A New Camera

No thanks to my ever-procastinating nature (I hear no end of it from the parents and friends), I sent mybeloved, damaged, digital camera for repairs a tad too late; it is still not ready, thus I wasn't able to bring it with me to Japan. However, I did manage to buy an el-cheapo digital camera on the plane for less than RM500. Surprisingly, the photographs taken were pretty good.

And before any of you start reprimanding me for my impulse purchase, I'm happy to say that my brother will be inheriting that camera when I return to Malaysia in November. Call it a belated birthday pressie, which, his unfortunate sister needed to use first ... tee hee hee! Hey, at least it's better than the huge brick of a Sony he's using right now (which, he also, errr, inherited from his sister before leaving to Australia).

That lucky, LUCKY boy ;)

Back in Japan (Again!)

Two months sure fly by fast. I'm back in Japan, and will be here for 2 months. I'm currently writing this post from Narita Airport. Wireless Internet access is not free at the airport; it's 500 yen/day. Oh well, I'll just take it as a very expensive cybercafe for an hour lah. At least there's something for me to do for the next hour.

Stayed at the Excel Tokyu Hotel last night, which was quite good (very clean!). Japanese hotels are known to provide yukatas as pajamas for hotel patrons. However, the hotel I stayed at last night provided a beige tunic which somewhat resembles a hospital gown. Ahh ... no complaints, as I do not need to use my own pajamas ;)

Left the hotel at 7am, hoping to catch an earlier bus to Takasaki. Arrived at the airport at 7.25am. At the ticket counter, the sales clerk told me that the next bus to Takasaki is STILL at 8.55am! Argh. Have to wait for an hour and a half. So, to pass the time, I'm watching a LOT of CNN (especially on the news on the upcoming Hurricane Rita at the Florida Keys).

And blogging ;)

Happiness Is Not A Tended Rose

Happiness is not a tended rose
Amid the prescient beauty of a garden:
Perhaps one senses soon some gate may close;
Perhaps one senses soon the earth will harden.
Years come and go like waves upon a shore,
Violent or peaceful with the wind.
After one has given up on more,
Love waits within the heart, its passion thinned.
Even in a passage void of light,
Nether windings black with rage and grief,
There are waters sweet with lost delight
In which one finds a strong, serene belief.
No happiness can overcome life's pain
Except one love, and love give life again.

What A Week

Apologies for the week-long silence. I've been rather preoccupied lately, what with all that's going on.

It's been an emotional week for me. Falling out with friends may seem easy, trivial even, when you do not do anything about it. Building bridges, and regaining trust is the most difficult part of all. Suffice to say, I learnt a lot from the experience.

Time sure flies. In less than a week, I shall be going to Japan. Again. To say that I'm tired of it all is an understatement. That country could either make me or break me; it depends on how I choose to live. At this moment, I really do not know. I can choose to remain optimistic, with hopes that things will be for the better this time. But with greater hopes, come greater disappointments. I've learnt that lesson plenty of times.

Still, having said all that, I choose NOT to be jaded. There are still good things in life which I can look forward to. Friends, soaking in a different culture, the experience in living in a different country, etc ... any of these has got to, at least, amount to something good. I choose to believe it will.

On a lighter note, I shall be going to KL for a long weekend. I shall be attending a good friend's wedding, whom I have not seen in close to two years. On a not-so-light note, I shall also be meeting with an old flame too, whom I have not seen in a long time. I hope things will go well. Ackwardness aside, it will be good meeting up with old friends again (we were a crazy bunch back in the UK). Plus, it's a great excuse to dress up! :)

Oil Prices Dropping?

Another piece of news - Tech stocks edge higher as oil prices drop.

Now, I may be oblivious to what's pretty much going on in the world at the moment, and do correct me if I am wrong, but if oil prices are dropping, why am I still paying RM1.62 a litre of petrol every freakin' week??