Saturday, May 05, 2007
Hi, I am back from Japan! Let me break away from the norm in this post and talk about my experience in Japan. Lets see what I saw is the same as the others who have already visited Japan before. Well, here it goes:
Japan is also experiencing the effects of global warming. The tour agency promised us a scenic view coupled with rows and rows of the Sakura flower lined up along the streets of Japan. But, the colder than expected climate meant that the flowers were not about to blossom yet. Temperatures can drop to as low as 3 degrees celsius on the 2nd day of my trip in Hokkaido. Snow was still aplenty along the side walks there. Beautiful as it was, however, it deprived me of the beautiful flowers I was expecting to see. Then, when I was in my last day in Tokyo, the weather was like in Singapore. 27 degrees, read the big thermometer at a shopping mall.
And as what Debbie told me before I left, the food in Japan, particularly Hokkaido, is fantastic. The freshness, the sweetness and the tenderness of the food is so evident there. However, everything comes at a price. Lol...I didn get to try much of the Sashimi, but the little bit that we were served convinced me. Even the Sushi I tried in Tokyo more than satisfied my taste buds.
The sunset and sunrise in Japan is beautiful. I witnessed the sunset at about 6.15pm in the evening. Watching the sun disappear below the mountains was a real experience. I didn get to see the sunrise though. But I do know that by 4.30am, the sunlight already shines through my hotel window, but the sun only really rises at 5+am.
Never, never never bow too much in Japan. Or else you will find yourselves keep having to do the same thing. Japanese belive that one should return the favour that he owed to the other party. As such, when you exit a shop, the shop attendent will normally thank you with a 30degree bow. You should do likewise, but ONLY ONCE. Or else you will find him bowing to you another time...
There are 3 types of hotels in Tokyo: the Capsule Hotel, Lovers Hotel and Business Hotel.
The Capsule Hotel is meant for ppl who are unable to catch the last train and had a drink too much. As its name suggests, one slots the fee payable into a vending machine, and a bed comes out like one similar to in a mogue. I am serious! And according to the tour guide, they can sleep there like logs until the next day. I wonder what happens if the mechanism jams one day...
The Lovers Hotel is something like a hostel. When couples or love birds want to spend the night together alone, they drink till they are high and also miss the last train...they can opt to go to these hotels. In it are triple decked beds.
The Business Hotel is what I stayed in. The room size is very small, just nice to fit in two ppl. You hardly have any room for your luggage. That is why I had to sleep on the floor when I was in Tokyo. My parents didn want me to sleep in a seperate room :P
And eh...I NEVER went into the first two types of hotels, only heard it from the tour guide...
If you have heard that the subways in Tokyo are mad, then I can reaffirm your hearsays. In the area which I live in, there are so many different lines, at least 6 I dare say. If that wasn't enough, not all the lines run close to each other. Instead, some of them are like a 20minute walk away from the other station. So if you happen to want to switch to that line, you cannot do it like how we do it in Singapore when switching from NS line to NEL.
There is also an "automatic mechanism" for one to get in and out of the train. When the train arrives, everyone sort of pushes you into the train, so if you are one lazy person, just let the force be with you. But be prepared to be packed like sardines until the door closes. Just when you think that you can never get out of the train to the desired stop, not to worry, the force is with you again. Once the door opens, you are automatically pushed out of the train into your intended stop. So easy....but one thing...the gaps are wide...so watch out for it.
Lastly, and with much regret, I didn buy anything for you all. So sorry...because of two reasons.
One, souveneirs there are very expensive. A simple key chain costs up to S$4, a bowl of noodles S$5 to S$6, and a proper meal S$10 to S$12. Even a train ticket costs S$1.80 for just two stops. So I am thankful that I am in Singapore.
Secondly, there is really nothing much that is unique and symbolises Japan. Many things that I see can also be found in Singapore. Granted that its dairy products are unique, but it would be hard for me to distribute and also they come at S$8 for a box of chocolates.
So I hope my experience shared here serves as a form of present to you all to lighten your load of your National Service or daily work :)
Do blog more often!
cheers!
- Yick Loong
dived at 5/05/2007 07:21:00 PM.
