~*/ m | c h 3 L L 3 \*~

We didn't shower this morning as Aunt's gonna bring us for hot spring bath! WOoOhOo! I went last year and I LOVE IT! This is the outside of aunt's apartment..then we head over the aunt's home.. and the 2 dogs outside the yard.. wonder if they're cold...bRRrRr~ and this dog is in the house... it's name........ "H.A.P.P.Y"! ~~~

cannot bring camera into the hot bath area *duh* aunt dropped us off while she went to do her chores..and came back one hour later to pick us up.. the hot bath is so shiok lah! we ENJOYED it TOTALLY!
Mai (cousin) and aunt treated us to sushi! the prices are comparable to our Sakae sushi..but the freshness and taste is totally different.. better than SG of course! Every piece of sushi was just so finger-lickin'-good!
just like SG, we can order our food via the touchscreen monitor...however, no waitress/waiter to serve us.. instead, our orders arrived in a shinkansen! so cute!!! then the red light beside the monitor will light up and beep... once the plate's being removed, the shinkansen moved off!! CUTE-ness!

Look at our accomplishment! haha.. more to add!

wonder why is Shaun doing this pose? ..........Because......... it's snowing!!!!!!!!!

Look how excited he is!


Aunt rushed up to the station to take shinkansen back to Tokyo.. and on our way to the station, the snow fall got heavier! if only we can stay here for a few more days.. we could have build a snowman! We're FREEZING COLD while shooting this video. Even with gloves on, we can't feel our fingers and toes! hee~
Here's us... enjoying the last few moments playing with snow before boarding the shinkansen...
3 hours... and finally we arrived in Tokyo.. we made our way to Gotanda station, that's where our hotel was..and it's only about 4plus... seemed like night right?!
Once we checked into the hotel, we wasted no time at all! Went to our next destination.. TOKYO TOWER! We were still quite a distance away, when we saw Tokyo Tower.. so we took a few shots.. then we walked nearer and nearer towards it... till we're right infront of it! and now we're just RIGHT BELOW it! It's Tokyo Tower's 50th Anniversary, thus there is this number "50" on it!
we went for dinner at the food centre.. and went up to the observatory tower.. way up there! woah! took some photos up here...
a view of a hotel's landscape down below... The ever famous Odaiba rainbow bridge! where Fuji TV station's located at!

and isn't it interesting that the roads crossed each other and formed a shape of a star?! *smilez* all these landmarks are very very far away, I zoomed in all the way.. and capture these shots.. clear right? I took it with my...... 3.2 megapixels Sony Ericsson W960i! Is is good or is it good?! haha~
we can actually look down this transparent window right down to the ground level! you can walk across it too.. scary!

it's so cold outside... Shaun's warmed the window with his breath, and wrote on the vapour that formed on it... hee... nice ah!
We've came all the way up here... we MUST visit the toilet! So, we can tell everyone that we've done "business" up here!
We spent about 1 hours plus up on the tower.. the night's not over yet! On the ground level, there's a garden all lit up! We took photos to commemorate our presence here on Tokyo Tower's 50th Anniversary!

Went back to hotel.. and this time, we have our own private toilet! yeah! Was playing my PSP while waiting for Shaun to take his rather quick bath, and Shaun used the internet with his Lenovo while I had my hot bath in the tub.. for almost 45mins! haha.. so comfy lah!

We'll be shopping tomorrow! Harajuku, Ueno, Daiso, Akihabara ..................

This was where we slept for the past 3 nights.. very cosy and we were kept warm throughout the night~

Shaun loves the exterior of the bullet train. Polished White~

We're going to be in bullet train for about 6 hours! We're travelling from one end to the other end of Japan.. we played our PSP, then browse through all the photos we took for the past 3 days using Shaun's Lenovo.. oh! and we saw Mount Fuji along the way!

and we prepared some snacks to eat during the journey..

not to forget... ROYAL MILK TEA! Took this photo specially for Ernest! We survived winter last year with this..our all-time favourite drink!

This is how the interior of the Shinkansen(bullet train) looks like... and most Japanese had Bento in the train...

Reached my aunt's place at about 4pm. It's FREAKING cold! Colder than Osaka and Kyoto! Once we stepped outta the train, we gave it other a look... haha.. xiao liaoz.. My aunt came to pick us up and drove us to her place... where she prepared homecooked Japanese meal for us :) We were famished! spent 6 hours in the train...tired and hungry.. a nice meal made our day! A Simple dinner tasted like heaven! Thanks Aunt! Aunt had to go for work at about 730pm, and will only be back late at night.. which means.. only Shaun and I left in her apartment! We spent the evening watching television programme... In English of course.. Discovery Channel and National Geographic kept us occupied till almost midnight! with 2 cans of beer and cocktail..plus snacks! We kinda enjoyed the serene environment, and simply just lazing around to watch TV..
Shaun took this.. it's a toilet bowl. After using, flush it..and water will flow out from the tap as well! 2-in-1! How very innovative!

We had a hot bath, warmed out beds and hug each to sleep that night..because... it's VERY COLD!

Will be visiting the hot spring bath tomorrow..and will meet my cousin! Would love to spend more time at my aunt's, but we couldn't extend our trip...thus, we'll be leaving for Tokyo tomorrow afternoon.. we'll be visiting...........

TOKYO TOWER!

Took a train there..it's about 20-30mins away from Osaka. There! Look at the complicating train route map *scratch head* Well, we didn't lose our way today!

Once we reached Kyoto Station, we went to the tourist information office and got all the information we need.. thereafter, we went to a cafe to discuss about the day's itinerary! look at our brunch... *slurpz*

We're going to take the city bus to tour Kyoto today! That's us outside the train station...

The bus ride was about 20 mins...and we arrived at our first destination.. Nijojo Castle!

That's a moat behind Shaun... and the big big door that he's trying to open!

In the castle.. walking on the paths.. many variety of plants and trees... pretty scenic view!

We climbed up a big flight of stairs... yes.. BIG flight of stairs, not long flight of stairs.. the steps are so wide.. makes me wonder if the people of the past were at least 2m tall.........

an overview of the castle.... it's winter.... look at the colour of the leaves on the trees........

got an ang moh to snap some pictues for us.........

some pictures on the architectures in the castle... we were not allowed to enter the rooms, so we just toured along it.. the gardens... the lakes.. etc...

big heavy door! and it's rusty!

A small flowing "river" within the castle!

The castle closed at about 4plus.. so we started making our way out at about 3plus. Almost reaching the gate, we saw that one building was actually opened for tour! too bad, no photography allowed inside. We removed our footwear, and there we go!~ We took about 30 mins to finish the tour..imagine how the big the place is! Hungry! That's Shaun at the bus stop! We're going to bring our stomach for some nice dinner!.... at Gion...

We reached Gion in about 10 mins! Visited a shrine first. Was here at the shrine last year but it was day time then... now, the sky's dark! A tradition to rinse our mouths and hands before entering the shrine.. er.. we only rinse our hands.. for the obvious reason....

Some lanterns that were lit up... and went to check out the prices for omamori... expensive! didn't buy any from here.. shall check it out at the shrine at Harajuku... hee~

We threw some coins (10yen only!) into a "catchment" area...then make a wish... and swing the rope hard...and ring the bell! tada!~ It's a heavy rope!

spent only a little time in the shrine.. walked across the road and saw a Maiko! didn't manage to snap a photo of her :( Not pretty lah..hee~ Strolled along the Goin streets, searching for a nice place to dine, while checking out some souveniers to buy back home.. They're famous for their sweets and cakes!

We also tried some of their local delights along the way...

That's the cigarette vending machine!
and our dinner! It's a Thai restaurant with nobody inside at all! Feels like we've booked the whole place! Had Thai fried rice and Tom Yam noodles... I tell you..it's heavenly!

took bus back to the Kyoto station, where we took a train back to Osaka.. Our last night in Osaka.. as we'll be heading to visit my aunt at....

Amori-Hachinohe