And this was the day we left Japan.
I had successfully gone the entire night with no sleep at all! Early in the morning, we allocated ample time to get to Tokyo narita airport. But somehow by the time we did get there, we were among the last passengers to check in! Both of us ended up sitting separately in lousy centre seats.
On our train ride to the airport, we had assistance from several people with carrying our luggage. Foreigners are definitely friendlier and more inclined to help when they run into another foreigner speaking the same language.
These two spiky-haired Malaysian dudes helped us load our luggage onto the overhead cabin on the train. What struck me most was… The amount of gel both of them had in their hair. I kid, I kid! They were very nice people.
A middle-aged Taiwanese man on the same train ride gave me his number too, and asked me for mine, all the while watching me struggle with my luggage instead of helping. It was very disturbing.
Anyway, we very nearly missed our flight. This was my in-flight meal on ANA.
Chicken with saffron rice. Is that Indian food?
The cake was really dry and had a funny taste too. This was by far one of the worst meals I’ve had on any airline, which was surprising considering it was a Japanese airline.
Vanilla ice cream from haagen-dazs! It sweetened the predicament of being stuck in a middle seat for 7 hours. Watching spider-man 3 helped too. Not once did I even get off my seat to pee.
Throughout the flight, I was anticipating the plane to reach Singapore finally; I kept looking at the flight monitor! Sure, I love Japan. But I was excited to see my loved ones after more than 10 days of being away.
Heck, I even missed the weather! Having experienced the scorching Japan summer, Singapore now seems really cool in comparison. I shall never again complain about the hot and humid weather here. Come on, kuwaitis have to endure daytime temperatures of 56 degrees Celsius!
Fresh daisies to welcome me home, and a seafood platter for two at fish ‘n co! Thanks!
So here endeth my first ever trip to Japan, and my 11-parter blog series on this colourful and beautiful country.
Already, I am missing Japan very much.
Nov 5, 2008
3472
Haha I dunno! It matches IP addresses to countries and it seems they wrongly matched your Singapore IP address to Australia!
Glad you enjoyed my posts :)
Nov 15, 2008
1
Sugoi! I have always wanted to go to Japan but i can’t afford it yet. I love your travel blog! I just read the entire thing from Day 1 through departure in one go. The pictures are great and you are interested in the same sorts of things i like so i was absolutely captivated by all the cuteness and coolness you so carefully took note of.
Thanks for the great read!
Dec 26, 2008
9
this blog makes me want to go to japan even more now
Jan 10, 2009
1
Hiya!
I found your blog whilst searching for Hello Kitty Town as we’re thinking of going to Tokyo in March and my daughter loves Hello Kitty. Wow, you have done an amazing job! Your photos & comments are excellent – feels like I was there with you! We didn’t think about visiting Kyoto…but after reading your blog we must make a stop there as well!
Thanks for sharing your trip with us & hope we get to read more of your travels in the future!
Jan 13, 2009
3472
Hey! That’s great! Kyoto is very different from Tokyo — less of a bustling city, more of a cultural district — so it’d be awesome if you make a stop there too.
Currently I’m in the process of blogging about my latest trip to Bangkok. Check it out!
Apr 14, 2009
2
Hey, I LOVE you for doing this day by day blog, I really would like to go to Japan one day…
So exactly how much did it cost for the whole time you were there?
I guess if you could suggest an amount of money to take for a week or two of chilling in Japan, that’d be beautiful.
I’ll be looking forward to your food updates!
Thanks~
Apr 15, 2009
3472
I think I brought about USD1000 there for expenses (food, transport, shopping, admission fees to places). Sorry I can’t be more exact. It’s been a while! But I can imagine that amount to get you by quite comfortably.
Apr 16, 2009
2
Oh no thank you so much! It’s very helpful to know even a guesstimate.
Apr 17, 2009
2
OMG!!! I want to go to Japan but my country is far far FFFAAARRR AWAY and the ticket of the plane is more expensive -_- IT´S NOT FAIR
Apr 17, 2009
2
How could you talk to other people?
especially to ask for directions or ask?? -_-
May 17, 2009
1
wow!!! marvelous, your blog amaze me.. stumble into your website while searching about hello kitty in Japan. im a big fan of hello kitty.. it was wonderful for you to do all of this pictures and in the same time commenting every detail of it.. while i was reading your blog i feel like im there with all the pictrures. specially the puroland. thank you for sharing it .. ill be saving you website to see more of your adventure.. thanks againg
Jun 30, 2009
1
LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! Im planning my big trip for Nov. (read is the best time to visit Tokyo) and You answered atlest 98% of my questions plus Im a very picky eater and I was so happy to see thru your pictures all the American eating places they have. Thanks for all your maps and bus/train information, very valuable. I also love everything super cute and cant wait to see everything HelloKitty.
Jan 20, 2010
1
Hi recently found your blogs when i was planning my trip to Tokyo next month to celebrate our 10 yrs anniversary plus valentine day….:-)
searching for restaurant to dine near Tokyo Tower and here you are. Thanks for the blog and it was really refreshing to read. Thank you once again.
Jun 19, 2010
1
Hi. Thank you for the reading pleasure, and a trip back to my first time but as a packpacker in Tokyo. Following the footsteps of your trip, couldn’t help but thought that RoughGuide should have a annex to your wonderfully detailed descriptions of everyday practicalities in Japan, which are very different from many parts of the world – how to take a bus – you drop the coins on arrival, how to buy a meal at a “tachisoba-ya” – get a ticket and slurp to show satisfaction! etc : )
For those in your blog expressing interests in costs and a trip to Japan, travelling and enjoying don’t need to be expensive.
There are a lot of great places in Tokyo and Kyoto that are opened only on slow discoveries. Look forward to your future trips there or elsewhere; and to the friends in this blog’s experiences.
Aug 15, 2010
1
hey veron, thanks for the details for your trip!
I am doing research for my upcoming trip to Japan and your entries have been very helpful! :)
Jan 2, 2011
1
Great blog and great pictures! I’m going to Japan for the first time myself this may (2011), and I can’t wait to check out some of the sights you wrote about (especially hello kitty land!)
Dec 12, 2011
1
Chanced upon your website. i am Japanese and so happy you and readers love Japan!!
Very beautiful shots, informative and cheerful text and your point of view!! Could we Japanese have come up with why in the world tempra udon has always two prawns? Such a nice view ：)
Anyway, you gave me different perspective on Japan and i love your beautiful thought. Thanks a lot!!