Osaka Day 2 : Nijo Castle, Kiyomizudera & Fushimi Inari

Day 2 of Kansai trip started with going to Kyoto via train from Osaka station. This station is so darn biggg. They even got north and south gate, each with department stores. I don't know how the Japanese manage to keep their children un-lost in this place XD

View from Osaka to Kyoto

Journey to Kyoto took about 55 minutes by train.You could cut it to 15 minutes by using shinkansen (bullet train) but of course the price would be higher. For those with JR pass for foreigner, certain types of shinkansen are included in the fee. I suggest you take JR pass if you're travelling for long distance travel, and for more than 7 days. If not, just purchase ICOCA card and top up everyday.The idea is the same as touch and go card, except you buy and top up using machine. 

Nijo Castle

First stop was Nijo-jo (jo stands for castle in Japanese) Entry fee is 600 yen. Since we did not manage to go to Osaka castle, we found this visit interesting, as Japanese castle is waayy different than any castles in the world..not that I've been to many of them, but normally castles have lots of furnitures right? Well this one doesn't. Even high ruler like shogun have humble,spacious room in their castle. But the walls and ceilings are painted and carved so beautifully, you will immediately be reminded that this is in fact, a castle.

Taking pictures inside the castle are prohibited, so I bought a postcard that shows the interior. This is how it looks inside

We got a little lost while trying to find the next place lol. but it's quite ok since the view of fall season approaching is kinda cool 

Kiyomizudera Temple

We hopped off at Kiyomizu-Gojo station and walk for about 20 minutes..actually it was more like 30 minutes since it's up on a hill =.="

This place was soo jam packed with tourists and locals! Lots of people were wearing kimono. We later learnt that in certain places, you could get discount up till 50% by only wearing kimono. So if you happened to have one, do wear it in kyoto!

View in kiyomizudera.

Mass purification.

Just outside the temple,we could see lines of shops selling sweets,ice-cream,and souvenirs.

Phew..kiyomizudera was quite challenging with all the hike up and down. Plus the sun was violently shining above us (I have this habit of creating novel-like sentence so bare with me :P) We decided to take bus number 205 to go straight to Kyoto Station.

Fushimi Inari

Situated just outside Inari station. In shinto religion, torii gates symbolizes the "door" to purity. torii gates in fushimi inari is special since they got thousands of them. each are being donated by successful businessman,therefore the name of the donor are carved on each gate.

Second day was so tiring since we got to travel back to Osaka, that took another one hour. But it was definitely fun! :)

Day 3 : Nishikido market, Kinkakuji & Arashiyama

Osaka Day 1 : Aqualiner, Osaka Aquarium & Glico Man!

This is my second time in Japan because last year I went to Tokyo. You can read my adventure here. 

Why Japan again? Well my initial plan is actually to kidnap Nishikido Ryo but I realized that that would be silly of me since I didn't bring enough luggage to shove him inside..

..So I settled on just visiting Osaka,Kyoto and Takayama instead.

Me and my two friends hopped on our AirAsia flight at around 0100 (RM 645, return not including baggage/meal) and arrived in Kansai International Airport at 0800. Had breakfast at Sanuki Udon, the only certified halal udon shop in Kansai Airport.They even have prayer room for Muslims. Good job Kansai Airport! :D

We booked this hostel in advance - J-hoppers Osaka for 2,500 yen per night per person..2500 yen is around RM 82..Make sure you book this hostel in advance because it's so popular among backpackers. One thing I like about travelling in Japan is their accommodation. Even a no star hostel is so squeaky clean and comfortable, you feel obligated to actually becoming a clean freak yourself..but yeah it only lasted there.. :P

Since check-in time is at 1500, we left our baggage at J-hoppers and went straight to our first destination.

Osaka Castle (Himeji) 

Initially we planned on walking to the castle, but we settled on taking Osaka Aqualiner instead. Fee is 1,700 yen.

View during Aqualiner tour. 

I kept looking for Osaka Castle but couldn't find it..

Good looking bulding..I think it's a museum or something..I have short span attention.lol~

More good looking building..

Where lah this Osaka Castle??

Then suddenly...

Whaaat? so far away! hahahah..it was quite frustrating to know that they didn't stop right in front of Osaka Castle.

From my own experience, I suggest you take this Aqualiner in spring time, when sakura trees are blooming. There's not much to see around the riverbank in autumn :\

Osaka Aquarium 

Next, Kaiyukan! Or Osaka Aquarium. It's at Osakako station. You need to walk for about 10 minutes from station to get here. Weee I was excited since I saw this building in J dorama XD

Tempozan Ferris Wheel is nearby. Osakan people really love ferris wheels. They're everywhere but this one is among the biggest I've seen

Fee for adult is 2,300 yen but it's totally worth it! :DDD

I swear the animals here are well trained to entertain the visitors. whenever I went closer to the glass aquarium, they would jump/clap/yawn/synchronized swim like circus animals! asxyqpq so cute :DDD

Ok this guy needs more training..he looks bored and was giving a "stop looking at me you weird people!" look

King crabs. Lookin so yummeh...Good thing he's in a big aquarium or else.. :L

This fella is so cute he could kill people with his cuteness! 

Are these jellyfishes or paintings of jellyfish?

I was communicating with this whale shark. Feel like I'm in Free Willy or something.

It's a Cornwhale! (Unicorn + Whale) or they called it narwhal but Cornwhale is a much better name, right?.. I didn't even know we have this creature on this planet! 

View around Kaiyukan...This is like a perfect dating spot..so darn romantic 

Glico Man

Off to search for Glico Man around shopping district, Minami(Namba). Glico is actually a Japanese company that produces stuffs like candy,biscuits,ice cream,etc. The 300m billboard had been there since 1930s,making it Osaka's most prominent trademark after Osaka Castle. 

Giant picture of Nino from Arashi~ My fangirl mode is always on in Japan xD

And that was day 1 of Osaka!

Next: Kyoto! (Nijo Castle, Kiyomizudera & Fushimi Inari) and owh..I did found Nishikido Ryo somewhere..

Serenading Sabah

(i) Bohey Dulang – The Cerulean Paradise

Despite having been living in Sabah for almost 3 years now, I have never heard of Bohey Dulang, until recently.  I googled the name and immediately went “What? No way this place is that beautiful! They must have photoshopped this!”

So to prove my own theory wrong, I booked return flights from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau. Me and my other three friends then hopped on a cab that brought us to the town of Semporna, around 1-hour drive away from Tawau International Airport. It was already 10pm when we arrived, therefore we settled on spending one night here.

Dragon’s Inn. No..unfortunately we didn’t see any dragons hanging out at the balcony :P

For more info on this inn, you can visit their website : http://www.dragoninnfloating.com.my/

The next day, our boat was waiting for us at Semporna Jetty. For this trip, we booked transportation to Bohey Dulang and accommodation in Mabul in advance. After some research, we decided to pick Seahorse Sipadan Scuba. More info here: http://www.seahorse-sipadanscuba.com/

After only 30 minutes boat ride, here we are at our first destination!

Bohey Dulang. Just like that, I knew that Google did not lie. This place is really, genuinely beautiful :D

Owh I forgot to mention teeny tiny bit info..to really enjoy the view of Bohey Dulang, you need to hike. The distance was only 600metres but man..was that hill steep! I’ve warned you well enough so do not wear high heels ya.. :P

Luckily we got loyal friends to keep us company until the 600m mark!

Tadah! Worth all the blood,sweat and tears...! :’D

We spent about 40 minutes here posing like supermodels having photoshoot in Alps, then we had to leave for Mabul.

Journey to Mabul took another one and half hours. I slept almost half of the time. Don’t ask me how I managed to sleep in high speed boat, guess I’m just that tired haha.

(ii) How I Survived Discovery Scuba Diving

Ok here’s a quick fact about me. When I was a child, I almost drowned and it was (safe to say) not an enjoyable experience.. Therefore, I avoided any water sports as much as possible. 

But on this occasion, I made an exception. I figured that while I’m still in Mabul, why not just go ahead and try scuba diving and conquer my fear? Besides,every Discovery Scuba Dive (DSD) is being closely monitored by experienced divemasters. But still, I did not sleep well the night before DSD :P

One of the divemasters gave us safety briefing the next day. To those who want to try DSD, listen, listen and LISTEN to your divemaster! Ask question, however silly, when you have any doubt because well, we can’t ask them underwater, right?

Another useful information to know, whatever you do down there, do not panic!

I however, did just that. Haha. You see, it is totally different kind of world down there. You even breathe differently, using your mouth instead of your nose therefore I struggled a bit. Can’t believe I sucked at breathing :P Luckily my divemaster was kind and patient enough with me fussing and he was willing to teach me again. 15 metres down under, we saw a gigantic turtle! woot woot!

Owh yes..another information, do not try to touch the underwater creatures, because they might attack you.. (In my defense, I did not know this information when I touched that turtle..)  

Picture time! This is the only part where I didn’t get nervous because I was too busy posing!

30 minutes later, it was over! Whew..I must say it was one of the most exciting experiences ever!

..would I try that again though? Absolutely not! Let’s move on to another adventure ahead! :P

(iii) Mabul-lous People

A friend once said that a beach is like a person. They’re different from one another. I couldn’t agree more. This is why I love beaches. No matter how many I’ve been to, there would be something that distinguishes them.

Phuket is a sexy girl in a bikini.

Langkawi is an old man with so many stories to tell.

Mabul is a young boy, with bright eyes and warm smile and nothing to worry.

I will always be reminded of how carefree their life is. Sometimes we’re too worked up with paying bills that we forget to enjoy the scenery that is life.

If you need a reminder, pack your bag and head to Mabul :)

Parents: Two Most Beautiful People in the World

http://peopleweremember.com/post/61422835790/reasons-why-my-mother-was-an-asshole

Reading this made me remember my own parents.of how selfless they are when it comes to me and my sister.

Sometimes I wonder,how could they do that?even if you like someone,you can't possibly give them absolutely everything,right?

But they did. With no complaints. No compromise.

Our parents are so amazing,eh? We are the one blessed to have them,not the other way around.

Go ahead,call them now :)

The Office : Gen Gap

You know what's the problem with offices? they consist of young,care-less people like me with crazy way of thinking and laid back,older generation with their established mindset and principle.

These two generations cannot mingle.

Why do you think we have classes according to age group in schools? and university?

We've been accustomed to having friends of the same age and suddenly boom! you're next to a mother of three, with nothing in common, trying to work towards same goal together.

So here I am, 25 yet I feel like 35 in my office.

Boss thinks I listen to music too much but that's just the way I work.

I think he's lame,while he thinks he's trying to communicate with his subordinate. and nailing it.

See?we're doing this whole office thing wrong.

Shingeki no kyojin (attack on titans)

I cried watching this anime. Seriously,this is not a cartoon with mindless fights over questionable objectives.

It's raw emotion. They bleed and suffer and you bleed and suffer with them too.

This is reality.titans are like the powerful,corrupted people who devour people's flesh,eating them inside out. Still the sad reality remains.we cannot do anything to fight these titans. Not yet. Not without unity.

And to learn this from an anime is just mind blowing.