Friday, November 12, 2010
My Memories (Maggie's version)
While updating this blog, the memories of Tokyo flooded back to me again. I thank God that my last week as a twenty-something in Tokyo and Hakone was a memorable one. For the past one year, I have been confessing that I will be celebrating my 30th birthday with a big bang. It was indeed special. I am glad I have my beloved sister, Kaiyi with me. The 1.5 months of planning, researching, calculator punching was totally worth it. The whole trip was considered a success. Really, fail to plan, plan to fail.
Kaiyi, my most faithful travel partner, my navigator who always guide me back to hotel. We did argue over small matters but all the misgivings disappeared into the thin air as soon as we see food, shopping or something fun. She's the only one who is willing to starve with me and who shares my goal in budget travelling.
I've learnt and I've grown in this trip. With this trip, I am confident that this decade of my life will be happier than my previous one.
Thank you Jesus.
Day 7: Namja Town and Goodbye Tokyo! (Rain again...)
Sakura Hotel was pleasant. We stayed till 10am before we checked out and the explored Ikebukuro. This was so unlike our usual practice of leaving early. The fact that it was raining heavily made us want to stay in the room till it's time to go to the airport. Our two umbrellas were in pretty bad shape but since it's the last day, we decided to just bear with it. We made our way to Sunshine City where Namja Town is. We were not sure what to expect. So we just paid for the minimum 300 yen for the entrance.
There were no English translation. I think they did not expect many foreign tourists visiting Namja Town. So half the time we couldn't figure out what the displays were about.
There were many of such cat statues around.
Many horror stuff.
Cat + Horror
Japanese olden days favourite pass time; fish-catching.
Our main reason for the visiting Namja Town; ICE CREAM CITY.
Our chocolate ice cream that cost about 300 yen. Expensive but it's for the experience. The ice cream city has at least a hundred of different ice creams on sale.
After dessert, we went to have our lunch at Sunshine City. We settled on this restaurant as it has the least customers. Not so noisy. The food is not bad. Quite a big portion.
Again we were too hungry and gobbled up our food before we remember to take picture of it. This is the display. This was what I had ordered.
(Photo: Maggie)
This was what Kaiyi has ordered. The portion were pretty big so we really stuffed ourselves silly. We could eat Japanese food every single day and not get bored.
After lunch, we had to brave the rain and wind back to our hotel. But before that, we stopped by Hello Kitty shop to have a look. Not exactly our cup of tea but according to our own travel guideline, 凡走过必留下痕迹。The heater in the shop was very welcoming too. We were only had a cardigan thrown over our tee. So it was freezing for us. The thought of going back to the hotel and lugging the heavy trolley luggage to the train station was a little tormenting.
The braved the rain and the wind and finally reach Ikebukuro station safe and sound. We took the train from Ikebukuro to Nippori to transit to the train to Narita Airport. We could not find the counter only a ticketing machine. So we bought the Narita Access Pass for 1,200 yen instead. When we went into the station, I asked a station information counter where to take the train. The lady told us to transit at Aoto for the train bound for Narita. We boarded the Keisei Main Line Limited Express and stupidly alighted at Aoto only to realise that the train that we were on was a direct to Narita Airport. Sigh...we were so disappointed. We were cold and tired and we had to wait for another 20min for the next train. The rain continued to pour, the wind continued to howl, totally oblivious to our plight.
At the airport, the ticketing officer refunded us 200yen each as we took the Keisei Main Line instead. The Keisei Main Line cost 1,000yen per trip. The warmth of the airport welcomed us and also soothe our feelings. We no longer felt sad after checking in our luggage. We felt happier when we were shopping for foodies!
Note:
The Keisei Main Line Limited Express train goes to Narita Airport directly. But it takes about 1.5hrs. Keisei Line is a private line so not every station has it. One of the stations with Keisei is Nippori.
At least we ended our trip on a happy note. Shopping works afterall. Bye Tokyo, I'll be back. I promise.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Day 6: Hakone Stopped Raining. YEAH!
I woke up very early at 5am, waiting for the first sun rays to penetrate through our window. Finally at 5.30am, it sky lit up and the rain has stopped. The leaves of the trees outside our window drips the rainwater left from the rainy night. We were desperate for a bath. We decided to take our time. At 8am, the bath was open and we slipped into our yukata and head for a bath and then the hot spring (onsen). Our heater finally heated up the whole room. We were comfortable with no complaints about the room. Now the room felt value for money.
Outside was still cold but bearable. At 8am, we were the only ones at the onsen. Good. We observed the onsen etiqutte.
1. Be naked
2. Shower and wash ourselves clean
The onsen was very hot. We had to dip bit by bit of ourselves in order to get accustomed to the temperature. The onsen was so comfortable. It took away most of our disappointment that we had about the hotel. It was prrr...fect. Ah...
We only managed to dip for slightly about 5min before we need to get out and take a shower again to reduce our body temperature. We are getting a little light-headed. Getting back in the second time was much easier. But after about 5min, my head was spinning already. While getting dressed, I had to sit myself on the bench to recover before returning back to our room. I don't want to fall down the stairs. Kaiyi got a headache for the rest of the day. Weak lah.
The onsen was very hot. We had to dip bit by bit of ourselves in order to get accustomed to the temperature. The onsen was so comfortable. It took away most of our disappointment that we had about the hotel. It was prrr...fect. Ah...
We only managed to dip for slightly about 5min before we need to get out and take a shower again to reduce our body temperature. We are getting a little light-headed. Getting back in the second time was much easier. But after about 5min, my head was spinning already. While getting dressed, I had to sit myself on the bench to recover before returning back to our room. I don't want to fall down the stairs. Kaiyi got a headache for the rest of the day. Weak lah.
Finally with the nice weather, we can take some photos of the hotel. After climbing about 85 steps, we finally reached the front door of the hotel.
These are the steep steps leading to the front door. This is half of what we had to climb.
Hakone-Yumoto station entrance. There is a bridge that links the station to across the road.
After the onsen, we left our backpack at the hotel and decided to properly visit Hakone again. Before setting off, we went around searching for breakfast. We spotted some buns.
But they were not ready for business yet. Still preparing more to cater for the tourists who will stream in throughout the day.
The buns have red bean paste as fillings and they will be put into a traditional steamer to be "cooked" again. Eventually we managed to have one after our breakfast. It tasted like our Chinese brown 发糕 with read bean paste filling. Very sweet.
Most of the shops were still closed when we were already out and about looking for food. The Hakone residents are really laid back people.
We decided to try 7-11.
Found breakfast in boiled and deep fried forms.
Kaiyi enjoying her deep fried chicken nuggets.
The Hakone Tozan train. The morning was packed with tourists who had just arrived.
We waited for the next train that was quite empty.
When the weather is good, everyone is happy.
Views from the Hakone Tozan train.
It was still a cloudy day with the clouds hanging pretty low. I had a strong feeling that Mt Fuji was feeling shy.
The cable car was as packed as the day before.
School children.
The ropeway.
With good weather, we had a good view of the outside of our ropeway cabin. We were dangerously high but the view was magnificent. How tiny and insignificant are we compared to God's creations.
A cabin full of school children.
The bird's eye view of Owakudani.
Owakudani
Nearing the station with the view of first sight of autumn.
The clouds were very low when we were high up at Owakudani.
Owakudani = Great Boiling Valley
Read about Owakudani.
We were trying to figure out where is Mt Fuji from the picture.
Here's Mt Fuji, hidden behind the clouds. Moments after this photo was taken, Mt Fuji was reduced to a faint jaggered grey line on nature's canvas.
So we decided to eat. Hmm...so many things to choose from.
We decided on Jagabe.
Jagabe with a huge serving of butter. Sinful.
Thirsty? Have a QOO! We brought the bottle back.
Then we shared a small sweet potato. I never like sweet potatoes, but the way the couple of dozen of primary school children were savouring their sweet potato prompted me to give it a go. Despite being dry and a little undercooked, it tasted better than the orange sweet potatos that we usually eat with bo bo cha cha. Still, sweet potato is not making it into my favourites list.
Tamago = Eggs
They don't sell them individually. You have to buy them in 5s. The eggs were boiled in hot springs. The boiled eggs turn black. It was said that eating one will increase 7 years of your life span. But I guess if you consume too much, you might die early of heart attack.
The eggs were pipping hot. So me, feeling cold, decided to shove the hot pack inside my down jacket. Comfortable. While walking to continue our ride on the ropeway, the packet of eggs slipped out of my jacket like a hen laying her eggs. An old man walking beside me was surprised to see eggs slipping out of me and exclaimed excitedly, "AH! TAMAGO!". Two eggs were pretty crushed so we had to finish them, leaving the yoke uneaten. The three remaining eggs became breakfast for our last day in Tokyo.
Leaving Owakudani behind.
Autumn colours.
Lake Ashi.
The weather was fine and we get to get on the deck to take some photos and enjoy the very very strong breeze.
We decided to not take the bus back to Hakone-Yumoto. We wanted to do something different from the first day and hence took the ropeway, cable car and train in the opposite direction back to Hakone-Yumoto. If you are in a hurry, I suggest taking the bus from Togendai back.
(Photo: Maggie)
We went back to Kappa Tengoku to collect our stuff and return back to Ikebukuro. Hakone trip wasn't so bad afterall. There are many other things to see in Hakone. It's a pity that we did not have enough time to visit them except Owakudani. We will be back.
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