Yogi who loves to Eat

about my dad

I clicked on "Create" button on VOX about to write a story about my dad. Later I realize that I don't know much about my dad. I know bits and pieces but not full story of the past 68 years of his life. I am gonna find out more
I am not a good daughter aye?

Dad

Dad, you have done so much for other people and you have such a big heart. I will not let anything happen to you and I will be there for you, Dad.
God, please give me strength to face this together with my family, please please please...
Love,
your lil girl

Earth and Society

Lately, we heard a lot about Save the Earth, Go Green and give back to community campaigns, charity sportive events and TV show that allows viewer to donate through phone calls. Some people do not notice or you can say ignore them as they are living in a very comfortable environment: plenty of water, plenty of food and do not see anyone starving nearby them so it's all good. Some people are paying attention and wondering "is it for real?", I am one of them.

I am asking myself, as a person that benefit from the Earth and Society, by taking part on all those events and giving donation to all the different collection methods, is that enough? Is that all we can do to show our gratitude? I agree what some people say that technology made lazy humans. There is not much of interaction anymore, we donate online or via phone just because we know it's the right thing to do and for some people "hey that's convenient". I know that because we care and we want to do our bit which is why we donate at the first place, which is good thing. Having said that, do we feel great satisfaction by doing that? or we prefer to see the smiles of all the kids that you have helped to build their school? I said, we shall leave the money donation to the millionaire like Bill Gates and Oprah.

I see all the damage that we human did to the Earth and I want to do something about it.
I see some part of the less fortunate side of this world with no food and water and I want to do something about it.
I see animals being abuse by irresponsible humans and I want to do something about it.
I see some countries compete to have tallest building in the world, fighting for natural resources and they don't even care the impact to Earth and Society and I want to do something about it.

What can I do? I admit that I fear and too afraid to do something about it. What if I caught disease? What if I am not strong to see the real world? What if I give up half way? I am ashamed of myself having all the "what ifs". I know a lot of other people have the same fear and same thought as me. We want to do something about it but then we also ask ourselves "where do I get the fund to do all these, where do I get the time to do all these?" I want to know, how the others do it?

I want to start somewhere, doing what I can for the Earth and Society but I don't know where to start. I started carrying recycle shopping bag, I started to turn off the tap while washing dishes, I started to carry water bottle with me, and I started to learn about not wasting food. I know deep inside me, I want to do more. I want to do something and I want to inspire people to do something for Earth and Society and I want to make sure that the world will be a better world for my kids. Just like how our parents made the world better for us. I didn't have to do housework when I was a kid as we had maid and I didn't have to work to pay for my siblings education.
 
I feel fortunate that that I never feel hungry or thirsty, I am being loved and I do not have to fight to survive. Do you feel the same?

blessed,
kualibiru

Photoblog: Flowers & Co. (edited)

I am sorry, flowers & plants. I know you guys already awesomely beautiful & colorful and yet I still play with your colors :D

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I am getting addicted with editing photos, any recommended software I should try?

Cheers, kualibiru

Difference between a tree and a human being

welcome winter

I was looking out of the bus window one day looking at these dry trees and thinking 'Trees are just like humans, aren't they?'

When they were young, they were showered with love and care so that they can grow and become tall quickly. No matter what they looks like and how they behave, there is always forgiveness.  You know that they are still growing and they will learned from their mistakes.
When they have grown up, they shine in their own way; beautiful, colorful, tall, short, blooming, and so on. They want to challenge themselves to be more colorful, taller, prettier and smarter. 
When you will see leaves started to fall and stamina started to decrease, you will know that they have passed their shining period. Good thing is, they have become wiser and they are able to withstand any kind of weather; good or bad.
Finally, they have seen enough, learned enough and they are just waiting to be re-born.
So, what's the difference between a tree and a human being?
These dry trees that I saw will be re-born once the winter period is over, they will be green & blooming in no time. Trees can has many cycle of grow-shine-fall period while humans have only once, we shouldn't let the shine moment passed us by, should we?

Cheers,
kualibiru

All I want for Christmas is (are)...

Macarons by Sadaharu Aoki

Macarons

Super duper cool shotsac bag

Shotsac

I want I want I want... (just a dream for now?)

85mm

Manduka Black Mat Pro 

Manduka

Thank you Santa Claus!

xox,

kualibiru

Japanese culture lesson#3: Travel on Train

Japanese loves their train (really proud and love them very much). I have a colleague who taught me many things about trains in Japan and he refused to be called "train mania", instead he prefers if I call him "train lover".

In Japan, each of the prefecture will have special train just like how they have special food products and old-folks tales (I hope I can write posts about food products soon *grin*). This special train has purpose not only to transport passengers from one point to another, but also act as a sight-seeing train or what the japanese called "電車の旅"or "Travel on Train". It is usually consists of 3 cars: 2 observation cars with normal seats and 1 cars which has special seats; tatami style seating. Sitting comfortably, enjoying delicious local specialty bento box and sharing nice sceneries with loved ones, isn't it awesome?

Resort Shirakami is one of the popular train in Tohoku region. It runs on gonosen all year round to let you enjoy the spectacular view of mountain, rice fields and japan sea as it travels from Akita to Aomori for approximately 5 hours.

 

Resortshirakami

Aizu Railway train is very popular during Spring season in Fukushima prefecture. Passengers can enjoy the panoramic view of cherry blossom season on the journey

 

Aizu2

Also, there is this special "heater train" by Tsugaru railway that runs from December to March that has quite nice wooden interior and of course the highlight of the trip is the STOVE! You can even grill your own food on top of the stove! cool! 

What I would love to try next time will be this train that fully decorated with my favorite animation character, DORAEMON! I was told it has stop operation due to the construction of Shinkansen from Hachinohe to Aomori. This DORAEMON train will travel through the underwater tunnel from Hachinohe to Hakodate.

Doraemon

Well, I know there are amazing trains from other part of the world, such as Qingzang railway that took you on world's highest rail at 5072m above sea level or Trans-siberian railway that requires a solid 7 days in order to complete the whole train journey. Today, I am writing just solely about the japanese culture of "Travel on Train".

I personally think other countries can learn this from Japan on how to being creative in promoting local travels. Coming from 3rd world country, I am wonder if my country can learn from Japan in having a good train system and later use it to promote local travels. Yes, I am just wondering...

Cheers,

kualibiru

Note: all the photos shown on this post is taken from the website linked. I hope they will not come after me :)

Photoblog: What I love about being underwater

Blue water with sea turtles swimming elegantly...

Turtle

Shy clownfish that always curious about you...

Clownfish

Colorful sea plants that never fails to mesmerize you...

Coral bouquet

Unique creatures that you never thought would exist, Pigmy Seahorse shares same texture and color as the seafan they usually resides at...

Pygmy seahorse

Lots of colorful & active baby fishes that only allowed to swim around near their home & playground...

Playground

If you are lucky, you meet some friendly dude that doesn't mind you getting a bit too close to them...

Dude

Sometimes, you are there just in time for fish daily party...

School of trevally

Just like in human world, there is beauty and there is the beast and just like in reality they are more humble than the beauty ones.

Orange froggie

Cheers,

kualibiru 

Japanese culture lesson#2: Public Bath

It was a long day rushing for deadlines for the project, so last night I told the team, "Stop here, let's go home!" It was already 10.30pm and I know that no way we can finish checking the data last night. A question asked by colleague, "Shall we go to onsen then?"  I was like "Eh, at this hour?" I was too tired to think so I said "Yes, let's go". It has been late nights and really the hotel just for me to catch my 6 hours of sleep.

We travel in his car and we passed by a sign says "今の気温 0 ℃" bbrr...no wonder we were freezing! 30 minutes later, we finally (it was really cold in his car as the heater doesn't work well) arrived at the onsen which is at the border of Tomiya town and Sendai town. The lifestyle around here (Miyagi prefecture) is probaby very different from the lifestyle in Tokyo as it is countryside area and surrounded by many mountains, which also explains the culture of taking hot spring bath.

So, stepping into outdoor bath area on 0 ℃ day is really a huge challenge for me, especially I have not been living in 4 seasons country. Let me tell you that "IT'S FREEZING COLD!" and I was quite shocked to see many smoking HOT ladies walk passed me when I was taking my bath. I mean literally "smoking hot" as there were steam coming out of their bodies after they dip in the onsen pool! haha...(sorry guys, not what you have imagined)

Yuttarien

I feel re-charged after the 30 mins of the "miracle" bath and of course starving too. We proceed to have our supper at the rest area while discussing about the small girl I notice while taking bath. She is probably at the age of 3 and she speaks quite loud for her size. I like that she is very enthusiast and talking a lot to her mother in many short sentences. I just think she's so adorable! She keeps saying "Arigatou" when the mother passed her towel, her comb, her clothes one by one. When she said "Boku wa...", the mother corrected her and say "Watashi wa..."  What I understand that only boys use the word "Boku wa..." and it's inpolite for ladies to say that word when refering to herself.

I would say it's a good way to experience countryside lifestyle of typical japanese.

...to be continued,

kualibiru