Trvelling Down the Memory Lane

Travelling down the memory lane is not all black 'n white.
Travelling down the memory lane is not all lacking light.
Travelling down the memory lane is not eye filled with tears.
Travelling down the memory lane brings fresh and soothing air.
Travelling down the memory lane is college, fun and friend.
Travelling down the memory lane is full of curves and bends.
Travelling down the memory lane is a test of time and mind
Travelling down the memory lane is a joy of it's kind.
~~Spandan Bhattacharyya~~

When Incoming Division J Governor Tu Shih-jun walked out of the famous Hot Spring House 瀧乃湯 in Beitou, I was taking photos of Mei, Monica, and Shinako. What a coincidence that a group of Japanese speaking people should meet. How happy I was to introduce Toastmaster Tu san immediately to my dear old friends of Ritsumeikan University. Toastmaster Tu, being a regular visitor of 瀧乃湯, showed us the monument of Crown Prince Hirohito's visit to the hot spring house in April 1923.

Dragon Boat Festival 2009 was indeed memorable. Monica from Hong Kong, Shinako from Tokyo, Mei from Taichung came visit me in Taipei for four days, from May 28th till May 31st. We traveled all over Taipei, chitchatted from early in the morning till late at night about love and life, to catch up what we missed in the past 8 years after we left Ristumeikan University in 2001.

Sunday morning, on my way to see Shinako off at the MRT Dapingling Station, Shinako told me how much she sensed the same chemistry among four of us. Indeed, we all had seasonal allergy during the four days holiday. We sneezed everywhere we went and asked for tissue all the time. Birds of a feature flock together. We are a flock of birds migrating between Japan and Taiwan. We chirp in Japanese, English, and Mandarin. While Mei, Monica, and Shinako are seeking for Bird Right to build the lovely nests with them, I wish them all the best.

Mei, Monica, and Shinako are three angels coming afar to inform me of their latest news. The two big nomikai dinners at my brother Jimmy's place lasted long hours. It was like the replay of good old days at I (International) House nine years ago. We might be older, but our spirits remain just as young and energetic. Now I pray we could have another big reunion at I House soon. Sayonara, Mei, Monica, and Shinako! Take care till we meet again in Kyoto for our tenth anniversary in 2011.