fallen chick

It has been raining rather heavily the past few days. We arrived at the pool entrance and just when I was parking my bicycle, I heard loud chirping from near my feet. It came from a chick which has apparently fallen out of its nest. I saw its mother feeding it and guarding it nearby. The mama bird must be feeling quite helpless. We wanted to help but couldn't spot any nest from the tree above. Sounds cruel but think it's best left to nature to decide the chick's fate.

geometry

Used some straws and playdough and we made a cube, triangular prismsand hexagonal prism.

memoirs of a geisha

I was a late reader of this book but I manage to finish 'Memoirs of a Geisha' in 1 day (read till 3am into the night). It drew me so much into the geisha world that I rented its movie 'Sayuri' to watch the next day, just to enjoy a quick playback of the story. I wouldn't say the movie is that great though with some details twisted, but nevertheless, good acting from its cast. I would have loved a Japanese version of this movie instead.

Rey's 1st Camp

Rey is going for a 2D1N camp with his kindy. I'm gonna going to miss him so much! (sob)

R: Are you going to miss me, mama?

I: yes, dear...(pretend to sob)

R: I know what you're going to do. You will watch your drama all day long, right?

I: yes, dear (peace sign)

A Gion chimaki charm for warding off evil. Chimaki means 粽子therefore I bought it basically to eat and ward off evil. As Rey and I began to unwrap the chimaki, to our disappointment and shock, it was only a decorative chimaki, not for eating....(cry)

play the roulette game to see if you can get 1, 2 or 3 candies.

Rey: I want grapes, strawberry and melon.
I: aiyah, just decide on 1. I don't think our gambling luck is that good. (don't quite like him eating sweet stuff anyway)

and true, we got just 1 green candy.

a model in the making?

Despite the adverse impact on tourism due to H1N1, now Kyoto is energized once again with the start of Gion Festival. Same as previous years, yama and hoko floats are built along the street near our house.

Yesterday, at the Hoko Hikihajime & Yama Kakizome (trial pulling) event, Rey got his chance of pulling the hoko down the street. The hoko are impressively built to 2-storey high, and each of them include a music hall filled with musicians who make music using bells, whistles and drums. This trial pulling was open to public and thus we got a chance to haul the hokos. This hauling is to make sure the constructed floats are ready for the main parade on Friday.

If you watch the video, you can see the the hoko have long poles that has a decorative ornament. Usually, people are more interested in admiring the elaborate ceiling paintings and textiles are are said to be transported from Europe along the Silk Road.

school visit

Inari shrine

Visited Inari Shrine in Fushimi (Kyoto). Here, foxes are believed to be Inari god's messengers so you see several fox statues and you also write down wishes on a fox-shaped piece of wood. Inari shrine here is also famous for the thousands of torii gates that wind up all the way to the hill top. It is also a location shoot for the movie "Memoires of a Geisha".

He wrote his wish on the other side, "I wish to see the world's most beautiful chameleon."