Kyoto Trip (2014)

Ang chaka ng title. Wala na kasi ako maisip. Anyways, finally after 5 years of staying here in Japan nakapunta na rin ako sa Kyoto! Salamat kay Ate Joy na walang kahirap-hirap akong naaya sa trip na ito. Impluwensiya niya rin kung bakit nasa Australia na naman ako nung Summer Vacation namin dito sa Japan (that would be my next post after this! sana mag-materialize jarjar!).

PLANNING THE TRIP

TIP No. 1 Avail a Shinkansen (Bullet Train) plus Accommodation Package (via Japanican.com). Pasok na pasok sa banga ng katipiran ang package na itwu. Nalaman ko ito from a colleague na nagpunta rin ng Kyoto noong unang panahon. We availed the 3 days 2 nights Tokyo-Kyoto Package for 33,000 yen per person. Actually meron pa nga akong nakita na mas mura which is 26,500 per person. Kaso pagcheck ko kinabukasan di na available. Imagine yung price pa lang ng Shinkansen Tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto (round trip) is nagkakahalaga na ng almost 28,000 yen. Parang pinamimigay na lang yung Hotel Accommodation (exag na kung exag). We think we got a good deal.

Almost 2 months before the trip nagbook na kami. July 19-21. Long weekend so expect na namin madaling mapupuno ang mga slots.

Ang hindi ko lang nagustuhan sa pagbu-book namin e ide-deliver nila yung tickets at least 1 day before the departure date. In our case it was 2 days. Nakakangarag kasi na anlapit na nung alis niyo tapos wala pa yung tickets.

Last time kong nakasakay ng bullet train was 6 or 7 years ago na yata. Pinadala ako ni former company sa Gifu Japan for a training tapos sumide-trip ako sa Tokyo for a job interview. E sagot naman nung nag-interview yung pamasahe ko sa shinkansen kaya go go go lang! Hindi ko man nakuha yung work masaya naman ako kasi nakapunta ako ng Tokyo ng libre. Apir!

Sana ganito ang legroom sa mga economy flights.... ~_~

ACCOMMODATION

TIP No. 2 For the accommodation: the nearer to the train station, the betterererer! Blessing na rin na hindi namin nakuha yung una naming nakitang package. We stayed at New Miyako Hotel which is located 2-5 minutes away from Kyoto Station. Very convenient!

-malapit sa train and bus station

-maraming shops and restaurants na makakainan.

-kapag pagod na kami sa kakagala we can return anytime to our hotel to rest. tapos gala ulit.

-literally meron siyang katabing mall (Aeon Mall)

And what I love about New Miyako Hotel is its staff. Very very very very friendly and accommodating! A perfect 100 rating! Walang halong exaggeration at kaeklavoohan. Kahit sinong lapitan mo he/she will respond nicely and in English. Actually nagkaroon ng konting-konting aberya sa room na binigay samin. I booked for a twin bedroom pero double bedroom yung binigay samin. So I called the person in the reception and told about the mistake in the room. Walang patumpik-tumpik nilipat kami sa twin bedroom (no extra charge). Plus points pa na yung room is malapit sa lift (the first one was located sa dulo ng walang hanggan) and sa vending machine with water and ice dispenser.

The room is spacious enough. Hindi naman ako maselan when it comes to hotel rooms. May 32in LCD TV and free wifi reception (na hindi ko nasubukan kasi meron kaming pocket wifi). Isa pang ikinatuwa ko sa hotel na itey ay ang complete bathroom amenities. Panalong-panalo rin ang shampoo, conditioner and facial wash. Nakaka-tempt itanong kung ano yung brand. Ang chaka lang hehe.

Kinda Japanese style yung room meaning mejo maliit yung bathroom and kinda matigas yung bed. And again wala rin namang problem sakin dahil I'm used to this kind of style. Hindi ko lang feel mashado yung hallway and carpeting. Feeling nasa horror movie akesh.

ITINERARY

Day 1

From Tokyo we boarded a Hikari Shinkansen bound for Kyoto. Around 2 hours ang byahe.

We arrived at Kyoto at around 10AM and we immediately proceeded to New Miyako Hotel. Since 2PM pa ang check-in time we had our things deposited in the hotel's storage area (for free) para masimulan na ang paggala.

TIP No. 3 Avail the 1-day City Bus Pass. As long as pasok sa city bus route ang pupuntahan mo unlimited ang bus ride for that day (for 500yen). Meron din yatang 2 or 3 days and meron ding kasama ang train fare. A very cheap and convenient way of touring around Kyoto.

-Kinkaku-ji Shrine

​We thought of visiting another temple before heading back to our hotel but it was just soooooo hot that day and feeling namin malapit na kami mag-evaporate or mag-turn into ashes.

-Return to Kyoto Station to have lunch at a Korean Restaurant located at Porta (underneath Kyoto Station). My first time to eat a bibimbap and I liked it beriberiberiberimachi!!!

-Check-in at hotel. Rest then change costume. Si Ate Joy nag-power nap ng 20minutes. Ako 2 hours! ganun ako mag-power nap haha

-Kiyomizu-dera

-Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka. We saw this Pagoda structure but we we're too pagoda (I know ang korni!) to go near it so picture-picture na lang sa malayo.

-Gion district and Yasaka Jinja

​Dapat sa Gion district kami magdi-dinner kaso hindi namin feel. (Aaminin ko na. Ang mahalia! Purita mode on.) But I think if you really want to experience an authentic Japanese cuisine (with matching "ramdam na ramdam ko talaga na nasa Japan ako!"feeling) Gion district is the place.

-Return to Kyoto Station for dinner.

​At dahil malapit ng magsara ang mga shops nauwi kami sa Gindaco. My most ever favorite the best takoyaki shop!

Day 2

-Breakfast at Mister Donut. Mura na mabilis pa kainin (^_^)V

-Uji

​Before going to Byoudoin Temple we were supposed to visit a shrine that is said to be the oldest in Japan. Unfortunately dahil hindi kami nagbaligtad ng damit e napadpad kami sa isang small nameless shrine. At bago pa kami mapunta sa ibang dimensiyon e pinuntahan na namin ang Byoudoin Temple.

The Phoenix Hall inside Byoudoin Temple which can be seen in a 10yen Japanese coin.

-Nara (Todaiji Temple)

​Hindi kumpleto ang pasyal kapag walang maling pagsakay ng bus na naganap. Kaya nadelay ang sched namin by 1hour dahil sa kabilang side papunta yung bus na nasakyan namin. Anyways, habang tirik na tirik si haring araw e nakipag-lamyerda kami sa mga usa! Andaming usa. And they are roaming freely around the area. Sayang nga hindi ako nakakita ng usa na tumatawid sa pedestrian lane.

-Late lunch at KFC (near Nara Station)

​Gutom na kasi kami. Ang taong gutom walang oras sa paghahanap at walang panahon sa pagte-take ng risk kumain sa isang restaurant na walang kasiguraduhan kung mabubusog siya o hindi.

-Fushimi Inari Shrine

​Dapat derecho balik na kami Kyoto Station kasi feeling namin nagka-crackle na yung balat namin sa pagkakatusta ni haring araw. Since madadaanan naman ang Fushimi Inari Shrine (via Nara Line) e dumaan na kami. At dahil hapon na sobrang dami na ng tao.

Balik ulit sa hotel para magpahinga at mag-change costume. Tapos larga ulit.

-Pontocho and Nishiki Market

​Nung nag-courtesy call kami sa Zara nag-full bar ang energy na Madam Joy. Parang naka-turbo mode. Ito yata ang highlight ng pagpunta namin sa lugar na itey. Lels.​

-Okonomiyaki Night at Machiya Restaurant (Porta/Kyoto Station)

​

Day 3

-Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Hello baconssssssss!

-Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

​Totoo ang kasabihang "The early bird catches the worm." And this time our worm is having the place to ourselves. The place was so serene, beautiful and cool.​Sulit na sulit ang pagbangon ng maaga!

-Balik hotel to pack our things and rest before going back to Tokyo.

One of the best vacations that I've ever had. Kung tatanungin niyo ko kung babalik ba ako sa Kyoto para magbakasyon kung may pagkakataon? Oong-oo! Siyempre! Siguradong-sigurado! Apir! V(^_^)V

Child of True Reason

I was trying to pray during the operation. Kaso hindi ako makapag-isip ng maayos. Dala na rin siguro ng anesthesia na sinaksak sakin. Yung tipong pag sinusubukan kong gumawa ng pangungusap nagrarambol yung mga salita. Ipinagpasa-Diyos ko na lang lahat.

After the operation I was brought to the recovery room. Dun ko na ulit nakita si Basuraman. I immediately asked him if he was able to see our baby. He said yes. But he can't hide the worry from his eyes. While waiting outside the operating room kinuwento niya sakin na biglang may dumaan sa likod niya na tumatakbo. He wasn't sure but he felt right then that they were carrying our baby. She was placed inside an incubator and she has IVs strapped on her arms/feet. She was so tiny and her color was blue. She has to use a ventilator because she was having trouble breathing. She has a pneumonia which means she has to take antibiotics. Her neonatal doctor talked to Basuraman that if her pneumonia gets worse they have to use a stronger kind of antibiotic. Basuraman was asked to sign the waiver. Naiyak nako by that time. Hindi ko maimagine ang itsura and kalagayan ng baby ko.

The next day I was able to visit her in the NICU. A day after my operation nakuha ko ng tumayo at maglakad. I need to. Mahabang kwento ang pagstay ko sa hospital after giving birth. I'll try to do an entry about that. Hindi ko na napigilang umiyak nung nakita ko si baby. Panay naman ang hagod ng midwife sa likod ko to comfort me. Baby's weight was only 1482 grams when she was born. Her eyes was covered because of the blue light. Her bilirubin went up thus leading to jaundice. Her ventilator reaches up to her trachea because she can not breathe on her own. She was being fed by tube. From color blue her color became red. Her skin was almost translucent. Since she was born premature, her eyes were not yet fully developed. According to her doctor, if her retinas do not grow well they have to perform a laser treatment. Andaming monitors na nakadikit sa katawan niya.

We were very grateful that the primary midwife of NICU knows how to speak english and she assured us that they will do everything to take good care of our baby until we can bring her home. She was also the one who will mainly look after her.

Everyday there was an improvement. Our baby girl is a fighter. Her ventilator was changed to respirator which means she was breathing outside air. By the time her respirator was removed on daytime we were able to do kangaroo care(skin to skin contact). After her respirator was removed she was able to feed by bottle. Hanggang she was removed from the incubator and placed in a regular baby crib. She didn't go through any laser treatment for her eyes since her retinas grew well. Sobrang saya namin nung totally wala na siyang monitors na nakakabit sa katawan niya. Pero wala na yatang mas sasaya nung sinabi sakin ng midwife na pwede na daw namin iuwi si baby.

I stayed for 11 days in the hospital because my doctor won't allow me to go home until my anemia gets treated. Baby stayed in the hospital for 68 days. After being discharged from the hospital everyday ko siya pinupuntahan sa hospital. 2 days lang ako pumalya dahil sumakit ang tahi ko. May notebook ang baby namin na araw-araw sinusulatan ng mga nurses/midwives tungkol sa kanyang development. We also wrote on it if we have questions or message for baby.

It was a very challenging experience for us. Sa sobrang pagpaplano naming mag-asawa para sa paglabas ni baby iba pala ang gusto ni Lord para sa amin. Ginawa niyang exciting. Mahirap para sa amin ni Basuraman dahil kaming dalawa lang ang andito. Wala ang pamilya namin at iilan lang ang kaibigan namin dito. We are not your typical OFW na kasali sa mga Filipino Community/Group chenes. Pero kinaya namin at patuloy naming kinakaya ang lahat ng dumarating sa buhay namin dahil wala man dito ang pamilya at kaibigan namin physically, they try to do their best to support and help us. And of course we believe na hindi kami pababayaan ni Lord.

Say hello to our angel Mariko Cirille. We call her Miko for short ^_^

November 17, 2012 ng naiuwi na namin siya sa bahay. By that time andito na rin si mama ko sa Japan to help me with Miko. Currently she's doing great. From 1482 grams at birth, now she's already 5kg. And getting heavier everyday! She's taking a medicine for her anemia and hopefully on her check-up on January 7 e magaling na siya. Sabi nga ng mga kaibigan and kamag-anak namin hindi mo iisipin na premature si Miko. Technically she's already 3 months pero ang development ng katawan niya is parang 1 month lang since 2 months siyang maagang ipinanganak. Sa ngayon araw-araw naming ipinagdarasal na huwag siyang magkasakit and lumaki siyang healthy.

We had to stay here in Japan for the holidays. Our first christmas and new year here in Japan and outside the Philippines. We were advised na huwag muna ilabas si Miko since winter ngayon and panahon ng flu. Premature babies are very sensitive to infections and diseases. Nakaka-miss man ang pasko sa Pinas masaya pa rin kami dahil magkakasama kaming pamilya (including my mom). 

Miko-chan was the best gift Basuraman and I received this Christmas! ^_^

                                                       Basuraman and Miko-chan ^_^

Merry Christmas and Happy new year everyone! Godbless!

Mariko means child of true reason .

Isang Sulyap sa Loob ng Banga

Matagal ko ng gustong gawin ang entry na ito pero ngayon ko lang nagawa. Wahleylung. Ang init kasi. Lunes na lunes walang pasok. Holiday kasi. Kainez...choz! Anyway ano nga ba ang nasa loob ng banga na araw-araw kong dala sa opisina? Hindi ko na sinama ang aking lunchbox at bottle with powdered milk(Anmum). 

1. Gigantic notebook - feeling ko may kulang pag wala akong dalang notebook. ewan ko ba.

2. Itim na libro ni hudas. juk. Memo book - ang listahan ng aking mga utang at mga importanteng chenes sa buhay. Pag ito ang nawala..patay!

3. Tissue - yung pinapamigay lang sa daan na may kasamang advertisement. Back-up pag wala ang number 8.

4. ID plus access card.

5. Nyelpown 

6. Nyelpown charger with batteries - dahil madalas kong makalimutan na icharge ang aking nyelpown sa bahay

7. Player and earphones - na madalang ko gamitin dahil sa No.9.

8. Bimpo - Hindi ako mapakali kapag wala akong bimpo. Hindi kasi sapat ang tissue. Iritado ako maghapon kapag wala akong bimpo.

9. Bracelet Rosary - Recently instead na makinig ng sounds habang naglalakad papasok sa opis or pauwi or habang naghihintay ng bus e nagdadasal ako ng rosary. I feel comfort  in praying the rosary.

10. Suica card -  Salamat kay mareng Wikipedia at ngayon ko lang nalaman na may ibig sabihin pala ang Suica (Super Urban Intelligent Card). It is a rechargeable contactless smart card used as a fare card for transportation. Pwede rin siyang pambayad sa mga convenient stores and pambili ng kung anik-anik sa mga vending machines.

11. Ballpen

12. Maternity and Child Handbook/boshitechou/booklet from the pharmacy - kahit hindi araw ng check-up ko nakaugalian ko ng dahil ito palagi in case na kailangan ko bigla pumunta ng hospital. Kasama na rin dito ang aking yellow coupons for discounts on my check-ups.

13. Ang wallet na maswerte kahit hindi siya seiko. Actually di naman siya maswerte. Gusto ko lang sabihin.

14. The keychain which serves as my pass to priority seats in trains and buses. Ang parpol banga na regalo sakin ng aking mommy joy and daddy roel. Pahinga muna ang pulang bag ni little red riding hood dahil masyado na siyang gamit na gamit.

Hindi na ako nagdadala ng alcohol, lotion and oil blotting paper dahil nasa cabinet ko na siya opis. Minsan kapag maaraw or maulan nagdadala ako ng payong. Magkaiba ang payong ko kapag maaraw lang at kapag umuulan. Arte lang ^_^

Hindi ko mapalitan ang aming table-cloth-inspired bed sheet. Kahit chaka ang itsura komportable kasi.

At dahil nagawa ko na ang entry na ito sana lang magawa ko na yung CDR ko na 2,000 years na in the making. Malapit ko ng ipukpok ang ulo ko sa bato!

Happy Monday ^_^