in other worlds: June 2015

Of all the places I have travelled

Japan is on top of my list of favorite destinations...partly because i have been there 28 yrs ago and missed much of its amazing people and place.

with my foster parents Mr & Mrs Nakamura

Few days before we left, my kids were teasing me of this 'frenzy', that i even have a countdown.

i just smiled back and warned them japan would be as viral and captivating as you would experience.

adding more to my elation is the fact that we were given 5 years multiple entry visa.!
thanks to first united travel agency in baliwag who assisted us in getting our visa for a minimum fee.

travelling with my family at this time is a lot less complicated ( and cumbersome) than when they were younger.

they even tried to help me plan with the itineraries…
..showed me options with maps esp on our travel by train, at least we dont get lost too often.

It was a right decision to order JR pass prior to coming to Japan.

I saved a lot on bullet train fares and enjoyed unlimited pass for one week on any JR rails

..the JR pass was the most handy and practical tool to maximize the whole stretch from north in Akita…

to Tokyo and neighbouring cities…

and down south in Nagazaki…

one thing though, reading japanese characters are annoying at times but most of them have english subs.
...just follow the train line with color codes and you will reach your destination.

hyperedia ipad apps and google maps helped a lot too. japanese are accomodating too esp when asking for directions.

riding in a bullet train is very comfortable and exciting at that..

no dull moments as we reveled in the sights..

Mt Fuji on our way to Osaka

what makes it so marvelous....( aside from its unbelievable cleanliness and high tech innovations)
Japan is furnished with both the imperial ancient temples and the beaming high- rise modern infrastructures !…

plus! unlimited pocket wifi access was a great idle- reliever!
i also rented this prior to our arrival and delivered at our hotel .

mcdonalds is our comfort food and our common denominator esp if we have different cravings.

...however my children never get tired of eating "katsudon". their favorite eateries were yoshinoya, nakau, familymart, lawson, 711 and mosburger.

however…i like tempura the best!

even their fastfoods have vendo machines to pay and order foods.

thanks to my JICA student counterpart- friend Yoshiaki Yano who let us witness Japanese festivities

like their Rokkon Festival held every year…this time Akita is their host city.

staying at Ryokan to experience the 'real' japanese abode.

...the feeling of extremes of a very hot sulfur spring by our feet …

and the shivering snow above!..

and most of all bringing us to the miraculous Our Lady of Akita.

truly this Friendship Program succeeded in bridging relationships all over the world.

Yoshi and our JICA friends with Dr Emil Tayag

we have not seen each other for more than two decades and yet it felt like just yesterday !

thanks Yoshi! we miss u.

We were able to squeeze in two theme parks.
Fuji Q Park with its breathtaking roller coasters and with Mt Fuji view as background. great!

I could only sigh in relief as i see them take one ride after the other safely. i just settled in taking pictures and Q'ing up for them.

However I joined them in Universal Studios Osaka newest attraction..Harry Potter rides.

It was dejavu riding with them. Oh…to be so young again and so free.

Of course running would be a part of my trip ...joined half marathon held in Tachikawa City near Tokyo. So grateful to Yoshi who managed to register for me.