TOYAMA, JAPAN

We are living in a tropical country which we only have experiencing summer and mostly rainy day seasons through out the year. People who lives in these country such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam including Philippines would definitely dreaming to go to their nearest country which has snowfall. A place that you'd surely love to see especially on the winter time but not all of us are lucky enough to travel in a cold place like Japan and Korea due to financial difficulties. I have spent my 5 days in Tokyo already and my journey would not be complete without seeing the snow. So I decided to take a trip to Toyama which is the nearest place for snow experience.

People may think that travelling alone is the most boring thing that a man could do but I'd certainly disagree though you can experience a moment of loneliness sometimes. But travelling alone is a unique experience, in this way you will be able to meet new friends, a traveller in hostels, in a bar or in any place. You have more space entirely on your own and being a solo traveller can be a great opportunity for reflection as an individual.

How to get there:  (Php1.00 - 0.3682)

Toyama is located in south western part of Japan, a  hundreds of miles away from Tokyo. Riding a bus will take you 9-10 hours while taking shinkansen or the bullet train is the easiest and comfortable way to get there but it is pretty much expensive than the bus for it costs you roughly 11,000 yen for the one way ticket. 

Omiya JR Station, Tokyo

It was my first time riding in a good looking bullet train and it was really huge and very rapid. I was mesmerized of how beautiful the transit was and wishing that the Philippines could somehow bought such high speed train as this.  While on my way to Toyama I was having a hard time reading the map since I took the Japanese one and I was a bit worried to get lost which is really normal for a solo traveller but it was totally different since I was heading up to a far place from the City of Tokyo and it  would costs me more yen if I might step on the wrong place. 

As I was reading the Japanese map, a young man approched and asked me if he could lend his hand for a help  and I said Yes since I can't read the Kanji. Then  we talked a lot of things inside  the moving train. His name is Hiro and he just came from Australia to visit his family in Takaoka. One thing I can't forget about this little guy was he is using a scratched and damaged screen iPhone and I don't know why he still keeps it but all I can say is he's very kind and has sense of humor.😀 

 at the Kanazawa JR Station

I have been dreaming that someday I will spend my white Christmas in a place packed with snow when I was little and yes it was a dream come true.  I couldn't help but to be wowed with these huge glaciers up from the mountains and like crashed ice outside the bullet train, it really looks very fine and so soft to stroke. It's like a dream come true to see this thing and I can't even imagine of how did this happen. 

Around lunch time when I arrived the Province of Toyama, the weather is freezing and my childhood friend together with her family are waiting inside the Train station (they bought a ticket just to get in, how thoughtful they were). We haven't seen for ages and the last time was when we were on our 6th  grade and now she is happily married with her 2 cute kiddos. 

After we had our sumptuous and fresh unlimited sushi's for lunch we headed to the Ski mountains and I was like a kid playing the snow, rolled it like a ping-pong and giant balls. 

This is the skiing field and all I can see was white, from the ground, to the trees, to the mountains, all was filled with snow.

Everyone was playing slides and skiing including me and I wouldn't miss without trying this thing. To tell you it was very difficult and heavy at first but once you get used to it, you'd probably love doing it for hours. I had an exhausting yet lunatic experience with these weighty equipments. I even made a snow man it's not as perfect as others but at least I've tried to build one.

Entrance Fee: Free
Equipment Rental: 1,500 Yen

After an hour or two of playing at the mountains, we went to Tomaya Bay, titled as one of the most beautiful bay in the world and yes it was exceptionally magnificent!

The Kaiwo Maru Ship

The Kaiwo Maru Ship was launched to follow her only one month older sister ship Nippon Maru in Yokohama, both as training facilities for 11 public mercantile marine school in Japan. The ship was given the name Kaiwo which means "King of the Seas" with great expectation for its future success.  

It was a long and a freezing day for all of us, so we went to the public hot spring which a bit near from Mount Tateyama. The tub was surrounded with snow whilst dipping at nearly 45 degree running water and it was perfectly beautiful!

On our way home that night I asked them if they can help me find a hostel but they offered me to stay at their house instead. I couldn't resist but to accept it.

Day 2 TAKAOKA

My friends husband woke up so early to take me to another trip. I have my own itinerary but I didn't pay much attention to it and it will be more expensive if I will follow my route. There are only few public transportation routing in the City and given that they have their own car our trip was very relaxing. This time we're heading to Takaoka City. Takaoka City is just an half hour drive away from Toyama City. One of the main attraction in this place is the huge Buddha and the park. Unfortunately, This is the only photo left which I posted on my Instagram while others were vanished since my phone got busted.

Entrance Fee: Free

ZUIRYUJI TAKAOKA TEMPLE

Zuiryuji was known as the national treasure temple of Japan, designed with massive lead roof is considered as the most calmest temples in Japan.
Entrance Fee: 300Yen

Thank you so much Maniwa family for the warmed welcome and for the goodness you've shared while I was in Toyama. Thank you for the free lodging, for the free drinks at the bar, for the free tour nearby the provinces and for the limitless lavish foods. Arigatou Gozaimasu!



Indeed my snow experience was totally unforgettable and astounding!

BUNTOT PALOS FALLS, LAGUNA

Living in this exquisite world today is the finest feeling, merely because we got a chance to experience the genuine beauty of our natural surroundings. I've been travelling and visiting different places for years now, with confidence I can say "it's a great to live through travel". Now, let me share it to you my latest discovery. A new destination to savour our love for waters, rocks, trees, hills, mountains and even food. Yes indeed! There are lots of undiscovered places and allow me to take you in a hidden area that only few knows how to get there unless you have the power of being  a researcher. Whenever I feel dead beat in my day to day of working, I decided to take a trip from Metro Manila just to explore the places I've never been to especially to a place with what we call natural world. Natural because it really soothes me and bring the other side of me. Nature as define as the physical world and everything in it is actually fascinating and refreshing. The hidden area that I am referring with is none other than Buntos Palos Falls in Pangil, Laguna which is just few miles away from the city of Manila. I read articles about the place and it makes me thrilled when I saw the photos. It looks calm and very thirst-quenching especially for those people who matters most with nature.

How to get there:
Riding a Bus from Buendia-LRT Taft to Sta. Cruz is the most comfortable transportation before taking a Jeepney bound for Siniloan than crossing to Tanay Rizal, tell the driver to drop you at Brgy. Balian Outpost. From there you need to a register and pay a fee of 25.00 for day a hike while 75.00 for an overnight. One of the requirements before climbing to Buntot Palos is to hire a local guide for a fee of 300.00 for a day hike and 600.00 for an overnight.

We started the trek around 07:45 in the morning and the roads isn't easy going up to the mountain for it is too steep, full of huge rocks and shits of horses scattered along the way.

I can't even count how many times I took a rest on my journey to Buntot Palos falls. It was very humid you can't feel the winds at all. For those who wants to climb during summer days, bring lot of water with you to avoid sunstroke or heatstroke.

I feel relieved when I saw this greenly scenic view almost from the top of the mountain. The blue skies, the mountains, the rice fields and the overlooking Laguna de bay. It was very relaxing and peaceful to indulge.

After almost 2 hours of tiring trek, finally we've reached the hidden paradise of Pangil, Laguna.  Buntos Palos is extremely beautiful because of its majestic and exhilarating 80 meters high water falls.  I feel the fresh air, the sounds of birds singing from the trees and the whack of cascade from the top is extremely uplifting.

And I had fun plunging down the basin of this falls since no one was there yet and the water was so cold.

The catching basin of Buntot Palos

Another thing that is good in this travel is if you're hungry and probably thinking of where to devour before heading back to Manila after the tiring trek and the water falls soaking. There's a famous eatery located at the Main highway of Pakil Laguna, it's just a trike or a jeepney ride from Brgy Balian outpost called Manay's Eatery. They're serving plenty of Filipino cuisines that's surely suffice your cravings and it tastes really good at a very reasonable price. You may also try their halo halo for only 50.00. 

huge bowl of Steamed chicken in Tamarind for 220.00 (4-5 person)

ITINERARY & ESTIMATED EXPENSES

SLEX
Time		Description			Expenses
04:00		LRT Buendia Taft to Sta. Cruz Laguna			140.00	Bus Fare
		Sta Cruz Terminal to Siniloan			35.00	jeep
		get off Bgry. Balian Outpost
07:30		ETD l Registration
		Entrance Fee			25.00
		Guide Fee			300.00	group of 5
08:00		Start of Trek
09:45		Buntot Palos Arrival
10:00		Picture taking/ Swimming
12:30		Wash up/ Jump off Arrival
13:00		LUNCH	Manay's Restaurant
15:00		ETD to Manila			175.00
18:30		Manila
					675.00

It was a wonderful and life changing fund activity for a traveller like me for I experienced the real beauty of nature with head up high. With this travel, I can say "It is great to be on top of nature" and I am longing to see more.

Thanks for reading!

Special Thanks to:
Ms. Erma Acdal- My personal Editor in Chief :)

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!