Happiness...Sold Separately..: May 2008

Warning...long long post..i think the longest I have ever posted..

27 March 2007 - Thursday

Didn't even sleep that night as my flight was at 6am. Would like to thank my parents as they woke up at 330am to send me to the airport. Was asleep as soon as we board the flight. However, when I woke up - which was like an hour plus later..we were still on the ground. Finally took off at 7plus. Reached Narita Airport at 330pm. (Tokyo time)

took a train to Shinjuku.It was an hour's train ride to Shinjuku...and we were walking round and round the whole area to find Siena Hotel which we stayed for 6 nights. The room was great! With alot of Shiseido & Kanebo toiletries. The toilet bowl got seat warmer and there are buttons on it you can press to wash your butt using spray mode or trickle mode. can even adjust the temperature of the water.

welcome to shinjuku

not a very nice view from the hotel room...

pretty flowers outside shinjuku station

It was very dark when we went around the hotel although it was only 7plus pm. Had a dinner of Charshu Ramen for 500yen while standing up and eat. Most of the shops close at 8-9pm. but not the arcades & UFO catchers!

Caught the Rillakumar bear for 1000yen (aft numerous times) which was around 14 sing. the cute thing about this bear is that it can walk when its left hand is pressed. Caught the rabbit for 500yen. The rabbit is called Love-Chan, created by Ai Otsuka, a japanese singer. Caught some aikipara (those on top of the bear) for 100 yen. 3 of them. Of course, these stuff toys are not caught all in one day. But i do admit i spent alot of my money on the UFO catchers. So addictive!

hello kitty shop

the gift shop

28 March Friday

Had Gyu-Don at Yoshinoya for breakfast. They only sell beef and pork there. Plus salmon shio. nice..had alot of meals at yoshinoya as it is cheap. around 330yen (4plus sing) Add raw egg with the gyu don even nicer...unlike the raw eggs in singapore, their eggs do not have a certain smell, which makes me able to eat it without puking..:)
Went to Tokyo dome so that Sam can collect his X Japan concert ticket. Spend a few hours there as he wants to buy their merchandise as well..

at tokyo dome

look at the themepark! which I have no interest for..and did not go n play

tamagotchi fans anyone?

after that went to Ginza...which we have to change trains at ochanomizu...

apparently there was nothing much at Ginza,went to Burberry Blue Label Store to get a wallet for mum..about 200plus..which is cheap for burberry i guess..but better deal is blue label series can only be found in Japan..tried on a burberry skirt..300plus..got this floaty feeling..very nice..regret not buying..as i kept thinking about it even until now..after that went back so went back to Shinjuku..went to Tokyu Hands..where I saw Lesportsac bags...real ones..for 100plus sing...is it cheap? I never buy. Bought some handphone stickers for myself and some souvenirs...

one thing i like about shopping in Japan is that the service staff are very nice..instead of passing u the stuff over the counter..they walked round the counter after every transaction to give you the stuff..
those wearing makeup can also try on clothes as there is this makeup protector paper..you cover your face with so the makeup will not dirty the clothes

one thing very troublesome about trying on clothes in japan is..you have to remove your footwear before entering the fitting room.

29 March 2008 Saturday

Went to OIYOUNG (Pronounced Marui Young) about 10 mins from the hotel. Never expect to find whatever I have seen online in one shopping mall!!! It is the best place ever ..so convenient to find all those big punk, gothic, lolita brands all in one place.
Bought a suspender skirt from Algonquins...very nice...

the bottom layer can be detached...so are the suspenders..don't ask me about the price..

wanted to buy a corset too...very nice..purple with black lace..abit gothic la..but i think one big exp buy is enough..

after dropping the shopping back at the hotel...

harajuku station

Takeshita Dori...where shopping is much cheaper than other places..its like Bugis Village..but better!
It's very crowded there as it is a weekend..Bought a black dress with kitty prints...and jacket with kitty prints too and a pink n black belt!..from the same shop..haha..its called ACDC shop or something like that.got alot of chain stores around there.. i like alot of clothes there...too bad for the lack of funds..

Sakura everywhere in Tokyo...

having wafer ice cream...

had a very late lunch at wendy's..along Omotesando which is like Orchard Road difference is that the big brands are housed in individual buildings...like ralph lauren..

As there is a convenience store near our hotel..we would always buy snacks to eat back in our hotel..apparently..the dinner of the usual soba or udon is only filling for awhile due to the coldness i guess...

30 March 2008 Sunday..
Big day for Sam as it was the last night of the X Japan concert he was attending..which also means I was alone for 5-6 hours..

akihabara....where the IT stuff is...

the whole street is closed for pple to crossed..whenever they feel like it..:)

girls in maid costume...

UFO catchers! so much nicer than Singapore ones...esp the stuff toys..its different..and not pirated!!!

cute packaging for an ocha drink...

back to tokyo dome...weekend crowd everywhere...had to eat dinner at a convenience store..to be exact..sitting outside a convenience store...which i have no problems with in Japan..but somehow not in Singapore..

sakura!

fans of x japan waiting in the rain...to attend the concert..after 10 years..

Pardon the reflection...taken at La Qua shopping mall..notice the theme park, hotel and stadium all in one picture?

Shopped at La Qua for awhile..went to the arcade and see the UFO catchers of course..shopped at a nearby shopping mall as well..finally started buying stuff at Uniqlo...similar to Giordano..bought a shirt for office work next time..and some clothes for my family..have to use my debit card..when all the shops closed at 9..luckily i collected enough brochures and free magazines to browse while waiting..was raining and so cold..thank goodness for warm can drinks from the vending machines..

I love to stay in Shinjuku..cos their shops open till later..plus I can only find UFO catchers in Shinjuku & Akihabara..and of course..more food shops...and more shopping of unique stuff...there is this shop..which i forgot the name..let me call is ABC store..I swear it sells almost anything and everything u can think of. From branded stuff..(real ones) to stuff you might buy at pasar malam..like normal shirts..socks..and they sell pyjamas..costumes like doraemon or maid..its so cool..oh ya..they also sell kitchen appliances..luggages..food..toiletries...i can only say Wow!

31 March 2008 Monday
Woke up abit later than the usual 8am..due to a happening night yesterday for you know who..ate at yoshinoya i think..i forgot..but I think I can eat Yoshinoya 3 meals a day..its nice..
went to asakusa...where alot of tourists will be..
the view there is very nice...went to get a fortune..is that wat it is called? for 100 yen...say I got bad luck basically..sigh..which is true ba..
had some taiyaki...and sakura flavoured dango (rice balls) very nice..but i think the sakura too sweet ba..

after that went to Asahi building..notice the building which looks like a foaming beer mug?

had some drinks and snacks there..at the 20th floor i think..nice view..can see mount fuji..

finally..after bugging sam about tokyo tower all the while during the trip...

a trip to tokyo tower is very impt to me..although I did not go up..i think it is still a good place to visit due to numerous appearances in cardcaptor sakura..and some dramas..

1 April 2008 Tuesday
Happy April Fool's day!
Finally managed to wake up early to go to Tsukiji fish market..which is around 4am..but by the time we reached there...i think the busiest period was already over..we reached at 6am.
saw big tuna fishes being cart around ....
saw a wierd fish which we asked a chef...its called yagara..

too bad the..eh..beak of the yagara is broken..

most exp meal for us ever for this trip..

all maguro set...otoro..maguro..cool..without the wasabi better though..around 50-60plus sing..

wanted to eat Una don..(unagi with rice..sea eel) however was too full ...too bad..never get to eat unagi this trip...dun under estimate the sushi set..i surprised too..

after that went to...

Pokemon center...it only opens at 11am (we were there at 8plus am)..as I was very sleepy..I napped for an hour at
the sitting area at the basement of the building..thanks for waiting patiently for me while I sleep..
after that went to a nearby park as it was still early..have to pay an admission fee of 2 bucks sing...not that we mind..it was beautiful..

back to pokemon center...

after that went to Shibuya...as I heard lots of nice things about it..being fashionable and stuff...but then i see the prices i wanna faint also...the clothes are nice...but..as i said..one exp buy is enough..

then went to Daikanyama...where i got my early birthday present..

a cutsew from Baby the Stars Shine bright...with rabbit ears!
had to be careful with the paperbag cos its precious..
went back to Harajuku to get more stuff..

decided to go and get the T shirt with JiJi on it...JiJI is a black cat from the movie - kiki's delivery service by Studio Ghibli...

2 April 2008 Wednesday...

decided to extend our checkout time for another 30plus sing...able to check out at 6pm..but we checked out at 3plus as our flight is at 7pm...
went to akihabara again to buy stuff we missed out...
bought lunch at a bento store to bring back to the hotel to eat..was actually able to get back earlier to pack..however was searching for a place that sells una don..sob sob..it was not open yet..when we finally finish eating and packing and checking out..we only got 10 mins to catch the train..how nice..took a cab...we were just in time to see our train left before our very eyes..
had to pay additional money for the next train despite it being very empty...