Friday, May 2, 2014

Japan - Day 1 : OBKG, Osaka Mint (Sakura!), Osaka Castle, Umeda


Finally, YEAH I’M IN JAPAN!! That’s the first thing across my mind ;) 
Inside the Airplane
Before entering into my journey, let me give you some interface. 
Actually, I’m going to Japan with my friends in the same University Major, which is International Business Management (IBM).

So, IBM has an event called International Study Excursion (ISE) for students in semester 6.
This ISE will be in 7 days (14 April - 20 April 2014), when the Sakura season is almost ended - but there’s still some sakura - in Japan. 

Moreover, all of my friends and I decided to extend our trip until 23 April 2014, which we’ll go and arrange it on our own. 
Our flight to Japan is on 13 April, and our flight back is on 24 April. 

In the ISE program, sorry if I didn’t provide any directions / how to get to the place because mostly I went with the Bus from my tour guide. You can check how to go to the place on your own, believe me, it will be easy! 
But relax, in our extended trip from 21 April, I’ll provide guidelines on how to get to the place ;)

So, Let’s begin the journey !!

OSAKA 


Since it’s the first day, we booked a hotel near the Osaka airport, because we arrived at Osaka nearly at 1 p.m 
That is why, the first thing we do in the morning is that we check out from our first hotel near Osaka Airport, and headed to Osaka City.

Our first hotel near the airport
Walking around the hotel while waiting for the bus

OBKG - LANGUANGE SCHOOL IN OSAKA


The very first place that we’ll visit along the way is OBKG, one of the best language school in Osaka. 
OBKG also has some branches in Surabaya, and will soon open some language school in Surabaya.
When we arrived at  OBKG, we changed our shoes into the school sandals and went into a classroom.

In the classroom, the OBKG teacher who can speak Bahasa Indonesia teach us some useful Japanese language and also promoting their school, OBKG.

Inside OBKG class, studying little Japanese
Thank you OBKG ! (The right one is the OBKG Vice Headmaster)

After OBKG, we have lunch near OBKG. It’s the first time I ever try the real Japanese Okonomiyaki.
To be honest, I don’t like it because I think it contains too much vegetables inside. 


Okonomiyaki


This one is like an egg mix with seafood
Near the Okonomiyaki's restaurant
Near the restaurant, there’s a stall that sell Takoyaki, and I buy it.
The Takoyaki is super delicious! I really love those tiny thin things (the brown one) above the Takoyaki.  

In front of the Takoyaki stall

OSAKA MINT PARK


Feeling full, we headed to our next destination, which is Osaka Mint Park, where the Sakura is still booming and in its mature time. 
Even though today is Monday, The Osaka Mint Park is really crowded. Bunch of people want to see the Sakura. 
Osaka Mint Park has a long road ahead, so you’ll feel surrounded by people, and of course, Sakura. 
The Sakura is really really beautiful !! If there are only a few people around, I believe it will be more beautiful.






A closer look to Sakura!


OSAKA CASTLE


Finish admiring the Sakura, we went to Osaka Castle. 
Osaka castle has a really long way to go before you can reach the main castle.
But don’t worry, along the way you’ll find lots of beautiful things to capture and you can enjoy the very clean and calm atmosphere there. 

Found sakura on the way to the castle 

Unfortunately, when I reached the main castle, it’s already closed :’( 
But some of my friends has already gone inside the castle. Oh my, I really envy them! 
They told us - who didn’t get into the castle - that inside the castle is really beautiful, even they can try to put on a Samurai clothes and Kimono !

Us, who can't go inside the castle because it's already closed
Jump pose in front of the Castle !

Anyway, while waiting my friends who’s going inside, I look around the Castle and also go to a souvenir shop. 
When I walk around, I found a vending machine that sell Haagen Dazs, yeah really, a Haagen Dazs vending machine!
I bought the Green Tea one because in Indonesia Haagen Dazs doesn’t sell any. 
The taste is pretty good :d


Haagen Dazs Green Tea

UMEDA


Our last place to visit today is Umeda. It’s like a shopping centre and you can find this huge electronic store that provide almost everything!
Not only that, in Umeda there’s also Umeda sky building (but I don’t find the place, because the time is really short) that has a gorgeous view (you can google it later on guys!) 

Umeda at Night

On 7.30 pm, we go back to our meeting point because the bus can be operate only until 8 p.m. Also, we need to do the hotel check in today. 
Because we haven’t eat dinner, when we finished arranging our hotel room and stuffs, we went outside the hotel to get some food. 

I try the Soyu Ramen, it’s like the basic ramen that famous in Osaka, and the taste is super yum!
Japanese Ramen has a different and also better taste compare to Japanese ramen in Indonesia. 


My day 1 has been awesome, let’s go to day 2 ! 

COMPLETE GUIDE JAPAN TRIP : 



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Sunday, April 27, 2014

11 Unique Facts About Japan !

Hello guys! I just got back from my International Study Excursion with my university program (IBM) + Holiday in Japan :)
So before I post my travel journey from 13 until 24 April 2014, I’d like to share you some unique facts about Japan - in my version.

1. Japanese like to bow until it feels awkward for both of us

One night, I called the room service to repair my toilet’s sink. An old man came in and repaired it. When he finished and I know that I must respect the one who’s older than me, I bow to him and said “Arigato”. Then, he bow back. I bow back again, and he do the same thing. I bow again for the third time, even lower than him, and he bow back again. In the end, I smiled at him and he smiled at me too. The end of the story, because my friend close the door. 

They love to help others, even when they can’t speak english - yeah, they use body language
There’s a time when my friends and I struggle to find this one place called Asahi Archery near Otsuka. So we asked a policeman there, and he helped us until he even open his map and show the way for us. Thanks policeman!! We asked lots of help for direction to the local people. Some of them didn’t help, but some of them were really nice even though they can’t speak English fluently.


2. Time = Priceless 

When you’re in Japan, especially Tokyo, you’ll see almost all Japanese walk really really fast, ignoring their surroundings. Not only their walking habit, they also eat super duper fast with a very calm gesture! If you think that you’re a fast eater, then try eating next to a Japanese.
Not only that, when you buy groceries in a supermarket, you have to pack your things by yourself to save more time!

People pack their things themselves after paying in a supermarket


3. They eat while standing! 

As I said, that time is priceless, there are several stores in Japan that don’t provide seats, so you can eat while standing. Guess what? The food is a cold food. I guess they are providing cold food so you’ll be faster in chewing the food. I ever try to eat in this kind of restaurant, and I can’t finish my food. In my opinion, the noodle taste a little bit weird because the soup and the noodle is cold.

One of Soba restaurant in Shinagawa Station


4. Eating alone is not a problem

That doesn’t mean Japanese don’t eat together, they still are. But lots of Japanese, especially employee / businessman, eating alone. That’s why they can eat fast and save time. 

They all don't know each other and eating alone. 

 

5. Every man employee wear suits

This is the unique thing. Even though you’re not a boss or manager, if you work inside a company, you will wear a suits! A very formal and complete one, with a hand carry on your hand.


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Monday, March 31, 2014

The Gift

Blog post ini dibuat dalam rangka mengikuti Proyek Menulis Letters of Happiness: Share your happiness with The Bay Bali & Get discovered! 

This blog post is in The Big 25 Finalist of Letter of Happiness and the book will be launch soon! You can purchase the book at nulisbuku.com or twitter @nulisbuku

            “WHAT? So are you saying that I was wrong? I don’t even know that you need that paper. I mean, it’s just a scratch paper!”
            “Can’t you look first before you throw something away? Gosh, I’m so dead! It’s so hard to get Mr. Rob contact, and you… you just throw it away!”
            “Sorry, okay? I’m sorry! But it’s not all my fault. Why don’t you keep it if it’s important? You put it on the table. That’s why I think it was a trash.”
            “Even if it’s so, you still need to check it, Rose!”
            “Can’t you just ask your friend about Mr. Rob’s contact? It’s not the end of the world!”
            “Yeah, but you still need to change your behavior!”
            “Jack, it’s only a small problem. Gosh, whatever. You know what? You’ve changed. That’s it.” said Rose with a cold expression. Without saying anything further, she left Jack, her husband, with a lot of disappointment in his face. Blam! Rose shut the door. Nothing goes right for the past 7 months in their 19 years of marriages. Literally, nothing.
            “What are you guys doing here?” ask Rose. She seemed very surprise to find her two children in front of the door.
            “…We’re just passing by. Right?” said Lily, the oldest daughter, and then giving a very cynical look to his younger brother.
            “Yeah.” Billy directly nodded.
            “Hh…” Rose sighed. She put her hand on her forehead. “Guys, I know exactly what you’re doing, and I think you two don’t have to worry about what’s going on between us, okay?” she continued her sentence.
            “Mom, we just want make sure that your relationship with dad is fine!” said Lily.
            “Look, honey. We’re okay. It’s just… things don’t go well. Please, I just don’t want to talk about this right now.”
            “Billy, c’mon.” Lily urged Billy to leave.
-----
            “Lily, are you sure about this?”
            “Yeah, I’m really sure.”
            “Are they going to accept this…?” doubt Billy.
            “Of course! They have no excuse to say no. Even if they are, we really need to persuade them to accept our special gift. This is for OUR sake, Billy.”
            Lily put the entire surprise gift together in one heart shape envelope, and then sealed it. She crossed her fingers, and so does Billy. They just hope that everything will go as they predicted.
-----
            Today is a chill Thursday morning. Rose and Jack are having their breakfast silently. They talk, but only when necessary like help me by passing the salt, and so on. There’s no happy conversation like the old days. Suddenly, Lily and Billy show up.
            “SURPRISE! Happy 20th Anniversary!” said Lily and Billy together with a very huge smile. Rose and Jack startled. They even forget that today is their 20th Anniversary after all the things that going on.
            “Honey…” Rose was going to talk, but Lily stops her.
            “Mom, dad, before you give comments, we want to talk, and because today is your anniversary, we need you to say yes first.”
            “What is it?” ask Jack.
            “Just say yes first, please.” said Billy. Jack and Rose start to look at each other. They seem suspicious about what their children are about to do.
            “Okay, okay. I’ll tell both of you. So we want you to accept our special gift.” Lily handed over the heart shape envelope to Rose.
            “What is this Lily?”
            “Well… there are two tickets to Bali, hotel voucher, and our arrangements for both of you in Bali.”
            “Oh honey, that is so sweet of you two… Unfortunately, I think I can’t go. Right, Jack?” Rose takes a glimpse at Jack.
            “Yeah, I also have lots of work to do.” said Jack
            “Please mom, dad, accept it! We bought it with our 5 months saving and do some survey on the Internet for about 2 months!”
            “…Well, let’s go. It’s only for 2 days, isn’t it?” asked Jack. Lily and Billy smiled.
-----
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