Osaka Castle 02

This is Osaka Castle.

Osaka Castle 01

Japanese in Kilt

I met him when I was visiting the Osaka Castle大阪城(Ōsaka-jō). I've never seen anyone in kilt in real life. He's so far the first. And kilt is a Scottish cultural icon. Hope one day I'll have the chance to travel to Scotland.

The Devil Z

Yesterday, I was copying some photos from hubby's phone, and this Datsun 240Z' caught my attention. So I thouhgt: "Hey! these pictures are nice and why not..."

So I "kebas"(took) them from his memory card and post them here, with his permission of course.

The pictures were taken during last month MME(Merdeka Milleniem Endurance) at Sepang. He was helping out a friend's team during race as a pitch crew.

He saw the car during his break and quickly went snapped a few shots of the classic monster.

The same type of car is featured in Michiharu Kusunoki's Wangan Midnight, which has been made into anime recently. In the manga, the car is known as Devil Z.

Tying the Knot

I saw this bride and groom at one of the temples in Kyoto. They were performing some ceremony.

That was the first time I saw a Japanese bride that up-close so I quickly snapped a few shots.

Little Taro 01

This little boy is the son of my Japanese home stay family, Taro Yasuda,安田太郎. He was barely 2 years old, when this picture was taken. Isn't he cute?

He just got up and was having his breakfast.

Little Taro 02

One of the things I remember about this cute little boy is that he loves train. I wonder if he still love train as much as he was.

First Day in Osaka

29 June 2005 - My first day arrived in Osaka, Japan. It was a home stay program which lasted 9 days. We went in a group of about 15 to 20 people, and each of us were arranged to stay with a family. My home stay family was the Yasudas, a young couple with a little adorable little boy named Taro.

Japan was one of my dream places where I always wanting to visit since long time ago. And finally in 2005, I'd had saved up my budget to go. It was a lovely and adventurous trip.

Most of the time I traveled on my own, with only some local maps, my F80 and my big backpack.

The above pictures were taken on this very first day I touched down in Osaka. My home stay parents took me to this place which I forgot the name.

It was a warm afternoon. The lady in the picture was selling some Japanese snack which made of flour and octopus. Haha... when it comes to food, I'm not that adventurous. So don't ask me how did it taste like?

My Cat01

Haven't been updating this blog for at least 5 months since I got pregnant. Time for some updating.

This was my cat Meow Meow. It's been missing for a few months due to dad's carelessness. And he told me only a few days after she ran away from home. He expected her to come back on her own. But she didn't.

She has been with us for 12 years. Born in 1995. My best pal. I feel sorry for her because ever since I had Natalie, I have been neglected her, thinking I could make up to her later. But there's no later. She had left us.

This picture was taken back in 2004 with a friend's FM2, before I got my F80. It was shot on B&W film.

Sweet Darling

I just love this picture of her.

This was taken when Natalie was learning how to stand with support, with the help of her daddy. She is such a eager learner.

I took this picture with a friend's Canon PowerShot G1 in black and white mode.

Omikuji

Omikuji is a written oracle which Japanese uses to predict one's fortune, generally in the matter of health, love, life, so on.

If one gets a bad predictions, the omukuji will be fold up and be tied to a pine tree in the temple grounds. So that the bad luck will stay with the pine tree and not the bearer. However, if it's good one, the bearer will keep it.

Taken in June 2005, in Kyoto, with my F80.

Geisha02

Geisha performance ain't cheap in Japan. And I couldn't afford it.

But I was lucky enough to have seen two real geisha, during my trip to Gion(the best area to meet a geisha girl), Kyoto. However, I wasn't fast enough to capture their picture before they disappeared.

Geisha01

Anyone fancy to be a geisha or maiko (geisha apprentice)?

In Japan, they have something called 'Geisha/Maiko Makeover'. You can dress and make-up like a geisha or a maiko and take photographs. If I remember correctly, it costs about 19,000 to 21,000 yen. I was so tempted to try out. Sadly I was traveling alone. And it would look weird having to dress as a geisha and carrying a big bag pac and a camera.

They even have 'Samurai Makeover'. Guys?

Taken in June 2005, in Kyoto, with my F80. I was on my way to Kodaiji and Kiyomizadera.

Father and Daughter Moment

This was taken when Natalie was only 8 days old and she was having mild jaundice. For the first few weeks we had to sunbath her every morning for 30 mins to an hour.

Instead of doing in the porch, we did it in our room.

This picture was taken with a Sony Ericsson K750i.