明けましておめでとう御座います！今年もよろしくね！First off a very happy new year to one and all. I apologize for not having updated my blog as frequently as you or I would have hoped to, and again I point to no excuses except for the fact that 1) my previously cranky laptop has been repaired and returned (a big thank you to Yuyuan who brought it back to Singapore for me, and of course to my Dad who carried out the administrative portion of it). I can finally access the internet again!; 2) i am simply too lazy to blog, and on top of that i have been spending time travelling ard the country; 3) the rest of the time i'm just at home watching "kudaranai" silly japanese variety shows (yes the kind you watch on YouTube and then some).

I must say the year 2006 has by far been one of the best years for me. I started off the year receiving the good news that I was slated to go on exchange for the entire duration of Yr 3, received gd enough results for the 2nd academic year, got back together with my ex-gf Vivien after 3 long years, had a long holiday break which was spent stacking up invaluable legal experience via internships at Shooklin and A&G, arrived in Japan and got a scholarship, have had plenty of opportunities to travel around and fulfill my dream of eating fresh sashimi on a regular basis. There are just too many things to be grateful for for the year 2006. I just hope 2007 will bring all that and more.

What then are my resolutions for the new year? Well, the same as every other year, to remain happy, manage to scrape by my exams, to have as much fun as I can while I'm still a student, and to be with Viv.

Except this year, I have two more goals, to be fluent in Japanese, and to be able to travel the entire country, dreams I have always wanted to fulfill.

I wouldn't say I miss Singapore all that much, considering the vast differences in experiences, both cultural and social, that I have managed to partake in within Japan (as you will witness from the pictures). What I do however miss, is my girlfriend, my family and of course all you friends out there. I do hope everyone at home is doing well despite the rainy weather and flu pandemic.

Meanwhile, here are some pictures which i previously promised:

Just off 名島 bridge, trying to hitch a ride to Kumamoto 熊本

Two suspicious looking guys standing by the roadside in the freezing cold at 3 in the morning, it was little wonder that it took 30 mins before any car stopped. We were finally picked up by a young couple driving a mini-van, and this was the first time they had ever picked up any hitchhikers. They were very intrigued by the fact that I was a foreigner, and even requested me to teach them some english. After some 30 mins in the car, and some pleasant conversation after, they dropped us of at of the ramen stalls along the way to kumamoto.

After managing to hitch two more rides (one in a fisherman's van and one in a 社長’s (CEO of one of the big firms in the area), we arrived at kumamoto after 6 long hours. This is the first and perhaps the last time I will ever hitchhike, but I must say that experience is a rather unique one.

Spent the morning walking around the grounds of Kumamoto Castle, but I refused to pay 500yen to go into the castle grounds itself.

After arriving at my friend's home in Kumamoto, his father Mitsuoka-san brought us to the Kusasenri mountain region where we were to view the red-leaves of autumn at Kikuchi. Witness the brilliant scarlet red maple leaves! Simply nature at one of its best =))

With Mitsuoka-san

Gorgeous blue water at the base of a waterfall

After all the leaf viewing, it was off to one of the better local onsens (hotsprings). Onsen of choice: どんどく湯　

There's really nothing like a good hot soak in a hot spring to cap off a tiring but fulfilling day.

Toru's brother's manga collection of a few years. Mostly weekly teenage manga magazines.