This shall be the final Japan-post unless a) I have time to go through the thousands of pictures in between my classes and/or b) I’m not feeling lazy.

And, yes. Classes are to commence tmr. T__T Cry cry depress suicide.

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Drew and I arrived in Ginza, Tokyo at about 6 pm, after making our way there by the Tokyo Metro. Click the link to refer to the subway’s map and tell me if you’re as amazed as I am when I say we didn’t lose our way once. :p Yes, I’m gloating. If you knew my sense of direction and I, you would be too.

Anyway. The moment we emerged from the subway, I was breathless because the city lights were just AMAZING. Also because I had to climb a crazy amount of flight of stairs to get to the streets. -_- But yeah, every neon signboard from every shop were lited up. I think I stood there for a good 10 minutes taking it all in. :)

It wasn’t very cold in Tokyo ’sides from getting wind chills. OH OH and the way them Japanese dress are to die for! Every female (at least) on Ginza St. are at their tip top condition. Every strand of hair is in place, their boots and coats look like if not are from a certain designer collection, and their makeup…! *faints*

K. Ranting too much de. Pictures!

We visited the morning fish market. Ate fresh tuna that was caught on the morning itself. For free. Sheer orgasm, I tell you. :p

Living up to being tourists, we dropped by the “Kyoko” Imperial Palace.

Erm, yeah. Drew and his Samurai Kusuinoki Masashige. -_-

On the streets of Akihabara. Shopping haven for Drew because there were about a gazillion shops filled with electronics, toys and porn. :p I actually went through a NINE-storey porn shop. -_-

Standing at the Torii just outside the Meiji Shrine.

As we made our way to the Temple, there were rows and rows of these erm, things [?]. I know.. fail big time as a tourist. T_T

The walk in was really peaceful though. Hard to believe that all of these were placed in the heart of a major city.

Ugh. I lose all shape in that poof-poof. -_-

As we finally approach the shrine, there were a couple of rituals that could be carried out by visitors as a means of paying respect to the temple.

Basically, you are to first: wash your left hand. Then your right hand and cupping water into your left for rinsing your mouth. You again was your left hand and finally.. you rinse the scoop. Phew, I actually remembered that. :D

Drew and I decided to follow up the ritual and paid respect at the main entrance. Again, there’re these “steps” you have to follow chronologically.

First, you place your offerings. Then.. bow twice, clap your hands twice and bow once more. Finally, make a wish. Easy, no? :)

Make a wish.

HOHOHO I WAS AT HARAJUKU AHHHH I LOVE HARAJUKU <3 <3 <3

Another 7-storey toy shop. -_- This one had one entire floor dedicated to Hello Kitty and another for Snoopy. @_@

Shibuya district. Massive amount of people here, I tell you. And and anddd… I injured my knee here while looking for a souvenir for my sister. Damn lousy.  -_- Am on knee-brace now hurr. :(

Minimal pictures when I was at Harajuku and Shibuya only because we were busy shopping. :p

Finally..

On the Shinkansen, making our way back to the Narita Airport. :(

Boo. I miss Japan already. T_T

Related posts: Su-mi-ma-sen [Part 1] & Su-mi-ma-sen [Part 2].

In true Schmae-style, my immune system decided to crash just three days before Year Three takes off.
















First class lah, really. -_-

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Here they are. The second batch of pictures from Japan! We spent the second half of the 22nd of Dec and the whole of 23rd in Tokyo “the happiest place on earth” Disneyland. :) Since we were there just before Christmas Day, we seriously thought it’d be well, less cramped with people. Mana tau it was a public holiday for the whole of Japan as they celebrated The Emperor’s Birthday. Hence, the place was like sardine can.

Hurhur, we were outsmarted wtf. T_T

Nyeh. Drew bought me that furry little thing the night before because it rained. 2000 yen to protect my head. T_T

Tokyo Disneyland marked their Silver Jubilee in ‘08! :)

Mr. Disney and Mr. Mouse.

Look at the amount of people at the background. Now.. mulitply that by a thousand and thats why I kid you not when I say it was jam packed that day.

Hi.

Drew and his Churros. -_- One piece was 250 yen. I think he had like a hundred hahahahaha no lah. Ten, maybe. You do the math.

The ONLY spot in the whole of Disneyland where there were minimal people. Ahh. <3

His Tiki Men and his expression HAHAHAHAHA. :p

This ride made us stand in line for TWO HOURS. It was interesting, yes. But heck it wasn’t worth TWO HOURS standing in the cold @!$# *whine whine whine somemore*

Hi.

Ooh, I adored ToonTown. :)

And the parade was alright, I guess. I really enjoyed the one in Hong Kong more though. It was more.. happy. Andddd I understood what they were saying. xD Drew said its because I was just  being difficult like that. :(

Hoho. Now let me show you the best buy I got from Mr. Disney-san’s happy place. :p

Nyehehehehehe. :p I love it ’cause it’s so round and.. poofy. Yes. Poofy. <3

Related post: Su-mi-ma-sen [Part 1]

“Sumimasen （すみません）” can be used in several different situations (when requesting something, when thanking someone etc.), listen carefully to what the context is [quote].

Throughout the eight days we were in Japan, this was probably the most frequent phrase we’ve heard and used. Really, everytime someone passes another and somehow accidentally bumps into you, you hear it.  You then say it back in reply and voila, all is forgiven. We move on with live. Also, with the amount of people cramped up in a city such as Tokyo, trust me.. it happens pretty often.

So after a week there, I guess I was conditioned to say it almost immediately after landing on our Tanah Air when I ter-stepped onto another local’s foot at the airport. Surprise, surprise when all I received instead was an angry glare and muffles which sounded a lot like “Celaka budak ni”.

..











Malaysia Boleh.

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So here are the first batch of pictures from our stay in Hakuba. There aren’t much from the first day because we went skiing on the slopes of Happo One (pronounced as “hap-poh o-neh“). The second day, we made our way to Nagano where we walked 18 cho-s (miles) to the Zenkō-ji (善光寺, Zenkō-ji) Temple *click*.

Next try, snowboarding. :)

That. Is the size of their zebra-crossing. o.O

Ramen – not my favourite dish from the Japanese cuisine lot, but damnnn it taste good when its cold out.

Drew at the 14th-cho out of 18.

Hehe. So cute, kan? :p

And.. we made it. :)

My favourite shot of the day – shops that were lined up just before we hit the temple.

The temple.

This picture’s up only because I like how my hair looks. Hi. :p

That’s about it from Hakuba/Nagano. And here’s a sneak peak for what’s coming up for the second update from Japan:

Jeng jeng jeng. :p

I’m home. :)

Japan was.. breath-taking.

The culture, the people, the currency exchange, THE FOOD. Hoho. I weighed myself just before I left the hotel yesterday and realized I gained 4 kilos wtf. T_T

For the first three days, we were up at a ski resort in Hakuba, then the next couple in Tokyo Disneyland and the remaining days in the heart of Tokyo, Ginza where Drew and I ventured off to the Akihabara, Harujuku and Shibuya district. Anndd.. here’s the good news I know some of you are dying to hear. I blew a fortune on souvenirs. -_- Heh. Happy ‘not, happy ‘not? :p

Anyway, a proper update on the trip and pictures will most likely be up only after the new year because I’ll be heading up to Penang tonight for the weekend. :)

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Sigh. Less than a week till the year ends.







I am so not ready for 2009. :(

Merry Christmas, loves. :)

I’ll see you in eight days.

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