Scent of a person...

I am not primping sort of person but more to a rustic style. Nevertheless, one thing that I am particular about is a smell. Pleasant smell is a must for me; needless to say that one shall never overdo it with half a bottle of a perfume. A ghastly scent of a person will left an irrevocable impression of their personality.

My skin complexion is always complex that anybody can sees many dots on the face, in addition to the sun-burned type of color which does not help either. Simply put it, I am wearing entirely the common South East Asian looked. Nevertheless, how bad it may sound, I will not change anything. With that, I referred the changes of our late MJ or the ever young, Mrs. Kutcher. In this case, on top of me being contented with myself (really?), my finance department will never allow it.

Anyway, I digress.

I thank God that I am having a sinus problem at the moment due to spring. The idea of me has to withstand the not-so-good aroma coming from someone in this small place is terrifying. The pretty faces can surely bestowed tranquility to any eyes from afar as a perfume can deceived an odor. But none can smokescreen the strong scent of something (which I don’t know what) but probably a result of being not so clean. Maybe a simple bath or fresh clean clothes will help?

The beauty shall come as a package with cleanliness, and a good fragrance is an added bonus.

Oh! I am such a coward (of not telling the truth, start a war and do my nostrils an ample justice?)…!

You were loved and missed...

In order to pursue my craving for knowledge, I left home about four years ago to be in Japan. However, two days before the journey took place, two of my beloved kinsmen, grandfather and step grandfather, left this world. The brunt of their departure made me distraught; nevertheless, my kin resented any idea of me retreated. Thus, my period of bereavement started with me adjusting my life in the new land.

Demise of the elder relatives is one of the news that I detested so much because it broke my heart, but it never stops coming.

Next thing I know, there were news of my grandmother, her sister in-law who live next door, her cousins, her friends, also of the paternal side and people who live in the same village; they went to meet their maker one after another.

Yesterday, a grandmother who was my mother's aunt and lived next door, she too passed away and that was only a few months before I go home.

I was there for them once in a blue moon when they were alive, but now I can't even be at their funeral. The thought did hurt so much.

Why do I care so much?

I am a traditional Malay village girl. Since I was 13 years old, either studying or working, I was always away. Yet, whenever there was opportunity arises, I would return home. And these were the people who would call upon me at home. They kissed me by the cheek likes I was a little girl they used to know. They pampered me with sweet and food made or bought. Although the word love was never been uttered, I felt that love was in the air.

I just wish that they know that they're loved and missed.

Ryokan with a garden

There are something about Japanese garden that captivates me. Possibly the tranquility, peacefulness as well as earthly warmth which it bore whenever I am in ones.

Last autumn, in my desperate attempted to stay at a ryokan (Japanese Inn style) and experienced Japan, my friend and I booked an inn in Kyoto. It was located outside Kyoto suburb. At 8pm, we took a bus as suggested by the inn's website and landed at no-where. God gracious, the owner knew some English. By phone, he successfully guided us to his house, which was converted into a ryokan.

It was dark, so I cannot see if there was a garden.

The next morning before we checked-out, there I was in the garden; joyfully snapped the pictures and began dreaming about my own future Japanese garden. If only I have all the zeal to go through the procedures, my garden will have a small bonsai sakura tree. Owh!

Orchids III

Yesterday, a new orchid plant known as Pleione formosana or Taiwan Pleione came-in to replaced the older ones because their flowers started to fall off.

Soba

Besides udon, the other type of Japanese noodles which is equally delicious is soba. In Malaysia we can try soba mee in secret-recipe outlet.

Soba is made of buckwheat and a thin type of noodles. More information in wikipedia.

During my previous visit to Kyoto, each of us tried a cold soba noodle with tempura set in a restaurant. I just love the simple yet stylish decoration next to our table; and of course the meals.

Sushi, will be missed...

The first time I came face to face with sushi was when the boss organized a welcome party for me...it seemed like ages ago. The sushi set was served and decorated nicely. But having the thought that I was about to eat raw fish meat, the desires flew away. After having one out of four, the taste-buds said no. Luckily, another south east asian originated student was there, my labmate (she was not in the picture). She finished the whole things plus the one that she ordered. I was very curious. What was so special about the sushi?

Not giving up the hope to understand sushi from the tastebuds of sushi lovers sense of taste, I never stop trying to have sushi after that one occassion. As destiny put me into this path of life, my boss love having party, regardless the agenda and we, the labmembers were always part of the troops. Apart from that, once awhile, I would joined other Malaysian students to have 100yen sushi. The 100yen sushis were a little different from the original sushi served in the old style Japanese restaurant. Besides the fast food style of serving, some of the 100yen sushis were added with mayonis or cheese; just like the one in sushi-king. 

Eventually, after many trials, I was able to eat sushi, and appreciate the freshness of the taste. And even started to miss them. 

The best and the costliest sushi set that I ever ate was in Niigata last year. Courtesy of the boss and other teachers, I paid nil for the dishes.

There were 10 types of sushi on the plate. The one on the most left of the plate was the most expensive and savory sushi. The meat was a tuna meat taken from a nearest part of the fish stomach. It contained a high amount of fat which made it delicious. The most right on the plate were pieces of fermented ginger. I am not very sure but it was said that having the fermented ginger in between the sushis help the tastebuds to differentiate the flavor of each sushi better. The yellow sushi wrapped with seaweed on the left side was a sushi of the sea urchin eggs (uni). The fresh one tasted better, but usually a little expensive than the one in 100yen shop. 

Meeting for an event....

We, Malaysians in Tokushima are going to held a one day football or soccer matches next week. About 9 universities will participate.

It is nothing official of sorts, only a mutual understanding among Malaysian students from the universities all over Japan, where each university will take turn to organized the event.

As the oldest single ;), I'll be helping the girls to co-ordinate the event; well, since all the guys want to play the games and win big prizes, we shall support. (^_~)

After all, I had submitted the manuscript to the journal and now is waiting for the editor's feedback. Acceptance or rejection; either one will comeback. Just brace myself! So, the endurance that I had gone through for the past 4 months shall be celebrate. This event is a good excuse to be out of the lab, ONLY on the weekend. *smile*

While cycling to Isma's house for a meeting today, I stop and took a few photos of Tokushima's Park. This park used to house a castle, so the sceneries of the outer part of park were similar to the other old Japan's castles.

Orchids II

He brought-in three more types of orchid plants....

Global chilling of Japan?

 

The Bizan after rain, a scenery through a window of my lab.

Snowfall during sakura season took place in Tokyo and upper part of Japan. The southern part, as in Shikoku island, experienced rainy days, plus the windy Tokushima made the temperature around here lower than usual. Based on the news report, this abnormality happened after 40 years, since the last time.

If Malaysia is enduring a global warming signature of higher temperature, compared to the common tropical weather; Japan is indeed having a global chilling. Scientists shall find a new name to describe these unusual phenomenons. 

 

 The picture is from MSN News

The uncommon scenery, cherry blossom and a carpet of snow

Snow during spring...

This spring, everyone was looking forward for the chirping of the birds and the smiley sun. Instead, Japan was again having winter. The weather had gone haywires with snow returning after cherry blossom season in some parts of the country. Other parts were having non-stop rain. Quite a weird scenario, but with some countries in the world were dealing with more harmfull experiences (earth quake?), this was not a problem at all.

It is wet everywhere, but seeing the green Bizan is like a seeing miracle in front of your eyes. Why?

Last two weeks, the mountain was full with flowers; white, purple, peach, and pink. Today, it was all green, fresh green.

Am I complaining? Not really. It is just that I love warm weather, and missed it dearly after almost 6 months. (^_~)....

Love of winter?

Winter is really not my favourite season. The coldness of the weather and the unstable emotional person (ME!) that I need to handle each and everyday, are two of the reasons for me to despise the season. But then again, there is one thing that I like about the season, beside snowing; it's the season of the red fruit (that's 2 thing that I like about winter? hhhmmmm). Not the rambutan (that I missed so much!) but the strawberry.

Being in Tokushima have their own advantage. Yes, there is no big shopping complex as in Kobe, Osaka or Tokyo, and difficult to go from one place or another because of  the limited transportation. For the transportation, a similar problem as in Malaysia but with one better condition where nobody can bet on the punctuality.

Opps! Again, I digress.

The price for vegetables and fruits are cheaper, that's the advantage of living here.

I tried my hand at photography....with strawberries posed as the models.

Hanami I

Japanese, I guess, knows how to enjoys simple things (but beauty) in life. Hanami party is actually about appreciating the lovely scenery of sakura flowers. Our lab organized a party at the Sebu Park (Sebu Koen), last two weeks. The day was nice with winds blowing up the flowers......