pi's japan travel intelligence

Japan is expensive but when the powers of LYu, XY and Pi combine, the costs look quite manageable now :)

I must say that I'm really pleased with the little 'truimphs' we score at keeping our essential expenses on air tix ($697) and accomodation to a total of under $1,300for our 10-day Japan Fantasy trip. Resourceful heh?

Let me share a few tips to help you budding Japan-Fantasy tripsters do your sums and planning.

Accommodation in Tokyo

Room rates - the room rates usually go by per head count, instead of per room per night. For those on budget, it's good to look out for guesthouses or even apartments. The guesthouses look really decent, clean and cosy I tell ya. And some are very near to the subway, which makes travelling around easy.

The Yamanote line - the train and subway lines in Tokyo are so plentiful that mere looking at the map gives me severe giddiness. BUT ~~~ there's one line you need to know for convenient getting around in the city and its name is YAMANOTE. Narita Express (the train from airport to town) stops along the circular line and staying near one of the stops on the Yamanote guarantees you easy access in and out of Tokyo.

Budget - It's good to be prepared to pay an average cost of $80.00 (per person per nite) in Tokyo's budget-style lodging. We got ours at a rate of about $55/person/nite. Yoohoo!

The Traditional Japanese Inn

Ryokan - what's a Japan trip without a taste of the traditional Japanese style of lodging? Try a night at the Ryokan though it's more expensive than your budget hotels. Prices range from $100/person/nite to $600/person/nite (or even more)! But a lot of the ryokans are really nice and some rooms come with private hotspring bath. This is luxurious living. And that's why we're 'doing' it only for a nite, at a price of under $150/person, amid the beautiful Hakone with Lake Ashi and the magnificent Mount Fuji as our backdrop.

Links to Japan Research

There are tonnes and tonnes of information available on Japan travel. The challenge is sieving through them, making the connections between pieces of inputs on the same thing and then deciding what's applicable for you.

I like using a country's official travel/tourism bureau websites (especially tourist-friendly nations like Taiwan, Thailand and Japan) to jumpstart my research. For Japan, you can visit:

• Visit Japan Campaign http://www.visitjapan.jp/
• Japan National Tourist Organisation http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/
• Japan National Tourist Organisation (Singapore) http://www.jnto.org.sg/

Next up: Accommodation in Osaka and Kyoto, itinerary planning, more links to good info resource, reviews and photos (when we are back!).

Yokoso! Japan

i'm g o i n g J a p a n ! ! !


This is not a show-off statement ok! I am so happy that I'm going Japan, like, FINALLY! The air tix been booked - non-refundable type so there's no backing-off whatsoever. @ $697 with all taxes included, I think I got a good deal on Northwest Airlines. And I'll be off for freaking 10 days to Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto/Nara-Osaka, what more during cherry blossom period! Woot! Ok, I think there are too many exclamation marks in just a single paragraph but I don't know a better way to express just how excited I am. This is a dream comes true and I can't wait to share my itinerary + amazing photos + experience + every gawd damn thing I can tell you about my trip :D

Away from Runway: 1 Year in Retrospect

300906. I packed up and left the attic with the help of friends. Changing paths is not easy though not a big deal and it's necessary. I'm glad I have the lucidity of mind to do it then despite I'm still not getting anywhere one year on.

Life over the last year is at best enlightening but ironically entrapping. The long vacation gave me enough time and space to think through what I need to do next to reach where I want to be later. It's great to have dreams; not very nice when the mysterious hands at work are not cooperating. I've to admit I'm running out of patience, sinking into angst and possibly disillusion. Ok, maybe not this bad since knowing myself, it only takes one big positive thing to send me to cloud nine again.

While this cycle of ups and downs is expected to last a lifetime for hot-blooded folks like me, I couldn't verbalise my thoughts better than Mayday's "我". One of my favourites among my many other favourite Mayday numbers that I cried listening to it sometimes. I'm such a sap.

And how could I end this entry without well-wishes on such a significant day? May the folks at home and friends around me be safe and healthy always - your well-being really means a lot to me. May I realise what I want to do, step-by-step and not missing one. May the career option I so desire happen very soon.

我 / 词+曲:阿信


还记得　小时候　作文簿上的志愿
那天真　的幻想　如今都到哪裡躲藏?
走出网咖凌晨的三点鐘　飆过天堂世纪帝国直达战慄时空
看不见的世界裡　我是英雄　
然后回到没有目标的活著　在现实中
oh my god, oh my god who am I ? 我的外号是　嘴上乔丹
oh my god, oh my god who am I ? 座右铭是　我混故我在
也曾开心的耶耶耶　也有失落的我我我
蝴蝶飞出了潜水鐘　我却还在原地停留
留不住时间耶耶耶　总是后悔的我我我
我不要一生就这样　到最后一生就这样　这样的我
这样的　勇敢的我　单纯的我　复杂的我　冷的我　热的我
无聊的我　懒惰的我　总是怀疑的我
讲了不听　听了不做　做又做不好的我
买一个梦　五十块钱的梦　期待五百万分之一的奇蹟降落
从此以后　想要什麼　喜欢什麼　就有什麼
但是我的人生还可以　努力　追求　什麼
Have you ever wanna be a spaceman?
Have you ever wanna be a president?
Or you're still a daydreaming maker?
Have you ever wanna be wanna be wanna be wanna be

*For an excellent English translation of this song, click here. I like the lyrics for the cultural references.

Pi a Tour Guide?

I've been thinking about this for some time now - to go through a 5-month course for a tour guide license after I'm done with driving. This will cost me $2,500.00, license valid for 3 years, renewable on the basis that I complete 21 hours of training every 3 years.

The only reason why I want this license is my love for exploration and travel and how well I interact with groups. Pi's everyone's darling, remember? :p

The license is not going to serve me much purpose since I don't intend to venture full-time into the travel industry. Just want to use it to do freelance tour-guiding when I feel like it.

What do you folks think - shall I part with the money?

Babe(s) in Jakarta

Greetings!!!


It's been some time since I post a "decent" entry on this blog. Anyway, hope you like my new self-portrait - taken outside my cousie's house in Jakarta. Ok... I know... I know... I'm such a cam-whore :p

Jakarta's more or less the same after 5 years. My trip there wasn't too affected by the flood but I've heard stories of distant relatives whose houses were plundered of all furniture and many things precious by the sweeps of waves. The tradition of 送旧迎新 couldn't have been more painfully embraced than this Chinese New Year...

I wonder how the locals survive. The average guy earns about S$200 per month and the cost of living isn't exactly low. One fish soup meal (1 bowl of soup + 1 bowl of rice) can cost $5 per person; a pair of shoes ala Charles & Keith standard costs an average of $35!





My uncle, aunty + cousies stay in the suburban Serpong/Tangerang area which is less affected by natural calamities. The sleepy town could bore me to tears if not for my cutie 表-niece, the occasional shopping at the uninteresting malls, the sub-standard food that's supposed to be great by the locals' definition and the old folks who have really aged over the last 5 years.

I ended up not buying anything much except for discounted pieces of sewn cloth to cover my twin peaks. With so much left-over rupiah, I ended up buying my Indo folks a meal at Coca and it costs me only $50 for 7 of us!


I'm this bored.


The houses at Alam Sutera, Serpong






Old babe + cutie babe 表-niece Ling: she's got really beautiful eyelashes and very pinchable cheeks just like a walking doll!


Cutie 表-niece with one of her many boyfriends Ben








Can't get enough of my cutie 表-niece! She's very sensitive to the camera and is ever-ready to pose. I so love kids :D

The locals of middle-class and above fuss damn a lot over their lil' ones. For those families who can afford, there'll be one baby-sitter (donning nurse uniform) to every kid. I hope my 表-niece grow up to be an independent, lovable gal, not bratty and pampered. She's very clever for her age with lotsa potential if groomed rightly.

And here's a photo of my closest uncle, aunty and their family. Ling is the result of my cousie Mega + her hubby's (on extreme left) union. I've a feeling my offsprings' gonna be good-lookers too, given my cutie pie looks. Besides, according to my hunch, my husband's gonna be cute too!!! :D



Another off-the-plane-window shot added to my collection:



Check out what lulls me to sleep every nite in Jakarta:

Never like this song as much as I like it recently.

Till the next trip.

I'm Going Jakarta

What could be more exciting than visiting a place I used to visit nearly on an annual basis until recent years, when my last stopover was in 2002? *droops head*

It's been nearly 5 years and I can almost smell the polluted air of Jakarta in my imagination now. Obliged by duty and a genuine sincerity to pop by and say hi to my beloved uncle, aunty and cousies, I had to give in to my ma's powerful 'coercion'.

Hope the flood has subsided. And I'm crossing my fingers that its aftermath won't spell D.I.S.E.A.S.E.S. I'm coming back to start new job one leh.

Special invitation to PALS (read PALS only - if you're unsure of your friendship status with me, please consult me.): Drop me a msg if you want me to get you anything from DFS. I'm flying off T1. We'll settle payment when I'm back ;)

Around the World in 80 Lines (the first 20 lines)

Take me on London's Eye,
Round and round like life and lies.
We'll go up Taipei's One-O-One,
Now the world's creations look small and fun.
Let the glitter of Hong Kong lights,
Dazzle our eyes and spice the nights.
Or slurp ramen on Tokyo's streets,
Warm our tummies in winter's breeze.
Conquer the bunds like Shanghai knights,
And feel the rush with the rising tides.
Shop like a tai-tai at Champ-Elysees,
Dine al-fresco and eat souffle.
Go party-hop in Madrid's pubs,
Till the wee hours when the sun comes up.
Dig in kimchi with the Korean folks,
Ogle for cute dudes while drinking coke.
Pick some flowers from the Netherlands,
Beware when you roam round their red light bends.
Return to basics on Tibet's grounds,
Life can be rich with greens abound!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Pipi poses 3 cheers to:

1) Me for flunking my driving test! Sorry my fellow very outstanding DWPers, it was my mistake. I deserve it. I mocked at the short-tongued man. I denied the uncle of his chance at me. I sang the christmas carols with too much SHHsss. No roadtrips for now, but I'll get there, soon.

2) Me for having a 2nd go at my driving test in March 2007! I promise I'll be a good gal, a more astute driver and less short-circuit when I'm in the test circuit.

3) You, for a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year! May dreams take flight and I promise all my pals that next will be great year for us. Whatever good things the horoscope says will come true. Pls tear out all those pages that mention the bad stuff. We'll be fine.

Have a great journey in 2007 :)

I'm So Not Going Anywhere

I apologise for the lack of updates on this blog. In the midst of pulling through some life's battles now, so please summon all the luck you can and lend me some force! :)

Hopefully things will be for the better very very soon. Want to have a new year with some bright outlook. And thanx everyone, for being with me.

Marry me under the starry skies

Following our recent discussions on wedding receptions (and after attending yet another boring wedding dinner), I set out to name you my very own preferred venues for wedding receptions, right here in Sing-a-pore! My dearest sistas, in case my future husband-to-be ever secretly consults you for suggestions, please refer him here. Thanks.

(1) Greens in the gardens
If you love the lush soft grass and the rustle of the leaves when the breeze blows by, consider these:


a) Botanic Gardens - just be careful not to scare Vanda Miss Joaquim with the crowd


b) Fort Canning - throw in a spooky ghost tales trail for your guests. Woohoo! Alternative! I like!


c) Shangri-la Hotel's garden - I heard it's nice, haven't been there though.

d) Your house garden - why not, if you stay in a big big landed property?

The cons: watch out for the occasional mozzies, factor in bad weather contingency + be prepared for budget bust though I'm not too concerned over this. My husband and I gonna be rich :p

(2) A dash of architectural elegance
If indoors still sound best and you don't wish for the same old hotel or restaurant options, how about:


a) Singapore Arts Museum - free entrance for your guests to see the galleries too. Oooh, how cultured!


b) Giraffe @ Istana Park - I'm afraid you won't be greeted by the president, tho it says the "Istana Park".


c) Asian Civilisations Museum - infuse the peranakan style to your wedding and tie your knots with your better half as bibik and baba.


d) Red Dot Design Museum - An all-red building facade for a red letter day. How appropriate!


e) National Museum of Singapore - I think you can even request for the screening of "The Singapore Story" and feel truly patriotic at your wedding.


g) The Fullerton Waterboat House - great place for the sea-sick; get on the boat without getting rocked off.


h) Chijmes - what better place to sound the wedding chimes than at chijmes?

The cons: limited capacity not ideal for those with lots of guests.

Oh goodness, as I write on, I realise there are really a lot more alternative locations. Engage me as your wedding planner! I've got loads of ideas up my head. ;)

For those who are regrettably to be left on the shelves, don't despair! You've got friends who can go those places with you! And for those without friends...aren't you one sorry ass?