As a result, this coke was brought all the way back to Hokkaido from the states...
Attending Michael Kenna's exhibition at Sapporo.
The very 1st greeting I received comes in the form of a question:
A cloth drying or icing?
It was the very 1st time in my life that I see snow falling...
In 22 August, 2008, I've been to the northeast part of Japan, Nosappu, in the city of Nemuro.
One of the good thing being an international student is that you have the opportunity to join many activities, mostly free of charge or subsidised, because it's kind of cultural exchange program etc, thus people like me are wanted here in this foreign land.
There are on toilet, kitchen, tatami room, and balcony. Tatami room is a room with Japanese style flooring (see following pictures). Long before I think of to pursue my phd (coming to Japan not even cross my mind at that time- life really unpredictable), I've been thinking of to create such Japanese style atmosphere in my Malaysia house, so now it's something like a dream come true...
At Hokkaido, room heating system (at the left of above picture) is essential, you don't need to ask whether they have heater, because it is there just like toilet. What you need to ask is what kind of gas they use, because that's what determine the amount of your bill during the 6-month-long winter. The white sliding doors (shoji in Japanese), can be opened to the left or right, freely. Shoji is used as room divider. The kitchen area (in the 1st pic) is right behind the 3 pieces shoji. While the area behind the 2 pieces shoji is a 'store room'.
BTW, futon is Japanese style bedings. You lay it on the tatami floor only when going to bed, and keep it away other times in order to empty the room for other purpose.
That means you'll have your room space if you can maintain the discipline of folding and unfolding the beddings - an extreamly challaging task for male... as for me, so far so good.
Notice the lamp, also very Japanese; a shoji lantern!
During my stay at Oirase youth hostel, I met two backpackers. One is a Japanese who has stayed at Malaysia for two years. So I felt very happy as we can chat almost everything. There are no communication problem as he speak fluent English. He told me that he love Malaysian foods, and I asked "Really? for example?"
A friend told me that (to her) a good photo is the one that tells a story. I agree with her. So when taking picture (I mean making), I have this in mind "A good picture speaks."
From Hakodate to Sapporo, I've got a reserved sit. So it's time to enjoy a vanilla ice scream, a cheese cake, while listening to songs from Ghibli Studio. The colour of the trees outside seems telling me that autumn is coming... it will be the very 1st autumn of my life...
See the word e3 in the above photo? Ya, some advertisement here of our English education program. BTW, also worth to mentioned that I will be the very 1st Malaysian who join the program :)
The little girl in the above photo helps in the dressing up of our dancers, by bringing them the hat (ya it's the big blue one as shown in the photo above). After they all are done, now is her turn.
Plus, I love Snoopy too!
One of a kind drum...
Beside belly dance, there are also other type... and what is this, traditional sleeping cloth of Japanese?
Basketball dance?!!
And it is not Japan if without Cosplay...
And among all the Cosplay, I found this one most upstanding...
Notice the kid in blue (in the photo above who trying to take the picture of the 'most upstanding one'), he first tying to take the picture, but then missed it as the 'most upstanding one' is marching too fast. Then the kid runs to the front pass the 'one' and then jumps out in front of the other audiences and wait for his second chance (as shown in the pic). He got it this time, in fact the 'one' had purposely made a funny posed for him. He was very delighted and runs to his parents afterward.
