It's My Birthday~!

Hohohohoho... It's my first birthday after wedding and my first birthday in foreign country.


Most of you would not know that now I'm in Tokyo, having a 5 days trip here, 26-30th Nov. We planned this trip is simply because:


It's my birthday!

It's going to be winter and it's gonna be really chilling!

We want to have a trip!

Aren't these reasons good enough? Hahaha...





Last night we already pre-celebrated my birthday at home... Alvin spent about 3 hours cooking big meal for the dinner.


I'm so hungry~~~~



There're fried drumpsticks, fried prawns, fried mee, fried egg in soup, which Alvin insisted that it's a MUST for birthday, fried vege and chicken soup~ ooohhh, that's too much for two of us.



I'm eagerly wanting to eat~

We spent long hours finishing the dinner. But it was the best meal since we are in Japan, and the best Alvin cooked for me. :)

Oh, we had red wine too! Do you know how much is that? Less than RM10! Hehehe... but I don't fancy bout it again..

It's 12am! Cutting cake time~ We bought the cake from YouMeTown after back from church.
This small cake cost 1260yen ler! It's around RM37++

Super expensive!

And the candle is 100yen for 3! That is RM1 per candle. Oh gosh... I didn't want to buy but Alvin secretly went to buy then..

Its not birthday without candle..



All my wishes are dedicated for family...

Yummy cake!

Thank you all for your wishes through sms, email or in friendster.. I'm sorry I can't reply you, but the warmth of your wishes I've kept in my heart. Thanks~!

Tiring day... Travelled so much! Gotta get rest...

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

We spent unexpected time in the Cathedral, so there wasn't enough time for us to explore the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. After recharging energy in SOGO which we spent quite some time in hunting food around, we finally reached the Peace Memorial Park 広島平和記念公園 which is about 15 minutes walk from the Cathedral.

First building hop into our sight is the Atomic Bomb Dome, which I thought it was smashed into pieces and not even keeping it's building structure.

This was taken by a tourist from US, his SLR camera is consider quite good de oh, what do you think of his photographing skill? :)

Sunset view of the Peace Memorial Park. Taken on the Aioi Bridge, a nationally known T-shaped bridge. I also just realised that this bridge was the target of the A-bomb. The bomb missed slightly, exploding 300 meters from the bridge in the air over Shima Hospital.
Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students

To make up for the labor shortage, the government enacted the Student Labor Service Act in August 1944. This act required students in middle school and higher grades to perform labor service in munitions factories and the like. Then, in November, many students were required to participate in tearing down homes and other buildings (building demolition). The purpose was to create fire-breaks to limit the expansion of fire in the event of air attacks.

Under the Memorial Tower there are thousands and thousands of paper crane. Do you think that is all? I thought so, too.

There are few more spots not far away..

There are millions and millions of them!

On the left it's the Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb.

I didn't know that there were Korean victims too in this tragedy. Copied this from the website of the Peace Memorial Park:

Japan took control of Korea during the Meiji Restoration and annexed in 1910. Many Koreans who had lost their means of livelihood were forced to come to Japan in search of work. Moreover, to make up for the wartime labor shortage, Japan also brought many Koreans to work in Japan through forced service or conscription. At the end of the war, about three million Koreans were living in Japan, and it is said that tens of thousands of them suffered the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.

Children's Peace Monument
Sadako Sasaki was exposed to the bombing at age two, contracted leukemia ten years later and died. Shocked by her death, her classmates put out a national call to "build a monument to mourn all the children who died from the atomic bombing." With the support of students in more than 3,100 schools around Japan and in nine other countries, including England, the Society was able to build this bronze statue that stands nine meters high.

On the top of the three-legged pedestal stands the bronze figure of a girl holding up a gold-colored "folded" crane. On opposite sides of the pedestal are suspended boy and girl figures symbolizing a bright future and hope. On the stone underneath the pedestal is inscribed, "This is our cry. This is our prayer. For building peace in this world."

The Children's Peace Monument is surrounded by stations of the paper crane. I really admired at these works done by children who are only in primary school.

We didn't walk over to the other side, so didn't know it's the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and the Pond of Peace. So, introduce to you next time, when we visit the place again. :)

Peace Bell

On its surface a world map without national boundaries is engraved to symbolize "one world." The platform evokes the radiation warning mark, expressing the hope for abolition of atomic and hydrogen bombs. On the opposite side is a mirror that reflects the hearts of those who ring the bell.

The pond is adorned by famous lotuses grown from seeds from Professor Ichiro Oga, who dug them from 2000-year-old ruins in Chiba City. After the bombing, lotus leaves were placed on people's wounds to reduce the pain of burns and console their spirits.The Peace Bill was selected in 1996 for the Environmental Agency's "One Hundred Sounds the Japanese People Wish to Preserve."

You may toll the bell..

Walking around the park, the scenery is truly awesome, splendid, marvellous, wonderful! Any better description? I have very limited vocab. He he...

The leaves, are changing colour. Some are yellow, some are red, some would not want to wear any other colour other than green, and some would just leave the tree. Autumn is always the most beautiful season to me. Coming next is spring, where flowers blooms everywhere!




Always my best personal photographer...

An irritating incident occurred when we were in the park -- my camera died!

No, not that it's spoilt, but No more battery left and that means I can't take any more photos. I did try with Alvin's camera but it's not under my control. Haih~

Before we left, there's this 2 ladies posing their pets on the bench for them to take their beloved doggies' photo. See how luxurious is the life of the pets here?

After shooting endless photos the doggy still got 'coat' to wear on. I think even that pink coat is gonna cost more than all the clothes I'm wearing. huh...

We also noticed the senior citizens feeding birds in the park. The birds are familiar with them. Or they are used to be fed.

I almost can read 'lonely' on their faces...

Looking at the countless paper cranes pleading for peace... I just can't get these thought out of my mind for days..

If it wasn't the Second World War -- and the atomic bomb would not be dropped here, taking away thousands of lives. Compare to those sacrificed in the war, these victims are not considered a huge number.

If the war continues, how many more souls will be crying in grieve?

If you are not cut on your own body, you would not feel the pain.

Memorial Cathedral for World Peace - II

Going to the back of the hall, to the right side of the Cathedral. Can you guess what is that?

This is the tank for baptism in the olden days. But nowadays the ceremony is held in front of all the parishioners, so this place no longer serves its purpose. But it is kept well as remembrance. On the left wall hang a wooden crucifix, according to Teresa san, is carved from wood.

On the left, there's a chapel, named after our Holy Mother of God. They have their daily mass here, 7am.

Now move upwards -- we are going to climb to the top of the bell tower! But first, we move to the first floor where the pipe organ is. This is one of the largest pipe organ in Japan. I was so surprised when Teresa san said this organ is only played by one person. I really wonder how can a person play this organ? it is so big that it can accommodate like 20 people inside.

Every month there is pipe organ concert in this Cathedral. I'd very much like to join the concert if given the chance. :) But it's costing a lot to come eh~

The church is not always using the pipe organ, they use piano too.


Moving upstairs, there's a corridor where you can see the cathedral from another view.


Up up up, now we are going out into the sun, where there's a bridge or a path to the bell tower. From here it's another view of the design.



Going down a few steps, now we are outside of the bell tower.



See that little bird on top of the roof there? It's not small actually but far from sight. Take a closer look..



This is Phoenix, the symbol of Japan. Actually the windows are also design with the specialities of Japan, a type of tree.. Hmm... forgot again. See how terrible my memory can be, if I don't write them down everything will be wiped away in one second. There's also church windows the 15 mysteries of the Rosary, surrounding the Cathedral.



Entering into the bell tower, we went on to the top. Seeing Alvin carrying his bag and the staircase is quite narrow, Teresa san offered to leave his bag in this little chapel while we go to the top.

The BELLS!

This is enormous~! Can you believe this is over 1 tonne? If I'm not mistaken it's 1145 or 1150kg! Not even 20 strong man also can carry that. There are four bells all together, the size and weight varies from one another. The smallest bell also weights 250kg.

I can't imagine if I'm here when the bells ring...

This is not the top yet! Again we go up, up, and up, now reaching the last level before you get to the top.

This staircase is called the staircase to heaven. ;) Before you go up, take a look at the windows here. Does it make you think of something? Teresa san even imitated to me to let me guess what it is like...

Key to Heaven! Did you make the right guess? I didn't. huhuhuhu.

It was a bit scary to climb that staircase.. It's 45 meters high, and finally ---

The whole of Hiroshima City!

From the very bottom to the peak, now we are at higher position than the Phoenix. The two picture beside that is the Elisabeth University of Music, run by the Catholic Church.

I've been mentioning Teresa san for so many times, you might wonder who she is... Tata~

Then from 'Heaven' we landed on earth safely. ;p


This is another building of the Cathedral, opposite the bell tower. Upstairs are Bishop's Office.

Mother Mary and Jesus can be of any racial and appearance.. This is Korea costume, not Japanese oh~

This is indeed an awesome and fantastic experience! We spent at least 2 and half hour in the Cathedral, with our stomach protesting......... But worth it! :D :D :D

For more photos, please visit

http://www.alvinlms.blogspot.com/

http://www.evland.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=16011&extra=page%3D1