Travel Log: A (Sort of) Cross-Continental (Business) Journey (Day 1)

Destination: Japan, Germany & Singapore

Duration: 13 Days 12 Nights (Feb 22~Mar 07, 2014)

Day 1: Flight Delay, Imperial Palace & Odaiba

The journey started disastrously when Silkair had a last minute ‘mechanical’ problem thus delaying the PG-SG flight causing us to miss-connect our SG-NRT flight. WTF??!!! Last week they miss-connect my luggage and this week they miss-connect ME? DARN!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were serving McD in the Penang terminal gate for all the affected passengers.

Filet O Fish & Water from SQ

Sammy is bored too!!!

Finally we are off to Changi!

Once we reached Changi, we were told that they could put us on another mid-night flight to Nagoya instead else we would have to wait for another morning direct flight with Nippon Airways which would only reached Narita at 4.30pm on Sunday! Of course we chose the Nagoya flight so that we could reach Nagoya at 8.20am. They only served one inflight meal for the Nagoya flight and it was the exact replica breakfast menu of Narita flight of Egg or Rice with Mackerel.

Breakfast Menu

Sammy is on the Plane too!

Japanese Rice Set for Breakfast

One we reach Nagoya, we were paid 15,000Yen each so that we would reach our own destination as it was Singapore airline’s fault that we did not reach Narita. Since Kawasaki is in the middle between Nagoya & Narita, we only spent like 11,000Yen for our ride (Local from Nagoya Airport-> Nagoya then Shinkansen from Nagoya-> Shinagawa, Local again from Shinagawa->Kawasaki).

At the Nagoya Airport Station

On the Way to Nagoya

Sammy on the Ride...

Unfortunately we did not plan any itinerary for Nagoya! Else we could’ve explored the area before we left for Kawasaki! I heard there are lots of nice Edo Castles in Nagoya!!! It was almost 12noon when we reached Kawasaki Nikko Hotel thus my plan to Kawagoe was TOTALLY FUBAR!!! UUGHHHH!!!! This was the 2^nd time my Kawagoe plan got screwed! 2 weeks ago was Snow Storm (link) and this week was Flight Delay! *bangwall*

Back to Kawasaki Nikko Hotel

Did i mention i LOVE the Shiseido Facewash, Shampoo & Conditioner?

Last minute changes required impromptu plan thus we came up with a last minutes plan to visit Imperial Palace in Tokyo as it was closed 2 weeks ago during my visit (link). After Imperial palace, the plan was to visit Odaiba which was famous for its night view.

Off we went after a brief lunch at the convi store beside Nikko Hotel with yummy sandwiches. Basically our train tickets today were all courtesy of Singapore Airlines since we still had 4,000Yen left from their compensation. We bought the Suica card and reached Imperial Palace in no time.

Japanese Sandwich is AWESOME!!!

We walked through the east imperial garden and it was loads of fun. The weather was nice and there were lots of tourists as well. The only downside was Sakura was not in season yet! *cry* It would’ve been perfect if there were Sakura in the garden!!!

On the Way to Imperial Palace

Here we are again...

Traditional Building among Modern High-rise

The Tourist Picture

Getting into the Garden... =)

Hmm.. a fish?

Getting in!

Guardhouse

The Garden without any Greenery..

Finally some Colors!

Sammy was there too!

A Pond in the Garden

Another View

Bet This Would be Amazing in Sakura Season

A Building in the Garden

Are those Sakura???

Sakura? Really?

A Bunker of Sort...

The Famous Nijubashi Bridge

More Bridge

We began to walk back to Tokyo Station when we came across some shopping district which happened to have a Tax-Free Burberry Boutique. Let’s say someone was very happy with moi came out empty-handed. Hahha…

Burberry in Tokyo

Another Shopping Mall

We continued our railroad journey to Obaida – another touristy town on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. There were lots of shopping malls in the area but the area also provided a great view of the Rainbow Bridge – which we crossed on the way to Odaiba. There is also a Ferris Wheel in the area offering beautiful nightview.

At a Transit Rain Station - Great View huh?

On the Way to Odaiba

The Rainbow Bridge from Train

Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

Fuji-TV Building

We were beyond starving when we reached Odaiba so we went to the nearest mall – AquaCity for some food hunting. We ended up at their foodcourt and wolfed down a big bowl of soba with Tempura Prawn in no time! Darn! It was just so scrumptious and it felt so wonderful to eat something hot in cold weather.

Food!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ebi-ten with SOBA!!! Yummy!

Petshop near the Foodcourt

Cute!

A Yorkie!

There was a mini Statue of Liberty there too and the fuji-TV building is AWESOME - More so during nightfall when we were leaving the place. The Tokyo Nikko hotel is located at the bay too! We went into Decks Tokyo Beach which consisted of multiple theme parks such as Legoland, Wax Museum & some Manga stuffs.. but I guess we were too old for this.. hehe….

Here is the Tokyo Nikko Hotel!

Decks Tokyo Beach

Christmas Tree

Lots of Kokokai!!!!!!!!!!!

Mini Statue of Liberty

Ferris Wheel At Obaida

Lots of Light Patterns

Rainbow Bridge at Night

Statue of Libery & Rainbos Bridge At Night

Fuji-TV Building At night!

Look at the Light Show!

We finally called it a day and went back to Kawasaki at around 9pm to prepare for a long day ahead tomorrow. Of course we needed to get some supper 1^st! Cold weather does make you hungry!!! Darn! FAT!!! Bought some sandwiches, Onigiri & dessert from the convi store again – onigiri & dessert for supper & sandwich for breakfast since breakfast was not in the package this time. The onigiri tasted kind of strange but the dessert was nice though.

Supper & some Sandwich for Breakfast

Dessert from Convi!

Onigiri - tasted Strange...

Next Days (Foodsssss & Minato Mirai)