The trip started with the last flight of the day from Penang to Singapore.  We transit in Singapore for a couple of hours before boarding a midnight flight to Tokyo, Japan.  We were very excited, and sleep on the flight was scarce.  Time tickle through as we doze in and out of the cramp economy class.  As the sun broke horizon, we arrived in Tokyo, with full of excitement and little energy.  Like in many countries, in fact, in all the countries, the immigration officer rarely smile, and a huge queue greeted non-residents as we chuck our luggage towards the immigration counter.  Without any hassle, we got our entry, and off we go to get our subway pass. 

There was a special subway pass sold at a discount rate for tourist.  This special pass allow one person to go in the subway Metro line unlimited rides for two days, and all this for only 960 Yen.  There is also a single day unlimited rides that goes for 600 Yen.  This ticket can only be purchase at Narita Airport.  We purchase a few of this and off we go to our Ryokan.  It was already about 8am and we went to catch a train right from Narita to Ueno.   It was on this train we first got the impression of Japan.  The scenery looks so different from where we were from.  The land was beautiful clear blue sky, and no haze, and it was sunny.  In a distance, farm land grace the horizon with puddles of home making an honest life of the local residence.  The home design was unique and nice, and the way they park their cars was also memorable.  The train made a couple of stops along the way and up came school children on a field trip to Tokyo.  The entire carriage light up with a smile as the tiny little kids with bright red hats came in.  There were only a Two teaches with more than 10 child, and the passengers in the carriage keep an extra eye over the kids.  It shows how a first world modern society could function as a unit helping each other, something that we don’t see much in Malaysia these days.  Then this little kid with bloody nose that caught my attention, he seams quiet, while other of his comrades chuckling away like a busy bee, he just stares out quietly with a tissue jam up his nose with blood stains.  Its so early in the day, and he already had a lousy start, I could relate to how he feels.  We came into Ueno, and changed to a subway to Tawaramachi Station.  There, we hiked for 5 minutes to our Ryokan.  It was almost 10, and the streets were starting to heat up.  Tokyo streets are filled with walkway, at least 20 feet wide.  Cyclist also goes onto this walkway, so sometimes, full concentration are needed navigating through along a busy walkway.  Again, this was not something that we have often in Malaysia.  The bikes all goes onto the road, and we rarely has 20 feet wide walkway as well.  We arrived at Asakusa Ryokan Toukaisou and was greeted by a friendly and young lady.  We confirm our reservation and put our bags down for safe keeping as we set out to see Tokyo. 

We have return from our trip to Japan, and it has been a year since.  I have yet to pen down any words about the trip, I have yet to put my travel log together.  It was tomorrow night one year ago that we set out to the land of the rising sun.  It was a trip plan a year in advance.  It was a promised fulfilled.  It was a dam good trip.  Up till today, we are still thinking of things and places that we have visited on this trip.  Its time to write down and publish the travel log, if not, it will be forever lost in the distance memory.  Before long, this trip will be buried in a stack of long lost trip memories.  I have to start tomorrow. 

I know I am being mean for saying this, but this girl really creeps me out. If you dont believe me, check out her youtube blog. The big eyes staring at you, without any words… kinda reminds me of the Puss n’ Boots of Shrek. Wide eyes staring at you, and you go like awwe… Bam! and your heads roll on the floor.. That how I imagine being ended by Magibon…

When I first saw this, I thought of the ahem word. What do you think?

I seldom read fictions. Its as rare as the blue moon. Somehow, seeing this book lying in my library yearns me to pick it up. And once I pick it up, it stuck on me like a fly sticking on the salamander’s tongue. I was already familiar with the story, I’ve watched the movie. As I go through the pages, the movie scene keep flashing through my head. The movie differs from the book, but the entire plot still stays. The story begins with the characters being innocent in school and starts to fall in love. They spend wonderful time enjoying each other’s company for a couple of years and out of a sudden, the female lead was sick with leaukemia and she died. Ops, did I spoil it for you? Don’t worry, I have known the plot of the story from the movie and yet I enjoy the book very much. The story was average, but the way the author words it, makes it facinating. The description of Love and the structure of the story, makes it enduring and a best seller. There were instances, my emotional buttons were hammered so profusely that the dam of tears almost broke. As interesting as the book was, the ending was a little weak. Knowing the characters so much more, I was yearning for a eleborated ending, instead, it just fell short and Bam, the end. However the weak ending should not stop you from seeking out the book. The movie adaptation gave a slight different variation, mostly I believe because some of the content in the book would be confusing if not explained in detail, and so the director took the alternative route of changing the story a little. Overall, 5 star out of 5 rating for the book. I enjoyed reading it every moment I spent on it.

Prologue
I came across this book rather accidental. After purchasing a bunch of books, we learnt that Borders give out extra cash voucher if we were to spend another RM40. Being penny wise pound foolish, I went over to the Manga section looking for a nice Comic to indulge into. This is when I came to this book. It was wraped and I didn’t had the chance to open it. At the back, the book boast the popularity of the book, wich was made into Manga, TV serial and movie. It has to be good to command such follow-up I thought. And the story plot sounds familiar, it sounds like a Japanese movie that I have watched. And so the book made it into my shopping bag and I was happily going home thinking this was a manga. Upon arrival at home, to my surprise, this wa no manga at all, it was a story book, filled with words and no pictures. To my utter dissapointment, I discarded the book to a corner of my library. Not till a couple of weeks back, I start to take notice of the book.