Today on 27 November 2009, I need to take the train to Nagoya from Takayama. I missed the breakfast again at the hotel. So at 9:45 am I took the taxi to Cafe Scenery near the train station and ordered a Danish set, with cinnamon and bluebery croissants plus coffee. Coffee always taste good in Japan, some how.
Yeah, the Japanese is the ultimate consumerist. Perhaps that is the `clue` to all this.
I think we (many people) are fascinated with the Japanese. Since Frank Lloyd Wright and the Art Nouveaurist...the Japanese (question is) are they hell-bent on the preservation of their culture and would use the most advanced technology to preserve their culture? What is culture to the Japanese? Does it matter to the younger generation? (I got one perspective later from 26 year old Yuki)
How can you survive facing globalisation?
I think I want to be beyond Malaysia. Haruki, your novel will make more sense.
At the station, I got the reserved ticket at 5,870 Japanese yen (about USD 58)to Nagoya. Yup, its about 2 1/2 hours ride and I called Yuki that I will arrive there at 2 pm. Taking the Hida express no. 8 at 11:35 am. I hope that everything will be okay. I assumed that the railway station staff will assist me. I don`t think I have too much stuff. But its hard to keep up pace. The Japanese people are so fast. I suppose it is worse in Tokyo.
What is driving the Japanese people?
A sense of duty, responsibility inculculated since childhood I suppose. No wonder nations want to control their children`s minds. This reminded me of Stephie not wanting to be German. That`s the other extreme. Do Japanese still believe deep in their psyche that they are the superior race. I noticed they only talked about the Americans other than themselves and even that just as reference. The British does not impress them.
Is there a huge gap between the older and younger generation?
It`s a quick trip so I don`t expect to get the answers so quickly.
I met Yuki and Koji at Nagoya station. Yuki has yet to finsih architecture and Koji dropped out of college earlier and worked for 10 years and only now started to study again. We went to a cheap sushi restaurant.
It was really great eating all sorts of sushi that I could not get back in Malaysia. They dared me to eat the crab brains sushi - urghh... and the smelly fermented `nato` or is it nutto? I did and the first one was gross. Nice kids. Yuki gave me Doala a Kunichi Dragons mascot...just like the truck driver in Haruki`s Kafka novel. And Koji gave me a milk caramel. I gave them the rest of the silk batik handkerchiefs and keychains, the baseball one for Yuki and the samurai one for Koji...
Yeah, we talked about being Japanese and the culture and preserve and all that. When we went to Nagoya castle, Yuki told me that he agreed the mayor`s decision to do a replica in timber of the castle extension. And the mayor is going to reconstruct the Nagoya castle itself, which was a concrete one built after the war. Why not, because the Japanese has the money and the know-how.
Someone asked me about this Japanese paradox and this is a fine example. Using new technology to preserve the old culture.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Takayama - Day 3
Today I presented on behalf of Malaysia. I tried my best. Talked about the legislative and implementation mechanism, basically the People with Disabilities Act 2008, and its impact as an instrument; then quickly touched on the the role of disabled people and concluded. Not much, just 10 minutes.
The scope of discussion in on the built environment and transportation, with a bent on employment. I think I managed to get two points across, where I would have loved to get three or four points out. The points I got across is 1. the PWD Act 2008 and the role of the Council; 2. mechanisms of implementation and why its not working. I suppose I did my best. I was steady and realised that I could not discuss on the access audits and the UNDP pproject.
Anyway, I hope people learned something.
Yesterday, I visited the Jinya which is an old courthouse and beautiful 17th century timber building and I was so happy because it gave me a great example of accessibility to a historic building...
It was the era of the shogun...and there was a torture chamber right there in the courthouse. They wiped our wheelchairs after we had to be pushed up the steps via two ramps, one short 4 feet one and longer 10 feet one. Both are portable ramps. Then we wheeled across the tatami mats of the courthouse.
I really loved the jinya. I have no time now, but maybe next time, I would like to have a longer stay in Japan and the means to travel and visit all these historic places in Japan.
The scope of discussion in on the built environment and transportation, with a bent on employment. I think I managed to get two points across, where I would have loved to get three or four points out. The points I got across is 1. the PWD Act 2008 and the role of the Council; 2. mechanisms of implementation and why its not working. I suppose I did my best. I was steady and realised that I could not discuss on the access audits and the UNDP pproject.
Anyway, I hope people learned something.
Yesterday, I visited the Jinya which is an old courthouse and beautiful 17th century timber building and I was so happy because it gave me a great example of accessibility to a historic building...
It was the era of the shogun...and there was a torture chamber right there in the courthouse. They wiped our wheelchairs after we had to be pushed up the steps via two ramps, one short 4 feet one and longer 10 feet one. Both are portable ramps. Then we wheeled across the tatami mats of the courthouse.
I really loved the jinya. I have no time now, but maybe next time, I would like to have a longer stay in Japan and the means to travel and visit all these historic places in Japan.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Takayama - Day 2
I learned something new today.
Takayama is a real working example of inclusive society. Although the Japanese may not appreciate that much the word 'inclusive' because after all they are hierarchical structured society like Malaysia, maybe more so, but they do provide a very good example of how to make it very accessible.
Alan Hill, born in England and lived in New York, stated that he find Japan more accessible than the United States. Satoh mentioned to me that San Franscisco and Bekerley to be more accessible than Japan. Whatever it is, I find the Japanese people most endearing in their sense of duty and responsibility and their practical ways.
I am sure like in any society, they have many barriers to making the city accessible. Yamamoto-san said that it took them 10 years to come to where they are.
I said that Takayama is a good role model, yes, for other Asian cities especially for a historic city. I talked about us being stuck with the European model of preserving the historic city no matter what, but what about Takayama. Tomorrow we shall see, because I will be visiting Takayama historic city centre and the old Court House / Government building, Jinya.
Apart from that, a very interesting after dinner meeting chaired by Aiko where it states here from my observation;
ESCAP Meeting
Interesting interjection by Yamamoto-san for the group to reconsider what it is to be said in the Takayama Declaration. INteresting to see the political deliberation of the group meeting.
' LOST IN TRANSLATION'
No wonder that story / film really tells it about the foreigner in Japan. Even we can get it wrong with people of the same culture. Some things are more abstract though...
Takayama is a real working example of inclusive society. Although the Japanese may not appreciate that much the word 'inclusive' because after all they are hierarchical structured society like Malaysia, maybe more so, but they do provide a very good example of how to make it very accessible.
Alan Hill, born in England and lived in New York, stated that he find Japan more accessible than the United States. Satoh mentioned to me that San Franscisco and Bekerley to be more accessible than Japan. Whatever it is, I find the Japanese people most endearing in their sense of duty and responsibility and their practical ways.
I am sure like in any society, they have many barriers to making the city accessible. Yamamoto-san said that it took them 10 years to come to where they are.
I said that Takayama is a good role model, yes, for other Asian cities especially for a historic city. I talked about us being stuck with the European model of preserving the historic city no matter what, but what about Takayama. Tomorrow we shall see, because I will be visiting Takayama historic city centre and the old Court House / Government building, Jinya.
Apart from that, a very interesting after dinner meeting chaired by Aiko where it states here from my observation;
ESCAP Meeting
Interesting interjection by Yamamoto-san for the group to reconsider what it is to be said in the Takayama Declaration. INteresting to see the political deliberation of the group meeting.
' LOST IN TRANSLATION'
No wonder that story / film really tells it about the foreigner in Japan. Even we can get it wrong with people of the same culture. Some things are more abstract though...
Monday, November 23, 2009
Journeys
Maybe many people don't do this or they do it differently but I have my "own Haruki Murakami" novel of my life...'Kafka on the Shore'. Age 15, and the hero Kafka discovered himself. As I have to continue discovering like him. I have the right to know about myself.
We may be doing selfish things. In a way everyone is selfish or practise whether they can see themselves or not. It's all about self-preservation. The number one thing that all living being wills itself to do.
Because we fall in love, we want to discover ourselves. It is a fact. We are selfish. Its not about the other person actually. Its about ourselves. Self-preservation again.
Like I said, today, Chapter One closes.
Let's look back:
1962 - 65 : Baby and toddler years or the beginning
1966 - 73 : Pain and strength
1973 - 79 : San Diego - my first journey
1976 - 79 : TKC years
1980 - 84 : First Pain as an adult
1985 - 90 : London years
1991 - 94 : UTM JB
1995 - 96 : Preamble
1997 - 04 : Finding myself after Dad died
2005 - 09 : Chapter One - my first spiritual journey
Yes, that's about it. If I die tomorrow, that's it. That's my life. Don't know what will happen after this.
We may be doing selfish things. In a way everyone is selfish or practise whether they can see themselves or not. It's all about self-preservation. The number one thing that all living being wills itself to do.
Because we fall in love, we want to discover ourselves. It is a fact. We are selfish. Its not about the other person actually. Its about ourselves. Self-preservation again.
Like I said, today, Chapter One closes.
Let's look back:
1962 - 65 : Baby and toddler years or the beginning
1966 - 73 : Pain and strength
1973 - 79 : San Diego - my first journey
1976 - 79 : TKC years
1980 - 84 : First Pain as an adult
1985 - 90 : London years
1991 - 94 : UTM JB
1995 - 96 : Preamble
1997 - 04 : Finding myself after Dad died
2005 - 09 : Chapter One - my first spiritual journey
Yes, that's about it. If I die tomorrow, that's it. That's my life. Don't know what will happen after this.
First day in Japan
I cannot describe the feeling of euphoria and excitement being in Japan. It`s really amazing.
Somehow this visit coincided with a journey of trying to rediscover myself. It was intense and now it is continuing to be so. A spiritual journey of sorts.
So if you are waiting to read about my `journey in Japan` I am afraid you are in for a disappointment at the moment. As one fact is, my camera has no battery life and I am really in a spiritual journey rather. So, no Japan, just me...
I wish I can read beyond those Japanese characters. The formality, the sense of duty of the Japanese. It was a really smooth trip for me from the airport to right at Takayama train station. Although expensive, in Japan the box sushi bought at the convenience store taste better than the sushi in some Japanese restaurants back home! Can`t wait to have the real thing now...
Anyway, this spiritual journey of mine has come to a point where I am so really finding out about myself, incredible big time. What I can say is - `you will never know about yourself unless you find out`. Sounds not that profound and common sense, but I have never actually tried to find out about myself in a way that I have the right to. I had just accepted things as they come and figure out in a way that is `superficial`.
I have to have some time for myself to find myself. Often, we are awash with life`s activities and not really make the time. And another thing, we must touch base, keep abreast of our feelings. We cannot take ourselves for granted.
First day in Japan, land of the rising spiritual sun.
Conclude one chapter.
Somehow this visit coincided with a journey of trying to rediscover myself. It was intense and now it is continuing to be so. A spiritual journey of sorts.
So if you are waiting to read about my `journey in Japan` I am afraid you are in for a disappointment at the moment. As one fact is, my camera has no battery life and I am really in a spiritual journey rather. So, no Japan, just me...
I wish I can read beyond those Japanese characters. The formality, the sense of duty of the Japanese. It was a really smooth trip for me from the airport to right at Takayama train station. Although expensive, in Japan the box sushi bought at the convenience store taste better than the sushi in some Japanese restaurants back home! Can`t wait to have the real thing now...
Anyway, this spiritual journey of mine has come to a point where I am so really finding out about myself, incredible big time. What I can say is - `you will never know about yourself unless you find out`. Sounds not that profound and common sense, but I have never actually tried to find out about myself in a way that I have the right to. I had just accepted things as they come and figure out in a way that is `superficial`.
I have to have some time for myself to find myself. Often, we are awash with life`s activities and not really make the time. And another thing, we must touch base, keep abreast of our feelings. We cannot take ourselves for granted.
First day in Japan, land of the rising spiritual sun.
Conclude one chapter.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Bored with life?
That's the last thing that I would want to happen to me, to be bored with life. So much things to do and look forward to. But sometimes it happens, the lows, you know. When you just don't get inspired and what you do is going through the motions.
We are all searching for something. And inevitably its searching for inspiration. That's a reason for drug use or abusing ourselves with substance and other forms of addiction. Sensations and feelings of euphoria or just to feel good. No one wants to feel bad. Even if in an austerity drive or being kind of poor, you could enjoy life if you are inspired.
Traveling is inspiring when you could savor the travels or engage with the travel. The walking and waiting at airport lounges are upsetting at times and makes you bored and inspired, but the destination and what it awaits you should be something that you look forward to. It's like having to go through hassle and sometimes 'hell' to get to something worth doing all that for.
Having a really good communication and good relationship with people could be inspiring, especially in a work place which often drudgery and boredom reigns. Setting up goals and defining work functions really help to make a difference in an otherwise poor working environment.
We go through the mundane of the everyday, look forward to be with loved ones, family and sometimes friends.
But one important factor to be inspired is to have a constant companionship which feeds a certain need to learn about yourself. It's very abstract what I am saying because it can be any form. It has to be spiritual, and of course spiritual does not mean in religious terms here.
Let me just say it that, if your current relationship or partnership is not spiritual, just physical or going through the motions, you won't get inspired. It has to be spiritual. Your companion has to get inspired. Perhaps both of you get inspired from each other. Both of you has to be spiritual.
You know we meet so many people in our life, but to find people that inspire you is very rare. I mean this in relationships, not an idol or someone far away or someone like a figure head, that's your leader or boss. The person could be not a boss or leader but inspires you. If you meet once awhile that's well and good. But to be inspired everyday. Wouldn't that be wonderful.
To wake up everyday with that feeling that the world is at your feet and you feel a sense of freedom that you could do anything and every thing is possible.
Isn't that what every one wants?
We are all searching for something. And inevitably its searching for inspiration. That's a reason for drug use or abusing ourselves with substance and other forms of addiction. Sensations and feelings of euphoria or just to feel good. No one wants to feel bad. Even if in an austerity drive or being kind of poor, you could enjoy life if you are inspired.
Traveling is inspiring when you could savor the travels or engage with the travel. The walking and waiting at airport lounges are upsetting at times and makes you bored and inspired, but the destination and what it awaits you should be something that you look forward to. It's like having to go through hassle and sometimes 'hell' to get to something worth doing all that for.
Having a really good communication and good relationship with people could be inspiring, especially in a work place which often drudgery and boredom reigns. Setting up goals and defining work functions really help to make a difference in an otherwise poor working environment.
We go through the mundane of the everyday, look forward to be with loved ones, family and sometimes friends.
But one important factor to be inspired is to have a constant companionship which feeds a certain need to learn about yourself. It's very abstract what I am saying because it can be any form. It has to be spiritual, and of course spiritual does not mean in religious terms here.
Let me just say it that, if your current relationship or partnership is not spiritual, just physical or going through the motions, you won't get inspired. It has to be spiritual. Your companion has to get inspired. Perhaps both of you get inspired from each other. Both of you has to be spiritual.
You know we meet so many people in our life, but to find people that inspire you is very rare. I mean this in relationships, not an idol or someone far away or someone like a figure head, that's your leader or boss. The person could be not a boss or leader but inspires you. If you meet once awhile that's well and good. But to be inspired everyday. Wouldn't that be wonderful.
To wake up everyday with that feeling that the world is at your feet and you feel a sense of freedom that you could do anything and every thing is possible.
Isn't that what every one wants?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Traveling is a drug...
I remembered my first journey at the age of 11.
My Dad went before us to San Diego to do his PhD. The rest of the family had to wait for me, on account of I have to complete my Assessment Exams (Standard 5). So we went to America, and I stayed there for 2 years, while they stayed longer.
I remember this first trip of mine so well. I can still taste and smell it. It really gave me a buzz, until now I still get buzzes with trips. Especially to new places.
Reading Murakami, I was dreaming of going to Japan. And it came true, the chance! It's all expenses paid to Takayama on account that I represent Malaysians to speak at a Congress.
But the point is here: I am going to travel! It gets me.
My Dad went before us to San Diego to do his PhD. The rest of the family had to wait for me, on account of I have to complete my Assessment Exams (Standard 5). So we went to America, and I stayed there for 2 years, while they stayed longer.
I remember this first trip of mine so well. I can still taste and smell it. It really gave me a buzz, until now I still get buzzes with trips. Especially to new places.
Reading Murakami, I was dreaming of going to Japan. And it came true, the chance! It's all expenses paid to Takayama on account that I represent Malaysians to speak at a Congress.
But the point is here: I am going to travel! It gets me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)