Tokyo Trip - December 2014 - Part 2 - Around the city of Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world. One of the most expensive too. But there are cheaper alternatives - you just have to search and look around for them - meaning you have to walk around and walk some more.

Transportation - you can get a Suica card for 500 Yen (about 5USD) as the base amount and top-up the amount (pre-paid) so you can go anywhere in Tokyo via bus, train or subway. I think we only spent less than 50 USD traveling around Tokyo for our 8 day stay (train fees to and from the airport are not included).

Food - oh yes food. LOL. There's a lot of restaurants around Tokyo, but if you are on a budget, make sure you check out the prices of their menu before you enter. Most of the restaurants have their menu listed with prices outside. The cheap ones are those with ordering machines - somewhat like a vending machine. You insert your money, choose whatever dish you like ( there are pictures ) and it will print out a stub/ticket to be given to the staff.

This is the Suica card - I kept mine as a souvenir haha ... you can return it though and get back the 500 Yen (around 5 USD) deposit. It's not hard to top up the card. You can select English language on the machine as well. It's super easy : insert the card, select the amount, insert the money > done!

Tokyo Trip - December 2014 - Part 1 - Arrival

We were not planning to go to Tokyo for our 2-week trip this year. I actually wanted to go to London! But because of some personal stuff, the plan changed and we booked Tokyo instead for 1 week.

It turned out to be one of the favorite cities I've visited.

The city is lively, has it's own unique character and culture, people are nice and polite, and I felt like I was underdressed most of the time LOL. Sorry I didn't get the memo LOL.

I have tons of photos so I have to divide my posts to several parts - so here's the first part and this is more about our arrival into the city.

We arrived at around 4:30PM at Narita airport. Since we didn't buy the JR Express card (which you can use to ride the trains and bus anywhere in Tokyo, and I heard you can use it to take the bullet train to go outside Tokyo too. Note: you have to buy it outside of Japan) - we went straight to the desk selling train tickets going to the city which will be right in front of you after you exit the arrival gate.

It's 1,500 Yen per person (about 15 USD) for the Narita Express train ride from the airport going to the city. Ask all the questions you have to the sales person regarding where and how to ride the train from where you are before leaving the desk. Look at the ticket given to you, it will tell you the car number and your seats ( they are reserved for you ) - very important.

I'm pretty sure that you will see the train map of Tokyo somewhere along the way - which is overwhelming! But do not even try to study it, it won't help. LOL. Just ask people around you. Or if they don't know too, ask any train officers around - they're everywhere and very very helpful!

Once you reach the platform do not jump into the first train that you will see right away, there's a big chance that is not your train haha. Look for your designated car number first then wait for the JR Express train to arrive. Non-JR express trains use the same platform, so be careful! I guess the best tip here as well is to make sure you check the arrival time of your JR Express train on the ticket - they are always on time. If you are still unsure - ask the train officers walking around.

This is where you can buy the Narita Express ticket from the airport going to the city.

Snapshots from Chinatown in Singapore

We were in Chinatown last weekend to try the burger at Fast Cow Palace restaurant. Yes - burger .... chinatown ... don't really mix well i know, but I must say, their burger was good! A little bit pricey, but search Groupon and you may be able to get some discounted vouchers ;)

Clarke Quay Singapore Snapshots

Well, it's been a while since I posted here. And to be honest, I was not planning to post anything but I just accidentally saw this blog again because I was auto-signed it to this account. After reading my previous postings, I have to say, I was inspired by it again. So here I am, let's see and hope that I will be able to continue this.

These photos were taken around Clarke Quay in Singapore on 25 October 2014. I met some friends near the area and thought of bringing my camera and take some snapshots. I am not sure if it was my camera but I don't think I am super satisfied with these photos - well, yeah, I think it's the camera and not the composition of the shots. HAHAHA... Anyways, hope to post here more!

Travel post : Sky Ranch Tagaytay - December 2013

Snapshots of our visit to Sky Ranch Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines.

My first post for 2014! Here's hoping for more post in 2014! haha

Bring your dog! But make sure you have a dog diaper with you :)

Travel Post : US arrival - New York - 2 November 2013

Before we fly to the US, I already told myself that I am going to take lots of videos ... guess what, it didn't happen hahaha... I only got a few! Sharing our arrival in JFK New York via Delta airlines! :)

This is the first time I edited a video. Oh well, yeah, I just removed our voices from the background and replaced it with a Katy Perry song :)

Visiting Hong Kong - day 3

Day 3 - final day in Hong Kong.

We had our breakfast first at Tsui Wah Restaurant. They serve local food here. I was surprised that when we went out of the restaurant the queue outside was very long. It must be popular among locals.

Visiting Macau - day 2 of our Hong Kong trip

Ruins of St. Paul Cathedral in Macau. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

My friend has never been to Macau so we made sure to include it in our itinerary. There are 2 ferry terminals going to Macau from Hong Kong. One is the Hong Kong Macau Ferry terminal and the other one is the China Ferry Terminal which is just a few blocks away from our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Of course, we went to the nearest one :)

Hotel Review : California Hotel Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong

I was not planning to create a post about the hotel where we stayed in Hong Kong but since the online site where I booked the hotel will give me points when I post my review, I decided to create one. Also, I thought this might also be helpful for others.

I am not doing this review to bash the hotel but to just share our experience.

Alrighty - I knew that hotel rooms in Hong Kong are quite small (at least for the 3 stars below) and quite expensive. I tried my best to look for a reasonable priced hotel - I did not want to book a one star and 3 stars were quite pricey already. So I've found and booked the California Hotel. It is a 2 star hotel and the price was just fine.

Hotel location : very good location! It's located at Tsim Sha Tsui - it is surrounded by malls and stores and it's the touristy area. Also, the Tsim Sha Tsui station is just a stone throw away from the hotel. I believe, if you take the D1 exit, you'll see the hotel on the right across the street. The sign is quite small but it is between the Standard Chartered Bank and a jewelry store.

Can you see that yellow wall on the middle of the picture? That's the D1 exit of Tsim Sgha Tsui MTR station

Visiting Hong Kong - day 1

It was my 2nd time in Hong Kong. The first time I went there, we were on a package tour, this time around - we were on our own.

I have to remind myself not to book a flight that leaves very early in the morning as we are now staying in Central Singapore. Our flight was 6am - we paid 30sgd for the cab going to the airport. Ouch!

Sunrise.

Singapore's Hokkien Mee

... and I'm back!

I learned how to use the chopsticks because of this food - Hokkien Mee :)

This is Hokkien Mee. This is the first dish I have ever tried in Singapore. I loved it the first time I tasted it and I still do! I have tried it from several eating places in Singapore. ION mall used to have the best Hokkien mee, but for some reason the stall selling it have closed already and now with the new stall selling it, it's not as good anymore. You can still go to Suntec and Wisma Atria for the best ones though.