Saturday, 15 August 2009

Last Night In Japan

Why do I love Japan so much? Don't ask me, I wish I know why.

I can't bear to leave this country (i still have thousands of places not gone, things not done or buy etc etc etc) but I also miss family and I still have a job. So, to my carefully selected friends whom I've given access to this diary, see you till my next trip!

Mata ne!

Hachi



You have to try all sorts of means and ways to catch this movie.

It is not going to Singapore I think so you may have to buy from Amazon or search you tube.

It speaks of a true story of an akita breed dog named hachiko who waited in front of a train station for it's owner to return for 10years, until it passed away.

Today, the statue of Hachi stands proudly in front of Shibuya Station.

Jen & Me cried buckets during the movie. The guy sitting beside me (he came alone!) was also crying! People in front of us, behind us, are all tearing (can hear la). HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

me and jen after the movie, she cried away whole pkt of tissue, while i cried away 2 (dare not take tissue from bag ha ha)
Oh ya, it stars Richard Gere :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3t9XIIGiM8&feature=related

I Also Want To Wear Bikini



I finally know the definition of a 'crowded beach.'

I've never seen in my entire life such a lively beach, with lotsa booths (food, bath, rest, shade whatever you can think of they have it), lotsa babes (in Bikini!), lotsa lotsa lotsa sails!! Ive never seen so many people sailing at the same sea! Wow I must use the word GRAND ! Super grand sight!

Oh ya, forgot to tell you where I went today. Endoshima. It's famous for beach and the 'dori (shopping street) is typical old Japanese street. I suggest you take the Endoden to Endoshima instead of Odakyu Romance Car direct from Shinjuku because the Endoden is old Japanese rail train. It travels in those railways built long long time ago so it's running through narrow streets of houses and part of it was on the road! All the cars/bicycles/pedestrains have to give way to the train! And the view from the train! My god! It runs parallel with the sea!!!!! Imagine I already saw tons of sails before I reached the beach! I wow all the way till the train stops! haha...

I'm so inspired to wear bikini now! hahahahhahaa......I'll TRY my best to revive my diet plan (AGAIN!) haha...GANBARIMASU!!!!

Friday, 14 August 2009

Midori Sushi



Tokyo's most famous Sushi. Heard so much about it but for some reason I have never plan to go during my previous trips.


And so I decided it's time. I thought I am ready to brave the queue and so I went a long way to Umegaoka with T-san BUT the queue, sigh........at least 2 hours I think. I decided to give up and waste the train $ but NOT my time and head back to Shinjuku for sushi.

Next trip I'll NOT go during dinner time!

http://www.sushinomidori.co.jp/honkan.html

Summer Sale

It's dangerous to come to Tokyo during Summer. Why has nobody told me before about the summer sale in tokyo? It's dangerous, horribly crowded (obon period la), cheap (by japan standard) and of course the ta-ma-de-worst-and-more-humid-than-Singapore weather?

The must dos and donts during Tokyo Summer holiday:

  • you NO LONGER have to queue to go into H&M but don't expect to shop without stepping onto someone's leg in there
  • don't even think of Forever 21, Japanese loves F21 and you wont want to queue under hot sun
  • Hanjiro - MUST go, there's a section for used clothes (looks so new) and a section for new arrivals but the best section is the one with green tags which means you can just pick any 2 for 3990yen (about $60) ! Since when you can get clothes in Japan for $30 a piece? The selection ranges from shirts to tees to jeans to maxi dress!! Sugoi!
  • Japanese Ice Kacang, xi bei nice! It's just ice with syrup and milk but because they are not stingy with syrup, so it just taste so good
  • All the shops are on sale. Especially the local shops. We know how expensive the japanese fashion is. Imagine them at 50% off. I bought a dress today at SGD45. And another Womb look alike top for $30.
  • Wear light clothes
  • Bring empty luggage!
I think the reason I discover the wonder of Tokyo shopping only after 5 trips is because I never come during Summer. And so I never really bother to shop for clothes (since we can't wear those Autumn, Winter, Spring bajus) but NOW I KNOW.

I'll be back next summer :)

Thursday, 13 August 2009

Chisa


I have known Chisa for close to 10years. I can't remember I found her from which website and it's amazing our friendship has stayed strong throughout . Every trip I make to Japan, I never fail to meet her. She is a typical Japanese, very warm, genuine and nice.

I just came back from Nikko with her. We went to the World Heritage Site, The Toshugu Shrine. I love Nikko, walking along the street of old Japanese town with no modern buildings make me feel good. The air is refreshing, you can hear water gushing in the drain, from the top of the mountain, no busy traffic junctions with big crowd, it's just so nice.

Before we hit Nikko she brought me to a dam and mine field near her home town, Isesaki in Gunma Prefecture. The mine field is very impressive. It was closed down in 1973. The Japanese are really something. They can make omiyake out of everything, imagine after a mine field trip you entered a omiyake shop that sells anything releated to copper. Including a dish sponge (covered with copper mesh). Buay tahanz.

The highlight of today is Sanki Store. The man's clothes there are soooooo cheap!! I bought a set of shirt & sleeveless t (layering layering layering) for the young man in my house and guess how much I paid? 500yen!!! hahahahaa....in the end I bought like 6 men's shirts and it cost me less than $60 sin!!!! Heaven! Laugh until teeth drop! hahaha...

Last trip to Japan Chisa brought me to Karuizawa with all the outlets store, I wonder what kinda cheap place she'll bring me on my next visit :)

First Hair Cut In Japan

During this trip I discovered something new. There are so many salons in Tokyo. Including neighbourhood area! I decided to be adventurous and went for a haircut plus colour. Of course with my translator Mei around. The salon's service is very personal.

My stylist sit me at the counter, thereafter discuss with me what I want to do with my hair. She also passed me some magazines as reference. Unfortunately, with my stubborn rebonding straight hair, there's nothing much she can do and so I asked her to layer for me to give it some volume. And then she introduced me the latest 'summer' colour, I chose a darker shade, bo bian, old leow so I dare not wear bright colour. The hair wash was frightening to me. Because the stylists will cover their clients with a piece of white cloth over the face! Not so pleasant for someone who's claustrophobic. Unlike Singapore, the distance between the chair and the basin was quite substantial and I was wondering how is she going to wash my hair, ah! The chair is electronic! It will rise to a height and then slant backwards to the basin! Nice!

The highlight came after everything is done, THE massage - only one word can describe it, SONG!!!!!!
The stylist asked if i'm ok to be massaged, OF COURSE OKAY LA what is she talking about! The longer the merrier! hahahahahaaa....

If you come to Japan, you HAVE to try the hair salon at least once!