Sticking To My Guns

It's hard to stay on course when there are so many mouths, magazines and posts telling me that I should want more. I don't want more, I want just the right amount. Think Parisian Chic not Trailer Trashy.

Everything I want for our big event can be summed up by the photo below :

source

Luxurious, simple, and understated.



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Plum(梅) Blossoms at Mito's Kairakuen(偕楽園)

A temple at the park

I failed to catch the Plum blossoms during my first and second year due mainly to bad timing. Finally get to see them during my third, not to mention last year, at Ibaraki.

The Plum blossoms come in a variety of shades. You can pick up a pamphlet at the entrance which will explain the many different types of Plum blossoms that grow inside the park grounds.

Soft and subtle pink blossoms

A more vibrant shade of pink

No matter how many times I go to this park the view from the top of the stairs always gets to me. It looks so typically Japanese, all tranquil and eye-pleasing.

Later on we had a lunch at a seafood place. To those of you that have never tried eating raw seafood, try doing it in Japan. It will change your life, like, for real.

Sweet and sour Plum ice-cream

This was at a different park 

That slight bump you see on the ground in the photo above is actually a grave. Yes, a dead person lies underneath that. Kind of creepy that the graveyard of past rulers have now become a park.

Watanabe

Also at a different park

After we were done at the Kairakuen we went to a different park where they had the above attraction. I'm not sure what it is or what it represents. Looks kind of Aztec-y, don't you think?

Gifu University

I graduated from Ibaraki National College of Technology(茨城高等専門学校) and am now continuing my degree at Gifu University(岐阜大学). It'll take two years, because I'll start in third year, then I might start working or continue on to a Masters. I haven't decided yet.

The program

This was during the Entrance Ceremony. Unlike in Malaysia or many other countries, for that matter, Japan has both an Entrance and a Graduation Ceremony. It doesn't take very long, two hours tops.

There'll be a a few speeches by some big wigs then some well wishes for the coming year and we're done.

Me

First Years from AAJ (Ambang Asuhan Jepun?)