Working vehicles at Toyota Automobile Museum

August 1st - 2009

The Toyota Automobile Museum is having an event regarding "working vehicles" .... it's about the vehicles that being use by Fire Brigade, Police and others. We decided to go during the JAF ( Japan Automobile Federation ) and there is a performance of a towing truck towing a car too.
The weather was a bit wet with a light rain, and as we arrived we went for the indoor photoshoot with the tow truck and Eirfan & Yuri wear the JAF uniform. After a few shots and pose there, we went outside for the towing show.
After the show we went to the main building and head straight to the event section. The first vehicle was the police car.. Eirfan and Yuri head straight to the costumes and asked me to help them wear it before i snap them. Next was with the ambulance then the fire engine. After that with the construction vehicles.
Then we went for the free colouring section and let both of them colour the pictures. The pictures was a JAF rescue car and a fire engine. I also took few home for Eiqmal too due he was left at home with mum. Before returning home we stop at the museum shop and buy some souvenirs too.

Funny pose with the JAF outfit.


A shot with the tow truck.


Police mode♪


The medical team


Fire fighters!!


Yuri did it again....


Busy colouring.


Colourful fire engine by Eirfan.


Pink fire engine by Yuri.

Toyota Fireworks

July 26th - 2009

The 2nd fireworks festival for the kids.. this time is in Toyota and we decided to go by car. We also did bought Eirfan & Yuri a new "jinbei" for them and Eiqmal got Eirfan's old "jinbei" of course. We go out quite early to Toyota city, but the massive traffic jam really hurts. Seems that most of them are going to the fireworks festival too.
After on a slow traffic for about 2 hours finally we arrived at Toyota city and the event is near the Toyota Stadium and our next problem is to find a parking area. All the coin parking are full and other temporary parking also full to...and expensive. We went back inside the town and headed to area near the train station and manage to find a parking slot for us. From the station it's already crowded with peoples in "yukata". I also managed to snap Pizza La staff in "yukata" also.
As we walk towards the stadium, peoples are sitting everywhere and the closed road also filled up with peoples waiting for the show. It's very hard to find a nice spot and finally we decided to take the charged seating area due to there is no more nice spot to sit.
While waiting for the starting time.. the clouds become darker and looks not very good too. So i rushed to a near by shops to find a rain coat for Eiqmal due to he didn't have one yet.. Eirfan & Yuri bring theirs. Finally the worst thing happened...it a heavy rain but everyone still patience waiting the rain to stop. Well for me...got all wet of course..just cover the camera only hahaha.
The fireworks finally started and the shows are very nice and interesting...but we cannot enjoy until the end of the show due to we are all wet and afraid that my kids might catch cold too. So we headed back to our car and head strait back home.
Definitely we will come again as a revenge in next year's fireworks festival.

My kids in "jinbei"


This spot is quite expensive but the view is really nice.


Rain drops on my lens.


One of the video that i manage to get.

Nagoya Port Fireworks

July 20th - 2009

It's an early summer and when summer, one of the most popular event is the fireworks festival. Every major town & places will have their own fireworks festival all around the summer calendar.
As a start, we bring the kids to Nagoya Port Festival. Seems that the parking for cars might be limited and congested, we decided to left our car near Kanayama Station and take the subway straight to Nagoya Port. Even parking areas at Kanayama also crowded and took us few rounds near the station to find an empty slot.
The subway also was very packed with peoples wearing Yukata and heading to Nagoya port for the fireworks.We arrived at Nagoya port about 7pm and it's already fully crowded and we just managed to get a not so nice spot to sit and view the show.
Eirfan & Yuri was very happy with the show, but Eiqmal was a little scared with the big sound of exploding fireworks.
After the event finished, we rush back to the subway station and yet... the subway was more crowded than the time we arrived. Well, the kids seems to like the show and we are planning to go for fireworks event at other places too.

Got a spot but view was not nice. Well...better than standing.


Short clip from the show.


Just after the last firework was launched and we are on the way back to the subway station.


While waiting for the return train.

A day at Oasis 21, Sakae

July 17th - 2009

My wife need to meet few peoples from her University in Malaysia and they will having a meeting at a hotel one station after Sakae. So we decided that Eiqmal follows mum and Eirfan, Yuri and me will spend our time at Sakae's Oasis 21. All of us went there by using the subway due to parking fare at Sakae area is extremely expensive. After arrived at Sakae Station, i took Eirfan & Yuri for a walk at the underground shop lots under the Central Park before we went at the park for few photo shoot.

The underground shops connect to many exits at Sakae area.


At Central Park with Nagoya TV Tower in the background.

After had a walk at Central Park, we headed to Oasis 21 and wanders around there. We stop at the Jump Shop and get them some interesting drink. After finished their drink we went to Pokemon Center, but i just bought them some small stationery only.
The next stop was the Tomica Shop. At first we decided to buy the Tomica Shop edition toy cars but I asked them to change it with the custom made Tomica instead. The custom Tomica changes every months and the model are put in parts with different colours. So everyone can choose their own combination for it. After finished choosing, the staff will show them how the toy car is assembled in front of them, finally the staff passed them the car and asked them to put in the box. It's a nice experience for them too.

Chopperman Drink from Jump shop ( one of the character from comic/animation of One Piece )


The making of a Tomica


Packaging their Tomica


Yuri's taste of design - Subaru 360

And while waiting for my wife & Eiqmal to return from the meeting, we spend our time at the park behind Oasis 21. Well, Eirfan & Yuri spend their time by playing with their newly made toy car.

Walk around Oasis 21

Eirfan's day out

July 12th - 2009

Since yesterday was Yuri's day out, so today is Eirfan's turn to go to Hoshigaoka by bus. He also was very excited riding the bus. This time we stopped at Yamada Denki ( electric store ) and had a window shopping at there. Eirfan got himself a promotion balloon there. After that we walk to Hoshigaoka Terrace and had a light meal at Starbucks there before returning home.

This is not his first bus ride because he's going to the kindergarten by bus everyday...( the bus just smaller only )


My notebook's rat went crazy...so we went to get 2 new one... and Eirfan got a free advertisement balloon


Donuting at Starbucks


It was a short but tiring trip...

Yuri's day out

July 11th - 2009

Most of the time.. All the time we use our car to go around but the kids always saying that they wanted to ride the subway, train or buses too. Well, this time Yuri and mum went to Hoshigaoka with the city bus. The bus fare is 200yen for adult per ride and Yuri is still free because kids fare only starts from primary school children.
The interesting about bus service here in Japan is that the buses came as per schedule. This is very impressive.
Well for the ride home, I need to pick them up at Hoshigaoka of course.

Is the girl's day out..yaaay


Checking the time table.


So happy on her first bus ride


Arrived at Hoshigaoka bus terminal


Bye bye bus


A short break while waiting for me to pick her up.

Weekly visit to the zoo

July 10th - 2009

Since that we missed the baby elephant's morning bath last week, so we decided to give a try again today. And we was lucky that both of the baby elephant are playing in the pool. We also met the same cameraman that told us the timing to come and see the baby elephant bathing. We spend most of the time in the zoo watching the elephant playing in the pool. After the elephants finished their bath, the kids had their drinks and we went to watch the flamingos before returning home.

Baby elephants morning bath


Watching the elephants.


Just after watching the elaphant


Kid's summit.


A light rain on the way out from the zoo.

Evening at the park.

July 7th - 2009

It's our usual activity to go and spend our time at the nearby park. This time we went to Tenpaku Park and enjoyed the giant slide. While Eirfan & Yuri were busy with the slide, Eiqmal was busy chasing the pigeons there. Seems that they never bored with the playground here too even we keep on coming here.

While going to the slide's starting point.


During summer all the grass a bit tall.


Catch it if you can