Friday, June 24, 2011

Beach Hunter











Location : Indrayanti Beach, Wonosari Yogyakarta

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Overview the Matsushima




Matsushima is only short distance from prefectural capital Sendai and easily accessible by train. Matsushima is a group of island where 260 tiny island, large and small, covered by black and red pines and grayish white rocks. It makes the view changes from place to place and from season to season.Its pine-covered islands are considered one of Japan’s scenic treasures.The area was protected by the islands and suffered little damage of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Matsushima's best-known structure is the most famous Zen temple, stands facing Matsushima Bay. Zuigan-ji Temple, a Zen temple erected in 828. On the right side of the pathway leading to the temple are caves and grottoes dug out by priests long ago; adorned with Buddhist statues and memorial tablets, they were used for practicing Zazen (sitting meditation) and are an impressive sight.

In Matsushima there are a variety of tourist attractions such as various observations spots, including the representative views from the Four Best Viewpoints, "Zuiganji Temple", the only Zen temple in Tohoku, the main shrine of the Five Great Vidyarajas "Godaido Hall", and a wealth of historical cultural heritage associated with the Date Clan, including the "Kanrantei", a tea ceremony house.

Matshusima is ranked as one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan. With its stunning island scenery, the place is frequented by visitors all year round.


To Get There:
Public Transportation: 23 minutes from Sendai station to Matsushima- Kaigan station by the JR Senseki Line rapid train.
Approximately 25 minutes from Sendai station to Matsushima- Kaigan station by the JR Tohoku Honsen Line
Car:Approximately 50 minutes from central Sendai via Route 45.

Overview the Matsushima



Matsushima is only short distance from prefectural capital Sendai and easily accessible by train. Matsushima is a group of island where 260 tiny island, large and small, covered by black and red pines and grayish white rocks make the view is changes from place to place and from season to season. Matshusima is ranked as one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan.. The area was protected by the islands and suffered little damage of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.



Matsushima's best-known structure is the most famous Zen temple, stands facing Matsushima Bay. Zuigan-ji Temple, a Zen temple erected in 828. On the right side of the pathway leading to the temple are caves and grottoes dug out by priests long ago; adorned with Buddhist statues and memorial tablets, they were used for practicing Zazen (sitting meditation) and are an impressive sight.


With its stunning island scenery, the place is frequented by visitors all year round.


Access:

Public Transportation: 23 minutes from Sendai station to Matsushima- Kaigan station by the JR Senseki Line rapid train.
Approximately 25 minutes from Sendai station to Matsushima- Kaigan station by the JR Tohoku Honsen Line
Car:Approximately 50 minutes from central Sendai via Route 45.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Heart That Giving - Takidashi at Ishinomaki




Day 3 : Leaving Sendai, headed to Ishinomaki. Ishinomakhi located in Miyagi Prefecture . This city was among the most seriously affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami about more than 10 meters high and destroy approximately almost 50% of the city.

This city got very badly hit by both the earthquake and the resultant tsunami on the 11th of March 2011. Though, I was amazed to see the pace of the reconstruction work that has already begun here. Many of the streets had been cleared of detritus and most of the rubble had already been collected and deposited in vacant lots.

We were divided into 2 groups. While the other group did mud digging in different area, I joined with the Takidashi. Takidashi or food handout is cooking and providing fresh food. The Takidashi was held in the small area where residents still persist and grateful they survived and with no plans to leave.

Some of volunteers set up a makeshift stage for the singers and dancers while another went house visiting to invite the residents to Takidashi. The volunteer workers served Thai noodles (phad thai), ‘‘satay’’ and hot Vietnamese coffees.
During those time, the resident was entertained by some performers from ASEAN countries whom joining the ASEAN Youth Caravan. Among that are the ASEAN student in Japan, Indonesian performers Ring of Fire with lead singer Fadly and Rindra (known as member of PADI group) and Derby “Petualangan Sherina” Rumero and famous artis from Thailand Khemanit “Pancake” Jarikorn. We also gave away caps, t-shirts and other goodies to all those who joined the takidashi.

As the Secretary General of ASEAN, H.E Surin Pitsuan concludes “The Japanese Government is ensuring necessities for her citizens, we just want to show our friendship with a little of our culture and experience. Participants are willing and ready to do what is needed; may it be cooking ASEAN cuisines just for them to taste a bit of our culinary tradition, cleaning, singing, dancing...or simply listening! They just want to be there in person, share personal experiences and spend quality time with the survivors and friends—as fellow Asians, as fellow humans”.

The earthquake has changed the city. Surely, it's changed it emotionally, but it has also changed it physically. Helping hand is not always “what is given that is important “ but at “the heart of giving”


also link :
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/asean-goodwill-caravan-comforts-disaster-victims-with-food-music

ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill, NorthEast Japan




Short Description of ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill :
Realizing that hundreds of thousands of unfortunate victims of the triple catastrophe are still being housed in many evacuation centers in Northeast Japan in particular, the ASEAN and Japanese Foreign Ministers have endorsed a proposal to organize a quick “Caravan of ASEAN Youth” to show the goodwill of the ASEAN people to be supported by the civil society and the private sector at no cost to the ASEAN . The ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill is planned for 3-5 June, 2011. The Caravan will visit evacuation centers in the Northeastern coastal communities of Japan that have been devastated by the Great Earthquake and the tsunami of 11 March.
All members of the “ASEAN Caravan of Goodwill” will be on a voluntary, pro bono, basis (charity and free of charge). Some members will travel from some of the ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat and some will be invited from among the Tokyo-based youth or students who are interested and willing to join the Caravan of Goodwill. Thai International Airways and Air Asia have expressed their readiness to participate in the ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill. The Nippon Foundation is making arrangements for Japanese volunteers and managing all ground logistics that include identifying possible places to visit and coordinating activities in pursuit of comforting and helping the survivors.
The 10 ASEAN embassies (The ASEAN Tokyo Committee) will be closely consulted and will support the organization of the project without any financial implications to the ASEAN Member States. The Thai Ambassador to Japan, H.E. Virasakdi Futrakul, Chairman of the ASEAN Tokyo Committee, will serve as the main Coordinator in Tokyo. All Ambassadors of the ASEAN Member States in Tokyo will advise and render support to this goodwill initiative.
The National Japan Broadcasting Company (NHK) has agreed to document the “ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill” from the very start until the end over the 3 days period, beginning with its arrival in Japan on 3 June to its departure on 5 June (courtesy to http://worldofchacha.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/asean-youth-caravan/)

I've been travelled almost 5 days to visit Northeast Japan, join the ASEAN YCOG. We left Tokyo early in the morning to Sendai. It took 7 hours by bus but we made restop along the way. Sendai is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku Region. Actually we met great view along the way but dramatically changed as we reach first stop at Natori. It was absolutely unbelievable! The city was nearly wiped out. Smashed houses, cars everywhere, boats randomly dumped. We stop about half an hour and laid some flowers as a memorial.

We spend the night at Sendai City that also showed some scars of the earthquake, and prepared for the main event for tomorrow, The Takidashi and Mud digging at Ishinomaki

Even this journey brought great sadness but it was an honour to bring the message to Japanese all over the country that the ASEAN people care about them.