Nick's student exchange life in both Japan & Taiwan

Club & Society exhibition in NTU Taiwan

2010-09-21T02:53:00.000-07:00

On the saturday, we had the clubs exhibition in NTU main street which we call it as the coconut street. reason being there are 2 row of coconut trees along the both side of the road. There are over thousand clubs in NTU and there were around 100 over clubs there for the exhibition. Below are the clubs that I have interest of :

The Stage for club performances

企業領袖社 iELC

亞太青年創業社 ASES

Toast Master Club

Mountain Climbing Club

Baking Club

ZEN Club (Meditation)

Other than that, they also have other interesting clubs such as:

Also, they have some volunteer organisation to help the needy people:

This club is to help those children with the cancer

世界志工社

Most interesting is they have the "NTU Gay Chat" Society which is open to all the gay guys. Even the president of the club himself is a gay. The club actually provide the platform for the gay people to discover and have deeper understanding about themselves. Also, it help to educate them to have the correct mindset about GAY. Such an interesting club.

NTU GAY CHAT

Inernational Dance Club

Scout

Doll Club

There were so many students for the exhibitiona and i took me 4 hours to visit all the booths that I interested with to have more understanding about the clubs. Also, we can sign up on the booth on that day and they will invite us to go for their 1st club meeting to experience their club!!

My Room in NTU Taiwan

2010-09-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

On 6th September 2010, I reached the International Youth Centre Hostel in National Taiwan University. With anxious and excitement, I had high expectation for the place that I am going to stay for the coming 1 year but when I eached the room, it was totally out of my expectation!! This is my room:

There were so many cockroaches in my washroom and it took me 1 week to totally get rid of them!! I think in total I had killed & chased away 10 cockraches in my room. I also bought a lot of air fresheners to make my room smell good and fragrant. So these are the picture after the massive cleaning:

So my room changed 360 degree after the cleaning!! I got a nice bed,study table, book rack and a closet in my room. There are water cooler facilities at the end of the hallway. And do u know how much the hostel cost me? The price is NTD$15600 per semester with internet facility. Also, I heard that the building is now 30 yeras old and it will has its renovation after 1 year.

Nara trip

2009-05-03T20:09:00.001-07:00

Nara (famous for shika "deer")

This week is the golden week in Japan. That means that the Japanese people have five days of holidays continuously. The golden week consists of the weekends, Greenery Day, Children’s Day and Observation of Constitution day. Me and my friends have plan to visit Nara during this vacation.

Nara is the Japanese capital city that was built in 710 AD, in a layout based on the Chinese grid system of streets and avenues. At the north central part of the city was the Nara Palace, seat of the centralized local state government. During its heyday, ancient Nara held a population of 100,000, making it the largest of the ancient cities of Japan.

This is the five level pagoda in Nara

There are a lot of temple and historical places in Nara. Here is the map for the whole area around Nara Park. Using this map, we can visit all the interesting places by walking distance.

Here is a temple and you can see the people knocking the bell
using the long cloth for praying and wishing.

This is my friend touching the shika and then the interesting things happen afterwards. The shika shit on the spot. We are shocked to see that but fortunately the shika’s shit is not wet. It is something like small black stone that is quite dry. The scene really make us laugh.. hahahah……

This is a beautiful shika with a nice short horn.

It has a pair of big eyes and I guess it is a female shika.

I am listening what the shika talking to me

Now is my turn touching the shika.

I better be careful if not the shika will shit for me again.

Here are the “chisai shika” which are smaller in size. They are quite afraid to human.

When you feed them please be gently if not you will scare them away.

Now when the night comes, all the shika will gather around and rest at the field.

Their eyes are huge and shinning. We move slowly and gently so that we do not scare them.

Here is the Botanical Garden. It is famous for the purple colour leaves.
We have to walk in to the forest for around 15minutes to reach here.

Nara had been added into World Heritage List On Dec 2, 1998 by UNESCO World Heritage Committee. It has the universal value of cultural and natural sites which deserve protection for the benefits of all humanity.

My friend is holding the Shika biscuit on her hand. It is the biscuit that we bought purposely to feed the Shika. It costs us 150 yen per pack.

I had tasted it, it feel like normal biscuit but the taste not so nice.

Here is another temple inside Nara parks. The temple is located mid in the forest.

There a lot of light stands made of huge stone surrounding the temple.

If all the light stands are lighted during the night time, I guess the scene will be very awesome.

This is the front gate of the temple. The time we reach there is 5.50pm and the temple is closed at 6.00pm. We are lucky as we can go into the temple although it is just for a short while.

Here are the famous purple plants inside the temple.

They are famous plants in Nara parks.

They look like the small purple orchid if you look it from a short distance.

They are really beautiful.

If you see them from a far distance, you will think they are the grapes. I can’t make the different when I first saw them in the temple until I am close enough to look clearly on them.

There are whole row of Golden Tang Lung right behind me.

These are the wooden plates that people use to make wishes and hope that their dream will come true. You just need to write your name and wishes on the plate and hang it at the rack provided by the temple. Then, hopefully your dream will come true soon.

There is a western restaurant on the top of the hill. The view there is very beautiful as you can see the whole town from the hill. We are now at the half way to Todaiji Temple.

Finally, we reached a temple beside the Todaiji.

Let take some pictures while we rest a while before we continue the journey.

I am now in front of the Dragon Water Sources.

Here is Drogon pouring water from its mouth.

You can use the water for wash hand and you can drink the water too if you want.

People do think that it is the scared water with the symbolic of Dragon.

Here is a tiny shrine with a big tree beside it.

They really make a huge contrast.

This is a huge viewing platform. From the platform, we can see the two different parts of Nara. One side is the natural side while the other is the urban side that filled with the human light.

At the end, we reached Todaiji. However it was already closed. We did not get the chance to see the huge Buddha. But it is ok, we will come again next time.

Nara is a place that really differentiates for its natural side and urban side. We spent for more than half an hour near the Nara parks but we did not found any food shops that are open. Till we reach the Nara Station, only we managed to find a good restaurant for our dinner.

The environment of the place is very good. Another good thing that should be praised is the service of the restaurant. The waitress guided for every moment in the restaurant and they seem like know about everything that you need. We really feel comfortable at there after
whole day of walking

In the restaurant, you can make your own source. They will give you a bowl of sesame. You need to crash the sesame into small pieces in the bowl then you add in the source they provided and stir it with then sesame. There are two flavours for the sources.

Either is sweet source or spicy source. I pick a spicy one and it really tastes good.

The meal really makes me full and satisfied.

I better rest for a while and enjoy my tea before we continue the journey.

After that, we went to a souvenir shop and I spotted this cute tiny Shika.

So I bought it as a remembrance for my trip to Nara.

Cooking in speaking partner apartment

2009-04-19T04:28:00.000-07:00

We have decided to test our cooking skills so we have this cooking session in my speaking partner house. Each of us prepared one meal and we share all the foods. I have decided to make dessert as it is easier to make. haha. Jess had made the Tsurashi sushi and Sabrina made the egg, sausages and ham. Here are our lunches in noriko's apartment.

Here are me, Jess and my speaking partner Noriko
We are setting up the table for lunch
Here is Sabrina with us. She came late as she has a ceramic class but she bring good foods for us. It is worth while for us to wait for her before we start to eat the lunch. Haha...

Jess is washing the dishes. She is so happy with the dishes.

I am cooking the dessert: The red bean with sagu (Malaysia Dessert)

Here we are my creation "Red Bean Dessert". It looks nice and I am sure it tastes good too. We also kept some of it in the freezer to make some “Red Bean Ice Cream”

Me & my speaking partner: Noriko

After the lunch, we played something interesting. It is the Jengga. I brought it from my home stay so that we can have some funs together. I have not play this game for such a long time already.

Wah, it is dangerous. The base just only supported by a few Jengga and it is tall. Now is my turn, I don’t want it to fall. I must be careful. Yeah, I can make it.

Hooray, here is the ending. They all fall. Is ok, we will start all over again.

Japan Purikura Camera

2009-04-19T00:26:00.001-07:00

Here are me, Jess and Noriko. This photo is taken after we play bowling at the entertainment centre. Noriko has the highest score for the game.

Here are we in the cage….

Help, help, help….. Somebody help us…..

This is a photo taken during our visit to Toji Temple in Kyoto. There are me, Jess, Carol (HK Jin), Nao (Nihon Jin) and Saaya (Nihon Jin)
WE all looked young in this picture. Haha..
This is a picture taken when we have dinner together at Hirakatashi

There are me, Jess, Chuckky(America Jin), Sayya(Nihon Jin) & Kaori(Nihon Jin)

4 Local & 4 Gaijin

First kyoto trip with some Japanese friends...

So formal, like taking family photo, haha..

Me, Tsubasa, Carmen & Andy

...Here are four fo us...

Wah, i am sorounded by all the girls and also two insane mans infront of me.

Japan traditional games (Interaction activity)

2009-04-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

This activity is organized by the local Japanese student. It is actually a presentation session by the foreign students about their countries to let the Japanese students know more about our cultures. Jess is presenting today so I come to give her some moral support. After that, we have some Japanese traditional games and a snack party. The snacks are great and awesome.

This is actually a Japanese traditional game. The person who played will need to close his eyes with a piece of cloth. His friends will give him instructions to put the eyes, ears, nose, mouth & eye browns on the paper face. There are a lot of different parts which you can exchange and make your own special face with your eyes closed. Sometimes, you can make some good looking face but sometimes, you will just make out some horrible face.

This can be considered as an ugly face with a cute pig nose. Haha...

Here are some of the group members trying to match the parts of the face.

This is another Japanese traditional game. There are plenty of cards there. Inside these cards, we have symbols of male, female and bold guy. When you get the male card, you can keep it. When you get the bold guy card, you have to give up your entire card and put it to the centre of the circle. When you are lucky to gets the female card, you can claim all the cards at the centre of the circle as yours. The games continue until all the card at the centre is finished being taken. The person who has the most card will be considered as the winner.

This is the Snake Games. I think we also have such game in Malaysia.

There are 7 person playing the game. Nick, Jess, Miki, Nami, Furi, Sayaa & Akane.

I nearly win the game as I am the leading one until there are five more steps towards the end of the throne. I accidentally get my step on the sign of “start all over at the beginning”.

So here is my ending…..

Here come the snacks party...The foods is dilicious...

We have chocolate cakes, jelly, peanuts, jolly sticks and etc....

After the party, we have a photo taking session...

Here are my groupmates

This is our group representative

ME, Yuka, Jess & Yasuka

This is an enjoyable session. We all have good time playing the games and having a lot of snacks.

Also, we meet some new friends.

Kinkakuji Temple

2009-04-17T16:49:00.001-07:00

After visiting the Toji Temple and Free Market, we go to visit the Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto. Kinkakuji is a Buddhist temple that built in year 1393. The heart of the temple complex is the Golden Pavilion (kinka-ku), situated picturesquely in its garden at the edge of a lake.

The temple is famous of its use of gold as the building materials. Actually, the upper two floor interior ceiling of the Golden Pavilion only covered with gleaming gold leaf. Other parts of it are painted gold.

The first floor of the pavilion, known as the Hôsuiin

(Temple of Dharma Water)
The second floor, called the Chôondô (Tower of Sound Waves)
The third floor is built in the style of a Buddha Hall in a Zen temple and

is known as the Kukkyôchô (Superb Apex)

Here is a map for the whole area of Kinkakuji Temple.
I am taking picture with the Kinkakuji

Here are me, Jess & Carol

The Temple really look cool. When the sun shine on it, you will see a lot of reflection.

I am right in front of the Kinkakuji.

But we cant enter it coz the door is locked.

On a sunny day, it is better for you to look at it with a sunglasses

Here I am, intend to climb into the Kinkakuji.

Dinner with friends

2009-04-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures that I have dinner with my friends.

This is in the Sora Cafe near Hirakatashi Eki
ME, Sayya, Kaori & Chucky

Me & Sayya

This is Soba with egg topping

This is stuff crush pizza with chicken topping

This is Osaka famous food: Okinomiyaki

Yakitori

Dessert: Ice Cream

Hera are my cocktail and dessert

Me & Chucky

This is Strwabery Beer, there are some alcohol in it

Me, Nao & Sayya, my face is so red because of the tiny but strong cocktail....

Hanami (Kodaiji Temple)

2009-04-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

This is the pink sakura. They are less compared to

the white sakura so if u see one, u r lucky.

This is an old old tree inside the park. It is huge and beautiful.

The body of the tree is big, i guess it aged more than 50 years.

This is Tang Lung light. They will light it up when night come.

White Sakura

with closer look.....

tang lungs

This is a place whre the people can drink some sake

while the enjoying the sakura view.

Me and my friends. We are having picnic in the park.

Beside me is the cute mini the pooh & my malaysia friend, jess.

All the guys, me, tsubasa, andy & kei...

Jin from sgp & me

Above my head is all the beautiful sakura, i feel so happy....

Hanami (osaka joe)

2009-04-11T17:17:00.003-07:00

Also, we managed to visit Osaka Joe for "Yoruhanami" which means night sakura viewing. When we reached there, they are a lot of people there. The night sakura is totally different fom what u see in the morning.

After the interview, we went to tenmabashi riverside. The river view with sakura over there is very beautiful. There are also boat services to take u enjoy the sakura view beside the river.

Me and my Japanese friend having Chinese Cuisine in Nanba. Today, i had an interview with MAS Airline based in Osaka. If my interview is successful, i will work for them for one month then.

Hanami (Kyoto Kiyomizu Temple)

2009-04-11T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the Kyoto Kodaiji Temple Pic, there are a lot of people as this week is the "man kai" of sakura, which mean full boom of the sakura flower.

This is a huge Sakura tree inside the park, very "kirei"

This is a small temple house inside Kiyomisu Temple

with the view of the forest and the moon.

This is the viewing floor inside Kiyomisu temple. At there, u can have the full view of the whole temple. It look like the heaven in a sakura park.

Here are the west side of the kiyomisu temple where

u can see the tower from a far view.

Here is a pond which u can see the sakura shadow inside the water.

It seem so real that u wont notice which side is the real sakura.

Near the exit gate, i am going to finish

my visit in Kiyomisu temple.

There are lot of shop along both side of the path to the kiyomisu temple.

u can get souvenir and foods here. Also, there are lot of delicious desserts.

Hanami (Hirakatashi)

2009-04-11T17:16:00.005-07:00

Beautiful Sakura Nanami spot in hirakatashi

Me dancing in the "Sakura Rain" as all the

flower start to fly with the strong wind

Me and my friend picnic while enjoying the sakura view.

we bought a long lot of snack and drinks with us. It is very relaxing.

Kyushu trip (Beppu)

2009-04-11T17:16:00.003-07:00

Kyushu trip (mount aso)

2009-04-11T17:16:00.001-07:00

Kyushu trip (Kumamoto)

2009-04-11T17:15:00.003-07:00

Kyushu trip (Fukuoka)

2009-04-11T17:15:00.001-07:00

Hirakata Park (Skating)

2009-03-07T04:52:00.000-08:00

Suki Nabe & Skating in Hirakata Koen

This is how u eat staemboat in Japan. They cook the meat and

stir it with egg before put it into the mouth.

Nabe is Steamboat, called by Japanese people.

Their soup is mainly "soyu" like our soya source so the taste is very strong.

Here are the menu

This is a restaurant in Hirakatashi. The name is "Asian Days".

We are having the "Tabehodai" which is the buffet style : eat all u can with 1900yen.

Today is Tsubasa birthday, here are the present from us to him.

It is the "Relakuma" small bear cup, underwear & malaysia souvenir.

They are cleaning the the water

This is the Hirakata Koen Skating Park.

There are lot of people as now is the winter seasons.

Here we are, 2 Hong Kong Jin & 2 Malaysia Jin.

Me, Eric, Tsubasa, Andy : Here are the guys...

The park with all the entertainment machines

Here are our group photo in front of a colourful ferry wheel.

The scene is really amazing........

The Pink Castle...

3 of us, DoReMi.....

They actually have three different type of the roller in the park. This is one of the shortest one while the trail of another two roller coaster are longer than this one.

This is the most special thing in the loen, the huge and colourful ferry wheel.

It just look like a circlr rainbow...

Japanese Cooking Lesson (Hirakata Civic Hall)

2009-03-07T03:21:00.000-08:00

Today cooking........

Today is my Japanese Cooking Lesson in Hirakata Civic Hall organized by the Hirakata Foundation for Culture and International Exchange. The lesson is only for foreign people, so I meet people from China, Indonesia, England, America and finally an old woman from Brazil. It can be call as an International cooking Class.

So, today we are going to cook a few dishes as below. The theme for today is Bento (lunch box). This is the culture of Japan where people prepare & bring bento to school and work. The menu is nice :

1.Spinach Salad with Tofu and White Miso Dressing

2.Tempura (Fried of mixed vegetable)

3.Rolled Omelette

4.Wiener Sausage (In octopus shape)

5.Salt-Grilled Salmon

6.Onigiri (Rice ball) The most difficult dishes is Spinach Salad and Tempura.

However, at last we make it out quite successfully. My team has a Japanese sensei and 4 student. (1 Malaysian, 2 American, 1 England). We have a lot of great time and funny stuff together during the 4 hour cooking and eating period.

Here are the secret recipe for the Spinach Salad and Tempura:

A. Spinach Salad

Ingredient: Tofu 200g, parched sesame 3 tsp, white miso 40g, mirin 2tsp, sugar 2tsp, carrot 30g, salt 1/3tsp, konyaku 1/3piece.

1. Boil and cut spanish into 1cm length.

2. cut konyaku into 1cm length and frt it for 3min.

3. cut the carrot into 1cm length.

4. break tofu into pieces, boil them and let it cold.

5. mix the tofu with sasame paste, some sugar and little oil.

6. stir the mixture and mix it with konyaku, spanish and carrot.

7. Lastly stir the mixture untill they are mixed and smooth.

B. Tempura (Vege)

Ingredient: wheat flour 200ml, 1 egg, cold water 1 cup, potato 100g, carrot 50g, onion 50g, burdock 50g, trefoil leaves 30g, salt 2tsp.

1. cut the potato, carrot, onion, burdock and trefoil leaves into strips 4 or 5cm.

2. the burdock shall be put it water for 10 min to make is soft.

3. mixed 1 egg and small cup of water.

4. stir the mixture gently and add in 1/2tsp sugar and 1/2tsp salt.

5. stir the mixture and mix it with all the vegetables

6. stir the mixture till they mixed and smooth.

7. scope the mixture in a 6x6cm size and fry it in 200 degree celcius hot oil.

8. take the tissue to absorb the oil of the tempura after it is fried.

Here are the recipes of the traditional Japanese cuisine, hope u will like it.......

Kuzaha Onsen (Hot Spring)

2009-03-01T04:57:00.000-08:00

This is the front gate of the Kuzuha Onsen

Here are inside the Onsen, in front of the counter

Hara are Me, Jess & Carol

In order for you to enter the onsen, you need to but the entrance ticket from the vending machine. Besides, you can also buy the tower, soap, Yokata (Japanese people Cloth) and more thing from the vending machine.

They even have a canteen outside the onsen which you can have some foods after you finish enjoying your onsen.

Because today is weekend, there are lot of people there

There are fruits sales outside the onsen

The fruits is so attempting, we plan to buy some

Here are me & my Banana..

Photo of me with Sabrina & Carol

Onsen experiences near Kuzaha Station.

We walk there from seminar house. Since now is the winter, there are a lot of the "ume" flower along the way, it is really beautiful.

We need to buy ticket from the vending machine to enter the onsen. Onsen here is separate for boy and gal. As I entering the changing room, I am shock seeing the people around me naked. Right, this is Japan culture; all the people are naked in the onsen area. Initially, I felt a bit of uncomfortable but as everyone around me is the same then I care no more and prepare to enjoy my onsen.

Inside the onsen area there are a lot different onsen. The first one I tried is a moderate onsen as it is not too hot, then I went to a red onsen which is more hot compare to the previous one. After trying both, I went for a outdoor onsen. It is a beautiful pool as the design is like you are in the waterfall. I spend quite a long time in that onsen as I like it very much.

After that, I went off and take a rest at the sitting area. During that time, I notice that most of the people are old people and young children. There are just only a few of the teenager like me. However, it did not matter as I do enjoy myself. Then I went to the other pool in the outside area. It is the white colour pool which you can enjoy TV show while you are inside the pool. The people are quite relaxing.

Another onsen is the dark chocolate colour which has strong odour. I saw a packet of chocolate colour pack at the source of the water, maybe it is something like tea pack that used for onsen. Finally, there is a last facility at the outdoor onsen area. It was the steam bath. It is kind like a small hole for you to enter and it keep releasing the steam in the small cave room. I did not stay long, it take me maybe 6 min for the steam bath. Before I leave, I manage to try another onsen which is the cold onsen. The water will really make you freezing cold. Lastly, I went for the sauna, it is some sort like a hot movie teather as people enjoy TV show and sauna together.

It can be said as a good experience to try onsen in Japan. You will have lot of wonderful experience for sure. I think I will visit the onsen again soon.

My meal everyday (Foods)

2009-02-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

Okasan Ryori (Cooking)

This is the first sushi meal i ever had in Japan.

We have onigiri, Unagi, Salmon, Tamago, Prawn & Tofu..

This is the Japan Curry, different from Malaysia..

Soup, Sushi and Salad...Yummy...

This is my second Sushi meal,

a bit different from previous but is the same delicious...

Tsurashi Sushi : The name of the rice

Some raw fish meat, taste good with the "Soyu"

Takoyaki : made from cheese, cabbage, sausage & flour...

Onigiri with "Ume" inside. Taste better.

Simple Miso Soup

These is the Osaka famous food.

Kyozhi : Chinese Wantan (Look similisr, taste a bit different)

1 gohan (Rice), 2 side dishes & 1 soup...

There are onion and sardin meat on the top of the gohan.

My Japan university

2009-02-21T17:08:00.001-08:00

Japan Kansai Gaidai University

My student exchange university is Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan. I enrolled in the Asian Studies Program for one year, consisting of 2 semesters. Basically my uni is an international uni which consists of more than 700 international students every semester from all around the world. The buildings and facilities in my uni include 3 stories library, 2 building of classroom, 1 memorial hall, 1 administration building, 1 Gym, 3 cafeteria and student club building and etc.....

There are 3 cafes, 1 Mc D, I beattles Coffee House so we always switch around to have different food. The place we hang around often is the CIE Buildings (Centre of International Education) where all the foreign students gather and attend class there.

The courses that I am taking for this semester are:
1. International Business (Business in Asian Pacific Region)

2. Marketing (International Advertising)

3. Cross Cultural Psychology
4. Speaking Japanese Level 2

5. Writing Japanese Level 2

Also, I am compulsory to take Japanese Language. Previously I have 1 semester Japanese learning in my home uni therefore I got into Japanese level 2 out of all 7 level. Although it is level 2 but u should never underestimate it as there are so many test and assignment to do weekly.

However, I still can survive in this level 2 till now. I have planed my study and I guess I will be able to complete till Japanese level 3 upon completion of my study in Japan.

The view around my uni is very nice; we have a fountain and some parks over there. Last week even snowing in the compound of the uni, there was a great experience I ever had. Now is the winter so all the sakura or u called it cherry blossom still in sleeping condition but they will soon rise and show u their beauty.

Here are my friends who come with me from Malaysia.

Here are friends that i know during the course registration.

My host family and my Homestay

2009-02-21T17:07:00.001-08:00

These are the pictures of my house for my Home stay Program. My house is a three story house. Sound like a big house but the fact is the house is pretty small compared to Malaysia houses. The 1st floor of the house has a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. 2nd floor is my Okasan room which is a huge room with a big balcony for drying the clothes. Lastly, 3rd floor is my room and my big sister’s room.

Here is the look of the house from outside
This is the potrait of the politic leader

This is the portrait of the politic leader in the Japan Liberal Democratic Party (DLP). The Japanese people usually will put the portrait of the leader the like and they support in front of the house. Such condition is seldom seen in Malaysia.

Here is the corridor after you enter my house. The kitchen is on the left and the living room is on the right. In Japanese culture, after you coming back to the house, it is appropriate for you to say “Tadaima” to your family meaning that you have safely reach home. While when you want to go out, usually you will say “Itekimasu”. Then your family will reply you with “Iterashai”.

After I take off my shoe, usually I will wear on another in house shoe.

The floor can be very cold during winter, so that shoe is necessary to keep you warm.

Here is the staircase that leads to my room. You can find that the staircase is so small and narrow. It matched the size of the house.

Finally, here is the 3rd floor where me and my sister stay.

Ok, here is my room. The pictures shows my study table.

And this is my bed. I am having a normal single bed instead of a Japanese Tatami bed. This bed is warmer and softer compared to a Tatami bed. However, during winter it is very cold so I often use more than one comforter to keep myself warm.

My Japan room size is 6 Tatami bed size. It is like half of the size of my room in Malaysia but the view here is even better because I am in the highest floor. Through the window, I can see the mountain on my left and a temple on my right. During the spring, the temple is full with cherry blossom that make the view even better.

The furniture in my room include bed with warm comforter, study table with chair, heater, two cupboards and a carpet. Although it is small in size, it is sufficient.

I don’t have a air conditioner in my room however I do have a heater.
So this is the machine t hat helps me through the freezing winter in Japan.
Kind of small but it can be very useful during the cold time.

Here are the others shoes and socks that I wear in the house.

This is the bigger view of my room. Also, the window over there is the place that I can see awesome view of the mountain and sky.

Here is the house’s kitchen. Kitchen is the place where I spend most of my time in the other than my room. This is because the living room is use for teaching calligraphy purposes so the kitchen is the place where I gather with the host family to have meal together and have chatting with each others.

There is a refrigerator, toaster, microwave and an electric cooking spot in the kitchen. The dining table is also set up in the kitchen so it made the kitchen seem a little bit small.

Here are the cupboards that my Okasan keep all her precious set of dishes collection. It is something like the tea time cup and plate set with tiny teaspoon and small fork. She has plenty of different collections. It is used only to serve the guests that visit our house. Usually it will just be kept in the cupboard till when the guests visit us during some occasion.

Here is the bathroom. During winter, the atmosphere and the floor is freezing cold so a hot bath can really make you feel comfortable. In Japan, the water fee is very expensive and Japanese people do not take bath so often like Malaysian people. So I only take bath once in a day at the morning before I go to school. There is also a bath tab in the bathroom but I never use it because usually I just take a 15 minute shower.

There are two restrooms in my house. This is one of it while another one is better because it has the control buttons that has multiple functions. Some of my friends even make presentation about Japanese restroom in the class. So can you figure out how advanced the country is? even with their restroom…!!!

Tour to Expo Park

2009-02-21T17:06:00.001-08:00

Expo Park

Today I hang out with the local Japanese student to one of the famous park in Japan (Expo Park). There are 7 Japanese and 7 foreign students together for this trip.

In front of the Expo Park, there is an amusement park. There are lot of people in Expo Park but no one in the amusement park; it made me curious so I asked to my Japanese friend. To my surprise and horror, the park had been closed down because there is a tourist who chopped off his head when playing roller coaster several weeks ago. That really freaks me out...
It is great that we are not going to that park, hahaha....

First, we went take the view of the "ume" flowers that grow beautifully during winter, also we visited a few interesting places like the tea house, lake sides before we go for our BBQ lunch.

The BBQ lunch is very amazing. We have meat, chicken nugget, cheese sausage, potato, veggie likes cabbage, onion, corn; snack like kitkat, potato chips and etc. The best is we also have the Japanese spicy and sweet sources which make the food more delicious. Even after lunch we still have the instant popcorn that was my first time to see it and cook it as dessert.

BBQ in Japan is nice coz the environment is very cold

and the foods is hot enough to keep u warm.

Last but not least, after the lunch, we went for the food spa. It is free as it covered by the entrance fees. We have to gently wash our leg first before we entered the pool. Then we stay in the 40 degree water for almost 15 min to relax ourselves and let our feet take a good rest.

We end that day trip around with a baseball match.

All of us do enjoy our selves.......

First trip to Osaka

2009-02-21T17:05:00.004-08:00

Osaka (大阪) is the third largest city in Japan, the central metropolis of the Kansai region.

Osaka city is administratively divided into 24 wards (区), but in common usage the following divisions are more useful:

1. Kita (キタ, "north") — the newer center of the city, including the Kita ward (北区). Umeda (梅田) is the main terminal. Department stores, theatres and boutiques are clustered around JR Osaka Station and Umeda Station, which serves several city and private railways.

2. Minami (ミナミ, "south") — the traditional commercial and cultural centre, composed of the Chuo (中央区) and Naniwa (浪速区) wards. Namba (なんば, 難波) is the main railway station, and the surrounding area has the department store and showy shopping. Shinsaibashi (心斎橋) and Horie (堀江) is the fashion area. Dōtonbori (道頓堀) is the best place to go for a bite to eat.

3. Semba (船場) — straddles the line between Kita and Minami, and contains the business districts of Yodoyabashi (淀屋橋), Kitahama (北浜), Doujima (堂島) and Hommachi (本町).

4. Tennōji (天王寺) or Abeno ( 阿倍野) — generally means the area around JR Tennōji Station and Abeno Station of subway and Kintetsu lines. Tennōji Park and Zoo are in the area.

When you enter the restaurant, they will give you a credit card. After that you will found that there are a lot of hawker stalls inside the restaurant. It can be said as a restaurant complex as you can find souvenir shop, games shop, exhibition ship and others beside food in that place. There are total 5 floor in that building so you can slowly talk your time walk around there. When you want to leave, you need to pass through a counter. This is the place where they check how much you spend using the credit card and then only you pay them the amount.

Kani Doraku is one of the most famous crab restaurants in Osaka. The is a six and a half meter crab at the front of the restaurant is which its arms and eyestalks are mechanized to move. The foods inside is very delicious but this come with a good price too.

This is the sky tower in Osaka. You can see the whole city wiew from the top of the tower. It is beautiful especially during the night time when you can see the lighting in the city. Here is a dessert vending machine in Osaka, you rarely see it in other places

Me, Andy & Tsubasa at the Ramen Shop

We are now in Umeda Shopping Mall

I am checking the Osaka Travel Book

You cab find a lot of new fashion and clothing around the area in Osaka.

All the latest Japanese fashion is available here.

We are now in a Karaoke in Osaka. In Japan, their Karaoke usually have "Nomihodai" that means the drink buffet. So you can refill whatever the drink you like as long as you are still singing there.

We sing for around two hours and it cost us around 5oo yen per person.

This price is consider cheap already in Japan.

Here you can see how busy is the street in Osaka

Street in Osaka is always full with lighting and people

There are also plenty of night club in Osaka area. Usually it is open till early morning and then you can take the earliest train which is 5am to go back.

End of the day, we are now leaving. We are going to take a 30 minutes train

to back to Hirakatashi Eki.

First trip to Kyoto

2009-02-21T17:05:00.003-08:00

Kyoto

At the first weekend after we reached Japan, the CIE office in my university arrange a Kyoto trip for us. However, the trip is really casual. They just assign us, the foreign students with a group of local Japanese student that will be our tourist guide for the whole day. We are free to decide where we want to visit in Kyoto and what we want to eat either.

Here are the groups of Japanese friends that will take us around for the whole days.

There are total six of them.

This is the water in front of the temple. Usually people will wash their hand using the

water before they enter the temple to pray.

This is the Todaiji Temple in Kyoto

Hera is our group picture in Todaiji

After that, we went to Kiyomizu Dera which is one of the most popular temples to visit in Kyoto. Along the path to the temple, there are a lot of shops at both sides of the path. There are some souvenir shops, traditional clothing shops, Japanese sweets shop and restaurants. We have an enjoyable journey before we finally reach the top of the hill, where the Kiyomizu Dera Temple is located.

Night view in Kyoto. Less crowded compared to Osaka.
Here is the restaurant we have our dinner.

It is a “Tabehodai” which means eat all you can but only in 90 minutes.

We are free to take any of the foods ourselves at the counter there.

There are plenty of choices for the sources.

So what we need to do is put the food inside the milk to make it wet. Then we need to dip the foods with the nestum before we fry it in the hot boiling oil. We need to estimate correctly the time we fried the foods if not it will be black when we take it out.

Here are the foods that cooked by me. There are prawn, fish and potato.

Me, Andy & Tsubasa

Me & our tourist guides

Hera is the others two tourist guides

After that, we went to a entertainment centre to take the Purikura photo. The centre is so big with all six floors together. Every floor have the different entertainment machine.

There are more then 10 purikura behind me. The purikura fee is very cheap in Japan.

It is only just 400yen per machine for us to take the pictures.

Now, we have finished taking the pictures. We are cutting it into peices

so that everyone can have have some pieces of it.

Book of Farewell & Farewell in airport

2009-02-21T17:05:00.001-08:00

Book of Farewell....

This is an album my friends made me for my farewell...

Here are the patent right, no copies are allowed.

Here are the MEC challenge celebration for the Champion.

...My housemates pic...

My 20th Birthday, before i go for Japan...

Singapore Trip..

Uni life & happy memories...

The letters my friends wrote me before i left....

My different Photo Collection

Here are the writer's signature...

Airport Farewell

My last meal in Malaysia before depart is McD

Here are my matric friends, uni friends & my housemates...

Me sitting alone in front

My head will change shape soon...

...My family photos...

My best buddy are here....

seem like I am the shortest...

freeze, dont move...

Nope, i will still drink my coke...

Three of us again

Dont sad, i just go for one year, will see u guys soon.

Wah, they are going to throw me to the kastam???

...Take care my friends...

......................Friends Forever.....................

Toji Temple & free market

2009-02-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

Toji is the World Heritage, the highest wooden five-storied pagoda in Japan with a height of 57 meters, and there are a lot of Buddhist sculptures displayed in the temple's large main hall (kondo) and lecture hall (kodo). Toji Temple is one of Kyoto's many UNESCO world heritage sites.

On the 21st of each month, a lively flea market is held around Toji Temple from the early morning hours until around 16:30 in the afternoon. Various goods including clothes, shoes, tableware, sculptures, foods and plants are on sale.

Today 21st march, my friend and I went for this famous Toji Temple. We purposely go on this day to see how grand is the flee market. Hopefully, we can find some good stuff there.

From far, we can see the dark wooden five-storied pagoda standing out

among all the concrete buildings of modern Kyoto.

Here am I taking a pic with the five stories pagoda.

The pagoda looks great and awesome.

This is the main hall that full with praying people.

I am not sure what this building is for but people are not allowed to enter this building.

I guess it may be the rest house for the monk.

This is another small temple around Toji Temple that is less crowded.

This statue looks like an Ojisosan who protect the spirit of a person who died.

I guess people also pray for safety and happiness.

The people there also pray for this statue.

I am not sure what is his name but it look like a samurai.

Here are some others temples.

I guess all these small temples is also considered parts of the Toji Temple.

Here are some beads that made from wood. It can be used to make beautiful necklace.

This is small Japanese doll inside a small Japanese house. It look cute....

Here are the glass beads.

You can make it as a necklace and it really look nice.

These are the stuff that I like most among all the products in the flee market.
You can see how beautiful the color and the design of the image on the beads.

I really like it soooooooo much but they were too expensive.

Here are the bigger ones with much more complex design of image.

At the same time, they also come with a greater price.

Here are the Takoyaki in the ball shape.

And this is Okonomiyaki, both are famous foods in Osaka.

You should try all these if you have the chance to do so, if not sure you willl be regret.

Here are something like sticky cakes made from the rice flour. There are two flavors.

One is the original flavor, another one is the green tea flavor.

Here you can see clearly the ingredients of the Takoyaki.

Also the prices is stated there as well.

In this pic, you can see how Takoyaki is made. You just need to mix all the ingredients with the flour in the heating hole. Then you need to turn the flour ball to make sure it is cooked.

This pics showing an old man selling the red beans cakes.

The cake is in the fish shape and it has the red bean paste inside it.

This pics no longer show any foods. Let guess what is that?
It is actually the silk and these all are the silk with the worm in it.
So don’t think it is foods and eat it, be careful to look clearly.

Here are the Japanese chopsticks. There are plenty of colors and designs. However, the chopstick price is quite expensive. One pair of the chopstick cost you around 800yen.

Here are some snacks and dry foods.

These are Japanese dolls

These are some keychains

Hera are some cute, tiny animals made of cloth.

Red rabbit dolls with long ears

Here are some wood carving products. Mostly is the god statue.

These are good carve works for house decoration.

These are smaller wood carve

In Japan, they also have key chain.

They are made from clothes and woods.

There are photo's frames for sale.

These are the small, 3D photo frames.

These are uniforms are for boys and girls in elementary school.

Again, here are the Japanese dolls.

Again, here are some cute animals dolls.

Some wood craved dolls.

Here are the “kirei” mean beautiful “Okashi” mean sweet.

The sweet is wrapped in a nice looking paper to

make its look more beautiful and attempting.

Here are the sweet sticks. There are a variety types
with different colours and different character.

You can see how busy are the people in the flee market.

There are plenty of stores in front of the temple with a varity of products.

Here are the people buying the foods in the flee market.