Kenrokuen 2009

My first time to Kenrokuen was with Japan Tent in August 2005. It was in the summer, so the park was super duper greenish. This time of the year, usually the park is already covered with snow. But due to global warming, the weather warmed up over the past week and there was absolutely no snow at all. This is very strange for February. However, Kenrokuen is still able to maintain its beauty despite the ongoing weird weather condition.


Kenrokuen (Ishikawa Prefecture), along with Korakuen (Okayama Prefecture) and Kairakuen (Ibaraki Prefecture), is one of the three great gardens of Japan. I've been to Korakuen before, but I didn't like it much. And I haven't been to Kairakuen yet, so I don't know how it is. But so far, in my opinion, Kenrokuen outperforms Korakuen by a lot.

the famous landscape of Kenrokuen
Kenrokuen is named after a garden combining the six attributes of a perfect landscape garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, watercourses and panoramas which appears in Chinese poet. It was rebuilt in 1822 after the original garden burned down.

This Karasakinomatsu Pine is the best-known tree in the garden.

During winter, the tie the ropes up into a triangle shape to protect the trees from heavy snowfalls. Unfortunately, there was no snow when we went (T__T).

P'Nok mingling with the local.

Tea Houses

gardening

Flying Geese Bridge

N'Bee, P'Pum, Poy with the Lantern

The plum flowers started blooming already.

I love the smell of these white ones. So sweet!

Kanazawa's charm is not much different from that of Kyoto's.

p.s. our lunch:


Date: 2009.02.14
Members: P'Nok Ying, Poy and Bee from Nagano + P'Nok Chai, P'Y20h, P'Pum and I from Kansai area.

Ishikawa Earthquake

This morning when I was still lying on my bed watching TV, I felt as if the bed was shaking. Glancing over to the dangling lamp in my room which was also swinging slightly, I realized it was the earthquake. "It must have been a big one", I thought to my self.

There was just a news clip about Nagano Earthquake yesterday. It has already been two and a half years since then. I never felt the quake again around where I live inbetween these periods of time. This morning, only a few minutes after the quake, every TV channels appeared with earthquake news. The magnitude was marked 6.9 point on the Japanese scale. (I have no idea of the equivalence on the regular Rickter scale though.)

The thing is.... the center of this quake is said to be offshore from the northern part of Ishikawa Prefecture. Wajima, a town in which I did my homestay program during Japan Tent, is severely damaged in a lot of parts (see pictures). The phoneline must have been cut off cuz I just couldn't get my line through to my host family's. I know that they are safe, but just worry of how they are doing. I have been looking for them in earthquake rescue news, but still couldn't find them (-"-). Also, Niida family in Kanazawa. I'm sure you can feel the strong quake. I lost your phone number somewhere and so couldn't get in touch with you. If you are reading my blog, please send some words, k! Hope everything is ok.

[photos credit: yomiuri online]

Reunion and Farewell

Yesterday was a nice catch up with Kozue-chan, my host sister from Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (my host during Japan Tent Program) and her boyfriend, Jose who came to Kyoto for a visit. Great chatting indeed ;-) We walked through Kyoto University, then to Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion). It's too bad I had to rush to Osaka for errands later on the evening. See you guys again either in Kanazawa or Tokyo (or Kyoto again..!!)

With Kozue-chan in Kyoto University

Ginkakuji Entrance

Ginkakuji

Ginkakuji

VIP Moss! (haha)

Up the mountain

Kozue, Jose and Mai at Ginkakuji

Yummy Lunch at Katsukura

After running errands in Osaka, I joined a farewell party for P'Poo and P'Koong whose term at The Royal Consulate of Thailand in Osaka is to end next week. They have been so much help for me and Jill in so many ways. We're thankful to have met both of them (finally) here in Japan. We'll surely miss you na ka. Please stay in touch. =)

Farewell Party was held at Krungthep Restaurant. Lotsa yummy food ;-)
(in the picture: farewell speech by the Consul)

Palang, Shacho, P'Poo, Mai, P'Joe, Nui
Nott, P'Ying+, P'Koong, P'Ou', Yuka-san, P'Taew and Kana-san

Lovely couple at the Karaoke

Happy New Year 2006!!!

The new year is here!! I actually was reminded by a friend that yesterday was already a New Year's eve, otherwise I probably would have mistaken today as the eve instead. T_T.

Last year --- there were so many things I intended to do. Some I accomplished. Some.... not yet. Some... not even close. But overall, I'm quite satisfied. One time I was writing my Japanese teacher and somehow came to list out all the trips I have made in the past year. Oh gosh! I really didn't realized I've been around that much!! Maybe because I stayed pretty much stationary the whole December, so I felt as if I haven't been around that much this year. haha.. Guess I was totally wrong. Wanna see my list?

Japan:
Hokkaido (Sapporo & Otaru - snow festival)
Iwate Prefecture (Morioka City)
Niigata&Nagano Prefecture (for ski trips)
Ishikawa Prefecture (Kanazawa & Wajima)
Aichi Prefecture (Nagoya & Toyohashi)
Kyoto (Kyoto, Amanohashidate, Ankokuji)
Osaka
Nara Prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture (Shirahama & Wakayama city)
Hyogo Prefecture (Kobe, Himeji, Arima onsen)

Overseas:
China (Shiang Hai, Hangzhou, Suzhou)
USA (Boston, NY State, San Francisco, Oregon State, Washington State)
Canada (Toronto, Niagara Falls, Vancouver, Whistler)
Thailand (Bangkok & Rayong) <-- if this counts as overseas! ^^

Traveling is still something in my blood, I guess. More trips are to come for 2006 for sure :)

In 2005, a lot of things happened. Some were amazingly good. Some were just messy. But I'm thankful to be through all these ups and downs. Everything means something doesn't matter good or bad. We learn of them overtime anyways. I'm very thankful for everyone whose our paths crossed. I am who I am because of all of you. Last year, I was really touched by a lot of people, in many occasions. It's really a wonderful feeling. I'm really grateful for everyone's love, care and heartwarming thoughts of me. I promise to keep being me or even a better me throughout this year and the following years to come. Okie doke.. let's end this before it gets too emotional!

Wishing everyone enjoys the year 2006 with great success in everything you do. May your happiness be the happiest. May your health be the healthiest. May your luck be the luckiest.

All the best to you! Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Japan Tent (Part 2 - Wajima)

Before getting into anything, let me tell you a bit about Wajima.

[Wajima] is famous for durable and beautiful WAJIMANURI (Japanese lacquerware) and the ASAICHI (morning market), where many seafood are sold. The warm smiles of residents gathering at the market show the nature of the locality. They have developed the ability to smile in the face of severe natural hardships. There are well illustrated by SENMAIDA (One Thousand Paddies) - a succession of terraced rice fields cut into steep slopes rising from the beach. You can feel their strong spirit as you are touched by the stirring and energetic performance of the GOJINJHO-DAIKO (traditional drum and dance). ... (quoting from Japan Tent Booklet)

Day 3 (July 31)

After a great sleep, Yamashita-san (I call them Obachan and Onechan) brought Khaing and I to the town's famous morning market (Asaichi). My mom once told me that you can see the real nature of the town through its market. No wonder I love walking around the markets and people watch. Most of the people selling stuff at the market are the old-aged ones though. Half of the market is for fresh stuff, half goes for traditional crafts and souvenirs.

Wajima's morning marketpart of Wajima's famous lacquer ware
After Asaichi and the museum in that area, we went to Noto Wajima Kiriko Hall. Kiriko is known for a several-meter tall 'faced Bon lantern' used in festivals in Noto area (nothern part of Ishikawa Prefecture) . Their names vary slightly from place to place, but can be traced to their origins to old customs where people tried to show their faith in God via light. The height of kirikos was once a target for competition among towns, but eventually has to be restricted to 4-6 meters tall after the utility poles and cables began appearing.

kirikos
kirikos in festivals


Going across the parking lot from Kiriko Hall, we found Inachu Lacquerware Hall(稲忠漆芸会館) where beautiful lacquerwares are housed. There, we could see the process of making one lacquerware, starting from shaping it up to make a wooden bowl. Then so many layers of lacquer and other stuff are applied. They coat it at least 25 times. The maximum coating is somewhat a little above 100 times. Yes, the more layers applied, the more durable and definitely more expensive it gets. But it is not just that, after all the coating is finished, the decoration part continues - often with the famous gold decoration.
Can you believe, 5 of this bowl cost 550,000 yen (~5,500 USD or 210,000 Baht)!!!
Obachan at the lacquerware shop

Our next destination was Senmaida (千枚田）.　I think my dad probably likes this place a lot. It's beautiful!


Our first afternoon destination was Ishikawa Wajima Urushi Art Museum. I became very interested in this lacquerware. The more you look at it, the more beautiful it is! Now I know why my mom always buy all those plates and bowls!! ^^. No pictures allowed inside the musuem, so I couldn't take any.

Afterthat, we just drove by and made a brief stop at Kamogaura (鴨ヶ裏）, another famous spot by the bay. From what I heard, it is a famous spot for fishing. The scenery was beautiful, but it was so shameful that there were really a lot of gabbage. If only they took better care of the water, it would have won me over.

... more to come

Japan Tent (Part 1)

Okay.. Okay.. It's time to sit down and tell a tale about my Japan Tent experience. ^^

First of all, 'What is Japan Tent?' -- I was told to imagine a big tent with 350 students from 80 countries around the globe mingle with other few hundreds Japanese host families and staff in the land of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. I guess that is probably the best description of where the name comes from.

Day 1 (July 29th)

I left Kyoto early morning of the 29th by the provided bus. It took us roughly 4 hours to reach Kanazawa City of Ishikawa Prefecture. When we reached there (around 11.30 a.m.), we were given 2 Japan Tent T-Shirt for the first thing. Then got changed and simply waited, waited and waited until 2 p.m. for the orientation to start. I had a chance to get to know a few new friends during the mean time.
my first 3 new friends: Lyu (Korean), Khin Mar (Myanmar) and Noemi (Hungary)

Then we were moved to another hall for the opening ceremony. Judging from all the media there, I guess it must be a very big event for the prefecture. (I realized afterward that this press company is the main sponsor of the event!)

Welcome Chorus by elementary students

Yosakoi Soran, the Japanese traditional dance

At the Welcome Ceremony, we had to listen to a lecture as well. Unfortunately, most of us fell asleep because of our tiredness from a really long transportation. Those coming from Tokyo area spent 9 hours on an overnight bus. Those from Kyuushuu also spent equivalent time. Even for the Kansai people, we had to wake up by 5 a.m. to catch the ride. I was not surprised to see our tiresome faces, but felt really bad for the speaker as well.

After that, we went for the Welcome Reception. My stomach was growling super duper bad. My lunch was served on the bus before we reached Kanazawa. That was like before 11 a.m. Then we had cocktail dinner at the party. It didn't stuff even 1/4 of my stomach. A lot of us had to go to convenient store afterward to grab something to eat. I was put in a really nice hotel nearby. Lucky me, it was a super huge single bedroom with a sofa all to myself. (I learned afterward that some had to share a bedroom with 2-3 other students. Some had a single room, but in a much smaller size. So I guess I was really lucky!)

Day 2 (July 30)

Forgot to mention that the theme for Japan Tent this year (the 18th) is 「ふるさと、たくもの心」(Our Home Ishikawa, The Hearts of Artisans), so pretty much all group activities are related to the artisans. Ishiwaka is the only prefecture in Japan that was not affected by the war. This is why all the really tradition stuff of Japan pourishes here. Everything you see here is exactly what was like in the past. I think this is a main reason why they want us to come learn the real Japanese here.


First thing this morning, we listened to a lecture by Hasegawa Takanori sensei who specialized in the history of Ishikawa Prefecture. His theme of speech was 'Craft Skills of Ishikawa’. We got the idea of what sort of craft skills are there here - the pottery (陶芸), Yuzen dyeing (for Kimono)(加賀友禅), Gold leaf (金箔) making and so on. He said when you think of たくみ (craft skills), think of 素直 (frankness) and やる気 (willingness).

Later on the morning session, we were splitted in 6 groups to explore the skills of artisans. I was with the 和菓子 (Japanese sweets making).


my group: 1 cambodian, 1 korean, 1 hungary, 1 thai and 3 myanmars
nearby group: Ryu (China) and Noi+ and Lin+ (Thailand)
my finished products

can you believe all these is made of sweets!!
In the afternoon, we joined the Tea Ceremony. My group went to Kenrokuen (one of the three most famous Gardens in Japan). Too bad we didn't get to walk around enjoying the park today. We went directly to the tea house and experience the tea ceremony. Alaine from Australia got the highest ranking seat (the first seat of the row), so she got the special treatment.


The Ceremony goes that first, you are given super sweet sweets to eat. Then very bitter tea will be served to counter the sweet effect. (or actually I should say the opposite!) The process of Tea Ceremony goes very slowly in every steps. You are supposed to appreciate the reception of the host and touch upon the heart of the tea maker.

Upon finishing up the ceremony, we all splitted in smaller groups and seperated to our town destinations. From what I understand, there are 19 cities of Ishikawa Prefecture that were involved in this project. Each town would receive a number of student and provide host family and activities for students to get to know the prefecture better.

I went to Wajima, a small town to the Northern tip of Ishikawa Prefecture facing Japan Sea, along with other 29 students. It took another 2 1/2 hours by bus to reach there. We went directly to the welcome ceremony where there were welcome speeches by the mayor and some key people, as well as chorus and Taiko performance.



I met my first host family, Yamashita-san, there at the ceremony. Pictures of them will come later on. I shared the time with other Myanmar student, Khaing. Yamashita-san owns a small guesthouse, so our first meal was exactly like the meal we would have if we stayed at a Japanese hotel! yummy!

... more to come