the green mile

many years ago... 有人说过。。。 这部电影。。很dark。
当时只觉得可惜，因没时间看而错过了一部叫好的电影。
今天晚上，在电视上，在这时阳光稀少寒风狂吼的磐城市，
我终于看了，也明白了所谓"dark"的意思。。。
头重重的，心沉沉的。。
有点要呕吐的感觉
只是一部电影
还是现实的面纱
？

Kyushu Trip Part 2

The train was delayed when I was on my way to choir today. It was due to set off at 19.50 but by 20.30, it was still nowhere in sight. In the end, I tried getting a cab but found out that it would cost me 2000 yen to get to the place (that is around 30 SGD), so I decided not to go after all.

Actually, trains are usually very punctual in Japan... save for exceptional circumstances like this one. I think it could be due to the strong winds and bad weather.. this had happened before.

Sometimes, I actually think that we should really appreciate the weather in Singapore.. at least there is no need to check the weather forecast diligently every day (even though I dont really do it here either, even though I should :S) and you dont get stranded like this due to bad weather. Plus, not forgetting that we are free from natural disasters and the place is so lush the whole year round! No depression from lack of sunlight and low temperatures.. But, getting hot and bothered all the time isnt good either. Oh well.

Anyway. I'm finally continuing the story on my New Year trip to Kyushu. This is really backdated. I'm even done with my trip to Hong Kong and Taipei already (got back yesterday)! Anyway, still a story worth telling :P

This plaque tells of a sad story. Some students were swimming in a river when the bomb dropped on them. The next day, the river was flooded with corpses to the point that it stopped flowing. This plaque is found at the Nagasaki Peace Park, constructed to preserve the memory of the destructive power of the atomic bomb for the sake of posterity.







The memorial commemorating the victims of the atomic bomb blast.













This remnant of a wall was one of the few remaining structures of the Urakami Cathedral after the bombing. The cathedral was basically destroyed: there was no sanctuary, no church bells, no building; just a mass of debris and nothing much other than that. But with the money and labour put in by the local Christian volunteers - who were themselves struggling with the death of their loved ones loss of homes - the new church was erected eventually.











This was the new Urakami Cathedral, built with the strength of ordinary people attending Mass there at the time.












Land preserved from the time of the bombing. Can you spot the cracked bottles and broken bowls etc? People exposed to the bomb became stark naked in a fraction of a second, their skin blackened due to the heat, despite the extreme thirst, they could not drink as water everywhere was contaminated after the bomb and despite the pain, they could not lie down properly as they suffered burns all over and any contact with their skin, if they still have it, would cause insufferable pain. As the bomb was dropped with no warning, legions of people suffered without knowing why and many died before finding out who the culprit was - this thing called the "atomic bomb", being the new invention it was at that time, was not known to these victims even when they breathed their last.

It's hard to imagine how this serene looking park today was the hypocentre of the bomb, and an area of destruction and suffering six decades ago. Where bodies once lay and screams of pain once heard, visitors from the world over now come to see the remnants of that tragic part of history and hopefully, also to learn how fortunate that most of us now live in times of peace and not war.








My favorite statue in the Peace Park. Isn't she lovely!













The Peace Statue














The 26 Martyrs' Memorial. These martyrs, foreigners and Japanese people included, were arrested and brought to Nagasaki for practising their faith in a time where Christianity was banned. The youngest to be crucified was said to be only 12.










Nagasaki looks really cluttered with houses and buildings scattered all over ina disorderly fashion. However, when it is overlooked from high ground, it all falls into place and the bay area, in particular, seems to be really charming.











Part of the Glover Garden where the houses of rich and influential Westerners of Nagasaki are preserved.











The Oura Tenshudo, the oldest church in Japan.


















Friends from the hostel I stayed at. From Germany, Brazil and Korea! Oh, Singapore too :D













All in all, Nagasaki strikes me as being one of the most mutlicultural parts of Japan, in terms of its heritage. During the time of isolation, Nagasaki was the only place open to foreigners and also coz of its proximity to China, there are many traces of Western and Chinese influence and architecture. Despite the suffering the people here went through, they and their descendents have turned out to be great peace activists who shun the idea of war and also are quick to admit that the war was a mistake; something that not all Japanese people today are willing to do.