Strolling in Tokyo, Japan - Day I

Japan is beautiful, her culture, government and people makes her so mesmerizing. The weather fell between 9- 15 °C in November it's the best time to travel. It's cooling but no cold cold, that's what I like my gal (TT) to experience. Although it rains most of the time, but we enjoy just walking on the tokyo streets. No, no umbrella, we don't carry any, it going to spoiled our journey. However the last thing you want to do is getting your kid sick in a foreign country so please make sure your kid isn't got drenched and wear them thicker than you do.

 

We woke up around 8am each day, dress up, breakfast, we depart from hostel at 10.30am. Guess what? Since we planned to "dress to kill" (ha...kill camera -lah), plus the weather condition, it does take us almost 2 hours to ensure we're well covered. at times we come back for more clothes if the weather is so unbearable, especially TT. But, if you're on tour, you'll unable to enjoy these luxury time^^. See the hat she wore, it's a thick knitted winter hat plus a layer of nylon inside, that help to keep her warm.

 

 

Remember we checked-in midnight? The first thing I do was to find internet connection! Japan tourist centre populated at many places, at least I got no problem in locating one. There were so helpful and friendly. One of the assistance asked "are you from Korea?" ^^. haha. Oh well. I know I get asked many times back in my country haha  

 

Hotel Ò Uguisudani  鶯谷 Ò Tokyo National Museum (东京国立博物馆)

 

So to get to know Japanese Culture, the best place to go is Tokyo National Museum (东京国立博物馆）. We went shop a little and lunch before heading to National Museum, by the time we reach there it was already 12pm. It was rainy day, I insisted to travel, however I didn't get to see much other than the archeology. More so, that grow boredom out from my gal, but she didn't complain, cause I promised to bring her to Her places (where? tell you later).

 

 

 

 Yeah, our first stop in Tokyo, we made our way here!!

 

 

 

 

I like how orgarnize they pinned those dug items against the map, you could tell clearly the location of each. Surprisingly, she enjoys and intrigue to find out the history of these artefacts! She went from from gallery to gallery, item to item, she made my museum visit more interesting and delightful (she's such a wonderful, isn't it?). Entrace fee is only USD7 for adult and FOC for children (what? so cheap?) Yeah, I find it is worth to spend a trip there, we gain insights and knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

It was dark by the time we get out from Museum, clock ticking at 4.30pm, rains still. We ducked and walked in the rain about 100m to train station (Make sure your kid is well covered, in this case TT has thick hat and her waterproof overcoat, of course plus multiple layer of stokins on her legs.). We decided to end our day and go back to Hotel and spend bit of time in planning our next itinerary.

 

 

 

 
I've landed in Tokyo National Museum~

 

So tired after hours of visiting~

 

 

An artefacts..xoxo

 

  

Dinner place..

 

 

Novevember month is the best to travel, however due to this condition, the day begins early and end early as well. The sky is getting dark at 4pm and completely dark at 5pm, we didn't get to go other places but National Museum. To me, that's more than enough.

 

Tokyo, Japan Part II ~ Cost of Living

 

Many people told me cost of living in Japan is high but they never tell me specifically in comparison of where I live. I do heard about the extraordinary pricy property which could cost to an extend where they pay off over 3 generations. So how expensive it is to living in Tokyo?

 

I made a bit of research on accommodation prior to my trip. Generally the lowest accommodation I could get for private twin occupancy was USD80 per night. Don't be shock, the cost of private twin occupancy of guest house can cost the same as a 2-3 star hotel. The only difference was Hotel charge per room and Hostel charge by  no. of pax, either way, still cost the same. After a bit of deliberation, I chose Hostel because it provides kitchen facilities plus overall amenity like TV, dinning table, more so the hostel carries bit of Jap culture.

Tadah

 

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This is where we stayed for 5 days in Tokyo

 

 

We put a night in Town Hotel due to early arrival than ETA. Town Hotel located middle of the town of Kaminarimon, yes, the hotel name call TOWN HOTEL literally. It was only 1 hour different from Kuala Lumpur during Autumn. It's  cold and breezy when we stepped out of train station, it was 12am. I finally made it to Japan (exclaim)! Although it was midnight, the cold does awake us a little.

One strict rule in Japan was most smaller time hotel do not allow kid, so if you bring a child make sure you check.  The possibility was kids affect their business if there were misbehave one.

The receptionist in Hotel speak only 5% of English but it's ok for just one night (why? I will explain later). The room was kind of small with bathroom attached, kinnnd of unexpected, oh well.

This is the one person bathroom, you can imagine how big the room will be!!.

 

 

 Typical single bathroom in Town Hotel, Tokyo

 

Accommodation

 

We check-in hostel the second day, Khaosan Tokyo Samurai, it's a three storey guest house, the front view look the same as I saw from Internet. In fact things look the same as per Internet, nothing hidden or beautified (You know some photos were advanced via editing and angle they took to make the space look bigger, then when you check-in you realised you got deceived! right? sound familiar to you? ^^. Well  I find most hotel does but not Khaosan).

There were small reception, small foyer and common computer as we entered, but it was clean and doesn't feel dodgy!! Plus we were welcomed by a strong handsome looking Japanese receptionist! haha well. Guess what he carried my 20kg luggage up to first floor without panting! Bravo (Imagine a receptionist can be so good looking, you can tell how many more in Tokyo, well. Please note, we brought quite a lot of clothes there, 20kg check-in luggage was just nice for both of us spending 6 days in Tokyo). As expected we exceeded check-in luggage upon coming home (you know shopping = =), so you might want to consider extra weight upon purchasing the ticket. Anything purchase in the airport is priceeeeeeey.

 

Although I've seen how small the room will be from Internet, seeing it with my own eyes was still caused me a bit "deep breath", the room was rather small than the one we stay in Hotel! It's long narrow which practically fits only one double bed and a study table! Other than this, washroom, bathroom and basin are populated in different section outside the room. A typical guest house, but, it was clean ....and new and doesn't smell..at all (I luv it!)

 

I'm smart for not bring any bigger luggage (mine is 29" luggage, well that's the largest I guess, silly~~), because it layS just nice in the room with bit of space for a person go in and out from the bed. well. My friend told me a studio in Tokyo cost USD 1millions! So you could imagine why the hotel/hostel were so small with the price I pay. Nevertheless, I like the guest house, it's clean plus muscular handsome receptionist haha. well. Nah, most importantly, hostel popular with foreigners, so they speak good English which guide us places to go and you will find really helpful to get a Japanese who can speak english! That's why I encourage to stay in Hostel than Hotel.

Second floor will be the kitchen and dinning area which gives you more room to move around than Hotel, autumn has short day and long night. I like the outdoor dinning area where you could enjoy breeze and cold clean air!

 

Typically a studio of 500 sqf  cost about USD1million in Tokyo, you can imagine how precious the land in Japan. To break into measurable unit, USD22,600 per sqm or USD 2,260 per sqf. I'm not comparing the cost in town centre like the Golden Triangle here, this is just an average cost!!

 

 

 

 

Taxi

The hostel also given proper guidance and cost indication on various transportation mode from Airport to Hostel. Bear in mind the cost from Airport to Khaosan Samurai could cost easily USD200! Taxi meter start at USD15 for the first 1 km. So be advised not to take taxi!

Food

Many friends of mine told me how expensive the food here in Japan, well, it's slightly expensive as compared here but it's worth because the portion is big (I do noticed Japanese eat a lot, even a gal!)! So the portion is just nice for me and my daughter. A meal with fried rice, ramen and gyoza cost me around USD9! Cheap right? Ocha is free of charge. If there are more than one adult, some places offer "big" size at the same price, to me it can be shared by 3 persons! Other option is you can consider get some ready made packet food from the nearby supermarket, heat up in the kitchen, the price is relatively reasonable.
 

 

    This one cost only USD9, for two persons! The Gyoza is reaaaaaaal yummy, some people came here for just the Gyoza!!

 

 

 

She's grinding sesame for her noodle

 

 

 This one? USD9 for two persons, hmm actually 3. We ordered big size by misperception. It's yummy!

 

 

Fresh and yummy sushi! USD1~2 per piece.

 

 

 

  This ready made ramen? USD3

 

 

 This one? USD2.5

 

 

Vending machine ~ USD1.5. There served hot and cold drinks, this one? is hot.

 

 

 

Transportation

 

We go by train most of time. remember the train map I shown in my previous post? I spent quite a fair bit in train, BUT if you are smarter (Yeah I didn't realize we can purchase multiple route in a ticket, "Kao Gong"-> Hokkien), you would able to save some money as some route may required bit more in a ticket than purchase the ticket separately. Generally it cost about  USD 1~2 per person per route and usually you need to reach a destination via multiple routes.

Shopping

Shopping is my least priority as they carry mostly autumn/winter apparel. A brandless tote handbag cost min USD100 and same goes to clothing, although it's pricey but it commensurate with the quality. If you don't intend to shop there make sure you bring sufficient clothes. My gal wore three layers of stokin but still feeling cold. Camera is relatively cheap though, I bought a Fujifilm model  cheaper by couple of hundreds.


Assistance for Routing

 

A helpful friend directed me to this Japan Travel Bureau who offer free routing adivse on cost and train as well as itinerary. So if you are going on free and easy trip, do pay a visit for advise, it's very useful!

 

JAPAN TRAVEL BUREAU (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD
Unit 16.05-16.07, Level 16, Amoda, 22, Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: (603) 2141-9991 Fax: (603) 2142-5344
E-mail: jun.y@jtbmalaysia.com.my
URL: http://www.jtbmalaysia.com

 

 

So where did we go? Look out my next post. Frankily, travelling with kids on own itinerary is exciting, it's real challenging for mommy and real training for them to be independent and foster bonds in between...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tokyo, Japan Part 1 ~ About Japan

I finally made it to Japan...after so many years! I guess one of the reason was due to too much time spent in grievance and recovery from the failure of marriage (silly~~). Although I've been to many part of the world, Japan is a place I desired for a long time. Today I made it there not only by myself but I brought my precious along to see what her mom wanted to see.

One of the objectives from this trip was to visit a long lost friend of mine who reside in Fukuoka, however it didn't happened due to ignorance of distance and cost ほんとにざんねんでした。I promised her 10 years ago, bad me, I know, ok I hear it. ==..

I always have strong passion towards the language spoken and written characters of Japanese, find them very beautiful and culturistic, the catalyst of study and learn. This trip certainly had open my eyes and deepen my passion for Japan.

I like the blue blue sky ...dust-free, clean and fresh air. Picture taken in Shinjuku (新宿区, Shinjuku-ku, "New Lodge), since it's the main city in Tokyo, I was expecting to see the magnificient high rise office towers all over the place,  however what I see only the lowrise, mostly. Ya, it was due to nature disaster condition, most of the premises are low rise unlike tall and Kuala Lumpur (so silly~~)

 

Systematic

Japan is a very systematic and organize piece of land, people are very health concious and patriotic. I do remember the admiration and respect they appended towards the King of Japan. I also notice their dedication and devotion keeping their country and environment clean and well. Japan live and led by good culture, one of the subject in my recent study, a positive culture does carries the impact the quality and the performance of an entity. According to Wikepedia, Emperor of Japan is the symbol of the state and unity of people, that explained how Japan could be kept so well orgarnized and robust through out many years - teamwork.

Professional
 

I admire at their professionallism especially those in the service industry. They are patient, friendly, clean and professional. Their smiles and tone of greetings in their interaction with customer (but I heard from an "insider", Japanese actually dislike how they behave woh, but that's not my business whether they are genuinely smile as long as I don't find them fake.).

Although they speak little international language -english, but  I appreciate their patient in directing me to destinations from the complicated line of trains. With Little Jap and Eng, I managed to travel around Tokyo in my finger tips.  I'm equally impressed how up to date their train map, you won't get lost by following this. This train map is what I carried the whole time!! (grins)

Perhaps I look so confident and expert, there were tourist even ask me for direction! (LOL). It was adventurous and fun to hop-in and out the trains and figure out your route, it's definitely much more fun than you travel with tour agency!

 

 

I was greatly impressed to see an airport officer aligned the luggages from conveyer belt for easy retrieval. See the array of luggage which align in same direction? It was pretty shock to see one consideration and dedication to his job.

 

 

Cleanliness

 

Japan is such a clean country (although I only been to Tokyo but in my opinion that represent the whole country), I see no trace of rubbish and stray dog and cats, not to mention rats and cockroaches. I'm serious, no rubbish at all their public places especially train stations, toilet, shopping mall, residential in the absence of rubbish bins (exclaimed).

A friend of mine debated perhaps government enforce cleaning every hour, but another friend proved it wrong. She once told me her friend who lives in Tokyo got approach by his neighbour to see if the rubbish were categorised accordingly (LOL). The driver of the cleanliness lies in the hand of the citizens, people don't have the habit of littering and they even keep an eye of each other to ensure rules were adhere. Yes, all of them. (another exclaims).

 

 

Due to the cleanliness they uphold, of course strict enforement of waste management, low emission of carbon monoside, use of electric car and cycling led to fresh air and water. You could drink the water for tap everywhere! (exclaim x 2) but not from this river-lah. FYI, I spent USD1k to get a water filter at home (= =)

Infrastructure

I like how much they upkeep with the infrastructure and pulic area, that made up to new and fresh looking Japan.  Perhaps I was there during Autumn, the air was fresh and clean which contributed to my observation of "Fresh". haha. Well, I would miss the automated hygiene facilities attached to the toilet LOL so much. Most of the toilet in Japan has such facilities if not part of it.

Amenity

The amenity was well considered up to the extend of umbrella. See the arrays of umbrella? To avoid confusion, they are locked and assigned. See the tiny hook in the toilet? There are meant for umbrella (Not that i know Japan rains a lot though). Every little things that counts. I like the amenity in the toilet, there even equipped with handrail for handicap at the basin (exclaimed)!

 

 

 

 

Security
 

My friend told me Japan is a safe place to travel, I doubted a little, every foreign places has own crime rate. But that changed my perceptions totally when I see this. Did you see how many bicycles parked without chains and locks within the City down town? The low gate structure potray the level of security in Japan. People even care-less with wallet protruded out of their loose pocket (you know guys who wear those low waist peggy jeans, the back pocket usually drop down to their tighs), I'm sooooooooooo amazed with the extend of integrity in Japan (Grins).

 

 

 

I love Japan and I miss it sooooooooooooo much...Watch out part 2 for Cost and Standard of living in Japan XD
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ricky Martin Memoir : Me

I went to bookstore looking for Alive, a book that narrated about Andes Crash but ended up with something controversial - Ricky Martin - Me memoir. I doubted a while before handed to cashier.Yes, I heard of him ("Heard" seem to be the right word as I've vague impressions about him and to be honest I don't remember his songs). Turn out to be the few songs he kept mentioning in the book like 1998 FIFA World Cup - "La Copa De La Vida" (A Cup of Life, recorded in 1998) or the real Latin Pop swoop the whole world - "Livin La Vida Loca (Livin' the Crazy Life, 1999), or Maria (1995) holy cow! those were million copies sold worldwide? Never known he is so popular!!

So despite the fact that he is Super Star, what drawn me into this memoir? I found this book when I was searching at "Memoir" section, the clean and simple looking cover attracted my attention (Nothing fancy, that's what I like). The feelings of holding the book. The text size is big. These sounded a bit lame right? I bought the book simply because of the connection with the cover? haha. Well. I don't want to say I'm a fan of him therefore..or I know about his confession therefore....yes that probably contributed to this RM64 worth of book I bought but if the book wasn't fit in my hand I guess I would say no. I guess the ultimate reason was when I hold this book in my hand, I told myself "I want to find out more".

So, I never knew he is also very Good Looking (exclaimed!). I knew he is good looking, but never really put much attention as I don't have much attraction toward Latin men. I find them hairy, black hair but not Chinese, they have sharp features but not caucasian. Anyways, I 'm not a fan of European, until today. He is such a fucking good looking man!!! He has all the quality to be called god's best creation!!! He is tall, muscular build, coarse sexy vocals couple with sensuality, honesty, vulnerablity (I do find this trait from the bottom of his heart - Vulnerablity). No, his confession doesn't make me find him weird. In fact that started make me to pay  attention and liking him more.

I love his book (Although it was enhanced by professionals writter or so), but I truly belived the book constituted 80% of his true thoughts, self and messages which he wished to share with the world. Reading his words as if he is talking in front of you, his detail sharing of his emotions, feelings, thoughts, deep thoughts, perceptions so thoroughly, this can only be reached when one is truely and ready to open about himself. He basically bared himself to the world.

Wait, do you know how popular he is in the first place???? Hell. He is hell well known worldwide!!  Performed in world record of 200,000 audience on a stage, sold more than 60 milllion albums,  swept numerous grammy awards, made to be Latin lover and the greatest crown of all he brought Latin Pop to the world. He is a STAR wherever he goes. He carry himself professionally, passionately, humility for his music which emits through performing on stage, make him the quality of super super star today.

What led me to complete reading this (I hardly complete a book within weeks) I guess first and foremost, I like how it was produced in super thin paper, the type of paper where it can be drenched through sheer of mists, the width that allow you to open the book apart without flipping back (sometime you need it to be opened stationary as reference during your research), the light weight and soft texture of the paper makes it comfortable in hand (Don't tell me you prefer to hold hard cover for hours without feeling uneasy). So well, these elements are very important which probably contributed 10% of my accomplishment. The 90% goes to the story structure. Each chapter hit me with exclaimation, admiration and propelation to read on, just like an orgasm!

Find out in details on the "orgasm" I had reached from this book? To be continued.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap located northen region of Cambodia. The name - Siem Reap denotes flat defeated Thailand. The economy  is equivalent to a township in northen region of Malaysia however limited traffic lights.

There were only 4 traffic lights in the whole city supporting 20,000 populations. These traffic lights are an sponsored item by the large hotel located within the city. Three major modes of transport are car, motorbike and bicycle (mostly), no helmet and at times three passengers in one motorcycle. Many hotels located near the airport, decent restaurants are plenty in this city. You'll find similar set up like Pizza Hut in Siem Reap call "The Pizza Company" attached to a shopping mall probably in the scale of Leisure Mall (Cheras, Kuala Lumpur). Well, this post is not so much about this developing city but the suburb I traveled to.

Whilst the citizen in the city lead a decent life, the villagers in the suburb one barely have clean water to survive, ironically it's only couple kilometres away from the city.  Thousands of houses along the river bank heading to Tonle Sap Jetty, they cook and drink from the same source - River. 

Kids are smudgy by glance, I pressume it was due irregular wash. They often play at the river and they look just dirty from face to the toe. Most of them hardly with clothes  on as washing and bathing are luxury chores.  I wonder how to keep up their hygienic factor without clean water.

Houses are made of straws and woods and only a few made of concrete cements and bricks. The tiny houses are the place where they live, cook, sleep, play, raise kids. Due to large publicity, water pump built at every two houses. Villagers derive the limited source of water for their basic cleaning. Donors are mainly from Italy, Germany, USA, some wealthy Cambodian etc. Where are the donors from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand etc? I got no idea, perhaps fund raiser never reached Asia Pacific. 

  

 I feel heartache by seeing them leading an unhealthy and unhygienic living conditions as compared to where we're today. Orphanages are also a common phenomenon in Siem Reap not to mention in this village. Most parents died resulted from war, handicap resulted from land mines, poor living conditions. Glad to learn few orphanages has been supported by some religion community, at least they have shelter, food and little education athough poor condition as compared to their neighbourhood - in the city.

Flood just swooped them few months ago, villagers travelled in muds. Walk or cycling are mode to school took approximately an hour. They look very adorable but deep in their eyes there were many queries. They got no difference from kids in anywhere in the big city, but why are they suffering? Don't be surprised they look smudgy all year long (my unreconcile empathy arise again><). This is life I guess, a bit cliche but true, they couldn't choose the country to born to just like we couldn't pick parents to begin with.

  

By passing the 10km journey, we finally reached the jetty heading to the Floating Village (Tonle Sap), it's 30km from the jetty, cost USD20 per head. The lake is stink like public toilet however in larger scale. As we travel nearer to the destination the smell is unbearable but imagine nearly 2000 of populations living by this stinking lake day by day, year by year. These are Vietnamese who stranded in Cambodia resulted from the chronic war. Fishing to survive, the mother and kids are usually ridding in the boat or some in a steel made pail to beg for money from the tourist. 


Whilst fortunate one snuggle in nice warm bed and unlimited nutritious food supply at home, babies counting by months have to beg for living (They required to cry, crawl on the platform to attract simpathy). What an irony is that the government turn the life of poor villagers into tourist attraction.

Many tourist 'feeding' the poor by the platform attracted more  villagers come by, there were mostly mother and children. Tourist thrown some packet junks which I believed are snacks (hopefully), causing a slight commotions. Where are their father? They could be died from the war resulted single mother with babies/children to beg for survival. Watching the scene from the lookout point (no I didn't join the rest at the 'feeding' platform', I find it humiliating as if feeding the fish in the pond). One question lingering in my mind, is that ethical to feed the poor in that manner if you have a helping heart?

I stopped by a floating kiosk, brought some mineral water at higher price (according to the vendor, the profits made will be supporting the poor around this region) and some instant noodles (there is no crackers and breads) and deliver to a christian school also an orphanage as depicted, one and the only. I hope my little donation able to keep their stomach warm for sometime?

A 9 x 8 feets boat is basically their shelter for bedding, dinning, playing, drinking, bathing and toileting.  What's more to those strieving for few thousand feets bungalow? kids as small as 5 years old carry out their chores by travel  slightly further to collect clean water but from the same lake.

To my surprises, there are orphanages living by this stinking lake.  How would these orphans live when other kids who has own home (boat) are barely survived? They are dirty at glance ( I know I mentioned this many times, perhaps I have the urged to clean them up), living in the lake where no clean drinking water often resulted stomachache and diarrhoea. Wet and stink are part of their life. Where are their parents? Where is their home? What's their future?

At the end of the story, you might wonder do these vietnamese (mostly) has a choice to go back homeland? Answer is, Barely. They classified as illegal immigrants and barely have the fund to go back nor they still have a home back in their homeland.

  

Well. This is life of poor villagers in Siem Reap. The chronic wars resulted poor country, the chronic wars resulted homeless kids (orphan), the chronic wars resulted poor living condition. 80% of the villagers are fishing to survive, these people are more unfortunate compared to some rural province in China, if you've been to any.

Although the stories are sad, however there found hope - natural resources - OIL. I sincerely hope the country would develop well like other third world countries. Citizen no longer suffer and kids have healthy growing environment like the precious children in many cities.

Notes:

I extracted this from my FB notes, wrote sometime back after my trip in Nov 2011. Whilst clearing my notes, I decided to share it here. It was written based on the mental Images  from the trip, ya we lost the camera on the last day of travelling. Post images garnered from local tourism sites as a reference of what I see. It's eye-opening for myself and my little one, it brings enormous educational and personal values.