The best possible season in Japan is in early April…. Where the cherry blossoms blooms. You just cannot imagine how pretty the streets became when a whole string of cherry blossoms line on each side of them. Imagine this now… cycling in the cool breeze, with occasional pink and white little petals falling and sweeping across your face. Everything jut looks so sweet and peaceful… Yes, that's what I like to do! Cycle in the cool breeze, breathing in the sweet scent the flowers bring along with them. No wonder there this is saying that spring is the season for love. When one sees the sakuras, they will feel like falling in love… not at a lie at all!
Anyway I had my friend Peiling who came to visit me right after I came back from Taipei. So it was another round of enjoying and touring for me as we went to Kyoto, Yamanashi and Tokyo.
First we did the traditional Hanami in Okazaki with my teachers and classmates. See, this is something tour groups probably cannot offer. While basically Japanese will go picnicking under the trees, drink lots of beer and play some games. It was just such a great feeling sitting under the beautiful trees in Minami Koen. And really it is amazing how everyone was doing Hanami during that period of time. A pretty interesting sight we saw was people doning suits gathered , sitting under the trees. Those were probably company functions. But all the same, they put mats on the floor and started drinking, eating and singing as they get more drunk…Some were even shouting cheers. Those who know Peiling ask her how she feels! But nevertheless both of us felt it was a good morale-boasting activity.
Ok then we went Kyoto… well nothing much interesting cus I have been there like thrice… skip to Yamanashi…
First time there. Great place! Mt Fuji is breath-taking! Of course I have seen it several times when I travel to Tokyo but never really stop to take a good look at it. Of course, the lakes surrounding it is super beautiful too. So much so that, I have made it my goal to climb Mt Fuji in July with Carol. Yes! I am preparing to scale it now! Yamanashi is really a beautiful place… and really all thanks to Owen again who drove us around the whole day. And Steve who put us up for the night. It was fun though at first cus we played a little prank on Steve. We told him we can’t speak any English at all so he was forced to speak to me in his limited Japanese. Well i.e he and Peiling didn’t speak for the first hour. He's such a nice guy though his language is as dirty as Owen's. Peiling and I were of course trying to stifle our laughter and not reacting to anything he says. (Peiling: Rememeber the little bitch) But of course later when we revealed that we actually understood English he was so shocked! Haaa for revenge he made us stay uptill about 3+ in the morning talking to him. It was a great chat though. Yet pretty strange cus we shared lots about our lives and even intimate details. Well Of course Peiling and Owen knows a great deal about me but it was comfortable talking to Steve too.
Anyway, next morning, Owen took us out to see Mt Fuji again and then after lunch to this super beautiful park and we just laid there the whole day in the sun… It's been such a long time since I ever sat in the sun. It was total bliss as 3 of us just laid there refusing to budge. Esp with the soft grass underneath... Don't wanna move again...
Cherry Blossoms... beautiful beyond description
Picnic at Minami Koen
See the groups of Japanese at the back too?
The teachers going wild at games! Had great fun!
One of the famous lakes near Fuji
More Cherry Blossoms!
Peiling and I.. totally in the spring mood...
Strolling under the cherry blossoms... Kimochi ii!
Our driver and guide...
The long- time no see sun... ahh... bliss...
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