...Lo aNd BeHoLd...
After thinking for about half an hour and applying each and everyone of my linguistic abilities, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to describe the unforgettable experience of the trip by mere words. Just pure magic. I'll just give a brief description of what we did and hopefully the pictures on facebook will speak the rest of my mind.
On the 24th of Aug 2008 at 11am, Kevin and I flew to Japan on Cathay Pacific. I wouldn't say it was the best plane ride I had though it was good. The standard of the food was not that bad either.
Upon landing in Japan, we were picked up by our Japanese friend's grandmother who drove us to her house where we lodged at for 12 nights out of the 14 nights that we spent in Japan.
We were splendidly taken care of by Ruriko's grandparents who had a very very nice house. Our breakfasts and dinners were cooked for us (Authentic homemade Japanese food).
A typical day began at about 8am where we had breakfast with Obachan and Ojichan after freshening up. Obachan ( As we addressed the grandmother ) then drove us to the nearest train station everyday for us to take the train to our desired destination. At the end of the day we would travel back to the same train station at about 9pm where she would pick us up and bring us back home. Upon reaching home, we would find the tables set with a vast array of food ready to be devoured by two ravenous guys. The evenings used to be amazing as Obachan, Kevin and I chatted jovially about the day's happenings and the things that we saw and did in the cities that we went to.
Day 1- Travelled from Sinagpore to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. Travelled from Osaka to Toyonaka (The place where Obachan and Ojichan live)
Day 2- Explored Osaka City- Osaka Castle, Namba Shopping Arcade, Yodobashi Camera
Day 3- Explored Nara- Spiritual Journey, Lots of temples, Wild deer all over the place. Great Buddha Statue, I fell sick and puked at one of the temples
Day 4- Explored Kobe- Kobe Harbour, Kevin had Kobe Beef, Huge Shopping Arcade, Ate Okonomiyaki with Keiko-san (Ruriko's mother)
Day 5- Explored Kyoto- Visited the Golden Temple, Went through a traditional Japanese tea drinking ceremony, Shopped somemore
Day 6- Went to the mountain called Koyasan- Took a train there, Hiked up, Beautifully adorned with hundreds of temples and a huge cemetry, Took a cable car on the way down, Kevin fell sick just as I recovered
Day 7- Went to Kyoto once more for more shopping and some areas that we had not visited the previous time
Day 8- Went to Monkey Mountain with Obachan, Did some random shopping at Namba and reserved train tickets to Kyushu.
Day 9- Set off via the Shinkansen (bullet train) for Kyushu island. Went to Oita and saw the celebration of the Matsuri festival there. Lodged at Hotel Hokeru Club for the night.
Day 10- Went to Beppu to meet up with some Japanese friends. Ryo, Yumi, Shin and Takashi. Visited APU (Asia Pacific University), Met Edwin Tay, Played bowling, played with fireworks
Day 11- Visited the rest of Oita. Travelled back from Kyushu to Osaka
Day 12- Went back to Kobe for more shopping. Met up with Shin-San for dinner. Played UFO catcher and won the whole machine
Day 13- Went with Obachan to random places around Osaka for shopping
Day 14- Travelled back to Singapore (Transit from Kansai to Taipei to Hong Kong and finally Singapore)
This is really the roughest skeleton of what we did over there. Japan is really amazing. The place to be. Kevin and I have already signed a pact to visit Tokyo and Hokaiddo the next time we visit Japan.
After thinking for about half an hour and applying each and everyone of my linguistic abilities, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to describe the unforgettable experience of the trip by mere words. Just pure magic. I'll just give a brief description of what we did and hopefully the pictures on facebook will speak the rest of my mind.
On the 24th of Aug 2008 at 11am, Kevin and I flew to Japan on Cathay Pacific. I wouldn't say it was the best plane ride I had though it was good. The standard of the food was not that bad either.
Upon landing in Japan, we were picked up by our Japanese friend's grandmother who drove us to her house where we lodged at for 12 nights out of the 14 nights that we spent in Japan.
We were splendidly taken care of by Ruriko's grandparents who had a very very nice house. Our breakfasts and dinners were cooked for us (Authentic homemade Japanese food).
A typical day began at about 8am where we had breakfast with Obachan and Ojichan after freshening up. Obachan ( As we addressed the grandmother ) then drove us to the nearest train station everyday for us to take the train to our desired destination. At the end of the day we would travel back to the same train station at about 9pm where she would pick us up and bring us back home. Upon reaching home, we would find the tables set with a vast array of food ready to be devoured by two ravenous guys. The evenings used to be amazing as Obachan, Kevin and I chatted jovially about the day's happenings and the things that we saw and did in the cities that we went to.
Day 1- Travelled from Sinagpore to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. Travelled from Osaka to Toyonaka (The place where Obachan and Ojichan live)
Day 2- Explored Osaka City- Osaka Castle, Namba Shopping Arcade, Yodobashi Camera
Day 3- Explored Nara- Spiritual Journey, Lots of temples, Wild deer all over the place. Great Buddha Statue, I fell sick and puked at one of the temples
Day 4- Explored Kobe- Kobe Harbour, Kevin had Kobe Beef, Huge Shopping Arcade, Ate Okonomiyaki with Keiko-san (Ruriko's mother)
Day 5- Explored Kyoto- Visited the Golden Temple, Went through a traditional Japanese tea drinking ceremony, Shopped somemore
Day 6- Went to the mountain called Koyasan- Took a train there, Hiked up, Beautifully adorned with hundreds of temples and a huge cemetry, Took a cable car on the way down, Kevin fell sick just as I recovered
Day 7- Went to Kyoto once more for more shopping and some areas that we had not visited the previous time
Day 8- Went to Monkey Mountain with Obachan, Did some random shopping at Namba and reserved train tickets to Kyushu.
Day 9- Set off via the Shinkansen (bullet train) for Kyushu island. Went to Oita and saw the celebration of the Matsuri festival there. Lodged at Hotel Hokeru Club for the night.
Day 10- Went to Beppu to meet up with some Japanese friends. Ryo, Yumi, Shin and Takashi. Visited APU (Asia Pacific University), Met Edwin Tay, Played bowling, played with fireworks
Day 11- Visited the rest of Oita. Travelled back from Kyushu to Osaka
Day 12- Went back to Kobe for more shopping. Met up with Shin-San for dinner. Played UFO catcher and won the whole machine
Day 13- Went with Obachan to random places around Osaka for shopping
Day 14- Travelled back to Singapore (Transit from Kansai to Taipei to Hong Kong and finally Singapore)
This is really the roughest skeleton of what we did over there. Japan is really amazing. The place to be. Kevin and I have already signed a pact to visit Tokyo and Hokaiddo the next time we visit Japan.
...aNgeLs BrOuGhT mE HeRe...
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