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.

Baby crying contest

Interesting festival

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Took a break from updating yesterday. It’s my birthday after all

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Yesterday in Tokyo’s Sensoji, they had their annual baby crying contest. Parents bring their babies to the temple. Sumo students would carry the babies and try to make them (the babies) cry. The louder you cry, the healthier you are.

I read that the tradition started waay back when babies didn’t survive that easily. Weak babies didn’t cry that much while healthy babies kicked and screamed. So it’s good to give your kid a scare so that it’ll grow up healthy.

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Good series to prepare for Japan

 

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<Eibun Nihon etoki jiten> publisher: Japan Travel Bureau

The series of book above are illustrated books about Japan. There are available in Sabah libraries and I found them in the school library last week.

They are easy to read and the illustrations help with the reading. They are very informative.

If you want to know more about Japan, this series is a good start!

adding to Must Do in Japan:
Visit Shinto shrine

Ten Nights of Dreams

Weird coincidences led me to 2006 movie Ten Nights of Dreams
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0899224/

The original story is by Natsume Soseki. I first read the translations of Ten Nights of Dream in year 1 when I took Introduction to Japanese Studies. It comprises of ten different stories, all of them bizarre and I have yet to solve them.

Ok, the reason I’m watching the movie is because of Kenichi Matsuyama. I was watching another drama and found him very cute! (I have a limited vocabulary when it comes to describing guys) Then I found out he’s L from the Death Note movies. Wow, such a long time since I’ve been catching up with my J-entertainment news.

Anyway, the library has a recording of Ten Nights of Dreams. I might borrow it one day to brush up my Japanese.

Currently in Japanese drama mood.

Update on summer programme

Mom suggested that I join a tour group to Tokyo. Then I join the group for seven days of fun and when they leave for Singapore, I leave for Fukuoka.

It’s a lot cheaper than backpacking in Tokyo if I do this. The plane tix are already exp and the accommodation cost is very high too.

Plus, I can go to Disneyland if I join the tour group. Will consider it.

I’ve faxed my passport details to Kyushu’s person in charge. Quickly get the visa and everything will be confirmed.

Met with U today at D’s. Learned something about the Japanese from her. I will be a brave traveler!

Not in room day

Today was a day of break from studies, for official reasons.

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Went to SCWO to take photos of the place and bought two non-study-non-travel book.

Then went to Bras Basah to see if they have cheap travel guides. Japan isn’t the most popular destination for these second hand book sellers. I found three and all of them are at least 10 years old. Hmm… And they cost at least S$15. SCWO’s thrift shop has spoiled me, second hand books should cost only $5 max!! and that’s hardcover.

You know what I got from Bras Basah in the end? Harry Potter. Ha, the french children’s version. $5.

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 These are worth the money because you never know when you can find one.

Received email from Kyudai to fax my passport to them. That’s going to cost money. sigh sigh

also disappointed that NUS wants to charge me for summer programme module mapping .Shame on you!

Catch-22

I just went to STA Travel at science co-op to ask about plane tickets. The summer programme is too long to buy a one month return ticket, so I have to settle for 60 days or 45 days (if there are any)

Air tix are expensive, even from my own online research. Vietnam Airlines flies to Tokyo for $860 (without tax) but I need to be in Fukuoka. Train from Tokyo to Fukuoka is 21210yen (about RM700) My plane back to Sabah is waay cheaper than that, in fact it’s only RM110!

STA lady said I can get Japan Airlines tix at $860 if I have a student visa, and I can get open jaw tix at extra $150, subject to approval. Very good price!

But here’s Catch-22, I need plane reservations to get the visa. And I need the visa to get cheaper plane tix. What can I do???!!!

-I’ve requested for storage at Raffles Hall for the holidays! Yipee. Did that last minute last semester and I didn’t get the storage space.

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But thanks to D and M, I have space at their place.

1st post: why another blog

It’s exams week but I can’t help but create a blog to just blab about my future travel. The username is inspired by Ms Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, only mine doesn’t sound as glam.

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I’m going to Japan! Yipee!

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Lots of stuff to do before it can become 100% true.

  1. Apply for visa (complete below before visa possible)
  • Get proof of student
  • Reserve plane tix
  • Photocopy bank pass book
  • Get letter of sponsorship – in progress
  • See if can map modules
  • Read all I can about travelling in Japan
  • Plan for pre-Fukuoka travels:
    • Tokyo – I love big cities! 
    • Kyoto – I love old cities!
    • Kobe – I love to eat (beef, in this case)!
    • And everywhere between Tokyo and Fukuoka!
  • Ask nicely for people to let me stay at their place

    • It’s not so bad, after listing all the to-dos out