5.23.2006

Visits and Visits...

It must had been a good time to visit Japan... from Mar to till, I have had 4 ex-classmates coming back to visit Okazaki. For various reasons though, some come here to meet others, some came here on the way to else where, some came here to simply party and eat. Hee.. but good good, it is all for the good for the otherwise boring and routine lifestyle we have here.

Here are some of the good memories when Bill came back!


The present we made for him, consisted of all our good friends over time in Yamasa.

His sheepish look... but then really he was just trying to hide his hideous looking swollen lips.


All credits to Bill we got all of us a trip and treat to Matsuzaki Sensei's house for Yaki-Niku ( BBQ Meat)

ANd finally...
His signature expression! In Bill's world, all females talk in the same tone and have this expression when they are surprised, happy, overjoyed, shocked.... and the list goes on...

It was really fun to have him over in the few days. Bill... to me is a big brother and a good friend. He sprouts nonsense all the time but nonsense that holds its own wisdom and truth in it. And being here together for 1.5 yrs together, our friendship grew bit by bit but surely deeper each day. From just laughing at his senseless stints, I began to understand more of his thinking, his ideas and his way of life. He makes me feel comfortable and easy with him and even on skype after not meeting for some time, we can talk about the most mundane things under the sun, about his cat and etc... I can say we came a long way as friends! And, we will go on. Bill is a friend I will keep my whole life...

ANd next up, SO KUN!!! I am so looking forward to his visit!! This duo, is the unreplacable in our hearts =) Cheers to the boys!

5.21.2006

Spring in Japan with Dad and Mum

At the end of Mar, my parents came and we went to Tokyo, Hakone, Kobe, Himeji and Kyoto. So many places in mere 10 days right? Yes... tell me if you want to come to Japan to travel. After being here for nearly 2 years, I can tell you quite clearly what are the must-go, can-go, go-if-you-have-time and don't-go places... Mum was pretty happy as this is her first time and also seeing all the beautiful sakuras..


That is Dad under the sakura trees in Ueno Park, Tokyo

Asakusa's famous temple


And with my friends who came over to join us on the various days..

3 of us in Hakone..

and finally some sakuras up close!

A letter to the "me" 10 years later...

That will be in 2016, May 21st or Heisei 28 ( in the Japanese calendar)

What will I be like then? What have I become? Married? Single? Japan? Singapore? Other parts of the world? These are some questions I have for the me 10 years later...

Nope, I have not become poetic or mad all of a sudden. This is just part of the attraction in Meiji Mura ( Meji Village) which I visited with the family one of the kids I teach. Meiji mura is a place which showcases the Meji Restoration stuff, buildings where western ideas started entering Japan. So, the letter to the me 10 years later is just one of the services offered by the post office.

I sat on the old street car, horse carriage ( it is contrary to popular belief, super comfortable!), trains that ran on coal etc...

Went into the houses of popular Japanese writers like Natsume Soseki and Mori Ogai...

Had an interesting experience. In order to experience what it was like in the meiji period because electric light became common, we were led into a room (more like a maze) totally without light. Meaning eyes shut or wide open makes zero difference. The kid I taught was simply terrified. The usual brat who loves to tease me all the time just held on to my hand so tightly and he kept calling out for me. Haaa.... but all in all we had a good time.

But of course, what eventually killed us was the weather. The hot sun was though very welcomed after a few days of rain, it also took away all our energy quickly. Thanks to the occassion snacks of drinks and ice-cream that kept us going to the end of the day. wooh!... Summer in Japan is terrifying!!

5.20.2006

Okinawa!

I went to okinawa recently and here are some of the photos I took!

Okinawa... is part of Japan yet so different from the main island. It is moe like a tropical kingdom with its own history, unique culture, language, food and on top of that, even the people looks different. The only common they share with Honshu Japan is probably the passport.. But nevertheless, it is THE place to be in summer! And I got to swim for the very first time I am in Japan...

That is me in front of a minature, traditional ryukyu house (Ryuku is the older name for Okinawa)

Traditional Kimino( different from the usual Kimono we see right?)

The buffalo used to pull a machine that extracts sugarcane juice to make sugar

My friend and I near a mangrove...

Here come the beautiful beach and scenery!