Monday, April 20, 2009

Who am I?

Who am I?

Who am I
That You transported me
From one sunny isle
To a seasonal isle
And back again?

Who am I
That You opened up my senses
To behold and tread upon
The endless mountainous range
And smell the blooming blossoms?

Who am I
That You allowed me to take a little peep
To act in a minute role
In that life- changing play
Directed by You?

Who am I
That You are willing to shape me
Break me
Shake me
To be more like You?

Who am I
That You came down personally
From Your heavenly throne
To die in my place?

"My eyes had heard of You
but now my eyes have seen You.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Hon Machi

Hon Machi

A few friends started to ask me, "Do you miss Japan?", "Which country do you prefer?", "Is Japan better?" and so on.
My replies have been, "I haven't started missing anything or anyone yet," "I feel sad when I see Japanese food", "I can't help but start reading Nihongo aloud whenever I see it around me."

Today, the scene of Hon Machi flashed across my mind as I played the piano. What is it? You asked. Hon Machi is this forsaken covered street across Ichinomiya JR station. There are shops on both sides. This place used to be the 'in' place more than two decades ago. Today, it only comes alive during weekends and on festive days.

When I first explored this place, I really didn't like it because it's so run-down and quiet. The things sold here are so ancient and old-fashioned. The usual customers are the aunties and grannies. 90 % of the shops are closed on Mondays too.

Gradually, I began to know the shops one by one and started coming to this old street just to get certain things.
The first shop I came across was the hair salon. It's only 1575yen per cut. If you have a coupon, you can get a hair wash (500yen) for free. Jingyun brought me here to cut hair and offered me the coupon. The hairdressers here are not bad at all. They're also quick. Many customers patronised them, especially the grannies and aunties.

Next, I discovered a fabric shop! On days with sale, 1m cloth only costs 100yen! So cheap! This is one of the shops I frequently patronised. HAhaha.... I get my thread, cloths, and other patchwork equipment here. Not the cheapest on normal days though. Just on SALE days! Wahahahah...

The grocery sells many varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables. Last year, Japan's bananas became extremely expensive after the introduction of the banana diet. Prior to the variety show, bananas( 4 in a comb) cost about 90 to 100yen. After the show, the cost went up to as high as 250yen! Many supermarkets and groceries finished selling their bananas before noon. The ladies bought more than 4 combs per person every time they came!
But this particular grocery at Hon Machi always has bananas. The highest price was only 157yen. Yes! I bought it. I was craving for bananas for weeks!!! Peaches, strawberries, grapes and other fruits are also very fresh. Mmmm....

My pastor's wife told me there's this dango shop here too. Dango is like our glutinous rice balls. Theirs is usually 3 to 4 dangos in a satay stick, coated with sweetened soy sauce and grilled. I found this shop myself. Looks so old yet many people patronised them. They also sold oni-manju (devil's kueh). Doesn't look evil at all lah. hahaha...It's just some kueh kueh steamed with cubed sweet potatoes. Their oni-manjus are huge, the size of my fist. I remembered I bought one and was eating it happily when a passerby and her mom asked me where I bought it. They seemed to be looking for this shop. I turned back and pointed to the shop, gave some instructions and they went away looking grateful. Heheheh... By the way, it's non-Japanese to walk and eat at the same time. Quite rude, to them. I only do it once in a while, esp when I'm too hungry. HAhaha

I guess that's all for now, folks. How I wish I can bring you to Hon Machi! How I wish I can go there now too, coz I wanna buy some cloths and eat the oni-manju! Wahahahahah....