News!

Dear all,

Helloooo... I have safely arrived in Kyoto and is now settling down in Ohbaku, one hour away from the main campus in downtown Kyoto.

This is downtown Kyoto area around the new Kyoto Station building, which boasts a futuristic glass and steel structure with a 7-storey high elevator. I can't imagine that, so I am going to go check it out and will post some pictures soon. The station is the bluish grey building at the vanishing point of this pic.



Ohbaku where I am staying at the moment is a bit different from downtown Kyoto. It is a quaint little town surrounded by hills and bamboo groves. Its is very quiet here, the streets are narrow and buildings are only up to 3 storey high at most (or I haven't seen a taller one). It's a charming place and there are lots of cosy little restaurants which I have yet to try. Its awfully expensive to eat out here so as a result, I have only frequented the campus shokudo (canteen) or done my own cooking. I desperately need a rice cooker.



Cherry blossoms are blooming all over the place! Its hard to miss. It is just the beginning of the o-hanami season (cherry blossom viewing) and I'll be visiting Gion (home of the geishas) this weekend and Osaka the next.



Well, this is how my room in Ohbaku looks like. Its fully equipped with a little kitchen and bath tub to soak in, air-con, heater, 24 hours internet access, phone, refridgerator and other furnitures. Thank god for the heater and hot tub. I would have been dead......



As I live in the outskirts, the view from the balcony is not bad at all! Its great to escape from the fumes of KL to fresh, cold countryside air.





This is Kyoto University campus ground. Very lush and green.





Everyone here speaks japanese, and I had to depend on my instinct to guess what they are trying to relay to me. It does take a lot of patience so I hope that I won't run thin on it. As of now I feel great here and do not mind the language barrier. People here are very courteous and do go the extra mile to help when I can't find the way.

I MISS:

a) Little white cat


b) Miss Cat





anddddd.... ALL OF YOU!!