[YLP ICT: Part 5] Opening Ceremony, Visit, Train and Shop...

Opening Ceremony

I’m out of words now…
Workings with machine seem to make you runs out of vocabulary…
However I still would try my best wrote something on my trip…
Besides it been a year…
During the opening ceremony, there were representative from OIC itself besides our main sponsor Fujitsu Media Limited Okinawa as well as local representative from Okinawa…
The ceremony start with the speech from all the various organisations and end with all the young leaders start to introduce ourselves…

Okinawa Meteorological Observatory

Our first official visit was in Okinawa Meteorological Observatory…
During the visit we’re accompany by Yasumura-san, Sajima-san and Otsubo-san…
In here we’re given opportunity to learn the basic things of weather forecasting and observations using various tools such as balloons, wind and rain measurement equipment…
It not stop on the forecast and observation only but we did learned on how to make use of technology goodness in order to be able escalate warning to the citizens on natural disaster like earthquake or typhoon…

Taking Allowance, Train Training Session & Ashibinaa

After finish the visit at Okinawa Meteorological Observatory, straight away we're taken back to OIC...
The reason is because we need to withdraw our allowances...
The ATM machines instructions in Japanese and our Atuk Yasumura-san need to assist all of us...
Seeing the fact that we'll be going to Tokyo on 3rd Oct, we'll need to familiarise with Japan train system...
Although there's train service in OKA, but the scale very much different as compared to Tokyo...
However taken a piece of advice from Atuk Yasumura-san, we come into agreement to try on the OKA train service...
We depart from Omoromachi to Naha Kuko...
From Naha Kuko a.k.a airport we took a bus to go to Ashibinaa...
Ashibinaa is a place like premium outlet and offered quite numbers of brand...
Since we're not even a week here, most of us just make a little survey and window shopping while we're there....


To be continued

P/s: Courtesy pictures to all my YLP-ICT batchmate. Arigatou! (Will update soon)

[YLP ICT: Part 4] Introduction Class and A Visit to Shuri-Jo

Learn About Japan and Okinawa

During introductory classes we had a chance to learn on the Outline of Japan conducted by Prof. Isao Nishihira and Introduction to Okinawa by Hiroshi Uramoto…
Honestly the Outline of Japan was really like a normal class and I can help to be sleepy…
However, unlike the previous one, Intro to Okinawa which presented by Uramoto-san was extremely hilarious…
Each of the session we’re proudly presented our humble omiyage and as predicted they would definitely ask what mean by the Cufi writing…

Shuri-Jo, the History 

Shuri Castle (首里城 Shuri-jō?, Okinawan: Sui Gushiku) is a Ryūkyūan gusuku in Shuri, Okinawa. It was the palace of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. In 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, it was almost completely destroyed. Beginning in 1992, it was reconstructed on the original site based on photographs, historical records, and memory.
The date of construction is uncertain, but it was clearly in use as a castle during the Sanzan period (1322–1429). It is thought that it was probably built during the Gusuku period, like many other castles of Okinawa. When King Shō Hashi unified the three principalities of Okinawa and established the Ryūkyū Kingdom, he used Shuri Castle as a residence. At the same time, Shuri flourished as the capital and continued to do so during the Second Shō Dynasty.
For 450 years from 1429, it was the royal court and administrative center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. It was the focal point of foreign trade, as well as the political, economic, and cultural heart of the Ryūkyūs. According to records, Shuri Castle was burned down several times, but rebuilt each time. It was captured by the armies of Satsuma during the 1609 Invasion of Ryukyu, during the reign of Shō Nei. After the Kingdom was annexed by Japan in 1879, the King was removed and the castle was used as a barracks by the Japanese army.
Before World War II, it was designated a national treasure. However, during the war, the Japanese military set up its headquarters in the castle underground, and, beginning on May 25, 1945, the American battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41) shelled it for three days. On May 27, it burned. After the battle, a Confederate battle flag (which personally belonged to the company commander) was hoisted above the castle by the "Rebel Company" A of the 5th Marine Regiment. It was visible for over two miles and stayed above the castle for three days until it was removed by General Simon B. Buckner, Jr. (son of Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr.), who stated that Americans from all parts of America helped to win the battle.
After the war, the University of the Ryūkyūs moved to the castle site, where it remained until 1975. In 1958, the Shureimon gate was reconstructed and, in 1992, the main building of the castle was reconstructed. At present, the entire area around the castle has been established as Shuri Castle Park. In 2000, along with other gusuku and related sites, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(Cited from Wikipedia.com)

As for me in Shuri-Jo I do had a chance to look all over Okinawa from its highest peak…
Being able to be there with 14 others friends made the journey more memorable…
Indeed to have a bunch of people who also love photography session make it more interesting…
However as usual, Yasumura-san start to know our colours…
He already started to lecture us…
Since that day I personally called her “Atuk” and of course without his acknowledgement…

Grouping for Tokyo Trip

Since there were 15 of us, we need to divide ourself into 3 groups that make up from 5 of us in each group...
Therefore we decide to select using numbers that we tossed together...
It end up well and each of the group consists variety of people and this also part of ice-breaking session...
This grouping somehow bring our Atuk Yasumura-san into a relief state too...


To be continued

P/s: Courtesy pictures to all my YLP-ICT batchmate. Arigatou! (Will update soon)

[YLP ICT: Part 3] Intro to OIC, Naha Main Place and Omiyage Session...

Briefing and Lunch in OIC

Second day in Japan, specifically Okinawa...
According to the schedule we'll be waiting for JICA rep to pick us before going to Okinawa International Centre (OIC)…
OIC is one of JICA centre across all over Japan…
As per discussed via WA, we decide to wait at the lobby…
When we reach the lobby, we do spotted one old man that we can consider here as our “Atuk” was waiting for us…
That “Atuk” is actually our Programme coordinator, Yasumura-san…
After being simply greet by Amin-san (if not mistaken), he immediately start to translate our names to Japanese character which being known as Hiragana and Katakana…
After all the names are being translated after view times of rehearsing our own name in order to avoid mistakes, all set to go to OIC…
The main briefing on the course was held in OIC and it took us around half an hour to get there…
Upon arrival at the OIC, I personally can’t stop smiling as I do know that part of my wish already became true and it do mark our journey for the course…
We’re then usher by another JICA rep to respected discussion room where we’re being brief on the course itself besides with some domestic rules and regulations, do and don’ts as well as our allowance which had managed to keep our eyes awake…

During lunch hour we pay our visit to OIC café…
Alhamdullilah they do serve halal foods so we might get starve while we’re in Okinawa…
We do know about OIC café as our senior for this course, Huda-san (from the 1st batch) do wrote few entries in her blog and it among a good guide for us…
Arigatou Huda-san (you can simply visit her blog at http://hnr318.blogspot.my/)

A Visit to Naha Main Place

Since in the evening there’s no session for us, we decide to return back to Hokke and plan to visit Naha Main Place (shopping complex) that just opposite Hokke besides some close spots nearby…
The guys already visit Naha Main Place on the day we arrived Hokke and a lot of reviews being made…
So here we, the ladies took the empty time by visiting the shopping complex…
We just stroll along the shops and finally do some shopping at the supermarket for some foods…
For myself, I do bought some instant rice together with the seaweed…
I was planning (actually challenge myself) to do either sushi or onigiri… (thanks to Ida-san for the idea)
Over and over again, I do admired their supermarket settings…
All the items were nicely arranged and the most eye catch on their cash register counter…
They were efficient and effortlessly will greet you with their sweet smile…

Omiyage Session

When coming to Japan, it were quite rude if you don’t bring any souvenirs or often call as omiyage…
Since the omiyage were not properly arranged due to many reasons, Bushra-san as Omiyage Leader plan to collect and start listing out each one of it to our various visit sessions at the lobby…
While all the omiyage that we got from various sources, we can’t keep ourselves to give remarks on it…
The best part when we do asked the guys to wrap some of the omiyage as they tend to disturb us the ladies while we’re busy assigning and wrapping the omiyage…
Indeed this omiyage session are among our ice-breakers session back then in Okinawa…


To be continued

P/s: Courtesy pictures to all my YLP-ICT batchmate. Arigatou! (Will update soon)

[YLP-ICT: Part 2] Transit in NRT and Arriving OKA

Transit in NRT

Clockwise: Arrived NRT and briefing by Morino-san before his escorted us to domestic departure hall

Arrived at Narita International Airport (NRT), Chiba, Japan on 27th Sept 2016 at 1500 local time...
We had our more or less 2 hours transit before we took a flight to Okinawa...
It was a tiring journey because after 6 hours in flight we need to queue (it was a long queue due to American soldiers happen to arrive same time with us) for Japan's Immigration and Customs check before entering NRT...
For your information, the Americam soldiers serve in Okinawa...
Coincident we shared the same flight to Naha Airport (OKA)...
Since we're just transit in NRT, we need to check out luggage and drop it at the local flight counters after being escorted by Morino-san, from JICA Tokyo Office...
Morino-san then lead us to the domestic departure hall to wait for our flight to OKA...
During that time we're running against the time since we need to perform our Zuhr and Asr...
Since there was no praying room we just make us of baby changing room and took turns to fulfilled our duty as Muslim...

Arrival OKA & Check In Hokke

Arrived OKA and journey to Hokke

Hotel Hokke Club

Our flight took off around 1755 and we reached OKA around 2045...
Upon arrival, we took a little of time since the flight occupied with American soldiers therefore waiting for the luggage was much longer...
After all of us got our luggage, there was a man, Mr. Travel Agent from travel agency on behalf of Okinawa International Centre (OIC) to assist us to our hotel and took care of our flight ticket on the 14th Oct 2016...
When meeting Mr. Travel Agent it was our first difficulty in conversing with him...
He might know a little English so do our Japanese...
Indeed, he was very helpful when seeing on how "small" our bags were...
Normally JICA participants will stay in the centre unless there's no available rooms in centre (OIC), the participants will be send to the hotel nearby...
As in our case, there's no availability in OIC, therefore we're send to stay at Hotel Hokke Club Shintoshin in the heart of Naha...
We reached Hokke around 2200...
Again we're being tested as the lift provided by the hotel were extremely small as compared to our normal lift here...
We need to take turns as I told before how "small" our luggage are...
During this time, all of us were tired but we still had an energy when it comes to photo session...
You could see how we do smile cheerfully despite the facts we're longing to get into bed as soon as possible...
When the rooms was given to us after sort briefing by the hotel manager, all of us straight away go to our rooms...
Once we're inside our rooms, all of us immediately get us connected via WiFi and some of them did plan to go around the Naha City...
For your info, Hokke is located beside Daikoku Shop a.k.a ¥100 Shop...
As for me, I do visit the shop since I need to buy mineral water...
Again I'm was impressed (and yet still impressed) on how the cashier politely would mentioned on how much you need to pay and will reply on how much change is being returned to you after you pay for the price and how they wouldn't not say anything even you do pay your ¥100 mineral water with ¥10,000 notes...


To be continued

P/s: Courtesy pictures to all my YLP-ICT batchmate. Arigatou!

[YLP-ICT: Part 1] Departure KUL - NRT - OKA

The Departure

6 Guys & 9 Ladies: Road to Okinawa

As what we had discussed before via Whats App, all of us were agreed to meet up at KLIA at 0430...
We had to be there early since the "omiyage" not yet distribute between all of us...
Since we were flying using ANA, the luggage requirements are different from MAS...
Therefore, all the frames must be distribute so that none of us will face a extra baggage problems...
I was at the airport around 0415...
Lucky for me since my house were just less than 30 minutes driving from the airport (exclude traffic jammed)
Around 0430 slowly I could see some familiar faces which I met on last 10th Sept at JICA Malaysia Office...
It seems everyone were quite tired because we just celebarted Eidadha two days before our departure...
No doubt the "raya" feeling was still there...
On the other side, we couldn't hide our excited and the same time anxious on how the trip would be...

Super Duper Early "Breakfast"

Since we're register by group, we check in beforehand and just drop our bag at the counter after getting the "omiyage" from Bushra and tagging for the bags from Nisya...
Then we did a simple prayer asking for the ease at any phase of the training and bid farewell to rest of our family members...
Below was the flight details:

Destination - Okinawa (Naha International Airport) via Tokyo (Narita International Airport)

Airlines - ANA (All Nippon Airways)

KUL --> NRT
Depart - 0700
Arrival - 1500

NRT --> OKA
Depart - 1755
Arrival - 2045

Upon entering departure hall after passing all the securities and immigration, we headed into Satellite Building to respected gate...
Once we reach the building we decided to perform our Fajr prayer..
Before headed to our gate, all of us decide to fill in our tummy first at any restaurant...
We end up in Burger King for our "breakfast"...

In-Flight ANA

Proper Breakfast: Pre-Japan Cuisine

We're privilege to be on board with All Nippon Airways or better known as ANA...
I've got to know this airlines since my father work with MASKargo, therefore ANA is not a new things...
Besides who ever had a chance to watch Good Luck series play by Takuya Kimura would definitely identify ANA unique uniform...
Hence when given a chance to fly with ANA was sort of part of my dreams come true...

To be continued

P/s: Courtesy pictures to all my YLP-ICT batchmate. Arigatou!

[Road to Okinawa: Part 3] Preparation before Departure...

Briefing at JICA Malaysia Office

Among forms & gift from JICA Malaysia Office

On the 10th September 2015, the selected 15 of us were present at the JICA Office Malaysia at Menara Citibank, KL...

That day mark was the first day all of us meet and get to know each other before hearing a briefing by JICA and JPA...

The session being held by JPA and continue with JICA slot before we end the session with PAMAJA...

During the briefing we need to fill in few documents that mainly for VISA application and others JICA requirements...

We need to apply for the VISA since we were under training not a normal tourist...

Therefore if you were going there on a leisure, there is no need for the VISA application...

During the session we were told to select our group leader...

Hence we decided to choose Amin as our group leader and Ida as his assistant...
Just before the session ends, YLP Okinawa Whats App group was being created...

Discussion on Various Matters (via Whats App)

Since our departure is on 27th September 2015, we had more or less than 2 weeks to prepare for everything...
Right from choosing the committee members until preparing for the "omiyage"...
We do all our discussions via Whats App and in fact we do have an online poll...
The poll was created in order to re-select our group leader as well as others committee members...
Yet again Amin and Ida were chosen by majority to be group leader and assistant group leader...
After few discussions held, we collectively agree to give a frame as our main "omiyage"...
Nisya stood up as a designer and everybody give lots of ideas in making it happen...
I personally love the design that highlights Malaysia's major achievement that is Perdana Putra besides we're proud to share with the fellow Japanese our traditional Songket design...
Besides the frame, all of us were required to ask from our office few others souvenirs as a back up...
Alhamdullilah all of us manage to gather few souvenirs and all set to fly to Okinawa...
We also decided to meet at Departure Hall, KLIA on 27th September 2015 at 0430...

Omiyage & Our Polls

Sneak-pick of my luggage & Special Meal Request by ANA 

To be continued

P/s: Courtesy pictures to all my YLP-ICT batchmate. Arigatou!