Annular eclipse of the sun

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Muravej

On the evening of the day before yesterday, I saw shadow plates for the sun eclipse in a convenience store.  ”But Katya might have bought them”.

Katya said she had not bought ones, so I thought I would buy a couple the next day.

However, I forgot to buy them; when I went to convenient stores in the evening yesterday, I could not find them any more.

Next annular eclipse will not be seen for more than 300 years in Japan. I would probably not see it any more.

At 6 AM this morning, the sky was dim with clouds. “Hey, it was wise I did not buy them.” However, at 7 AM, the sky became very clear. Very clear but getting dim again, because of the eclipse this time.

Yesterday, Katya had put on the table her sunglasses and two pairs of ski goggles of us.  Now, we took them all and went into Smart. Through the car window and the three pairs of glasses, we saw the sun.

Yes, the moon was covering the sun, and the Ring! I tried to take pictures, but it was still too bright for the sensor of the camera.  So, I gave it up.

And the sky was soon getting brighter.  Katya was very clever in preparing those glasses.

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Lake Chiyoda, Kofu

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Muravej

Katya and I had breakfast at Gusto.

  

After breakfast, we drove to Lake Chiyoda with Maya-san. Katya and Maya-san once walked there (in two hours!), but I had not been there. The lake is artificial, created in 1937, well-known to fishermen for a fish called “hera-crucian“.

  

We walked around the lake and took a path into the forest.

  

A panoramic view of Kofu was obtained.

After a long walk, we went to Pet Field. I bought four shrimp.

  

We came back home and put the shrimp in the tank.

I cooked steaks for dinner. Maya-san is tired; she soon went to sleep.

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Sports on the second day of the institute lodging

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Muravej

We woke up at 7 AM. It was a beautiful morning. The scene was beautiful from the window of the room.

Breakfast was poor in this cheap lodge.

After breakfast we went out to take a group photo in front of the hotel.

The bus waited for us with a bus driver staying in the hotel.

Mt Fuji was seen beautiful.

After the photo shots, people started playing tennis, soccer, and volleyball.

  

I played volleyball. It was comfortable inside the gym, too.

We enjoyed playing sports for two hours.

After taking a shower we got on the bus. The bus was completely full.

Many people slept in the bus.

We arrive at the institute at 2 PM. Many directly went home. I stayed in my office and worked till 7 PM.

Katya and Maya-san welcomed me. Katya cooked a good mapo doufu for dinner.

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Institute Lodging, May 2012

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Muravej

An institute lodging in Yamanakako Village is held every year. This year, about 80 people joined.

We left the institute by bus at 5 PM and arrived at the hotel, “Resort Inn Ai“, before 7 PM.

The lobby looked nice.

  

However, the inside was an ordinary Japanese lodge for students.

The party started at 7:30 PM. In order to save money, we brought in Hors-d’œuvre and sushi.

The party ended at 9:30 PM, but many students and teachers stayed, talking and drinking till the morning came.

I took a bath, and went to sleep at midnight with two other professors in the same room.

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Lecture at Keio University

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Muravej

I was asked to give a lecture at Keio University for graduate students.

Before going to the university, I dropped by Bic Camera in Shibuya.

I looked for a cheap camera only for my blog (Katya has a good one for herself).

The cheapest I found was a GE one. GE products are actually hardly seen in Japan, I did not know that GE produces digital camera.

So I bought the cheapest C1433.

After I get of Bic Camera, I took the first picture, a pictute of the shop.

I think it is OK for the cheap camera.

Then I took Toyoko Like to Hiyoshi.

I walked to the faculty of science and technology.

I used to work for it for two years.

There were 50 students attending the lecture. After the lecture, they gave me a sheet of paper about the impression of my talk. According to them, I did a good job.

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Camera completely broken

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Muravej

I bought this camera for Katya.  I have been using this camera since I started this blog. Today, it does not work at all. It is a pity.

I need to give it up. Tomorrow, I will go to Tokyo. I will get one.

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Camera Malfunctioning

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Muravej

It was rainy today.

I taught two classes  as usual.

The second class ended at 2:30 PM. I took all the materials out and quickly went out to a Chinese restaurant, Manpuku Roh, which closes at 3 PM.

After the quick lunch, I had a discussion with students from 3:30 to 4:10 PM. Then, there was an administration meeting from 4:30 to  5 PM.

I checked e-mails and continued my jobs.

Katya picked me up at 8 PM at the institute. In the rain, we headed for a sushi restaurant, Nigiri no Tokube; there was a 19% discount coupon left unused.

I tried to take pictures as usual in the restaurant, and O La La!, the lens did not come out. This symptom was seen before the camera was completely broken. I got shocked, almost panicked, then depressed with a feeling that I am losing a friend.

With all my power left, I took a picture of sushi with my cell phone.

I was moving and shaking the camera. Then it restarted!

I have repaired the camera twice, and Nikon told me that they would not repair the camera again. So I need to be prepared.

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Planning a trip to Toba, Mie

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Muravej

July 14 is Saturday, 15 Sunday, and 16 Marine Day, a national holiday.

Katya and I have been planning what to do.

Today, I reserved a room in a hotel for two nights in Toba, Mie. Neither of us has been there.  It is on a sawtooth shaped coastline, famous for the scenery and fresh fish.

There are some islands close by. We might be able to visit one of them.

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Kiyosato on a Sunday in May

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Muravej

Katya and I had breakfast at Gusto, a family restaurant.

I like to have breakfast at a family restaurant.  Not because of the tastes themselves, but the atmosphere, where I commonly read a newspaper.

Katya tends to read a book, too.

  

After the breakfast, Katya, Maya-san, and I headed for “Utsukushi Mori” in the Kiyosato area.

Cherry blossoms were still in bloom.

This means that the weather is not warm enough for plants yet. Right after we started walking on a hiking path, we found out that spring is only starting in this place.

  

We climbed up to the monument of Utsukushi Mori, and walked down.

  

We need to wait for some more time to enjoy hiking around the forests.

We then drove down to “Kiyosato no Mori“.

  

The grasses were cut short, and it was pleasant to walk around.

This is Maya-san’s favorite place for digging holes.

  

She could not find a mole, but she enjoyed digging as usual.

We drove back to our apartment in Kofu.

For dinner, Katya and I tried Ruan Thai Morakot for the second time.  We used to go to Lotus, but after being ignored during dinner with Natalia, Katya’s mother, we stopped going there.

Ruan Thai Morakot is a sort of fancy Thai restaurant in Kofu.

It is dark inside with candles, and decorated with Thai ornaments. Romantic atmosphere.

  

We ordered two bowls of Tom yum goong.

  

We ordered a spicy papaya salad and a grilled chicken.

  

All cuisines were good, but the restaurant is meant too fancy. I like the casualty of Thai foods as well as Chinese. However, they took a casualty out from the restaurant and added fanciness and price.

I do not complain the quality of the dishes but this was not what I expect from a Thai restaurant.

Last time, Katya kindly bought a dinner, but when it comes to my time, I felt that this restaurant does not fit me.

We will try a different one.

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moped runs

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Muravej

During winter, I did not ride my Italian moped.

It was a bit cool but beautiful today. I felt like riding it for the first time this year. I put some motor oil in and rode it on.

The moped has only a small power, thus I have to pedal it on the slope.

The engine seemed a bit dull, but it should be getting smoother before the summer comes.

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