Batangas: Lemery Beach

Start:	May 24, '08 10:00a
End:	May 25, '08
Location:	Batangas, Philippines

black sand.

conflict with my sked of my missed classes. bahala na coz I think I have a fever coming on anyways and even if I don't have plans of swimming at least change of scenery (or welcome back to the Philippines)

according to the email thread:

What to do on site:
- eat
- drink
- sleep
- swim
- sing
- roll over
- sit
- play dead

What to bring:
- clothes, unless you want to go there naked.
- may CR!! unless gusto nyo parin maghukay at mapanood ng mga tao habang...
- 1k pocket money... no more.. may be less

Details:
- 5k house to be rented, at the sea side(discount still TBD). Sasaluhin ng mga panauhing pang-bungal..dangal.. pala.
- dalhin parin ang snorkling gear
- hanggang 10pm nalang daw ang video-ok, 500 ang renta ng machine.
- sasakyan ay kanya kanya... pero meron mga alternatibong pamamaraan(depende sa dami ng sasama)
- pagkain.. ambag ambag.. may taga luto..
- yung mga gusto mauna umuwi... kay dali ng paraan at marami masasakyan
- yung mga naka-dm.. abot yon ng signal. pwede tagay at tickets at the same time.
- yun mga maarte.. pwede iwan.

HAHAHA!

La Corda d'Oro (Primo Passo)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

I managed to squeeze in one anime series over the weekend. I've seen a lot of Naruto and Bleach episodes as well as some replays of my favorite animes but I have been slacking off in my reviews...

I've been seeing this intermittently in Animax Asia channel before I went to Japan, but as usual I found the English dub unsatisfying and went looking for the English sub version. I found fansubs downloaded to a dvd, but it was just my luck it got stuck on the 3rd ep. Argh! I had 23 more eps and this to go. What to do?

Turned to my favorite video streaming sites and watched this inspite of a headache, that's what. (Adik!)

This is not an Italian animation film, although the title is Italian and means "The Golden String". The story is simple, the music is profound. Well, I am not sure about the playing part since I am no music guru or reviewer, but hearing music from composers like Bach, Chopin, Tchaikovsky et. al. makes for some nostalgic times. There are also short Lili (the fairy) "pointers" or lessons about music introducing very interesting snippets about various composers and musicians ranging from Grieg to Liszt to Schumann etc.


Setting: Seisou Academy
Two groups of students: General-Education (Gen-ed) and Music students.

Enter Lili, a fata, or a fairy of music, who has blessed the school due to the original founder saving his life many years ago but who bemoans that no one can see him. He is a mischievous sprite who just wants people to enjoy music, hence I would think his making the heroine take part in the contest (concours is its equivalent term in French) stems from his wanting to make not just musically-inclined people but students like those in Gen-ed enjoy it.

Hino Kahoko, a Gen-ed student saw Lili (that is what you get for running late to class), who in turn bestows upon her a magic violin, which allows her to play on it beautifully as long as she knows the tune. Basically the violin is a mirror or an instrument wherein Kahoko's feelings about the music she is playing or hearing are amplified and so we have a heroine who does not really know one iota of playing a violin, becoming a contestant (thanks to Lili) for the annual musical concours in the school where many music students would like to participate in. This causes a furor, to put it mildly.

Enter a couple of guys with different backgrounds and stories....(cue: music).

There is Tsukimori Len, a violinist prodigy whose mother is a famous pianist and whose dad is also a famous violinist. He is cold, detached but as usual in anime there must be one guy who plays the role of the "beautiful icicle". He plays the violin very well, but it lacks the "soul" and "emotion" which later comes about due to the influence of Kahoko.

There is Tsuchiura Ryoutaro, a talented soccer player and gifted pianist who is a Gen-ed student and helps Kahoko out many times. He has quit playing publicly ever since he was young but due to Kahoko, finally entered the concours and displayed his piano-playing for everyone to enjoy. He and Len have a lot of disputes.

There is Hihara Kazuki who plays the trumpet, and he is one character I like seeing around because he is very energetic and cheerful and has one of the most obvious crushes on our heroine. He likes sweets just like Kahoko and has a prodigious appetite. This is the usual anime formula ingredient of loud, "genki", eats-a-lot character.

Another handsome guy is Yunoki Azuma (belonging to a rich flower-arranging clan) who plays the flute and is the "prince" of the school, and whose life and rhythm turns upside down due to Kahoko, leading him to go against his venerable and scary grandmother's wishes in leaving his flute and interest in music behind. He used to play the piano very well but had to change instruments due to the rule that the older brothers should not be overshadowed by the younger ones.

There are other good-looking characters in the series (sleepy cello player, basfhul clarinet player, obnoxious trio of women etc.) and I will not attempt to list them down but leave it to the readers to google them.

Suffice to say, we can expect these various characters (namely the ones competing in the concours) to have Kahoko touch their lives in one way or another, changing them and their music.

Our heroine also, in time, amidst one crisis to another, generally comes to love her violin, even after it ceases to be a magical one in the middle of the concours and due to her never-giving-up and do-her-best attitude, most people in the end do admire her (even if her playing did change to somewhat like a beginner prior to the last set). During the times people heard her play, they were touched by the "honesty" of her music...meaning there are no tricks or techniques to it but just music being played from her heart.

Sweet story and romantic possibilities aside, why I reviewed and liked this anime is due to the short pieces of classical music being played in the concours and during various episodes depicting the preparation of the competitors. It has been a long time since I listened to any classical pieces, but after hearing them being performed on the anime, there were really times in my viewing, when I stopped and replayed the scenes if only to hear the music again.

Tristesse or La Chanson de l'adieu made my heart swell.
Gavotte made me chuckle and become energetic.
The Ave Maria violin duet also made me solemnly reflective and grateful. Ah..music does the heart good!

The list below is taken from wikipedia.

Some of these pieces may already be familiar to the readers, it is just that we don't know exactly how to refer to them, so my tip is just to go google or download them and listen to them once in a while. I especially like violins and fiddles, but you may opt instead for the piano. clarinet, flute, trumpet or cello versions.

* Music Played On The First Selection
- Hino : Frédéric Chopin – La Chanson de l'adieu (from Étude No.3 (Opus 10-3).
- Hihara: Josef Franz Wagner – Unter dem Doppel Adler.
- Shimizu: Luigi Boccherini – Cello Concerto No.9 in B Flat Major (G.482).
- Yunoki: Edvard Hagerup Grieg – Morning Mood.
- Fuyuumi : Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger – Romance in G Major.
- Tsukimori :Henryk Wieniawski - Polonaise No. 1 (in D major for violin and orchestra - Opus 4)

* Music Played On The Second Selection
- Hino: Johann Pachelbel – Kanon und Gigue in D-Dur.
- Tsuchiura: Frédéric Chopin - Fantasie-Impromptu
- Hihara: Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy – Auf Flügeln des Gesanges(on the wings of song)
- Shimizu: Charles Camille Saint-Saëns – Le Cygne
- Yunoki: Jules Massenet – Meditation from "Thaïs"
- Tsukimori: Vitali's "Chaconne"
- Fuyuumi: Charles Camille Saint-Saëns – Romance


* Music Played On The Third Selection
- Hino: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Mélodie
- Tsukimori: Maurice Ravel - Tzigane.
- Hihara: Franz Schubert - Serenade.
- Shimizu: Gabriel Fauré - Sicilienne.
- Yunoki: Johann Sebastian Bach - Partita in A Minor.
- Tsuchiura: Frédéric Chopin - The Revolutionary Étude.
- Fuyuumi: Robert Schumann - Three Romances No.2.

* Music Played On The Final Selection
- Hino: Schubert - Ave Maria
- Tsukimori: Niccolò Paganini - Caprice No.24.
- Hihara: Gustav Holst - Jupiter from The Planets.
- Shimizu: Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude from Suites for Solo Cello No.1.
- Yunoki: Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov - Vocalise.
- Tsuchiura: Franz Liszt - La Campanella
- Fuyuumi: Polish Folk Song - Clarinet Polka.

* Music Played On The Special Episode [ Episode 26 ]
- Hino: E.Elgar - Op.12 Salut d' Amour ( Accompanied by Fuyuumi )
- Tsukimori: Beethoven - Op. 50 , Romance No.2 in F major
- Hihara and Hino: F.J. Gossec - Gavotte in D Major
- Shimizu: J.S. Bach - Suites for Solo Cello No.1, Prelude
- Yunoki: R.Drigo - Notturno d' Amore " Serenade "
- Tsuchiura: Liszt - S.541 Liebesträume ( Dreams of Love ) No. 3 in A Flat Major

btw, this anime is taken from the role-playing game from Koei's Neoromance series. I don't know it either but I can give a good guess :-) I have no idea of how the manga is going on but there may already be a season 2 for this.

Neko-chan in Japan: The Tastes of Nagasaki

     I got introduced to Nagasaki last Christmas through one of their delicacies - a "kasutera" (originated from "Castilla") or castelle which friends Benjie and Joy gave me.

     The "kasutera" pound cake was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is still alive and kicking today as a traditional sweet of Nagasaki.

While there may be other castelle cakes from other regions, it remains something associated with Nagasaki itself. As I've always liked pound cakes from my Sara Lee days, the kasutera for me was totally addicting (I loved the "matcha" or green tea ones) as it was light cake.

     Here is a link I found which has pictures and a recipe: http://www.justhungry.com/2006/08/oyatsu_and_kasutera_castella_a.html

     I was also taken with the colorful wrappings for these cakes...I've yet to download the picture I had taken of the green tea castella I had bought from Huis Ten Bosch. That one had a nice wrapping to it, while the other one I gave as pasalubong and which I promptly forgot to take a picture of beforehand. I will include it later and edit this post.

     If I didn't have to go around from one station to another, I'd have bought a basket of these home with me as they were a perfect accompaniment to my very occasional cup of tea - be it English breakfast, oolong, green tea (yum, the layers of flavors!) or even milk tea which is already sweet. My weakness...*salivates*

     "Shippoku", which is the city's most famous food is delicious full course meal that combines the cuisine of Japan, China and Europe.

     You have to have at least 1 more person with you if you plan to dine on this kind of food - it may include dishes like sashimi, fish soup, seasonal delicacies which may be boiled, fried, vinegared etc. {picture in this page taken from another site was I was unable to book a reservation at one of the recommended restaurants}


"Champon" and "Sara udon" are very hearty Chinese dishes (and not expensive, to boot!). I got a taste of the former in Huis Ten Bosch and this thick Chinese noodle is served as a soup with meat, seafood and vegetables.

We had to queue for some time to get into the restaurant and I was afraid it was going to be a commercialized version, but like most restaurants in Japan, the soup turned out to be very good and filling - the perfect food to eat for a hungry tourist going around and around. The had udon too which we didn't partake of.... and I'm afraid the picture I have here is of the packaged kind only.

     "Karasumi" or dried mullet roe is a seafood delicacy prized by gourmets. No comment since I hadn't eaten or seen it.

Kitty Trail: Japan 2008 -> Making Phone Calls

If you are like me - a bit paranoid about the inability to contact or be contacted by people especially in a foreign country where English is not widely spoken, you will be more comfortable with having your own cellphone with you.

I certainly didn't like the idea of arriving in Japan at night with a long way to go yet and with no phone in my bag and looking for coins or pay phones at that time.

Only Quad-band cellphones will work in Japan even if your international roaming is activated. In other words, my Treo (which I had used in the US) and Nokia 6300 were useless, according to the websites I checked.

Still, I called Globe through 211 on my cellphone and that information was confirmed...so I thought of different possibilities.

I had the following options:

1. buy a Quad-band phone  - {nah! my phones are more than enough, it would be an additional expense}
2. borrow a Quad-band phone from a friend - {I was running out of time and I didn't think my friends would have extra phones to be borrowed just lying around}
3. rent a Quad-band phone in Philippines - {hmmmmm.....}
4. rely on public pay phones in Japan - {not that happy with the idea}
5. rent a cellphone in Japan - {hmm...possibility}

For option #3, an ex-office mate told me that his elder brother rented one from Globe for his trip to Japan.

For option #5, I read somewhere that in Japan that there are cellphone rental facilities in major airports you will land in. If I remember correctly, the difference in renting one in Japan versus renting one here in the Philippines is not that big...probably a couple of pesos but less than Php50.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

I dropped by one of the numerous Globe hubs, this time in Glorietta and at first they told me that my Nokia 6300 was 3G (in fact IT IS listed as 3G on the actual display of the unit on the cabinets) and that I could use it in Japan. I asked them to check it again since their 211 helpdesk number said otherwise. They did so and afterwards, they apologized and said Nokia 6300 wasn't equipped for 3G.

Moral lesson: double check what you see on the internet, and with the phone company itself and double check some more.

I went to the Globe office itself on Park Square 1. Since the line was long, I called Globe's 211 again and they said they did not do rentals anymore but that it used to be P75 per day. I hanged up when my number was called and still proceeded to ask about cellphone rentals.

Surprise! Surprise!

Globe still rents out phones and it is at P75 per day. I made a reservation to pick it up a day before my flight and happily interviewed the one who handled my request.

He recommended using a prepaid card instead of my postpaid plan. It does make sense since I would be incurring more if I use my postpaid plan.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

For PREPAID CARD, at the time of this writing:

You just need to have a minimum of Php 50 daily balance to make and receive calls. This may change by end of May 2008. It usually is Php80 but Globe has promos now and then.

To send text messages:
Use the international number format when sending a message.
"+" + country code + mobile access number + mobile number
example: +639XXXXXXXXX

To make a call:
1. Dial "131" + country code + area code (or operator code) + called party's number + # sign.
example: *131*6327301212#
2. Press SEND button.
3. Wait for this confirmation message to be displayed on your screen: "Please wait while we process your request".
4. Your phone will return to the main screen. Hang up.
5. Wait for your phone to ring, and when it does, answer it and you are automatically connected.

To activate Globe Prepaid Roaming Service:
1. Text GROAM ON <Start date in mm/dd/yyyy format> and sent to 2884. Activation is free.
Example: GROAM ON 05/17/2008

2.. For special countries, duration should be included. Text GROAM ON <Start date in mm/dd/yyyy format> <# of days> and send to 2884. Activation is free. You can activate the roaming for a maximum of 180 days.

To call Globe helpdesk while in Japan:
POSTPAID PLAN:  +63 27301212
PREPAID CARD: *131*6327301212#

Costs for Calls/ Texts while in Japan:

Outgoing Voice: Php 60.00/minute
Incoming Voice: Php 60.00/minute
Incoming Text: FREE.
Outgoing Text:
Php 25 per 1 line message sent (can't remember how many characters) for outside of Japan destination.
For local text (text to a Japan number), its Php 15 per line of text. Btw, Japan is in Zone 1 list of countires. For other Zones, the cost may be different.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

I loaded Php 800 into my PREPAID card. I also brought along my POSTPAID SIM.
I tried calling out the day of my flight just to be sure that it would work and called 211 again. They confirmed my international roaming was on.

Murphy's Law struck. When I got to Japan and loaded my PREPAID SIM into the Nokia 6650 I rented, I could not call out. Hell's bells!

Seems the problem was with my PREPAID Card itself and not any setup of the cellphone, something about Call Barring..which made me quite irritated since the service desk agent told me I could activate it (my GROAM is on but its an entirely different matter) but it would not do any good as I was in Japan WHEN it was activated. What in the world....?...and after all my preparation too! grrrrrr.....

Since I was queued in Immigration at that time I hung up as I was next and calmed myself. I  promptly inserted my POSTPAID SIM into the rented phone after my short interview. It worked. Thank God!

Moral lesson: Backup or contingency plan is not just in IT.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Inspite of the trouble and hassle of going back and forth and renting the phone, I was thankful since even though I would probably be paying a whopping bill by the time my SOA arrives, at least I was able to use it to call some friends in Japan who I needed to call for arrangements or travel plans. This time also, PAL gave out some free phone cards for international calls, and it was good for 10 minutes...reloadable too!

TIP:  It is a matter of prefix!
You do not need to panic once you try to call a local number and you hear messages such as NTT DoCoMo not allowing the call or something like the call cannot be made through a mobile phone.  Try changing the prefix..either use "+" or a "00"..one of them is bound to work.

Aside from the problem of no network coverage or signal which I first encountered in Osaka and then in Nara, I also received the message saying I could not make the call through the mobile but only through a regular phone. So..relax! If there is no public pay phone nearby, try your cellphone again and just fiddle with the prefixes. I was experimenting since I was alternating in trying to call Philippines, Japan number and US number.

Now I just need to use the P800 worth of credits in the prepaid for the next 60 days when I didn't need it in the first place here in the Philippines.

oh well..hope that helps the readers...not to take anything for granted here in our surprising country...

PUBLIC PAY PHONES:
Prepare your 100 Yen and 10 Yen coins.

TIP: Use the lower value coin.
Use 10 yen first just in case you would have a problem since you don't get any change for 100 yen at all if you hang up early and not use its duration or if the call has a problem sometimes.

AT&T CALLING CARD:
I had this calling card for company use. Since I would be working 2 days in Japan out of my whole vacation duration, I got the numbers I needed to call in Japan to make my phone conferences. In case you have an AT&T card usually here in the Philippines its 10511 you dial to make a call from your cellphone or landline. In Japan here are the numbers:

KDDI: 00 539 11
Softbank Telecom: 00665-5111 or 00 441-1111
NTT:  0034-811-001

Japan Country Code: 81
{Osaka 6 Nagoya 52 Tokyo 3}

Additional NOTE:
The author recommends the readers check with Globe or their respective preferred providers for the most up-to-date information as the above data may have changed as more time passes by.

Kitty Trail: Japan 2008 -> Where I Stayed in Nara

NARA

For this, I was able to book a ryokan through http://www.itcj.jp/

Inns and budget accommodations can be accessed through members of the Welcome Inns which are collaborating with the Japan National Tourist Organization. Rates range from 8K Yen or less for a single room. No reservation fee is charged though you will be asked to input your credit card details as guarantee. 

You have to sign up at the site to be able to choose from various locations and hotels. I tried at least 4 different hotels and ryokans listed in Kyoto but was turned down since they were already fully booked. 

This is how I ended up getting a ryokan in Nara for May 9, 2008 visit which was hopefully more out of the way as tourists usually just took day trips to Nara, and Golden Week had also ended by that time.

Although it was written that if you are in a pinch you could always ask for help at Tourist Information Centers (TIC) which are usually found at the airports or train stations, normally I would not recommend it especially if it is peak season.

Aside from not knowing beforehand what or where the location would be for where you will end up, the other problem is that these offices close early. You can bet that most of these TICs are closed by 5 pm already, so unless you happen to be there early, you're stuck.

I stayed at Ryokan Seikan-so in Nara. Address is 29, Higashi-Kitsuji-cho, Nara City, Nara Pref. 630-8327.

Check out http://www.itcj.jp/hdb/529002.html if you can see their pictures.  Pictures posted here are my own. Isn't the garden nice and typical of ryokans? (understatement!)

 I was disappointed I had not wrangled a room facing the garden but since I had arrived late afternoon and would be out most of the day the next day, I reasoned it was okay as long as I could take pictures of their garden, reputed to be one of the more beautiful ones of the Welcome Inns' member ryokans.

That and the fact that I was a bit tired so I only remembered about asking for a room facing the garden after all my things were settled on the tatami mats *sheepish grin*

I arrived in Nara May 8 at 5 pm, took Bus 1 and checked in to my room. Left Nara on May 9, 2008 for Tokyo around 4 pm. What can I say? Nara Park is a bit too big and I underestimated it.


For my Nara pictures, check out these links:

http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/156/NARrA-tion_Descanso_Seikan-so

http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/159/NARrA-tion_The_Inner_Garden

http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/157/My_Only_Night_at_Nara

http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/158/NARrA-tion_The_Breakfast_Room

http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/160/Neko_in_Japan_Nr_Prk


Directions:

12 min. walk from Kintetsu Nara Sta. (half of it under arcades) or 25 min. walk from JR Nara Sta. 10 min. by No. 1 loop bus or taxi.

I don't think you should attempt to walk this if you come from JR Nara Line...as its pretty far..unless you don't have baggage at all.

Anyway, once you exit from JR Nara Station, cross the street to the other side where the buses are going towards your right when you face the street before crossing. That way you will only have 6 bus stops to pass through to reach Kitakyobate Bus stop. When you step out of the bus, turn to your right and walk towards the traffic light but don't cross the street. When you reach the corner of that traffic light, turn to the left and walk 3 to 5 minutes. The ryokan is on the left side of the street. This street is very useful since if you follow it, it will lead you to more shops and restaurants and also to Nara Park.

Actually, the design of Nara streets are laid out in a grid-like pattern so its easy to navigate...its just that the distance which will get you down if you are in a hurry while walking.

*******************************************************************************************************

Welcome Inn Reservation Center

Head Office (9:15-12:00/13:00-17:00, Closed on
             Sat., Sun., national holidays and Dec. 29-Jan. 3)
  Tel. +81-(0)3-3233-3303

Narita Intl. Airport Terminal 1 (8:00-20:00, daily)
  Tel. +81-(0)476-30-3383

Narita Intl. Airport Terminal 2 (8:00-20:00, daily)
  Tel. +81-(0)476-34-5878

Tokyo (9:00-12:00/13:00-17:00, closed on Jan.1)
  Tel. +81-(0)3-3286-6611

Kyoto (10:00-13:00/14:00-18:00, Closed on
       the 2nd and 4th Tue. of each month and Dec. 29-Jan.3)
  Tel. +81-(0)75-343-4887

Kansai International Airport
  (Apr.-Oct.: 8:30-20:30, daily, Nov.-Mar.: 9:00-20:30, daily)
  Tel. +81-(0)72-456-6025
 

Kitty Trail: Japan 2008 -> Of Yen and Men

Actually I have nothing to say about men...but it was a nice title...hehehe...gotcha!!

Bring cash if you plan to travel outside of the big cities.

While credit cards are widely accepted in Japan, there are some stores in out of the way places which may ask you to pay in cash. Please remember to pronounce "credit card" as "ku-re-jit-to-ka-do" so you can sound more authentic.

Yen is the Japanese currency.  There are three types of notes and six different coins:
1K, 5K and 10K yen notes
1, 5,10,50,100 and 500 yen coins

The coins are very easy to accumulate but easy to dispose when one buys all those drinks from vending machines which are located in every nook and cranny and when one makes all these subway trips and phone calls through the public pay phones.

Watch out though, some phones are wonky...mine in Nara refused to give back my 100 yen after I was unsuccessful in making a call...as I could hardly kick it as it was near the temple grounds, I resigned myself to a Buddha-like chant and left.

I had not seen a lot of ATMs while I was in Japan, and an officemate working there also warned me to bring dough/moolah/cash in yen as I may have some difficulty in either getting to an ATM (I didn't want to incur additional fees for withdrawing in Japan so I was agreeable) or to a money changer.

By the way, a tip  for meals - for delicious meals, try to budget 1K to 1.5K yen...for ryokans, if you can get one at 10 to 15K yen per night, thats a good bargain already as that would include dinner or breakfast or maybe both if you can swing it.

Here in the Philippines, you can buy yen from BPI Main in Ayala. I bought mine there (reserved by an officer in one of BPI's branches where I have my account) and at BDO Makati but had to make a reservation as its not readily available in the latter. I thought it would be the same in Cebu City where I would just say I wanted to buy 2K USD...but here, my 20K Yen had to be picked up by Tuesday when I called in Friday at BDO.

Supplement with atm, credit card and traveller's checks....but I cannot vouch for the latter item as I am unsure if its accepted in places outside of the main city.

Kitty Trail: Japan 2008 -> Where I Stayed in Osaka

OSAKA

I finally managed to snag a reasonably-priced place to stay in this city where Yakuzas are found, and although it was daunting at first thought since this would be my first train transfer in both JR station and local/subway, and aside from the fact that admittedly the inn I was to stay at was a bit difficult to get to, my luggage suddenly got heavier due to some cakes I got at Nagasaki plus other pabaon from Benjie.

I chose this inn because Frommer's had listed it under "Inexpensive". (Between you and me I would think this term would apply for 4K Yen and below but it was more in this case *grin*).

My first choice, which was Hotel Il Monte had mistakenly said in another site that it was fully booked already, so when I tried the hotel's main site and they replied they had a room, it was already too late since I had booked elsewhere in my zeal to have a roof over my head. The site for this in case you are interested is http://www.ilmonte.co.jp. Don't worry as there is an English page there somewhere. Its near to the Osaka station too.

The name of the hotel I ended up in was Family Inn Fifty's Edobori. Address is 2-6-18 Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0002.

The con is that there was no closet (but there are hooks on the wall), but it was quite clean, had the usual bath and large containers for shampoos, rinses and body washes, had a double bed, wall-mounted TV, and airconditioning. Toothbrush, toothpaste and slippers were provided.

To reach this place: you have two choices, take the bus from Osaka station (come to think of it I should have dared this) or try the subway by changing subway lines in Osaka station.

Luckily, I think Osaka has one of the more user-friendly train stations as it was easy for me to follow the color-coding to transfer from the Midosuji Line to the Honmachi Station, then transfer to the subway Chuo Line, getting off at Azawa Station. I seriously doubt the 7 minute walk though, as I think it would be 10 minutes or more...plus since there is more than one exit, you have to be careful to orient yourself.

It's location, though a bit far for some first timers is okay though, especially if you want to be nearer Universal Studios Japan and the Osaka Aquarium as it is near the bay area.
Another plus is there is an eat all-you-can continental breakfast (knowing me, can you doubt the deciding factor, regardless of whether it was difficult to travel to this place?) with all the pastries, breads, coffee, milk, juice, tea, jam, butter, eggs you can carry in your stomach. Sorry, but I have no pictures during my breakfast since I was all focused on stuffing myself for the long trek ahead.

Amenities include free use of computers in the lobby, and these have internet access. Be careful though, you might end up with the one with Japanese characters keyboard hehehe!

Visit http://www.fiftys.com where they have undoubtedly better marketing material than what I have posted here. Aside from picking up this inn's name from the travel book, I also used http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/ to book my reservation for this hotel since it is Japan's largest online hotel reservation company for those on the lookout for budget and moderately-priced accommodations.

I admit that I did lose about 15 minutes of walking around before I could find this hotel. Armed with a map, I was able to navigate transferring from the JR line to the subway line running near this inn's vicinity...and I really thought I could make it with enough time to check in and go back to see a bunraku which was extended due to public demand and which had its last show at 4:30 pm. Alas, by 4 pm I was still walking around the streets looking for this as the tall, fair and handsome policeman I came across could not speak English and could only point to the park which thankfully was on the map I had. Hmph...gwapo sana, walang English word naman.

Anyway, since I couldn't read the kanji for the high school building, hence my miss, but luckily with a look at the compass and a question to a lady passing by, I figured enough to find this..lucky too as it was starting to sprinkle little raindrops on my head. And with my extra bag slung over my already drooping shoulders I thankfully recognized the building by the picture I saw of it. 

I finally managed to check in without too much difficulty (clerk again had not much English on hand), and they just had to take a photocopy of my passport, and off to my room I went. I unpacked, washed, took a cat-nap and with darkening skies still ventured out to try my luck again.

Arrived in Osaka May 5, 2008 at 2:45 pm, left for Kyoto on May 6 at 1:30 pm.

*************************************************************

Directions & Transportation:

*From JR Osaka station
Take the bus No.88 to Tosabori-2choume (about 10 mins). 1 min. walk from the bus stop.

*From Higobashi station (subway Yotsuhashi-line)
10 mins. walk from the station

*From Awaza Station (subway Chuo Line)
7 mins. walk from the station.

*From JR Shin-Osaka station
Take the subway Midosuji Line to Honmachi Station. Change to the subway Chuo Line and get off at Awaza Station. 7 mins. walk from the station.

*From Kansai Int'l Airport
Take the Nankai Rapid Express Train to the last stop, Namba Station. Change to the subway Sennnichimae Line and get off at Awaza Station. 7 mins. walk from the station. The total travel time will be 65 mins.

*From Osaka Int'l Airport
Take the Airport bus to Osaka station. From the station, follow the direction above. The total travel time will be about 50 mins.

Kitty Trail: Japan 2008 -> Where I Stayed in Nagasaki

One of the things I was concerned about was balancing the budget versus my dream of staying at a ryokan versus the availability of hotels and ryokans during Japan's Golden Week.

Golden Week is usually from April 29 to May 6..it is a national holiday week and this is not a good time to travel because everybody is doing the same thing. It is best to avoid this time  to travel as Japanese all tend to take their holidays between similar dates.

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. Usually they are two-storied wooden buildings and the very good ones are horribly expensive, i.e. 35K to 60K yen per night may be the price for the very good ones with marvelous gardens and personalized service.

However, most of the books I read said the same thing: try a ryokan at least for one night's stay. Of course, not all may like the idea of sleeping on the floor even if it is on tatami mats, and sharing a public bathroom (for the more moderately priced ryokans) but due to some good timing and luck (try practice in a real onsen hehehe!) I was all mentally ready to experience it.

 Inevitably, I got stuck on the problem of the May 5 – 6, 2008 accommodations. Where and which ryokan to stay in for those days which would not leave me penniless? My next choice was a moderately expensive or business hotel to stay in but  I didn’t like the idea. I decided to change my strategy and opted for a ryokan in Nara instead of my first goal of experiencing it in Kyoto.

For Kyoto, since I didn't want to run myself ragged trying to get to the hotel when I knew I would be dog-tired at the end of the day (with all the Kyoto walking), I opted for a hotel near the Kyoto station.

 One could go for a hostel, a capsule hotel, a business hotel or even a dormitory...but I was thankful enough to have an assortment of lodgings during my Japan trip. These ranged from the very cute and lovable apartment in Nagasaki of my friend Benjie and her hubby Joy (who worked in Nagasaki for some time), to a moderately priced inn in Osaka, to a more expensively priced hotel in Kyoto, to a traditional ryokan in Nara, and finally to the comfy and cozy houses of my classmate's Sir Boboy's siblings Helene and Lisa in Tokyo (they kindly sheltered me from the rain and winds and tried to stuff me with food every minute or mealtime *grin*).  I could swear that I only gained weight in Nagasaki (where Benjie also tried to fatten me up) and Tokyo where the sisters probably thought I lost weight with all my running around.

NAGASAKI

(Above: one of the most photographed items connected with Nagasaki City is the Spectacles Bridge or Megane-bashi and you can "see" why)

My long-time friend and fellow Technologies Benjie and her hubby Joy stayed at a very charming apartment at Leo Palace 21.

I was amazed and fell in love at how the place was designed..and I loved going to sleep by climbing up a ladder to the room above the entryway....of course that meant I robbed Joy of the chance to sleep side by side with his wife as we could not fit in that place without some elbows and knees sticking to another :-)

Aside from the ubiquitous warm toilet seat with the bidet or whatever the term may be for the convenient splash of water from a pole which pops out after one pees or poos (excuse me), I at last again met a bathtub where I could soak my aches away (the last time I had an encounter with a bathtub was in Westin Cincinnati last year where I soaked for a good while since an officemate gave me bath salts from Japan).

Leo Palace seems to have built a name for itself in having all these chains of apartment houses all over Japan. They have the right idea. You can see  their name paraded on  baseball players' uniforms on television.

For my blogs or albums connected to this city, check out the following links (I may add more later as I complete my Japan travel series, so please just check those tagged as Japan travel in the other sections of my site).

http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/106/Neko-chan_in_Japan_Nagasaki_-_Leo_Palace_and_Intro
http://cuh888.multiply.com/journal/item/45/Neko-chan_in_Japan_The_Tastes_of_Nagasaki
http://cuh888.multiply.com/photos/album/108/Neko-chan_in_Japan_Nagasaki_-_Glover_Garden

And also listed below are some of my friend Benjie's links for her Nagasaki visit:

http://eslogon17.multiply.com/photos/album/21/Nagasaki_City
http://eslogon17.multiply.com/photos/album/22/Showa_Hotel_and_Mt._Inasa
http://eslogon17.multiply.com/photos/album/23/Shakuji-tei_at_Shofukuji_Temple
http://eslogon17.multiply.com/photos/album/24/Peace_Park_and_Nagasaki_Atomic_Bomb_Museum
http://eslogon17.multiply.com/photos/album/25/Nagasaki_Tall_Ship_Feastival

Arrived in Fukuoka May 1, 2008 approximately 7:30 pm. Left on a bus for Nagasaki  from Fukuoka  approximately 9:42 pm Japan time. Arrived Nagasaki  past midnight of May 2, 2008.


How to get  from Fukuoka to Nagasaki by bus:

As I obviously didn't want to try for a taxi ride to the train station to get to Nagasaki (not to mention my JR pass was only good for 7 days, I chose the bus). I asked Joy for directions and luckily it was easy enough for me since the last stop of tbe bus is in Nagasaki so no fear of me overshooting my destination. I felt bad though as they had to stay up for me since my flight was delayed. But I wanted an adventure, so I told Joy not to fetch me from the airport anymore as it would be a waste of good yen.

Get a bus ticket from the machine dispenser near the stalls for the  bus and cellphone rentals. Ticket costs 2500 Yen if memory serves me right. Go out of the  airport exit and turn to your left.  Stop #2  will be the bus for Nagasaki, but wait for it to arrive by  the schedule printed on your ticket or else there will be another bus  bound for another place in that  area :-)

Kitty Trail: Japan 2008 -> Travel Books/Reading Material

I didn't have time but I wanted to make the most out of my first trip to Japan.

So I visited National Bookstore and Powerbooks and looked for on-sale travel books. Yep, all of the books I've bought were bargain...luckily, they also didn't have stock of the books I was thinking of...as they might have been more expensive!


1. Frommer's Japan 8th edition - I brought this on the trip with me as most of the material I had read from this helped me decide on which hotels, ryokan, spots to visit. Very useful as it listed schedules of opening/closing of shrines etc, which bus number to take, how to get to a hotel etc.




2. Fodor's Exploring Japan 6th edition - the first Japan travel book I bought, it has lovely photographs and walks described in it and I love shiny thick paper on which it is printed. I also brought this on the trip, although details were not as extensive as Frommer's in getting from one place to another. However, I recommend you buy this also if only to enjoy the pictures and descriptions they have of the different cultural aspects of Japan

3. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan - colourful pictures, but had to leave it behind. Their "Traveller's Needs" section on Where to Stay, Where to Eat, Shopping in Japan, added to my knowledge gleaned from Frommer's and helped me give me a more clear picture of what to expect. Thinner than Frommer's (it was the thickest) its a good read and a nice addition to one's collection.

4. Lonely Planet: Kyoto City Guide - some people I met along my trip told me they liked Lonely Planet travel books the best. Although I found the maps too cute for my eyes (sign of creeping age), it does have good information on where to prioritize in visiting. But I like my travel books to have good photographs even if they turn out to be bulky and that was what was lacking in this tome.

However, since I really wanted to get to know Kyoto more (in fact, if I had more money and vacation leave balance, I'd have stayed here for 1 week) so there was a lot of information here about the city that was on top of my list. It is also very useful for the budget conscious traveller as it mostly lists those which are on the average to low-cost establishments and lodgings.


5. Lonely Planet: Japanese phrasebook - its a small, handy book very useful for tucking in your bag and in case of emergencies I was prepared to do more than just windmill my arms about. I was prepared to emulate a Japanese accent and struggle through my anime-related Japanese vocabulary. I didn't get to use it very often since I was lucky in Osaka to meet a nice guy who played travel guide, I only got to use it more when I was in Gion, Kyoto by myself during eating.


Most used-phrases and words in my case:

- Watashi wa Firipin-jin desu  (I am a Filipino).

- Watashi no tomodatchi (my friend).

- Kyoto/Tokyo/Nara e ikimasu (I am going to <insert place here>) - very useful at train stations coz I had to ask sometimes where the transfer was to be done.

- Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (Do you speak English?) I sometimes used Eigo ga wakarimasu ka? (Do you understand English?)

- Sumisasen, wakarimasen (Excuse me or sorry, I do not understand) - the most abused word for me everyday was Sumimasen and Hai (yes).

- Kore was ikura desu ka? (How much does this cost?)

- Nanji desu ka (What time is it?)

- the numbers for 1 to 100, 1000-10,000

- days and months

- counters - but in my case more of bottles (hon), books (satsu), floors (kai), people (nin), time (ji), minutes (fun/pun)

- ku re jit to ka do  (credit card) - I learned this in Huis Ten Bosch when I was trying to ask them if they would accept credit card, and they just looked at me when I said "credit card, ok?"....but them I had the bright idea of fudging it by pronounciation...so when I said "ku-re-jit-do-ka-do, hai?"...that solved the problem. *wink*

- Takasugimasu (It is too expensive).

- Nani ga o susume desu ka? (What would you recommend?)

- and the usual up, right, left, down, below, north, south, east, west, near, far...etc.

I also placed in my laptop some pdfs of other Japanese-language audio books like Pimsleur, and some kanji and Japanese phrasebooks.

One night in Nara then to Tokyo onwards!!

Start:	May 8, '08 1:00p
End:	May 9, '08

Philippines to Fukuoka then to Nagasaki

Start:

May 1, '08 1:00p

PAL delayed flight...set off after 4 pm and arrived in Fukuoka around 7 plus pm...and with the lineup etc. and bus trip..arrived in Nagasaki beyond 12 midnight

Kyoto to Nara, 1 day in Nara

Start:	May 8, '08 1:00p
End:	May 9, '08

Osaka to Kyoto, then 2 days in Kyoto

Start:	May 6, '08 1:00p
End:	May 8, '08

* this time it was one of my bags which got left in a train on the way to Kyoto thru Maibara

however I was still able to enjoy a visit to at least 2 major temples, shrines, park, rock garden, lighting, bamboo grove etc.

Nagasaki to Osaka, then overnight Osaka

Start:	May 5, '08 1:00p
End:	May 6, '08

*to be expanded later in blog and album*

suffice to say, travelled by train from Nagasaki all the way to Osaka today and got lost carting my luggage for about 20 minutes :-)

Neko-chan in Japan: Nagasaki Leo Garden Etc.

May 1-2, 2008, Arrival in Nagasaki

I arrived after 12 midnight at the Nagasaki bus stop on May 2. I was a bit disoriented, so much, so that instead of the bus pass, I groggily handed the calling of the Japanese guy I met on the airplane to the bus driver instead of dropping the bus pass into the slot. *Blush*

Joy took pity on me and ushered his wife Benjie and I and my luggage into a taxi. Although usually its not bad to walk as their place is not that far away, I think at half past midnight and with my again empty stomach howling protestingly, Joy made a wise choice.

My embarrassment went away at the sight of the dishes that Benjie had prepared for me.What a lovely midnight dinner and opportune welcome to the city!

I had wonderful fresh salad greens and fruit (topped with that deliciously nutty taste..sesame seeds were they?...was it called goma?), a variety of sushi which I dug into like the tamago, slices of vibrant orange salmon of which I was the first to taste, fluffy and shining, tempting Japanese rice, a dessert where we debated about if it was pudding or custard or ice cream...In fact I think I inhaled the food...

After unpacking and talking about the events of the day, added with some apology of having to make them sleep later due to my delayed flight, I finally clambered up the ladder and into the softly beckoning futon on the loft-bedroom. Ang CUTE! "KAWAII" as the Japanese would say.

The next day, since I had to work to cover Europe since my teammates were having a holiday, and so my hosts waited for me to finish my emails and other work before we went out for a whirlwind of short sightseeing. It was a bummer being the supposed beginning of my vacation but oh well, as long as I could still finish cleaning up the other queues before 5 pm there could still be some time left for me to go around or eat something.

I am so lucky to have Benjie and Joy as my hostess and host respectively..not only did they patiently wait for me to finish (and they didn't eat lunch too as they promised we'd eat together). However, due to the amount of emails I had to contend with, I could only let go of my laptop after merienda time..so consequently our stomach pets got starved as a consequence..and we didn't eat at all until we finished visiting Glover..luckily it was an eat all you can place for dinner...but then...*considers* I had to rush back to the house for the phone conference with my team and another's...and that was another funny story...

Most of the time, I got food pushed at me from all directions...from breads, to chocolates, castelle and all kinds of interesting edible stuff (we couldn't read the kanji) that Benjie found at the Himawari Market located directly across the apartment. 

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Nagasaki doesn't have a castle or hot spring spas or a famous garden. 

But it IS charming. In fact, I heard that many people in Japan, both local and foreigners consider this city as one of the country's most beautiful cities. How wonderful that this would be the first city I would visit in the company of people I've known for a long time and who I've broken bread with so many times already.

Recall that only Nagasaki was allowed to be opened to the world in the 200 years or more of Japan's self-imposed isolation from the outside world. This city reminds me of the Philippines in the sense of intermingled cultures. The harbor of Nagasaki is very active, home as it is to the Mitsubishi shipyards. 


GETTING TO NAGASAKI:

Aside from the usual airplane trip from other parts of Japan which I will not elaborate anymore, you can go by bus like I did last night from Fukuoka airport, or you can also depart from Hakata Station in Fukuoka since they have trains going to Nagasaki twice every hour. This train trip from Fukuoka takes about 2 hours. 

If you come from Tokyo, just take the Shinkansen to Hakata Station and change trains. Total time would probably be 9 hours all in all (budgeting time for the transfer, timing etc.) including the trip from Fukuoka to Nagasaki.

If you come from Osaka, again take train. JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Osaka to Fukuoka's Hakata Station and then do a train transfer. I had used JR's Kamome (limited express train) when I went from Nagasaki to Fukuoka so it must be the same thing. Osaka to Nagasaki may take 4.5 to 5 hours depending if you are using Nozomi or Hikari trains and if you can make the timely transfer work for you.

GETTING AROUND:

Use the streetcars or use your feet :-) If you go for buses, unfortunately destinations are in Japanese only at this time, but..gambatte (you can do it!) if you are willing to try!

The streetcars cost 100 yen to ride no matter how far you go. You pay at the front of the tram when you get off. You can transfer to another line (they have four lines) only at Tsukimachi Station. 

You must tell the driver you want a transfer ticket (noritsugi) at that stop upon disembarking from the first streetcar, otherwise you must fork out money again for another ticket each time you board. Streetcars run from around 6:30 am to 11:30 pm.

Check out official website link for Nagasaki City: http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/index_e.html

SOME OF THE PLACES YOU OUGHT TO SEE:

Oura Catholic Church - 
Declared a National Treasure as it is the OLDEST wooden church of gothic architecture existing nowadays in Japan. Built in 1865 by French missionaries. 
{I didn't go inside as the entrance fee was I think 600 Yen, but had a souvenir pose in front of it}

Peace Statue at Peace Park (Hirano-Machi) -
A picture of the statue is in one of the links I posted which came from Benjie's site. The right hand points upward and the left hand points to the..uhm...left. The upward direction warns of the atomic bomb threat, while the left hand stretching is a symbol for eternal world peace. The statue's closed eyelids express consolation for the war's dead. 
{I wasn't able to visit *sigh*}

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum - 
At August 9, 1945 11:02 am, the world's second atomic bomb exploded above this hypocenter and it was three times more powerful than the bomb dropped in Hiroshima. It missed the main city and fell on a village on the outskirts of town. Around 150K people (representing more than 3/4 of the population) of Nagasaki died. 
{I missed this too although I have seen the pictures...in a way I am glad I didn't have to see it as I would feel depressed at the many lives lost as a price of war}

Sofukuji Temple - 
This is Nagasaki's most famous temple. Chinese residents founded this in 1629. Main Hall and first gate are designated as National Treasures. A fascinating thing to see would have been the temple's gigantic cauldron..said to be built by a priest during the 1680's terrible famine to cook enough "lugaw"..este porridge to feed more than 3K people per day. 
{Waaah, I missed visiting this due to lack of time}

Site of Martyrdom of the 26 Saints - 
The 26 Christians were crucified on Nishizaka Hill on February 1597 since they were still practicing their religion despite the ban on Christianity at this time. 
{I'm just not good at being enthusiastic about sad events so I missed this too}

Glover Garden - 
Designated as an Important Cultural Asset. The houses overlook Nagasaki Harbor. Glover House is the oldest western-style wooden house existing in Japan. {Shots in the next album I will post...the gardens and views were a sight for sore eyes accustomed to staring at laptop screens}

Spectacles Bridge (Megane-bashi) - 
This is one of the city's most photographed bridges as it is the oldest stone-arched bridge in Japan and...funnily enough is named after the reflection of its arches on the water. Benjie and I were laughing on how they tried to see how it came to be called Spectacles Bridge as you cannot always see the reason (meaning you cannot always see the image of the spectacles).

Site of the Former Dutch Trading Post on Dejima - 
Dejima was a tiny man-made island built in 1636. This is where Europeans where to live in the attempt to control the spread of Christianity. It was Japan's only open gateway to Europe for approximately more than 200 years.

Delete Reply chitoirigo wrote on May 18, '08, edited on May 19, '08 More than any other place in the world, I think Nagasaki evokes the most memories, mostly sad, about war and its the stupidity.

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 18, '08 chitoirigo said More any other place in the world, I think Nagasaki evokes the most memories, mostly sad, about war and its the stupidity.  its unavoidable that when one hears "Nagasaki" or "Hiroshima" most people would have images of a horrible explosion flooding their minds... but Nagasaki now as I see it has recovered beautifully and I am thankful that it is the first city I came to spend my first days in Japan, that it wasn't Kyoto or Tokyo at all - because it is a very beautiful city, and contrasting this with images of what happened in WW2, I would only like to see the kind of climbing back and standing up that this city did for cities in the Philippines.

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 18, '08 I also passed by Hiroshima on the way to Osaka and unfortunately wasn't able to stop and get off due to my imposed schedule. But I would like to do so some day. If Nagasaki was the second city (and hopefully the last city EVER) destroyed by an atomic bomb...then Hiroshima with its distinction of being the first city is also very historic.

Delete Reply bubu34 wrote on May 19, '08 very practical naman yan...

Delete Reply bubu34 wrote on May 19, '08 it's nice Japan with it's residential houses, usually kasi I only the cities from pics..

Delete Reply bubu34 wrote on May 19, '08 have they not mistaken you for a Japanese woman? Say, are they friendly too? What about cherries, it must be on season now right?

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 19, '08 bubu34 said it's nice Japan with it's residential houses, usually kasi I only the cities from pics..  ah..image ko of Japan is one which matched what I saw in Gion..hehehe...

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 19, '08, edited on May 19, '08 bubu34 said have they not mistaken you for a Japanese woman? Say, are they friendly too? What about cherries, it must be on season now right?  well..let's see...people talked to me in Japanese..but I think thats how they really do it..regardless if foreigner ka (pwera siguro if puti) there were really times na nag-E-English na ako, tapos sinasagot pa rin ako in Japanese..hehehe... I think the Japanese are basically courteous and polite...so Nonz, when you ask me about friendliness part..I would say that my answer depends on how you would define it. I am sure in Europe or the US since people are more direct you would feel they are more "friendly"...in Japan, I think while they are willing to help, they will not approach you directly...coz that may be considered rude to them.

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 19, '08 bubu34 said What about cherries, it must be on season now right?  hmm...di ko nakita...I only visited the grocery during the Nagasaki stint but I didn't drift off to the fruits section..and while in Tokyo, isang beses lang din ako at ang nakuha ko are blueberries...which wasn't as sweet as I had hoped it would be..pero ok na rin :-)

Delete Reply bubu34 wrote on May 19, '08 cuh888 said they will not approach you directly...coz that may be considered rude to them.  actually, there are situations here in Europe where they hesistate to extend help, thinking that you might not need it, so they wait that one asks... I believe that Japanese people have different approaches and mentality... My friend Kazuko while in the Phils. was so sweet...almost like any Filipina :)

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 19, '08 bubu34 said actually, there are situations here in Europe where they hesistate to extend help, thinking that you might not need it, so they wait that one asks... I believe that Japanese people have different approaches and mentality... My friend Kazuko while in the Phils. was so sweet...almost like any Filipina :)  yung Jap guy din I talked to sa plane was parang Pinoy...(note my Fantastic Fukuoka post)...he works in govt so I can't talk much about him..but he was fun..he could understand Pilipino (no wonder he chuckled when I said plaintively my bulati were grumbling)... two guys I met on the train on the way to Osaka were also helpful...one siguro mga mid-30s, another medyo old na...the latter indicated the hook for the coat, pulled out his timetable, the former pointed to the overhead rack for th luggage and spoke some English to me...so oks na rin...a Jap woman helped me out in Kyoto too...later when I get into those posts and pics...

Delete Reply oselle wrote on May 28, '08 ang cute naman dyan :)

Delete Reply oselle wrote on May 28, '08 akala ko nag mu-multiply ka... :P

Delete Reply oselle wrote on May 28, '08 Chi-zu. :)

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on May 28, '08 oselle said akala ko nag mu-multiply ka... :P  I wish! tambak ng emails..e isang araw pa lang yon na di ako nag check..imagine if 1 week or more ka naka-leave....*bug-eyed*

Delete Reply faitherasmo wrote on Jun 9, '08 Hanep sa cap. =]

Edit Delete Reply cuh888 wrote on Jun 9, '08 faitherasmo said Hanep sa cap. =]  uhm..mahilig kc ako sa beret..feeling as ze french model, qui?