Travelers' Night 'The Eastern Pearl' Penang Island, Malaysia @ 旅 Café & Dining おでかけ日和, Kyoto #58

After the event... 

Japanese by Manami

Photo by Sadao

今回のトラベラーズナイトのテーマは‘マレーシア/ペナン島’!!

知っている人は知っているけれど、知らない人は

「どこそれ？」というふうな感じになるのではないでしょうか？

私は今年の2~3月、その知られざるペナン島に

インターンシップとしてNGOで働くために1ヶ月間滞在しました。

ペナンに行く前の心境というと‘メジャー所

じゃないし情報も少ない。

そんな場所で1ヶ月大丈夫なんだろうか.....’と不安一杯でした。

しかし、いざ現地に行ってみると私の想像していた世界と全く違い

まさに多文化共生パラダイス！と一言で表せれるほど

数多くの人種が一つの街に居住していて、

言葉では表現できないくらい

街は刺激的な要素で溢れていました。

今回のイベントでは実際にペナン出身

のダニエルをスピーカーに呼んで

ガイドブックやインターネットからでは聞けない

「本当のペナン」の情報を話してもらい、

参加してくれたみんなも興味津々！！

私もペナンから帰国後、

また絶対行きたいと思うくらいペナンが大好きです。

一度行ったら絶対はまる、そう言い切れるくらい魅力的な島。

このイベントで参加者がペナンに少しでも興味を持って、

近々旅行などで訪ねてほしいですね。

クイズに答えてペナンのお土産ゲット☆

こんなふうに、トラベラーズナイトでは毎回テーマの

土地のスピーカーを呼んで

普通では聞けないちょっとレアな情報を話してもらいます。

旅行が大好きというなら来ないわけにはいかない！

世界中に友達を作りたいと思っているなら

このイベントに来るべし！

と言い切れるくらいないよう豊富なイベントです。

次回のテーマもお楽しみに＊

Japanese Text by Misa Kono

ペナン島出身のDanと今年の春にインターンシップでペナン島を訪れたことのあるまなみちゃんによる、ペナン島の魅力を伝えるプレゼンテーションでスタートしたtraveller's night！

私は行ったことのない場所だったので、見る写真見る写真が新鮮で、同時にペナン島に行きたいと強く思わせるプレゼンテーションでした！！

私が印象に残ったことは、
ペナン島には、様々なbackgroundを持った人々が沢山住んでおり、これは歴史的な背景も関連してるのですが、
一つの場所に三種の文化が集まっている、３つの文化をペナン島という１つの場所で感じられるということでした！

今回、始めてtraveller's nightに参加しましたが、
そこで感じたのは、人との出逢いは自分の世界を更に広げてくれるものですが、それと同時に自分の行ったことのない場所へ導いてくれるということでもあるんだなー…と今回Danとまなみちゃんのプレゼンテーション、そして他の参加者の方達との出逢いから感じました！

またぜひ参加したいです！
ありがとうございました！

Penang Island, one of the many states in Malaysia is called “The Eastern Pearl”, yet it is better known for its resorts and beaches. Besides, George Town, which is constructed by the mixture of the many local cultures, was recognized and registered as a world heritage since 2008.

In our 3rd Travelers’ Night, we will be bringing everyone to explore with us the history, the world heritages of George Town, including many interesting festivals and special insights that are unfound in any guidebooks.

If you are interested in Penang or Malaysia, yet unfamiliar with this tropical country; if you are a active traveler and wish to share your stories; or you are planning your next vacation trip and wish to get some first hand advices, come join us at our #3 Travelers’ Night. You might also find yourself some traveling buddies too!

「東洋の真珠」と人々から呼ばれ続け、未だに‘リゾート地’として人気を博するマレーシアのペナン島。‘リゾート地’という印象とは裏腹に、2008年に世界遺産登録された「ジョージタウン」と呼ばれる多様文化が織りなす街を兼ね備えた興味深い土地であります。

第３回目となるトラベラーズナイトでは、ガイドブック上では知りきれないペナン島の歴史や世界遺産であるジョージタウンのおもしろさ、ジョージタウンで開催されるお祭りなどのスペシャル情報満載で行います。「ん〜マレーシアのことってあまり知らないなぁ...」なんて方も大歓迎!!とにかく旅行が大好きな人同士集い合い、ペナン島こと、自分の旅の経験について語り尽くしましょう!!

Theme: Penang Island, Malaysia

Date & Time: 27^th May, Fri, 2011/ 19:30~22:00

Venue: 旅 café & dining お出かけ日和 http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~tabicafe/

〒604-8251　

京都市中京区三条油小路南東角　三条油小路町145-1

（入口は、三条通り側の階段です。）
ＴＥＬ：075-255-3399
Cost: 2000yen with RSVP (includes 1 drink and snacks), 2500yen without RSVP

２０００円　予約要り（１ドリンク＆スナック付き）、２５００円（予約無しの場合）

RSVP now to we.are.one.japan@gmail.com

ご予約we.are.one.japan@gmail.comまでお願いします。

Daniel Lee (Speaker/ from Penang!)

Hajimemashite. Hi my name is Daniel Lee and I am from the sunny tropics of Penang, Malaysia.I obtained my bachelors in International Relations in Minnesota, USA. Before coming to Japan I was working for two years at a non-profit organization as a researcher and as an irregular article contributor and photographer for a local magazine.

I am currently studying Japanese at Kyoto University before enrolling in Ritsumeikan University’s Graduate School of International Relations. (So please speak to me in Japanese but please be patient with my poor Japanese!)

My interests include badminton, watching football, hiking, photography, reading, music, film, drinking and of course, travelling. The last place I visited was Cambodia and Vietnam last January for three weeks. (So if you are partaking in any of these activities, please let me know!)

Sakura + Cycling + Photography Tour in Kyoto

Event report by Naomi Kataoka

First of all, to the people who joined the cycling event last Saturday, 辛苦了！(お疲れさま～！)　We had a great and fun time, didn’t we? Hope your legs are not sore from the long bike ride by now. 

We Are One had Sakura + Cycling + Photography Tour on April 9 in Kyoto. Director Tong (my boss now ??) gave me a mission to write a report for the event, so now I’m writing this while trying hard to jog memories about what we did for the day.

It was raining early in the morning. The weather, however, sided with us. By the time the tour started, we even could see a blue sky! It was neither hot nor cold and was just a perfect day for hanami and cycling. 

We saw many old temples, shrines, beautiful full-blown cherry blossoms, water-race, incline railway, many food stands, cats, and large crowds! I highlight some of the places where we visited.

Some came with their own bikes, but some who live a bit far from Kyoto like me rented at the Kyoto Yuru Chari Club. I got a very yellow “mama chari” (a bicycle with a front basket to put a shopping bag) type. 

Captain Alex led us from the front. We first visited Yasaka Pagoda area located to the west of Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka streets.The five-story pagoda and the slope (ninen-zaka maybe (?)) were standing exactly same way as I often see in promotion posters and flyers created by tour industries. 

Before we got there, since I had been having a non-stop talk with ユアン, a Japanese Kaiseki cuisine chef from France while peddling my bike at high speed, I was exhausted. I was so glad when Alex finally stopped and let us have a short break. I noticed that I forgot to bring my camera. Shame! But, there was nothing to worry because WAO has great photographers such as Lin, Sadao, and Cathy. 

We visited the Maruyama Park. When we arrived there, a breeze blew and we saw a great amount of light pink petals of sakura filling the air. 

That was really beautiful. We strolled along the street while being seduced by the tasty smells from food stands and then we found an awesome huge weeping cherry which was in full bloom! We stood admiring the beauty losing our sense of time.

Our next target was Heian Jingu shrine which was found in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of establishing Kyoto as a capital of Japan. Wow, this remark sounds like I’m a quite intellectual, but the truth is I just read the sign board. 

Before the main gate of the shrine, an unbelievably huge vermillion-colored Torii (Shinto gateway) welcomed us. Splendid vermillion pillars and green roof of the shrine were spectacular and overwhelming. I also enjoyed the color contrast of the blue sky and flower petals of the weeping cherry trees. Before we left for the next destination, we took the very first group photos in front of the Daigoku-den.

Next, we headed for Nanzenji which is said to be the place where Goemon Ishgawa, a Robin Hood-style bandit hid until his capture. We entered the temple through the Sanmon and walked around. I was stunned by a suddenly appeared huge brick aqueduct. 

The modern-looking aqueduct passes through the traditional style temple grounds! What a bold idea the engaged engineers had in those days! We walked up some stone steps to the top and even walked over the flowing water. When stout Masuda-san tried to cross over the water-race, I was apprehensive that he might break the very thin metal board suspended over the water-race and fall into the running water. lol

After the thrilling experience going over the water-race, we went to see the “Incline” which was made as a part of the canal construction to pull water from Lake Biwa into Kyoto. We enjoyed the tremendous view of the hundreds meters long railway and beautifully full-blown cherry trees on either side. This site was selected as a shooting location for our 2nd group pictures.

We walked our bikes on the Philosopher's path (Tetsugaku no michi) that follows a cherry-tree-lined canal in Kyoto, between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji. Because we were somewhat behind schedule, fortunately or unfortunately, there was no time for us to philosophize climate change and other difficult social issues on the path. 

I don’t know why but there were many cats there. I saw two cats squaring off against each other with weird calls. At first I thought they were ready to fight, but according to Lin, they were about to …you know. Spring has also come to cats’ world.. lol

Time was ticking away, but our tour was still going on. We were next heading for Demachi-Yanagi to get something to eat. We stopped by Alex’s recommended bento purveyor. Amazingly, it cost only 262 yen but still gorgeous enough to satisfy our stomachs! We sat on dike, had the bento while viewing the Kamogawa river at dusk, and then returned to the starting point by bikes along the river.

On that day, WAO had many new comers: Xinxin, Sharon, Javier, Masano, Yoshi, Kunieda-san, Ahmad, and Marion. Nice meeting you! There were many other new faces for sure, but sorry! I cannot either remember their names or I did not have chance to talk to at all. Well, hope to see you everyone soon again at next WAO events. See ya! ;D

There’s hardly another place in the world where its spring is livelier than the one in Japan.


The Japanese like to say, “一年の計は春にあり”( a year’s plan starts with spring). April marks the beginning of the government’s fiscal year. At this busy time of the year, students start new school life and others relocating and fitting in their new working environments.

Not too long after the plum trees bloom to farewell the winter, cherry blossoms begin to grace their beauty as spring officially arrives. To celebrate this beautiful season, We Are One will be holding a “Sakura Cycling & Photography Tour in Kyoto” on April 9th.


Come take your bicycle and camera out to capture the grace of nature with a group of others. The tour will set out from Kyoto Station, visit some of the most famous Sakura areas in Kyoto.


Spring is short. Embrace it while it lasts.

Cycling route

Date & Time:    9th April 2011 Saturday, 1pm ~ 6pm

Venue:             Zen Cafe

                         (besides Backpackers Hostel K's House Kyoto)

418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city, Japan 600-8142

Cost:                Free 

What to bring:

                         Bring or rent a bicycle 

                         A Camera

                         Friends and more friends

Bicycle rental:
We have partnered with Kyoto Yuruchari Club and participants will enjoy 10% discount for bicycle rental. Please indicate the type of bicycles you wish to rent in your RSVP, reservation is limited to availability. (City Cycle, Special Class, Premier Class)

RSVP with participants' names, types and number if bicycle for reservation to we.are.one.japan@gmail.com

日本の春ほど、陽気で活き活きとした春は世界中どこを探しても他に見つからないかもしれません。

日本人は「一年の計は春にあり」という言葉を好んで使います。政府の会計年度は４月から始まります。またこの時期に、学校では新学期が始まり、職場では人事異動等があり、新しい環境に適合していく一年の中でも多忙な時期でもあります。

冬の終わりを告げる梅の開花が過ぎるとまもなく本格的な春の到来と共に桜の花が優雅に咲き始めます。この美しい季節を祝うため、We Are Oneは４月9日、京都お花見サイクリング＆写真撮影ツアーを開催します。

他の仲間と一緒に自然が織り成す美しさをとらえるために自転車とカメラをご持参下さい。このツアーは京都駅から出発し、幾つかの京都で最も有名な桜の名所を訪問します。

日時：2011年4月9日（土）午後1時～6時
集合場所：Zen Café

                   〒600-8142　京都市下京区土手町通七条上る納屋町４１８参加費用：無料
持参するもの：ご自身またはレンタサイクルの自転車 + カメラ + たくさんの友達

今回のサイクリングツアーに参加すると、京都ゆるチャリ倶楽部から10％ディスカウントで自転車をレンタルすることができます!!予約の際に、お好きな自転車のタイプを記入の上メールをお願いします。(シティサイクル，スペシャルクラス,プレミアクラス)

自転車のレンタルには限りがありますので、お早めにご予約をお願いします！

ご予約：参加者のお名前をwe.are.one.japan@gmail.com　までお願いします。

Meeting point/ 集合地