(This is the first of 11 posts on my awesome Japan trip. I’m gonna blog about it from the very beginning all the way to the end!)
Our flight to Tokyo was at 8:30 in the morning! We bid farewell to Singapore (on her independence day, no less!) and got on our flight.
You know those flight safety videos that play on board the plane right before it takes off? They tend to be boring don’t they? Well, not if you’re flying on a Japanese airline! The Japanese are so good at coming up with cute stuff!
The last time I flew on JAL, the cute flight safety videos that played on the monitors left me with a deep impression. This time round ANA didn’t disappoint either! The animations looked so cute and lively, passengers couldn’t help but watch the whole thing!
Some cirrus clouds we spotted along the way.
We were served sparkling wine in an interesting black bottle. I thought it would put me to sleep. Instead, I spent most of the time on the flight watching Shrek 3 and Pingu!
Pingu is a Japanese cartoon with cute clay penguins. I couldn’t understand a word but watched it anyway. I love penguins!
Lunch was creamy seafood penne marinara. And more wine!
Then, we spotted the faint sight of a mountaintop peeking through the clouds. That’s Mount Fuji! It could only mean one thing – we were approaching Tokyo!
There were some very low-lying clouds. Notice how they were so low-lying, they even cast shadows on the sea!
Then, it was fields after fields of lush greenery in different shades. Japan looked beautiful! I’m not quite sure which part of Japan that was. Does anyone know? It certainly looked too green to be the urban Tokyo. Was it Narita?
Finally, the plane touched down at the Tokyo Narita Airport! Here are some Tokyo hotels to consider. Read on to find out where we are staying.
Aug 25, 2007
3472
lol “chikin”! Yeah! Now I do recall you telling me “Chikin! Chikin!” over the phone. That’s so cute!
Nah I suck at photography! I just photoshop every single one of the photographs I take to make them look more decent.
Aug 30, 2007
10
you are back from japan
i am back here
one day one post!
nice photos
Aug 31, 2007
1
Hey, I stayed in hotel sunlite shinjuku last year too! Quiet area..
Nov 9, 2007
2
hi,
i bogged into ur blog just by chance, but trust me, after checking 1-2 scraps, i cudnt resist myself to read all other posts. i simply liked everything abt this site – the simplicity with which u introduced japan nd its custom, the interactiveness that u maintained thru pics nd videos – everything.
only thing which disturbed me a bit was the bulkiness of the site – it took too much time to load nd scroll at times.
anyways, in all, u have done a gud job by posting ur exprs nd thoughts. i have bookmarked ur site :)
u in singapore these days or visiting some other coutnry?
happy deepavali.
Debs
Nov 11, 2007
3472
Thanks for your wonderful words! I am aware that the long load time is a pain. But the bulky pictures are the very things that add colour to the site. I’m still trying to balance between this and minimal load time for my readers.
As of this message, I am slogging my ass off in Singapore! Hope to head off for a holiday real soon :)
Nov 11, 2007
2
hey, seems u dont log on to this site that much these days?
so where u planning to go next? wen is ur holiday- chritmas -new yr holidays or some before that as well?
PS: today it took hell lot of time to load nd to scroll to the bottom of this page. i dont think my net connection is bad with cable connection at my end… i think, if u can split page into multiple ones, probably it might help.
btw,wats ur msgr id, proably we can chat some time.
Oct 25, 2008
1
Girl!! i love you!!! i love your web page, i just discovered it today when searchin for ramen pictures lol then i read the entire story about your trip to tokio, ohhh i’m so jealous o(^_^)o I have this already in my favorites to visit often.
Greetings from Mexico! <3
~Vero~
Jan 30, 2009
1
Hey thnx for shring your experience with us, now i should really plan to visit Japan. :)
Apr 10, 2009
3
Hello there, veron! So you are from Singapore, eh? I’m not sure whether Chinese is taught in all public schools, but if it is, then you should have been able to get around Japan reading purely the kanji (I’m assuming you were illiterate to kana).
Japan is an absolutely wonderful and fantastically energetic place to visit – ESPECIALLY Tokyo! Ahhh, the last time I went was only 3 days…but it was 3 days of pure magic, I tell you. Everything is just so…Japanese and it makes you really happy for some reason.
I enjoyed reading your post, and the photos/captions really made me smile =)
Keep up the good work ~
-Connie <3
Apr 11, 2009
3472
Hello, Connie. Thanks for popping by! Yes, Chinese is indeed taught in all the public schools in Singapore. Many a time during the trip, the kanji characters helped us out a lot because we could read most of them. My friend and I have concurred that among all the foreigners in Japan, those who know Chinese probably have an easier time getting around!
Wow, it’s been a while since the trip. Looking at the photos sure brings back fond memories. I so wanna revisit Tokyo!
Speaking of that, this June I would be taking part in an online competition that would pit me against 4 other bloggers. The details are not firm yet, but the winner (by votes) gets to go to Japan! Hope to get your support then :) I promise I would come back with loads of pictures and do a Japan blog series again!
May 29, 2009
1
Actually,Pingu is Swiss,not Japanese.And he is PLASTICINE,and not a cartoon.
Jun 29, 2009
1
Great blog! Very informative and I like the simplicity of your page
Aug 15, 2009
12
I’ve been going through your entire trip’s photos…they bring back such memories for me. I LOVE JAPAN!!! It’s really where I feel most at home, despite not knowing the language.
Hey their vending machines rock, unlike ours….
Sep 8, 2009
1
What a great website you have! I am enthralled by your Japan reviews. Most helpful for my proposed trip from Australia next year.
cheers!
Sep 8, 2009
3472
Thank you! I am thrilled that you find my website useful. If you’d like, you may wish to subscribe to be updated of my future food and travel posts!
Feb 15, 2010
10
Amazing pix!
Japan is looking very beautiful in these pictures.
In my opinion, it’s worth for every traveler to visit this great country.
Seems you really enjoyed your holiday trip in Japan.
Well, how many days did you spend there?
Feb 15, 2010
3472
You’re absolutely right. Tokyo is one city that everyone should visit at least once.
I spent 11-12 days in Japan. Check out the rest of my travelogue!
Mar 28, 2010
1
i ate at the ramen shop too. i think its the one pretty near to Shinjuku isetan. Miss their fast serving ramen.
Mar 20, 2011
1
hiiiiiiiiii veron!!! OMG listen i just had to tell u something — your skin is GORGEOUS! =O like, how did you manage to stay so fresh after 7 freaking hours? haha i flew for like 5 hours once and i looked like a FROG X_X loool… my eyes were puffy and my skin looked terrible! hahaha.. so yeah um, wow, you’re skin is so awesome! would u mind sharing your secret with us and tell me what you use?=P haha cuz i could really use any tips, cuz im gona travel in like a month! :S
lool thankssss ^_________^
May 16, 2011
3472
Hey Miya, apologies for the waaaaay overdue comment as I missed it earlier. My skin isn’t that gorgeous! lol it must be the poor camera quality that hid all the imperfections. I don’t use any special products, just the usual skincare and moisturiser.
May 15, 2011
1
I know this post is very old, but I just found it while googling for “ramen” and just wanted to let you know I really enjoy reading it. :)
Just one more thing: The cartoon you watched, Pingu, is actually Swiss. :) Probably every swiss or german child knows it. In our version, they speak in a fantasy language so that it could be understood basically by everyone. Thought you might want to know that. :)
May 16, 2011
3472
Thanks Natalie :) Someone left a comment earlier on Pingu as well. Apparently the characters are made of plasticine.
Oct 23, 2012
1
“That plenitude of colourful neon signboards can hardly be seen in Singapore! I think we have some law against that or something.”
of course there will be a law against it. there are a lot of laws against alot of stuff in your country, like going to malaysia for fuel or chew gum or have oral sex.. hahaha..
Jul 1, 2014
1
hi, I am planning to go to Japan too.,., but I am struggling with my budget,., May I know how much you spent for your entire trip? including air fare?pls reply soon.thanks a lot.