The news of disasters in Nepal has been stapled onto the news today. Efforts in providing aid to them has been continous and everyone is playing their part to rebuild the many lives that have been affected.
How would we feel or need if we were in their shoes? Would luxrious items be worth more than food and water? What can we do to help?
In order for one to live, one must these 4 things. Air, shelter, water and food. we can only survive about 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.
Air is abundant, and shelter is managable as there are many resources that can be made into shelters. But clean water is not. There are many rivers and ponds in Kathmandu, that can be harvested. But they need the right tools in order to harvest water without the spread of water borne diseases.
A friend of mine from Sea Scouts and Filtr8 has shared their efforts to sending in water filter harvesters to Nepal. To teach them how to use them so the communities will be able to obtain clean water.
So how can we help? Every RM200 donated by us will provide a set + 1 set (donated by the supplier) to be sent to Nepal and any other future disasters requiring these modules. This will help in providing them Clean and safe water to use. To do that, kindly contact seascouts@m7f.org,my and tell them that you wish to provide your donations to the Nepal relief cause.
To see the progress of the donations and to make sure that your donations get to the Disaster victims. Please like NanoFiltr8
Please do consider donating for a really good cause that will definitely make a difference in the lives of these people.
In the memories of the lives that were lost in Nepal. I offer my long due entry of my 3 week excursion to Japan in Spring.
Please enjoy...
=========
For the Spring of 2014, I made plans for a 3 week vacation in Japan starting from the 21st of March 2014 to the 11th of April 2014. The long span was design so to capture the sakura season whenever it starts (Provided that the Earth's axis did not spin out of its normal cycle and delay or advance the Sakura ).
I started planning the trip about a year before and the details were progressively filled in as we started booking flights and accomodation. We will be going from Tokyo to Hakone to Osaka to Kyoto to Takayama, and then back to Tokyo for the finale. Hokkaido (July 2015) and Okinawa would be covered on another trip.
We began with the booking of our flights. And with all Asian destinations we contemplated between Air Asia, Malaysian Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. I have heard that Thai Airways sometimes have affordable fairs too and you may go into many of the fair checkers out there such as cheapflights.com.my that help find you the cheapest deals though you have to take not of the number of stops and the timings in between flights if you are to use them.
Air Asia was preferred as its the most affordable amongst the rest. The only con about the flights are its late arrivals at Haneda. Flights arrive at about 1100 to 1130 making it very tight to find a train or bus into the city in time.
So in order for Air Asia to be used one must spend a night either at a capsule hotel in Haneda airport or a hotel nearby. Luckily, Toyoko Hotels has hotels nearby WITH transport from the Airport to the hotel. The other one would be Hotel MyStays Haneda, Depending on the season you may want to choose either one to accomodate you for the evening.
As for the rest of the journey, Accomodation sites like Agoda, Booking.com and hostelbookers will definitely prove useful to setting up your parking points throughout your journey. There is also airbnb that requires a more personal touch but with even more wildly affordable accomodations. If you are in a tight budget and would be open to the fact of speaking or chatting with the room provider to arrange the accomodation, Airbnb is highly recommended.
Arrival in Tokyo
============
Arriving at Haneda City Airport, The hotel transports can be easily found by making your way to the buses area. There are 2 areas, (One for buses that go to the city and routed areas, and there is one on its own that are for tour buses and hotel transports).
If you're staying in the City, you may also consider the train provided that your flight arrived on time or earlier.
Tokyo
=====
Tokyo is a huge metropolitan city. Coming here for the third time, I have yet to cover all the areas. This time, we made out base in Ikebukuro. A prominent area in Tokyo West. Hotels here can be a moderately priced, however if you don't mind a 5-7 minute Japanese Brisk from the station and staying in an establishment just behind the mainroad, you can get a really good room for your money's worth.
Tokyu Stay Ikebukuro is one of those hotels. This gem served as one of the best room we had throughout our journey in Japan. In the area, there are many Izakaya and nightlife entertainment around the area. Being close to the Ikebukuro station, it serves as a great starting point to head to anywhere around Tokyo.
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
================
Are you fan of Tottoro, My Neighbour? Or Spirited away? Got time for a short excursion out of Tokyo?
The Ghibli Museum is an interesting establishment just approx. 30 minutes from Ikebukuro Station that features all the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
It even has the iconic Tottoro at the entrance to welcome you to he Museum.
You may also find and pose with your favorite characters and be part of the Ghibli world.
They are open from 10 to 6pm except Tuesdays in general, and tickets have to be bought in advanced. This has been designed to make sure that the museum isn't super packed at any one time of the day.
A 1000yen adult ticket will grant you access to the establishment's amazing arts, designs, short movie cinema and a Ghibli themed cafe inside for your leisure. Even your Reserved ticket will be exchanged for a unique 35mm film styled ticket of a Ghibli movie scene as a souvenir.
So come join the fun and experience what an Anime inspired Museum is like here in Mitaka.
Hakone
======
Hakone, or in Evangelion terms... 'Tokyo-III' is one of the most visited areas as a 1 to 3 day Excursions from Tokyo.
Its about 1 and a half hours from Ikebukuro of which you will need to take a special train from Shinjuku to Odawara or the Limited Express ' Romancecar' to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Either station is fine so long you have your Hakone Free pass, so you may travel up the mountain via the trams or take a bus to the Hakone-Machi and cross Lake via the cruise.
There are abundance of hotels around Hakone, and each one has their specialities. One of the most common speciality is to have your own private onsen bath tubs.
Fujiya Hotel is situated at the 'Miya-no-Shita' station between 'Hakone-Yumoto' Station and 'Gora' Station which you may reach via the 'Hakone Tozan Train'.
It is a traditional styled hotel with no lifts but has got an amazing garden, a grand facade and helpful hotel attendance who have the ability to haul your luggage up and down flights of stairs without losing their breaths, regardless of gender.
Check in process is easy and refreshing, and its not often that you get fluently english speaking receptionists attending to your every whim in a Japanese hotel. Or at least that it what I observed as much.
Traveling the Hakone circuit, you will find nature everywhere from beautiful luscious forests, to sulphur filled 'black onsen egg baths' to an amazing scenery of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji in the background and the old-new romantic cruise on Lake Ashi.
TRIUS TIPS:
But what you may or may not miss is a uniquely placed ONSEN THEMEPARK! Yes you heard me right... ONSEN THEME PARK....If you love onsen and would like to try unique onsen dips into flavors such as Coffee, wine, chocolate, green tea, and charcoal? You Must try this place!
It is divided into 2 parts, Mori no Yu which is the nude onsen with separate levels for men and women; and then there is Yunnessun is the bathing suit onsen area with the amazing flavors. Every 30 minutes, there will be an Onsen attendant that will go to certain flavored onsens to hurl buckets of flavored onsen water at you. And believe me, you will be screaming for more!
So if you are a coffee and onsen lover, jump into the coffee onsen and shout at the top of your lungs... "Coffee Cho Dai!" (Give me Coffee!)
Hakone is also the host city for NERV. If you are a fan of the anime series Evangelion, you will find easter eggs all around Hakone and a Store selling Evangelion merchandise.
Osaka
=====
There are a few ways to get to Osaka from Tokyo. By air, by train, the Shinkansen, or by mid-night bus. A good way to try that is convenient and saves you a night at a hotel is is the mid-night bus. One we used is by Willer-bus. If you can get a good rate, it can cost about 1500yen per person.
Osaka is a city of Metropolitan importance and a major Entertainment hub in the Kansai region.
Osaka Station is the main station in Osaka integrating a transportation hub and a shopping hub all in one. From here, one can travel almost everywhere in Kansai.
A la Maison is an interesting guest house owned by a friendly French and Japanese couple.
Very informative and accomodating couple who is always willing to help. The room is a ryokan styled room with a shared shower and toilet and a homely environment yet very affordable.
A key icon in Osaka is the Osaka Castle, it is a place where one can enjoy the views of the Castle, a park, and many Sakura trees all over that one can experience Sakura viewing in Spring.
The Castle premise isn't the only area with Sakura trees, the entire city is filled with them.
In terms of entertainment, Osaka is filled with attractions, they have the Universal Studios Osaka,
The Famed Osaka Aquarium,
TRIUS TIP:
Just a Stone's throw from the Aquarium is this fine restaurant. It's speciality? The Chawamushi Ramen. You will find it along the way from the Train Station towards the Aquarium.
There is also the ferris Wheel in Osaka City.
An interesting city to be in, 4-5 day leisurely adventure around Osaka is just nice to enjoy each and every attraction instore.
Kyoto
=====
Kyoto is approximately 30 minutes from Osaka by train ride on the JR Tokaido costing around 540yen.
Kyoto is more of a Cultural Hub than an entertainment city in comparison with Osaka. Over a thousand temples both Shinto and Buddhist all around Kyoto, if you like the serenity of these monuments, this is the place for you.
I have covered Kyoto before in my previous blog about Japan. But this time, I was able to explore more in depth.
Do stay tuned for my second installment covering Kyoto, Takayama, and Tokyo - Odaiba in Spring in the Next episode of .... Trius Travels : Japanese Gems in Spring PART 2
To be continued. . .
Credits to Joee for being my Model.
How would we feel or need if we were in their shoes? Would luxrious items be worth more than food and water? What can we do to help?
In order for one to live, one must these 4 things. Air, shelter, water and food. we can only survive about 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.
Air is abundant, and shelter is managable as there are many resources that can be made into shelters. But clean water is not. There are many rivers and ponds in Kathmandu, that can be harvested. But they need the right tools in order to harvest water without the spread of water borne diseases.
A friend of mine from Sea Scouts and Filtr8 has shared their efforts to sending in water filter harvesters to Nepal. To teach them how to use them so the communities will be able to obtain clean water.
So how can we help? Every RM200 donated by us will provide a set + 1 set (donated by the supplier) to be sent to Nepal and any other future disasters requiring these modules. This will help in providing them Clean and safe water to use. To do that, kindly contact seascouts@m7f.org,my and tell them that you wish to provide your donations to the Nepal relief cause.
To see the progress of the donations and to make sure that your donations get to the Disaster victims. Please like NanoFiltr8
Please do consider donating for a really good cause that will definitely make a difference in the lives of these people.
In the memories of the lives that were lost in Nepal. I offer my long due entry of my 3 week excursion to Japan in Spring.
Please enjoy...
=========
For the Spring of 2014, I made plans for a 3 week vacation in Japan starting from the 21st of March 2014 to the 11th of April 2014. The long span was design so to capture the sakura season whenever it starts (Provided that the Earth's axis did not spin out of its normal cycle and delay or advance the Sakura ).
I started planning the trip about a year before and the details were progressively filled in as we started booking flights and accomodation. We will be going from Tokyo to Hakone to Osaka to Kyoto to Takayama, and then back to Tokyo for the finale. Hokkaido (July 2015) and Okinawa would be covered on another trip.
We began with the booking of our flights. And with all Asian destinations we contemplated between Air Asia, Malaysian Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. I have heard that Thai Airways sometimes have affordable fairs too and you may go into many of the fair checkers out there such as cheapflights.com.my that help find you the cheapest deals though you have to take not of the number of stops and the timings in between flights if you are to use them.
Air Asia was preferred as its the most affordable amongst the rest. The only con about the flights are its late arrivals at Haneda. Flights arrive at about 1100 to 1130 making it very tight to find a train or bus into the city in time.
So in order for Air Asia to be used one must spend a night either at a capsule hotel in Haneda airport or a hotel nearby. Luckily, Toyoko Hotels has hotels nearby WITH transport from the Airport to the hotel. The other one would be Hotel MyStays Haneda, Depending on the season you may want to choose either one to accomodate you for the evening.
As for the rest of the journey, Accomodation sites like Agoda, Booking.com and hostelbookers will definitely prove useful to setting up your parking points throughout your journey. There is also airbnb that requires a more personal touch but with even more wildly affordable accomodations. If you are in a tight budget and would be open to the fact of speaking or chatting with the room provider to arrange the accomodation, Airbnb is highly recommended.
Arrival in Tokyo
============
Arriving at Haneda City Airport, The hotel transports can be easily found by making your way to the buses area. There are 2 areas, (One for buses that go to the city and routed areas, and there is one on its own that are for tour buses and hotel transports).
If you're staying in the City, you may also consider the train provided that your flight arrived on time or earlier.
Tokyo
=====
Tokyo is a huge metropolitan city. Coming here for the third time, I have yet to cover all the areas. This time, we made out base in Ikebukuro. A prominent area in Tokyo West. Hotels here can be a moderately priced, however if you don't mind a 5-7 minute Japanese Brisk from the station and staying in an establishment just behind the mainroad, you can get a really good room for your money's worth.
Tokyu Stay Ikebukuro is one of those hotels. This gem served as one of the best room we had throughout our journey in Japan. In the area, there are many Izakaya and nightlife entertainment around the area. Being close to the Ikebukuro station, it serves as a great starting point to head to anywhere around Tokyo.
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
================
Are you fan of Tottoro, My Neighbour? Or Spirited away? Got time for a short excursion out of Tokyo?
The Ghibli Museum is an interesting establishment just approx. 30 minutes from Ikebukuro Station that features all the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
It even has the iconic Tottoro at the entrance to welcome you to he Museum.
You may also find and pose with your favorite characters and be part of the Ghibli world.
They are open from 10 to 6pm except Tuesdays in general, and tickets have to be bought in advanced. This has been designed to make sure that the museum isn't super packed at any one time of the day.
A 1000yen adult ticket will grant you access to the establishment's amazing arts, designs, short movie cinema and a Ghibli themed cafe inside for your leisure. Even your Reserved ticket will be exchanged for a unique 35mm film styled ticket of a Ghibli movie scene as a souvenir.
So come join the fun and experience what an Anime inspired Museum is like here in Mitaka.
Hakone
======
Hakone, or in Evangelion terms... 'Tokyo-III' is one of the most visited areas as a 1 to 3 day Excursions from Tokyo.
Its about 1 and a half hours from Ikebukuro of which you will need to take a special train from Shinjuku to Odawara or the Limited Express ' Romancecar' to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Either station is fine so long you have your Hakone Free pass, so you may travel up the mountain via the trams or take a bus to the Hakone-Machi and cross Lake via the cruise.
There are abundance of hotels around Hakone, and each one has their specialities. One of the most common speciality is to have your own private onsen bath tubs.
Fujiya Hotel is situated at the 'Miya-no-Shita' station between 'Hakone-Yumoto' Station and 'Gora' Station which you may reach via the 'Hakone Tozan Train'.
It is a traditional styled hotel with no lifts but has got an amazing garden, a grand facade and helpful hotel attendance who have the ability to haul your luggage up and down flights of stairs without losing their breaths, regardless of gender.
Check in process is easy and refreshing, and its not often that you get fluently english speaking receptionists attending to your every whim in a Japanese hotel. Or at least that it what I observed as much.
Traveling the Hakone circuit, you will find nature everywhere from beautiful luscious forests, to sulphur filled 'black onsen egg baths' to an amazing scenery of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji in the background and the old-new romantic cruise on Lake Ashi.
TRIUS TIPS:
But what you may or may not miss is a uniquely placed ONSEN THEMEPARK! Yes you heard me right... ONSEN THEME PARK....If you love onsen and would like to try unique onsen dips into flavors such as Coffee, wine, chocolate, green tea, and charcoal? You Must try this place!
It is divided into 2 parts, Mori no Yu which is the nude onsen with separate levels for men and women; and then there is Yunnessun is the bathing suit onsen area with the amazing flavors. Every 30 minutes, there will be an Onsen attendant that will go to certain flavored onsens to hurl buckets of flavored onsen water at you. And believe me, you will be screaming for more!
So if you are a coffee and onsen lover, jump into the coffee onsen and shout at the top of your lungs... "Coffee Cho Dai!" (Give me Coffee!)
Hakone is also the host city for NERV. If you are a fan of the anime series Evangelion, you will find easter eggs all around Hakone and a Store selling Evangelion merchandise.
 |
| Found at Hakone -Yumoto Station |
Osaka
=====
There are a few ways to get to Osaka from Tokyo. By air, by train, the Shinkansen, or by mid-night bus. A good way to try that is convenient and saves you a night at a hotel is is the mid-night bus. One we used is by Willer-bus. If you can get a good rate, it can cost about 1500yen per person.
Osaka is a city of Metropolitan importance and a major Entertainment hub in the Kansai region.
Osaka Station is the main station in Osaka integrating a transportation hub and a shopping hub all in one. From here, one can travel almost everywhere in Kansai.
A la Maison is an interesting guest house owned by a friendly French and Japanese couple.
Very informative and accomodating couple who is always willing to help. The room is a ryokan styled room with a shared shower and toilet and a homely environment yet very affordable.
 |
| The Door Key is attached to the Raindeer Plushie |
A key icon in Osaka is the Osaka Castle, it is a place where one can enjoy the views of the Castle, a park, and many Sakura trees all over that one can experience Sakura viewing in Spring.
The Castle premise isn't the only area with Sakura trees, the entire city is filled with them.
In terms of entertainment, Osaka is filled with attractions, they have the Universal Studios Osaka,
The Famed Osaka Aquarium,
 |
| One of the Attractions is the Whale Shark |
Just a Stone's throw from the Aquarium is this fine restaurant. It's speciality? The Chawamushi Ramen. You will find it along the way from the Train Station towards the Aquarium.
 |
| What's inside the Chawamushi covered Ramen! |
There is also the ferris Wheel in Osaka City.
An interesting city to be in, 4-5 day leisurely adventure around Osaka is just nice to enjoy each and every attraction instore.
Kyoto
=====
Kyoto is approximately 30 minutes from Osaka by train ride on the JR Tokaido costing around 540yen.
Kyoto is more of a Cultural Hub than an entertainment city in comparison with Osaka. Over a thousand temples both Shinto and Buddhist all around Kyoto, if you like the serenity of these monuments, this is the place for you.
I have covered Kyoto before in my previous blog about Japan. But this time, I was able to explore more in depth.
Do stay tuned for my second installment covering Kyoto, Takayama, and Tokyo - Odaiba in Spring in the Next episode of .... Trius Travels : Japanese Gems in Spring PART 2
To be continued. . .
Credits to Joee for being my Model.
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