Farewell Party

Farewell party
Is tasting the best of mood
That is remembered.

โ€”โ€”

lunch on my last day in Kyoto โ€” a set of Japanese washoku ๐Ÿ’•

I wonโ€™t be back for work in Japan anymore so I will be back next year in my personal trips; yay! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

About Aoi-Jaya

About washoku

Tongue Twisted

This tongue is twisted
By taste and a language
For a little while.

โ€”โ€”

Iโ€™m having lunch now and remembering one lunch on my first day in Kyoto. Lovely!

appetiser โ€” too lovely to eat up ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Yuba Sashimi (sea bream tuna) โ€” ๐Ÿ’•

clear soup made in an individual Dobin โ€” no spoon is needed, you drink the soup with the lid

grilled Spanish Mackerel โ€”- I could eat another one ๐Ÿ’•

Yuba Oke (their specialty)

steamed tofu with vegetables โ€” verrrry good!

rice, miso soup, pickles โ€” still good but the least I liked ๐Ÿคญ

dessert – persimmon ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

About Shozankaku Matsuyama

Colourful

Life is falling leaves
Layered colours to decay.
Colourful beautyโ€”

โ€”โ€”

my life is like a stack of ironed clothes: colourful!

household chores done for today ๐Ÿ’• ready for packing

Gadis Kretek

Recommended watch!

This is a world-class series from Indonesia. I am a proud Indonesian. Yes, we can make it better, beloved country.

๐Ÿ’•

Dian Sastro never fails her work! Thank you for the inspiration. ๐Ÿ’•

Ultimate Commitment

I can only love me
As me is the closest
One
To
You.

โ€”โ€”

hello, bitter reality โ€” I will take care of you as I commit to myself ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’•

how much hurting the sarcasm, euphemism and talking numbers people intentionally sent to me, it will just hurt themselves ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’•

I wonโ€™t send blessings anymore as blessings are free for them to earn by themselves ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’•

Dilemma

Itโ€™s a dilemma
Between safety and beauty.
Each is a glory.

โ€”โ€”

falling leaves on a moss garden

red falling leaves are beautiful and I want to experience them again someday yet it is always hard choice to me โ€” always a dilemma between beautiful autumn or short torture of itchy welts

Iโ€™m allergic to cold weather โ€” after 1 week Iโ€™m getting bad skin rash and itch that wonโ€™t let me stop scratching crazily on the itchy part; my recent Kyoto was the worst so far

I should have had antihistamine with me so all the falling leaves and moss garden images wouldnโ€™t have been shaken by my skin-scratching disco ๐Ÿ˜‚

I still wish to be back someday ๐Ÿ’• not in an extension of biz trip, but a personal leave only ๐Ÿ˜

Sour Citrus

Sour citrus,
Youโ€™re like an unpleasant day
To taste,
Yet still comforting these muscles and skin
When soaked in hot water
For bath.

โ€”โ€”

bought a plastic bag of sour citrus in a village near the river behind Kiyotaki Tunnel โ€” not good for juice but excellent for hot water soaking ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜Š

Personality

Itโ€™s me.
Which me?
This me,
That me,
Me out,
Me in,
Me right,
Me left.
I want the best me
Thatโ€™s happy.

โ€”โ€”

a temple with many statues made by a monk artistโ€™s stone carving students

one statue represents one studentโ€™s personality โ€” I guess

hundreds of them

asked to choose one, I did this one โ€” laughing at myself is a best part of getting older and mature; the only one that canโ€™t be not serious in is my work! ๐Ÿ’•

About Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

When Lunch Is Free

When lunch is free,
I am still saying tough things.
When lunch is free,
I am still saying sweet things.
And all are real things
As I am as free as a free lunch.

โ€”โ€”

a lot of rice! yummy side dish in a bento โ€” day #1

a lot of rice! yummy side dish in a bento โ€” say #2

a lot of rice! yummy side dish in a bento โ€” day #3

Released

It hurts when released.
In heart.
It hurts when kept.
In all.
And so I released.
All.

โ€”โ€”-

I sent blessings and prayers to those passing away not known by their family โ€” whoever and wherever you are all, I am one of those remember you as a family member ๐Ÿ’• May all beings be happy

I believe they are released from any unhappiness

๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

Bamboo Groove

A lot of smiles
Along the bamboo groove
Heading to the mountain
Where snow starts to move

โ€”โ€”

sometimes you just have to smile and just smile ๐Ÿ˜Š

racing with the time? why not? ๐Ÿ˜Š

I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky ๐Ÿฆ…

Autumn in Kyoto

Red leaves that come late
And green foliage that stay
Both recite stories
Of how time flies and leaves tracks.
Every single second counts.

โ€”โ€”

Kiyotaki Tunnel, rather not nice if you go there alone

this is a river with crystal clear water worth the tunnel crossing โ€” stunning view, clean air ๐Ÿ’•

the other side of the bridge โ€” I bet you canโ€™t see people sitting on the rocky river ๐Ÿ™‚

A Fragrant Machiya

This fragrance that travels in to the breathing brings me to where unknown stories were told.

Who built you,
Dear home?
Who grew with you,
Dear home?
Who left you,
Dear home?
I feel you,
Dear home.

Today I stay with
You
To realise that
Home is where breathing feels so real.

โ€”โ€”

my favourite room where the fragrance of hinoki wood and tatami is the strongest โ€” I feel home ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

thank you!

I thought I would stay in a boutique hotel made from a machiya

I found that I am alone in a two-story fragrant machiya which is 3 times bigger than the condo unit I live in Singapore โ€” wonโ€™t stay alone next time!

THE FRAGRANCE!!! โ™ฅ๏ธ

About machiya

Lost (Coldplay)

Heading from Nara to Kyoto on Deepavali Day with this song on repeatedly is giving me balanced vibe after meeting many happy deer.

โ™ฅ๏ธ

this band is not the best with the music but superb with the lyrics which mean the most to me

thank you!

Dear Deer

Dear
Deer,
Youโ€™ve mirrored me so dearly.
Curious to passers by
When stomach is empty.
Dozing off out of rule
When stomach is full.

โ€”โ€”

she surprised me from behind the giant root ๐Ÿ˜‚ oftentimes I am curious as heaven ๐Ÿ˜Œ

she didnโ€™t even want to look at me when I said hi ๐Ÿ˜‚ sometimes I just want to lie down after long walk ๐Ÿ˜Œ

This Love

This love is a red leaf
Early ready to fall
When others are firm.
This love is a happy snail
Silently slowly to reside
When deer are swift.

This love is what nature says
To leaf to fall,
To snail to reside
In a gorgeous
Fall.

โ€”โ€”

I saw a red leaf among the green then a snail slowly came to my sight โ€” what a beautiful day to see my love summarised in a frame; thank you!

Well Fed

Good morning from a park
Where all beings are happy.
Both the feeding and the fed
Are well.

I wish all beings be happy
Wherever they are.

โ€”โ€”

i bought a bundle of biscuits to feed the deer in Nara; seeing how well fed they were, I decided to sit down and just watched how human beings showed love to those tame animals ๐Ÿ’•

False Alarm

You rang loudly in my ears.
I ran following you.
I was safe in pyjamas.
You blinked an eye then went away.

You are always alarming me
And I start to distrust you.

Dear,
False alarm.

โ€”โ€”

another false alarm this morning at around 7:20

this time many had decent clothes as many guests were ready to go out early

I was confused because several seconds after instructions to evacuate, the messages changed; this time telling that it was a false alarm and we didnโ€™t have to evacuate

compared to the first false alarm I experienced in Penang earlier, this one in Japan was handled very properly; when a couple and I ran to the office room behind the lift, two officers in fire uniform were walking in โ€” less than 5 minutes!

Japan is really outstanding in emergency management.

my plan to wake up a bit later didnโ€™t happen; I will get prepared to go out early ๐Ÿ˜

dear Love, I hope to still believe an alarm when it goes off. ๐Ÿคญ

You

I called your name
Boldly
I called your name
Loudly
I called your name
Sweetly
I called your name
Softly
I called you so you heard me.

I call your name
In silence
I call your name
Silently
I call your name
Melodiously
I call your name
Secretly
I call your name so you be there.

โ€”โ€”

a little bird on 11:11 at 11:11

Humankind (Coldplay)

Promise me, dear self that no matter what know that you are a human.

Let them do whatever they want in their life, their own mirror.

Bless yourself and those true to you, your own mirror.

(me to myself)

โ€”โ€”

(lyrics)

Today I heard the strangest
I heard the strangest song

A DJ a star away is
Playing it to turn us on

My heart started glowing
I feel it inside, it's flowing

I say I know, I know, I know
We're only human
I know, I know, I know
How we're designed, yeah

Oh, I know, I know, I know
We're only human
But from another planet
Still they call us humankind

Today I had the strangest
Feeling that I belong
Before, I was dying
I feel it inside, now I'm flying

I say I know, I know, I know
We're only human
I know, I know, I know
How we're designed, yeah

Oh, I know, I know, I know
We're only human
But from another planet
Still they call us humankind

Before, I was dying
I feel it inside, now I'm flying

I know, I know, I know
We're only human
I know, I know, I know
How we're designed

Oh, I know, I know, I know
We're only human
But we're capable of kindness
So they call us humankind

Centred

It is not out there
What is searched is here waiting.
A centred sparkโ€”

โ€”โ€”

keep centred โ€” thanks, Beloved for all the blessings

๐Ÿ’•

no one can shake an ancient rock

Serenity, Joy and Beauty

This serene moment
Has brought me joy
That sparks beauty
Anywhere I am.

Let them interpret
A picture
As they wish.
That is their life.

Mine is here and now.
No one is accurate
In defining me
As serenity, joy and beauty
Is a luxury
Differently designed
For each of reality.

โ€”โ€”

a line of serenity

me and myself in joy

even when tilting, my eyes see beauty ๐Ÿ’• not your definition of beauty, it is mine and mine only

Remote

Thereโ€™s a vibe within
Spreading a home everywhere.
Close yet so remoteโ€”

โ€”โ€”

most of my friends think I would always visit big cities with all the luxurious and sparkling night life when visiting Japan; yet theyโ€™re wrong as many of places Iโ€™ve visited are rural areas where no Hyatt, Shangri-La, and other big chains of hospitality brands are planted โ€” I will usually stay in local hotels, meet humble kind genuine Japanese who donโ€™t speak English and are willing to converse with my broken Japanese, listen to stories that impress me of how all human beings are basically struggle in life

not all Japanese are like the one I met some time ago whose rich life has formed one prouder and less kind than I thought one was ๐Ÿ˜Œ

feeling so blessed in a remote area in Gobo โ€” letโ€™s work wonder tomorrow, good people ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

False vs True

You can change some friends
And places, yet not your self
That is true and still.

โ€”โ€”

My friend likes to edit her photos. One of her mobile phones has a camera feature called โ€œBeautifulโ€ that makes everyone much more beautiful than oneโ€™s natural condition. She tried the feature on me.

She is happy, I am definitely not.

Yet it is fun to see a different me.

๐Ÿ˜‚

๐Ÿ˜‚ brighter face, curly eyelashes โ€” whatโ€™s more of me can be faker? ๐Ÿ˜‚ my friend said โ€œyour neck skinโ€ ๐Ÿ˜‚ thank you for your short company, see you in January!

Talk to The Self

One talk to the self.
Alone among cheering crowd.
Peaceful in the noiseโ€”

โ€”โ€”

it was a beautiful night with myself among the crowd ๐Ÿ’•