Japan Trip Takeways

We went to Japan to see the cherry blossoms for the first time. We were a week early from the full bloom but the trip was okay. Here's a list of  what I learned so far which could be useful once we go back in the future:

1. Ask questions on the Information booth for directions. They know the most efficient way
2. If there are underground walkways, use it especially in the winter.
3. The children playground on the airport or where ever is there for a reason.
4. Consider utilizing a tourist Day Pass whenever available.
5. Remember there’s a Yoshinoya inside the Narita Terminal 2 boarding gate near Gate 82.
6. Do laundry if you can. Lesser stuff on your luggage is always better.
7. ATM withdrawals have better rate than money changers even after the service fees
8. Reserve Shinkansen seats one day in advance.
9. When going to Steak Land in Kobe, go directly to the West Exit of Sannomiya Station. The Center and East Gates are on the other side of the road.
10. Arrive at the airport earlier than 9PM if you have errands on the airport you have to do (e.g. rental of pocket wifi). Shops would be closed if your flight arrived late.
11. Alternatively, ninja wifi is found in Kabukicho. rent there instead. This could save a day or two in rental fees if your flight in is late or your flight
12. Klook is where you can buy the cheapest JR Pass. Be always on the lookout for those promo code.

Gapyeong Day Tour

This day was a very long day. The last time we went to Gapyeong it was just Naminara the whole day. We even rode the local train back. That was a very tiring ride. This time we find out that after Nami there are other places we can go to – like Petite France. 

To get there, we get the train to Cheongnyangni then transfer to the ITX to Gapyeong . We were late for the 9:30 train by just seconds. We get into the next train an hour later. We ate breakfast in the Mister Donut located just before the transfer thingy to ITX.
 

When we get to Gapyeong station, we learned that there’s a tour bus now around Gapyeong. The fare is 6,000 Won. It is a hop-on hop off bus. It was a good deal. The only problem with it is that it is always loaded. We were always standing. We get into the first bus that arrived and settled in standing. The next bus is due for another hour.

There are no vendors now selling food or anything on the ferry terminal. There are less food vendors around the island too.

Red Bean Bun

More read bean buns

 

This is Nami Island now.

Singapura represent

We went around the island then catch the ferry to get to the bus stop. We were thinking maybe this time we might sit down. But we didn’t.

Next stop for us is La Petite France

The place is fine. It is inspired by France and the Little Prince. There’s a theatre on top of the hill. We could have catch a show but there’s no time for that. 

We have still another stop. While standing at the bus I searched for the Garden of the Morning Calm on Instagram and the place looks promising especially at night. It is winter time. How could the garden still in business, right?

Before coming inside, We eat this hotdog covered with fries. We miss this too.

There was this cat  that we feed too. The lady on the store also feed it too.

Inside the garden is just barren, no flowers as it is the winter still.

 When the evening comes, it will be a different story. They will lit up the place and this is how things will look like.

 

The night was very cold. One time we just hang out in this souvenir shop to get warm. There's a heater inside. We left before 7PM just to be sure we can catch the bus where we still stand. There's already a long queue when get into the stop so we got crammed up in front of the bus. It brought us into Cheongpyeong Station where we could catch the ITX back to the city. When we returned at Angguk station we were very hungry. We did not eat proper lunch that day. We were lucky to be able to get into a Korean Barbecue place before it closes. We got really tired. My body ached the next day.

Korea Trip in Winter

My sister asked us to come with her to Korea. Minsan lang naman, so we went. We have no itinerary whatsoever. We went there before and we have a clear list in mind which places we should go to. We had a good itinerary before, very detailed. When you get to some places you it will just hit you that this might be not worth your time. So this time we’ll just go to places where we think is good to be there again. We also booked the same Guesthouse. We had a good time there before, it would be good to be back, we hope.

Arriving at the airport, first thing to do of course is to get Korean currency. Just enough for the Limousine fare, T-Money, food for the night, and the pocket wifi rental.  T-Money on the airport was sold out. We just bought bus tickets. We got to the Airport Limousine Bus #6011 alright but I got us off early by one stop. I forgot there was a stop at Changdeokgung.
That night, we eat our first Korean food at Insadong outside Jongno 3-ga, the same place we have our dinner the last time we were there. It feels very Seoul-y to eat on these tents. We also hit the nearby 7Eleven to stock on water and breakfast for the next day.

The next day, we went to Meongdong. We had just enough money to buy T-money and top up. My old blog entry tells me that the best rate money changer is outside Hoehyeon Station. When we got there, the money changer place is not there anymore. We walked inside Namdaemun to find a money changer. It was still early and the shops are still opening. We found one and the rate is good. We also ate the first odeng store we found outside. 

After that we went up the mountain, up to Namsam Tower. It was awesome re-creating photos from our first visit.

2012

2017

There were a lot of changes. The area where they put locks on got extended. Up and outside the cable car station, there is now the railings where they can put locks. There’s also a store where you can buy locks and pen and is cheaper compared to the store right outside the tower. It was cold that morning so we tried to eat something. We tried churros con chocolate. 

  

We went down after then went around Meongdong to shop. 

We found Brown!

We ate at this Korean Barbecue place then went around again for a while. We were supposed to go to Gyeongbokgung but then I asked the tourist help guy for directions how to get there fast. He told me that the palace closes at 5PM, it was around 4:30 then and we will not make it. We just stayed there the whole stay. 

Crablets. You dip on on ketchup so, not good

 

A place we can check out next is Cheonggyecheon Stream.I consulted Google Maps how to get there then rode a bus. Too bad we got lost a little. We were on the wrong end of the river and I kinda noticed a little late. There was a lot of walking involved. 

I forgot where this is but it is far from the stream

 We rode another bus to get to the right place. They have this light that changes color now under the bridge.

 

We went back to Angguk via train this time then ate at a McDonald’s outside Angguk Station.  Next day we will do Gapyeong day tour.

Melaka: Great Photos and Awesome Food

My sister again came to town and she wanted to go to Malaysia. She wanted to see the Petronas Towers. I don’t. That would be a 6 hour trip by bus. I told her that we can do Melaka instead. I haven’t been to the famous Jonker Street but we have climbed Gunung Datuk August last year and Melaka Sentral was where we took the taxi going to the jump-off point.
To get there, I booked Fomecs Boutique Hotel the night before thru Agoda. It cost SGD 76.60 for one night on a weekend. The hotel’s location was on Jonker Street itself. It was a good hotel but it was on the other end of the street. The good places are on the other end. We found some hostels and guest houses on the other end. Next time we come back we might opt to try those.
We would have taken the earliest bus but I got to fetch my sister from the airport very late that night so we got the 8:30 bus. We arrived at Melaka at around 3PM. We proceeded in checking the place out.

We don't have enough Ringgit but there was this cab who agreed to bring us to Klebang beach but on SGD rate. We knew the rate is higher than usual but we still went with it. We spent like 30 minutes on the beach and he waited for us then brought us back to Melaka where we there is a money changer.

We alighted at the Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. In front of it is Mahkota Parade which at first sight looks like a Chelsey Premium outlet.

After we get our ringgit, we continued exploring Melaka with the map that we get from the hotel. Taking note of the foods that we have to taste and the noteworthy places on this heritage site.

Saint Paul's Church above the hill

A'Famosa

This fountain is inside the Megamall

Taste Better Durian Puff

Brands Outlet Store sells good quality T-Shirts 3 for RM50

For dinner my co-worker Rauf mentioned we should try this Seafood place outside of Jonker: Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungai Duyung. We ha to hire a cab for it but the food should be worth it. It cost less compared to Singapore. We got a cab, paid for the fare then kept the cab driver's phone number so we can call him again after to fetch us. The food was delicious. It was just difficult to order because we look like locals too. They talk to us in Bahasa and expect us to reply but we don't understand.

We got back at Jonker then hit the night market to see the good stuff. I bought a wooden slippers there for RM15.

The next day, we got up early to eat breakfast before we checkout. Most shops were not opened yet. We were looking to find something Melaka e.g. the name of the shops we found online.

We were hungry and shops are not opened. We end up eating at this place which was opened that time. It is called the Daily Fix Cafe. It is an artsy place but not very hipster. The food was great. The staff were young and on what it looks like may be from some theatre group too.

There were a lot of artsy displays and upstairs was a good place to take more photos.

After breakfast, we checked out then walked some more.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

 

One of the inns near the river

In Mahkota Parade, there's this place Nadeje. They have this long queue outside. They serve mille crepe cake. The cake taste just OK. I still prefer Paper Moon I tasted a while back.

We went around the mall for a while then catch a cab going to Melaka Sentral. There I learned that getting reservations for the bus back is also very important because bus schedules get packed too. It is on another blog post.