Japan Winter Trip Jan 2016

Peace be upon you readers!
Sorry for not updating after quite some time. Gomenasai :D I was busy with my 3rd semester. Luckily, it's semester break for a month! Today's entry is about my family trip to Japan during winter. Let me tell you some backpacking tips which can be useful for your upcoming trip to Japan :3

My family members had booked the air plane tickets a year ago. If  I am not mistaken , RM950 per person via air asia. You should always check the lowest fare before booking. Another tips for you : the tickets are usually cheaper during winter , if you choose to go during spring, it might cost a lot because Sakura is a popular attraction among tourists. However, it depends on you whether you want to pay a visit during summer (Natsu), autumn, spring or winter. If you're planning a lower budget trip, I suggest you to go during winter.

WHY?
1. Low fares air plane
2. Recycle your clothes ( Wear the same clothes for 2 days)
3. Experience a longer night
4. Less perspiration
5. Enjoy snow

We stayed there for 5 days & 4 nights at a home stay. Just google any home stays that are convenient for you which are near to your dream places. As for us, we stayed at Shibuya, Tokyo.

Make your reservation as early as you can :) Do some research and study maps or train lines before departing. This will ensure a smooth sailing journey :D Plan your itinerary. Stick to it once you're travelling.

TSUKUSHI'S ITINERARY (18 - 22 Jan 2016)

1st day, 18 Jan 2016

We arrived Haneda Airport at 10.30 pm (Japan time) which is 1 hour early than Malaysia. For your information, the journey took 6 hours. You can either choose to use train, bus or cabs to reach your accommodation. It was 10 degree celcius at that time which made me shivered down my spine. We were very tired and couldn't help to shut our eyes. When we were at the home stay, we immediately prepared to sleep to regain energy before starting our journey on the next day. Here are some photos of us :

Before departing. Venue : Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, Malaysia

In the air plane

Safely arrived home stay at 12 a.m

Snow :D

2nd day, 19 Jan 2016

Ohaiyo gozaimasu! Good morning! A view from the balcony of the home stay :3

Walking is the best way to explore therefore, you need to refer to Google Maps to navigate directions. A recommendation for you to use data roaming social pass RM20 for 3 days in Japan offered by Maxis. There will be free Whatsapps, Facebook and Twitter & 200mb is given too. We went to Yoyogi Station. Walked for a few minutes and bought each of us a Suica Card which can be used to pay train tickets,groceries at 7 eleven and convenient stores and even to buy beverages at the vending machines. This is how it looks like : 

This card can be refund at any train stations too :) We continued our journey by taking train to Harajuku Station. A lot of shops can be found such as Daiso Harajuku, Kiddy Land and etc at Harajuku Street. Check out some cool pictures :

Salmon crepe is only for 500 yen :)

Oishyi = Delicious  hot takoyaki with a price of 580 yen

Abah wrote something as a remembrance at the Takoyaki Shop

My eldest sister with husband, son & dad

For Muslim tourists, there is a Halal Kebab Store where you can try too! You can try takoyaki because the filling is squid and even the salmon crepe too with no worries.(no sake/alcohol) We went back to the home stay and perform jamak prayer. Then , we were ready to meet the loyal doggy, Hachiko at Shibuya :3 Again we walked to Yoyogi Station and took the JR Yamanote Line. We alighted at Shibuya Station. Search for the Hachiko Exit and tadaaaaa :

Hachiko Statue, Shibuya

Along & Abah

I was photobombing my freaky sisters, Kak Yang & Kak Cik 

at Shibuya Crossing :D hahahaha

Disney Store :3

Mirror, mirror on the wall,

 who is the prettiest sister among them all ?

The side corner of Wendy's little room

We had dinner at a Halal Restaurant which is a famous Yakiniku / Grill Beef at Tanden Yoyogi Branch. It was super delicious!!! Highly recommended because once the beef is in your mouth, it melts! It is a mouth watering dish!!! the price is 4500 yen per person. You will be served with different parts of meat such as kalbi, rib eye etc, with a bowl of rice, sauce, salad & a glass of beverage (can be refilled). Check this out :

A picture with the hardworking waiter :)

3rd day, 20 Jan 2016

Breakfast of the day

Kak Yang & Kak Cik are the food committees

 who cooked these can meals brought from Malaysia

From Shinjuku Station we alighted at Ueno. Here, we strolled along the streets surrounded with a lot of shops. We tried Halal Fried Chicken at Chicken Man stall run by a Nepal man who lives in Japan for quite a long time. He even promoted his stall by decorating some pictures of Malaysians who had been to his stall before such as Fizo Omar & his wife, Mawar & Zizan Razak. The owner is quite fluent in Bahasa Melayu too :)

Along & his daughter, Opa

Then we went to Masjid As Salam to perform jamak prayer. 

My niece, Opa & nephew, Fateh are having a great time :D

The journey continued as we went to Asakusa. You can buy souvenirs for your family & friends with affordable prices. I saw some Japanese men & women wore Kimono too. I bought a t-shirt with 1200 yen, Goukaku = pass in exam head band for 300 yen.

Some Japanese people are wearing Kimono

My T-Shirt & Head Band which are 1500 yen worth!

That night, we had dinner at NARITAYA Ramen Shop. Halal & tasty! The prices are affordable. You can choose any Ramen sets that you want. The price is between the range of 750 - 1500 yen for each set. I love Karage which is known as boneless chicken :3 Yummy!

My big family :D

I loveeeee this!!! :3

Naritaya Ramen Shop

4th day, 21 Jan 2016

1/2 of the day was spent at Disney Sea. We bought the tickets online which is much easier than queuing. The Disney Sea ticket is approximately 6500 yen per adult which is around RM 250. 

If you are a Muslim, don't be shy to ask the employees where to find a meditation place to pray. Japanese people are very polite & kind. They will definitely assist you to a room so that you can perform prayer. As for us, they brought us to a VVIP room. The room was comfy & we were so relieved. 

My favorite photo with my niece,

Opa Chan :3

Touring around Disney Sea with

Kak Cik & Kak Yang

Wonderful blooming tulips :)

Nice view isn't it?

Just wearing this Minnie Band :D 

Cause Opa doesn't want to wear it.LOL

We brought along Onigiri which were bought at 7eleven (salmon & tuna) & ate before entering Disney Sea. Food & drinks from the outside are prohibited. I am not sure whether there are Halal restaurants inside but we didn't had our lunch here.

5th day, 22 Jan 2016

The last day for us spending time in Japan. We were split into 2 groups. Along, Abah, Kak Long, Opa & me went to Ueno & had lunch there. While the others went to Doraemon Museum & Skytree. Before going, we checked out & went to Shinjuku Station to keep our belongings in coin lockers. 

Use your suica card to pay :)

After performing jamak prayer, Along & I went to Akihabara together leaving Abah, Kak Long  & Opa behind at Masjid As Salam. Akihabara is a famous place where we can find gadgets & anime items! It is a must for an otaku = anime lover like me to pay a visit.

Welcome to Akihabara ^_^

Gundam Cafe :D

Along

My anime collection! I love that

Haikyuu files, KageHina :D Yeay!

My cute Kitty bank Nyanko Sensei :3

All of us met back at Shinjuku West Station & took our luggage kept in the coin lockers. At around 7 pm, we ride a bus to Haneda Airport. There we perform jamak prayers & wait for the time to departure back to Malaysia. I hope you can gain some tips from my experience. I would like to go to Japan again someday because I love the culture & the people very much. I think I have fallen in love with their attitudes ;) So, Sayonara Tokyo! Till we meet again in Shaa Allah :)

Yours sincerely,

Autumn Tears

-Badik Chan :D

Inferior Complex

This uncertainty feeling of mine is driving me crazy. I am tensed up. My 3 months semester break is not that worth at all. I organized some plans but those are a bit futile. Shame on me. Still struggling to sharpen my driving skills, a reckless cook who can't even fry an egg, & having some fights and arguments with dad which is the worst state of my life. I'm tired. Tired of being hypocrite. Why can't I just be me. But then people will start to bash me with harsh words like "hey, you're a girl, act like one! What a rude maiden!" Is this all my fault? I'm trying to be an angel who will please everyone but I just can't! Forcing me to disguise like a saint, oh hello I am sorry. They made me this way. They turn me into a revolting, disgusting, impolite young lady. I can't just blame myself 100%. The question is who are they? My life is too complicated after Mom passed away. Envious feeling of certain people towards my life is a laughable. They are not in my shoes and they won't fit it anyway. How can you wear a glass slipper when you are not even Cinderella? Tell me.

Updated as always

Peace be upon you :)
Dear readers,

Ramadhan Mubarak! A bit busy recently after final examination ends. 2 months holiday is a bless! Alhamdulillah. A 2nd- year degree student to be too in shaa Allah. May Allah ease. So many things to do. This is the first Ramadhan without Mak :( It feels weird. No more tart nenas & homemade biscuits for the upcoming Eid prepared by Mak. I miss her lecture especially when waking me up for sahur. 

Her voice, her smile , her figure - I miss them. Oh Allah, bless my parents after all that they have been through to bring me up when I was young. Oh Allah, please forgive all their sins as you are most forgiving, you love to forgive, so forgive them. 

My second semester result will be released soon, probably during the Eid. I hope Allah gives the best result for me as the saying goes Man jadda wajada - Those who strive shall succeed. *Dean list please* I learnt through mistakes from the past. I hope I can reward this 2nd semester result for Mak & Abah. I want them to be happy as always. Frankly, I do admit that Biosciences is one of the challenging courses offered by UTM. I was so down to earth during my first semester. Well, despite the lost - Mak passed away, I was able to go through the pain which is killing me inside . However, it did affect my performance. Hey, it was all my fault and I can't blame others when it comes to my academic grades. It was just a good luck when I passed the minimum JPA requirement but still I am not satisfied with my CGPA. I need to work harder and able to graduate another 3 years in shaa Allah. Amin.

Study is hard, I am not bluffing. I can't handle stress but so far so good, I survive. Just imagine how difficult life can be when the University did not provide any study weeks because the students had extended their holiday during the last Chinese New Year. Indeed it was very stressful. All praises to Allah as we manage it anyway. I am still hunting the latest attire for the upcoming Eid. It was a disappointment when I couldn't find any which suits me the best- I mean it is not as easy as pie to find the right size for me. I tried size "S" baju kurung from First Lady but it was too big :( I guess that I need to find XS -,,- The past Syawal, Mak will buy at least 4.5m clothes for each of us (my siblings) and will go to a tailor shop. The Tailor will measure exactly the right size for me but no more this year sobs T_T It is hard to forget all those memories created with my beloved Mak.

Making cookies? Still wondering what will I make. Sounds pathetic isn't it? I don't care as long as there will be some displays on the table. HAHA Funny :P Before this mission, I need to accomplish all the tasks related to chores in order to maintain the cleanliness of the house first. That's my priority so bye bye biscuits. I hope I have a wonderful Syawal with my family this year and I pray for your happiness too *for those who read this. May Allah accept all our good deeds during this holy month of Ramadhan. Happy Fasting everyone! :)

Yours sincerely,

Autmn Tears