A solo trip,
to my 2nd foreign country,
my first long haul flight !
My feeling? Both excited and worried.
When I came back from this trip, I myself didn't believe that I made it.
My first ever trip to Japan, the 3rd country that I wanted to visit the most after Greece and Istanbul.
6th April 2016 - 20th April 2016.
It was freaking spring at that time and sakura is blooming beautifully everywhere!
Here's the breakdown of my trip
6th - 8th > Osaka
8th - 17th > WWOOF @ Awaji Island/Awajishima
17 > Kyoto
18th - 20th > Tokyo
I choose to arrive at Kansai Aiport and depart from Narita Airport.
I did a lot of study before started this journey. It took me about 1 year. I bought the ticket also almost a year. That shows how eager I am to visit Japan!
I'll provide you about my expenses for this trip at the end of my post
Day 1
6th Apr 2017 // 0800 // Arrival Kansai Airport
Osaka // Namba > Dotonbori > Shinsaibashi
I depart from Kuala Lumpur International Airport on 6th Apr at 0100H and arrived at Kansai International Airport on the same day at 0800H
A long haul flight, and I had problem with my nose. It keep getting dry and I need to wet it few times. I didn't have a good sleep on the flight.
When, I arrived at Kansai, I took almost one hour to calm myself down. I sat at one of the bench and looked at people passing by. I don't know what happened to me but that moment was to memorable for me. The trip that i've been planning for almost 1 year ago and now, I'M HERE ! Breathing the air. It was too emotional for me.After calming myselft, I connected my phone to airport wifi and update my family about my current being. Then I went to Tourist Information Center in the airport itself to buy Osaka Amazing Pass
a metro pass that you can use for all train in Osaka except JR Lines.
It comes in two type. 1 day use and 2 days use. and of course different prizes.
This pass is so amazing! HAHA Besides using on the trains, it gives you free entrance to few tourist spot.This pass is worth it and you can saves a lot of your expenses. It also comes with few coupons for discounts!
Nearest metro station was Dobutsuen Mae.When I arrived at the hotel, after checking in, the first thing that I did was sleep. I thought it was a short nap but when I woke up, I slept almost 7 hours ! There goes my day. Jetlagged to the max. I re-plan again everything
.
That night, I went for a night walk at the Namba. Meeting the infamous Glico Man was too emotional, again, for me. I cried. Yes. I cried when I saw the Glico Man. More to in disbelief. I didnt believe my eyes that I was standing in real life, in front of you Glico Man. 1 year planning and finally I meet you! Too emotional.Night life strolling was always my favourite thing to during travel. And Namba has it the best so far.You can try to ride the boat along the river too ! Free ride for Osaka Amazing Pass holder !
You can shop around at Shinsaibashi.
Then, I went back to hotel and sleeeep again. HAHA
Day 2
Osaka // Umeda > Tempozan Harbour
Not my luck, it was raining heavily so I started my day around noon
Started my journey to Umeda area.
Umeda Sky BuildingNice place to have a view of Osaka
When I was at the floating garden, the crosswind was so strong and I almost flew away ! jkjk I'm too heavy for that. But the view was superb. I managed to snap few picture eventhough it was raining. Nothing can stop me !
Then I stroll around the HEP FIVE Ferris wheel.
In Out from Dais and Uniqlo. and entered few shopping malls and wandering around the stationery sections. It was like a heaven for stationery lover like me. Thousands of unique thingssssss.
Walking alone in the cold weather somehow soothing my mind.
I rode the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel and entered Kaiyukan Osaka Aquarium
The ferris wheel have 2 type of gondolas. The normal-less-scary and the totally transparent gondola. Of course I rode the second one. More exciting.
Kaiyukan Osaka Aquarium is so mesmerizing. Definitely suitable for my kid heart. hehe.
Met new friends from South Korea.
Day 3 - Day 10
Osaka > Awajishima // WWOOF
WWOOF is a volunteerism medium to make friends, and to share and exchange with them.
Hosts give WWOOFers meals, accommodation and social engagement, in return for which WWOOFers help Hosts with what they do at their place.
Hosts give WWOOFers meals, accommodation and social engagement, in return for which WWOOFers help Hosts with what they do at their place.
I've been studying about this for few months before I decide to join WWOOF.
You can read more about wwoofjapan here >> https://www.wwoofjapan.com
I send my application to few hosts and luckily, one of the host accept me. My host, Masai-san, owns a guest house and he can speak english minimally. During my stay with him, there was another chinese girl, Yuki-san with me. She can speak 3 languages- chinese, japanese and english. So usually she was our translator. She is so great and friendly!
Before I arrived to Awajishima, Masai-san already gave the instruction to go there. I took a bus -Awaji Kotsuu, From Kobe Sannomiya to Goshiki Bus Center, my last stop in Awajishima.
When I arrived there, I didn't have any cellphone that working or any portable wifi to contact my host to inform him that I already here.
I was wandering around for almost 1 hour until one guy came to the bus stop. I gathered my courage and asked that guy. Luckily he can speak english! He helped me to call my host and inform that I already here. To my surpise, the guesthouse was just behind the bus stop !
If I keep wandering, I might find it on my own HAHAHA.
When I arrived at Goshiki Bus Centre, this lovely tree welcome me :D
The guesthouse: Awaji Tourist Trophy House
I was afraid when I arrived there, but Masai-san and Yuki-san were super nice ! I'm introvert person so I was afraid that I couldn't blend in so much. But I was wrong. It was like a new me came out and my old introverted me was goneee.
During my stay there, I helped Masai-san to manage the guesthouse, like housekeeping, welcoming the guest and preparing meals for the guest. I did learn few japanese cooking. Yuki-san loves to cook!I also learned how to change the futon and blanket in japanese style. ^^
I was so impressed with Masai-san life style. Our breakfast usually homemade bread with homemade orange jam. I learned from Masai-san how to make bread and the orange jam.
Masai-san also has his own bee farm so he took us to the bee farm that he shared with his few other friends.
I'm so in love with this island. it was so lovely and enticing who ever came here. I think I was the only one that wear scarf in that island. haha
There was one day when I woke up for my fajr prayer aroun 0200H ( YES, it was that earlyy!) the temperature was 2 degree celcius! I wrapped my self so much that day !
The New Guesthouse: Awaji Tourist Trophy House II
Again, I was so lucky. At that time, Masai-san was preparing to open another guesthouse which located by the seaside. So where there was no guest, we went to the new guesthouse to do some cleaning. It was so beautiful!
The other thing that I like during my stay here was the shopping for the new guesthouse! The new guesthouse need new furniture and equipment. We went from one mall to another mall and I lovessssss how the japanese entertain their customers! I cant describe it how but they're so polite!
There was one day when we finished cleaning early and Yuki-san took me to the rooftop. it felt like one of those moment in the drama.
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