Hokkaido University Campus - Don't read this if you get envy easily!

The campus of Hokkaido University is exactly like the dreamed-university-campus (a term from a msn friend) that you see in movie. It's definitely not something like a rented-shop lot or old-government-office-turned-university campus. You could see people playing at the field, taking dogs for walk, playing hide and found between father and daughter (too bad I didn’t managed to capture this scene, or I can show you the little daughter finding her father, calling “Otosan! otosan!” while the father is hiding behind a huge tree – a happy scene that you will never forget.


































This is a type of tree that only grows at very cool regions such like Hokkaido. It can be recognized easily by the white trunk.

At Sapporo, you can’t live without a bike. So on the second day of my arrival, I already bought a bike. Since then, I cycle to wherever place I go.

Due to lot of cycling, I eat quite a lot. I usually eat at the university canteen because of the relatively lower price and convenient. These are the receipts – average about 550 yen per meal (RM17.00). Notice that the calorie, protein, fiber and fat of your foods are printed at the bottom for your reference (but in Japanese! :)



This is the very 1^st sakura flower that I’ve captured! What a historical shoot!

There isn’t any flower by the time I arrive at Hokkaido. But now after about a week, I start seeing buds of leaf and flower growing at the branches (I wasn’t too late then to see how spring is ‘born’).
































During weekend, you will find some artists visit to the campus and working on their sketching. You will also see obasan and ojisan here and there taking photo or simply walking around embracing the natural beauty of the campus.












































Notice! There are ducks in the pond!





The yellow spots in the above pic is this flower. There are more varieties of beautiful flower scattering here and there, it's just too much if I have to photography them all!















If you think wearing like this on the street is weird, then there are more for you to cope with. Too bad my camera wasn’t with me when I saw some really ‘creative’ stuff.

First experience at Hokkaido

Finally I’ve arrived at Hokkaido, Japan.

Large area of Hokkaido is woods and forest, now winter is just over, so everywhere looks brown from the airplane view as trees are left with only empty branches, no foliage at all.

Meeting me at the airport are my supervisor and two lab members. After introduction, I bowed to my supervisor, a 90-degree bowed with “dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” – try to express how earnest I am in looking forward to learning from him.
Immediately after our very first meeting, he took his flight to US and the two lab members were taking me to my dormitory (a place where I will stay for this spring semester).

Picture of my two lab mates; Saha-san is a Bangladesh and Muto-san a Japanese. (Muto-san looks like my colleague Chew)

Weather here was so cold that the air that we breathe out turned into white haze. I really feel excited about this, sayonara to Malaysia’s hot weather!

One of the lab members learned about the multi-racial society of Malaysia, and he ask me this question: “Are you a pure Chinese or mixed?” Well, it seems like I can’t run away from being misunderstood as Malay even when I am at Japan!

We take a bus from Chitose Airport to Sapporo (where Hokkaido University is located). Along the journey, I can see huge landscape of trees with empty branches, but from a bus-window view this time. I also see snow-toped mountains, the term that I’ve long heard from a friend who once visited Switzerland.

Maybe because the weather is cool or raining today, Sapporo seems like a quiet town to me. There are not many cars in the street and there are only three of us in the bus.

Upon reaching Sapporo, raining started, oh! It rain like Malaysia at Hokkaido! I thought it only snow!

In Sapporo, before the two lab members bring me to my dormitory, they treat me a lunch at a very specially decorated restaurant. Guess what I had for my very 1^st lunch at Japan? Udon mee? Sushi? Curry rice?
Yes, the answer is curry rice (see picture below)! To my surprise, curry is one of the popular foods in Sapporo. They grade the level of spicy ichiban, niban, sanban, yonban and goban (level one to five). I took the level two one, and after tasting it I know level five will be no problem for me.

In the afternoon, around 1.30 pm, I checked-in to my dormitory and took a look around the facilities; I am very satisfied with it. The toilet tub comes with many seemingly high-tech buttons. I don’t dare to press it afraid water will be shooting out from nowhere. Also there is a free internet access in each room, so I have no worry of keeping in touch with friends around the world. In fact, since I log on to my msn, I am having Q&A session with friends for about 5 hours. At 11.30 pm I am still biting on my bread that I bought for dinner because it’s not easy to eat and answer each question. Notably that the tap water here are drinkable, so I don’t have to worry about drinking water.

For a kampong man like me who came to Japan, I know there are more to explore, and I am ready for all the surprises ahead. Though tired with the flight, but excited with what I’ve experienced so far.

Last blog before leaving Malaysia

This is the last blog I write before leaving Malaysia. My flight is tonight 9.35 pm, Japan Airline (so the flight attendants will be all Japanese girls!!)

Many have ask me how I feel going to leave to Japan for 4 years... well, I feel missing Malaysia a lot because of all the good friends here that I have to part for so many years - how I wish to see you guys again :(
But then after browsing internet for the beautiful Hokkaido scenery, interesting festivals and so, I feel missing Japan so much that how I wish I can leave immediately :)

I've been receiving greetings and gists from parents, all my good friends and many of them are my x- and present students. I guess this is one of the reason that made us lecturer feel very satisfy with our career - when we know the students appreciate what we have done!

Well my Taxi about to came, so all the best from me!!!!!

Cheng
Melaka, Malaysia
11 April 08
4.35pm