It's Japan: Asakusa

Yes, finally another Japan trip post. I will be posting a lot more and it's just the matter of time.

Let's see, after Disneyland what should I post? oh btw I'm not doing all these in chronological order. Not gonna put Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 etc. Simply because there are too many things to show in just one day.

So today it's about my visit to the famous Sensoji Temple (浅草寺) in Asakusa, a district in Taito, Tokyo. It's so popular that no one would miss this during their trip to Tokyo.

shall not write much. I guess photos are already self-explanatory.

 Silver Ginko tree (银杏树) all over Tokyo during Autumn. 

 

Cleansing at the Dragon head's fountain before praying. Follow the Japanese style!

but the water is so icy cold that my hands had gone numb for a while after that. Probably due to the cold weather. 

 

After praying we went down the streets for shopping.

 

No bicycle from here. LOL at the 下马 if you understand mandarin :)

Their mamak stalls with awesome street snacks. No time to sit down though :( 

haha! so funneh

  

They sell these fancy mochi or cakes or whatever it is at almost everywhere. Obviously targeting on tourist because these are just perfect souvenirs. No doubt they look really attractive and kawaii but taste wise, it's a bit disappointing. Japanese desserts are really just all about red bean paste. Not a big fan so, yea.

Mochis made on the spot. Looks really tasty but hmmm, I don't know why my taste buds just don't like the flavour and the texture. 

______* end ♥ 


mmhmm I think Asakusa is really awesome as it has got the old Japan kind of feel. It's just like a mini Kyoto inside Tokyo city. haha. Not just because of the beautiful Zen architecture but also the vibrant colours all over the long streets of stalls and shops. Simply an amazing place.

Ferris wheel is ♥

Was busy packing to go back to college just now and got emotional when the song 'Waltz', ending theme song of my all-time-favourite anime was playing on iTunes. so I decided to 'korek' out one of my favourite photo shot in Japan to post it up here.

Hmm, holiday's ending, hectic life is approaching. and oh, examinations are waiting. 

Isn't life like revolutions after revolutions of a Ferris wheel ride?

Ferris wheel near Toyota Mega Web in Odaiba, Tokyo Bay.

One of the largest in the world.

"When I was little, I didn't understand why Ferris wheels existed.
They were just sluggish and went up high. I got bored with it after only one ride.
The roller coaster and the loop slider... I only paid attention to the thrilling rides.
But I kind of understand now. 

This thing called a Ferris wheel is here for slowly cutting across the sky with the person you like and maybe saying things like, "Isn't this a little scary?". "

-Takemoto Yuuta, Honey and Clover

imagine him speaking this in Japanese, using a nostalgic tone.
mmm. Up till today I still think it's pretty romantic for him to have thought like that ♥



P.S. I still owe you readers all those lengthy blog posts about my trip. give me some time, will update asap :)

Dream big 2012

So it's 2012 already and I guess I should have an enthusiastic 1st-post-of-the-year *BIG SMILEY FACE* :) 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE  ♥♥ May you have a wonderful 2012!! *fireworks*

Was supposed to list down my new year resolution but I guess putting it up here just doesn't seem right afterall. I prefer writing it down in my organizer/doodle book. Besides, it's a bit mainstream to blog about resolutions. lol.

Albeit so, I still want to tell you readers that I am really anticipating how awesome my 2012 is going turn out like. It would be an interesting one I reckon, but it better be much much greater than the past years!

So in this new happy year, let us all strive to make sure that it would really turn out to be how we have wished it to be. but before that, remember to

 

photo credits: petitetiaras.tumbr.com

always; and big dreams do come true.

パレード!

 

Watching Disney parades is like one of the must-dos whenever one visits Disneyland. Beautiful, large, elaborate floats with colourful, artsy designs, wonderful Disney music which makes you wanna cry sometimes and all those beloved Disney characters waving at you. It's really amazing to have experienced that, like pages and pages of Disney storybooks coming into real life.

 

It was the one thing that I've enjoyed most during my visit to Tokyo Disneyland.

Interesting fact was... the extremely passionate and patient locals would have started to settle down by the roadside since hours ago before the parade. They would sit on their own mats/plastic sheets brought from home, just to get the best view from their strategic sitting areas. 

The Daytime parade called "Jubilation!":

Minnie looks really Japanese here somehow. Don't you think so? :) Oh she speaks Japanese too!  

I remember how much I wanted to visit Disneyland when I was young. I could spend hours just looking over and over again at my parents' photos of their trip to Disneyland California. I grew up then slowly (not very slow) and started to forget about all these Disney fantasies.

 

During the parade I saw lots of happy parents with their little ones overwhelmed by seeing their favourite Disney characters. And then I looked around when I saw daddy, mummy and my two younger evil sisters (lol jk).

Suddenly, you could feel the warmth.

At least my parents brought me to Disneyland before I actually leave home and become a big girl in the big city. At least I could exclaim my excitement when I see Chip & Dale like a little girl beside mum and dad. At least, my dream still come true.

Although it did come a little late, just a little, but I thought it was amazing and would definitely be a memorable one when I grew older.

Being part of the magic was truly amazing, I say. 

Looking forward to conquer Paris Disneyland next year. And next year, would be a different experience :)

Tokyo Disneyland

Mina san, I'm finally back. Wondering how's my Japan trip? ICHIBAN!! Breathtaking!! Definitely worth the money I would say.

It's like walking in the scenes we usually see in animes and Japanese movies. That kind of surreal feeling filled of endless astonishment and happiness. I just cannot describe it using words! That's why throughout the trip I kept snapping photos every minute like a pro devoted blogger. And guess what, there are almost 1500 photos under Japan trip in my camera!!!! The funny part is I forgot to bring along my usb cable for my camera to Japan. FML now I don't know how to sort out the trip photos. 

so I decided to split my Japan trip into a few blog posts according to places I went. That would be quite a number of posts though. Good thing! At least I have got enough things to blog for a month. HAHAHA

Okay guys, prepare your scrollbars as it's gonna be a heavy loaded posts with tons of pretty photos! ;)

 In the plane (MAS) :

Fasten your seatbelt, hug a pillow and you're ready to flyyyyyyy.

baby sis (not baby anymore) looking excited with her blanket and pillow.

;) When you're flying to Japan, you get to try Japanese cuisine during your flight.

and Häagen Dazs too. I think all MAS international flights include this. I remember having one on my last MAS flight to Aussie.

was too bored after watching a movie and playing lame trivia games. decided to select a few Japanese songs to prepare myself before landing. Japanese mood: ON ^____^



_______Landed at Narita International Airport. Checked-in hotel______________

Japanese hotels are just awesome. They give you Yukatas and Japanese slippers!

LOL. she's just too funneeeh and cuteee. Drinking Japanese green tea.

Typical Japanese toilet bowl. Fun to use :P
_________________________________________________________________________________

Ohaiyo! My breakfast :)

The view outside. ahhh :')
It's nearly the end of Autumn and the beginning of Winter there. So I could still see orange coloured maple leaves. Temperature during the day fluctuated between 5 to 9 ℃

Itadakimas!

Miso soup is ♥ Just look at the mini mushroom! It's buffet style so..being kiasu I put lots and lots of seaweed, tofu and mushrooms into my miso soup. heh.

Our tour guide bought tickets for us earlier because you don't want to queue outside Disneyland for hours I tell you. and yea, I am still a teenager so I get a Junior ticket :P

 Had to choose Disneyland because apparently they say it's better to visit land before you go for sea for first timers. Like a baby, you need to learn how to walk before you learn how to swim. lol. and yea I've never been to any Disneyland in the world. That's why. I know right!!! Disney Sea got Ariel and Atlantica! and her husband Prince Eric which I think is the hottest among all Disney Prince LOL. ohh and Duffy too!! arrrghhh opportunity cost. nvm save it for my next Japan trip la.

Oooh the Disneyland monorail ♥ didn't get to ride on it though : /

Christmas Decorations!

Boo! guess who?

It's Gepetto! Pinocchio's father.

Nutcrakers and a... Hidden Mickey! :)  @World Bazaar

Love the whole Christmas celebration in the park ♥

Window shopping. Literally. Everything's just overpriced there to a Malaysian. Imagine a tiny tiny tinyyyy (i have to stress on this lol )Mickey Mouse key chain for 600 yen. That's like..25 bucks?!

Just because there's a tiny tiny tinyyy 'Tokyo Disneyland' quote at the back which I could barely see it. Nuh-uh -.- 

However, if I put myself in the shoes of a Japanese. 600 yen for a Disney merchandise? That's cheap! An average sales girl in Tokyo earns about 900 yen per hour a day. That's like RM36 per hour. So you imagine, if there is a Disneyland in Malaysia and they sell a genuine Mickey keychain for RM6, will you buy or not? Of course, it's affordable isn't it? 

But I think this is too pretty that if I earn my own money now I would have bought one irrationally :P

Errr I think this prince charming looks kinda normal. But he sure has a very charming voice. I wanted to meet Prince Phillip and Sleeping beauty but didn't get to see them. It's so hard to search for all these characters. Plus we don't have much time due to our tight schedule. 

 Salute! Met the green soldier from Toy Story!  @Tomorrow land

oooooooooouuuuuuuuu...

In Tokyo Disneyland you will see lots of queueing going on everywhere in the park. One of the common queue is of course, the famous Disneyland Popcorns. In fact, there are 7 flavours of popcorns like chocolate,curry, salt etc. and they are all spread over the park. The one we chose to queue for was caramel but I guess the flavour doesn't matter actually. All we wanted was merely the cute Mickey container that comes along with our purchase.

OMG I was so excited when I see the pots of butter at the back. Kawaii!!!!! I remember when I was young, I especially love the scenes when chip and dale use the collected acorns to make their own acorn butter. and they always get bullied by Donald duck or vice versa! hahaha my childhood memory :')

You can even help Chip & Dale make some butter. Fun! I really love Chip and Dale. They are like my favourite! Too bad they're not at home. Guess they went out to collect acorns for winter. lol.

Donald's boat. spot his sailor uniform on the clothes line :D

Didn't get to visit Mickey & Minnie's house because you need to queue to get in there! wth no time to wait :( And you have no idea how long was the queue to just take a photo with Mickey or Winnie the Pooh. More than an hour!!

The worst fact is, it seemed like the locals had the patience to queue. And I don't. Which means that I can continue to dream on having afternoon tea with Minnie in her living room. *see the queue behind us! crazy.

Well, could at least see her from far.. haha

Of course, the iconic building in Tokyo Disneyland: Cinderella's castle ♥ 

There was even a Christmas wreath around the clock! you know, the clock which forces Cinderella to leave as it strikes at 12. lol.

Found something interesting. Is that the gate into the dungeon?

Sun's setting around 4 pm. They have shorter daytime over there. See the huge X'mas tree :) 

We didn't stay longer for the night electrical parade thingy. As I said we were on a tight schedule :( Had to go to other places straight after Disneyland. Guess what, out of all those awesome rides we only managed to go for 2 rides. TWO freaking rides sahaja!! fml again. My heart died straight away when I saw the standby board outside the Monster Inc. ride: 120 minutes from here. >.< and that's like for most of the rides. Can you imagine how many people were there in Disneyland?!

The only thing that was worth our money would be the 2 parades during daytime and also all the wonderful X'mas atmosphere. Oh well, it's not too bad though. I saved so much for my next trip! So by the next time I come again, I will be more pro but won't feel too boring I suppose.



Stay tuned for MORE photos on Disneyland parades during the day. They are just too beautiful that they deserve another post. Sayonara!