Japan a year later

blog drafted on 8th July and edited along the way

Did a last minute trip to my favourite place - Fukuoka. Kindda thought about it less than a month back, during the 17th June week. I was looking at some festivals and suddenly I remembered that last year we missed the Yamakasa festival where we flew home 2 days earlier, so I put in my annual leave application request to the man. 

It’s really strange how I love Fukuoka more than Tokyo or Osaka (tho che-che loves Osaka now as well coz of her なにわ男子 ah boy boys). Che-Che likes FUK too coz of her tonkotsu broth ramen. The reason why I love FUK is coz it’s not as crowded as TYO, KIX if you know what I mean. I really enjoyed the 2022’s Kyushu trip where we drove around and I don’t see other Singaporeans in sight. Pls pls tolong tolong let FUK remain less touristy 🤣 so I can go back every year.  未央 will hate me if I tell her this.

Submitted for 6D5N annual leave. I can’t go too long also coz there are some housework I need to do as hubby is busy with work + we have no part time helpers. 

Boss approved leave

After going through the airfares for a few days with the consideration of the flight time and flight departure/arrival time. Finally I jumped in the wagon and booked on SQ on 24th June. Some airlines will make you travel hours on budget, bor hua at all, might as well 出多一点钱 for a fast direct flight. The one and only FUK flight on SQ is a red-eye flight. Ok, add some turbulence and I’ll be sleeping like a baby. 

I told che-che about my decision to travel 2 days after that and she wanted to tag along.... she wasted no time and asked daddy if she can go. She can go but he's not paying for her, saying that she hasn't even started work and keep spending money. Rich girl purchased the ticket with her own money on 29th June. There goes my chance of solo travelling!    

eMFA registration

Set a reminder for self to register eMFA once the hotel is booked. FFWD to August, I realised I forgot to register. 🤦🏻‍♀️. I was nagging at che-che to register for her Penang trip etc.. I was handling both of her trips : eSIM, insurance, my iMovies etc…that I totally forgot to register. 

Travel insurance

Bought travel insurance on 27th June for $65 from Etiqa. I’ve purchased a couple of travel insurance from them for the last 4 vacations, makes it easier that I have the app in my phone. I hope I don’t have to delete apps to garner more memory space for my increasing photos. 

Looking for hotel

Booked accomodation on 30th June for ¥84590 (S$713). Was considering if I should book the same hotel as last year. It's affordable but I didn't like it that there's no daily cleaning service. Usually we have rubbish in the night, only that 3-4hours in the room in the night yet we're still able to churn out some rubbish. Namely ice-cream wrappers, snacks wrappers, bread wrappers, drink bottles. Haha! 

Looked at few hotels and their bed is small, I wouldn’t want to be pushed against the wall or left in the cold again. 5 nights! I need something more comfy; I’m sure che-che would appreciate her snoring mother not snoring behind her ears. Some hotels seem cheap but reviews is bad. It seems like there are more hotels at the front of the station than the back. I think that’s the front? 

Booked what seems even slightly cheaper accomodation than last year's and there's cleaning daily. And there's washing machine and dryer in the hotel. I'm going to travel light so I definitely need to do the laundry. 

Nest Hotel Hakata Station location 

¥84590 for a twin room for 5 nights. This looks almost identical to the one we were assigned, except that we didn’t have the pillar next to the table, thus the hotel put a small chair and round table along the same wall as the table, our room is also a mirror image of this.

18sq m is indicated in the website. But it’s definitely bigger than the other hotel. I was able to put the two luggages under the table so we had ample walking space (not that we needed to walk so much except to take snacks from the table to the bed 😂. Or someone can just stand on the bed and reach out to the table)

Only 2 washing machine so it can be a fight for it. Especially most people would do their laundry in the evening / night when they’re back. However I was really lucky that the one time I went one machine was available and the other was more than halfway through its cycle. 

 

As for itinery planning, really not much to plan coz she’s been to Fukuoka 3x (and 4x for me) so not much sights to cover in the city. I think this trip is to meet girlfriend, eat and find myself be myself (which then turned out Che-Che tagged along) and most importantly for the Gion Hakata Yamakasa 2024 which ends on the 15th July with the final run in the wee hours. 

4th July - remembered I had to re-download my Visit Japan Web. Set reminder to self to register immigration and customs declaration for self and che-che closer to date. 

14th July (Sunday)

Hubby and lil' one sent us to the airport on Saturday night. Lil' one was so upset and pouted her lips that we have gone for so many holidays and told me I have to bring her to Korea on her birthday. I can't promise her anything yet. Not sure if another annual leave will be approved in a short interval of two months.

Travelling with che-che is easy coz she will help. And since she wanted to bring another luggage along to put all her snacks, she willingly dragged the heavy luggages herself.  

Luggage is 17kg in the airport. I remember I took a photo of the luggages without items inside and with items, it wasn’t 17kg. More like 15kg which made me more proud of the light clothes I packed. This is the first trial for me, after my May’s trip to US, that I packed in more sports attire and only had my slightly better looking top and jeans on me for the flight. Always remember to wear the heavier items (eg. jeans) and pack the lighter items.  

Flight details :

SQ 656 SIN - FUK 

Our flight time : 5hrs 45mins which I spent 4+hrs 💤 

Che-Che, although she booked her tickets later, had a seat next to me. We had an empty seat between us, which means if she didn’t tag along I would have 3 seats for myself to lie down. 

From flight deck: 25 deg cel. Rainy. (I expected it coz it’s the monsoon season) 

While waiting for our luggage, I noticed there were 13 cargo bags. Haha! One night stop only, why pack cargo bags? As what Che-che said “shopping”. Then I remembered I did that too but I managed to put whatever I bought in cabin bag and mamasan bag. Maybe now the company don’t allow mamasan bag? 

One FS was talking to me at the belt and said he wanted to watch the baseball game but couldn’t coz of the short layover. I dunno him, don’t think he was working in wherever I was seated, I wasn’t sure coz I slept, ate food, brushed teeth, slept, look out of window, slept. 

The airport is under some renovation, so certain places are blocked. We used to be able to go out the building from the exits near the conbini but now we had to make a detour. But since we’re familiar with the place it made it so much easier that we knew how to go to the bus stop to take a bus to the domestic airport. I remember the first time I planned the itinerary for our 2022 trip, I had to look around for directions. So perhaps next year another trip, I’m sure we can walk to the bus with eyes closed 🤭

Reached Hakata Station and like clockwork, we headed to the bakery for che-che’s curry pan. Dropped our luggage in hotel and went off. Took a crowded bus to MARKIS福岡ももち to her Johnny shop. Told her we should have tompang crew bus as the crew hotel is very near PayPayDome. We spent a few hours there, had our lunch there. So I thought maybe the crew should be getting ready to meet each other for lunch? Maybe I’ll see them here again? I remember I crashed out until few hours later. But then if I’m a crew now, and I have only few hours, I may even forgo a sleep. Maybe just shower and take a one hour power nap before chiong-ing out. 

First thing first is routinely >> EAT ICE-CREAM !! 

Eating this a year later. We always buy the snacks home, if only we can bring back ice-cream. We noticed something on the stick this time. But no…. they didn’t take pity on us having to fly all the way from Singapore and we won nothing at all 😭. 

15th July (Monday)

Woke up early to go to the place near our hotel. I wanted a spot where the floats and sexy runners will make turns instead of just running on straight road. 

It was raining yet again. July is the monsoon season in north kyushu. I remember last year there were flooding and train services were disrupted. Will it happen this time again? Anyway, we were only going to stay put in Fukuoka. I brought raincoat and rainboots this trip, I’m so prepared! 

I used to think who will wake up at such hours to watch this. I’m not a morning person, i practically drag myself to work in the mornings last time. But after today, I think it's so worth it. Yamakasa again next year?? I didn’t get around to see the floats in the malls and around the city and now reading the internet, I missed out so many floats. Only saw the one in Hakata station, MARKIS福岡ももち and Canal City. I should be back longer to soak (pun intended) in all the festivities days before?  Then the rainy monsoon weather won’t feel it’s that bad. Maybe I understand Yamakasa more now. If I want to go back again, I’ll need to stand infront (stand there at 3.45am) to see everything, bring a better and clearer camera too. Only thing is I have to risk holding it in the rain. 

Men spurring their team mates on “oisha oisha” - no need to splash water coz it’s raining 🤣

This last one, didn’t make the turn near us. So count us lucky we saw this here at this spot. Don’t understand why it didn’t make the full route. Maybe coz the other roads have wires overhead? 

But I should look at other summer festivals in other parts of japan. There’s just so much to see to learn, how many more years can I live to see ? I’d like to go for Sumo match one day, however I heard that hotel prices do go exorbitantly high.

Went back to hotel, showered and took a nap. I ended up oversleeping by 2hrs to 4hrs!!! I was so tired. We left hotel at 11.38am

To Kushida Shrine again 

We went to Tenjin’s Joyfull coz we just need to go Joyfull when we’re in Kyushu. Intending to stay a little longer so I can bring her to the yatais but she didn’t want to eat there anymore. So walked around Tenjin area. The floats are all gone! 

Back to Canal City for dinner. The extension part of Canal City is now all blocked. She wanted Ichiran again, we have one near our hotel! But it was a good decision as we get to experience this only in Canal City.

Of course I need my matcha pudding. I tell you this is so so so much better than the one in NYC. 

Asked her if she wanted to go karaoke and she was so happy. Then I asked her “hey! U tagged along on my trip. It’s supposed to be do what I want to do not what you want to do?!” 

Not bad lor somebody. When she filled up the form she wrote her name in katakana, I would have just write it in english. 

Expert, she went in and press press press fast fast. I became the slave and topped up her drinks while she sang 

As long as she is happy, mummy is happy too. 

Ended the night back in hotel with another of my fav ice-cream

16th July

Met Mio at the Aeon near her home. Coz I won’t be driving I asked her if she wants us to meet her outside her house to walk with her. I’m surprised despite her vision now she’s walking faster than me. Maybe coz her legs are longer than mine 😜. But I think it’s a Japanese thing where they are more independent and they are very private people so she doesn’t need me to meet her near her home? This time since we know that it’s not like the regular subway timing, che-che suggested to check the schedule the day before at the train station. She gave me some time to walk stop and take pictures from train station to Aeon mall 😂 she understands her mom well. 

Saw this very nice room aromatherapy reed and a few other items in yuzu fragrance in Tatsuya. I love it! I love yuzu. Told myself I will come back to buy later as it is near the exit of Aeon Mall towards train station. But in the end I forgot! Sigh… Since we had some time to spare before meeting Mio, and che-che said her favourite shoe she bought last July trip has a little hole, I thought maybe can try to see if ABCマート still carry that model that is only exclusively for Japan market. We bought ourselves a pair each. I’m going to wear my new shoes for our year end Japan trip. 

As we were going down the escalator, we saw her walking past towards Kaldi our meeting point. Now we’re experts in her area now. We even remember where che-che’s favourite tempura place is 😂. Maybe the next trip we should buy a house there. 

I gave Suzuna, Momoka and her some gifts (che-che asks how come I never give her husband anything. Haha!) from Body Shop. Anyway, I think the next time I meet her I shall just give them angpow, they both also 长大了 can be difficult to buy things so let them choose what they want. 

Lunch is at the same tempura place che-che likes. And my dear friend gifted che-che her Kento’s stuff toy and photo thingy from the previous popmall merchandise. Wow! She actually gave that to her!!! Told che-che she really needs to treasure this if Aunty Mio who also likes this gave it away to her.

I asked her if she wanted to go with us to Dazaifu, we can take a cab there. She agreed to join us. Yay! I’m so happy coz last year when I met her, the time we spent together was so short. 

She suggested we can leave our items here in the locker and brought us to the lockers. 😱 Such a huge locker ! Would have loved a few funny pose with girlfriend eg locking me inside but difficult for her to pose for me. So I squat inside the locker, it’s huge enough to put the whole trolley inside. 

Embarrassingly my Uber didn’t work so she helped call a cab at the taxi point which has a number on it. The journey took us past Suzuna’s high school. The kids were just dismissed at that time, I asked her if she wanted to maybe see if we can find Suzuna and then take her with us but she declined. Maybe Japanese don’t do these whims and fancies things like us; maybe it’s weird for the cab driver to suddenly stop his ride halfway and then continue? 

Took us only 15mins to reach Dazaifu Train Square. Dazaifu is served by the Nishitetsu line so even though it’s near her place, we will need to change somewhere. Her place is only served by JR line. Anyway, since there’s 3 of us and I didn’t want her to walk so much, it only made sense to take a cab. 

At Dazaifu, I went to get the charms and jokingly told her that any temple I go to, I usually buy one for them, for their academic but their results are still so lousy. She burst out laughing. Out of curiosity, I asked if she do the tradition every year for the kids since she’s so near. She said she does, “but my kids still cannot study.” Haha! 

After the temple visit, we stopped by Miffy (spent ¥1430. So tempted to buy the plates) and Donguri (spent ¥25860) after that. Only then did she know I’m a fan of Ghibli. I made the decision to buy the crockeries. Every time the cashier keys in something, she’ll say “thank you for contributing to Japan’s economy” 🤣

We headed back to Aeon Mall, this time Uber works (¥1295), where we followed her to the supermarket for her to do her ‘very little’ grocery shopping and then parted way. It’s so sad, the last 3x we meet is usually so short. I did ask her if she wanted to join us for the tour tomorrow. She can stay with us in the hotel for the night so we can go together after that. But no…. It’s too last minute and anyway I think Japanese don’t do this at all, perhaps they prefer to have their own room. But it’ll be so nice if we can do this one day, go another small city together. She’s such a lovely person, I was so lucky to have met her on that flight we did together, she also knows hubby from that trip. Yah I remember that time she did say she was meeting her boyfriend now husband. Che-che complimented that her English is really good, you can’t hear the accent Japanese trying to speak English. I do agree with her and even told che-che once she asked me for interpretation help from Japanese to English when she was working in Tosu Premium Mall, I didn’t have to do much correction. It was really good! 

Reached Hakata, went back hotel to put down stuffs. In Fukuoka we’re basically in and out of our room quick. Always busy walking around, eating snacking 😂. Maybe che-che and I should do a Fukuoka pilgrimage every July 🤣. 

We were back to hotel the earliest today at close to 8pm. Just coz we needed to be up early the next day for the tour. 

17th July 

Joined tour, Booked this tour via Pelago so I get to earn some Kris miles. Does tourguide knows what she is talking about? At one place she mentioned about something but showed us another photo. 

She also asked who saw the festival. I told her we flew in for the festival. The rests of the tour people were silent and possibly clueless. (?) 

Primarily we wanted to go to Motonosumi Inari Shrine but this tour included the bridge and cave so why not. We saw this place with “all the red thing” and assume they are Tori gates when we were making our descent into Osaka in July 2023. At that time we were looking if it’s possible to go there, taking a day trip from Hiroshima as we make our way southwards towards Fukuoka, but it wasn’t possible as one journey will take us about 3-4hrs. Plus to get to the shrine we need a car so it’s not easy. So, I deliberately kept a day free for this. 

18th July (Thursday)

Finally went to Nanzoin Temple. I knew about this place after I left SQ and been wanting to go. Wanted to go since 2022 but coz it’s the girls first time to FUK so brought them to the sights in the city. I like the peace and quiet there, I like the melody bridge. 

Back to MARKIS福岡ももち after that again. She has already purchased some cards on the day we touched down, but let her go again just incase she wants to buy more. 

Last night so one last karaoke for her. We were assigned a room on the 5th floor. Soft served is only available on the 4th floor, so I was going up and down to top up her drinks, her soft serve while she sang. 

Che-che deliberately wanted to go back late just like what she did in NYC when I wanted to be back early to pack. So I let her continue walking to wherever she wanted to go to take a pic of whatever guy she saw at the bus stop. I went back to take my shower and start packing up a little first.

19th July (Friday)

Cab fare ¥1930 to airport. Love it that the airport is so close by, but I wasn’t going to take a train for sure as kiasu me will end up leaving hotel one hour before check-in time. 

Weight of bags : 14.9kg, 16.8kg, 8.xxkg

Had access to the lounge. Not much food there but I’ve always wondered how are people able to eat a lot in lounge and then eat a lot onboard the airplane? I cannot, I usually don’t finish my food onboard. I don’t even drink alcoholic drinks on board! Just wanted to take a look so left the lounge after 15mins. 

I was with che-che as she was waiting for the cafe to start the Creamia ice-cream machine. I went to the toilet and when I came back I noticed the set of crew arrived. I was still looking at those senior faces to see if there’s anyone I know. Nope! Nobody.  I saw the lady in green and oh well…nobody I know, after a while she happened to turn to her side. OMG! It’s E!!! My basic batchgirl! She’s the only female left in the airline, the one who said she will quit after 2yrs actually stayed for 29yrs. Ran up to her and boy she was so so surprised, we haven’t seen each other for maybe 19yrs? MH and myself met up with her once after our BodyCombat class. 

She’s working in the same cabin but different side. We had a chat near the galley before meal service and took photos. She was so nice to pack things for che-che too! When I asked her if she can pack the EY mixed nuts, she was surprised “so cheap nuts she likes?” Yah! She dunno meh? We can only afford the poor people class so my girls only ate poor people class food and snacks 🤣. 

Flight time 5hrs 15mins

Take off time: 1005hrs

About the flight : 

IFM Edwin Wong kept coming to talk to me. It’s ok, I wasn’t watching anything except to look outside the window like a suaku person who never sat on plane before. Why ah? E asked me why he keeps coming to talk to me? Questions he asked : I left as FSS or what? Who are in my LSS batch? Oh! IFM MN is your batchgirl? (She’s the only person who has reached IFM that fast, the rests are still CSS) So yah, I told him if I had stayed on I should be a CSS now if not IFM if I’m that good/highflier and burst out laughing. 

Then the funniest thing after some time he came back and asked me “are you the Lily Teo that Prem and Victor always talk about?” I know Prem, I did a flight or two with him before but just know him as working colleague. Now who is Victor? 🤣 Nah…. I’m always known as Lily Ann Teo. 

Yah, I don’t get it why he keeps coming to talk to me standing in the cabin for all pax to see. Pax may think I’m a pissed complainy pax receiving service recovery from the highest level crew. I’m sure he would have met other ex-crew onboard what?! Oh well…he’s lucky I don’t have my eyes fixated on the screen. 

Arrived in Changi, had a talk with her while waiting for our luggages. She was shocked at how small our luggages are, to think I was going to show her in shock how a 5 day trip and we can have 3 bags. We walked out of the arrival door together and I introduced her to hubby and lil’ one. 

Now it’s back to ah-soh life. 

** made all the editing and touch ups on 9th Nov. But I will go back to July to post this entry. By then, I had also completed all the days except 15th July’s iMovies which explains the lack of photos on other days in this entry