Golden week holiday 2011 Part 8 (Half Day in SakuraJima 桜島)

3rd May 2011

We woke up early to left for Kagoshima from Kumamoto. It's a very long drive, had to pass through highways and tunnels and mountains. The highway was quite jammed, after that, then only we realised that the opposite road was closed for something we didn't know. We joked that even the Japanese are like Malaysian too, busybody, slowed down the car when something happen and caused jam. After that, we found out that the opposite road was crawling bumper by bumper due to the road closure, and we calculated the distance, almost 30km jam, we were so lucky because we were not in that direction. 

The ferry that brought us to Sakurajima

rocks near the beach of Sakurajima are black  (due to Volcano ash)

Golden week holiday in Kumamoto 熊本 2011 Part 7

2nd May 2011 

From Kumamoto City, we went to 杖立温泉 (don't know to translate to English). There was a display of koi nobori (windsock shaped as carp) for children's day (5th of May). The view was very magnificent. The display would last for a few days only. A lot of parents brought their children to view the koi nobori. There was a group of students who were sketching there. All looked happy. 

koi nobori (windsock shaped as carp)

Students drawing the koi windsock

After that, we went to Kurokawa for the 温泉 (onsen). There are lots of hotel that offer onsen service. The specialty of the onsens in Kurokawa is the colours of the onsen water, like blue, green, black, etc. It was rumoured to have different medical properties for each colour. We went to the information center first, and took the brochure. After that, we chose one near the information center because we didn't wanted to walk far. There are separate pools for both male and female. Some do offer mixed onsen, but few. That was my first onsen experience. We forgot to bring towel, so have to buy one there, it cost 300 yen for the towel and additional 800 yen for the onsen. Although all my travel buddies sweating profusely after came out of the onsen. I didn't sweat at all. Since the water contained sulfur, after immersed in the water, the skin felt smoother. After that, we had our lunch there, felt hungry after 'onsen'ing.

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 6 (Sasebo burger & Yanagawa Unagi)

1st May 2011 (Labour day in many countries, but in Japan, Labour Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on 23rd of November) 

Today, the 3rd day of my holiday. We went to Sasebo (a city of Nagasaki). We planned to see the view of the islands from the many observatories. According to Chu, from the aerial view, there are 99 islands off the sea, so it's called the 99 islands or 九十九島. However, again we were not in luck, the fog was very thick that morning and from the observatory, the only thing we could see was whitish fog. There are around 8 platforms, but we covered four observatories only. After around 10 am, the fog subsided a bit and we finally got to see the view of the islands. So the lesson learned from this was in order to see the view, one must read the weather forecast first!

the islands view of Sasebo

the fog blocked the visibility

There are 8 observation platforms for the 99 islands

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 5 (One Day in Nagasaki)

30th April 2011

After we picked up our friend, we decided to have our lunch, Champon mee (a Nagasaki famous dish). It was like yellow noodle in Malaysia, just with more ingredients. However, I didn't like the taste of the soup. 

Dejima Orange Day

the street of Dejima

After that, we went to Dejima. (site of former Dutch Factory, according to the pamphlets). That day is Dejima Orange Day, since I brought a orange bag, I didn't have to pay for ticket.  There are a lot of reconstructed former marine officers residents, quarters, etc. Kind of boring, but we walked around the place and then left. 

26 Martyrs of Japan

Peace Park

'Through the Looking Glass' by Lewis Carroll

a classic

I have never read Alice in Wonderland although it is a famous classic. However, when I came across this book, a sequel to that. I think 'Hey, this is so cheap, why don't I just buy it and give it a try'. I am always impressed with authors' imagination. How can they thought of something like this, so out of the world. My paternal grandfather always said that 'zo hee xiao, kua hee gong' (those who act is crazy, those who watch it is stupid in Hokkien dialect). However, like a good drama, a good book can catch one breath, and fell into it. I like all sorts of books, from fiction to non-fiction. Non-fiction is facts, while fiction, those authors are great, from thought inside the mind, they weaved it into a story, it is a hard work. For a story like this, it must have coming from someone who is very imaginative and original. Now, Lewis Carroll is one of my favourite author too!

'A Nyonya in Texas' by Lee Su Kim

A fun book to read

This book is easy to read. Finish this in 4 hours while sitting inside the shinkansen (bullet train). Not very heavy and not so big, it is easy to bring around, that's why I brought it with me when I went to Hiroshima for a 2 days trip. This book talks about the author's life in Texas, where her husband was posted on a job assignment. She described it in such a funny way until I laughed uncontrollably in the train, I think the other passengers must be thinking that, "Oh, that girl is crazy!" because I caught their curious eyes. Compared to the author's experience, my life in Japan is not without its difficulties also. The language is the main barrier here. I spoke little Japanese and barely enough to survive. Luckily, I understand Chinese character, so I can guess what is the meaning of the 'kanji'. I did that from shopping to working related stuff. There was a time I went to see a doctor and he was not well versed in English, so when I couldn't understand the word, he would write in 'kanji' and  I got his meaning. We communicated through written word although face to face.

Since Google translator do not really do a good job in translating the technical stuff, I had to find the meaning of individual word, then made up my own sentences while doing my reports here. Sometimes, I translated some document from Japanese to English for my colleague, and it is still manageable. But, when come to English to Japanese, I fared badly. My boss would try to correct my Japanese version report until all the word and sentence pattern is different. Trying very hard to learn Japanese! I hope that by the time I finish my assignment here, can at least chit chat with people in Japanese.  Mahatma!

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 4 (One Day in Nagasaki)

30th April 2011

Fish in the crystal clear water

眼鏡橋 Megane bridge

First stop, 眼鏡桥 (Megane bridge- spectacles bridge). It was near our hostel. So, we had our breakfast by the river looking at the big beautiful fishes in the river. Since that time was still broad day light, we couldn't see a clear spectacles. (The arches of the bridge and their shadows form a spectacles shape).

After that, we took off to Oura Church. However, the GPS took us into a middle of nowhere. We reached a place where the parking lots can be counted in one hand. We circled and circled around the area and still no parking lot. So, we drove a little far off, and went to a little rusty apartment's parking lot. Since we saw no one, we just parked there. And if anybody question us later, we have a plan, we would just, "Sumimasen, wakaranai!" We are just three foreigners who know nothing. haha!

one of the Japan oldest church

a building near the church with beautiful stained glass

Then, we walked up the hill and reached the Oura church. Well, we just took photo from outside, didn't go inside. 

Hospital building with a touch of Holland influence

Dutch slope

After that, we checked the information board, the Dutch slope, Confucius temple were all around. So, we decided to walk there. When we found out that we would need to pay for entrance for the Confucius Temple, we decided not to enter because we have been to temple all our lives. So, no, just took the photos of the entrance. Next to the temple, is the hospital with Holland influence. After that, we continued to walk. We intended to go to the Clover garden. So, just follow where the crowd was. We walked and walked. and we bumped into the Dutch slope. If there was no people taking photograph there, we would have miss it. It was a bunch of old buildings, but well kept. When we strolled there, we manage to peek into the back of the Confucius temple, so, took a photo of the back side.

Entrance to the Confucius temple

the backside of the temple

After that, walk again. However, the Glover garden seems so far and so high away. Luckily, there was a elevator. So, we just took the easy way 'up'. The ticket cost was 600 yen per person. There were few former residence of merchants that helped shape Nagasaki economy. The 'Glover', 'Ringer' and 'walker' were playing an important role in opening up Nagasaki. There are 'dock house' where the sailors in the old days rest while their ships were being repaired or something like that. 

From the 'dock house' balcony

a 300 years old palm tree

rumoured to be the origin of the Kirin beer

After walking through all the 'must look' attraction, we went to the Performance Arts Museum. There are some cultural stuff displayed there and a documentary about a festival or something like that. Then, exit. And off we left to pick up another friend, Chu from Tokyo who just reached Nagasaki by plane that afternoon.

Day 1: Ramen & Marine World & Yahoo Dome
Day 2: Nagasaki One day trip & another half
Day 3: Sasebo & Yanagawa
Day 4: Kumamoto
Day 5: Half day in Sakurajima
Day 6: Kagoshima
Day 7: Miyazaki
Day 8: Kagoshima half day trip
Day 8 & 9 & 10: Yakushima Hiking

Golden week holiday in Fukuoka 福岡 2011 Part 3

A stall in Yatai 

shaking hand with BON JOVI

Yahoo Dome

29th April 2011. After a colourful visit to the marine world, we went to the Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka city. It is a baseball stadium. There was no game on that day. So, it was kind of quite. The view was OK. But, hey I shake hand with  'Bon Jovi'. It was something like 'walk of fame'. 

Near the stadium, there's a beach and a statue. The beach was beautiful , but not the statue, it looked weird. After that, dinner time. We looked all over for the 'Yatai', a kind of night market, where there are supposed to have a lot of stalls selling everything under the sun. However, it was a disappointment, any 'Pasar Malam' in Malaysia can beat it, there're only a few stalls, as opposed to the amount advertised in the travel brochure. Well, maybe it scattered around the whole Fukuoka City,  not concentrated in one place. Still, a big shock. I expect something like night market in Taman Connaught, instead, mmm.....

'Deathstalker Coda' by Simon R. Green

I am not a fan of science and fantasy fiction. So, when I first laid my hand on this book, I had a hard time just to start to read. But after I got pass the first few pages, I began to like it. It is actually one of the books in the 'deathstalker' series. The book is filled with lively characters. Most of the characters came from the earlier books of the series. The fighters from Deathstalker clan, psychics, alien, robots with artificial intelligence, psychos, aliens, people reborn from death, hybrid, etc. The story flow is very nice, and with all the good versus bad, the good triumph against the odd, one tend to continue to read and read until the last page. Now, I intend to get other books from the same series to know the stories behind some of the vivid characters. 

Deathstalker Coda

Yeah, and now I declare myself a fan of fantasy fiction!!

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 2 (marine world)

29th April 2011 (afternoon)

We went to the Marine world (umino-nakamichi). The admission fees are 2100 yen for adults.

brochure of the marine world

there was one area where you can touch the sea star!

very cute! they put a figurine on top of the shelf!

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 1 (eating the famous Hakata Ramen)

My first golden week holiday in Japan. Golden week (GW) is a week long holiday, consisting of several public holidays. So, normally, the company will give off days in between the public holidays and make it a week long holiday.

The trip started on 29th April 2011, the 昭和の日 (showa no hi) holiday. On that day, me and my friend, Jack boarded a bus from Kumamoto bus center (熊本交通center) to Tenjin (天神) bus center to meet another friend, Tee who drove from Nakatsu (中津). We gathered and our first stop was Ramen Stadium in Canal city, Fukuoka. There are many choices of Ramen, we just chose one and had lunch there. Truth to be told, I think the soup was too salty, have to keep drinking water and I had a hard time finished that Ramen.

The entrance of Ramen Stadium

After that, we went to Marine world.

*p.s.

In Japan, there are tickets shop where cheaper tickets are sold. (the tickets include bus, express train and Shinkansen) For overnight bus, if you book early, can get more discount.

Day 1: Ramen & Marine World & Yahoo Dome
Day 2: Nagasaki One day trip & another half
Day 3: Sasebo & Yanagawa
Day 4: Kumamoto
Day 5: Half day in Sakurajima
Day 6: Kagoshima
Day 7: Miyazaki
Day 8: Kagoshima half day trip
Day 8 & 9 & 10: Yakushima Hiking

Run for your life (Detective Michael Bennett) by James Patterson and Micheal Ledwidge

Run for your life

Well, another book from James Patterson, no matter what people said about him, so far I have enjoyed every single book that I have read. Yes, maybe the plot is not thick enough, or the character not so developed, but it is such a joy to read his book. Although his books nowadays have a co-author. It is sill  a good read.

This is the first book I have on the Michael Bennett series. Interesting, the man have 10 kids, well, most of the 'man' from the stories like this is childless, popping from here to there, with no care of tomorrow, it is refreshing to see a family man in charge. Muahaha!!

This book tells of a story about the 'Teacher', a killer who was avenging the death of his brother (Personally, I am not sorry for the brother, he commits suicide because his rich wife divorced him due to his affair and he was fired because he got drunk before a flight → he was a pilot!). Bennett sniffed the 'teacher' out and killed him at the end after all the dramas. The good triumph over the bad, and everyone is happy!

The font of this book is big and loud and clear, so, even it is thick, can finish quite fast.

Russell Crowe: The Biography by Tim Ewbank and Stafford Hildred

11th May 2011

Since moving to Japan, and started to use the train to commute to work, i have more spare time to read. So far, I finished reading 3 books, which is a record for me because when  I was in Malaysia, I was either too busy working or spending time chasing episodes of television drama. Now, while commuting, I read a few pages and it adds up. Latest is biography of Russell Crowe. Actually I have never watch even one of his movies. Plan to find Gladiator to have a look.

Russell Crowe: The biography

This book talked about the life of Russell Crowe (of course!), from his childhood until his marriage and Oscar winning. Reading this is like reading the entertainment section of the newspaper, quite interesting. Hahaha!

12th May 2008 - The first day start working after graduate

12th May 2011

Today is my 3rd anniversary of working in the same company. Looking back, I am proud to say that I survive. I could till remember as a junior 3 years ago, I was made to look at the microscope all day long to measure something. And overtime was frequent. Until now, my job scope is still the same. I think my eye sight deteriorate due to this. However, although the job sucks, my colleagues and bosses are nice. So, still going on with this job.

Golden: A Retelling of Rapunzel by Cameron Dokey

Golden: A retelling of  'Rapunzel'

There are many retelling of fairy tales, one of them is 'tangled', a Disney cartoon. Well, fairy tale can survive until today means that it has its own appeal. When I stumbled upon this book, I just bought it.

Well, this is a very nice story book and I finished this in a very short span of time. For this version, the witch is a nice lady whose child is kept in the tower by a wizard. Rapunzel is adopted by the witch because Rapunzel's mom couldn't love her with all her heart. (Rapunzel's dad stole the fruit her mother craved so much from the witch garden, however he was caught by the witch, so they made a deal, Rapunzel's mother will surrender the child if she cannot love her just as she appeared.)

Rapunzel is born bald, so her mother sent her away because she couldn't accept that she bore a 'imperfect' child.. Then, Rapunzel grew up with the witch, Melisande. Melisande is like a mother to her and she teach her everything. She also met a boy named Harry who love her as she is. When she was 16 years old, Melisande told her that she have a daughter, Rue that have been trapped in a tower for years and only Rapunzel could help her escape the fate.

So, being a kind hearted person, she agreed. She met with Rue for the first time and they were not in line with each other. However, they overcame this. When they were both in the tower, a prince dropped by, and spoke with Rapunzel. Then she thought of a idea, she asked Rue to pose as her and the prince took the bite after some blah blah blah and Rue is freed from the tower. So Rue became Rapunzel, while Rapunzel, she later goes by the name, Susan (the first gift from Harry is a scarves embroidered with susan (a flower))  and live happily every after with her love, Harry.