Second day in Tokyo

Today we woke up a bit late as we slept late last night. Hope to get enough rest for our shopping today. As our hotel room is without breakfast, we bought breads and eat while waiting for train at the JR station. I love breads sold in Japan. They are so nice no matter where you buy from.

So coincidence that yesterday, we took Metro trains for our whole day transport and today, all will be JR trains via Yamanote line. First stop will be Akihabara. Our intention is to look for headphones/earphones + any IT gadgets. We went to one of the biggest store, Yodobashi Akiba. In fact, we went to this store on our previous trip and like the varieties of things they are selling. No need to hop around shop to shop. Just concentrate in this store and it is enough. I bought a 16GB USB stick, 2 headphones and 3 earphones. Very satisfied. It was later in the day that I got to know that the earphones I bought were so much cheaper. The same item selling at another store in Harujuku is almost 70% more expensive. Lucky uh.

It was around 2.00pm when we arrived at Harujuku. We had our lunch before we started our shopping. Today we had Ramen. Pork soup base which is my favourite. Yummy yummy. First stop was Agnes B boutique and with lack of resistence, I bought one bag! Their service is excellent. They offered to wrap the paperbag with plastic as it was getting dark and will rain any time. The plastic will prevent the paperbag to get wet. After that, we went to Kiddyland and I bought some souvenirs. As it was getting late, we went to UT store for a short while and that short while was enough time for me to buy one T-shirt. Ha ha...

Travelled to Shinjuku and zoomed in to Isetan which is near the station. Tulip would like to buy one more Agnes B bag and hope she could get it there. However, the bag she was looking for was out of stock. She was disappointed but no choice. We went to Kinokuniya. 小珠 bought 2 Japanese grammar dictionary. Tulip bought elementary Japanese language book. I bought another magazine after some influence from 小珠. Hee hee...

Again, by the time we returned to Ikebukuro, it was already almost 11pm. We went back to the same restaurant for dinner as it was late and not many restaurants are open. There are some other restaurants that we can go but we still cannot resist the food at 和民. We intended to order different dishes from yesterday but ended up just changed 2 of the dishes and balance remain unchanged. Luck was not good again. We did not get to eat the honeydew. Now is the honeydew season and real disappointed that we did not manage to taste the sweetness and juiciness of this fruit.

By the time we back in hotel, we laid flat. Whole body so tired again after long walks. We really fully utlilised the time we had there.

Not to forget... Happy 44th Birthday to Singapore.

Our breakfast


Bought Belgian waffle near Akihabara JR station


Lunch at Harujuku Omotesando Hills


Dinner at 和民. Dishes we ordered different from yesterday.


Bought tickets for Airport limousine from hotel to airport


Items bought at Akihabara


We like these drinks. Peach water (not tea) and deepsea water lime juice.

Yokoso Japan!

Yokoso Japan! We arrived in Tokyo at around 7.50am. Had to rush a bit as we need to catch the Narita express train which will depart at 8.50am. This train will reach Ikebukuro direct and no need to change train in Shinjuku station. However, due to delay in our luggage collection and long queue at the ticketing desk, we missed this train. Had to take the next train departing at 9.15am destined Shinjuku. Luckily, today is Saturday and train was not crowded when we board the Yamanote line train at Shinjuku for Ikebukuro with our lugages. We left our luggages at Hotel Metropolitan located in Ikebukuro and started our adventure.

Our first stop was Tsujiki Fish Market. We arrived around 12noon and just walked around for a while to see if there was any dried seafood we could buy. I was looking for the cuttlefish I bought during my previous trip but too bad, I could not find it so bought another kind as replacement (better than nothing). Ha ha.

Next, we went to Asakusa without fail. We prayed there and hope our wishes will come true. This is Tulip's first trip to Tokyo hence we tried to show her around and let her capture Tokyo popular places as much as possible. Though both 小珠 and myself have been to Tokyo for a few times, we still enjoy the same familar places we went to. Different time, different feeling. Wow...

We travelled to Ueno next. As it is summer in Japan and weather is extremely hot and humid (maybe typhoon season), we just zoom straight to Ameyoko and looked for the popular one stop titbits store. Spent around one and a half hour there with big packet of titbits when we left the store. Yummy yummy.

Our last stop before going back to Ikebukuro was Ginza. It was already late evening by the time we reached Ginza. Went straight to Burberry boutique and bought bags which we fancied. I did not buy for myself this time round since I already bought one on my April trip. Helped my elder sister to buy one. Before heading back to the station, we went into a bookstore. Within 15mins, I bought 2 magazines that had my idols in it. 小珠 bought her idol's photobook and is so happy. Walked pass my favourite Almond Cafe and we bought 2 cakes for takeaway. Glad that we did not miss their closing time. We were quite lucky as there wasn't many cakes left.

Back in hotel at around 10.15pm. So late liao... Our whole body was so tired and for me, I did have enough sleep while in the plane and started to have headache. We went to the popular 和民 restaurant which is just 1 min walk from hotel for dinner. So satisfied with the food there. Price reasonable and food tasty. No wonder is so popular there. Should we go there early, do not think we can find seats so easily. Sad part was we did not manage to eat the honeydew. Sold out... Too bad.

Reached Narita airport



Our lunch at Asakusa



Trademarks of Asakusa



Ueno station and Ameyoko street


Yummy dinner



Cakes from Almond cafe at Ginza

Get ready to fly

Here I am. At Changi Airport Terminal 3. We managed to queue for the free internet kiosk and hence I just drop a few words here before leaving Singapore.

Gate open and we can board the plane soon. Can't wait to sit on the plane and enjoy the flight to Tokyo.

Shall try to see any more free internet access at Tokyo. This time not staying at Toyoko Inn hence unable to get access to internet daily.

Ok lah. Going to board plane now. Bye...

Happy Happy Day

Wow wow... It is Friday! The day I have been looking forward to. Tonight I am flying to Japan!

Finished my packing this afternoon and continued to clear my work at home. It rained this afternoon and hope it will clear some of the haze that has been around since 2 days ago.

Just checked weather forecast for Tokyo and the chances of rain for the next few days are 60%. Hope this percentage will keep going down. I hope weather will be breezy there with no rain and it will be perfect. :)

Tulip and 小珠 left office early today in order to be have enough time to prepare for tonight's flight. Shall meet them at the airport ard 10pm. Looking for an interesting trip with the 2 girls.

Here we go... Japan.

Count down to Japan

Finally it is Thursday. The day I have been looking forward to because I will be taking a day off on Friday and prepare to go to Tokyo. We (myself, 小珠 and Tulip) are taking the midnight flight tomorrow onboard A380 plane. Will arrive in Tokyo on Saturday ard 0740hrs.

This is the 2nd time I am flying to Tokyo by A380 for this year (hope more will come. hee hee). During the last trip, although we did not feel any difference when we get into the plane, it is still A380 and the aircraft is very new with big screen to watch movies. We are reserving seats on the lower deck this time round because there are no 3 in a row seats available on the upper deck. By sitting together, it will be fun to watch movie together, eat together and gossip together...

Our plan there is to eat, shop and sleep. As this is a very short trip (4 days 3 nights), we have to really enjoy every minute there and cannot waste the time. One of the day, we will be going to disneyland. Hope this time round, we can watch the fireworks at night. The previous trip we missed it due to strong wind. Cross our fingers...

Yet to finish my packing and will do so it on Friday afternoon. Should be still enough time for me to do it slowly. I am the only lucky one to take leave on Friday. Main reason is because I stay very far from office and will need to take around 90mins to reach home. Therefore will stay at home to work and clear majority of my work before my holiday.

Weather forecast

Oh dear.... The weather forecast for Tokyo this week till early next week is not good for us. It is showing chances are high to have shower everyday while we are there for our holiday. I do not want to admit but.... such forecasts are rather accurate for Japan. From our earlier trip's experience, accuracy can be up to 95%). Hopefully this time round, accuracy will be 5% only. Ha ha...

I like the picture below for 8 to 11 Aug. Did you see shy shy Ms Sun. No need to hide lah. Come out and show us your cheerful face. :)

10-Day Forecast

			High / Low (°C)	Precip. %
Thu Aug 06		T-Storms	28°/25°	100 %
Fri Aug 07		T-Storms	29°/26°	80 %
Sat Aug 08		Scattered T-Storms	29°/25°	60 %
Sun Aug 09		Scattered T-Storms	29°/24°	60 %
Mon Aug 10		Scattered T-Storms	27°/24°	60 %
Tue Aug 11		Scattered T-Storms	28°/24°	60 %

Last minute decision

A bit lazy today and don't feel like working hard. Cannot let boss see this blog. Ha ha...

Morning was still quite relaxing for me and I started to become busier at 5pm. My colleague continued to take urgent leave today as her son is sick. Hope he can recover soon.

This afternoon, we went to Telok Blangah hawker centre for lunch. There were only 4 of us as the rest of our kakis were having other lunch appointments. As usual, we ordered the prawn noodles and this stall really has good business. Soon after we ordered, they closed for business. Real lucky for us to be there slightly earlier. Otherwise we will be disappointed if we cannot eat this noodle after driving all the way there.

Not too sure if it was due to too "hardworking" in the evening, I began to feel hungry at around 8pm while waiting for MRT train at Outram station. Happened to know that 小珠 mum is not cooking today, I suggested to have dinner at Tiong Bahru Plaza. Last minute decision. When we reached there, we ordered ban mian at the Kopitiam at 3rd floor. It had been very long time since we eat there and this stall still serve very nice ban mian. Imagine that I am a chilli lover and always cannot do without chilli padi when I eat soup base food. For this ban mian, I can don't add the chilli into the soup as it's original tastes is good enough for me to enjoy it without 加料.

Yummy. Will go there for lunch or dinner again.

Good Monday to start with the week

Today is one of the best Monday. Not much urgent matters for me to action hence I can take my own sweet time to clear my work. No big boss around some more. :P

Had lunch at KFC today. Craved for it after my colleagues said they just had it last Friday while I was on leave. No choice... they had to follow me to eat KFC again today. Hee hee...

One of my colleague who is sitting next to me is still having running nose. She has it since last Wed. We are asking if she has H1N1 or not. She said doctor confirms no and only give her 1 day mc on last Friday to rest at home. She is complaining that the doctor is so stingy. She heard from another colleague of ours got 4 days mc for his running nose. I hope she can recovered soon as she feels so unwell but has to continue to work. Poor girl.

Made some re-decoraration for my pet's room today. Theme is "Party time". Changed her outfit to fit the theme. かわいいね.

Time flies. Sunday again.

Soooo faaast that it's Sunday again. The day I hate as next day is working day again. :(

However, I did have a good day rest today. My niece was here but as they reached our house quite late and she was busy with her homework, not much time left for her to pester us to play with her.

As my younger sis came home early today, it became her duty to entertain her today. I continued to watch J-drama "Boss" last 2 epi and I completed the whole series this afternoon. Same as 小珠, I liked the ending. :)

We planned to have dinner at Changi village for celebrating my brother's belated birthday. As it is usually crowded during dinner time with no parking lots, we decided to go early at 4.45pm. Reached there at around 5pm and we went to the beach to have a walk there before dinner.

The beach is not very crowded today. My sister bought the balloon (the kind that is gummy type that you use a stick to blow) for my niece to play. But due to it's too windy there, the balloon burst easily and ended up, we played a guessing game with my niece. It is to guess the airline of the landing plane approaching almost every min. That keeps her still.

We had a very good dinner at Ubin First Stop restaurant. The price is reasonable and the food is nice. Very worth it and we will go there again.

Took a photo of the Changi jetty with the sun. Looks romantic to me. Hee hee.

Dinner at Coffee Club

Mum not cooking for dinner tonight. Therefore, we decided to take dinner at Whitesand Shopping mall. Only three of us (Dad, mum and myself). My sister went out this morning. My brother went to work as usual.

Initially I thought of eating fastfood. However, decided to have our dinner at Coffee Club instead. I have some vouchers redeemed from credit card points. Hee hee...

I ordered bread with seafood fillings. My dad ordered chicken thigh with pasta and my mum ordered lobster linquine. Added two bowls of soup that just $1 each and drinks. I ordered my usual favourite ice-blended rambutan.

The restaurant was not very crowded hence the servings were super speedy. Overall, we had a very nice dinner there. After that, we went to Fairprice to buy some groceries before heading home.

Now, here I am... Sitting and facing my beloved pc again. Ha ha...

Shall start to continue watching J-drama "Boss". Hope I can finish the rest of the episodes by this weekend.

じゃね

Going to rain???

Woke up very late at 12noon today. Slept at 3am and this is the result. Ha ha.

After taking my lunch, I watched the Hong Kong drama series from SCV till almost 3.45pm. Just nice it is the ending of the whole series. Find the story is nice hence continue to watch until it ended. Too touching at some scene and I "sacrificed" a few drops of my precious tears.

Looking out of the window, wind is blowing, trees are swaying and birds are chirping. What a peaceful afternoon. Seems the sky is getting a little bit dark. Is it going to rain? I wonder...

How I wish I can lay on this flower and lavender field in Hokkaido, look up the sky and just enjoy the breeze there. Daydreaming again...

Back home

Just reached home after watching movie "The Hangover". Rather tired but still log on my pc to surf net. Do not want to waste this wonderful time that there are 2 more days before going back to work.

Today we went to Japanese Gourmet Town for dinner. I ordered the same Ajisen spicy ramen and fried cuttlefish as side dish. 小珠 ordered Yaki Soba but she said this one cannot be compared to the one she ate at Japan. I told her we are flying over next Friday so we can eat there again. Yippy Yippy!

This movie is a comedy and is a very funny show. A lot of laughter heard in the theater. It was almost full house with only 1st 2 rows empty. Considered very full as it is GV Max that can seat 602 audience. We laughed all the way too. I like the part when one of the good friend suddenly remembered how they "lost" their friend during bachelor's night gathering at Las Vegas. Real missed the time I went to Las Vegas for holiday almost 10 years ago.

However, both of think this movie should rate as M18 (i/o NC16) because there are some parts which are not suitable for young audience. Overall still a good movie for all to enjoy and relax. :)