My 6-days birthday celebration!

This year, my ang mo birthday and chinese birthday is only 1 day apart (ang mo - 29 Nov, chinese - 30 Nov), so decided to pamper myself and give myself a "royal treat" of a 6-days birthday celebration! In JAPAN!!!!

Day 1 (29 Nov 06 - 水曜日)

Left for the airport super duper early in the morning on 29 Nov (actual day of my bday). Struggled to get up for a 7:30am flight. I hope the trip is worth it man!

It's a 7hr flight (about 7hr lah). Anticipated major butt ache by the end of the flight. Brought my fully charged PSP with me just in case I bored myself to death. But the flight is not as bad as I thought lah. Click through the video channels to check out what they have - Pirates of the Carribean 2, Over the Hedge, Huanted Mansion, a show starring Nicholas Cage, and some other boring show... Video choice - Over the Hedge and Huanted Mansion. Yes, both cartoons. I'm childish, so what! Hmph!

Touch down. Temperature - 17 deg C. Explored the Narita Airport for about 1.5hrs waiting for my frens on another flight to arrive. Went straight to the toilet. Whoa! Amazing toilet!

What's the big deal u ask? Well, it looks like a normal toilet, but when u sit down, ahhh... Warm toilet seat on a cold day. The last thing u wan to do on a cold day is to freeze ur butt on a cold ceremic bowl when u pee! Hmmm... Buttons! Which curious George (my fren taught me this new term) won't wan to have a go at them?

The 1st button from the right: Flushing sound! That's odd... Well, guess it'll come in handy when u poop.

The 2nd and 3rd button (I can't tell the diff): Warm water spray at ur butt! Whoa... Cool! They really take care of ur hygine.

Last button (with a little square on it): Like all Jap electrical goods, the button wif the little sq means "stop". It stops the water sprays. Hmmm... Let me activate the functions again. This is quite fun! = p

My frens finally arrived after I spent quite a while with the SIMS in my PSP (just after 4pm Jap time). Then it was off to the JR (Japan Rail) station, then cross over to some other train line, then off to another... Took me 4hrs+ (include getting lost, figure out train lines, and asking for directions) just to get to the apt we will be staying! Luckily with my limited "Sumimasen ga, koko wa (pointing to place on map) dou chira desu ka?" (Excuse me, how to I go here?) and my limited knowledge of "migi (right)" and "hidari (left)" and what is "denshya (train)" that we managed to find the apartment. It's already way beyond dinner time by the time we checked in. Sigh... Spent my whole birthday travelling! Luckily the next day is still my chinese bday. All's not lost...

Had a "home cook" meal in the super well-equiped apt that night. Made steam boat with veges and mushrooms we bought at a supermarket on our way here. Happy birthday to me...

Day 2 (30 Nov 2006 - 木曜日)

To make my Chinese bday extra special, we will be going to DISNEYLAND! YEAH!!!

To my horror!! Rain... Sigh... Change of plan. We'll go gai gai instead. Took a train to this Habour place with a mega Ferris Wheel! Well, better than no rides at all. It may not be a fancy roller-coaster, but that'll do. Anyway, the size of it was enough to get me quite excited. Think it's at least 20 storeys high.

Took a walk from the train station to a nearby shopping centre. Gosh! This place is freezing cold! I'm sure it's much colder than the temperature at nite. Think it's a combination of the rain plus habour sea breeze. Brrrr...

Had a nice bowl of Ramen at the food court. Cost me S$10 a bowl man! But it's super duper yummy. Dun think I can ever find such nice food ever in Singapore. Yummmmmm....

Buuuuuurrrrrppppp.... Ahhhh... Heavenly... And what's for desert? Strawberry crepe. This is life... And then it's off to shop shop shop shop shop. Weeeee!

Nite come early in Jap. Outside dark dark by 4pm+. Make me feel like it's already dinner time and need more food. Off to this cake restaurant (they serve super duper pweeeety cakes, and main meals too lah) for dinner. The cakes here look so super good! Gosh, given a choice, I'll eat just cakes for dinner leh. Anyway, since it's my Chinese bday, and no bday is complete w/o a cake, I made my choice. Chose the prettiest cake of all for desert! Happy birthday to me again!!!

Went to the lighted Ferris Wheel and guess wat! It's rest day for them today. No Disneyland and no Ferris Wheel? Good thing I had a nice bday cake to make up for it. Sigh...

Day 3 (1 Dec 06 - 金曜日)

It's finally Disneyland day! YEAH!!!!! Upon reaching the Disneyland train station, we were suddenly stuck with an option - DisneySea turn left, Disneyland turn right. Oh oh... Hmmm... Do I wan to see Ariel or Donald? A look at the map and our decision is made. Floor area-wise, Disneyland seem bigger. Let's go!

Ticket queue is not too long. Phew... How much are the tickets? 大人-5,800yen(S$80) 中人-5,000yen(S$68) 小人-3,900yen(S$53). There's no typo error here. That is wat they call adults, youths and kids. Dun think I'll wan to go if they call me a 小人 man! Luckily I'm an adult. I rather pay more than to be a 小人 ah!

Grabbed a "Special Feature/Programme" brochure. I'm glad I din come to Disney yesterday. Today is the beginning of the X'mas theme!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about good timing!!!!! Disney Dream on Parade ,Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights, Tinkerbell show, etc... Who needs rides?!?!?!

Although I say that, no Disneyland tour is complete w/o the rides! Queued for 4 different stations - Huanted Mansion (http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdl/english/7land/fantasy/atrc_haunted.html) specially dressed for X'mas, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blaster(http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdl/english/7land/tomorrow/atrc_buzz.html), Micro Adventure (http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdl/english/7land/tomorrow/atrc_micro.html) and Grand Circuit Raceway (http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdl/english/7land/tomorrow/atrc_grand.html). Yup, only 4 stations. Coz there's juz too much to see (and take photos) and too much to do and too much to eat! Got myself some sovenirs and a pair of Mickey ears which I walked ard with that day. SO FUN!!! = )

Day 4 (2 Dec 06 - 土曜日)

Too much excitement for 3 days. Giving myself a rest and relax day. Going tidbit shopping. Have to shop for folks back home who don't have the luxury of coming here.

Spent 1 day in Ueno. It's a place full of small little shops selling clothes, bags, food, toys, etc... It's basically a Chinatown in Singapore, but on a much much much bigger scale! Attacked this tidbit shop that is so so mega that everyone will be spoilt for choice. Who do I need to shop for? Family, colleagues and my dragon boat teammates... Gosh... Dragon Boat teammates ah, need to get double the normal portion for those hungry MONSTERS!

Everything look so yummy. All packed so yummily and prettily. Bought 2 basket full of tidbits, biscuits, crackers and sweet. How the hell do I drag these home? Tried packing them into carton boxes available. WAH! 2 boxes full! *faint* Better get out of this place before I buy more...

Saw this very nice PVC material Adidas bag. So super nice. In my ultimate fav orange colour somemore. Must resist temptations. Can expect a lot of nagging and grumbling if I get another bag. Resist resist. ARGH! Dun wan dun wan dun wan. Sigh...

Need to leave Ueno soon man! So many cheap and nice stuff to buy. Took a train to Shinjyuku, the Orchard Road of Tokyo. So unglam walking ard with 2 cartons of tidbits at such a glam place. Hahahahaha... Nvm lah, I'm a tourist wat! = p

Nothing much to buy here though. Passed by a video game store. PS3, sold out. Nintendo Wii, sold out. Aiyah! Wanted to test out these cool consoles b4 they are even launched in Singapore. Then can go home and boast about it. Well, too bad...

Day 5 (3 Dec 06 - 日曜日)

Since we are in Tokyo, we gotta go to the Tokyo tower rite?! Today is the day!

Spent the morning shopping at our neighbourhood. It's quite a drama neighbourhood leh. There's small shops across from our apt. There's a 7-11 next door to us. There's some small restaurants ard the corner (1 operating for 24hrs!) and a supermarket nearby which operates til 1am everyday! Oh and a very exciting 100yen shop selling everything at 100yen ($1.35). And further down, there's even a 99yen shop!!!

Lunch today consist of sushi bought from a shop nearby. They are super fresh even tho they are sold at the road side leh. And tempura from the supermarket. Even pre-packed microwave meals look damn nice lor! Oiishi desu ne!

Then we headed for Tokyo tower after lunch. In the day, Tokyo tower is actually nothing much leh. Just a red metal structure. Oh well, I'm a tourist and going to the Tokyo Tower is my job rite? Wat?! Muz pay to go up ah?! Tsk! Cheat tourist ah? Sigh... But I'm a sucker, so I pay lor...

Like I mentioned earlier, nite falls early in Japan during winter. Soon Tokyo Tower turns into a totally diff place! Lighted up, the Tower looks amazing! Whoa!! Photos photos! Snap snap snap snap snap... I even have a photo opportunity with Hello Kitty outside this Hello Kitty shop on my way down. Kawaii... *act cute*

Day 6 (4 Dec 06 - 月曜日)

Sigh... Time to go home. Sian hor? So fast 1... ='(

Headed for the airport super duper early. Took the 10am+ JR out to Narita. After the experience coming from the airport, we tot we shd give ourselves more time, just in case. We'll the journey back definitely took less time. Maybe it's coz we have figured out the train network and it's much easier from us to get from place to place. Reach the airport just after 12noon I think. Too early to check-in. Decided leave our barang barang at the airport and take a train to Narita town area for more shopping.

Luggage deposit counter quite ex man! 1 large luggage cost 500yen (close to S$7) and mid size and small items are not much cheaper. Tried to stuff our luggage into the lockers nearby instead. The large lockers cost 500yen as well, but we were able to squeeze quite a lot of mid and small items in them. Even managed to squeeze my check-in luggage in leh! Occupied 1 large locker and 1 mid locker for a total of 900yen (slightly over S$12) and am allowed to leave them in there for 3 days. But why would I wan to put them there for so long? Oh well... BUT walking to another part of the airport, I noticed another row of lockers. These lockers are not for overnite deposit, but it's about half the price! Damn! Kena fake... Hmph! Nvm lah, I'm a tourist and being cheated is my job.

Narita town was no big deal. Took a cab from the train station to "Jusco" that's quite deep into the town. I stepped into the cab and looked at the meter. WAH! 600yen (over S$8) and we haven't even started moving! Wah biang! No wonder we never took cab for the whole trip. So ex! The 10min ride to Jusco cost us over 1200yen leh! Aiyoh...

Anyway, at Jusco, I came across another 100yen shop. 100yen shops are such exciting places... But the sign board looks extremely familiar... Daiso... OH!!! IMM have also!!!! Chay... Went next door for more interesting shopping...

The shop next door sell wierd wierd stuff leh. Ranging from car stickers, posters, CDs to a SHIT pointer. It's 1 of those extendable pointers which our teachers used to use for pointing at stuff on the blackboard, but there's a mega piece of shit attached at the tip! Hahahahahhaa... So tempted to get it. But why do I need a shit pointer. I already have a shit cookie that sits on my office desk for about 2 yrs already and I still dunno wat to do wif it. Aiyah, dun waste money lah...

Din have much shopping time, so we headed back to the airport coz I need to catch the 5pm flight.

By 1am on 5 Dec, it was home sweet home for me. So tired. Unpacking can wait. Bye Japan, see u again...