Bittersweet Japan

Well, what can I say about the trip, I think the title says it all. Some part I will cherish forever and some part…well… better erase from my memories. Well me and the gang has been disscussing about this like non-stop, where to go, where to shop and where to eat and other preparations. I can say now, only some of US stick to the plan, the others well….


Pre-Japan’s Trip

I was soooo excited in the limo taxi while on the way to go to the airport. When we reach day some of the delegates already arrived. The travel agency asked us to gather the passport and ticket at the counter. Well, I should see the first bad sign, we all waiting like more than 1 hour to get our passport back…even those who handed the passport later, get it fast than us….I quite “BARA” of course. Then when everything is done, it is time for us check-in and waiting for the plane.

In the plane
Well, what I can say that it is cramp and unfortunately, I was sitting beside my colleaque who needs to to go bathroom every hour. She was sitting in the middle, so, it is quite troublesome and of course I can’t sleep at all. I try to watched the”The Mummy 3”movie but I found it quite boring so , I just watched Mamma Mia again, just the song part over and over until all the songs stuck in my head. When I have like a small moment that I can close my eyes, there’s come the food. Well, like malays said” rezeki jangan ditolak” so of course I wake up and eat. So many times.

When we reach at the airport around 7am, everybody went to the ladies room and while waiting for them, it’s picture time.
When we went outside for the bus, it was soooo codl and I didn’t have my winter jacket on as I thought that the bus was parked near our terminal, but I was soooo wrong. Well at least I can feel what was the natural cold all about.

On the way to the hotel, the scenery was beautiful, at first we see like the kampung scenery then change to industrial area. Then come this big yellow building that was beautiful and one of my colleaque say maybe it was a mosque and I said to myself even in Malaysia the mosque was not this big. It turns out to be Disneyland Resort, well my heart was jumping and I really want to go there.


After we reach to the hotel, we planned out to go out as quickly as possible. Although I was on duty to take care some of instructors, but the manual said it started on the next day, so no work for today. I was quite late as I need to get a handphone from the desk for the communication with the management. Yeah only 3G handphone can be use in Japan. The handphone was really cool. Too bad I can’t take it home with me.

It’s about 15 of us when out and our first destination is Shibuya. Why I want to go there? Because the place look is one of busiest streets in the world. It’s look like Times Square in New York. Then we separate into 3 groups and went to our own way and try to come back 1 hour later. Actually there is nothing new for the place, just more on shooping places.
After lepak there waiting for another group, we went to Asakusa. This place is to buy like Japanese cultural thingi like Central Market. The journey is quite long because it was the end of Ginza Line. Some of us took this opportunity to sleep. When we reach there, the weather was great. It’s a beautiful places but the prices my god, it is sooo expensive. I only bought a Japanese handwriiten cap for my brother. It took me like one hour to finally to brave myself to buy the cap because I can’t find the cap cheaper than that. I use my Japanese words like” Ikura des ka?” (How much it is?) for the first time.
We are supposed to meet at the entrance after 2 hours and when to Akihibara after that. Gues what, after 2 ½ hours some of us not even there. I feel pity to one of the instructor, because she needs to wait for them sitting near the entrance with people looking at us. Then the last 2 person finally come and without saying sorry to use and has the nerve to say they did not want to go to Disneyland. What the hell, if they doesn’t want to go , whay didn’t said earlier, we’ve wouldn’t wait there like orang bodoh and can go there earlier. I was so furious that I didn’t talk to them the whole trip in the Japan. One of them knows how much Disneyland Trip meant to me as I was cannot stop talking about it since the day we found out we all can go to Japan together. Well I guess, it doesn’t mean anything to her about my dreams then. Until now they did n’t said sorry to me. I still mad at them.

Then only four of us went there. When we get to Tokyo station , it sooo big, bigger than KL sentral. To go to Keiyo line is quite far and when we get there, we have to wait some more. Until one hour the train still not arrive. My feet cannot hold on anymore so me and Kak Naz decided to sit in the line while other Japanese looking at us. We didn’t care although we wondering why they can still standing after one hour even the old one. We feel no shame in ourselves. Then we heard this annoucement in Japanese and suddenly all the people went to wait other side, we of courde joined them without knowing what is all about. It’s quite funny when thinking about it.

Finally after two haours waiting the train is here. Unfortunately we cannot get a seat so for almost 40 minutes, we stand in the train. As this train doesn’t have English translation, so we must really hear which station is it. Then we arrived at Maihama station near 6.30pm but it’s already dark like 8pm or something. The first thing we do of course to find a place to sit as our feet are killing us. Although it is quite rainy and it is sooo coool beyond anything I ever feel, we still smiling when we saw the disneyland signage.

The ticket suppose to me 5200 yen but at 6.30pm it becomes 3100. Well, more money to spend on shopping. When we get there, of course the picture time. Then we take the “Cup ride” it soooo fun and only 4 of us screaming like crazy girls that we are. Then we went around the Adventureland and we saw all the people sitting on the grass. We said why they have picnic in the middle of the road then we found out there’s a parade then we quickly find ourselves a place to sit.

The parade was everything that I’ve dream of. It was magical and exciting. I really feel like want to cry , like my inner child long dreams were fulfilled eventhough it was not Disneyland in Florida. We scream a lot especially when the prince charming carousel comes in. It was the best thing ever happen to me and it worth it waiting for the train for so long.

Then we went to shopping. Of course it was not cheap either. I think I spend more than 3000 yen at the giftshop. Of couse you have come a long way to go here, must buy something for souvier. If not like you never ever been here at all. Then in the middle of shopping, there’s a fireworks show outside so we when out left our basket inside the giftshops to see it. After it’s complete come back or shop again.

That’s is one of my favourite memories that I will not forget forever. At least one of my dreams come true!

2nd and 3rd day… to be continue….