Whirlwind In A Mama's Head

 It's time to go to Kobe! From Tokyo to Kobe we reserved seats on the shinkansen departing from Tokyo Station, and changing to a Limited Express Train at Shin-Osaka Station, and got off at Sannomiya Station. If you have the option, reserve seats on the right side of the train so you can hopefully see Mt. Fuji on the way. If not, then just walk to the space in between the cars and use the window there. We were so lucky to get a clear sky that day and were able to see the white-tipped mountain in all its glory! Now about luggage. With a baby and a couple of seniors in the group, I didn't want to drag large suitcases on the street and on the train, so we made use of the TaQBin (delivery) service from Lyf Hotel in Tokyo to Monterey Kobe Hotel in Kobe. The service is normally 'next day service' as long as you drop it off before their pick-up time. You can check with the hotel concierge to see what their schedule is like, it's different from hotel to hotel. Give yourselve...

Some of our family photos by Alvan Giovanni

When I learnt that the Easter and Eid holidays in 2024 are so close together and are almost combined, I proposed to the big family that we go Sakura chasing in Japan. The timing couldn't be more perfect! We eagerly bought the cheapest full-service airline we could get to Tokyo and back with transit in Taipei. Taipei Taoyuan Airport Our flight with China Airlines left the Soekarno-Hatta Airport at around 2 am, and we arrived in Taipei early in the morning. We walked around for a bit and headed to the food court, ordered a bit of breakfast, and then I thought of the multiple credit cards in my purse and decided to see if any of those could give me lounge access at the airport. And it turned out that some did! The Oriental Club Lounge in Taipei is accessible with JCB's Lounge Key and we all were able to go in. Yay! It was so much more comfortable to wait in the lounge with free food and drinks. :D Thank you, JCB! (Don't forget to get your free donut and drink at Krispy Kreme T...

In the few times I've visited Japan, I've tried several different accommodations. I thought that it would be good to write a review for each of them. The review will be sorted by area. Prices listed was for the time that we stayed there. Tokyo Name: DASH Living Tsukiji Address:  Japan, 〒104-0045 Tokyo, Chuo City, Tsukiji, 6 Chome−1−4 Type: Apartment Hotel Price: IDR 19,760,118 for 6 nights Time: April 2024 Pros: Studio apartment large enough to fit a sofa and dining table comfortably. Kitchen is available, large refrigerator, washing machine available and the bathroom ventilation system has drying function!  Heated toilet seat, and bathtub. Walking distance to Tsukiji Market. Cons: No JR stations nearby, no luggage storage, and no ta-q-bin services. But, they were able to receive our luggages when we sent them over from our previous hotel. Conclusion: Considering the sakura season, the price is relatively low. It's okay for a longer-term stay but not as convenient to ta...

  Planning a trip to North Sumatra? Check out my posts from our trip in 2023! We did a road trip from Medan to Simalem, then continued to Sibea-bea and Samosir Island before going back to Medan. I've also compiled a list of food to try in Medan for you. Just click the links below!

The Tjong A Fie Mansion was the residence of the Tjong A Fie family now turned into a museum. However, one of his grandaughters still lives there.  Tjong A Fie was a prominent figure in Medan, a successful businessman with connections with the Sultan of Deli. If you visit the mansion, they offer a guided tour and you can learn about the history of the family as well as see all the vintage tools and equipment they used to use. If you have time in Medan this is definitely worth visiting :)

  If you talk to anyone about Medan, the number one thing that comes up is definitely the food. The distinguished Chinese-Medanese cuisine is known to Indonesians as exceptionally delicious. Just as famous is the Batak cuisine with its pork dishes and others. Now that we've been to Medan, these are our recommendations! Macehat Coffee Macehat is famous for their Avocado Coffee drink, but they also offer snacks and coffee beans. I've heard so many rave reviews for this coffee shop, but my final verdict is: it's ok, just so so.