30-April-2013
In Shizuoka Prefecture, green tea is becoming one of the colors of spring. Yes, they have such vast green tea fields in Shizuoka that they boast No1 tea production in Japan every year.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Japan Golden Week - Fuji
29-April -2013
After driving an hour away from Machida we turned right from the national highway to Gotenba - one of the area where you can view and get close to the famous: Mount Fuji.
on the way, we passed by the mountain side which has this stunning scenery:
After driving an hour away from Machida we turned right from the national highway to Gotenba - one of the area where you can view and get close to the famous: Mount Fuji.
on the way, we passed by the mountain side which has this stunning scenery:
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Japan Golden Week - West Tokyo
28-April-2013
Ohayou gozaimasu!
I woke up early to have advantage of using first the toilet and bathroom, expecting that queue for bathroom will be quite long since we are 15 couch surfers! After bathing, I had an early morning walk around the neighborhood,
One of the neighbors walking with his pet, first time to see a Japanese Spitz in Japan!
Some of the neighbors here has this carp fish flag displayed outside the house - Koinbori flag.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Japan Golden Week - Tokyo
27-April-2013
After checking out from FirstCabin airport hotel, I went to the basement to have breakfast at McDonald :
Then I proceed to the train station to go to the city proper since Tokyo Station is where the meeting point for our CS group.
After checking out from FirstCabin airport hotel, I went to the basement to have breakfast at McDonald :
Then I proceed to the train station to go to the city proper since Tokyo Station is where the meeting point for our CS group.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Japan Golden Week - Intro to Couchsurfing
It is a fact that traveling to Japan is relatively more expensive as compared to other Asian countries. Since I got my Japan flight via Air Asia X on promo sale (to get the good date, book your flight at 3 am upon their 12 midnight sale launch), my next concern is the accommodation. I have been searching for ways to find low cost accommodation for 2 weeks stay in Japan. Some of my friend recommends sleeping in book shops' cubicles; while others recommends capsule hotels.
Luckily, a friend introduced me to Couchsurfing (CS), and there I saw Mochan's profile. He organize CS trips around central Japan, and he even drives you around. Joining his group, I have to pay him 2000 Yen / day = 25 SGD (includes land transport & accommodation).
Basically, CS is to allow strangers to stay over night in your house (if your the host), so the accommodations we had (as the guests) were mostly with local Japanese who willingly shares their home with us.
Luckily, a friend introduced me to Couchsurfing (CS), and there I saw Mochan's profile. He organize CS trips around central Japan, and he even drives you around. Joining his group, I have to pay him 2000 Yen / day = 25 SGD (includes land transport & accommodation).
Basically, CS is to allow strangers to stay over night in your house (if your the host), so the accommodations we had (as the guests) were mostly with local Japanese who willingly shares their home with us.
One important rule for CS is to be open minded to get along with different people with different cultures around the world. But I would also like to remind those interested to do CS to prepare giving some gifts / token as a sign of gratitude to your hosts, it is also nice to lend a hand in doing some house chores (floor swiping, washing the dishes, help cook the dinner, etc.).
Our Itinerary :
Our Itinerary :
So the travel began...= Golden Week Japan Highlight Trip 2013 =
Apr 27-28 TOKYO (central, west) Apr 29 Mt.Fuji Apr 30 Tea ceremony / ONSEN May 01 SHIZUOKA sightseeing May 02*-03 KYOTO (Day 1, Day 2) May 04-05 OSAKA/NARA May 06* KOBE/ OSAKA May 07-08 AMANOHASHIDATE/SAKE brewery May 09 SHIZUOKA May 10 Back to TOKYO * nights we have to book our own accommodation
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Batanes - Sabtang - Lost in Time
A visit to Batanes is incomplete without seeing Sabtang. Of the three islands, this is the smallest inhabited. On our third day in Batanes, we were picked up at 6 am and was sent to San Vicente Port / Radiwan Port in Ivatan, we took the motorize boat: Falowa to Sabtang Island.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Batanes - South Batan - Paradise Found
During our second day in Batanes, we visited the South Batan Island. Itinerary for this day was: Basco - Mahatao - Uyugan - Ivana - Mahatao - Basco
The day started with a short stop at Chawa Point viewing deck - it consists of stairs down to sea coast.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Batanes - Last Frontier of the North
The province of Batanes is located in the northernmost of the Philippines, and its smallest province, both in terms of population and land area. Batanes is a group of inhabitant, namely, Batan, Itbayat, and Sabtang Islands. With the uniqueness beauty of the Province, it is known as the Last Frontier of the north.
Geographically, it is on the channel where Pacific Ocean meets South China Sea, looking into the globe / map its situated south of Taiwan and north of Luzon.
All flight lands in Batan island, city Basco. Before landing, this is a peek into the plane windows to spot the natural beauty of one of the islands of Batanes,
We took SkyJet airline from Manila to Basco.
Geographically, it is on the channel where Pacific Ocean meets South China Sea, looking into the globe / map its situated south of Taiwan and north of Luzon.
All flight lands in Batan island, city Basco. Before landing, this is a peek into the plane windows to spot the natural beauty of one of the islands of Batanes,
We took SkyJet airline from Manila to Basco.
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