Journey to Nara Park from Kyoto Station

Protected with wind breakers and umbrellas in hand,
we are ready to venture out in the rain!

It had been raining ever since we touched down in Kyoto. It was so wet that we need to bring umbrellas when we left the Hotel every morning.   Our walking shoes could no longer endure such wet condition, so we bought plastic or rubberized shoes and slippers, just to give our walking shoes a day break to dry.

When the weather changed to sunny on 11 August 2014, we decided to leave for Nara Park (Nara Deer Park). We started 9.30am from Kyoto Station, taking the JR Nara Line.  The journey should take about 35min, but we stopped at one of the stations for more than 20min because of some disruption in the railway line caused by Typhoon Halong the previous night! 

One English speaking Japanese told us that we could disembark here and walk 8 minutes to Okura Station to take the Kintetsu Line to continue our journey to Nara. One of the tourists took out his handphone and searched for the location of the station and he led us ( a group of 12) there. We soon realized that the traffic in the whole town was jammed up because of the held up of the train at the station!  The drivers on the streets were calm looking as if  they were used to such situation. No one attempted to sound a horn.

At Okura Station, we were allowed to  board the train without any tickets. We reached our destination just before lunch. Also, we were given a refund of our train tickets. After lunch Yee and Fong took the opportunity to cycle around the park while both of us took a stroll down to the park, scouting for some gifts on the way.

What are the chances that the right person to be at the right place and at the right time so that we could connect with him? 
This is God's Provision. 

Although our train journey to Nara was interrupted, God was with us, watching over us all the way.  He sent his angels to lead us so that we could reach our destination safely and timely.  

Why? 
Our God is good. 
He wants us to have a good and fun time in Nara. 
The refund of the train ticket was definitely his favour upon us.  

I want to thank Him for His goodness.  
He is a faithful God and He promise to be with us at all times, 
Praise Him.  

SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Shortbread Cookies are well recieved 

by those who love the buttery taste cookies.

So, its butter taste depends 

on the choice of the brands

Traditionally, 

these are made in rectangle shape  

but Christine suggests using cookie cutters.

Ingredients:

120g butter, at room tenperature

40g pure icing sugar

150g cake flour

25g rice flour

1/8 tsp salt

Method:

1) sift flours together, add salt & mix well

2) cream butter until smooth

3) add sugar in 3 addition, cream until pale & fluffy

4) fold in flour in 3 batches

5) Do not overmix, use hand to knead into a dough

6) with a rolling pin, roll out into 0.6" rectangle dough

7) cover & refrigerate 1 hour or overnight

8) preheat oven to 150'C

9) remove dough from fridge, leave for 10 min to soften

10) roll out into 0.4" * cut into shapes

11)  bake on lined tray, in preheated oven for 25min

12) leave cookies in oven for another 10min after baking

13) may need to rotate pan while baking for even heating