I know I said that I'll try to take this blog away from the conventional diary-like approach, but hey, it's not like I can travel to Japan everyday, u know? =) Furthermore, it's my first time going free and easy without assistance from any tour guides, so I gotta blog about this in detail! I'll recommend places which I enjoyed during my trip, so I hope that it can help others who have an interest in travelling to Japan as well!
Alright, moving along, it was an almost perfect trip on paper, but when I actually get down to fulfilling the schedule, it can be a huge headache due to circumstance encountered along the way. Confusing subway lines, bus trips, bad weather and that stressful rush hours when we try to take the trains in the morning, could be extremely daunting to a first-time independent traveller like me.
Now, I understand why my parents like guided tours so much, despite the meaningless trips to pearl manufacturing factories and the long trips on the bus. It's very convenient and u are assured that u have someone taking care of matters for u. Being all alone in Japan with my friend, we have to rely on our mediocre level of Japanese language to make my way around the cities. It's extremely crucial that u plan ur schedule adequately! Right down to the exact details of which bus-stop u should alight at, and the timings of the trains u're intending to take etc.
Another important aspect of a free and easy trip would be choosing ur companion. I feel that given a choice, my friend and I would definitely choose different companions to go with. He keeps blabbering about how nice it'd be to travel to Japan with his future girlfriend (if that's even possible, lol ops paiseh j/k! >.<). I think it'd be better if I went with closer friends of similar interests as well. We didn't really function on the same frequency. He absolutely LOVES food and takes his time to observe the Japanese food culture, while I prefer grabbing a quick bite and moving on to proper attractions.
Living with someone other than ur family can be a real challenge. I've known him for 2 years plus, but thus far, I've only discovered 2-3 quirky habits of his. Living with him in close proximity in 10 days, I could easily discover 4-5 others. I tried to be as tolerant as I could, but for some reason, I get easily irritated by people's bad habits although it's none of my business, and my voice tone and body language would betray me and subtly display my unacceptance. To that friend of mine, hontoni gomenne! If I had been rude, or if I switch off my mind at times.
Then again, going with a friend is always better than going alone! At least u'll have someone to cover ur ass in times of need, esp. in a country like Japan where communication could be overwhelming. But do grab the opportunity if the circumstances are right for u and ur close friends to go on a trip together!
I've merely been back in Singapore for a couple of hours but I'm missing Japan already. :( I shall be saving darn hard to finance my next trip, hopefully this December. If that's not possible, I'd most probably be gunning for SEP (Student Exchange Program) for my university Year 3 tenure already.
Pls do contact me if u are looking for a reliable travelling companion to Japan! =) I'll describe my hobbies, interests and preferences along the way, so u can judge on the possibility of us being on the same frequency or not. :) In my next few blog posts, I'll be filling in the details of my itinerary and what place is worth taking the effort to travel to. It'll be very soon, I promise! =)