I am gonna miss you lots, Grandma.... I love you very much....
***
My grandma passed away on 9 June 2007 (Saturday) at 0344hrs at Mount Elizabeth hospital. After being hospitalised for exactly 2 weeks, she passed away very peacefully on that fateful day. Nobody, except for 2 of my many cousins, got to send her off. These 2 cousins have never been exceptionally close to Grandma, so there weren't wailing or screaming when Grandma slowly stopped breathing.

My cousins called us in the wee hours of the night and immediately we rushed down to the hospital. Halfway to the hospital, Mummy called one of them, and was told that Grandma did not wait for any of us to arrive. My only guess is that she couldn't bear to see us in such a painful state.

I reached the hospital ward, and couldn't believe what was in front of my eyes. Grandma looked as though she was sleeping. I held her hand and it was still warm, and I really couldn't believe that Grandma had left us. I held onto her hand very tightly and wished that she would hold me back. Her hand turned cold slowly and I wanted so very much to hug Grandma. However I had to bear in mind my Mummy and Auntie would sob even harder if they see me do that, so I had to hold my actions.

It's hard, extremely hard to face the fact that Grandma has left us. Grandma's body has been cremated, and it has been more than a week since that fateful day Grandma passed away... But I feel as though it was all a dream. Still feels as though I will see Grandma sitting at that very sofa at her home, still feels as though I need to go down to the hospital to visit Grandma, still feels as though I can hug her anytime I want, or cut her toenails for her, or buy sushi for her every Saturday afternoon.

It's painful, the pain is excruciating and unbearable and undescribable. I have to stop now, my tears are flowing into a river. I love you Grandma, now and always will.....

Day 05 – 15 May 2007 (Tuesday)
*My 25th Birthday!*

Woke up at 0600hrs and had a traditional Japanese breakfast. No bread, no coffee. Just rice / porridge, a slice of boneless fish, some pickles and hot green tea. After the breakfast, we departed the scenic Mount Fuji Lake Kawaguchi and were on our way back to Tokyo. Reached Shibuya Shopping Street and bought my Burberry Blue Label and some Fancl products.



Had another sumptuous Japanese lunch at one of their typical restaurants. The restaurant is situated just next to the Asakusa Temple and in the temple is a pure gold Goddess of Mercy statue.



Next up was shopping at Ueno Shopping Centre. Free and Easy time for us to get what we want and see what we would like to see. Checked into our hotel – Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa (Room 2381) After check in was free and easy time to do our own shopping. James wanted to go and see their famous architectural building – Prada and we experienced their MRT train rides. In order to reach that place – Otemondo Sando, we had to take 2 different lines (similar to our NW line and NEL line) but the difference is that we need to get off one station, and walk to another station (both located in the same underground area) Kenna cheated of 300 yen. Shan’t talk about it la.

Day 06 – 16 May 2007 (Wednesday)

Disneyland Day! Need I say more?



Night at Garden Hotel Narita (Room 3126). Went to Aeon Shopping Centre for 2 hours of shopping and also to check out the area (as we would be heading to the same shopping centre the next day and have limited timing to do some last minute shopping, so check out the place first, before deciding which are the shops that we would like to target the next day!)

Day 07 – 17 May 2007 (Thursday)

Missed our breakfast and chose to sleep a little bit later. Took a cab ride to Aeon Shopping Centre and did a lot of last minute shopping before we proceeded back to hotel and waited for our transport to the Narita International Airport. And it was Home Sweet Home on NH901/17 May. ETD NRT: 1725hrs (flight delayed by 25 minutes) ETA SIN: 2325hrs (ATA SIN: 2359hrs)

Above is our itinerary for the 7 days Honshu Tour. And yes, I am back in Singapore already, and I miss Japan very much! Would love to go to Hokkaido next time. Haha…

Day 04 – 14 May 2007 (Monday)

Time flies, it is already the 4th day of our trip. Same as Day 3, we rose and shone at 0600hrs and had a typical international breakfast at the hotel before we departed for Mount Fuji!!!! As the trip was rather long, we had to stop by a Japanese Restaurant for lunch before we reached Mount Fuji.



Reached Mount Fuji around 1330hrs (we traveled on the road for more than 5 hours!) We could only drive up to the 5th stop of Mount Fuji and it was already rather cold at the 5th stop. Goodness gracious me, if we were allowed to travel all the way up? Haha… Think we would have to bring winter clothings! It was a picturesque scene up there at Mount Fuji.





After descending Mount Fuji, we had a short shopping trip at Bell Shopping Centre and had a short visit at this crystal shop. Did not buy anything, coz I believe that when you go overseas, your motive is not to spend money on these so-called crystals and diamonds and jewellery. Anyway we had an early check in this day – Hotel New Century located at Lake Kawaguchi (Room A202). The view from our room was Mount Fuji! Totally awesome!



We had a sashimi dinner, and everyone was dressed in the Yukata!





After a sumptuous dinner of super fresh sashimi, we rested for around 30 minutes then went for our Hot Spring! Guys one room, and ladies have their own room. But everyone has to be stark naked! It was very embarrassing initially, but after a while, we sort of got used to it and began talking and laughing. After a relaxing hot spring bath, we gathered at our tour leader – William’s room and enjoyed Asahi beer and sake before we retreated back to our rooms for a very comfortable night’s sleep in the tatamis.

Day Three – 13 May 2007 (Sunday)

Rise and shine at 0600hrs (By the way Japan is one hour ahead of Singapore, i.e., it is 0500hrs in Singapore when I woke up in Japan hor!) After an English breakfast at the hotel, we departed for Osaka Castle.



Next stop, Nara Deer Park.



The deers were all roaming freely and were super greedy. A lot of tourists and vistors went there prepared to feed them and had packets of food for them. Was rather afraid that the deer would start chasing after me. Haha.. Behind this Nara Deer Park is the Todaiji Temple. Just a holy temple and lotsa Buddha statues.



Went for lunch next. At a typical Japanese teahouse. Our first Japanese meal of the trip.



Kiyomizu Temple – The temple is built on top of 139 tree logs, without a single nail or screw. The structure is simply supported by the tree logs. The Japanese believe that the incense smoke will protect and bless them, so they will use their hands to fan the smoke towards their face and body. And Japanese incense smoke is not so smoky and smelly as the incense that we use in Singapore!



They had the natural spring water that is also supposedly to bless you. Each ‘tap’ has a different blessing – health & prosperity, wisdom and good fortune.



Bullet Train! How can we miss this out when in Japan? Bullet train is called Shinkansen in Japanese. Highest speed that it can reach is 256 km/h. Our train ride was only 20 minutes, but our driver had to drive for about an hour in order to meet us at our destination stop!





After a BBQ buffet dinner (that was simply too smoky and smelly) we checked into our hotel of that night – Westin Nagoya Castle (Room 509) and our room oversaw the Nagoya Castle directly.

I am gonna miss you lots, Grandma.... I love you very much....
***
My grandma passed away on 9 June 2007 (Saturday) at 0344hrs at Mount Elizabeth hospital. After being hospitalised for exactly 2 weeks, she passed away very peacefully on that fateful day. Nobody, except for 2 of my many cousins, got to send her off. These 2 cousins have never been exceptionally close to Grandma, so there weren't wailing or screaming when Grandma slowly stopped breathing.

My cousins called us in the wee hours of the night and immediately we rushed down to the hospital. Halfway to the hospital, Mummy called one of them, and was told that Grandma did not wait for any of us to arrive. My only guess is that she couldn't bear to see us in such a painful state.

I reached the hospital ward, and couldn't believe what was in front of my eyes. Grandma looked as though she was sleeping. I held her hand and it was still warm, and I really couldn't believe that Grandma had left us. I held onto her hand very tightly and wished that she would hold me back. Her hand turned cold slowly and I wanted so very much to hug Grandma. However I had to bear in mind my Mummy and Auntie would sob even harder if they see me do that, so I had to hold my actions.

It's hard, extremely hard to face the fact that Grandma has left us. Grandma's body has been cremated, and it has been more than a week since that fateful day Grandma passed away... But I feel as though it was all a dream. Still feels as though I will see Grandma sitting at that very sofa at her home, still feels as though I need to go down to the hospital to visit Grandma, still feels as though I can hug her anytime I want, or cut her toenails for her, or buy sushi for her every Saturday afternoon.

It's painful, the pain is excruciating and unbearable and undescribable. I have to stop now, my tears are flowing into a river. I love you Grandma, now and always will.....

Day 05 – 15 May 2007 (Tuesday)
*My 25th Birthday!*

Woke up at 0600hrs and had a traditional Japanese breakfast. No bread, no coffee. Just rice / porridge, a slice of boneless fish, some pickles and hot green tea. After the breakfast, we departed the scenic Mount Fuji Lake Kawaguchi and were on our way back to Tokyo. Reached Shibuya Shopping Street and bought my Burberry Blue Label and some Fancl products.



Had another sumptuous Japanese lunch at one of their typical restaurants. The restaurant is situated just next to the Asakusa Temple and in the temple is a pure gold Goddess of Mercy statue.



Next up was shopping at Ueno Shopping Centre. Free and Easy time for us to get what we want and see what we would like to see. Checked into our hotel – Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa (Room 2381) After check in was free and easy time to do our own shopping. James wanted to go and see their famous architectural building – Prada and we experienced their MRT train rides. In order to reach that place – Otemondo Sando, we had to take 2 different lines (similar to our NW line and NEL line) but the difference is that we need to get off one station, and walk to another station (both located in the same underground area) Kenna cheated of 300 yen. Shan’t talk about it la.

Day 06 – 16 May 2007 (Wednesday)

Disneyland Day! Need I say more?



Night at Garden Hotel Narita (Room 3126). Went to Aeon Shopping Centre for 2 hours of shopping and also to check out the area (as we would be heading to the same shopping centre the next day and have limited timing to do some last minute shopping, so check out the place first, before deciding which are the shops that we would like to target the next day!)

Day 07 – 17 May 2007 (Thursday)

Missed our breakfast and chose to sleep a little bit later. Took a cab ride to Aeon Shopping Centre and did a lot of last minute shopping before we proceeded back to hotel and waited for our transport to the Narita International Airport. And it was Home Sweet Home on NH901/17 May. ETD NRT: 1725hrs (flight delayed by 25 minutes) ETA SIN: 2325hrs (ATA SIN: 2359hrs)

Above is our itinerary for the 7 days Honshu Tour. And yes, I am back in Singapore already, and I miss Japan very much! Would love to go to Hokkaido next time. Haha…

Day 04 – 14 May 2007 (Monday)

Time flies, it is already the 4th day of our trip. Same as Day 3, we rose and shone at 0600hrs and had a typical international breakfast at the hotel before we departed for Mount Fuji!!!! As the trip was rather long, we had to stop by a Japanese Restaurant for lunch before we reached Mount Fuji.



Reached Mount Fuji around 1330hrs (we traveled on the road for more than 5 hours!) We could only drive up to the 5th stop of Mount Fuji and it was already rather cold at the 5th stop. Goodness gracious me, if we were allowed to travel all the way up? Haha… Think we would have to bring winter clothings! It was a picturesque scene up there at Mount Fuji.





After descending Mount Fuji, we had a short shopping trip at Bell Shopping Centre and had a short visit at this crystal shop. Did not buy anything, coz I believe that when you go overseas, your motive is not to spend money on these so-called crystals and diamonds and jewellery. Anyway we had an early check in this day – Hotel New Century located at Lake Kawaguchi (Room A202). The view from our room was Mount Fuji! Totally awesome!



We had a sashimi dinner, and everyone was dressed in the Yukata!





After a sumptuous dinner of super fresh sashimi, we rested for around 30 minutes then went for our Hot Spring! Guys one room, and ladies have their own room. But everyone has to be stark naked! It was very embarrassing initially, but after a while, we sort of got used to it and began talking and laughing. After a relaxing hot spring bath, we gathered at our tour leader – William’s room and enjoyed Asahi beer and sake before we retreated back to our rooms for a very comfortable night’s sleep in the tatamis.

Day Three – 13 May 2007 (Sunday)

Rise and shine at 0600hrs (By the way Japan is one hour ahead of Singapore, i.e., it is 0500hrs in Singapore when I woke up in Japan hor!) After an English breakfast at the hotel, we departed for Osaka Castle.



Next stop, Nara Deer Park.



The deers were all roaming freely and were super greedy. A lot of tourists and vistors went there prepared to feed them and had packets of food for them. Was rather afraid that the deer would start chasing after me. Haha.. Behind this Nara Deer Park is the Todaiji Temple. Just a holy temple and lotsa Buddha statues.



Went for lunch next. At a typical Japanese teahouse. Our first Japanese meal of the trip.



Kiyomizu Temple – The temple is built on top of 139 tree logs, without a single nail or screw. The structure is simply supported by the tree logs. The Japanese believe that the incense smoke will protect and bless them, so they will use their hands to fan the smoke towards their face and body. And Japanese incense smoke is not so smoky and smelly as the incense that we use in Singapore!



They had the natural spring water that is also supposedly to bless you. Each ‘tap’ has a different blessing – health & prosperity, wisdom and good fortune.



Bullet Train! How can we miss this out when in Japan? Bullet train is called Shinkansen in Japanese. Highest speed that it can reach is 256 km/h. Our train ride was only 20 minutes, but our driver had to drive for about an hour in order to meet us at our destination stop!





After a BBQ buffet dinner (that was simply too smoky and smelly) we checked into our hotel of that night – Westin Nagoya Castle (Room 509) and our room oversaw the Nagoya Castle directly.