Just some time last year, Mark and I spent 2 weeks in the lands of Nippon as celebration for his graduation!
This time… Well, he claims it’s to reward me for all the work I put into my work at foodpanda. š
Yes, Japan is evidently a favourite choice for the both of us.
And yes, I have left foodpanda officially. It was definitely one of the most difficult decisions and heart-wrenching letters I had to write… Kind of felt like I was breaking up with someone I care deeply about; but I’m mature enough to understand that our time together is up. Better for things to be fond memories than bitter ones, yes?
So at about 4AM, Mark and I lugged out luggages onto the car, and his mom delivered us right to Changi Airport. My face was still utterly swollen… Gah.
And because McDonald’s breakfast was simply too passĆ©… We decided to be really Asian about it and have congee with siew mai.
Some of the most freaking expensive congees I’ve ever had!
Plus wasn’t even tasty. PLUS wasn’t even warm! I don’t understand the theory… It’s not like my seat is halfway across the world. It’s literally lesser than 10 feet away from him. How did hot congee become room temperature that quickly?
So Mark decided to work for a while to earn back the money we lost on such a breakfast…
Haha! Kidding, kidding. Just those typical emails.
After 6 painstaking hours on the plane…
It was horrible, really. I decided to watch The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 and Part 2. Seeing that I missed it in the cinemas.
I barely survived part 1… but I figured, “I cannot just not continue this! No matter how crappy, I need to give this closure.”
Believe it or not, I was constantlyĀ dozing off during part 2. It was like F.O.R.E.V.E.R.R.R.R.R.Ā Very painful… Just made the flight feel even longer than it already was. I just went, “F**k it, the closure is just closing my eyes.”
After the customs and all that jazz, we immediately made our way to Narita Station. Honestly we have sworn off taxis when we spent about S$200 the last time we took one from our apartment to the airport.
When the meter was like 18,950āĀ„ (approx. S$200), I thought it was broken! Turns out the only thing broken was my bank account and desire to take taxis in Japan again.
But anyway, if you really look at it – Japan’s train lines are much like Singapore’s. JustĀ a lot moreĀ complicated… but with a little bit of thinking, you’ll get it.Ā 
One of theĀ coolest things I love about the train stations in Japan is that they have these vending machines inside.
And these FamilyMart ones have quite a comprehensive range of drinks and pastries to snacks. Crazy love!
Mark being all gangsta because he gets to eat a snackĀ openly at the train station… In Singapore, he’d be slapped with a 3-digit fine and probably a complimentary feature on STOMP.
Mark and I booked this apartment on Airbnb. Last time we stayed in Shibuya, which was great! But we wanted to try somewhere more ‘outskirt-ish’ this time.
They’re such a sweet neighbourhood, they have these little projects all over. The station has community flowers planted outside and the seats are donned with knitted cushions!
The apartment we are at now is simplyĀ amazing!!!
It’s super comfortable for the 2 of us, with enough space for our chubby bodies to move about, while still giving us the intimacy of a couple. š
The place is considered quite spacious, actually. It’s nowhere like a shoebox apartment. We have a comfortable kitchen cum living room and even a tatami bedroom to boot!
Our host is really quite awesome. Through my stays at Airbnb homes, this is easily one of the best. š She really puts in thought into the place.
There’s music, some DVDs, clean sponges, snacks…
She even labelled the recycling bins inĀ English! Recycling is aĀ huge thing in Japan; it’s practically a part of their lifestyle. So my previous time here, I had problem sorting out the trash.
But this really helped out!
She even left behind a booklet with information on how to use the home appliances and a useful map on the amenities around the place!
And when I finally got hooked up onto the Wifi, I realised she was trying to get in touch with me to see if I checked in okay.
I haven’t met this woman yet and I love her already. Hahaha!
Really recommend this place!
All my friends know what a pee monster I am.
I’m always pee-ing. It’s a bit unhealthy, really. But it’s what I do. I pee.
So no one can really blame me when I think it’s important I love features of the washroom. š
I’veĀ always loooooved this part of the toilet bowls in Japan!
Okay, so above all the toilet bowls there’s this tap.
And so once you’re done with your business, you flush by twisting the knob.
“Small” is up, “Big” is down.
And then water will flow out of the tap and flow into the flushing system!!!
So basically the water used to wash your hands are recycled into flushing your waste out!!!
I love this feature so much I keep on telling Mark our new houseĀ has to have this! …if it’s available in Singapore, that is.
Well anyway, for dinner we put on our shoes and did something a little different. š
We stopped by the supermarket and picked out items to cook for dinner! ā¤ Instead of going to some restaurant, we wanted to do something homely and simple.
It was pretty interesting, this supermarket. The cashier didn’t pack any of my purchases for me. Instead, he simply moved my items from a grey basket to a yellow basket to indicate that I’ve paid for them. So I will then move myself to a counter where I will pack my own things with the number of plastic bags provided.
But anyway, COOKING TIME!!!
We spent only about S$30 for a bowl full of fresh vegetables, beef and our own little bento bowls.
Yummy to the tummy and the bank account!
Our dinner was amazing, our apartment is amazing… Tomorrow Mark has plans awaiting! š
Really cannot wait! Till next time, guys! ā¤
XOXO, G.Ā
Gera Shen 