If you have ever worn a pair of stockings before, you would know better to take extra care of your movements. If you are not careful enough, an accidental brush against a rough surface or a careless contact with a sharp object could easily get your stocking into a run.
And once you get a tiny hole in the closely knitted material - even if it is in the least conspicuous spot - and you don't cease it in time, the hole quietly spreads its territory, eating away your cover. Eventually a whole line of stitches will come undone. When it all comes undone, the run would be far too obvious, and its damage irreparable.
In the crevice that stretches from the top to the tip, lies a narrow stretch of your skin, like a river that divides a piece of land.
29.3.11
28.3.11
You're a falling star, You're the get away car
You know how almost every child has one or two personal possessions that he prizes so dearly? It could be a blanklet that has been reduced to scraps, a pillow which has become offensive to the olfaction of others, a toy that has outlived its functionality, a book whose pages have been torn, or even a chair that has been far outgrown - basically items that he spent a good number of years with. Hence, in spite of their condition, these items may still be kept because of their sentimental value as totems of one's childhood.
All of us desire and need a sense of security. Of cos, His unchanging nature gives me the absolute security. But familiarity is a source of security too. This is why old habits die hard, old methods persists, old friends remain so precious. Today, I give thanks for the people who have walked with me for almost a decade (and some more). I'm hardly sentimental, but it's funny how I allowed my mind to drift back to those good old days at the stairway with the guitar and songbooks. I was overcomed in nostalgia, as I felt the joy and exuberance of a schoolgirl once again.
Allow me to end with a song that triggered off the happy thought:
Well, you're not everything, but you're a line in the sand when I go too far.
All of us desire and need a sense of security. Of cos, His unchanging nature gives me the absolute security. But familiarity is a source of security too. This is why old habits die hard, old methods persists, old friends remain so precious. Today, I give thanks for the people who have walked with me for almost a decade (and some more). I'm hardly sentimental, but it's funny how I allowed my mind to drift back to those good old days at the stairway with the guitar and songbooks. I was overcomed in nostalgia, as I felt the joy and exuberance of a schoolgirl once again.
Allow me to end with a song that triggered off the happy thought:
Well, you're not everything, but you're a line in the sand when I go too far.
19.3.11
The Railway Children
Have you ever gone into a farmhouse kitchen on a baking day, and seen the great crock of dough set by the fit to rise? If you have, and if you were at that time still young enough to be interested in everything you saw, you will remember that you found yourself quite unable to resist the temptation to poke your finger into the soft round dough that curved inside the pan like a giant mushroom. And you will remember that your finger made a dent on the dough, and that slowly, but quite surely, the deny disappeared, and the dough looked quite the same as it did before you touched it. Unless of cos, your hand was extra dirty in which case, naturally there would be a little black mark.
Well, it was just like that with the sorrow the children had felt at Father's going away, and at Mother's being so unhappy. It made a deep impression, but the impression did not last long.
Taken from The Railway Children, by E. Nesbit.
I haven't been able to write in a while - it feels as if an important part of me has been taken away.
I'm kind of missing the warmth in Urakawa. Somehow, it always seems easier with strangers.
10.3.11
Kamakura
Upon returning to Tokyo after Urakawa, we had a day off to sightsee at Kamakura. It was a much welcomed break after an intensively packed schedule for the past 7-8 days.
Arriving in Kamakura by train.
The iconic Japanese schoolgirls.
The entrance to a shrine.
Elderly dressed in simple Kimonos.
A statue of Buddha.
Street stall.
Okonomiyaki for lunch :D
A Sakura tree at the entrance of another temple.
Boots shelf.
People making prayers.
A wishing well I think.
And here is where people write their wishes on a wooden plate to hang them on a board.
Close-up shot.
Candles inside a cave.
Flowers for sale as offerings.
This is where they place the flowers.
This was where people could tie the bad lots that they drew, so that they don't bring it back home with them.
A resting place at the peak.
The view at the top.
Sweet rice balls in a stick.
We spotted two of our guys trying to start a conversation with kawaii Japanese girls! Haha!
Japanese love dogs and this was the cutest one I saw! I wanted to pack it in my luggage!! ^.^
Barrels of Sake.
There was a wedding ceremony happening inside the hut!
I had to make a 50 metres dash in order to catch up with them for the shot!
There were many nice indie shops along the main street.
The end of the street, with a large torii gate.
Kamakara is indeed a nice getaway from the hustle bustle of Tokyo! No wonder it was so crowded during the weekend!
Arriving in Kamakura by train.
The iconic Japanese schoolgirls.
The entrance to a shrine.
Elderly dressed in simple Kimonos.
A statue of Buddha.
Street stall.
Okonomiyaki for lunch :D
A Sakura tree at the entrance of another temple.
Boots shelf.
People making prayers.
A wishing well I think.
And here is where people write their wishes on a wooden plate to hang them on a board.
Close-up shot.
Candles inside a cave.
Flowers for sale as offerings.
This is where they place the flowers.
This was where people could tie the bad lots that they drew, so that they don't bring it back home with them.
A resting place at the peak.
The view at the top.
Sweet rice balls in a stick.
We spotted two of our guys trying to start a conversation with kawaii Japanese girls! Haha!
Japanese love dogs and this was the cutest one I saw! I wanted to pack it in my luggage!! ^.^
Barrels of Sake.
There was a wedding ceremony happening inside the hut!
I had to make a 50 metres dash in order to catch up with them for the shot!
There were many nice indie shops along the main street.
The end of the street, with a large torii gate.
Kamakara is indeed a nice getaway from the hustle bustle of Tokyo! No wonder it was so crowded during the weekend!
Little children of Japan
Children are a rare commodity in Japan! Many of them were so adorable that I found myself chasing after them with my camera.
This post is specially dedicated to Samantha and Cheryl. (:
This post is specially dedicated to Samantha and Cheryl. (:
Urakawa: Where Winter is Warm
Urakawa is a lovely town situated along the coast of southern Hokkaido, Japan.
Urakawa is off the beaten track for tourists. However, as part of the Jenesys programme, I had the rare opportunity to visit this quiet and peaceful place, to gain a better understanding of social welfare services over there. In Urakawa, the population is small and old, as many members of the younger generation have migrated to the cities to seek higher socio-economic status, living behind many lone elderly. Nonetheless, I found the people there exceptionally warm, accepting and friendly. And this is definitely a place I would want to live in if I ever need to seek asylum from the erratic pace of city life.
Arriving in Hokkaido, outside Chitose Airport. It was the first time seeing snow for many of us :D
Our first dinner in a humble restaurant. Hot ramen goes well with cold beer in the chilly climate.
The cook behind the yummy dinner.
The streets of Urakawa, on a cold morning.
On the second day here, we visited the Association for the Ainu tribe, who are the indigenous people in the country.
A very very adorable old lady.
That's her singing!
From my understanding, more than half a century ago, the Japanese people started to invade the land of Hokkaido, taking away many young ladies from the Ainu tribe. Many of them were badly treated, sexually assaulted and tortured by their captors. As the presence of the Japanese people grew, the Ainu people also began to face discrimination in schools, in work and in their homeland. The song that this granny was singing carried the voice of a young lady who was taken to a foreign land, cut off from her family and loved ones. The song was slow and painful, filled with grief and longing for a past and a future lost.
Ainu people playing their traditional musical instrument.
We bade them farewells with the a warm but heavy heart.
The third morning, after some light snow.
The outskirts, however, were covered with plenty of snow.
It was freezingly cold!
The workshop of Koyeon Institution, where people with intellectual disability worked. The clients were able to make very beautiful wooden crafts and handicrafts. (To protect the privacy of the clients, I am unable to post pictures of some of the other workshops) It was the perfect place to buy omiyages!
At Warashibe horse riding therapy centre*, we were given the chance to ride on a horse! This is yours truly, with Expresso, the black beauty.
(*This centre provides rehabilitation service to persons with physical disabilities through horse riding therapy. Horse riding has been shown to be helpful in correcting the posture and enhancing the balance of the clients. The therapy session was some thing that many clients looked forward to very much!)
Cafe Bura Bura, run by the Bethel House*. Many of the items displayed here are made by the Bethel House members. All of us liked the cafe so much that we kept going back there. Their pumpkin cakes were the best I've ever had!
(*Bethel House is a group home, community home facility for people with mental condition. What makes Bethel House so unique is the "patient-led research", where clients redefine their illnesses as weaknesses, and support each other in finding ways to cope and live with their own weaknesses. In my opinion, Carl Roger's person-centred approach is at the heart of their practice. People there were very supportive, accepting and nonjudgmental. They live together in groups, depending on each other for practical assistance and emotional support. The people at Bethel house also find ways to engage in economically productive activities. Some of the social enterprise they run include the cafe mentioned above, and various businesses selling packed seaweed, handicrafts, and publishing books on the Bethel House and its practices. Over the years, Bethel house has become quite well-known in Japan as people come from all corners of Japan to seek respite, if not a new home.)
This boy (I can't remember his name) was an awesome singer! He wrote his own songs and did several performances during our time at the cafe.
On our last night in Urakawa, the local party threw a party for us! We were strongly encouraged to wear our traditional costumes so this is yours truly in a cheongsam (and thermal wear to keep warm, haha!).
The opening performance.
The residents put up a couple of booths for us to experience traditional Japanese art/skills, such as tea ceremony...
flower arrangement
and kimono-wearing! Apparently to put on a Kimono is a skill that girls had to learnt too.
There were many steps, many layers, and many moments when we had to breathe in and suck our tummies in!
The beautiful ladies who helped to dress us in Kimonos. Yikes, I looked incredibly FAT! Hmm Japanese food must have been too good to resist! )):
A parting shot with the residents of the town. I always find it amazing when people who do not share a common language are still able to connect with each other.
Goodbye Urakawa, and goodbye to thick winter wear.
Urakawa is off the beaten track for tourists. However, as part of the Jenesys programme, I had the rare opportunity to visit this quiet and peaceful place, to gain a better understanding of social welfare services over there. In Urakawa, the population is small and old, as many members of the younger generation have migrated to the cities to seek higher socio-economic status, living behind many lone elderly. Nonetheless, I found the people there exceptionally warm, accepting and friendly. And this is definitely a place I would want to live in if I ever need to seek asylum from the erratic pace of city life.
Arriving in Hokkaido, outside Chitose Airport. It was the first time seeing snow for many of us :D
Our first dinner in a humble restaurant. Hot ramen goes well with cold beer in the chilly climate.
The cook behind the yummy dinner.
The streets of Urakawa, on a cold morning.
On the second day here, we visited the Association for the Ainu tribe, who are the indigenous people in the country.
A very very adorable old lady.
That's her singing!
From my understanding, more than half a century ago, the Japanese people started to invade the land of Hokkaido, taking away many young ladies from the Ainu tribe. Many of them were badly treated, sexually assaulted and tortured by their captors. As the presence of the Japanese people grew, the Ainu people also began to face discrimination in schools, in work and in their homeland. The song that this granny was singing carried the voice of a young lady who was taken to a foreign land, cut off from her family and loved ones. The song was slow and painful, filled with grief and longing for a past and a future lost.
Ainu people playing their traditional musical instrument.
We bade them farewells with the a warm but heavy heart.
The third morning, after some light snow.
The outskirts, however, were covered with plenty of snow.
It was freezingly cold!
The workshop of Koyeon Institution, where people with intellectual disability worked. The clients were able to make very beautiful wooden crafts and handicrafts. (To protect the privacy of the clients, I am unable to post pictures of some of the other workshops) It was the perfect place to buy omiyages!
At Warashibe horse riding therapy centre*, we were given the chance to ride on a horse! This is yours truly, with Expresso, the black beauty.(*This centre provides rehabilitation service to persons with physical disabilities through horse riding therapy. Horse riding has been shown to be helpful in correcting the posture and enhancing the balance of the clients. The therapy session was some thing that many clients looked forward to very much!)
Cafe Bura Bura, run by the Bethel House*. Many of the items displayed here are made by the Bethel House members. All of us liked the cafe so much that we kept going back there. Their pumpkin cakes were the best I've ever had!
(*Bethel House is a group home, community home facility for people with mental condition. What makes Bethel House so unique is the "patient-led research", where clients redefine their illnesses as weaknesses, and support each other in finding ways to cope and live with their own weaknesses. In my opinion, Carl Roger's person-centred approach is at the heart of their practice. People there were very supportive, accepting and nonjudgmental. They live together in groups, depending on each other for practical assistance and emotional support. The people at Bethel house also find ways to engage in economically productive activities. Some of the social enterprise they run include the cafe mentioned above, and various businesses selling packed seaweed, handicrafts, and publishing books on the Bethel House and its practices. Over the years, Bethel house has become quite well-known in Japan as people come from all corners of Japan to seek respite, if not a new home.)
This boy (I can't remember his name) was an awesome singer! He wrote his own songs and did several performances during our time at the cafe.
On our last night in Urakawa, the local party threw a party for us! We were strongly encouraged to wear our traditional costumes so this is yours truly in a cheongsam (and thermal wear to keep warm, haha!).
The opening performance.
The residents put up a couple of booths for us to experience traditional Japanese art/skills, such as tea ceremony...
flower arrangement
and kimono-wearing! Apparently to put on a Kimono is a skill that girls had to learnt too.
There were many steps, many layers, and many moments when we had to breathe in and suck our tummies in!
The beautiful ladies who helped to dress us in Kimonos. Yikes, I looked incredibly FAT! Hmm Japanese food must have been too good to resist! )):
A parting shot with the residents of the town. I always find it amazing when people who do not share a common language are still able to connect with each other.
Goodbye Urakawa, and goodbye to thick winter wear.
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