? It is a Japanese and Korean tradition wherein attendants scrubbed the whole body. AKASURI tones and restores vitality to skin by first relaxing and cleansing the pores, and then any remaining bacteria, dirt, and dead skin cells are whisked away during a vigorous rub down that will leave you feeling remarkably smooth and clean.There is a traditional rough-surfaced towel used only for AKASURI, but you may use an exfoliating mitt or loofah sponge with soap or lotion to thoroughly scrub, clean, and massage your body, sloughing off impurities and exposing newer, youthful skin. Though it may leave your skin looking a bit red at first (hence the "red scrub"), the brisk massage will promote increased circulation, stimulate the lymph system, and cleanse your skin as never before. Finally, you rinse in a second bath or shower and may choose to apply your favorite lotion.As a traditional beauty treatment, AKASURI is one way to immerse yourself where bathing and cleanliness represent the spiritual experience of washing one's soul and purifying oneself. Though it may be performed by a professional in a spa, AKASURI can just as effectively be done at home, in the privacy of your own bathroom. Either way, you will be left feeling clean and calm, with skin so smooth you'll glow.While it may not always be pleasant, exfoliating is important.

kei and rio's baby picture