Japan's Secret 5th Season - Part III (checking the weather & packing & checking-in)

Ever wonder why I title my blog posts "Japan’s Secret 5th Season"?

Everyone knows Japan has four beautiful seasons, but the hidden fifth is typhoon season. I’ve traveled to Fukuoka twice in July during the peak rainy period. But while both seasons mean endless water dropping from the sky, a typhoon brings a level of severity you can never take lightly.

From 27th Aug to 7th Sep 

Been checking weather. Please lah! Stupid typhoon 24 can you make up your mind where you're heading or not? Although I know that weather predictions is only more accurate when nearing to the date, but Accuweather tells me got rain no rain then say rain. That's how I decided on which day to go up the Alpine Route. Torlong Guangyin please gimme good weather leh! I already booked my tickets.

Ordered more shoe cover, I bought the boots type. 10 each. Bought more better quality disposable ponchos all from Shoppee. No time to purchase from Taobao as shipment won't make it in time.   

I follow the Alps Facebook and Insta and they keep showing and inform about the Iwaicho trees turning yellow and saying nice. Yah. That's why I wanted to see this but honestly the best time would be in October where everything will be in red, orange and yellow hues with occasional bear visitations. All I want is NO RAIN! Maybe if life give me another opportunity and money 🤣 - I might go again in October/November many years later?     

8th Sep (Tue) : checking the weather makes me even more kek-sim.

**** CHECKED - IN ****

Did the check-in. Yay! Kapo check the flight to see if anyone is taking the seats between us both sector. So in order to check, I must pretend that I’m buying tickets and then pretend to select seats. Guess how much is the ticket? $3240! Ok lah! I think coz it's last minute? Or maybe it’s the dynamics again? So far it’s still empty. Cross fingers that it’ll remain so, but I tell you that lil’ one will end up putting her head on my thighs and lay flat to sleep while I have to deal with a numbed thigh after that 😂. No choice we are not rich enough to buy Business Class ticket so make do with this.

**** PACKED ****

After all the procrastination and laziness, finally packed our luggage. 

WIP

Never trust a kid to pack the haversack. Told her we need to keep it light + space for her soba souvenir, she thinks her Pinky (the grey cat) is very important. She stuffed this in first, everything else are not important and can go in last. Haha! 

The 2 haversacks contains our personal effects and toiletries for 2 nights. I packed along the portable shoe dryer, I hope I don't have to use it but if I do I have it with me. I’m a typical mama bear or the Doraemon who carries everything with her. Packed 12 ponchos and 14 shoe cover boots. Overtly paranoid? 

My luggage weighs 18kg. Luggage allowance per person is 30kg per sector

  

9th Sep (Wed)

Yesterday I told myself that I didn’t have the intention to cook today coz I wanted to relax and go to airport in the night with a 开心和平和的心情. I woke up to this news, CLICK HERE. WTF!! #%^*!!

People who know me well, knows that I get stressed easily. Reading this news made me even more pek-chek. Will this affect my transport to GH tomorrow. If I'll be waiting in ankle-deep water for my bus in Gifu? If the train from airport may halt service coz of thunderstorm? I spent time emailing my ryokan in GH and he said no problem. Ehh.... Why why why? He should know better having lived through so many typhoon seasons himself, but maybe coz he wants to earn money?? Whatever it is, accomodation payment is still not done, bus tickets not purchased yet coz I had to leave that all to arrival date and time. And then I start thinking what if there’s a delay at immigration that I miss the train? What if there’s a delay at the TaQBin counter in airport? I’m a worrier, I think too much 🤣. 

Translation : Buses are operating in GH. Intermittent rain. Will probably rain alot until today. 

I hope he is right. I’m praying for Mr Sun please come out strong and suck up all the water dry from the grounds, then bring the heavy clouds to Fukuoka where girlfriend said there’s some water shortage & govt doing drought measures. Rain there to help the Fukuoka people and help me

Action 2 : I threw in one more poncho and rain cover each. Maybe i should pack a swimsuit and float instead.  

Action 3 : Called UOB to increase credit limit for just in case of any extra expenses I need to make. Surprisingly they rejected although I have good credit standing. Anyway I always bring hubby's credit card on our holidays. 

Action 4 : Wasted too much time in the morning, making me so anxious. I finally settled a little and cleaned the house and did the laundry. Transferred pictures into the laptop. 

Action 5 : 还是不放心。Checked flights into 2nd stop incase I cannot get into the 1st stop. What if heavy rain caused landslide (although the bus route runs on the elevated expressway there are some areas where the hill is just by the side of the road) and I can’t take the bus into the 1st stop? Or what if the disruption has already created a backlog of passengers, will I get a chance to get on the bus when I’m there? Will the bus companies run more frequently to take more passengers? See lah! I really worry too much. Prepare lil’ one’s mindset first. Reiterating on safety first, if we can’t make it to GH then she will not get to eat her nice freshly made soba. Have to reiterate, safety first. If this is a failed trip for her, this gives her the excuse to go back again. 

@ 5+ while lil’ one is taking a nap, I check from Google. Haha! It’s like I’m so bloody despite hearing some positive news that I’m relying on AI advice. So sianz lor.. 观音菩萨 please por pi por pi leh…

That’s all for this post! Now start praying for a safe trip