Trip to URASA

Today I went to Urasa to check out my future university (after my intensive language course at Niigata University, I would be going to the International University of Japan). I went with 10 other Malaysians. The drive took us about an hour. The journey featured some breathtaking sights. We knew we were reaching Urasa when we saw the snow-capped mountains. We were abit scared initially that the snow did not seem to recede and it's already May now. It should be Spring and not Winter! However, when we reached there, we realised that it was not that cold after all. In fact I was in my T-shirt only before the wind got the better of me.

Syakir's car in front of us. Background is the mountain in Urasa.

First sign of reaching Urasa...

This uncle looks better with a smile. And so we asked him to...

Didn't he look better with a smile? He was the toll teller at the Urasa toll. Toll was 2550 yen.

IUJ ground

Picnic again. Since o-hanami is only starting now in Urasa, we might as well do it again with the presence of snow.

The group of Malaysians. Syakir was walking his baby, so he wasn't in the picture.

The picnic location that we were at is a dam at this place called Osaki. Beautiful yah...

More shots...

Some of the shared facilities in IUJ. Students are designated food utensils and food storage area at the shared kitchen. There is also a fridge and complete kitchen utilities for students to use.

Fox Marriage Festival at Tsugawa

This place is called Tsugawa, at the Higashikanbara District, Niigata. It's about 80km south east of Niigata City. As you can see (the picture below), it's a mountainous countryside. Behind me is Mt. Kirinzan. It seems like a deserted area and the only thing that brings people to this place is the annual Fox Marriage Festival, which is also the reason that brought me to this place two days ago.

I was intrigued by the group of schoolgirls holding a Mickey Mouse shaped candy. Wanted to know more what it was and how I could get one, so I struck a conversation with them. Ended up chatting and taking a picture with them. They are each holding the candy. I felt like a total stranger when they grouped around me throwing questions about me, my country and my keitai (handphone), comparing with theirs. They are only 12 years old. And they are really adorable!
This boy actually carried his little puppy in his jacket. The little puppy was in cold and the head was shivering. The puppy is called Momo.

Some candid shots of the volunteers there.

A typical scene from the Fox Marriage Festival. It was inundated with visitors from all over Niigata-Ken especially during the Golden Week.

Sum & Hui (Malaysian seniors) all busy with their new SLR toy and looking for good moments to catch.

This uncle was preparing the Tokoroten, a type of Japanese noodle, which is semi-transparent. Looks like our Malaysian Chinese "fun si". But the preparation is somehow interesting. It goes with soya and mustard sauce.

The blossoming Momiji. It is just too beautiful to not snap this.

Two of the performances featured at the Fox Marriage Festival

I like these two shots very much. The facial expression of the girl tells stories.

Young and old alike, age is no barrier when it comes to celebration and fun.

Isn't this little fox adorable??!!

And this too??

Finally, me in the picture...**looked abit ganas right?** The deep-thinking fox, at least not a sly one, for sure!

Even the policemen joined in the face painting

The moment we had been waiting for to get a glimpse of the fox bride. Reserve your comments (if you have any) about her. Appreciate the kimono instead. I am sure it costs alot!

People gathered at the event finale point, just at the bank of the Agano river.

Toyota Porte

I took this picture in Tsugawa while waiting for the "fox bride" to come out. Nothing to do then. Earlier I wanted to tell that cars here are getting "boxy" and it's the in-thing here now. The new Toyota Porte is boxy but looks smart and cool. It looks "bossy" too.


- 1.3 VVT-i with Super ECT
- GOA
- Dual Airbag
- ABS with EBD

Nice car...

Trip to YAHIKO

My first Catholic mass in Japan was at the Aoyama Catholic Church (about 4km away). It was conducted in Japanese by a Mexican priest, Fr. Rao. He is a warm person. Initially felt abit weird having to go through the mass in nihongo. Was not really used to singing the opening song in nihongo, but managed to pull through the one-hour stint. The songs were in Hiragana and I am surprised that I managed to follow through and sing along though caught between kanjis at times. The language class is really helping alot. Then, the priest was preaching about Easter (fukatsu), since it was still Easter season. It was interesting as well. Didn't manage to catch 100% of what he said but I guess *it was not too difficult to understand too (*Amari muzukashii dewa arimasen deshita).

After church, I took a train to Yahiko and met up with the rest of the classmates. It was a pre-planned class trip. Yahiko is a tourist spot with a famous ginja (shinto temple) located at the foot of the mountain. It is about 48km from Niigata or 300km from Tokyo. It is also a place where tourist enjoy o-hanami with picturesque mountainside views at vantage point.

The entrance to Yahiko Mountain

The Yahiko Ginja

Class trip, joined by two New Zealanders who are teaching English here

Candid shot at the Ginja

Jalan-jalan during the weekend

It was a sunny Saturday and the weather was fantastic. The temperature was hovering 22 to 23 deg. Celcius. It was one of those days that I woke up and decided to walk and look around, and get some inspiration at how things work and look at people. I took a long walkabout and covered a length of up to 8km by foot (one way that is). Managed to see alot of places and the back lanes of the town.

The Dojoyama Ginja (Shinto Temple)

Niigata Sports Club. One of the possible places to train once I get a bicycle. Still too far to walk.

This place is called Bulldog. Checked out the place because the name was weird. The shop opens to a world of soft toys in it.

In retrospect to what I ate in Bakerzin....miss those days. This was taken in SATY, another subsidiary of the JUSCO group. Jusco stores, whether they are in Malaysia or Japan are easily identified. They have a template to all their buildings, escalators and even arrangement of things. Felt like walking in Jusco Mid-Valley or 1U if not for the Japanese characters, people and currency symbol.

Another picture taken in SATY. I love this place. They house everything under the sun. Guess what, this is the most expensive kimono in display and it costs 268,000yen (app. RM 8,700). Anyone wants to place an order, do call...

The cinema in SATY- MYCAL Warner Brothers. Another reason why I say this place made me felt so much like Mid-Valley or 1U; Jusco on one floor, cinema at another.