Tokyo Catch-up Time

Nearly a week in Tokyo with 3 days spent at the conference, I'm so grateful to have caught up with a lot of friends there. Yoko (SSEAYP), Jes and N'Hope, I totally forgot to capture your pictures together with me! OOps..!! But anyways.. here we go...
Little Yuka and Dwi @ Dwi's place
Khun Ang in Ikebukuro (with Chi-wei)
with Pun in Shibuya
Yuki and Miki in Shinjuku
Pook in Shibuya
Hong and P'Ni in Shibuya
Yoko-san and Masae-san @ Masae's place
Nahoko in Ueno

Then, a few pictures from my short stroll at Roppongi Hills.

Big Spider, the landmark of Roppongi Hills
Overlooking Tokyo Tower
One of my most favourite areas in Tokyo is Shimokitazawa. Earlier this year, the Japanese drama and film called "Tokyo Friends" starring Otsuka Ai also took majoy shooting in Shimokitazawa. Being back there again was a really nice feeling.

Yakitori shop near the station
Shimokitazawa shops
Oldie Senbe (Rice Cracker) store

cozy coffee shop

Last but not least, a Christmas tree at Narita Airport - after finding out the shipping company partially broke my suitcase (T_T)

Good Bye Narita Airport

A Good Day in Disneyland

Entrance to Tokyo Disneyland from JR Maihama station
Riding on a chance of being in Tokyo for conference, I extended my stay and moved from a hotel to Chi-Wei’s house. As a super duper Disney fan, Chi-Wei suggested we go to Disneyland for a day, so yes, we went! It has already been around 8 years since I last visitted the land of Disney characters. It was supposed to rain that day, but good thing it did not. So, we really had a great time with less crowd.

We reached Disney at 10 a.m. and stayed until the firework ended at around 9 p.m. Since people were probably avoiding 50% chance of rain and that it was a Friday, there were unexpectedly few people at the park. The longest wait-line was probably 30-40 minutes only. Here is the list of attractions we got to go to.


Pooh’s Hunny Hunt:
really really well designed attraction with super hi-tech ride’s movement.
Buzz Lightyear(x2 times)
had really fun time shooting the targets! Big Thunder Mountain
It’s a small world (x3 times)
the happiest ride in the world! The decoration was especially for Christmas.
Roger Rabit: got tired spinning the car 360 degree
Peter Pan: nice bird-eye view of objects
Haunted Mansion: special Christmas theme of the Nightmare before Christmas

Mickey Mouse Burgers
Castle in the Christmas time

We also got to explore around Toontown, shops and galleries. Btw, I guess I have to make remark everywhere that Chi-Wei got FOUR jigsaw puzzles from the park! Gee… FOUR, yes, FOUR. All from Winnie the Pooh story. But know what? We actually finished putting all pieces together that night. Haha =P Oops.. I forgot to take a picture of those –“–

There were 2 parades: (1) Christmas Dreams on Parade. And (2) Electrical Dream Light Parade. Then, a special Christmas show of Mickey and friends singing Christmas Carols. The day ended with the fireworks.
Disney's Christmas Dreams On Parade

Disney's Christmas Parade
Disney's Electrical Dream Light Parade
We did a really good timing avoiding crowds after the fireworks and actually managed to get on JR train leaving Maihama Station with vacant seats available!

night view of Disneyland
I really did have a super duper great time there. Thanks to Chi-Wei too. If we didn’t get to go together, maybe it might not be as fun!

happy day at Disneyland!
I also found my best pal there in the park – STITCH! What an adorable character. (^^)/


Stitch sneaked into the Snowwhite & 7 drawfs land
can't you tell Stitch is my favorite character?!?! ;)

another challenge of life

Well, someone said she would be reading my update from the blog, so here we go!

My first presence at the international conference was over. I was given a slot for oral presentation at the last session of the last day of a 3-day Asia Academy of Management Conference in Tokyo. I'm not going to talk about what I did for my research and what I present about. I just feel I'm stormed with different feelings now.

I have to admit that I do feel quite different from before I came to the conference and after. People who have experiences in Ph.D. life probably can relate to what I'm saying. I used to think that I would just take what-so-ever happens during the life in doctoral course. If I graduate, I graduate. If not, then I don't. Not a big deal. But for some reasons, something striked me and I came to feel that if I'm not putting in hard enough, I won't get anything out of it. And since I'm already in it, why don't I just try my best and see? So yes, now I'm on a move, though I still feel my path is completely unclear. One professor I met said 'being lost in the sea' is a process of being a Ph.D. student. It's normal to not knowing what to do, but as long as you keep finding the way out of it, you eventually will.

It was a really good feeling to be at the conference, my very first conference. I'm feeling I am entering a completely new world that I have never had any true exposure with before (though I had been in a research field since my Masters). But I take it as a good thing cuz it means that I will have something to look forward to and that I know there are people who are willing to share ideas with and help guiding me through my rocky road.

At this stage, I feel I know completely NOTHING. I hope that in the near future I would find SOMETHING. It's a matter of time and effort, I guess. My gratitude is extended to all the professors and friends I have met and acquainted with during the conference. Let's wait and see how I will do in the next few years.

Year-end Luck

Since I have been having such a good luck in lucky draws during the past few weeks, I guess I shall risk my luck again with the year-end lottery drawing. haha =P

I didn't realize how much Japanese are crazy with the year-end lotter (they call it "Year-end Jumbo Lottery") until I saw the long lines today. It's the last day for the this jumbo lottery purchase. Oh nooooo, I wouldn't bother lining up for that for hours. But know what? I walked pass the same spot again at night when I was walking back to the hotel (<-- oh.. btw, I'm in Tokyo for a conference now), and there were only 2-3 people at the lottery booth, so hey.. my chance. Walked in, paid the money and now I have a couple of lotteries in hand. Let's wait and see whether I will get anything! Fingers crossed!!

loooooooooong lines

my slight chance of luck!

Winter Beauty of the Fuji-san

just a quick snap shot of the Fuji-san on Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo :)

The 60th Kyoto University Jazz Concert

A feel of change! It was a right decision to escape the usual atmosphere to attend this Jazz concert. I went with so many feelings - to change the atmosphere, to see activities of music people in Kyodai, to feel the common interests of people in the hall, and.....

I really enjoyed being back with this kind of music. Really do enjoy the Jazz Big Band, but then when Migertrio group came on stage, obviuosly, I still love the trio! How I wish I paid more serious attention to music when I was young. It must be a very nice feeling to be on stage among them! I actually had the performance on files, but I did the recording through my cell phone and my cell camera lens was too dirty. haha. Oh well... only pictures might do :)

猛下山　（Mo-ge-zan)
京大D軍　Creamy Jazz Croquestra - the Big Band

京大D軍　Creamy Jazz Croquestra
Migertrio - the Trio

'สิว' พยากรณ์ อวัยวะผิดปกติ

การเป็น "สิว" บอกอะไรมากกว่าที่คิด สถาบัน Leonard Darke วิเคราะห์การดูแลผิวหน้าแบบตะวันตกกับการอ่านใบหน้าแบบจีน ได้ผลสรุปว่าสิวที่ขึ้นตามตำแหน่งต่างๆ ของหน้าสามารถบอกความผิดปกติที่เกิดกับอวัยวะภายในได้

ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงาน เคล็ดการสังเกตความผิดปกติของอวัยวะภายใน โดยสถาบัน Leonard Darke ไม่ระบุที่อยู่ ได้ส่งอีเมลไปเผยแพร่ โดยอ้างว่าสถาบัน Leonard Darke ได้คิดค้นวิธีการวิเคราะห์ผิวลึกลงไปอีก ด้วยการผสานความรู้ในการดูแลผิวหน้าแบบตะวันตกเข้ากับศาสตร์การอ่านใบหน้าแบบจีน ซึ่งสามารถบอกได้ว่าสิวที่ขึ้นตามตำแหน่งต่างๆ ของใบหน้าหรือร่างกาย บอกความผิดปกติที่เกิดขึ้นกับอวัยวะส่วนใดบ้าง

ข้อมูลนี้ระบุตำแหน่งการขึ้นของสิว กับความสัมพันธ์กับอวัยวะต่างๆ ว่า

1.ขึ้นที่หน้าผากด้านซ้าย เกี่ยวกับอวัยวะการย่อยอาหาร กระเพาะปัสสาวะ ต่อมหมวกไต สาเหตุคือ มีความเครียดสูง ล้างหน้าไม่สะอาด

2.ขึ้นที่หว่างคิ้ว เกี่ยวกับตับ สาเหตุคือ อาจมีปัญหาในการย่อยแลคโทส กินอาหารรสจัด หรือกินอาหารดึกเกินไป

3.ขึ้นที่หน้าผากด้านขวา เกี่ยวกับอวัยวะการย่อยอาหาร กระเพาะปัสสาวะ ต่อมหมวกไต สาเหตุคือ มีความเครียดสูง ล้างหน้าไม่สะอาด

4.ขึ้นที่ใบหูทั้ง 2 ข้าง อวัยวะที่เกี่ยวข้องคือ ไต สาเหตุคือ ล้างแชมพูหรือสบู่ออกไม่หมด ใช้โทรศัพท์มือถือมากเกินไป ดื่มกาแฟ แอลกอฮอล์ หรือกินเนื้อสัตว์มากเกินไป

5.ขึ้นที่แก้มทั้ง 2 ด้าน แก้มส่วนบนเกี่ยวกับไซนัสและปอด แก้มส่วนล่าง เกี่ยวกับเหงือกและฟัน สาเหตุคือ สูบบุหรี่จัด แพ้ควันบุหรี่ ภูมิแพ้ เป็นหวัดเรื้อรัง ใช้รองพื้นไม่เหมาะสม ถ้าเป็นริ้วรอยลึกบริเวณโหนกแก้ม อาจบ่งบอกถึงปัญหาเรื่องปอด หรือการหายใจ ถ้ามีสิวแบบเป็นๆ หายๆ ที่แก้มด้านล่าง อาจมีปัญหาเรื่องเหงือกและฟัน รวมทั้งโทรศัพท์ไม่สะอาด

6.ขึ้นที่รอบดวงตา 2 ข้าง เกี่ยวกับอวัยวะไต และปัญหาภูมิแพ้ สาเหตุอาจมาจาก เครื่องสำอาง แว่นตา การมีสารพิษตกค้างในร่างกายมาก พักผ่อนน้อย หรืออาการภูมิแพ้ และขาดสารอาหาร

7.ขึ้นที่จมูก และเหนือริมฝีปาก เกี่ยวกับอวัยวะหัวใจ และระบบสืบพันธุ์ สาเหตุถ้ามีผิวสีแดงเข้มที่จมูก อาจบ่งบอกถึงโรคความดันโลหิตสูง ผลกระทบจากฮอร์โมน การมีประจำเดือน และวัยทอง

8.ขึ้นที่ใต้ริมฝีปากด้านซ้ายและขวา เกี่ยวกับอวัยวะรังไข่ สาเหตุคือ อาจทำความสะอาดได้ไม่ดีพอ หรือมาจากความสมดุลทางฮอร์โมน หากมีปัญหาการอุดตันช่วงใบหู แสดงว่าฟันกรามมีปัญหา อาจจะเพิ่งทำฟันมา รวมทั้งการมีประจำเดือนด้วย

9.ขึ้นที่ปลายคาง เกี่ยวกับอวัยวะ กระเพาะอาหาร และลำไส้เล็ก สาเหตุคือ กินอาหารรสจัดไป จนทำให้ลำไส้มีปัญหาในการดูดซึม และ

10. ขึ้นที่ลำคอและหน้าอก มีสาเหตุมาจากความเครียด.

ิ..............................
ก็นะ... อย่างว่า... ตอนนี้เป็นสิวจนเหมือนเป็นโรคไปแล้วอ่ะ -"- ไปเจอคอลัมน์นี้จากบล๊อกนี้
โดยบังเอิญก็เลยขอเก็บมาไว้บนบล๊อกตัวเองมั่ง ถ้ามันเป็นจริงอย่างที่เขียน.. ก็ขอเดาต่อไปว่า.... สาเหตุของการเป็นสิวช่วงนี้อาจจะมาจาก..
1. แพ้ควันบุหรี่ข้างบ้านที่มันสูบเอาๆๆๆทุกๆวัน วันละหลายเวลา
2. ลำไส้มีปัญหาการดูดซึม ??
3. เหงือกและฟันไม่แข็งแรง <-- ไม่น่าใช่
4. เครียด <-- อันนี้คงมีส่วน แต่ว่าก็ไม่น่าจะใช่เหมือนกัน หรือว่าเป็นประเภทยิ่งขึ้นยิ่งเครียด เลยไม่มีวันจบสิ้น?!?!(T_T)

มีคนหวังดีพยายามจะปลอบใจว่าเพิ่งจะแตกเนื้อสาว... เออ เอาเข้าไป จะดีใจหรือเสียใจดีล่ะนั่น??

รักพ่อ

ไม่พูดพร่ำทำเพลง... ลิงค์ไปบล๊อกพี่ใหญ่ดีก่า... =P

http://gotoknow.org/blog/growthrings/65306

รักพ่อจังเลยยยย =)

Long Live the King!

Long Live the King!

ฑีฆายุโก โหตุ มหาราชา
ขอพระองค์จงทรงพระเจริญ

ด้วยเกล้าด้วยกระหม่อมขอเดชะฯ

for what????

ทำลายสถิติโลก
เจ้าหน้าที่กำลังวัดถุงยางอนามัย
จำนวน 21,000 ชิ้น ที่ถูกนำมาต่อเรียงกันเพื่อทำลายสถิติโลก
โดยมีความยาวทั้งสิ้น 2 กิโลเมตร 7 เซ็นติเมตร ที่สวนลุมพินี

Finally, it's over!

Yeah... the water construction in my building is finally over!! Yahoo! It has been ongoing for a really long time, from small scale to large scale that they had to do the work inside my room!

There were some kind of problems with the drainage system in the building. They tried to work on it since after I moved in for a few months, but nothing seemed better, so they had to give it a go for a whole system fixing. What came after that? They needed to get in every room in the first floor, open the floor in the entrance area, to do the work underground.

My room is also on the first floor, so yes, they had to come into my room too. They actually set up a temporary door inbetween the front door and the kitchen, so that the workers wouldn't be able to get into my room when I wasn't in the house. But that door is just making my already small room even smaller! Everything felt so tight! Construction began at 9 a.m. and lasted til around 6 p.m. I had to be out of the house all day everyday during the past 10 weeks. But the funny thing was, there was one day I woke up really late, actually by the doorbell from the construction worker. So I just had to rush finishing my morning activities and go out for them not to recognize I woke up late. haha. ^^

Anyways, the temporary door is supposed to be removed tomorrow, but they asked for it to be done just now. So yes! I finally have my room back!! So happy!! =) -- but then I have to suffer cleaning up the room now... hur hur -"-.

And the town became colorful...

This year I have been to only a few temples to enjoy the change of leaves colors - Eikando, Shinnyodo and Shisendo. For Eikando and Shisendo, it was my first time. But for Shinnyodo, it's already been my all-time favourite place to visit at this time of the year.. so never can miss it. A few pictures from the momiji season are already up in my flickr. I will add more soon. Today, let's make it a little preview.

Btw, need to mention Ai Ling's blog. She portrays the feeling of Autumn quite similarly to what I feel. Melancholy.... and being blue. haha =P

Anyways, I should have more of Autumn pictures coming soon.

Eikando
Shinnyodo
Shisendo
(it's actually famous of the Japanese garden, but I really couldn't beat the crowd to get good photo of it!)
Auntie taking care of falling leaves in Shisendo.

Japan's Women Volleyball Team

Those who knows must be thinking it's weird for me not to talk about the Women's Volleyball World Championship Tournament in Japan! Here I come! ;-)

Japan is the host country and the tournament has been running since October 31. The tournament just ended today with Russia being the new World Champion after defeated unbeatable Brazil in the tie break set (taken the title over from the 2002 World Champion - Italy who's placed forth for the 2006 Worlds). Japan was aiming for any medal, but they actually fell short and eventually placed sixth after losing the last match to the Chinese.

To my surprise (yes, even to myself), I actually seriously watched every single matches of the Japanese Team since the first round. I don't really know why, but I think maybe because I had been seeing news and some scoops about the current team since before the tournament's started. And those who have seen Women's Volleyball matches, you might think similarly that there is something attractive in the Women's plays. Japanese team might not be the best in the world now, but I enjoyed my time watching their plays.

There are actually a few players of my favourite, No. 5 - Takahashi Miyuki (wing Spiker), No. 6 - Sugayama Kaoru (Lobero), No. 9 - Sugiyama Sachiko (Middle Blocker). But my most is given to No.3 - Takeshita Yoshie (captain and setter).

No. 5 - Takahashi Miyuki
No. 6 - Sugayama Kaoru
Head coach: Yanagimoto Shoichi, No.9: Sugiyama Sachiko and No.14: Oyama Shuka
No. 3 - Takeshiya Yoshie
Takeshita is the tiniest player out of all athelete in this tournament. It's not easy for a woman this size (159 cm. in height) to be through all the pressure and other things to be able to stand solid as she can today. Takeshita has been on Japanese Volleyball Squad since 1995 for the Youth Team, then moved on to the National team in 1997. The team lost in the last qualifying match for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the nation took a blame on Takeshita who was claimed to be too small to play Volleyball. In April 2002, she decided to resign from her company's team as well as the National squad to leave Volleyball behind. But after been seriously talked back into playing Volleyball, she decided to come back to the National Squad in August of the same year. After the 2004 Athens Olympics, she was appointed Captain by their head coach Yanagimoto Shoichi (who was once also an invited Coach to Thailand's Men Volleyball team in 1985 and led them to win SEA Games).

look at the difference in size!
Takeshita is known to be the smallest, but the strongest setter in the world. This tournament proves very well that she really is. Her amazing settings, servings, receivings, diggings and blockings were just stunning. To reconfirm that, she was awarded the best setter for the tournament after setting 1,082 balls with only 2 faults and also was chosen as an MVP for the tournament!


After more than half a month of watching the tournament, I have to say that I am waiting to see more of their plays. Too bad I couldn't make it to see the real match in Osaka. But that's ok. I think the team is still on the upturn, so surely there will be something else interesting for the following matches to come...