Ever heard of that expression? Of course you have. It is after all, such a famous one.
Can Home be just one place? I think for my case, it is hard to specifically pinpoint it to only one location. Home to me is first and foremost the place where I was raised, the place where my family is. However, as I grow up, expand my wings and explore the world, Home takes on a new meaning. Home can refer to my small place here over in J-land, my host family's house etc. But most of all, it is where my heart truly is: with Marc. The recent but short holiday that we had showed me that just by being together, I find comfort and peace. It is indeed something that I miss on a daily basis. To come home to someone is a wonderful feeling. To have someone next to you, to have a meal with someone, to be hold, hugged and cherished are things so simple but yet so meaningful. Yes, Home is most definitely where the heart is.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Anges et Demons
No, it's not Givenchy's "ange ou demon".
It's the title of a specific book.
"Anges et Demons" refers to another one of Dan Brown's books with Robert Langdon in it. In fact, it is his first adventure. "Da Vinci Code", anyone? The English title is "Angels and Demons". Enlightenment?
I recently acquire a copy of the title in its French counterpart, in a bid to improve my rusty French. This book is proving to be quite the challenge since I don't know it as well as I do for Da Vinci Code.
If you have never heard of the book, it's the story of Rober Langdon helping CERN, the European nuclear research centre in Switzerland uncover the truth behind the gruesome murders of scientists/priests, within the time frame of a ticking bomb. Throw in a hint of the Illuminati, the Vatican, and historical places in Rome, it's another thriller similar in fashion to Da Vinci Code. It's a good book in this sense, but please do not take it at face value.
It's the title of a specific book.
"Anges et Demons" refers to another one of Dan Brown's books with Robert Langdon in it. In fact, it is his first adventure. "Da Vinci Code", anyone? The English title is "Angels and Demons". Enlightenment?
I recently acquire a copy of the title in its French counterpart, in a bid to improve my rusty French. This book is proving to be quite the challenge since I don't know it as well as I do for Da Vinci Code.
If you have never heard of the book, it's the story of Rober Langdon helping CERN, the European nuclear research centre in Switzerland uncover the truth behind the gruesome murders of scientists/priests, within the time frame of a ticking bomb. Throw in a hint of the Illuminati, the Vatican, and historical places in Rome, it's another thriller similar in fashion to Da Vinci Code. It's a good book in this sense, but please do not take it at face value.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
photos link
Alright people... I know I've not written in AGES... can't help it when time flies and I have my hands tied.
Anyway, at least I'll give you some photos update!!
You can check them out at http://picasaweb.google.com/joyceljx
and as I write this, a minor, minor earthquake just happened....
Anyway, at least I'll give you some photos update!!
You can check them out at http://picasaweb.google.com/joyceljx
and as I write this, a minor, minor earthquake just happened....
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Italia - Part II (final part)
In two days’ time I’m heading back to Florence for a “long” weekend. Might have interesting things to write after that. But then I realise, I’ve not even finish the second half of my first trip there in July! And then Paris came too. Lots to write about. Not enough time. Maybe. I’ve been known to procrastinate after all.
Well, without further ado, let’s get back to Italy part II. ^_^
Florence's symbol
For the first time, I wasn’t just passing through Florence. After being there for four times you would imagine that I know it like the back of my hand. Right. That obviously didn’t happen. We went to Rome during my first “stopover” in Florence 2 1/2 years ago. Then the following year was Venice. Christmas was a whirlwind affair in 3days/2nights. So when I get lines like “so you must know Florence really well by now”, “what’s your favourite part?” I can’t answer them, at all. *sigh* But thankfully that changed! Thanks to my sister (yes Marc contributed a lil’), who happened to pop for a few days when I was there, I finally went to the Uffizi, saw David at the Academia, ate that lovely tiramisu and tried tons of gelato. That’s the way to see Florence, the centre of Renaissance a few centuries back.
A Jewellery shop on Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge that was not bombed during WWII.
Interesting fact: There's nothing but jewellery shops on this bridge!
"Gelato, gelato, gelato!"
Being the crazy tourist in Florence is quite the interesting experience. Because Marc abhor carrying cameras there (because he is now “local”), I could only go photo-crazy with my sister, who was there for the first time. I’m sure Marc would have joined in if he could, but the poor bloke had to work. (Well, someone has to make a living!). But he made it up by spending Saturday with us doing touristy stuff!
Grace with the fake statue of David by Michelangelo behind her (the real one is in Academia)
We ended Saturday with a special dinner to celebrate Grace’s new job. We actually
dressed up for the occasion even though the restaurant was only down the road! Great Tuscan restaurant, who said that Italian food was all pasta and cheese?!
All in all, we had a great time. He met a member of my family, and everyone had fun! ^_^
Next is him visiting me in Paris, city of Love, city of Lights …
ciao!
Well, without further ado, let’s get back to Italy part II. ^_^
Florence's symbol
For the first time, I wasn’t just passing through Florence. After being there for four times you would imagine that I know it like the back of my hand. Right. That obviously didn’t happen. We went to Rome during my first “stopover” in Florence 2 1/2 years ago. Then the following year was Venice. Christmas was a whirlwind affair in 3days/2nights. So when I get lines like “so you must know Florence really well by now”, “what’s your favourite part?” I can’t answer them, at all. *sigh* But thankfully that changed! Thanks to my sister (yes Marc contributed a lil’), who happened to pop for a few days when I was there, I finally went to the Uffizi, saw David at the Academia, ate that lovely tiramisu and tried tons of gelato. That’s the way to see Florence, the centre of Renaissance a few centuries back.
A Jewellery shop on Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge that was not bombed during WWII.
Interesting fact: There's nothing but jewellery shops on this bridge!
"Gelato, gelato, gelato!"
Being the crazy tourist in Florence is quite the interesting experience. Because Marc abhor carrying cameras there (because he is now “local”), I could only go photo-crazy with my sister, who was there for the first time. I’m sure Marc would have joined in if he could, but the poor bloke had to work. (Well, someone has to make a living!). But he made it up by spending Saturday with us doing touristy stuff!
Grace with the fake statue of David by Michelangelo behind her (the real one is in Academia)
We ended Saturday with a special dinner to celebrate Grace’s new job. We actually
dressed up for the occasion even though the restaurant was only down the road! Great Tuscan restaurant, who said that Italian food was all pasta and cheese?!
All in all, we had a great time. He met a member of my family, and everyone had fun! ^_^
Next is him visiting me in Paris, city of Love, city of Lights …
ciao!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Italia - part 1!
Maybe it's the Commonwealth connection, but the beauty of not needing a visa to enter Europe is great. At least that was what I was thinking until my arrival in Rome which changed my opinion on this. But then again, I can still blame the Italian immigration for incompetence, stupidity, and just plain uncooperative and un-informative. Pick any adjectives along these words and I'm sure it fits their description beautifully. At least I managed to get through and in after some "checking" done by them... That is another story altogether which will not be featured in here. But now I've made my way to Paris after spending about 10days in Elba Island and Florence, which makes better post that the previous incident!
And what an eventful trip it was! Upon arriving close to 11pm in Florence from Rome on Friday the 20th, I was taken straight to Marc's place, only to drop my bags and then go downstairs to the pub where I met the lovely people he hangs out with. Granted, due to the status change in our relationship there was quite a list of people whom I had to meet, but never would I have expected the honours to began the night I arrived... They even came in a car to the station (after Marc had left on foot!) to pick me up when they heard that he was meeting me. Let's say that he was just as surprised at the enthusiasm as I was.
That aside, the next day we left very early in the morning to catch the 7.30am train. I just keep racking in the travel miles!! In the space of two days I had done Tokyo-Beijing-Rome-Florence (which ended up taking close to 24 hours) and now to Piombino, where we later took the boat (or ship seeing that it was so huge!) to Cavo on Elba Island* to spend the weekend there; a weekend getaway that Marc had planned for us and kept as a surprise. It was an amazing weekend. The sun, the sea, the food, and of course, the great company! It was indeed a big change from Japan. I had a tan and "rosy cheeks" by the time we left on Sunday.
Elba Island taken from the boat
Marc and I on the boat/ship
* Elba Island is famous as the place where Napoleon was exiled. It is near Corsica, where he was born. Now we'll have to visit Corsica too to complete the Napoleon "tour" ^_^
And what an eventful trip it was! Upon arriving close to 11pm in Florence from Rome on Friday the 20th, I was taken straight to Marc's place, only to drop my bags and then go downstairs to the pub where I met the lovely people he hangs out with. Granted, due to the status change in our relationship there was quite a list of people whom I had to meet, but never would I have expected the honours to began the night I arrived... They even came in a car to the station (after Marc had left on foot!) to pick me up when they heard that he was meeting me. Let's say that he was just as surprised at the enthusiasm as I was.
That aside, the next day we left very early in the morning to catch the 7.30am train. I just keep racking in the travel miles!! In the space of two days I had done Tokyo-Beijing-Rome-Florence (which ended up taking close to 24 hours) and now to Piombino, where we later took the boat (or ship seeing that it was so huge!) to Cavo on Elba Island* to spend the weekend there; a weekend getaway that Marc had planned for us and kept as a surprise. It was an amazing weekend. The sun, the sea, the food, and of course, the great company! It was indeed a big change from Japan. I had a tan and "rosy cheeks" by the time we left on Sunday.
Elba Island taken from the boat
Marc and I on the boat/ship
* Elba Island is famous as the place where Napoleon was exiled. It is near Corsica, where he was born. Now we'll have to visit Corsica too to complete the Napoleon "tour" ^_^
Saturday, July 14, 2007
typhoon?
I heard that this weekend there will be a typhoon. The thought of it just give me chills. I definitely do not want rain and constant rain the whole day! But I guess even with the whole population wishing the same thing it really isn't going to work. So typhoon, (well up to now I really don't know if it's a real one), constant rain has been pouring since this morning.. and it will last for two days... yucks!!!!
Definitely more reason to look forward to Europe!! Sun and beach!!
Definitely more reason to look forward to Europe!! Sun and beach!!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Harry Potter World Premiere
Guess what? June 28th came and gone, with us at the BBC not being very busy after all. Harry Potter is supposed to be top news priority for us, but funny enough, the Japanese organisers decided to block all foreign media red carpet access. Even London couldn't do anything and hence, it was a rather "quiet" day....
But yes, Daniel did come, apparently he greeted the Potter fans in Japanese too. Well done!
But yes, Daniel did come, apparently he greeted the Potter fans in Japanese too. Well done!
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