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| Friday, 23-Jun-2006 17:55 |
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FAMILY TRIP TO KAGOSHIMA
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arrival-day1
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family at fukuoka
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gails'S 1st breakfast in Japan
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family members during casey'S 1st holy communion at St Xavier
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casey'S 1st holy communion
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at sakurajima area
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at sakurajima too
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dec 22nd-snow
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dec22nd-snow
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In December 2005, my parents, an aunt and also a young niece visited us in Kagoshima. We brought them to several places in Kyushu Island and not forgetting, introduced them to our friends who had accepted us in their community in Japan. 3 weeks holidaying with them passed so fast that we didnt realise that it was time to go home. Thank you to them for making time for us here. We love all of you. 
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| Friday, 23-Jun-2006 13:34 |
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CHRISTMAS 2005
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casey and friends
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friends of our kids
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malaysians tengah jamu selera
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foto-1
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foto-2
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sesi buka present dgn nenek
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Its Christmas again in Japan...cold, busy but definitely not lonesome this time. Our parents plus an aunt and niece came to Kagoshima to spend 3 weeks. Their first time to Japan and also their first time away from home during Christmas. They were lucky because in Dec 22nd, it snowed. Apa lagi...they even started their photo session as early as 7.00am. Felt good to spend Christmas with our loved ones.  These were pictures of our Xmas Rumah Terbuka 2005.
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| Friday, 23-Jun-2006 13:05 |
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INTERNATIONAL NITE-KAGOSHIMA
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International Night is an important yearly event held in Kagoshima by foreign students for the Japanese community. This celebration is also supported by Kagoshima Local Council to promote learning of other cultures and also to enhance good relationship between Japanese and foreigners. Many events were held in conjunction of this event..Malaysian Students of Kagoshima University had also taken part in promoting our very own local dish..NASI LEMAK. Besides that, we also participated in the fashion show. In the fashion show, we sold the impression that Malaysia is really a multi-race country by wearing baju melayu, baju cheongsam, punjabi & baju kadazan-dusun. Suprisingly, many Japanese including fellow foreigners were shocked to know that Malaysia is unique because of the blend of culture in our country...bak kata orang, Malaysia is really the blending pot of Asia.
Want to know about our sale????OF COURSE la, the nasi lemak were sold out like hot cakes. Worth promoting our foods to global market...boleh jual punya !!! 
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| Friday, 23-Jun-2006 12:03 |
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OHARA MATSURI
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Ohara Matsuri is Kagoshima's biggest festival. Held yearly somewhere in November, this celebration is unique in its own way..people from all walks of life jointly celebrate this 2 days fiesta by dancing at the street, savouring Kagoshima's specials dishes and not to forget tto taste Kagoshima's famous shochu wine. Rotaract club of Kagoshima along with the International students of Kagoshima University had also taken part in the festival. Casey, Anne, Juana and I also took part in the non-stop 1 & a half hour traditional street dancing of Kagoshima. It was really a thrilling experience because a street more than a kilometre was packed with people wearing different cloths were seen dancing with the same style, same timing according to the same music. International students of course were very outstanding due to our colours, languages and also the symbol of our countries' flag painted on our face. A very good experience that was too good to last.
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| Wednesday, 21-Jun-2006 17:34 |
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OKINAWA
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This is definitely a very late entry due to my too-busy schedule in the lab. Anyhow, better late than never as the saying goes. Okinawa Island is the Hawaii of Japan. Most things were similar to Hawaii except for the language (of course, Japanese is the spoken language), no hoo-la-hu (sexy long haired women doing Hawaiian-version belly dancing dressed only with the coconut shell on their front top and flamboyant sexy skirt (do they call that skirt). However, Okinawa is a a haven for good and cheaper foods as compared to the mainland Japan. You can buy many things especially those imported from Taiwan and neighborhood China. So to those of you who are tired of the hustle bustle of city life, catch the next plane and stay in the beautiful delights of Okinawa Island, Japan.
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| Tuesday, 30-Aug-2005 00:00 |
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JAPANESE DAY CARE
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Hoikuen..thats the public day cae for young kids in Japan. It is very cheap to send your small kids to this place provided you go thru the local city council. If both of you are students, it will be much easier. However, entry will be difficult if one of you (hubby/wife)isnt a student. Now, what do your child learns from hoikuen? Many things!!! They learn to put things back to their places, eat & clean up together, learn to sing and dance (mind you, all the teachers responsible for a class are able to play organs/pianos), draw, listen to stories and of course, sleep when it is time to sleep. Any Japanese hoikuen will manage preparation of food (up to calculation of food calories) and be rest assured, your kid will definitely eat good healthy foods. Malaysia can learn from this system too!
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| Monday, 8-Aug-2005 00:00 |
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GROWING YOUR OWN VEGETABLES
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Kamoike lies over the sea; Sakurajima lies over the other side of the sea. Both glare at one another..not touching but just staring. The wind of change (sounds familiar huh....a song by the Scorpions) blew ashes from Sakurajima's open wide mouth to this area years ago and today, Kamoike is as fertile as Sakurajima's surrounding area. Sakurajima is one of the most active volcano in Japan. It often erupted years ago and today, you can still see smoke and sometimes ashes splutting out from its mouth. Thanks to this beauty, Kagoshima is wellknown as the PRODUCER of WORLD's BIGGEST radish and SMALLEST orange. We took the opportunity to do gardening (with permission of course) at the Kamoike Fish Hatchery and at time of writing, we had eaten most of the vegetables. Mind you, we even grew Kangkung! Many got benefits from this simple but meaningful venture. We exercised our biceps and triceps; kids learned hands-on gardening and not just by reading; friends got to see real kangkung; fertile soils were not wasted; but most importantly, everyone especially the kids can touch the soil and appreciate environment, a precious gift from the Almighty! ITADAKIMASU!
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| Sunday, 7-Aug-2005 00:00 |
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IBUSUKI-Small Hawaii in Japan
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Ibusuki, is located at the southern west tip of Kyushu Island. How to get there -train, bus, car or if your adrenalin rush more on the adventurous side, try walking . Whats there to see in this tropical zone of Japan? Ohhhhh...many but we didnt manage to get to all places. As Kyushu Island is the land of Onsen, Ibusuki too has abundance of this mother nature's gift. Besides water hot spring, Ibusuki is also well known for its sand hot spring. You get the trill on being pampered in a shallow sand grave; there is a belief that this is also a kind of remedy to the sickly. True or false, statistic is made available. Another attraction is of course the SEA....blue, deep water and black shiny sands. Most probably, the sands have some ashes from Sakurajima Mountain, the most active volcatic mountain in Japan which is quite near to my house  Ibusuki town is a small town with good roads, good transcommunication and big houses. We were even shocked to see traffic lights in the small village. Another thing about this place....many people like to wear Hawaiian type of shirt....thats why we felt that this place is best described as The Small Hawaii of Japan..AROHA (aloha)
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| Saturday, 6-Aug-2005 00:00 |
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HIRAKAWA DOIBUSUEN (ZOO)
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waiting for the bus from the city
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The entrance to the zoo
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IRASHAIMASE - Welcome in Japanese
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Want to experience Kagoshima? One place that you must NOT miss is the Hirakawa Zoo. This zoo has approximately 1200 species, including the ever-popular koala bears. You dont believe this statement, right? I am not pulling your legs: there are koalas here in Kagoshima.This zoo is located at the hilly side of Kagoshima, approximately 40 minutes by local bus from main town. Once you step inside the zoo, the giraffes will there there to greet you. Better pack along your o-bento because there many shady areas which are exclusively suitable for a small picnic while watching the animals. There are also many other animals which we dont have in Malaysia's National Zoo....and that includes the KOALA BEAR and KANGAROO. Close your eyes and try to imagine kangaroos hopping from one end to another in a Japanese garden...breathtaking, isnt it? Aahhhhh, thats the feeling after you finish visiting our cute friends here. Another reminder...please bring lots of money (especially 100yen coins) because there is a FERRIS WHEEL here plus other recreational facilities for kids....I best described this haven as "LEAVING FOR AUSTRALIA but LANDED IN JAPAN" 
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| Wednesday, 13-Jul-2005 00:00 |
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INTERGRATION STAY IN OSUMI, EAST KYUSHU
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Kagoshima University along with Kagoshima International Foreigner's Association had jointly coordinated a yearly Integration Stay for Foreigners and local people of Kagoshima. It was a tiring but fruitful effort by a dedicated team to bring some 400 people together in Osumi's Community Hall. It was a 2 day 1 nite programme and various events like talks, discussion forums etc were organised. From religion to latin dance, from active participants to passive participants. men and women, children of all ages gathered together, had fun, shared remorse feelings on today's global happenings, discussed on sentiment issues and brainstormed on how to make the world a better place to live in. People from all walks of life equipped with different opinions, different beliefs, different cultures gathered, ate, slept and played together under the wing of PEACE. What say us as first timers? Kuddos to the organisers; we felt welcomed. We even had a live band to entertain the guests, joined the fashion show (no such chances in Malaysia; fashionshows are exclusively for models) hopped naked into the ONSEN (men & women's onsen were separated) and met many new friends. In short, everybody met everybody in this world. 
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