The reason => it snowed.

Sounds lame? Well, maybe… but it is rare to snow here around Osaka area during winter. Even if it snows, it’d be like just 10 minutes or something.

But yesterday was different…

View from my room

We’re here…!!!

Continuous shot of snow kicking while getting “hammered” from the back… Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

Take 4

Take 5

Snow “baseball” shot 1

Shot 2

Shot 3

Shot 4

AYF circle…

Raymie and I

It was a great day having fun, and luckily it came before our program ends… Well, at least one of my dreams in Japan came true.

Hiroshima Castle

Okonomiyaki-making class, one of the famous Japanese cuisines

My work

In front of the Atomic-Bomb Dome

This is the only building which is closest to the point-zero of the atomic bomb detonation that remains till today

Tales of a miracle child – Sadako

Atomic-Bomb Monument

Miniature structure of the bombing of Hiroshima

The red ball on top was where the bomb detonated, a 4000 degrees Celsius fireball

300 meter above ground that flattened the whole city…

The rebuilt Hiroshima City

Illumination along the night street

Just like in dreamland…

Photo frame…???

On ferry to Miyajima Island

Itsukushima Shrine, the shrine above the sea

Hands-on learning to make Momiji-Manju, a famous local food

Our group… Oo-san, Nu-san and me

Oysters, another famous local food

The best oyster I’ve ever tried… fresh, juicy and sweet… yum yum…

Hiroshima is the symbol of peace and end of warfare in Japan as it was the first city in the world to suffer the blast of atomic bomb. Back then, people thought that it was impossible to rebuild the city anymore due to the radiation of radioactive wave. But yet on that day, we stood on a city which has the mixture of world class modern facilities and traditional history. People of Hiroshima didn’t gave up on hope to reclaim their land, and endured much to get to where they are now.

Sometimes, things that cannot be done alone, can be done together…

1. Farewells and farewells

My-ex work station a.k.a. UB1-5010

Pre-graduation photography session with classmates

Farewell trip with SEM juniors at Desaru, Johor

Degree farewell with Diploma mates

Farewell with Diploma juniors

2. Graduation

Thesis…

... and my pet

3. Robocon 2010

Regained champion after 2 years

4. Asian Youth Fellowship 2010

2 years ago, I wanted to win the Robocon 2009 domestic game so badly in order to represent Malaysia to compete in the international game, which was held in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, we’re disqualified. And I’m not sure whether was it fate or what that I once again have the chance to step into this dream country. Different objectives, but same destination. Well, maybe we just have to learn that in life when thing did not turned out as we planned, it might not be a failure, but instead it’s just incorrect timing.

First step in Japan

AYF-15th, the last batch…

Nevertheless, it was also a year full of uncertainties, a changing point where I have to make decisions. Many things came in surprisingly when I was yet ready to face them. I gotta say I’ve spent too many years in education that doesn’t help me much when it comes to making decisions for myself. Coming to Japan was the right choice, but at the same time a bad choice. It gave me more options to choose for myself, but at the same time complicated my thinking. Instead of getting more focus, I’m being diversified.

So this year, I won’t be setting any resolution for myself. Just trying to focus on my entrance exam which will be in this coming February. For the others, well… let’s only think about them when the time is right…

Happy New Year to everyone !!!

My お姉さん in the center

Tagging along with the cafe’s staffs

The forever funny Takuya-san, you won’t believe how old is him…

Among the few programs and performances presented during the day, I joined Iaido, an art of controlling the movement of sword. Though the one we used were not the real samurai sword, it’s still pretty heavy. Took us 4 weeks to practice, and I can still hardly swing the sword correctly. Needless to say, performing the “Kata“’s and forms correctly is even more challenging.

Ok, I know my slippers spoilt the pose…

A little warm up before performance

Guess I’m just too scary for her…

The little kid who wanted to join us in the performance

Very slow hor… haha. I think it is even harder for the one who was holding two cameras while recording this clip and took pictures at the same time. Special thanks to Nu-san for the help.

Til then…

Visit to Nara

Nara was once the capital of Japan, even before Kyoto, and the history of this city is way back in time. This year, they are celebrating the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijyo-kyo Capital.

Heijyo Palace

Deer, the symbol of the city

Whoever holding the food, you’ll get a bunch of deers “charging” at you

Celebration and performance in the palace

Kofukuji Temple

Autumn in Nara

ICA Cross Cultural Program

This is one of the cultural program organized by ICA in order for us to interact with the Japanese people and introduce our own country’s culture.

Islam, Mostafiz, me and Mario

Beauties from Vietnam

“Super-Saiya” from Thailand, Ton and Wee

Samba Dancers from Brazil

The Indonesians

The Malaysians

Raymie with his trademark jump

Myo’s Birthday Celebration

The eldest among us, yet one of the funniest…

Present for him, a father-to-be…

Our favorite pass time, Karaoke

Visit to Matsuno Lab Open Day, Kyoto University

If nothing changes, I’ll be joining this lab next year to conduct my master studies. Projects in this lab are way different from what I have back in UTM, so I guess the journey ahead won’t be easy.

Multi-agent collaboration research

Simulation and motion control of a snake robot

Multi-agent motion pattern control

Rescue robotics

SGOG Farewell Party

SGOG is another program for Japanese-learning students around the world. The program’s objective is the same as ours, except the duration of the course is only 6 weeks.

Carolina from Brazil

Hang, me and Van

Next week, new semester will be commencing, with new classmates (well, not all…) and new challenges. 3 months left before my entrance examination into Kyoto University, with most of the subjects I have never learned before. Not sure if I can survive with both the Japanese learning as well as the entrance exam preparations.  Anyway, will try my best.

Til then~~~

Sounds simple huh…???

… well, except everything must be in J.A.P.A.N.E.S.E.

Each of us was required to conduct a 5-minute speech about our country, and of course, get ready to be shot by questions in Japanese.

The handsome and pretty MC of the day…

Bon-san (Laos)

Mario-san (Indonesia)

Pen-san (Cambodia)

Nu-san (Vietnam)

Raymie-san (Brunei)

Me (Malaysia)

Myo-san (Myanmar)

Mostafiz-san (Bangladesh)

Wee-san (Thailand)

With the cute Haruka-chan and Momo-chan

The three of us…

IMC の会社員

Me and the Cambodians, Pen-san and Vutha-san

The Malaysians

Islam-san and Mostafiz-san

Ban-san in his Vietnamese traditional costume

Still don’t know why we’re asked to make this posture…

With Haruka-chan and Momo-chan again…

It was a good experience and great practice for all of us, especially when we seldom apply what we’ve learned in our class into our daily life here in Japan. Guess everyone is more confident now to converse in the language. To all my AYF batch mates, いっしょうに　がんばりましょう　！！！　:-)

Ok la I know I sound funny, don’t laugh la… Now I understand why they straightaway knew I’m a foreigner whenever I start speaking… |||-_-

First is the Mount Koya (高野山）, which is one of the world’s heritage as declared by UNESCO. It is located in the Wakayama prefecture at the South of Osaka and was once the headquarter of Japanese Buddhism. Lots of temples and shrines were built in this area and are still preserved til this day.

Okunoin Cemetery, a very famous historical spot for tourists

Secondly, my visit to my host family. In this program, each of us are assigned to a host family, where we get to practice our Japanese speaking skill and learn the way of living in Japan. In my case, I didn’t get to visit my host family’s house, but instead visited them at my so called “Okaasan’s” shop near Mizumatera.

My Okaasan (Right), with her friend who just wanted me to address her as Obaasan (Left)

Obaasan teaching me how to make “Otedama”, a traditional game in Japan

Visit around Mizumatera (水間寺)

The cutest member of the family…

Next, the Autumn Festival of Taijiri-Cho. This festival marks the switch of season from Summer to Autumn in Japan. In Japan tradition, change of season is actually an enjoyable moment, where people get to change their life style, new clothing, their home decoration, food, or maybe change their partner as well… , etc…

If anyone has any plan to visit Japan, personally I think this is the perfect season to be here. The sun is warm and the weather is cool. Mixing both of these gives you a very comfortable sensation when you are traveling around.

Representatives presenting flowers to the organizing committee of the festival

The cute Akachan…

Autumn is also a season when the weather is quite unpredictable and changes frequently. There is a joke proverb among Japanese people, “女心と秋の空”, which simply means female’s heart and the sky of Autumn. So how true is this…?

Til then~~~

4 years ago on this day, we sat in the car and had a long chat about things around us and our future…

3 years ago on this day, we just had a simple celebration. I am not a romantic guy, and probably both of us were too busy back then…

2 years ago within these few days, we had double celebrations, one in Johor, another in KL.

1 year ago on this day, we tried the “Shabu-shabu” that had long queue whenever we passed by. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a disappointment. Yet it was still a great day…

We had our great time together, be it simple or special. The half decade together has been a challenging, yet memorable one. As time passes by, we get to learn and understand each other more and more. Whenever the world turn its back on me, you are the one who is always there to support me.

Thank you for being part of my life. I am glad, for I have found the best…

Love you forever dear~~~