Japan Life : West Kyoto : Arashiyama

Arashiyama is one of my favourite place in Kyoto! I just LOVE how the trees and river transforms itself every season in Arashiyama. Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, you won't get the same view! Personally, I think the best time to come here is of course in autumn/fall which is around Oct to Nov. The various colors of autumn foliage is just too magnificent! But a short boating trip across the Oi river in the middle of winter was also a great experience!

Arashiyama (嵐山) is a pleasant, touristy district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting. (wiki)

From Kyoto  Station, you can take the JR Sagano Line train to Saga Arashiyama at platform 33.

 

Don't worry, they have gasoline heater inside the boat.

 

Aren't they pretty?



Wild ducks enjoying their winter bath



Bamboo Trail



It's a long walk, so you can also try the trishaw

Japan Life : North Kyoto : Amanohashidate

Since becoming a  会社員(company employee), I was able to enjoy my new life in Japan more! (Gone off the days of lack of sleep & stressing over 日本語quizzes and tests!!) I’m eager to travel to the different places in Japan every time there's a public holiday here. On weekends, I would try to discover Kyoto city as much as possible but there are so many interesting places to visit in Kyoto itself! Here are some of the places that I’ve visited so far (and more to go!!) Hopefully it can ignite some ideas for those of you who are planning to go to Japan!

Seikiro Ryokan & Gallery, Amanohashidate, North Kyoto.

Amanohashidate (天橋立) is one of Japan"s 3 scenic view  (Matsushima, Amanohashidate, Hiroshima). The sandbar is located in Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture. It forms part of the Tango-Amanohashidate-Ōeyama Quasi-National Park. From Kyoto Station, you can take the JR Limited Express train to Amanohashidate at platform 31.

  

My first Japanese Ryokan experience! And it ain't cheap..









Our room have so many sliding door opening it's just amazing!





We got the best room, both garden and Amanohashidate sea view!

Guest will be serve personally by the staff at the dining hall.

Our Dinner! We boiled everything raw and eat happily.

We even participated in the Obon Festival Dance with the local folks.

Time to say good bye..But see you again Amanohashidate!

2014 : BIGBANG CONCERT TOUR IN JAPAN (again and again..)

Happy New Year!! 2014 is here. Let's work hard, be a happier and better person. Spread love! :)

2 and a half year of living in Japan, so I have attended 7 ,9 11 BIGBANG show in total.

1) BIGBANG Alive Tour - Kyocera Dome Osaka 241112
2) BIGBANG Alive Tour - Kyocera Dome Osaka (Special Final) 130113
3) GDragon OOAK Concert in Japan Dome Special - Kyocera Dome Osaka 280413
4) GDragon OOAK Concert in Japan Dome Special - Nagoya Dome 010613
5) BIGBANG 6 Dome Japan Tour  - Tokyo Dome 211213
6) BIGBANG 6 Dome Japan Tour  - Kyocera Dome Osaka Day 1 (Final Show) 110114
7) BIGBANG 6 Dome Japan Tour  - Kyocera Dome Osaka Day 2 (Final Show) 120114
8) YG Family World Tour - Kyocera Dome Osaka Day 1  120414
9) YG Family World Tour - Kyocera Dome Osaka Day 2  130414
10) BIGBANG JAPAN DOME TOUR X in OSAKA DOME D4 231114
11) BIGBANG JAPAN DOME TOUR X in TOKYO DOME D2 271214


Seeing this list, to say that I am a mediocre BIGBANG fan, would be a lie, RIGHT? But to say that I am hardcore VIP is too much of a statement coz I made new friends at the concert from all around the world who are wayyyyyyyyy crazier than me! But, from 1st concert until the last concert, I noticed that my Japanese comprehension skill is getting better as I could understand most of the conversation!! YeaY!!

So many things to write, so many photos to upload, so many great VIP friends made, so many new experiences, so much love and respect for my boys. It's my obsession and yes, I'm loving this journey.

Aku, Semalam dan Hari Ini.

Semalam,
aku menghambur kata insaf
aku meratib doa-doa kudus
tanpa malu tanpa segan
dalam sujud yang paling panjang
menghadap Rabb-ku yang satu
"aku tak layak untuk syurga-Mu,
tapi aku takut seksa neraka-Mu"

Hari ini,
dalam sedar dalam tak sedar,
dalam waras dalam nanar,
dalam amukan kegilaan itu,
aku merelakan diriku,
tergelincir lagi,
untuk kesekian kali.

Tuhan,
tutupkanlah jalan-jalan kelabu itu
padamkanlah rasa-rasa palsu itu,
kuncikanlah pintu-pintu kerosakan itu,
aku mahu penamat untuk ini
aku mahu penghujung yang hakiki
aku mahu ke jalan-Mu yang abadi.

Tuhan,
sejijik mana pun aku,
sehina mana pun aku,
izinkan aku walau sekali, 
menjadi yang bersih dan putih di mata-Mu lagi,
menjadi sang taubat yang telah pulang kembali,
menjadi yang dikasihani, oleh sang Maha Pengasihani.

32 years old, and still single. That's no joke. Wake up and smell the coffee coz  it's no longer FUNNY!!

p/s: Sindrom hari cuti, alone-in-a-foreign-country, malas-buat-homework!

2013 : A little post from Kyoto! (BIGBANG Special Finale..)

Salam!

Oh may god, it's almost 3.00 a.m right now and I've just finished my Dec'12 report which I need to submit to HQ by tomorrow!  I am now in Japan, undergoing my 6 months intensive language course before joining the HQ office in April'13. It's been a roller coaster ride here in Japan, but let's just say I'm doing alright now. I just came back from my winter vacation in South Korea and it's snowing like crazeee!! I only have 2 more days left to complete my countless homeworks before school starts again on Wed (yet I'm blogging!). Well, I need to do this quick post for my beloved friends before my life gets hectic again with all the Japanese thingy to memorize!

Specifically, it's all about Bigbang's Alive Tour Concert : Special Finale in Kyocera Dome, Osaka on 24th  November! Yeah, my new JVIP tomodachi got me a ticket which costed about 10,000Yen (RM400)!! I went to the stadium alone, rode the wrong train once (haha!) and asked a Japanese couple for directions (which coincidentally on their way to the concert as well!) so I managed to find the big octopus shaped-dome. Lucky me, people could understand my poor Japanese and when the staff showed me my seat I was like...WOAHH!! Is this for real?!!! I was more than happy to get the 3rd row seat but an official JVIP seat is just too awesome to be true!! I love you so much Mihyang Chan!!

Okay,   actually Mihyang Chan got me and Nori Chan (both are my JVIP tomodachi from Twitter!) seated next to each other. It's my first time meeting Nori Chan and my oh my was she a bubbly lady! So sweet and friendly! I was quite embarrassed to cheer for the boys at first but Nori Chan was being more than a sport waving her light stick like there's no tomorrow! And so I followed...LOL!

The Kyocera Dome stadium was so magnificent with the capacity of 50,000 people. First time attending concert in Japan I could see that JVIP are very well-behaved fans! Not like in South Korea, though. Everything was very well coordinated and we really enjoyed our self. Bigbang sang most songs in Japanese version so whenever they sang the Korean version I went all crazy just to sing-along! Too bad Dae Sung didn't get to do his flying action during Wings. I was waiting for that to happen. Seungri gave the most fan service (as always) running to every sections and waved at the fans. They poured golden confetti in the air and I just looked at fans trying to grab it without knowing there's Bigbang signatures on each ribbons! Uwaa!!! I guess the best moment was when JVIP sang My Heaven chorus part before the encore. 1 word : S-U-R-R-E-A-L!

I brought my Malaysian flag with me and Nori Chan was very kind to help me waved it the whole time during the encore! We were pretty sure (like 80% sure!) that Yong Bae and Seungri saw us..hahaha..mission accomplished!  Well, I guess that's about it. The songs lists and performance were pretty much the same with their other concerts. I wished I could understood better what they were saying though. I mean, it's not like they are fluent in Japanese (except for Seungri). Erm, maybe I should try to listen more carefully on their 13th Jan's concert? Opps...did I spilled out the beans??? Hihihi.......Until we meet again!!

Takoyaki Stall nearby airing BB's concert to attract customer!! LOL!!

Being ME - Muslimah Empowered @ Matrade, KL

Salam and howdy peeps!
Say whutt?? It's July already?? Where have all the hours gone to?? **smack-own-head**. There's so many unfinished task and topic for me to cover before my departure to Japan. Even though I still have 3 months left, my colleague/trainer is going for her maternity leaves in 2 weeks time. Huh, just great.. 


Despite my busy schedule, I did managed to attend a 1 day conference called  Being ME-Muslimah Empowered with 2 of my VIP buddies (oh yeah!). I was supposed to join my family for a trip to Vietnam but I just couldn't missed this event! I bought a discounted ticket for early birds for only RM100 and masyallah, it sure does worth every penny! The 'woman only' conference was held on the 30thJune at Matrade, Kuala Lumpur, hosted by the ever so lovely sister Wardina Saffiyah. It was first of a kind held in Malaysia with many international speakers flew-in by the organizers to share their thoughts and experiences.  


The event started around 10.00a.m with the recital of the Holy Quran and continued with a heartwarming poem. The talks were alternated with sessions of Muslimah fashion show, nasheed and also all-day bazaar outside the main hall. They also provide a daycare area for fathers and their toddlers. How considerate! Back to the topics discussed, it revolves on the roles and challenges of Muslim women (single or married) in today's society, how Muslim can achieve balance inside out and also the power of change! Sister Raya Shokatfard from USA shared her story of her long quest to find God, which after many years of studying different religions she finally found her way back to Allah SWT and Islam. Lots of tears were shared during the whole event. Here are few quotes from my favorite speakers:

Hijab is not to hide you, but only your body. Hijab is to highlight your personality, your value and your intellectual as Muslimah. (Dr. Fadilla Grine, Canada)

Your position to God, is not determine by human. Your value, is not determine by how many man who likes you. If you seek for love, seek it through God and not lust. Perfection can only be found in Allah SWT. (Sister Yasmin Mogahed, USA).

Be careful with your heart, don't love someone more than Allah SWT, and don't let your heart breaks for other than Him. (Sheikh Yahya Ibrahim, Australia). 

Conference like this can help you gain so much. (Too bad I couldn't stay for the night sessions) It opens your eyes, your mind, your heart, quench your thirst for knowledge and wisdom. It's a reminder and encouragement, shared by your beloved sisters and brothers in Islam. May Allah blessed their good deeds. I pray that I could have many more opportunities and the desire to attend such event in the future. Soon, Insyaallah.