Asian Road

Clips from:
Whispering Corridors
Memento Mori
Wishing Stairs
Ju-on: The Grudge 1 & 2
Ring 0: Birthday
The Locker (AKA Shibuya Kaidan) 1 & 2
The Ghost (AKA Dead Friend)
Bunshinsaba
Three Extremes: The Box, Dumblings & Cut
A Tale of Two Sisters
Shutter
Kuroneko

"I will teach you the Truth and the Path leading to the Truth." (Buddha)

"One is one’s own refuge, who else could be the refuge? ..The wise man makes an island of himself that no flood can overwhelm." (Buddha)

"It is proper for you to doubt .. do not go upon report .. do not go upon tradition..do not go upon hearsay..'" (Buddha, Kalama Sutra)

"Never by hatred is hatred appeased, but it is appeased by kindness. This is an eternal truth." (Buddha)

"O Brahmana, it is just like a mountain river, flowing far and swift, taking everything along with it; there is no moment, no instant, no second when it stops flowing, but it goes on flowing and continuing. So Brahmana, is human life, like a mountain river." (Buddha)

"‘Wherefore, brethren, thus must ye train yourselves : Liberation of the will through love will develop, we will often practice it, we will make it vehicle and base, take our stand upon it, store it up, thoroughly set it going.’" (Buddha)

"The dustless and stainless Eye of Truth (Dhamma-cakkhu) has arisen.
He has seen Truth, has attained Truth, has known Truth, has penetrated into Truth, has crossed over doubt, is without wavering.
Thus with right wisdom he sees it as it is (yatha bhutam)." (Ancient Buddhist texts)

source: http://www.spaceandmotion.com

"The things that will destroy us are:
Politics without principle;
Pleasure without conscience;
Wealth without work;
Knowledge without character;
Business without morality;
Science without humanity,
and Worship without sacrifice."


source: http://robinmarie.stumbleupon.com

ANCIENT FORMS OF TRAVEL still compete with modern trucks and buses on the road

PHOTOGRAPHER TIM SMITH and oral historian Irna Qureshi have created the exhibition The Grand Trunk Road especially for the People's History Museum in Manchester, UK. It explores this famous highway and aims to look at the history of the road through photographs taken in Spring 2006 along the route from Delhi to the Afghan border in northwest Pakistan. The route has a great resonance for a large number of people from the sub-continent who have made their homes in Britain. Tim and Irna sought out people with links to Britain, photographing and interviewing them and their families. The result is a photographic exhibition personalised by memories, opinions and feelings of the individuals they interviewed. The Grand Trunk Road (abbreviated to GT Road in common usage) is one of South Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For several centuries, it has linked the eastern and western regions of the Indian subcontinent, passing right across the populous cities of Pakistan and India. Today, the Grand Trunk Road remains a continuum that spans a distance of over 2,500 km and traverses three south Asian countries: Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It starts in Peshawar in Pakistan and passes through Islamabad and Lahore before entering India at Wagah. Within India, it passes through Amritsar, Ambala, Delhi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Kolkata and then enters Bangladesh to finally end its journey at Sonargaon in Narayanganj district.

source: http://www.asianartnewspaper.com

In Chinese philosophy, things in nature can be classified in 5 types: wood, fire, earth, metal, water. Most Westerners fail to understand the concept because they tend to take these names literally. These five elements are not just the matters that the names refer to, but rather metaphors for describing how things interact and relate to each others.
It is believed that wood produces fire; fire produces earth; earth produces metal; metal produces water; water produces wood. On the other hand, wood controls earth; earth controls water; water controls fire; fire controls metal; metal controls wood. These interactions and relationships forms a framework for different schools of philosophy, belief and discipline. The interaction of five elements becomes a tool that helps scholars sort out observations and empirical data. Based on observations of how things interact, things are classified into one of the five elements so that they fit into the observed pattern. Then one can draw high level conclusions or predictions based on the types.
Also The Chinese believe there are five seasons - Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer and Late Summer. Behind each of the seasons there is an elemental energy; the Five Elements - Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood actually creating each of them. By observing nature we can see these five energies in the world around us and also see how these same energies are reflected within our own bodies and personalities.
For example Spring is the beginning of the season cycle, a time of birth and new beginnings. It is also the energy of the element Wood. This is the energy that brings forth new growth. It is the energy that pushes the new grass through the snow and produces new leaves. It does this so nature can take in nourishment.
Spring is also the time of hope; it bursts forward with optimism, offering change after the quiet, still time of Winter. It brings to life the potential inherent in the each dormant seed, awakening, growing. Think of the wood of a tree, it gives nature structure and shape but does not let anything hold it back as it grows. Without change all things would wither and die.
The principle of the five elements have a deep root in the Chinese culture.

source: http://nostalgia.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_element

1. A fight stressing the use of legs
Because of its long history incorporating differences in culture, ideology, region and usages, Wushu has developed into a great variety of schools and styles. While some schools emphasize the use of fists and hand technique, others emphasize leg technique and footwork . Some take interest in the variation of acts whereas others prefer simplicity. Some focus on keeping opponents at arm's and leg's length while others like to fight in close contact. The assortment of schools and styles displays the colorful features of Wushu and gratifies the various needs of people.

2. Wushu includes the use of many weapons.
Chinese ancients named the Wushu arsenal the "Eighteen Arms," but there are many more in use. Almost all fights are accompanied by weapon usage of one kind or another. The combination of fist fights and weapon usage allows for a fuller and more efficient application of Wushu skills while sh-arpening the insight of combat and control and enriching the program of Wushu exercise.

3. The combination of offence and defence is the essence of Wushu.
Implications of offence and de-fence permeate the complete gamut of Wushu exercise. They are fully demonstrated in both practice and real combat. Even a solo practice implies the atmosphere of offence and defence against an imaginary opponent in time and space. Wushu masters have systematically summed up the con-tradictions of offence and defence and established a set of theories and techniques on combat.

4. The movement of the human body is only the external display of Wushu.
Wushu is by no means limited to the external movement, but also emphasizes the full display of the internal temperament, mental attitude and potential of the human being. The practice of Wushu not only strengthens the bones and muscles but also the internal organs and intelligence. Coordination and cooperation are called for with each and every movement of the hand, eye, body, foot and form of movement. Wushu stresses that the mind directs the circulation of air flow within the body and that the inner circulation of air generates the external strength, so demonstrating the combination of external and internal forces. Cultivating air flows inside the body in order to improve the basic structures inside the body is an important purpose of Wushu exercises .

5. Ingenious applications of substantial and insubstantial blows are incorporated in the movements and forces of Wushu. Motion and stillness alternate with each other, while hardness and softness su-pplement one another, greatly enhancing the artistic expression and the practicality of Wushu, and de-monstrating its inclusive and equilibristic nature. Once in action, the movements can be as fast and forceful as a gust of wind, while being still, the body looks as steady as a mountain. Hard blows are like lightning and thunderclaps, whereas soft punches are like breezes delicately caressing willow twigs. Human feelings and abilities are clearly demonstrated through the rhythmic movements of opening and closing, and the emotions excited in doing exercises.

source: http://library.thinkquest.org

This is a real issue... It's a dirty word, but we all use it everyday -- the toilet. I am knowledgable on the men's toilets only, but aside for a few minor details, I imagine they aren't too different from the ladies'. The first time you use a Japanese toilet it feels strange, but you get used to it quickly. But actually a majority of toilets you will use in Japan (except in old buildings and schools) are western style or have the option of a Western style. It is either the squat type or the western type with a lot of buttons that do strange things.
An interesting fact is nearly all toilets made in Japan are from a company called TOTO.
You walk into the toilet and close the door (let's hope there is a door). Then turn facing the flusher or the covering (in photo to the right). Then you squat etc... All your toilet-life you have never had to use your legs, but now you must use your legs not only to support yourself, but to balance yourself in the right position just before releasing the... well you know. And be warned the first time will seem strange to you. Don't worry you will get used to it. After you are finished flushing and doing your proper procedures, stand up SLOWLY. Your legs may be asleep depending on how long you were down.
Use this one just as you would back home, EXCEPT... DON'T TOUCH ANY BUTTONS. If you do you may find an unpleasant surprise coming up from the depths. The toilets are high-tech. They have seat warmers, bottom washers, and a number of other things that are scary for the first time gaijin to be messing with! A friend and I went to a restaurant together a few years ago. He excused himself to the toilet while I ordered. He came back about 10 minutes later with a pale, white face. I said, "Are you ok? What happened?" He said, "Don't ever touch those toilet buttons!" He claims he screamed loudly when a gush of warm water came unexpectedly from below. I didn't hear him, but the restaurant was noisy at the time. Well, that is the bit of toilets in Japan. They really aren't as scary as I make them out to be, really.

source: http://www.thejapanesepage.com