purple_orchid

04:01 pm: moving on
we will be out of our current location by next friday. things are all in varying states of being packed and now it is getting really real. and really stressful!! beginning to miss this place already!

=D

i wish i had time to re-paint the new lab first!! harhahrhar

09:01 am: i am sad
found out on sunday that a friend in melbourne, though to be honest i have lost contact with him in the last few years so i guess i should call him an aquantance, passed away in the wee hours of the morning. he had gone to his cousins bucks night and drank so much that he didnt wake up.

this guy when i was still in contact was a good mate. its scary how you loose track of people and friends. especially those in different states. it actually took me a few days to work out it was him. i know him from youth group and so we always knew each other from nicknames etc rather than his 'real' name so it didnt register when i first got the news. but now with all the death announcements and emails going back and forth and convos i have realised that i did know him. and so i am sad. i mean i was sad when i originally heard the news because he was a member of the organisation but now it has reached an even deeper level of sadness cause i knew him personally.

i cant make it to the funeral and there is no one really in his family that i can offer my condolences to so i will just accept that it is another life gone.

this is the second person i know who has drank too much and not woken up the next morning. its a scary concept when it actually happens to people you know. it makes you think twice about over indulging. seriously.

the bf raised an interesting question which has me thinking. if you believe in buddhism than you can say that it was his time to go. but of course because of the way it happened your gut instinct was to say, no it wasnt, it was just an accident but in all honesty, it was his time. its hard to accept - mainly because of how he died but if it wasnt his time, then he wouldnt have died. the nature of the death only indicates his past lives.

but its still sad. i can try and rationalise it all i like but in the end it was a tragic ending. and so we mourn and hope that his soul will re-incarnate into a better place.

move on my friend - hopefully to a better place

04:11 pm: hmmm...
why is it that there are some people that turns you on more with their clothes on than with it off.

i am not saying that i have seen this guy naked - only sort of. you know shirt off at the pool etc but for some reason, i find i am more attracted to him with his 'proper' shirt and trousers on than with no shirt on...

dont know why..

and dont worry. it was just a look..no touch!! =D

but yeah. he was so hot with his clothes on!!

harhahrhar

03:45 pm: and the big news is...
that i have been sold off...well the lab got sold off and so i got the option of going with it or not...i chose to follow the lab is 'my baby' and i am not quite ready to give it up yet. we are going to a much bigger organisation which all they do is laboratories (rather than consultancy) and i have been promised nothing changes...

we will see...

basically it has just been announced this week (as the company is a publically listed company) and i will officially be starting with the new company on monday...so last day tomorrow at the old one.

got some perks out of it...

a big redundancy package...
a pay rise...
and a work laptop in which i am posting from right now...

we are also moving location to a 'portable lab' temporarily whilst i get a hand at helping plan and build the new one....

so it will be interesting times....

the last few weeks have been a nightmare trying to finish everything but thats what keeps us alive i guess...

sorry to keep everyone guessing...

01:44 pm: ho hum
i have a secret. which obviously means i can not tell right now. though i want to. cause i feel cathatic pull of blogging and i so need it right now.

but i cant.

not for another few weeks yet.

so all i can say is my life is about to change. and i dont know if i like the direction is going very much.

fooey!

04:01 pm: bones
okay. just a short snippet of an entry because i want to remind myself how silly i can be some times...

as some of you are aware...i am a big big big fan of Bones. i like the books by kathy reichs more but i also watch bones cause of...well...the presence of angel...that and the series makes a half decent attempt at following the style of the books - probably because reichs is part producer/writer if i recall correctly...

but anyways...

i was on the other side of the world recently and had a stop over in Washington DC. i should clarify all the stopovers on my trip in the US were short as we were on a 15 day tour going from NY to LA. i will supply greater details and pics at a later date. but i digress.

okay. i was walking down the 'mall' on my free time and the first thing that popped into my mind was i wanted to go find the 'jeffersonian'...yes....i thought that...the closest i could find was the smithisonian so i went and bought a top and cap to prove i was there!! harhahrhar

yes. i am a nerd.

and speaking of nerds...i went to see x-files movie: i want to believe. and to be honest...go only if you are (die hard) fan. i am a fan and at moments in time i was thinking i should have waited for the video...

anyways...enough from me. its friday. got stuff to finalised and then i am out of here baby...

11:19 am: oh no.
they have finally gone and blocked my beloved RBJ at work.

what am i to do now?

phooey!

01:31 pm: distractions galore
so as they have now officially canned supernatural, and i was reading a blurb on the new movie shuttered. i have found a new site to distract me from actually doing work.

hollowhill.com

its an iteresting read.

03:07 pm: 18th birthday
so yeah...saturday night was mine and A. 18th bday at the minq bar and lounge.

the night itself was brilliant. we had a few hiccups at the start with them getting the rooms wrong (we had booked the blue room - which is bigger, and they had us listed as the red room), the catering being set up late. the hostess not turning up. the events organiser being a different person so had no clue as to what my tab was, karaoke not ready etc etc. but after a few death stares on my part and a few curt comments - things were sorted. that and a few drinks downed whilst doing it helped. luckily the other bday wasnt there cause she is too nice and would have probably told them not to worry about it...whilst i demanded service...harhahrhhar

so yeah. after about half an hours worth of problems we finally got started. the guests didnt seem to mind cause they still got to make a start on demolishing my bar tab at the main bar while the room issues were being sorted. i liked the main bar too...cause i got to get my drinks personally made by the hot bar guy. the same guy as last time....

basically it was a night of cocktails and karaoke with good friends...what more can you ask for?

the bf and his friends managed to get A. cousin, who had just turned 18, royally drunk. though he did quite well as he was only kicked out right at the end of the night when we were all getting ready to leave...

so yeah. good fun had by all.

ah the memories....

the lil one has photos on her fb. maybe i will go steal some though the bulk of them were of her and her friends or her drunk bf and his group. i think i managed to be in like 3 or 4.

harhahrhahrhar

oh wells....pictures are all in my head anyways!!

okay. back to paying work.

12:41 pm: ok. i am peeved.
it would have been nice to get a token something (flowers, box of chocolates, whatever) from you seeing as you and your fiance came to my party and proceeded to drink a fair bit (on my open tab. and this is after you claim that we arent even friends.

use and abuse anyone.

i to be honest, didnt even want to invite you. cause right now, i am feeling totally awkward around you (since the last big flareup) but due to the politics of the situation and the fact that it was a semi 'lets just let it go' i did.

so it would have been nice if you had given something in return.

10:55 pm: hmmm...
he lands in just over 40 minutes. i guess i had better thinking about heading out to the airport...

=D

cant wait.

04:01 pm: ...
oh no. i made my new techie cry. shit! okay. she says its the fact that she cant seem to get anything right the first time that is getting to her. but shit. she was bawling her eyes out.

yet another thing to worry about.

10:21 pm: oh my god
his cousin just died. how much more bad luck can he have?

05:10 pm: Japan (and HK) 05-09/07/07
05/07/07

So we are now in Macau. We headed out on the 2 pm ferry. (don’t ask, I was not part of the decision making for the time). Got here at ~ 3:30 pm and got to the hotel just b4 4 pm. I headed straight out to make use of the last few hours of daylight. Originally I offered to go with AM as A was sick in bed but then she balked at my walk trail so I went alone. The ‘must see’ was the ruins of St Pauls, so as we were short on time (heading back to HK tomorrow), I headed straight there. Found the ‘must try’ Portuguese egg tarts – very nice, definitely worth the trek – now will be searching for it at home!! So on the way to the ruins, I got to see Senado Square and the institute of Civic and Municipal Affairs building – basically, examples of the architecture. Very different from HK. If it wasn’t for the Cantonese being spoken, there were moments when you didn’t realize you were in asia. It had a very European style to it. St pauls only had the façade left and according to the literature, after excavations, they found a crypt – bones and all. So made many scientific assumptions based on these findings and history. Then I went to the monte forte. Once again, a very different feel. Definitely not asian. I tried to find a few other heritage listed places but didn’t have much luck. Got some random churches and stuff but no houses. Then it was getting pretty dark so I headed back. And that was the lights came on. All the casinos with their flashing neon lights inviting people in to ‘have a good time’!! I was not tempted at all. Headed back, had dinner with A (roast duck and roast pork) and then back to hotel. Oh yeah, supposedly the viet population is quite high here in macau. I actually was able to spot and hear a number of people. The other weird thing was the romanised spelling of many of the places had viet intonations written to it. A says the intonations match up to the Chinese writings…how strange….well that’s all folks…

06/07/07

So this morning we had to check out of the hotel in macau and head back to HK. Had breaky and did one last tourist stop together to A-Ma temple. Yet another world heritage listed site. Not big but the oldest structure on the island. There were massive word carvings up abit higher on the peak which was definitely worth the climb. There are the moments I wish I could read Chinese. But it was amazing even without understanding what was carved on the rock faces. Headed back to HK and checked into a new hotel. This one situated in mongkok. Very near the new territories. Random scenes from movies kept popping into my head as I sort of recognized things. Rested for abit then headed out into mongkok for some shopping. There isn’t much older (as in not latest) chinese movies for me to buy hey. Only lots and lots of English – but I don’t buy English, so up to date, I have about 20 movies (English and Chinese) and a few series. Got the bulk of the souvenir shopping for the youth group done, only have the OV nam left!! I have no clue what to get them! That and antony!! Cant decide between clothes or toys. Anyways. Not sure what the plan for tomorrow is I really want to get my hair trimmed and straightened though. So we will see…oh, had a good seafood feast for dinner (at the side stalls in the markets). Very fresh.

07/07/07

Did very little today which I am happy with. AM went to Shenzhen and A and I bummed. We went and got our hair done (yeah!) I got it trimmed and straightened and A. got hers cut and coloured. Mine cost me like ~$120 but it was well worth it. Straightening alone at home would have been $200+ not to include cutting and treatment. (which was what I also got)

And then we went back and made a start on the movies. Protégé is good. Banquet is arty and I so hate the end. I just don’t get it. But yeah. Very good day. Very relaxing. No real goal. Just whatever we felt like doing. Got all my souvenir shopping done. Now it is just me me me!! Though there isn’t anything I really want to buy. What does that tell you? But anyways. Feeling inspired so I might go write a poem….

08/07/07

Woke up late again today. Felt good to be able to sleep in. went to brunch and then headed out to ladies street market with everyone. Bought a few movies and then the heat proved too much for the others so we went back to the room. I did find 2 movies I have been looking for like ever. So I am happy. Went back then decided I was pekish so went to get some maccas with A. the fast food definitely hit the spot!! Then decided to watch bishonen – the gay movie with Daniel Wu and Stephen Fung. It was good stuff. Lots of scenes the bf would hate. Actually he would hate the movie fullstop. They all have hot hot bodies hey!! Then right after the movie I get a drunken phonecall from the boi. He has this habit that he developed from god knows where of calling me whenever he is drunk….usually when the keys on the phone get too blurry for him to type anymore…harhahrharhar he also has this habit of updating me via sms on his drinking. I find it cute!! So yeah. We talk for abit until he gets called back to his drinking and I head out to temple street for some final shopping and dinner. Turns out the reason why AM wanted to go back was to return some dodgy discs. I was like, what the….and then decided, nope, I am going to go into some more stores and check out the movies seeing as we wont have much of a chance after today. I actually ended up buying abit. I have probably hit 40 odd movies now but I have to say a fair bit of it is in English. Well we are off to ocean park tomorrow (via a tour – don’t ask, I don’t see the point, but anyways). Then it is time to pack on tues for Singapore – which is O/N and then home!!! Yippee…..miss my mummy…

09/07/07

Wow. The holiday is definitely wrapping up. So fast now that I look back even though there were moments where it felt so loooooong…..last night in HK. I have just finished packing cause I hate rushing the day that we leave. Old habits. Spent today at ocean park. I knew the ‘tour’ was crap but there was no telling them. So they dropped us off at like 10:30 and we headed off to the dolphin and sea lion show. Which was a big let down. The pandas were okay and some of the other exhibitions were okay. But nothing to spectacular. I actually ended up doing about half the attractions by myself as after we saw the reef, A and her mum decided they didn’t want to do any more even though there was like 2 more hours before pickup. I know I should be use to it but it still hurts. But yeah. Went on a ride and went to a few more attractiosn before heading to the pickup point. Went back to hotel. Bummed around abit and then headed back out to the streets by myself for last minute shopping. I decided I was going to do what I want. So yeah. Bought more stuff. A few shirts. All is good. So yeah. We are done with HK. Flying out tomorrow avo so going to do nothing all morning, check out, eat and then to the airport we go. ON stay in Singapore and then home…home sweet home…

Yippee….

Well…that concludes my Japan & HK trip for 2007. what I have learnt? Never go with someone elses mum. Stick to your own…

Next trip I might try and recall what I did down south for the chrissy break. Maybe…

Laters all…

02:11 pm: i am sad. the bf is in vietnam for his grans funeral/looking after his mum for nearly 3 weeks. it is only day 2 and i am missing him so so much.

*sniff sniff*

on other news, i have finally made the plunge and gotten contacts. i chose the disposable ones cause i dont plan to wear them everyday. got them in right now and it feels mighty strange. keep going to put my glasses on when i want to read something in the distance and then realise i can see it!! harhahrhar that and being able to see clearly whilst driving with sunnies on. thats novel...they do iritate abit but i expected that. my eyes are quite sensitive so as long as they dont go red i am happy. abit of discomfort is endurable.

....

thats all folks.

01:34 pm: what i have discovered
is that when a good/deep/supposely strong friendship (as in the sort you would have said 'friends forever' in primary school) dies, it dies a prolonged, horrible, painful and heart wretching death.

the agony between myself and J. has taken me rock bottom and i am struggling to claw my way out.

i thought i had 'let it go' last year but obviously i have not with this recent flareup.

i hurt.

01:42 pm: after the harry connick jr concert on sunday night in kings park...i have been feeling very idyllic and on a whim google searched something...came up with this website:

http://movies.aol.com/movie-photo/best-romance-movies

which is one of those sites that lists 'best of' type things and i have to say that it is nice and fun reading through some of the lists....though i dont agree with all things ranked..but then that is everyones differing opinions..

anyways. back to doing what i am suppose to be doing...maybe i will get to go home early today...

heres to hoping...

03:28 pm: Japan 30/06/07 - 04/07/07
30/06/07

Today was another day trip to the further outskirts of Kyoto. First on the list was Himeji Castle, about 1.5 hours out of Kyoto. Its another world heritage listed site and supposedly ‘the castle’ to see if you only see one castle in japan. It was definitely worth it. Its exterior is white and it was awe inspiring. It was finished in the l6 hundreds and the structure is humongous!! It was good, because as we didn’t go on a tour - hence no guide, the pamphlets actually catered for this and gave history and stories as well as actual detailed explanations about the various bits and bobs in the castle. After a few hours climbing 6 levels and the castles inner surroundings, we headed to the adjourning gardens. This was a recent addition (1992) but it demonstrated various japanese garden styles and typical classical stuff.

Then it was off to Osaka. I had absolutely nothing I ‘just had to see’ so I left it up to AM. So she picked a subway shopping centre. *rolls eyes* so we went to eat Italian food (it wasn’t too bad) and then we split up. A. and I roaming and AM going off on her own (with strict instructions to only stay in this block). A. and I just meandered up the shopping strip, got crepes (not as nice as the one I got the other day) and then went into this department store called ‘the loft’ where we just randomly tried stuff. Yep we stayed in that one shop for 2 hours (before we had to meet up with AM again). We tried various makeup, creams, face packs etc. we ended up buying a couple of face masks….the cucumber ones were nice….cucumber anything seem to always be good on the skin….

It was so bizarre in that shop. They had this one area and it was about 2 isles worth of creams and machines to…wait for it…increase your bust size. I kid you not. And no…I did not buy anything. It was fun enough reading the ones with English labels and making up instructions on the ones in pure jap.

But yeah…now packing to get ready to check out first thing tomorrow, leave luggage to go to the last ‘hot spots’ around Kyoto before heading back to Tokyo…..

01/07/07

Today was spent doing last minute sightseeing in Kyoto. We split up right after breakfast, but this was A. and I splitting from AM (for once). AM refuse to see the temples we wanted to go to today and insisted on going to some obscure rural area so we put her on a train and sent her off. A. and I headed to Rokuon-ji, also known as the golden pavilion (Kinkaku). Yet another world cultural heritage site. Basically this pavilion is bright yellow. You cant miss it. The rest of the area is very beautiful in regards to the gardens. Very tranquil. Very relaxing.

Next we walked down the road to Ryoan-ji, which was a temple famous for its rock garden => 15 rocks in an area of white gravel/small rocks. The rest of the area was once more beautiful, tranquil gardens. It seems I cant say the word ‘gardens’ in japan without the words ‘beautiful’ and ‘tranquil’ attached! But anyways.

I sat for awhile and stared at the rocks and then….nothing…I didn’t become enlightened, that was for sure. I did feel calm and peaceful but no hint of ‘the meaning’ to anything….guess I aint ready…

after much contemplating, we decided to move on to Ginkaku-ji (the silver pavilion). Well, we went after we fed the ‘hungry beast’. I had a very fresh grilled fish! Then it was to the temple. I was expecting something silvery and shiny but all I got was a wooden, 2 level pavilion. It was nice, but due to the expectation from the nickname it had, I expected more….i guess that’s what you get for going to the golden pavilion first!! But once again, being a zen temple, there were lots of seemingly random bits of rocks and gravel raked in strange ways. A funny thing that we saw as we were climbing up the hill to the observatory were gardeners were sweeping up all the leaves off the moss – yeah, sweeping, not raking…..did I mention that the gardens didn’t have any dirt on the floor. The ground was always covered in moss. They even had a display of the 5 important mosses. So yeah. Now we know why the gardens are always so neat and tidy, they have gardeners go through and clean up everyday. Oh yeah, at the entrance there was a 500 year old tree. Darn! I want to know how they dated it!

And then it was time to meet back at the hotel to head off to Tokyo. We have one more day in Tokyo and then fly out on Tuesday to HK! Not quite sure where to go really….want to go back to the gate to buy those souvenirs.

02/07/07

Last day in japan (Tokyo) and the heavens were crying. We headed out to the Ginza, had to go to this famous region even if it was only for a short time. I wasn’t going to budge on that one. So I tempted them with the big sony building which had current and not yet released models. They ended up buying a new camera and PSP while I got to experience a home entertainment theatre (I want) as well as roam up and down the streets taking in the smog. Lots of tall buildings, bright lights and people all in business attire rushing about. After they gave their credit cards a workout, I found us a nice ‘posh’ looking restaurant and A and I had shashimi while AM had this dish where they cooked everything for her in a pan while we watched. It was nice. Don’t know if I will ever be able to go back to perth and eat Japanese again without wishing for the authentic stuff. Mainly cause it is so fresh!! So then we headed back to a tourist strip where we got all our souvenirs. Got what I wanted so am happy. Going to have an early start tomorrow so by this time tomorrow we will be in HK.

03/07/07

So this morning was an early start to the airport to HK. It was a pretty rough trip (lots of turbulence)! We arrived and then headed out in search of food. Cause we were already out, we headed down to temple street markets. But didn’t make it very far as A. was feeling really really sick. So after extracting her mum from the stalls we headed back home. I got 4 films so am happy!! =D don’t know the deal tomorrow but hopefully we get some browsing time and just meander around. Its funny how in the sticky 32 degree heat and humidity AM still has the strength and energy to shop so much yet the sightseeing was a no go….*shrugs* oh well. It is over now….

04/07/07

Second day in HK and it decides to intermittently rain on us. We head out to jumbo for dim sim after we went and got our prescription glasses. I got mine for under $200 aussie so I am happy. (frames, lens & anti glare/reflection included). so really good deal. Will be picking them up tomorrow. Jumbo food was okay. Nothing I would want to go back for. Weirdest thing is AM ordered for us right, and she originally ordered 3 dishes for dim sim. That’s not enough for me let alone 3 people. So yeah, we ordered abit more but yeah, food wasn’t the best. Service was good and that was what you paid for. But now I can say I have done it and wont do it again. Then as we were on HK island, we decided to go to the peak and that was when it started raining. There has been a lot of new developments up there and it looks good. Finally went to see madame tusaads wax museum. Took photos with many a star!! Heheheh did you know Andy Lau isn’t that tall. Pity Edison and nic haven’t made it into the museum yet. I cant believe twins did!! Blah! But yeah. Then we roamed abit around the building waiting for the rain to subside. A and I went and bought godiva chocolate. The couple we have tried are simply divine! But somehow I just don’t think I can handle the price tag attached to them. We got 4 different types of truffles (3 of each) + 100 g of dried fruit dipped in chocolate and that came to a price tag of over $300 HK = $50 aussie. Crazy! I cringed when I heard that price – but oh wells!! So after the rain cleared, we took the star ferry back and then AM decided she wanted to go to some museum so I said that I am not interested so lets just split up. Turns out that they didn’t end up going as it was sold out and so went shopping instead! So anyways, I roamed on the harbour side for abit, then headed back to the hotel to drop the chocolates off (and other stuff in my bag) before heading to Kowloon park right next to the hotel. I have to say it was bizarre. The park wasn’t an open green park. It was still paved and concreted with section of green and water and averies. There was also a swimming complex. It was one big arse complex. But even though it wasn’t a park as I am use to, as soon as you walk in, you can feel the difference. It was a very different atmosphere. You can see the tall buildings outside the fence but you feel like you are in a sanctuary! Really strange feeling. Anyways. Then I headed back to the harbour side so I could catch the light and sound show. What annoyed me was I had chosen a seat on the wall of stars section right at the front and then just before the show starts people just walk up and stand infront. Grrrr!! I have seen better but still. Oh yeah. I had 4 indian girls (from the UK judging by the accent) behind me who were really annoying. During the wait before the show, they were talking really loud and stuff but that was okay. But then it did start and they kept yapping away. They talked and randomly clapped and cheered which I tolerated. And then they started singing the bloody Indian national anthem. And that was it. I had it. I turned around and told them to have some respect for other people who wanted to watch and listen to the show! One of them replied about it being a free country and they can say whatever they wanted and talk whenever! I said yes, but we are currently trying to watch a show and hear the music accompanying it! That one chick kept repeating it’s a free country but then one of the other girls said something and she shut up. So I could watch the rest of the show in peace. But I was too peeved to really enjoy it. I actually wanted to snap back to her ‘it’s a free county’ with well actually, it’s a communist one here! But yeah. After the show finished, that one girl started again about her freedom of speech. They actually followed me part of the way down the pathway. I was ready to turn around and give them a piece of my mind when I lost them. Lucky for them. Then I bumped into A and AM so we went to eat and then headed back down to temple st markets.

Bought quite a few series (English) this time!! Got some HK stuff but not much to choose from. They seem to be focusing on mainly English stuff. And then AM ran out of money so announced they were going home. I am like, um, thanks for asking my opinion, in my head but couldn’t be bothered arguing so just went home. I am officially counting down the days til I go home. Blah. Anyways. I am really tired now so am going to head to bed. It is 1:30 pm. Think I might give writing to H. a miss tonight. Sorry dear!

01:56 pm: big *sighy*
for the heartache that is happening in other peoples family lives...

there is this friend that is having a major crisis in his family life. to summarise and leave all the littler things, the father is having an affair and *rumoured* to have gotten married yesterday (in a different country) and basically treats his family like dirt and spreads bad rumours about everyone else like theres no tomorrow to make him look like the good guy even though he walked out on the family and all that.

but yeah. the mother is in denial thinking that he is just going through a phrase and will come to his senses and come back home yada yada yada.

this has got me thinking. why the hell do people (whether it be the wives or the husbands - not going to be sexist and finger point at the males cause i know females do their fair share of sh!t like this!) put up with it to put it bluntly. i mean, i say how i feel and friends jump up and down saying, oh you dont know what it is like in that situation, its not as clear cut/easy as you make it out to be when you are an outsider looking in, and i am like. actually it is. they are cheating and thats it. you cut your loses and get out. it will hurt. of course it will - you love them so the thought of loosing them forever probably is tearing your heart into shreds. but like anything. you will get over it. time is ultimate weapon at dulling pain. that has proven itself over and over again.

i just dont get the other path. i truly dont.

but anyways. cause of my attitude to this particular topic. its very hard for me to listen to this friend and give them the support they need because all i want to do is shout out - tell them to get out...divorce his sorry arse and get him for child support and all assets as he hasnt been paying any bills etc for the last few years...at all..and you can prove it...

but i dont of course. i have finally learnt the virtue of holding my tongue. and so all i can do is pat the friend on the back and say. there there. it can only get better (but thinking in my head - no it wont, not if your mother doesnt actually do anything about it!)

i struggle some days. i am only human and somedays i just cant give the support that is needed. and then i feel like a bad friend.

*sighy*

and no. there is no escape from this friend.

//-_-\\

04:33 pm: Japan 29/06/07
29/06/07

Today was the day trip to Nara – deer capital of the world it seems. All the wild deer were very very tame. And if they spot you with food, they come running. Most were very docile and waited their turn to be fed but there was a couple that were very pushy. They either nudged you with their antlers or nibbled on your clothes – sort of a ‘look at me, look at me’!! and this was before we even got to the gates of Todaiji (just realized ‘ji’ refers to temple in Japanese so I don’t need to write it..abit like ATM machine….abit redundant). This temple was the first of many world heritage listed sites in Nara. And it was the largest wooden building in the world. And the current one has been rebuilt after fires destroyed it twice, and it was scaled down to 2/3 of original!! As I was crossing the bridge to get to the gate to get to the hall (that was a mouthful) I met a monk asking for alms. I emptied the contents of my shrapnel purse and in return got a long japanese blessing. I just didn’t know what to do. So the monk continued to shake the bells to either side of me and bowing so I ended up putting my hands together (the asian way of greeting sangha or when praying) and saying ‘Nam Mo A Di Da Phat’ and walking away. The monk was still bowing at me when I crossed over the bridge…

Anyways…the Daibutsu-den hall is massive. The statues are massive. Everything is massive. Except this little hole at the bottom of one of the pillars. Supposedly if you can get through the hole, then you are assured of attaining enlightenment. No, I did not try. I sure as heck didn’t want to get stuck in it…the kids were having a ball though…

One thing I notice about the Japanese is they have this tendency to ‘dress’ the Buddha statues in pink. I understand in Thai when they drape the Buddha with cloths of gold but pink? I didn’t get that one. But yes, the grounds were beautiful. I truly love the Japanese designs hey.

We then split up as AM wanted to go to a museum while I was wanting more sights. So I headed to Kofukiji. This one wasn’t as big or spectacular and mainly was for the 5 story pagoda. Then headed down past sarusawa-ike pond which was filled with turtles. Nara seems to be the home for animals!!! This pond was on the way to Gangoji which was literally tucked away in the middle of local housing. I nearly missed the entrance hey. There wasn’t much to see except for the roofs!! They boasted 1000+ year old tiles on the roof!! After seeing this sort of stuff, you just have to wonder…and also realize, for all of modern technologies, sometimes you just cant match the abilities of the ancients!! Harhahrar….wait a minute, now I sound like the guys from stargate!! And yes. Seems like japan still has its old customs. I have been finding those little red buckets filled with water next to a tap in most structures and have finally figured it must be their fire fighting measures!! =D

Then it was off again. Finally got a nice shot of a rickshaw and crossed the ararike pond before heading out on the JR. there was actually a lot more temples I wanted to see but their was a couple other spots in different regions that won out over the smaller temples.

So headed to Buydo-in temple in Uji. The structure of the building was suppose to represent Amida’s palace in pure land. But prior to getting to there, I went to the oldest stone bridge of its kind in japan. And then the path to get to the temple itself is beautiful. Supposedly many great artists found inspiration here. Upon reaching the temple ground, I was informed that the phoenix hall was currently shut for renovations (doh!) but all the artifacts can be seen in the museum. Only problem is no photos!! I can justify the artistry in the sculptures and statues in this place. The painstaking details and can only assume to have taken the artist hours, days, weeks, months if not years to complete. All in the name of Buddha.

I have to say, I love the trees in japan. It just has this beauty about it. I mean, you look at the trees at home, blah! But you spend minutes, hours looking at the Japanese gardens hey.

As I was entering the museum, it started to rain and when it rains, it pours in japan. So by the time I finished the exhibitions, and was was ready to head out again, it was pouring down with rain!! But I thought, I am here, I am not going to get a chance to come back (maybe) so I must go on. So it was raincoat on and off I went.

Now that I look back at the pictures, I think the second bridge that I crossed was actually the stone one…hehehe…the river was filled and flowing like a river should be!! Went over the bridge to the Uji shrine and then the stone pagoda on the island in the middle of the river. Then I looked at the time and realized I had better make a move to my last stop before it got dark!! This was like just before 5. jumped back on the JR and headed to Inari to visit the tushimi-inari taisha (shrine). Basically this shrine is actually a complex of 5 shrines across the slopes of a hill. These are all connected by hundreds of red torii lined up one after another. Very strange view. There was also a number of stone foxes scattered. I did the climb (well half the path (total length was 4 km up slopes) and it was getting pretty dark and eerie….you know how it is when you are in the forest by yourself with dusk quickly approaching. Didn’t help that there were various graveyards and shrines scattered along the way giving it a very unsettled atmosphere. So yeah, I reached halfway and called it quits. I was wet, my toes were freezing and sore. I had thrown my socks out cause they were soaking wet and it was worse with them on than just the wet sneakers!! So yeah, I headed back down and headed to the JR and food. (seeing as I had not eaten since breakfast!) after browsing many a store and then not wanting to eat in a big shopping complex, I ended up going back to the same shop I had yesterday. Tonight was rice with cold beef strips tossed in soy sauce. And side salad + miso + young tofu. Yum!!

Oh yeah. Saw my first weirdo on the JR today. Though from my peeked views it was probably more of a combination of mentally handicapped + OCD! He was standing at the door of the train and rubbing himself against it and breathing on the window and then wiping it down. He did that a couple of times before coming in, standing in the middle of the train – dead still for a moment or two, and then sitting down. I was like, not next to me please. Not next to me please. On the seat opposite me there was this stunning chick probably thinking the same thing. Oh she was hot!! I wish I had taken a photo. One thing I notice is the Japanese girls wear a lot of makeup hey! That and if they are pretty, they are really pretty and if they are not…they are dog ugly!! Now that was rude of me!! hehehehe