July 21st, 2008 ideru
I am so RED…. besides the dragonboat practice/competition I joined last year, I’ve never spent whole day in the water in middle of summer for the past 2-3 years. Together with some old friends and acquaintances from Kitano Church, we went to Misaki area to enjoy a day in the beach and pool.
The beach is not that inviting compared to the beaches I’m used to back home:D. It was full of rocks, but seeing the children enjoying the water made me decide to take a little dip but the was so refreshing and sooooo cold that I ended up staying too long. Also you can really see lots of fish , they are so close that you could almost touch them. If jelly fishes did not start popping, I would have stayed longer 
Then after lunch we decided to move to a nearby pool, it was a hot day but the water in the pool is cold that I stayed till around 3 in the afternoon. So you see its not something to get surprised to get sunburned
so now my face is ssoooo red and it feels so hot, but i had soo much fun playing in the water
Posted in Blog365, Fun Stuff, Japan Trips, Life In Japan | No Comments »
July 18th, 2008 ideru
by DAI SIJIE
1971: Mao’s Cultural Revolution is at its peak. Two sons of doctors sent to ‘re-education’ camps, forced to carry buckets of excrement up and down mountain paths, have only their sense of humour to keep them going, although the attractive daughter of the local tailor also helps to distract them from the task at hand.
The boys’ true re-education starts, however, when they discover a hidden suitcase packed with the great Western novels of the nineteenth century. Their lives are transformed. And not only their lives: after listening to the stories of Balzac, the little seamstress will never be the same again.
” A woman’s beauty is a treasure beyond price.”
– Balzac
I am not familiar with Mao’s Cultural Revolution and know very little about Chinese History so I am not going to touch on that matter.
Instead I find it really touching when the two friends found books and their thirst for it. I guess we can find the importance of things when its not available to us anymore, in this case books. It’s kinda sad really that in our era, books and other type of knowledge is just within our grasp and yet we take it for granted.
This book is very easy to read and yet full of life.
Posted in Blog365, Book Challenge, Books | 2 Comments »
July 17th, 2008 ideru
just some words I bumped while reviewing some japanese
にこにこ - nikoniko - with a smile , smiling
よれよれ - yoreyore - crumple
can you try and make some ways to use them??
Posted in Blog365, Nihongo | No Comments »
July 16th, 2008 ideru
After nth year of being idle, I finally remember I have a multiply account . I’m still in the process of updating it, but you can find it here : Ideru Multiply.
On the other hand, I’ve recently watched this very cool anime called Mushishi.
From wiki:
The story features ubiquitous creatures called Mushi that often display supernatural powers. Mushi are described as beings in touch with the essence of life, far more basic and pure than the grotesque creatures we are accustomed to. Due to their ephemeral nature most humans are incapable of perceiving Mushi and are oblivious to their existence, but there are a few who possess the ability to see and interact with Mushi. The Mushi depicted in the anime look very similar to floaters.
One such person is Ginko (ギンコ, Ginko?), the main character of the series. He employs himself as a Mushi master (蟲師, mushi-shi?), travelling from place to place to research Mushi and aid people suffering from problems caused by them. The series is an episodic anthology in which the only common elements among episodes are Ginko and the various types of Mushi. There is no over-arching plotline.
It’s really a cool anime, so don’t miss it
Posted in Anime, Blog365, Fun Stuff | No Comments »
July 14th, 2008 ideru
It seems I no longer need to banged my head in understanding all the kanji, a friend found an online translation of Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora ( 黄昏の岸、暁の天） [The Shore at Twilight, The Sky at Daybreak]. The continuing story of Taiki, and Tai Kingdom.
Narrates the quest of Risai, the general of Zui Province to Kei Kingdom to ask for the Kei’s Empress for help.
How Tai Kingdom’s throne ended vacant one year after a new King was appointed by Taiki.
How must Youko , Empress of Kei, react to such a cry for help when Heaven mandates that crossing to another kingdom no matter how noble your intention is one of the gravest sin to be committed by any ruler. Youko must somehow find a way to extend help to Tai without violating any of the precepts from Heaven and putting her own Kingdom in danger.
In the anime we where left hanging as to what really happen Taiki. In this 2 volumes, everything is explained. I love the part where all the Kirin put their efforts to finding Taiki and having the rest of the Kingdoms extend their help without violating any rule.
Will they be able to find Taiki? Will Taiki be able to remember who he was after 6 years of being missing ?
Although the book focuses in the search of Taiki, it does yet says whether Tai Kingdom will be restored or they will be able to find the King. The Chronicles of Tai is far from over..
Posted in Blog365, Book Challenge, Books | 1 Comment »
June 27th, 2008 ideru
A Dirk Pitt Adventure.
When a tsunami hit a Spanish Galleon, all trace of a golden hoard greater that that of any pharaohs vanished into history. Until NUMA agent Dirk Pitt dives into an ancient sacrificial pool far into the Andean jungle in order to rescue two archaeologists, and plunges into a vortex of corruption, betrayal and death. A sinister crime syndicate has traced the long-lost treasure-worth almost a billion dollars- from the Andes to the banks of a hidden underground river flowing beneath a Mexican desert. Nothing will stop their ruthless and murderous drive to recover the gold. Nothing, that is, until Pitt and his team place themselves in path of danger.
My very first Dirk Pitt book, and it was an action-pack read plus a little background into Andes culture and history.
It was like reading another Indiana Jones adventure + James Bond with all its gadgets.
It is a book you can put down when you start reading it, you just can’t stop till you reach the very end of Pitt’s adventure. An the author Cussler is also in the book as one of its minor character, just have to read it first to know where they met him
I guess I’ll be looking for more Dirk Pitt adventure now, I can’t wait to get my hands on them.
An entry to Orbis Terrarum for US.
Posted in Blog365, Book Challenge, Books | 1 Comment »
June 24th, 2008 ideru
Last sunday, as I was lazying around the house , somewhere in Osaka someone is having slashing spree.
It is scary to think that something like this happens in one of the busiest station in Osaka. Three people were injured fortunately no one died or have any serious injuries.
On the other hand a bored 16-year old high school student, think that the Akihabara-killer is a cool guy, and wants to imitate him. Goodness, what is happening to them.
I’m not sure if having a shrink would help, but maybe they should get one.
Posted in Blog365, Life In Japan, Life in General | 2 Comments »
June 22nd, 2008 ideru
it is actually both. its an amphibian vehicle :p. have not rode on one but want to try one of these. don’t know yet where in osaka you can ride on this one, but it is really an interesting vehicle.
took the picture on my way to osaka mint early this spring while walking along the riverbank in sakuranomiya.
Posted in Blog365, Japan Trips | No Comments »
June 21st, 2008 ideru
This week theme is Water.
I love this shot of of the river in sakuranomiya peeping in a blooming sakura (cherry) tree.
Have a great weekend Everyone!!!
Posted in Blog365, Photo Hunt | 3 Comments »
