Al-Kisah Ikan Emas...

Ichiro & Mummy
Originally uploaded by Mieza Ibrahim.

Semalam, kami sekeluarga sempat melawat tapak Karnival 24hrs FBS (Fukuoka Broadcast Station) bertempat di Hawks Town, iaitu berdepan dengan Fukuoka Dome, tempat bagi homegame Daiei Hawks, pasukan besbol dari Fukuoka (Juara Jepun 1999 & 2003). Antara aktiviti menarik ialah menyudip ikan emas (dikenali sebagai kingyo) dengan menggunakan sudip plastik tetapi permukaannya diperbuat daripada kertas nipis Jepun ataupun washi. Bayangkanlah, kesusahannya sudah tentu berganda-ganda.

Namun begitu Ichiro tetap mahu mencuba tetapi setelah 3 percubaan tetapi nyata gagal. Sememang rezeki budak-budak, Ichiro tetap dihadiahkan dengan 2 ekor ikan emas yang kini dibelanya dalam balang kaca. Kedua-duanya dinamakan (Kang) Jung Sang dan (Park) Sang Hyuk, sempena mengambil nama 2 watak yang begitu terkenal dari Soap Opera Drama Korea - Winter Sonata. Kebetulan pula demam Winter Sonata lambat tiba di Jepun, dan episod terakhir baru saja ditayangkan di NHK pada hari Sabtu yang lalu. Setidak-tidaknya keindahan garapan cerita Winter Sonata dapat diabadikan dalam satu objek yang cukup simbolik - ikan emas. Semoga memori emas ini akan tetap abadi. Apa-apapun, Sang Hyuk dan Jung Sang, "Welcome to F A R I S family".

Nice Game!!

Hi folks,
A friend of mine from our Alma Mater has send us this link, very interesting game indeed. You should give this a try. miezaris@

Sunday it was!!

Beautiful Landscape
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

It is Sunday again!! Woke up late due to Olympic fever, and after Zuhur we decided to go to Sunshine Pool at nearby Uminonakamichi for a cool dip. An adhoc plan it was, at 2:00 pm we rushed to the around the corner JUSCO, bought some obentoes and about 30 minutes later we were already inside the Uminonakamichi Koen to catch the bus to proceed to the Sunshine Pool. My Ichiro was lucky coz he managed to watch the stage performance by Masked Riders' heroes and even posed some photos with them!! After a quick lunch, we change into our swimming gear (which not exactly one!?) and began playing fool with the water. My wife likes the gently flowing pool (like a stream) where you can walk in the water slow and steady. It was a good exercise too!! I later adjourned to the Dragon Slide but pity my Ichiro coz he is no taller than 120cm so he had to miss this one. True to its name, hell it is a dragon ride that you'll never forget in your entire life!! After sunset (Maghrib) we went to the nearby attraction to view some nice illuminations, take a choo-choo ride around the park and the grand finale was another fireworks display. What a day!! miezaris@

Water action at Sunshine Pool!!

At the Kids' Pool 6
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

So long....our best friend!!

Bridge of Sigh
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

Today, while watching Olympic updates, I finally called our good old friend, Tinia & Agus, who is now living in Sheffield, UK. Agus is now completing his Masters thesis in Urban Design.

In Sept. 2002, while they were still living in Cambridge (when Dr. Tinia was studying there) we pay them a visit that finally last for 3 weeks!! Well, Agus and Tinia, thank you so much for the hospitality at Cory House and also for taking us around, sightseeing in England. The best of all K3G's Waddesdon Manor. Well lad, thaks for the good time we had together back then. miezaris@

Acropolis - the ancient Olympic spirit

Acropolis - the ancient Olympic spirit
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

Photograph from the Opening Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games © ATHOC / GETTY IMAGES

Citius-Altius-Fortius.......

As the Olympic motto says; "Citius-Altius-Fortius" which translates from Latin to; "Faster-Higher-Stronger," for the next 16 days or so mankind throuhout the world will be ascribed to the BOX to witness the biggest show on earth. Even in architecture, aligning to the olympic spirit, Vitruvius (a Roman architect) was the first who defined the three conditions for good architecture, "Utilitas, firmitas, venustas" or literally translated into strength, utility, and aesthetic effect. As for me, I pray that the world will be more at peace no matter where, should it be in Iraq, Palestine, Chechen and the rest of the world!! miezaris@

Olympic & Architecture

Olympic & Architecture, originally uploaded by miezaris.

Photograph from the Opening Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games © ATHOC / GETTY IMAGES

Oympic Stadium

Oympic Stadium, originally uploaded by miezaris.
Photograph from the Opening Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games © ATHOC / GETTY IMAGES

This is the Oympic Stadium designed by Santiago Calatrava (Spain born architect) that will surely stamp his mark at the pinnacle of world architectural scene. After much hoo-haa by the media, this is a splendid showcase for the best display on earth.

Margaret Tan & family

Margaret Tan & family, originally uploaded by Mieza Ibrahim.

After about a year, Margaret Tan and her husband, Hasan came to our house for a visit with their newborn baby boy. Margaret and I came to Japan together in April 1999 (we even sat next to each other in JAL flight) and so happened we were also in the same Japanese class. After 6 months intensive Japanese lesson Margaret moved to a nearby Geikoudai University in Fukuoka which later was adopted by Kyushu University in 2003. Their son, Martius was born in SJMC, Subang Jaya on 04.02.22. We had Nasi Ayam Fukuoka and Meehoon Goreng prepared by (who else) Chef Harmiza. Thank you chef...and to Margaret and co, thank you for the good time. miezaris@

::ditto::

Margaret Tan & family
Originally uploaded by Mieza Ibrahim.

My Ichiro posing with the guest of honor. Martius looks very sleepy, afterall it is already over 10:10pm...poor baby.

Ultraman Series - TV shows

UltramanSeries - TV2
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

"Hayata became ultraman", a familiar slogan among all of us. Starting today it is the Obon festive mood in Japan and it' going to be a long weekend for all of us here in Japan. My satellite TV alias J-com has scheduled to show Ultraman (the first ever Ultraman series or as I would always refer to the Classic Series) starting today right until tomorrow to cover from the first episode till episode #39. Wow, that is awesome since I believe not all of us has had a chance to watch the first ever episode of Ultraman. I've already standby new fresh tapes to record all this Ultraman bonanza as one of my memento living in Japan. However folks, I forget to mention...it is in Japanese so I believe you wouldn't be able to borrow my tapes when I am back home in Msia. miezaris@

Ultraman Series - Ultraman Land 2004

Ultraman Land 2004, originally uploaded by miezaris.

This was our 2nd visit to the Ultraman Land in May 2004. We also did spend a night at the next door hotel so that we could watch fireworks display at night. Love this place....

Ultraman Series - Toys

Ultraman Series - Toys1
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

My Ichiro posing with his "takara mono".

Ultraman Series - Ultraman Land 2003

Ultraman Series - Ultraman Land
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

This was our first visit to Ultraman Land in June 2003, just next to the Mitsui Greenland located at Arao in Kumamoto Prefecture. As for me, an Ultraman-mania myself (even up to this time), this trip is a dream comes true. Got a free tickets from my wife's student. For my Ichiro this was his first "crush" with the Ultraman. From this point, as they always say is 'history'!!

At the Homestay Parents' House

The Parents
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

Some pics taken at the homestay parents' house right after the Hanabi show. My wife had a chance to change into "yukata", a lighter version of "kimono". Since it is made from cotton, "yukata" is commonly wear throughout Japan during summer especially among girls when they go to Natsu Matsuri or Hanabi Taikai.
To Mr. Fukuda Kiyoshi and Mrs. Toshie, iro-iro domou arigatougozaimashita! miezaris@

Care to Flickr

Let the show begins.....

Hanabi Series
Originally uploaded by miezaris.

Yesterday, after two years we were at it again, the famous Kasuga Hanabi Taikai in Kasuga-baru City. We were lucky coz our homestay parents (since June 1999) are staying just near the place. Went there for an early dinner and later proceed to the Hanabi show.

*Hanabi = fireworks or Bunga Api in Bahasa Malaysia.

Cerita Kasut...

Originally uploaded by miezaris.

Malam ini, Mummy beli sepasang kasut lagi. Semenjak dari zaman bercintan-cintun membeli kasut memang kesukaan Mummy. Aku pun tak ambil pusing sebab bagi aku kasut memang kegemaran wanita. Tak kira di mana Mummy pergi memang membeli kasut sebagai omiyagae; baik di KL, Ipoh, Langkawi, Penang, Labuan; hatta di Singapura, Bandar Seri Begawan, Tokyo, Osaka, Kokura, Fukuoka, Pusan, Bangkok, London, Rome dan banyak lagi... Antara jenama yang ku ingati ialah Pierre Cardin, Hush Puppies, Bally, Primavera, CD, Scholl dan sudah tentu juga Bata!! Tapi kasut yang ini memang lain dari yang lain, walaupun harganya tak semahal Bally ataupun CD, kasut ini anggun dan menawan perasanku sebagai seorang lelaki bergelar suami. Itulah Mummy dan cerita-ceriti kasutnya.

::ditto::

Originally uploaded by miezaris.
::Pelan::

::ditto::

Originally uploaded by miezaris.
::Tampak Sisi::

It's Sunday.....

and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Alahai Sheherazade!

Originally uploaded by miezaris.

At last, the much awaited (at least myself) NHK drama - ""Sheherazade" was on TV last Saturday, July 30th. Why I was so excited? Coz I was on the TV too. Though only for a few seconds (my Ichiro was so excited and jumping around while telling his Mummy and my Mummy was even better coz she was laughing like 100 times longer than my debut appearance in the Japanese Drama).

I can still remember that day was 2003, Sept. 20th ( mind you my Aqasya was born just the day before and now you know why I can still remember it!), me and 7 other Malaysian students from Fukuoka, Saga and Iizuka made a trip to Port Moji-ko in Kitakyushu for the shooting. Just after my "shimbun" routine, I rushed to the Hakata Eki to catch the Shinkansen ( It took roughly about 12 minutes for a 60km ride) to Kokura and met the NHK staffs.From there we went to the Hotel ?#$%&"! for a quick breakfast and to change into our so called "costume". I was quite fortunate coz my no-dialogue role was "Saudagar Besar Singapura", as you can notice the big green serban was my headgear of the day. Some transformed into "Orang Gaji", "Buruh Kasar" and even "Kuli". The shooting was quite tense, but after a few hours one of us realized that the heroine is Hasegawa Kyouko, Japanese top idol and seing her "close, up and personal", managed to enlightening our first ever experience as extras.

Well back to the drama, I appeared in the scene when the Heroine is about to leave Singapore port (for Shanghai) during the WW2 and the best part was when just before she was about to climb the stairs, she walked behind us (me & Shazwan) with a few other small children adopted from the school she taught during the war. Another scene captured on TV was when in the crowd Tania (another supporting cast) and this suppoting actor (his act was very bad and I think he had more than 20 takes for this particular scene) was so sad to depart and they finally decided to stay put. In this big crowd somehow the camera managed to captured my face just below someone's chin. Ha ha ha....what a crap!!

I called it off the second day coz I would rather be with my wife and my newborn Aqasya and the rest of the family rather than this Hasegawa Kyoko thing and some unknown faces. Well, to make it straight to the point, it was just not my thing!!!

To Mustafa, Kodek, Imam, Syazwan, Tarmizi, Cipet and Talam, thank you for the memory....miezaris@

::ditto::

Originally uploaded by miezaris.
Note myself in the green headgear with Shazwan (bersongkok) while Hasegawa Kyouko and a few small children had just passed behind our back. The blonde is Tania - the supporting cast.

::ditto::

Originally uploaded by miezaris.
Me right beneath someone's chin, what a crap!! The blonde was once again - Tania.

::ditto::

At the shootong scene in Moji-ko Port.

Nasi Ayam Mummy...

Nasi Ayam Mummy.......yummy!!
Woke up late today.... and somehow my onaka was humming a familiar sonata...
Guess, it is about time for another few plates of my favorite nasi ayam!!