Having only been to Australia on numerous trips, Japan is the only other foreign country I have visited. While the culture between the two is very different, I would still pick either to stay in as compared to Malaysia if I have a choice. Given current political scenario in Malaysia and my status as a non-bumi, I would presume many countries would have the same affect on me at this point in time.
Looking back at the draft itinerary, we gave Umeda Sky Building a miss because I was too chicken to go up, especially so when I found out they have see through escalators.
The escalators are between the two towers. GULP!
Pictures above courtesy of Wikipedia.
So, I only took pictures from below to remind me of my phobia of heights.
The Accommodation
The budget hotel I stayed in Osaka isn't too bad. The room in Weekend Mansion Osaka is spacious and the walk from the nearest Subway is only about 5 minutes away.
The bathroom is small, comparable to the Bath#2 of a housing project I was attached to 2 years ago. Yes, that small.
Saw this on the way back to the hotel one night. I hope no one was injured.
Oak Hotel in Tokyo was a different contrast. It was small, and it is 10-15 minutes away from Ueno Station which is JR operated. Imagine having to drag our luggage there and also when we check-out. There is a subway closeby but we were to cheapskate considering we have the JR Pass. Taking the subway means we have to pay.
Accommodation is not something I place great emphasis on when going on a holiday. Afterall, we're normally out of the room early and back late. My advise is simple, when going to a developed nation, one can opt for cheaper accommodation as chances are, they will be clean and safe. The less developed the nation, the more reason why you should stay at better hotels as safety and security becomes an issue then.
The People
Speaking of trains, do you know speaking on the phone in the train is prohibited? In fact, the audio reminder will inform you to turn your phone off when you are near the reserved seats area for the handicapped, the elderly, the pregnant. Such consideration.
And I thought my trusty Nokia N73 was great. I don't recall seeing anyone holding a Nokia in Japan. Mine being a monoblock phone, I hid it from view of everyone seeing that practically everyone uses a flip phone. You get the occassional slider phones. Only once or twice did I see someone using a monoblock phone.
flip phones
more flip phones
Looking back at the draft itinerary, we gave Umeda Sky Building a miss because I was too chicken to go up, especially so when I found out they have see through escalators.
The escalators are between the two towers. GULP!
Pictures above courtesy of Wikipedia.
So, I only took pictures from below to remind me of my phobia of heights.
The Accommodation
The budget hotel I stayed in Osaka isn't too bad. The room in Weekend Mansion Osaka is spacious and the walk from the nearest Subway is only about 5 minutes away.
The bathroom is small, comparable to the Bath#2 of a housing project I was attached to 2 years ago. Yes, that small.
Saw this on the way back to the hotel one night. I hope no one was injured.
Oak Hotel in Tokyo was a different contrast. It was small, and it is 10-15 minutes away from Ueno Station which is JR operated. Imagine having to drag our luggage there and also when we check-out. There is a subway closeby but we were to cheapskate considering we have the JR Pass. Taking the subway means we have to pay.
Accommodation is not something I place great emphasis on when going on a holiday. Afterall, we're normally out of the room early and back late. My advise is simple, when going to a developed nation, one can opt for cheaper accommodation as chances are, they will be clean and safe. The less developed the nation, the more reason why you should stay at better hotels as safety and security becomes an issue then.
The People
Speaking of trains, do you know speaking on the phone in the train is prohibited? In fact, the audio reminder will inform you to turn your phone off when you are near the reserved seats area for the handicapped, the elderly, the pregnant. Such consideration.
And I thought my trusty Nokia N73 was great. I don't recall seeing anyone holding a Nokia in Japan. Mine being a monoblock phone, I hid it from view of everyone seeing that practically everyone uses a flip phone. You get the occassional slider phones. Only once or twice did I see someone using a monoblock phone.
flip phones
more flip phones
dun they have other type of phones?
ok, time to hide my phone
iPod is a must have for a lot of people. Men and women alike listens to their favourite tracks while in the trains. That explains why I had so much difficulty searching for my iPod Touch. It was sold out practically everywhere. Only happen to chanced upon it during a sightseeing visit to Amlux, a mega Toyota showroom in Ikebukuro. The yonger ones will be on their Nintendo and PSP. No, I repeat, no PDA's were seen during my stay there. They have moved beyond that phase already.
Greetings are always given when visiting an outlet, be it retail or food. I found it difficult to hear it at first, but moshi moshi which is commonly used here by M'sian japanese wannabe, is pronounced as moshi mosh instead. Bowing is still practiced there but not so much in a metropolitan city like Tokyo and especially lesser wihin the younger generations.
The Food
Bringing instant noodles, biscuits and snacks to Japan probably saved us a sum of money. But seeing that we were out in the morning and only back to the hotel late in the evening or ight, it was inevitable that lunch had to be eaten while we were on the go. This is what we have been eating.
Mochi @ 130 Yen
Red Bean inside
Tokiyaki with squid inside @ 400 Yen
Pork RIbs
McD's Ebi Fillet was oh so delicious. Filled with prawns, I couldn't help but ate it a few times. Don't ask how many times though. And of coz, they had McPork. Trying it, it was nothing special, likewise for the Bacon burger they had on the menu. Too bad they don't have any of it here in Malaysia.
McEbi Fillet
We began eating more outside as our rations started dwindling. Tried their Bacon pringles too. Pretty good I must say.
ok, time to hide my phone
iPod is a must have for a lot of people. Men and women alike listens to their favourite tracks while in the trains. That explains why I had so much difficulty searching for my iPod Touch. It was sold out practically everywhere. Only happen to chanced upon it during a sightseeing visit to Amlux, a mega Toyota showroom in Ikebukuro. The yonger ones will be on their Nintendo and PSP. No, I repeat, no PDA's were seen during my stay there. They have moved beyond that phase already.
Greetings are always given when visiting an outlet, be it retail or food. I found it difficult to hear it at first, but moshi moshi which is commonly used here by M'sian japanese wannabe, is pronounced as moshi mosh instead. Bowing is still practiced there but not so much in a metropolitan city like Tokyo and especially lesser wihin the younger generations.
The Food
Bringing instant noodles, biscuits and snacks to Japan probably saved us a sum of money. But seeing that we were out in the morning and only back to the hotel late in the evening or ight, it was inevitable that lunch had to be eaten while we were on the go. This is what we have been eating.
Mochi @ 130 Yen
Red Bean inside
Tokiyaki with squid inside @ 400 Yen
Pork RIbs
McD's Ebi Fillet was oh so delicious. Filled with prawns, I couldn't help but ate it a few times. Don't ask how many times though. And of coz, they had McPork. Trying it, it was nothing special, likewise for the Bacon burger they had on the menu. Too bad they don't have any of it here in Malaysia.
McEbi Fillet
We began eating more outside as our rations started dwindling. Tried their Bacon pringles too. Pretty good I must say.
Don't hold your breath for Part II unless you are a fish.
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