Japan In A Nutshell (So Don't Expect Too Much)

So I recently came back from a 13-day trip in Japan. Like every other person I know who've also been there, I fell in love with the place. It might be a stretch, but landing back in Manila, counting in my head how many hours it would take me to get home (about 2 hours FYI)), was a little too dispiriting.

Manila's crappy public transportation is NOTHING compared to Japan. We are SO crushed in that category. Anyway, no sense in stating the obvious.

Japan is amazing, crazy, neat, rich, and too often, unbelievable. They've thought of everything. I mean EVERYTHING. There are days my friends and I can't get over how awesome and technologically advanced this country is.

Home to all the matcha you've been dreaming about (I mean, me), delicious Japanese cuisines, ultra-polite people, unnecessary but CUTE things one does not need in their life. A friendly reminder: leave your credit card in your hotel if you don't want to incur heavy debt! Seriously, Japan will screw you with all things kawaii.

Above all, it is a commuter's paradise. Well, once you get past the initial shock of 8-track trains serving aboveground train system and subway system with many levels deep underground, 200 exits in one station (Shinjuku stn). Such a complex network of mass and high-speed transportation system it's impossible not to get lost!

And don't get me started with their bike and pedestrian lanes! Japan is an absolute dream place for cyclists and avid walkers. Me.

The food, divine. But I'm biased with Japanese food so don't take my word on it. 

For reasons not unknown, I wished Philippines was somehow at par with whatever Japan has. That we are reaping the same benefits or nurturing the same beliefs towards progress.

Japan was a nice break, a much needed break, from the terrible Manila traffic (and pollution that entails it), crimes, corruption, work. Even if it put a huge dent on my savings, it was worth it and I'm super glad I did.

There are plenty of parks, temples, and museums in the 4 cities I went. I respect countries that put premium on open spaces, culture, and education. 

I promise to be back in Japan preferably during autumn. It would be sweet and really lovely to be surrounded with orange hues (the Cheese and I's favourite colour). 

There was not a day that I didn't go home without tired and aching feet. If my legs and feet could talk I'm sure they'd tell me I'm a maniac walker and that they hate me. Whereas I wouldn't apologise for it because that's how you get to know a place. A tired feet to me meant I covered a considerable amount of distance therefore I had a really good day.

I'll write a more coherent post when I get another free time, which is (almost) never. 

Totoro + Mei

My friend Steve got this for me from Ghibli Museum in Tokyo (he came back 3 days before the Japan tsunami tragedy). My heart automatically went to Totoro heaven. The round black thing on Mei's head is a separate toy (?), it has Stormtrooper face painted inside. Domo Arigato!

Hang On Japan!

One moment I was reading about this massive earthquake hitting Japan, and the next thing you know tweets about the horrible tsunami was flooding my twitter dashboard. I ran to pantry, swtiched the channel to CNN and boy oh boy, what I saw made me cringe in horror. The images that I was seeing on the tube was something you'd only think you'd see straight out of movies. But this was really happening, it was real.

My prayers goes to all the people, especially those that were directly affected by the tsunami that was triggered by the massive (and shallow) 8.9 earthquake. Japan is built to survive situations like this, they know exactly what to do in earthquake and tsunami crisis, but still, a tragedy is still a tragedy, and we can only extend our prayers to them.

As of 8:12 PM (Manila time), the after effects, also in the form of tidal waves, have already reached the Philippine area, fortunately they are not damaging enough. Hoping that the second wave will also be the same, until then all Filipinos living in coastal areas must exercise caution and safety by relocating to higher ground. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Fingers crossed.

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All images from dailymail.

5 Centimeters Per Second

I cried because once upon a time I believe I was a Kanae Sumida too. I love how this film ended. Nante sutekina eiga!

Gake no Ue no Ponyo

After watching Ponyo, I got a bad case of LSS from the film's theme song. Hayao Miyazaki never fails. <3