[Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 1 - SG to Nagoya

Day 1: Bound for Nagoya

11 April 2019, Thursday

もう一度、日本へ行った！

[Once again, to Japan!]

On the exact same flight that I took back in November last year, we were all checked in before midnight on the 10th and ready for our 10D9N Nagoya-Shizuoka-Mt. Fuji Trip on our 12th year friend anniversary. 

Flight in-meal (SG to Nagoya)

First stop: Tsurumai Park

Map: 1-chōme-1 Tsurumai, Shōwa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-0064, Japan

For the months prior to the trip, we were always concerned with the possibility that we might not be able to catch the cherry blossoms in time. Since we had so much time from arrival to check-in, we planned a visit to the Tsurumai Park in hopes to catch what we could before the season officially ended. 

The blue skies... the falling petals... 😍

Osu Kannon Temple
Map: 2-chōme-21-４７ Ōsu, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011, Japan

After spending about an hr and a half just enjoying the spring feels (and partially suffering the effects of the overnight flight), we went off to Osu Kannon Temple to kill off some time. 

The flock of pigeons were pretty scary, they are always scavenging and surrounding people with food on them.

Into the shopping street we go...

First Cabin TKP Nagoya Station 
Website | Map: Noritake 1-15-3, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Japan

Checked into our business class cabin, I was in awe at how spacious it was. There was even a TV in each cabin. There were certain restrictions/guidelines we had to follow since it was a shared space, but this is the perfect lodging, imo, for solo travels.

Picture doesn't do this any justice as I was being really conscious about our surroundings but anyway, bad shots are shots taken too. 😂

Tonkatsu Matsunoya (松のや 名駅西口店)
Map: Japan, 〒453-0014 Aichi, Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Noritake, 1 Chome−6−3

Our dinner for the day before we retreat to our comfy cabins for the night... at Matsunoya! Ticket vending machine style. 😊


Next Post: [Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 2 - Nagoya 

A moment of epicness... and all about Maplestory

SO MUCH BACKLOG. I have 2 trips worth of backlog and I'm still getting those sorted. #procrastination 

Today's Epicness: I landed in Jurong East (from Bugis) today because I was so engrossed in chatting on whatsapp. Took me a whole additional hour just to get home after that. LOL. 

How... in the world did I not realise (that I was travelling in the wrong direction). 12 stops of completely selective hearing. 

When I heard the announcement for passengers switching to the circle line, I just naturally assumed I was at Paya Lebar (apparently I was at BUONA VISTA) - kinda make sense now cause I had a moment of "oh so long already only at Paya Lebar ah". 

If only I could record my own moment of shock when I heard the train announced Jurong East. LOL. 

*** ***

MaplestorySEA's 14th Anniversary

Held at JCUBE this year, it was one long ride just to get to the event - ALONE. 

This is the 3rd consecutive year that I took part in their anniversary event. Looking back, 13th Anniversary was the most eventful one (for me) as I participated in a few games with friends and acquaintances (they helped me with getting my three maple plushies, still very thankful for them). 

On the 14th Anniversary, I didn't buy anything from the offline store (the queue was back to being fcfs, and it was too long, plus I am hardly active on pc maple now, lolol). But, the Orange Mushroom Cushion was so very enticing. I tried my luck on the throw-a-hoop game after several rounds of walking past it (cause I was being mindful and embarrassed for being alone) and failed terribly. Tried my luck on the darts & claw machine as well, but got a bunch of slime hats. 

CM Venshi was doing his rounds greeting maplers and giving out in-game coupons, and I was surprised he remembered me. Came over to talk a bit and pass me those coupons. haha. (I actually bumped into him & his gf (i think) after my haircut the other day. LOLOL) 

With the event ground at JCUBE this year, I didn't manage to go during the week that they were displaying the Giant Maple Balloons (PB, Mushroom, Pepe) that they flew over from the event in Korea. - partially because I was dealing with acid reflux problems back then too.

Imagine my surprise when my friends told me they were on display at Bugis:

It turns out... this was for MapleM's 1st Anniversary event!! 

*** ***

MapleM's 1st Anniversary 

I felt like there wasn't much advertisement on this? haha. Either way, I found out that they had an event ground at Bugis+ (the exact same spot that MaplestorySEA did their 13th Anniversary at). 

Today, the very last day of the event, I went down to take a look - ALONE again. 

In all honesty, being alone makes me feel very embarrassed for some reason. I was all ready to give up and walk away, but I saw an uncle holding the plush. "If not now... when? Am I gonna go home and dwell on why I didn't participate?" That thought told me to go for it. So I went back and evaluated the games and requirements to get the plush and it was really very easy. 

4 stamps (1 stamp per game station) to exchange for either an Orange Mushroom or a Slime plush. 

- Take a picture with MapleM background 

- Punchbag Machine

- Hit-with-a-hammer Machine

- Claw Machine (p.s. expert at this already thanks to MaplestorySEA)

Hoho... My loots of the day!

*** ***

Plus something: In my despair that I couldn't win the Orange Mushroom Cushion from MaplestorySEA's event ground this year... I made an impulse purchase:

HELLO PINK BEAN FROM THE MAPLE STORE. 💖

[p.s. I think I went crazy but hey... its pink bean. I finally got my pink bean related merchandise 🙌]

Maplestory M - My Solo Expedition

When the game first launched in SEA back in August 2018, I had a bishop for my main and I was just happy that I finished the level-up event to receive my perm chair.

Fast forward months later, my main has changed to an Evan and solo expeditions has now become possible (with my buff potions, of course 😅).

Fun Times - Art Crystal Jigsaw (Spirited Away)

Finally found the mood, time and space (for the finished product) to construct this jigsaw. 😍

Its been ages since I last did a jigsaw, perhaps more than a decade. These years, nano-blocks seem to be more of the in-thing compared to these good-old puzzles, and there was simply no space for me to store nor hang them. 

Regardless, in my April trip to Nagoya with my friends, I stumbled upon a Studio Ghibli store at Oasis 21 and I let my impulse run my wallet because why not. 

I've been crazy about hyperlapse videos lately... 

(A little out of camera frame but hey, practice makes perfect)

YAY, feels like a very fulfilling Sunday. 

Product Review - Bodyluv Addiction Pillow, etc

This is me, a so-called marketing student, succumbing to advertisement on Instagram. 😂

[These days, Instagram is increasingly active with adverts popping up ever so often on your feed, or while browsing stories and these ads are so-very-cleverly targeted at whatever you browsed, clicked on and basically whatever that would capture your attention.]

So, this particular advertisement has not only been appearing on my Instagram feed but also my Facebook feed... The Bodyluv Addiction Pillow (or so they say). 

This highly raved pillow was/is endorsed by idols such as Super Junior & Red Velvet. 

At SGD 48.00 (excluding shipping fee, free shipping for purchases above $49) from Bodyluv's site, the pillow comes with a well-fitted cover & a laundry net just for it. 

What it says it does:

• A washable pillow (machine washable), hence more hygienic & lesser dust mite/skin issues
• Helps people with stiff/sore neck and shoulders
• Quick to fall asleep
• A better sleep so you feel refreshed the next morning

My take on the Addiction Pillow:

My no.1 tip to anyone trying out the pillow: try it as it is (without the pillow cover provided) 

Yes, you heard me right. Reason being, their very well-fitted cover kind of compresses the pillow, constricting the movements of the micro-beads within it, making it hard and uncomfortable to sleep on (or just use any regular pillow covers if you prefer having it with a cover).

I have been using this pillow for a while now, and I do feel that it really does have its benefits. However, it did take a while for me to get used to using it. 

In the first 1-2 weeks of using the pillow, I never managed to last the whole night with it. I would wake in the middle of the night to switch back to my regular pillow (which was mildly annoying, LOL). There were times I wondered if it was just another gimmicky product, but, to be fair, they did mention that it'll take time to get used to the product, which I eventually did. 

These days I last the whole night with it and I do wake up feeling rather refreshed (i.e. lesser days of waking up feeling groggy and annoyed, for me). 

(On a side note, its quite useful as a backrest for reading/watching videos on the bed too 😂).  

***

Just to enjoy free shipping, I got another product from the brand - Good Sleep Perfume

Do I really need this? --- Probably not. 

Why did I buy this then? --- Apart from the fact that I was aiming for free shipping, it said that it will stabilise the brain waves in your head so you can drift off to sleep easier. 

The thing is, I have always been someone that sleeps pretty easily, so I can't be the judge to this product (yet). The only times I have trouble sleeping is when my thoughts run wild just before bedtime and I end up spending more than an hour calming those down before I could fall asleep. 

The scent though, its like baby powder/shampoo kind of scent. Nothing overpowering which is great (because when we think perfume, it reminds us of those departmental store kind of overpowering perfumes). This, however, its pretty pleasant. The smell doesn't linger long enough for me to fall asleep though.

For more information on the mentioned products:

Bodyluv Website: link

Travel Loots - Japan (April 2019)

I AM BACK (just hours after arriving back in SG) from my trip to Japan and what better day than now to consolidate my loots before I return to the reality of my 'rat' life. 💖 #life

Skincare Products

I was really looking into skincare products this trip, especially the sheet masks. I love how they have these big bag of masks that contains 10~50 sheets of masks → great for personal use & cost savings. 

Fiona did so much research into what was good & 1 tip she gave was to look out for the "Cosme #1" products. So that along with some recommendations from le friends, I picked up some products to try out. 

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen

Kobayashi Senacure Spray (for backacne) - quite a random pick up but why not

Facial Sheet Masks:

(Top Left to Right)

• Kose Japan Clear Turn Face Masks
• Daiso Mask (to be used on top of a sheet mask to hold it in place)
• Lululun Pink Face Masks

(Bottom Left to Right)

• Kose Japan Clear Turn Eye Masks
• Keana Rice Masks
• Kose Japan Clear Turn Essence Collagen Face Masks

Rohto Lycee Eye Drops - heard that this is highly raved...

Dr Scholl Deep Moisturising Cream (heels) - another random pick up

Makeup Products

My Lash Mascara 

OPERA Lip Tint (02 Pink)

General Care Products

Kao Megurizumu Gentle Eye Steam Mask

Kao Megurizumu Goodnight Steam Patch (back of the neck)

Dr. Scholl's Compression Socks

Music CDs

Others

Food Items

Didn't have much time at the airport to browse so... Kit Kat Galore:

Nissin Cereal! 

Something for the office (*eye rolls*):

Something for le family:

Gummies for me:

& the snacks that were meant to be eaten during the trip but never did:

I think that was all I got this round. Was pretty sure my baggage would be heavy since there were many liquid products (esp the face masks) but we were all far from exceeding the baggage weight limits. 🙌

Time for me to find a place for all these things (but first, its time to get some beauty sleep from all that travelling the past week 😴).

Upcoming: Travel Log - Japan 2019 April