JAPA NICE

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.

 It was REALLY a tough run !

Our trip maybe over but the memories  will forever be in our hearts.

 ...the stories of laughter and love that we will all cherish...

…. of bonding times ...
..rest and relaxation…

 …this trip  also recharges our souls and renew our spirits to face another day as we go back to our daily routine. 

Japan deserves to be one of the world's ( in fact in the top ten) must- see place.

domo arigato gozaimas!

I want Taiwan!

Taiwan is situated north of Manila and just two hours by plane.  

We were booked on a roundtrip to Taipei via Cebu Pacific at P4,500 per person. great deal huh!

A valid US visa is all you need to apply for a Taiwan visa online and its for free.

Walking through the pages of agoda, booking and hotels.com  helped me decide on my choice of hotel. I opted for a 3 star San Want Hotel at the Zhongxiao East Road which is in the centre of the metropolis.

 It cost P20,000 for 4 nights accommodation with buffet breakfast included.

Taiwan is a very developed country.  I was impressed with their airport during layover on my trips to the US with their aircraft carrier Eva airlines.  I was even more enthused when I saw the city. Taiwan is simply awesome!

Day 1 we strolled around... going to nearby areas of our hotel…Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei's main boulevard. I also collected my race kit for the Nike All Womens run at a nearby mall.

First stop... Sun Yat -Sen Memorial  Hall with a lot of Chinese tourist.

Next is their famous Taipei 101.. the worlds tallest building from 2004-2010 until Burj Khalifa took over.

Having seen both I was more impressed with Taipei 101 because of more detailed ornate outside which is like a tall bamboo-shaped skyscraper.

 Their metro train in getting around the city was a very convenient and cheap way to go around and immerse in their daily life. It cost only P30.00 for the first five stations.

One can also buy one day unlimited pass ticket anywhere in the city for P225.00

Nighttime we tried their famous street food in Ximending and shop our way around the alleys . It was a busy place with shops, restaurants, street foods and youngsters dancing in the middle of the road.

Day 2 we were southbound   to Maokong Mountain by cable car. It was a 5km stretch of greeneries covering the entire route.  Taipei zoo is just nearby but we did not explore the area.

In the afternoon we went to Xinbeitou Hotspring. There was immense heat from the Thermal Valley complete with putrid sulfuric smell.  We soaked our tired body in one if their spring hotels. It was a refreshing treat after a busy day.

Taiwan is also famous for their night market. The biggest is Shalin night market which is a lot better than the Waifu night market  that my kids decided to go back there and explore some more. 

Day 3..One of the reasons I want to go to Taiwan is to see this Jianguo Holiday Flower Market which opens only during weekends. This place is situated  under the long stretch overpass which sells practically all kinds of flora, garden tools and what have you in the plant kingdom on a much cheaper price that here.

If only I can bring them home! Im planning to bring my mom here next time.  This is a heaven for us plant lovers.

 I bought some new pruning scissors. Chose some cactus for my mom

and some bougainvillea plants as this is my current favourite.

I also bought some plants not seen in our local gardens around.

Day 4 My big day as I did a 21k run with the Taipei 101 as my backdrop and Taipei city hall as starting line.

The entire run was delightful and pleasurable as I passed by their stunning temples, sexy hawaiian palms laid out on their road capped with the cool  weather breeze.  All gave the perfect ambience. I did it in 2:31 !

 Seeing my husband and son at the finish line made this run truly memorable .

Even if my legs felt tired I was still in high spirit. We went all the way to Danshuei by train that took us almost an hour. This was a more relaxing place away from the bustling city.  We also went to see their picturesque fisherman wharf and the famous Lover's bridge...location of most taiwanese love story movies.

What a busy and memorable 4 day streak to Taipei.

It was like hitting three birds in one stone as I get to run, collect some plants and explore the city.
Cant wait to go back there. There are still so many places to discover.