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Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Galileo
2009 is suppose to be the International Year of Astronomy, marking 400years ago, when Galileo Galilei first used an astronomical telescope to peer into the space. I chanced upon this really late, like a week ago, mid-October 2009. Well, better late than never.
Apparently, this is a good month to see Jupiter.
I found a local event for star/planet gazing under the Marine Parade Astronomical Society! How nice. They were going to the Marina Barrage on the night of 25th Oct for an overnight event.
Was actually really lazy that Saturday evening but decided to kick myself out of the comfort zone and hopped over to marina. The Green Roof, is actually a big patch of grassy area right on top of the barrage. The good people from the society got the permit and set up all their scopes. It was really an eye opening evening. Was kinda breezy and cold too.
The moon was in hiding because it was super cloudy. I did managed to catch the moon through the telescope though! OOOH. And I saw Jupiter. A bright glob of light, not too far from the Moon. I suppose a more powerful telescope would have allowed me to see more than a glob.
There was suppose to be some meteor shower but was too sleepy to stay on. Next time perhaps. There are so much for us to learn, everyday.
View from the green roof.
Apparently, this is a good month to see Jupiter.
I found a local event for star/planet gazing under the Marine Parade Astronomical Society! How nice. They were going to the Marina Barrage on the night of 25th Oct for an overnight event.
Was actually really lazy that Saturday evening but decided to kick myself out of the comfort zone and hopped over to marina. The Green Roof, is actually a big patch of grassy area right on top of the barrage. The good people from the society got the permit and set up all their scopes. It was really an eye opening evening. Was kinda breezy and cold too.
The moon was in hiding because it was super cloudy. I did managed to catch the moon through the telescope though! OOOH. And I saw Jupiter. A bright glob of light, not too far from the Moon. I suppose a more powerful telescope would have allowed me to see more than a glob.
There was suppose to be some meteor shower but was too sleepy to stay on. Next time perhaps. There are so much for us to learn, everyday.
View from the green roof.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Answer - Sarah McLachlan
I will be the answer
At the end of the line
I will be there for you
While you take the time
In the burning of uncertainty
I will be your solid ground
I will hold the balance
If you can't look down
If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all gone out
You'll still be burning so bright
Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind
Take me to a
Place so holy
That I can wash this from my mind
The memory of choosing not to fight
If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
'Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all burned out
You'll still be burning so bright
Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Japan in Spring, Part Two
Here comes part two!
After a good night's sleep, a beautiful morning awaits. Headed for breakie. This is the general area, in daylight. Check out the nite view here.
Since breakie was not ready, decided to head outside to have a feel of the temperature. Found a shack of some sorts at the front door which I did not see on the way in the previous day.
6deg c.
there were some pretty sakura outside
then it started snowing! can you see the flakes~
oh this is Teru Teru Bozu. a little doll to wish for good weather.
the previous nite, we enjoyed the onsen (hot spring) at the ryokan. every ryokan (traditional japanese inn) has different stay plans, some with certain type of food or rooms etc. for this ryokan, it had a special plan. It was the use of the onsen (very normal), with free flow sake in the onsen!!! sorry no pict.. basically, there was a few bottles of local sake placed beside the tub for your enjoyment. They even had waterproof novels for your reading pleasure. Anyway, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
so the next morning, after we woke up, we took a bath (no sake of course) and found that there don't seemed to be much guests whom had awoken yet. so... here are some RARE pics... of the traditional onsen in a ryokan.
on the way to the onsen, you can see the door for guys first, followed by the one for girls. no mixed bath here.
woo hoo. this is it! of course there wasn't anyone around. Just imagined the night before, with the sake and all.
time for breakie!
onsen egg! my favourite.
happy miso girl
very fresh tomato, with greedy person in background.
pouring yam on my rice
bliss
time for some fun~
the mountain top had quite a bit of snow going on. basically we were at the start of the Kurobe Alpine Route. Crossing from Nagano side to Toyama side, using different forms of transportation along the alps. Unfortunately, the weather was really bad and right on top of the mountains, it wasn't passable so the only way was to go up and come back down. No worries, safety first. Here we go!
Took a bus up to the first stop.
Next up, we queued up for the tunnel trolley bus. So many people!
Reached the Kurobe Dam.
Had to walk a long flight of stairs to the top of the dam, along the way, free spring water for everyone!
Oh my. This is Kurobe Dam. What a magnificent view.
hee
more spring water
okay, tourists posing.
Then we took a tunnel train to the next stop.
food!
After a cable car ride, we reached Murodo. The highest point. This is the part where we have to turn back down because the previous night, there was a heavy snowfall so roads down the other side of the mountain (by bus) were all snowed in. No go.
Here you can see they brought out the heavy machinery to clear the roads.
The snow corridor this year was quite high, about 15m. And we were at 2390m UP!
Again, the tourists striked!
-0.8deg c
my victim, after a snowball fight.
took the cable down back down to the dam
so cccold, i had to eat Sansai Soba (wild vege noodles)
this was the trolley bus i mentioned.
After a good night's sleep, a beautiful morning awaits. Headed for breakie. This is the general area, in daylight. Check out the nite view here.
Since breakie was not ready, decided to head outside to have a feel of the temperature. Found a shack of some sorts at the front door which I did not see on the way in the previous day.
6deg c.
there were some pretty sakura outside
then it started snowing! can you see the flakes~
oh this is Teru Teru Bozu. a little doll to wish for good weather.
the previous nite, we enjoyed the onsen (hot spring) at the ryokan. every ryokan (traditional japanese inn) has different stay plans, some with certain type of food or rooms etc. for this ryokan, it had a special plan. It was the use of the onsen (very normal), with free flow sake in the onsen!!! sorry no pict.. basically, there was a few bottles of local sake placed beside the tub for your enjoyment. They even had waterproof novels for your reading pleasure. Anyway, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
so the next morning, after we woke up, we took a bath (no sake of course) and found that there don't seemed to be much guests whom had awoken yet. so... here are some RARE pics... of the traditional onsen in a ryokan.
on the way to the onsen, you can see the door for guys first, followed by the one for girls. no mixed bath here.
woo hoo. this is it! of course there wasn't anyone around. Just imagined the night before, with the sake and all.
time for breakie!
onsen egg! my favourite.
happy miso girl
very fresh tomato, with greedy person in background.
pouring yam on my rice
bliss
time for some fun~
the mountain top had quite a bit of snow going on. basically we were at the start of the Kurobe Alpine Route. Crossing from Nagano side to Toyama side, using different forms of transportation along the alps. Unfortunately, the weather was really bad and right on top of the mountains, it wasn't passable so the only way was to go up and come back down. No worries, safety first. Here we go!
Took a bus up to the first stop.
Next up, we queued up for the tunnel trolley bus. So many people!
Reached the Kurobe Dam.
Had to walk a long flight of stairs to the top of the dam, along the way, free spring water for everyone!
Oh my. This is Kurobe Dam. What a magnificent view.
hee
more spring water
okay, tourists posing.
Then we took a tunnel train to the next stop.
food!
After a cable car ride, we reached Murodo. The highest point. This is the part where we have to turn back down because the previous night, there was a heavy snowfall so roads down the other side of the mountain (by bus) were all snowed in. No go.
Here you can see they brought out the heavy machinery to clear the roads.
The snow corridor this year was quite high, about 15m. And we were at 2390m UP!
Again, the tourists striked!
-0.8deg c
my victim, after a snowball fight.
took the cable down back down to the dam
so cccold, i had to eat Sansai Soba (wild vege noodles)
this was the trolley bus i mentioned.
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