Author: Liau Yun Qing

Yun Qing is a writer, improviser and curious person. She loves finding little adventures in life. In 2013, she went on a 130-day round-the-world trip. She wrote a book "Your Big Break" to help those who also want to go on a career break.

Tokyo, here I come (?)

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The card represents the critical factor for the issue at hand. Nine of Wands (Strength):
A pause in the current struggle to ready oneself. Preparation to meet
the final conclusive onslaught. Forces assembled in anticipation of
trials and tribulations. The steeling of the will to stand or fall. A
line drawn in the sand.


Think I’ve made my Japan travel plans. N had been very kind to shake me with a comment on my previous post. Yes! Why should I give up Tokyo?!

So I’ve thought of a plan. I shall solo travel from Fukuoka to Tokyo and return to Singapore from Tokyo. All I need is a plane ticket from FUK to TOK, ask for JW’s sis for room and voila! I’ll have Tokyo under my travel belt.

Will ask the travel agent about plane back from Tokyo.

And will have to watch a lot of Japanese dramas so I can pose like a dummy in front of settings of dramas with super good looking male leading character

Tokyo Trip

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The card represents the critical factor for the issue at hand. Five of Wands (Strife), when reversed: Pointless struggles motivated by the vain pursuit of recognition, financial reward, or base desires. Disunity, chaos, and petty quarreling at a time of crisis. A stressful situation that brings out the worst in the participants.


I’m having a dilemma of either going to Tokyo for 3 days or not going to Tokyo.

I’ve always loved big cities and I keep telling everyone that going to Japan and not going to Tokyo is like going to France and not going to Paris; going to England and not to London. It makes no sense!

But now I think, going to Tokyo for only 3 days means I will have to rush around. It means that I will not be able to enjoy Tokyo as much as I should.

And now tarot tells me “A stressful situation that brings out the worst in the participants.” I don’t want to lose my temper in front of my kind host because of my own bad planning.

WiIl think for one more day before confirming.
 

Update!

I received good news from a friend K who’s in Australia now. She says that her sister who’s studying in Tokyo is able to room me if I’m going there! Yipee!

I have emailed the travel agent to ask if I can get an open jaw tix which goes to Tokyo and return from Fukuoka. Hope it’s positive news (somehow Daimaou is on vacation)

I’m checking out the cheap domestic airlines. The cheapest one discounted way ticket is only 10,000 yen, abuot half the price of the train!!! Just checked, the cheapest is around 14,000yen. Dang cheap!!!

All my fingers are crossed for the trip to Tokyo. What can I do in Tokyo except gawk?! How many days can that take? My plan is to fly to Tokyo on June 25 and fly to Fukuoka on 28/29. I hope it’s 29 coz I’ll get to see the weekend street fashion.

Please Ceiling Cat give me some hint.

(just looking at the air ticket booking page is making me excited!!!)

Daimaou in action

AAAHHH! Daimaou is here! I’ve forgotten to pack my DBS internet banking device in my bag and I’ve thrown everything out of the suitcase to look for it.

And I can’t make up my mind when to return. If I return on a weekend, none of the hostel offices are open and I can’t go on with Operation-Get-Hostel-Room if none of the offices are open.

But if I stay until Monday, I would be a hassle to my host family (if I get one).

AAAHHH! Will calm down by watching more dramas.

Daimaou (大魔王) roughly means, big devil, but not in the opposite of god devil (Shinto)
It is mentioned in NANA the manga series and is blamed for everything bad that happens to the characters.

Air tix buying

Tickets to Fukuoka are troublesome, because there is only one direct flight from SIN to FUK. Singapore Airlines is selling their tickets at S$1454 (only S$200 less than going on the tour *sob face*)

So I searched online for cheap airfares. Cheap ones are mostly for 21 days tickets. Why are the return tickets separated into 3 weeks, one month and one year? That’s really little choice.

I found that Misa Travel has China Eastern Airlines tickets at $500 ($934 after tax ^_^) I will have to transfer at Shanghai Pudong airport. Mom asked if I could stay in Shanghai before going to Fukuoka. Now I think that’s a good idea, I can buy cheap books! And if my sister and I can meet there, it’ll be even cooler.

JAL is selling tix at $860 (without tax). I do want to go on a JAL plane after watching the Japanese drama <Attention Please>, and the review of the services on JAL is all praises.

The thing about my return trip. I don’t have on campus accommodation and if I come back on a weekend, there’s no where to beg for a room either.

But as I like to say, “Something will happen.” (Adapted from a Chinese proverb about boats)

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Wonderful World of Japan – Pee Powered Batts

I was searching for the price of AA batteries in Japan because I think I should not bring my rechargeable batts and charger there but buy new ones. Not very environmentally friendly, will have to do more research.

Anyway, I was surfing and found an article about batteries that can be charged by all sorts of liquid, including pee.


The trouble with batteries is that there never seems to be a power
socket in sight when you want to charge them up. Thankfully, one
manufacturer has developed a battery that should be slightly easier to
recharge, thanks to its ability to run off a variety of liquids,
including water and urine.

Dubbed NoPoPo, the battery has been developed by the Japanese
company Aqua Power System and comes in standard AA and AAA formats.
Although, larger capacities for use as auxiliary power supplies have
been rumoured.

Hmm… maybe that’s a bit toooo environmentally friendly for me.


PS N can go to JP too

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Update on JP

Went to Chinatown today to ask the travel agents about my tour and plane tixs to Japan.

Went to six tour agents after gathering handful of fliers.

Tour agency #1 said I can go as I planned: From SG to JP on their tour, then come back to SG in Aug. But I can only fly from Tokyo or it’ll cost a lot more.

Tour agency #2, #3, #4, #5 and #6 didn’t want to take my case because their plane tix are only for 21 days.

Tour agency #2 is ASA Holidays and the lady wasn’t too polite. Hello! I’m a (potential) customer, I know you’re busy and all that but at least be polite! Sheesh!!

Makes me wonder if the first tour agency had been wrong on the first place. GAAAAAAAA!

Anyone interested in 6 day trip to Japan at S$1699? Please?!

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This strange niece

Met two aunts for lunch today. Aunt 1 had told Aunt 2 that I will be going to Japan. I sense that Aunt 2 isn’t too happy for me.

Aunt 2 asked, “So you pay for the plane tickets?”
I said, “Actually, I pay for everything.”
Then Aunt 2 gave this “I can’t believe this” laugh. I imagine she thinks I’m a girl who likes to waste money going overseas, six weeks some more!

Well, I’m not asking her to sponsor me. I can go if I wish to.

Then went to uncle’s place. Uncle is aunt 2’s husband and they are my kindly 3-year bond sponsors.

I told uncle about Japan. He nodded and asked, “So you’re taking Japanese now?”
I said, “No.”
He asked (surprised), “Then why are you going to Japan?”
“Well, I’ve taken Japanese before and I want to see the world.”
He asked, “Your French?”
“Level four.”
“Can you read documents?”
“I can’t really read the papers but no problem with comics.”
“At least…”

I wonder what they would say if I went to France for immersion. France is on the other side of the world and the plane tix (wait a minute, plane tix is about the same as to Japan, actually.)

I’m probably a selfish girl, who doesn’t know the value of money, in their eyes. But, but, I’ve been Girl-on-a-Budget for so long!!!

I believe I deserve to go and I’ll make it come true!

PS (probably) going to Japan

Found out today that PS has been offered an internship at Hiroshima. It’s a 3 week internship and there’s less than ten vacancies. Before knowing that she’s offered the internship, she said Japanese Studies majors are given priority and it was quite late when she applied.

What a pleasant surprise, even though we’re going at different periods. But it’s great to know that someone else gets to go to Japan too.