Planning a Hamamatsu trip again. With Umma and Uppa. Thanks Anoop for the suggestion.
For Umma and Uppa this will be a first. First time ride on a bullet train. First time visit to a Japanese house. First time in a real inaka. The beauty, the charm, the tranquility of nature and people.
For me its a recollection. Of my second day in Japan. When we boarded (were herded) onto the Bullet train to Hamamatsu. With no hint of what is Japan. The days at the hotel in Hamamatsu, when we only knew how to buy bendo at Daily Store, queueu up to pay and ignore whatever she used to say when we leave the store.
It will be a recollection of the days we lived in Kamijima, the silent weekend evenings that I used to spent along the tenryu river side watching people enjoy fishing. The short visits to the jinja and the second hand book store, where I could buy the Story of a Nation - incredible, must read, history of Japan.
Of those days when Mina, Misa and family gave us the best comforts in Japan. Which made us Japan lovers. Japanese foods, Japanese festivals, Hamanko lake park... My Blog would come to a full circle when I sneak through the pale curtains that years have added into my memories. When I peak through the real life that has been framed in this blog as the earliest entry. Copy paste entry from my earlier geocities web page, when the concept called blog did not exist. I remember what I wanted that time was exactly a blog. I wanted people to comment and get these into a discussion.
We have been there once again - with family. When Irene got the new Japanese name - Ai-chan. Credits Ayu. And my God, I cannot remember, how I mis-trusted Credit cards and ATM cards during December vacations in Japan!
Tomorrow, God Willing, we will have a short replay.
Friday, June 16
Wednesday, June 14
Not so bad!
Well, the week was not so bad so far
Market keeps on driving TXN south. Already crossed my limits. So nothing matters.
gmail was not bad too. oldies mail failed to pickup. sad to realise all my class fellows are getting old:) not much worried to care for some old folks that they lived together. some forgot those good days. and some still remember those little old scores that survived the long years. anyway Kala is on target to have the great 20 year meet.
well, gmail was not bad. the ddg mailing list anoop created is in full swing. reminds of the good old career days at NeST.
finally was able to take a day off yday. took umma and uppa to Tokyo Subway Museum. good for Uppa to know how the construction happens. great view of the Tokyo land cross section and see all the train lines beneath. best was the train engine simulator. you can drive the train from one station to next. real view on screen in front. simulated shocks and movements in the engine. and for kids, the small seated simulations. they too enjoyed.
now for the second half of the week
Market keeps on driving TXN south. Already crossed my limits. So nothing matters.
gmail was not bad too. oldies mail failed to pickup. sad to realise all my class fellows are getting old:) not much worried to care for some old folks that they lived together. some forgot those good days. and some still remember those little old scores that survived the long years. anyway Kala is on target to have the great 20 year meet.
well, gmail was not bad. the ddg mailing list anoop created is in full swing. reminds of the good old career days at NeST.
finally was able to take a day off yday. took umma and uppa to Tokyo Subway Museum. good for Uppa to know how the construction happens. great view of the Tokyo land cross section and see all the train lines beneath. best was the train engine simulator. you can drive the train from one station to next. real view on screen in front. simulated shocks and movements in the engine. and for kids, the small seated simulations. they too enjoyed.
now for the second half of the week
Monday, June 12
A weaker week ahead?
Monday morning in office.
Booted machine up. In an attempt to boot another week up.
Routine. Type Outlook in Google deskbar. Select exe and enter. Then type firefox. Again select exe and enter. Wait.
Firefox comes up with the Google personalised page. The page that is set to show all good things in one view. But it does not always. Like today.
Stock Watch - TXN drives further south .
Gmail - No new mail. That means Saturday went off with no mail from Bijukumar as promised. And Remi never promised. And may be none in the group excited to find these two new souls back.
Positive event - GV had called up sometime around midnight yday. He just wanted to know what time it is in Tokyo:)
Good or not - I am calling off customer meeting planned today because of inflammation that makes me limp
Booted machine up. In an attempt to boot another week up.
Routine. Type Outlook in Google deskbar. Select exe and enter. Then type firefox. Again select exe and enter. Wait.
Firefox comes up with the Google personalised page. The page that is set to show all good things in one view. But it does not always. Like today.
Stock Watch - TXN drives further south .
Gmail - No new mail. That means Saturday went off with no mail from Bijukumar as promised. And Remi never promised. And may be none in the group excited to find these two new souls back.
Positive event - GV had called up sometime around midnight yday. He just wanted to know what time it is in Tokyo:)
Good or not - I am calling off customer meeting planned today because of inflammation that makes me limp
Sunday, June 11
Nice trip today
Its almost two months since Umma and Uppa came. But it was only yesterday that we had a planned nice trip around Tokyo.
Not much. But good. Oedo line platform in Azabujuban itself is an attaction. The depth till B6. Then to Asakusa. The line of traditional shops that reminds Shivarathri shops. Then the lucky view of a couple getting married.
From there cruised to Odaiba. At Odaiba, planned to visit Panasonic center, skipping all those theme malls and stuff. Unfortunately Panasonic center is having maintanance holidays. Took a long break at the promonades of Ariake and returned. A short, but good trip it was. Not much tiring too.
Thursday, June 8
Victims of a Judicial System
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/07best.htm
While at college, once we were victims of a theft. Some poor guy might have thought that Engg students will have a lot of assets in their lodge rooms? I lost a small radio and some coins. My room mate lost a lot of audio casettes - Mukesh and Rafi stuff. And a dhoti - may be he used it to wrap the items. We did report at the police station. No followups. We lost only this much. Why to lose more time and get into more difficulties with the police system?
Best bakery case is not much different either. The victims - they lost their near and dear. Real people. And in front of them. No one would ever think of not following up. So not to blame Zaheera and co. But probably through the course of the honorable proceedings of the judicial system, they would have realised the hard truth. What the Judicial System calls Justice is not the nown thats found in the English dictionary. This is only a designation in the court rules. Lost everything, better not to lose much time and start living. And if Modi offered money, accepting it makes sense than to go to court every day. Rational, if not just.
Suddenly the Indian judicial system has come out of sleep. You can have fun with people's lives, but not with the courts. In a turn of a day, Zaheera is now an accused. The court is now behind her.
And the original accused? Anyway victim is not complainant anymore? Who worries about that?
This is a new case between the court and a lady called Zaheera. Court won - they have declared victory by themselves.
May be I am disrespecting the Judicial system? Respect is something which good actions would bring in naturally. Not something which power can command. Unfortunately courts are now becoming the old monarchs who demanded that people respect them.
panamullor nirmicha neethikkithilonnum
parayuvaanille ..... nhaan pinvalichu
While at college, once we were victims of a theft. Some poor guy might have thought that Engg students will have a lot of assets in their lodge rooms? I lost a small radio and some coins. My room mate lost a lot of audio casettes - Mukesh and Rafi stuff. And a dhoti - may be he used it to wrap the items. We did report at the police station. No followups. We lost only this much. Why to lose more time and get into more difficulties with the police system?
Best bakery case is not much different either. The victims - they lost their near and dear. Real people. And in front of them. No one would ever think of not following up. So not to blame Zaheera and co. But probably through the course of the honorable proceedings of the judicial system, they would have realised the hard truth. What the Judicial System calls Justice is not the nown thats found in the English dictionary. This is only a designation in the court rules. Lost everything, better not to lose much time and start living. And if Modi offered money, accepting it makes sense than to go to court every day. Rational, if not just.
Suddenly the Indian judicial system has come out of sleep. You can have fun with people's lives, but not with the courts. In a turn of a day, Zaheera is now an accused. The court is now behind her.
And the original accused? Anyway victim is not complainant anymore? Who worries about that?
This is a new case between the court and a lady called Zaheera. Court won - they have declared victory by themselves.
May be I am disrespecting the Judicial system? Respect is something which good actions would bring in naturally. Not something which power can command. Unfortunately courts are now becoming the old monarchs who demanded that people respect them.
panamullor nirmicha neethikkithilonnum
parayuvaanille ..... nhaan pinvalichu
Monday, June 5
Lost and Found
It was a surprise to get a mail from Remi. Though I knew its on the way as Saina told me she has given Remi my id.
It was indeed nice talking to her, though it was sad to listen to her Katrina experiences. It was the first time I talk to a first hand victim of a natural calamity. Probably she was one of the most lucky ones. When she left the place as usual listening to warning, she did not know how big its gonna be. Good. Agonies delayed. And stress reduced.
What she lost? Well, a car, a house, whatever they had done to make the house look more beatiful and homely, all items that were in it for the basic life and the ones added later for that extra comfort. Much lost in the running waters. And much went to the hands of those who were fishing in those troubled waters.
As she says what she misses is not the big items that were immobile and were difficult to move. Things that dont move are generally less personally attached? For her it was those lovely memories in color print that she misses a lot. And for sure those colorful dreams of the house that she had cared so lovely I suppose. For a home is a home and will be a home. A home of dreams. Of love. Of thoughts and worries and hopes.
Is man travelling back to those old tribal days? The mobile home. Ready to pack and go. Storm, move ahead. Floods, move ahead. Famine, move ahead. There were no titles and deeds when land was in plenty. Now the deeds are for those dreams painted in sky. Like my fifth floor dream home coming up in Brigade Metropolis in Bangalore. The higher the dream is, more costly it becomes. So I settled for Fifth floor. Cannot understand the logic. Pay more to move away from "Ground Realty"?
Anyway, God save us.
It was indeed nice talking to her, though it was sad to listen to her Katrina experiences. It was the first time I talk to a first hand victim of a natural calamity. Probably she was one of the most lucky ones. When she left the place as usual listening to warning, she did not know how big its gonna be. Good. Agonies delayed. And stress reduced.
What she lost? Well, a car, a house, whatever they had done to make the house look more beatiful and homely, all items that were in it for the basic life and the ones added later for that extra comfort. Much lost in the running waters. And much went to the hands of those who were fishing in those troubled waters.
As she says what she misses is not the big items that were immobile and were difficult to move. Things that dont move are generally less personally attached? For her it was those lovely memories in color print that she misses a lot. And for sure those colorful dreams of the house that she had cared so lovely I suppose. For a home is a home and will be a home. A home of dreams. Of love. Of thoughts and worries and hopes.
Is man travelling back to those old tribal days? The mobile home. Ready to pack and go. Storm, move ahead. Floods, move ahead. Famine, move ahead. There were no titles and deeds when land was in plenty. Now the deeds are for those dreams painted in sky. Like my fifth floor dream home coming up in Brigade Metropolis in Bangalore. The higher the dream is, more costly it becomes. So I settled for Fifth floor. Cannot understand the logic. Pay more to move away from "Ground Realty"?
Anyway, God save us.
Thursday, June 1
Sadia chan
She was one lovely child in the mosque. The pure Japanese girl. Which made her a good Muslim child. Silent. Respecting and respectable. Very attentive. Smart.
The very sight of her made me feel so sorry last week. I was at the Mega 100 yen store when I spotted her with someone. She just bowed as she used to, and then walked away.
Dont know whom to blame. Her mom or her father. Anyway they are now separated. And I heard she had to drop off school etc. She and her mom have now stopped coming to mosque. Well, what did they get? For whatever reason, Sadia chan did not get justice at all. She failed in getting the basic humanity from the very people who vows to keep Humanity First. The male chauvisntic people put blame on her Mom. And the male chavisntic females who could not find fault in her Mom just made sure they dont see a fault in her dad too.
Still no one cared for Sadia chan.
When there is a failure, someone is at fault. Just imagine it was your kid, and now think. A beautiful budding rose will not fall down unless someone plucked it.
Problem now is simple. Her father remarried and her mom did not agree. That became a big fight and they separated.
Well, if he had issues with his wife in marriage, did he try to solve? And if failed, why did he not divorce first and then remarry?
When she created issues, he is ready for divorce. Does that mean he was ready for divorce earlier too but found no reason? So he created an issue with a second marriage?
If he really had no issues in the first marriage but wanted the second marriage for whatever reason, why did he not take time in convincing her at least?
Who was her "guardian" in her marriage and what role did that guy take to protect her interests?
I have many questions, as usual. But no one is there for me to ask these...
I just pray for Sadia chan.
The very sight of her made me feel so sorry last week. I was at the Mega 100 yen store when I spotted her with someone. She just bowed as she used to, and then walked away.
Dont know whom to blame. Her mom or her father. Anyway they are now separated. And I heard she had to drop off school etc. She and her mom have now stopped coming to mosque. Well, what did they get? For whatever reason, Sadia chan did not get justice at all. She failed in getting the basic humanity from the very people who vows to keep Humanity First. The male chauvisntic people put blame on her Mom. And the male chavisntic females who could not find fault in her Mom just made sure they dont see a fault in her dad too.
Still no one cared for Sadia chan.
When there is a failure, someone is at fault. Just imagine it was your kid, and now think. A beautiful budding rose will not fall down unless someone plucked it.
Problem now is simple. Her father remarried and her mom did not agree. That became a big fight and they separated.
Well, if he had issues with his wife in marriage, did he try to solve? And if failed, why did he not divorce first and then remarry?
When she created issues, he is ready for divorce. Does that mean he was ready for divorce earlier too but found no reason? So he created an issue with a second marriage?
If he really had no issues in the first marriage but wanted the second marriage for whatever reason, why did he not take time in convincing her at least?
Who was her "guardian" in her marriage and what role did that guy take to protect her interests?
I have many questions, as usual. But no one is there for me to ask these...
I just pray for Sadia chan.
With Khalifa V
Irene could not read out her "Surah Al Fatiha for Children" in the later Children's class. She could just sit in the class. Ian, I dont think he bothered!
There was one more official meeting later where I saw a strict Khalifa putting his foot down very strongly - and still smiling and saying stories.
Thursday, April 20
Cherry Blossoms
After the chilling days, cherry blossoms smiling on a sunny spring day. Snap taken at Saigoyama park, Shibuya.
Friday, April 14
Surah Fatiha for a child
He created the whole wide world..
..The steep mountains and the deep ocean
..The mighty trees and the pretty flowers
..The singing birds and the roaring lions
O Lord, You alone I obey
..The steep mountains and the deep ocean
..The mighty trees and the pretty flowers
..The singing birds and the roaring lions
Even before I was born
Allah's mercy was all there
Mom and Dad, and a nice home
Nursing me with love and care
Teachers and friends so kind and good
When I grew up and went to school
When I do my work with prayer
He helps me get the right answer
What is good and what is fowl
My Lord knows the best of all
Be kind to friends and He'll be glad
Be nice to parents, He'll be pleased
O Lord, You alone I obey
When in need of any favour
To You only, I turn to pray
Lord, make me a child so nice
Bless me to be kind and wise
Save me from evil and wrong
Get me good friends all along
Help me never speak a lie
Love for you, I hold so high
Wednesday, March 8
Rights, Responsibilities and Democracy
Good thing about western democracy is one fundamental right - Freedom of expression. It is defined in the constitution in many countries. Now many people link Freedom of expression with freedom of thought and delink it with the fundemental responsibility of human being. Respect for others. Whatever one thinks shall not be freely expressed. There is no dearth of instances where a westerner get offended. Try talking English to a French.
Gregory Clarke wrote about how anti-racial statements are banned in the west. Where is the Freedom of expression there. I can get fired from my current employment if I mail a racist article. Does it pose a danger on my existence?
Human life should be guided by responsibilities. My responsibilities and his rights. This is what every religion taught. Though people who claim to be religious have now started talking about religious rights.
Belief in God is optional in Europe. But belief in holocaust is a must. A criminal offense.
Daily Times - Site Edition
Gregory Clarke wrote about how anti-racial statements are banned in the west. Where is the Freedom of expression there. I can get fired from my current employment if I mail a racist article. Does it pose a danger on my existence?
Human life should be guided by responsibilities. My responsibilities and his rights. This is what every religion taught. Though people who claim to be religious have now started talking about religious rights.
Belief in God is optional in Europe. But belief in holocaust is a must. A criminal offense.
Daily Times - Site Edition
Friday, February 24
Letter to editor
My letter to editor got published in Japan
The Japan Times Online Articles
The Japan Times Online Articles
READERS IN COUNCIL
Respect for faiths of all sorts
By RIYAZ MUHAMMAD
Tokyo
I do welcome the Japanese Foreign Ministry's call to the media not to run recently controversial cartoons that paint a derogatory image of Muhammad ("peace and blessings of God be upon him"), the holy prophet of Islam. It is rather unfortunate that the ministry's advice comes from the fear of attacks on Japanese institutions worldwide, rather than because of respect for the prophet. While the Japanese press has the freedom to publish, I would hope that it has the sense of responsibility to respect leaders of all sorts in society.
I would hope that the following incident from the life of the prophet would be a guiding light: Once the prophet declined to enter the house of one of his followers, since it would have made him step over an old idol that the follower used to worship before becoming a Muslim. The follower was asked to respect the idol in an appropriate way as long as there was at least one person on the planet who worshipped it. While strongly admonishing idol worship, the prophet instructed Muslims to be mindful of the sentiments of those who worshipped idols.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
Wednesday, February 8
Snow in Hiroo
And it snowed in Tokyo this year too. Twice. This picture is on the first day. A full day of snow. I made it a point to capture the same view from the apartment which the fall leaves adored
Sunday, November 27
One layer behind
Irene moved behind a pair of glasses starting yesterday. Last one month she has been nursing her wish for glasses as the eye drops failed to work wonders!
She really looks more serious, though these days she is all the more naughty and kiddish!!!
She really looks more serious, though these days she is all the more naughty and kiddish!!!
Another Fall in Japan
Yet another fall in Tokyo. Never thought of seeing so beautiful Autumn in the center of Tokyo! Hiroo Towers is giving such a magnificent view on both sides!
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