First of all, Happy New Year guys =D

Been receiving few spamming comments here and there ever since I stopped updating this blog.

So here I am~

A few YUI-related updates:

1. I will continue the translation ROCKIN' ON JAPAN interview after May, if no one is doing. Now I have to focus on graduating.

2. I will sell off ALL my YUI stuff, to fund myself for upcoming Europe trip. Now it is open for booking, I will post up relevant information after the thesis madness.

3. I dropped my HDD the other day and I have to say that all my YUI stuff is GONE now. And pictures in Japan. Sad case.

Happy YUI-ing.

This is the loongggg delayed second part of my Tohoku & Hokkaido trip on 24 December 2008. Part 1 is here. This post has something to do with YUI.

Christmas eve. I reached Sapporo (札幌) around 6 in the morning. It was still in complete darkness, and I had 3 hours to kill before meeting up with my friend from Otaru (小樽). Lawson saved me from wandering around Sapporo alone.


I love Lawson.

I camped inside Lawson, brushed teeth, washed face, and charged my phone until the sun rise. While waiting for my friend to come, I decided to go visit Hokkaido University on my own. It is just 10 mins away from Sapporo station.


It took me more than 10 mins to have the courage and asked someone to take this picture of me outside Hokkaido University. Unlike the university tour in Singapore, I don't have any connections in Hokkaido University, so I was just wandering around.

In Sapporo, you can 'clear' all the so called tourist spots in half day. I don't know much about Sapporo, I only wanted to go Hitsuji-ga-oka (Hill of sheep), and the place where YUI did street live.


Me and Sae in front of clock tower. I knew her through mixi and Shiina Ringo. She didn't really want to take photos because she was afraid that her friends might see her doing such tourist-y thing in her home town. Don't be fooled by the picture, this 'famous' clock tower is actually in between two high buildings.

On our way to my hotel, I 'passed by' the place where YUI did her street live while she was on I LOVED YESTERDAY tour thanks to my guide.



Google サンドラッグ 狸小路２丁目店 (SUNDRUG store in Susukino) or 名取川靴店 to find the exact location.

Tanukikouji (狸小路) is a famous shopping arcade near subway Susukino (すすきの) station. Actually you can walk from Sapporo station as well. Btw Susukino is a famous red light district in Sapporo too.





Sapporo is famous for its miso ramen. After checking in my hotel which is located near red light districts (sorry mom), we went to have miso ramen.


Not really my type because the taste was too strong (濃い). I don't really like ramen anyway. Not extra toppings even though it was char siu-less, still costed the same, they really don't know how to please the customer =/

And then we were off to see Hitsuji-ga-oka (羊ヶ丘) mentioned in YUI Diary. We went to Fukuzumi station (福住) and took a bus to there.


BOYS BE AMBITIOUS!! Dr. Koto anyone? I wore like 4 layers on top and 2 bottom, so pardon the fat aunty look.

Actually that was the first time in my life seeing so much snow, and seeing sheeps.


Not a bad place but besides seeing Dr. Clark and sheeps, there's nothing much left.


Those freaking sheeps ignored me completely by showing their @sses.

Next, Sae's home town, Otaru (小樽), which is 30 mins away from Sapporo by train. Love Letter anyone? (never watched it before though)


Go see this river/canal, and you can tell everyone that you've been to Otaru. Someone told me that he likes this place a lot though. It is quite different from Sapporo I must say.

The train to Otaru was included in the Hokkaido & Tohoku pass.

Nobody wants to spend Christmas Eve alone, especially in Japan. Luckily I found out that another bunch of Waseda students were coming here and decided to meet up with them in Otaru. And thanks to Sae, my first ever lone trip wasn't that lonely after all ;)


They only 'group' photo I have. I was checking the phone. From left: US/Canada, Australia/HK, Taiwan/SG, Malaysia. Camerawoman: UK/Japan/Korea. Another US girl was hiding.

It took us a while to meet up each other in Otaru because my guide was lost, in her home town lol. They wanted to have crab buffet (4000 yen) for dinner. Since I'm stingy, I chose to go back to hotel and had food from convenient store. On my way back, I saw this radio station in Sapporo station.


RAD's radio station. Maybe YUI has been here before?

After spending two nights in the train, seeing this bed was a huge relief.


My only 'real accommodation' for this 5 day trip (3675 yen). Come to think of it, in my whole life, I don't really get to stay in such fancy hotels that often.

Fell asleep after having a super long hot shower (I supported Earth Hour yesterday).

End of day 3.

Part 1: Tohoku & Hokkaido Trip Day 1 & 2 - Niigata, Yamagata, Akita, Aomori

Part two of Shizuoka one day trip. Part 1 is here.

After having lunch, we took orange train to this place called Shimada (島田).


Orange!!

Shimada has this world's longest wooden bridge called Horai Bridge (蓬莱橋).


Guinness Record of longest wooden pedestrian bridge, 897.422 metres.

From Shimada Station, it takes about 15 mins walk to reach Horai Bridge.



It takes another 20 mins to cross the bridge. World's longest wooden pedestrian bridge of course it is quite long.


The other side of Horai Bridge, there is another hiking trail here, but we already had enough in Satta Pass so...

And another 20 mins back to the starting point, plus another 15 mins to go back to Shimada station. Total: 75 mins of walk. It depends how fast you walk though.


Shimada station looks very new.

If I were alone, I won't come here for sure. Any place which takes more than 15 mins of walk will be a no for me. Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka is 15 mins away from subway, that's why I didn't go there ops =x

Then we went to Bentenjima (弁天島), which is three stops away from Hamamatsu (浜松), Shizuoka's largest city, to see this floating Torii.


This is Shizuoka, not Hiroshima.

The wind was super strong and crazy, so we cancelled our plan to see the sunset and went back to Hamamatsu station, and took train all the way back to Tokyo. We reached Takadanobaba station at around 10:30 pm. That sums up our long day trip.

My pedometer stated that we have walked for a grand total of 21 km.


YUI, happy 22 birthday and welcome back!!

Expenditure:
1. Seishun 18 ticket: 2300 yen
2. Food (Curry rice and other crap): 1030 yen
3. Entrance for Horai Bridge: 100 yen
Total: 3430 yen

Takadanobaba (高田馬場) -> Okitsu (興津) -> Yui (由比) -> Shimada (島田) -> Hamamatsu (浜松) -> Bentenjima (弁天島) -> Atami (熱海) -> Takadanobaba (高田馬場)

Special thanks to がりさん for providing such a detailed trip, I just followed his itinerary haha, and Megumi, Kate for accompanying me.

Next time I'm gonna see Mount Fuji!!

Since we are still celebrating YUI's Birthday, I will talk something slightly YUI related.



The first time I went passed by to Shizuoka (静岡) was on January, during my lone trip to Shikoku and Kansai.

Besides Mount Fuji and hot springs, I had no idea that Shizuoka has something to do with Chibi Maruko-chan until my junior pointed me out.

Since now it is still Seishun 18 season, when I was checking out suitable cross prefectures day/hiking trips from Tokyo for this ticket, Shizuoka prefecture was the best prefecture to visit.

Plus, I wanted to see Mount Fuji (never seen it before),

and this place called Yui (由比) is located in Shizuoka.



AND, we can see Mount Fuji from somewhere nearby Yui Station. AND it has a hiking course. Perfect place to be featured in half-banana blog on YUI's Birthday =D

Hence on March 25, 3 Bekka students from Waseda University had a day hiking trip to Shizuoka prefecture. China boy was still in China, so he couldn't participate this trip.

4:50 am: Takadanobaba (高田馬場) Station.



After one month being away from Tokyo, I was surprised to see that our beloved Takadanobaba station has new signboards! with Korean characters!!

4:58 am: Inside Yamanote line train towards Shinagawa (品川).



The best way to spend your time inside the train is to sleep.

5:23 am: Reached Shinagawa station. Every gaijin in Tokyo knows this station because the Tokyo Regional Immigration Office is here to 'provide' work permit and re-entry permit when leaving Japan temporary during your stay.



Still looking genki, good.

5:29 ~ 8:26 am: Inside the train towards Okitsu station (興津駅), Shizuoka.



Second time inside this type of train, I was kinda excited because normally this train is express type train, means more expensive. Halfway, Slovakia and Taiwan girl decided to let two uncles to sit down. Since we were sitting facing each other, I asked one of the uncle whether today we would be able to see Mount Fuji inside the train.

He answered:"Judging from today's weather, impossible."

Sad case. According to today's weather forecast, it is going to be cloudy and rain. However, another uncle comforted me that: We wouldn't know, the weather might turned better.


Damn depressed when I saw this train station. FUJI STATION. And the sky was getting darker.

No Mount Fuji from the train, what about from Satta Pass (さった峠)?

8:30 am: Okitsu Station (興津駅). RAINING.



Satta Pass (さった峠) is a mountain pass in between Okitsu and Yui Station. You can choose to hike from any station but, it is easier from Okitsu station, and the view is prettier.

Btw I think there is no such character in Chinese: 峠

Okitsu station (4 km) -> Satta Pass (3 km) -> Yui station


Signboards are everywhere so it is not that difficult to go Satta Pass without a map.

Apparently the town is having some election on March 29, we could see people 'making noises' around the streets with their beautifully decorated vans. If you guys watched CHANGE by Kimura Takuya before, you should get what I mean.


Candidate number 26 from Slovakia. Normally in Malaysia we have less than 5 candidates, different system I guess. So many of them driving around with the same looking vans, how to vote?

After walking for more than one hour, passing by countless number of mandarin orange trees, we finally reached to the top. But couldn't see mount Fuji!!!

Starting point:



Halfway:



Top:



Pardon my lousy photography skills, the scenery was really breathtaking and we were supposed to be able to see Mount Fuji as shown here. Bad luck.

Apparently three of us were the only group of people on top of Satta pass. Well, who wants to go hiking on rainy day anyway.


Mount Fuji where are you???? T.T

After hanging around and chatted for quite some time, eating mandarin oranges like ojisan does, time to go back. Now it is Sakura season so we got to see beautiful sakura along the way.


That picture with Mount Fuji makes me depressed.

It is another 3++ km journey to Yui Station. My shoes, jeans and bag were getting wet, plus not able to see Mount Fuji, I was kinda in a not-so-good mood. But, seeing YUI characters here and there definitely cheered me up ;)


YUI Manhole


YUI Pole


Yui Landsli deCenter?????

And finally, YUI STATION~!!


Taiwan girl was saying that the SMAP vending machine spoilt the whole picture.


Map nearby YUI Station.

Yui (由比) town is famous for its Sakura Prawns (桜えび), you can see sakura prawn related signs everywhere in Yui town. Since it is a small town, plus raining, it took us a while to find a operating restaurant to have lunch.



Lunch! Some restaurant opposite Yui train station.


Sakura ebi teishoku with different types of sakura ebi (1100 yen), I ordered curry rice (470 yen).

Not bad. The rain started to stop after we finished our lunch, yay.

To be continued.

Part 2: Shizuoka (Shimada, Bentenjima)

Yes I am still alive. In Shimane prefecture now.

This whole collaboration thing sounds like another marketing gimmick to me. But, at least we get to see YUI =D

In Japan, I got to meet people who have some sort of loose connection with YUI (besides Dennis haha). For example, there is this girl who has been to YUI concert for more than 3 times *jealous* Then there is this girl who is from Fukuoka, she told me that her friend's cousin's sister's whoever knows YUI, then there is this girl who has this friend in the entertainment industry who has the same manager as YUI.

She told me that, the reason YUI took such a long holiday is because that, after she got famous, people around her started to change.

Hmm, that makes sense.

Take it as a gossip. Don't believe in everything.

YUI, why you went to Okinawa before me...I am going there on March 17 bleh.

First half of my trip ended safely. I have cleared 44 prefectures, met a bunch of interesting people, learned more about Japan, wallet is getting thinner, now left Okinawa, Toyama and Ishikawa.

Before that, I will be going to Korea and Taiwan. Hopefully I get to meet other YLs in Taiwan~

Till then. Happy YUI-ing.

Quick notice, I'm off to Kyushu in 1 hour, will not be back in Tokyo at least for one month.

Kyushu -> Hiroshima (Chugoku region) -> Korea -> Taiwan -> Okinawa -> Kobe

Didn't get to go China, Hong Kong and Macau because I need visa to enter China.

If anyone happens to be around that area, do tell me!

Till then~

For bekka students, classes ended on next Monday. Which means I'm basically having my spring break now, until beginning of April.

Yesss, time to travel and clear remaining 15 prefectures. As well as finishing up my travelogue =x

I already had a basic plan on where I wanted to go BUT planning is too troublesome. Since I'm travelling alone and not by tour, I cannot not just hop into the plane and drop myself on a completely new environment, without doing any research.

Technically it is possible if we have the money. But I'm not into that kind of travelling, and I'm afraid of uncertainty, especially on somewhere which I can't speak their language. People have been questioning me on the way I travel since I put pictures of train stations most of the time. As Chris Guillebeau puts it, everyone has their own philosophy of travel.

I have my own too. Mine is try to be less tourist-ish as possible. Sitting in cars driven by local Thai people, taking double deck buses in Singapore while chatting with locals, going to onsen with people staying in the same guest house are the highlights of my trip.

1. Use as little money to travel as many places as possible. That means 30 hours train trip to Sapporo, stuck in Bangkok airport for 8 hours instead of direct flight to Japan, slept in dorm rooms with no heater, night trains/buses......
2. It would be great if I have a local as my 'personal guide'. I know, that sounds selfish. I will be yours if you come to Malaysia so it's a win-win =P
3. Tourist attractions = Crowd, so I try to go there during odd hours or not go at all.
4. I prefer sight-seeing, sceneries than buildings, shopping. Shopping isn't my thing. I like grocery shopping though.
5. I spent most of my money on food. Souvenirs I bought are mostly food too.


Sapporo has nothing much in my opinion. It's like Tokyo. For Hokkaido, half day in Sapporo is enough, I rather spend more time on buses/trains to somewhere further than wandering around/shopping/buying souvenirs in Sapporo city.

Back to my big spring lone budget trip, here's what I'm planning to. After my trip to Niigata (Feb 6-12), I plan to set of to Fukuoka on night bus or Shinkansen around Feb 19.

Fukuoka -> Korea (Busan, Seoul, Incheon) -> China (Qingdao, Shanghai, Guangzhou) -> Hong Kong (no idea where) -> Macau (since it is nearby) -> Taiwan -> Okinawa (just have to go there) -> Kagoshima -> Chugoku region -> Tokyo (beginning of April).

I'm planning to take ferry to Korea (3 hours), to China (16 hours), and to Kagoshima (25 hours OMG). Since I'm kinda green person, I try to fly as little as possible, unless flying is way cheaper. Time is not really a problem, as I still have 60 years ahead to live. As for how long I am staying in that place, it depends on whether I have cheap place to stay, who is willing to accompany me, and how much I know about the place, which needs a lot of researching.

Maybe on my way to conquer other prefectures in Japan, I might be going to watch concerts by:

Monkey Majik (Fukuoka)
Do as infinity
Base Ball Bear
GO!GO!7188
Mr. Children

If everything goes well.

So, anyone wants to show me around their places? I don't really mind anywhere as long as it is somewhere.

PS: I still haven't go to Tokyo Tower, Odaiba, and Disneyland.

Lastly, Happy New Year =D 新年快樂~

No new clothes for me this year. Having steam boat later with a bunch of Chinese.
希望大家过个好年，别吃太多哦（笑）。

Last December, I went to 5 new prefectures and spent Christmas in Hokkaido on the first week of my winter holiday (22-26 December 2008).


Sorry about the bad paint work. Hopefully you guys can decipher it. In order to step all the prefectures in Tohoku region, I had to take two different rail lines. First passing by Niigata, on way back I used the opposite route.

I spent 15090 yen on transportation (5k gone because of my stupidity), 3675 yen on accommodation (one day), 1660 yen on tourist spots, 6865 yen on food, 4115 on souvenirs (bought too much sweets), plus 1000 yen on misc stuff, total, 32,365 yen.

First I bought Hokkaido and East Japan Pass (北海道&東日本パス Hokkaido & Higashi-Nihon Pasu), can buy it from any JR stations. For visitors, you can always buy other JR passes. It is possible to go Hokkaido for just 10000 yen. The downside is you only have five days and, it takes at least 24 hours to reach Sapporo (札幌).

Then I bought reserved seat ticket for Moonlight Echigo, 510 yen.


My first ever night train in Japan. Moonlight Echigo has ladies coach too.

From Shinjuku station, it takes 5 hours and 41 minutes to reach Niigata (新潟). Basically I wasted one day because I used the ticket on Dec 22, 11 pm. One day gone after an hour. As I don't want to spend so much on accommodation, I made this trip short. It took me 30 hours to reach Sapporo ;)

Dec 23: I reached Niigata on 4:51 am. Then I hopped on another train to Murakami (村上). On the way, I put on my headphones and listened to moumoon's album. Slowly, I fell into deep sleep.

When I was awake, the train has stopped and nobody was in the train. Then I realised that I had to switch another train to Sakata (酒田) in Yamagata prefecture (山形県). I quickly dashed out the train and luckily, the train to Sakata was just nearby, I didn't have to run/take stairs to another platform. Safe.

Apparently not. Just when the trains started to move, I realised that I have left my baggage on the overhead rack of the previous train. OMG, 出師不利 orz

I quickly contacted the train conductor and asked him to 'secure' my baggage before it goes back to Niigata. I thought that I just have to return back to Murakami and get it (or ask JR staff to send it to Sapporo or whatever), due to the inefficiency of the train conductor, well I didn't rush him, partly was my fault, I found myself back in Niigata around 9 in the morning =.= 3 hours gone.


Lost and found centre in Niigata train station. Luckily I was using Tohoku & Hokkaido pass, no extra fares.

Once I got back my luggage, I had some time to kill before the next train comes, so I walked around Niigata station and had breakfast.


Salmon teishoku set, it was okay.

Since the trains in tohoku region are not that frequent, in order to reach Sapporo on time, I had to spend extra 3500 yen on express train. The Hokkaido & Tohoku pass was only for normal and rapid trains (aka slower trains). BUT, somehow luck was on my side, this cute train which was suppose to run during weekends somehow runs on Tuesday, because that day was Emperor's Birthday.


Kira Kira Uetsu, a very interesting train. It is just a rapid train with Shinkansen facilities (means slower train), so I only paid for the reserved seat, which was 510 yen.

Along the way, I got to see paddy fields and the beautiful Sea of Japan.



After an hour plus, I reached Sakata (酒田) at Yamagata prefecture (山形県). I had another one hour to kill before the next train, so I went to the nearby tourist counter and realised that in Sakata, they have FREE rental bicycles.



I put my luggage in the locker (Lockers are everywhere in Japan train stations). There are a bunch of tourist attractions around Sakata, since I couldn't really read the maps while cycling, most of the time I just wandered aimlessly. It started to rain/snow halfway, it was kinda interesting, cycling under the snow.


The town was basically quite empty. Nothing much going on.

Next, express train to Akita. I didn't have much time in Akita and straight went to Aomori.


My lunch and souvenir. Japan's Kit Kat has crazy amount of different flavours.

On the way, snow snow snow~　When I reached Aomori (青森), it was already around 8 pm. If it wasn't for that luggage lost incident, I might had 5 hours break in Aomori.


Left, dorayaki with apple filling, yummm. Aomori = Apples. Right: Aomori Station.

There are like two places you can go if you are nearby Aomori station. Triangle looking shopping centre called ASPAM and see the Aomori Bay Bridge.


I was wandering around in the middle of snowing, trying to look for some restaurant mentioned in wikitravel, and the town was basically empty when I was there. Ladies, do not wander around alone in the night.

After two hours wandering around Aomori station, I took the only express train covered in Hokkaido & Tohoku pass, Hanamasu Express. It was a 7.5 hours train ride to Sapporo.



That basically sums up my journey to Hokkaido. A lot of things can be happened in one day.