| 11/1 |
First day of November. I woke up at 5:30am but
stayed in bed until 6:00am, left to work at 7:30am and for today I stayed
at office until 8:30pm because I had a very big items I wanted to take care of today. The sky
was cloudy in the morning but clear at the night. I walked back home under
breezy condition. Came home around 9:00pm, had dinner and went to bed around
11:00pm. |
| 11/2 |
Woke up at 5:30am, I know I have been lazy these
days so I got up at once. Walked to the office under sunny sky, but breezy.
Soon the weather turned to cloudy. Stayed at the office until 7:00pm then
walked back under clear but dark sky home. Stopped by at a grocery store
and bakery. I came home, cooked udon noodles for dinner and went to bed
around 11:00pm.
 Looking
out from the roof |
| 11/3 |
Naruto day trip
Naruto strait bridge |
| 11/4 |
[An A380 serving in Qantas Airlines had #2
engine caught fire, making an emergency landing]
Woke up at 5:30am, I did not feel well so I'd
better take care of myself well. Walked to work, and spent a day at work.
Somehow the meals at the cafeteria today is running out very fast, so there
aren't many combo meals and bowls today. The sun set looked nice around 4:30pm. Walked out from office around 7:30pm
and enjoyed chilly night walk to home. Stopped by at bakery and grocery
store. Went to bed around 11:00pm. |
| 11/5 |
[Harley Davidson to build plant in India early
next year with CKD kits, they just started to sell back in July and targets 200-250 for 6 months sales]
Woke up at 5:30am, another sunny sky in the
morning and expected to last for another day. It's amazing to see no cloud
in the sky. Walked to work and spent another day working on the project. I
wrapped up around 6:30pm and started to walking back home. Had dinner,
relaxed for the evening. Went to bed around 10:30pm since I felt tired.
Colorful cloud |
|
11/6 |
Woke up at 5:30am, the news on TV reporting
total sunny day so I have no excuse for going hiking. left home around 8:30am,
bought snacks and lunch then caught a train to Sannomiya then switched to
city subway to Shin-Kobe. I was not feeling too well for the last
Departed Shin-Kobe at 9:20am ->
At Maya-san 11:21am ->
Memorial 12:50pm ->
Garden Terrace at 1:30pm ->
Highest point at 2:40pm ->
Tengu Iwa 4:00pm
As I was walking toward the cable car station, the sun is getting lower and
the surrounding becoming a little dark. I know there will be about 1.5 hours
of day light left for the day, and started worry if there is a train still
on schedule to go down. I asked some hikers on the way, and found out many
have the same opinion. This worries me more. When I walked into the station
around 4:25pm,
I found there are people waiting and the last train is around 9:00pm. The train left
on time at 4:40pm, arrived at the base in 10 minutes. Not so bad for a 570Yen
ride. When I stepped out, the bus stop is at the front, people get on the
bus, soon it becomes full the departed. I took the bus to JR Rokko Guchi,
where I arrived at 5:15pm. Went up to the platform and get on a local
train leaving at 5:18pm, and stopped at every station until arriving at
Tarumi around 5:50pm. My friend just came in so we took off to a BBQ place
called Seoul Power. The dinner started from 6:00pm, chat and had good time.
Finished around 8:00pm and walked back to the station, took a train 8:10pm, came home at 8:30pm.
I was full so just took shower, relaxed for a while.
Went to bed around 10:00pm.
 Sun
behind of susuki |
| 11/7 |
[A software glitch reported on Apple's iPhone
which did adjust time on alarms after daylight saving time change]
Woke up at 6:30am today, I was very tired from a
trip yesterday I guess. Stretched my body, started to doing loads of
laundry. When I walked to outside for drying, the surface of grounds were
wet. I guess it rained a bit. Stayed until ?am and walked back home. Cleaned
up my room a bit, opened the windows to change air. My friend called me
around 11:20am, and get my boxes around noon. Took off to Hummock Cafe to
eat lunch near by a yacht harbor. I ordered rice and curry, then had a tea.
We left the place and went to Himeji Castle. This is the second time but I
did not go in last time. The main building was going through a renovation so
we could not go inside. We stayed for a while then left around 3:30pm. We
had a good time.
Came home at 5:00pm. Walked out again to go buy dinner and also to pick up
my suits from drycleaners. Had dinner from the grocery store, and relaxed in
the evening. Went to bed around 10:30pm.
 Caged Himeji castle
 |
| |
|
| 11/8 |
Woke up at 5:30am, rain started outside around
7:00am and walked to the office with an umbrella on. Warm in the morning
because of the rain, around 13C. Moved to another office
and stayed there until 5:30pm. Took a bus to Tsuchiyama station and then
came back to Nishi-Akashi on a JR train. When I come home, I found that the
refrigerator is not working. Oh my... I had dinner and then relaxed for the
evening. Updated my blog, and went to bed around 10:30pm. |
| 11/9 |
Woke up at 5:30am, walked to station and took a
train and bus to work. I was there whole day. Because today is another cold
day, I was freezing at outside especially from afternoon toward the evening. Went to
dinner with my coworkers, left there around 8:30pm Come home, called the
apartment office to let them know that my refrigerator is broken. They say
they will take care of it, but not today... Went to bed around 11:00pm |
| 11/10 |
Woke up at 5:30am, today is a bit warmer. When I
turned on the TV, a reporter for a weather forecast was standing under dark.
Walked to a station and took a train. Arrived at work at 8:00am and spend
until 6:00pm at work. For the lunch today, my coworker took me out to a
nearby park where a small van selling lunches... It was 450Yen. The
apartment office called around noon to arrange replacement of my fridge.
Stopped by at a post office to pay fees for visa application, and bought
dinner and tomorrow's breakfast at a grocery store. Come home, had dinner,
went to bed around 11:00pm. |
| 11/11 |
Woke up at 5:30am but stayed in bed until
6:00am, oops. It was sunny but very cold morning. Himeji reporting 3.2C...
Walked to the train station just in time for the local train going to west.
Arrived at office at 8:00am and spent morning at outside. I was watching
testing until noon. Not much wind today, how nice. Went to another factory
in the afternoon, took a bus at 6:13pm and train leaving at 6:41pm? to come
back to Nishi-Akashi. Went to Chiropractics then to a grocery store. Cooked
rice and had dinner. Went to bed around 11:00pm. |
| 11/12 |
Woke up at 5:30am, the last day of training at
the another location. It's raining outside... walked to station but ended up
running since I was getting late. Made it to the train and arrived at the
office on time. Spent another day but under cloudy weather, it is party due
to the sands coming from continent. I guess I cannot expect anything better
than this. Stayed until 6:00pm and my coworker took me to station. I took
train leaving at 6:37pm? and arrived at Nishi-Akashi at ?pm. I walked back
home once, dropped off my PC and other equipment, then headed back to the
station again to meet with my coworkers. We had a dinner at a Japanese
restaurant. Left there around 9:30pm, came home relaxed and went to bed
around 10:30pm. |
| 11/13 |
Woke up at 5:30am, start doing loads of
laundries. I had to do three, same as the last week since the weather is
getting colder. I have more winter clothes. I had energy bars for the
breakfast, since I have not bought my breakfast for today. Came home few
minutes before 9:00am and I saw a truck with refrigerator and a guy talking
on the cell phone. I guess the replacement for my broken fridge is here.
After that I took shower and started to pack for the day. Left home at
10:30am but I missed the train going east bound so I had to wait untul
10:48am, I guess I could be late, and just as I was thinking about it, my
friend called me and told me about getting late also.At Kobe station
11:02am, first went to Kobe port and then had lunch at a Spanish restaurant,
then move to Shin-Nagata to see Tetsujin 28 statue, moved back to Sannomiya
and took a taxi toward Kitano. Visited Uroko house and Italian house. Took a train back to Nishi-Akashi.
Called home at 6:20pm, told my dad that I plan to leave now. He promised me
to wait until I come home. Packed my stuffs and left the apartment in hurry.
Walked to station, bought my dinner and drink, then walked up to a ticketing
office, I paid 13,440 for tickets and hurried to the platform. When I walked
into the platform at 6:47pm and a train just left the station. Looks like I
am going to have to wait for a while. Finally a train came at 7:02pm, and
departed. I just need to change to a bullet train at Shin-Osaka, but just as
the train approached to Osaka station, a news came in that someone got hit
by a train at Kusatsu station so the train I am in right now will terminate
operation there. Now I need to figure out how to go to Shin-Osaka. I arrived
Osaka at 7:45pm, and I realized that I can take a local train coming next so
the train 7:47pm to 7:52pm at Shin-Osaka. I walked out from the train and
walked toward the track 25. As I reached to the platform, the train was
arriving so I had to hurry to the entrance for car #3, which is a
non-reserved. The train was almost full, moved from Shin-Osaka departing at
8:00pm and arriving at 8:53pm at Nagoya on Nozomi 58. After arriving to the
station, I walked to a bus stop, I guess I have to wait for a while.
Bus departed from Nagoya at 9:30pm at home around 10:00pm. Chat with my dad
a bit then went to bed.
 
 |
| 11/14 |
Woke up at 5:30am, it was not so cold in the
morning around 12C. Had breakfast with my dad and started to work on the yard
afterward. I trimmed biwa trees then started to pull weeds off the ground where
I planned to plant 80 tulips, had lunch with dad and spent afternoon
trimming more trees and finished around 5:00pm. Called my grandma Took a shower and walked out
to eat dinner. Had sushi for dinner and then came home around 7:30pm.Chat
with my dad until 8:00am. After he went to bed, I opened up a box left by my
mom, containing a lot of newspaper cutouts over environment. She was aware of
the issues even in the 80s and had many topics over that. Fujimae higata,
Mitake Mura mayor assault, Aichi Expo, Kiso water, air pollutions, recycling
matters, fault issue which could result in leaking of contaminated water out
of the landfills... She even used the backside of flyer, volunteered on
soap processing factory which hires people with handicaps. It's a lot of
topics, but she never organized them. Maybe it was too hard for my dad to
take care of it. Some pictures contained so I picked them out. Went to bed around 11:00pm. |
| |
|
| 11/15 |
Woke up at 5:30am. Looks like sunny weather
outside. Had breakfast with my dad. Washed dishes and then sorted the pile
of paper my mom left from yesterday. I guess all the papers can be recycled,
that's her wish.
Spent morning cutting off some persimmons and mandarin oranges to take them
to my grandma. Around 10:30am, I walked to a care house where my grandma
stays and met her. She was awake today, unlike last time. I was chatting
with her a bit, and when I said pyracantha, then she remembered a bit. Walked
out in about 10 minutes then shopped utensils for my dad. Came home, had
lunch with my dad. Left home 1:20pm, get on the bus on time at 1:29pm,
arrived at Nagoya at 1:55pm then changed to a train which left Nagoya at
2:13pm. I have arrived at my grandma's place at 2:45pm, had tea until
4:15pm, chatting with her. Walking back to the station but it was too late.
A train just left as I was walking up. I get on a local train which left at
4:26pm.
Getting on Hikari 477 left Nagoya at 5:10pm, arrived at Shin-Osaka at
6:03pm.
Took a Special Rapid from Shin-Osaka to Sannomiya, departed at 6:24pm and
arrived at 6:51pm I walked out from the station and went into McDonald's for
dinner. I guess I have to wait until my coworker arriving from Itami
airport, I have to take him to Akashi to let him check in at a hotel.
 It's
winter like sky in the afternoon |
|
11/16 |
[JAXA reporting of asteroid
particles found from
Hayabusa's capsule.]
Woke up at 5:30am, did not want to get up easily since I felt a bit tired
from the weekend stay in Nagoya. Got up, took a train to work because I had
to carry a lot of stuffs, it's been a week since I was in the office. Stayed
at the office for the day, left there around 5:30pm, took a train to Akashi,
to take my coworker to show where he can buy stuffs. Heading back to
Nishi-Akashi, stopped by at a grocery store to buy dinner and then come home
around 7:30pm. Worked company emails, personal emails, then on my blog. I
have not finished them all yet, but I hope to catch up soon. Went to bed
around 11:00pm |
| 11/17 |
Woke up at 5:30am, went to work to spend whole
day at meeting. For today, we had a party at Akashi. |
| 11/18 |
Woke up at 5:30am, walked to work today. It was
not so chilly and the sky was mostly sunny Another meeting day and I stayed until 7:00pm and headed to
a Indian restaurant with coworkers. Walked back home, went to bed around
11:00pm
 tandoori
chicken |
| 11/19 |
Woke up at 5:30am, today is a Friday.
Chilly in the morning around 4C. I took a
shower, left home around 7:40am, took a train leaving Nishi-Akashi at 7:47am
and arrived at Gifu Hashima at 9:11am.Took a taxi to visit a supplier.
I get to see the casting process for the first time, burning iron is poured
into a box, which is an amazing scene. Watching at a charcoal colored piece
came out from the box is also showing what we have been doing for centuries. Stayed until 3:00pm then took a train back to
Nishi-Akashi, helped my coworker taking a bus at Sannomiya. I left there
around 6:00pm then headed to a Dotor Coffee store for tea. Left there around
6:50pm and walked to an restaurant. Met with my friends from previous work.
Stayed until 9:30pm
and then walked out. The outside was raining, but no need of an umbrella. Went to another store for
drink and left there around 11:30pm. Took a train back to Nishi-Akashi, went to bed but forgot to turn off the light, so I woke up again around
2:00am.
Sannomiya at night |
| 11/20 |
Woke up at 5:30am but I was dead tired, so I
stayed in bed until 6:00am and started to do laundry. I had to do three
loads again, and took until 10:00am. So I called home, took shower, and went
out to buy breakfast at a bakery. The sky looked very fall looking, some
fluffy clouds, and blue on the back. I packed laundry around 10:00am
and took about 40 minutes. I then walked get haircut. It took a very long
time so by the time when I was done, it was already 12:00pm, and I had to
resist trying not to fall sleep. As I walk outside, I got a call
from my brother asking me about the weekend. I went to eat at a Okinawan
restaurant for Taco Rice, a famous junk food. Walked back home at 12:30pm
and started to pack and left around 12:55pm. I walked up to station but the
ticketing office had a long line so I was not sure if I am going to make it.
I tried a vending machine, ran up to the platform. The Hikari 474 departed
Nishi-Akashi on time at 1:15pm. It was getting clouded as it passed Kobe and Osaka. The
mountain areas of Kyoto looked beautiful because the whole mountain looks
turning its color. Due to the lack of sleep this week, I was so sleepy while
on the train. Arrived at Nagoya at 2:32pm on time, Went to buy
birthday cards for my brother and friend. I then took a bus which left at
3:10pm and arrived home at 3:45pm, rested. My brother came home and joined
the tea.
Left home to have dinner at my brother's house. Their kid was learning more
and more words these days, but tends to eat something he likes so quick, so
he could beg for more to his mom... Also does not like Hanpen surface. Came
home around 9:30pm, I went to bed by 10:00am. Too tired.
 Looking
toward Osaka |
| 11/21 |
Woke up around 5:30am, my dad was already up.
Had breakfast together and my dad went out for an event. While he is gone, I
trimmed a tree for the morning, also took care of window screens, and some leftover
stuffs from my mom. I had to throw away many old newspaper articles cutouts. She never organized them well, though. It was a challenge for people
who does not use internet, or electronic scanner. Had lunch together then
worked on the yard more. For today, I found praying mantis, a small lizard.
Left home around 3:30pm, the bus came late by 7 minutes, but it does not
affected much. Arrived at Nagoya station, and took a Nozomi 179 to Shin-Osaka, I had another choice of using a Hikari
571, which
was scheduled to leave at 4:22pm, which is three minutes ahead but I know the
next Nozomi will take it over soon. The Nozomi was packed but I was able to
get a seat and it arrived at 5:16pm. Changed to Kodama 761 at Shin-Osaka which departed
at 5:38pm and arrived at Nishi-Akashi at 6:06pm.
After arriving to Nishi-Akashi, I bought my dinner at a sozai store for the
night, then walked back home while carrying my , too tired to do anything so I only wrote emails. Went
to bed around 10:00pm.
 Kodama
761 at Nishi-Akashi |
| |
|
| 11/22 |
Woke up at 5:30am, feels recovered from lack of
sleep, but I feel a bit sick... Traveling is not easy. Getting on a train leaving at 7:44am and
arrived at work okay. Reported at a satellite office at 8:30am, spent
morning working on a project then walked back to the main office to
eat lunch. It was raining as I walk back. Spent afternoon working on a new
topic, and stayed until 6:00pm. I had to walk back to the office under dark. Left
Okubo at 6:54pm and arrived at Nishi-Akashi. I bought bread for breakfast,
then meal for dinner at different store, and even some snacks. After the dinner, I had to go to a grocery store
again to buy orange juice and water. Going to bed around 10:00pm. I need to
catch up on sleep. |
|
11/23 |
[More than 300
people killed in a stampede at a festival in Cambodia, North Korea shelled
an island of South Korea, killing a couple of service men.]
Woke up at 5:30am, today is a holiday so I don't have to go work today. I
spent morning relaxing, and took things easy. Today is supposed to be sunny
so I won't miss going outside. I headed to a station to catch a train,
finding out that some trains at Kosei lines are delayed because of high
wind, going to Sannomiya by leaving at 9:32am and arrived at 9:52am then changed to a subway to Shin-Kobe. I
arrived there by 10:00am and started to walk toward the mountains. The
leaves on trees are not completely changed the colors yet. There are some
good spots, but I think I could come back here again this weekend. I took
some pictures still, and felt there are too many hikers... I came
back to Shin-Kobe, and decided to go for a noodle famous here in Kobe area.
I had a Bokkake Yakisoba at Shin-Nagata, I went there by taking a subway
from Shiin-Kobe. Came home around 1:30pm and the outside getting cloudy. The
clouds lasted only for a while. In the evening, it was clear again. Going to
bed around 10:00pm to get a good rest.
 |
| 11/24 |
[Interview Day]
Woke up at 5:30am, and get ready for the day. I took a train leaving to
Osaka at 7:16am, arrived at Osaka at 8:09am on time. Walking to south to
have an interview at U.S. general consulate. On the way, I saw a place setup
to start selling End of the Year Lottery tickets. It's quite famous in
Japan. I arrived to the office, had my interview, which did not take long. I
then left around 8:45am. Stayed at Osaka station to watch trains. I was able
to see new Hamakaze train. Departed Osaka at 9:30am, stopped by at an
electric appliance store in Sannomiya then took another train to
Nishi-Akashi. Bought lunch at a bakery and came home around 11:00am. I
walked to work and stayed until 6:00pm. Walking back to home, it was not so
cold today. Came home at 7:00pm and had dinner. Went to bed around 11:00pm.
 End of
year Jumbo lottery on sale today! |
| 11/25 |
[Happy Thanksgiving!]
Woke up at 5:30am, walked to work and spent whole day at work. I left work
at 6:00pm, walked back home and went to chiropractics for the last time
while I stay in Japan. Walked to a grocery store to grab my dinner, then
came home. I had to prepare rice then had dinner. Went to bed around
11:00pm. |
| 11/26 |
Woke up at 5:30am, walked to work under clear
sky after setting a load of laundry in washer. Today is the last day of one
of the assignments. I had lunch with coworkers reporting on the progress of
my training. The sky got cloudy in the afternoon. Left the office around
6:00pm and walked back home. I did another load while I eat dinner, and took
them to a nearby Laundromat. Came home around 9:00pm and stayed up until
11:00pm. |
|
11/27 |
Woke up at 4:40am this morning, maybe the room
is becoming too cold. Walked out from the apartment around 7:00am to go buy
breakfast. It was cool but felt good. Makes me waking up.
Left home to catch a train which leaving at 9:01am but it was three minutes
delay. Arrived at Sannomiya about 20 minutes later then I took a subway
departing to Shin-Kobe at 9:29am. Started to climbing up to Mt. Maya.
First, I swing by the fall of Nunobiki, then proceeded to the summit. For
today, I climbed Mt. Maya.
Had lunch, there and came back on the same way.
Arrived at Shin-Kobe at 1:55pm, took a train departing to Nishi-Akashi at
2:07pm and came home around 2:30pm. Did a couple of laundries, went out with a coworker to have dinner together. We had Thai food, and also
some hot and spicy conversations over the work. Came home around 10:00pm.
Went to bed at 11:00pm.
Looking down the Kobe area |
| 11/28 |
Woke up at 5:30am
but stayed in bed until 6:00am. Walked up to a bakery at 7:30am to grab
breakfast. Relaxed for the morning, like checking emails and talking on the
phone with family members.
Left home around 2:00pm.
Went to Kyohoji Park to check out a flee market which one of my friend is
participating.
Had dinner at Chinese restaurant. It was pretty dead on conversation.
Came home, went to bed around 11:00pm. |
| |
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| 11/29 |
Woke up at 5:30am but took morning very slow, so
I arrived to office about 15 minute later than my usual commuting. Morning
low was suddenly at 3C, it maybe the cause. Spent
morning in the meeting, and office work for the afternoon. Stayed until
7:30pm then left, walking back to apartment in a chilly air under dark. Came
home around 8:00pm my breakfast for tomorrow. Cooked rice, and tried to
catch a radio program which I missed in the morning. Went to bed around
11:00pm. |
| 11/30 |
Woke up at 5:30am
again. This morning is another cold one at 3C, walked to work, had to have a
meeting with the U.S. side from the morning... I worked whole morning in
front of the PC then I had fewer hours in the afternoon. I hoped to come
home on time but I had to stay until 7:45pm today, later than yesterday! I walked back late but stopped by at a
grocery store to buy my dinner. Today they did not have much of discounted
items while there are many items left. Coming home, worked on my project and
went to bed around 11:00pm. |