"Live is so tough here. So stressful." He said while driving me in his taxi to the Schwechat airport that afternoon.

"What make it so stressful?" my reply a bit surprised myself as it is the last thing I want to hear, a complaint of life from a taxi driver on that hot tiring day at the end of the busy week.

"It is so so busy. It is so so expensive. Too short time, too big bills. What ever need Euro…Euro…Euro.." He continued.

"Well, isn’t it every where? I am from Tokyo and the same condition apply there." Tried to ensure him, it is nothing special. Everybody need to work hard.

"Oh no, not in my country. I am came from Egypt and life was good there. No stress. Relax and peaceful. I came here twenty years ago so I am an Austrian now."

"Why you hang on here if life in Egypt is better then?"

He just quiet.

Then he started to talk about this and that and he became to know I am an Indonesian and a Moslem like him.

We reached the destination.

"Can I have a receipt,please" I asked him while handling the 35 Euro for the 32.5 Euro rate of the taxi. I will ask no change from him.

"Are you going to claim this to your company?" He asked.

"Yes"

"So how about I wrote down fifty euro and you pay me fifty."

"Oh no, that is not a good idea. Just write down 32.5, I pay you 35 you keep the change."

" Come on, we are Moslem, should help each other."

"Not this way. This is not good, we rather have to show that we are Moslem are honest."

"How about 45"

"No, sorry."

"40?"

"Look, just give me 32.5 Euro as it is officially. I am not in the mood to call your taxi company for complain."

He handed me the receipt with bitter face.

Till today, I still feel sorry for his behavior. How we will change the broken image we suffer in the world IF for things as small as this, he uses the religion to attempt the rotten collaboration?

My dearest Raisa,
How are you, my girl? Daddy said you and Ken are very good children. Mommy can’t wait to come back home and play with you again. Some more days, please be patient. Remember Daddy always teach us to be patient?

Mommy is now in Bratislava. It is the capital city of a country named Slovakia. From Vienna, it took only about one and half hour drive to this neighboring country. You can also go by train or ferry from Danube river which flow over Austria and Slovakia and some other countries too. Did I tell you that in Austria people speak German language? The money they use is not Yen, but it is Euro. In Slovakia, they speak Slovak language. You say "Dankujem" if want to say thank you. The money they use is called Slovak Krowna. Things in Slovakia is much cheaper than Japan.

Bratislava is a small city with an old town from centuries ago in the middle of the city. A century mean one hundred years. There is  a castle like in Cinderella castle, but not as that beautiful. The castle age is more than six hundred years. The road in the old town are made by paving stone. It is like many small stone cut and arranged to be road. This road built hundred years ago. Isn’t that great? Very old but still very good. I will show you the picture later.

Not many people living in Bratislava. Not more than one million people, that mean one third than our city Chiba. That means, if you divided Chiba people into three group with same number of people. Bratislava people is less than one part of the groups.

It is a bit difficult for a six years old girl to understand this, but one day if you are getting bigger and read this letter again, you will understand.
Until some years ago, this country was part of a bigger country called Chekoslovakia, but they fought and split become two countries. The country was a communist country, which mean all people have the same things arrange by the government. Nobody so rich and when poor, all together. So all house look the same. But since some years ago, the country changed.  Two years ago Slovakia joint a countries group in Europe called Europe Union. This group has standard and help each other to be good and rich country. Slovakia standard meets the Europe Union standard but the price and cost there is as cheap as in China, which known as one of the world’s cheapest place for business. A lot of new business open, people’s live is getting better. Since the first time Mommy came to this place two years ago, many has been changed. New tall buildings, new offices, and this time I can see many new model fancy car are on the street.
Don’t worry you don’t have to remember this, Mommy just think it is good for me to teach you about this.

I am a bit sad that we haven’t been able to talk on the phone. But that is because the time different. There is seven hours different between Bratislava and Tokyo. That mean, when Mommy able to call you in the morning here, you would be in the school. Also at night after work here, you would be in the bed in the middle of the night. Your evening when you will be able to talk on the phone, I would be busy in the meeting at the office.
Do you know why the time is different in many places around the world? That is because the earth is round shape. Remember when Daddy explained you about the day and night, moon and sun using the ball and the torch light? It is the same. Some part of the earth will be facing the sun, mean day time, the other side will be at night.

I ate chocolate cereal for breakfast this morning. I choose because it is your favorite breakfast, so I wanted to eat the same food like you. So please make sure you finished your breakfast every morning, ok? Remember, your body need energy to be able to study, play, run and other activities. Drink milk too. Lots of calcium is needed to grow your fallen four front teeth. Oh I can’t wait to see your pretty face with that very cute no-teeth smile!

Love,
Mommy

My dearest Raisa,
As promised, Mommy is writing you a letter. It’s been two days since Mommy see you, but it feel like two weeks. One week is seven days, so two weeks means seven multiple by two equal to fourteen.

The flight from Tokyo to Vienna was long and tiring, it took 12 hours and 20 minutes. That is long. It is like when Raisa in the morning leaves home for school, then school finished you go to Kodomo Room, then Kodomo Room time finished, Daddy picked you, then you go home and eat dinner, play with Ken, have bath, have milk, brush teeth and go to bed, all of that time Mommy was sitting in the airplane.

Vienna is hot, surprisingly. It is much hotter than Japan. People on the street not only wearing short sleeve, but many wearing no sleeve. It is so humid too.

Do you know Vienna is the city name? It is the capital city of a country name Austria in Europe. Ask Daddy what "Capital" means. Vienna is not a big city. The number of people living in Vienna is one and half million people. It is half of the number of people living in our city, Chiba. We have 3 million people living in Chiba city.
Not like in Japan, people in Austria mostly is Caucasian. Caucasian are those people who has white skin, blonde or red or black hair. Some has blue or green or grey eyes. Like Gabby your friend we met in Auckland. People like us, like Japanese are called as Asian.
You asked me what "culture" mean last week. It is the way of people living, doing things. Austria’s culture is different with Japan’s culture. They way the talk, live, eat, are all different. No culture is the best. Every culture is unique and has its good and bad. We have to respect every culture in the world.

There are a lot of old building in Vienna. Old but beautiful. Churches, museum, opera house they have been built from hundred years ago. Some old building are used for offices and hotels too.

In Vienna, people love music so much. They love to play music instruments like violin, piano, cello. They also like to sing in choir or opera. Choir is singing songs together in a group.
One man who is very famous in piano named Mozart. Mozart was born about 250 years ago. That is long long long time ago. Mozart was living in Vienna. That is why you can see his picture all over Vienna. On poster, on chocolate, on souvenir, everywhere.

There are lots of thing I like about Vienna like the tram, the horsecar, the beautiful buildings, the delicious dessert. But there are also something that I don’t like. Like the food specially the bread are hard, the salad and vegetable are not as fresh and delicious, the toilet paper which is so rough even it is in nice hotel, it is not as soft as in Japan.
But the thing I dislike the most is, that in Vienna I have to be so far away from you. But remember Mommy told you about the word "responsibility"? This is my responsibility to be here in this city for work for some days.

Ok, Mommy got to go now. Mommy will write you again tomorrow from Bratislava.

You are my great sweetheart, I know you will help Daddy to take care our little monster Ken. Mommy so proud of you, big girl!
Don’t forget to brush your teeth before bed and make sure you put the right books in your randoseru for your classes tomorrow.

Love,
Mommy

"So where did you go yesterday?" I asked T-san in our lunch as he took a day off.

"I went to Matsuzakaya in Ginza for shopping." replied him addressing one of the high-end department store at the fancy shopping avenue in Tokyo, famous for the established mature person (a.k.a age 40+) who doesn’t mind to spend a fortune in Made-in-Japan goods which still carry that well-known expensive image of Japan product.

"I didn’t know that you like shopping. What did you buy?" I was a bit surprise to know my very quiet senior colleague actually like to shop and even took a day of in the weekday for that.

"I was searching for formal suit for summer. I have formal suit for winter, fall and spring, but not for summer. Yesterday was a sale at Matsuzakaya so I went there. I was surprised to see hundreds of middle age man like me was there, so crowded. But you know what surprised me the most?"

"The price?" I guessed wildly.

" No, the price still high even after sale. The cheapest was around 100,000 yen. The thing surprised me was those men. Most of them came alone and choose the suit by themselves."

"Hm, what surprising about that. You also went there."

"Yes, but I went with my wife. I never buy any clothes without my wife since our wedding day. She choose everything. I just present to try and fit the size. You know Dian, in Japan, people my age gave the full authority to wife for clothing and any product at home. One of the word Japanese wife like to say is that the husband has no taste in clothing, this is to "legalize"their 100% role in the choosing and buying."
And that answer why this workaholic man took a day off in the middle of the week for the so-called shopping. A lady power.

"But now seems change…"

"Yes. Middle age men now like to choose and shop by themselves like the younger generation."
He concluded his cultural lesson to me.
Being a foreigner and youngest in the team, I frequently receive this kind of lesson, in which, I like it as it give me broader understanding of Japan.

"Is everyone here has several formal suit for every season of the year? Isn’t that too expensive? How frequent you have wedding, funeral, graduation in a year?" Asked the curious me.

"Well, for people my age, quite frequent. I have at least five to ten times occasion to attend in a year. I got a lot of aged relatives from my wife side. At least ten relatives above eighty years old. My mother in law is 102 years old."

"Wow!"

"Yes. So with this, lines of formal ceremony from grandchildren wedding, graduation and surely… funeral."

"I see."
That make sense. Even I think, as formal suit for man is always that super starched flawless shape black suit with similar model except the number of button, who will know that you wear all the same in different occasion. Just change the tie.

I love to "hunt" in flea a market or thrift shop. I think the proverb "One’s trash could be other’s treasure" is right. The satisfaction to get a "catch" is so trilling. Getting something good in flea market give a different type of satisfaction. It is like winning something.
Also, recycle is good for the environment. I went to uncounted flea market, garage sale, antique shop here and there, in and out Japan. It could be an antique, or any practical goods in super bargain price. The stopper is only, no used clothes, please. It is too personal.

In Japan, since the down of economy about eight years ago, the used-goods selling became ordinary. Until then, due to culture, it was not popular except for books. Thrift shop called as Recycle Shop here, are everywhere now. Those specialize in furniture, specialized in baby and kids products, sport goods, kitchen utensil, electronics, etc. Flea market held every weekend in every corner of Tokyo and surrounding. From small one in an apartment complex, neighborhood park, until the giant one in one of the biggest convention hall in Tokyo with stall number approaching to one thousand.
I tried to browsed in the net for flea market hold last weekend, I got more that thirty hits. Only in one weekend.

My favorite is to go to a noncommercial flea market. That mean, those who open the stall are not the professional seller, just a simple household. Those who just want to get rid of the things at their home. I should mention that, in Japan, you need to pay some cash to throw things away. This is government rule related to the cost of recycling. So selling goods at cheap price is much better than throw and got to pay for it.
May and November known as the good time for "treasure-hunter" as they are the month before summer and winter bonus where people get their extra income, usually try to get rid of things they own for 2-3 years and  buy something new. So Flea Market conducted in these two period are always those full of catch.

With background of shopping experience in Pasar Baru and Mangga Dua, I am at the top of bargaining ability.
My super catch are: a brand new Tefal steamer which I get at only 200 yen (it is more than 3000 yen in the market)! A Samsonite suitcase in excellent condition which in store it is on sale for 40000yen, but I bought it from a lady who overstock with the suitcase at her home at 3000 yen after a lengthy bargain. A Coach shoulder bag, new and the model even still on sale in the boutique for over 75000 yen, I got it from this lady who won a doorprize and at last a bit reluctant but released that to me at 8500 yen. Many of children English story book and Disney movie which is expensive in Japan, but I got them for some coins only.
The suitcase and bag I got from the same annual flea market in Bay Town, the high-end apartment complex in the neighborhood known as place where the resident like to throw away their (fancy)things at almost free price.

Not only buying, until before the 2004 Tsunami, I am in the business of selling too. This is important to ensure our house is not overstock. Once, we opened a stall  in a Flea Market. I released tons of my English women magazine and books, lots of kids baby’s clothes and toys, some collection from my wardrobe, kitchen, Indonesian stuff, good-to-have-only stuff, etc. At the end of the day, we got 8600 yen and got to pay 3000 yen to the organizer. The balance couldn’t cover our dinner bill at nearby restaurant that day after exhausted whole day outdoor in a chilling November selling out our "trash". But it was fun!

One of my family’s favorite, is the super relaxing onsen bath. Onsen is natural hot spring. There are over 3000 onsen located in spa town/location all over Japan.
Bathing in onsen is Japanese popular centuries old tradition, for all generation. From baby till grannies love to deep their body in this rather hot 40-44 centigrade water. Basically you just get naked, wash your body in a shower, get in the onsen tub.
There is no such relaxing yet exciting experience compare to deep your body in an outdoor onsen (rotemburo) is a cold winter day, surrounded by snow  and you can  grab the snow flakes and eat it while releasing the tension of your muscle in the hot water. Not to mention the smell of fresh cedar wood tub, the smooth and fresh feeling on the skin after the deep, and the very good night sleep afterward.

There are lots of writing about onsen like the history, the types, the etiquette, the list and many more. But I will write things that might be useful for a non-Japanese to be able to enjoy the onsen in optimum way and might not be cover in most of the onsen guide.

Don’t be afraid to get naked
Yes, you will wear only your birthday suit to enter the tub. But don’t worry, even if naked in front of stranger is not in your dictionary, this experience will not be as difficult. Naked in onsen or public bath is a very common in Japan. It is no longer popular this time, but until recent years there are places where the women and men is not split, that mean men and women naked at the same place. Having said that, no wrong things happen. No matter what type is your body, nobody will stare at you (and you too, please don’t stare at others). No body even care. It is just so natural. You will forget that you are naked just minutes after entering the bath.

Follow the onsen etiquette
Japanese is a nation full of manners. Follow the rule. Get naked. Soap, shower and clean rinse before entering the tub. Don’t put any towel inside the water. If you bring smal towel to cover your part when walking into the tub, fold it and put on your head or outside the tub once you are in the water. Don’t make many noise as onsen is the place to relax and rest. Keep the cleanliness (you’ll see many Japanese even clean the mess they didn’t make to keep the public space clean).
Make sure you pee in the toilet before all the process. Strictly no pee in the water. If you bring children, make sure they pee in the toilet too.
Tatoo on the body is not appropriate, so if you have one, cover it if possible (like with band-aid). If can’t, in some place you may be refused to use the onsen.

It is good, not bad for health
Worry to share the same water with strangers? How about if there are disease? Well, there is pro and contra about this, but only outside Japan. In reality in Japan, everybody believe in the positive effect of onsen to the health. For skin, blood circulation, muscle, even some therapy for internal organ issue. The various of natural minerals in the water gave the benefit. The fact is, no body enter the water before they clean their body with soap.  All water is monitored and regularly check by the authority for the chemical contain in it (the licence is as strict as selling food to public). The water keep on circulating, as onsen water supply is abundant from the earth. The temperature is rather hot that some of bacteria couldn’t survive for long period in the water. And, there is no such story I ever hear of somebody get the disease from onsen.

So don’t worry much, relax, have positive and open mind, enjoy.

Photo credit: from jalan.net