Journey to the Fairy Wonderland of the East..

This is probably the longest overdue entry I’ve ever made ..; it’s been a while since I last blogged. Year of the snake has been rather “bumpy”; nothing seemed to be going as smooth as planned. We were all not in our best in terms of health, and it was also an extremely busy year for the Daniels as we were busy with house moving, and basically, adjusting to a place we now call, our new home. It has been rather difficult for my little Tom who is adjusting to a new school, a new environment that came with more expectations and obviously, a new education syllabus, that wasn’t too user friendly, at this point. L As for the little Jerry, she is blooming like a little sun flower, showing her true bright colors, and growing cheekier by the day.

By June, 2013, I had more than a fair share. There was a stressful period due to an unknown miscarriage, follow by some national security issues that we all had to deal with, a brief period that sort of changed the way I feel about the community I have been living in all these years. It’s strange of how just one incident would change one’s long life perception. The anxiety was further lengthened by the GE, and how, for the first time in my life, I thought it might not be a bad idea after all, to actually own a dual citizenship. And how I knew then, that sometimes, when we have tried all we could, the one last thing we should do is to have faith, to believe that He is indeed, in control. But again, I am a woman after all; my imagination can go beyond any wonders. With all, that’s happening, it felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. I was dizzy, nauseous, and obviously not in my best. I was looking for a remedy, a quick one, and it was around this time, I thought of dear Tony from Popular Express Travel J

I remember the day when I chatted with Tony about a place named Hokkaido, my curiosity of how this fairy wonderland truly is.. as I have heard so much being said about this place. And I thought, maybe.. just this once, we should spread our wings to the land of the rising sun.

I must admit.. having two young children, traveling to Japan doesn’t really appeal to me. I try to avoid lands where Mother Nature is really sensitive and at some point, much crankier than I am.  Safety has always been my main priority. But you know what they say, sometimes.. the most dangerous place.. could be the safest of them all. Still, I had my doubts. And to be honest, world history as well as true life experiences of the elder generation who had to live in the grim period of the Japanese occupation, made me really uncomfortable about visiting this land. In between these lines and those long articles on world war crimes, and “unit 731” .. I kept thinking was I being too unforgiving. But again, who am I to judge. Interestingly, as much as I had all these thoughts, I was really amazed, of how strong this nation truly is, from its downfall after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and other similar war destructions to countless natural disasters, these people have raised above it all, and today, is not only a major economic force to be reckon with, but a reputable nation in a class of its own.

Yes, its mind boggling of how, a simple idea of a winter vacation could lead to that many fractions of doubts, thoughts and as I dig deeper, I felt like I would soon embark on a journey of  self-discovery.

And so.. with “all” that in mind (and of course… after some words of comfort from Tony.. and lots of it, P.S Tony, I seriously don’t think I would survive living on the streets of Tokyo during winter with a sleeping bag, if earthquakes or human stampede don’t kill me, I would really freeze as its mighty windy in Tokyo during winter!), I told myself… lets be crazy and lets booked the tour. Yes, I don’t eat sushi, not a fan of Japanese cuisine, and is obviously, not very sure of how we would all survive this tour, but it’s a true comfort to know that I will be traveling with the experts of the industry J and the verdict- It was indeed another delightful and beautiful trip to remember by.

The flight from Kota Kinabalu to Narita International Airport was probably something that my kids or even other tour members were looking forward to. As it marked the beginning of a long waited vacation. But on that fateful day, I was more excited about meeting our tour leader. I kept thinking, who he is, what he’s like… and so the moment came, when I saw him at the departure check in counter.. this tall lanky good looking man, with the friendliest smiles ever J I had this thought.. …. This indeed is, a very..very good start J and so the journey to the fairy wonderland.. begins.

The flight on MH 80 took about 5 hrs and 20 minutes. The moment I went on board, I was very grateful that Tony remembered my sitting requests, and was hoping that the arrangement did not inconvenient him at all. As we landed at Narita International Airport, we began to meet the rest of the tour members, and although, there were some familiar faces, everyone was too excited for formal greetings and introduction. Shortly, we met up with our local tour guide, who pretty much resembled Japanese, but as it turned out, is a Hongkie, born in Indonesia, married to a local and who has called Japan his home, for the last 20 years. This trendy curly haired man, hardly passed for anyone in his forties..has a naturally warm personality that we felt at “home”, all at once.

The transit to Haneda Airport, was short and sweet. I remember borrowing some yen from Lax, our tour leader to get some water from the vending machine as all we carried were big notes.  Interestingly, for the next 7 days .. and even if it costs MYR3.70 each time, we had so much fun “interacting” with the vending machines! As we waited for boarding.. we had a quick meal, which turned out to be the best ramen noodle we’ve ever tasted before J

I can go on and on about Hokkaido. But I don’t think it’s necessary to add on to the descriptions of how clean and beautiful the places were, the felt of the powdery snow.. delicious food... I love the toilets/washrooms and although I almost lost my right hand after the snow mobile ride, seriously.. I’ve never had cramps that bad L, this was indeed a great relaxing vacation! Wished we had more time at Rusutsu Ski Resort as we were supposed to build a snowman! But time was not on our side. What we saw was probably a mere drop of the ocean, but it was good enough to bring us back here again. The resorts and hotels we stayed in were fantastic, the hot spring facilities were at its best, and we thought the goods and services were reasonably priced. Food selection was definitely not as how I imagined it, and the tastes were nothing but impressive. I didn’t expect a fussy eater like me would seriously enjoy the spread but I did, and the testimonials were the extra pounds I gained even without taking a cup of instant noodle I brought all the way from home!

The tour arrangement was commendable. From our arrival till our departure, there was nothing lacking, and everything was to our satisfaction. I applaud Lawrie, the tour guide who, in this very short journey, taught us so much about the people of the rising sun. I appreciate all his efforts of making this whole trip a great one to remember by, thankful of the stories he shared, from his personal lives and experiences to his thoughts, his little endeavors and life adventures, his love for fishing, his passion for art and manga, his love and devotion for his wife and two young boys. I truly treasure the experiences he shared with us on the March 11^th earthquake/tsunami as it not only touches my very soul but it won new insights and respects for the people of the rising sun. I remember every single thing I could, from his recommendations of vitamins, eye drops, skin care, Issay Miyake hand bags, kitchen knives, white chocolates, sea food…beef…etc- he is just a one rounded tour guide who truly knows, the tricks of the trade.  I was really impressed of how closer I am to the people of Japan through this professional tour guide by the name of Lawrie Ho! If I haven’t said it enough, thank you so much Lawrie for bringing Japan closer to our hearts.

And to Lax, our tour leader.. if I could, I would love to put you in my pockets and bring you home. My mum would love you to bits! It’s heartwarming to just see your smile every wake of the morning. We appreciate all your assistance, your stories.. .. and all that you have shared. This trip is memorable to us, as your presence made all the difference!

And so, we had a blast in Hokkaido, an exhausting day in Tokyo Disneyland with so many ques that never ends, I had a wonderful learning experience while dining in a restaurant near Tokyo Dome Hotel, next to a table of a Japanese family of 5. It wasn’t the food we had, but it’s the voluntary efforts this family put into cleaning their tables and utensils after their meal. I suddenly felt embarrassed of the doubts I had, and is envious of their love and devotion to their country. This was indeed a great wake up call! Next thing I know, Christian stood up and took tissues from the counter and started cleaning away too! J

Although, I missed my sister and her family as they were away in London & Paris during our trip, I would love to just rewind this whole thing and do it all over again. Its true of how beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and how to love something, we need to learn what and who they truly are. And sometimes, it’s easier to make a judgment call than going further down the road. But then, how would one ever know. Perceptions could be normal, expectations may vary, but in a tour holiday like this, it takes you through a different side of your life journey and it’s not what you see that actually matters, its more to what you learn from the culture and interactions of the journey itself and how these interprets and translates into an added value to your own life. I may be a nerd to call this a field trip, but I’m glad to know that I had the opportunity to be apart of it.

To Candy and your Crew, thank you for this wonderful “field trip”!! You guys are the best J

I don’t think I would wanna have another miso soup again.. for a long long time.. but I know I will crave for it soon enough. And when I do, all I need is to call my pals at Popular Express Travel J and hubby, this time.. I am bringing one extra big luggage! Don’t stop me, pls!