Happy B'day to Oun Lin

B&B gathering

This was just another big gathering (34 @ the 1st B and 26 @ the 2nd B if I didn't miscount the participants) to welcome a senior's newly-wed wife's presence in Komaki and Nagoya. I dare say that the Nagoya's brand is our friendliness to newcomers/visitors.




Korean-style BBQ buffet
(Stamina Viking, Fukiage)




Late-night bowling
(Sport, Chikusa)
*Music and lighting are like the dance floor @ a nightclub, cool eh?
**FYI, my 3-game average score is 87 [sigh].

Visitors to Nagoya

Kobe people: (from left) Sangha, b. Chanthorn, Ponleu, Vy, Chamroen & Lammy
@ Osu Kannon, Dec 29

Tokyo + Sendai girls: Chanda & Heak

@ Higashiyama Ko-en, Jan 2

The 1st and only one

Isn't this sweet?

Names

Nagoya people, could you find yours?

To M.V.

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Bang Sros and family from Hiroshima

@ Oasis 21, Sakae

I'm Gonna miss gentle Moni and naughty Sorya very much... Hope to see them again before saying bye to Japan.

A late update - Saona in JP

Guess what, Saona's visit has opened up a new chapter of my life in Japan. As an unprofessional guide with poor Japanese proficiency, I felt kinda sorry, though. Anyway, this one-week reunion was unforgettably joyous. We rocked Tokyo together, updated each other our recent stories, recalled the time we first met, talked about some secrets @ IFL, some of this and that, endlessly... The laughter (mostly started by her and unstoppable once broken out) and humor we shared colored the pages. Followed are the visual aids...

Arrival and Yokohama - March 28

A brief touring around Yokohama on our way back from the airport
Don't be misled by her smile; she was tired and sleepy after 10.5-hour flight (3 movies in a row without any sleep). My face was more honest [wink] - about 7 hours at Narita with a short nap.

Harajuku & Roppongi - March 29

Right at the entrance to the crowded famous Shinto Shrine, Meiji Jingu

NHK Building near Yoyogi Park
At first, we thought 200 yen was worth the touring NHK Studio Park there. But, it was suck because not a word was in English.

A park @ Roppongi Hills
This was the sweetest post we took there; others included jumping and single ones.

Tokyo city view from the 52th floor of Roppongi Hills' Observation Deck
Thanks, Mr. Self-timer!!!

Another part of Roppongi area
It was quite late at night and very few people around. After some photos, we headed back home... Then, done with another spot!!! Lolz...

Tokyo DisneySea - March 30

[Yeah] - our favorite gesture!!!
Too crowded and cold to fully enjoy!!! However, we made it to 3 shows (Over the Wave, Mermaid Lagoon and the Magic Lamp) and 3 rides (Storm Rider, the Journey to the Center of the Earth and Under the Sea). [double winks]

Ueno - March 31

@ the so-called Asian Market where you could find almost everything not typical in Japan's normal markets. That day, we bought coconuts, ngeav (a kinda sea shell), sdao (veggie)...

@ Ueno Park, famous for its 1,000 Sakura trees - a good site for hanami
FYI: Bang Nette also joined us; she is a skilled guide.

Nagoya - April 1

In front of Nagoy Castle
From left: Ricky, me, Saona, Bang Veara and his wife Bang Mom, LPP and Kanha

Immature castle models??? Lolz...

One more random post each... Ehe...

@ Osu Kannon, known for its Shinto Shrine and street market

Kyoto - April 2

@ Kinkaku Ji (Golden Temple)
New members: Chakrya (a tourist from Cambodia) & Rattana (a Kyoto resident).
Bang Thida was waiting outside. Big thanks to her, a Kyoto expert.

@ Kiyomizu Tera, famous for its spot to view sakura in spring and red leaves in fall.
Disappointingly, sakura has not yet in its full bloom there.

Nagoya - April 3

A small ad for NU by a Washington University's student

*A mouthful of natto topping sushi - hard to swallow, she commented.
**A bit wasabi sandwiched sushi - no comment. Good for your nose, though!!!

Last by not least, a group photo (taken by Bang Veara who was risking his life by positioning at the very edge of the sidewalk) in front of the sushi restaurant

Welcome those newcomers to Nagoya...

Shibuya - April 4

>>> no photos <<<

Departure - April 5

>>> no photos <<<
Bang Nette and I just saw you off @ Yokohama

...... END......

Note: Gotta say sorry to those who mind their pictures posted here without permission.

Indian rice

Every grain is thin and long, showing the distance between the 2 tips.
[Sigh]

An expected mail

Yeng,

Check out the link below, you will be able to see my flight itenerary. I just bought the plane ticket. I called to follow up on my visa and I was told that it will be ready tomorrow.

So, I will see you this Saturday.

Saona

After all these years apart, we're gonna meet again soon. Real excited!!! Anyway, enjoy your 10.5-hour flight!!!

Let it come

Another gathering of the week

It was a surprising B'Day party for 2 people born in December and a gathering full of fun. Yeah, I was FULL and had FUN. Loved the curry cooked by KNR and spring rolls made by P.C.K. and deep fried by B.TL and enjoyed the games provided by our B'Day lady cum house owner, B.H.

One of the games called Jenga (as seen in the photo) was real exciting; we, the players, kept shouting for the every fall of the blocks and clapping for the pieces safely removed from and put back on top of the blocks. Gotta grab one to play with Mr. K3N and his parents and aunt. Ehe...

Another game I played was what I called "Chinese chess" (Xiang Qi in Chinese). But, we didn't play it on the board. Er... kinda hard to explain. Anyway, it did remind me of my childhood, esp. the plays with my siblings and cousins.

Big thanks for all the good food and fun games.

PS: Ch.thy, bon voyage!!! See you in PP some time, I wish.

On my way back

It is on the exactly same day last month that I was waiting for the connected flight @ Sovarnnabhumi back to Nagoya, to my another HOME for another 17 months.
Hmmm... A lot of things back @ home sweet home have changed.
- Grandma's gone with a peaceful mind and soul, I believe. No more scream of pain, at best.
- Papa and mama look a lot older, yet happy.
- Yikor and Da are working harder for their own family/house.
- Lil ken-ken's grown taller, naughtier and surely super charming.
- Kulu is struggling with her school work. Good luck to her!
- Aunties, cousins, .......................
- Some friends have changed their status, job, house, ...
- How about me??? Does a hair-cut count? Lolz...

Ok, time to fly... See you back @ Nagoya.

A bit of surprise, I wonder!

Happy Birthday, dear!!!

Sorry for the kinda gift, meaning "seeing you off" in Chinese. Yet, don't care; they are too cute not to buy and we're not girlfriend and boyfriend.
Note: That's the wrong mailbox... ehe...

Graduation Ceremony

Nagoya University's graduation ceremony for foreign students in special course

For B. Sokun (Graduate School of Medicine)

For Bophanna (Graduate School of Law)

For B.Panhha (Graduate School of Law)

For ME... not yet graduate, though.

Congrats, guys!!!

Result released, here come my congratulations on your passing. You guys made it!!! Well, the journey is just about to start. You'll see how much you're gonna love/hate your study and/or GSID. Welcome on board!

Babies in September

1 - Miki
4 - Kulu
9 - Pheak / Kanha
10 - Kanharith
14(?) - Bang Vuthy
15 - Pagna
20 - Bang Da
29 - Bang Veara

Chocolate cake

New recipe with cocoa powder

(Home-made cake for Bang Veara, a month in advance)

29.08.08

Such a day!

.Morning & Afternoon - the last Development Cooperation class at JICA Chhubu (Thansk P & R for telling the direction and sorry for waking you guys up) + lunch at the canteen there (with Kanha, the host... lolz)
.Late afternoon (after the class) - skipped the course-end party @ JICA and went shopping @ AEON with L
.Evening - dinner @ Yume-an (Hoshigaoka) with other friends
.Late evening - bowling @ Hoshigaoka (result: G1-107, G2-107, G3-77 & Avg.-97; A lot of 7's, the 2nd number after 13 I dislike the most)
.Midnight - a surprising birthday cake (made by B.KS) for L, whose real DOB is 2 months later. So sweet!!! I've got a wish from her. Big thanks ne!!! Ehe... L, may your dreams come true SOON. Lolz...
..............................................

PS: Happy belated birthday to D!!!
... Be filled with the best of all
... As always

1st Anniversary of Life in Nagoya

^_^

留学生会館 (Ryugakusei Kaikan)/Foreign Students House, usually called Kaikan, is one of the 3 NU's residences for international students. Time does fly; a year's gone. It was a stay to remember although it was just a 6-month time. We explored and lived our first-ever life in Nagoya together. We shared responsibilities (grocery-shopping, cooking, dish-washing...), prepared for the frightening (at least to me) entrance exam, helped each other (esp. when my poor knee got hurt; thanks indeed!), enjoyed going for a walk after dinners and riding bicycles around...... A lot more!!! It was like a family in which friends are like brothers and sisters, and so is it now although we no longer stayed under the same roof! Distance, to me, doesn't mean ignorance.

Thanks for having taken good care of me, guys!!!
Also, sorry for any unintentional mistake!!!

PS: Super love the jokes you guys told at dinner table =)