365: 22(54)

365 days ago I left for an escapade; 22 countries and 54 cities later..... I'm sort of stuck in an army camp😂 #throwback 

Well at least one more is coming! 

3-day break before "hell"

Two rounds of this the night I arrived 

This the next day

Retarded Sam with super advance Samsung stuff at the ST exhibition

Visited this 

Then this 

Lay down on some bean bags and watched some random animation-making video. Still shiok 

How to Train a Dragon! 

And first Koi in a month (lol) 

Met Shir to chill at 五ive Tapas Bar and this is a representative of the pig in her 

Awesome news in the morning the next day that a family trip to Australia next June may happen and it coincides with my plan to go South for grad trip! 

Met this huge grasshopper on my way to bro's place to swim 

And the last thing for this long weekend: Hari Raya celebration at Sham's place! Pretty impressed by how everyone's really free now to meet. Lol. And met Goh Kee Yong too!

And of course, bag packing. Book in lo! 

Great people do things before they are ready

They do things before they know they can do it 

-- Amy Poehler

Yokohama 16/7/15

Last day, last destination; squeezing out a few hours to visit the second largest city in Japan and obviously we couldn't cover everything. But we sure didn't regret coming on this trip! 

Very much like Singapore, just less dense, less human. Even the weather's pretty similar in the rainy summer months 

First, lunch! And it's at a food court! 

And bubble tea haha. Quite legit but ex 

And randomly bought this cake cos I was still hungry and it turned out to be super nice (and ex)!

Went past the theme park, looks dead. And we didn't have time. And she don't like roller coasters haha. Never on our considerations actually 

And this, the highlight of the trip! 

Rows and rows of cup noodles 

Super cute movie explaining the company and cup noodle history 

And this is the main thing we did 

Close up: "Japan Ohayo!" - Limited Edition by Jasonytey; and "Everybody Loves Cup Noodles" - 鬼头 edition by BlurNun haha 

Nice artsy exhibit and any other random stuff but none as nice as the Cup Noodle factory so we left pretty soon...

For this. Saw this along the way and she just can't resist. Quite nice, really milky 

What's more, it came with 100¥ drinks set and this is Kahlua Speculoos shake!!! Love it 

She got her nice pot of Hojicha (yea, green tea to go with matcha...) 

Still, she's contented with her find. You happy, I happy; everybody happy! Haha 

A really short trip and the part we enjoyed the most was the bridge lol. Chinatown here is pretty famous, and the theme park looks cool top; many other places to explore, but it's enough traveling/playing for me... Headed back to Tokyo and the rest is history (no, the rest is in another post) 

Tokyo (4) 15/7/15 - 17/7/15

And so this is it, the final chapter..

Landed in Tokyo via Shinkansen and met Ms Blur with her 2m tall archi friend cum internship colleague, Alex

Headed down to Shinjuku and this is what we found! Zongzong's bat mobile lose liao la..

Then went Sukiyaki (my first here!) at Kabukicho and met up with architects Yao and KC (Huiying's boyfriend). And indeed, I know quite some architecture students from NUS! I wonder why... Haha 

Headed home (Qy's place) after dinner cos we were both just too tired and had too much work to do. Rewarded myself with a Melon beer! More like melon soda though haha 

Next morning was supposed to meet Jade and gang (JJ, Yenbing, Ruixian, and the other GEP recent-graduates) but both sides decided to abort mission for the same reason that we're too tired. Haha. And Ms Blur also decided to call in sick for her cough and to accompany me for my last day XD

And we started the morning with laundry LOL. And eating convenient stall food in laundry shop. Very localized 

Also, finally took a shot of Tokyo station. Quite nice and European isn't it 

And then off we go! Shall blog bout Yokohama in a separate post 

Reached Tokyo around 8pm and headed straight for the airport. Though it's just a 2 weeks separation, it still hurts to part... But still, 小别胜新婚, according to Tianzuo, haha. Got these from the airport! Very successfully spent most of my small notes hehe

She said it's leopard prints. But I guess it's equally cute haha 

And one final time: my favorite experience in Japan... This even comes with a blow-dry function! 

This post was supposed to end with this video/photo of the plane taking off (not enough space for video) but something I must add...

Some things stay constant; and I always get my priorities right. HAHA. First thing I did after dumping my bags :P

Himeji/Kobe 14/7/15

Left for this place after checking out and moving into Wen's apartment. Pretty nice 

Didn't go in cos all the castles and temples/shrines are kinda repetitive after awhile, and this one cost 1000¥ 

But it was simply too hot (found out from bro that a heat wave hit Japan, probably got hit), so I left after awhile 

This was the highlight of the day though. Some says it's life-changing, I say it's life-destroying: every steak that I'm gonna eat from now on is probably gonna suck compared to this... It's really 入口即化. No joke! And I went to A1 at first but it was closed so I was kinda disappointed; but headed to my second choice and it really didn't disappoint! Ordered the Special Kobe Steak set instead of the normal one; guess it's fatter when I saw the meat came out, but no matter, really really awesome!

Then headed back to Kyoto after this short but satisfying trip :D 

Kyoto 11/7/15 - 15/7/15

If Japan is Singapore and Tokyo is the CBD, Kyoto is the housing estates...

Day 1 

Came back from Osaka and was greeted by this view 

Isn't this just Whampoa or something? Haha 

And checked into this pretty awesome hostel

View from my roof, where many many friends were made!!! 

But first, my first solo meal. And the restaurant was empty! 

And the sunset view. This river is kinda the landmark of Kyoto, every time we get lost, this is where we come back to! 

And back to the roof. So I came back to the hostel after dinner and went up to the roof to chill, and first I was joined by two New Zealand teenagers (14-15 year old). They were from a Japanese school in NZ and this is their immersion program; don't let their age fool you, they are kinda mature. Then Bronte from America joined us; she's on a grad trip (did neuroscience and music in school!) with her boyfriend, Bryan, who joined us later when he finished his nap. After the couple left for dinner, two Scots came and join us. Will was really cool, working for his traveling fund and traveling every 3 months or so; don't let his tattoos fool you, he's really leading the life he wants and I respect him really a lot, especially when I later found out that he intend to go to college to get a degree so he can go around teaching English as he travels. Alistair was really cool as well, studying Archeology and working night shifts to support himself. Went out to get more drinks with them, where I saw someone wearing a NUS Economics shirt!!! Turns out Vincent is a senior, graduated two years ago, and is traveling with his girlfriend. Small world! Then came back and was joined by Grace and her boyfriend (both from Australia), at the lounge. We were later introduced to a whole bunch of party people from Canada (really cool heterosexual dude), England, and more Australians. After the rest headed for party, Alistair introduced me to this Barcelonian, and we were hoping a Greek would join us in our independence talk. Haha. Was kinda tired so I headed back to my room and was met with a drinking party!!! They were this bunch of cool Australian Indians (Australians everywhere!) traveling around Japan and I was kindly invited to join them. After some games and chit chat, some of them left for partying, and I headed for bed...

Day 2

After headed back from Nara with Bronte and Bryan, went out to meet Wen, who's here after his Fuji trip! 

His ninja room, which I'm crashing for my last night after canceling my last night on the hostel 

And free bikes to recee the city!

Dinner was at this place recommended by Bronte/Bryan and it was sooooo goooooood (also because we were really hungry). Really worth the long lines that took us 20min 

Saw the night scene... Where the two of us romantically rode the bike down the channel...

And a really happening night life on this Sunday night in Kyoto! And we kinda ended the night here 

Day 3

And since Chunyun and Yaoyao were here in Kyoto as well, my 单飞之旅 here kinda ended. Next morning met up with Wen and we rode our bikes down to meet the girls... That's where the torture starts. 

Cycled 1.5hour with Wen to Arashiyama and explored abit before the girls join us via public transport 

And then the girls came! Chunyun even bought a Yukata to wear in this nice ancient capital to fit into the environment. Many tourist did the same! 

And this is me, still looking fine. Not for long though 

Then headed for the bamboo forest; though there were more humans than bamboo, it was still very pretty! China ones are probably better though 

And a nice model shot. Haha 

And here we have Ms Oxford being all retarded. My first Oxfors friend! Haha 

Then this: some super expensive citrus food turned into a pudding, so yea, the "fruit" you see here is jelly. Kinda bitter too but pretty refreshing, no wonder it's recommended on Lonely Planet (aka LP lol) 

After lunch was another half an hour of cycling uphill to reach this world renowned Kinkaku-ji (金阁寺). Really quite impressive but the windy day meant the reflection couldn't be captured unless we camp and wait 

Think their tickets were more interesting than the building itself 

Alright, a last look 

Decided to cycle down south to the other end of the city. Passed by this castle called 二条城 which was apparently very well recommended by people who's been here. Didn't stay long though, cos we had a mission on hand...

Tori gates! There's a thousand of them here at Fushimi Inari

Two-way traffic, right-way in 

And selfie time! While the professional photographers take their artistic shots 

Cycled even more (more than 40km in total in this 35 degree Celsius day) and was rewarded by this pretty sunset 

Went to 花见小路 where a lot of restaurants served 怀食 which costs about 8000¥ at the cheapest (that's S$88), they are usually companied by Geisha performance though. Too bad we didn't want it enough to part with 8000¥ haha 

There was even some Geisha exhibition going on 

Next stop, along the same street 

Super awesome dinner, and then we parted ways 

Headed back to hostel for the last night there was met new roommates (the Indian+alcohol smell still lingered though haha): Californians, English, and a very brave Canadian Asian girl traveling solo. 

Meet Kevin, a budding musician from California (just like Bronte and Bryan!), keeping this photo of us chilling just in case he grow really famous someday. 10 years, 20 years; doesn't matter. It's his second year and he's already performed at two sold-out shows! Very impressive by my ignorant standards 

Day 4

Came back from Himeji/Kobe to meet the Chinese gang again. And here you have Yukata-姐 looking in-the-mood with a pagoda as background (and a photobomber)

Found a really nice alleyway and started camwhoring; here we have a silhouette of 像鸡（相机）哥 looking fab 

Whole area was filled with rows of wooden bamboo houses. Going back in time! 

Then this happened. Start of Gion Festival where these people in traditional costume from one of the respected family paraded the Gion area 

Followed them for quite a bit and the boys are ao cute! With wigs and thick blusher makeup haha 

Anyway, dinner was more important and we left the party. Went back to this place we saw the night before that looked the least renovated, cos our theory is that the food is nicer this way   And it's true!! Might just be one of the most tasty ramen I've ever eaten. And it's just hiding in a inconspicuous corner... 

And then we went to chill by the river side, which I would argue to be the highlight of the trip...

I've always been proud to be in yhe large family that I'm in, and I've always found comfort in being the youngest of three because that meant I can have the freedom to do what I like and grow up in a carefree, independent environment. That's also why I've always respected people who are the only child. They bear the responsibility that no others would ever have to bear because we always have someone to discuss family matter with when things turn down south. Often times, only child only have themselves to turn to. And in our HTHT along the river, I felt it first-hand, and it hit me pretty hard. Life can be easier and more in-my-hands like the case of independent Tianzuo; life can also be more challenging in the case of broken-family Yaoyao; but life is perhaps the hardest for Chunyun, at least at the moment, for her mother just left for paradise last October... I cried, really hard, because family means so much to me and the thought of losing any one of them is just so unbearable. What's worse, is that she is now left with just one other person to depend on; and that one person is probably even worse-hit than her in the incident. "No choice but to be strong," reality sucks for real. I've seen some cases before, and I always find the same sadness in me when I hear these. Perhaps, some of us are really more blessed than we realize. Perhaps, it's still not too late...

Sorry for the random reflection and here's continuing the trip! 

First takoyaki in Japan! And off to sleep in the ninja house. Really enjoyable, but was constantly plague with the fear that the house might collapse if something happened...

Day 5

Nothing happened! And had this for breakfast while waiting for the girls. McGriddles ceased production in Singapore so yay! Regret not getting the bacon ones though. Non-halal! 

Visited the much-raved-about Ryoan-ji; many came and expressed disappointment with this simple Zen temple, but we were busy discussing how the rocks-as-mountains, stones-as-water were made by the monks. Very interesting and indeed, very Zen (less the noise made by tourists like us! Haha) 

Cycled to our next stop to see the preparation for the Gion festival! And didn't make it to the 锦市场 cos two of us had a train to catch so left in kind of a hurry (was at Gion at 2pm when the train is at 2:56pm and we had to claim our luggage and rush to the station; took a cab in the end and reached 10 minutes before time to get some sandwiches for lunch. Doesn't matter, we made it!!) 

And so my 5-days 单飞之旅 of sort ended in a mad rush but all's good and I really enjoyed my time there. Thanks everyone, old and new friends!