tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14368853534370124802012-02-17T03:13:23.170+08:00I spent 8 days trying to be a hobo in Tokyo: Roaming the streets by day, drifting through Japan's infamous manga kissas, LoveHos and public baths by night. I ended up 'hobo'-ing just half my days there. But still, it was an awesome, amazing, unforgettable trip.Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.comBlogger151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-32184629840490183872009-10-20T22:02:00.014+08:002009-10-21T00:29:49.930+08:00

Two trips to Tokyo. Three stakeouts at Jingu-bashi. And still no sighting.Who goes to Tokyo without meeting a Harajuku Girl but me?I did everything right: Showed up at 10am on a Sunday, showed up the next Saturday (in the rain). I even did a surprise check on the Wednesday in between — figured there might be a make-up session for the lack of show the weekend before.I figured wrong. Even the

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-37948463607989713272009-10-13T05:25:00.025+08:002009-10-25T02:19:49.770+08:00

At first glance, a smoker might find it impossible to survive nicotine addiction in Tokyo.Smoking on the streets is illegal. In Asakusa, there are bills and signboards everywhere, constantly telling you not to light up. They even paint reminders on pedestrian walkways. I saw the same message in Roppongi, plastered to the backs of uniformed volunteers, patrolling the streets for people who can't

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-88656829861100362112009-10-10T17:09:00.024+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.418+08:00

It's a case of the best laid plans gone awry, the plan being:A) Leave my luggage in the locker at train station.B) Hang out with friends.C) Go clubbing.D) Grab luggage, sleep over at a manga kissa.For it to work, first you must have the foresight to carry or wear whatever's essential, on you. Alas, I didn't see past my footwear. I had on slippers. I know, slippers? But anyway, that night was

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-26860460442114575292009-10-10T08:25:00.003+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.419+08:00

¥3,500 (app. S$55) for members and ¥4,000 (app. S$63) for others.I've never paid so much cover charge in my short but party-excessive life. Drinks are cheap, however: ¥600 (app. S$9) for a good house red, ¥700 (S$11) for a gin-something. The cocktails don't pack in much alcohol. But I've heard it's plenty strong for the Japanese.We got to AIR round about 12-ish, at the edge of residential

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-31109083708042271262009-10-10T03:11:00.011+08:002009-10-25T02:11:01.371+08:00

When you've got nowhere else to go in the middle of the night, a manga kissa is surely the place to go. BUT BEWARE OF THEIR RULES. Take it from me. I had to learn it the hard way...5am.Was looking for a place to crash after clubbing in Shibuya, a place with shower facilities would be good. So I tried to check into Manboo in Center-gai. It was full. Bummer.I went next to Manga Hiroba across the

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-12244956508627340682009-10-10T00:17:00.000+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.420+08:00

If you're arriving in Japan via Narita Airport and spending at least two full days running around Tokyo, I recommend that you get Suica & N'EX.It's a commuter package made available exclusively for foreign passport holders. With it, you get two train tickets: a stored value subway pass (Suica card) and a seat reservation on board the Narita Express (N'EX). N'EX is a great time-saver. It gets you

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-35110296951740562082009-10-09T22:05:00.019+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.421+08:00

So, I'm back in Singapore. Don't know exactly how badly I've damaged my credit card but I put it at not more than ¥143,000 (app. S$2,250). Yeay!Major expenses:S$499 – Northwest Airlines return ticket¥26,900 (app. S$425) – 3 nights in various business hotels¥7,200 (app. S$114) – 2 nights in a hostel¥3,950 (app. S$62) – stays at 4 manga kissas¥5,800 (app. S$92) – 1-day DisneySea passport¥4,400 (app

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-69860310113993094112009-10-02T13:45:00.012+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.422+08:00

25ºC, partly cloudy to sunny skies.That's pretty much what was forecast for the week I'm here. The perfect holiday weather. But when we're at the cusp of a new season, the only thing we can predict about the weather is that it's unpredictable.Rain clouds swung by on Tuesday, the day I went to DisneySea. And it poured Wednesday morning. Good thing I was ready for a cold, cold autmn. I brought

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-87205597810998896632009-09-29T23:51:00.010+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.423+08:00

Does anyone ever get confused with foreign telephone numbers?I always do. An easy way out is to use the +(country code) (area code) (number format) on your cellphone. But that gets expensive.So then, how do you call someone from a landline or payphone? My guidebook says that the area code for Tokyo is '03'. But when you dial from outside Tokyo, you drop the '0'. So when calling to Tokyo from

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-18403271676536988852009-09-28T08:22:00.005+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.423+08:00

Still reeling from yesterday's nightmare of hunting for a place to stay.So my plan for today:Walk around Ikebukuro, Ueno, maybe the Yoyogi Park to find accommodation. Bummer. And I was thinking of going to DisneySea today :(

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-4402676221806579272009-09-28T02:37:00.033+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.424+08:00

It startles me to discover how different the same city can seem, once you throw yourself off the tourist circuit.It's one thing to observe the quirky Japanese culture and be amazed by it, another to as they say, do as the Romans do.I've been here what, 36 hours? But it feels way longer than that. I've done so many things out of the ordinary — not to mention out of character. And I'm exhausted

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-774576972802788562009-09-27T07:53:00.006+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.425+08:00

I hate turbulence. Especially the kind that creeps up on you. It's like, one moment you're unbuckling your seatbelt, getting up to go to the loo.Then the plane drops 50 storeys....1360km more to go, 1 hour 43 minutes left to pass. Can't wait to touch down.

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-43745387272358021052009-09-27T07:51:00.005+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.426+08:00

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-27950597701923737742009-09-24T22:25:00.011+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.426+08:00

I sprained my pinkie toe.I know!!! This close to Tokyo???!!!I've a really bad habit of walking into walls. Usually I end up with a huge bump on my forehead. But today's wall is only half a wall, it reaches up to my mid-thigh. It's too low to hit my thick skull. And so my left foot became next in the line of fire.Bummer.My flat shoes will stick out like an ugly sore thumb in Shibuya.

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436885353437012480.post-81081814254977660502009-09-24T07:08:00.011+08:002009-10-14T11:30:16.427+08:00

5am. I can't sleep.One. I'm really excited about Tokyo and two, a little nervous.I'm planning to get lost in the city. Not gonna set an itinerary. Not booking ahead into any hotel.This way, I figure, I'll get to see all of Tokyo. The touristy side, the every day side and any surprises it throws my way. But that's not to say I haven't done any homework.I know where to find Harajuku Girls and I

Sue Ann Hohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15340422212673776528noreply@blogger.com0