Japan Journal Part 2 (100th Post)

Time: 10.15am
Location: Office

Day 3.
It's hard not to wake up by 6.30am. The sun rays just go straight for your eyes... Today's Yoshiko and Stephen's big day. The difference between their wedding (or maybe most Japanese weddings..I'm not sure) is that they held the wedding from 12 noon to 5pm whilst Chinese weddings are usually held at night. Throughout the whole morning, neighbors came visiting, phones were ringing...it almost feels like Chinese New Year.

The Englishmen and Yoshiko went straight to the hotel for preparations. Poh Har (memory refresh: The cheapo Singaporean travelling with us) had her hair done with Yoshiko's mom at a neighborhood salon. I bet 90% someone paid for her. We arrived at the hotel approx. 1pm. A bus was chartered to shuttle the relatives to the hotel... the driver was really courteous and cranked jokes (which I don't understand, but others laughed) throughout the journey)

And right at the doorstep of the hotel, I was greeted by the sight of this gorgeous limo.



The hotel was surprisingly really quiet...it's relatively small, but very well-furnished...



Nice, posh velvet armchairs and victorian carvings...it's almost fit for royalty.

There were only 5 tables in the dining area. Heard that it's not cheap, even though it's just 5 tables. Another thing I found out, to give them ang pao, it's best to give with either a digit 3 or 5... or almost anything except the digit 4...cos it sounds like death in Japanese.

Everyone has this personalised card on your table, so you'll know where you're seated.



Yoshiko and Stephen made their grand entrance into the dining area, with Yoshiko in a stunning gown and Stephen in a 'military-inspired' suit. The food served was a luxurious treat. Lobster, scallop and tonnes of SASHIMI. All the more reason for me to move to Japan...umm..sashimi.




Dinner...I meant lunch, was served and we were treated to a videoclip of the childhood of both bride and groom. It was a sentimental moment as my mom wept (DUN ask me why....I'm the daughter!!!..Mom even had a speech for Yoshiko, which I thought was really sweet, though she's like 70% drunk by then. (What to do, free-flow of champagne and wine)

Yoshiko and Stephen exited shortly after to change into traditional kimonos. An extremely sweet couple indeed!




The next highlight of that afternoon was the karakoke session! Japanese LOVE karaoke! Andy also went up to sing 'American Pie'... it was really sweet.

After rounds of phototaking (with Poh Har appearing in ALMOST EVERY FAMILY PHOTO!) and with me getting a little mad at Mom for getting so drunk... the lunch reception was over. The newly-weds came down the stairways with the crowd throwing confetti at them. They got into the limo...and whiz off. (ok, they just made a detour and came back to the hotel after we left)

We went back home via the chartered bus and it was another evening of literally "making-merry 'english' men" . That was also the night when Chris and I had the best conversation ever. We talked about cultural difference, lifestyles and aspirations..., you tell me, how not to fall for him!?

Day 4
After a miscommunication during breakfast, (or rather, a cunning ploy by Poh Har to eat all the best unagi) I had my breakfast served about an hour later. Long story cut short, Poh Har told the host that we didn't want to eat unagi..that liar.




We started packing up to leave for Tokyo. Ojisan packed A LOT of dates and garlic for us and Yoshiko's mom prepared oranges, snacks and chocolates for our bullet train journey. It was a teary departure. We kinda bonded very well over the past few days despite 'minimal understanding' when it comes to communication. Poh Har left without saying goodbye. She kinda didn't want to go to Tokyo 'cos she'll have to spend money staying in hotels. Everyone was surprised she just left..like that. What a bad example of a Singaporean for the Japanese. (shakes head)

Yoshiko's Mom and Dad drove us to the train terminal and we were headed to Tokyo. I miss the family already...

The bullet train was fast, but not as fast as I had expected... it's definitely faster than the MRT, but the scenery outside was still quite clear..though I did suffer from minor earache due to the speed. A nice guy (but not cute enough to be hunk No 4) was pushing a trolley throughout the train, selling snacks and even beer. Guess Japanese don't get rowdy when drunk...

After about 2 hours or so, we reached Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The hotel room was small, about the size of one and half bedroom-size, but at least the view from 24th floor was spectacular. (Better be lor, it cost $688 for 2 nights!) The Englishmen's room were quite bad, I heard. 4th floor, bunk beds...enough said.




Despite all the rave about Japanese fashion, I saw relatively safe dressing there. Maybe cos it's not Harajuku or Shibuya. Due to it being autumn, the general color range were grey and black. But damn, those girls are skinny....

We were suppose to go for an onsen (hotspring) but the Englishmen were not too keen...(WHY!??..I want to go!) We ended up having dinner (Always eating, if you noticed) and after that, I convinced my parents to let me go off with the 'young people' to have a drink. I actually intended to go wander off by myself, but knowing my parents were not going to allow that, (Yes, I'm 24...but in a foreign land) I had to lie to them, saying I will be sticking close with Yoshiko.

But then, I didn't really have to lie. 'Cos most shops close by 9pm and I had no choice but to stick with Yoshiko and gang when they went down to the Mohamed Sultan of Japan. (Which I forgot the name of that place) We ended up at Hard Rock Cafe... where the waiters had flashy hair and the waitress had a devil-may-care attitude.



We had to catch the last train by 11.25pm so we were off to the hotel bar on the 39th floor for 2nd rounds. We had to pay about 8 buckaroos per person to just SIT There. It was also Andy's Birthday so we had a tiny celebration for him. I notice how Englishmen can REALLY drink... but they never get drunk, they just get happy.

Day 5.
Off to the tourisy places!
Destination 1: Some temple but I forgot the name...heh.

Let the pictures tell the rest:












































Destination 2: Tokyo Tower

Japanese girls are really cute, they kept staring at me when I spoke to the cashier in English, and giggled when I spoke a bit of Japanese and Mandarin..wonder why.






We were off to Yokohama for a nice dinner in celebration of Andy's and Taka's (Yoshiko's cuter younger brother) birthday. Great food, wonderful karaoke and a very drunk Japanese Uni-girl – Reika. She spoke minimal English and is the daughter of Yoshiko's friend. 21 yrs, pretty and voluptious...but oh-so-fliratious. She provided great entertainment that night though...
Getting drunk, running around the train station, hitting her mom, flirted with the Englishmen, hidding in the ladies...had me running around with a wet towel for her. What drama.

The Englishmen actually invited me over to their room for another round of drinks..and as much as I would love to go, our flight was due the next day at 11am (had to wake up by 6)...so no choice..had to be a good girl and go back with Mom and Dad.


Day 6.
Woke up at 5.30am.... packed somemore, went to airport by bus, saw the big ferris wheel, bought stuff at the airport...transit at Bangkok, met Lena, a regular I always took product loans from...and the rest was a blur..cos I left my heart in Japan.