TOKYO, JAPAN PART 1

The busy street of Shibuya

It was early last year of 2014 when Japanese Embassy announces the implementation of substantial visa requirements for Indonesia, Vietnam including the Philippines. The embassy said that the requirements will be liberalized Filipinos applying for multi entry as well as those single tourist visas. Their main objectives of these measures are to promote Japan as a tourist-oriented country with even higher volumes of foreign tourists all over the globe.

When I heard this news, I purchased my plane ticket as early as June and planned to spend my White Christmas for the first time in Japan. We all know that Japan is one of the most expensive country in the world, from hotel accommodations to public transports, to their cuisines everything is pricey but it doesn't mean that I wouldn't try to explore this territory. I didn't worry of how much it would costs me when I get there because I am more excited and fascinated with the experiences that the country could give me.

TOKYO
It was 23rd of December 2014 when I arrived the country and a 3 degree Celsius freezing weather of Japan welcomed me. It was very frosty and my shirt can't grasp with the frigid climate. On the other hand, I wasn't really sure about where to stay though I booked a hotel on-line since I don't know the address of my Aunt and just in case I can't stay at her place. After 4 hours and a half flight from Manila, an hour of staying at the airport and a 3 hours express bus ride to Saitama. I can really say that I am in Japan already. (If you are taking by Bus, booths are located at the arrival hall and they leave on time)

 My cousins Yume & Kentaru

TOKYO TOUR

Tokyo is an hour and 20 minutes train ride from my Aunt's home and I had no idea how to get to the City at first since my itineraries directions are all routes with in Tokyo. So I used my roaming for internet browsing but it costs me thousands of pesos because I didn't get the rental WiFi kit at the airport (PS. Make sure that you bring your credit card to avail the rental kit because they don't accept cash as mode of  payment).

DAY 2 - ASAKUSA

Start at Kaminarimon gate at the entrance of Sensoji Temple. As you walk towards the temple building, check out the historic Nakemise Dori shopping street whose souvenir shops and street food vendors have been serving the tourists for a long time now.

SENSOJI TEMPLE

Sensoji Temple is a few steps from Asakusa Station, served by the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line and Tobu Tojo Railways.

SUMIDA PARK

DAY 2-TOKYO SKY TREE

Sky Tree is just a 5-10 minutes walk from the Temple, this building gives the panoramic view of the City but it'll costs you 2,060 yen for the ticket. 

DAY 2- UENO PARK/ ZOO

Take a bus  located at the ground level parking of Tokyo Tower that'll bring you to Ueno Station and Ueno Park. From there take a little walk heading to the zoo, there's' an information booth is located right beside the bus stop if you need maps/directions.

Tulips at Ueno Park

There were lots of animals  inside the zoo but I was really surprised to see  these rare creatures. 

White Panda

Gorilla

Fox

snow monkeys

Polar Bear

DAY 3- ODAIBA

Access to Odaiba can be an attraction in itself, as the views of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo's harbor and waterfront area from the Yurikamome elevated train and boats are quite spectacular. 

Getting here:
Take Yamanote Line towards Shinbashi Station then take Yurikamome Line towards Toyuso. 520Y

AQUACITY AND DECKS Arrive at daiba station and explore the aquacity and decks shopping center and entertainment mall. Inside you will find a large variety of shops, retaurants and indoor theme parks. PALLETTE TOWN From decks head to south to Pallette Town and take in the attractions such as Venus Fort shopping Mall and Toyota Mega web. DIVER CITY From Pallette Town take the walkways to Divercity and check out the life sized Gundam statue.

DAY 3- SHIBUYA

Shibuya is famous for its scramble crossing. When traffic completely stopped, hundreds of people gathered in every corner and they're like shredded papers cuts into pieces exploded out in a box when the lights turns to green. amazing!

How to get there:

From Daiba Station take Tokyo New Transit Yurikamone towards Shinbashi Station then Ginza line to Shibuya. 490Y

Meet Hachiko, an Akita Inu dog breed. According to the story, he and his owner use to spend each day outside the shibuya train station but one day his master didn't showed up. The owner then suffered cerebral haemorrhage and died, Hachiko waited 9 long years and was hoping that his owner might came back but hachiko died due to infections and was found that he has terminal cancer. In honour of his loyalty and braveness, the people has erected a bronze statue in his likeness and now he is famous and one of the most visited place in Japan.

DAY 3- ROPPONGI
Roppongi is a popular night life district in Japan offering clubs, restaurants and bars for foreigners. But one of the most the visited in this area is the Tokyo Tower that gives you exhilaration when you drop by at night and could be compared the Eiffel Tower in Paris because of its amazing lights.

Getting here:
Take Hanzonomon Line towards Oshiage and drop at aoyama itchome station then Oedo Line towards Tochomae to Roppongi Station. 280Y

Have some time to visit with  this public art gigantic spider sculpture located at Roppongi complex.

Thanks for reading!

MT. DARAITAN l TINIPAK RIVER l DARAITAN CAVE

Tinipak River

Some of us have been thinking about what are we going to do during the weekend. While others might planning of spending their hundreds of pesos in a coffee shops or dining in an expensive restaurants just to get rid of their spare time. But there are those group of people who really wants to make out most of their weekends in little outdoor adventure. It was Friday night when one of my friends posted a tease photo about his whereabouts on the coming weekend and so I asked him if I could join with his group. And yes he replied 6:00 in the morning the following day that they'll be heading to Daraitan, Tanay and the finest part I just had an hour to pack my things up since they'll be gathering in a few minutes. That was really quick!

This isn't the first time that I linked with group of strangers alone and I've been doing this kind of activity for a couple of times already to meet new faces and to gain bunches of friends. But as I have always said it's not really easy to talk with these people at first meeting and that is the toughest part in this form of event.

Kaladkarin (easy to drag)- that's how they call their group. Am I one of them?(lol)

DAY 1

Daraitan is a small town located in the border of Tanay Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon Province, a 3-4 hour ride from the City of Manila. This little town possesses a very traditional barrio, a donkey transporting cargoes, a group of women washing their clothes on the small stream, car-less streets and a mud-covered foot of local children playing along the side road. One of the main draw in this village is Mount Daraitan, a 739 MASL above sea level. This mountain is renowned as one of the top 10 hiking destination in the Philippines according to our local guide.

How to get there:

You may take a Jeep/Van at Starmall, Mandaluyong to Tanay Rizal. We hired a jeepney from Tanay to Daraitan since we are group of 18 but if you are coming in a small group you can take public transport but there's specific time of departure or you may rent a tricycle for P100/pax. Once you get to the town you need to register and pay a fee of 20.00 at the Barangay Hall before heading to the climb. You are also required to have your local guide to accompany you for P1,250.00 in a group of 10 people including side trips to Daraitan Cave & Tinipak River.

We rested for a while because we were welcomed by modest rain showers when we reached the village and started our trek almost 2:00 in the afternoon. The trail was muddy and slippery but the temperature began to scorch on our way to the summit. 

We haven't attained our half way point yet but some of us are experiencing exhaustions and tiredness already. Mt. Daraitan is very precipitous trail that is why you need to be cautious with your steps because you might tumble if you mistakenly stride the soggy stones.

Nearly 5 in the afternoon when we arrived at the base camp and it was my first time setting up a tent to stay for an overnight at the crest. They offered me their extra porch since I don't have mine. 

While others are busy preparing for our dinner I was also occupied having a little chitchats with these people. They are outrageous, they laugh out so loud but they're all nice, clever, easy to be with and  friendly.  

DAY 2

I woke up 3 in the morning with hum of the trees and freezing winds since I don't blanket to cover  up myself and noises from a group of people talking with loud voices passing by our tents.
Meanwhile, our group agreed that our call time was at 5AM because we still have to trek for another 20 minutes for the sunrise viewing to get to the summit but the sun didn't showed up. Nevertheless, the view from the hill was exquisitely enchanting and breathtaking especially when you are surrounded with these group of people.

A glimpse of a rainbow after the drizzle.

After a few hours of staying at the summit we had to prepare our breakfast before heading back to village for another tour.

TINIPAK RIVER

.The trail to hidden river takes 30-40 minutes walk from the main village and offers a dashing adrenaline activities like rock climbing and rappelling.

The marvellous river holds your breath with incredibly astounding marbles carved by nature and the undeniably refine engraved rock formations surrounded around the river. According to the article  this river has been awarded as the cleanest inland body of water in Region 4.

 (L-R Bena, Phillip, Luis & Jasmine)

On the other hand, there's a cryptic hole which bids with natural jacuzzi inside of the cave that you'd certainly like to dip. An entrance of P5.00 for a limited time is exquisitely fun while plunging with your friends.  

Daraitan Cave

(Erik, Belle, Lei, Bena, Matt, Dana, Jasmine, Phillip, Jaypee, Jelo, Reden, Mags, Marge, Maki at Bebe niya, Emil & Marvin)

Indeed, I had fun with you guys until next lakwatsa! salamat!:)

Expenses:
Star Mall to Tanay                   55.00
Rental Jeepney                       195.00/pax group of 18 (Tanay-Daraitan-Tanay)
Meal contri(Dinner&Bfast)    100.00
Local guide                            139.00/pax group 10
Cave Entrance                           5.00
Tanay to Star Mall                  55.00