羽田空港にて定番のおそば Japanese Soba at Haneda Airport

成田国際空港に到着したら早速羽田空港へ国内線を乗り換えます。搭乗手続きを済ましたらいつも一階のカレーライスを食べます。しかし最近海外でもカレーの素を買えるようになったから、やはり日本ならではの麺類：おそばは日本でしか食べられないのだろう。

I need to transfer to Haneda Airport from Narita Airport to continue taking my domestic flight. After checked in, I always have a plate of curry rice at a shop on the ground floor of the airport. However, recently the essence for curry rice is also available overseas, so I think the only authentic Japanese food that is available only in Japan is the Japanese Soba.

７番搭乗口の近くお蕎麦屋さんがある。そちらで日本に着いた後最初の食事をとりました。秋限定のきのこそばといなり、満腹に幸せいっぱい。

Gate 4 to fly back to Kumamoto.

そして、日本航空の定番：ゆずジュース！

世界ウルルン滞在記 さよなら大感謝スペシャル

『世界ウルルン滞在記 さよなら大感謝スペシャル』
2008年9月14日 日曜日よる9:00から

“1995年4月に放送をスタート以来、13年半にわたり104の国と地域にのべ688人の旅人たちが旅したウルルン。"ウルルン"のタイトルに込められた「出会ウ・泊まル・見ル・体験（たいけン）」をキーワードに、ホームステイを通して世界の人々の暮らしやそこにある文化を伝えてきた。今回のスペシャルは、惜しまれながらも幕を下ろすことになったウルルンの大フィナーレ。これまでの名場面を一挙網羅！！スタジオには旅人たちが一同に介し、思い出に残る名場面とともに13年半の歴史を振り返る2時間だ。”

世界ウルルン滞在記は僕にとって思い出の深い番組です。熊本に居たころ、毎週日曜日の夜１０時に必ずウルルンを見てた。

今週全問正解者が出ましたから、視聴者の皆様にプレゼントがあります。旅先で持って帰ったお土産。。。

大好きな番組は最終回を迎えるなんて、寂しすぎるよ。。。

あぁ～、めっちゃ凹んでる。。。（涙）

家の近くに川がある。There's a river near my home.

通勤の風景 Scenes on my way to work

A junction just before my flat. Photo taken from the bus stop just in front of my flat.

change bus at this bus station

Perth CBD can be seen.

Take a bus to work here. The road continues to a bridge. The left side of the bridge from the bus station:

The right side of the bridge:

Moving tomorrow... Again...

I have been moving house every year since 2006.
April 2006, Kuala Lumpur to Auckland.
June 2007, Auckland to Perth.
July 2008, B suburb to A suburb in Perth.

It's 11 pm now, and tomorrow the mover will come at around 8:30 am.

I am still packing the kitchen stuff, after which I need to clean the stove, mop the floor, wash the bathtub, clean the toilet bowl, then clean the sand at the entrance brought in by my shoes.

Tonight is the last night staying here.

Tomorrow a new chapter at a new place.

I couldn't help wondering what is going to happen in August 2009??!!!

I am yawning now... Yabai!!!

Carpet and 土足厳禁 (no shoes allowed)

It's quite common to leave shoes at the entrance before entering the house for Asians.

In fact, it'd be unrespectful to the host if you didn't show sign of taking off your shoes at the entrance until you are told no need to do so when visiting someone.

This is a social etiquette in Japan, and an accepted practice in Malaysia too. For houses that allow shoes, I haven't found one that has carpet through out. It make sense to me because without a carpet makes it easier to sweep and mop the floor in order to remove the dirt brought in by the shoes.

What I find interesting, but yet to understand the reason, is that my Kiwi friends did not take off their shoes when they walked into my house in Auckland.

Before vacating my current rented property, I need to engage a professional carpet cleaner nominated by the realestate agency to clean the carpet in the living hall and all the rooms. Yesterday, when the carpet cleaner, a friendly white middle age lady, came over to clean the carpet, she too did not take off her shoes even though I took off mine before her while entering the dwelling.

Interesting cultural difference eh?

是非以不辩为解脱，烦恼以忍辱为智慧

Sometimes, life is not as straight forward as what we were taught at school. Didn't all of us learn at school that if we don't do our work assigned to us by our boss we will be scolded?

How many of you actually got yourself scolded by your superior because you have done your job and be responsible?

It's a funny world isn't it?

Property inspection

There is a term in the property lease contract that I find quite unique. Six weeks after you moved into a rental property, the realestate company will send a property inspector to check on the property, and thereafter every quaterly.

Despite the fact that you have stayed awake the whole night doing cleaning, it's quite intimidating when you get such comments as "Floor dusty", "Windows need cleaning" etc, in the inspection report.

Any comment about this?

東京タワー 〜オカンとボクと、時々、オトン〜 Tokyo Tower: Mom and I and sometimes Dad

先週の週末に久々映画を観た。

オダギリジョーと樹木希林の主演「東京タワー 〜オカンとボクと、時々、オトン〜」。

Last weekend, I watched a movie.

It's "Tokyo Tower: Mom and I and sometimes Dad", starring Odagiri Jyo and Kiki Kirin.

ごく普通の親子の話だけど、なぜか心を打たれた。

聞きなれた九州弁での会話、いまでも響いている。

いまでも優しい気持ちのまま。

It's just a simple story about a mother and her son, but I was touched.

The conversations between them conducted in Kyushu dialect, left quite an impact on me as I lived in Kyushu for a long time before.

Until now I am still feeling affectionate.

暖かい気持ちのまま。

And warmth.

Stressful

Haven't been able to post anything lately because the lease contract of my house will expire end of July. I need to give 3 weeks notice hence need to find a place to move before end of June.

The main reason I want to move is because the present suburb is a notorious area for house break-in, robbery and theft, and the rental for my present 3LDK property will increase from AUD 290 per week to AUD 330 per week. The owners only want to have a lease term of 6 months, after which the rental is expected to increase further.

AUD 330 is about 33700 yen or 1035 ringgit. It is a good 134800 yen (salary of an office lady in Japan?) and almost 4140 ringgit (enough to employ a pharmacist in Malaysia?) for just one month rent in Perth!!!

Anyone wants to share a house? Anyone???

生离死别：中国四川省５１２大地震 Earthquake in Sichuan Province of China, May 12.

日本の援助隊３１人は、四川省北部・青川の病院宿舎で救出活動を続けています。倒壊した６階建ての建物では１２人が生き埋めとなり、これまでに９人の遺体が中国の救援隊によって収容されました。残る３人は赤ちゃんとその母親らで、日本の援助隊は持ち込んだハイテク機器を駆使して懸命に捜索を続けました。そして１７日午前８時半ごろ、現場で２７歳の母親と生後７５日の赤ちゃんの２人の遺体を見つけたということです。母親は右手で子どもを抱え、覆いかぶさるような姿勢で発見されたということです。
The first contingent of an emergency relief team from Japan began rescue work here Friday, 16 May. The team is the first that Chinese authorities have allowed from abroad since Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit. Team members eventually began work in Qiaozhuang, searching for three people believed trapped in a collapsed six-storied hospital dorm. Among those believed trapped are a 28-year-old woman and her 70-day-old daughter.
5月16日上午9点45分，首批31名日本专业救援人员抵达距成都近400公里的青川县关庄镇。由于距离山体滑坡搜救地点5公里处道路没有打通，搜救人员只能暂时原地待命。日本救援人员表示：“只要有一线希望，我们就会努力到最后一刻。”





亡くなった母親とあかちゃんに黙祷をささげる日本の援助隊。。。
The rescue team of Japan offering a silent prayer for the mother and her baby who passed away...
5月17日，日本搜救人员向遇难者遗体默哀。当日7时25分，日本救援人员历经16个小时的搜救，在四川青川县乔庄镇一处倒塌的六层楼房废墟中挖出两具遇难者遗体。

帰らぬ人となった妻と子供に最後の言葉を掛ける夫。。。
The husband saying goodbye to his deceased wife and child...
遇难者的丈夫在向遇难者遗体告别。。。

写真：新华社记者 李涛
Photograph: Li Tao
新华社记者 李涛摄

資料１　CCTV, China
資料２　TBS, Japan
資料３　Herald-Asahi
資料４　CNN



別哭。別哭。這是一場災難，你們倖存活下去，就好好活下去。。。
Don't cry. Don't cry. This is a disaster, you've survived, live well...
泣かないで。泣かないで。これは災害だよ。生き延びることができたから、これからは強くなって生きていこう

パース Perth

First night in Perth, I stayed at YMCA. パースでの最初の夜はYMCAで過ごした。


Looking out of the window from the room on the 9th floor of YMCA, the street lights were shining quietly. All of a sudden, I felt lonely for leaving my friends and colleagues in Auckland. Yes, I missed them.....
YMCAの九階の部屋の窓から外へ眺めて、街の光が静かに光った。オークランドの友達と同僚との別れを思い出し寂しくなった。


ビルの後ろはスワン川（Swan　River）だ。Swan River is just at the back of the buildings.

Starting from scratch again, what have I done to my own life?

また一からやり直しなきゃ、これから先の自分の人生は一体どうなっていくのだろうか？

朋友别哭 Don't cry my friend 友よ泣かないで

朋友别哭 Don't cry my friend 友よ泣かないで
吕方
曲：莫凡 词：陈乐融

有没有一扇窗 能让你不绝望 yǒu méi yǒu yī shān chuāng néng ràng nǐ bù jué wàng
Is there a window that will save you from despair
絶望のさせない窓があるのだろうか　
看一看花花世界 原来象梦一场 kān yī kān huā huā shì jiè yuán lái xiàng mèng yī chǎng
So that you can take a look at this world that's just like a dream
この夢のような世の中をよく見てよ
有人哭 有人笑 yǒu rén kū yǒu rén xiào
There are people crying and laughing
泣いてる人もいれば笑ってる人もいる
有人输 有人老 yǒu rén shū yǒu rén lǎo
There are people losing and aging
負けてる人も老いてる人もいる
到结局还不是一样 dào jié jú hái bú shì yí yàng
Everybody comes to the same at the end
結局みんな最後同じ結末になる

有没有一种爱 能让你不受伤 yǒu méi yǒu yī zhǒng ài néng ràng nǐ bù shòu shāng

Is there a love that will prevent you from getting hurt

傷のつけられない愛があるのだろうか

这些年堆积多少对你的知心话 zhè xie nián duī jī duō shao duì nǐ de zhī xīn huà

Over all these years a lot of true words have been kept in heart

心のそこからの話が長い間に貯まり続けている
什么酒 醒不了 shén me jiǔ xǐng bù liǎo

What kind of liquer will not allow one to become sober?

どんなお酒は人を酔わせたままなのだろうか
什么痛忘不掉 shén me tòng wàng bù diào

What kind of pain is unforgettable?

どんな痛みがずっと忘れないのだろうか

向前走 就不可能回头望 xiàng qián zǒu jiù bù kě néng huí tóu wàng

It's not possible to go backward after you move on

一歩前を踏み出したら後ろへ振り向かれない

朋友别哭 péng you bié kū
Don't cry my friend
友よ泣かないで
我依然是你心灵的归宿 wǒ yī rán shì nǐ xīn ling de guī sù
I am still a place for you to come home
心の故郷がいつも待っている
朋友别哭 péng you bié kū
Don't cry my friend
友よ泣かないで
要相信自己的路 yāo xiāng xìn zì jǐ de lù
You must have confidence in your own journey
自分の道を信じて
红尘中 有太多茫然痴心的追逐 hóng chén zhōng yǒu tài duō máng rán chī xīn de zhuī zhú
There are far too many people that lost their directions and pursuing endlessly in this bustling world
忙しい世の中で、茫然として目標を追いかけ続けるの人が多すぎるよ
你的苦 我也有感触 nǐ de kǔ wǒ yě yǒu gǎn chù
I can feel your pain too
君の苦痛は私も共感する

有没有一种爱
能让你不受伤
这些年堆积多少
对你的知心话
什么酒 醒不了
什么痛 忘不掉
向前走 就不可能回头望

朋友别哭
我依然是你心灵的归宿
朋友别哭
要相信自己的路
红尘中 有太多茫然痴心的追逐
你的苦 我也有感触

朋友别哭 péng you bié kū
Don't cry my friend
友よ泣かないで
我一直在你心灵最深处 wǒ yì zhí zài nǐ xīn ling zuì shēn chù
I am always in your deepest heart
君の心のそこにずっと居るよ
朋友别哭 péng you bié kū
Don't cry my friend
友よ泣かないで
我陪你就不孤独 wǒ péi nǐ jiù bù gū dú
I will accompay you so that you won't feel lonely
傍に居て一人ぼっちにさせないよ
人海中 rén hǎi zhōng
Among so many people aroud us
周りの人々の中に
难得有几个真正的朋友 nán dé yǒu jǐ ge zhēn zhèng de péng you
It is difficult to have a few true friends
簡単に本当の友達ができるわけではない
这份情 zhè fèn qíng
This friendship
この友情を
请你不要不在乎 qǐng nǐ bù yào bù zài hū
Please don't take it for granted
大切にしてください

人海中
Among so many people aroud us
周りの人々の中に
难得有几个真正的朋友
It is difficult to have a few true friends
簡単に本当の友達ができるわけではない
这份情
This friendship
この友情を
请你不要不在乎
Please don't take it for granted
大切にしてください

九品寺2丁目 Kuhonji ni chome

I lived in Japan for almost 7 years. This period of time is long when you compare with just a short stay of one week for traveling, it is short when compare with a lifetime. It was a time not long after graduation from the university, when my contemporaries were establishing their careers and families back home. I have chosen to walk a different path to start a new chapter of my life in Japan. I guess it's my karmic force that led me back to Japan, to reunite with my friends in Japan that I met in my past life. 約7年間日本で暮らした。この期間は1週の旅行に比べてみれば長いだろうけど、一生の時間となら短いだろう。その時は大学から卒業してまもなく、同期生たちがキャリアと家庭を築いていたに対して違う道を選んで、日本で人生の新しい章を始めた。日本に戻ったのが、前世に知り合った日本の友人たちと再会するためかもね。

Room 403, Morinaga apartment, the place that I spent my golden years... 森永アパート403室、人生一番輝いてる時期はここで過ごした。。。


アパートのすぐ近くローソンがあり、よくここで黒ゴマと抹茶アイスとバナナオレを買った。ちょーうめ～～～。あとこち亀のマンガも。There is a convenient store Lawson just opposite the apartment. Used to buy ice cream of black sesame and japanese green tea flavors and banana milk. Kochikame comics too.

Always took this route, walked pass a high school, この道を通って、鎮西高校の前通過し、
then turn right to this lane towards the lab in the campus. そして研究室へ。




Is it only me that will feel nostalgia for the sights along the road that I took everyday to work ?
普段通っていた道を懐かしく思うのが私だけ？

オークランド Auckland

Auckland is the first western country city that I live in. I spent my first night in New Zealand at Domain Lodge. オークランドは僕にとって初めて生活する西洋都市だ。ニュージーランドでの最初の夜はドメイン・ロッジで過ごした。時差ぼけのため、なかなか眠れなかった。

Then I rented a granny flat at Newmarket, where I met my landlord and his wife. Both of them came from south China. They were growing vegetables at Pukekohe at southern Auckland to raise their children. その後、ニューマーケットっていう町でお婆ちゃんフラット（親戚の家と連接するお年寄りの暮らす部屋）を賃貸し、大家さんご夫妻と出会いました。お二人は南中国の広東省から来ました。オークランドの南部にあるプケコヘっていうところで農業をして子供たちを育った。

Granny flat at the backyard of the house. 家の後ろにあるお婆ちゃんフラットだ。

A photo taken just before I went to the airport. This is the first and the last photo I've ever taken with my landlord. He passed away three weeks later after I arrived in Perth. He's always been very kind to me when I was staying in Auckland, felt very sad for not being able to see him again. 空港へ向かう前に大家さんと撮った写真だ。これは最初で最後だ。パースに着いて約三週間後、オークランドにいる友人から大家さんの訃報を知らされた。まさに青天の霹靂だった。異国で心細かった時期にいつも親切な言葉をかけてくださったりして、オークランドへ戻ってももう会えないと思うと、本当に寂しくて悲しかった。ご冥福をお祈り申し上げます。（涙）

Hanami 花見

Every year the Otagiri lab mates will go to Kumamoto Castle to do Hanami, the sakura is just absolutely gorgeous! Night sakura (夜桜yozakura) is breathtaking isnt it?

写真：田口和明

春の桜、夏の山鹿千人灯篭踊り、秋の紅葉＋金木犀の香り、冬の阿蘇、愛しくて懐かしい～！

Starting a blog

Really, I have nothing to write at the moment.
Let's see how it goes...