Happiness is really a state of Mind

Even though I have heard this many times before, I don't think I never really understood or realized it as much as I do now. As I start to think about it now, there been instances all along my life so far, where I was happy or sad just based on my thoughts. Based on how I was looking at things. I don't know what made be oblivious to that fact those times and what made me realize it now.

A reminder......part 2

To attend Joe Hisaishi's concert some day.

Sekai no Yakusoku...

Oh strange peace,
you come to me like a breeze,
in the form of a song,
in the form of mid summer heat,
through the sound of the thunder,
in the sound of the rain,
in the form of the cleansed world,
in the form of that beautiful song,
carry me around like a leaf,
to land me on the slow stream,
wrap me in the bliss of sleep,
to continue the reverie,
and onto a journey to the surreal world.

Even though I cry for you in my madness,
Would a madman's tears count?

A reminder...

to learn the languages, understand and appreciate the true beauty of,
Inuyasha - sotsugyou sayonara wa ashita no tame
Clazziquai project - She is
Spirited away - Itsumo nandedemo

Maigo

Oh for the lost child I have been,
with unknown paths all around,
with demons lurking around outside and within,
with the eyes blinded in both day and night,
with no friends and foes in sight,
Will you take me home if I catch your hand?
Will you?

Pillow of winds..

I want to learn how to play a guitar, just to be able to sing 'pillow of winds' to the sleepy you....

Songs of memories!

It just amazes me how our brain works, how it can bring a whole experience back from memory. A song, a smell or just a certain type of weather. One single thing can pull back a whole lot, a whole experience, indescribable in words. That so amazes me. In my case, it's usually a song. Even without knowing it, I think I have associated some songs to certain experiences/feelings. When I listen to these songs, I can feel how I have felt during certain period of my life.And I have so many such songs :)

Where has the sincerity gone from the greetings,
the mud from kids' hands,
the charm from the old pictures,
the creak of the old door,
the thunder from the rains,
the songs from the summer afternoons,
the joy from the songs,
the smile from your face,
the honesty from my heart...
..............................................?

I wish I get those dreams tonight, with the endless blue waters of the oceans. The oceans scare me every time with their calm and hugeness but I can't help being pulled to them and then getting in to the waters.....and then can't remember how the dream ends......but when I wake up the next day and realize I had this dream, all I can recall is this surreal happiness that I felt during the dream!

Sakura Ebi

Two days(or I think) before my departure from Japan, I went to 'Book Off' to see if I can/wanted to buy any more Manga(in Japanese). It was a long walk from my place and I did not even know if the store would be open by the time I get there. Luckily it was open and I did spend some time there and found 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' dvd. After asking the guys at store if it had English subtitles and them playing the dvd on a machine there to figure that out and discovering that it did not had any, I went back empty handed. Anyway, I digress.
There was this small ramen shop which I noticed on my way to Book Off. Wanted to try it but hesitated to go in there coz it said Sakura Ebi (Cherry Blossom Shrimp - I don't eat shrimp that much) and coz it was a new territory. Anyway on my way back when I passed it I thought 'what the heck' and decided to go eat there, cause I might not get the chance later. Anyway, as I entered I saw an old guy having some noodles and then discovered that the place was run by an old-couple, may be in their late sixties or early seventies. I sat down and was looking at the menu when the old lady aptly recognised that I needed help with it(it was in Kanji and also my Katakana reading skills are bad). So I spoke to her, told her I don't eat beef, found out what was spicy and decided on Kare-Soba(curry soba noodles) with Sakura Ebi. The other customer left and it was just me in the shop. The old man put a batch of noodles in the boiling water and after just a few minutes I was presented with hot curry noodles with Sakura ebi tempura on it. I said 'Itadakimasu' out loud and got a reply from them(which is a common reply to it but can't remember now what it is). I started eating and it was so damn delicious. I asked them when they closed as it was past 10pm then already. The lady said they are open till 11pm and assured me to take my time eating it. The old couple and I picked up a conversation as I had my noodles. They asked me why I had come to Japan and where I had come from. I said I came there to have fun and learn Japanese they were kinda impressed. I mean I think they liked a foreigner coming to their country to learn their language and see the place I guess. They asked me how old I was and when I said 24 the old clapped(celebrating my youth?). I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction. They were saying that I was very young and my life has yet to begin. I got complimented on my Japanese too :). As I was eating the lady came up to me with a radish in some kind of soup and asked me to try it saying that it's delicious. I said yes and ate that too. It really was delicious. But anyway, the sakura ebi tempura was even better. Once I completed my meal I asked them how much it was for the meal. They took the money for the soba but not the radish. When I asked them to bill me for that, they insisted that it was their treat. I thanked them for the awesome meal and even awesomer hospitality and walked back home with a great and silent joy and smile on my face. I was sad about my vacation coming to an end. But the whole incident brought lots of happiness. Just that incident added a lot of satisfaction and joy to the trip. It made me so glad that I did it(going to Japan).

Anyway, I digress again. What I wanted to say is, sometimes you just need a different pair of eyes to see the bright-side of life!

とんでいたい - Tondeitai!

So wanted to fly,
but these chains keep me tied to the ground.
But those dreams of flying kept me going.
Made me not give up,
Made me try and think on how to get rid of these shackles.

Those dreams kept me going and I kept trying,
Until one day I realized that these are not shackles, but in fact my Wings.
And so those dreams will keep me going and I shall keep trying,
To learn to use my Wings!

A shot of hard liquor
Your teasing smile
A blazing sun
Your happy face
A sandy beach
Your carefree way
A ray of hope
Your gentle kiss
That warm hug
Is my sunshine
Loneliness is when
I am not with you
Madness is
My love for you
My life is
A search for you

The Japanese Adventure....

I am not even sure if this could be called an 'adventure' but the title sounds better that way. This is the second day in Japan. Had the assessment test today, and all the anime I watched so far has saved me a week. The language I caught up from it put me in the level next to absolute beginner. I believe I could have done better had I read my 'Teach yourself Japanese' book. Saw the curriculum that would be covered. I must say I am a bit disappointed. I have decided to get my 'Teach yourself Japanese' and do some studying on my own and try to shift to a higher level after two weeks. But I am not sure if I would be dedicated enough to do it. I feel sleepy already today, even before today's homework. Anyway, did some grocery shopping. But did not cook anything. Had an expensive strawberry short cake piece but it was worth the money. Went to a restaurant called Kitsutsuki(woodpecker) and had some good food(rice rolled in an omlet). The dinner was not so good though..went to this place called 'Bikkuri Donkey'. I did not know that it specializes in Hamburgers until I had been seated, showed a menu(completely in Japanese), explained that there was just very few dishes without beef. The only chicken dish was the 'spicy chikin' which was delicious. So it was not a complete disaster.

Florida felt a lot like India, with friends and many familiar faces around. I always liked and hated it for that. Today when it's just me in the 'shared apartment' of mine, I feel a bit lonely. But it's not bad at all. Wanted to experience the life of a foreigner in some foreign country and here it is with all its colours!

9:36 pm Jan 20th 2011