Japan Trip Diary (Day 10 - 11)

Day 10: 21 April 2006

My friends Jacqueline returned to Hong Kong today and Eleanor went back to Singapore today. The house suddenly seemed really quiet with them gone. Anyway Melissa, Arlene and me woke up at 4.45 am to go to the Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort. It was my first time going to a ski resort so I was really excited. For many days, we had been looking at the weather report which told us it will rain today. My friends were apprehensive about whether we should proceed with the trip but I just told them we should just go by faith! So we booked the trip and even when we booked, we were told it will snow early in the morning and rain for the rest of the day. So I just prayed against the rain but since I hadn't seen snow before, that'd be really cool.

We took the shinkansen to the resort station and was told that it was supposed to snow but no signs of snow showed up though it rained a little. We rented our gears and proceeded to take the cable car to the ski zone. And you know what? The moment we stepped into the cable car, it started snowing!!! Praise Jesus!!! And it actually snowed for an entire day!!! I really like what one particular report said, "STRANGELY, the forecast told us that it will snow." I really believe that Jesus made it snow just for me! So blessed!

I enrolled myself for a snowboarding lesson whilst my friends went off for their snowboarding and skiing. I failed my snowboarding lesson and actually gave up half-way. I even gave the remaining of my lesson to my friend who wanted to learn how to do this turn thing. I decided snowboarding really aint the thing for me. So off I went to build... my very first SNOWMAN - SNOWY. *beam* And I even rented a sleigh and happily played with the snow for the entire day. I really enjoyed the scenary and the snow. Strangely, I didn't feel cold until it was time to go home. My friends were really happy that it snowed and told me that I am so lucky... that throughout the trip, even though the weather was supposed to be against me but yet I still managed to see Mount Fuji, Tokyo Tower, sakuras and now it even snow when it's already spring! I told them it's not luck... it's the favor of God!!! Hallelujah!

I also enjoyed the food at the Gala resort tremendously... the place actually didn't look that good but they serve the best cheese garlic pizza I've ever eaten in my entire life... I miss it already... sighz...

After the resort, we took the shinkansen back to Meguro (that's where Kimura lives leh...) and had spaghetti for dinner. Japanese spaghettis is really good leh... I had the season special which is this cabonara with salmon and half-cooked egg. Very yummy. Then I went to buy some bread and more food items to bring back home the next day. More importantly I bought another strawberry shortcake for breakfast. We headed back home and said our goodbyes (as I was leaving very early in the morning). Sort of sad that the trip is coming to an end...

Day 11: 22 April 2006

I woke up at 5.30 am. One thing about Japan - they have really long days. At 5am, you have a really really bright day already. I showered, packed my remaining items, had my strawberry shortcake and headed for the airport. The trains were already quite packed during this time and I was 'suffering' from the burden of my purchases on my backpack... Halfway through the train-ride from Ebisu to Nippori, the strawberries decided to react and I had to make a short stop at Shinbashi before continuing my journey... When I reached Nippori, I was shocked to see long queues of people queuing for the Keisei Skyliner. Praying, I queued and was able to get my ticket fast. I took the 1 hr journey to Terminal 2 and again faced a VERY VERY crowded airport in Narita. Squeezing my way through to locate the baggage collection courier company, I finally collected my mailed luggage and made my way to check in.

I got another shock at the check-in counter. I was told that my connecting flight time in Bangkok is insufficient and they will have to change me to a much earlier flight - which means I have only 30 minutes to get myself through customs and immigration and to the boarding gate!!! Wah.. really rushed man... thank God for His favor for this man let me go to the front of queue for immigration. Once I board the flight, I was really happy for I have an entire row to myself! And during the flight, the pilot announced excitedly that we could see Mt. Fuji for those seated at the right side... and you know what? I was on the right side!!! Praise God right? I even managed to get a 20 minutes massage in Bangkok airport before my flight back to Singapore! So yep now I'm back and missing Japan very much.. the weather, the food, the people, the onsen... must definitely go back agaiN!!!

"Faith is not merely your holding on to God--it is God holding on to you. He will not let you go!" - E. Stanley Jones.