Great Expectations!

Much of life's disappointment stems from our ridiculously high expectations.

The other day, I took out a Chinese workbook meant for kids aged 3 to 5, in a rather embarrassing attempt to teach myself how to scribble a few Chinese characters. This was what I had learned, instead: If I were my own Mandarin tutor, I would have lost all patience with a student like myself. My blood would boil and I might just end up strangling myself ... 



Jumbo writing, indeed! 

All I had to do was to follow the dotted lines on the page, yet the pencil chose to be rebellious and had persistently refused to obey. It was as if the paper had put a charm on the pencil and lured it away from the dotted lines. No. It was not my fault that my lines did not coincide with the dots. It was truly the pencil's fault. Or maybe the paper. Or maybe the uneven floor.

All I had to do was to follow the dotted lines 

That got me thinking - nobody had expected me to write perfectly. There was no teacher or parent to punish me even if I were to produce the most horrible writing in the world. Why then did I get so upset and defensive? Truth be told, I have been like this since young. It's one of my many bad traits, I admit. If someone were to keep my record, this should be diagnosed as a severe DISEASE (not even a disorder) which needs to be eradicated, failing which may eventually lead to death, or insanity (whichever comes first). Too bad the eradication process is easier said than done. 

As far as I can remember, I have always scored averagely good results throughout my primary school years. In fact, I recall the distraught I put my family members through when I had my first B in Mathematics back in Standard Four. Not only had I shed buckets of tears, but I had also refused to go to school and was inconsolable for days, even though my aunt tried comforting me. I thought my world had crashed.

Paradoxically, the situation in secondary school eased a little as my studies began to deteriorate. Nonetheless, I would still stress myself silly to get relatively good results, albeit without having to study hard. 

At this point, you may think that my parents must have been slave drivers when it came to my studies. You cannot be more wrong. To put it a little crudely: My parents couldn't be bothered. What I meant was, they NEVER had to worry about my academic results at all. There was no need to put any pressure on me because I had already put enough pressure on myself. My brother had always been the problematic one in his studies. =) So problematic, in fact, that my parents were too preoccupied with his performance to dwell too much in my academic success. They had just assumed that I would do well eventually. And I usually did. Well, except maybe during STPM ... but that is another story altogether!

Someone once wrote that being born as a second (or third, fourth, fifth etc.) child in the family is like competing in a race, but you have to wait ten minutes at the starting line. I cannot agree more. 

While it may be rewarding to wait, watch, and learn from an older sibling's mistakes and blunders, it is equally exhausting having to keep up with the things they do and to vie for the affection that they had inherited as the firstborn. I did not know what I wanted to prove by doing well in school but I secretly thought my parents would surely love me more if I had scored my fair share of As. The irony, though, is this: the better my academic results were, the less my parents had to worry for me. Instead of getting more attention for performing well in school, I had relieved them of their worry and ultimately, their attention.

As if studies were not stressful enough, I pushed myself to do well in whatever form of tests I could lay my hands on. I tried my best not to fail a single piano exam. And when I was barred from sitting for my first undang (some theoretical paper for driving) due to my poor eyesight, I decided to make up for it by scoring full marks on the paper. Although the administrators at my driving school were surprised, I was not. It was, after all, another test in which I had expected myself to excel. If I were to hide behind the sugar-coated truth, I would just say that I was trying to give my BEST in everything I did;  

... but to call a spade a spade, I had gradually been consumed by a horrendous Chinese monster named Kiasu. 

Kiasu 

Definition of Kiasu

A pinch of kiasu-ism (if the term, indeed, does exist) goes a long way. Well, both ways, in fact. For one, it serves as a great motivator for success. In reality, Kiasu-ism and Great Expectations are merely siblings from the same parents. Behind each kiasu soul lies an individual with great expectations. Even so, without such expectations, one may not be inspired to succeed. Take the protagonist of Charles Dicken's Great Expectations for example. Given Pip's humble beginnings in life, he would not have become a refined gentleman in his adult years if not for his ... great expectations (even if his motives may sometimes seem thwarted)! If he were to live in our present-day Asian society, you would probably accuse Pip of being a kiasu, too, even though all he ever wanted was to be able to sing along with Robbie Williams i.e. "to be a better man".

 

On the other hand, when we set our expectations too high and place the doormat for the kiasu monster to move in and make itself at home, we set ourselves for even greater disappointment and discontent. Years ago I read of a 12 year-old girl who hung herself because she did not score straight As for her UPSR. It may have seemed like a big deal to her at that point of her life, but I wished someone had the chance to tell her that if she had only clung onto life a little longer, she would eventually arrive at a stage where she wouldn't care two hoots about her UPSR results anyway. PMR would also amount to nothing. And as long as one gets admission into college after SPM and graduates, the SPM cert wouldn't matter much, too. Even if one fails to graduate, that is not the end of the road. I can name many more people who contribute more to the society and earn more than I do, all without having any tertiary education to brag about. As an educator, it may seem rather 'blasphemous' for me to give such strange advice but I am merely stating the truth. 

I kept in touch with a boy who received his SPM results a few days ago and although he had 10As, he was a bit upset about the one B+ that he received. It is so easy for us to lose focus on the 10As we have in our pocket if we choose to look at the one B+ that in a way 'marred' the otherwise perfect result. This reminds me of the story of 99 gold coins. You can read it here: http://mythologystories.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/99club/

To cut the long story short, a king wanted to find out why his servant was so much happier than he was. His advisor suggested that he place a bag with 99 coins (not 100, mind you!) for the servant to discover. The rest is history as the servant began recounting the coins just to make sure that the 100th coin was not missing from the bag. He began to work doubly hard, became extra grouchy, and less of a human just to be able to top the amount to a complete 100. Yeah, that is what ridiculously great expectations can do to us, too. Wouldn't you agree that it is more disconcerting to score a 99 than a 96 in an exam where the full mark is 100?

I guess the worst damage that results from one's great expectations is not the loss of our own happiness and life, but more so the happiness and lives of our friends and loved ones along the way. We will know that the situation has gone out of hand when we begin to impose our expectations on others, be it in terms of education, work, or even relationship. Throughout the years, I have slowly learned (and am still learning) that it is not right for me to expect things/favours/accomplishments from others. If my students want to fail despite my best efforts, there is nothing I can do about it. If my best friends are not aware of the special treatment I have reserved for them, there is nothing I can do about it. If family members are not satisfied with what I do for a living, there is also nothing I can do about it. It does not pay to work myself up over how other people choose to treat me or to expect others to understand. But this is not an easy lesson to learn, I admit.




We are not potatoes but humans

Am I then suggesting that we should go through life with nary an expectation at all? Definitely not! We are not potatoes but humans. We are creatures who need to be challenged and motivated. Can you imagine waking up in the morning without any aim? (Yes, it may be a relief for a day or two, but what about a lifetime?) Nonetheless, as with everything else in life, it is always good to strike a balance between having no expectations at all and setting ridiculously high standards for us to achieve. Should we fail to do that, we better brace ourselves for greater disappointments in life.

Here's to a good week ahead! 
 

Occupational Wardrobe Malfunction: In True Janet Jackson Style

Underarm pads from Daiso

I came across these underarm pads in Daiso the other day (trust the Japanese minds to come up with the most eccentric yet practical technology) and could not resist purchasing a packet for myself.

Now, don’t tell me you have never experienced sweaty armpits. Even if you were blessed with smooth tofu-like underarms with nary a pore nor  a strand of hair, you must have had a friend or at least seen a stranger struggling to hide sweaty armpit stains on smart-looking (and esp. plain-coloured) shirts/blouses. Sadly, the more one tries to hide, the more the stain gets magnified.

Talk about sweat stains ...

A close and attractive friend of mine has 4 flights of stairs to climb each day before getting to her classroom. She is slim and rather fit but since she is always in a hurry, she is not spared from this wicked underarm crisis. A few years ago, she found a solution to her problem: she tried stuffing tissues and leaving them under her armpits to absorb the sweat and it worked miraculously.

I have a few plain-coloured blouses myself. Sometimes when the weather is too hot and my sweat glands run on an overtime mode, I am left with that undesirable patch. One day, I decided to adopt my friend’s brilliant idea. If it had worked for her, why shouldn’t it work for me, too? I rolled up some toilet paper and shoved them under both arms. As I stood in front of the classroom, I could literally feel the tissues working their wonders and I was as confident as the Rexona girl because I knew that the patch was no longer visible to the naked eye. Alas, imagine my horror when I walked into the washroom after class only to discover that the toilet paper under one arm was missing! I tried looking around for that rather generous chunk of tissue but to no avail. The tissue was gone for good, and till this day, part of me wants to believe that it had just disintegrated into thin air and not fallen out of my sleeves, onto the floor, in full view of my entire class, all without my realization.

This little anecdote has never failed to make my listeners laugh. Their standard response is, “These kinda things only happen to you!” I do not beg to differ but perhaps it is also because I am thick-skinned enough to bring such embarrassing stories out in the open. (Warning: And if you’re unfortunate to be my relative or friend, your story might appear here, too.) 

In conjunction with the 10^th anniversary of Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction, do allow me to expose more stories of highly unintentional indecent exposures. Sure, they may not be as sensational as Janet’s but I assure you that they are, nonetheless, equally amusing and real.

Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction in 2004

I confess; I do not have a mirror in my room. I have never fallen in love with my own reflection, so the only mirror that I look at albeit for a split second before leaving the house is an A4 sized glass hanging above the kitchen sink. I would never notice if I had worn my clothes inside out, buttoned wrongly, have a stain, or worn shorts when I meant to wear long pants instead. I recall my former colleagues laughing at me for arriving at the office one day with my blouse all buttoned wrongly. I had walked hundreds of metres from the car park and met many students along the way with my blouse in that unprofessional manner, yet no one had said anything.

But then again, perhaps I do have a reputation for dressing sloppily to work. A case in point: I strongly believe in giving students a break in the middle of a class. It certainly helps students to freshen up and to stay awake for the rest of the lesson. But I guess not many students know the humble origins of such breaks. It was during one of my first semesters in college when I was caught with my fly down, literally. Today, I would probably have enough confidence to ask nonchalantly, “Class, why didn’t you tell me that I have forgotten to zip up?” and turn it into a big joke (while sprinkling some of the Amnesia Dust that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson used in Tooth Fairy, on my unsuspecting students).

Back then, though, I was still young and easily embarrassed. I quickly announced a class break, much to the relief of my students, and pulled my zipper up at lightning speed, not realizing that the reflection on the whiteboard was visible to all. Ever since that incident, I was always extra cautious and highly suspicious whenever I notice students giggling and whispering to each other. My automatic response would be to speedily run my fingers across the zipper or to take a quick glance down at my blouse.

While wardrobe malfunctions are common everywhere, people from some professions tend to suffer greater consequences than others. Such occurrences probably do not matter as much to one who is constantly confined within a small office space with a few close colleagues. Certain professions, like being a superstar for instance, would require you to meet many people at any one time. Being a lecturer or a teacher is pretty much like being a superstar, minus its fame and fortune. All it takes is a small blunder and the entire class will be left roaring with laughter and a hot subject for gossip whenever students are dissatisfied with the grades they have earned.

I wished someone had warned me of the importance of one's physical appearance when I had my first teaching stint in a private school. I was having a semester break after my first year in university and was merely filling in for a teacher who went on a maternity leave. I thought it was enough to just replace my daily jeans and t-shirts with auntie-looking blouses and slacks. What no one mentioned, though, was how to maintain the cleanliness of my apparels until the end of the day, despite being given coloured markers to write on whiteboards.

For most females, the most protruding part of their body (in front, at least) would usually be their upper assets. The main subject which was assigned to me then was Prinsip Akaun which required A LOT of writing on the whiteboard. Failing to maintain the right distance from the board always left me with marker stains on my blouses (I do not think I need to specify where). I was aware of such stains but I thought those stains would escape the eyes of high school teens. That is, until one day, of course, when I heard someone sitting in the front row whispering a bit too loudly, “Did you notice that she always has stains on her ****?”

A stapler a.k.a. a life-saver

Nonetheless, all the instances above are considered minor in comparison to my most ‘triumphant’ moment in all history of occupational wardrobe malfunctions, and to think that I owe it to a stapler. I have a friend whom I nickname ‘razor butt’. She has the talent to rip pants apart, not vertically i.e. along the seams but horizontally. She has done this not once, but twice, and on denim pants, no less. I used to laugh at her but one fine day, retribution came knocking on my office door…

It was merely 5 minutes before class when I suddenly realized that the seams at the back of my pants had slowly given way. The pair of slacks was almost a decade old and I guess I was also packing on the pounds. Neither my colleagues nor I had a sewing kit with us. I would have settled for a safety pin but the 15cm tear was just too long and I was not about to risk sitting on those pins. My mind raced as I pondered how to prevent the class from getting a full view of my rear.

I could always wrap a sweater or a scarf around my hips but even someone with as little fashion sense as I do knew that the colour and print on the scarf was just too distracting and was sure to arouse suspicion. Also, what if the scarf suddenly falls off? Armed with nothing else but a stapler in hand, I decided to hide in the toilet and staple the tear. I made sure that there was not a single space between each staple. I then pretended to walk confidently into class. The staples were so neat and tight that I decided to leave them there for many more washings after that. It was my fear of not being able to clear through the metal detectors at the airport which finally forced me to undo the staples and to mend the seams using the conventional method i.e. with needle and thread.

By now, you may be laughing or gawking in disbelief at these stories. These incidents may seem improbable to anyone else but if you knew me well enough, you would know that they are all true. I have shared these accounts to many people and one of my friends even employed the stapler method when her pants ripped at work. You may want to keep your eyes open. Who knows? A wardrobe malfunction may just be around your corner and I sure hope that it is not you who is caught with your pants down.  

Japan in Pictures: Day 3 (Wednesday, 29 January 2014) Part 2

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home. - James A Michener

We were determined to try all kinds of Japanese food. Nonetheless, little did we expect to come across our most interesting dining experience when we made our way to the second destination i.e. Kinkaku-ji.

Delightful Dining Experience: Okonomiyaki

Sandwiched between a row of shops along the street is an obscure little restaurant that serves okonomiyaki i.e. Japanese pizza. The word okonomi is translated as 'what you want', while yaki means 'grilled', so the literal translation should be 'grill whatever you want.' Others know it as Japanese pancake/pizza. I would term it as a massive omelette with anything and everything you like.

A small intermediate lot selling okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki = Japanese pizza

I usually do not fancy having to cook my own food once I am already in a restaurant but this was an entirely new experience. We were absolutely clueless but the waiters and waitresses were very helpful, paying extra attention to us because they knew we were first-timers. Or perhaps, they were just afraid that we would destroy their cooking utensils! =)

A hotplate/grill

The ingredients for okonomiyaki

Stirred into a batter

A mini hour-glass as our timer

We were one of the few adult patrons in a restaurant crowded with school children, yet we behaved like little kids who were introduced to the art of masak-masak for the first time. We had a blast cooking this traditional dish on our own.

Step by step

After our hard work, we were rewarded with our own pancakes.

A slice of bacon okonomiyaki

It was one of the most satisfying and filling meals we had. We then proceeded across the street to one of the most famous icons of Kyoto, the Kinkaku-ji, also known as The Golden Pavilion. 

Kinkaku-ji a.k.a. The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

This has been listed as one of the top tourist spots in Kyoto. The top two floors of this temple were made of real gold.

Ticket to Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto

A very picturesque scene of The Golden Pavilion and its surroundings

Although we had initially planned to follow the route as suggested on TripAdvisor http://www.everytrail.com/guide/highlights-of-kyoto, we decided to give Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion) and The Philosopher's Walk a miss seeing that our parents were already tired. We decided to head straight to Kiyomizu Temple.

Kiyomizu-Dera 

Our choice to take a cab instead of the bus to Kiyomizu Temple proved to be practical because the slope up the hill was quite steep and far. Nonetheless, it was exceptionally thrilling as we walked past colourful, busy, and to some extent, rather claustrophobic little stalls along the street. One can find snacks and souvenirs along the way to the temple.

I wish I had taken a better photo of the stalls along the street but this is the closest

The entrance to the temple seemed pretty impressive. We were, however, disappointed that the temple was undergoing some maintenance/construction work. 

Spot the crane at the top right? 

This temple is supported by 40-feet tall pillars and was built without a single nail. If I had known this earlier, I probably would not have been as confident climbing all the way up and down. 

40-feet tall pillars that support the temple

Endless steps

Kiyomizu is literally translated as 'pure water'. Little wonder, then, that people queue up to take a drink of water that runs down the nearby hills. 

It has been said that, "Ignorance is bliss" and to the tourist, this is sometimes true. I have never really studied how cherry blossom trees were supposed to look like, so in a country such as Japan and during winter (when trees are void of leaves, anyway), it is extremely easy for one to imagine that each tree he/she sees would be flooded with cherry blossoms come springtime. 

The fact that these trees have no leaves certainly leaves me with lotsa room for imagination

We have been told that this was the best place to view sunset in Kyoto. Although I am a die-hard fan of sunsets, we were too exhausted to stay on and be caught in the evening rush hour once more, so we decided to make our way back to the hotel. 

It was then that we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the sunset, not in Kyoto but in Osaka, and it was SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. Yet another day well spent, indeed! 

Photo of the sunset taken near Hotel Monterrey, Osaka

Japan in Pictures: Day 3 (Wednesday, 29 January 2014) Part 1

We decided to reserve this day for sight-seeing in Kyoto, so we left the hotel by 7:30 AM only to be caught in the rush-hour traffic as throngs of locals rushed to get to their workplace. 

Compared to the subway day-pass which we had purchased the previous day, I would say that this JR-West Rail Pass was less tourist-friendly, simply due to the lack of English. It took us a long while to get a hang of the entire railway system but by the time we left Osaka, we were very grateful for this pass. 

The pass that saved us from airport taxi fare on our way back

The temperature was really cold (much colder than Osaka) when we arrived at Kyoto station.

Kyoto Station with its impressive architecture

Our initial plan was to follow the itinerary recommended by TripAdvisor: Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (The Golden Pavilion), Ginkakuji Temple (The Silver Pavilion), Philosopher's Path, and Kiyomizu Temple. 

Do refer to this site if you are keen on making the trip on your own: Highlights of Kyoto 

It sure seemed very ambitious for a one-day trip. We purchased the Kyoto City Bus all-day pass which cost 500 yen each and headed straight to our first destination: Nijo Castle.

500 yen for an all-day bus pass 

Spot #1: Nijo Castle

If you are a fan of traditional Japanese culture and parks, you will have a great time here. We were one of the earliest to arrive.

We were so early that the doors to the castle had not even opened.

Interesting work of art at the entrance

We couldn't take photos within the castle itself but one very outstanding feature which intrigued me was the 'nightingale floors'. Some parts of the castle had wooden floors that creaked like nightingales. The purpose was to alert the inhabitants of any possible intruders lurking around.

A very unique gutter

To be honest, though, it was the surroundings outside the castle which took our breath away. Just look at the trees, for a start!

Mesmerizing trees in the castle compound

I have heard people raving about Japanese gardens and all but I guess I had never really seen a more serene one than the gardens over here. One could easily spend hours just walking around and enjoying the beauty of nature. Words can hardly explain the peace you feel as you walk around the pond.

Serene landscaping all around

Yet another weird-looking plant

A bird's-eye view from an unfinished 5-story tower

The moat surrounding the castle

No doubt, Nijo Castle is one of the most popular places for cherry-blossom (sakura) viewing. I would give almost anything to see this path filled with cherry blossoms. Since it was winter, I could only rely on my limited powers of imagination. =(

Imagine how pretty this scene must be when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom

We ended up spending much more time here than we thought we would. Even so, we did not get to walk the entire compound. There was a bus to catch and places to go. 

When St. Valentine meets Chap Goh Mei

There is evidently something cruel in the air that causes relatives and friends to be extra nosy, extra noisy, and also extra naggy during Chinese New Year. Sure enough, year after year Chinese singles will always be plagued with questions like "Why aren't you married?", "Don't you want to look for a partner?", "Don't study too much, else nobody wants you", "You think you're still young, ah?", "Told you to go lose some weight", "Go get your nose fixed and your Prince Charming will come," blah, blah, blah.

 

I have had many years of handling such situations. In fact, I think I have become an expert in this area. Either of these two options has always worked fine for me: a) shutting these people up with some offensive remark, b) shutting my own ears by choosing not to hear anything.

 

I find it highly amusing, though, whenever they say, "Make sure this is your last year to receive ang pow from me, ah?" My mind goes, "Seriously? But why? You mean you're not planning to live till next Chinese New Year? What a pity!" O_o

 

Mandarin oranges complete with contact details

Every year, I get many 'reminders' from non-Chinese male friends (who seem to regard this whole business as a joke) to throw mandarin oranges into the river/lake/pool/bath tub during Chap Goh Mei. If you are not familiar with this weird custom, you may want to read this: http://www.thestar.com.my/story.aspx/?file=%2f2012%2f2%2f6%2fcentral%2f10680941

 

In short, the person who picks up the oranges from the other side of the lake/river/what have you will be a perfect match for the thrower.

Well, if I had a good mandarin orange in my hand, I wouldn't throw it into any river. The orange would have been in and out of my digestive system before anyone even knows it.

When St. Valentine meets Chap Goh Mei

 

I suppose that the pressure may have intensified for many single men and women this year because Chap Goh Mei coincides with St. Valentine's Day celebration. I, on the other hand, am just pretty contented so long as I have received my 15 days' worth of ang pow, and eaten all the mandarin oranges and cookies.

 

But just in case any keh poh chee (busybody) chooses to ask me those questions again this year, I will certainly direct that person to this particular blog entry where I will provide 10 reasons why I am not a shopaholic. What has shopping got to do with being single? If you had ever gone shopping with me, you will have a clue. And with a pinch of imagination, you will be able to read this list as 10 reasons why I am still single or not in a relationship, instead.

 

 

#1 I have never fancied shopping

Unlike most girls, I do not dream of shopping. If there is a shop nearby, and there is something I need, I will walk in. I have never spent sleepless nights over shopping.

 

 

#2 I do not hang around at the right shopping malls

I tend to patronize obscure stores where the majority would not even enter.

 

 

#3 People call me a fussypot shopper

I can spend hours just to choose 10 apples. If I am paying for the apples, they jolly well better be flawless, or at least the best 10 apples of the lot.

 

 

#4 I may end up not purchasing anything even after trying something for a thousand times

'Peng' (inexpensive), 'leng' (beautiful), 'zheng' (attractive) has always been my policy.  

 

 

#5 Yes, sometimes I do go home with regrets of not buying something

I would imagine how life would be like if I had purchased that product.

 

 

#6 But the very next time when I do go back and am determined to buy, it is no longer as satisfying

 

 

#7 I tend to get distracted

Oh, the times when I would set out to replace a torn handbag only to come home with a pair of new shoes instead!  

 

 

#8 I am never around when there is a major sale

Not that I am rich, but I tend to get claustrophobic. I do not shop when others do.

 

 

#9 I have got the most peculiar taste

I only use a certain brand and particular design of toothbrush.

 

 

#10 I often find that I am not the right fit

All my life, I have hardly had any clothes, shoes, or bags that fit me well. I am not of the regular size where I can easily get things off the shelves. I cannot squeeze into a pair of size 5 shoes if my feet are actually a size 8, can I? 

 

 

Snobbish? Perhaps. Have I looked at myself in the mirror lately? Contrary to what you may think, I have. More often than not, though, shopping is not just about the shopper but also about the shops around the vicinity. Sometimes, the shopper may be denied entry into certain shops due to impropriate dressing or behaviour.

 

One good habit that I hold on to, though? I don't look into other people's shopping cart when I am in a shop. Okay, perhaps I may be guilty of now and then stealing a quick glance at the counter when it is already too late but that is all there is to it. Else all you nosy aunties and attached keh poh chee (busybodies) would have to hold on dearly to your partner. =P

 

So if you have a partner this year, I wish you a Happy Valentines' Day and Happy Chap Goh Mei but there is no need to sulk big time if you do not. Life still has to go on. And you know what? It can still be as beautiful.  

 

Japan in Pictures: Day 2 (Tuesday, 28 January 2014)

We woke up to a smashing view of the city from the hotel room the next morning.

 

Our first sunrise in the land of the rising sun

 

I would never leave the hotel without my essential quartet. These items have served me very well throughout the entire journey. (No wonder the straps on the knapsack gave way the moment I reached home.) 

Essential quartet: a knapsack, a bottle of water, a sweater, and a pair of winter boots

Our first stop was at the Osaka train station. We decided to stay in Osaka city for the day and to only go to Kyoto the next day. On the way to the station, we could see rows of bicycles parked at the roadside. It was a culture shock to us, indeed. We were not used to the idea of sharing the same path with cyclists. 

 

 

Bicycles are a more common sight in comparison to cars

One of the entrances to a subway station

Osaka Business Park: A very strategic station

An extremely helpful porter at the subway introduced us to this 2,550 yen pass which not only entitles us to a full day access to all the subway within its network, but also covers the entrance fee to Kaiyukan Aquarium.

A whole day pass on subway and free entrance to the aquarium

We stopped by a Japanese fast-food outlet, Sukiya, to have our brunch.

 

 

Our first (and coincidentally also our last) restaurant in Japan

 

 

The food in this outlet is the most affordable, ranging from 390 yen onwards. Service in any Japanese restaurant is always excellent. Furthermore, there is no need to purchase any drinks. As long as one is a patron, one will be served either green tea or plain water (freeflow, mind you). The beauty of it all? Whatever tax that is charged has already been included in the price that is displayed in the menu, so there is no need to exercise one's math skills again.

 

I always find visits to aquariums very attractive and thrilling. It is such a joy to see all kinds of fishes, big and small, swimming gracefully above one's head. The Kaiyukan Aquarium is indeed one of the best aquariums I have been to. If you are ever in Osaka, you should take a trip there.

 

The Kaiyukan Aquarium

 

The escalator that takes visitors to the 8th floor

Otters cuddling up to each other

This seal is not dead. It's just being lazy, I guess.



Been to Australia and New Zealand but this is my first encounter with penguins



This dolphin is so quick that it is difficult to catch a photo of it as it swims past

A school of fish going round in circles whole day long

An enormous 9-metre deep tank with large fishes like stingrays and whale sharks 

An aquarium staff taking time to pose while cleaning the tank

Mesmerizing iceberg-like deco on the ceiling

Jelly fish: A rare sight

There are many more pictures but it is imposible to upload ALL photos. Plus, photos may not be able to capture the moment and the thrill.

A fire-juggler performing outside the aquarium

The Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel which I wanted so much to ride but for the lack of company

 

The streets are as clean and as quiet as can be

 

Saw this stall that sells some kinda fried bread. Strange but tasty.



When you're in a foreign land, even the trees look attractive

We had a late lunch at the subway station. These tempura meals cost 750-800 yen and each bowl is sufficient for 2 people.

 

 

Tempura meal at the subway station



Shamefully, we got lost on our way back. Language is a a great barrier in this country. Even if we were able to ask for directions (and the listener can usually comprehend our questions), we were not able to follow their reply in Japanese. In the end, we decided to seek help from the local police.



Friendly police in Japan

After showing the police our hotel address (typed in Japanese), one of them took us right to the skybridge leading to the hotel. I am not saying that our Malaysian police is not as friendly or helpful but I wonder how many are actually willing to walk us to the hotel like their Japanese counterparts did.

Sure we could have covered more places on the this day but I guess it was just right, considering that my parents' legs were already exhausted.