Intermezzo: The Concept of Time

It's funny what the mind can come up with when given the privilege of time. Today I got up at 8 AM and spent about 30 minutes sitting on my couch while munching breakfast, and let my mind wandered.

I remember thinking that it's been such a long time since I felt so refreshed and rested and I was trying to figure out what made me feel that way. And then I realized why, I've been given the gift of time.

For the first time in the year 2006, I was able to have a 'normal' week. By normal I meant: working 9 to 6, have the normal 2 days weekend - Saturday and Sunday, and not having project evenings. Hip hip hooray!
Now this means a lot for people in my industry, especially in Japan.
I know this is probably not a big deal for the general public, where everybody else's schedule is pretty much set, working Monday to Friday, having weekends Saturday and Sunday.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I would never trade it with anything else (well, I will definetely consider an apprenticeship with Kodo, but that's like a very loooong shot). But as with every other job, being a market research analyst has its own catch: not having the normal concept of time. We don't have that working-Monday-to-Friday thing.

When everybody else is planning a weekend away with friends and their loved ones, 90% of the time I'd always have to say, "I'd love to go, but I have work that weekend, sorry. I can meet you for drinks in the evening though, so you can tell me all about it."

Or when a friend says, "Can you come and cheer me at my gig on Friday night?",
I usually have to say, "Well, I have a project that evening, I can be there around 11 PM, are you still going to be there?"

Or when a friend says, "Let's have brunch on Saturday morning?"
then I'd have to say, "No can't do, I have to work. How about a late dinner on Sunday?"

An illustration on how my days are scheduled in a month (June 2006)

Sure I get to make up for my lost time in a mini vacation in a form of comp days galore, but it's never the same. Most of the time I'm just sleeping trying to get rid of the endless fatigue from the project marathon period and besides... EVERYBODY ELSE IS WORKING!!!
So as a result: I still don't get to see anyone, even in my days off.

Optimistic, that's my middle name. With a very good faith in dear friends and family, optimistic that they would have some understanding for a market research analyst's bizarre schedule - I sincerely hope that you bunch would never be tired to invite me to join you, even when I say I can't be there, I'm always there in spirit. Save me a spot.

A Surprise in The Mail!

Still no time to write yet, but I do want to share a little surprise I got in the mail today.
Per usual, my taiko troupe Waraku Daiko performed in the fringe event at Earth Celebration 2006. During the performance there were some photographers who were taking some shots. One of the photographer came up and asked for my address as he wanted to send some pics.
And they arrived today!!!

I think these are quite cool.

It's WICKED!!!

Just in case anyone is wondering... I'm back!! Just got in about 1 hour ago from a very very wicked trip to Sado island for the Earth Celebration 2006.

Four days of too much fun, amazing experience and the wickedest road trip and camping that I've ever done in such a long time.

Tomorrow is a busy day at work, so I will give a low-down on this wicked trip sometime as soon as I have the chance to write.

For Odaiko Div, Beating Drum, Annie Bananie and Katesman... OTSUKARESAMADESHITA!!!

4 days of non-stop laughters and amazing time... I thank you all so very much and I bid you good night.

--Taiko Tari

My Old Man

A tribute to the main man in my life.

Happy birthday, Darling Dad.
Hope you had a great birthday celebration.
(ps:excellent surprise birthday party plan, Mum!)
Know that you were in my thoughts and prayers,
for you deserve the utmost happiness and nothing less.

*Brother G made a very nice composition for our Darling Dad. Read here. Perdone mi amigos, only available in Bahasa Indonesia.

Tales from Earthsea: A Viewer's Tale in Tokyo

I want to share with you my amazing discovery yesterday.

Cousin Yudo, my favorite movie-going buddy and I were discussing about a movie that we wanted to go watch.
After much debate over "Pirates of the Carribean 2", "Mission Impossible III" and "Cars"... he talked me into seeing something completely different.
He kept on saying, "Let's go watch that Gedo something movie. It's a Studio Ghibli production and Miyazaki is directing it, I reckon it must be good."
On my comp day yesterday, I finally caved in.
I went with him, not knowing what to expect, except that the movie is an animated one, of a fantasy story.

So, we watched the movie. It was very enjoyable, although I think it's a little heavy for children.

As we were watching the movie, I noticed the set of the story was from some country's seacoast. I kept on thinking and said, "Hmm, this reminds me so much of Spain. The Galician coast, to be exact. Where is the book supposed to be set in? Is it Spain?"

"I'm not sure. It's gotta be somewhere in Europe, though. Look at the old buildings."

"It must be Spain or some Mediterranean country, since the characters seem to have darker skin tone."

Shortly after I said that, the soundtrack music started playing. It was a bagpipe based music.

I said, "I'll be damned, but this is Galician bagpipe."

"If it is a bagpipe, shouldn't this be Scottish, then?"

"Not necessarily, you see bagpipe is also a part of Spanish culture, and I can be wrong, but this music really sounds like the works of Carlos Nunez."

"They do have darker skin tone, they can be Spanish I suppose..."

"Trust me, I know my bagpipes. This one is not Scottish, this one is definitely Galician."

So we continued watching the movie. And it ended beautifully. However, I was still a little unsure about the story-line even after the movie finished.
When I raised my opinion, Yudo said, "Well if you haven't read the books, then I supposed it will be a little difficult to understand the story, especially because this one is not of the first book."

When I inquired about the books, he said, "It's a part of a series. Some western author wrote it, maybe she's European, although I'm not so sure. I can't quite remember what the name is, it's not easy to pronounce. But the series is called Tales from Earthsea."

and then I said... "Wait a minute, is it Ursula Le Guin?"

my cousin yelped, "YES! That's it"

I said, "You've got to be joking! Ursula Le Guin is my client's mother. Oh my goodness. Now everything makes sense!!"

Theo Downes- Le Guin, one of my most cherished clients, often travels to Japan for research projects. Every time he's in town, we always go out for a meal. One of the subject that always comes up is his 'side' business trip that he does for his mother. He often animatedly told me about meeting Mr. Miyazaki, or visiting the Studio Ghibli production house.
The works of Ursula Le Guin is highly noted in the fantasy world. She is a cherished author, and I'm a little ashamed that I haven't yet read any of her books.

Anyway, so we talked about the books and Mrs. Le Guin while waiting for the lights to come out.

As we were talking, we were reading the names of the voice cast, and I wanted to make sure I see who contributed in the music for the soundtrack. When I least expected it, there standing proudly and singularly the name "Carlos Nunez".
Hahaha.... STRIKE 2!!
Carlos Nunez is a good friend that I met at a music festival in Japan in Summer 2005. He is, in fact, my first introduction to the Celtic music. We befriended each other since then. Carlos is a phenomenal musician who was very kind to show me around Galicia when I paid him a short visit in November 2005.
I recalled Carlos was in town for a month earlier in Spring this year. We caught up for meals and phone calls whenever the opportunity presented itself. During which time he often spoke of the works and the recordings that he did. Only yesterday I remember he was speaking very fondly of a work he's doing with an "animation movie about the sea" - that's how he simply put it.

What an amazing coincidence!!!
Never in my wildest imagination would I expect to discover such connection in one small occasion. I would never have put the two and two together.
Going to see the movie with zero expectation and genuinely enjoyed it is one thing, but discovering the amazing surprise elements after watching it has made this movie even more special to me.

Great work, Everyone!!

My Favorite People

My sister and my brother... I miss them so much, really I do.

Brother G, last seen physically in April 2006 for a few hours encounter at a hotel in Jakarta.

Sister A, last seen physically in Christmas holidays 2004.

How I miss them so.

Invictus (by William E Henley)

In light of a recent unfriendly awakening, I came home tonight to find a note from my lovely Drummer Div on my kitchen table.
A sweet letter of happiness. An encouragement. A motivation.

INVICTUS
- William E. Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Thank you, Divydong, for being there... for being you... "5 hammers!!" as you said. I'm grinning ear-to-ear. Promise.

The Friendship Investment: A Case Study

A tribute to Darling Ms. V - wish you a fabulous new life in Cambridge and to Rider A - wish you a safe and amazing ride back to Scandinavia.

I was watching Sex and The City the other day, and there was an episode in which Carrie Bradshaw said, "Miranda, keeping a friendship for 40 years don't magically happen. You have to invest in it."

Which got me into thinking...

Two of my close friends are leaving Japan for good. One has just left 2 days ago and another one will be leaving 2 Fridays from now.
It has saddened me so, to think that Darling Ms. V is no longer a-phone-call-away-and-I'll-be-right-there, or Rider A will not be just a 5-minute-walk-from-my-office anymore.

These two very special people I have known for a while, whose hugs have been a source of comfort, the two kind of hugs that are very warm and assuring.
Darling Ms. V who often calls to say hi and we can chat for hours for nothing or everything in general, one who got me into playing Soccer in Japan, one who is my inspiration, one who always makes me smile.
Rider A, the dear man who said he was going to leave, but has always been there, whose hug is my favorite, who spoils me rotten with the finer things in life, who has been the source of endless random and trivia knowledge, and who inspired me to living the 2-wheels-world again.
Having them leaving means that we won't be able to meet physically as often as we used to.

People come and go, a wise friend often reminds me. C'est la vie.

One really has to invest in keeping a friendship.

Darling Ms. V and Rider A can go leave Japan, but I am NOT going to let them walk out of my life. We will keep in contact and we will visit one another, we will talk, we will catch up.
We will still be only that one-phone-call-away person. We may not meet at the drop of a hat, but we will meet again. I need to make sure to get a dose of those favorite hugs every once in a while.
I will invest my best assets in this friendship, because it is worth it.

Earth Celebration 2006

Earth Celebration is coming up soon!!!
Am very proud of myself for getting things organized 2 weeks ahead of time this year. Purchased my three-day-pass the other day (still haven't managed to go through the forest of Japanese kanjis on the website - thus made the very simple quick call to the ticketing office), the ticket will be ready to be claimed at the information center when I get to the island.

For those who don't know, Earth Celebration is an art/music festival hosted by World's best taiko drumming group Kodo at their home island, Sado.
Every Summer, musicians from all over Japan and the world gather for the three days of musical fun. Please visit the link above for more details. There are way too much fun things in the list. It is simply impossible to sum it up in a short blog entry.

That being said, per usual, my taiko group "Waraku Daiko" will perform at the fringe show on August 18, 2006 (Friday). The venue is at Kisaki-shrine. It is by the Ogi port, a very short walk from the information center.
We will be on stage at 2:30 PM.
This year the troupe is HUGE. We will have 12 drummers performing. Haha...!! This is going to be a blast, I know it already!!!

See you there!!















Kodo performing at the Art market @Ogi Port, EC 2005