เราเข้าใจอะไรผิดไปป่าวหว่า

วันนี้ขึ้นชื่อ MSN เป็นชื่อนี้ แล้วมีคนตกหลุมมาทักถามว่าเราเป็นอะไรไปรึเปล่าซะหลายคน บางคนก็ถามว่า "ใคร.. ใคร.. ใครไปตกหลุมรักใคร".... ก็.. นะ.. คิดกันไปนู่น....นเลย จริงๆไม่มีอะไรเลยยยย แค่งงๆเฉยๆ

เรื่องมันมีอยู่ว่า... เมื่ออาทิตย์ที่แล้วไปคุยกะอาจารย์เรื่องงานวิจัยมา แล้วก็เลยคุยต่อไปเรื่องกลับเมืองไทย อาจารย์ก็ว่า "เออ งั้นก่อนกลับก็แวะมาเจอกันซักทีก่อนก็ได้ เผื่อว่าจะมีอะไรคุย ผมจะอยู่ที่ห้องช่วงต้นอาทิตย์" เราก็ "ค่ะๆๆ" ไป แต่ในใจคิดว่า นี่เราจะต้องเอาอะไรมาคุยอีกเหรอเนี่ยะ วันนี้คุยไปก็เหมือนจะรู้เรื่องกันแล้วนา ด้วยเหตุนี้ เราก็เลยคิดว่า สงสัยหมายความว่าเราจะต้องสรุปไปคุยกะแกใหม่อีกรอบ (คือมันมีอะไรต้องขัดเกลากันนิดหน่อย จากตอนที่คุยกันคราวที่แล้ว) แถมอาจารย์แกก็ให้หนังสือมาหนึ่งเล่ม แน่นอนเป็นภาษาญี่ปุ่น เราก็นะ.. เอาละกัน ไหนๆก็จะต้องไปเจอแกก่อนกลับแล้ว เพราะฉะนั้นก็อ่านๆไปหน่อย สรุปไปให้แกดูหน่อยดีกว่า ว่าจะเอาไปใช้กะงานวิจัยยังไงได้บ้าง ก็รีบปั่นๆๆๆๆ อ่านแหลกลาน (จริงๆเขียนเวอร์ไปนิด เพราะก็เล่นหนีไปเที่ยวมาทั้งเสาร์ ทั้งอาทิตย์ที่ผ่านมา แถมก็ยังต้องสะสางอะไรนิดหน่อยก่อนกลับเมืองไทย คำว่าแหลกลานนี่คงจะเห็นภาพได้ เนื่องจากเป็นเพราะเวลาลนก้นนี่เอง ไม่ได้หมายความว่าอ่านได้เยอะหรอกนะ) ก็เอาเป็นว่าสปีดอ่านไปได้สี่สิบห้าสิบหน้าภายในเวลาสองวัน (อย่าลืม.. ว่าเป็นภาษาญี่ปุ่น อ่านทีนึงนี่ดิกฯกระจายเต็มโต๊ะ โชคดีมีคอมพิวเตอร์เข้ามาช่วย ทำให้หาคำที่อ่านไม่ออกได้ง่ายขึ้นหน่อย)
จริงๆวันนี้ก็ยังอ่านไม่จบหรอก แต่ก็วันพุธแล้วอ่ะนะ ก็เลยเอาก็เอา แวะไปหาอาจารย์ซักหน่อย

ก๊อก ก๊อก ก๊อก... (เีสียงเคาะประตู)

อาจารย์ "เชิญครับ"

ได้รับคำอนุญาตก็ค่อยๆเปิดประตูไป เอาหน้าโผล่ไปนิดนึง พอให้เห็นลาดเลาว่าอาจารย์ทำอะไรอยู่

"เอ่อ....เอ่อ.... ขอโทษที่มารบกวนโดยที่ไม่ได้แจ้งให้ทราบก่อน อาจารย์พอจะสะดวกมั้ยคะ"
(ก็ไม่รู้จะถามไปทำไม ก็ภาพที่เห็นตรงหน้าคือ อาจารย์นั่งตรวจข้อสอบกองเบ้อเริ่มอยู่ แล้วก็หันหน้ามามองแบบ มันมาทำไมตอนนี้ฟะ เราเห็นก็อึ้งๆ แต่ก็ไหนๆก็เปิดประตูห้องเข้าไปแล้ว ก็พูดไปตามธรรมเนียมล่ะ ก็ในหัวมันนึกอย่างอื่นไม่ออกว่าจะพูดอะไรดีนี่หว่า)

อาจารย์ "มีอะไรรึเปล่า" (ทำหน้างง)

(แต่เรางงยิ่งกว่า ก็ไม่ได้บอกให้เรามาเจอก่อนกลับเหรอไงเนี่ยะ พอมาแล้วอาจารย์ดันทำหน้างงๆใส่เราซะอีก)
(ในหัวนึกอะไรไม่ได้แล้ว นึกแต่ว่าต้องเอาตัวเองออกไปจากตรงนี้ให้เร็วที่สุด)

"เอ่อ... จะมาถามอาจารย์นิดเดียวค่ะ.... ว่าหนังสือ...เอ่อ.. หนังสือที่อาจารย์ให้ยืมมาเมื่ออาทิตย์ที่แล้ว... เอ่อ.. ขอเอากลับไปเมืองไทยด้วยได้มั้ยคะ..." (กว่าจะหลุดออกไปหมดประโยค...แทบแย่)

อาจารย์ "เออ.. เอาไปได้ เอากลับไปด้วยก็ได้ ไม่มีปัญหา"

"โอเคค่ะ ... มาถามแค่นี้แหล่ะค่ะ... ขอบคุณค่ะ .. ลาล่ะค่ะ"

แล้วเราก็หนีออกมาในทันที

เดินกลับจากห้องอาจารย์ก็แบบว่า... แล้วที่อาจารย์บอกเรามาเมื่ออาทิตย์ที่แล้วมันคืออะไรล่ะเนี่ยะ.. เราเข้าใจอะไรผิดไปเองรึเปล่า....??

Crazy weekend

our great BBQ spot
Well... as you know... we had that party on Friday for p'Oat. Saturday - I went in town to get some stuff to bring back home with me. Then, a supposed-to-be-by-a-river BBQ party among the Malays and 2 Thais (me and p'Ton). Like Ai Ling said... it is the funniest and saddest BBQ I have ever attended. There were so many reasons why it didn't work though -- the strong wind, the too-small grill, the too bad chacoals ... and the unexperience us. None of us has started the BBQ fire here in Japan before, I think. At least I haven't. We tried so many ways for hours to get the fire to start, but obviously we didn't succeed. It got pretty dark out and there were no lights by the riverbank, so we decided to go back to p'Ton's place to have the house BBQ party instead. It was indeed a good idea to go home. We were saying that the next time you want to do the ourdoor BBQ, get some Japanese to help us. They are really good at BBQing!

Kamo Riverbankthe problematic fire!This guy probably finished his book while we were trying to get the fire to start!

Right after the party, Sheuo-Hui and I went to Kobe. Yeah, in the middle of night -- going to Kobe. We had an appointment with Mary, my great friend from AYF (my Japanese Language School). I got to meet with Nini and Alay, our kohai from AYF as well (รุ่นน้อง or lowerclassmates -- depending on how you wanna call that). It has been a really long time since I last see them two. It's so nice to catch up with them again. You guys good luck on your exams!!!

On Sunday, we intended to go to a Bazaar with Nona, one of Mary's friends. But I think they are jinxed. There was no Bazaar that day. =P So we walked, walked, walked and walked the whole day through Kobe's shopping streets. I think we walked the whole city already. haha. Btw, Nona, don't worry, we all spent some money. ;-)
our lovely Nonado you think I ate all these? (please don't say YES to that!!) =PSheuo-Hui and Mary
I always have good fun times in Kobe. But it is always a tiring trip. I crashed right after I got back home that day... ^^

one fine day

Today was another one fine day for me. :-)
We hold a special soccer match for p'Oat who is leaving upon completing his Ph.D. next month. I, of course, didn't get involved in the playing part, but cheering only. I always wonder how could these guys get all the energy to run around a round ball for that long without looking that tired. I would be way too exhausted if I had to be in the heated field for that long.

on the runNott knows what he was doing! =PChe's super safe

P'Oat and Che resting

Afterward, we went to 'MADANG' for dinner. The food was... hmm.... alright, I think. But their dessert was sooooo great!

at Madang

kampai!!
Then, we went to chill chill by Imadegawa (the delta where 2 rivers merge) for drinks. Our guitarist came all the way from Osaka to join the party. So we reminisiced our university times when we drank, chatted, slipped out some jokes, and sang along together. The place, the people, the weather were just perfect! Too bad, rain called it a night afterward.

crazy p'Oat, p'Chu and Chereminiscing old times
Though it eventually rained, it was a really great day!

Sweet dreams everyone!!

【電車男 The Train Man】

Synopsis
Adapted from the best selling book "Train Man," this is the true life story of a geeky young man's romance with a beautiful young lady. The book is based on actual messages posted on a huge internet discussion board in Japan. A million internet users followed the Train Man's romance, giving him advices on how to impress the girl and take her out on dates. Train Man belongs in the so-called "Akiba-kei" category: a term that describes nerdy looking men who hang out at Akihabara (the famous electronics area in Tokyo) all day, who are obsessed with video games and computers.

After a long day working, Saori rides the train home only to be involved in an incident that would change her life. Inside the train, Saori is harassed by a heavily drunken man. When the drunk reaches to touch her face, a young man stands up and says, "S... stop that!"

The young man is 23-year old Tsuyoshi Yamada. He is the typical nerd obsessed with anime and computer games. He always hangs out in Akihabara, the electronics center in Tokyo. Tsuyoshi has no interest in fashion and other trends, and his age equals the number of years he hasn't had a girlfriend. He works as a salesman at an employment agency but is always scolded by his boss.

The only things Tsuyoshi is usually interested in are anime and video games. But something about Saori's beauty lit a fire in his heart, giving him courage. When he's looking for words to apologize, Saori hands him her date planner. "I want to return a favor, so can you write down your address?" Tsuyoshi is taken back. He has been humiliated a thousand times by women, but never appreciated, especially from a beautiful woman like Saori. Saori has a sweet smile on her face as she watches Tsuyoshi write down his address with shaking hands

He has never had a girlfriend in the past and is at a loss about what to do. That is when he visits a huge internet discussion board for some help. Tsuyoshi immediately becomes the center of attention. Other computer freaks reply one after another. "Call her and say thanks!" "No, it's better to keep it a memory." Reading the heated discussion, Tsuyoshi is touched that so many people are supporting him even though they don't know each other at all.

What happens when Saori finds out what the real Tsuyoshi is like? How will she react when she discovers she has become a heroine on an Internet site?

source: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Densha_Otoko

*************

電車男 (Densha Otoko) is a very famous novel-based drama here now. I heard about it from a lot of people around me, but didn't get a chance to see it until the last episode. I found it a pretty cute drama though. It has something in itself.

The point that I am writing about it now is that I just watched a TV program. They wonder how many percent of the Akihabara Men would come and rescue women in trouble just like Densha Otoko. You imagine a guy harassing a girl in the remote street. Would you go in and help?

The investigation outcome... came out that... out of 100 men in Akihabara who happened to witness the incidence, there were actually 69 of them who stopped and helped! 69%!! I'm writing this in surprise. It really puts a smile on my face... cuz that means there are still a lot of kind people out there! ;-)

A guy and a bicycle!

I just got rid of an aircon that has been sitting in my house unused for a year. I figured it is still in the right timing since it's still pretty hot here at the moment. If not, aircon will mean nothing until when summer arrives next year.

Anyways, what amazed me was that the guy interested in taking this aircon came to my house by bicycle. He said he would take 2 rounds to bring the aircon and its accessories back to school, which is around 10 minutes bicycle ride one way. I guess it is something in guys cuz I cannot picture myself taking a feel-like-20-kilos aircon on a bike. I probably tip over by the first corner I turn!! So dangerous and nearly impossible for me. (Or i should say it is actually impossible! =P ) Well, the guy came back the second time and I brought down the rest of the stuff. You know what kind of bicycle he rides? It was a mountain bike! Absolutely no place to hang anything except from the handles! I couldn't imagine how he brought back the aircon on his first ride?!?!? Just something amazing for the morning ;-)

rainy days and sundays

What happens when Rainy Day falls on Sundays?

1. Simply can't go out anywhere. At least I can't ride a bicycle holding an umbrella in such a strong rain and wind without getting myself all wet!

2. Can't open the window since water will just flow into my room.

3. Can't do laundry. No dryer here, so can't dry my clothes without sunlight!

4. leftovers festa! -- remember... I can't go grocery shopping

what else??

5. probably can't think right! haha =P

well... yeah... what was pretty much happened to me yesterday. Too bad it was not Monday, otherwise I would have sung '.......Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down......'

computer fixing mania

Finally we could fix the new computer!!! yippee!! I never thought installing Window XP English version over a Japanese version could give us this much trouble.Thank you everyone for helping na ka.... My dad will be a really happy dad now :)

Reunited with Keiko

I was so happy to get an email from Keiko, one of my Japanese friends whom I haven't seen in ages. We actually first met at the student conference held in St.Gallen, Switzerland during the summer of the year 1999 (wasn't it?) Keiko was a roommate with one of my friends who went together to join the program. That was how we got in touch. We saw each other once again in Bangkok, then one or two times in Japan afterward. It didn't occur to me it was December 2001 when we last met. My gosh... nearly 4 years already!! And she doesn't change at all! ;-) Anyways, she came over to Kyoto with her man and we just had to meet up. We were so happy we reunited again. Definitely I'll go see you in Tokyo the next time I am there! (and that will be my treat too!!)

Keiko and her humongous dessertmy chocolate wafflethe three of us (too bad it's a blur)

Then....ta tan~~.... I just have to take a few more shots to test my new camera!!! yahoo!
These two are from Kamo River when I was on my bicycleKyoto City Hall -- I just realized there is a name in Thai too!

กอด

Now you know who my favourite singer is!!

Title: กอด
Artist: บุรินทร์ บุญวิสุทธิ์
Album: เพลงพิเศษจากนิตยสาร mars

คำบางคำ จากคนบางคน ไม่อาจจะบอกเรื่องราว
คำบางคำ แค่เอ่ยเบาๆ ก็ยังว่ายากเกินไป
ใจบางใจ เก็บคำเป็นพัน ที่อยากจะสื่อถึงใจ
ก็คงต้องใช้ เวลามากมาย เอ่ยคำเป็นพันที่มี

* ไม่รู้ว่าเธอรู้ไหม หัวใจของฉันในตอนนี้
ล้านคำดีๆ ไม่จำเป็นต้องมี เพียงแค่เธออยู่ตรงนี้

** และเมื่อเธอกอดฉัน ไม่ต้องบอกว่ารัก ก็รู้ได้ทันที
หัวใจรู้สึก ถึงอะไรดีๆ เมื่อใจได้ใกล้ใจ
และเมื่อเธอกอดฉัน ก็ไม่มีคำไหนให้ฉันต้องบรรยาย
แล้วเธอว่าไง แล้วเธอรู้สึกไหม เมื่อฉันกอดเธอ

( ซ้ำ * , ** )

Kyoto's famous DAIMONJI (大文字送り火)

If you are a visitor to Kyoto, you probably recognize a Japanese Character 「大」written on the mountain to the eastern side of Kyoto. Have you ever wonder what it is?

Every year at this time (August 13－16, the total of 4 days) is what known as 'O-bon' in Japanese. It is a Buddhist event in which they believe the spirits of their ancestors return to the world to visit them. (something similar to เช็งเม้ง of Chinese tradition.) They would lit up the welcome fire (most of the time being paper lanterns, candles, etc.) on the 13th, then a farewell fire on the 16th to send the spirits back to their world.

Daimonji is the farewell fire being lit up on the mountains surrounding Kyoto City. According to the story of Obon, there is no written document on when, who and for what purpose there is a Daimonji Ceremony. But it has been carried out years after years and eventually became a symbol of Kyoto for Obon festival. It is well-known as being Kyoto's Obon Cerebration.

Currently, there are 5 mountains with 6 Japanese Characters written on, Dai「大文字」, Myo & Ho「妙法」, Boat Shape「船形」, small Dai「左大文字」and a Shrine Gate「鳥居形」. The story said that before Meiji-era, there were actually 5 more mountains 「い」、「一」、「竹の先に鈴（竿に鈴）」、「蛇」、「長刀」to make up 10 farewell fire mountains. But the characters somehow were naturally covered up during the time when Obon celebration was not permitted for several years some time ago.

I missed seeing Daimonji last year, so I made a promise to myself to have to see it this year. I have to thank p'Nha for letting me go up her faculty's building's rooftop which allowed us to see all the 5 mountains (see the mark on the attached map), though some was too far to catch a good view. (Most of the places you can only see one or two.) Also my camera is really in a poor condition. The pictures here are the best you can get out of it. (How I wish my new camera arrives sooner!)

Japan Tent (Finale')

Last post about Japan Tent experience. Someone told me I have turned a movie into mini-series. Well, I spent 8 days there with nearly non-stop actitivies. How could I fit all those in a page, right? ^^ The story for today will be my last day in Kanazawa, an experience with Ikebana (flower arrangement) and the farewell party. Let's get on the run...

Day 6 (Aug 3)

We were lucky to be placed in flower arrangement group activity since it required us only 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. (those being placed in other group activities had to stay for at least 4-5 hours. Some had to gather at 9 a.m. and wouldn't get out until late evening!) Though I would like to try other craft experience, I rather enjoy our fun free time with the host family.

Okasan and Kotsue took Maghae and I to the 21st century art museum (aka Marubi Museum) in the morning. The special exhibition there was 'human body'! (Don't follow the link if you don't want to see what we saw!! <-- that's the warning) With that theme, what kind of stuff do you think we saw? I was totally surprised to see the exhibition of actual human parts and bodies being cut and displayed in different ways. I have actually seen the actualy operation and autopsy before, but I have to admit that this human body exhibition was still some what too much to bear. They used real bodies of those who dedicated them upon their death for medical studies. I actually intended to do so too, but I surely don't want to be publicly displayed like this. But do you have the option to request that? Anyways, we had a cool picnic lunch outside the musuem in the most shadowed spot of all. The weather was unbelievably hot. I think I was a bit dehydrated too. Right after lunch, we went for the flower arrangement. (In the picture, the right one is my work! The rest is the instructor's)

The key to flower arrangment is the balance of the 3 main flower stems (for the style we were taught) - for both height and angle. Also you just have to know how to put it firmly in the pinned base. This time is the first time I did the whole thing myself. Looks pretty good, huh? =P
We spent the rest of the time afterward at Kenrokuen, one of the three most beautiful parks in Japan. (Don't ask where the other two are - I have no idea!) My first time here was when we came for the tea ceremony the other day, but with time constraint, we were not allowed to freely walk around the park. It was really beautiful there. So calm and peaceful.

Day 7 (Aug 4)

I felt as if I caught a cold today. Though I drank lots of warm water and had lots of lemon, ginger, honey, all those didn't seem to help me much. But anyways, I didn't let it kept me from enjoying my time in Kanazawa.

We went to Nagamachi, the famous area for Samurai Houses. It was pretty interesting. The houses there are very beautiful. They also house the samurai clothes, weapons, utensils and else too.
We stroll down from Nagamachi over to the Cultural center where we were to attend Japan Tent Student Symposium and swang a bit further to Sushi restaurant to have really, really, really yummy Maguro-don (fresh tuna on rice). Man... I haven't had such good sushi in a long time! Right in front of the sushi place stands Oyama Shrine, another famous tourist place in Kanazawa. Of course we dropped by for a little walk. That evening, we had the Japan Tent party in the ground of Kanazawa Castle. There were students' performances (of course the Thais danced too!). And there were a lot of food stalls from various countries around the world. The party concluded with Japanese traditional YOSAKOI Soran dance.Our night didn't end as the party ended. A few of us got in a group and head over for karaoke! Gosh... we walked for soooooooooooo long until we could settle in a karaoke place. I didn't sing much though, but it was definitely fun.

Day 8 (Aug 5)

Our last day for Japan Tent has arrived. We gathered at JR Kanazawa station for a farewell ceremony. There were a lot of speeches expressing our gratitute to the program and host families. I was really touch. Too bad we didn't have that much time to say goodbye to each other. Basically right after the speeches ended, we were called for immediate departure. For those I didn't have a chance to say goodbye personally, may I properly do it here. But be sure we will meet again in the future! Have a great time back to our normal lives!!!!

... the end

Happy Mother's Day

Long Live the Queen

August 12 in Thailand is declared a public holiday and it is the day people celebrate the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, queen of Thailand.

The day is also known as a national mother's day. So I would like to pass my love to my beloved mother as well. Thank you for always being there for us na ka. Love you tee suud leay!!! Oh yeah.. and there is no one in the world that can make as good beef noodle as you either! (drooling!! =9) hee hee.... yum...m

Japan Tent (Part 3 - Wajima and Kanazawa)

Let's get back to Japan Tent Story. The last time I left off with my day in Wajima. This time, the story in Wajima still continues. (long blog precaution! ;-))

Day 4 (Aug 1)

Since Wajima is very famous for lacquerware and its gold decoration, we had a chance to experience 沈金 (my poor translation says 'the sunken gold' and it refers to the technique used in applying gold on the engraved lacquerware.)

Beautiful, isn't it?!?! ^^
this is the only Wajima group picture I have... so just wanna put it on here as well

In the afternoon, we also had a chance to try the Taiko drum. It doesn't look that hard, but it really was. The first couple of moves were just fine, but the later it gets, the more complicated and a lot of us were totally lost.

we were splitted in groups and learned how to play with group's sensei
then each group performed individually
our group won first price! yippee!! (picture with O-chan from Korea)

That afternoon, we all went to Wajima-so for Wajima Japan Party. Some of us went down to the beach and enjoyed a bit of our little free time.

with Pauline from Mexico
kampai!!Khaing and I with Yamashita Family (beautiful sunset, huh?)Koto PerformanceWe all took little try with the song 'Sakura' (Chona from Philippines)Wajima Taiko (御神事太鼓） Performance --

We had quite a good time hanging out playing mind games afterward. Thanks to my BE friends who equipped me with mind game skills - those people couldn't trick me for long. But I think we did trick a lot of people that night. hee hee =P

Wajima trip came to its ending when we had a semi-formal farewell ceremony the next morning before our departure back to Kanazawa. It was definitely a really wonderful trip. I really had a great time!

Day 5 (Aug 2)

Right after we got back to Kanazawa, we met with our new host family and the new time began. I was kindly accepted as a daughter to Niida Familyalong with another friend from Poland, Magdhae. Okasan and Kotsue were the ones picking us up. We went back for yummy somen (Japanese cold noodle) lunch, then went back out for some Kanazawa sightseeing with Kotsue and her friend, Shingo (If I ever spelled his name right!) It was actually a very bright idea of Japan Tent to get cooperation from tourist spots around the prefecture. As long as we have Japan Tent tags with us, we are allowed to enter those spots for free or at group discount rates. (This was also true in Wajima.)

Our first stop was this Karakuri Musuem where a lot of mechanical dolls and trick toys are collected.
Then, we stopped by for Shoyu Ice Cream. Yes, it is made with soy sauce flavor! This area of town (I forgot the name of the city) is famous for soy sauce production, so soy sauce ice cream is made famous as a by-product. It sounds gross, but it tasted surprizingly good.
On the way back in town, we stopped by the new prefecture building. Went up the top floor, you can see 360-degree view of the city. It is at a pretty good location since one side you see the Japan Sea, the opposite side you see Hakusan Mountain. Kanazawa is considered a small town in Japan. People here consider it a rurul area. You definitely see a lot of rice paddy around. But to me, doesn't matter how they say it's rural, it is totally not as rural as what you can see in my country. Below is a picture of Kanazawa city. Don't you agree it is already a city?
We made our way back in town and swang by Higashi Geisha house area. It is somewhat like Gion in Kyoto, but since there are still a limited number of tourists, it is rather more peaceful to walk around.
(Below shows some Japanese goods from shops around the area)


Our first home dinner was a real festa! (and my beloved Sushi!!! yum :9!!!)

I will leave my today's blog with the picture of Niida Family. (too bad we didn't get to meet the host brother!)

... more to come