Day 1 (Part 2 ) in Japan

So we reached Dai-Ichi Tokyo Hotel! Sad to say, we didn't really take any pictures of the hotel. Why? I dunno! Not the exterior anyway. you can take alook at their website at http://www.daiichihotels.com/hotel/tokyo/ When we reached the hotel we were exhausted. But also quite pumped up to explore the area. Dai-ichi is located at Shimbashi, which is like 10 mins walk to Ginza and it's really very quiet actually. We thought it might be really buzzling with people. In fact, we thought that Tokyo seems quite quiet when we went there, despite it was in the midst of the golden week. Ok, some pictures of the hotel room we took when we reach the room. Wah, so psyche when we enter the room. It looks really girly and pretty. Most of the hotel is done up with pink strips wallpaper.

It actually give a key to open our room door! Isn't it unique?

View from the window. It overlooks the railway but the sound was pretty muffled so is ok.

Super gorgeous Victorian style toilet. The range of toiletries they supplied was incredible. All Shisedo stuff. And they keep on refilling everytime they do house cleaning. Which is like everyday. I bought back all the stuff, will post a pic of them when i got time.

Japanese legendary toilet bowl. With many functions on the left. Personally i never used it. First, no time, secondly, abit leery where the water comes from. One great touch of their toilet bowl is that it is warm when you sit on it! Great in cold weather.

We went out to find dinner. As you can see, we were damn shiok to reach there.

We finally choose a small Japanese restaurant. Have to order and pay immediately by pressing what you want on this machine. then pass the slip to the obasan at the counter.

Curry katsu don tasted damn yummy! But i suspected the sauce contains beef. But i try to finish all the food i can since I've already ordered it. Lucy and my rationale is that though we shouldn't eat beef, we shouldn't waste it if we unknowingly ordered it since the cow sacrificed its life for us already. This costs less than S$10 bucks. Free self service barley water!

That concludes the first day in Japan!

Japan day 1

Ah, the joy and misery of procrastination. You know you need to do a whole lot of homework and stuff yet you just feel compelled to do meaningless and yet oddly satisfying things like writing on blogs, learning photoshop, watching japanese anime and drama, doing a marathon reading of 4 books in 2 days. Sigh... it's just those period in your life you have so much to really work on, yet you can't bring yourself to do.

Well, back to the main purpose of the post. Japan day 1. It's been exactly 2 week since the day we arrived in Japan and it feels like a dream now. It felt like a dream then, it feels more like it now.

Our flight was at 8.30am and i reached Changi Airport at 7.15am with my parents and sis. I was feeling v weepy (am embarrassed to say). Close friends will know that i never been overseas with my friends before and i am feeling excited and worried at the same time. I could already feel the homesickness setting in and i haven't even left the country! I so love my family. My mom gave me a hongpao on the road to the airport and i started crying for real because my mom had been very protective of me; she used all sorts of ways to prevent me from going overseas for so long and yet now she is relenting so graciously, even offering to help me buy my insurance the day before. My father and sister, while being stoic presences in the car, had supported me and help me so much during the preparation. My dad was so sweet as to help me buy lots of medicine for the trip and worried over my welfare in Japan. I was surprised my sister volunteered to send me off. (i know how protective she is over her sleep) and the nicest thing was that she offered to let me borrow her precious clothes to wear in Japan. (I choose a scarf and a checkered shirt) I was missing them everyday when i was in Japan.

Upon reaching the airport to meet Agnes and Lucy (who were there early), we set off to weigh and check in our luggages. My 22" luggage weigh only 9kg, proud to say. My family skipped off to Imperior Treasure for breakfast where my mom complained the lack of variety of food they serve for breakfast and then it's time to set off!

My cool sis and camera (s) obsessive dad at the Changi airport restaurant

Me and my funny mom

My mom and us!

It was an exhausting 6+ hours flight. I was initially excited to see the clouds and the sky but boy was it boring. The food comprising of fish and vege was nice to look at but somewhat saltish. Oh, the good thing was that we have a personal tv, so i ended up watching some miscellaneous movies. Lucy was avidly watching Ps-I love you. It looks pretty good except i can't watch any sad shows as i will tear up and boy i had enough of that for 1 day.

Finally we arrived at the Narita airport! Oddly enough, it feels like an extension of Changi. Doesn't feel like we're in Japan. We got hit by a burst of cold air when we stepped into the airport and pretty much pave the way for the weather the whole time we were in Japan. Oh, we saw a really cute AIRPORT TECHNICIAN when we arrived! Lucy remarked he looked even better than Kimura Takuya! I was like WOAH! Japanese guys are really pretty hot. They have predominantly sharp features, pretty tall and lean and stylish to boot, not that it's surprising since this is Japan we're talking about. Lots of eye candies walking about.

I didn't much take any pics of the airport since we are exhausted but it was quite efficient. Everything was done quickly and they even have someone to carry our luggage from the luggage collection point. We got somewhat lost finding where we can buy our Suica + N'ex card and i was trying to get a rental phone so i can call home. I gave up when i learnt they only take credit card. After we board the N'ex running, since we were trying to board the earliest train to Tokyo station we spend another hour navigating to our hotel. One thing for sure, Tokyo really dun have enough escalator and lifts in their train stations! We have to lug our heavy luggages from Tokyo to Shimbashi through neverending flights of stairs. It was challenging man. Especially for Giant, since she have to carry and extra big and heavy suitcase.

Finally, we reached Dai-ich Hotel Tokyo. And i think the hotel really rue the day they accepted our reservations since we are a mass of trouble for them. *Giggle* But their service is truly top rate, they stay helpful and tolerant until our last day. Argh! Oddly enough, none of us took pictures of the hotel. The exterior i mean. But it was pleasantly cosy and classy. And the room was very comfortable.

To be continued!

I want more time!

To make bento and cook
To go shopping
To read more
To lose weight
To sleep
To be more self absorbed
To watch more anime and J-Drama

My life in focus

What i am watching now

A lot of Japanese animes and dramas
Himitsu, Itazura na Kiss, Kimi Hannin Janai yo ne e, Nabari no Ou, Kurenai, Crystal Blaze

Reading now

Just the Straits Time for now. Oh, and the Japanese magazines like Soup and Seventeen.

Anticipating now

Caroline's housewarming, Eunice's bdae bash, new haircut, finishing all assignments, getting a new flip phone, unpacking all the things bought recently from Japan

Planning now

How to lose the excess weight gained recently, a new chicer haircut and how to finish all my damn assignments

Dressing now

Very Japanese inspired layering and feminine look

Happy about now

Having gone to Japan with Lucy and Giant, seeing my family again after 1 week and luxuriating on my own bed, back in the familiarity and comfort of Singapore

Hate now

Having to bia all my assignments, going back to the monotony of my life, the heat in Singapore (35 degree!)

Thinking now

Why is Japan so much more efficient, cleaner and vibrant than Singapore? How i can understand why people says that Singapore's service sucks now that i had been to Japan. How nice and helpful the Japanese can be. How the Japanese can look so stylish and put together? (as Lucy puts it-the particular class they have that no other country can emulate) When i can go Japan again~

Man... what a week. It's been a real eye opener in Japan and i would really really absolutely want to go back again. Wasn't able to update in Japan because of the breakneck itinerary we had but i will over the next following days. Keep feeling the last 7 days are a long dream~ really exhausted but satisfied. Sorta. We didn't get to really walk Shibuya! zzz. Super beautiful-Japan.