So where's Kira - Japan Day 1

One of the many things that fascinates me about Japan, and Tokyo in particular, is that it was clean. Very clean, despite that there were NO trash bins around in public! (some crazy Jap tried to terrorise the subway by putting in chemical gas in the subway stations, or something to that extent. So the govt took all trash bins away for security of the public).

Another is that the Japs are really, really,gentle and helpful! Once we were stuck at the steps leading to the underground train station. We were discussing if we should carry the twin stroller with the kids on it or if we should get them off it. But this extremely sweet and helpful lady directed us to the hidden elevator without us even asking. So in Japan, ELEVATOR is a very useful word for us. 99% of the stations have elevators but you just need to know where to find them. And it's like they're playing hide-and-seek with us.You got off the wrong exit and you'd be left without an elevator!

They are not conspicuous and tucked in one corner. I think it's to deter the abled commuters from using them as they are tiny elevators and only meant for the handicapped and those with baggages, like ourselves.



With my barely-surviving basic Japanese, we made our way to Asakusa to our ryokan.

I couldn't ask for a better accomodation. A cosy 4-storey shophouse. Huge room, very near the train station, adjacent to the Kaminarimon- a 'must-go-when-you-are-in-Tokyo' attraction. That is where they have all the souvenirs and cute little cakes,pastries, magnets etc. You name it, they have them all...


Looking towards the aisle of our accommodation. Ryokan located at the end of the aisle.


This is backfacing the previous photo above, looking towards the Kaminarimon aisle.



Near the area we stayed at has a 24hr Mc Donalds, which we thought was essential but in fact we went there like only... once. Lots of sushi, bakery and convenience store along nearby aisles.

Had lunch at Taz Mahal. It was yucky! I had rice with chicken curry. YUCKS! It's sushi rice with diluted spicy curry. Pa's got his naan, which he truly enjoyed. Ordered tandoori chicken which was ok-ok. We got Mc D for the kids. It was still 18 degrees then, as you can read the temperature from the damn huge clock in the photo. Poor Nurul was freezing even with her jacket on but Riyan was totally the opposite and refused his jacket.








We ventured to Tokyo Metropolitan Building for the FREE view of Tokyo from the 45th floor. Yup,you read it. It's FREE! It was a little cloudy so couldn't see very far off. So we went to Shinjuku area, Takashimaya to get Disney ticktes, as kindly advised by my Japan-guru, Safia. :)






ok, now move on to Day 2...

In search of Kira - Japan Day 1

Whoa! I don't know where to start on this journal. The entire trip was overwhelming. Both physically and financially... but we LOVE it to the MAX!!!!

We had grueling months of surfing Japan sites and also digesting, not to mention trying to comprehend the Tokyo rail map. The brochures and catalogues we got from travel fairs helped a lot in finding our needs.

JR or not to JR? We used the online train price to check if it would economical to get a JR pass... but our total transport cost fell a little short of the JR pass price, so we didn't get the JR pass. I'd highly recommend this train site for self travelers to know their train route and prices.

ok, to start off, the A380 was superb. Great movies on board, i booked great seats online, huge legroom. Kids were ecstatic... they got Ami Yumi toys from SIA... But i am never a fan of long flights... 6.5 hrs was long enough for me to get restless. The rest rooms were forever occupied! Which led me to hold my pee for so long that the impact was on my train ride to Tokyo... (read on my next 2 paragraphs). As much as i love the A380, the thing that scared me was the engine noise generated when the plane was ready for landing.

And i realise i fart (silently,ok...) more when i am above ground! ahahhahahahah!!!!

Reached Narita the following morning and caught Keisei Skyliner. Temperature was below 20 degrees which was a little of a surprise... had expected it to be hot and humid.

And so, my pee story was that i had to let go at the Narita train station... Having not wound my watch to an hour forward, i thought i had all the time in the world to relieve myself. But i realised it was not so, and we had missed our reserved train seats by a mere 2 minutes. We got onto the next train and we were lucky that it was not a full carriage as our tickets were for the previous ride.

Other not-so-lucky happenings:
1. my NIKON lens cracked - due to extreme pressure of being placed upright in the overhead cabin on the plane= not so good photos
2. i dropped the lens cover somewhere. so it was missing = dirty polarizer cum lens cover

Ok, what a day to start off in beautiful Japan...
On to Day 1 in Tokyo...

Then there were 9

We bought the tank + 9 fish. 3 died within the next 2 days... all female. But the rest... so far, so good... still robust... ahahahha it makes him sooooo happy he could stand looking at them for a solid fifteen minutes. A little while more, you could see his foot imprints on the floor. :)

In support of the marine life, he put on Whale t-shirt :)

Supper @ KFC

Using my mobile's cam...

Surprise, surprise...

Went to the kids' school for teachers-parents meeting on their progress, on Sat morning.

Nurul's assessment is similar to her previous ones... very good... just need to speak more Malay.

Now the BIG surprise. Riyan is quoted as "an introvert boy". This made us laughed in front of the teachers. waahahhahahahahhaha.

Riyan? Introvert? hmmm.... he's the noisiest at home, the bully, the everything-you-can-name-under-the-sun kinda of boy.

But good thing is, he's attentive and follows instructions in school. Neat, like always, but never fights back when gets pushed by other boys. It's ok, Riyan, later mama will go to the boy and push him back for you!

i should organise a sleep over for the teachers at our home. Then they can see the REAL Riyan...

And the teachers were sooooo excited seeing him smile and laugh that morning. They said, Riyan hardly smiles. Always so serious. wahahhahahahhaha!

Overall, we are very satisfied with their school performance!

The day they got 'bubbled'

At her school's Maulud held in Sengkang CC... BOO to all her friends who didn't turn up... ahahahha made her so sad she didn't want to sing her nasyid...




he stood like that aaaaaaaaaalllllll the way.... with that same expression.

We. Love. Art.

Yet another art class at home...

You Kokos!

Riyan loves to say the word 'Kokos' for some strange reason... think he watched some show or something and picked it up from there.

If you were to ask him his name, he'll say " Riyan Firdaus Kokos Island"! ahahahahhahahaha

You see, riayn loves to parrot Nurul in everything that she says. I just have to 'document' this funny incident that happened this evening between him and his sister.

Nurul: I'm a Princeess!! You're a Prince!
Riyan: I'm a princess!
N: No, you're not a princess! I'M A PRINCESS!!!
R (in a Superman pose): No!!! I'm a Kokos Island!!!

really...

ahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahha i almost had gastric laughing!

1, 2, 3... DUNK!!!!

Riyan has been a little mischevious lately. He'd find opportunities to say 'NO' to Nurul. Be it sharing of his toys or even dancing to their favourite tune in Little Einstein. He'd irritate Nurul so much so that they'd end up shouting and it'd be a crying session for him.

My dark rings are proof of my sleepless nights.... yah, like real! I need counselling... ahahhaha

Tonight they were playing on the bed, sitting on each other and Riyan accidentally kicked her at the mouth. She cried. He dunked. Onto the pillows. Not only dunked. But literally burying his face deeper and deeper into the mountain of pillows! I asked him to get up to apologise. He mumbled something. He was in there for a while. But he kept mubling, something which i can't decipher. I don't care.

Still in that position, he raised his hand, and said; "susu!"

Int'l friendship day

Seems that they always get to dress up for school...



awww... look at their cute smile and pose...


Nurul and Riyan, with Tasnim Arysha and Sarah Alysha... best buds!