emesdea's world: January 2016

Commitment

11:43 PM
By Maria Shanti
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Today, an old friend whom I haven't seen for years reached me through FB, asking to be my friend.
I approved her request instantly and couldn't resist to check her timeline.
I felt overwhelmed when I saw that she still kept her appreciation cards from her friends including from me.

And, the next hours, she messaged me. Asking my condition. I am glad to get connected again with her. She's such a wonderful person.

What really hit me was when she asked whether I still like to write. My answer was 'Yes, I'm trying to keep writing though many times I fails.'

Out of sudden, she sent me a picture of my appreciation card for her which I wrote in that card I was inspired by her and wanted to write more often.

That's really a reminder for me to keep continuing what I like doing. To write, eventhough I know that I'm far from perfect, and it's still a long long journey to prove I'm a good writer.

She told me that she wanted to know my commitment. Ah, yes. Definetely, what I wrote to her was my commitment. No.. it is still my commitment.
I have to fulfill what I have started years ago.

Thanks Mbak, you ignite my fire to write. :)

Jalan-jalan

Fly Me to Japan - Part 3

9:23 AM
By Maria Shanti
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Day 5 to 7 Time to Get Serious(ly) Fun in Tokyo and Odaiba

After spending days in Kyoto and Hakone, I felt little bit dizzy when I first arrived in Tokyo, especially walking down the station. Hundreds, no, I thought, thousands people walked with the same pace to different direction, serious expression, black suites, umbrellas. Suddenly, at that point, I missed Kyoto and Hakone so much.
We stayed in Shinagawa Prince Hotel in front of the Shinagawa station. My room faced the hectic Shinagawa station, and the sound of the trains became my lullaby every night.


Tokyo in the morning from my room.


Ginza district. Buy nothing due to the high price.

Asakusa Temple in Tokyo, still my favorite place to shop in this town. :)

We went to Odaiba mainly to see Gundam! Ha..

My poor phone camera couldn't capture the night beauty in Odaiba


It's Gundam, baby!!!!

We couldn't make to Tokyo Tower, Shibuya and other places due to limited time. But, I personally enjoyed every minute in Tokyo.

Back to our hotel, I found interesting place. A white chapel!!! Beautiful chapel inside the hotel. Maybe it's for people who want to get married and throw the celebration at the same place.

Beneath the floor is hundreds of white roses. Dramatic entrance for a bride.

Before I end my post about Japan, here are some fun facts about Japan:
1. Despite the cold weather and autumn season, every restaurant (big or small one) always offers cold water, cold ocha, cold drinks. And we, Indonesian people, tend to have hot water, hot tea, hot drinks.
2. Kyoto has so many temples and shrines, old buildings, Japanese house (ryokan). And the tourists in Kyoto? Elder Japanese people with high spirit. Hands down....
3. Ice cream everywhere though it's very cold and rainy.
4. When you're in the bus or train and you want to offer your seat to elder one, you have to offer them three times. If not, they will refuse your offer with smile and say 'arigatou'.

Japan always has special place in my heart. I still want to explore more in Tokyo and other cities.
Next time, baby, I'll be back.... Well, in Japanese I will say 'mata ne...'

Jalan-jalan

Fly Me To Japan - part 2

10:30 PM
By Maria Shanti
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Day 3 - Bye Kyoto, Hello Hakone

Hakone is located near Tokyo. Well, if you see it on map. Based on that information about Hakone, we decided to go to Tokyo first using Shinkansen, put our luggage in our hotel in Tokyo, and took another Shinkansen to go to Hakone. I had reserved room for all of us in one particular hostel somewhere in Gora which I really didn't know where the exact place was.That day, really really really consumed our time to reach our hostel by using different types of transportation. Shinkansen, another train, another train (again), and cable train.


Hakone Pass 4000 Yen for 2 days. You can buy it in Odawara Station


Due to change from one train to other train and this train was soooo slow, these two tourists from Thailand always asked us 'Are we there yet?'


Our tired faces. And hungry. And didn't know where the hostel was located.

My dinner, smoke egg. Bought it at Gora Station

After long and winding road, finally we found the place. There's doubt in my mind that the place would be awful and had prepared for the worst since morning. But heyy... the hostel is very cozy, warm, neat and very clean. Love it love it love it.
The hostel keeper asked us to take yukata prepared by the hostel and to wear it in our room. He also gave us instruction to prepare the futon and how to use private onsen. Yes, it is traditional hostel, and yes, they have 2 private onsen that we can use anytime.

Happy faces after inspecting the room

Sleep using futon

Before using onsen, you have to clean up your body. Just take shower for a minute.

Enjoy the onsen for 15 minutes. It will make you dizzy if you stay too long

Put your belonging in the basket

You may use all of these

Day 4 - Enjoy Hakone

New day, sunny day, the weather was good, our moods were good. We were ready to rock Hakone. Our plan was to take cruise to Lake Ashi and just do sightseeing around Hakone.