A Japanese temple in Kamakura. 

秋雨

It has been raining here for the past 3 days. As this is my first fall experience in Japan, so it was kind of unexpected as fall in LA is virtually rainless. I am actually enjoying the final day of my long weekend. Due to the wet weather, I had to change my plans to go shopping instead of going out to take more pictures. Thanks to the rain, I finally pulled the trigger and bought a guitar. Now, I will have one extra thing to do when I am at home.

Also, I was away for two days last week for a visit to SONY's semiconductor factory in Kyushu. Went into the cleanroom and did not like it at all. Can't imagine how one can work in there for long hours.

If money did not exist in this world, would you still be doing what you are doing now?

Buzz..... 

staircase like waterfall 

I have to say that this is my best shot of the day ; ) 

wait till they turn bright red in November! 

a little cloud caught in between 

Hiking on the first day of October

Woke up at 10:30 and decided to go hiking/photo taking in a place called Okutama of Tokyo.

12:00 Depart from my train station (Gotanda)
14:15 Arrived at Okutama train station
Started to walk to the waterfalls

According to the map that I was given at an information center, it would take approx 90 min to walk from the train station to the first waterfall. As I was also taking pictures on the way to the waterfalls, it took longer than expected.

16:45 Arrived at the first waterfall

Took some pictures and tried to proceed to the next fall. Unfortunately, as it would also take me 90 min to walk back to the train station, and it was going to turn dark pretty soon, I saved my own ass by making the decision not to proceed and headed back. It would have been a disaster if I had proceeded as it would be pitch dark in the forest. A couple of good river/waterfall shots kind of made me felt satisfied and happy enough to go home :) Anyway, I will be going to the same place again when fall foliage really kicks in in November.

17:00 Started to head back to Okutama train station
18:15 Arrived at Okutama train station
20:15 Arrived at Gotanda train station

It was a nice trip all in all, except that I should have had a proper lunch before entering the forest...and it was a shame that I could not see all the waterfalls due to the lack of time.

Enjoy the pics folks!

And beat the Sundevils!!!
(USC is playing Arizona State University Sundevils this weekend)

I miss Thai food in L.A.

Ha, finally something different for my dinner! As opposed to regular Japanese meals, I took a daring move to try a small Thai restaurant called "rak thai" near the train station that I get off to go home. Unfortunately, it was not as good as I thought it would be. It was a restaurant I believe run by the Thai's, but the taste of the "pad thai" I ordered was nothing compared to that of "Palm's Thai" of Los Angeles, on Hollywood Blvd. And besides Thai food, I have also had Korean food here - same result, I would pick Korean food of K-town L.A. over Korean food that I had here anytime, anyday.

...which makes me start thinking "how long should my stay in Tokyo be?" and "where is my next stop if I decide to go?"

The temperature has gone down quite a bit suddenly. Maybe it is officially fall now. Can't wait for the amazing fall scenery here. Though the sad thing is that there is nobody to go to places with.

By the way, (I know this is totally random and/or completely meaningless for those who don't follow college football) but I will still like to annouce that the USC Trojans beat Oregon ducks last weekend and we are 3-0!!!

Oh yeah, Olympus just announced a new digital SLR, E-500. Should be quite a competition in the amateur level DSLR market.

Oh, is IPOD nano a big hit in Malaysia???

Fight on.

Peace out.

I went out to take pictures because it was too bored one night. This is Shibuya, the "happening" part of Tokyo. 

A black and white conversion of a bright red rose. 

Quote from Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit

"It was so strange that people could be so many different things, depending on who looked at them, and yet all were true."

Tokyo Tower of....duh? 

Nagasaki Trip

I just came back from Nagasaki yesterday. What a trip I have had! First, there was this huge typhoon that brought endless rain for the first few days since I arrived on Sunday. Then, my notebook went down while I was working. On the brighter side though, work went really well and in fact, we managed to finish our work a little ahead of schedule despite my laptop failure. I managed to take some pictures on Friday (early morning) of Isahaya Garden before I left Nagasaki. I wished I had more time to visit more of Nagasaki but unfortunately, this was a business trip and not a vacation (that I had to keep reminding myself). Maybe next time.

Don't forget that you are more than welcomed to comment on the pictures.

Peace.

And fight on.

Reflection 

Fountain of Isahaya Garden 

"Glasses" Bridge of Isahaya Garden, Nagasaki Prefecture 

Isahaya Garden at around 7am 

Busy week

After a long and busy week, I will finally get my share of "rest" tomorrow before starting another busy week, at a different place. For your information, I am currently working at Shinagawa, Tokyo. On Sunday though, I will fly to Nagasaki for work (Sony has a FAB there) and will be there until Wednesday. From what I have heard from my co-workers, although Nagasaki is known as a "tourist" place, but because I am going there for work and not to travel, it will not be as fun. That should be a reason good enough for me not to bring my camera gear with me. Sigh. But what to do. After about 2 months here, I noticed that people here work like cr@zy. Not all of them, but most of them (or should I say us??).

At last, after a long wait since last January, football is finally here. Can't wait to see the USC Trojans kick asses, and of course, NFL is kicking in too. The Trojans will be playing at Hawaii this weekend, against the Warriors of the University of Hawaii. Too bad I can't be there with my pals. I would like to say Happy Birthday to Calvin, my ex roommate, who will be celebrating his birthday with the Trojans inHawaii.

That's all folks.

My new crib, welcome to Gotanda. 

I know I know...

it's all my fault, it has been too long since the last time (as if anyone has been checking...) blah blah blah, but finally I am here again. Actually I just got my internet connection in Toyko, and guess what was the first thing I did, I am now here "updating" my blog. It has been a busy day at work, and supposedly there is a huge typhoon coming tonight. I will try to write something each day, and of course I will post pictures of Tokyo. Until next time. Fight on!!

Look! 

Welcome aboard, you are on a whale watching cruise in Monterey Bay. 

Old tree, lovely flowers, green grass, blue sky, what else can you ask for? 

A famous landmark in California called the Lone Cypress. This tree has been standing there for over 250 years. 

Monterey was famous for canning. Seafood was very yummy too. 

Spring break fun and post spring break disaster

Everything is fine now but I still want to leave a trace of what I have experienced this past two weeks. So I had my one week spring break and went to Monterey Bay(a place about 5 1/2 hours North of LA) with my girlfriend and had a lot of fun. It was a very scenic place(I will post some pics later). And we also went whale watching there. It was a great experience, first time seeing this huge mammal with my naked eyes, but I thought it would be more spectacular if I could be closer to the whales. Anyway, it was still great.

Here comes the disaster. Coming back from spring break, on the second day of class, I got food poisoning. I BET IT MUST BE THOSE ARTICHOKES!!! I vomitted a lot of green stuffs, had high fever, felt very cold, had headache, nightmares, couldn't sleep well, felt like vomitting during sleep but could not vomit, and a little diarrhea. It was really bad, believe me, you won't want to get food poisoned even once. So please eat wisely and know what you are eating and what you can't eat.

Although it was bad but I went through it and learned a very valuable lesson. Also I learned to appreciate my good health when I'm in good health. Sometimes people just forget that just being healthy is a fortune.

Happy eating!

"Each of us is a God, Buddha had said. Each of us knows all. We need only open our minds to hear our own wisdom." ~Dan Brown, Angels & Demons 

Dan Brown is a must read

For the first time in my life, I finished two novels in less than a week. And both of them are Dan Brown's. I started reading Angels & Demons last Friday, got so glued to it that I finished it on Monday. And because a friend of mine told me,"if you like Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code is even better!" As a result, as soon as I finished A&D, I started The Da Vinci Code right away. Before I know it, I was reading the last page of the book yesterday. I highly recommend it for those who are looking for something to read or do.

Until next time. Fight on.

Graduating in 80 days!!! 

An evening at the center of campus 

2005

Graduation year, and much more. This year will be a huge turning point for me. If things turn out right, I should be graduating in May, I should be moving from Los Angeles back home to Malacca, but only for a month or so, I should be moving again to Tokyo, and finally, I should be starting my first real job as an engineer at Sony Japan. I was fortunate to have more than one job offer before I graduate. But it was difficult to choose. Finally, I came down to this choice.

There are too many variables in life, and to be able to predict and control each one of them is impossible. Sometimes, you and I just have to decide and move on. And with a lot of hardwork, determination, courage, and just by believing, other things will follow.

Recently, I went to two great concerts and one of them just happened last night. The first one that took place in Caltech was a Pipa solo concert by a woman called Wu Man. She was absolutely fantastic, or should I say phenomenal (and because of that I bought her CD online and just got it today). I have never seen any solo performances like that. She totally became "one" with her pipa. Highly recommended for those who like real music.

Last night, I went to a Herbie Hancock's concert called Directions in Music (took place in my school, and only $8 for students). There were Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy Hargrove as the three main featured artists. It was an incredible experience as there is so much creativity in Jazz that I don't think there is any limit to it. Highly recommended too, to those who want to have a change and stay away from pop for a little while.

Will post again soon.

Peace.

early birds 

ant on orchid 

takara kuji