FuFu Tour Guide
Hiroshima + Osaka, 25 March 2007

On the 6th of August 1945, the nuclear weapon Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima directly killing an estimated 80,000 people. By the end of the year, injury and radiation brought total casualties up to 140,000. Ten of thousands of the city`s buildings were completely destroyed, nonetheless, the Atomic Bomb Dome was the closest structure to withstand the explosion.


Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly known as Atomic Bomb Dome.

The building has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing, and now serves as the reminder of nuclear devastation and as a symbol of hope for world peace and elimination of all nuclear weapons. It is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.


Atomic Bomb Dome, March 2007.

It started raining when we reached the Atomic Bomb Dome in the morning. But since we were there, i brought them to the museum that describes Hiroshima before and after the bombings.


Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

The Peace Memorial Museum exhibits also present the facts of the atomic bombing, with the aim of contributing to the abolition of nuclear weapons throughout the world, to achieve the world peace. The museum collects and displays belongings left by the victims, photos, and other materials that convey the horror of that event. It is one of the most popular of Hiroshima's destinations for school field trips from all over Japan and for people internationally too.


Picture of Hiroshima City flattened after the explosion


A section that focusing on the destruction caused by the after shocks of the blast.

War is the work of man.
Was is the destruction of human life.
War is death.
To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future.
To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war.
To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to peace.

By Pope John Paul Ⅱ


Damage by the radiation which goes into details about the health effects suffered by humans.

Hiroshima is known for okonomiyaki (お好み焼き), so i chose it as our lunch. Okonomiyaki is cooked on a hot-plate and usually right in front of the customer, with various ingredients. The layers are typically egg, cabbage, bean sprouts, sliced pork/bacon with optional items (mayonnaise, fried squid, octopus, cheese, mochi , kimuchi, etc.), and noodles (soba or udon) topped with another layer of egg and a generous dollop of okonomiyaki sauce.





Okonomiyaki, topped with fried squid.


The Torii of Itsukushima Shrine at low tide, October 2006.


This torii at the Itsukushima Shrine welcomes visitors to the island.

I wanted to show them another World Heritage Site, Itsukushima Shrine with its famous structures torii gate that appears to be floating at high tide. Due to the bad weather, i decided to go back Osaka earlier and had dinner with my Kyoto`s host mother.


My Kyoto`s host mother said my sister is Bijin, bet you think so as well.


My mum, Kyoto`s host mum, and god mum.

We had a great time although i need to be the interpreter from Japanese to Cantonese & Hokkien and vice versa. Four of them flew back to Malaysia on the following day. It was real a blast for me. I was dead exhausted showing them around Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe) and Hiroshima right three days after coming back from the United States, but i felt so happy as they are all my first guest.


My host mother is 78 years old, she is older than my granny.

Wish i had done my job and they had fun during their 6days5nights trip. So below are those highlights of the trip throughout the imperial capital Kyoto, ancient city Nara, metropolitan Osaka, vibrant city Kobe and atomic bombed city Hiroshima.


Stayed with Japanese family.


Entered Japanese style castle, Nijyo Castle.


Able to see Sakura, the weeping cherry tree.


Visited Kyoto`s most famous tourist destination, Kinkakuji.


Saw a Geisha apprentice at Gion, Kyoto.


Ate Kyoto`s Uji green tea ice cream.


Prayed at Yasaka Shrine, Japanese Shinto Shrine.


Went to Todaiji, UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Tried Osaka`s specialty, tokoyaki.


Liked the creepy mascot Kuidaore Taro, Osaka.


Loved Namba`s Dotonburi, Downtown Osaka.


The most significant neon light and mechanized signs at Dotonburi.


Satisfied with Kobe`s chinatown, Nankimachi.


Enjoyed the Kobe Habourland.


Stayed at Japanese style inn, Ryokan.


Experienced Shinkansen, Japan`s high speed train (bullet train).


Attended Japanese graduation ceremony and the costume Hakama.


Visited Atomic Bomb Dome.

Last but not least, do remember to get a three day pass for Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe if you are intended to land at Kansai International Airport.

Graduation Ceremony
Hiroshima University, 23th March 2007

Student No. : B035830
Name : Lam Ching Fu (ラム チン フ)
Course : Civil Engineering, Social And Environmental Engineering
Faculty : Engineering, Hiroshima University
Laboratory : Transportation Engineering Laboratory
Graduation thesis : Evaluating the Stability of Travel Time Expenditure in the Developing Cities


The Student Card.


Graduation Ceremony, Hiroshima University.


Host mother, mother, sisters and god mother.

It was a sunny day and the most important and memorable day in my university life. As a Japanese Government scholar, i am so proud of myself and grateful for being able to have a dazzling graduation ever. Not only my mother, god mother and both elder and younger sisters came all the way from Malaysia, my Hiroshima`s host mother too came to witness my graduation.


Actually i was freaking tired.

Nonetheless i gotta smile on my graduation day.

Those graduands on hakama in front of the H (for Hiroshima) statue.

The big different of the graduation ceremony between Japan and the world is the costume i guess. Hakama (袴) is a type of traditional Japanese clothing resembling a wide pleated skirt worn by Aikido students. It was originally worn only by men, but they are worn by both men and women at graduation ceremonies. However, today the men mostly wear suits at those ceremonies. Therefore, bear in mind that there is no graduation rope in Japan.


My lovely coursemates dress up their beautiful hakamas.

Participation of the ceremony is not compulsory for both undergraduate and graduate students. Because there`s no certificates given out but your name would be announced if you were on the award list. They will anyhow be distributed to every faculty and then handed to you directly by your own professor during your own department`s graduation dinner.


Friends, Luy, Iwa and Noh.


The buddies.

Although you dont need to rent or buy graduation gown for those ceremony in Japan, it sucks as the graduation certificates will not be handed out immediately. Because, i wanted to take pictures with my degree and family together. Anyway after that, we headed to a typical Japanese restaurant for lunch.


Tempura + Sashimi Teishoku.


The dialysis machine.

My mother has kidney failure problem. While she was having her dialysis, i showed the four ladies around my university. First was my faculty then my laboratory. I wanted to show them more but couldnt as i gotta rush to the town for the graduation dinner at Westin Hotel.


Lecture buildings of Faculty of Engineering.


Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University.


Graduate School of International Development and Cooperation.


Entrance to my laboratory.

It was great catching up with friends about our own exciting graduation trips. It might be the last chance to drink together so all of us appreciated the time we had and it was a crazy night we would never forget in our lives.


My girls.


The buddies.


Luy, Iwa, Tsuchi and Nori.


Luy, Kumiko and Tsuchi.


Iwa and Luy.


Seniors.

I had been successfully completed the prescribed of requirements of the Course of Study in Cluster IV (Social and Environmental Engineering) in the Faculty of Engineering therefore was awarded the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering.


My degree.


My Professor hands out the degree to me.

Flowers from the associate professor.

Besides the degree, i had been received few pieces of the remarkable certificates and awards as well.

Hardworking Award.

Certificate of Recognition.


Certificate of Award.

Japan Civil Engineering Society`s Education Award.

Last but not least, i would like to show my deepest appreciation to the Japanese government for offering me the scholarship to further my tertiary education in Japan. Domo arigato gozaimashita!