Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year to whoever bump into the blog!

I know, today already the 3rd, but late better than none ~

2013 will be another year of self-searching. I set a 3 years time limit when I decided to stay back at Japan for job after graduated. This will be the final year for me to once again rethink what I want to do with my life, should I keep the same career path, should I go back home for good or should I... ya. A lot to think about.

I usually set a lot of target in new year and regret at the year end realizing how little I had done. So this year I will keep the target simple.

1. Read more books
2. Do more exercise (Jogging & Hiking)
3. Be more socialize
4. Letting Go

And the most important ~BE HAPPY~

Wish all of you have an awesome year ahead!

Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine＠Kamakura (鶴岡八幡宮＠鎌倉)

Even  the 3rd of January, there still a long line of people waiting to have their first prayer in the Japanese shrine, a tradition called Hatsumode  (初詣)

Wind Chime Maker

My previous post about Penang last silversmith, reminded me another man that I want to write about. A wind chime maker.

His tiny little wooden shop sit quietly next to the main road leading to Kamakura-Daibutsu (鎌倉大仏殿高徳院), with only a wind chime hung right at the entrance, tinkling with each summer breeze, chiming welcome message to whoever passing by.

Wind chime is one of the most popular souvenir to get when you travel in the ancient part of Japan like Kyoto, Nara in Kansai area or Kamakura in Kanto area. But what you might get is an industrial product with a little sticker - "Made in China". I"ve nothing against products made in China and it's contribution as the wold's factory, but when you consider something as a piece of art or craft, the artisan & stories behind them is what you should seek into, and it worth way more than the souvenir itself.

Mr. Kikuchi (菊地　眞さん), the wind chime maker, is an artist as well as a scientist. Besides the appearance, the colors, he demands a perfect sound. He recorded the wavelengths for each of the wind chimes showcased in his store. "Each chimes have its own unique note, its identity, depends on the pressure applied during the hardening and tempering process, " he said, "And to achieved the desired tone with certain wavelength, repeated tuning is needed."

The chimes is finished with a layer of silver coating and smoked with bamboo fire.

Try look for this shop on your next trip to Kamakura, Mr Kikuchi is kind and speak good English :).

Address: 〒248-0014鎌倉市由比ガ浜1-10-11

Travel Diary: Yanaka, Kamakura, Enoshima

Have been travel to Tokyo for a few time last months for seminars, test and interview. Transportation paid by Uni or the company really a big help for me and shorten the distant between Osaka & Tokyo from 7 hours bus to 3 hours Shinkansen which is normally too expensive to pay on my own budget.

I had make used of one of the trip and travel around. A little bit sick with the congested Tokyo central city lanscape, I head to Yanaka, a historical neighborhood in Tokyo. No big temple or big shopping mall, no specific attraction but simple residential area with old temple, historical market place, wooden house. Simply walk around and enjoy the atmosphere and ambivalence of the neighborhood.

Spent another day in Kamakura and Enoshima, 2 lovely place to walk around when you want to spent a day trip out from Tokyo. One day rail-pass is highly recommended, economical and saved you plenty of time when you move from one attraction to another. Anyway, I was enjoying my time in Kamakura, when I arrived at Enoshima, I was only able to catch the sunset, and explore the small island in dark.

You can find a lot of travel info of these places by just googling their name, so I won't repeat the same fact. Some photos to share with you and hope you like it. Thanks again for stopping by.