Getting Ready
Being connected is getting more and more important (?). Indeed, I guess its ease of availability has created greater dependency, hence a greater "want" rather than the actual need.
This is something extra that I brought along with me this time... the wifi router (
https://www.changirecommends.com/owifi.aspx)
It has certainly improved my connectivity to the world when away from home.
I'm no longer in the mercy of the hotel's provision.
Another important thing to pack is medication! In fact, the number of items that go into the pack has increased over time as the need increases :( Hm... should I attribute this to old age?
While it's always best to keep these items untouched during the trip; unfortunately, they came in extremely handy during the trip!
Here's another "old school" not-so-cool item that I'll bring with me for overseas trips - in particular in trips that I know I would be buying some things. Many would say that the smartphone would do a much better job (with an even more accurate conversion). Nevertheless, the estimation from this list helped! Moreover, it is independent on the power availability of the phone!
Ready for boarding
Just read about the security advice of not posting photos of the boarding pass.
Well, after examining what I had posted, I think it should be quite safe!
(LINK:
Boarding pass photo experiment that should make every traveller nervous)
In flight...
Something different that gave a Japanese taste :)
Oh yes, it came with a mini ice cream tub, too :)
Caught up with the latest Doraemon movie.
I was trying to catch up with my sleep... anyway, watched the first 20 min and last 20 min of the movie - roughly, I knew what's happening :)
Apart from this, also caught up with 4 episodes of the Doraemon cartoon sequel.
Basically, my air time was devoted to my idol :)
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPtam_mNZdA)
Upon Arrival....
An essential cost-saver when travelling on our own in Japan is certainly the JR Rail Pass!
Thanks to TS who did the estimation and CN who made all the arrangements to purchase and even showing me where to get the JR Rail pass activated!
(Just learnt that JR Rail Pass is also available at Changi Airport! See
LINK)
From this point, this 'evergreen' railway map becomes extremely handy :)
We got our JR Pass activated and made our way to the hotel @ Ueno.
While it's not the first time I travel with a JR Pass, I was initially confused after receiving the reserved seat ticket and thought that the JR Pass would entitle us reserve a seat in all trains! (regardless of type). Soon, I learn that seat reservation is only available in shinkansen and limited express (which we can also choose to go without reserving a seat). As for local trains, well - it's the same treatment for all unless we bought the ticket with "Green Car".
Dinner @ Yoshinoya, Ueno
Our dinner after exiting from the station, before making our way to the hotel.
Checking in @ Hotel MYSTAYS Ueno Iriyaguchi
(Website: https://www.mystays.com/en/hotel/tokyo/hotel-mystays-ueno-iriyaguchi/)
Thanks to Google, we found the Hotel despite the fact that we left by the wrong exit.
This is a no-frill hotel that does not provide room service (such as daily cleaning up of the rooms). Coincidentally, we were given in the same room (Room 312) when returned to Tokyo towards the end of the trip. Indeed, we were more prepared when putting up in this hotel for the last 3 nights, in terms of maintaining the cleanliness and tidiness of the room.
