Lately I had been obsess with the Mod (alteration plugin for game) for Oblivion, that I visit the official webboard quite often to check out the new mods as well as the update of the older ones.
And tonight I came across this particular video from a signature of someone on that webboard.
This is probably an actual recording from within the game. I know for fact that the game engine has the ability to perform a task like this (which make arranging items on shelf or display such annoying task). I figured that the person who made this must utilize the Construction Set software and add all the books and contrapment before hands before play it in the game. The hard part is to defy the phychic in the game or rather 'the ball must be place at the right point so it won't move before being push' (which would happen, exp: if the object were place in the CS software in mid-air it will drop to the ground when the area is loaded up)
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Feeling Better
Oh... well... No well-wishers left any comments but still... I know a few of you guys care so here is the update.
My back is feeling a lot better, still felt lik it's 30% more to back to normal. Last night I had to came to work to substitute for one of the operator. So this means I have to stay put in at my station at all time. Not good for the hurt back that's for sure but I survive.
Today my mom calling me from in front of my room, which has the effect of jerking me from my half-awaked, dream like state to fully awake. And to what reason she wake me up? She wants to know is I have spare computer-to-monitor-cable left. In my groggy, backaching (move to lay on my back to face her), and parched throat state, I croaked out no or something similar and get back to sleep. Since I will be working tonight as it's the begin of my three days shift again. I wondered what's the important of this cable that she had to wake me up to ask for...
My back is feeling a lot better, still felt lik it's 30% more to back to normal. Last night I had to came to work to substitute for one of the operator. So this means I have to stay put in at my station at all time. Not good for the hurt back that's for sure but I survive.
Today my mom calling me from in front of my room, which has the effect of jerking me from my half-awaked, dream like state to fully awake. And to what reason she wake me up? She wants to know is I have spare computer-to-monitor-cable left. In my groggy, backaching (move to lay on my back to face her), and parched throat state, I croaked out no or something similar and get back to sleep. Since I will be working tonight as it's the begin of my three days shift again. I wondered what's the important of this cable that she had to wake me up to ask for...
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Oww... My Back TOT
Today was my day off from work... Eversince the new shift began I have 2 Real dayoffs. Afterall, when ones got home from work at 8AM (shift began at 19:30, which meant wake up at 16:00), ones simply do not have the energy to go out and about and call the following day 'Day Off'.
So today I planned to went out and about for some relaxation. I bent down in my shower to pick up shaving cream bottle and felt a slight stabbing pain in my lower left side of back. I didn't felt the full affect of this at first, which is a good thing since I could finish my shaving. But once I got out? Man it HURT!!!!
I could barely walk straight not to mention sitting up right without twitching from the pain that keep shooting up every 5 minutes...
After contemplating whether I am in the condition to go out and enjoy myself or not... The answer is probably barely, I could go again later in the week, and this might be a sign (other than I need exercise) that today might not be the good day to go...
It seems that celebrex help a bit, I hope it will healed up by tomorrow since I will be back in the office again TOT
So today I planned to went out and about for some relaxation. I bent down in my shower to pick up shaving cream bottle and felt a slight stabbing pain in my lower left side of back. I didn't felt the full affect of this at first, which is a good thing since I could finish my shaving. But once I got out? Man it HURT!!!!
I could barely walk straight not to mention sitting up right without twitching from the pain that keep shooting up every 5 minutes...
After contemplating whether I am in the condition to go out and enjoy myself or not... The answer is probably barely, I could go again later in the week, and this might be a sign (other than I need exercise) that today might not be the good day to go...
It seems that celebrex help a bit, I hope it will healed up by tomorrow since I will be back in the office again TOT
Thursday, May 25, 2006
The Return of Ex-Friend MD
Tonight I receive an unexpected email from an ex-friend of mine MD (The third guy I mention in that post) with the subject sn change (he boosted about how he keep using the free AOL cds that were given away for fre in supermarket which give you free 3 months account of AOL. The practise he had been doing for the pass 3-4 years I believe).
Inside the email it stated that he had found a way for me to redeem myself and good wishing ot me and my family.
I expected that this means he need to buy some *software* from BKK again. This means I would get money from sending him stuff. So I reply to him that I have naught to require redeeming but I will hear what he wants to say.
I wondered how will he reply...
Inside the email it stated that he had found a way for me to redeem myself and good wishing ot me and my family.
I expected that this means he need to buy some *software* from BKK again. This means I would get money from sending him stuff. So I reply to him that I have naught to require redeeming but I will hear what he wants to say.
I wondered how will he reply...
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Photo, Finally!!
I know I had been slacking a bit in doing the photo and so on... But I was working so I wasn't really in the mood... Again but here it is, my new toys
The pictures on the phone are from my collections from deviantART.com
The picture below is of my new mp3 player mention in my Japan trip post.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
It Finally Happen!!
The almost impossible had finally happen! I thought it would took longer but it really did happen!
No it wasn't that I finally got myself a man of my own (Darn!) But I finally cough up the dough to buy a new mobile phone :D
After much consideration and contemplation, I finally reach the conviction of buying Sony Ericcson w810i. It's price has surprising droping after the first week of May and seems to keep on decreasing which means I paid almost three thousand baht less than when it's first came out :D
I also bought the obligatory accessory of screen shield cover and black silicon protective case. I had add several game and a bunch of songs it to the phone :) It will also be my alarm clock as well :P
Portrait of the phone will be coming in a few days ;P
No it wasn't that I finally got myself a man of my own (Darn!) But I finally cough up the dough to buy a new mobile phone :D
After much consideration and contemplation, I finally reach the conviction of buying Sony Ericcson w810i. It's price has surprising droping after the first week of May and seems to keep on decreasing which means I paid almost three thousand baht less than when it's first came out :D
I also bought the obligatory accessory of screen shield cover and black silicon protective case. I had add several game and a bunch of songs it to the phone :) It will also be my alarm clock as well :P
Portrait of the phone will be coming in a few days ;P
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Japan Trip in Restrospect and The Day at Disney Sea
At first I am had gathered some thoughts to be put into this retrospect post but those thoughts has elude me now... So I had come up with some new ones in regarding this post.
As I mention in my earlier post, I wasn't exactly thrill about this trip but rather the chance of being on a trip abroad. But I was thrill nontheless, it would be my second times in Japan and this times I would be old enough to remembered where I had been.
Overall I must say that it was a good trip. It was not a shopping tour but sightseeing tour so it seems that due to the currency and other factors the program seems somewhat crammed into the limited days to make the entire trip effordable. The results was that we felt rather beats by the end of the day to go out from the hotel to explore the city. Which is quite ashame thinking that I would be able to go into some ramen place and try the real Japan ramen, while in fact when I finally entered the hotel room I rarely came out at all.
One thing that you would notice while in Japan is how clean it is in all the places. I actually saw a few janitors diligently sweep cigarrett butts and small paper pieces to clean the place up. The cleanliness of the place also apply to most toilet as well. Also 99% of the urinal that I had been in (what can I say... I seems to have small bladder and the weather was cold) use light sensors at both the urinal and the washing sink. And some looks as though it's been there for 10 years at least.
Perhaps I might edit to add more thoughts but for now here is the link to see the photo we took during the trip.
I was not going into much details of my day at Disney sea in the early post because it was quite lengthy already, however I also want to describe it in more details regarding the rides so here it is. You can read about the event that lead me to wandering in the park alone here :P
If I remember correctly I began by walking toward the left side of the park from Mediterranean Harbor into the American Waterfront, and onwards to Lost River Delta and then into Port Discovery area, then going into the mountain in Mysterious Island to see the Little Mermaid's kids area. Then looking toward the Arabian Coast which would house Aladdin and Sinbad, I turn away toward the Mediterranean Harbor again. All the while looking around to see if I could find my family
I finally reach Mysterious Island again and decided to try the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride to get out of the rain for awhile. In the que, I met several people from our tour group as well. After waiting in lines for about 20 min. it's my turn. We went into a circular shape box that looks like the old brass submarine box and off we went. There was a narration as well but it was in japanese. The ride is quite pretty with bubble floating about on the looking glass. The ride seems to base from the book of the same name focusing on the part where caption Nemo took the professor out on the sea-stride session, with the lost city of atlantis, the giant squid and ship wreck ground. At first I was convince we're actually underwater, thinking it must be quite difficult to looking after the set underwater, but upon better inspection it turns out that the looking glass was double decked and filled with water to provide the illusion.
Next I was off to the Lost River Delta to the Indiana Jones rides. I had heard about this one before on TV but this would be the first times to try it. The que seems to be quite long but actually moving steadily, near the end of line into the ride there was a safety movie in silence black and white playing on the wall complete with sound affects to make it seems like it's from an old reels movie projector. The ride itself was on a jeep shape car, I have trouble putting my sizable backpack into the safety pouch in front of me as well as putting on the safety belt since I am not sure where it is! I started to panic slightly when the car started to took off but it seems that the alarm was set when the seat that has been taken but did not use the belt. So the staff came rush in and help me putting the bag away as well as helping me with the belt. The ride itself is quite grand, inside it was quite spacious and a lot of look at. The story itself is quite new although at the end of the ride it use the trademark giant rolling stone to did the drop down with photograph moment to be purchase at the exit :)
Then I walked through Port Discovery section into the Mediterranean Harbor and walk into the Fortress. I forgot to name but it was decked out Italian renaissance style with several rooms displaying the science and discovery of that era. They have one room that shows the Time-pendullum, illusion painting, alchemy, planterium with hand-crank for each planet that you can play with, and camera obscura which reflect the sight from the harbour area. It was also connected to the pier which has a small water playground for kids and a ship to explore. This is the place I regret the most for not having my camera with me T^T
After walking out of the Fortress, I walked toward the Arabian Coast and enter the Sinbad rides. This is not the Sinbad from the cinema featured but rather the traditional story from the Arabian Nights. The ride is on a boat which sail into different room with mechanic dolls performing on the story (think Smallworld here). There were a few room that was dark to represent stormy sea and night time which made me wish I have a hunky man for a quick make out session instead of just hugging my backpack...
Then I think I took the boat ride from around there back to Lost River Deltas to explore a bit more. Eventually I found my mom again as she was about to board the monorail. After a few discussion and pried my camera back from her only to found out that the battery has ran out. She recommend the Journey to The Center of the Earth rides that I avoid at first, thinking it was one of the *wet* ride but since she said that it was not and that it's quite good. I retreat back from the line and made my way to Mysterious Island again.
The Journey to The Center of the Earth rides was probabaly base on Jules Verne's book by the same name with a nice touch of the ride, for before we were to board the rides' car we were to go into the elevator to mock the descending 1,000 feets below the surface. The ride itself is like a minor rollarcoaster with some fast moving area and drop but overall it was quite fun indeed.
Then after thinking what the heck I decided to also try the StormRider rides. This one is in Port Discovery built and design with a retro modern Jules Verne style with lots of domes and brass fittings and futuristic design, it also the design of the StormRider ride which located in the Center for Weather Control building. This is a flight simulator with you sitting in the observation deck of an advanced flying laboratory into the eye of a storm with the mission to defused it with the new storm ray gun. I would not spoiled it for everyone but it is one of the Must-Ride rides in the park :)
As I mention in my earlier post, I wasn't exactly thrill about this trip but rather the chance of being on a trip abroad. But I was thrill nontheless, it would be my second times in Japan and this times I would be old enough to remembered where I had been.
Overall I must say that it was a good trip. It was not a shopping tour but sightseeing tour so it seems that due to the currency and other factors the program seems somewhat crammed into the limited days to make the entire trip effordable. The results was that we felt rather beats by the end of the day to go out from the hotel to explore the city. Which is quite ashame thinking that I would be able to go into some ramen place and try the real Japan ramen, while in fact when I finally entered the hotel room I rarely came out at all.
One thing that you would notice while in Japan is how clean it is in all the places. I actually saw a few janitors diligently sweep cigarrett butts and small paper pieces to clean the place up. The cleanliness of the place also apply to most toilet as well. Also 99% of the urinal that I had been in (what can I say... I seems to have small bladder and the weather was cold) use light sensors at both the urinal and the washing sink. And some looks as though it's been there for 10 years at least.
Perhaps I might edit to add more thoughts but for now here is the link to see the photo we took during the trip.
Click Here I was in one of the photo ;)
I was not going into much details of my day at Disney sea in the early post because it was quite lengthy already, however I also want to describe it in more details regarding the rides so here it is. You can read about the event that lead me to wandering in the park alone here :P
If I remember correctly I began by walking toward the left side of the park from Mediterranean Harbor into the American Waterfront, and onwards to Lost River Delta and then into Port Discovery area, then going into the mountain in Mysterious Island to see the Little Mermaid's kids area. Then looking toward the Arabian Coast which would house Aladdin and Sinbad, I turn away toward the Mediterranean Harbor again. All the while looking around to see if I could find my family
I finally reach Mysterious Island again and decided to try the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride to get out of the rain for awhile. In the que, I met several people from our tour group as well. After waiting in lines for about 20 min. it's my turn. We went into a circular shape box that looks like the old brass submarine box and off we went. There was a narration as well but it was in japanese. The ride is quite pretty with bubble floating about on the looking glass. The ride seems to base from the book of the same name focusing on the part where caption Nemo took the professor out on the sea-stride session, with the lost city of atlantis, the giant squid and ship wreck ground. At first I was convince we're actually underwater, thinking it must be quite difficult to looking after the set underwater, but upon better inspection it turns out that the looking glass was double decked and filled with water to provide the illusion.
Next I was off to the Lost River Delta to the Indiana Jones rides. I had heard about this one before on TV but this would be the first times to try it. The que seems to be quite long but actually moving steadily, near the end of line into the ride there was a safety movie in silence black and white playing on the wall complete with sound affects to make it seems like it's from an old reels movie projector. The ride itself was on a jeep shape car, I have trouble putting my sizable backpack into the safety pouch in front of me as well as putting on the safety belt since I am not sure where it is! I started to panic slightly when the car started to took off but it seems that the alarm was set when the seat that has been taken but did not use the belt. So the staff came rush in and help me putting the bag away as well as helping me with the belt. The ride itself is quite grand, inside it was quite spacious and a lot of look at. The story itself is quite new although at the end of the ride it use the trademark giant rolling stone to did the drop down with photograph moment to be purchase at the exit :)
Then I walked through Port Discovery section into the Mediterranean Harbor and walk into the Fortress. I forgot to name but it was decked out Italian renaissance style with several rooms displaying the science and discovery of that era. They have one room that shows the Time-pendullum, illusion painting, alchemy, planterium with hand-crank for each planet that you can play with, and camera obscura which reflect the sight from the harbour area. It was also connected to the pier which has a small water playground for kids and a ship to explore. This is the place I regret the most for not having my camera with me T^T
After walking out of the Fortress, I walked toward the Arabian Coast and enter the Sinbad rides. This is not the Sinbad from the cinema featured but rather the traditional story from the Arabian Nights. The ride is on a boat which sail into different room with mechanic dolls performing on the story (think Smallworld here). There were a few room that was dark to represent stormy sea and night time which made me wish I have a hunky man for a quick make out session instead of just hugging my backpack...
Then I think I took the boat ride from around there back to Lost River Deltas to explore a bit more. Eventually I found my mom again as she was about to board the monorail. After a few discussion and pried my camera back from her only to found out that the battery has ran out. She recommend the Journey to The Center of the Earth rides that I avoid at first, thinking it was one of the *wet* ride but since she said that it was not and that it's quite good. I retreat back from the line and made my way to Mysterious Island again.
The Journey to The Center of the Earth rides was probabaly base on Jules Verne's book by the same name with a nice touch of the ride, for before we were to board the rides' car we were to go into the elevator to mock the descending 1,000 feets below the surface. The ride itself is like a minor rollarcoaster with some fast moving area and drop but overall it was quite fun indeed.
Then after thinking what the heck I decided to also try the StormRider rides. This one is in Port Discovery built and design with a retro modern Jules Verne style with lots of domes and brass fittings and futuristic design, it also the design of the StormRider ride which located in the Center for Weather Control building. This is a flight simulator with you sitting in the observation deck of an advanced flying laboratory into the eye of a storm with the mission to defused it with the new storm ray gun. I would not spoiled it for everyone but it is one of the Must-Ride rides in the park :)
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Into Oblivion and The Journey into Dreamfall
Oblivion
After much contemplation, I eventually bought The Elderscrolls IV: Oblivion. Due to the fact that it's predecessor Morrowwind give me motion sickness when played it over a period of time.
However, when I play Oblivion it does not happen once. I guess it's because of my better than average video card GF6600. The experince is quite similar to Morrowwind although I felt less *lost* than in MW.
As it seems to be a tradition in Elderscrolls games, you will began your journey as a prisoner before being release into the world where you can make yourself into whatever you wants to be. It is one of the more hardcore RPG game style than let's say Final Fantasy series. In ES series you can ignore the main quest and just roaming the world as you please.
The graphic in this game is phenomenal. The forest is so lush and green, add that to the Distance land feature (which allow you to see the land far away when the weather permits) the world looks alive and fresh. You will get all that only if you have good graphic card, I guess mine is quite decent and that's help with the motion sickness as well.
The real strenght of this game is the free roaming in the beautiful terrain, doubling that with the vast mod community that churn out thousands of mods to date. This game will have longer play time than most games. I enjoy visiting the ever robust Oblivion Mod forum on the official site. I must have downloaded close to 1Gb content from custom weapons, armors, quests, buildings, including graphic tweaks. One guy has made Cloud's sword from the movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent children into the game and another guy apply Dwarven texture on it. The result is one very cool looking bastard sword ever :)
Dreamfall
I have been waiting for this game eversince I heard the news of it. It finally arrive one day after I found that it is available to be download on eMule (of which I would not do since it's the size of one DVD!) as my regular game shop ring me up to tell me that it will be available tomorrow (from the dya that they call) which would be my day off as well, Yippie!!
After a quick trip to MBK mall where the game shop is, well not so quick since a friend of mine, Musicman, told me he would be in that area around the time that I go to the mall so we agreed to meet and catch up. But when I call him as I arrive at MBK, he SMS to tell me that he still in his apartment and will arrive later by one and half hour... Anyway this is about Dreamfall: The Longest Journey so I will quickly going into that :)
DF is a sort of sequal to the classic, one of the best adventure game ever made, The Longest Journey. The story take place 10 years after the first game, you will be playing as Zoë a young colleage dropout in South Africa who has a comfortable, yet without the drive to keep her going. Soon you (as Zoë) will stumble upon something that will forever change your life and had you travel Japan, US, Russia and to another world entirely in Arcadia where you will be in Marcuria, the Dark people city and a lot more.
The graphic looks great, although it seems static in some scene but overall it looks fantastic. The control take some getting used to as it is the case with most games that has been design for multiple platforms. Luckily I do own a gamepad and I ended up play the game with it the entire game. However, at first when I begin playing the game the graphic was all jumble up but the game still running. A quick search leads me to the official forum and found out that other people have the same problem as I do which came from the use of GF6600 card with the newest driver. After loading the older version of the driver and the game works fine.
The audio aspect of Dreamfall is top notch. The voice acting in particular is probably one of the best ever. Zoë speaks with distinct British accent while April spoke with her own American accent. While one male character in particular cause a slight stir in my groin with his handsome sultry voice in Irish accent ^^ To get a taste of his voice click here to download the guy's voice sample (not from the game)
The story touch on a lot of issues, it is mainly about faith which leads to many other issues up till the end. The playtime is quite short as I finish it in 3 days, probably spend about 15 hours or less. However, the ending is... it just leave things hanging loose in many levels but after I read some post on the official forum, I realize that Dreamfall meant to be just part one of the second part of the story. Hopefully, evetually part two will come out and tide up all the loose endS in this one. The writer/director of TLJ series Ragnar Tornquist has said in his blog that he will complete the story no matter what, whether through game or, god forbid, in case making the sequal is not an option he will do it by other means as he did owned it to us the fan to complete the story.
So to help making the sequal to Dreamfall (my I love that word) came as fast as possible please buy the game. Also to spread the words http://spreaddreamfall.ducaet.be/ please add this link to your site too :)
Friday, May 05, 2006
The Trip: Day Six, Tokyo->Narita->BKK
I woke up before the clock again... I guess I am getting used to the routine and then it's already time to go home... I had done all of my packing last night, and since I did not buy much (mostly small trinkets) I have rooms to spare although I think my mom forget my offers to store some stuff in my luggage.
Breakfast... If I remember correctly it's the same as the day before, we stay in the same hotel for a change afterall. This morning it is slight hectic, since it is our last day in Japan so we have to pack everything and load them into the coach bus.
Our first stop today is Narita-san temple, one of the oldest temple in Tokyo area. We arrive quite early that when I went into the main temple, there still performing the morning praying rituals. They put up floor to ceiling glass walls presumably to seperate the praying area from the front area which held the donation box and the shop.
When we walk out, me and my mom notice a group of people (who turns out to be a family of Thais, presumably from another tour group) hurdling over a shop. I went to see what they were browsing it turns out to be a charm shop manned by an elderly man. The charm is a golden color miniture hammer, like the one the god of fortune use for blessing with money. It the hammer part was hollowed and inside contain tiny golden charms in the shape of turtle, frog, gold nuggets, money, your chinese zodiac and dice. The price tag is 1,000 yens per piece, however since there were 4 people hurdling over the shop plus me and my mom, he cut the price to 800 yens and handed out the tiny frog for everone. Then my mom haggle a bit more to 700 yens and we all got that price :P I was the last one to get my hammer (as he will open the hammer to show each people what's inside as well as we have to choose them according to our chinese zodiac) I gestures him to put my frog in my hammer as well but he gestures back that the frog was meant to be put in wallet. So I take my wallet out to show him the despire state of my wallet. He gestured for me put the frog in the coin pocket and then I open it to show him that it's already ripped apart. He got a hearty laugh out of it (as was I XD)
Then we off to Umihotaru (Sea Firefly: comes from the planktons in the area which will emit fainted glow when the water surface is disturbed), an undersea tunnel connection Kawasaki to Kisarasu. Our guide told us that it took about 10 years to built this as a relieve measure to reduce the traffic in the inner area of Tokyo. However, since it took 10 years to built, during that period other measures has to be use, as a results the tunnel has became more of a sightseeing spot (it has a rest area before the tunnel went under). On one floor there were a bunch of gajapong stands and I tried a few of them :) One of the mother in the group seems to take a liking to it as well as she tried quite a few machine :)
Afterthat we stop for lunch at a Shabu Shabu place. It was... not very tasty but then it is our last meal in Japan. I guess their pork is not as tasty but their meats are. The restuarant is on the second floor while the first floor was a supermarket. When we finish our meal we have a bit of time to check it out. And we found a young woman holding her baby who turns out to be Thais. The women in our group got to talk to her a bit and learned that she got married to a Japanese man at the age of 19 and move here where her husband open an Italian restuarant closed by.
Then we off to Aeon shopping mall, our last stop in Japan, our guide said this mall is like Central Ladpraw in BKK where there is a section that runs by the mall itself and the larger section that rented out to various shops. My mom stays in the supermarket section while I check out the mall a bit, before ran into information booth asking where can I find the gajapong machines :P The lady at information said they are in the toy department and boy there must be like 30 machines altogether. I think I got about five of them, while the mother was enjoying herself over this machines and has her son exchange more bank notes into coins for her :).
Much too soon it is our time to leave to make it in time for the Narita airport. Our guide bid us goodbye and compliment us for behaving like a seasonsed tourists in abide by the morning protocol to place the luggage in front of our room so they can be loaded into the bus. For being very friendly to each other that it helps when checking who's missing as well as taking each others for shopping without relying the guides too much. Also how we, at Disney Sea, just went off on our ways into the park without asking them to lead them to each rides, and they mention how one group decided to go together as a group of 40 tourists going from one rides to another and have them running around fetching people when they are missing from the group.
And regarding to that our guide also mention how lucky our group were on several accounts. First the baht was quite strong against the yens 33-31 baht against 100 yens, how the sky clear out the morning we were going up Mt. Fuji, how there were a lot less people going to both themeparks which enable us to pretty much play on most, if not all, the rides, and also how nice our driver is.
Our guide compliment our driver of how friendly, kind, good natures, and good attitude he is, who wasn't complained about the lateness or the long hours, saying that he understand how things goes when they are a trip.
The airport is quite crowded as several group of Thais tourists also leave on the same day. We when along quite smoothly and since my mom still need to buy a few more items as well as the fact that we will not be able to exchange our coins at the bank so I got stuck guarding our luggage at the gate while they went off checking ou the duty free shops. Of which they has not return until the time they open the gate :ppp
The flight back went quite smoothly and considerbly more comfortable than the flight to Japan. When we arrive at BKK airport it took us a while to get our luggage as they airport see fits to load the luggages from three flights onto one conveyer belt.
We then proceed through custom without a hitch, although I was concern over the obvious strawberry box we carried but we were not stop. Then we went in lines get the taxi and then we were back home.
The End of my Japan trip :)
Breakfast... If I remember correctly it's the same as the day before, we stay in the same hotel for a change afterall. This morning it is slight hectic, since it is our last day in Japan so we have to pack everything and load them into the coach bus.
Our first stop today is Narita-san temple, one of the oldest temple in Tokyo area. We arrive quite early that when I went into the main temple, there still performing the morning praying rituals. They put up floor to ceiling glass walls presumably to seperate the praying area from the front area which held the donation box and the shop.
When we walk out, me and my mom notice a group of people (who turns out to be a family of Thais, presumably from another tour group) hurdling over a shop. I went to see what they were browsing it turns out to be a charm shop manned by an elderly man. The charm is a golden color miniture hammer, like the one the god of fortune use for blessing with money. It the hammer part was hollowed and inside contain tiny golden charms in the shape of turtle, frog, gold nuggets, money, your chinese zodiac and dice. The price tag is 1,000 yens per piece, however since there were 4 people hurdling over the shop plus me and my mom, he cut the price to 800 yens and handed out the tiny frog for everone. Then my mom haggle a bit more to 700 yens and we all got that price :P I was the last one to get my hammer (as he will open the hammer to show each people what's inside as well as we have to choose them according to our chinese zodiac) I gestures him to put my frog in my hammer as well but he gestures back that the frog was meant to be put in wallet. So I take my wallet out to show him the despire state of my wallet. He gestured for me put the frog in the coin pocket and then I open it to show him that it's already ripped apart. He got a hearty laugh out of it (as was I XD)
Then we off to Umihotaru (Sea Firefly: comes from the planktons in the area which will emit fainted glow when the water surface is disturbed), an undersea tunnel connection Kawasaki to Kisarasu. Our guide told us that it took about 10 years to built this as a relieve measure to reduce the traffic in the inner area of Tokyo. However, since it took 10 years to built, during that period other measures has to be use, as a results the tunnel has became more of a sightseeing spot (it has a rest area before the tunnel went under). On one floor there were a bunch of gajapong stands and I tried a few of them :) One of the mother in the group seems to take a liking to it as well as she tried quite a few machine :)
Afterthat we stop for lunch at a Shabu Shabu place. It was... not very tasty but then it is our last meal in Japan. I guess their pork is not as tasty but their meats are. The restuarant is on the second floor while the first floor was a supermarket. When we finish our meal we have a bit of time to check it out. And we found a young woman holding her baby who turns out to be Thais. The women in our group got to talk to her a bit and learned that she got married to a Japanese man at the age of 19 and move here where her husband open an Italian restuarant closed by.
Then we off to Aeon shopping mall, our last stop in Japan, our guide said this mall is like Central Ladpraw in BKK where there is a section that runs by the mall itself and the larger section that rented out to various shops. My mom stays in the supermarket section while I check out the mall a bit, before ran into information booth asking where can I find the gajapong machines :P The lady at information said they are in the toy department and boy there must be like 30 machines altogether. I think I got about five of them, while the mother was enjoying herself over this machines and has her son exchange more bank notes into coins for her :).
Much too soon it is our time to leave to make it in time for the Narita airport. Our guide bid us goodbye and compliment us for behaving like a seasonsed tourists in abide by the morning protocol to place the luggage in front of our room so they can be loaded into the bus. For being very friendly to each other that it helps when checking who's missing as well as taking each others for shopping without relying the guides too much. Also how we, at Disney Sea, just went off on our ways into the park without asking them to lead them to each rides, and they mention how one group decided to go together as a group of 40 tourists going from one rides to another and have them running around fetching people when they are missing from the group.
And regarding to that our guide also mention how lucky our group were on several accounts. First the baht was quite strong against the yens 33-31 baht against 100 yens, how the sky clear out the morning we were going up Mt. Fuji, how there were a lot less people going to both themeparks which enable us to pretty much play on most, if not all, the rides, and also how nice our driver is.
Our guide compliment our driver of how friendly, kind, good natures, and good attitude he is, who wasn't complained about the lateness or the long hours, saying that he understand how things goes when they are a trip.
The airport is quite crowded as several group of Thais tourists also leave on the same day. We when along quite smoothly and since my mom still need to buy a few more items as well as the fact that we will not be able to exchange our coins at the bank so I got stuck guarding our luggage at the gate while they went off checking ou the duty free shops. Of which they has not return until the time they open the gate :ppp
The flight back went quite smoothly and considerbly more comfortable than the flight to Japan. When we arrive at BKK airport it took us a while to get our luggage as they airport see fits to load the luggages from three flights onto one conveyer belt.
We then proceed through custom without a hitch, although I was concern over the obvious strawberry box we carried but we were not stop. Then we went in lines get the taxi and then we were back home.
The End of my Japan trip :)
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The Trip: Day Five, Tokyo->Shiba
Again... the hotel breakfast... At least they have fresh fruits this times. Although it's slightly better than other breakfast but still...
On to the bus again, this times we were off to Asakusa temple (the one with giant red lamp). The temple has a few big red paper lamps (by big I mean it's taller than me already) and the biggest one of all is at the main temple. The terms giant would be more accurate.
There is also rows of shops that began to open by the time we arrive. Shops after shops of goods and so on.
Then we were off to one of the main destination Tokyo Disney Sea! At first I didn't felt very trill about this visit since... well I am already a grown man. But when we arrive at the parking lot area and I saw the building I began to get excited because it looks like old Italian buildings. When we get off the bus it was raining lightly, but I came prepared with 100 yens folded umbrella and two 100 yens lipglosses also from the 100 yens shop :)
After our guide told us time to gather and meeting spot, we were off into the park. Around the entrance I saw my mom with the siblings went off to look at something, I did the same on another direction for a few seconds and when I turn around they were gone... I was slightly panic and after tried to look for them for a few minutes. They were no where to be found, despite their rather unique looking umbrellas, so I decided to took off on my own, I am a big boy afterall and I do have some money for anything I wants to buy.
So I began to walk around the park, not an easy task as I first thought. My woe began with the hinge of my fold umbrella snap right off, while it still raining in the park. I manage to make it usable until the time to leave since my alternative would be the Disney umbrellas of 1,000 yens and more. And then, since I got lost with my mom, who also taken my camera. I have nothing to take pictures with and there are A LOT of places to take pictures there. Morever, when I found my mom again it turns out that the camera was already ran out of power, apparently she forgot to plug the charger to the wall the night before...
My highlights of Disney Seas would be the mediteranian area, the Venicia corner and the Indiana Jones ride. What can I say, I just love the Europeans feels of that area. Too bad that I did not have my camera with me... Also the queing area has a lot of decorate and some props to check out as well. For lunch I check out the mediteranian area for some food, the restuarant do offer italians food but it cost like 2,500 yens per plate so I just go for black pepper pork rib and light snack at the near by booth. I also has a cheesecake in the Lost River Delta section :)
Due to the rain which began falling since morning the park is less crowd than usual. We were able to go on 6-7 rides by the time we have to leave, which according to the guide, a lot more than other group were able to manage.
Before we left I finally wrangle my mom older camera to do some last minute photo snapping in my favorite and close by section, The Mediteranian Harbour. Too bad that I did not have enough time to take photo in the fortress which shows many italian creations from the renaissance time.
While we gathered around the parking area bathroom building I got into a discussion with a couple who's looking to buy a mp3 player. I gave them my opinion, show them my latest acquisition and then agreed to go back to the shop with them to help them pick out the right ones.
Dinner tonight was all-you-can-eat giant crabs legs, of which it take some getting used to in getting the meat from the shell but we manage. Afterward I decided to do my last minute shopping in 100 yens store. The last times I bought umbrella and lipgloss but I also bought a pair of socks, which turns out to be really comfy so I went back to buy some more.
On to the bus again, this times we were off to Asakusa temple (the one with giant red lamp). The temple has a few big red paper lamps (by big I mean it's taller than me already) and the biggest one of all is at the main temple. The terms giant would be more accurate.
There is also rows of shops that began to open by the time we arrive. Shops after shops of goods and so on.
Then we were off to one of the main destination Tokyo Disney Sea! At first I didn't felt very trill about this visit since... well I am already a grown man. But when we arrive at the parking lot area and I saw the building I began to get excited because it looks like old Italian buildings. When we get off the bus it was raining lightly, but I came prepared with 100 yens folded umbrella and two 100 yens lipglosses also from the 100 yens shop :)
After our guide told us time to gather and meeting spot, we were off into the park. Around the entrance I saw my mom with the siblings went off to look at something, I did the same on another direction for a few seconds and when I turn around they were gone... I was slightly panic and after tried to look for them for a few minutes. They were no where to be found, despite their rather unique looking umbrellas, so I decided to took off on my own, I am a big boy afterall and I do have some money for anything I wants to buy.
So I began to walk around the park, not an easy task as I first thought. My woe began with the hinge of my fold umbrella snap right off, while it still raining in the park. I manage to make it usable until the time to leave since my alternative would be the Disney umbrellas of 1,000 yens and more. And then, since I got lost with my mom, who also taken my camera. I have nothing to take pictures with and there are A LOT of places to take pictures there. Morever, when I found my mom again it turns out that the camera was already ran out of power, apparently she forgot to plug the charger to the wall the night before...
My highlights of Disney Seas would be the mediteranian area, the Venicia corner and the Indiana Jones ride. What can I say, I just love the Europeans feels of that area. Too bad that I did not have my camera with me... Also the queing area has a lot of decorate and some props to check out as well. For lunch I check out the mediteranian area for some food, the restuarant do offer italians food but it cost like 2,500 yens per plate so I just go for black pepper pork rib and light snack at the near by booth. I also has a cheesecake in the Lost River Delta section :)
Due to the rain which began falling since morning the park is less crowd than usual. We were able to go on 6-7 rides by the time we have to leave, which according to the guide, a lot more than other group were able to manage.
Before we left I finally wrangle my mom older camera to do some last minute photo snapping in my favorite and close by section, The Mediteranian Harbour. Too bad that I did not have enough time to take photo in the fortress which shows many italian creations from the renaissance time.
While we gathered around the parking area bathroom building I got into a discussion with a couple who's looking to buy a mp3 player. I gave them my opinion, show them my latest acquisition and then agreed to go back to the shop with them to help them pick out the right ones.
Dinner tonight was all-you-can-eat giant crabs legs, of which it take some getting used to in getting the meat from the shell but we manage. Afterward I decided to do my last minute shopping in 100 yens store. The last times I bought umbrella and lipgloss but I also bought a pair of socks, which turns out to be really comfy so I went back to buy some more.
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