Tag: Japan

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

——

sometimes you just have to smile and just smile 😊

racing with the time? why not? 😊

I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky 🦅

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.

——

Kiyotaki Tunnel, rather not nice if you go there alone

this is a river with crystal clear water worth the tunnel crossing — stunning view, clean air 💕

the other side of the bridge — I bet you can’t see people sitting on the rocky river 🙂

A Fragrant Machiya

Learning, Map It!, Poetic, This Person

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.

——

my favourite room where the fragrance of hinoki wood and tatami is the strongest — I feel home 😃

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 — won’t stay alone next time!

THE FRAGRANCE!!! ♥️

About machiya

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.

——

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

Loved Most

Learning, love, Poetic

It’s
You
I
Love
Most

——

two things I love the most about Japan: lining-up footwear and toilet! 😍 aahhh and you…. 😃

most of my friends think I would always visit big cities with all the luxurious and sparkling night life when visiting Japan; yet they’re wrong as many of places I’ve visited are rural areas where no Hyatt, Shangri-La, and other big chains of hospitality brands are planted — I will usually stay in local hotels, meet humble kind genuine Japanese who don’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 😌

feeling so blessed in a remote area in Gobo — let’s work wonder tomorrow, good people 🙏🏼

Talk to The Self

One talk to the self.
Alone among cheering crowd.
Peaceful in the noise—

——

it was a beautiful night with myself among the crowd 💕

Tokyo at A Glance

Tokyo at a glance
Brings me a shadow of you
Longing for a home.

——

sightseeing 😍

(affordable) sushi so far is only nice in Japan 😊

made one once and will make it again someday 😍

Multiply

Multiplied and blessed
Is numbers nature has sent
To a heart that smiles.

——

flying back from Narita

flying out from Changi

i believe that whatever shared is multiplied — at least those who enjoy it are multiplied

keep multiplying and blessing!

♥️

Pilgrimage

Learning, life, love, Map It!, Poetic, This Person

This life’s pilgrimage
Spiralling in to the core
Of old house within.

——

a mosque in Tokyo — Tokyo Jamii (Camii)

entrance — assalamualaikum, Tokyo Camii

mosque area – 2nd floor

i still know how to do sholat tahiyatul masjid (praying to respect mosque), recite QS Arrahman that is full of gratitudes and praises so i did it

the feel was exactly like when i pray in the temples and shrines

a feeling of home 💕

then a beautiful sister helped me with photo taking — she made me much taller, slimmer yet less me 😁 thank you 💕

time to fly home — thank you, Tokyo 💕

you make me love myself more and more, with all the wounds and scars

Dirgahayu RI ke-78!

I normally participate flag raising ceremony on August 17 to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day in Indonesia Embassy in Singapore yet this year I don’t as I am in Japan for work.

Not losing hope to express my vibe of nationalism, I decided to celebrate it by eating cold soba standing and slurping (not so successful sound according to my friend though) then watching one-act Kabuki in Kabukiza Theater — all after work.

It is absolutely different way of celebration! So much liking it!

Thank you, Tokyo! I will be back.

Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia ke-78!

Merdeka!

i love you, Indonesia

sluurp!

Kabukiza Theater

8888 — hope to see full performance someday!

wishing to be back 💕

Rin-Chu, the main character in the Shin Suikoden

Hatred Was Love

Hatred, Beloved
Never a choice; it is love—
Once got hurt then lost.

(haiku at lunch break)

——

osho, the king in shogi (Japanese chess)

About shogi the Japanese chess

Power

The main cable’s cut,
Power surge’s down. Light’s off.
Ruin of pride sprawling—

——

Mori Tadamasa — the owner of Tsuyama Castle

not taking high IQ to learn that many if not all the daimyos and above were human beings thirsty of power

human beings are both individual and social, original and political, psychological and cultural, good and evil; let life be fair at the right time and the right place to me — i just want to be humane and nothing else 😊 avoiding people with intrigues is paramount even if they are the ones that i love the most 😘

life of non aristocratic is more interesting to me where politic is just about how to stay in self control with some occasional sparks of witty explosions and to gracefully stabilise the society ♥️

rebuilt part of Tsuyama Castle’s Bitchu Yagura (viewed from not so nice a point) — you don’t have to look pretty or grand all the time, dear Castle 😍

when i saw the high stone walls of this castle, i could imagine how it was strongly fortified

just with 6 ruins of hundreds of castles in Japan I visited (Asahi-san has visited 75 and counting) and it is already clear to me what kind of culture this nation was built upon and what type of aristocratic people started the build — all nations are blessed in different ways

this is how beautiful Tsuyama Castle scenery was in one sakura season (foto borrowed from tsuyama.kokosil.net) — i’m blessed enough to see it in Jun ♥️

thank you, Tsuyama 🙏🏼

Note: Castle is open from 8:40am to 7pm Japan time

Summer

It’s ever summer
When smile is sweet, words are true.
Then sun is joining.

——

thanks, Jasmine-san for bringing me to this place!

summer

pottery is never too cute

it is free opener; two for one diner

my 1st nato in life which was ummm…. and sticky yam or something which was amazing

one of my colleagues who is loving Japanese food will be so happy to finally see me eat sashimi without throwing up 😂

i love tempura and this is one of the best one i’ve ever had!!! and much cheaper than the ones in Singapore ☺️

yesss!!! Joetsu rice is the best and so is the sushi! 💕

sushi, sushi, sushi!

this fish cake that i’ll never be able to recook! perfect!

Blessed Belly

This blessed belly sings
And dances then soon to sleep
With a dream waiting.

——

i politely rejected an invite of dinner so i could eat alone in an izakaya – 😍 having dinner at the window while seeing people passing by bringing joy or anger after work or school brought me to a corner called “thanks god i’m alive”

💕 izakaya with a glass of green tea, carrot juice, and….

potato salad!

edamame obviously

chicken 🫣 oil oil oil!

most of Javanese love this fish! incl me! 💕😍♥️

pickled cucumber

chicken skin and gizzards! i can be joyful just with this cheap food! 😍 but i want the best sushi in town tomorrow! 😁

On A Green Mountain

On a green mountain
She stands, claps and bows to pray
For what’s been wished for.

——

Day was clear, no June rain welcomed me. Black birds were cawing but not noisy when I arrived, the caws sounded more like “this woman is not important and harmless, let her do what she wants to do. Leave her alone.”

The scent of just mown grass infused stronger freshness to the hanging air and sprinkled refreshing vibe to the scenery.

A lady in the shrine shop greeted me excitedly in Japanese which made me feel like attending an oral communication test with a desperate teacher thinking “fail, fail, fail”. Yet her beautiful smile cajoled me to take one ema (wooden plaque in shrine to write wishes and prayer) to write what I wish to wish forever for me and everyone.

About ema

The most impressive that day were the taxi drivers who drove me to the shrine and back to the hotel— both were willing to find the most basic vocabulary and grammar to make me feel good to practice my pre-basic Japanese; two grandfathers who accompanied a confused granddaughter blabbering Japanese gibberish.

Yet the shrine itself was the cherry on top of the cake that day. Shrine and castle never fail me!

Thank you, Kasugayama Mountain for welcoming me and letting me enjoy the shrine and its surrounding.

Thank you for letting this heart throb seeing what can grow in silence and for letting this soul sit still observing what can leave with no trail.

I am lucky. Always.

💕

going in to the Kasugayama Shrine compound

my friend asked me in Instagram “how many steps?” i said to her “i didn’t count, i will next time” but in my heart “one third of my breath” 😀

torii at the front gate of Kasugayama Shrine

ablution station before stepping to the shrine inner area to pray

i wish prosperity and blessings for my company ♥️♥️♥️

ema: after almost 50 years living, i can only wish the loudest possible in my heart “May All Beings Be HAPPY. All my dreams come true. ♥️”

prayers are hanging everywhere, tied anywhere — people want their wishes come true; as simple as that

if people don’t believe in the power beyond powers, why do they want to pray? to boost confidence? formality? culture? i’m sure they do it because they’re sure it is there whatever people call it beyond what’s taught in religions — i pray as others do

do you know the guy standing on the hill? Uesugi Kenshin — respected daimyo in his era

About Uesugi Kenshin

there is Kasugayama Castle ruin on top of the Kasugayama mountain — i didn’t go though, maybe next time

Ride The Life, Don’t Fly

I used to fly the life
Faster and quieter,
Passing by blue sky,
White clouds over the lands and oceans.
Yet now I ride mine
Slower and merrier,
Passing greenery and buildings.
I heard others chat and laugh;
I am not curious about the convo
But I enjoy the laughter.
I will arrive slightly later 
But happier,
Friendlier,
And luckier.

——

riding Shinkansen is more exciting than flying, I used to fly from one city to another in Japan but not anymore although recommended for some areas — always get new things in each ride! 💝

i feel lucky always and today i see same combinations of numbers appeared repeatedly that has made me feel even luckier — although i don’t know, i prefer to believe that it is a good sign before i forget it 😄

Hakutaka 555 departed at 844

sometimes i am superstitious 😁

yet i thank him for making some of my superstition sound scientific 😁

Dream of Home

If home’s made of dreams,
It’s green, warm and musical;
Or nothing at all.

—-

exhausted like heaven! the toilets and cleanliness imprison me, the railway system bids me a farewell — not a perfect home of mine 💝 Singapore and Indonesia is the best home of mine 💝

home is where new dreams are ready to come true 💝

dandelions ready to fly 💝

Climb

There is great mountain
Not deserved to climb
How much ever best view will be up there.
There is good hill
Deserved to walk up
How much ever others give up its ordinary view.

She decided to walk up the hill
And found some big trees
With singing birds and hopping squirrels
Enjoying the breeze.
There is enough space to have a picnic
Until the sun sets beautifully.

—-

there is elevator in Osaka Castle so i should not skip climbing the castle as in Himeji Castle (said my colleague); yet i still didn’t as the queue was too long — walking the garden then having a fine dining with a good friend was a much better choice 🌸

thanks for your Osaka vibe; proven that Osaka is much warmer than Tokyo 💝 see you again in June

My Heart Is Leaping

My heart is leaping.
It opens its windows, breathes the joy.
It celebrates parties,
As invited by beauty that pops out out of life.
It claps hands.
It taps feet.
It dances love songs.
It sings “Ode to Joy”.

My heart is leaping.
It turns my sadness
To joyous moments,
Leaving tiny gap to
Contemplation and regret.

—-

do you see that breathing the pink fragrance 👁

camellia ~ symmetrical layers

sakura near castle boulders

pink sakura ~ hanging blessings

sakura tree ~ almost end of cherry blossoms

As Bright As Healthy Sight

Healthy sight sees bright
That blurs by cloud of the heart.
Clean it with blessed soul.

—-

Osaka Castle behind the bush 💝

Osaka Castle back side 💝 before short rain

Osaka Castle behind the pine tree 🙏🏼 after short rain

Good Morning, Joy

Pink joy greets in breeze
Showering earth with blessings
Of cherry petals.

—-

a surprise at the gate! 🥰

trust me it made my day! 💝

showered earth 💝

neighbour’s sakura 💝

thanks for the blessings!

thanks for the blessings!

thanks for the blessings!

thanks for the blessings!

thanks for the blessings!

Pink Beauty

Their eyes see pig pink.
She sees cherry blossom pink.
Pink can be anything, anywhere.
Not anyone though sees beauty in pink.
My heart is red
Yet it feels ever pink.

—-

cherry blossoms along JR Kobe Line 😍 — almost ten times visiting Japan and this is my very first experience of cherry blossoms

Shadow

Is it the shadow
Or the real you show to me?
Distinguished beauty—

—-

i can’t remember which one is the shadow and which one is the real — i don’t want to observe further to find which is which

what i know the castle is beautiful day and night 💝

Bubble

A bubble’s bursting,
United with the free air.
Would you please join me?

—

Although Kyoto has a lot of impressive shrines, my favourite is not there. Mine is Izumo Taisha in Shimane prefecture about 343 km from Kyoto.

When visiting other shrines in Japan, I was so aware of being in Japan. In Izumo Taisha I got home: sunny, green, serene and unexplainably blissful. There were many visitors but my senses didn’t absorb their presence as if the hot air and bright light muffled their noise and wrapped me in a safe bubble bursting when my last step left the shrine front gate.

Romantic!

a long walk from the gate to the shrine — i remember it was a scorching hot day in August 2018 and i was humming while walking 😇

ablution, my daily ritual that i find also so soothing in Japan shrine especially in Izumo Taisha

torii 💝 a gate to the shrine yard

this is Izumo Taisha! 💝

shimenawa (sacred straw rope)

i only go to this coffee shop with my colleagues, but i wholeheartedly believed drinking Starbucks coffee was a nice thing; only in Izumo! right outside the shrine complex

Izumo Taisha, Shimane

Castle

Castles small or big
Stand on a hill among trees
Wave to the white clouds.

—

Matsue Castle, from afar (2018)

Matsue Castle, closer view (2018)

there is no reason to not thank life for making me me; with all the ups and downs, zig-zagging, winding roads, flood and quake, fake and genuine people around; i survive and become more and more relaxed — like Matsue Castle, my life is small, humble but strong enough and sweetly suitable for me 💝

Matsue Castle, Shimane

Castle

She builds a castle
Protecting and comforting.
Illuminated—

—-

Nagoya Castle under the moonlight (2014)

Nagoya Castle under the sunlight (2014)

wishing to explore another castle soon 💝

Nagoya Castle

A Cake