2009.10.10. Driving across Awaji & Kagawa

Last week I went for a drive to 淡路島Awaji island/Hyogo, and 香川Kagawa located on Shikoku island, with my family. Our weekend-small trip plans always come out of the blue and the destinations are decided just about 5 minutes before we leave our home, and usually, with no detailed plan.I like it though.

Click the pictures below to see the larger versions:)

This is 明石海峡大橋 Akashi-Kaikyo bridge, the world's longest bridge which links Kobe on the mainland of Honshu and Awaji island.The length of the bridge is about 4km. 

This one is 大鳴門橋 Onaruto-Bridge,connecting Awaji island with Shikoku island

Our route map:]

栗林公園 Ritsurin Garden / Kagawa (栗林 chestnut grove) 
 This garden is one of the most famous and most beautiful historical parks in Japan. This park contains a tea house, various  exhibits , as well as various folk art and craft items for sale.It generally takes one to two hours to walk to see through the park.There are various bridges,pine trees, footpaths and small hills which offer a beautiful view of the park and the surrounding scenery, most notably Mt. Shuin 紫雲山 at the western border of the park.

There are thousands of Koi in every small lake in the park.They were beautiful yet huge, which kinda scared me =s

A view from the hill in Ritsurin Garden. Beautiful, isn't it? 

A view of a beautiful Sunset from Awaji PA

A night view of Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (called pearl-bridge)

It was such a beautiful, and  a perfect fall day for driving.We saw some small fall festivals being held to celebrate a good harvest on the way in Shikoku, which was quite interesting for me cause they were celebrating in their own local,traditional and unique ways.I've never experienced to grow things like grains, but from their performance, I could see how much having a good harvest supports their lives and how important it is to them.

It's officially getting colder. All the leaves in the University campus have been turning yellow, as if they were getting ready for winter. People enjoying reading and playing in the park makes me fell happy and relaxed. I just love this atmosphere and all the smells of fall. 

Would like to see more photos? Click here!

Today's proverb - Don't put all your eggs in the man.

Something that annoys me

It's Wednesday! No class! Woohoo!

I was like "" last night 'cause I had been quite busy with some school stuff and hadn't slept enough these days, so today I was going to sleep as much as I liked.I was so excited,and was really looking forward to it last night.

But when I woke up this morning, it was just 6:00am!

Why then did I wake up so early?

Well, I was forced.

And now I'm feeling like...""

ARGH! WHO IN THE HELL TRIES TO MESS UP MY PEACEFUL WEDNESDAY MORNING?!

Well now I know who it is.

It's my next-door neighbor.

I woke up with kind of a headache this morning.Actually it was not a headache, but I felt like my head was being hit by something like a dull thud.I looked at the clock and it was still 5:45am, so I wanted to stay in bed and tried to get back to sleep again, but I couldn't.The thud didn't stop at all, and it was still lasting even after 15 mins. Finally I couldn't stand it and got up, and went downstairs rubbing my eyes.My parents were already awake and were having breakfast,but they were complaining about something about my next-door neighbor.The sound was still lasting without a break, so I asked them what it was from.Then my mother told me to take a look outside.When I saw outside from the window, I felt like "W.H.A.T.?!" There was a boy kicking a soccer ball to the wall - with all his strength.For the record, it's still just 6am. Can you believe it? Who in my neighborhood would be awake at 5:45 am? Why don't anyone in his family care about it and tell him to stop it?

What made me shocked was not just that.After breakfast, I went outside again to get today's newspaper. And what I saw there was - The boy and his father kicking a soccer ball to the wall of the house across the street together! At 6:30 am!

Oh my.What a parent and child.I was too shocked by their stupidity to say a word. Like father, like son. I seriously tried to go to complain them, but my mother told me not to, for decency's sake.But who cares?

So anyway I glared at them for show instead.

Since the family moved in my next door about 4 months ago, we have been often pissed off by their behaviors. There are 5 people, parents and their 2 kids(I heard they were a 15 year old girl and the 11 year old soccer boy), and 1 baby. I don't see them so often in my daily life but, to be honest, I don't have a good impression on them.They never greet anyone,even when I say hi to them.The parents are still so young,and they are both heavy smokers. The father look like a member of bike gang and so do their kids.The kids' hairs are dyed light brown,which is strictly prohibited in their school.Of course I know that I shouldn't judge people just by their appearance though...Sometimes we are really annoyed by the kids making a racket with their friends in their room or on the street, unpleasant audio music played loudly all day long, and also we often hear the young couple are having quarrels at night time.We're worried that, when the kids become around high school-age, they will bring some fellow and my neighborhood is going to be like a favorite haunt of gangs...Is this just a groundless fear?Well, I really hope so.

I was still feeling bad about my awakening being disturbed, but I've just found something that makes me feel even better on Youtube.So random haha...But this is amazing!

Today's Proverb - After dinner sit a while,after supper walk a mile.

One Week to go!

Something that I've been really looking forward to these days.

A picturebook that almost all of you probably read once when you were still just a kid.

A story whose world of fantasy everyone has probably been fascinated by.

That is this,"Where The Wild things are."
As you probably know,the movie version of this story is coming out on Oct.16th.


Since this is one of my most favorite stories that I read when I was a child, when I first heard this news 2ish months ago, I got really really excited.And now, the day is getting closer.I still remember clearly when my teacher first read this picturebook for us at the kindergarten, and how I got horrified by the story. I would often see the "wild things" in my dream, which made me cry. I was a little too kid to understand its world of fantasy. But even after such a horrible experience, for some reason,this story made me want to read again.And since then, I would read the book every time I went to the library. The unique touch of the pictures, and something which lies behind the whole story and makes me warm-hearted. I don't really remember how many times I've read it so far. But it has been my most favorite picturebook all time. And it will be, forever.

Yes,I get to see the world of "wild thigs" that I once dreamed about(Of course I still do!) in 7 days!

So soon!Can't wait!

Mon,Oct.16
EVERYBODY DON'T MISS IT!


Today's Proverb - A constant guest never welcomes.

Goodbye Summer '09!

September 27・28th, 2009. At the end of the long summer vacation.

We went to Shiga and Kyoto for a seminar camp.On the first day, we, the 12 seminar members, had a joint session at 立命館大学 Ritsumeikan University,a private school in Shiga prefecture(next to Kyoto).At the session I was supposed to give a presentation about a topic related to the Constitution of Japan.So I worked very hard to prepare for it before going to the camp. Before going I was feeling really nervous about the presentation, but at the same time I was excited and looking forward to it because this would be the first time for me to visit a private school(I'm currently going to a national university in west Japan).

When we got to the University, we were speechless when looking around the campus. I felt as if i were somewhere abroad...Then everyone started taking photos, just like people fresh from country do.

Here are some photos of the campus of Ritsumeikan University.

(Click the pictures below to view the larger version!)

It doesn't look like Japan...

Super huge!

A dorm in the campus.We had a presentation & stayed that night here

Our room - Only 600 yen(6.5 USD)/day!Cheap!

School Cafeteria - SUBWAY in the campus of a University?!
Oh dear, Private unis ROCK!

Click here to view more photos

Everything was huge, new, ultramodern,clean, and beautifully ordered.Everything was different from our University.We were a bit culture-shocked by the gap between public schools and private schools.You might think it's not that a big deal though.I guess probably this is just because especially our university is quite old. But anyways, I felt like I got a little refined throughout this visit, in many ways.My presentation went well. The Ritsumeikan's seminar members somehow looked more matured than us,despite being the same age as we are.But they were all very friendly to us.We had a party together at that night.Though we met each other for the first time on that day, I made lots of friends from the university.


On the 2nd day morning we left the campus and headed to Kyoto for sightseeing. We didn't have much time(plus traveling in a group always takes time -_-) so we couldn't visit so many places...we could only see around the station.But I just LOVE Kyoto! There are many places worth visiting.
Pictures:)!

Kyoto Tower, in front of Kyoto station.131m

Yasaka Shrine

Everyone=)

The beautiful street view of Gion

Kiyomizu temple

Click here to view more photos of Kyoto

I took so many pictures. I hope these pics will make you want to visit Kyoto one day(^-^) Though it was raining, there were lots of people and tourists. I hope that Kyoto will be a beautiful ancient city that is loved by people all over the world forever.


My long long Summer 09' was over, and school started just 2 days ago. I'll be quite busy during this semester, but I'll keep on writing as many posts as possible!

Today's Proverb - A bicycle can't stand on its own because it's two-tired.