Simple Living

Short Stop in Las Vegas I recently made a short stop in Las Vegas for a few days, staying on the Strip. It was fun to revisit the old town after many years. While I enjoyed the sights and had a few beers, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the experience isn’t quite the same without a group of friends to party with. Highlights of the Trip Nostalgic Vibes : It was great to see Vegas again, but I found that the magic of the city has faded for me over time. The excitement just isn't there like it used to be when I visited with friends. Old Fashioned Experience : I indulged in an Old Fashioned while I was there. It wasn't half bad, but for $17 , I expected it to be spectacular. Honestly, I can get better Old Fashioneds back home, which contributed to my overall impression of the city. Reflection While Las Vegas has its charm and vibrant atmosphere, my recent trip reminded me that the experience is more enjoyable when shared with good company. As I look back, it’s clear that the al

Final International Trip of the Year: Seoul, South Korea I recently took my last international trip of the year, visiting Seoul, South Korea , via Incheon Airport (ICN). It was a brief visit, lasting a few days, during which I stayed with relatives. The trip was uneventful in the best way, filled with relaxation, shopping, and enjoying various restaurants around town. Day 1: Flight to ICN I flew in economy class , and I must say the service and amenities were quite good. Flight Experience : Free beer, free movies, and a palatable meal made the journey enjoyable. The meal was a chicken and rice combo , which warmed up nicely. The Kochujang sauce was a brilliant addition, making it quite delicious. Later in the flight, they served Shin Ramen . It was my first time having it on a plane, but I found it too salty. I ended up just eating the noodles and skipping the soup. Overall, I stuck with more beer during the flight! Day 2: Seoul This day was dedicated to a delivery food party . We sta

Preparing for MCSA Exam 70-480 I've started my preparation for the MCSA Exam 70-480, focusing on Programming in HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3. The material is comprehensive, spanning a total of sixteen chapters . As I've been skimming through, I’ve noticed that I already know a fair bit of the content, but the book dives deeper into topics like lossy vs. lossless compression. It’s interesting to understand why one would choose JPG, GIF, PNG, or SVG—something I hadn’t paid much attention to before. So, in that sense, this book has proven to be quite useful. Progress Updates 6/3 - Completed Chapter 1 & 2 : Getting familiar with Visual Studio 2012 and HTML5. Note: Sometimes, it actually helps to study with a pint of beer! 6/4 - Completed Chapter 3 : Focused on JavaScript . Pairing it with a Sidecar makes for a good study session! Update: December 17, 2017 - Cancellation As life goes, I’ve decided to give up my studies in Web Apps for now. I do wish I knew where my Platinum 3

Excited About the New MCSA Certification for Web Applications I'm thrilled I waited to dive into my technical studies, as I just learned that Microsoft has introduced a new MCSA certification for Web Applications. This certification aligns more closely with my work, offering a streamlined alternative to the MCSD by eliminating the 70-487 Azure/Web Services Exam. The focus is now on two key areas: 70-480 : HTML5, JavaScript, CSS3 70-486 : ASP.NET MVC I had already purchased the necessary books last year and planned to pursue the MCSD after completing the MCSA in SQL Server 2012/2014. However, life has a way of getting busy, and I had to shift my priorities. Now that I'm ready to resume my technical studies, I'm excited to go for this new MCSA Certification. While the certification itself isn't my primary goal, it serves as a useful way to focus my studies. Budget and Timeline I’m budgeting around $460 for exam fees and estimating about six months of training time. If I

Discovering Fountain Pens at Tokyu Hands During my time in Shibuya, I decided to explore the Tokyu Hands Department Store. I was pleased to find a modest but decent selection of fountain pens and inks on the 5th floor, with prices that were fantastic at just 1,500 Yen. I couldn’t resist picking up my second Iroshizuku Ink—Murasaki Shikibu (Purple)—which I had always wanted. To my surprise, it was cheaper here than on Amazon! Iroshizuku Ink: Murasaki Shikibu The name Murasaki Shikibu is a clever play on words, referring both to a famous Japanese author and a purple berry. The author had a penchant for purple clothing, and the berry is also purple in color. It’s intriguing to think that the berry might have been named after the author, which could explain why the ink is colored after her! In terms of its appearance, Murasaki Shikibu is not as vibrant as Kon-Peki, but I appreciate its more subdued characteristic. The ink flows well, possibly because I left a few drops of water in my Plat

Tokyo Blitz: A 3-Day Adventure I took advantage of the 3-day weekend and jetted off to Tokyo via Haneda Airport. During my short blitz, I managed to visit six locations: Shinjuku / Kabukicho Akihabara Shinagawa/Sengaku-Ji Ginza Shibuya Haneda Objectives for the Trip My goals for the trip included: Indulging in my hobbies (headphones, fountain pens, shoes, coffee, and reading) Finishing a novel Staying within budget Having fun I’m pleased to report that I achieved all my objectives! The highlight was staying within budget while enjoying nearly everything on my list. Budget Overview I took 66,000 Yen with me and used cash only, which made tracking my spending easy. I ended the trip with 50,000 Yen remaining (5 x 10k Yen notes). Lodging: 3,600 Yen Transportation (Trains): 2,000 Yen Food, Drink, Misc: 8,900 Yen Iroshizuku Ink: 1,500 Yen Total: 16,000 Yen That’s roughly $75 USD per day—an impressive feat in Japan! In contrast, anywhere else would likely have cost me $400 USD a day for

Exploring 'Snow Country' by Yasunari Kawabata I took a break from Mishima and picked up Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata. I’ve been eager to delve into his works, and although I couldn’t find anything at the used bookstore, I spotted a new copy at Barnes & Noble. Sure, it might be cheaper online, but I feel it's important to support brick-and-mortar stores. After all, what’s the point of having them if we only buy online? First Impressions The book is surprisingly short, clocking in at just 177 pages. I figured I’d easily finish it over the weekend and then decide what to read next. Update: 5/28/17 It took a bit longer than I anticipated, but I finally finished the novel while I was in Japan. It felt like the perfect setting to read this book! Overall, I found it okay, with a general understanding of the story revolving around Shimamura, Komako, and Yoko. The cast is quite simple, yet their interactions create a compelling narrative. However, I sensed that the English

A Bookish Adventure and Coffee Discoveries I wanted to spend more time at that used bookstore I found last week, and it was fun exploring their selection of books. I picked up a few more works by Yukio Mishima. The prices are very reasonable, barely $5 each, which is a steal compared to Amazon, where used copies are often double the price or several times that for brand new editions. Plus, I couldn't find these books at my local library, so this seems to be the next best thing. Treasure Hunting for Mishima's Tetralogy I managed to snag Book #4 of Mishima's tetralogy, but I still need to hunt down Books #1 and #2. There’s something enjoyable about this mini-treasure hunt for books, and I'll be in LA and Vegas in a few months, so I’m planning to check out the major used bookstores in those cities. I’m already scoping out potential spots! Coffee Experience: The SideCar For coffee, I decided to try a SideCar since I was undecided about whether I wanted an espresso or a capp

My Journey with the Apple Watch Series 2 I took the plunge and picked up the 42mm Apple Watch Series 2 in Space Gray for $399. The Apple Watch looks and feels a lot better than I had anticipated, and it was worth the wait for the basic improvements like GPS and 50M water resistance in this second-generation release compared to the first. Initial Reaction — Positive I've only worn the watch for a few hours and haven't really explored much beyond the basic functions such as email, text messages, phone calls, and music. I expect it will take me at least a week or more to fully understand how useful this watch can be. However, I appreciate the utility of being able to control and access some features of my iPhone without having to dig it out of my pocket. It may sound silly, but it makes more sense once you have the Apple Watch strapped on while your iPhone is tucked away. Overall, the Apple Watch is very well-designed, boasting an appealing look and feel. The build quality is soli

Discovering Literary Gems It was surprisingly difficult to find books by famous novelists at several local bookstores. By chance, I stumbled across a small used bookstore that had an impressive collection of great works I've been wanting to read from authors like Mishima, Chekhov, and Hemingway—all at a low price. For now, I restricted myself to just three books, one of which is The Temple of Dawn by Yukio Mishima. A Dive into The Temple of Dawn This book is the third installment in Mishima's four-part epic The Sea of Fertility , intended to be some of his last published works before his abrupt death. While I would have preferred to start from the beginning, this was the only volume available, and it proved to be an excellent choice. At just 330 pages, it’s much shorter than a typical Tolstoy novel. Surprisingly, the first few chapters read more like a travel guide, with the main character, Mr. Honda, traveling from Thailand to India and back to Japan. The detailed description

Affordable Old Fashioned Experience I was pleasantly surprised by how inexpensive this Old Fashioned was at a local bar. During Happy Hour, they offered it for just $4.75, which is about the same price as a regular beer. In contrast, other bars typically charge between $10 and $12 for the same drink. Taste and Presentation While the drink wasn't as fancy—using plain ice and whatever fruit and ingredients they had on hand—it tasted decent. The simplicity didn’t detract from the experience, making it a good option for a casual outing. Caution with Consumption The only downside to this pricing is that it’s easy to lose track of how many you’ve had. At this rate, it could lead to consuming a half dozen Old Fashioneds without realizing the total alcohol intake. Cheap but dangerous, indeed.

A Chill Weekend Experience I enjoyed another relaxing weekend, savoring a cappuccino while immersing myself in Tolstoy and listening to music. This simple pleasure continues to be a highlight of my routine. Lunch Delight For lunch, I opted for a straightforward bento box paired with a cold beer. The combination was satisfying and added to the overall enjoyment of the weekend. Conclusion It was a great weekend filled with good coffee, literature, and delicious food, reaffirming the beauty of these small moments in life.

My Coffee Ritual I've developed a habit that has transformed into a cherished ritual: enjoying a nice cup of coffee at a local shop while diving into a novel and listening to music. This routine helps me stay on track, providing structure to my day and motivation to wake up early on Saturdays, typically rising at 7 AM. Benefits of the Ritual The best part about this ritual, which lasts about an hour, is that it allows me to make the most of my day. Instead of sleeping in until 11 AM or later and wasting half the day, I can embrace the morning and set a positive tone for the hours ahead. Commitment to the Routine Sticking with this routine has proven beneficial for my overall well-being. It not only enhances my productivity but also provides a moment of tranquility and joy, making Saturday mornings something I genuinely look forward to.

Exploring Coffee Drinks: The Gibraltar I'm now on my fifth coffee drink concoction, and this time I decided to try a Gibraltar. This drink consists of espresso with some milk, offering a unique take on the espresso-based experience. Understanding the Gibraltar The Gibraltar is similar to a cappuccino, minus the foam. It highlights the balance of espresso and milk, providing a rich and creamy texture without the added froth. Ingredients Breakdown I've been getting the hang of these espresso drinks, and I've noticed that there are just three basic ingredients involved: Espresso Milk Milk Foam My Favorites So Far So far, the cappuccino remains my favorite, as it embodies all three ingredients in perfect harmony. However, the Gibraltar is a close second, surpassing the macchiato in my personal ranking. Conclusion As I continue my coffee journey, I'm excited to explore more variations and refine my palate. Each drink offers its own unique flavor profile, and I look forward t