Japan Season 2 Ep 02 : 関西の旅 · 京都

It means, Travelling to Kansai, specifically Kyoto.

Kansai chiho literally means the west region of Honshu Island, it includes several cities like Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe etc. While Tokyo, Chiba, Gunma, Kanagawa, Tochigi etc are of Kanto chiho, the East region.

Kyoto was formerly the imperial capital of Japan. It is also called 'The City of Ten Thousand Shrines'. because it has THAT many of shrines (how do i put this.. err japanese temple hahaha!)

We only allocated 1 day for Kyoto in this trip, because my sister and i thought that it would be boring, as there's nowhere to go, but Ten Thousands of Shrines. HAHAHA! However at the end of the trip, the place i miss the most is Kyoto. It's such a beautiful city. They don't have wide metro coverage, because Kyoto is somehow like a 'preserved city' in Japan. It is old (but still city-er than most of the places in KL), they don't have metro coverage all around the city, their main transportation is by bus, or cycling.

cold but sunny day :)

We left my sister's apartment at 6am, board the Shinkansen (aka the bullet train) at Shinjuku.

ahh, everyone's first time on shinkansen, including my sister. because the fare is soooooo WOW. expensive. i forgot how much it costs, but it is cheaper to take their domestic flights than to take the train. That is why when i were to travel alone from Tokyo to Osaka last time, i took the flight but not the train. However there is no airport in Kyoto. Connecting buses are also available for those who wanted to travel across Japan, it's the cheapest option among all three, but not too much than domestic flights too. They are all overnight buses, you board the bus at night, arrive next morning. Quite comfortable and spacious i would say. but we didnt take the bus because we thought of my dad. he would complaint all day and all night if we brought him onto a 8-hrs bus ride after a 7-hrs flight. HAHAHHA! so, yeah. Shinkansen.

Japan railways (JR) has offered some foreigner/tourist passes which are definitely worth-the-price for people who will be travelling across japan in 2-3 weeks. (you get it back if you travel 3-4 times on shinkansen)
>>> JR Pass
*Pass must be purchased before the arrival to Japan (thru travel agencies)
*Pass cannot be used for Shinkansen- Nozomi trains (the fastest train among the 3 types of shinkansen Train)

Walao, i have crapped so much on just Shinkansen as if im really giving travelling advice.. LOL back to our day in Kyoto.

but Shinkansen is really fast and comfortable and punctual. (well, all transports in japan are punctual).
[Tip : you can choose numbered seating / free seating in the train, number seating costs around 5000yen (~RM100) extra.]
[Tip : there's vending machine in the train =P ]

Arrived at Kyoto station at around 10am? met up with Chia Sik, my sister's senior who's studying in Kyoto. He's our tour guide for the day. Put down our bags in the hotel and started the day.
First thing, EAT. We have to eat. HAHAHHAA WE ARE HUNGRY BECAUSE IT'S COLD and WE NEED TO EAT ALL THE TIME. yeah. especially my dad.

so we headed back to Kyoto Station and find food there. There's a hugeeeee Shopping street/mall inside/beside/linked/opposite to the station. Headed to the JR Kyoto Isetan, at the 10th floor, there's this "Ramen Street" which serves 8 types of different Ramen from different region in Japan.

Kyoto Ramen Koji address :
10F Kyoto Station Bldg., Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori, Shiokoji sagaru, Shimogyo-ku
Official Website ( Japanese)
Simply asked Uncle Google and got this short Review

we've always been fans of tonkatsu ramen, but this time we chose to try the Tokushima style (don't know what, we just eenie-meenie-miney-mo)

camwhore spotted :P hahhah

i was trying to photobomb him at the back and he scolded me :(

the signature looooooooong staircase and escalators leading to a garden on the 11th floor

First stop after lunch is.....

Fushimi Inari Taisha

>> (伏見稲荷大社)

basically our trip to Kyoto is to visit some of the interesting shrines, where Chia Sik thought that we should be seeing. As sister has asked him to guided us and so we were too lazy (and busy) to do research like we always do for our family trips.

this could be a better family picture..but it's okay haha not too bad.

(like those i had with Doraemon wtf yes i still couldn't let it go)

the Kitsune (Fox) around the shrine. Read from the net, the Fox is believed to be the Shinto (God of Rice)'s messengers. and yes this is one of the shrines dedicated to Shinto (aka inari.)

im thinking of the inari sushi.

here's the main thing about the Taisha. they have alot (seriously) of these orange thingy called the torii gates donated by the people.

in the Japanese temple/ shrines, people get the 'divination', nehh, those numbered stick in a container, and you shake until one of the stick falls, and get a note according to the number.

In Japan, if people get a 'bad note', they tie it up and left it at the temple.

If it's a 'good note', bring it home.

rather than having the normal wishing card, the Taisha has this cute fox face wooden board.

who posed better? :P

or who took a better picture/ hahaah

tried to do what the local people do for prayers and lucks.

Most of the temples have put up an "instructions board" nearby where tourists/visitors can do it by following the instructions.

it involves just rinsing your hands separately (in correct order, i forgot, left then right if not right then left. HAHAHHA), then pour some water on your hand and drink it.

a random shot on our way out.

it was a huge shrine, where you can actually 'hike' your way up to the hill. but of course we didn't do that. hahhaha

SEE WHAT I FOUND ON THE STREET OUTSIDE THE SHRINE!!! 

i'm always in love with this taiyaki also it's variation. but this is the first time seeing this :D

he 'opened' the yaki's mouth so that he can stuff in ingredients later. haha

the stall offers a few different ice cream flavor and fruits.

we had matcha + redbean and banana + chocolate

(these combinations are about perfect for me. hehehe)

however, it tastes just so-so. ngek. nvm, worth a try. for it's cute figure.

hello everyone, im on the bus! =D

their bus has very limited legs room. the spacious ones are the very last row, and priority seats

my knees hurt so bad after the ride.

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)

>> 金閣寺 

To enter the temple, visitors are required to 'buy' a 'charm', which make it more or less like the admission fee instead. It costs 400 yen per person, they offered student price for high school students also.

Nothing much about this, just that the upper 2 floors, are covered by golden leaf. (real gold)

We can only see it from far, which means we can't get to see the interior ourselves.

Instead of looking at the building, i find myself enjoyed spending time at the 'park' more. It is a very beautiful park for me. hahaha! all the pinaceae + chilling weather.

No one gets a good picture at this place because it's either we'll be too dark, or the kinkakuji being overexposed at the back. hahahah!

they named this plant(s) as "Boat of the Land"

im just ..LOL-ed

oh btw there's also a Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion in kyoto, we didn't go :P

Headed to Kiyomizu-dera straight because we were running out of time, the temple closes at 5pm!

Again, we took a bus and then walk up a steep road/walkway. Looooong and steeeep no kidding. It's exactly like walking up in FRIM. but you have food stalls around.

You confirm get to try their signature & traditional food in Kyoto, the Yatsuhashi, a soft and mochi-like snacks.

and here we are, the Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)

right timing for the beautiful sunset.

The thing to see in Kiyomizu-dera is their architecture. It's on the hill side and yeah, brilliant architecture using some kind of wood that only YX can spell them out.

And that's the end of the temples hopping trip in Kyoto.

We can't visit more because most of the temple close around 5-6pm.

So after Kiyomizu-dera, we squeezed in a very very crowded bus and went to the maiko experience place.

You know maiko...?

yeah...... we did that. HAHAHHA

After the maiko experience, time for dinner! we were really hungry after the maiko thingy.

Went back to the station and looking for restaurants at the underground streets.

i am that kind of person, who can't decide what to eat all the time. So i'm always happy if i see something like 'mix plate' etc on the menu i.e. i get to eat a few different things. HAHAHAH im a pigggg

The restaurant serves mainly pork, but their pork has got NO pork taste, at all. i swear, NOT AT ALL. yums :D

sister's Galaxy S3 has got this receiver for streaming TV. 

hahahahha it's cute but funny! but most of the phones in japan has got this additional receiver.

Buhbye Chia Sik. Thank you so much for your time =)

Before and when i was in Kyoto, i never thought that this city would give me this much impact. I don't know anymore words i can use to describe the city, and also the feeling it gave me. The people in Kyoto are different from the people in Osaka & Tokyo, they are more friendly. The whole environment & ambiance are like nowhere to compare. It's peaceful. I feel the peace inside out. It probably has got some power/magic that makes me fall in love with the city, so hard. and I told myself, i'll be there again. 

***Next up >> Japan Season 2 Ep 03 : 関西の旅 · 大阪

Japan Season 2 Ep 01 : ようこそ！

So here it is. supposed to be revising/ doing my 1000 word reflective (due 23rd May) / doing my AIR topic for Endocrine module (due 16th May). i dont fking know what's the AIR topic description talking about -.-

duhh, what?? are we now doing Bsc BioMed ? or we are in R&D department for some companies? screw this shit la IMU.

i don't know what product contains what, i just use/eat. i don't care.

*****

So i went to Japan during CNY this year, because we couldn't celebrate/give out angpau. So my dad decided to go and visit my sister lor. Yes, it was just RIGHT BEFORE my End of Semester 2 Final exam. Thank God for letting me pass OK-ly.

We had our reunion dinner as usual on 30th night, the cny eve. Just a simple dinner, nothing fancy but still tasty. hahah!
At around 12am i went to jia yin's house. that was a reaaaallly random plan. HAHA! Spent the night at her house playing lami until 5am and then JY belanja mcd breakfast cause she won alot. Just JY, Ritchie, Oh Yeen and I. it wasn't boring at all because we have jia yin there ;D

Got home around 6am, took a 30mins nap and jeng jeng.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR~

get ready and left for airport. Flight at 1050.

After we left our house for like 3 mins, just got out of the guard house, my mom shouted. HAHAHA! yes she did. because she forgot to bring the 'lou sang' materials. Yes we actually tapau the ingredients to Japan to 'lou' with my sister. She hasn't been home for cny for 3 years..? meaning she haven't 'lou sang' for 3 years.

Say hello to naked duffy.

HAHA! duffy loves daddy. we were having some light bfast at oldtown.

 

looking good, brother. HAAH! this is my first time wearing a jeans on board. also my first time not wearing a slippers. Because if i were to keep this pair of boots into my luggage, it takes up alot of space. HAHA! still get to wear new shirt ;)

#GermanyFTW 

It was a 6-7 hours long flight. Of course we all get bored. I don't usually sleep on the plane. Watched all kinds of film/drama. Thanks Malaysia Airlines. always have awesome films but i think you guys need to update and change the list more. I have been seeing Batman series for like 3 years? i understand it's an awesome movie but.... it's okay i still have something else to watch.

My brother and i also hooked onto the congkak game. I was surprised when my brother told me that he haven't seen/play congkak before. OMG, HOW COULD YOU. i loved to play congkak although i wasn't really good at it. it was like 12years ago anyways.. hahaha! Glad he had fun playing congkak. It's one fabulous traditional game after all.

 

had some vain shots with mini duffy. the first one wasn't being kidnap, we were just giving him the sleep mask =P

I brought duffy to Japan along because

(i) going to Disney

(ii) wanted to gave him an photo album (which i ended up being lazy to do that because it's too tiny. should have brought the bigger one there.)

So after the smooth landing at Narita Airport, Tokyo at around 7pm+ local time, we had some trouble at the immigration.

We left the 'address in Japan' column blank in our immigration card, my parents and i went through nicely but my brother. Don't know why he so lucky, got stopped and asked about the address. My smart daddy told the immigration officer 'I don't know which hotel we'll be staying yet.' And there it goes, the officer kept on asking 'what do you mean?' Then my dad asked me to go and save my brother. I was like, whattt. So then i told that lady we will be staying at my sister's apartment in Chofu. She insisted the full address. Fine. Fine. FINE. Luckily my mom actually copied down my sister's address in her little notebook, we showed the lady and she said, "Fill it in, on the card." So i grabbed the pen. But she stopped me with a very rude tone, "Not you, please wait out there." waddafuq. i swear right.....this is the rudest Japanese i've ever encountered.

But we're anak Malaysia, we are used to it. *wink*

Got our luggages and met Desmond right outside the arrival hall. I simply put on a sweater and gooooo. (which i realized later, a very, very, very, bad idea.) It was 2'C that night.

After taking the trains for about 2 hours, (yes, switching the lines and all), we finally got to the Chofu station. Walked against the strong wind for 5mins arrived at my sister's tiny crib.

my sister's house. HAHA. my brother was sitting on the single bed next to the balcony sliding door, and im standing at the 'entrance' to the room. Outside the room is a short and narrow walkway where toilet, 1 stove kitchen, sink, washing machine located. Argh, so difficult to describe. failed english writing. In short, the whole unit, is like ..of a same size as my room? Imagine all 5 of us lived there for 10 days. HAHAHAH!! 

put down our stuffs and prepared to lou sang :D 

eh wait, forgot about the salmon.

Put down our stuffs and prepared to lou sang! :D (again)

hahahaha! so yeah, had steamboat on that small table as dinner. we all were so hungarehhh. the train ride was too long T_T and cold.

Sister bought taufu for the steamboat, it's the smooth white taufu. OHMAIGOD, no joke, it's SOOOOOOO smooth. fell in love with the taufu so much. and Desmond said the taufu costs only 38yen. not even RM1 can get such smooth taufu?! walaoo unfair! 

 Ngaw, tired. cleaned up and sleep. We're heading to Kyoto the next morning.

***Next up >> Japan Season 2 Ep 02 : 関西の旅 · 京都

hahaha im so gonna spam my blog weih.

Labour Day

It's Labour day! Holiday. It is in the recognition of mothers who were in pain while giving birth. So Give your mum a kiss, treat her a dinner? No im not mixing up with Mother's day.

haha, just kidding.
i came across with this tweet my senior has posted and i found it funny. LOL

When someone asked me why i no blog, there only i realized i only have 1 post in April, and we're stepping into May today! omfg, sem 3 is ending soon.

So yanxian, why you no blog????  muahahahha

Have just got back to uni this week, and then here's the long weekend :)

lately im trying to get myself back onto studies, hoping to get at least a B in EOS 3. I attended the cheerleading practice on Monday, it was my first time and they made me fly up in the sky. I was hesitating because i thought i am heavy (and i was scared) -.- but Jimmy just pulled me there and made me jumped up..and there's goes my first time standing SO. DAMN. HIGH. i screamed my lungs out when i straightened my legs because i was scared -____- jimmy laughed at me when he was holding my one foot and he giggles OHMAIGOD stupid Jimmy! but shit. HOLY SHIT i did it. HAHAHAHHA 

Didn't do much that day because it was our first practice and i left early. it was fun. And until now my pectoralis are still aching. strained too much while holding myself up on the guys' shoulder. Some form of gym. sigh to my lousy arm strength.

Welllllll. I shall see how my studies go and decide whether to continue taking part in cheer or not. Because i want to join a few more events this year as this will be my last IMU cup, perhaps. or maybe i could still join while waiting for pms next year.

But i believe when there's a will, there's a way. GOGOGO.

******

i planned to blog a lil before i start studying, but before i blog i went onto some online boutiques. Saw this tank top. OMG hahahaha i want to wear this to uni!!!

From Tobi.com

******

Went to Sekeping Serendah retreat. Somewhere further up from Rawang again. 
Nothing much because it was raining. just chill and relax. muahaha.
Here's the box i stayed for the night. standing up alone in the jungle.

here's the toilet~!! YES it's OPEN AIR.

So you get fresh air and nice view when you shit, and feel the breeze when you shower. HAHAHA! it was cold but they have water heater. Hot and cold so it's quite kimochi. XDXD

Serendah waterfall

It was a weekday morning so no one was there. nyahahah. but the waterfall itself was quite disappointing lah. lol

********

teehee. camwhoreee

*******

seriously got nothing to blog about man. :( 

Went to Mitatsu Japanese Buffet restaurant with YX and brother 2 weeks back ( i guess?)

it was supposed to be a date with yx and ph, but ph can't make it suddenly, so i dragged my brother there lo since i've booked for 3 person already.

I was all ready to hunt down the salmon sashimi since morning. but when we were otw to the restaurant i didn't feel good. That "I'm falling sick soon" feeling. Feel heaty and tired all of a sudden. All in my head was, OMG, please at least let me finish the dinner first.

But i didn't make it =(

Such loser. haiz. didn't have the appetite to pay back the buffet price.

their sashimi.. it was so thick and fresh :3 

Stupid body why you fall sick at the wrong timing??

the oyster. their oysters are not 'fat', but it's quite fresh looo

had only 1 piece. i dont fancy oyster actually haha!

Ate a bit then i KO already. i was like so dying and didnt get to eat any chawanmushi too :( 
FAILED
FAILED TTM 

die die already but selfie can never be a problem :)

eventho we both look like shit that day. HAHAH! still gonna take!

my brother was so annoyed by us because we kept on interrupting him eating, asking him to take 1007492398 pics of us.

#OOTN

And yes, the fever came when we were still at the dinner place. So sad that my brother still couldn't drive. I even think that steering is difficult that night.

Measured my tympanic temperature and it showed 38.9 degree celcius. I was like, "walao..that's high." I never had such high fever since a century ago. i just felt so uneasy that night.

Took some paracetamol and sleep. at about 1am i sweated them all out, fever has gone, but i started to have diarrhoea -.- damn. What a weekend for me. LOL

******

LIFE'S A BOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

endocrine.

April #1

YELLOOOWWWWW

currently addicted to slack at this corner in my room. Finally there's space again to fit my ass in.

lalalalallala, lalalallalala, IT'S HOLIDAYS FINALLY. Finally man. finally.

haven't been on a break since we finished CVS module in October. Except for the study break during cny. but of course we don't consider it as a 'break' at all.

before heading to the case discussion this afternoon. i am back at gymmmmmm booyah. and here's the 'Girls being girls' :P

i got so lazy to gym larr. so lazy to get tired you know? hahaha! but i want to make it an activity that i'll do regularly. okay. So here goes my first #2014Resolution 

Wells oh wells. Actually i was having a one week blank last week. Because, to be exact, this month is the Clinical rotation month. Everyone will go to KKB (Kuala Kubu Bahru) for posting and have some csu sessions in one of the weeks. so my group has just ended this evening.

We all departed to KKB on Sunday afternoon, wandering around for the rest of the day, and woke up early like shit to wait for washroom. HAHA but i still wake up at 7am while the bus picking us up to hospital comes at 7.30am =D 

It was a nice and chilling suburban area further up from Rawang. I take it as a class trip with the newly-formed KKB gang. You know, i am kind of anti-social/social awkward. when i first saw the list, i don't see anyone i know in my group, and i got nervous about it, didn't feel like going, etc etc. But after choosing the room, everything changed. HAHAHHA! 

Spent two days in the hospital, Talking to patients and trying to get their history, if we are lucky we get to examine the patient as well. Then case discussion with Dr Yeo..Afternoon teaching session with the doctors at Hospital KKB, and also we take turn to spend time at the A&E department.

Learning experience was fun and interesting. because we finally got to see real patients, with positive physical findings! (its so boring to examine a simulated patient.) I have also benefited a lot from the doctor's teaching session. We discussed cases and looked at the patient's presentation etc.

I will definitely love to stay longer, if the canteen serves better food. LOL i can't tahan anymore eating the EXACT same thing for bfast and lunch (2days straight). But on the second day i realized they are selling mee rebus. gave it a try, not too bad, at least it's something different. hahaha! 

#RoommatesSelfie

and because we are in one group, so this week we are hanging out together all the time. Somehow we called ourselves the weight-gaining-gang. We havent stopped eating since KKB. 

Headed out for brunch during the 5 hours break between video recording and peer review. and OMG, OMG, someone mentioned BR and we realized 'oh it's pink day!' and then turned back to sri Petaling and, there we go, our Journey to Obesity! YAY! 

***************

March 28th 2014 : 

Attended the MPYO concert < Shall We Dance>

i like this photo because i dont look big standing beside a small boy! hahahhaha! 

the two small boys. being only 19 and 20 this year. Screw you SPM, Screw you A levels, Screw you.

my selfie for that day. HAHAH! was in the fitting room trying out something and when it went 'nayyy'....

Like the white dress very much. but they are out of XS =(

And have always wanted to buy a long jumpsuit. but they are ALWAYS, ALWAYS too long. *crying at the corner* or too loose. haizzz whyyyy where to gettttt? 

**********

Formula One Grand Prix Malaysia 2014 is over. In case you forgot who won the race...

Im such a fat ass T_T