Snowboarding at Nagano

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

On 4th till 6th of January 2013, me with the others 39 of Malaysian student in Japan went to Hakuba Happo in Nagano Prefecture. Nagano is at the north of Kanagawa & Tokyo. During this winter season, Nagano is freezingly cold. Our trip this time mainly focused for snowboarding. And since this was my 1st time to snowboard, i felt excited+scared at the same time though. Snowboard, can be categorized under X-games & as the name goes, 'X' means extreme games. Thus, it can be a little dangerous especially to beginners. Well, this is what i called adventurous & i love to give it a try

Snowboard?! Challenge accepted! 

2013 New Year's Sunrise #ドッペラ

New Year's sunrise

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

After searching for a while on the net & contacted the person in charge, i joined a bicycle tour group in japan. As i said before on my earlier post; bicycle has been number 1 transportation beside train here in Japan. And, since i have bought a good bicycle which cost me a sum of money, i want to make it real worth. Rather than only cycling to university, i was thinking of using it for a cycling tour. As for a first step, this what i did....joined a DOPPELGANGER TOKYO group. 

Family Visit -Part 3-

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

Continue from post before (Family Visit -Part 2-), click here to read Family Visit -part-2 or here Family Visit -part-1 to know what we have done & where did i bring my family to travel here in Japan. On this post, i should be continuing from day 9 to day 12. In other words, this is the final part for 'Family Visit' posts. Do enjoy~ (click on the picture for a larger view)

Family Visit -Part 2-

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

Continue from post before (Family Visit -Part 1-), click HERE TO READ the post before & know what we have done from day 1 to day 4. On this post, i should be continuing from day 5 to day 8. Unfortunately, i had full day classes on day 5, thus we weren't going anywhere. So, to make it simpler, i just skip to day 6.

Early in the morning on day 6, we went out to Tokyo Disneysea. We departed from Chiba Prefecture. We stayed overnight (the night before) at my friend's house in Chiba Prefecture as Tokyo Disneysea is nearer to their houses. Do enjoy~ (click on the picture for larger view)

Family Visit -Part 1-

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

On 7th December 2012, my family (only my mother & my little sister) came to Japan. It was on Friday & luckily i only have classes in the morning. Their flight from Malaysia are scheduled to arrive at Narita International Airport at 10 pm (Japan local time). 

Welcome to Japan!

Since i want to make this post more like a picture diary (more picture, less description), i find out it would be too long if want to make it in 1 post. Therefore, i will divide it into 3 parts and each part only for 4 days of travelling photos. Thus, 3 parts will consist a total of 12 days of travelling photo. Do enjoy~ (click on the picture for larger view)

CoFesta Final Presentation 2012

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

I had mentioned in my earlier post about CoFesta Foreign Student Ambassador Organization. After participating in the organization & went to some of their event, finally it was the time for presentation. The presentation was like the final event of the year ; we present our idea on how to improve the CoFesta to make it better in the future. 

So, on 5th of December 2012 (Wednesday), it was time for the presentation. The presentation was divided into 2 sections which were group & solo presentation. There were only 3 groups & 3 persons presented in each category. The presentation took place at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan. It was the place that really shocked me. At first, i thought that we gonna present it just to the company staff that is responsible for the CoFesta. But then, we were told that the minister had a great interest to hear our opinion and that's when it involved. I was going to perform in front of the minister! Lol....it was really like 'there's a butterfly in my stomach' but it's not only just a butterfly, the feeling was like there's a dragonfly too. 

Nickelback World Tour 2012

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

As stated on the title, in this post i want to express my feeling during the Nickelback World Tour concert that i went to. In fact, it was my first ever live concert. After 21 years of living, finally i got the chance to go see live concert, here in Japan. 

A brief introduction of Nickelback :

Nickelback is a canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Nickelback's music is classed as hard rock, post-grunge and alternative rock. Nickelback struck my heart since their song entitled "How You Remind Me" became famous & it was around 2004 (when i first entered my secondary school). 

Autumn in Japan

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

Actually, it was already quite late to tell a story about autumn. Because it is already winter season here in Japan. It's freezing cold & I can't stand it. Always sitting beside my heater every time. Anyway, despite of telling a long story, i think it would be better for me to just post a picture of autumn in Japan. let the picture told the stories itself. 

My Doppelganger

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

I owned a bicycle. An old granny's bike or they called it ままちゃり (mama-chari). A simple granny's bicycle without a gear. Installed with only a bell and a dynamo lamp. Now, why should i be talking about a bicycle? I'm sure everyone of you who are reading this right now are wondering why. Let me make it clear that, the facts of living in Japan is that a bicycle became one of the necessities to live (mostly will). 

My old bicycle

Let me continue my story...

Rise my generation : Malaysia's future leader

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

"We are the cream de la cream, we are being sponsored to study on a full scholarship to study abroad & be a professional in your career so that you can come back and repay your country." 

Those words are often heard to remind us that we have a big responsibility towards our country. Yeah, i realized that i am not in a comfort zone. Me, along with my generations are the future leader for our beloved Malaysia. 

Well, that's enough for the introduction. Actually, what made me geared up to say something so inspirational like that was because of 1 occasion that really made me think my responsibility. My responsibility to contribute to my country when the time comes. The occasion/event was Global Leadership Outreach Program 2012 for student studying in Japan.

Tokyo International Music Market 2012

Assalamualaikum & good evening, 

On two of my post before, i have told CoFesta Student Ambassador Organisation that i have joined in and some explanation about it. So, in this post, i want to tell about one of the many events that i have participated. The event was Tokyo International Music Market 2012 (TIMM). 

The event was held on Thursday, 25th October 2012 at Zepp Divercity, Le Daiba, Odaiba, Tokyo. Actually, i got classes on that day but with a high enthusiasm to follow one of the program that promotes Japanese Contents, i rushed directly after class to Odaiba. Furthermore, since i've joined this organisation (the ambassador), i want to experience it myself on how the task should be handle.

CoFesta Orientation

Assalamualaikum  & good evening,

After explaining about what is CoFesta Foreign Student Ambassador on my recent post (you can find it here : http://irzed.blogspot.jp/2012/10/cofesta-foreign-student-ambassador.html)

In this post, i want to tell about one of the step i need to take in order to be qualified and be choosen as the foreign student ambassador; the orientation. 

The orientation was held on 18th of October 2012 (Thursday) at Nihon Seinenkan Hotel (日本青年館ホテル) which is located in the heart of Shinjuku, Tokyo. The orientation took place at the hotel's conference room. From the email i received from the CoFesta committee, he told me that the meeting place will be at the exit gate no.3 at the nearest train station which is gaienmae (外苑前) and there will be a person-in-charge waiting for us to lead the way to the hotel. 

CoFesta Foreign Student Ambassador?

Assalamualaikum & Good evening,

During early of this month, i've been asked by my friend to register for CoFesta Foreign Student Ambassador for this year. He is a cambodian who have finished his study here in Japan and now is doing his internship in one of job-hunting company in Japan. He is quite an active person as he is usually involved in such ASEAN/foreign student programme or events. Maybe i should be lucky and grateful that i've met him and became one of his friends; as i can get many infos regarding such activities/events from him. 

Well, back to the topic of CoFesta.....maybe you are wondering what the h#ll is CoFesta means? Well....you're not alone as I'm wondering too (during that moment). Well, i'll exlain a little about it here....right in this post. 

To the south we go : Nagoya trip

Assalamualaikum, good evening & こんにちは,

Map of Japan

After 4 days of travelling to the north part of Japan ; Sapporo, Hokkaido. Now, the next trip brought me to the south of Japan which is Nagoya. Nagoya is located in Aichi Prefecture. (Refer to picture above), Aichi Prefecture is numbered 23 while the place i'm living is numbered  14 ; Kanagawa Prefecture. Seems near right? Well, proceed the reading and you will know how long it takes to reach there.

Travel to north of Japan : Sapporo

Assalamualaikum, good evening & こんにちは、

Map of Hokkaido

10th of September 2012 - As my 2nd trip during summer vacation, me with 5 others of my friends (that made us a total of 6 persons) went to the north island of Japan which is Hokkaido island. For an image explanation, please look at the image above.There are a lot of places to visit in Hokkaido but we only managed to visit Sapporo, Hokkaido. As it would cost us more if we want to tour around hokkaido....we can't rent a car because most car-rental company won't allow us to rent a car by only using an international license, they want a japan license for it. Since none of us have a japan license, we can't rent it. To take a tour around hokkaido using public transportation? Better don't even think about it. It would cost you soo much...

illusion at Trick Art Museum, Odaiba, Japan

Assalamualaikum & good evening, 

In these post, i just want to show some of eye-illusion picture that occured at Trick Art Museum in Odaiba. I got the opportunity to visit Odaiba since my far-away lived friend came to Kanagawa for a visit during summer holiday. As it's been our tradition to always entertain guest that come to our house, i took a day-off at my work place (the best part was i didn't inform my senior, just escaped it like that), and we went to Odaiba, Tokyo for some fun. 

The famous gundam robot at Odaiba Diver City

Climbing the highest mountain in Japan : Mt. Fuji

View of sunrise from top of Mt. Fuji

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

Mt. Fuji : the highest mountain in Japan. Also regard as one of 'Japan's Three Holy Mountains' along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku. It is a special place of scenic beauty, a historic site and has been submitted for future inscription on the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

Finished on the introduction on Mt. Fuji. I want to tell a story regarding my experience on climbing the highest mountain in Japan. Honestly, i never climbed any mountain before nor do i have any interest in mountain climbing. Back in Malaysia, the only highest 'natural place' that i've climbed before was Broga Hill. Though, it was just only a 'hill', compared to 'mountain', the hill are just nothing. 

Syawal di perantauan! Part 2

Assalamualaikum, good evening & こんにちは、

After you have read the first part, which was on the first day of Syawal (1 Syawal of 1433H), in these post i want to tell about what happens to me on the next day of Syawal. Actually, celebrating Syawal in Japan is not soo much fun compared to Malaysia. The only feeling of Eid Ul-Fitr was during the 1st till 3rd day of Syawal maybe.

In the 1st chapter, i have told about me celebrating my Syawal and performing my Solat sunat Aidilfitri at Malaysia Embassy in Shibuya, Tokyo. Then, we have like a mini reunion with my ex-JAD lecturer at Shibuya. During the night. we have a little fireworks play. My lecturer invited me &　some of my friends to play fireworks with his 2 little childrens so that we can have a feeling of Raya maybe. Well....we used to play fireworks back in Malaysia during Aidilfitri. So, here's a few pictures of it. 

Syawal di perantauan! 1st day of Syawal (Part 1)

Assalamualaikum, good evening & こんにちは,

It's already in the month of Syawal ; where we, muslims all over the world celebrate our glorious winning day after successfully completed a month of fasting during Ramadhan. This special celebration is called Eid Ul-Fitr or in Malay Language, we called it 'Hari Raya Aidilfitri.'

いよいよ今はもうシャワルの月。ムスリム教のヒジュラのカレンダにより、シャワルはラマダンの月の後；シャワルの月も我々にとって勝つ日という意味も持ってる。なぜかというと、ラマダンの時に、我々ムスリム教は一ヶ月間断食をしなければならない。それは神様；アッラーの命令であるから。

だから、一ヶ月間断食を成功したら、我々に特別な祭り（と言える）をお祝いして、その祭りは       Eid Ul-Fitr あるいはマレー語でハリラヤと呼ばれてる。

Having a splendid iftar at 池袋 (ikebukuro)

The city of Ikebukuro, Japan at dusk

Assalamualaikum & good evening,

As i'm writing this post, it's dated 25th Ramadhan 1433H or 14th August 2012, 8.50 in the morning local time (Japan time). We're in the last 10 days of Ramadhan which is supposed that we search for Lailatul-Qadar night or also be-called as 'night of a thousands month'. Insya Allah we may find it.

I want to share my iftar experience on the last 5th of August 2012. Actually, my friends are going back to Malaysia on the next day, so i decided that we have some kind of 'iftar blast' before he going back. As we gonna miss each other for about 1 & a half months since the summer holiday end at the end of September. So, after doing some homework via searching the 'world wide web' and asking my other friends, i've found a great place for us to hangover. It was a mediterranean restaurant located in Ikebukuro (1 of the many big cities in central Tokyo), Japan.