X'mas in Chiba

No white Christmas in Yokohama. No snow.
Japanese left Yokohama to go back to their hometown or stay at the resorts for Christmas, just like Indonesian during Lebaran. Yokohama became very quiet, traffic was lighter. If there were some in the bus or train, they were all dressed-up and carrying gift heading to their relatives or friends' house.

We decided to visit the Flasar in Chiba since they visited us earlier. Ibu had some galangal, pandan leaves, chilis, tamarind, shrimp paste, kaffirlime leaves, shallots, lemongrass to share with the most generous Tante Niken who has been sending us apples, kaki (kesemek), risoles, kastengels, nastar, senbei (Japanese rice crackers), clothes for Wisnu and Akira.

We took the bus at 11.18 and arrived at Yokohama at 12-ish. Wisnu fell asleep in the bus, and continued to sleep in the train-- Shonan Shinjuku line. We thought the train would stop at Ueno but it turned out that it went straight to Omiya. (this is what happens if you could not check the train schedules and destination due to the failure internet connection). We stopped at Omiya to buy some bread as it was already 2 pm and we were just starving to death that we needed to find bread and onigiri before we could reach Kashiwa.

From Omiya, we took the train to Ueno then to Matsudo and then to Goko. finally, at 3.30 pm we could call Tante Niken and Oom Michio to inform that we eventually were really coming. Oom Michio picked us up at the Goko station and Tante Niken had been ready with her mouth watering homemade pizza, kimlo soup, lumpia and the best is the nastar ibu had been dreaming of...!!!

They have a big beautiful tidy house with the Christmas tree that wisnu can't help to touch. Ayana seemed to enjoy watching Wisnu dancing around while watching the recorded Inai Inai Baa program from their giant TV.

Ibu managed to let Ayana sit on her lap together with Wisnu.

Tante Niken could not help but laughing realizing that we were wearing thick jackets as if we were freezing (we are actually) while Oom Michio was only wearing thin pants and light jacket (as he was born and grew up in Austria).

Unfortunately time ran fast that we had to catch the last bus from Yokohama at 10.30 which means we had to leave the Flasar's house at 7.30 pm. Oom Michio kindly dropped us at the Goko station then we took the Jobo line to Matsudo then changed to Ueno. From Ueno we went by Keihin Tohoku line and arrived at Yokohama at 9.20. We took the bus at around 9.30 and got to our apato at 10-ish.

The theme of Christmas 2005 : good friends, good food.
Thank you for the memorable Christmas for the Flasar's : Tante Niken, Oom Michio and Ayana!!!