An imaginary world that fulls of happiness

It has been 4years I never visited vietnam. I remember the last time I visited Ho Chi Minh City is in 2006 where I still working in Axis, my first job. Then, that time I’m involved in Maybank project. So, i have been working in Maybank Ho Chi Minh for quite sometime. That is the first project done by me and was successfully rolled out. That is the first project i have learned to be independent and also my first time to fly to Ho Chi Minh alone.

This time when I come back here, there is a lot of sweet memories flash back. I remember the street where I used to walk everyday to work while in hcmc, remember those shops houses, restaurants and shopping mall. But here really change a lot. After 4 years, here is more advance… Everything here is expensive now compare to last time.

I walk to the market alone. That market name is Ben Thanh. While walking I have flash back a lot of memories. I really miss the old times here. At first, while walking in the market, I just walk and walk. I’m not sure what I want to buy inside there. My mind is blank. Then slowly, I start to look around and I bought some bags and shoes… I didn’t buy much because I’m not sure what I really want… and most important is I can’t bring back to KL.

My trip here supposes is relaxing and just walking around here… not including shopping… haha…

Here are some photos of Vietnam… I didn’t bring DSLR camera and I’m quite regret because the photo taken is not really nice…

Pho 24 Restaurant.. a vietnamese noodle shop

me @ Pho24 Restaurant for dinner..

Pho Ga (Kuey Tiaw Soup with Chicken)

Ben Thanh Market.. my favourite shopping place..

ho chi minh lifestyle..

ho chi minh building..

ho chi minh lifestyle..

ho chi minh building..

lunch @ Highlands Coffee.. one of the famous local coffee place..

Vanilla Cappuccino @ Highlands Coffee..

Ice Chocolate Highlands Coffee..

Highlands Coffee..

me walking on ho chi minh city town..

Sun Wah Tower where mbb located.. a place where i used to work last time..

me @ Ho Chi Minh City Hall..

Ho Chi Minh City Hall and Statue of Ho Chi Minh..

Statue of Ho Chi Minh..

me with Statue of Ho Chi Minh..

garden near rex hotel..

not sure what building is this…

a place where sells ship.. i bought a few here last time..

Grand Hotel Saigon.. BBQ Dinner..

Grand Hotel Saigon.. BBQ Dinner..

Grand Hotel Saigon.. BBQ Dinner..

Grand Hotel Saigon.. BBQ Dinner..

Grand Hotel Saigon.. BBQ Dinner..

Grand Hotel Saigon.. BBQ Dinner..

X’mas Decoration @ Ho Chi Minh..

X’mas Decoration @ Ho Chi Minh..

X’mas Decoration @ Ho Chi Minh..

X’mas Decoration @ Ho Chi Minh..

My mood for today is so so only.. why? I still waiting for my good day. I wish the good day will come soon.
Let me continue with my japan trip.. Today will show you harajuku street. Yeah! I like this place. This is a good place for shopping, relaxing and looking at lenglui.. haha.. no lengcai..

Notes from Japan:

Today i move to another hotel in shinjuku area. Reason is i wanted to try another area and also this hotel seem nice when i book from Internet. This hotel name is Sekitei. But this morning, we walk quite some time with our heavy luggage only manage to find this hotel. The map is given by the hotel but with one part that not really clear. When we reach the hotel, there is no one at the hotel. The owner is busy cleaning the room at upstairs. We waited for quite some time only the owner heard the bell rings. He quickly run down and bring us to the room. The room is nice and looks the same as what shown in internet. Then later we take JR to Harajuku Street. When we reach there, there is a lot of people queuing to out from the Harajuku Station. OMG! I can see the street is crowded with people. We start to walk along the street and we start to shopping. I bought one dress and some necklace and earings. The thing is consider cheap than those shopping malls. We walk for a few hours there and then found one food court for lunch. We ordered ‘roti nun’ and one fried udon. After that we headed to shinjuku but we just walk awhile and then back to hotel nearby for dinner. We found one burger shop that really good taste. The burger shop name Freshness Burger. Yummy! Yummy! We decide to go again tomorrow night after our disneyland.

Harajuku Street..

Harajuku Gal

might is new singer @Harajuku Street

Harajuku Gal

Harajuku Gal

Harajuku Gal

Spiderman and Harajuku guy

Harajuku Gal

Harajuku Gal

Harajuku Gal

me @ Harajuku Street

Crowded Harajuku Station

lunch @ food court harajuku

Sekitei Hotel @Shinjuku, Tokyo

Sekitei Hotel @Shinjuku, Tokyo

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Dinner @ Freshness Burger.. Yummy yummy

This part will be combination of day 7th and 8th where on the day 7th, we travel from Osaka back to Tokyo. And then we do nothing but eat and shopping around Asakusa area. And that is the day i eat sashimi as lunch. Yummy yummy. I’m so happy can eat sashimi
For day 8th, we visited Mount Fuji. The photo taken is really disappointed because i can’t really see clearly in my photo which is cloud and which is Mount Fuji. Pengsan betul.

Notes from japan

Today is the 8th day in Japan and today we going to Mount Fuji. We reach Kawaguchico station around 11:40am. We started our journey early in the morning and took us 2.5hours to reach mount fuji. When we reach, we bought one day pass bus ticket. The scenery here is really beautiful. The Mount Fuji is really same as my imagination. Hehe.. white color Mount Fuji. But when take photo really disappointed me because the cloud and Mount Fuji is same color where all is white. Weather here is cold as 17.8 degree at 12:40pm. When we at the peak of kawaguchico lake, we were very disappointed because of the cloud that hide mount fuji view. We waited quite some time to wait for the cloud to disappear. Finally we can take photo but i’m really not satisfied with the photo because everything is white. We stay at the lake until 430pm and then took 5pm train back to Tokyo. We reach Tokyo around 8:30pm and we really starving by the time we reach Tokyo. We quickly find one restaurant and order two bowl of ramen. We quickly finish our food and back to hotel. Tomorrow morning we will be moving to another hotel in Shinjuku area. Good night.

my sashimi lunch and sw’s fried chicken lunch

tempura dinner

Fujikyu Train which cost RM54 for one way to Lake Kawaguchico Station

Photo taken while inside the Fujikyu train. The little is really cute and pretty

Fujikyu Bus.. bought 1 day pass where can hope in and out

me @ Lake Kawaguchico

me @ Lake Kawaguchico

White colour Mount Fuji photo..

White colour Mount Fuji photo..

Different feel of Mount Fuji (taken while travel from Osaka back to Tokyo)

me and Mount Fuji..

Mount Fuji..

Mount Fuji..

beautiful scenary @lake kawaguchico

beautiful scenary @lake kawaguchico

me with red color maple leaves

beautiful scenary with red maple leaves

beautiful scenary with red maple leaves

sw with red maple leaves

me waiting for ramen for dinner..

my simple ramen

This part is one of my favourite where i visited Universal Studio Osaka. Hehe.. I took a lot of photos but i’m lazy to edit and upload.

Notes from Japan:

Today I’m in Osaka. I have visited Universal Studio. Yeah! We have a wonderful day inside Universal Studio. What we do there? First we walking around the studio. The view is really beautiful. The street decoration is really impressed me. Then we walk to spiderman to take spiderman ride “The Amazing Adventure of Spider-man”. Wow! The ride is really amazing. When there is fire, we will feel hot wind coming towards and when there is rain, there is water drop on us. Then weheaded to terminator show named “Terminator 2:3-D”. At first, we both seem boring because the girl talk in Japanese and we understand nothing. Then when the show start, they still talk in japanese but we like the action movie. Everything seem new and they have advance technology. We did impressed with the technology and enjoy the show. Then we went for back to the future ride named “Backdraft” where is similar to motion master. This ride is nice too. After that we tried the jurassic park ride where we both get wet. Oh no! I hate being wet. We tought that only jaws ride will make us wet. We both need to dry up ourself since we do not have extra clothes. It’s a good experience for us. We nearly try every ride inside the studio. It’s really a fun and exciting place. We also enjoy the christmas parade. We took photo of snoopy, hello kitty, sesame street.. etc. Then lastly before we gone home, we went for a 4-D show. We expected shrek show but then actually is sesame street show. The show suitable for kids where i’m not really like sesame street. Luckily the show still interesting. Then, we return to our osaka hotel. We buy 2 cup of maggie mee and eat at hotel since is too late at night. Tomorrow morning, we will go back to Tokyo again. Good night.

Universal Studio, Osaka Entrance

me @Universal Studio, Osaka Entrance

Universal Studio, Osaka

Hello Kitty Shop @Universal Studio

me with Hello Kitty @Universal Studio

me @Universal Studio

me @Universal Studio

Universal Studio view

Universal Studio view

Universal Studio view

@Universal Studio

waiting for spiderman ride @Universal Studio

jurassic park @Universal Studio

back to the future @Universal Studio

jaws @Universal Studio

sw and me @Universal Studio

christmas parade @Universal Studio

christmas parade @Universal Studio

snoopy in christmas parade

hello kitty in christmas parade

pink panther in christmas parade

iceman in christmas parade

iceman and me in christmas parade

Land of Oz – Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion

Dorothy and me @Land of Oz

Tin Woodman, sw and me @Land of Oz

sw and scarecrow @Land of Oz

me in Snoopy World

me in Snoopy World

Snoopy @ Universal Studio

Christmas Night Performance @Universal Studio

Christmas Night Performance @Universal Studio

Christmas Night Performance @Universal Studio

Christmas Tree @Universal Studio

Osaka Hotel – For Leave Inn

Another lazy day.. haha.. continue my japan trip photo..

Note from Japan:
Today we headed to Nara. We depart quite early today, around 8am from Kyoto Station. We do not wish to reach Nara late since we not sure how long we need to reach Nara. We reach Nara aound 930am. We then walk to tourist information center to get a map. But then, the lady in the information center recommended us famous place in Nara and also offer that there is a free tour guide. So we agree to take the tour guide since is free. The tour guide is a gal name Hidemi that currently studying in Kyoto University. She is quite cute and nice person. She bring us around Nara. First, she bring us to one of the famous temple in town name Kofukuji. The pagoda there is the second tallest in Japan. Toji is the tallest in Japan but we did not visit because not in our tour list.   We took some photo and then headed to Todaiji where Todaiji is the famous temple in Nara. On our way walking, we pass by Nara Park. Actually the temple is beside the park where the park is very big. Then we saw a lot of deer at the park and temple. Nara is famous for deer where the deers are considered messengers of the gods. Nara’s deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated a National Treasure.  After that we take train back to Kyoto but on our way back, we stop at Inari to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine. This shrine is quite unique and i like the it very much. But most disappointing is my camera is out of battery. I only manage to take some photo there. Everything will be in my memory. Haha.. A very tired journey today. Time for me to sleep again. Oyasuminasai!
 

Nara Street..

me, sw and Hidemi..

Hidemi.. Our Nara free tour guide

Nara View

Kofukuji Temple Nara

Pagoda at Kofukuji Temple Nara

Pagoda at Kofukuji Temple Nara

Kofukuji Temple Nara

Kofukuji Temple Nara

Deer at Nara Park

Moss Garden

Moss Garden

Moss

View from Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple

Lunch at Nara.. Yum yum

Hair Salon @ Nara town..

Nara town..

Fushimi Inari Shrine Entrance

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine

me @ Fushimi Inari Shrine

Today my brain is blank, so i have nothing to express except one word.. moody…

Notes from Japan:

So fast today is the fourth day of my holiday. This morning we went to Himeji. When planning this trip, i’m not sure where is Himeji located. I just follow the recommendation from internet. We need to take 1hour ride using shinkansen to reach Himeji from Kyoto Station. Far right? What famous in Himeji? Himeji is famous for Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden. But from the station we need to walk at least 20mins to reach Himeji Castle. While walking to the castle, we saw one flea market. So, we stop by and take a look. Sw bought one jacket from this flea market which cost her only 100yen (RM3.80). Cheap right? Reason is the jacket is second hand jacket. Then, we continue walk to castle and for me the castle is not really worth for visiting. After that, we headed to Kokoen Garden where for me, i will more enjoy this garden. There are a lot of Koi fish inside the garden. The garden make me feel japanese style garden which i’m think is really beautiful. We took some photo in the garden and then left for lunch. We took our lunch at one souvenir shop. The restaurant is the combination of souvenir shop and restaurant. After lunch, we took the train back to Kyoto. When reach Kyoto Station, we headed to Isetan inside Kyoto Station to buy one jacket. We bought one jacket because we both really freezing outside. The jacket is expensive. After bought the jacket, we took one subway back to hotel. But then we realise that there is underground shop on the way to take subway. The jacket sells there is half price cheaper that my jacket. So sad. But if i think another way, i bought one branded jacket. Haha.. Then we have our dinner around 7pm and then we continue to shopping around kyoto town. That’s the end of day 4. Good night.

Taking train to Himeji

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle

Before entrance to Himeji Castle

Before entrance to Himeji Castle

On the way up to Himeji Castle

po po relaxing under a big tree..

Japanese Maiko Girl

sw and me with Japanese Maiko Girl

View from Himeji Castle

Kokoen Garden

SW in Kokoen Garden

Kokoen Garden view

Kokoen Garden view

Kokoen Garden view

Kokoen Garden view

@ Himeji Town

@ Himeji Town

@ Himeji Town

@ Himeji Town

@ Himeji Town

Lunch @ Himeji

I’m getting lazy to write or upload my japan trip photo.. Hehe.. Here are some simple explanation and photo..

Notes from Japan:

Today is a bad day where Kyoto raining whole day and the weather turning into cold. We freezing whole day while visiting kyoto town. We bought one day trip ticket to hope in and out for bus or subway. The ticket cost us 1200yen per person. We start our journey around 9am. Our first destination is Kinkakuji which mean Golden temple. The Golden Pavilion functions as shariden, housing sacred relics of the Buddha and is covered in gold leaf. The photo taken is not as beautiful as i think because of raining. The sky is greyish which make the photo looks dull. In the temple, we saw one stall selling ice cream. So, we bought one ice cream and eat. Yummy yummy. Then, we continue to next destination which is Ryoanji but we did not go in because is stated under construction. So, we headed to Daitokuji temple. We were stuck in this temple because raining heavily and wind blows very strongly. We were freezing inside the temple. We waited awhile in the temple and then we back to kyoto town for our late lunch. Once finish lunch, we saw 100yen shop. We walk in and bought one umbrella, hat and glove. Guess what we do? We hide inside telephone booth and wear our hat and glove. Similar to superman right? Haha.. Then, we continue again taking bus to Gion District. We stop at Yasaka Shrine. We took some photo there and then walk to gion district. But the weather is very cold and we can’t stand anymore. So, we decide to go home. Freezing whole day is really a bad experience to both of us.

Kyoto Bus One day Pass

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Temple)

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Temple)

sw and me @ Kinkakuji

Me @ Kinkakuji with entrance ticket

Kinkakuji maple leaves

Autumn Leaves @ Kinkakuji

Kinkakuji Temple

Japanese Girl in Kimono

Eating Ice Cream @ Kinkakuji.. Yummy!

Waiting bus.. high tehnology? Specified when bus is coming..

Ryoanji.. under construction..

Daitokuji Temple

Daitokuji Temple

Daitokuji Temple

Daitokuji Temple Autumn Leaves

sw and me @ Daitokuji Temple

Togetsukyo Bridge @ Arashiyama

Lunch @ Kyoto town. Yum! Yum!

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

Dinner at Kyoto Town

I wonder how many part i should write for this japan trip? If one day one part, then surely i need to write 10 part. OMG! This part is about my story to Kyoto, second day of my trip.

My note while in Japan for day 2:

We wake up early today around 7am and depart from hotel around 8am to Kyoto. We took 9am Shinkansen Train (Japan bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto. This will take around 2hours and 45min to reach the destination. This is my first time take bullet train and i’m quite excited. The train is so comfortable. We have big space and we can sleep inside the train. First thing we do in Kyoto is we went into post office. The post office is just beside the Kyoto Station. We bought one post card and send to YC. Then, i also bought one 3-D card for myself to send back home. I wonder what is the feeling when i’m home get my own post card? I’m sure is fun. My post card is very expensive which cost around rm23 include setem. Expensive right?
Then, we start to walk to our hotel. We have difficulties in finding the hotel because we are lost and another reason is started to rain. Luckily we bring rain coat and there are two yellow banana walking on the street to find hotel. Sorry no photo for yellow banana because raining heavily. After finding for more than 20mins, we finally reach the hotel. Japan standard culture, we only allow to check in hotel at 3pm. So, we put our luggage and we walk out to nearby for lunch. After lunch, we start to walk to one of famous temple in Kyoto name Kiyomizudera temple. The temple view is really beautiful where the maple leaves there turning into red color. But one thing sad about is raining where the photo taken is not really beautiful. For sure not because of photograher not pro Then our way back, we bought some souvenir. We bought one japanese doll for YC. I bought another japanese doll too.
We check in hotel around 630pm. Actually is not hotel and is consider as guesthouse. Our room is japanese tatami bedroom with bathroom attached. The room is big but without tv. How come? I can’t watch tv now. So, time to sleep again.. Oyasuminasai!

Shinkansen – Bullet Train

Lunch at Kyoto.. Yummy japanese food

My 3-D postcard from Kyoto..

For YC postcard from Kyoto

Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto

Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto – Autumn Leave

Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto – Pagoda

Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto

Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto

me @ Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto

sw @ Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto

Kiyomizudera Temple Kyoto

Japanese Girl wearing Kimono

Shopping at Kyoto

Japanese Doll from Kyoto

Kyoto GuestHouse – Costa Del Sol

Kyoto GuestHouse Bedroom

Kyoto GuestHouse Kitchen

Kyoto GuestHouse Living Room

Eating Mcd at Kyoto

Mcd Dinner.. Yummy!

When in Japan, i’ve been thinking must jot everything down in my blog when i’m home from vacation. But when i’m home, i’m totally lazy. Hehe.. Actually i have jot down in paper when in Japan. But i just lazy to type in..

Here is the thing i wrote everyday while i’m in Japan..

Finally sw and I reach narita airport around 6:50am on 31st October 2009. I really feel excited and happy. This is my second wish come true. I always dream one day i can visit Japan. Japan is one of my favourite country that i would like to visit since from small.
First thing we do after coming out from airport, we find JR Rail Pass Counter and redeem our JR Rail Pass. This pass can let us travel 7days free in all JR ride. Then, we find Keisei Limited Express to take a train to tokyo center. Everything is in japanese. We have some difficulties in finding because people there don’t speak in English. Luckily we still know body language. We can guess what they said. One thing good about them is they are friendly and helpful to foreigner. We take the train to Ueno Station and then take a subway to tarawamachi station where our hotel is located. It took us about 1.5hours to reach the hotel. When we reach subway, we notice there is no escalator or lift. OMG! I need to walk using staircase and with my luggage together. We need to walk at least 5min to reach hotel. Luckily the hotel send us one good map. We can easily find the hotel. Since too early, we can only check in after lunch. So, we decide to start our first visiting. Before start, we find one restaurant nearby and took branch (breakfast + lunch).
Then, we walk to sensoji temple. The temple is crowded with tourist because is one of the famous temple in Tokyo. We took quite a lot of photo there. Then we headed to next destination of the day, Imperial Palace Tokyo. We just walk awhile there because the time we reach is nearly closing time.
Then, we went back to our hotel nearby and find one restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we just walk nearby hotel and bought some stuff at 100yen shop.
We back to hotel early because we are tired and would like to rest early for tomorrow’s destination where we will going to Kyoto. Good night.

KLIA Airport waiting for boarding..

JAL Supper..

Narita Airport..

 First lunch at Tokyo.. somewhere nearby Asakusa area..

Yummy ramen and rice

Vendor machine to order food in restaurant. Cool right?

Japan handphone

Japan handphone

Japanese Beca for tourist.. not sure how much

Sensoji Temple – Kaminari-mon, the outer gate

Sensoji Temple – Kaminari-mon, the outer gate

japanese doll – maiko girl

japanese doll

japanese god – 七福神

ice cream

Sensoji Temple – Hozomon, the main gate

Sensoji Temple – Five story Pagoda

SW @ Sensoji Temple

Imperial Palace Tokyo

me @Imperial Palace Tokyo

Tokyo Hotel – Ryokan Toukaisou

Japanese Style Bedroom with tatami bed

Bathroom

Toilet

Finally i’m back to reality. I just back from my Japan trip on tuesday night. There is a lot of story wanted to write and a lot of photo to show too. But since i just back from holiday, i receive a lot of email and i have a lot of work to do. So i have not much time to start write japan trip blog. I have written some in paper while in Japan, but i still need time to type in. Haha..

One thing good on my first day of work after a long holiday, i manage to pull out from my part time project. Reason is I’ll starting supporting my own full time work starting from next week. Means i’ll be busy starting next week until christmas. But i really happy to be pulled out because i notice that project is messy and keep on changing requirement. There is no proper design and communication between each other too.

Then yesterdayy, i start to create my own website. I need sometime to do the setup. So, my japan trip story will start in my new website soon. Please be patient and wait.. hehe..

Time to prepare for work now..