E-Mun visit Japan @ 18 months

Day 1 14/10/09 – 15/10/09
Our flight at 10.50pm, you slept twice during day time not alerting whole family is so excited about the trip. After dinner we start journey to KLIA around 8.30pm. 4 adults and 1 baby with 4 luggage bags, 2 backpacks, handbags and your stroller squeeze into 7 seater Serena MPV.

We played with you hope you can utilized all your energy in airport; but you still cant sleep during the flight. You do not like the bassinet, mummy think that’s just too small for you. You doesn’t like to sleep on daddy’s and mummy’s body as well. You used to sleep at big n comfortable bed, so refuse to sleep here. It was a very tiring flight and terrible experience. You cried a lot luckily uncle next to us didn’t plan to sleep. Mummy felt so sorry to other passengers.

The flight took 6.30 hours to reach Kansai airport. Although we didn’t sleep well during the flight but we were still getting excited first time at the ‘sunrise’ country. The weather is extremely good as it’s autumn season, not very cool and of course not hot. We met our tour guide Low San (his surname is Low and San mean Mr. in Japanese) after passing by the custom. You ran around at this new place didn’t feel tiring.

We went straight to Universal Studio Japan (USJ). It is a large, pretty and grand theme park. We visited some attraction, we brought you to watch a ‘water’ show which is not very interesting, we saw almost the same one in Pattaya and even A Famosa. You felt scared and make lots of noise when there was bomb sound and loud noise. We felt so regret to bring you in for those show. Mummy and daddy didn’t manage to play a lot of game. Of course because we were bringing you along, second also because we didn’t sleep enough. We were all tired. Mummy even slept in USJ. Anyway also lots of people and need to waste lots of time to queue up. The lunch was not provided here; we took lunch in a Japanese restaurant here. After a while before we left, we watched a parade. You were not able to watch as you finally took a nap after exhausted. There were many cartoon characters in the parade e.g. Hello Kitty, Sesame street, Snoopy, Spiderman and so much more.

First night we stayed in a super grand hotel named ‘Cross Hotel’ located at the center of Osaka. That was the best hotel ever we had stayed. Unfortunately we forgot to take picture. Mummy cant forget the first time we use the toilet bowl with warmer, and lots of new technology. The shampoo and toiletry also from Shiseido, some kind of branded stuff. We went out for dinner nearby; first dinner was Japanese steamboat ‘Shabu-shabu’. After dinner we have a walk near by the Osaka area, a famous street named ‘Shin Sai Bashi-Suji’. The whole street was full of people and retail shops. As the things all very expensive, we didn’t manage to do lots shopping. We saw the 河豚fish, but unfortunately we didn’t went in for it as we were so full with dinner. Until now daddy still feel so regret, we didn’t manage to see that again. This special fish not easy to find else where because this is kind of poison fish, only restaurant or rather cook with license can sell and cut it. Japan retail shop used to close early around 8.00 to 9.00pm. So we went back to hotel and rest early. In fact you slept in the stroller went we do shopping, poor baby was too tired.

Day 2 16/10/09
Next day we went to “Golden Pagoda’, 金阁寺; a very old temple in Kyoto. The whole temple tinted with golden and planted with lots of 枫tree. Since it’s autumn season, the leaves start turn red, the scenery was beautiful. You ran yourself everywhere, mummy think you must enjoy running because the weather is not hot. We also went another temple near our lunch area. We brought some snacks from road side; we sat at road side for the food. You also enjoyed eating the same food with us. This is the thing mummy must praise my baby, you just ate whatever we let you eat in stead of keep asking for milk. The lunch was not nice as it were Chinese dishes. After lunch we went to another famous attraction named 清水寺. It was a template built without nail at hill side. Along the hill side when we walked up we can visit all the stalls. There were souvenir stalls as well as food stalls. We tried their ice cream and some local snack. The ice cream was nice but the snack we do not like it. As we need to walk up the stair we did not bring along your pram, we brought the soft carrier hope to carry you with that. Unfortunately you only slept with the soft carrier for a while like 30 – 45 minutes only. Perhaps the soft carrier makes you feel hot.

After that we tried the bullet train to our hotel at Okura. This hotel also not bad we can see very nice night scene. You enjoy seeing the train passing by from the hotel window. You name the train ‘GU GU’, very funny name. You slept with grandma this night, mummy and daddy went out for Ramen supper!

Day 3 17/10/09
We were supposed to visit Mount Fuji this day. The journey is quite long about 2 hours, it’s was a nightmare for the whole group! You cried very loud through out the journey, we could not find out the cause of it but we knew you cant sleep in the bus. We reached a place named大涌谷火山. You finally sleep when we reached the place. Mummy decided not to go up the mountain but to accompany you. Frankly we should not bring you along, or we should just go for free and easy trip. This place was famous with ‘black egg’ and fresh milk. Japanese believe the black egg can pro long your live and make you healthy. We ate one each; of course you did eat one!

After lunch we went to a park, this round daddy decided to stay in the bus as you slept. Anyway nothing much in this park. We went to visit a small temple near Mount Fuji. It was such a great experience for us. The place was so colddd… there was smoke coming out when you talk; luckily mummy brought a very thick jacket. The bus park far apart from us and the weather was so bad until you cant even see what is in front of you when you walked. Further more it was raining heavily. Mummy didn’t prepare much thick clothing for you, we were worried if you will get sick. Mummy hugged you tightly and ran back to the bus. The umbrella held by daddy also cant stand the wind; broken on the spot. You were not happy in mummy’s arm trying to get out of mummy. I was praying you will be ok while keep running back. Mummy was so so regret at that moment; we should not let you come with us to Japan. You were just too small! Luckily you were ok, knowing nothing, wondering how come mummy hugs you so tight.

That night we went for hot spring and the dinner with ‘long leg crab’, not bad! You wore the Yukata and look so cute. We stayed at a hotel with traditional Japanese bed; not very comfy. Next day we started journey to Tokyo.


Day 4 18/10/09
Day 4 was a fine weather day; from the hotel we can see Mount Fuji very clear. Amazing feeling! The top of the mountain was covered by snow, so pretty. Of course you did not know how to appreciate yet.

It took us around 2 hours to reach Tokyo; we already knew how to handle your expectation during the journey. You sat your own with daddy and mummy sat with tour leader. With that you have sufficient space to sleep and play. We saw many houses along the roadside. Japan houses are very different with Malaysia. Each and every houses are different, the developer don’t build in bulk and sell. Apparently resident there do not buy house, they buy the land and build the house. The building also very simple, the walls are made in pieces and ‘stick’ on the pillars. This is to avoid accident during earth quake.

The first place we went is a temple named ‘浅草寺’ or ‘雷门’. There are many stalls along the roadside selling souvenirs, foods and clothing. We tried some snacks at the road side and brought some souvenirs. Before we left for lunch, there were a culture parade there and we were lucky enough to see Japan Geisha.

After lunch we went for shopping. Along the way we passed by Japan Parlimen building. Subsequently we went to a high class shopping area named ‘银座’. There are many branded shops here. Of course we would not let go the chance to visit Burberry. Burberry is a London brand but there is a factory in Japan. Those product manufactured in Japan will be named as ‘Burberry Blue Label’! Mummy brought a tote bag and daddy also brought a sling bag to put his laptop. We spent around RM2,500.00 there. When you grown up, mummy will let you know which tote bad mummy referred to. Hopefully the bad will last so long. There was a 5 stories toy shop next to Burberry. We brought you in to play a while there; the toys were too expensive there we rather spend else where. From this place we go straight to ‘Shinjuku’ where it’s a place like Sg Wang in KL; full of shopping centre, retail shop lots. We went to Isetan planning to get you some clothes or shoes. The stuff are all very good quality and look very classy, but the price is extremely high! We didn’t manage to get you any thing. But daddy brought fresh seafood there. The seafood was considered cheap anyway.

That night we stayed in a very small hotel. Although it was rated as 4-5 stars but the room was so small with 2 single beds. We let you slept alone in one bed and we shared another one. Half way though the sleep you fall from the bed; but you were too tired until never cry but continue to sleep on the floor. Unfortunately after the incident mummy was too worried about you and cant sleep anymore.

Day 5 19/10/09
This was the last day in Tokyo. We would be whole day in Disneyland Tokyo. Since it was a Monday, we expected fewer tourists. According to tour guide, Low San, that day was considering very few people even though we have to queue for 1/2 to 1 hour for a game. We brought you to see the 4D show, ride on the ship and ride on the marry-go-round! You enjoyed the marry-go-round a lot. You were so brave, you sat alone there and mummy just stood next to you. Then you sit on daddy’ shoulder to watch the famous Disney parade. The theme was ‘Halloween’ since it’s year end and Halloween festival is around the corner.

We brought few items for you in Disney, the pop corn (in fact we eye on the box rather than the pop corn), a Mickey Mouse balloon, Mickey hair clip, Minnie Mouse drinking stroll.

That night we were served ‘Kobe’ beef, RM200 for a small piece. The beef was nice but we felt it might not be the 1st grade of ‘Kobe’. We did BBQ dinner but in very rush hour. That’s why we do not like group travel.

This was the final night in Japan; we stayed in hotel next to Narita airport.

Day 6 20/10/09
Finally back home! Again another round of night mare, you cried few times in the plane. Daddy and mummy were both exhausted after so many days!