My Trip to Japan 2012

It's been a while since my last post. I am currently in Japan for some laboratory works. So far everything goes smooth and steady, alhamdulellah. Here, I met a lot of new friends, which are mainly Japanese, followed by Arabs, Bangladeshis, Malaysians, Indonesians, and other nationalities. I never thought I will get the chance to practice Jordanian Arabic and Bengali here, two foreign languages that I'm moderate at.

I enjoyed my lab works. It is tough though, but I learn a lot. But let's not talk about lab works here okay... ;-)

Here I got the chance to explore some parts of Japan with the aid of my Japanese friends cum labmates. I visited Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Tokyo-Asakusa, Tokyo-Shibuya, Tokyo Skytree, Kiyosato Highland, Yokohama City and many more. Here are some pictures taken within my one and half month stay in Japan...

With my friend Ken Osawa, queuing outside Tsukiji Market, Tokyo (4.20 AM, after Fajr prayer)

Fresh tuna auction is happening here every morning, around 6 AM

'Turret' - the popular three wheel vehicle for transporting fresh fish & sea products actively moving in an out at Tsukiji Market

Tokyo Skytree, the current tallest broadcasting tower in the world (as of 2012)

Under the Skytree

With my labmates, Kento (left) and Ken Osawa (right)

Breathtaking view of Mount Fuji

At Seisen-Ryo, Kiyosato Highland

Doryu Waterfall in Hokotu, Yamanashi 

With labmates during Summer Camp 2012

Outside Panorama Onsen (on the last day of our summer camp)

At the popular Tokyo-Shibuya. People move like ants here... they scrambled!

A few seconds before crossing Shibuya Crossing

There are so many things I like about Japan - proper & systematic, disciplined, politeness, dedicated, which makes me want to explore more and more. Language could probably the greatest barrier to effective communication. It is important to know Japanese language if we are to live for three months or a bit longer. You need to equip with the basic phrases if you want to go to some shops, restaurants or going places. If possible try to write and read Hiragana and Katakana, it helps in many ways. For myself, I'm still trying. Three months is too short for a new language but I hope one day I can add Japanese into my language box... I hope ;-)

By the way, so far I have experienced four earth quakes here, and last two weeks (October, 19th) could probably the strongest... what an amazing Japan! 

Before signing off, perhaps a little gratitude...

• Firstly, I would like to thank Mr Zaidi for taking me to Penang Airport.
• To Kayrol, thanks for your call just before my flight, I really appreciate that.
• To Aswad, thanks for paying my bill - My subscription should have ended by the end of September, I don't understand why Celcom still charged me in full - (Sorry Celcom I'm really not happy with you!)
• To bro Shams, thanks for taking good care of my car, I hope the battery is still okay (I think it's already two years now, might be dead soon, please let me know if it needs change).
• To Mr Abdullah Al-Afandi from Saudi Arabia, thank you for the Quran you gave me as a gift, may Allah gives you reward (I enjoyed my conversation with you during the flight but sorry for my bad Arabic, I'm very much influenced by Shami accent.. huhu).
• To Anas from Jordan, thanks for your call, your 8,800 km call feels just like a next door to me - truly one of the best conversations I had in many months.
• To my big brother Izam, mama and auntie Fariza, thanks for your weekly SMSes.
• To my brother Iziff, thanks for taking good care of mama.