The final week-2 Getting together with people

In the final week, we did our best to get together with our friends and former co-workers as much as time allowed. Here are a few pictures from those occasions. You guys, you know who you are. Thank you for your support, friendship and love. Please make sure to stay in touch and visit us soon or at least while we are here in the next few years! Best of luck to all of you! Love, Eri & Shawn

The final week-1 Garage Sale & selling cars

We had to do so much for the last month to finally move here to Tokyo. But the busiest and the most rewarding was the week before we left Hawaii. We would like to share some of the highlights!  Since we lived in Hawaii for 5 years, we accumulated too much stuff we either could not take or didn't need. Goodness knows we dropped off bags of clothes numerous times at Goodwill but we needed to have a garage sale to get rid of it all and get some cash to help with international moving cost. Our good friends Nick & Lael were generous enough to let us have a joint garage sale at their house. We went through everything we had in the house and priced them so low that no one could resist. Our unwanted items are other people's treasure! On that day, we had about 50 people coming to the sale and buying 90% of all we had. We received $600. In turn, we made some people really happy. And nothing went to landfill. Win-win!

Also, we sold Shawn's BMW and Eri's Mini to two very lucky people who got total deals. Talk about reducing one's carbon foot print. Bye bye cars, hello public transportations!

MVCI, Asia Pacific Tokyo Sales Gallery Grand Opening!

I started work at the brand new sales gallery for Marriott's new Asia Pacific Club on the 33rd floor of Tokyo Midtown Tower on May 15th. My new manager Mr.Kanda walked me through the office, introduced me to everyone including 19 other sales execs, and went over necessary stuff with me. I was exempt from attending a three week training, it was my first time to meet everyone. Gallery entrance is beautiful, using dark wood trimmings and natural stone accents. The meet and greet area is huge and has large windows looking down on surrounding buildings. The room has maybe 30 tables and 80 chairs. On one side, there are drink fountains and many kind of food is served. The walls have pictures and texts about Marriott company profile, history and our properties around the world. Then you escort them to your own cubicle next door. I miss my nicer office at Ko Olina! In the first 5 days, we welcomed more than 300 tours and sold 50! I took 12 tours and sold 4. The volume is lower than Ko Olina per sale as the lowest points you can buy is $12600. The important thing is that first week went well and I am very encouraged and relieved that we have plenty of tours and I have been able to sell 1/3 tours so far.

New photo album uploaded!

I just uploaded a new photo album called "Hong Kong & Vietnam '08". Please click here or the link on your right to see it.

Favorite Vacations 2 - Hong Kong & Vietnam '08

After three days in Hong Kong, we flew to Ho Chi Minh City, the fast-growing capitol of Vietnam. Despite the Vietnam War, they are very friendly to Americans (tourism from America is an important industry now). This city is one of the most lively place we have ever experienced in the world. The city has a lot to offer-beautiful French influenced architecture, cheap eats and great shopping (we have never had our money go that far before!) The only thing we didn't like was the low air quality because of crazy numbers of mopeds in and around the city. I guess dealing with pollution is a problem every growing country has experienced before. We also enjoyed a one day guided tour to Mekong Delta where we saw old Vietnam and its countryside.

After six days in Vietnam, we went back to Hong Kong and spent a day at Hong Kong Disneyland. It was our first Disneyland in decades and boy we had a blast! Did all the rides and saw all the shows. We had to have our picture taken with Hawaii's own Stitch. I wish I could be a kid again...

Favorite Vacations 2 - Hong Kong & Vietnam '08

In late February and early March this year, we vacationed in Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for 10 days. (Please see more pictures in the Photo Albums-link on the right). Although Hong Kong was a bit chilly and rainy, we had a great time going sightseeing, eating fabulous food, checking out antique shops, etc. It has been a part of China for 10 years now-but still is the most westernized and friendly place for us foreigners. We stayed at the world class JW Marriott Hong Kong-a great hotel in all areas! Our favorite sights were Peak Tram, the historical cable car that takes you to the breath taking view of the city. Also, Kowloon is a quick ride on a ferry to the other side of Hong Kong where things are less touristy and more knitty gritty, if you know what I mean.....