Japan, Tokyo Honeymoon 31st Mar - 6th Apr 2008

baby was lucky to be able to travel with us to Tokyo!

First, I shall start off this post with a big "FINALLY!!!" After months of waiting, and years of waiting for my dear juju, our long waited honeymoon vacation is upon us! It had always been juju's wish to be able to set foot onto Japanese land! And here we are now, at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Our flight was at 2340H, we were early for some dinner. As you can see, we bought our baby son around! Yes! its kinda funny, but bluey baby Stitch here is our adopted son, heh.

juju diggin in

We proceeded for dinner at this Dian Xiao Er(店小二) chinese restaurant, and I swear to myself, I will never set foot into their doors again. First, their food didn't taste good, its edible, but its not good enough to be of restaurant standards. Second, everything is expensive! Imagine we ordered only Tofu, Vegetables, Prawns, and a single portion bowl of winter melon soup, anyway all the dishes ordered were small sizes. And the whole dinner cost us a whopping 60 over dollars ok! I have to deny their plate of peanuts just to waive $2.50 off the bill. Cut throat! Rip off! Boo!

our passports

Ok this is our pass ports la. By the way do not not bring your pirated LV( at least do not show it to them) across the Japan customs, I think its illegal in their country. I mean, its illegal everywhere but I seldom come across a country having posters in their airports telling people its an offence to carry imitation products. Better be safe yea?

dear, this few men are the pilots right?

Here we are! after a long flight, but I should say its a rather comfortable one considering its SQ. Its not that their seats are of any difference with budget airlines, but they've got an entertainment console. However, SIA's customer service in the economy cabin is quite sub standard, not the type I would expect. I am expecting same service standards in all cabins, as service should not be something to be differentiated by what class you are travelling in what. Upon arrival we are to walk a very very long route leading to the customs, and we were informed before hand that it was 6 degree celsius and raining outside. Things were getting exciting for us.

purchasing the keisei skyliner tickets

At last, the long queues at the customs are over, we had collected our luggages and are now purchasing railway express tickets to our hotel location in Tokyo central, Ueno(上野). It costs 1000Yen per person, which adds up to SGD 14.00. It was rather confusing at first as the airport was very very big, lucky for us, juju could read some simple japanese and most of the counter staff can speak simple english.

the 0849H skyliner bound for Ueno

We arrived in Narita at around 0730H. The screen is showing the timings of the available Keisei Line express trains. We bought tickets bound for the 0849H ride. So it took more than an hour just to clear the customs. Headache..

2 tiny tickets. you insert them alike farecards

Here juju is holding 2 train ride tickets! The air around us feels chilly but not cold yet. We proceed to tug our luggages along to the train platform.

their gantry are quite wide

This is very much like our Singaporean MRT gantry, only that the gate opens outwards. Unlike the Singapore version, they poke you in the ribs if you do not cross fast enough. In Japan at most the thing slaps on your hips. Kids get a broken nose though.

Our luggages. The one on the left belongs to juju.

finally we get to sit down!

Here am I, taking a short break. Had to drag the two luggages around, sometimes there is a need to carry them onto the escalator.

juju very relaxed

It will be a few minutes before the train departs, we took the time to rest our legs.

inside the skyliner

Eventually, we boarded the train, along with alot of tourists and locals. It will be another 1.5 hour ride until we reached Ueno. There was nothing much to do in the train, except to sleep, or take an occasional peek outside the windows. The skies were grey and it was pouring pretty badly. We did not know what to expect still, and we just hung close and sat tight. The train will occasionally stop at certain places, but until we are at Ueno, our holiday is far from beginning.

Unfortuntate for us, upon arrival at Ueno, we got a nasty welcome! Remember the down pour I was talking about!? After 1.5 hours, it was still on! Unable to find the correct exit out of the train station, and without the slightest clue, we were in for a 6 degrees rendevous. Me and juju stood at the exit, looking at the morning streets of Ueno. Every breath we took let off vapour, and the wind was gustling like nobody's business. It was foolish of me not to bring any winter wear. I knew of the already low temperature in Japan, but I never quite expected a rain would bring the temperature down by 10 degrees. Left without a choice, we opened our luggages and fished out our most warming attire and put them on. I asked juju to buy an umbrella from the station while I muster strength to carry the 2 big luggages one by one down a flight of stairs. It ain't easy to pull this off I tell you, especially in the cold where the frosty wind simply seeps into your shaky bones. Juju came back with a 1000Yen umbrella, the most expensive I bought in 27 years. We decided to go head on with the rain. With the umbrella, its impossible for 2 people to be taking cover under it, and at the same time tugging 2 luggages along at the same time. I did the most crazy thing, I will single handedly drag the luggages along, while juju takes cover. She will shield me if the situation allows. Did I mention I was still nursing a recently sprained ankle? That didn't matter. It was so freezingly cold that it numbed away any discomfort. For the next 45minutes or so, poor juju and me went under the rain in search of our hotel. It was supposed to be 10minutes away from the train station. If you knew where it was that is.

their bento can be very appealing

This picture was taken in a store called Lawson. Its the equivalent of the 7-11, only much better. It was quite a painful experience. The air felt thin and made us feeling out of breath without effort. Lucky for us, we found the hotel after crossing an overpass. Within some turns here and there, we found what we were looking for, New Izu Hotel(新竹). As the check in timing was 1500 hours, we left our luggage in custody with the friendly lady receptionist called Akiko and her colleague, and proceeded to find some food for our cold stomach. Conveniently, Lawson is situated right beside our small hotel, and with it comes along salvation.

beat your sakae sushi anytime

Look at all the packaged bento(便当) and onigiri(饭团)! I tell you, this is a must try at their 24hour stores. Many different flavours to choose from, all at affordable prices, around 140Yen each. Grab three and you are in for a gratifying treat! For drinks, we bought 120Yen coffee and tea from their vending machines. Vending machines litter the whole of Japan, you don't have an excuse to be thirsty or forggetting your cigs. Up till today juju is still missing their onigiri, and I could deeply feel for that. If you still think Singapore is well deserved of their name as a food paradise, humble yourself with their 24hour store onigiri. You might even feel ashamed.

draining water in preparation from fried ramen

I bought myself Japanese instant noodles, and they tasted godly. I think the japanese makes the most delicious instant noodles. Even the Thais must stand one side with their heavily ajinomoto-ed noodles. You drain off the water through a special opening, lather the springy noodles with aromatic shoryu(酱油), doused the black and yellow combination with a dash of green sencha(煎茶) seasoning, presto! You had just made yourself a bowl of Japanese style fried noodles with complete with pork slices inside!

-------to be continued.....