tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77757632024-02-26T14:45:37.934+09:00cricketomanacSometimes about cricket though ...Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-28647565903142775352021-04-13T03:10:00.004+09:002021-04-13T03:21:27.402+09:00<p>Recently my classmate and a friend of mine, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nachammai.nachiappan" target="_blank">Nachammai </a>(fondly known as Nach) invited me out of the blue for a trek to the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Guthirayan+RF.,+Tamil+Nadu+635102/@12.2902038,77.8371013,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x3bae85f6a43050a7:0xa40f9c08522dce65!2sMelagiri+Hills!3b1!8m2!3d12.4166667!4d77.75!3m4!1s0x3bae9c70667ee6f3:0x9f80bff54d4d7e3!8m2!3d12.2884147!4d77.8453016" target="_blank">Guthereyan </a>hills near Hosur. Taking a break from running due to my ankle injury, shin splint, and acute gout, I pounced on this opportunity like a starving guy on a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dindigul_Thalappakatti_Restaurant" target="_blank">thalapakatti biryani</a>. </p><p>Initially I ignored the COVID 2nd wave that was looming large, but as time progressed my worries were largely focused not cancelling the trip and safely entering and exiting <a href="https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/states/tamil-nadu.html" target="_blank">Tamil Nadu</a> the neighboring state. But things start to go out of control when the <a href="https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/states/karnataka.html" target="_blank">Karnataka</a> state government imposed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_assembly" target="_blank">section 144</a> from 2200 to 0600 in the morning. From our North Bangalore house it was not possible to start at 0600 and still reach at 0730 so were left us with no choice but to stay the previous night in the sprawling house of Nach. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUajacbS0tugmbgW63c7qzgxhd0ZtpuFYKiBfbSDc3UeHRgce-17krvgjDE3WD1wvCiTDL_yVAVgwDmvOBK7g8ulpoc1NTxIZm_d3oukUR-saZzn9eYXNgToIOadd50azqy_ilg/s1152/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-11+at+21.28.55.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUajacbS0tugmbgW63c7qzgxhd0ZtpuFYKiBfbSDc3UeHRgce-17krvgjDE3WD1wvCiTDL_yVAVgwDmvOBK7g8ulpoc1NTxIZm_d3oukUR-saZzn9eYXNgToIOadd50azqy_ilg/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-11+at+21.28.55.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The forest guards in the <a href="https://krishnagiri.nic.in/tourist-place/aiyur-eco-tourism-park/" target="_blank">Aiyur eco tourism park</a> had earlier agreed to organize the trek for a group of 10. Nach had gone to lengths to get the members, 3 from hers, 3 of mine, a runner classmate of ours, and 4 more from her township. Kannan, Nach's husband wanted to start the trek at around 0700, before the scorching heat from the early summer sun. Back calculating we had to leave the house at 0500.</p><p>Our runner classmate, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rajmohan.arumugam.39" target="_blank">Raj-Mohan</a>, a protestant turned spiritual and yoga guru, married with 2 kids could not bring them as one of them was 7 months old and the other 7 years old. Difficult for a 600m ascent. The plan was for all us to stay the previous night at Nach's place, sleep early, wake up at 0415 and leave at 0500. But his guy shows up at 1015, had his dinner at 1800 and was a bit hungry and started savoring the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chettinad" target="_blank">Chettinad</a> style curd rice, followed by a chat till 2300. I was both tensed and sleepy. But meeting him in person after 21 years meant that I actually enjoyed the small talk, but at 2315 timed out and went to sleep.</p><p>My 13 year old son who sleeps by himself these days had to sleep with us in the same king sized bed. These days he sleeps late, it seems and could not sleep but trying hard to. The poor chap was constantly changing position which woke me up from my REM sleep at least 3 times which meant that I was getting a mild ache. But managed to calm him down and went to sleep when my wife woke up with congested trachea and started complaining of some kind of breathing difficulty and chest pain. Head ache increased, but was careful in attending to her. Made her wear my <a href="https://www.garmin.co.in/products/wearables/forerunner-245-black-yellow/" target="_blank">Garmin </a>and checked the HR which was at 90. It was so bad I was just short of calling the ambulance. All this drama ended at around 1230, and exhausted I crashed after that. I slept but had to wake up as sometimes the teen was all over me, and sometimes I was checking on my wife, if she is breathing. But all this ended at 0400 when I got up.</p><p>Normally I do not shower before a trek as I always thought showering takes out some useful energy, but this time I showered to just wake-me-up. Not a fan of milk tea but Kannan's early morning milk tea helped. I do not know to drive a car, not that I want to, meant we have a great driver. I planned to sleep all the way to the Aiyur camp. We started off in 3 cars shared our live locations but the constant back and forth communication kept me busy. But when I saw the breathtaking sunrise from inside the car I was spellbound. At these times I do not even think of taking out my camera, though Raj in our front seat clicked a few. Without sleeping at all in the car I had woken up completely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b2r7WukE5UOWjYCtqLerVl0NNOp4ABCESz1FItkBKd7Rg7vMLes1OfARBTEZDnDw62fj1-Gq-1_hG802Lui_wvtL4zliI5qHcz3Z09FUoxZXoeUpXCjVxTz-WOjuAxFKAC0Gaw/s2048/_dsc3696.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1363" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b2r7WukE5UOWjYCtqLerVl0NNOp4ABCESz1FItkBKd7Rg7vMLes1OfARBTEZDnDw62fj1-Gq-1_hG802Lui_wvtL4zliI5qHcz3Z09FUoxZXoeUpXCjVxTz-WOjuAxFKAC0Gaw/w133-h200/_dsc3696.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDped9jeG9sR_jHm4oIeJK5zBruCN3xjJal91dLMXRYGQnSr55sQX1iq2Ko5NXbwHmkgw8vOdj4jYU7brOl3mwtlxBafF5hCyLDvC4_mGQbKGmRv3XDaJCCohiRSq2s1HiEFJtLw/s2048/_dsc3748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDped9jeG9sR_jHm4oIeJK5zBruCN3xjJal91dLMXRYGQnSr55sQX1iq2Ko5NXbwHmkgw8vOdj4jYU7brOl3mwtlxBafF5hCyLDvC4_mGQbKGmRv3XDaJCCohiRSq2s1HiEFJtLw/w200-h133/_dsc3748.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>We reached Aiyur camp at 0700, and were assigned 2 guides, Parthiban and Surya. While the former is a trained Forest Guard employed by the state government in its permanent roles, the later is a contract employee from the local village who I later learnt is also a snake charmer. On this day we had 2 groups, our group of 11, and another young group of 6 who I learnt trek almost every other week all around India. It was lead my a ultra-marathoner. But for the time being both the groups started together.</p><p>The ranger had arranged the breakfast, we got bread-jam-egg and about 25L of water. Each one of us carried a pack of bread, a jar of jam, and some eggs, filled our water bottles and setoff. The trek, was real, it started off from <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kodakarai,+Tamil+Nadu/@12.2960406,77.8497862,4518m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x3bae85f6a43050a7:0xa40f9c08522dce65!2sMelagiri+Hills!3b1!8m2!3d12.4166667!4d77.75!3m4!1s0x3bae9c6767b97363:0xd8510feb004a0df3!8m2!3d12.2945472!4d77.8567386" target="_blank">Kodakarai</a>, a 20 min drive from Aiyur eco park. We started through a village alley where it is difficult for a motor bike, or even a normal cycle to venture. The place itself had a character on its own, the idyllic people, houses connected to each another is some odd jig-saw puzzled shape, the long horned cows, the less littered paths, and everything. The ascent was steep from the word go. Some of the 1st time trekkers were caught off guard with their Velcro walking shoes. While Parthiban was carefully guiding us with a smiling face, Surya had taken off with the younger and faster 6. Cows grazed what looked like dried grass, not from paddy cultivation the normal grass that had dried up in summer. The cows were tall, thin yet looked sturdy and looked back straight into our eyes when we tried to look at them. It was probably just a feeling when the guide mentioned that sometimes they attack. They are probably Kangayam or Hallikar, not sure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGDF7Z_dl0O3aneVjJ3rLI6iiZf9UIcOgLVpk3b3fuOm8ypNwhkJZPSURkymX3DzlNCrkL-wFVpehZmgffIzU5Dqe9RH5rmk-62U7wHbywkf0TdN71HXNx9FdF8jFu5JwEg6rww/s1152/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-11+at+21.28.39.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGDF7Z_dl0O3aneVjJ3rLI6iiZf9UIcOgLVpk3b3fuOm8ypNwhkJZPSURkymX3DzlNCrkL-wFVpehZmgffIzU5Dqe9RH5rmk-62U7wHbywkf0TdN71HXNx9FdF8jFu5JwEg6rww/w400-h300/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-11+at+21.28.39.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Nach had mentioned about a seasoned trekker lady, Anjali who marched ahead of all of us with Parthiban, while we all followed with the group of beginners who had questionable fitness too. The 1st ascent was steep and blew the breath of many, but by then we had covered only 600M of the total 6KM, and about 50M in ascent of the total 600M. I could see that many were already visibly giving up. Throughout our ride we saw patches of the forest burned down, it looked like wild fires due to summer, but the weather was not so hot for wild fires and something was fishy. It's just Probably my ignorance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFeRSkI1GxQ62tnDVKlZgBKWUeON_-dWxrDD-uGhJ1uAZe0s4rtZxBZgdO6CwHR2pXvTGr0K6_bMFVJ_H7EijramtWBG_YDUUpvLhV-bQiwjz6fOdxuB4gLnLkh4ZLjcr5LdVNw/s2048/_dsc3692.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFeRSkI1GxQ62tnDVKlZgBKWUeON_-dWxrDD-uGhJ1uAZe0s4rtZxBZgdO6CwHR2pXvTGr0K6_bMFVJ_H7EijramtWBG_YDUUpvLhV-bQiwjz6fOdxuB4gLnLkh4ZLjcr5LdVNw/w400-h266/_dsc3692.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After the 1st brief ascent, we snapped a lot of photos, the entire group, then ladies only, followed by kids only, solo, and what not. I could see at least most of us had the energy to do this, or the other way around we got energized from the photos. We continued towards the next milestone. It was a lake in the middle of the forest where the elephants might come to drink water. The water was a bit dirty, yet filled with fish. We had covered only 1.6KM. I wanted to cover at least half the distance of 3KM before the breakfast, but hungry kids forced our first stop to eat the bread. The bread was filled with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutti_frutti" target="_blank">tutti frutti</a>, which we mistook for algae and fungus. After-all who would add sweet bits to breakfast bread. The jam had to be scooped out with our fingers as we had no spoons. But then Raj's bread had "real" fungus in a slice, which Parthiban vouched was cream. On a normal day we would have thrown the whole loaf away, but with less options inside the forest we threw only the slice and ate the rest.</p><p>Bread, Jam, Egg, Banana, and some packed croissants energized the team. Parthiban had breakfast with us. Most of the members were vegetarian and the non vegetarians had to finish off the hard boiled eggs. They did not complain though. We threw bio-degradable garbage while we carefully packed all forms of plastics. Reflecting on this now, I think we should have packed the bio-degradable ones too.</p><p>We started off again, but I was clearly irked with the pace. This trek at this pace was no more challenging for me, it was more like a glorified walk inside the forest with my family and friends. So, I went with fast pacing younger group. The group had some funny characters, like a guy named Preetham who was wearing Khaki tops and trousers, and I mistook him for a guide. I should have thought about it, as he looked shabby and his fitness level did not suite a guide. The group had people who looked like North Indians, but spoke fluent Tamil. I walked with them, sweating, breathing heavily, watching every single step of mine and not looking up. Leaving the noisy crowd behind, I could hear my own breathing, every single bird chirps, and was just enjoying feeling as if the world was playing everything just for me. </p><p>If this trek is in any guide book, this will not be part of the easy ones. The ascent was too steep without much plains for recovery. I was starting to worry about my wife and kid, whose water and <a href="https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/nutraceutical/products/pocarisweat/" target="_blank">pocari sweat</a> bottles were with me. After some 2KM of steep ascent we reached a rocky peak. The view was just breathtaking. I just sat down with the group of 6 and just enjoying myself and the view. The young group members were clicking snaps, and I joined the party too, felt a bit younger. But after a few minutes secluded myself to a corner of the peak and looked into the green valley in front of me. It was probably wilderness, it would have contained a lot of wild life, human beings, and what not, but it was now in front of me, completely within my sight. I felt a sense of pride, control and probably a sliver of arrogance that I am in control. When I was fighting this thought, the beauty of mother nature brought back peace. At this point I could see Raj coming along with Anjali. From about 80 or so meters away he snapped a few photos with his DSLR.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8TrqjOBfmmeTKUGyAcZ3vURCMQUb5JommO5Kp4Nkn-DOoiPWq7J0dUPXiNXEtaSEgaJolp-VuFsDPrjBLILEtu_chlhphIfCtew_VnwmSXfHrS0juxSCsiMrOxkDeirO1D4RNA/s2048/_D713998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8TrqjOBfmmeTKUGyAcZ3vURCMQUb5JommO5Kp4Nkn-DOoiPWq7J0dUPXiNXEtaSEgaJolp-VuFsDPrjBLILEtu_chlhphIfCtew_VnwmSXfHrS0juxSCsiMrOxkDeirO1D4RNA/w400-h266/_D713998.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Both Raj and Anjali joined me in the peak, and suddenly the tranquility was taken over by ecstatic and noisy trekkers. It was time for me to descend. At this moment Parthiban showed up with the others. He broke the bad news that the actual peak was about 4KM away. My tired body was sad while my excited heart was happy to take up the remaining challenge. Along with the young group I started towards the next ascent through the thorny bushes. They scratched and bobbled out the sports t-shirt so bad that it cannot be used anymore.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAZwNE8sUdSzcaV1jD5VO5hirDATzd3MN81icmssnd5q7-ZszTgWZOX50HMvDLsSMwJT-f40Zu_OW9iL-8MeYP56Kt6fecxbGWXZeMI91IWNMww5KqOoReS8KTJCU5XAVzqk_qg/s2048/_dsc3724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAZwNE8sUdSzcaV1jD5VO5hirDATzd3MN81icmssnd5q7-ZszTgWZOX50HMvDLsSMwJT-f40Zu_OW9iL-8MeYP56Kt6fecxbGWXZeMI91IWNMww5KqOoReS8KTJCU5XAVzqk_qg/w640-h426/_dsc3724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>But surprise struck when we reached the destined peak in another 300M, and Parthiban declared that it was the actual peak. It seems that his 4KM more story was to give all of us a pleasant surprise. The ladies were happy, but I missed the 3.7KM, and even contemplated descending and ascending again. But now, the team sat around <a href="https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en" target="_blank">Sadhguru </a>Rajmohan who was giving a mountain peak lecture on religion. They were talking about pranic healing, some ritual, I remembered something called "sri vidhya", because it sounded like a beautiful Indian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srividya" target="_blank">actress</a>. I remember that my dad liked her too. The sermon continued for about 30minutes with all the ladies surrounding Raj and shooting questions which he was answering like a living encyclopedia. I was visibly bored, sensing this the members of the group resorted to group photos.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzOPRKCnGbxIGNNQUTpcBAlBlCyrm06Y_GF81RYcN9mJjPEMnfaay8gRL1QTmnD8xQMa6AV9JdVE5TFWNraHt7Mw8Sqk3Ntfr5BfXmK3OhNNDYhpBgQbPXilZz03QE9Wypp3ing/s2048/_dsc3736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzOPRKCnGbxIGNNQUTpcBAlBlCyrm06Y_GF81RYcN9mJjPEMnfaay8gRL1QTmnD8xQMa6AV9JdVE5TFWNraHt7Mw8Sqk3Ntfr5BfXmK3OhNNDYhpBgQbPXilZz03QE9Wypp3ing/w400-h266/_dsc3736.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was raring to go back did not know why. Probably just wanted to move away from this boredom or just wanted to keep myself moving. I was surprised to see that Parthiban buying time to take some more rest, in fact he had removed his shoes. Seeing me just roaming around, the team started the descent. As in any trek if the ascent is tough, the descent will be tougher. The slippery fallen leaves made things a bit tricky, many members including my wife fell and twisted their ankles. Lucky for me I just slipped 2 times but managed just to steady myself and did not fall.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZf6NE7iBDrmJW1ZQbX5uqMEARVZWdg1spQLj_krIQZiJfnnlD2XOkDAqC-dks2r-B1W1kWoKQuHQ25nC5mBCVTedc6oAu3HsIXsYPWK8SED9-U0Jo1hDTG7hNhz7B8gh5a8CuA/s2048/_dsc3698.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZf6NE7iBDrmJW1ZQbX5uqMEARVZWdg1spQLj_krIQZiJfnnlD2XOkDAqC-dks2r-B1W1kWoKQuHQ25nC5mBCVTedc6oAu3HsIXsYPWK8SED9-U0Jo1hDTG7hNhz7B8gh5a8CuA/s320/_dsc3698.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>We were walking back fast, at twice the pace, partly because we wanted the pain to end and partly because we wanted to drink some cold water. The increased walking pace meant we slipped more than usual. When we were walking, the leader of the young group Kali was trail running. After about 30 minutes hike we reached the breakfast-lake. The kids started throwing stones at the lake. I shamelessly joined them and in fact fared better. After sometime we got bored and waited for the others in the group to join. They joined us after about 30 minutes. I learnt that my wife had fallen twice and once twisted her ankle. She had brought the spray for the sprain, but was visibly limping.</div><div><br /></div><div>As any normal husband I left her behind and started my final descent of what I thought was 1.6KM, but we took a different route from the lake and missed the path multiple times and reached back the car after walking for more than 2.5KM.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/5107328844" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="787" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDU7h_aNKy3HIT05_jDl9QKgZnrPdSkQMgcZP0ROLkg52SoXwC4fOgavUdiYEDwAGPPEkZMKrOS4yZZ1cAHDMQpkJj52-UNHsuVpH5xkthyphenhyphenTJqCK6_XdtEC6pZcu4JK51jb2f7Q/" width="400" /></a></div><br />Again I waited near the car for another 1 hour before all the members reached back. I was sleeping in a thinnai of a villagers house, and also had time to feed the dog with the left over of the breakfast bread. I washed my face with the water from a nearby tank. The water was sweet very different from the water we use, which is pumped out from 1000 feet below the earth. After this we reached Aiyur camp and had our lunch. The simple vegetarian lunch was so delicious for the hungry tummies. We deserved the food.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the food, 4 members of the group left, while the rest relaxed in the dining area. Suddenly the forest guard showed up and told us that there is an elephant near the lake. We rushed in our cars and were graced with the following photo. The elephant was graceful, relaxed, and had all the time in the world, yet healthy and probably even rich. It was moving at elephants pace :-). It was very different to witness this in real life. We were thrilled.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S87aRDJXzPeYggzppOscwIrGt8Pi7ZyRrXks4VxfolzhxiQFs_dTLxa3V3kTrHCzgzkYwdOctYZ86Jdfa9Q2ufB2wd6ZNdlNppeX9A63SBUoAMg7Sk286IGNMt9eZy3t2q3fJw/s2048/_D714021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S87aRDJXzPeYggzppOscwIrGt8Pi7ZyRrXks4VxfolzhxiQFs_dTLxa3V3kTrHCzgzkYwdOctYZ86Jdfa9Q2ufB2wd6ZNdlNppeX9A63SBUoAMg7Sk286IGNMt9eZy3t2q3fJw/w400-h266/_D714021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>After this we wanted to drink panner soda, but just did not have enough energy to search for one and buy. We just left and returned home. The 90 minutes drive was filled a painful body and a joyous heart. <b><i>Thanks to Nach, it was a Sunday well spent</i></b>.</div><div><br /></div>Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-55670307384180772872012-10-10T22:12:00.001+09:002012-10-10T22:12:38.670+09:00Family trekking to Daimonji-Yama<p>The company that I work for, <a href="http://www.rohm.com">ROHM</a>, organizes trekking twice, during spring and autumn. During spring, Shanthi and Anto stayed back assuming that the trekking course would be difficult for our little Anto, while I trekked with my colleagues. But in spring it was no trekking but just walking, along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamo_River">Kamogawa</a>, to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Takaragaike_Park_Kyoto07s3s4350.jpg">takaragaike</a>-park near the kokusai-kaikan. It was such a dull experience that I did not take out my camera once. Yes not even once. In the end the company provided subsidized packed lunch with beer and snacks, which we had to eat out in the cold-windy-day. </p> <p>Many of my colleagues who trekked along with me wanted to meet Shanthi and Anto. So, when the autumn trekking was announced for Daimonji-yama, I signed up for Shanthi, Anto and me, immediately. I had read about this trekking trail in some of my friend <a href="http://regex.info/blog/2007-07-01/507">Jeff’s posts</a>. After I signed up, the leader of the trekking-club expressed his worries that it would be difficult for my 4.9 years old Anto, and also to the inexperienced Shanthi, who had never climbed a mountain in her entire life.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_oitpNm1AVnB9OGWtU1LHXYgt1tDeVBDCXxAaGDzg1Ftll2hS6lqa_YBLdNeKzpKEna-ShYYmQ_yYWoZ-KlytGNgTflol8A2eMgzQBWN-KzdGlAxMZtoFEy0ul-ntxcIS1t95A/s1600-h/kinkakuji09%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="kinkakuji09" border="0" alt="kinkakuji09" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDazUHMykhz8A9Feky-5EdOXAHOA3DnRK27OZy_PeNlmyj0cXGmqZixF3T_gb0_hHm_Hx8B0EfvkySNjjqaJARxZkhIfHyeHrPbvM8IhAfK9yhwUoDS4Bw9eOP4FvDFnmasHY6kw/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /></a> </p> <p>So, as a precursor to the trekking club’s event, Shanthi, Anto and me attempted to climb <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E5%B1%B1">Daimonji-yama</a>. A day after the tiring Sunday full of sporting events at Anto’s Kindergarten, we started out early in the morning toward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji">Kinkakuji</a>. I had seen the Japanese kanji “大” in the mountain near this temple and assumed it to be the “Daimonji”. When I landed in Kinkakuji, full of energy, I found out that the trekking course was near the similar sounding temple Ginkakuji. I lost half of my energy at that point. Around 4 years back, I planned to take Shanthi and Anto to Kinkakuji and took them <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkaku-ji">Ginkakuji</a>, by mistake. Anyway we took a direct bus from Kinkakuji to Ginkakuji, and in due course lost an hour.</p> <p>We reached the Ginkakuji-michi bus stop, and immediately started our climb. It was kind of tricky to find the right way till the mountain trail, and we kept asking people around us till we reached the trail. Anto and Shanthi were full of energy. It was around 1115, and we started our climb just forgetting our lunch.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhCZg_DikSRaK01mNwpmx283UCY7HFD0JolnZFYjp889Q8Ht7jP1k9boc5Wg5OxAWHBNMGldDUhg13CYaBSIxFo8pqSW0qH8seU6_ZiTdpbXv9pOvX6xzSpsVNMyxO_B-mKra8g/s1600-h/DSC_0014%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0014" border="0" alt="DSC_0014" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxuUY3suwL6SMqqjUF7dE8nzdzP8VjWBG_vpwMF8rcAQUMFvIDx0_G_wLF-tbIMU2OMdzs5xt0E4G86DTY_pt17MSJow-yRKWo0dnSysbuDiLL-OhqfdJtCMXlXhLsq9OKTD7zQ/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a></p> <p>Anto was carrying his jacket and snacks in his own bag, which was kind of cute. We climbed along the trail, which was crowded. We soon came across Anto’s class mate, which made me think that this trail is popular among Kyoto-ites.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCAB9lUngw-vjwl_2nj4kZJ3gLjlAVwSRJppBQMDkX-k2wRVw-XMJK-G3tIrNhP4TaizomCvj6GllOhyphenhyphenonc7JGtgyQnQAi4O03KSYmZpsWd4-leQo0b3Cj9B4D4-2fF2gJR6PhQ/s1600-h/DSC_0028%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0028" border="0" alt="DSC_0028" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvtGOedNvVJLUP3HlVx5CjrIBhPws6BSnTk1kPDLefagpLQ1mOr_9CklB6qfXfeVN4qGpz1RFchuYaqbX_UqeznZ19XwWR97SV_Cb8Zb6Z-TL0nqEWxOI0UFn3JanKZJ7h8bzhA/?imgmax=800" width="520" height="772" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Anto posing with full of energy, while Shanthi had lost more than half of her health-points. Till half-way it was mostly mud stairs followed stone stairs. Note: It seems that the stone stairs was built by my colleagues father. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi6iagT2aPaIONfgWOue70qBgVm1F0DHoyMn_CO42G_tdScDPMIxm5i4fK3siR03nBo9i0mgivYc21XPctBF-LO3BqK0cwBGOIdjdB-YeU0q1hfNLMzV4M1NyJq7bGvDGZhnpRQ/s1600-h/DSC_0040%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0040" border="0" alt="DSC_0040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7Z2NBjST2B6onlPimTAAL_GVAwQKBkM5YGJ6Qo_VTm1UqE7iMPifD0MAUSv5xELcVx5wqgoqHHjnTVDnDb9Nc1tVqWAKtV4fW7zSawWRL62W6COvpYBjx51MbkHR7r2Oxe2xgQ/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p>After climbing this never-ending-stairs we reached a place which we thought was the goal. With Kyoto in the background we took a lot of snaps one of which is our family photo.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8kF1u6qUW3tW3EKO6TReDZJxnQ6risK_ptWqX-TJ9vqqWvKzeDxZ7bfb8LI7Peand4FeJd7FEGbnx7NR8uaETqd2uwwQC3l4WjyX9OGHXvS0RSDPUTP23swPsge9Tlv7Vop_qQ/s1600-h/DSC_0061%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0061" border="0" alt="DSC_0061" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFKhKy19iXl-Jmx5qIpeQ74aVh_g8l1ocU0gf27zyMT8WO5v0k9mX4Gj1yp3z6kE2WdxN3ARYU7Mo73sO3Cz7XaTJO-ssEnfzzNpEb3hyMBBs0gklsb6zT0wSTzMUXNQyJZC84w/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p>Anto was given a lot of “funny” poses … which made me think that he has grown-up a bit ;-)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L5vS-aKh4olk5vtlAAS3FTjQI0uQH3USOO9k2X4zyN4llx_31yVxs_TGsWqFvjtkAAokzDmxdJdcxOwgDgAg3UzcjoBY0wDPfb6HYi2_uFhZHqCl7uX3hj9ntMKEFPOFf-Cq3Q/s1600-h/DSC_0053%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSC_0053" border="0" alt="DSC_0053" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsYx2MercVYslOYPMk-nKKDwtvB_JytbhlKsA7ZZjfBd4QbgMJeRFBQhdPA5cS_ceowAY8F_KXF_1sIqwNIv-Vjx6fgFk_HyFTbq7eCE3xfhnnWWJiH48j1F-P0HDmSnqEFUbHQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyOIQb3bsMmFvHOyqlHf6RumUUuTQZW91kDMNyINQoQbx_dAa1fEwaraBUpZDBauv_sd7D4JYT3cRzZnUgSH6ouO9YWp72FBY8UO-nQ0-bRSZDRf2hyme6ZW1hzkxzfRLzO5VCg/s1600-h/DSC_0054%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSC_0054" border="0" alt="DSC_0054" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCovJLMH-zuLBD8KYJ_WnniYKegAEUSrzfK5roQhZ6iqjQYgpgtyiaO6JxDDPW9t__IN8X3wQ3SuZj6GbQg_4K5HTqRi18kctFD6oro2PYudTEp-WONrbEFQSKDhreMkZ5twWamQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQkdamt1uKZ361B7lPgFrLRVokThyYWf_tuFNloHt8Dkty7J1u4ZauQowyBMstmmNBwMio9rKvjCxc6n02xXCWMxomvokeP5ywdww8D8dGF-O-EEuCDTX3kGZrxPufVhXjTpKMQ/s1600-h/DSC_0055%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0055" border="0" alt="DSC_0055" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM8e6WpYJMhTqeBDRxO_Kg0OsIlTaw0lmlj9IL3ztk7vY6WBvQNmRcTtaOxx7kfOrnbkVxvxSV5Tres7EVAqXKRTTDT86rnwASs9RTZwdt7r83DoNQaglntbWurjc6_KDfV2UxA/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165" /></a> </p> <p>Soon we learnt that this spot was just the mid-point and we had to climb for another 30 minutes to reach the top. At this point, Solomon still retained all his health points, while Shanthi had lost all hers, and I started feeling hungry.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSrpFpyBRAtX_afARa4GDrptMqfxb7lrlQcoT_-HcxV3j_uWP_0hHYpi8RqMup6AyRArYgRDaNiqL0rdyPTJJbHLneWjGlDf7KTe0zFHmbxHUv788StidOC6liQSScCi7gARA5g/s1600-h/DSC_0067%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0067" border="0" alt="DSC_0067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistyH8p32qWcW96qe-V-IDfyWPJBV6uK4g6evrtw5baGfstyeocbhHGr3jg9xUBDgEd70nNiZEH5un5y5MWF0MgjcZQwFvTK3uLsAqIQMgCdmCYmOjWIjJnurilmaRFmc0cUN2_w/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Solomon tried hard to pump-out energy from this stone for Shanthi and me, which refreshed both of us ;-). From this point on it was just climbing-climbing-followed by more climbing. But first came this steep-yet-narrow-dirty-stairs.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqdjBtKFvWRL9kyQ7auJHHu5PKW8zasxHOdfYQelLw5ooh_TKLdm1bTppAqBWmI6xEk1rCdZERDdPVbej2oY-O5qFzlZFyqHrfjRyVwDHIo7dlP3aR2Z3hr4BwenXJokZrqVnzw/s1600-h/DSC_0068%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0068" border="0" alt="DSC_0068" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtyyluJHJqiEmqQa9i8zytwPxFyCPT9kBp6jodur9grk2CJRYrbPFT1JyMci_pOfnmqCTyRrTiUAem8A7lp0hoGM6wW0ybHyJjuQJeCw0O5jaMZv4WRf7MlbY_unfBWxHKV8Obg/?imgmax=800" width="520" height="772" /></a> </p> <p>After climbing these mad and narrow stairs and walking we had to do some more rough climbing. I thought this is the first time for Shanthi, she was both frightened and exhausted, while Anto continued to try pumping out energy from the rocks for Shanthi. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq39QaWfMepdxc2ueCqGT2Ho9NbKNWElbBpwgTUhNjfBcyvzj_SLroiE_1sMbP9jtclexZXCMmJpAVwZO846RcK-Y3_rexQOqs6Ge6ub8_v1HL92mtVrjDzNgh-63HYz6HPg4OKQ/s1600-h/DSC_0075%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0075" border="0" alt="DSC_0075" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RgsobMF_5MFoTPJPZxymmXN4ADzvJT3tbHdO0Kdn8r8yn_wgPpcjMq7KMj833acDBSiP0j1FayE7C9lEnSROZOvUhyWxyJiqCZt9yURtymxlQyhm7jMAEhSDorQMUtgkFTSSUg/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p>45 minutes after leaving the mid-point we made it to the top, where we accidently ran over a colleague of mine. He also came along with his 4 year old kid.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhauIyfPwv23cIFDRWCHNzkkMDoMl4d_KVH0_ItZqGCYdLDS6kDsJPGoiT24lhnLFwTI94wd4OOWFx6S4uwGsnuBt3rpOysacGG7RvCdUfXEV_3ti6hunc3hXx7PFGfNJYhiorg/s1600-h/DSC_0089%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0089" border="0" alt="DSC_0089" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lc1XlojTygouBPShT5vHWcr6FfyBIl0Sdg_Ybw7vdMzI8LHaacK-aX8Zucl2AFQo7fNMz3cDq5ZclbxJEG0gCZh9CKy75oZSXiBoR5zO9zKTQKWnYBomYhd6tPjyZFqcZR6D6w/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a></p> <p>This is Anto gazing at Kyoto. If you see carefully you can see the Kyoto tower in this snap. Actually my colleague shot a few snaps of our whole family here which was awfully off-focus. It was around 1315 when we reached the top. We were slow, but we made it, with my yet to be 5 kid putting an end to the worries to the trekking-club leader.</p> <p>Oh wait! but we have to get down which is equally tricky as climbing.  We initially thought of descending towards Yamashina, but after finding that there were not many going in that direction, we decided to take the same route that we ascended. We were hungry which drove us to walk faster, and Anto was continuously slipping, which made me put away my camera and I took his hand. We walked-walked and we reached the foot at around 1500. Solomon still had enough health-points to play around.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSxpEkcMgWBnm0oKVTiuyzecqcz_N-cZ3lRRwb8Gxe_Q-w-96TY6CzZVEgTJtQ1ohJ4NgpL6SJwwDwMjfcN22e3mG3USQn_S5963cv3dxVnJ0WHmUFVId1p0vsRxw0lNTzdLPCA/s1600-h/DSC_0096%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0096" border="0" alt="DSC_0096" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbqkucNpLXcnYwEuD49dJKBQPJRFOQTM8BpPvWv7uAzsTIyrGYasrtWD1qB-XXE8q-DBMXdmktC6uoEkoZNMtIYZ9I2YjqRx_ly6R0gOwJ-cPwk60b36PkVhOXnWMvZr8QIHASw/?imgmax=800" width="520" height="772" /></a>I had always wanted to trek with Shanthi, and when I found that Solomon was enjoying climbing, I was very happy. In fact I was a bit proud that he walked this trail without any fuss.</p> <p>But here comes the best part, I told him that we will taking the same course next week along with my colleagues. And he answered, “During this trek I had enjoyed fully, and so next week we can try something else”. I think he is correct, climbing twice is no fun. So … I have decided to trek to some other place .. hopefully Atago-san.</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-22548184307009070242011-05-04T22:26:00.001+09:002011-05-04T22:26:49.102+09:00Solomon starts school<p>Its May, 2011, 5 months passed by without any blog, despite many blog-able events. I have been waiting for more than a month to just dispel the procrastination and sum-up all my energy to compose this post …</p> <p>On 2011AD, April, 9th, Saturday, Antony Solomon Britto s/o Edward Victor Britto, started school. My friends Shin and <a href="http://regex.info/blog" target="_blank">Jeff</a> accepted our invitation and snapped almost all the unforgettable moments. Anto, as we are used to calling him at home, and Solomon as many of my Japanese friends know him, was not nervous. In fact he looked very cute in his over-sized school uniform. </p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brittoev/5633821159/"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="First photo when he was half-way through, dressing ..." border="0" alt="First photo when he was half-way through, dressing ..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF9PgCdnj87lbqf4GKg2hrZwMfj5mHgAr0nzJiLZUOmuXX-KAExylEwObDzeJveuGYWCfk859NDEg8Np_Tr_BnVYNiaHd9uhWcdhMyZMUJoSvn0rxsBcVgbyfSqzGjiI6JxWYcw/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a></p> <p>The school, hmnn… the kindergarten, that Solomon will be attending is one of the popular private Kindergarten's around. We wanted Solomon to attend a good school as most of the parents would want. Living in Japan, and not knowing the intricacies of schooling, we just took things easily. We just wanted Solomon to mingle with the local community and so initially we thought any school would do. Being a staunch catholic, my wife wanted Solomon to attend a catholic kindergarten. We found one far away from our home, but did not really like it. </p> <p>When Solomon was just over 2 years old, one of our well wishers, the Tani-family, took us to <a href="http://www.mediawars.ne.jp/~senzan/">Senzan youchien</a>, which literally means “Senzan Kindergarten”, located on the scenic mountains east of Kyoto. It was love at first site. First, it is located on a scenic mountain far away from the Kyoto traffic, noise and other pollutions …</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigKxMCvw4-pWutIY4PcSwl3RBUv0oNtuinBCHuCqu2A3TBqQKlKnU08xqLjwuyS06XsOYI1S9fB0LTdp7Xw8NrFcpwwXJyCYN1Mt9EIQo_r2LGovLlKOtHn-gG8gSCRbp7LsI1g/s1600-h/DSC_0120%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Solomon Walking with one of the teachers" border="0" alt="Solomon Walking with one of the teachers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUBMkefQwF8NyzcGlOYDCJ5ruY1uSraOxNICo33WTI0xNd1gM2hyphenhyphenP4yWw5R7fsoQR7jTZzE7zesJYSYT1HLw-b1QosvPbQNSFtiCA2gLeGk_FJ8IQml0oQCMtcjvQZTRwYYaJkA/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>But there was one problem, it was a Buddhist establishment, and they teach each one of the kids about lord Buddha and carrying a Buddhist version of rosary is also mandatory. Initially we did not like this idea. But then there were too many positives and after many long long discussions … we just told ourselves that this is the place that Solomon would be starting his long … academic career. </p> <p>But then there was another problem, we learnt that getting admitted in the Kindergarten was not easy. So we inquired with many parents of kids who already attended Senzan, and talked to the Principal teacher, and many more people who would give us some information or the other.  There were many drawbacks, the first one, both me and my wife are not fluent in Japanese, Solomon too … And then I do not have a permanent job in Kyoto, so my transfer is due any time. Anyway, it did not happen for the past 3 years … So on the day of application we went a lot lot earlier than everybody and waited outside. I had diligently filled out the application form in Japanese by myself. And we breathed a sigh of relief when we received the admit card a couple of weeks later.</p> <p>I dressed in my only suite, with Shanthi and attended an Interview in the Kindergarten. Solomon was smart on that day, and we passed the interview with ease. He easily differentiated a small square from a bigger one, a lengthy pole from a shorter one, and drew a circle and the interview (children’s aptitude test) was over. Actually he knew to draw only a circle, and was asked to draw one. He was lucky. We were relived and was a bit proud of him. He did not cry and was at ease with everybody, a character passed on from my DNA. </p> <p>Unlike India, in Japan, schools start on Saturday, enabling parents to attend the starting ceremony without taking a day off. So, on the 9th April, we were dressed in formals, Japanese style, which means we were dressed in black. Solomon in his school uniform.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo7DpnMuGIFd8kOyi7mZQG7YSaK6Kob2sUfpgvtXlo3u4Ru0Gr8YL9X_ia-pdrM7MjocO0nPWoTz-JfN8ApHlWLS1IHrRSJ11V9nS0WVBddbOyngRb-Ao5DfRo5gvuXAgSsRw3Q/s1600-h/DSC_0067%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Nyu-en-shiki" border="0" alt="Nyu-en-shiki" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpgDabUtRiVnTipZqAlm2djbhxCwybNgZFJxlFuZ2AubyMfvAEpl2fh39e0mMqA7sQ7fi1QbTgp36OkMdqNlm4XEUpa_RXrM3Z3PEee57tek8EyZCn7KTT2LkTa2yCf0WLOnKqw/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a>As he woke earlier than his usual waking up time of 9AM, Solomon looked a bit tired, but somehow he was coping up. He looked happy on our way. Our Japanese father, who runs this <a href="http://www.hana-pot.jp/">flower shop</a>, took us to Senzan in his car.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYh1RTwNSUGqXkpBQCPAmk6nWrKTxJqlio-QKnrXslyBO61Z_TZ1qtUvfgS6WS_WwJlpdiVD1AvX7gSpoa9cehXCJ4pQ44KAd5cP_IoHPFDEgj4jpC3fr2kEhctZTbS3nLyWJYQ/s1600-h/DSC_0051%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="In Oto-san's car ..." border="0" alt="In Oto-san's car ..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAF7ROvFLia6CikpGLxZEC21Piej1fQwjic_95rW2xwTdImX17FeFmaD-On_5FO4sFxg-EriXbn1u6Pwo574-r4eyIWcL4_EKbRWP8alKVibAjlh_DToqXUkRVjyPI5tKvKwF3A/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>Most of the Kindergartens in Japan allow kids to attend classes well before they join, so my wife and Solomon visited Senzan every Thursday and so he was used to many of the, what I can say rules. As most of the building have wooden flooring we need to either change shoes or remove our shoes for some special slippers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG5G2yKVGAkwENo9wQTiiGRO1oUjTlKtqU3BvWooYtw2nwwGy3c4wDQNM-U2jcmqgtSQDxEzp5rb0VmBNi_k9fmY11pog_7RRDb47wyR8vHaqQq1spGFoLRIUAB-DzVjPvGBQSA/s1600-h/DSC_0080%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Solomon wearing his shoes ..." border="0" alt="Solomon wearing his shoes ..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LLKiNjMMnox1qIlQZwh36zJPBdPx79ktQC_znli7-Xa-3K1VFSitlDcHCoiVZVoWYjQpC70dTn8PUaxEFCCwGfeQn3ip1YjnQ9_pZ2FWxDyHD-OiKQ4b4qHSkxuZJxS3gvkTIg/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a>My friend and tennis coach Shin, snapped many of the photos along with <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff</a>, so all credits to them. </p> <p>The picture of Solomon inside my mind did not really catch up with the speed of his growth. He was already starting his school. I was overwhelmed, with a sense of responsibility, which had come as a flash. I did not even imagine that it would be this big. I looked at other kids, and many of their fathers busy shooting their kids with video-cameras. I was clearly confused, and trying to smile all times.</p> <p>Solomon was led inside his class-room, where only one guardian was allowed, so I had to come out, while I was chatting with Jeff, Shin had managed to sneak inside the class and took some snaps. そろもん is the Japanese character for Solomon, and you can see this in his chair, shoe stand and desk.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeDy58HlvDB24BhdLjWTxCTzdyAnm6vDUpMRCTjep68YuBEBZj1XRM-Fi_cRu6rPUmilBXe7524yEK2Ue9lG6y36IJRE03zSRELo-M5vmHQVt3Ycw2SSh_63PSCrAWNCsFWRr-A/s1600-h/DSC_0088%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Chair with his seat pillow ..." border="0" alt="Chair with his seat pillow ..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginuPxqG1-NoIr_BgAL61kpRqQ7h437L90nN5ft4syOvCR9gki5RPW0sOui1ABLjqFwipGYRKC40MnNYjwpm_pVCuzTe84Cprkj7XlMMXt4SbjZ8W7nfdUcvryi0_Z1ZT1_Vg1wQ/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCjLWPzaJnWjk5EORr3GkLquz-dgUkvSxV2N8MBcj7kqNEBUgZ6RPtZo6wm4wwsnef_zs8GxihD52QhNfvXxPuj4UyVINne8OjCh8wP0SIi89toaw_ugPtiTWdcporwUHOfHuJQ/s1600-h/DSC_0075%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Shoe stand" border="0" alt="Shoe stand" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCT93RQuWAsy1faNm1xf7qu9WmHEjc85hmtbBS4SpCr1xHrBS1urm6LNbDsmfY9Onjrfm0pIRM9jgqA5V2VXo5VZ01MRsE7HemaC8b6_Q2CHg9ltPewy8Nxg-pZcuUG28uSAa7GQ/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqrDVLrtpDsLSjkkNKXfAmsoVftFK5SFkY4K79EBz7qmgotpLqPJ9R8hrVitBdYcr2qSnIjEByX-_K8nXEHJYh6v3dyzsI2aFYbp5tNypJtqvuRyHwjV1aP0omhsGmlqgquJuMg/s1600-h/DSC_0087%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="His desk" border="0" alt="His desk" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_iWRob8-UbkwYpKUgC4Y9-p53gz0Kt6peJi10eskpoB-4g6IZCHKVgkRGbPAVQkzSsO0M6ZaLrelaI-ADz613Hy2n1RHwnacnqOkcnJXs-xTVmuhGj8eH3j9ljiQ1slgTsUzhA/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>After some briefing inside the classroom, where they introduced the class-teacher and the kids, they distributed the school diary, Buddhist rosary, and repeated the instructions for the umpteenth time. While all the kids were sitting diligently, Solomon, tired of sitting in a place started playing. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ryesQI4zB_vRq5_AIylK8BzZwHoDI-hD4FwIrLq3dniaFdZgBOS-KpcYoWFwa-PzT902zgpMO0Cn2pMYbD9cnqNBEYoBtGGaPPYuapoNqe1g1a9BFGVjQidOeQXyt-E9U9b2Jw/s1600-h/DSC_0182%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Enjoying his cooking ..." border="0" alt="Enjoying his cooking ..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQone4wDgHEyOA8v-9rjbvCJ8z42y44juprJD8aUnF4ONxNSg8Oa1oCMB1pmZhBowKBSiiF05-nzxcVvhkyr7GaoMxr_zOLe0ux_8xsvorCgLQRe4hnMHPTszwCwalAQIZsntPw/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a></p> <p>And after I forced him to sit in his seat he starting playing with the kids around him. In all he was not sitting in a place and by far the naughtiest in his class. As usual I was a bit worried.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzPSjuEQm2EUws5-Qnv5gNd3NAzWT4-Z63NghekhvAhb0ccbcxip0l1RXqTervbkcoqGf4SPyJawixWmM_KCg-5rFjCiblFiT-NslDgrUugvFfRWc8szZfUKPM4HzdnDNHqnh3g/s1600-h/DSC_0163%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Playing with the kids ..." border="0" alt="Playing with the kids ..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgJG01ygV7i5AIkN9o7n8ZBJQ-0GKUK2QupzqCouVgARvFXaxluXQUiHrikdPJVG2_LrUJPklT4yLA-Q_5vGOr8CiT91iI6kZxV04aQmGnMOQZuNJIL-_ijZIxNpEaZbOPGymIQ/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhCqtv0HB-pDkjEy4ANRF2TY3eGA3RlFmQ7MBpmkuoNfUu0RsSqy1QQsjYx_SMmYEjE2C6cC1_qM2xOQ8VxSxcP2jU-9_pj7dQELeo2h3lQEulVtRJIeLwB28-6wcBZ1WFBT6dg/s1600-h/DSC_0173%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="With his school diary" border="0" alt="With his school diary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfJrGGPEcSVCfdGuGMRoXCkz4rN5WJrpCpwApaeM1V8R_5EpYCp9jnalZ00-ihBhjUCdnffeUZZNpy8dU_EdmwZbRjXqdiASFOZ8WoE54Wq9cGDUyZFlF2bDZ3caTT63YgzkFGA/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a> After the classroom session, the kids and parents were made to sit for a long lecture, which Solomon and the other kids would not understand. It was obvious that my wife did not understand, while I did not listen. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprYfGnPXJITUA8NeU-DFDmrFEnKMN61N_xZfn9mPo0A-iwdlQIZqGEGPMgyPiY9bAe3fXO3fIFysKgWHACVB5WLxtxxGJDuclK4_arH6KkR2qVXBjX5VzB_EOwaVGWmjn8wbeGA/s1600-h/DSC_0104%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0104" border="0" alt="DSC_0104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiib9kENYFUPFnKcYcnPoD-egylDtdCRCIfP0phcVdCkvtSaKM4Bo2ZytXMY3c8VXUu9_P5ZYqowfrHm4dsl41DumGBvlSnBd4IGYXHx8h9YO-6Bcz-mgM-oS5qjlA0-wzexSB2A/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a></p> <p>After this the senior kids of the Kindergarten performed some kind of prayer, with flowers and things like that … I could not see it, but Shin had snapped this photo.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMiK2fMkYjMBk1OPDBKFgwWaOyiDzbnqVJfPAH9_ONwUgUAH5SOBkslm5wQq3i68uzBWswRHvi7izYGS2U8Wavmk8l6M0OeU-ovCfntO8N9V7KGeZm-X74BVKQj3liaHwfa6MXQ/s1600-h/DSC_0117%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0117" border="0" alt="DSC_0117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXJpX5IWYGRFIPnrzlIviDD3XwYBS8VdBj-uOEw5Wdxk7_pR0to6ZP9hfWkAvHODHTCIiEWTUEwzgI8wTw8fvM_CND-bFnm301hiW6ovmDQ4nMn2RbLdaXnhl1X1bkJl0hjQ1AQ/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>Shin followed Solomon to all the places, to the point that he followed him to the toilet ;-) …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62bqR7oobB43ryvBfCz2nBThfMBp7aT1xHAF0M3Y5dMFRQA7ORPGKKCHzkGgXxKHd_NL7rTw04RnqiT1zz4lYW7SgS5w3mJv_F1QDmZE9bhOSbIv75RaqvWjcHXvQqd0OwP_vpw/s1600-h/DSC_0139%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0139" border="0" alt="DSC_0139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito9YbYuiN5Ja3EcX6JzBCIJkD_N6VXalY2xSRQ63WnTS3Ew2r_gCEFavhFRvhheAt-bwArnqu4F5-ij-kicaurwORf45MYxazd7XL8mDqaEu2IsSe-9Zf4LIl8pS-3fyBA6AHnA/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>After all the formalities there was a group photo session. Solomon did not want to Stand in the usual line and wanted to sit with his mother. As foreigners we always get some (special) treatment, and here too, the principal gave away her seat for Shanthi.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCYQbdiw0h6BsboCcKxS3YWHVHW3H3sURdp2F8maRtNAZdymw2xCaP61Ev3DFkeyp_3eOROy7stQoDWq6Q77v3YBzUPym58TGsGtXbmdoV7EI6v9ytQ53SrFLNftt0jypm5zoTg/s1600-h/DSC_0239%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Group photo" border="0" alt="Group photo" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstpvvCY2-xB4U5nlLxen4-7rkVbWpzD7DTy52ytBUOEbUULGpdeeWIuCvjp_bQmE_F2IP-K6_wQMUCPI1xPdq4Uvu7b2xYPx_ZuFaSg1uEXvo7pp2Pt8xswyTx7UgrLJvyEm6GQ/?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="689" /></a> </p> <p>We have a special rapport with the principal who we guess played a big part in our admission, we snapped a photo with her,</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ1mBv9TgoNS3V2LOCBdTeKw1EvPRevTz0SO-xgOA7FQy7ZJf3oXp5mTGrcrQmYNufq2JqAXHvfceRJPciqjR5oZNuFTr9b3pKL494H8V_Og-00Ac_vQe2YEUnh2iE1PzejKuLQ/s1600-h/DSC_0244%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="With the Principal" border="0" alt="With the Principal" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLOOGTYYXeeEM5LA2gieImSYiIUrOBpXPKp6PyHnR-uGnV4vqjxc9EBgmUTbvetfJJ-KZszS1TWF51VCwJNgsoIZskJ1SLVgODbLBL_cXifAi7i1OeybWLDOjPdomS8P9zzrZzw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> We also snapped some photos with Shin and Jeff. The tall one is Jeff and other one is Shin and here is one of them.</p> <p><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="With Jeff and Shin" border="0" alt="With Jeff and Shin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQHfyl5irOiBxNlRf580_k7LzfCQ28YnrJ2RT-71CvbxBZzTiz-uUySoXQJYQ3lFrv6fYZWpZJ7m-3Yk56VCq6gZobRH4nyqDT8Moh9KqfcP5u9edh542i8-k_lW6fm7llDl6Eg/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="480" /> We also snapped a family photo under the cherry blossoms … we will cherish this photo for a lifetime I guess …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKsLLkqMnWKiF8IYiYVVdNKSQYvEHYA456oIY7qFJ-dVHEVGWB5FKYjnHLvu7l7uiNrhyGUoysi3Ggoghqsp93kVwZFvOsGq8UotZ9a74MkJ5lFy6ZRY7B1zpNmPFU5MXgYr0VQ/s1600-h/DSC_0224%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0224" border="0" alt="DSC_0224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3rVdBw_zkcho2Bb1PpTpJRSGykm6-pfjBoOIASyPbCHtLpUjT28b-9zQwYwsGAfsgDVe76j2eWcsaGl1TtbfWVY2gghyj0OckxW918Zl6acy5O8Lx3jAhepO0yBhGG7JcwZC-A/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a> We did not directly return home as we were hungry, so we ate Pasta and Pizza, and went to hana-pot to take a snap with our Japanese parents ;) and also took a snap with the Tanis who were instrumental in Solomon joining Senzan …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FIDygDs0XEn3o51y1VpjDmsh8Gxoj7zZcWFBbGhnpx7hRV4Ya5BN6T3bcCr49z1uhh5ufdomkuHgl1GKf-h4m2Ui-8dcdJSsbS0bymaD7ut5xN1AO2umWbOp3-g-EMioWmvC6w/s1600-h/DSC_0262%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="With Oto-san and Oka-san" border="0" alt="With Oto-san and Oka-san" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXuH2OGkeR-qfqCZVHkdS78EKorjOwKU8ailEjMP7LHP4A6IWNQ-y86Aoj1s8YVhB3WlYiTcAEkvHvVFNcsYdbGNMrCmVcJcwBD5lnuVX3x8VAjKNLG6GDm4OdEmr5XOoKak1SA/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen4t_BrI4X73VtGT5eBwWmbSCwMGVzDBT_LpmhSxoEmoOx8zGf3d8FKnbhYU4rtA55_doIREZqpRDX_KQxvgtarHQn8FDqIJ7_KYyTSRDdp_Erf0Wuc1uk7mbs2fGw_4RBTs7ng/s1600-h/DSC_0268%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0268" border="0" alt="DSC_0268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgDp-ZHg4MB0Bgn220BB2d9WIxlddtc8I2oQiwI8CIohJZixKQWBsywklyNn9T6wB1rK7CWxdC6LZqOQ89QqRbuLpnqz9HajmXN9ndRQx80vb-7D8vQNlu7n3R6NgZ3JTnew0hw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Solomon got a wonderful cake from hana-pot, and we ate it on the next day … In the cake, there is a Patrol car which Solomon likes very much. It is written, “Riromon, Nyuen shiki omedetou” , Riromon is a mistake, I think it should be Solomon.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl22zVqoVqbmZIXnHkM6-FLZaQaO_de5oxF4Z5IkM-4uol89I8KkUBSn1VFgU0w0UZzj9yUbvCePeO4HmOda0qT9BhP_lQz05OLzRif62ZHR6IyaVqMwmWG6uBZBey59RyanQKkg/s1600-h/DSC_0303%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0303" border="0" alt="DSC_0303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLuTUgOVBASUVV1a8HaObI3T447Vh_xQJ5OGKu5XAEu_2Z2SaskkCBpdsnUTCxcXsXCArEWnINBOQWGTIe57GjfrXUOj4oOzFFt0SuqNbZPoZI7ztN0PUMDAeEd-qprEU01-t0g/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p>Solomon looked a lot smarter on the actual first day of school. I will write a lot more about his first few days at school later.</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Zq_hEECbIM8_tWTtQY8mwqYycIg5TYEdI9Sy_G25Npc3OEGurzU5rzGeZjKzpeZKPIRANR6VvVSv0GF54oJwLfGCxZ-LSb8MqupI4-mR0NDSdUnDVMpY3xx7MicxMKcamnDEgg/s1600-h/DSC_0321%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0321" border="0" alt="DSC_0321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx5hYpptobw5AQEmynux-Jauhuu1zA7YcQo_j2Kfnj5hY16BU63tb347hGImScBk6Rw7kl74C7b_AgSSvFPlG6Ut7qiyLhyphenhyphen9NkJA805H4F28rqJgPkizokXnTHbtvvM1gcnl4WA/?imgmax=800" width="325" height="484" /></a></p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-32325250312325164502010-12-08T20:51:00.001+09:002010-12-08T20:51:38.264+09:00Galaxy in a river …<p></p> <p>    My office is in Shiga, a 15 minutes walk from Kusatsu railway station. There is a small river called "Kusatsu-gawa" which flows over the railway line, yes, it's not a typo, this river actually is over the railway line. Though, I have never actual water flow, I thought it was for some kind of flood-prevention or something ... The dry river banks are adorned with "Cherry blossom trees" and it also has a newly-refurbished-jogging track" ...</p> <p>    I guess the residents of Kusatsu were also bored with a dry river, and they probably wanted to fill it up with something ... On one fine day, when I was going to the office, I saw a group of people doing something inside the river, I presumed it to be some regular construction or some kind of maintenance work. What else can we assume if we see people working inside a not-so-happening-place.</p> <p>    But in the evening while I was returning back home, I saw the following site …  a wonderful flow of candles. Yes 10,000 of them. It filled the whole river. What really amazed me was the time it would have taken to light it up. It was done manually by a group of volunteers. This shot was taken the next day, when I visited this place with Shanthi and Anto …<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyEwx9rFfl6sCv38xkKOOkK4NToK7bJg0_qsxPx0gD5ABBGe82tQsxcO-qpTC1T3l9-nWgVQ-BNPn1drOYCVJAXouclgFVJtCNKCRFPHhegsdlFSrMvOZcRUzZx8yg4NdD87Rlw/s1600-h/DSC_0357%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0357" border="0" alt="DSC_0357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAsXxowL7qnJZNjxh1HLe80Y4wrCU1KjAsHlFsGG_vG50M9j50T1XlNEZW8bd5U9psSJB7Pb526zp9IV9vm7UuLACjnn-vISkPn1v4EIEhs9NoQ9nnF3u51_WBLUoX8Wntgv6ow/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p>    The following board says “7th lighting festival …”. I am working in this office for the 4th year now, and this is perhaps the first time I am seeing this. Probably, this is the first time it was made noticeable. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwNdDcuhViNaQRqK05ISELIsK2xK4ssl5E_v82Pyh-hydv_b30PM0UTUMOJiF03h-lxnfJak7BwAsVkadPM-W6ODGN78yjzzMfSgcdagllji3Znv8dXZolYejvf2KxkEdaqg3eA/s1600-h/DSC_0348%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0348" border="0" alt="DSC_0348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZkM7LkdDCvClh1EoHAsBP5QoRZf0VHvd3MNXvTsCRIdjSBOVQAWEqNbCKQJymIWnA85YA25sbCi4aIdWCIVsFGdmqGwg4LlgT5bo_gmDzCJxMHG7izUT3haFUF9hTzS7LYXjfQ/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p>The following lights were made by some school going kids … wonderful …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXkRO5YGa9nLYGDZl47Tule69e-lh2kSKp3thzKgu3QdjihFk8FoJcnxMKqCzZsehxTjFaS7E8Vg_FGKvZcP612DS_fBt7q7okHclj_2pW4B1Fbph8fAOwv5BydR8W7BNy58wQA/s1600-h/DSC_0376%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0376" border="0" alt="DSC_0376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwa0PYZOW99QaQRBJf2nxnBo_2fOzI1exWTe9vSc1cUVrE3q3jKSXIiQB5WyveC-2pPtDLLIl8sbElOSa3H_2BFsryDJFhTIn9JezYMH9kONO9wK5QyB4tbPcP9j9SBz2vMo2jw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjU_4L1cODYxC1Pf9UHrwNVCm1MvTtP3zXOwSgaY-8KpCRKoPNXH8XEpXYl-A6P9bqJyDV78S0XOmJP0z9B6uewiXywkzQ3g0Tp8_PsKCfz4OOmwVcn5zsWFmDJBFfm3WoLcTfQ/s1600-h/DSC_0388%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0388" border="0" alt="DSC_0388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOk_NNQ1wCNm1tbeNgnoBK8p5vO2yLksF87wVEdK9o6HsyE8hIgH5_r1BHiDIFTeE2o9dorRiCFDYzzjea0bas4L_pQmIiid3scEf1XoM4yBK_WrCfyQH-Pynqj9ii_8udjxxfw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPFooiPTcliRrFW3rEJIRmG43DbZrtm7kSlGRmWGpmMnTpm9-gxk5hcHjD0mwGmKkSp5v94Wm35gewNLM1tjROKDRP4rMQqL0ktSaPihZXvuul7SVFUz7Ns_E78gPpNocSwriNw/s1600-h/DSC_0385%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0385" border="0" alt="DSC_0385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FiEvPQL2rzaVNKlDXlnxvIHgsp6npWX1i9MSy5jNitGHIxGPUzZihK7xrAC0P4Ei_Yq-C8jeMYWplMHKgCSVK16Vka5dw995CM-ElE5mzxGlibfvAv2QmfxGVO9L_HPnhVCm8g/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a>  </p> <p>    I was happy to see the river’s simulated flow. As with any other festival it was crowded, but not like the ones seen in Kyoto so it was manageable. I had ample space to set-up tripod ;-) … </p> <p align="center">Kudos Kusatsu …</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-19654266727967370272010-12-01T08:32:00.016+09:002010-12-01T11:14:23.727+09:00Autumn with my FCR2 ~<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Local and Foreign tourists flock Kyoto all round the year, and it peaks during Autumn. Having lived in Kyoto for 3 years now and witnessing the 4th Autumn after starting to live in Kyoto, I have had no interest in visiting those so-called-famous-Autumn-spots just to avoid the crazy crowd. But this year, since the arrival of my FCR2, I started visiting places that I normally cannot go. For sometimes now, starting this September, almost every weekend, I visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama">Arashiyama</a>, early in the morning, with my bike it just takes a little over 30 minutes from my home if I take the scenic-yet-non-crowded road along the Katsura river.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBgLb6hZV8a_UuO_F9xnvWwcWnHC2_egPVvDLGmamzkHvgco7tmnc7OBC6QBGJBtOXSlwJVbKrt7XxJmteJfwIaGTVsXXoWyxKh2ldxLahRaxT67qKF75rgZA01AbNLSNZ3762Q/s1600/DSC_0277.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBgLb6hZV8a_UuO_F9xnvWwcWnHC2_egPVvDLGmamzkHvgco7tmnc7OBC6QBGJBtOXSlwJVbKrt7XxJmteJfwIaGTVsXXoWyxKh2ldxLahRaxT67qKF75rgZA01AbNLSNZ3762Q/s320/DSC_0277.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545492149551054098" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span>(In Front of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama">Arashiyama</a> Park)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eXGox3kaHhv_ErEvky2ec91bhc5KJurFy2COdYgA_GvFWn8O_MC6YaYWu61YHu_YenvCg4odI_jvYidq-pMhkQ86e3kwbgeyDqAsTUfNCGA7y_iHMDf3PA7y_kbEBvYslN-y2w/s1600/DSC_0326.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eXGox3kaHhv_ErEvky2ec91bhc5KJurFy2COdYgA_GvFWn8O_MC6YaYWu61YHu_YenvCg4odI_jvYidq-pMhkQ86e3kwbgeyDqAsTUfNCGA7y_iHMDf3PA7y_kbEBvYslN-y2w/s320/DSC_0326.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545493230230280962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(In Front of the serene </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Lake </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BA%83%E6%B2%A2%E6%B1%A0">Hirozawa</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: pre; "> </span>I have heard from people that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama">Arashiyama </a>is at its best during Autumn, and when I visited it a couple of weeks back, I found that out for myself. On that day I had started off from my home at around 0730 AM, and reached <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama">Arashiyama</a> at around 0815 AM, and Mmmaaannn !!! it was damn crowded, the parking lot in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenry%C5%AB-ji">Tenryuji</a> was already full. Despite the crowd, I couldn't stop myself admiring the beauty of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama">Arashiyama</a> that stood in front of my eyes. After buying my bike, I would have visited <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama">i</a>t at-least a dozen times, but this time was special. After witnessing the sheer beauty of fall colours for myself, I took Shanthi, and Solomon with me, to Arashiyama on Sunday. With Shanthi, we took more than (3x30) = 90 minutes. Her bicycle has only 3 gears compared to my 10, does that answer the reason for 90 minutes? … anyway, she enjoyed her ride too. We had fresh coffee, some hot toast, and bought some of the finest <a href="http://r.tabelog.com/kyoto/A2604/A260403/26002454/">tofu</a> …</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmO0j6h7FJ8z4BSHxfHEhoJe7vkL4vHQ6eDpMa-tUXPPLJNG9r7z3JxSHr6_8RpfGQtZ2yTBKshUkOzLSauZvVQ5raCozGYzWDh6DX7k3azfoVbE-DdCSRIN-v9Cw2capxA8Y6Q/s1600/DSC_0493.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmO0j6h7FJ8z4BSHxfHEhoJe7vkL4vHQ6eDpMa-tUXPPLJNG9r7z3JxSHr6_8RpfGQtZ2yTBKshUkOzLSauZvVQ5raCozGYzWDh6DX7k3azfoVbE-DdCSRIN-v9Cw2capxA8Y6Q/s320/DSC_0493.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545496963586031346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(Shanthi and Solomon in Arashiyama</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr2_lrwgU96HLvNBZNnJno5QRV11WmcLD7605CQ3z_nSxjWTSYaOzYS0kqFwRql-pb0EQ2wlQx5MEj4DoNL6GuPcgiZkKF4mL1QSszXsQrur1JY_6hx7-Bhy6PrTwSRvNgNSQbQ/s1600/DSC_0511.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr2_lrwgU96HLvNBZNnJno5QRV11WmcLD7605CQ3z_nSxjWTSYaOzYS0kqFwRql-pb0EQ2wlQx5MEj4DoNL6GuPcgiZkKF4mL1QSszXsQrur1JY_6hx7-Bhy6PrTwSRvNgNSQbQ/s320/DSC_0511.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545497467062939874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(Our family + a neighbour in Arashiyama</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">)</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">To escape from the crowded part, we went to a coffee shop near Seiryuji and after our second-breakfast, we visited the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E5%87%89%E5%AF%BA">Seiryu-ji</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUqKWcdzj-si8ACBrOfDPxMalXG4zHjWRyEKpFipURb1lMxSHnCnm69MgCCLMw3HZkBeeC63ldOPe0fSl0DBDLaAZEb7O2G0smmrN-9XODnwYTYJo9wW_kZaUqt-UPaBNnrxZiQ/s1600/DSC_0529.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUqKWcdzj-si8ACBrOfDPxMalXG4zHjWRyEKpFipURb1lMxSHnCnm69MgCCLMw3HZkBeeC63ldOPe0fSl0DBDLaAZEb7O2G0smmrN-9XODnwYTYJo9wW_kZaUqt-UPaBNnrxZiQ/s320/DSC_0529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545499059944939426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(Anto playing inside <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E5%87%89%E5%AF%BA">Seiryu-ji</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: pre; "> </span>Every time I visit Arashiyama, I come across a post that says, “<a href="http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/doroke/bic-kidu.html">Kyoto-Yawata-Kizu bicycle road</a>, starts here, 45KM). After doing some research I found out that the road along Katsura is actually a bicycle trail that goes southwards till Kizugawa city, a place near the border Kyoto prefecture, close to Nara and Mie. I wanted to try this route. But then, I had a feeling that 90 KM ride was a bit too much. I decided to give it a shot last Tuesday, it was a National holiday here. I started off from my home at around 0830AM, went to a coffee shop nearby and got involved in a petty chat till 1000AM, and started off towards Kizu at around 1030AM.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Weather was fine, 15C, clear sky, wind was on my side. Except for getting lost from time to time I had fun. By the time I reached Nagarebashi, which is probably the longest wooden bridge of its kind in Japan, I was a bit tired. I had covered around 20 Kilometers from my home. Contrary to many people's guess was built after WWII</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2oYB-cbPd2iHinqe25vtuEcdr7IAn9GHqcU3NUSbWqIIo2uFY6kJOvR58Jqp3mHfP7-5rVMDdMYBKYzZd2WuBnElc6fzWSapTlcqElFe6hRbm74Hfvj2IurluzlBsbMGnOPJFA/s1600/DSC_0533.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2oYB-cbPd2iHinqe25vtuEcdr7IAn9GHqcU3NUSbWqIIo2uFY6kJOvR58Jqp3mHfP7-5rVMDdMYBKYzZd2WuBnElc6fzWSapTlcqElFe6hRbm74Hfvj2IurluzlBsbMGnOPJFA/s320/DSC_0533.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545507599313958626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(<a href="http://www.kiis.or.jp/kansaida/yawata/yawata03-e.html">Nagarebashi</a> in the background)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; white-space: pre; "> </span>Despite the dead flat track, riding was getting tougher and tougher, the wind started blowing randomly, and the my average speed was down. After leaving <a href="http://www.kiis.or.jp/kansaida/yawata/yawata03-e.html">Nagarebashi</a> and riding for some 10KM I was tired. And in the whole Kyoto-Yawata-Kizu route, except for Nagarebashi, there is nothing interesting ... Along the cycling road I saw some Huge trees, and nothing else. And when I reached the end of the cycling road, I had much difficulty in finding the following post. Except for the partly-refreshing-mostly-tiring ride, it was an anti-climax.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtOgpa8OfpiZjH-xruqEg5KWTc7dSnRrLk0X_zCGpbRdSHym89LJcPcnVYkMgsSvlM1JGSF9RCIFU6T0do2Xx0wXpSiyOA3ggZmPWylM4XzkIIO9JtiRNSPMGuptjV0TUXWd5WQ/s1600/DSC_0535.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtOgpa8OfpiZjH-xruqEg5KWTc7dSnRrLk0X_zCGpbRdSHym89LJcPcnVYkMgsSvlM1JGSF9RCIFU6T0do2Xx0wXpSiyOA3ggZmPWylM4XzkIIO9JtiRNSPMGuptjV0TUXWd5WQ/s320/DSC_0535.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545507364949895714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>At this point I was dead-tired and terribly-hungry, I wanted to eat something, sitting relaxed in some restaurant. I wished I had the bike-carry-bag so that I can take it back to Kyoto by train. I started looking for a eating spot and went on for a few Kilometers, I knew that I will be reaching Nara, and yes, that was it. I just wanted to go sight seeing in Nara, except for my brain all other parts of my body objected to the idea. I grabbed a bite, of 2 rice balls, 1 financier, 1 hot dog, 1 lemon drink, and 1 Vitamin drink. I was full. I can say overloaded. Now the entire 45 odd Kilometer stretch was in front of me. Wind was clearly in the opposite direction. Precisely 180 degrees, and it would be 180 degree even when I made a 30 degree turn, it was crazy.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I started off, feeling sorry for not going around Nara, and wondering why I had to ride my bike for more than 40 Kilometers and not visit anything. Why would I do this, I really did not know, I just wanted to get back. Back home, in my comfortable little home. Wind was making the ride a lot tougher, I wished I had something to cover my ears. I could not hear anything, the ear phones from my iPod set to full volume could not beat the noise from the wind. It was very hard that made me wonder, "if this is not a typhoon, what would a typhoon be like ...". I was riding at almost walking pace, sometimes at jogging pace, and sometimes I just stopped, taking a sip and feeling my breath. And when I reached Nagarebashi, I called Shanthi to tell her that I will be late, very late, than what I had planned.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I found out that the same wind that helped me during the onward journey turned into an enemy when I was returning. I was wishing, "cant they be friendly through-out". Anyway I came back home with this nice shot.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fMJzRXnZOXNT-ZllKB63dbz5_gLYSl8nVeSLxqFFsFX32C1NsRMk3OoOGMeagcrXAERyBgyo-GtrkSVIbSEdmkEzPbBBgyBPg4zUPP976Z4x0avxPB0F0HcYne682Hfzov9gpg/s1600/DSC_0538.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fMJzRXnZOXNT-ZllKB63dbz5_gLYSl8nVeSLxqFFsFX32C1NsRMk3OoOGMeagcrXAERyBgyo-GtrkSVIbSEdmkEzPbBBgyBPg4zUPP976Z4x0avxPB0F0HcYne682Hfzov9gpg/s320/DSC_0538.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545522627372534994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(Somewhere near Kizu ...)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>After my (Mis)adventure on Tuesday, I decided to try some less crowded Autumn spots in Kyoto, that I had heard from a friend, and I took route 31 that is in the North of Kyoto and went to Iwato-Rakuyo Jinja. It was probably the best place I have visited, partly because I had the entire temple for me. At ~30 Kilometers from my home, It was not far compared to Nara, but tougher ...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLZZyVurdy-mwdXsg3qREuUaXcA_-eZ923sDtj4w_Y4Ib2tJGZyh_GfqSmfI_pE6UBf9HDhDURJvM4FhuM0e4LUaYr3vlZnuNAIV-TRFnNNGx2LilZ7-DiEJr8DOQ0SlQ0haxnQ/s1600/DSC_0552.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLZZyVurdy-mwdXsg3qREuUaXcA_-eZ923sDtj4w_Y4Ib2tJGZyh_GfqSmfI_pE6UBf9HDhDURJvM4FhuM0e4LUaYr3vlZnuNAIV-TRFnNNGx2LilZ7-DiEJr8DOQ0SlQ0haxnQ/s320/DSC_0552.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545523775732695442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(In front of Kyoto Iwato Rakuyo Jinja)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLfYb55QY3cvrU4qVawcBA8fVEXpTt3zkt4s7u22VLWXIAjHdNmPJidf3xHwC_1_tKtvAgymzP6klXwTMYV1gZ4TJmvFVy5MiQJ39b0OcdCXf0j8BcbXxu0DqDznFDk_cOuRaZg/s1600/DSC_0558.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLfYb55QY3cvrU4qVawcBA8fVEXpTt3zkt4s7u22VLWXIAjHdNmPJidf3xHwC_1_tKtvAgymzP6klXwTMYV1gZ4TJmvFVy5MiQJ39b0OcdCXf0j8BcbXxu0DqDznFDk_cOuRaZg/s320/DSC_0558.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545525360896860162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(Fallen leaves everywhere ...)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Rakuyo means, fallen leaves, and they never clear-up the leaves that fall and it remains like a bed. It was just wonderful to see a place like this. I met a Swiss guy who shot this snap, who told me, that he has visited this temple during Autumn every year for 20 years. It was not crowded at all, partly because, reaching here was a humongous task. On my way back I had food in a restaurant called, "<a href="http://www.geocities.jp/yamanoie_hasegawa/">Yama-no-Ie Hasegawa</a>", which literally means, a house in the mountain. We can stay here for JPY 5K per person per night. I wish I can drink and stay back someday ... when Shanthi is not around ;-)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3Tqv4JbBfPg2D_SjsqdKEgoNNhXYuiR1rRxkBrc_5EdfvXOSPwPVtEInJjosspaaq6IBOvBHG9_2ybnyRlE2kUHQOYhmljKSL9sA0Dpr873MKhy1AP-96x1FErmtaiZyc7g1ig/s1600/DSC_0550.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3Tqv4JbBfPg2D_SjsqdKEgoNNhXYuiR1rRxkBrc_5EdfvXOSPwPVtEInJjosspaaq6IBOvBHG9_2ybnyRlE2kUHQOYhmljKSL9sA0Dpr873MKhy1AP-96x1FErmtaiZyc7g1ig/s320/DSC_0550.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545526093387460514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> </span>(In the midst of No-where ... Yama-no-Ie-Hasegawa)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">After having a soup + cheese-hamburger + hot cocoa + some chatting with an old couple, I headed back home. Physically tired and mentally refreshed.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "> </span></div>Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-60510050049894664662010-09-20T21:12:00.005+09:002010-09-20T21:45:03.626+09:00Giant FCR 2 andI lost my bicycle a few months ago. I was over-confident that no-body in Japan would steal, especially a not so good looking normal bicycle. I never locked it, and I felt confident that no-body would steal it, till such time I lost it, ... OK, till such time somebody stole it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFwoUheE9GlYQr4bHEYHenbRQI_kSv5dZ4gfailVYPBbygZ3pL6DDFOyfOfiw_bLPTCdwoRoY_d1oA17p1W4HVeHbkm9_WSUir-f6t-0ij5Ran0lVJzpv0p6s0WCJ7mYngWAGBQ/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFwoUheE9GlYQr4bHEYHenbRQI_kSv5dZ4gfailVYPBbygZ3pL6DDFOyfOfiw_bLPTCdwoRoY_d1oA17p1W4HVeHbkm9_WSUir-f6t-0ij5Ran0lVJzpv0p6s0WCJ7mYngWAGBQ/s320/DSC_0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518972229548126098" border="0" /></a>I bought a new cycle for Shanthi a couple of weeks back. The <a href="http://www.bscycle.co.jp/root/catalog/beaute10/index.html">Beaute</a> from bridgestone. It's a nice bike with a low center of gravity, obviously it's heavy, which directly equates to its stability. So, I did not have much trouble choosing it. I did put the extra seat for Solomon ;-)<br /><br />The cycle is an actual beauty, the stand, is made for extra stability to bear the kid's weight, and the rear seat (carrier) is made to withstand the weight of a kid + it's seat... Besides the hand-bar has a lock which you can use for 100% stability when you park with heavy load in the front basket. Though it cost's around JPY 50K, including the child seat, it's worth every penny.<br /><br />After buying it, we found out that Shanthi had lost touch riding a bicycle. So, I had to (re-)teach her to ride it, in doing so, I had to run behind her, while she was re-learning to ride. It was not fun. After about a week of practicing, she was riding well, if not perfectly well. So, there was no point in me running behind her.<br /><br />So, after some thought, and hard look at our finances, we decided to buy a new bicycle for me, so that we can all go out together in eco-friendly bicycles. So, I looked up the internet for a right bicycle. I wanted a nice one, nothing less than 50K ;-) ... I was just kidding.<br /><br />I just wanted a nice bicycle to go round, and after some research I bought the<a href="http://www.giant.co.jp/giant10/bike_datail.php?p_id=P0000028&action=outline"> Giant FCR2</a>, a 8.5Kg carbon beauty. I am yet to use it fully to write a review, but the first 2 days had been a pain in the ass, yes, the seat is very small, but it's a damn good bike when it comes to speed. I love it, except for the seat ~~<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOdpqkm4f1hkwxYS53qp2cwzMThd2RnsfpFf_FZlqrOSUICR7-DEJArpNbPQ-h1mGPZKyFBppTNDfutNzgt9_IdkmQXX3tMm6HRNnuwrErvro253XDmaVPcFiLq9R-lzFJJowfA/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOdpqkm4f1hkwxYS53qp2cwzMThd2RnsfpFf_FZlqrOSUICR7-DEJArpNbPQ-h1mGPZKyFBppTNDfutNzgt9_IdkmQXX3tMm6HRNnuwrErvro253XDmaVPcFiLq9R-lzFJJowfA/s400/DSC_0222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518975223353921522" border="0" /></a>Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-758946850317560802010-05-24T18:17:00.001+09:002010-05-24T18:17:23.862+09:00May, 24th, 2035 AD, Kyoto, Japan<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Alighting from the train, he felt, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kyoto</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> was hot, but soon consoled himself as it was cooler than his “hot-and-humid” home town. He thought that the Japanese would recognize him as a South Asian; thanks to the programs of Indian in NHK most of the Japanese recognized him as an “Indojin”, meaning “Indian”. And when they did, the pride for his mother-land just showed up.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Carefully following his colleagues advice, he handed over his hotel’s address that he had printed as part of his travel-preparations, to the taxi driver. The Taxi driver took only a couple of seconds to read-understand-acknowledge back to his customer. This guy murmured, “Japanese! Aren’t they fast ~”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>He loaded his 3 hand-carry luggage, in the back-seat, suit-case in the trunk, and made himself comfortable in the front seat. Inside the solar-electric-taxi, everything looked cool. The seats were more comfortable than the best he had seen back home. He thought, unlike the taxi drivers back home, this Taxi driver was wearing a suit that would match his marriage suit, never mind, the politeness … He could hear some pre-recorded lady’s voice from a speaker near the driver seat, that stopped once he put on the seat belt and the veered into the busy lane. The driver was courteous enough to tell him, “30 meenits” with a smile. He smiled back and thanked the driver with his mind trying to figure out the fare for a 30 minutes ride in a solar-electric-super-comfortable car.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>He was fascinated at most of the things he saw, working traffic lights that were mostly LED, people respecting traffic lights and traffic rules, cars without side-dents, clean roads, pavements with no homeless, and much more… It was his first trip abroad, and his mind was fascinated with everything foreign. The taxi was now in a broad road, where the inter-car distance was so large, that he thought that he had seen such a formation, only during a Presidents visit to his home town.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Having lost in the thick of things that was happening around him, he started focusing on a car that his taxi was following. It was a red colored </span><st1:city><st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Toyota</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">, he could read “Noribito” inscribed at its trunk, he chucked, “Noribito, … a nick name is it!”. His boy-scout eyes would swear that the red-Toyota maintained a perfect inter-car distance. And it was exactly in the center of the road. He thought he wished that he could stop the red-Toyota, and measure the distance, and confirm it. He was awe-struck and murmured to himself, “Japanese perfection” … He tried to spot the driver through the transparent rear-glass of the red-Toyota and could see few heads in the back-set, but not the driver, and to this he murmured, “Short Japanese” … <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The red-Toyota would respect yellow-signals to perfection, and was into ideal-driving. The taxi driver was getting irritated, and signed, “Noribitto”, the Indian asked, “Whaaat?!*” for which the driver replied, a “Tis-a drovibingu robotto, no doraiba-” …<o:p></o:p></span></p>Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-42423594388917292452010-03-24T15:54:00.001+09:002010-03-24T16:04:06.170+09:00Inspirations ~~~First it was Fr. Cyril, then <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff</a>, and then Miyuki-san, and recently I befriended another person who is planning to write a book.<br /><br />These days, for work, I read <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff’s</a> *great* book, “Mastering Regular Expressions”. I ordered a copy from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4873113598/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=AN1VRQENFRJN5&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=16J3E6ABE2W7G5M7WCYN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463376736&pf_rd_i=489986">Amazon</a>. Reading it, feels like, <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff’s</a> talking to me.<br /><br />Of course, I have had the opportunity to chat with <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff</a> a few times, and reading this book was no different from those petty chats. I often read books in solitude, and it was like <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff</a> standing in front of me and teaching me, like a friendly professor.<br /><br />I figured out that it’s probably because I know him, or something with his writing style, which is more like a story, or a friendly little gossip, a conversation.<br /><br />I had always wanted to write my own book, I once started writing one, before putting it to an ever-lasting-hibernation. But, after reading <a href="http://regex.info/blog">Jeff</a>’s book, I only think, at my current ability and “frame of mind”, it might be next to impossible.<br /><br />Man, page-after-page, the well-written-contents, the simple-language … everything, is so great, that, I realized the 30 months or so, that he toiled, was worth all of it.<br /><br />I guess, his name would last, as an icon, in the “regular expression world”, long enough, till another big-bang.<br /><br />Fr <a href="http://pweb.sophia.ac.jp/jesuit45/Cyril_Veliath_SJ.html">Cyril</a>, a professor at the <a href="http://www.sophia.ac.jp/">Sophia University</a>, Tokyo, is another great guy that I had met. I and Shanthi attended his mass in the <a href="http://www.ignatius.gr.jp/eng/index.html">St. Ignatius</a> church in Yotsuya. It was a Japanese mass, and even without any judging-ability, I rightly presumed his Japanese to be fluent. So, being proud of this fluently-Japanese-speaking Indian priest, I and Shanthi went to wish him after the mass.<br /><br />On meeting him, I was immediately impressed with his profound simplicity, humility … It’s not flattery, just the truth. We were newly married, and very religious, and getting to know a priest who can talk English, in this foreign land was a pleasure.<br /><br />Later, after coming back home, the inquisitive me, searched the internet, and found that he had written a couple of books. I was awe struck. I guess any normal human being might not figure out his intellect, just by his looks, phoo~~ commons like me just could not, cannot.<br /><br />And later, we would often go to St. Ignatius just to meet him and say, “hello” … I used to feel proud meeting him. He was an inspiration, with his intellect, humility, and everything …<br /><br />Last year, I got to meet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%81%93%E3%82%93%E3%81%AB%E3%82%83%E3%81%8F%E3%83%80%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A8%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E2%80%95%E3%83%98%E3%83%AB%E3%82%B7%E3%83%BC-%E3%83%87%E3%83%88%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-%E7%9F%B3%E7%94%B0-%E7%BE%8E%E7%94%B1%E7%B4%80/dp/428601553X">Ishida Miyuki</a>-san, who teaches me Japanese. Going by her simple, Japanese house-wife looks, it’s probably difficult to figure out that she hold a few patents, copyrights and has written a book. And another one might follow …the most active person I have ever met ~<br /><br />After getting to know these simple people in Fashion conscious Japan, I guess, even here, intellects may not look great with their attires ;-) For example, Jeff has not changed his <a href="http://regex.info/blog/2010-03-05/1468">Yellow Jacket</a>, since the time I met him ;-).<br /><br />Everyday, after work, I get tired, sometimes very tired and go to sleep. But every morning, I get refreshed thinking of these *great* people. I look forward to the day. They are my energy source, my inspiration.<br /><br />Thank you guys ~~~Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-76129949968344288312010-03-18T17:38:00.001+09:002010-03-18T17:38:43.896+09:00strokes ...I watch Japanese version of NHK news, in the mornings and sometimes during the evenings, mornings, just to know the day’s weather, and select the day’s clothes, and in the evenings for some actual news. I watch Japanese news, partly to improve my language ability and also for the news that I can understand ;-). I have cleared quite a few Japanese language exams; but still my level is, how can I say …bad.<br /><br />Japan is a relatively crime free country, and even a petty robbery at a remote convenience store will feature in the national news for a couple of days. Sometimes I feel; NHK, the national broadcaster that extols money, if you happen to own a TV set, comes out with some absolutely fantastic programs, but for its lackluster news contents. The news content is dumb, and if you know the previous day’s news, you can predict 80% of the day’s news. I don’t know if NHK is to be blamed.<br /><br />NHK’s stupid news was not worth blogging about, until recently when I got furious with the news that made headlines for more than a week now. 9 birds, strokes to be precise, that were protected in a sanctuary got killed by some animal, and this news made it to the head lines. Back in India, tigers make it to the news when they are hunted down illegally in sanctuaries, but not in the headlines though. Anyway, when I saw the news for the first time, I sympathized for the strokes, though I was more worried for Chile and Haiti, that do not make news anymore. But, the next day, to my surprise, I watched with disgust, an analysis report on the killing, OF STROKES MAN! And the next day, I got used to those 9 strokes, the cage, the 256 holes that were found in it, the many IR camera that works in the night, and the markings of predator’s entry found in some of the holes, and that the predator had been making regular visits, etc. etc. <br /> <br />Overwhelmed with disbelief and helplessness, though I didn’t give a damn for the strokes, when there were many more bloody things that happen around the world, I started making best use of the news contents; noting down each new Japanese word. <br /><br />Strokes can makes it to headlines in Japan for more than a week. Vow …Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-67991540068378980092010-03-08T11:04:00.002+09:002010-03-09T13:12:41.966+09:00MasterThough I used to boast a lot when I was a kid, recently I guess I don’t, and even when I was a kid, I was not a big fan of listening to someone boast … <br /><br /> So, when Master told me that he would reach the finals of the table tennis tournament with ease, I summarily brushed it aside, with sarcasm. Master, as I call him, writes to me every single day, OK, every single week-day, a mail from his mobile phone, teaching me not-so-easy-to-read Japanese words. He would carefully select an article from the day’s evening edition of Asahi and write down the Japanese-reading for difficult words. I am not a big fan of writing long emails, especially from my difficult-to-type mobile phone, though I really appreciate his long-and-useful mail-lessons. Reading his email along with the “article of the day” has become a habit. So is the habit of visiting his coffee shop with Shanthi and Solomon on Saturday’s, named “Charmonee” which I guess is French, is on the ever busy “route-1”. <br /><br /> When I met him for the first time in a friend’s marriage, I was impressed at the first sight. Looking at his suit, and demeanor, I presumed him to be a "big shot", a great man. He gave the speech for the newly-wed. A year has passed since, and getting to know him better, he did not disappoint me, he is indeed a great man, but he was just happy (without being a big shot). He was clear in his thoughts … simple in his approach, yet from time-to-time, he utters things-that-summarily seems stupid, yet worth pondering. He was born in the same year as my dad, never married, runs not less than a 100 Kilometers a week, competes in every single marathon in the Kansai region, and plays table tennis 3 times a week, in his 60’s now. Before meeting him, I had plans to retire early.<br /><br /> As usual I met him this Saturday, and invited him for a film party in my home-theater on Sunday; he told me that he would take part in the local table tennis tournament. With an 80% chance of rain, and bunking church when Shanthi’s not around, and nothing else to do on a rainy Sunday, I thought I better go to support him. I wanted to see him live up to his own boasting and hence expressed my desire to go and support him, he was happy, and told me to come early. I asked him, “How about, 12 Noon?”, for I considered, 12 noon to be early for lonely-Sunday’s. He replied, without hesitation that he would be "playing in the finals" by the time. I could not hide the sarcastic flash from my face, though I tried hard not to show it. For a moment I thought that he was also sarcastic. <br /><br /> Master, as I have learnt over the period of time, never cares about sarcasm, and never gets angry. He is a character, the character. Last year, he was eliminated in the earlier rounds by a man, whom I knew. In fact, I considered his table tennis as "beatable". Anyway, with nothing to do on Sunday, I decided to go and support him. I thought, that it’s a tribute to a person who writes to me every single (week) day.<br /><br /> Having said all this, I myself, like table tennis, hmmnnn…I play table tennis, better than my tennis, in my own amateurish style, with my JPY 800 racket, whose rubber Solomon likes to stand on. It’s lost its shine and gleams with Solomon’s shoe marks, does not have any grip what-so-ever, yet I stood second in the Kishoin table tennis tournament. I was mostly lucky as my opponents simply lost, and eventually made me win. And in the final’s, I was pitted against an old guy, far older than my dad, and lost my mood for any competitive table tennis against the elderly opponent, and simple gave way for his victory, and after he had won, I figured out, that I would have lost even if I would have fought, for his game was (far) better than mine.<br /><br /> I had noted down the name of the venue and told him that I would put the GPS enabled iPhone to test. iPhone GPS is not bad, after-all, it is the first ever GPS that I am using, and I never knew anything better or worse for any sort of comparison. During the rainy Sunday, in which you hate riding your bicycle, it took me for a real-good-ride. The iPhone GPS predicted that I would reach the destination in about 45 minutes by walk, and I took 55 minutes riding my bicycle. I was definitely not riding at walking speed. I will analyze what went wrong later. But, Master and I took only 25 minutes on our way back. Master is definitely smarter than the iPhone GPS, inside Kyoto. Or I went 30 degree uphill and came sliding down ;-)<br /><br /> 7th, March, 2010, Sunday, woke up for the 1st time at 7AM, thought it was early, and wished to sleep for an hour more, woke up again at half-past-9, and stayed in bed till 10. When I finally managed to get up, a mountain of “to-be-washed” begged me for attention. I quickly transferred the mountain into the washing machine. Thanks to the drier function, I don’t have to bother drying the clothes. Made some garlic toast, and ate it with milk, took a hot shower, for some strange reason shaved my face (though I don’t do this (even) on weekdays) … and then left home at around 11:15AM, and hoped to reach the venue before 12. After getting to know some new places around my neighborhood as I was just going in circles, (thanks to iPhone GPS), I reached the Venue, 15 minutes past 12. <br /><br /> Inside the big gymnasium, there was Master, standing with a grey Jacket, white gloves, and a dry unfathomable smile in his face. He was standing as if he wanted to leave. Looking at all this and adding my own creativity, I for a moment, thought, that he had lost and was just waiting for me, and would probably leave with me. He was standing with some kind of urgency in his face. He did not bother much even when I went near him, and with the same dry smile in his face, he told me that in the first round, his opponent got defeated 3-0, and quickly ran to the toilet. Urgency ... ah, my creativity.<br /><br /> I saw a big contingent from Kishoin (the place where I live), and the place where I play table tennis. The group from Kishoin was happy to see me, and even gave me some sweets, for they thought I had come to cheer them. But when they learnt that I had come to just support my friend, they gave a, give-our-sweet-back “you moron” look. Despite their staring at me, I ate it.<br /><br /> Master was running here and there, till his 2nd round match. He predicted that he would beat his next opponent, 3-0, and he did. For the first time, I saw master, playing table tennis. His table tennis, like his whole life, was smooth, ordinary, simple, neat, and gentle; it was an ideal show like the great Roger Federrer of tennis. Master never tried to win, but his opponent simply lost trying to win. Master for his part, made sure he kept the ball at play. His face did not look rash, confident, or dejected, it was just flat. During the match, he was just gently smiling at his opponent. And while I was clapping intently to support him, I felt, it did not matter much. <br /><br /> After the match, master came to me, and while I congratulated him, he told me that it would be difficult to beat the next opponent. He was not worried, but he just thought that it would be difficult. And difficult it was, master lost the 1st set, without any fight. The opponent was way too good. After the 1st set, for a moment, I thought, everything was over. Into the second set, master lost the 1st 5 points in a row, the opponent was 180-degree opposite to master, he would cheer himself, with “ehhhh” and then look at Master and say things like, “now-you--serve” and things like that. I thought, master is losing the mental game. But master was just trying to keep the ball in play. And into the later part of the second set, his opponent started making errors, unforced errors, and got into a shell … really … no-body could believe it. He lost the 2nd set 12-10. And went on to win the 3rd, but he lost the 4th and the 5th, 11-2 or something like that. After the game Master told me that he was lucky. I thought the guy perished in his own mind-games. <br /><br /> As promised earlier Master was in the finals. Having seen his game, I was no more surprised that he was in the finals. I am sure that, if I was ever pitted against him, he would defeat me, while he is just sleeping. <br /><br /> Master and I had earlier planned to leave the venue at around half past 2. But since the final’s was yet to take place, Master was worried about his promise. He went into the match with a lot of confidence, and won the 1st 5 points in the 1st set, and suddenly I saw some anxiety in him, and he started playing for the winners and eventually lost the game-set-match 0-3. He was different in the final game, it seemed like he wanted to win. I should never take the credit away from his opponent, who was very brilliant. <br /><br /> After the game, I promised myself that I would indulge myself with a better table tennis racket that Solomon wouldn’t stamp, and put in some more practice and beat the guy who defeated Master. Vengeance is it? I am sure I can defeat him if I practise 24-hours a day, for 1 whole year ;-) <br /><br /> We reached home at around 3PM. Master was more interested in coming back with me just to keep his promise, rather than receiving his runner’s up trophy. He is a "real Japanese" man, a nice human being, an innocent child in his sixties, who teaches me a lot more than Japanese. I used to like him, and now it’s a mixture of respect and liking. <br /><br /> In 2007, when I stepped into Kyoto, I would have never dreamt that I would meet so many humble, yet great people. Now I know that, there is something special in Kyoto that I would never get anywhere else in Japan …Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-76603767954634932802010-03-04T14:13:00.000+09:002010-03-04T14:14:12.500+09:00MortalsIf we shall say that, it’s hard for someone to find the way into the heart. It’s doubly hard to let them leave. In planet earth, most of the human lives are attached, with emotional attachments. Like it or not, we will have to live with it. Trying to be conservative and closing the way to you, might make things worse, loneliness. And allowing many would makes things equally difficult as allowing none.<br /><br /> My wife and kid are spending their vacation back home and I am living alone bombarded with emotions. Man it’s hard for me to stand, sometimes often.<br /><br /> There are some people who have got their PR in your heart. It may be your family, friends or your co-worker. Sometimes they are in your heart, since you respect them, or sometimes you like them, friends for example, or you love them, as your kid, Mom, Dad, Wife, Siblings, … You never miss those people you respect, for example, your manager in your first job, or a brainy co-worker that you admired. But you miss friends, and family. Sometimes it’s hazy when we try to differentiate the feelings towards a friend and a family member.<br /><br /> Recently, I started liking weekdays, as I am busy with work, and the room for emotions squeezes out into vanity. But once you return home, its cold, heater doesn’t help, yes, you seek warmth, and man-made heaters are useless. You miss the warmth of your family, friends, and the need to socialize. You live to perform the ever mundane tasks of making things that are faster, cheaper, lighter, etc. and all things that we think can make your company’s stakeholders rich. Mundane task, oh these mundane tasks. Sometimes there is a feeling that everything is Mundane, tennis, photography, eating, drinking, everything. Why!<br /><br /> Initially, I judged it as depression, till I started listening to Anto over the telephone, saying “arigato”, “potato”, and a host of non-decipherable words. They echo in my ears, long after he speaks to me. He’s a kid, and never talks for more than a minute, and his creative words, which only god and angels can understand. Sometimes, I listen intently to what he speaks, the more I concentrate, the less I make out. So these days, I just listen to the tone, which he changes with finesse. Probably, like his father, he may talk people into anything or is he an orator of some sort. Well, frankly, I have no idea. I miss him, that’s it, and sometimes terribly. <br /><br /> Sometimes you might assume that some of your friends might compensate these loneliness with their friendship. But, probably, you, and your heart, don’t want any compensation. They just want what they want. They never seek compensations. They don’t use their head, they are heart, the emotional part …<br /><br /> From time to time, I clean my home to find his table spoon, well below the TV stand, or the refrigerator, just to smile at it. I would have yelled at him, when I see him doing that, but now I simply miss those things. <br /><br /> These emotions, are without doubt, hard, but are wonderful. I want to cherish them with joy. But it beats me, more than often …Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-65872278855604008762010-01-18T13:52:00.001+09:002010-01-18T13:53:54.166+09:00iPhone 3G-S (Beware)Slowly and steadily I am getting used to the iPhone which replaced my (much loved) normal phone. Though everything’s new, one thing is for sure, I will have to get used to this, paradigm shift in user interface, or should I say, mobile telephones. But, being an avid user of a (normal) mobile phone, I expect some of the (useful) features that were available in my normal phone in this apple’s version. Trivial things that made me comfortable with my old phone are no more available in iPhone, I will be listing them after some (brief) complaints on the contract related stuff …<br /><br />The iPhone contract (in Japan, Softbank) in itself is a bit less user-friendly,<br /> The Japanese carrier Softbank sells the iPhone at a price much (much) higher than the US. Never know why? Its really ridiculous ~~~<br /> Previously, I used to pay a small insurance on my telephone that covered my phone against repairs, or accidental break-downs, like falling into water, etc. And, iPhone too comes with an expensive Apple care, which does not cover accidental break-downs etc. (The safety pack (Anshin pack) is no more available). So if you accidentally drop your phone, you will end up paying JPY ~20K, or JPY ~60K depending on the damages (your luck). And when I think about this (accidental fall), and the 20-60K thing, somehow I am uncomfortable handling the phone. Phooo …. iPhono-dropo-phobia is it?<br /> If you wish to re-pay for the iPhone in installments, then you will have to repay in exactly 24 months, and you enter into a contract for 24 months, and you need to cancel “some the contract” exactly after 24 months, not the 25th or 23rd, barring which, Softbank will extend your contract for another 24 months. And, you need to pay another JPY 9800 to break the contract. And … the beautiful (hmmm … the bad) thing is, as of now, Softbank would never know (say), when your 24 months will expire. Is it a trick Softbank?<br /> Once you sign your contract, there is no way out. Absolutely, no way. Funny thing is, when you sign up with them, they get your signatures in at-least 5 different places. So, you will be signing more times than, when you are buying a brand new car. Somehow this made me uncomfortable.<br /> One important thing, I still use Softbank, NOT because I like them, but just because many of my Indian friends (still) use Softbank, and they would kick me, if I changed my carrier. Sigh. I hate the signal quality. Once I happened to visit someone near Himeji, and there was absolutely no tower for a long-long distance in and around the area. In fact, I HATE Softbank’s signal quality. iPhone 3G only adds to the woes.<br /><br />Enough of the contract, the following features that are normally available in your standard mobile phone are not available in your phone,<br /><br /> Disaster warning, like earthquake warning, which was part of my earlier mobile phones, is not available in the iPhone. So users of iPhone cannot be informed of disasters.<br /> In my earlier phones, there used to be small (multi-colored LED), that would flash, when there is a missed call, or an un-read email message. This really helped me know about the missed call without un-locking the mobile phone’s screen. In the iPhone, there is no such LED, or any Indication, you need to check your home screen to find out.<br /> I like clean desktops, and in my earlier phones, I go to the Menu-bar to see the applications and perform other operations. So, when there is a missed call or something, the notification was very clear. But in the iPhone, it seems to be lost in the crowd of icons in the home screen. I think, the home screen is (very) crowded.<br /> Getting a App store account, without a credit card, was a night-mare. And it is mandatory for downloading applications (which you will need for transferring your phone book from your previous telephone).<br /> Transferring “my phone book” from the previous mobile phone to the iPhone was a pain in the Ass, really. (Especially with the procedures that I had to go through)… <br /><br /> Though I would never come to terms with the contract related issues, even after I signed one, I think the functional issues in iPhone are due to the paradigm shift, which apple experienced. <br /><br /> The standard mobile phone started as an extension to the basic cordless telephone. Features that were needed while we are on the move were then added to it, bit by bit, like, a pager, the music player, an email client, a mini web browser, the document viewer, a movie player, television, … and a host of applications. <br /><br /> Now, iPhone started as a (simple) Music player, in iPod touch and grew into a mobile phone. The only new thing they have given us is the touch panel. Now, if that is the only thing that made it unique, there are a host of other telephones like the Nokia N95, Sharp 941, …. Which are far better than the iPhone, in every single aspect.<br /><br /> But then, why did I buy an iPhone. Do you want to hear why? Frankly … I wanted the Nokia N95, I searched, researched, and found out that no-carrier in Japan has one. And … then I though, I would settle for the Sharp 941, the worst part is 941 is almost 2 times expensive than an iPhone. <br /><br /> Recession lurking around, I became a proud owner of the (all new) iPhone 3G-S …And started counting to 24 ;-)Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-80889867182788160422010-01-15T13:25:00.002+09:002010-01-15T13:30:33.466+09:00Sayonara ...You made me hear the world, when I was away from home, and at home. The gray shade in you had been turning white, age shows. You brought me messages and pictures from friends. I always walked with you. Even Shanthi used to be annoyed if you don’t accompany me. Living in Japan, I made you silent for most of your life, but you had to listen to my conversations, and occasional blushing and blabbering. If only you knew Japanese, you would have been laughing everyday, at me, when I talk. You were not one of the best of my friend, but helped me make best friends, a lot of them, thank you. You woke me up. Sometimes I have played with you, but I should be honest, I didn’t enjoy it. <br /><br /> Antony liked you too. You would make him smile when he cried. You lit up even after he threw you to the wall, the floor, and every-place he can throw you to. You started again and when he walked over you, a few times. Probably, he believed that you can talk. Sometimes he saw himself in you.<br /><br /> I had to part with you. Mortality had got you too, or was it my greed, selfishness, ego, or what-ever. Of late, I had been thinking of abandoning you, and yesterday decided on it, and got the all new, iPhone 3G-S.Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-84417079486439740592010-01-11T00:17:00.001+09:002010-01-11T00:17:37.986+09:00Missing Anto …<p>Discounting anger, it’s long since I was emotional to this extent… Least did I expect this to happen. After 3 weeks of vacationing with our parents, I had to leave, my family, for work, back to Japan. After a long … long time, my eyes welled up, I was reluctant to leave. </p> <p>Things only got bad when we reached the Madurai airport, being a domestic one, security used to be a bit relaxed, not anymore. Normally the procedure to board a flight in Madurai is</p> <p>“ You Check-in→ Clear the Security screening → boarding”</p> <p>You enter the airport to Check-in, after which you would be allowed to come out of the airport to talk to your folks who usually wait outside till such time your flight takes off. So, usually I come out after checking-in, talk to them, and bid good-bye before proceeding with the security. So, this time, I left some hand-baggage with them, hoping to collect them after my check-in. </p> <p>But, after check-in, this (merciless) military policeman, guarding the airport entry, for in-explicable reasons, did not allow me to go out of the airport, to meet my parents. I was upset, as I could not bid good-bye to my family members. Shanthi’s parents had come down from Trichy just to see me off. Some how, while all these things were happening, for a moment, I thought that I would be missing Anto, very much. Shanthi was standing on the other side of the gate with Anto, and me inside the Airport. Cursing those terrorists who are the reason for this “high security”, I was still hoping to find my way out.</p> <p>Madurai is a small town, hmmm…, not so small though, but small. But, somehow, I knew many people who work in the Airport. Talking to a few of them, I completed some procedures to get out of the airport, talk to my family members, and bid them good-bye. </p> <p>But, after the incident with the security personnel, and the subsequent emotional flash, of missing Anto, I felt like I am going to miss, Anto very much. This thought did not strike me when we were arrived at the strategy of a month each in Madurai and Tiruchy. Shanthi and I had decided that Anto together with Shanthi will stay back for a month each with my parents and in-laws, hoping that he would get used to my parents, in-laws, traffic, noise, dust, mosquito, food, etc …</p> <p>The emotional feeling would only grow stronger and stronger when Anto was enjoying innocently, watching the cars passing by, and making inviting gestures at the other kids. For a moment, I thought, he was ignoring me. Silly me! The gravity of the situation took to me.</p> <p>Actually, many of our close family friends did warn me about this “missing phase”, which I could not visualize when Anto was always with me. A transit time of 18 hours in Kualalumpur helped me with the introspection. From the time he joined me in mid 2008, I had less time for him, as I was always busy, with my career, Japanese language, sports, photography, etc. I did not spend much time with him, to the point that, when I spent 3 hours with him in the absence of Shanthi, I wrote a blog. I loved him; somehow, I did not find time for him, with him. But, the past 3 weeks, without my own knowledge, I spent 3 weeks with him, all time, all day long. And, probably, he got closer to me than ever before. I had always loved him, so much… but never imagined that I will miss him, if he is away from me, for his much needed education. I don’t know, if he is missing me. </p> <p>During the course of writing this post, I was wondering, if I could cut short their stay in India, may be, 15 days each or something. Looking loo…ong down, one thing is for sure, I need to get used to living away from him. He may go to a college is another town, find work in a far away country, marry and go away … But …now, its … hard, for me.</p> <p>I am just wondering, how much my parents would have missed me, when I left them for work, to Chennai, to Bangalore, then to Japan, when I got married, … , I wish they did not miss me ;-) but … for now, </p> <p>I MISS YOU, MY SON ANTO</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDfdCHwAJ2HBDTfhk2kKBikhNXMRVQMvx__Jk_fXDSLKCXZCT8Cq4oopx7AoYS60iamcEWGgJ4VF44JavTzU1wCeSct_HawwOFJslUUjtMt6epo7y6-Pszdvs8eonkcAFN9nr4Q/s1600-h/DSC_0058%5B12%5D.jpg"><img title="DSC_0058" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="DSC_0058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCmLQp6gb7gsKKSALelvB2ybdrYYKxx5HRDQQS1eps5vmsEET7rTRCcT1ppECopsuzxrMVw6VpcFlR7uuoLM0-SRvANf4w-5kQF1F_hkTeEJ7wA5W3nIOWMiwZw8iHM2IJ72GLg/?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a></p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-27655582175711571132009-11-18T16:41:00.001+09:002009-11-18T16:41:46.990+09:00背伸びをするなDuring the later half of the year, I almost burnt myself down. Partly owing to my self created hyper-unrealistic schedules. After coming to Japan, especially after marriage, till the first half of this year, magically, I managed (for quite sometime) to work to those packed schedules, but slowly I started feeling like that inside my head there is no more space for my brain to maneuver. Steadily, I realized, my performance started to take a nose dive. It became notable during my Tennis sessions, I lost concentration to such a level, that, I even thought of quitting it, a month or so back.<br /><br /> But then, I sat back, and decided to look back, at what is really happening to my life. I am not a super-man, neither have I ever thought that I am one. Despite knowing this fact, I am a bit lenient when it comes to adding “bits” of something new to my schedule. Curiosity, at its peek, I wanted to try every single thing that comes my way. Few things that I have been doing or have tried in the past couple of years goes like, Photography, Japanese language studies, Tennis, Table tennis, Marathon, rock climbing, besides studying a hell a lot of new technologies.<br /><br /> I enjoyed each one of the activities, and I wanted to master them all. It seems that realization follows once something notable happens, mostly with a negative effect. For me, realization came, when I realized (after being pointed out many times), that I was not even listening to others properly. At some point, I just heard only half of what people said. For example, after returning home, my wife starts explaining the things that happened during the day, and most of the times, I would not have listened to her, even a bit. I soon realized, I was not able to listen. It was something like the hard-disk inside my head became “disk full”. Not something pleasant.<br /><br /> Not being sure about the cause of this, “listening disorder”, I just started to check, I called off some of hobbies one after the other, table tennis was the first in the list, just because I was reasonably good at it. And then slowly, reduced the number of times I ran in a week, and also reduced the number of books that I was reading. <br /><br /> Results started showing up, incredibly fast. Tennis performance improved, incredibly fast. I could listen to my wife with ease, though I acted as if I could not hear ;-) … So … 2009 taught me a good lesson ~~~~ I have to take few things at a time, and never, “Bite more than what I can chew” …Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-47127025664605941152009-11-04T20:56:00.001+09:002009-11-04T20:57:00.049+09:00Mac or Windows …<p>Back in year 2000, I got a chance to use an iMac for work. The first impression was, “looks were far better than its underlying software”. I found it extremely difficult to use, the mouse, opening and closing applications, ejecting an USB disk, opening a drive and browsing for files inside folders, …, it was tedious for a <strong>normal user</strong> like me. Our company was trying hard to write device drivers for this beautiful (yet not so useful) computers. I thought, that an iMac would (only) fit well on a front-office. May be harsh, but that was my impression. I thought, Apple made beautiful yet unusable products. I was impressed with the iBook too, an Apple product, it looked very cool, and that was all I could say about it.</p> <p>The impression has not changed, yet, probably because, I never got a chance to work with Mac again. And on top of that, I was (very) happy with windows. </p> <p>I had been a system software engineer, churning out, firmware, device drivers, and a lot of test applications, everything in or using Windows. I find it fast and easy to work in windows, even today, working with a hardware team developing almost everything in Linux, but I still use Windows ;-) …</p> <p>Long back, I had my own complaints, like “the BSOD”, that popped up more often than the dialog boxes that I had created. The kernel issues, (mostly documented, and some undocumented), caused nightmares. But, things that you coded, would mostly work, and if not, debugging support was good. It helped *normal*, *non-geeky*, software engineers write working and commercially viable applications and drivers.</p> <p>That apart, in my earlier job, Mac related developments were reserved for geeky engineers, who were, probably, above normal. I would say they were hackers, who would find undocumented stuff, prodding the web, or reading sample code, or in the worst case, reverse engineer some of the already working code. Mac had virtually no (good) debugging support, and simple issues would take developers days to fix. Not only the development in Mac, only geeks could use it.</p> <p>Mostly after the iPod’s success, Mac came into Limelight…</p> <p>Bad time for Microsoft started (continued …), with the much hyped Vista, ending up not even better than XP, Windows users were fed-up and started looking elsewhere. Jobs is very good at attracting people hating MS, because, he hates MS more than his love for Apple. And good time for Apple, Many people, were bored to see the “same old windows screen”, which changed little after ~95, thought a hell a lot changed beneath. They also loved the Mac’s looks and sometimes started living with the interior. It’s purely my guess, sometimes we just get married just for the looks, and then live with the (odd) issues. Apple, flush with the cash, from iPod sales, pushed Mac to new levels. The best move was to junk the expensive and power hungry PPC and move towards cheap and low-power Intel. Eventually, they are poised to be a serious contender for Microsoft. </p> <p>Will Microsoft bet its fortune on Windows 7 …</p> <p>One main difference which is Microsoft’s strength and Apple’s weakness, is the ease with which a PC running Windows can be configured. Addition of a hardware support is easy, a reason why, it beats Mac by 9 to 1 in sales, even today. But this weakness in Apple is slowly becoming its strength. As hardware additions becomes difficult or impossible, Mac is more stable as there are no third party drivers. Hackers spare Mac and target the PC, and this would prompt Microsoft to release patch after patch, and suddenly the system would become damn slow, just because of all those patches.</p> <p>Though I said all this, I want to try using a Mac. I would say, I really want to be a geek ;-) … For the time being, its expensive, and out of my reach. Somebody please gift me your used Mac ;-) …</p> <p><u>Note: All the impression about Mac are mine, and I guess it might be mostly outdated.</u></p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-56976352113214831822009-10-05T21:31:00.001+09:002009-10-05T21:31:51.169+09:00Hanshin Vs Yakult ~~~<p>Me, Shanthi and Anto, went to see professional baseball in <a href="http://www.hanshin.co.jp/koshien/" target="_blank">Koshien</a>, rightly so, it is called the “Hanshin” Koshien stadium. It’s home to the much hyped professional baseball team, “The Hanshin tigers”.  We knew that they were idolized in the Kansai region, but we found out that it was far more than idolization. There was a “special” non-stop express train 「臨時特急」from Umeda 「梅田」station to Koshien「甲子園」station. I would say, “hanshin” special, as it was filled with **only** hanshin fans. The “hanshin tigers” costumes predominantly came in yellow and pink. I though pink was for the female fans, but I saw some men who were wearing pink. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK7VklPNwDAm7wGp1Jw1O7tifGhWzseYBerGK_dKEvaWoQB9f8EC0mYFg1V5PXO4nXkY0P2DKGCPWV4xGFGwejTupRkh63jsuMswvmGO3rK-4pWl8zK6tZon9NBxVEg96j9jxxg/s1600-h/DSC_0369%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0369" border="0" alt="DSC_0369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk5VD-UfTBxoYgIr-LjV8UIGTWT_P0ob7AT9Hq_4thMaSKIU9hym7Y4oIBNovtI1tooesnBgdXYFpuyXBi6GmShwOUUJixege3Wicdd407GbrGXc7Ks105KfSsbypNKIOmLuBYw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a></p> <p>I heard that it was recently <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koshien_Stadium" target="_blank">renovated</a>. I though the toilets were cleaner than the one’s found in JR Kyoto station. We went on a Saturday evening, and the stadium was packed. We actually got the tickets as a gift from Hatano-san, we go to the same Catholic church. It was just near the 3rd base, called the “3rd base IVY seat” 「3塁アイベーシート」. We entered through the 11th gate. As we were just entering the gates we could get a peek of the packed crowd as seen in the following photo …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67ODUTOET5tLSsKEb2hsxXCsrP1e3SHtfjVTLuRcwS2poKaSapZk32S06l6d-tAxXpfg9GYFDFHTwa1HXLMdONs9PsqjQEi782Dx-QxgYjHHIxbr1gwnmden4sVRO3_po5gbsyQ/s1600-h/DSC_0373%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0373" border="0" alt="DSC_0373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31a3SYkVejivj6rrxkTCWDGWRCXNtGa_g4yy-7FsdVq6AxzlXz46h9vjdcBxyFY8ncsJxaabdNOjO85vkaEGejj1Z5OqUX7UelzQ9hftlrTpJLDAIDVv9cJRlOK7CNiTHsbrqng/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p>Though we are kind of inclined towards “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yomiuri_Giants" target="_blank">the giants</a>”, we supported “hanshin” on that day for a couple of reasons. ① The ticket was gifted to us by Hatano-san, and ② we were not supporters of “Yakult”. In fact we did not know them. The stadium was full, and the practice had already started by the time we entered the stadium. Though the tickets had the seat numbers clearly written on it, we were lost in the huge crowd. So, we requested the ground staff for help, and he was kind enough to lead us to our seats. We were sitting very close, and the view was very good. For me, it was like watching baseball in a very big screen television, very big. I would say life size ;-) ….</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuwQB9t8EempIkqJcDxlLdYci6pGUCEGHMonm1T2s4Fd01nzHBWBX2NfKVIMnH4ZF89TKUNwOn83iZjtXhWhD9GiizBPzaKJLJkDiz7XtdFUbUs1pDteuAbzE_y6UdDf6Oo-ucg/s1600-h/DSC_0375%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0375" border="0" alt="DSC_0375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZosVh4-950SIyMudG2CQNxF2rZdt-SI_0d6KTVK-V9W7XXY5QZrRlWWY0CKO8HyBuBAAzyETlLnejoq_ffwwaTTr-pBbpVKREeJc6yHIWVp3lrHwk5_kA4LWclqI6gspSJelLCw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p>I learnt that it was equally dangerous to sit close to the batters, when a foul ball, hit the stairs below the one in which Anto was playing. Everyone around started started shouting … “abunai, abunai … abunai …”, which means dangerous. It all happened so fast that I did not have any time to react. I was relieved that it did not hit him, as the ball was travelling lightning fast. After that we made sure that he is not exposed to the ball. In short, it was a nightmare for ~~ 50 milli seconds ~~</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbVY3cYbpWxcVAthHbBM049N5eCWlFaPjwkdY2lhGyerwrsBmeJWO6OT916AIWuleQFWuR_LimEPcRRPq739RS2Qs8pGwgssxchFJOGg1MkpBnYRgiV43vjC-b2Cd3EpZySc_xg/s1600-h/DSC_0463%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSC_0463" border="0" alt="DSC_0463" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2dGV9jxxQ8lkx0xuIMOQlJk6YQKMbZa5ybGR4MWLLS6jzinlIZimsxPf7FOiMxOduyqOIe6UVtdU36pvtrGECwDsT2N2JglQ9PGyYRtQ83kk9PmUza4Y14kOJA7I-C3RBpWTHA/?imgmax=800" width="326" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Apart from the clean toilets, and nice and comfortable plastics seats, I was impressed with the beer selling girls. They were carrying the *extremely cold* and fresh Asahi super dry like a shoulder bag … very impressive. And yes, they were wearing the Hanshin pink ;-) … I enjoyed the JPY 600 beer. It was about 2.5 times expensive.</p> <p>The pink could be seen dotted in between the yellow. Actually I thought the color was a bit strong, very much like the highly emotional kansai people. I really liked the pink hat … Cowboy style pink hat. Lady cowboy, cowgirl.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwK51ECxgsgHLeL0m5L_MT5NlLMKpQAGFOZ8fsttkVQNvbjqGw32nMnMqouC9otM4nV6CR3BMxwjW6tFGyZX-blzXC0eERSs8Qb1aNlN_sY0qPAOUC2SO5PWeJfArlOm-UrrRAew/s1600-h/DSC_0390%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0390" border="0" alt="DSC_0390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQgp3vbwGa1jJze_qEYDoaSWPx6NEP9PzEp_O6llZQ5GLLR8l00nVISW2Tlfg7E_SPd1H1t_1jY64IfHFhEhaqMjc3rdBVRlEF1mW3CIyQCboa66YK-cOMlA0p-LHFtG-vdiCug/?imgmax=800" width="408" height="281" /></a></p> <p>Anto, always likes to play with guys much elder to him. In the stadium he found a couple of guys, probably in their teens, and he was trying to make friends with them. At first, those guys tried their best to ignore, but had to give-in to Anto’s perseverance. Here he can be seen trying to shake hands with them. It was an innings break and so those guys had some time for Anto too …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhwl9iVHA-TbdeSkEmbs22ab2j74phcZ0hbNSnTjDgc4JylUh_t6AEKJC6Ixnncnudq1kWXLkh6UFRDyAGTeWg-B39_ASv79QpJcEIvgDGWZ_G1iGbmll1iejZA249r76zVD-SQ/s1600-h/DSC_0523%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0523" border="0" alt="DSC_0523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvhgGzlEjX-v3eLQRrOqfzLeKa7Jppy9BvboaGd9Y5y9vle1isFQCUmMZS2dcCAWEva1euo07ncHkjvwI1O_MLbJy2XMA53hdYaYmJUU7r1tGFte19o49zhyphenhyphenGS5iWh9pP5MwrNw/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> Following are some of the shots that impressed me. I was busy looking after Anto, watching the match, drinking my beer, and gazing at the high tech stuff in the stadium like the LED displays, but managed to take some snaps. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL7dnmmkvT8Ro-gWA2yugYcXkNAXDCqRR7bkIRuF-0h_jPBPtJi86UQz_2AJARLQZULw6JWrwDonYMimXer216WROfSvWyw2elwxPvrpYXNsHnEnpDavlyVCEbADri6StSrUExw/s1600-h/DSC_0421%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0421" border="0" alt="DSC_0421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJOc3djBe-8jBZk_lDuxDlff_tj6vaNWP3Qa9OEcW2xO5eMbTfPbH6OLEqe1jhT2gWs4WZKV2-d2TO9QcNCRxQmYmwpgskOZ-poUmcfQZ6cyJkpvXjXZAv_fIwS4QEcjQS9SK-g/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKVvmVvOn7bLkNalCH1lGCFOQ8uGhVjLCL1f1zWz5fNCQFKMsNSe7s9KAI4lxkRHEZOA7oNNQDJ00HDaUZ7nXmnh16Bai0FqW_H17qV3lmnQIM6xwb-HtyMqB51CH7n_DROXiEg/s1600-h/DSC_0430%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0430" border="0" alt="DSC_0430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5p0RqsHIYdhCvHOs80OmmbqA2xcq6bYY5Lq_aodJBSrZEQMnKxlE0Zj0n6AnIl2pI3BHPZvL70bOY1Lo74leXa4pkQkuIcV08Wjp8vNCbIQ9Q0YSiTH6-4nwQKPzcN6CI-zG6Q/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHWLXCOVsNU1WJXRVRW_fFl7q06T63oppoS-u02nRDe0rKBQAR2RDVfFBTQJ19YggBmmGW2cAMD6Zf_-szSIXc4ZPrETNCIKij2tj3gF_nO6NMQ2o1pyIhe4OeEaiEfXzmtBRFg/s1600-h/DSC_0413%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0413" border="0" alt="DSC_0413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrvBNR-dKpj0ArEY9A5EmhZiTvLw9yQIbx-N_bz-pTujp_sJJs1u1gx-4LsNcdDpwYQPgOcrOZiwgvAIpL4WBohGaM_1LFDNrJzkaLOvuAsvR5d10CGpZa5fJKFIV93oKXyWsnQ/?imgmax=800" width="520" height="772" /></a>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7TwIugqF114g3SZrrF-6r9dmFUeof2UCCajRgKn_bfNgFMlzCdsQMhj_H0Ps29w0W8z6YlP8bGUxXhR3bMgPnCF3m5knaOuVOHIKcqDnOTULSxAqTVtjH2qxrbrFD9r8lMMlvA/s1600-h/DSC_0410%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0410" border="0" alt="DSC_0410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSKPbSch7kT9j7EFCX1-Irq-3OkscoM37hppkyTwz20OAg_RzEqQqywx09ZDwvX4Y8i3WCmld4W3erH5kNxEqH6ietJtYHRErUyPOka5TvWUPUvhrIVohY-gcSB4ZTrMX1FRgZQ/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfxWla3zO5Q-41nDHIDfkRPydVOjS7NdxE-abUpVjoeex7NahnFmjxVE7mdYl9oEOauv-lh3sX052t9cE_Q4MX6dGPgoFPrqlMgvWmD6Nkhnsdn2JjaDxb4sKSQkCjPHB2jjcoA/s1600-h/DSC_0498%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0498" border="0" alt="DSC_0498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYw3e72ubHFZlfPQGfoqiCitzM-o2CFTxz3LYb8ypMH9XuunOd8FaMVCPR5sseg_QTakqxs-OGwE_XRkFC8ddLihQzzJ9hyphenhyphenHhOoS6HNXgZlINBb8JbGfQ6GfDBrV2P66MHKw-_mA/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3Sf9zlCN6-9p8__DD2Ayx84A1uya8naR00NzjVNot4D_F48LgW3YK10J2fFIf9s8RnFC8w_BCvYEEFwzgM5AJWaygzJtPnPs1gl7f16EWO6Y6TnmvVdSkw3vBAR8QbhU0YO0HQ/s1600-h/DSC_0500%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0500" border="0" alt="DSC_0500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnrlSHR7CIbjJG3y8AwEdSsgqEqTHTbM_CYw0JdEtvHSI0DRDUq9bevCUp3H2S7J9iHPdlWqEJ89WFp6anfsLYSf7repBD55Mzu4SrEioavgTm8OTR0JIskwPcU6MkzekYU63kg/?imgmax=800" width="326" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center">Anto saying cheese …</p> <p align="left">It was fun, despite our support, hanshin lost …</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-75014802516439926652009-07-21T21:26:00.001+09:002009-07-21T21:38:43.512+09:00Great grandson of an engine driver …<p>Hmmm … actually our family had something to boast about, my dad, my dad’s elder brother and my dad’s dad were railway engine drivers. Though I would have loved to be an train engine driver, I ended developing some device drivers, something to do with driver, and living up to our family tradition …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGd9guvzcPjoiZCqdVch0_3Y6DbrAy3b_EbOj_eTpfTKU7ZxfAia_Q3Fj7L_9KFrBpaPaue2McU8iZVV0nn6wZykuO-0Z30WNLLPGKHVKACzlRPkCJdujFh93wnJOpBJCOMowPQ/s1600-h/DSC_0218%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0218" border="0" alt="DSC_0218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxA6GGoeiHAc3dS4vbHS-zGv2pHQ68mXKyVBxEbybxnWjVQ-JHmljd-og7qp7UdljDT74YM2naF3wSopmT4AjmlGXgAApnsLKxUIF7StXq2Gno6kQmwGCwK3FJOa8_Zw1RNpWCg/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="434" /></a> </p> <p>Actually all engine drivers tie handkerchief in their head like how Antony is wearing … So I guess my dad would be happy seeing his grand kid in this pose. In a way, I was happy too. For me he looked like an “engine driver”. But he may not end up wearing a handkerchief even if becomes one …</p> <p>Talking about drivers, he makes some very nice pose with the cooking utensils, so when I see him with the vessels I used to tell Shanthi that he may probably become a “nice chef”. To just enrage her, I sometimes use the word, “cook”.</p> <p>Actually, the other day, we went to the barber shop, for Antony’s hair cut. The barber for some reason told us, that Antony will make a nice barber … Visibly Shanthi was upset. For my part, I was calculating his monthly income if he becomes one … ;-)</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-89154101157623892002009-06-02T21:45:00.001+09:002009-06-02T21:45:26.237+09:00Part II<p>It seemed that he just wanted to leave Teja’s house, I guess he just wanted to go to a place where he can find mom, or probably he just wanted to play. If it is mom that he was looking for, then I will be in trouble, so I decided to divert his attention and took him to the common play area in the apartment. Luckily, there were 3 more kids already playing there, all three seemed to be of the same age group, probably around 10, and playing football. </p> <p>For some strange reason, Solomon likes football, probably due to the size of the ball. He immediately started cheering those three, and started pointing at them with both hands and was “seriously” telling me something. I only wished I could understand. He was telling something like clu-clu-la-la-pa-pa-la-la-… and making a lot of facial expressions. He was probably saying that he could play better, once he is 10, or was it just my impression. For once I thought that those facial expressions were transmitted from my DNA … </p> <p>An old lady who passed us by, stopped and talked to him for a while, he was not particularly interested in her, but … intently looked at her, probably wishing that she can tell, where his mom was. We spent around ~25 minutes sitting and watching. All this time Solomon continued to talk to me. Suddenly for some full 25 minutes I thought taking care of Solomon was fun, and somehow easy. After 25 minutes he started making his moves, he wanted to go for the ball. After all he is a boy, I thought. I would let him go, those three kids never cared for him, but Solomon only cared for the ball, and he even managed to reach the ball twice, and once he reached, he would take it and give it back to those kids. He would clap his hands after giving back the ball. Solomon cheers himself every time he does “something good”, for example, when he “correctly” throws the garbage into the "dustbin”, or if he can switch on the television. But sometimes his thinking of “something good” does not match with “what is really good”. For example, he would cheer, when he throws something down the balcony. Amusing for him not me (and also Shanthi). </p> <p>Suddenly, another girl of the same age group of those three kids showed up, and all four went away to the another part of our apartment building. It seemed that they were practicing some new kind of “kids skate board”. Solomon was not very much interested in the skating stuff, probably this not from my DNA. I love skate-board … </p> <p>We came back to the play area to find their foot-ball. He was very happy as he can have the football all for himself. We both started playing with it for some 10 minutes. He looked exhausted, but continued to play. So to get him some rest, I carried him and we both went round the apartment once. While we were walking around the apartment, his face changed again, probably he started looking for Shanthi again … So, I decided to take him to Teja’s house again. This time I wanted to feed him something.</p> <p>We both went back to Teja’s house. She was already eating, so I thought it would be easy to feed him. Once I started feeding, he started taking some 3~4 mouth-full very fast. And suddenly after that started spitting the food. The frustrating part of taking care of him, sigh! The smooth ride with him for sometime had come to a grinding halt. Though he looked a bit tired, he wanted to go out again and started crying. At this moment, Shanthi called to inquire the status, he was still crying slightly. Shanthi was a bit worried that he was probably crying all time. Bad timing. </p> <p>My friend, Nanda, decided to try and amuse him with soap bubbles, and it worked out. At first he was afraid of the bubbles, but after seeing Teja playing with it, he joined her in the fun. Both of them were pumped up and they were laughing very loudly. Again, while all this was going on, I relaxed. I was worried that he was not eating, but happy that at-least he is enjoying. This bubble stuff went on for more than 20 minutes. </p> <p>These days Teja is in “toilet training” and do not wear diapers, so when the soap bubbles were all around, Teja suddenly stopped when she saw some of her excretes on the ground and started crying. In-fact she was not wearing her under-pants too. Solomon was clueless, he looked at me with a strange face. For a moment I was clueless too … But I decided to give Teja some space and took him outside the house again. </p> <p>We both headed out to the play area, again. Those three kids were still playing on the other side of the apartments. The had left behind the balls they were playing with. So, Solomon decided to play with the ball. He took the ball far away from me and would throw it,  I ran and picked it up for him, he enjoyed this sequence. So we repeated this many, many … times. Both of us were very tired. It was already ~3:10 PM, I was hungry. So I decided to take him back to Teja’s house. This time though, immediately after reaching Teja’s house, he started playing with her. I decided to relax for sometime while he was playing with Teja. For a moment I thought that he was not thinking about this mother, and … at this moment the calling bell of rang …</p> <p>When Teja’s mom, Lavanya attended the door, it was Shanthi, I could hear her voice. In a flash I thought it was a moment of relief. But when I realized that I had taken care of him for more than 3 hours. I was happy.</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-65681460022557506352009-05-26T07:26:00.001+09:002009-05-26T07:26:32.400+09:00Three hours with Solomon … [Part I]<p>I like challenges, but taking care of Solomon for three hours when his mom is away was no trivial. For long, she wanted to visit a salon and waiting for Solomon to grow up. Shanthi’s flower-arrangement-teacher [Rieko] had promised to take her to her friend’s Salon. After consulting with me, they decided to go on last week Sunday at last. Rieko-san told me that Shanthi will need about an hour, and once inside the Salon, I will not be allowed with a kid anywhere near her for it was too dangerous [I could not imagine why?]. It’s dangerous probably due to the blades, steam, etc … Anyway, the best and challenging part was, taking care of a 1 year old for ~1 hour. But when the time came for them to leave, I decided I will stay back home with Solomon, which means that I will have to take care of Solomon for 3 hours [1 hour each for Rieko and Shanthi + travel time] …</p> <p>When it was time, I took Solomon to the parking lot, to bid good-bye to Shanthi and Rieko. They were leaving in their car. Till the time we all reached the car he was happy, probably thinking that we are all going together, somewhere. Once we reached the car, I stopped back with him, and Shanthi got in, he was still smiling, and when Shanthi and Rieko started waving their hands and telling me to take care of him, the expression in his face changed. I could not decipher, but it was strange and cute. For once, it seems that he thought his mom was playing “hide and seek”. So when we returned home from the parking lot he checked every single room, including the toilet, bathroom and balcony. After 10 minutes he stopped his search, I would never know what made him stop. At this point his facial expression changed, it was like, if not in the house, then where IS she? … I was enjoying all his strange faces. Super-imposing my guess over it. For a moment I thought I will pull out my camera and snap these moments. Those faces left a very deep impression in me that I decided not to disturb the inner picture with a photo (selfish me …)</p> <p>My goal: Make sure, he does not cry for a minute, and just repeat the trick (loop for) 180 times. It looked simple. The time taken for me and Solomon to return home from the parking lot and his search inside the house had consumed some 12 minutes. We had earlier decided to take him to his friend, Teja’s home, which happens to be in a different building inside the same apartment complex. So to start off, I spent around 2~3 minutes in making him wear his shoes, going to the elevator, playing with the elevator buttons … We took another minute or so walking to Teja’s house. All these times his strange face remained. Looking at his face, I started feeling sorry. I only wished if I could get a peek into his feelings. After reaching Teja’s home, he started looking around for his mom, again. I guess he would have thought that she is playing a big time hide and seek … But it was not, he found out that she is not in there, too, so he wanted me to take him out, immediately. I was hoping he spend around 30 minutes in Teja’s house … sigh !!!</p> <p>(will continue in Part II) …</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-42744272770541809162009-05-19T11:09:00.002+09:002009-05-19T11:16:36.480+09:00Masked madness ...Sucked into the group behavior, when panic stops the brain cells from functioning, when all the news continuously tell you about the 150 people who are affected by swine flu, and when your office administrative staff formally tabulates your family health status every other day, when your mother inquire about the flu-outbreak, I am a little confused. Frightened will be right word. Should I take some precautions? Can I take some precautions? I decided to take some, starting with a mask.<br /><br />Yesterday I left office after 8 PM; the medical shops near my office were closed. I knew that the convenient stores sell masks, a bit expensive, but they sell. So I went to a convenient store near my office and found out that they used to sell 3 types of masks and ran out-of-stock on all three. OK, I guessed that most of my colleagues would have bought them on the way back. But wait, if I said most, which is around 3000, which means, we need masks for around 3000 people. That is a lot of masks. With the panic going on, I should have known that masks will never be available, I gave-up after visiting the 22nd shop. Well, till the madness stops, even normal people who need masks against hay fever will have to … wait. <br /><br />Did I just say madness? :-)<br /><br />So after this failed attempt scrambling for a mask, I realized that blood was indeed flowing to my brain. Being a techie, I thought I will do some cyber-scramble. I checked Amazon and a few more websites. And after some 45 minutes of browsing for a mask, I gave up. There seems to be too many geeks in Japan, every single mask in Amazon was out-of-stock. The mask makers will have a ball. Will they?<br /><br />Tired of searching, I thought what will happen if I don’t wear a mask. I even started thinking, if indeed masks are any helpful. They may help, but not prevent, entirely. It seems that we need special masks, that which will prevent virus from entering them. And it seems that those masks are expensive and rare. Today, I saw many people wearing normal masks. And many of their noses protruding out … What can I say …Time’s the healer. Are these masks just a moral support?Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-39304463128711840302009-05-14T14:19:00.000+09:002009-05-14T14:41:42.069+09:00Managed code seems to be catching up …Warning: This is an article intended only for the geeks, so stop here if you are not one.<br /><br /> I first started writing embedded software in assembly. I would not even term it a language, because, every single instruction was translated into an op-code, 1-to-1, nothing less. The firmware (stylish name for embedded software) developed using assembly was in total control. I mean it, total. There was no abstraction what-so-ever between the programmer and the hardware. At any point of time, every single register, every GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) ports were in our control. All our named variables were global. This control somehow translated into our confidence, sometimes arrogance. Those days we assumed that programmers who lacked knowledge of the hardware developed firmware in C. On one fine day, I got impressed with the compensation offered by another company that was developing firmware in C. Getting impressed with the salary; I quit the holy-assembly, mostly for-ever. But long after that, even today, I think those early assembly days were the best. Or … is it yet to come.<br /><br /> Development in C started badly. I knew C, in mostly like a paper driver who can drive, by the books, obviously I lacked experience. During my job-interview, I correctly answered most (all) of the questions on assembly language and got ~70% for C. The guys who interviewed me thought I would master C quickly. Somehow, I managed to score 4.8-out-of-5.0 in a test conducted by brain-bench for C. Those guys even sent me a certificate, embossed in golden color, now the best part, it was free. But over a period of five years, the golden emboss faded, but I learnt more of C. I started developing applications using C, then wrote some device drivers for windows, and finally after a couple of years of slogging, mostly maintaining others code, I started developing some really cool C code. I heard that C was more portable; it was, to an extent. I also learnt that embedded software is all about creating nice-and-compact-and-fast data-structures, and learning some cool compiler directives that will give you complete control over placing your code and data. In a way, I understood, I was writing some so-called-portable source code, in a high level language. I swear, in those days I never tried its portability though. I realized that for larger embedded applications, C was a good development platform. I always heard from my seniors, and also believed for myself that, c++ and embedded software were enemies. I would have sworn this over a bible, even without any experience programming in C++. I hated the language.<br /><br /> I was told to port the OS and write embedded software using Linux. Back then, I was a DOS-and-Windows guy, who never really understood, that free software, like Linux, will actually work. I assumed that the “Open source Linux”, will never be as cool as windows. When ever I go to the testing lab, I stared at those good looking Mac boxes wondering if, it was an ice box for beers. Man, I hated its mouse. In Linux, there were no MSDN type manuals, mostly not even some basic documentation. One more secret reason I hated it was; there were many junior programmers in my company, who knew more than me. And so, I comfortably termed it as a “not so practical” language. I quit the Linux development, and also the company and moved on to some other RTOS in some other company. For a long time, with the momentum in C, I continued with C, till I was asked to look into an ECMA compiler for a Television set, possibly to re-write it. Back in 2007, the ECMA compiler for Linux was written entirely in C++. For countless number of days, I just read and read the source code. As far as C++, my brain was closed. My gray-cells won’t change, even if I wanted to.<br /><br /> The C++ development continued and after developing in C++ for almost a year I learnt that I was not a C++ guy. I could not think in C++, partly owing to the many abstraction levels between the C++ codes and the converted assembly. When I wrote firmware in C, for each line of the source that I wrote, I could easily visualize the assembly instruction. Essentially I can see through the C code. But in C++ I could not, worse, Frankly, I did not try. And that was the end of C++. In a way, till today, I did not need it.<br /><br /> I thought, I can earn a living writing embedded software using C, till I retire. But my safety net was shattered today when I learnt that “managed code”, like C#, .NET, etc are on their rise. I knew about C# from the time it was released, back then, I had assumed that it was meant only for those application developers. I even picked up a fight with one of the guy who was talking about “boot-loader development based on managed code”. Frankly, I do not understand how, a boot-loader can ever be developed using “managed code”. Worse, I do like the idea of developing a boot-loader in C# or .NET. I do not see any advantage. I am an emotional guy who likes to live close to the hardware, and like less number of abstraction and hence need to write code that can do just that. And as of now, I think C is the one. But it seems that at the end of the tunnel, C#, .NET etc are pushing very hard. I can feel it. Someday, I may learn it, and probably would even master it, if-only I feel it is useful. Oh my gray cells, won’t you please co-operate.Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-83276522685645565922009-05-11T17:29:00.002+09:002009-05-11T20:06:37.882+09:00Nostalgic flash ...From time to time I go through this, “nostalgic flash”, as I have come to name it. I call it a flash as they creep in from nowhere, and many times divert my concentration from the work. Today, was yet another day, I was busy at work during the dull part of the afternoon, waiting for the clock to tick 5, and suddenly a “nostalgic flash”, and it flashed-in a couple of guys, whom I considered, were very good students, they excelled in their studies and grades. <br /><br />We can define a “nostalgic flash” as the time, when my mind is wavers over a time period, and a few “nostalgic human faces” just flash.<br /><br />Often, nostalgic flash is accompanied with an urge to contact the faces that flash-in.<br /><br />I studied with those guys sometimes during the mid to late ~80’s. So I only know their names and their father’s names. I got a chance to meet one of them once after I completed my schooling. While I undergo a nostalgic flash, I just remember faces during a particular period of time, for example, the time period when those guys studied with me in my school. Sometimes nostalgic flash takes me for a ride, to those days when we went out together, to those roads we used, our bi-cycles, the mischief, small talks, and this list is usually varied. Astonishingly nostalgic flash lasts only for a short time, may be 15~20 minutes. But my mind would have flashed about many things. And once I am out of a “nostalgic flash”, I would have just experienced a lifetime.<br /><br />Sometimes, it makes me feel sad, even miss those guys. I use to feel sorry for all the lies I would have told them, or for the troubles I got them into. After this flash ends, I used to wonder, how silly I was, would vow to win control over the “nostalgic flash” and ultimately remove it from me. I don’t like a “nostalgic flash”, especially when I experience it in the midst of my day’s work.<br /><br />Today I was reading an article on “lay-off” which emphasizes on “social networking” as a way to find new jobs during lay offs. Back in early 2005 I lost touch with much of my contacts from India, owing to my transfer to Japan. Till 2006, December, even with the high overseas call rates, I managed to maintain contacts with a select few of my good friends. Presently it’s almost non-existent. Probably this article on “social networking” stuff triggered today’s nostalgic flash or what? … <br /><br />I googled to find something about those 2 guys, who appeared in today’s flash and found a linkedin page for both of them. I would like to send them a message. By the time I decided to send a message, the “nostalgic flash” was over. It was my manager, he was complaining about a license that I was using, and meant for some other department. He wanted me to fix it, immediately. Now, I had to “come out of the nostalgic dream”. Thrown out! I decided to send those guys a message after fixing the issue. But after I fix the license related issue, I got into my famous “procrastination mode”.<br /><br />I decided, in principle, with no timeline in my mind, to ping them “sometimes”. With the insane schedule that I am into these days, the “sometimes” usually waits for another timely “nostalgic flash”, especially when it happens when I am close to my computer, or a telephone, and also have some free time. Compared to 2005, rates for overseas calls have reduced by more than half. So money is not the issue here. Time, which is becoming more and more a rarity in my day-to-day life, has definitely taken a toll on my social network. Is it probably one more reason that I get into more and more “nostalgic flashes”.<br /><br />I get to think that Indians are more nostalgic than anyone else? <br />Is it my limited knowledge on other nationalities? <br /><br />At least I don’t remember many Hollywood movies based on nostalgic themes. In my mother tongue, Tamil, most of the movies reflect nostalgia, emotion, fear, and all the stuff that I consider evil. There was a movie, “a nostalgia exploiter” called “Autograph” which was a huge box office hit. T’was no surprise, I enjoyed the movie. In fact I saw that movie many times and even bought the DVD to see it secretly. I am sometimes ashamed to reveal that I am nostalgic. Probably, it reflects the emotional me.<br /><br />Now, phoo …, am I emotional. I guess I am, but does this trigger a “nostalgic flash”?Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-81415738737601114712009-05-09T18:47:00.001+09:002009-05-09T18:47:05.568+09:00Accidental wave or what? …<p>After Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Motorola, IBM, … is google going to be “the next great company”. Riding on the internet search, or to be specific the connected community band-wagon. Guys at Xerox PARC created computer network for an entirely different reason. It makes me wonder, is google yet another case of an “accidental empire”, or did the “Sergei & Larry” combo really though this is coming. Personally they come next only to “Jobs & Woznaik” combo, probably,…</p> <p>Guys at the Palo Alto Research Center, PARC, created most of the innovations that “happened” in the computing arena, I would emphasize, the personal computing arena. For me it is difficult to understand, that Xerox, that created PARC, did not reap *any* benefit from innovation from PARC. The concept of Mouse, GUI, Networking, and much-much more came just out of a single lab. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, used the researches from PARC to the max. </p> <p>For some reason, many geeks, hate Microsoft. They just think, Microsoft, is a selfish company that just wants to make money, and care a shit about any research. From the time IBM started using MS-DOS (which was not developed by Microsoft), many people think, and probably they are right, that MS, like some of its founder is crooked. I cannot think of anything big that came out of Microsoft. They just perfected some of the technologies that lay around. And suddenly, with the advent of internet, the open source revolution, it seems that, finally, its times for the giant to bow--->out.</p> <p>As we all know, Google, that started as a search engine company, right, but now …, with a heavy purse they are into many things, slowly hurting Microsoft. In those early days, Microsoft, would simply over-power any software company that competed with them. The trump card was always their operating system, the monopoly. But now, it seems that the gold lies in the internet, and for some reason, Microsoft lost it, I mean, lost it to Google. Now, only trying hard to patch up by buying yet another ailing company yahoo. Google, it seems is trying to do everything to kill MS. Hitting its cash cow, MS-OFFICE with “GOOGLE-DOC”. I personally tried using “GOOGLE-DOC” and I can tell you, that it is no way near MS-Word, or Excel. As of now, GOOGLE-DOC lacks even some basic feature. But if Microsoft is afraid of this, I think there should be some reason. Now “googling” is a verb that means searching.</p> <p>Will Google kill Microsoft, I don’t think so. Microsoft will probably die on its own, as they have ran out of ideas and started chasing the leader. This time, their chase, might well end in vain.</p> <p>Apple, that got noticed by many non-geeks, only after the i-pods, was a company that was envisioned by a passionate guy. They created some nice looking computers, which were less visible to the main-stream world of cheap home computers, but only till apple released the legendary iPod. If a single product can change the fate of a company, it was iPod. It was yet another accidental moment, the rush of spark inside Rubinstein when he saw Toshiba’s tiny hardwire, has created a wave. Sometimes I wonder, if apple is just starting to forget its core business. Probably, they are also strengthening their PC business. Guys from apple think it is “Mac business”. They frown when they hear the word PC, as it a copyrighted thing that belongs to MS. Yeah, in a way, it belongs to guys in IBM. Who sold out their PC business to Lenovo. And riding on something else.</p> <p>Recently I have been reading a lot about the history of computers and software. And I just think, it was all created accidentally.</p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775763.post-22363822054248928412009-04-21T22:28:00.001+09:002009-04-21T22:28:53.693+09:00Flower arrangement by Mrs. Truly …<p>Last week flower arrangement by Shanthi different and nice …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT9OVcMxHEFHPznlfXGpyFceU3hdvhep_GTVs_ce_RLkcbS7V2PxqLu9ZzwnafQAOnVLY8-WZNhY4OUeggG9KGw6nDveHqe6ivxvJy42oHbifQAFr3LooTDq9Y0mhN_vYdxHyCw/s1600-h/DSC_0894%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0894" border="0" alt="DSC_0894" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrux8aUqflRgiC5dh6q3q6_iOIIFXxRbfvOOUQPoTyfNPUkR6o4SNpu6J5jDGXY5nlXujoY2iXU7ViLUSNSeFFRuQKFMJgp0C51DigDihFsL-moQJgp7OzJyZ4Bm2cRxbd75rhg/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="433" /></a> </p> <p>And this simpler one …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBJuyzgY6QZl9ltziDvuL1J2qp_F8yHPeM9sIMQGb7t7sSFAkVqcV5jYWc_NzqbdyzPQFAY5NSLKibExBNPVtQ4_ZIgiRkWwkQ_LSf3JCKUb4wGYBGMCfrQXZswONRq54eYVsxA/s1600-h/DSC_0898%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0898" border="0" alt="DSC_0898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbhJvthbKhudA4TaMaiSsMnLiEHgWxyfcNtmSZFm-xvK5rx24Z_DIGRIebebZD96173rq8J-FzbnsI86Epos5ynj53PMA28ohh4ZBIHMjeUTnHYtHxCl1kA-JndnDAMVp_u8weQ/?imgmax=800" width="326" height="484" /></a></p> Brittohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13530401910807265036noreply@blogger.com0