A link to one of my favorite short stories of all time

I am not much of a reader.

I have read a few books. Animal Farm being one of my favorites. Lately though I have been reading some short stories to pass time whenever I get a break from work. One short story that captured my fancy is this piece by H. O. Santos. Yes, we have the same family name. :)

Anyway, the title of the story is "The Bus Driver's Daughter".
Call me cheesy but this story melted my heart.
Each time I read this story, I feel that the main character in the story is me. :)

Anyways, see below the link to it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)


http://www.sushidog.com/bpss/stories_staff/daughter.htm


PS

One of Dr. Macario Tiu's works is also posted in the "sushidog" website. The title is "Nanking Store". It is also a very good read. Dr. Tiu is a professor in Ateneo de Davao University. He is an award-winning author. I believe he has won a Palanca before. He also almost failed me in his class when I was in college. +)

Flash of Genius?

Something amazing happened today.

I was talking to my wife a while ago (thru Skype) when she went to the bathroom for a while. My 2-year old son then took over the laptop and sent me an mp3 file while muttering "thats how u know, daddy". That's how u know is the title of this song from the movie "Enchanted" that he sings time and again.

I am really surprised to this moment that my son, a toddler, knew how to send a file thru Skype (with all the File browsing, attachment and everything).

I am currently receiving the file right now.

Back then, my son also discovered things in some of the applications on my wife's iPod touch that even I haven't discovered yet. He also knows how to launch and operate applications in the PC and play DVDs. I shrugged it off back then thinking it was nothing special. But what happened a while ago was something else.

Was it a flash of genius? As his dad, I would like to think so ;)

My New Blogs

Since I started this blog, all thanks primarily to Kathy Dacanay and her Kat's Corner Downtown blog http://katfdax.blogspot.com, I have been passively writing articles of personal musing on the web. And long since the birth of this blog, I have started to author other blogs. These blogs are all about my personal interests and information that may be helpful to others.

Listed below are my new blogs and their descriptions.

http://fighthype.blogspot.com <- Boxing Blog (My new interest)
http://fighthype.co.nr <- My Boxing Blog redirected
http://fighthype.co.cc <-The new Home of My Boxing Blog

http://jobsjapan.blogspot.com <- Well I have been living here in Japan for almost 2 years now.. and this blog is primarily for those who are interested to work and live in Japan.

http://weirdnewsjapan.blogspot.com <- Contains articles about the weirdest happenings in Japan.

http://chisantos.co.cc <- My newly-setup Photoblog which has yet to be finished.

And please do drop by my multiply site http://chisantos.multiply.com
You'll have to be a member though to be able to access my site and see my latest photos.

Jaa, Mata ne.

Kouyou, Public bath and the Geisha: A Kyoto Adventure

My trip to Kyoto was one that was planned with two things in mind: Kouyou (Autumn colors) and the Geisha. I knew beforehand that the chance of seeing, much less meeting and talking to a Geisha, was a remote possibility.. but I was hopeful. I have read that the Geisha (Geiko in the native tongue of Kyoto) scurry the streets of Gion and spotting one is as seldom as the Sakura blooming or the Maple leaves falling on your head. But call me lucky, 'coz in my first trip to Kyoto I have seen, met, and talked to a Geisha.. and even had a photo taken with them. :)

The Autumn colors in Kyoto was nothing short of amazing. With the colors of the leaves accenting the already beautiful temples and shrines, it was really a breathtaking view to behold. The cool breeze of the Fall season, with the leaves slowly falling everywhere made my adventure even more worthwhile. From the Temple of Kiyomizudera, treading the Philosopher's walk all the way to the Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), and walking on the mysterious streets of Gion and meeting a Geisha really made me feel like I was in ancient Japan.

Of course my Kyoto experience would have not been complete without a serving of a local dish. And so in one of the aptly designed restaurants in Gion, I helped myself to a huge (and I mean Huge) bowl of beef Ramen.

To add a little more seasoning to my already palatable adventure, I also got to experience bathing in public..the Japanese way (no, it's not as public as it sounds). As they say, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do".. and so I did. The experience was actually quite interesting. Getting fully naked in public is not really something I have experienced before (well, maybe) but, hey, I'd try anything once..or twice....and I am glad I did. :) At first I was actually hesitant, but I thought, what the heck.. and so I stripped (my inhibitions) and went for it. :) At least now I know how it feels to be Japanese, even just for a day.

With a handful of souvenirs I bought from one of the smalls shops along the streets of Gion, I concluded my trip with some parting shots of the newly-renovated Kyoto station. It was a tiring trip but it was all worth it. Now, I can't wait for my next adventure. 楽しみにします。

For photos of my Kyoto adventure, please visit http://chisantos.multiply.com/photos/album/17/Kouyou_Public_bath_and_the_Geisha_A_Kyoto_Adventure

For hi-res photos of my Kyoto adventure, please visit http://flickr.com/photos/chisantos3 .

A trip to Geisha-land

Its been a while since my last photo adventure. The last set of photos i took was that of the Dream Car Show event. I do have another set which I was not yet able to upload on my flickr page. It was the photos I took during our "inaka" barbeque party.. just a breather from work with our fellow Japanese kaisha-in(s). However, since Fall is finally here and the tree leaves have started to change colors to yellow and red, it is a perfect opportunity for me to go photoshooting.

I am planning a trip to Kyoto on the 29th. Kyoto, according to most travel sites on the Internet, is the most beautiful and picturesque City in Japan. Home to a number of awe-inspiring natural sceneries, temples, and other historic spots, as well as the Famous Gion District--home of the Geisha(s), Kyoto is the must-visit place for all photography-addicted people like me.

I would probably be taking the same picures of Kyoto as the ones already circulating around the Web (yes, it is that famous a city). But to experience Kyoto first-hand is going to be an experience that will go down to my A-list been-there places in the world [my hometown Davao City, Philippines being one of them :) ].

I am looking forward to this trip almost as much as I am looking forward to my trip Home on December.

To walk on the streets of Gion and meet a real Geisha up close is going to be a treat, for me and my camera :).

For photos of this trip, you can check out my Flickr account @ http://flickr.com/photos/chisantos3 .
After the 29th Nov that is.