East Japan 2013: Day 2 at Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower

Day 2: November 2, 2013
Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower

After a 5 hour zoo visit, we were bound for Asakusa. It was a bit drizzling as we walk towards the Asakusa Street and the Sensoji Temple, but nothing can stop us from going on.

Asakusa Street is a famous street for anything Japanese souvenirs - from Katakana (swords), plastic umbrellas (that I am very fond of), Japanese parasols and masks to various house items such as ceramic statues, plates and chopsticks. Though it was already raining, visitors are still all over and since we haven't had a "true" lunch - rice and viand (just like many of the Pinoys), we stopped to grab food before going in the temple. Rice is available, but we decided to take okonomiyaki - Japanese style pancakes or pizza.

Nakamise Street finds

Chocolate covered bananas

Asakusa temple more fondly called as the Asakusa Kannon or Sensoji temple, is one of the many Buddhist temple in Tokyo. It is the oldest, built around 645. Prior to entering the actual temple ground, visitors pass by the Kaminarimon or the Thunder Gate which houses a very large Japanese lantern - the symbol of Asakusa and Tokyo.

The thunder gate - with huge woven slippers

With the giant lantern (and a photobomber). 

GETTING OUR LUCK

Slightly similar to what first time visitors do in churches in the Philippines which is wishing, visitors in Asakusa temple determine their fortune. In determining one's Omikuji or your written luck, one must pray as they shake the metal box few times and draw the stick that comes out. Remember your number and bring the stick back to the metal box. From the wooden drawers in front of you, look for the drawer with your corresponding number on it. Take out a sheet and read what's your fortune.

Sadly, not all fortune are good. Those who had bad fortune can counter this by tying your fortune sheet to one of the wooden sampayans or clothesline and pray to your heart's content.

I got a Best fortune, Louie got the not so good one, so he tied it up. 

ASAKUSA GROUNDS

The temple is huge and many of the Buddhists are praying and since we want to respect them, Louie and I just roam around the area looking for interesting subjects. It was quite raining hard that time so we decided to stay inside the temple waiting for the rain to stop.

Yukata and Plastic umbrellas, and Geishas. 

Ang sarap may photographer! :)

AKIHABARA

Being a techie myself, I really wanted to see Akihabara - the famous techie street in Tokyo. Though I do not plan to buy something there, I just wanted to roam around and look what Aki has to offer. It didn't disappoint.

As we exited the Akihabara station, the first building that I saw is the Sega building. We didn't enter and just decided to walk around. Streets are even more interesting.

Welcome to Aki!

Sega building and lights along Akihabara. 

Not to miss the maids. :) I asked Louie if he wanted to have one, but he declined. Sayang! :(

Gundam cafe in Akihabara. This is one of the two I have seen in Tokyo. Didn't get any chance to eat here though.
Line's too long. 

TOKYO TOWER

It was a little late in the evening when we walked towards Tokyo Tower. It was raining the whole afternoon so we decided not to go up but just take pictures below the tower. It was the closest thing to the Eiffel tower (since as of the moment, we do not have budget to do a Europe trip), the long walk from the station was all worth it.

Looks like Eiffel tower. Feels like one too!

We decided to grab dinner from the nearest combini or convenience store, my feet were killing me after about 12 hours of walking. Tomorrow is another day, it was less jam-packed as today.


Asakusa: Free entrance. Area is open 24/7.
Akihabara: No fees unless you want to try the maids cafe.
Tokyo Tower: Main Observatory - 820 yen; Special Observatory - 600 yen,
                       Main +Special Observatory - 1,420yen

Tokyo Tower: http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/eng/secret/index.html

East Japan 2013 Day 2: First Day of Walkathon - Ueno Zoo

Day 2: November 2, 2013
Ueno Zoo

Our second day started very early since we have a lot of places to cover in the day. Our first stop, Ueno Zoo. This is one of my requests when Louie was planning our itinerary. I have this fondness in animals and zoos so if I have the chance to visit every zoo in any country I will be in, I'd do that. :)

Anyhow, Ueno is probably the biggest zoo I have been in, covering 14.2 hectares. It has a tram that transport visitors from one side of the zoo to another. Ueno Zoo is also the oldest zoo in Japan, and the flagship zoo in the Japanese zoo world.

It houses several species that can be found in Asia and some animals that can be found in Africa and Australia. Their main attraction is its two pandas that came from Shanghai (China) Zoo and are currently taken care of via the cooperation between China, San Diego and Mexico zoos.

Train station to Ueno Zoo

Autumn Colors. Louie posing as one of the students on fieldtrip. 

Doraemon at the Ueno Park

Welcome to Ueno Zoo!

Mas masipag na Pandas than what we have seen in Singapore!

Big Cats

Not one elephant, but three! :)

Japanese Macaques, Capybara, Tapir and Reindeer

The tram to West Garden and the 5-Storey Pagoda

Anteater, Giant Anteater, Fox and Sloth

Bats

Meerkat and Snow Cat

Flamingos and Lemurs

Giant Tortoise

The Kid in Me! :) 

Our zoo trip took about 6 hours, and we were bound for Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower as we leave the zoo. 

Ueno Zoo information: 

Visiting hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Closed on Mondays

Admission tickets: 600 yen

Website: https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/main.html

East Japan 2013 Day 1: Arrival and Night Walk in Yokohama

Day 1: November 1, 2014
Arrival in Narita Airport and Transfers to Yokohama

Its been 6 months since my Japan trip and I might be coming back (if money permits) by the 3rd quarter of this year. The pressure is on, as I am taking a break from all the wedding preps I am doing in the past 6 months.

As previously mentioned, this trip was far different from my trip in the past, since I have done this alone and I didn't plan any of the itineraries. My then-boyfriend (now fiance) planned everything, with me having very little participation.


DEPARTURE IN MANILA, ARRIVAL IN NARITA

I managed to grab sale seats in Jetstar bound for Japan for about Php 23,000.00 (round trip with 15kgs check in baggage). Our flight was delayed for about 40 minutes but we managed to arrive in Narita at our scheduled time. Since I am worried with Louie looking for me, I wasn't able to take good pictures from the airport.

After meeting up with my travel buddy for the next 11 days, we bought our Suica+NEX tickets right before you leave Narita Airport. This ticket served as our roundtrip tickets from and to Narita Airport via Narita Express Train, valid for 15 days and 2,000 worth of credits for Suica - just like the octopus card in Hong Kong and MRT cards in Singapore. (as of posting - Suica+NEX tickets are discontinued.)

Suica + NEX tickets (value: 5,500 Yen)

TRAVEL FROM NARITA TO YOKOHAMA

Louie lives in Yokohama, which will be our base for the next 11 days. From Narita airport, we took Narita Express trains bound for Tokyo and Yokohama which took us about an hour. Arriving in Yokohama station, we transferred trains bound for Koganecho (red trains) and a walkathon to Louie's house.

First glimpse of Tokyo Tower

We arrived a little after 3 in the afternoon, after all the transfers and travels. It was a tiring day.


NIGHT WALK IN ISEZAKI MALL

We decided to end our first day with a dinner in Isezaki near Louie's place. Here are pictures of our walking tour.

Isezaki walk way

Cool bikes at the walkway

Yokohama skyline from Sakuragicho

Huge crab! :)

Our next day adventure: Ueno Zoo, Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Trip Report Summary

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Melaka and Johor Bahru
Singapore

Length of trip: 10 days and 9 nights

Malaysia Summary
We were able to visit 4 provinces of Malaysia - starting from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya to Melaka and lastly, several hours to Johor Bahru. Land trips cover most of our time and the sights and sounds of foreign land never fail us.

We learned that indeed, Malaysia is one of the Southeast Asian countries that is notorious when it comes to tourists. Taxi drivers charged a lot higher, they knew right there and then if you are a tourist (though we Filipinos looked like them). Some of the vendors did not give discounts for tourists, even if you'll be buying a lot more than usual. Food are basically all over, but Malaysia, because of its history, doesn't have its signature dishes. Satay is everywhere, even in Singapore. We found Indian, American and Chinese cuisine as well. Malay food, maybe because we failed to look for them, are not readily available in Jalan Alor.

However, despite these experiences, we enjoyed what Malaysia offered to us. Like the other countries we have been, one visit is not enough and we believe we haven't discovered what Malaysia has more. I love the history that unfolded in our eyes, particularly in Melaka. Its like Macau all over again.


Singapore Summary
Its a beautiful city. Period. It is one of the cleanest country I have been in. I want to believe I belong here - fast paced, organized, and semi-formal way of living. I love looking at the yuppies, how they dress, how comfortable they looked like at their heels, formal dresses after a ride in the MRT. I wish Philippines is more like this.

But because of these fast paced environment, I seldom find Singaporean families at the parks. In more instances than one, I found couples and friends just walking around.

Singapore is indeed, one of the costly countries I have been in. Luxury brands are everywhere, famous restaurants, world class hotels and pricey goods. But just like Malaysia, we failed to find a cuisine that Singapore can surely own. What we had in Malaysia is basically what we had in Singapore. And due to lack of tourist-friendly food choices, we usually end up in fastfood restaurants - McDo and KFC.


The Budget

Good thing we always scout for cheap airfares and not to put our monies in one payment - or else we will be broke. Our budget is a lot more than what I spent for Macau and Hong Kong and our Indochina trip in 2012.

Malaysia 2013 expenses

Singapore 2013 Expenses

Malaysia - Singapore (10D/9N) Expenses

We will always look forward to the other trips in these two countries. Hopefully, we will be able to visit Penang in Malaysia and scout Singapore for the fast food restaurants that are uniquely Singapore.

This finally ends our Malaysia and Singapore chronicles. :)

Hotel Review: Hotel 101 Geylang

Date of Stay: September 17-21
Length of stay: 5 days and 4 nights
Location: 12 Lorong 12 Geylang Road, Singapore

On Location

Hotel 101 is located in Geylang Road, also known as the Red Light district of Singapore. Restaurants and bars are located everywhere, and for the three nights of our stay, girls are lurking around the area.

It is about 10 minute-walk from Kallang MRT Station. Though its website indicates its nearer Aljunied Station, we take Kallang most of the time. We got initially lost while looking for it on our first day, but the walk is all worth it. (We would like to thank the nice lady that searched on her mobile map, Hotel 101's location.)

As mentioned, restaurants are aplenty in the area - from Muslim, Chinese, Indian and exotic that sells frog dishes. Hotels are also located in every street, you can choose from any of them.

Hotel view

Our Accommodation

Hotel 101 is a relatively new hotel, that nobody knows where it is. It has 6 floors and we believed that the first 2 floors are reserved for short-term accommodations (if you know what we mean). We booked our

The Hotel Lobby

Similar to the past hotels where we checked in a bit later in the night, good thing that the reservation officer held our reservations without us informing them. The room is just right and water, and instant coffees are available. We booked the triple room, with double and single beds. The space is just enough for the three of us, but the walking space is quite small. Nonetheless, our travel belief that the hotel will just be sleeping and resting quarters for us after a long day,  Hotel 101 was able to deliver.

Our room

Our Experience

Since we usually leave the hotel early and come back late, our experience only covers our nightly observations. Walking even past 8:00 in the evening is just fine, there are many people in the road and it is fairly accessible to the MRT stations by walking. Similarly, a bus stop is just few blocks away so you have an option on transport.

As mentioned, Hotel 101 is located at the red light district and women in very little clothing is all over the place. They are even at the outside of the hotel's perimeter fence. However, they are not these women who brush them to men and women, so we were good at it.

Should you don't walk to walk for 5 minutes to the nearest 7-11 store, vendo machine can be found before the entrance of the hotel and near the parking. Still very convenient.

The Verdict

If you are keen with women and people lurking around your hotel, then Hotel 101 is not for you. Or even the other hotels located at Geylang area. The Hotel 101 delivers your basic needs - a comfortable bed and nice location. Nothing special though, reservation officers are as helpful as others. We prefer those small hostels that you can talk with other guests and interact with the owners.

Similarly, if you don't want the hassle of paying an initial payment, Hotel 101 is one of the few hotels in Singapore that offers this choice.


Hotel 101
Website: http://www.culturalhotelsgroup.com/hotel-101.php

Room rates:
Twin room: SGD 75
Deluxe room: SGD 75
Triple room: SGD 110
Quadruple/ Family room: SGD 140