Day 1 - 19 Mar

Our flight depart from SG at 2325hrs...and gosh...i was almost freezed to death on board...even the extra blanket couldnt keep me warm...



ANA crew were quite attentive..and they dun really give u the attitude like some airlines do..but unfortunately..i find their breakfast not really gd...it was chicken sausage with rice..and some salad...



When we touched down at Narita, we quickly grabbed our luggage and went to exchange our JR pass..some miscalculations cos we thot we spending 14 days in Japan only...actually we r spending 15 days..so the last day of travel will not be covered by the pass..but we r oso not going anywhere much on the last day either..



caught the next available Narita Express (NEX) to Shinjuku and transfer to the Yamanote Line to our hotel in Ikeubukuro..weather was not v gd...started to get cloudy after we reached hotel..so we left our luggage at the hotel and quickly proceeded to our 1st destination - Kamamura..

JR Shonan Shinjuku Line to Kamakura, 1 hr, den take Bus # 1 (JPY 190)

One very safe way when you r not sure of the way to go at a place of interest is to follow the crowd...i wasn't sure which way to walk to the Daibutsu (Big Buddha) but alot of pple seem to b walking towards one direction..so i told darling we juz follow..

and true enuff! we reached the Daibutsu!

It was really huge! and can c the many yrs of sun and rain on it...but it still stand v strong even thou it was partially destroyed by a tsunami many yrs ago...many restructral works were done to conserve the Daibutsu...and can c y so many ppl flock to the area juz to have a glimsp of it..

After we came out of the Daibutsu Park..we saw this shop selling Fried Sweet Potato...i juz hav to try it cos i'm a sweet potato fan...

crispy on the outside and sweet and soft on the inside!

Yummy!

alot of pretty flowers blooming everywhere!

when we travel by ourselves..the only way to take couple photos is to set the timer..this was taken on a real railway track...we had to make sure no train was coming!

this was taken at the Kamakura beach..as u can c..the day was v overcast..and it threatened rain anytime...and it was freaking cold!
Tsunami warning

Fr Kamakura, we took train to Yokohama and transfer to Shin Yokohama to go to the Ramen Museum

Kamakura - Yokohama by JR Yokosuka Line, Yokohama - Shin Yokohama by JR Yokohama Line

it starting to rain when we were at Yokohama and tinking of the hot bowl of ramen juz keep me going..haha..

its abt 10 min walk (we made a wrong turn along the way) and the entrance fee is JPY 250 each..there r many diff famous ramen restaurants within the museum itself, and also a small exhibition area abt ramen making and also a set up of old streets in Japan many yrs ago..

darling made a writing on the board..

Japan is well known for its all sorts of vending machines...and this is a vending machine for buyin tickets for our ramen..
finally..something to warm our stomach!!!!!

my ramen..

his special char siew ramen..

we love the soup..and even thou there were lots of fried garlic..it didn't taste yucky at all..the ramen was v Q and the texture was juz rite for the both of us...

outside the restaurant..

we den walk ard the area inside and found this small shop selling sweets and toys that children many yrs ago in Japan eat and play with..

darling eating this Doraemon Rice cracker..

For JPY 10..its so super yummy!

the backdrop of the museum

our original plan was to go Odaiba in the evening..however, as it was raining quite heavily and i rem a long walk fr the Daiba Monorail to the shopping mall..we decided to go another day when we r back in Tokyo...

so we went back to Tokyo and walk ard at the underground station..there were MANY confectionary shops all ard the station..selling various Japanese sweets and pastries..as well as cakes..somehow the strawberry cakes seemed to reach their hands out to me telling me to eat them..and for the whole of the trip..i had at least 5 strawberry cakes in 15 days...

yummy looking treats..

den darling saw this Ginza Cozy Corner confectionary shop and he rem tat he bot a cream puff for me long time back b4 we were even together..some secret joke abt this tat i'm not going to say..but it sure revived alot of memories..

check out the cream..can still see the vanilla seeds!!!
we den went back to Ikebukuro and shop at the supermarts for dinner...the thing abt Japanese supermarts is tat they will hav discounts after 8pm on food items and u can c hordes of ppl inside looking for gd dinner deals...

this was wat i go...pasta wif beef patties and salad...

darling was so hungry tat he ate his Karaage bento b4 i took photo of it...we den quickly get ready to rest cos the next nite..we wld b sleeping on train and i most prob wun b able to sleep well..

Tat's abt all for Day 1!