The Apple's Diary!

It has been a 2 years hiatus since I posted an entry in this blog space. I have moved onto another social media platform Instagram for tracking my food experience and my new found love - running.  I have also used Facebook to keep a copy of my 2 little boys' growing up journey. Today, over the morning radio, I overheard the female DJ's recounting her younger days of writing and she quoted "To write is living it twice". So profound and yet so true. We write so events could be recorded and could be revisited as history. Not knowing the history, how can one know the blessings he has received today? Not knowing the history, how can one have hope for the future? Writing is Living Twice.

We booked an early flight out from Tokyo to Bangkok. The night before when we approached the concierge about booking the cab to airport, we were told that it would be better to buy the coach tickets at the Shinjuku Bus Terminal. It would be more convenient and direct. So the husband set off on his own, exploring the subway instead of walking the long distance out. It was a good thing we did that. Because the next morning, we needed to set off so early 7am and it started to rain again. We skipped the breakfast and ran out to the nearest train station which was Higashi-Shinjuku station. However, the way to the right entrance also took a while and the exit to the bus terminal also took a while. As usual, we ran all the way and Jonathan suddenly said he need to use the wash room. So husband ran with him to the toilet while me and Matthew went to check in. All the running in Japan was a good form of exercise. We boarded the bus smoothly and was on our way to the International Airport.

We finally got to wake up at our own timing and a slow and leisure breakfast without the need to rush off to catch a train or bus. This was our final day in Tokyo and we were determined to make it count. So how can one step into Tokyo and not take their complicated metro trains, with multiple subway lines and huge interchange? We got our information from the hotel concierge and we went off to the Shinjuku train station to get to Tokyo Skytree. After finding out how to purchase a ticket and which line to take, we followed the directional sign to the right platform. Shinjuku interchange is huge! We walked for a good 10-15minutes before we arrived at the right platform to take the train (Oedo line) and changed subsequently to Asakusa line. The train ride was pleasant and there was very clear information when the train would depart, the terminal station of the line and the next station's name. We arrived Tokyo Skytree after 30-45 train ride. It wasn't too difficult but there

After a good night sleep, we were ready to go for our Hakone 2D1N trip. Hakone is a little further away from Tokyo and we were advised to get the Hakone FreePass which would cover all transport modes in Hakone. That evening after we reached Shinjuku from Disneyland, after our dinner, we went to search for the Odakyu Office to buy our FreePass. The officer at the counter, told me that I only needed to pay for the 2 adults and kids travel free. But what we did not know is the "Romance Car" which was basically the train from Shinjuku to Hakone, needed separate tickets. So when we stepped into the Romance Car, we were filled many question marks and we had to change seats three times before a conductor came to explain to us. So we paid for our tickets and finally settled down. This was the same day which Typhoon hit central Japan and I had friends and relatives asking if we were okay. selfie after settling down the boy seemed oblivious to the hoohaa on the tickets