I found my Daruma Doll!

I wrote before how much I want to have a Daruma doll. When I went to Japan last month, I found one at a flea market. But it was too big for me, plus it costs 1500 yen.

Thank goodness for instagram that when I tweeted it, Aprille's friend Brinks, told me she got hers at Kyoto. And its a good thing we're going to Kyoto the very next day!

I finally found my cute little gold Daruma doll.

The nice Japanese lady showed me how the the Daruma doll gets up when knocked down and how I should make a wish before painting the eye of the Daruma doll.

I still have to think what to wish for, because I've been so blessed, and I feel like wishing more might be too much already.

I think I'm going to just leave it on the display for now.

#JapanDiaries: Thrifty Travel Tips and Tricks

Now that Japan relaxed giving out Visas, are you excited? You are? I know the feeling!

In fact, we are super excited that we researched/printed and had dinner with friends (Hello and Thank you Ria!) who lived in Japan for tips about what to do in Japan since it's going to be our first time. We're very thankful that we are staying with Kuya Benz who is already a local after having lived in Japan for more than 5 years!

Pre-Japan:
1. Check the weather to decide what clothing to bring especially if you have check in baggage.
2. When in doubt, wear tights. In fact, when travelling abroad always bring tights/leggings.
3. Ditch the boots. Wear your comfiest flats ( I packed just 2 foot wear, my trusty, super light crocs and Chuck Taylors)
4. Weigh in before the flight to avoid surprise excess baggage. My sister is a master at packing! Once sealed, don't open it again!
5. Bring petroleum jelly in your First Aid kit. Never have I imagined using petroleum jelly on my face but it provided really good base/coverage for powder foundation, plus it did not dry up my face when it got really cold!
6. Wear your "heavy clothes"like jeans at the airport to avoid added baggage. (It's just a short international flight, but make sure your jeans are not heavy denim)
7. Bring extra water bottle.
8. Those scarves, wools, that you got some Christmases ago? Those will come in handy!
9. Customize your medicine kit with the basics (Vitamins, anti-histamine, pain killers, etc.) according to your length of stay.
10. Have your travel documents ready (like passport) especially if you work for the government. Like me, I made sure I have my authority to travel document (yellow sheet), because otherwise, the immigration will not let me get on with the flight.

More tipid tips and tricks after the jump! Click on! 

#JapanDiaries: Instagrammed Adventures during Sakura Season

I had such major vacation hang over after our Japan Trip. Mainly because I have never walked so much since our trip in Singapore back in 2010 and at the same time I had to adjust to the sudden separation anxiety change of weather.

For those asking for our itinerary so I'll share it in this post. Actually, our itinerary was made by our Kuya Benz, who is Japan-based for more than 5 years now. We had to maximize our stay and be realistic enough so we consulted him for tips regarding travel time and commute route coming from his "mansion". (In Japan, they call their pad/flat/apartment housed in a low-rise condominium-like building ,a mansion.) For our first three days in Japan, Aprille and I were by ourselves, following Kuya's instructions,  discovering commute and mapping our routes through GPS. 

We arrived in the evening of my sister's birthday at Kansai Airport. From the time we landed at 8pm, we got home at around 11 pm (after taking the bus and a train going to Kuya Benz's place). I insisted to have a photo instagrammed right away for the first ever Sakura I saw, just by walking along the street/closed shopping street.

Konnichiwa Sakura at 12mn!

Now I don't really want to flood my blog with Japan Diaries from Day 1 to six so I will just post snippets and highlights from our trip:

Start of our itinerary after the jump!