[Travel Log - Japan] Day 1: Singapore to Osaka

Day 1: Singapore to Osaka

13 June 2019, Thursday

2010 was the year I got to travel to Japan for the very first time and visited Osaka (part itinerary for 3d2n) with the whole family... That trip was so epic because we spent most of the time underground at Namba Station. 

I got to explore Osaka a little more in-depth in 2013 when my 2nd sister took me on my graduation trip (just the two of us as it was a graduation & V6 concert trip).

Fast forward 6 years, I get to bring my parents back to Osaka and re-explore the area. 

Ebisu Bashi-Suji Shopping Street

Map: 4, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0076, Japan

By the time we settled into the hotel, it was already night time, hence we decided to take a chill walk around the vicinity to look for dinner.

私たちホテルにチェックインした後で、もう夜だ。晩御飯を探しに近くに歩いた。

The iconic crab and Glico man!

Next post: [Travel Log - Japan] Day 2: Osaka - Nara - Kyoto 

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2021

あげましておめでとうございます！新年快乐！Happy New Year! 

Its yet another year, the year of the Ox. Today is the 10th day of the Lunar New Year and I had been thinking that it would be interesting to document the tradition that my family goes through on the 8th of every Lunar New Year (for praying at midnight of the 9th).

农历正月初九：拜天公 (9th day of the Lunar New Year: Praying to the Heaven God)
Full detailed explanation (in mandarin) on the whole custom can be found here. 

On the 8th day of every Lunar New Year, my mother would be extremely busy with the preparations of all the necessary offerings. Preparing the boiled eggs, cooking the fish, making sure she gets the sugar cane, folding of the incense paper... etc... etc... 

The emergency squad (aka me & le sisters 😄) is usually self-activated on the night of the 8th day to finish with the folding of the incense paper, and the making of the incense paper lotus. (I'm usually just in charge of folding though) 

Past midnight (when its officially the 9th day of the LNY), my daddy would throw two coins to see if we were allowed to end the whole prayer and proceed with the burning of these offerings. 

That's pretty much the custom that we follow every year. 😊

MaplestoryM - Kerning Tower Floor 50

あけましておめでとうございます！🎉

Happy 2021. May the new year bring good health, happiness & and end the corona pandemic! 

Onto my MSM updates:

I finally... finally cleared KT50~! [screaming internally 🙌]

 

I can retire from the game in peace (who am I kidding, but who knows 😏). 

Christmas 2020

It's the last week of December... もう12月の最後の週。。。

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! メリークリスマス～！🎄

Last Wednesday, my friends and I took a break from work and went on an 'excursion' to River Safari. At that gathering, we did our Conspiracy Santa gift exchange but the gift for me wasn't ready yet. Turns out, they got me a snack box from Munchees!

先週の水曜日、友達と一緒に休みを取ってリバー・サファリへ行った。その時、友達とクリスマスプレゼントを交換した。スナックの箱もらった！😋

Have always wanted one of these... hahhaa

ずっとからこの箱を注文したかった。。😂

In the spirit of Christmas, I attempted making 'Potato Dauphinoise' today, and I'm glad it turned out well. 😍

今日はクリスマスのでポテトの料理を作った。。。美味しかったよかった。。。👏

[Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 9 & 10 - Home bound

 Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😊

Day 9 & 10: Homebound

19-20 April 2019, Friday-Saturday

Our last full day in Nagoya was spent free and easy... Fio & I went to take a walk around the city, doing some last minute shopping in the malls (burden me was in low sugar mode so I couldn't move around too much, sumimasen 😭) while SY & YR went elsewhere. 

We met back at AirBnB for some tebasaki (hearsay its one of Nagoya's specialty👀)...

After which we just packed and packed in preparation for our early flight home the next day. 

Airport shuttle from Nagoya Tokyu Hotel (within walking distance of the AirBnB)

Flight home from Nagoya

Previous post: [Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 8 - Back to Nagoya

Writers' note: 

After almost exactly 1.5 years after the trip, I finally finished journaling. There were so many detailed memories that were missing because time passed and memories fade but the heart will always remember the feelings we had and look upon this time very fondly. 

With Covid-19 still lingering, it is hard to say when exactly we would get the opportunity to travel like how we used to, but we will pull through. Ganbare! 😎

[Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 8 - Back to Nagoya

 Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😊

Day 8: Back to Nagoya

18 April 2019, Thursday

Before heading back Nagoya, we decided to make full use of the morning to check out one more tourist spot in Fuji area. 

Just 2 train stops away from Fujisan Station, we alighted at Shimoyoshida Station (下吉田駅) and walked to Arakurayama Sengen Park. 

Arakurayama Sengen Park / Chureito Pagoda（新倉山 浅間公園 忠霊塔）

Map: 2-3353 Asama, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0011, Japan

Amazing weather, cherry blossoms, Mt Fuji as the backdrop and great company. 😍

If you google search Chureito Pagoda, you would probably see many pictures at this particular angle ^. This is actually a designated photo spot. Its so extremely crowded with everyone trying to get their shot at this amazing scenery, but so worth the wait. 

With that, our Mt. Fuji adventures came to a close, but not without getting our stomachs filled first. 

麺許皆伝

Map: 849-1 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0005, Japan

And here comes the funny story of how we nearly had to split up to get back to the station to return to Nagoya. So we took a bus to this stop which had buses headed for Mishima (the station that we were going to take the Shinkansen from). 

The first bus that came by did not have enough space for all of us, so we waited for the next (and panicked a little because we realised that we were somewhat in the middle of the route - which meant, we were gambling with the chance of having 4 seats available on the bus for us). 

So we just sat on our luggage, frantically searching for other means of transport in case this didn't work out. Coming up with plans on how we could split into 2 groups if the next bus didn't have enough space.. etc.. Thankfully, it all worked out. 

AirBnB

Map: Near Hisaya-odori Station

A very cosy apartment... 

If you were to ask me, what is the most stressful part about staying in an AirBnB in Japan, it would definitely be the sorting of trash. There are so so many grey areas about whether something is plastic or not, are they combustible or not, etc... etc... 😂

Apart from that, it was a very good maiden experience for me staying in an AirBnB. I'm glad it was in Japan. 😇

Next post: [Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 9 & 10 - Home bound
Previous post: [Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 7 - Fujikyu Highlands!