#4 Japan Aiport Tumbler

#4 Japan Airport Edition : Airplane is the most beautiful creation man ever made and airport is my little fortress of solitude. That's what I always think and believe. So when I found this tumbler in Kansai, I am so happy and grab it. I love it so much I keep it on my desk during winter and autumn to warm me up everyday ^^

ps. Japan is so advance they now have separate tumbler edition. Haneda and Narita house their own edition. 

SHINee - Always Love

KANJI

高いビルの隙間 虹を見つけた
One day 雨上がりの街で

君にも見せたいな そう思った途端
ふいに笑顔がこぼれたよyeah

落ち込んでても君を想うと
不思議だよね

どんな時もLove この心にLove
あふれるほどAlways Love
君は僕の笑顔の理由
Now会えない時もSmile 頑張ってるって
伝えたい 今すぐ 届けたい 愛を込めて

Thank you for your cheering me
Thank you for your cheering me
Always Love, Always Love

君に出逢って僕は 少し変わった
Maybeささいな事だけど

苦手だったメールさえ 悪くないなんて
ちょっと思い始めてる

ひとりきりじゃ叶えられないDream 君がいれば
どんな時もLove この心にLove
あふれるほどAlways Love
君は僕の笑顔の理由
Now会えない時もSmile 頑張ってるって
伝えたい 今すぐ 届けたい 愛を込めて

Everyday Everywhere
きっと同じ空の下で
君が僕のこと信じてくれてる
ただそれが嬉しい

Thank you for your cheering me
Thank you for your cheering me
Always Love, Always Love

Thank you for your cheering me
Thank you for your cheering me
Always Love, Always Love

どんな時もLove この心にLove
あふれるほどAlways Love
君は僕の笑顔の理由
Now会えない時もSmile 頑張ってるって
伝えたい 今すぐ 届けたい 愛を込めて

Always Love, Always Love


ROMANIZATION

[All] yeah...

[Jonghyun] takai biru no sukima niji wo mitsuketa
One day ameagari no machi de

[Key] kimi ni mo misetai na sou omotta totan
Fui ni egao ga koboreta yo yeah~

[Onew] ochikon de temo kimi wo omou to
[Taemin] fushigi dayo ne

[All] donna toki mo love
Kono kokoro ni love
[Onew] afureru hodo always love
[Jonghyun] Kimi wa boku no egao no riyuu
[All] now aenai toki mo smile
[Minho] ganbatteru tte
[Onew] tsutaetai
[key] ima sugu
[Taemin] todo ketai [jonghyun] ai wo komete

[All] thank you for your cheering me
Thank you for your cheering me
Always love, always love

[Taemin] kimi ni deatte boku wa sukoshi kawatta
sasai ima koto dakedo

[Onew] nigate datta mail sae warukunai nante
[Minho] chotto omoi hajimeteru

[Jonghyun] hitori kirija kanae rarenai dream
[Key] kimi ga ireba

[All] donna toki mo love
Kono kokoro ni love
[Onew] afureru hodo always love
[Jonghyun] kimi wa boku no egao no riyuu
[All] now aenai toki mo smile
[Minho] ganbatteru tte
[Jonghyun] tsutaetai [key] ima sugu
[Taemin] todo ketai [onew] ai wo komete

[Jonghyun] everyday everywhere
Kitto onaji sora no shitade
[Onew] kimi ga boku no koto
[Taemin] shinjite kureteru
Tada sore ga ureshii

[All] thank you for your cheering me
[key] (always love)
[All] thank you for your cheering me
[key] (oh)
[Key] always love, always love

[All] thank you for your cheering me
[Jonghyun] (thank you for your cheering me)
[All] thank you for your cheering me
[Jonghyun] (uuh~)
[Key] always love, always love
[Jonghyun] (ohh~)

[All] donna toki mo love
Kono kokoro ni love
[Onew] afureru hodo always love
[Jonghyun] kimi wa boku no egao no riyuu
[All] now aenai toki mo smile
[Minho] ganbatteru tte
[Onew] tsutaetai [key] ima sugu
[Taemin] todo ketai [jonghyun] ai wo komete

[Key] always love, always love


TRANSLATION

I found a rainbow gap in the tall buildings
One day, in the city after the rain

I feel like once wanting to show you too
It made me smile all of a sudden, yeah

If you feel like you are depressed
It's strange, isn't it?

REFF:
any time Love
Inside this heart, love
In abundance Always Love
you are my reason to smile
Now, even when we don't meet, Smile
Please keep on fighting
The truth is love will come soon

Thank you for your cheering me
Thank you for your cheering me
Always Love
Always Love


Upon meeting you, I was changed a little
Maybe, although it looks like a trivial

Even sending mail wasn't sound all bad
I started feeling a little sorry

Dream that seems cannot be fulfilled alone
Why don't you just try

REFF:
any time Love
Inside this heart, love
In abundance Always Love
you are my reason to smile
Now, even when we don't meet, Smile
Please keep on fighting
The truth is love will come soon

Everyday, Everywhere,
(we) always under the same sky
If you believe in me
That thing only could made me happy

Thank you for your cheering me (always love)
Thank you for your cheering me
Always Love, Always Love

Thank you for your cheering me (Thank you for your cheering me)
Thank you for your cheering me
Always Love, Always Love

Any time Love
Inside this heart, love
In abundance Always Love
you are my reason to smile
Now, even when we don't meet, Smile
Please keep on fighting
The truth is love will come soon

always love, always love

CREDITS:
Romanization: lyricsmode
Translation: ME

SHINee - To Your Heart

KANJI

To To To とどけ

To To To To your heart
To To To To your heart

そらさないで今からキミに
大切な言葉伝えるから!

ぎこちないけど…とっておきのFraise
「Shooting Starに乗って愛を探しに行こう」

誰も知らない　One world
秘密の場所へ　Let’s go
Are U ready now?

キミと無重力の世界へ
はぐれないように手をつないで!
青い地球と空中散歩さ
星くずのドレスまとい
キミはボクのPrincessさ

息するたびキミが浮かぶよ
笑ってるかな?泣いてないかな?

見つけに行こう　とびっきりのSmile
ボクに任せて後悔させないから!

素顔のキミが　So hot
大好きだから　Let’s go
Are U ready now?

キミと無重力の世界へ
はぐれないように手をつないで!
青い地球と空中散歩さ
星くずのドレスまとい
キミはボクのPrincessさ

銀河の上飛び回って
はしゃぐキミはSo pretty
永遠にWill be together…
約束だよ

届け To your heart!!
描け All your dreams!!
響け To your heart!!
叶え All your dreams!!

無限大の未来ボクと歩もう
Don’t you wanna go now?
この手を取って…
キミのその手をそっと取って
この気持ちきっとこのままで
I wanna キミを守りたい

キミと無重力の世界へ
はぐれないように手をつないで!
青い地球と空中散歩さ
星くずのドレスまとい
キミはボクのPrincessさ

ROMANIZATION

To To To todoke
To To To To your heart

To To To To your heart

[TAEMIN] sorasanaide ima kara kimi ni
[ONEW] taisetsu na kotoba tsutae rukara!

[KEY] gikochinaikedo... totteokino Fraise
[JONGHYUN] ( Shooting Star ni notte ai wo sagashi ni iko u )

[KEY] daremo shira nai [ONEW] One world
[KEY] himitsu no basho he [ONEW] Let ' s go
[KEY] Are U ready now?

[ALL] kimi to mujuuryoku no sekai he
hagurenaiyouni te wotsunaide!
[JONGHYUN] aoi chikyuu to kuuchuu sanpo sa
[TAEMIN] hoshi kuzuno doresu matoi
[ONEW] kimi wa boku no Princess sa

[MINHO] iki surutabi kimi ga uka buyo
[JONGHYUN] waratte rukana? nai tenaikana?

[ONEW] mitsu keni iko u tobikkirino Smile
[KKEY] boku ni makase te koukai sasenaikara!
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/shinee/to_your_heart.html ]
[KEY] sugao no kimi ga [TAEMIN] So hot
[KEY] daisuki dakara [TAEMIN] Let ' s go
[KEY] Are U ready now?

[ALL]kimi to mujuuryoku no sekai he
hagurenaiyouni te wotsunaide!
[JONGHYUN] aoi chikyuu to kuuchuu sanpo sa
[TAEMIN] hoshi kuzuno doresu matoi
[ONEW] kimi wa boku no Princess sa

[ONGHYUN] ginga no ue tobi mawatte
hashagu ki mi wa So pretty
[KEY] eien ni Will be together...
[ONEW] yakusoku dayo.

[JONGHYUN] todoke To your heart!
[TAEMIN] egake All your dreams!
[ONEW] hibike To your heart!
[KEY] kanae All your dreams!

[JONGHYUN] mugendai no mirai boku to ayumo u
[TAEMIN] Don ' t you wanna go now?
kono te wo totte...
[MINHO] kimi nosono te wosotto totte
kono kimochi kittokonomamade
I wanna kimi wo mamori tai

kimi to mujuuryoku no sekai he
hagurenaiyouni te wotsunaide!
[JONGHYUN] aoi chikyuu to kuuchuu sanpo sa
[TAEMIN] hoshi kuzuno doresu matoi
[ONEW] kimi wa boku no Princess sa

ENGLISH

To To To Notify To To To To Your HeartTo To To NotifyTo To To To Your Heart

From now on you do not warp
Words convey the important
I reserve awkward Face
I ride trying to find a shooting Star

You to a world of weightlessness and
Hand in hand as Hagurenai
Walk the earth and the sky blue
Stardust wears dress
You will be my Princess

Each time you breathe you’ll come up with
What are you laughing and crying not
Smile go to find a superb
I do not regret letting the

You fly around the galaxy frolic so Pretty
We’ll be together forever
We Promise

Deliver To Your Heart
Draw on your dreams
warm To Your Heart
to make your dreams come true

Infinite future, Walk With Me
Don’t you wanna go now
Take my hand

This feeling … take it straight to your hands

credits go to:
romaji: lyrics.com
english trans cr: blinger4ava & pplr@SHWRadio FB

SHINee - Stranger

JAPANESE

一瞬で変わるシナリオ
運命を感じた瞬間から
“守りよ*”と決めた君だけを　　　　
Oh lalalalala　lalalalala！

何処までも彷徨う　この暗闇を　OH~
抱いてくれよ君は何処にいるの　OH~

夜明けの光　独いた一人
悲しいを止めてた僕らはきっと
はやつ朝が来るまで
けだけ夜の果てまで
たどり着けるいつか君となら
Lalalalala　lalalalala！

悲しみをきっとない記憶の罠の　OH~
けついつ為に愛するわけじゃない　OH~

口から痛み感じ度（たび）に
分かり合いのはず　僕らはきっと
この声が足れるまで　呼び続ける君だけを
何度でも　その名前を　OH~

(RAP)
XXXX on it’s way.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX諦めない一緒にXXXX
後いう間にXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
守りたい物は一瞬だけ
こんな暗い闇乗り換え BREAK IT!

一瞬で変わるシナリオ
運命を感じた瞬間から
“もう良いよ”と決めた君だけを　　　　
Oh lalalalala　lalalalala！

*Sounds like「森奥」but that makes less sense.　Other alternative is ”もう良いよ”

ROMANJI

Isshun de kawaru shinario
unmei wo kanjita shunkan kara
“mouiiyo” to kimeta kimidake wo
Oh lalalalala　lalalalala！

dokomademo samayou kono kurayami o OH~
Daitekuretayo kimi wa doko ni iru no OH~

yoake no hikari dokuita hitori
kanashii o tometeta bokura wa kitto

Hayatsu asa ga kuru made
Kedake yoru no hate made
Tadoritsukeru itsuka kimi to nara
Oh Lalalalala　lalalalala！

Kanashimi o kitto nai kioku no wana no OH~
Ketsuitsu tameni aisuruwakejyanai OH~

Kuchikara itami kanjitabi ni
Wakariai no hazu bokura wa kitto
Kono koe ga tareru made yobitsuzukeru kimi dake wo
Nando demo sono namae o OH~

(RAP**)
XXXX on it’s way.
atoiu ma niXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
xxxxxxxxxxxxakiramenai isshouni
mamoritai mono wa isshun dake
konna kurai yami norikae BREAK IT!
(END RAP)

Isshun de kawaru shinario
unmei wo kanjita shunkan kara
“mouiiyo” to kimeta kimidake wo
Oh lalalalala　lalalalala！


ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

The scenerio that changes in a flash
From the moment I felt my destiny
You’re the only one I’ve decided to protect.
Oh lalalalalal lalalalala!

Countless times, I’ve wandered around lost, in the darkness
Embrace me please, where are you?

The light of the dawning night, by my lonely self.
Having even stopped sorrow, we will definite -
Until the morning comes,
Until the end of the night,
We will reach (our destination), if it’s with you.

In the snare of memories, without any sorrows
It’s not for the sake of stubborness(?) that I’m loving you.

Everytime we feel the pain from (our) mouth
We should understand each other more.
Until you’re feeling tired of this voice, I will keep calling for you.
No matter how many times, that name…..

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX on it’s way
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In a few moments more xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The thing that I want to protect is only there for a moment,
Evercome this darkness BREAK IT.

The scenerio that changes in a flash
From the moment I felt my destiny
You’re the only one I’ve decided to protect.
Oh lalalalalal lalalalala!
Credit: http://kinna84.livejournal.com

SHINee - Start

Japanese

I want to start
Do you wanna start

I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start

勝算はあるかなんて　あるわけないじゃん　oh oh
前にも後ろにも　あるようでないさ

やみくもに時速上げ　突っ走って衝動short
やり切れず見上げるsky　それでもsmile

新しい道を探してる
どこかにきっと
今歩き始めたところさ
なにかを信じて

OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start I want to start
OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start
The way which I believe

不安がないかなんて　ないわけないじゃん　Wow Wow
敵も味方も　ないようであるさ

どっちだって全速力　突っ切って頂上くらいで丁度
この辺で変速するかい?　それもまた勝負!

輝き続けてくために
―だれもがきっと―
歩き続けてゆくだけさ
―どこかに向かって―

OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start I want to start
OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start
The way which I believe

I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start

憂鬱な雨が沁みてゆけばぬかるんでゆく
どうしたらいいの?
start? stop? start? stop? step step!! START!

新しい道を探してる
―どこかにきっと―
今歩き始めたところさ
―なにかを信じて―

輝き続けてくために
―だれもがきっと―
歩き続けてゆくだけさ
―どこかに向かって―

未来に向かって　I want to start
何かを求めて　I want to start

Romanization

I want to start (Hey!)
Do you wanna start ?

I want to start to start to start
I want to start to start to start
I want to start to start to start
I want to start to start to start

Shousan wa aru ka nante aru wake nai jan oh oh
Oh mae ni mo ushiro ni mo aru you de nai sa

Yamikumo ni jisoku atte tsuppashitte shoudou short
Yari kire zu miageru sky (to the sky) soredemo smile

Atarashii michi o sagashi teru
Doko ka ni kitto
Ima aruki hajime ta tokoro sa
Nani ka o shinji te

OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH I want to start I want to start
OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH I want to start
The way which I believe

Fuan ga nai ka nante nai wake nai jan Wow Wow
Teki mo mikata mo nai you de aru sa

Docchi datte zensokuryoku tsukkit te choujou kurai de choudo (Oh oh oh~)
Kono atari de hensoku suru kai ? Sore mo mata shoubu !

Kagayaki tsuduke te ku tame ni
Dare mo ga kitto
Aruki tsuduke te yuku dake sa
Doko ka ni mukatte

OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH I want to start (Oh~) I want to start (Yeah~)
OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH I want to start
The way which I believe

I want to start to start to start (Oh oh oh~)
I want to start to start to start
I want to start to start to start
I want to start to start to start (t-Hey hey hey)

Yuuutsu na ame ga shimi te yuke ba nukarun de yuku
Dou shi tara ii no ?
Start ? Stop ? Start ? Stop ? Step step !! START !

Atarashii michi o sagashi teru
Doko ka ni kitto
Ima aruki hajime ta tokoro sa
Nani ka o shinji te (Oh oh yeah~)

Kagayaki tsuduke te ku tame ni
Dare mo ga kitto (Uh~)
Aruki tsuduke te yuku dake sa (Yeah~) (dake sa~)
Doko ka ni mukatte

Mirai ni mukatte I want to start (You start you start, yeah yeah I want)
Nani ka o motome te I want to start (Ah~) (Oh yeah) (To start, to start oh)


TRANSLATION

I want to start
Do you wanna start

I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start

There is a chance of success,
There is, isn't it? oh oh
Even before or after
There are not so much

Speed up blindly　
Let's get ready, short
only able to cut the thing we saw above, sky　
even only that, smile

Looking for a new way / path
definitely until wherever
now in the place i just began to walk
what should I believe?

OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start I want to start
OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start
The way which I believe

Do I or do I not have a fear
It's impossible not to have it, right?! Wow Wow
The enemies seems to be unfriendly

With a little to full speed
Get ready fast to climb up to exactly the top
Should i shift gear? even with it still can win


For sure it continues to shine
―surely everyone―
just continuously walking
― to which direction ―

OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start I want to start
OH OH OH OH　OH OH OH OH　I want to start
The way which I believe

I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start
I want to start　start start

If depressing rain will have so much stain that it will be muddy
Is it okay like that?
start? stop? start? stop? step step!! START!

Looking for a new way / path
- definitely until wherever-
now in the place i just began to walk
- what should I believe? -

For sure it continues to shine
―surely everyone―
just continuously walking
― to which direction ―

Toward the future, I want to start
What do I want to seek, I want to start

Translation Credit: ME

p.s. My fave of all! Minho's part in this song is sooo sexy ^^

SHINee - Seesaw

Japanese

惑わせる気かい?
The mystery night 君のEyeが　見えない
But 軽くも無い　君は一体　どんな　Type?
Angel みたいに　笑ったり
泣けるくらいに　孤独を　背負った顔で
辺りを　見回しちゃっていたり

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
迷宮入りのLove　もう　ヤバイ

わかってるでしょ?
危ない橋　渡ろうとしてると
でも　止められなくて
どうしようも無いってことも
君が思うほど　軟じゃない
But 君のことも　解んない
謎が謎を呼ぶ　人類
妖しささえ　楽しもう

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
迷宮入りのLove　もう　ヤバイ

迷路の中でずっと待ってた
君を連れ込み　渦の奥へと…
「捕まるも、楽しいよ」
ほら　手を伸ばし
僕についておいでよ baby

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
迷宮入りのLove　もう　ヤバイ

Crazy seesaw…

Romanji
Madowaseru ki kai?
The Mystery Night kimi no Eye ga mienai (I Like)
But karuku mo nai kimi wa itai donna Type?
Angel mitai ni warattari
Nakerukuraini koudokuni seotta kao de
Mawari o mimawashichatte itari

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
Meikyouiri no Love mou yabai

Wakatterudeshou?
Abunai hashi watarou toshiteru to
Demo tomerarenakute
Doushiyoumonaitte kotomo
Kimigaomouhodo yawajyanai
But kimi no koto mo wakan nai
nazo ga nazo wo yobu jinrui
ayashisa sae tanoushimou

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
Meikyouiri no Love mou yabai

Meiro no naka de zutto matteta
Kimi wo tsurekomi uzu no oku e to...
"Tsukamarumo, tanoshiiyo"
Hora, te wo nobashi
boku ni tsuite oite yo baby

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
Meikyouiri no Love mou yabai

Crazy seesaw…

English
Are you trying to lead me astray?
The mystery night, your eyes, can't be seen
But I'm not that easy, what type are you exactly?
Sometimes like an angel, laughing,
But sometimes, with a face bearing so much loneliness that it makes one cry,
You look around your surroundings.

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
I've had enough of this deadend love.

You know it, right?
I'm about to cross a dangerous bridge.
But, I can't stop anymore.
Even though I can't help it,
I'm not as weak as you think I am.
But, I don't understand you either.
A person who calls a mystery a mystery.
Enjoying the dangerousness of it even.

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
I've had enough of this deadend love.

I've been waiting for you all this time, in the maze.
Bringing you into it, into the depths of the whirlpool...
"The catching process is fun too"
Here, stretch out your hands,
Come with me, baby.

Where are U now? Where am I now?
Up down, seesaw. Crazy seesaw…
Where are U now? Where am I now?
I've had enough of this deadend love.

Crazy See-saw...

credit: Kinna84@livejournal

p.s. not so much of my favorite..
But will post it anyway

SHINee - Better

From this post on, I will try to post the lyrics and translation of SHINee's Japanese song from their Japanese album, The First. The first honor goes to Better, the one song that catches me the most..

BETTER

Japanese

光の矢にはendmark
突き刺さる前に
上手に避けてしまえる
ものばかりじゃない
次々放たれるendless
痛みはいつしかinner
気づつけないままに深く深く

悲しいなら泣いて
ありのままに泣いて
それでも苦しくて誰かが必要なら
僕の傍においで
ありのままでおいで
どこにいても苦しいのなら
僕の傍においで

BETTER BETTER Oh Oh×3
BETTER

I get you better 孤独が忍び寄り
約束さえも日付を超えて
散々招いてentrance
嘆きの行き詰まるconer
気づかれないように閉ざす閉ざす

悲しいなら泣いて
ありのままに泣いて
それでも苦しくて誰かが必要なら
僕の傍においで
ありのままでおいで
どこにいても苦しいのなら
僕の傍においで

もう一度笑えるその日まで
いつまでだって傍にいて
その手をその手を離さない

悲しいなら泣いて
ありのままに泣いて
それでも苦しくて誰かが必要なら
僕の傍においで
ありのままでおいで
どこにいても苦しいのなら
僕の傍においで

BETTER BETTER Oh Oh×3
BETTER

Oh BETTER　この世界の果てで
君と巡り逢えたらいいな
BETTER　君といたい
BETTER　君と永遠に

いつの日か何処へでも
自分だけの力で
飛び立てる気がしたら
振り向かずに生きなよ


Romanji

Hikari no yari wa ENDMARK
tsukisasaru mae ni
Jyouzu ni saketeshimaeru
mono bakari jyanai
Tsugitsugi hanatareru ENDLESS
Itami wa itsu shika INNER
Kitsukenai mama ni fukaku fukaku

Kanashimi nara naite
Ari no mama ni naite
Soredemo kurushikute dareka ga hitsuyou nara
Boku no soba ni oide
Arinomama de oide
Doko ni itemo kurushii no nara
boku no soba ni oide

Better Better Oh　Oh x3
Better

I GET YOU BETTER koudoku ga shinobi yori
Yakusaoku sae mo hizuke wo koete
Sanzan maneite ENTRANCE
Nageki no iki tsumaru CORNER
Kidukarenai youni tozasu tozasu

Kanashimi nara naite
Ari no mama ni naite
Soredemo kurushikute dareka ga hitsuyou nara
Boku no soba ni oide
Arinomama de oide
Doko ni itemo kurushii no nara
boku no soba ni oide

Mouichido waraeru sono hi made
itsumade datte soba ni ite
Sono te wo sono te wo hanasanai

Kanashimi nara naite
Ari no mama ni naite
Soredemo kurushikute dareka ga hitsuyou nara
Boku no soba ni oide
Arinomama de oide
Doko ni itemo kurushii no nara
boku no soba ni oide

Better Better Oh　Oh x3
Better

OH BETTER Kono sekai no hate de kimi to meguri aetara iina
BETTER Kimi to itai
BETTER kimi to eien ni

Itsunohika doko e demo
jibun dake no chikara de
Tobitateru ki ga shitara
furi mukazu ni ikinayo


English Translations

Before the arrow of light, pierces the endmark
It’s not just a matter of dodging it skillfully
Numerous times, it was fired,
And the pain was always inflicted internally.
Without realising it, it went deeper, deeper…

If you are sad, cry.
Just honestly cry as you are.
If you are still in pain after that and need someone,
Come to my side.
Come as you are,
If you’re in pain no matter where you are,
Come to my side.

Better Better Oh　Oh x3
Better

I get you better, the loneliness creeps up upon us.
Even the promised date has passed.
The entrance that keeps beckoning to you,
The corner where one reaches the limit of one’s grief -
I will shut them off, shut them off, so that they don’t distress you any further.

If you are sad, cry.
Just honestly cry as you are.
If you are still in pain after that and need someone,
Come to my side.
Come as you are,
If you’re in pain no matter where you are,
Come to my side.

Until the day you can laugh again,
I will stay with you, no matter when that is.
Don’t let go of those hands, those hands,

If you are sad, cry.
Just honestly cry as you are.
If you are still in pain after that and need someone,
Come to my side.
Come as you are,
If you’re in pain no matter where you are,
Come to my side.

Oh BETTER At the ends of this world,
If I can run into you there, it would be great.
BETTER I want to be with you.
BETTER With you, forever.

Someday, no matter till where,
With just your own strength,
If you feel that you can stand up and take off,
Live, without looking back.



Credit: kinna84 @ livejournal
via forever_shinee

Today, Three Years Ago

Today, three years ago, I made my first step into a whole new world. With a big black suitcase and a blue backpack, I gathered all the courage to welcome a new life ahead of me. A new life in a city called Kyoto, a city which up until today I proclaim as the most beautiful city in the world.

I still remember clearly the time I board the plane to Osaka, with final destination Kyoto. I still remember the first taste of air in Japan, humid and hot. Swarming through long highway, I set my eyes the first time in Kyoto station. Only that I forgot the picture until the view of Japan Post Office near Ritsumeikan came into life. Then, they drop us off at Ritsumeikan peace museum, the place where I would spent my first week in Kyoto. A place where I met for the first time my long-lost sister, Kisi and a good friend I wish to visit one day, Anne.

The first meeting was followed by many more. Bryan, Gyuri, Peri, Ilya, Andika, Irene, Osaze, Gillian, bu Henni, are among them who I met in my first week there. A seed of friendship was planted between us, in a hope to remain strong in the years ahead.


I remember clearly how the office took us for a tour around the school. To introduce us with International Relations department and a place called kenkyushitsu or we used to call as research room. Kenkyushitsu is a place that I call my second home for the rest of the two years. It was a place where I study, chat, open internet, work, sleep, eat, drink, read, and anything. It was my second home. A second home that holds a special memory in my heart. Cause in that place, I fall in love for the first time to a love that knows no boundary and time.

And who am I to forget how crazy we were those first week. The craziness from dealing with new houses and all administrative things. I barely skipped even a visit to the housing agency those week. Look for one house after another. To find one that suits more to our money rather than our search for luxurious comfort. I barely skipped the visit to the local office too, to get my alien card and health insurance. And the phone! the only thing that I want that week. So I can make a phone call back home. Me and Kisi decided to have similiar white softbank phone, the one that witness the ups and down in our life in Kyoto for the next two years.

With a blink of an eye, two years later, the amazing journey was ended. In a glorious ceremony called graduation. Nothing but a smile cover our face that day. No tears were supposed to be shed tough I myself was a crybaby that day. Knowing that at this point of my life, I could be bidding farewell to the love that I never knew could be so strong.

Here I am, three years later, remembering just how beautiful the friendship that I have back in Kyoto. The friendship that keeps me alive to date in a hope of meeting each other again.

My dear friend, I love you
Today, I whisper to the world for a million time that one day the world would be kind to us and give us time to be together again. Until that day, shiawase ne..

A note for the future: to be the water or to become a Japanese

For the past few months, all i have been thinking is what my future would be. To return to Indonesia or not was simply a choice, but I choose to pick the idea. I was so afraid of the future as if the bleak future awaits at the end of the corder. While the truth is, no one knows what the future holds.

Walking toward the future is like walking in a long dark tunnel. Without any light, any map, or any sign that there is a way out. We might carry some candles, but we don't have the match or lighter. We are in a complete total darkness. Sometimes, we just wish that we could turn on the light and run faster.

But a friend reminds me this morning, that we have an alternative on how to move forward. Not by turning the light on the candle, but to make a new tunnel! yes, a new tunnel for ourself. Don't follow the path that has been laid out, make our own path.

So much his word, it reminds me of what Ibu Dewi once told us. "Dont act like water, try to become a Japanese". What does that means? Water usually will go along the streamline. Its shape will follow what it hits. If it hits a tree, then it will follow the shape of the tree trunk. If it hits the table, it will follow as well. But try to become a Japanese. It means that you dig the mountain, make a new tunnel for a new road or railway. Or to make a highway under water, like one in Odaiba, Tokyo.

Be brave and be bold. Quoting a friend," you need no candle, you need a hoe (cangkul)"

Yoooosshh.. Gambarou!

p.s. I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to a dear friend for giving me a time of peace when she said, "returning to Indonesia is not a bad idea. It feels like a bouncing ball. Indeed, you bounce to the bottom but the ball bounce back to the air even higher than before. So don't be afraid. You are coming back to Indonesia only to raise higher". Your word saved me.. Thank you..


Kyoto, 3 September 2010

Recollecting Japan: the Autumn Ohara Story

Kyoto is such a beauty when it comes to Autumn season. Make sure to be there around November and you can see the bright yellow, orange and red maple leaves glancing in front of your face. There are many places to visit but my recommendation fall to several places, including Ohara, Shugakuin Imperial Village, Nijo Street (its just beautiful in autumn), and Arashiyama - Kameoka route on train. Today, though, I am sharing you my Ohara story.

Ohara is on rural town located in the mountains of northern Kyoto. It took an hour or so from Kyoto. The easiest way to get there is by catching a bus from Denmachiyanagi station, in front of its Eizan line sta. Traveling by bus up to the mountain brings pleasure as well, with the red scenery all through the mountain.

It was two years ago the first time I visit. I was there with Nancy and Gilly, only to catch up with Hisashi and the rest of IR friends later the day. We headed to Sanzenin, a temple beautiful for its autumn garden. Like a kid having a new toy, I was strolling the small alley up to Sanzenin with my mouth open. Taking pictures after pictures. Played with dried maple leaves, making a scene as if I was in the some romantic H(B)ollywood movie. LOL. Just asked Nancy how creepy I was that day, bothering her for picture request only because she had a professional camera. hehehehe...

We headed to Sanzenin and later to Nanzenin temple, two main attractions of Ohara. Sanzenin's garden view in Autum in splendid! You just want to sit down and not wanting to leave. But trust me, the interesting story lies just beside Nanzenin. There is a small tea house, just small and modest enough for you to skip it. But at that time, Hisashi told us that he was there and we can meet him there. So we decided to come in and found that he could not be found anywhere! But the blessing is just around the corner. There, we heard of a story of the lost samurai from the caretaker of the house, right after we finished our tea drinking.

During the chaotic time leading to Meiji Restoration, Kyoto was the center of revolt and change. Samurai clans from Chosu, Satsuma and Tosa lead the revolution to re-enact the Emperor as the supreme leader of Japan and thus replacing the already-weak shogunate. The clash between pro-Shogunate and pro-Imperial forces is generally called the Boshin War and the battle occured in Kyoto is best known as Fushimi Battle (鳥羽・伏見の戦い).The battle itself started on 27 January 1868. It occured all over Kyoto, but for me to learn it later, the tragic story also happened in Ohara.

During the series of battle in downtown Kyoto, pro-Tokugawa forces experienced many defeat. Many of the samurais were forced to flee Kyoto and some of them headed to Ohara. There, they again cornered by the pro-imperial forces that later resulted in many of them committed suicide, locally known as Seppuku or internationally known as hara-kiri. In this small compound in wide Sanzein temple, 370 people committed seppuku. According to the caretaker, the battle was so fierce and large in scale that it made the corpses in Ohara left unburied properly for many days after the mass seppuku. As the result, it left the mark of human body in the floor of the house after a series of cleaning. We can still see the trace of eyes and nose mark in the floor. To pay the respect to the descend, it was decided to pull the floor for the roof instead. So, if you point your eyes to the roof along the hallway, you can still see the trace even its quite difficult for untrained eyes (and a bit of scared soul) like myself.

So, if you ever had a chance to visit Kyoto in Autumn, have some spare time to visit Ohara and witness yourself the beauty of this mountain side and the telling story of Fushimi battle.

Why Ritsumeikan?

Throughout the year, many asked me why I decided to study in Ritsumeikan University at the first place. And each time, I gave the same answer. I choose Ritsumeikan because of its name.




In Japanese, Ritsumeikan University is written as follows: 立命館大学. Take the word "Ritsumeikan" only and you will have 3 characters:
1. 立 from the word 立てる (tateru) which means to achieve, to establish.
2. 命 (inochi, いのち) means 'life'
3. 館 (kan) means 'place'
In combination, it literally means "a place to establish one's destiny."

So what it has to do with my decision? There are many other schools which bear meaningful names and big reputation. Why should I finally choose to enter Ritsumeikan? It started from a simple conversation with Ayu when we both in deep confusion of what to do in our life. We both had graduated and worked for some time. But deep inside, we both want to continue our study. We tried to apply for some scholarships but all failed in vain. We both almost gave up and asked to each other, "what will be our future destiny actually?".

In the midst of that confusion, I stumbled upon an announcement of Priority Graduate Program launched by Ritsumeikan University. The university offered a special program for foreign student to study at Ritsumeikan University under Monbukagakusho scholarship. The successful candidate will get a chance to earn master degree through Global Cooperate Program at Department of International Relations. I was scheming the page and decided to read the history of the university. Then, at the end of the page, it says "Ritsumeikan thus means the 'place to establish one's destiny'."

I was startled for a while and soon remembered the conversation I had earlier with Ayu. A place to establish one's destiny. Can I establish my destiny there? As soon as I grasped the meaning, I decided to apply for the program. I tried my best to complete all the requirements and send it in time. Deep down inside, I was hoping I made the right decision and got accepted. The answer came few months later, I was accepted in the university. A university that called it self as a place for its students to established their destiny.

Here I am, two years later, finally at the brink of completing two years master program at Ritsumei. So much had been going in two years. So much I bet I will never able to put every single thing in word. Ritsumei gave me a chance to spread my wings wider, to establish my foundation deeper, and to build my house more beautiful. I had many chance to learn new things, learn new culture. To have a teacher and fellow die hard-er that gave me a sense of family. To have part time job that enables me to see the beauty of teaching. To have an internship that might help me to build my future dream career. To live in Kyoto, one of the most beautiful city in universe, a place now I can call home. But most importantly, to have fellow kenkyushitsu-ers and lounge buddy with whom I share joyful, crazy and wonderful moments together.

Here in Ritsumei, I am living life and creating destiny. And so can you..


Kyoto, 6 September 2010

Demi sebuah musim yang bersemu merah

Catatan akhir di Kyoto,

seindah sinar rembulan di musim gugur,
secantik semburat lembayung di musim semi,
seelok warna senja di musim panas,
seputih hamparan salju di musim dingin,

Dan catatan awal di Solo,

seenak makan selat solo sambil becanda
selezat makan tengkleng kambing di bawah gapura
senikmat minum es buah di tengah terik mentari
semantap makan sate sambil mengobrol diatas tikar lusuh


Bedanya?
Disana aku menikmati musim yang indah dan cinta yang mekar
Disini aku menikmati makanan yang lezat dan hidup yang menantang
Viva HIDUP

Recollecting Japan: Jidai Matsuri 2008

For the past 2 years, I have been trough many in Japan. Many festivals celebrated, great number of friends bonded, and lots of memories shared. Recollecting Japan is my simple attempt to relive the good memory of living life in Japan. Enjoy (｡◕‿‿◕｡★)

********

According to uncle Wiki, Jidai Matsuri (時代祭) or Festival of the Ages is a traditional festival in Kyoto to celebrate the the rich history of the nations. Jidai Matsuri is one of three most celebrated festival in Kyoto, along side Gion Matsuri and Aoi Matsuri. Among the three, Jidai was the youngest to be held, although it dated back in 1895. It roots in the devastating situation when the Emperor Meiji left Kyoto to govern the nation from new capital, Tokyo in 1868. For centuries, Kyoto had been Japan's capital where Emperor resided. But, the post was suddenly vacant leaving Kyoto half of its soul. To remember the glory of the nations, Jidai Matsuri was held.

Jidai Matsuri is essentially a parade of costume of traditional Japanese Era. From the era of Kammu Emperor to Edo period. All are being presented in glory (You can see some of the picture in my photos collections). And it held annually on October 22 each year.

For a person who just set foot in Japan, I was extremely exited to see Jidai Matsuri. I was asking many friends to join me and whoala... there were 8 of us joining the parade. Hisashi, Gilly, Mas Meidi, Thyda, Keo, Irene, Kisi, and myself. We choose to go directly there around 12.30, being afraid of not getting a good spot to watch. The place to see, in front of Kyoto Shiyakuso. Good spot, recommended! but make sure to come a little bit earlier than 1.

We were so exited to see it, let alone after we knew that Miss Universe might join the parade. I still wonder to this day, though, how did we get that information. hahahaha... But, dream was not always to be satisfied. Rain welcomed us earlier than the parade! all wet! Thanks God, Hisashi finally bought big umbrella for us to stay safe under. So the parade proceeded and we all saw it. Under the rain ;p

One after another, we were presented by people wearing different costume from different age. Start from Kammu time, Kamakura, Heian, and Edo. It was exiting and entertaining to see the development of tradition and their court clothes over time. How the women transform from elegant long black hair in layers of clothes in Heian period to a simpler Kimono court we saw today. The transformation of man's clothes are pretty interesting too. From ballooning pants in Heian period to long loose man's kimono in sword in Samurai period. Not to mention their hairstyle too.

Still under the rain, I felt an upsurge of excitement in learning more about Japanese culture. So great this single country that it can preserve thousands of years culture and make a good recollection of memories of it. I wish I can see one day a parade in Indonesia that depicts the great culture of the country. In one single parade. For our children to learn the richness of Indonesian culture and for foreigner to see a complete picture of Indonesian rich costumes and culture.

Tuesday's Teru Teru Bozu

Today marks the seventh Tuesday since I started regularly visiting a special place in Kyoto. And in each and any one of them, raining has been patiently come along. Drop after drop.. tears after tears..

I thought, the rain will kindly pour on another day than Tuesday. Especially after I have my Teru Teru Bozu, a cute doll little Kanako made for me last Saturday.

"Sensei, ageru..", pipped Kanako - chan at the end of my English lesson last saturday. My beautiful little student was smiling when she gave me a little doll called Teru Teru Bozu that we made together that day. Her mother then said, in the rainy season like this month, kids will make a lot Teru2 Bozu and hang it in their room. She then explained the meaning behind it.

Teru Teru Bozu is a kind of little doll, in a shape of little Buddist monk. "Teru" means sunshine in Japanese, while Bozu describes "a Buddist monk". Dated hundred years ago, children usually make teru teru bozu out of paper cloth and hang it on a string before the good day. Making and hanging teru teru bozu means asking for a good weather tomorrow. Time passes, and the hanging of teru teru bozu has its own meaning.

Hanging with the head on the top means "asking for a good sunny sunshine" tomorrow. Like this

While if you hang the heads on point to earth, it means you are asking for rain.

How will you hang your teru2 bozy today? ^^

p.s. if you ever ask why the string color seems like Indonesian flag color, i can say that my Teru teru Bozu just changed its nationality to Indonesia ;p

flying single in Japan: too hot too handle?

Sebelum berangkat ke Jepang, ada seorang ibu hebat yang berkata padaku. "paling enak sekolah di luar negeri kalo statusnya masih single. bisa lirak lirik kanan kiri. Bisa ngecengin bule ato sesama kawan dalam negeri. Masih bisa haha hihi tanpa beban. Kalau tahu bisa seenak itu jadi pelajar asing yang single, saya milih single aja waktu itu."

Kata-kata itu terekam kuat di ingatan. Makanya, ketika berangkat ke Jepang, perasaan ini terasa enteng sekali. Dalam hati berkata, "tenang aja, you gonna have a lot of fun there! Being single, you can do whatever you want."

Satu bulan, masih oke
Dua bulan, masih oke juga
Tiga bulan... empat bulan... setengah tahun....
tralalalaalalalalalala....
Kok ngeliat yang udah ga single jadi iri ya??

Kenapa sih gw jadi gini? Padahal dulu tinggal di Jakarta sendiri juga ga papa. Tp kenapa kesendirian ini awalnya terasa sangat menyiksa ya?

Bayangkan, tinggal di negeri orang, kita hidup sendiri. Pulang ke apartemen sendiri. Makan sendiri, masak untuk diri sendiri. Lonely ga sih?

Dulu ada cara jitu untuk mengurangi rasa sepi. "tinggal di kampus". Kampus 24/7. Tapi kok rasanya masih sepi ya?

Sepi hubungan antar manusia.. itu jawabannya. Untuk orang yang biasa berkeliaran dengan banyak orang dan mendengar banyak suara, berteman dengan hanya sedikit orang dan berteman dengan orang Jepang di kampus tidak banyak membantu.

Kenapa sih gw rewel soal itu? Jangan salah ya.. Orang Jepang sangat sopan dan ramah. Baik hati pula.. dan itu terbukti banget. I like being their friends...

Tapi, ramah itu bukan berarti kita bisa masuk dalam ke kehidupan mereka. Berteman selayaknya orang Indonesia berteman. Sekali temenan, ya bisa curhat kanan kiri. Temenan all out, kalo gw bisa bilang. Bahkan, temen yang kenal di dunia maya aja bisa jadi akrab. Gw sendiri mengalaminya. And I am so happy with it.

Berteman dengan orang Jepang butuh pembelajaran yang lain. Mereka punya prinsip, uchi dan soto. Uchi itu artinya orang dalam, dan soto itu artinya orang luar. Nah, yang dikategorikan uchi itu keluarga dan teman yang udah kenal lama. Sementara, soto itu orang asing. Alhasil, kebanyakan dari mereka memiliki berlapis-lapis benteng sebelum kita bisa jadi temenan. Bukan berarti itu buruk ya, tapi lebih ke gimana cara kita menerimanya.

Akhirnya, berjuanglah gw untuk bisa menerima pertemanan ala orang jepang. Maklumlah sebagai orang single yang menghabiskan sebagian besar waktu di kampus dan sebagian dulu di tempat kerja part time, berteman dengan teman Jepang yg mayoritas di lap dan kantor jadi penting banget. Kalo ga sama mereka, sapa siapa lagi coba?? hehehehe... Dan hanya dengan bertemanlah semua rasa sepi tinggal di negeri orang terobati.

Anyway, sayang berteman dengan mereka sama dengan berteman di lapisan luar. Buat gw, berteman itu ya all out. Sekali temenan, bisa ngobrol en curhat kanan kiri. You give away part of you, and vice versa. Nyatanya, prinsip ini ga berlaku kalau berteman di Jepang. Ada semacam tata aturan yang harus kita ikuti. *Jadi ingat pesan emak dulu, "dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit dijunjung"*

Mulailah gw berteman ala Jepang. Berteman di satu lapisan kehidupan, itu istilah gw. Kenapa satu? karena hanya satu itulah yang dibuka. Contohnya, daku punya teman2 Jepang yang hanya ketemu satu kali sebulan, dan selalu dalam rangka jalan2 bareng. Gimana dengan 29 hari yang lain? Bisa tetep temenan tanpa kontak? jawabnya, Bisa dan Sukses!!

Gimana dengan teman-teman kampus? Ya di kampuslah temenan kita. Kita makan malem di kantin kampus, ngobrol di student lounge kampus, karaokean ngerayain selese ujian, ato dateng ke graduation temen kampus kita. Diluar kampus?? jangan pernah banyak berharap! kehidupan pertemanan kita hanya sebatas itu.. Kalaupun ada makan malam bareng di luar ato jalan bareng ke festival, cuma sesekali dan harus dirancang jauh2 hari. Khas pertemuan dengan orang Jepang. Dirancang dan dipersiapkan dari jauh hari. Plus, jangan pernah mencampur aduk teman dalam satu occasion. hasilnya, kagok hebat. Bahkan seorang teman pernah berkata, dia enggak pernah ngenalin pacarnya ke teman2nya dan begitu pula sebaliknya. Reaksi pertama gw: Oh my God!! kok bisa??? how can i endure such a friendship???

Jadilah daku melangkang buana di dunia "hubungan antar manusia" ini dengan segala ombaknya. Semua hal dicoba.. Mulai dari makan bareng di kantin kampus, belajar di kampus ampe tengah malem, karaokean sampe pagi, yakiniku ampe perut mau meletus, makan 3 es krim sekaligus padahal lagi dingin2, nonton festival, berpetualang jadi ninja, maen2 jadi oshin jaman dulu, metik teh, ski, pesta takoyaki, nonton formula one bareng, latihan kaligrafi en belajar masak sama ibu hostfamily, belanja gila2an di musim panas, makan sushi super mahal, ato ngerayain ultah. Kalo dipikir2, semua kok jadi kayak ada occasionnya gitu ya? yaaahh... itulah gaya temenan disini. Tapi makin lama, makin diterimalah gaya pertemanan itu. Ga perlu pake banyak emosi. Cukup dengan emosi bahagia, itu dah cukup. Kadang, ada rindunya juga kegiatan berantem en salah paham. Kan berantem salah satu bagian dari persahabatan. hehehehehe.... Disini, yang begituan mah mentok2 ma keluarga besar Indonesia ku ato ma Kisi ato nancy. Enak kan? heheheehehehe....

Sungguh Tuhan Maha Pemurah. Diberikanlah padaku seorang sahabat yang begitu hebat. Namanya Kisi, dari Cina. Sungguh, dia adalah sahabat sekaligus adik perempuanku. Dengannya, gw menemukan persahabatan yang tulus. Kita saling dukung dan menguatkan agar kita berdua tetap bisa bertahan tinggal di Jepang dengan hati bahagia dan senang. Yang lebih membuat gw senang, Kisi bisa berbaur dengan keluarga Indonesiaku yang luar biasa itu. Di dirinya lah, daku tahu kalo pertemanan ala Indonesia yang hebat itu masih tetap ada di dalam kehidupanku di Jepang..

Tuhan Maha Pemurah, diberikan-Nya padaku keluarga baru yang tidak kalah hebat. Kawan Indonesia adalah keluarga nurul. Keluarga setanah air, keluarga setumpah darah... keluargaku. Teman berbagi tawa, guyonan khas, en makanan enak. Kumpul2 bareng adalah hal yang paliiiingg menyenangkan. Bisa ngobrol kemana-mana en sampe entah jam berapa. Mau bikin roleplay? boleh banget.. alhasil, jadilah daku inem-nya nyonyah ratna dan bunda merangkap baby sitter-nya syifan. hebat kan?? hehehehhe....

So, being single in Japan is not bad at all.. I can experience many kinds of relationship and friendship. I learn to have one dimensional friendship or relationship. Learn to accepting the way things done. Having those bad, good, stupid, lonely, exiting, fun, lonely, depressing, embarrassing and many other moments in life here. Kadang jatuhnya sebel, tapi kebanyakan jadi bersyukur karena gw masih single. Bisa ber-haha haha dan ber-hihi hihi.. free as a bird. Mau apa juga boleh, ga ada yang ngelarang dan ga ada yang membatasi. Paling mak bapak di rumah yang teriak-teriak ngingetin anaknya ini biar tetep di jalan yang benar. heheheehehehe...

Home is where good friends and food are

there is an old quotation in indonesia. it says `win your beloved one`s love with food`. lets make it simple.. from food with love! waakakakakakaka... well, as I realize that this come from someone who loves food soo muuuccch... you can believe it. But you are very much welcome not to ;p

Me, very much lucky today to have full lunch and dinner with Indonesian food. Oh God... I really feel like home. Pak Cahyo is celebrating his brithday and Pak Agus just set his foot back to this city, a home to Japan`s most beautiful ladies - one said. Yaaaayyy... so happy. Plus when we had dance rehearsal, we had Indonesian snack. Yeepppyyy... Oh, how much food can make us happy, ne? hahahahahhaa....

What make me happy is that we share so many good jokes tonight. Pak Agus told us, that once he had a discussion with friends who studies at Rits School of Policy Science. Not long after that, a friend came along the discussion and asked what they were talking about. Pak Agus, who seems to have the jokes of all, said that they just talked about Rits Graduate School of Policy Sciences. Pak Agus said that they were talking about POLISI. In Indonesian word, POLISI means police officer. Soo ... when you said the word `policy` in indonesian, you can mistaken it for polisi. in suuumm... Rits Graduate School for Policy Science is a school for police officer ;p

have a nice weekend, everybody ^_^

originally written on November 2, 2008

the sun is just too shy today

This weekend, I think will appear to be a though week. I just finished this the first day of whole week fall intensive class on Global cooperation, major in energy policy. The class starts at 10 and ends at 4. And the proffessor is just though. The thoughest I ever see so far. God.. I think I just have to work harder. Yeah.. at least for this week only. One thing though, while we are talking about energy efficiency and some sort of, the classroom is soooo not likely to imply that topic. You know why? because in this freezing autumn, the class is colder than outside the building! huuuahahaahahaha... they still turn on the air con. Just like the bus I ride yesterday.

Talking about paradox, there is one more. My professor said that mailing list helps to establish your network and get all sort of information that you actually need in time. But then again, it really doesnt apply to me. Am I the one who feel weird in this case? Cuz here`s the deal. Just moments ago, I realized how messy and unorganized my email is. Tooo many unread email. Then I realized that many of those emails came from all that mailing lists that I join volunterarily. At the end, I just read the title, check all those unread email, and delete it. Without even bothering whether they have something important or not. At the end, this mailing lists system is really a pain in my head. Have to figure out how to use them properly. Got to be sooner, I guess..

While messing myself with deleting all those email, a friend sent me a nice writing by George Carlin. Ahh.. if you ask me who this person is, you wont get anything. Anyway.. George Carlin wrote something interesting stuff though. I`ll quote it here

*******

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

So...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

******

While reading this, I realized that Iget used to stay up really late for the past couple of years. Then sometimes, I wake up too tired that I almost hate to drag myself out of bed in the morning. I guess.. no wonder if I fall for the warmth of autumn sunshine. Its sooo warm that I almost unable to do anything else than embrace it in front of my window. Just a couple of minutes, though.. coz I have to hurry to school. But today, the sun is too shy that it let the cloud to do the job of coloring the sky with its plain white turns to grey color. So, to make it colorful, I just turn on my IPod and listen to some colorful music along the way. So, reminds me to give one nobel price to Ipod inventer later the days. Just in case I forget it...

Good day everyone ^_^

originally written on November 3, 2008

There is a reason why we met someone

I just finished my tour in Himeji Castle. In freaking hot weather, took a break and had some drinks would be the best choice for avoiding any possibilities of dying from dehydration. While enjoying my ice cream, i suddenly heard somebody played a song. So familiar that I quicky knew that the song is called "Bengawan Solo", a very popular song composed by Gesang. A song that tells the story about Bengawan Solo, a river so famous in my hometown. And it is Solo, my hometown.

I finished my last bite quickly and run toward the man playing the song with his flute. I was standing 10 meters from him, watching him playing the flute and enjoying the melody. It was close to tear for me to hear that song in Japanese soil. the first time for me.. and he played it beautifully.

I thanked him for playing the song, a song that reminds me much of my hometown. He sounds so surprise then he asked about where is my hometown. I said, my hometown is Solo, a small city where the river lies and was named after. It was somehow a surpise for him. He actually never knew that Solo is the name of a city . He only know the song from YouTube and played it that day. I was then the one taken by surprise knowing that a man who knew nothing about my hometown could play that song so beautifully.

In my mind, there might be just simple reason why we met. For him, it might be about learning about Solo. And for me, it might be about healing the pain from missing my hometown so much. As simple as that...

But no matter what, I knew our path has crossed. But sadly it might well be that we would never meet again. Yet, I will always thankful for meeting him that day. He made me realize that my hometown is indeed lies in my heart. That even know in Japan, I can called a place where I live, "home".


I've heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led, to those who help us most to grow
If we let them, and we help them in return


p.s.
To you who played the song so beautifully, I thank you

originally written on August 4

Spring came too soon

A little girl asked me
"What is your favorite color?"

I smiled and said
"pink..."

and the little girl cheerfully replied
"You should come to Saijo on spring then..
That is the time when the sky turn pink and purple during sunset"

I had nothing to say to her
Yet, my heart had gave me an answer
"I wish spring come later..
if so, i would still have time to go to Saijo after I bid him goodbye.."

Spring came too soon

A little girl asked me
"What is your favorite color?"

I smiled and said
"pink..."

and the little girl cheerfully replied
"You should come to Saijo on spring then..
That is the time when the sky turn pink and purple during sunset"

I had nothing to say to her
Yet, my heart had gave me an answer
"I wish spring come later..
if so, i would still have time to go to Saijo after I bid him goodbye.."