The Hozu River BBQ

Northwest of Arashiyama (Kyoto), the Hozu River flows through a fairly narrow, twisting gorge just over 15 km long.

This secluded river is a good natural place to picnic, swim or simply sun. Last summer, my dorm mates and I wanted to have a picnic outing. The weather was glorious when we arrived early on a sunday morning.

Rafting this river is quite popular as well. However, the river has not been popular for swimming ever since accidents and deaths were reported. Men were swept to their death by strong river rapids.

After arrival, we were warned by stall keepers about the accident. Although we were a little disturbed by the news, but it did not discourage us and hamper our excitement from jumping into the river and have a good swim. Andi was seen preparing his 'ship' and Qoo looked cool with the water gun.

After a good splash in the water, we started preparing for food. Everyone was very hungry. We had barbecued chicken wings and calamari. Its taste was so good, thanks to special Cambodian black sauce. Yum yum.

And guess what ! It started to rain. My Gawd ! The drizzle started to pick up and then a heavy pour. Although we used the plastic table cloth as a temporary rain shelther, we were all drenched within minutes.

Rain was in the forecast. Although the weather bureau does not often make mistakes in their predictions, we took our chances. The rain continued heavily but it was so fun. Tomi flipped chicken wings over occassionally and fed to the hungry. My appetite was high.

David was seen here enjoying his food despite the team of pretty girls were asking if they could get a photo with him. Bad David !

Boat trips from Arashiyama, down the Hozu River - a great way to enjoy the beauty of mountains. While traveling in the boats, the tourists pointed and waved to us.

Here come our watermelon memories - David, handsome and smart, was an extremely popular guest in our dormitory. Qoo explained the rules of 'suika-wari' (the watermelon game).

'Suika-wari', a Japanese traditional game involving placing a watermelon on the ground, then spinning someone (blindfolded) around ten or some twenty thirty times and verbally directing him to the watermelon, where he gets one chance to beat it with a kendo practice sword. Since we don't have a kendo sword, we just used a piece of wood, that we picked by the river.

Unfamiliar with the game for the first time but with so much cheering from the girls (plus some jeers from the boys), with one hit, the watermelon splitted into two.

His prize - David received a generous portion of the 'seedless' watermelon.

Andi asked, 'Watermelon-eating contest, anyone?' We allowed ourselves to savor the sweet and juicy taste of the fruit.

The other side of the river - one can enjoy the natural beauty of the season - the green space.

After such a wonderful picnic, with many laughs, it was time to head back to the dormitory for a second-round party (Beers and okonomiyaki - japanese pizza). Phew.

This was my best barbecue day of the year. And it's time to think of another BBQ. Tomi looked somewhat lost - on a train track. Funny.

Good Bye David & Dudu

Tuesday night we had a farewell dinner in a sushi restaurant located in downtown Kyoto. David (after completion of his studies) and his girlfriend (Dudu) would be leaving for Taiwan the next morning. It was like the usual get together with good food and good conversation. When it was time to say goodbye, every one of us felt the same and it was hard to bye.

After arriving home, the night was still young and I pondered for a while, looking back the months and remembering moments in time where friends came and left and the numerous farewell parties that I have attended. Many different thoughts flooded my mind. My mood was swinging, with occasional shifts to a reflective mood. I couldn’t tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. ‘As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is a last drop which makes it run over, so in a series of kindness there is at least one that makes the heart runs over.’

David and I have been friends for the past three years. Though we did not become best of friends but good friend enough to have a lasting friendship. My thoughts then shifted back and forth between different people. I thought of Liliana, my Honduran friend. She also returned home after graduation last month. She is what we have been missing in our dormitory. She has never shown any negativity in her – always cheerful and smiling. All other good friends that I have made – Sdenka, Isabela, Kanjana, E Kon, Verena, Nano and the list goes on. Will I ever meet them again ? I pondered over and over again.

Whether by strange coincidence
or divine guidance,
In the course of our life,
we cross paths with many people.
Some move towards us,
others move away.
Some we choose to remember,
others we choose to forget.
But with a special few,
we seem to have no choice,
for each has made an impact
on the other, and the
memory will live on forever.

I adjusted myself to become more relaxed. I came to realize that true friendship never fades or disappears, for the memories will always bring back the smiles.


(Picture above : left, Liliana; middle, Nano and right, Kanjana)

Month of Birth and Personal Character

JANUARY. Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very Stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY. Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH. Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Sensitive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Aggressive when provoked. Sensitive to others. Loves to help others. Not easily angered. Trustworthy. Defends others. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others.Varied interests. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention.Strong belief system. Hasty in trusting others. Loves home decors. Musically talented.Depends on friends.. Loves special things. Moody and easily hurt. A giving lover. Very loyal. Deep Thinker. Feels deeply. A romantic. Loves to be loved. Thrifty. Loves down time alone.

APRIL. Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY. Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE. Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY. Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting ! problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST. Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER. Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER. Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER. Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciates praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER. Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

Pictures are courtesy of Suphawat (Eaow), a Thai friend of mine and a very skillful photographer.

Sapporo - JSBBA Conference

Sapporo is the fifth-largest city in Japan and it is the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture. The 1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo. This was the first Winter Olympics to be held in Asia. It is known as the home of the eponymous Sapporo beer.

Sapporo TV Tower, constructed in 1957 and now the landmark tower (147.2 metres) in Odori Park provides a good 360 degree panoramic view of Sapporo from its 90 metre-high viewing platform. Odori Park serves as a site for the famous Snow Festival in February.

The Clock Tower, the symbol of Sapporo, was constructed in 1878 as a drill hall of Sapporo Agricultural College. It is not particularly stunning though.

Nicknamed 'Akarenga (Red Brick)', the Old Hokkaido Government Building was built in 1888 as a base for administration of the city's development.

Hokkaido University, established as Sapporo Agricultural College in 1876, its expansive, 176-hectare campus is also referred to as the Elm Grove. The Ginkyo Avenue stretches for approximately 400 metres. Planted in 1939, these ginkyo trees are over 60 years old.

Hokkaido is famous for its ramen, and there are ramen shops all over the city. Ramen Valley is known as the most famous tourist spot in Susukino. For less expensive and probably more delicious ramen, check here : http://www.sapporo-esta.jp/ramen/top.html

When ordering ramen, you'll usually have your choice of broth : miso (fermented soya-bean paste), shoyu (soy sauce) or shio (salt).

Other famous food is the Sapporo Soup Curry. Not bad.

The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum opened in May 2003, making use of the former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch building. It provides an appropriate setting to explain the history of the Bank of Japan, its operations, and the financial system.

The Bank of Japan is the sole issuer of banknotes in Japan. This display introduces various anti-counterfeiting techniques.

Otaru Canal is the best known of Otaru's attraction, at least for Japanese tourist, which runs east to west close to the harbour area. Besides the canal, there are also a few glass-blowing workshops, hence Otaru's self-promoting comparison to Venice.

End of March, we attended the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry, JSBBA Conference in Sapporo. From left; Professor Utsumi, myself, Mori-san and Saruta-san.

Last Day : Roma - Vatican City

The Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world. It includes the Vatican Hill and the Vatican Fields north of the hill, upon which St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums are built.

St. Peter's Basilica is a Catholic major basilica in the Vatican City. This building is often described as the largest church ever built and one of the holiest sites in Christendom.

Tradition says it was built at the place where St. Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus and considered the first pope, was crucified and buried. The church hosts the tomb of St. Peter under the main altar.

St. Peter's Square is located directly in front of the basilica. The open space was re-designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, from 1656 to 1667, under the direction of Pope Alexander VII, as an appropriate forecourt, designed 'so that the greatest number of people could see the Pope give his blessing , either from the middle of the facade of the church or from a window in the Vatican Palace.'

The facade is 114.69 metres wide and 45.55 m high. The five artistic bronze doors leading from the entrance to the basilica, each have their own history. On top are statues of Christ, John the Baptist and eleven of the apostles; St. Peter's statue is inside.

Once inside the church, the first breathtaking impressions are of its staggering size. Moving down the church, the Bernini's bronze altar canopy at the heart of basilica stands above the supposed tomb of St Peter the Apostle.

In the dome, the mosaics represent the inhabitants of Heaven: Christ, Mary, St. John the Baptist, the Apostles, the angles carrying the instruments of Christ's Passion and Death toward the center. Finally the mosaic in the ceiling, represents God the Father, presiding over Heaven. Heaven (the dome) and earth (the floor level) are brought together by the circular mosaics at the base of the dome, representing the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

The Swiss Guards give a touch of color to St. Peter's Square: in their Renaissance costumes, with puffed sleeves and knicker-bockers striped red, blue and orange, they stand on either side of the basilica, guarding the gates into Vatican City.

The Vatican Museum originated as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius II (1503-1513). As seen today, the museum is a complex of different pontifical museums and galleries. It also includes the Gallery of Tapestries, a collection of various 15th and 17th century tapestries. Even out of peak tourist season the queue to the Vatican Museum was an hour long.

One of the Vatican's most celebrated works, the Laocoon sculpture shows a Trojan priest and his sons grappling with sea serpents. Many classical sculptures are laid out in the Museo Pio-Clementino.

Particularly impressed by the large murals and incredible frescoes that line the walls and ceilings.

Gallery of the Candelabra was built in 1761 as an open loggia, Pius IV had it closed and sectioned off by a series of arches, columns and pilasters. Its name is derived from the candelabra in front of the pilasters. The ceiling was painted by Domenico Torti and Ludwig Seitz during the years of 1883 - 1887 under Leo XIII.

In the Gallery of Maps (Galleria delle Carte Geografiche), topographical maps of the whole of Italy were painted on the walls by friar Ignazio Danti of Perugia. It is 120 metres long. It took Danti 3 years (1580-1583) to complete the 40 panels. The decorations on the vaulted ceiling is the work of a group of Mannerist artists.

In 1503, Pope Julius II commissioned the young Raphael to decorate four modestly sized rooms in the Vatican. The Stanze della Segnatura contains Raphael's most famous frescoes, which were painted between 1508 and 1511. It was established by a theologian and meant to represent the three greatest categories of the human spirit: Truth, Good and Beauty. Above, rational Truth is illustrated in the School of Athens.

The Stanza d'Eliodoro was decorated by Raphael immediately after the Segnatura. The paintings explore the theme of Divine Providence intervening to defend Faith.

On the walls of the final room, Sala di Constantino (1517 - 1524) are painted four episodes of Constantine's (the first Christian emperor to officially recognize the Christian faith, granting freedom of worship) life which testify to the defeat of paganism and the triumph of the Christian religion. Due to Raphael's premature death, only one painting in this room is based on his drawings. The third room is Stanza dell' Incendio del Borgo.

More murals on the ceiling of a dome.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, this mighty composition, painted by Michelangelo (1536 - 1541), is centred around the dominant figure of Christ, captured in the moment preceding that when the verdict of the Last Judgement is uttered.

Not many religions actually own a country, but Catholicism isn't just any religion. Holy See (Vatican City) is probably per square foot the richest independent state in the world, making up for its total lack of natural resources with an astonishing collection of priceless art treasures.

A double helix staircase, designed in 1932 by Giuseppe Momo, the staircase is composed of two different spirals - one to walk up to the exhibits, and one to leave the museum

The young Koreans that I met in Florence and we visited the Vatican City together.

The brother and sister, Hyo Sang and Hyo Jin. We first met in Pisa and to find out later that we were actually living in the same B&B in Florence.

Breakfast and Bed Euro 15 per night
Roma Amore MinBak
Contact : Lee (+39-06-4454830 or +39-333-2950587)
E-mail : madoros0717@hanmail.com
Homepage : www.romaamore.com
Review : Average for low price. Korean-style breakfast and dinner provided. Price for non-peak season.

Tired after two weeks of long vacation in France and Italy. Planning for this trip was quite stressful as well. However, looking forward to my next Europe trip : Germany, Austria and Czech, probably next April.