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Asia 2024

April - May 2024
We are going to visit Kyoto, Osaka, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Yokohama, Muroran, Kushiro, Kodiak, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria and Seattle this time. Read more
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  • Asia 2024

    At YVR

    April 2 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Our trip starts at Vancouver Airport today. We came to the airport early because daddy has to work tomorrow; we want him to drop us off early then go home and rest. Because we are early, the lineup is not long and the check-in process and passing through security check are very smooth. Symeon is also very helpful and handle all the luggage for me! 😍

    We haven’t fly through international terminal in Vancouver for a long period of time. Due to the pandemic and the restriction, we haven’t been to Asia for 5 years and Symeon still remember this terminal! He loves to see the fish here!    Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 2

    Missed the connecting flight

    April 4 in Taiwan ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We did missing a flight before mainly because we were having too fun and went to the airport late. This time it is because technical problem of the first flight and we missed the second flight.

    I originally were worry about nothing to do while waiting for the connecting flight for 3 hours. Symeon even plan to attend online lesson while waiting. We final don’t even wait for 1 minute.

    When our first flight landed, our second flight departed. I appreciate China airline sent an attendant to guide us through the process of getting on the new connection flight. We made it and there is only half an hour delay in total after riding the second flight. We are the last person to board the Ōsaka flight at 9am, as our 8:20am flight was gone. We had to run in the Taipei airport to make it to the 9am flight though!    Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 2

    Big country!

    April 4 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    It only takes 2.5 hours from Taipei airport to arrive Kansai airport. But because of the crowd of arriving people (Kansai is a very busy tourist spot), it took about an hour to pass through immigration and clear custom.

    As most people visited Japan know that the first hour after arrived in Japan is a busy hour. We were busy at the Kansai airport today too.

    Because it is a long trip for us this time, we have packed luggage for different purpose. After we came out, the first thing we do is to arrange delivery of luggage we don’t need to the last hotel of this leg.

    Then we go look for airport shuttle to Kyoto (our first stop). We feel lucky to use Klook.com to book for the shuttle and it is easy to use (just to scan the QR code to exchange for ticket).

    We then went to exchange some Japanese Yen. The rate is not the best at the airport but it is very convenient. Symeon exchanged some money he saved the last couple months here too!

    After we have done everything we need, we were very thirsty, so we went to the vending machine to get a drink. When the drink dispensed from the machine, we discover that the drink (a bottle of milk tea) is HOT. Symeon usually picks good drink from a vending machine, but this time, he didn’t have luck to pick something he likes so far!

    Before boarding to the shuttle bus, I went to the washroom and Symeon browsed at the toy dispensing machine. After using the washroom, I went to the sink to wash my hands. There is one tap dispensing soup, one tap for watering and one hole dispensing warm air to blow dry our hands. All of these in one sink. I am so admire to the Japanese creativity!

    Although this is not our first time in Japan, there is always new stuff here. It is very different from our country. We are “big country” here!    Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 2

    Kyoto Station

    April 4 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After got off the shuttle, we arrived Kyoto, but it is still a distance from our hotel. Therefore, we followed the crowd and went to a taxi stand. The line in the taxi stand was very long. The taxi stand was outside a mall, so we decided to go into the mall and take a look.

    In the mall, I told Symeon, “As we are having jet lag, we don’t need to eat at a regular hours. We just eat whenever we are hungry. This will help to avoid the crowds and lineup.” Symeon then picked a restaurant according to the display outside. I think Symeon had made a good choice!

    After eating, we did some shopping together. We bought some Kyoto tradition snack (just to try it). Symeon bought a hand fan with nice painting on it by himself. I bought some hair accessories too. I finally we went to a drug store. I personally love to browse drugstore to look at beauty product. I bought some cosmetic then we went back to the taxi stand for lineup. The line at the taxi stand was obviously shorter than earlier and everyone follows the rule and lineup.

    We got on a taxi heading to our hotel. The taxi drove around the build and I discovered that the mall we just went to is the famous Kyoto Station. We only browsed a small part of it though!

    P.S. We didn’t take lots of photo because our phone and device were very low in battery.    Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 2–4

    Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo

    April 4 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    This is our home for 2 night in Kyoto. Like most typical hotel in Japan, the room is not very big, but I like the idea of putting a bath room, the toilet room and the sink in one area and the bedroom can be separate by a large sliding door. The toilet is very cool too. Smart toilet is not a new concept, but this is the first time I see a basin at the toilet. After flushing the toilet, the tap will dispense water to wash the hands. Very neat!

    After we settled at the hotel, Symeon quickly charged his device and checked his games online. I unpacked something from the luggage, then I went for a shower. I showered at home more than 24 hours ago.

    I was really tired. I feel so good that I can sit on the stool to take shower. The water is very hot and the water pressure is very strong. I really enjoy the bathroom here.

    The location of this hotel is good too. It is on the Rokkaku-Dori. Lots of store and scenery spot nearby.

    After shower, I went down with Symeon for some snack, shop around and visiting the craw machine store too.

    We went to a convenience store and bought some snack and drink back to our room to enjoy. We went home early and sleep early! Long day tomorrow!    Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 3

    Bamboo Forest at Arashiyama

    April 5 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Arashiyama is the vacation spot for the Japanese noble in the ancient time. It is a popular tourist spot nowadays too. We woke up early in the morning and took taxi to the famous bamboo forest to beat the crowd. Symeon was able to do his Taekwondo green belt pattern at the scene too!Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 3

    Hozugawa River Boat Ride

    April 5 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We booked the earliest boat ride at the Hozugawa River. After we left the bamboo forest, we took the train for a rapid river boat ride. The boat ride starts at the upper area of the river and it will take us back to Arashiyama again.

    We took a couple times of rapid river ride in Canada before, but this one is way more gentle than the ones in Canada. We were lucky that it is right at the cherry blossoms season and it makes the scenery even more beautiful.

    Symeon loves to see the wildlife along the river and the weather is perfect for us today (not too hot, not too cold).

    At the end of the boat ride, when we arrived a more calm area, there was a boat driving to us and sold us some food. Symeon ordered some chips and I ordered some Japanese oden food and a bbq squid. They were delicious!

    After we parked at the bank of river at Arashiyama, it was time to get off our boat. We said goodbye and continue our journey!    Read more

  • Asia 2024
    Day 3

    Hiking at the Monkey Park

    April 5 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    After we got off the boat ride, we walked along Arashiyama, we passed by the famous Togetsukyo Bridge and arrived the bottom of the monkey park. It takes 20 minutes to hike up to the monkey park. It is a steep road to walk up.

    After 10 minutes, I was tired and my leg is so sore. Symeon went up to the park by himself. I sat down at a bench and wait for him. Therefore, we have to wait for him to update the footprint about the monkey park.

    I was happy to see him walking down and he took some picture of what he saw and shown them to me.

    After left the park, we went by the street and we ordered some skewer (I had a beef skewer and he had a tornado potato) and he also played with the shooting game.

    We scheduled a photo shooting session back to the city, so we decided to leave Arashiyama and go back to the main area in Kyoto early.

    We had a good time in Arashiyama. There are many more to do here, but we can’t do it all. We hope we have chance to visit here again.

    P.S. I feel like Kansai is a peaceful place to visit and I let Symeon go out by himself even at night. He feels good when he has the freedom to go out even only to a convenient store to buy a treat!    Read more

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