[20091116 Dislike]

I dislike our public transport. Especially our fleet of trains.

I arrive on the platform most days in the middle of an announcement – a delay, a cancellation, a change of platforms, vandalism, power outages (yes, it has happened), alternative routes, alternative transport. The other days fare no better – on the other days, there are no announcements. Ignorance is bliss they say, but not so when you just want to get home and have been waiting 30 minutes for a train that was suppose to come 28 minutes ago. And still waiting. Without a clue why.

I understand that it is no easy task, I also understand that even the best systems will fail sometimes. But really… At some stage it becomes ridiculous and it is fast approaching that stage, if it hasnt already.  And their responses rarely, if ever, dull the frustration.

I dislike our public transport system.

But.

I think I dislike driving even more.

[20091115 Walk Around the Block]

Went for a short walk before dinner yesterday. Just close-by.

No destination in mind. As long as it was a street I didn’t know.

During my half hour walk, I discovered a computer repair shop/internet cafe within 5 minutes of leaving home. I admired a beautiful collection of flowers and trees  growing in the neighbourhood gardens. I saw modern architecture lined up next to old wooden homes. I smiled at half finished DIY projects and partly painted fences, much like the permanent Work-in-Progress at home.  I met my neighbours – grandparents in their gardens, a mother pushing a baby’s pram, students returning home, a couple of guys on a jog with a football  between them.

All these things within a 30 minutes radius of my house and I never knew.

So close and so easy to ignore – because it’s so close.

 

How well do you know your neighbourhood?

[Coincidence of the Year]

At approximately 4.05PM on 16th November 2009, both tty and Lachie reported being… Bored. @ Work.

Was anyone else?

[20091113 A Night at the Movies]

[20091112 By the River]

Thursday night

6.00PM

30C + heat

Cool drink

Bar by the River

Catch up with a good friend

…In my suit.

Not, Table 409

At some point in time, without noticing and without really wanting to.

I joined the ‘professional’ world.

The ‘Grown-Up’ world.

—–

Coffee at Starbucks close to Uni, lounging around for the rest of my friends to finish their classes.

Bubble tea after 3.00PM in my high school uniform.

Chocolate in front the TV after school watching afternoon cartoons.

Vitasoy in chubby hands without a care in the world.

[Nothing Special]

Today, was a quiet, average day – where I really did nothing outside my daily schedule of wake up, work, study and go home. In fact, study somehow was left entirely out of the loop.

So, I have nothing to show you from my day. Not even 2 seconds.

Luckily, I have 3 weeks worth of photos to share … I know, I’m cheating.Shhhh…

I take many photos, but I make no claims to being an skilled photographer.

I simply like capturing random moments – a large percentage of photos I take while in motion. My parents hate trying to make out my blurry prints.

But occasionally…. I get one.

This one, just outside the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo. Might be my favourite scenery shot from the hundreds that results over 3 weeks.

@the right place @ the right time

[20091110 Next Stop: JLPT1]

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test – level 1

The more I study, the less convince I am of the gamble I took when deciding to challenge Level 1.

3 years ago, just back from Japan, I would have probably passed Level 2 comfortably. A little extra effort and I would not have cried about Level 1.

Right now. I have no idea what I’m studying.

You see, the train of thoughts in my optimistic frame of mind at the time of applying was this: if i take Level 2 this year, I would have to take Level 1 next year. If I fail Level 1 this year, well, Take Two next year.

The worse that could happen – my pride takes a hit with a fail next to my name.

Who knows, I might be ok! How bad can it be…..?

Weeelll…..

@Office, after hours

P.S Yes, I know I’m two posts behind in my Photo a Day project….

 

 

[Sunday Breakfast]

With the Guys

Love breakfast on Sundays.

Even better under the sun.

[So, I guess its Christmas... already]

Olivia @ Myer

A quick stroll through the city on detour to the train station told me that somehow, without my noticing, Christmas has already crept up ’round the corner.

[On the Way Home]

Do you see what I see?

After three absences, I went to Shaberoukai (しゃべろう会) tonight after giving up on work at about 7.30.

“Shaberu” is to talk in Japanese and the Shaberoukai is a small get-together of Japanese and Australians organised by one of several Japanese clubs in Melbourne.

Apart from the educational benefits (cough), it’s a nice way to unwind after work and I can hardly refuse food … (yes, dinner usually follows though not part of the official agenda). I’ve met some great people here and many of those I travelled to visit on my recent trip to Japan I’d met through the Shaberoukai. The sad part however, is that the majority of the people I meet are only here temporarily – on study or working holiday visas. A never-ending cycle of hellos and goodbyes.

Still,  as the Chinese say, ‘where there are meetings, there will be partings. Because there are partings, there are meetings’.

Ok, so I need to work on my translating skills

Even a short encounter can become a long-life friendship. Sweeter than it is bitter.

The above photo was taken in my friend’s car on the way back from dinner at a Shanghai dumpling restaurant in Chinatown. What you _can’t_ make out is the incredibly bright, yellow, round moon sitting low on the horizon – left of the middle of the photo