7th Day , 23 Dec 2007- Sloth

Woke up real late today... ate Brunch XD around 10 am ( pretty late for Japanese)

nice western style breakfast.. I really respect Japanese, every meal seems to be very well prepared.

But!! Today is really exciting, for we get to go to the mountains!! And whats that at this kind of year?!

YUKI DA!!! YUKI DAZO!!!! WOOHOO~ SNOW!!!

we got in for free!! (Myme-san's good friend knows the high ranks so.. yeah....)

instead of entry pass, we wore a PRESS PASS arm strap. (since when did i became a jounalist?!)

didnt get to skii... but!! Good thing i bought the right jacket >3 waterproof.. hehe.. so we just slide down steep slopes in turns.

I feel so like an idiot now ==" (me in the pic, sliding down)

OH!!! OH!!! just to say hi to those skiiers n snowboarders who pass by the slope, we made them a snowman XD with (YOKOSO!! WATASHI WA BRUNEI SNOWMAN DESU!!)
And I had to sacrifice my Sony player for the snowman T.T



After the fun with snow.. we went to Myme-san's friends house. Oddly... we were watching POC 1 (pirates of the carribean)

Then we had hamburger for dinner back home, which Yamaya-san had a function and Myme's another friend came over.

Kinda forgot how did the night went by but i remember playing the wooden 3D puzzles till late night.

Day 6 - Day of the Jesters, Me and Warner Bors.

What a morning, one last glance at our room which we had used for the past 4 days. Now well cleaned with futon folded. And the warm sunshine rarely seen in Niigata's winter days.

Which then Daniel's uncle came to pick us up. We had our last breakfast n last cup of coffee with To-san and Ka-san. Hopefully we'll meet again one day.

We left the house, having one last glance on the home which i felt awkwardly familiar but in reality yet so strange, I just cant help to feel as if am leaving home..

Gave To-san n Ka-san a hug n off we go.

We went for lunch before going to our next homestay. A local "Ayamku".. they have japanese styled fry chicken, not too oily and not too much flour on the chicken.. nice..

before
after (again...)

Then we went to the 100 yen shop... you guess it DAISO. Its only 1.50 BND not like the Brunei 3 BND.

They had tons of snacks n foods too. To give you a clear idea how big DAISO was, just imagine 1.5 times the size of THE MALL ground floor.

We then receive a call saying we'll be only going to the 2nd homestay in the late afternoon so we went back to Daniel's uncle's house to pack some of our stuff we bought the other day.

WE got so bored waiting, we went to the playground just across the street. The weather was too cold, no kids were playing there. Played the swing by standing on it. We sure are bored... ya...dude....

WE ARE LOST!!! AAAH!!! Uncle Kensuke couldn't find his way to Myme-san's house. T.T she's the mother of our 2nd homestay.


Good thing Myme-san came to pick us up at a nearby convenient store.

She looks younger than her actual age. And she seems to have cute actions at times ==" I cant believe she already has 2 sons who had done college.

The house is sure big, too damn big for only 2 people to live.

My room ( Daniel in the pic... he was complaining that my bed is softer than the one in their room... Hong slept on the bed while Daniel on solid floor in the same room)
View outside my room

theres 2 cats and one dog in the house (photoes to come) the cat is of human teenage but in terms of human time, its 70++ yrs old while the dog is around 80++ human years old. But theres a white cat which is just slightly younger, n WAS a boy... thats what the husband says (FYI he's a circuit board engineer, now u know where the house comes from)



We went for a movie at Warner Mycal- national Treasures 2 but thats not what i had a deep impression about... ITS BUGS BUNNYY!!! OMG!!.... he speaks japanese.... so are Daffy Duck n others... and advert is goddamn long...

after the movie, we went to TsuKiYa for GyuDon. I just dont understand why would Daniel n Hong order curry when its a GyuDon Ya where Gyudon are the best... not curry...

Then we got home, man... the house sure is warm. And we hanged out in Yamaya-san's work room for the whole night playing games on our own.

But... when we were asked what time we sleep, we said 12 am ~ 1 am?! then Myme-san was like "That early?!"

OMFG!! My mum would have killed me if i ever sleep that late at home.

My mind just kept flashing about warner mycal's Bug's Bunny speaking Japanese... thats just so... other worldly... just like.. Doraemon speaks english...

Day 5 - Reminiscence with the elders.

Today, we went to an activity centre for the middle age. We joined an IGO session with the elderlies.

Funny thing is... we dunno Japanese n they dunno much English so u know hows the scene like when we communicate plus gestures XD

but at least we made their day. Then Ka-san picked us up ( she left us just now for medical appointment FYI)

then she said the elders was really happy we visited n shared about Brunei with em n wanted us to visit on the same time the next week. But sad enough, we will be heading for Tokyo on that day.

Then we went to Royal Host restaurant for lunch.. ah... the Drink Bar.. where u order a drink for 150 yen n u get to drink all u like by refilling any drink at the Drink bar corner of the restaurant.

As Daniel wished, we went to a local swimming pool for a swim. Which we were picked up by To-san afterwards.

After the swim, we had to wait at the pool lobby... after washing our body more than 5 times. And out of my mind, I thought I was still in Bru, I wore a t-shirt and bought an ice cream out of the vending machine.

When To-san arrived, I cant help to noticed this cute school uniformed Japanese girl coz...coz... she's staring me with a "OMG" kind of face for quite a while since I sat down beside the vending machine. I know I look good >3 (as if ==")
So I asked Daniel whats wrong with her, then this is what he says " Its freezing 3 degrees Cdlcius, you ate an ice cream and wore a T-shirt".. owh.... OWH~

We were invited by Ka-san's friend who is an Indonesian professor to Niigata University for the International Performance night made by foreign students who study in Niigata U.

Guess what I digged out from the students there, there was once a Bruneian who studied there but has graduated a year or 2.

We then went to a traditional Japanese restaurant named Fu Sen. The meal is quite fairly priced but the taste kicks ass >3

Before

After(dude, i was real hungry ~~(m=.=)m

Its the last day for homestay so we talked for the most of the night. Received a present from them, To-san's ShoDo caligraphy of our chosen words.

To-san plays the flute again while Ka-san plays the piano. One last time for me, the song, 千の風になって "Sen no Kaze ninatte "- I am a thousand wind.

Day 4 - Warrior re-armed

Today, not much pictures are taken so mostly would be words. Coz... we ran out of batt after the ramen shop XD

Today is our shopping day, Daniel wanted to buy his swimming EQ's which are.. race purpose swimming goggles with extra shield blade below the goggle lens that reduces water friction by 30% ( trust me, that 30% makes really big diff) and also his swimming suit n trunks.

Hong just wanted to follow us around.

While I myseld.. u guess it. kendogu.

Too bad, we only manage to find a really BIG ( or rather, gigantic ) sports shop. which is in a mall complex named Apita.
Dude, this place is like 3 times larger than THE MALL.. seriously, Brunei should feel ashamed to name a small shopping complex the "mall".

We.. um... kinda got talked into buying swimming trunk for the 3 of us. And yes, we are planning to swim in cold winter at 3 degree celcius.

Then Ka-san said we should go for lunch before going to the bank to change our cash to Japanese yen.

Surprise surprise... MUSASHI DAZO!! the ramen shop is actually called Musashi XD man.. what damn coincidence.

And it was full so we hadta wait outside, and out of boredom, we met Michael Jackson!!... umm.. i mean Mr McDonald..

After our meal of Salt soup Cha Shiiu Ramen (pork again) we went for the bank.
And after that... KonDou budogu shop.

Yes, tons of kendogu it has. N surprisingly after I paid my bill, the plastic used was extremely familiar.
SENSEI HAD EM!! I might have ended up in the shop we always wanna find. But then the shop said they aint sure if anyone else did use the same packing as they are the only one in the area who uses that.
The shop is situated in Kayama in Niigata just across the street of KaYama Jinja.

After all these shopping we did, Ka-san brought us to a place where soccer fans might recognise. Niigata Stadium!!
It was used in the previous FIFA world cup Japan-Korea.

After seeing its architecture, we went to a Italian restaurant LA Piante.

Strange enough, Ka-san brought us back to Apita again, she told us to go around on our own n she went for grocery shopping.
WOOHOO!! we are eating NABE tonight. Man... I feel so overwhelmed, so much stuff in it XD

N we finish the night by introducing them about Brunei n showed em pictures.
Man... the food lasts till midnight XD

Day 3- Tranquil strucked me

Main Torii leading to the compound of Yahiko Jinja

Central Torii leading to the main shrine

(purification of the body is needed before entering by washing both hands using the sacred well water and rinse your mouth)

Today, we went sight seeing around the Niigata Prefecture on its Japan Sea coast side. In a hybrid car. A HYBRID!! Saves fuel n low exhaust emmission!! Why aint brunei selling em?!

I know we are rich in oil n gas.. but why!! its good for earth!! but i think bicycle is better... anyway.. back to my journey

First stop is Yahiko Jinja (not ginger, its a shrine Jin- God, Ja- aka Sha or place)

The place is mute by the silence of calm, tranquil n just. N the gate is called Torii, tori aka bird is known to be the guidance to wandering spirits and the gates name Torii means this is where the tori should lead them.

Then we went to Sakura no Yu (not shark punya Yu la, its YU aka soup in kanji, onsen la onsen)

which then i learnt a new japanese phrase "poka-poka" means puffy puffy warm warm comfy...
thats what ka-san said... i think...

And another japanese culture, 100% NAKEDITIVITY!! no clothes allowed in the onsen area.
Man... i have to fly my bird in open public air, poor daniel n hong too. Freezing balls...ouch... 3 degrees celcius...aarrgghhh!!!

On the way back home, we stopped by an art museum, as i told Ka-san i liked calligraphy so she said she'll bring me to an art museum showing some. And i left my comment on the guest book in Bahasa melayu, and we were lucky to be using the last 3 pages.

We then arrive in Sakata Park, a RAMSAR site which is aimed at preserving wild animals. The lake is to protect swans in the area, and they were said to play out in the open during the day n back by nightfall.



we were lucky to witness the large flock of white swans returning home. IT WAS JUST FLYING YEY HIGH ABOVE ME HEAD!! (doing head pointing gesture)



For dinner, we went to another SUSHI-YA!!

Man... the local deep water Japan sea fish beats the crap out of salmon n its name is called Buri...

When we returned home, Ka-san introduced me a song composed by a Niigata musician.

The song is called " Sen no Kaze ninatte"- Lyrics adapted from the American poem, "I am a thousand wind"

I decided to have this song played in my funeral (dude i dont care superstitions to talk about death >3)

And these 2 retards slacked off playing otello again. While i tried playing the piano as told by ka-san.


Then we learnt to write calligraphy from To-san as Ka-san told him I liked the art, I chose the word Kizuna - bond (either in frienship or family alike) while daniel chosed Ai- love n hong chose Kai- sea.

We all each wrote one on a signature board and To-sn wrote us another one by himself for each of us with the words we chosed.

Day 2 in Japan

Overnighted at Daniel's aunt's house on day 1.

The first thing i did was to take a dump this morning on Day 2.

Okay, forget about the crap. The point is, THE FREAKING TOILET BOWL!!

Hi-tech piece of stuff ( and yes, japanese even wanna make their shit looks techy or their tech looks shitty... anyhow)

the seat warms itself, since its winter here. Auto lid opening when sensing ppl entering the toilet, auto flush and the best part for u Malays.... ass washing mechanism just by the touch of a button on the control panel placed on the wall next to the bowl.

You can even set the strength of the water, and for the ladies .. ahem... ahem.. the japanese really know to take care of every single individuals.

The water nozzle can be adjusted to desired angle too.

Sorry guys. No photos of the bowl, dont think its clean for my blog.

N the most hygienic thing about it is, toilet is always separated from bathroom, unlike the typical brunei styled ones.

As for breakfast, we went to MOS BURGER!! its what the 3 of us call it " Japan Burger King"

McD is going out of my list, and burger king down to 2nd. This shop is Japan exclusive only, and MAN!! the meats sure are juicy, with puffy buns of the waitress... i mean the burger..

Kensuke-san (Daniel's uncle if u haven't already knew) brought us around Shirone Town (White Root Town in Kanji) to look for my most wanted NW-A808. Its better than iPod in quality of screen n music. I don't see the big deal with click wheel and iTune ( sorry Apple fans, SONY ROCKS!!)

And the aftermath of telling your friends how good something is... they buy the same thing as u did.

We eventually set foot in Ishimaru Denki (StoneBall Electronics in Kanji) n got the stuffs I wanted.
Upon leaving the shop, Daniel spotted a shop across the street which I decided to dedicate the photo to Naif, Combat and Suberu (Firdaus)

Dear Naif, Combat n Suberu. I found ur long seeked Eden -Yours Evilly, Han

Then we headed to our first homestay family, the Sato.

Which we were greeted by our Ka-san in Japan ( Emiko Sato) she is a part of the Hippo association, which people in Japan exchange ideas n cultures with people fromaround the world. She knows many languages n surprise surprise.. Malay is one of em XD (she knows Russian lang too)

And we took a photo after meal.

Ka-san (Emiko Sato)

To-san (Seiji Sato)

Not to mention our first bath since arrival in Japan T.T

And for the night, we played ottelo... my skill rusted T.T
Day 2 ended with me taking snapshots of the tech junks we bought. (on japanese bed over tatami, Futon)

NW-A808 ( mine in Black,kuro daniel's in pink hong's in white)

N this pic is dedicated to u Haidar, ATH-EM700 Black

I'll try to find a silver pair for u Muien

Gomenasai...

The blog was not being up to date due to my lack of connection .

Juat realised Niigata is a countryside ( made Brunei looks like a small shopping district)

It can be considered a country compared to Bru, and it makes me wonder why BSB bothered to put "Bandar" in its name.

Anyway, since am in Akihabara now, i'll be blogging frequently than ever. New blogs on its way, which is about my exprience for the past week.

No worries, it won't shrunk in length, i assure u, its my policy.