Okutama

Sorry I haven't been blogging.


Haagen-Dazs had a 500yen ($6.50) for three scoops on a cone the other weekend but I didn't manage to try it.

Have had Rum Raisin (260yen) mini-cups from the 24-hour supermarket next to the dorm though. Ice cream should be eaten *even* in the cold. I was also recalling how little ice cream I actually have back in hot sunny humid Singapore.

Went on another nature trail to escape from the bustle of the city - this time in Okutama - where a 10km route ends at a large, dammed lake with a moutainous scenery that everyone remarked looked like somewhere in China (even I felt the same despite never having stepped foot in China).

Some pictures from the hike - sorry if they bore you - too lazy to type captions so guess for yourselves what they are =)






wasabi shu!

Finally, yes I have heard of the terrible, terrible earthquake that hit China - it's on the news every day here with live footage of people crying for help and sorrowful exclamations. Very sad - hope these people can return to their normal lives as soon as possible.

...

It's another cold day in what is already mid-May (!) - drizzled all day. Train was delayed by a few minutes (which is a big deal here), which led me to be a few minutes late for class this morning despite brisk walking through the underpasses from the station to the school (to escape the rain and the morning chill).

Wanted to upload some pictures so that I could talk about them but for some reason my laptop's not reading the SD card. Will try again tomorrow.

Thursdays are my short days! =)

Mitake Hike (Golden Week)

Just when we all thought it was getting warmer (it did), it's suddenly getting colder over the next few days again (tomorrow's high is a chilly 14 degrees). Japan has to count as one of those places where the weather changes quickly even within a day.

Golden week flew by faster than I could say "休み！"

Saturday: Mori Tower (Roppongi Hills), Dinner
Sunday: Mitake Hike (pics below)
Monday: Shinrinkoen (Cycling)
Tuesday: Akihabara, Harajuku, Ikebukuro

Sunday and Monday wore us out so decided to sleep in late on Tuesday and do *some* work before going downtown in the evening.

Mitake Hike (4 May)

"Mount Mitake (Mitakesan) is one of the many highlights of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which covers more than 1250 square kilometers of forested mountains, hills, gorges and some rural towns in the prefectures of Yamanashi, Saitama, Nagano and Tokyo.
Besides a popular shrine, Mount Mitake offers various walking and hiking opportunities in virtually unspoiled nature. Located in the Okutama region, the westernmost part of Tokyo, the mountain can be reached in less than two hours from central Tokyo, and is accordingly popular among people looking for a break from the city. "

Had planned to go to Meiji Shrine but it was hard to pass on a chance to finally get out of the city (but not exactly escape the crowd) for some fresh, mountain air! With other Singaporeans and their friends.

Some parts got quite steep and slippery but children and old folks thronged the place anyway too with their walking sticks and backpacks - so it shouldn't have been too much of a problem for us young people (right?).



About 2 hours' journey from Asakadai.






Cable car - a short but really steep ride that looked more like a rollercoaster ride

More like a densha than cable car


Climb, climb



20 minutes of steep downhill steps (and later back uphill) to reach this small waterfall


The climb back










Group pic before the hike - most of the smiles would have been replaced by tired faces by the end of it all

Golden week begins..

... and it is getting warm over here. Feels like Genting (for those who have been there) now, even with the drizzle today.

If you haven't heard, the weird weather continues as Hokkaido thermometers went above the 30 degree mark yesterday (!!), after a rather cold winter. What's happening to the world?!

Will post more soon!