Japan, is one unique nation that best represents the fusion of both traditional and modern elements in their lifestyle. Despite Japan being an extremely high tech country, there's always a little something that is never too far away from their roots and culture. On the 23rd of December, I was right there at the Imperial Palace witnessing the very best of the Japanese people's patriotism and national pride. It was not only a national holiday, it was the Emperor's Birthday.

The Imperial Palace

We made this a compulsory pit stop in our itinerary because this only happens once a year and what also makes us so eager to visit the Imperial Palace during this time is that it (namely the buildings and inner gardens) is generally off limits to the public. Only during the Emperor's Birthday and during the 2nd day of the New Year is the palace open to the public. During his Majesty's birthday, He will be giving short speeches in 3 time slots in the morning. The first appearance is around 10:20 a.m. followed by a second appearance at around 11:00 a.m and lastly the third appearance which is around 11:40 a.m.

We woke up very early because we heard that it would be very crowded and we hoped that we could see the emperor at his first appearance. So, we hopped on the JR Yamanote Line and within a few stations, we reached Tokyo Station. The Imperial Palace is just a 10 minutes walk away from Tokyo Station.

Marunouchi frontage, Tokyo Station

As we walked out of the station, I was amazed by it's beautiful structure. Tokyo station is constructed in distinctive Europeon styled red bricks. It was built back in 1914 and it looks exactly like those vintage train stations. The iconic Tokyo Station building includes new commercial facilities such as the high-end Daimaru Department Store and the Tokyo Station Hotel. In fact, this station attracts more than 1.1 million passengers daily and is also one of the most busiest stations in Eastern Tokyo with over 3000 trains per day.

Taxis crowding the main entrance of Tokyo Station

While we were exiting the station, barracades awaited us as it leads us to the direction of the Imperial Palace. If you lost your map on the way, you don't have to worry because you can see that most of the crowd is heading towards the palace's direction.

Give Give Give

Policewoman Remind Remind Remind

We were really excited as we were walking together with the crowd. Although I couldn't understand what the Japanese around were talking about, but I could sense that they were feeling rather delighted. As we walked nearer to the palace, there were a line of happy and jumpy Japanese, giving out the Japanese Flag. As we walked further, there were policemen constantly reminding people to be at the Imperial Palace on time for the next appearance and to enter the Imperial Palace Grounds in lines.

Check Check Check

Upon reaching the Nijubashi main gate, there were police checkpoints. The police has to check all of our bags and camera equipment. Water wasn't allowed into the Imperial Palace and so are dangerous objects like knives, DUH~. Japan is well known for their patience while queing and waitng, and this was just another queing day for them. Everyone was so well behaved and there were no one cutting queues and everyone was really patient despite that the time for the Emperor's appearance was getting near.

Walk Walk Walk

After it my turn for inspection was done, I thought that we were almost reaching the Chōwaden Reception Hall. Well, we still had to walk and walk and walk and walk. It felt like 30 minutes had gone, I wasn't sure. The palace grounds was extremely huge. We passed by bridges and guards, we passed by gates and more roads. It was like a never ending journey of the yellow brick road.

Wait Wait Wait

Finally, we reached the hall. It was packed with lots and lots of people. Fann and I tried to squeeze and find a good spot where we could at least take a glimpse of the Emperor when he gives his speech on the balcony. I was pretty amazed by how much this hall could fit so many people and there were people of all ages and ethnicities. There were also those who dressed in suits and ready to greet their beloved Emperor.

Wave Wave Wave

After waiting for a few minutes (actually is about 15mins according to Fann), everyone started to cheer. There I saw the Emperor himself followed by the Empress and their family. Everyone started to wave their flags and all I heard was Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! It felt like I'm watching a WW2 video documentary. It was extremely breathtaking.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino.

There the Emperor stood at the balcony and everyone became quiet as he started his speech. Although that is not the monarch of my own country, the atmosphere felt very touching and what amazes me was that the Japanese people's love and respect towards their Emperor was beyond words of description. They had the same respect as what the Thai people has towards their King. As the Emperor ceases his speech, everyone started to wave their flags and shouted Banzai again. This time, you get to see the Imperial Family waving back to the crowd. I felt rather awkward for not following the crowd and waving the flag, but then again it felt awkward too if I waved that flag. I was of mixed emotions.

Leave Leave Leave

After the Emperor and his family left the balcony, we were all instructd to follow the crowd and leave the Hall, so that they could get ready for His Majesty's last appearance. Everyone was pretty obedient and none were blocking the path after being instructed.

Little guy with his dad after seeing the Emperor

This was a very special highlight of our trip. Although we only got to see the Emperor for a couple of minutes, it was quite a meaningful one for me. I saw many things during this short morning. I saw how much the Japanese loved and respected their Emperor, despite the cold weather. I saw how considerate they are during a crowded event like this, no one was pushing. I also saw that there were people of all ages that came to pay respect. It was truly an amazing experience for me and B. After taking a couple of silly photos in the compounds of the palace, we headed back to Tokyo Station and traveled to our next destination. Here are some more photos during the morning. Enjoy!

Old uncle waiting for the Emperor with the rest of the crowd

Aunties checking out my camera or the sign above?

Artist sketching the Tokyo Station with only a pencil

 Ang Moh family gathers in the palace

 One of the moats surrounding the Imperial Palace

Traditional costumes

All prepared in Japanese Mode

Finally, I'm able to start writing about my most awaited Japan Trip. This will be my 2nd time to Japan and also 2nd time back to Tokyo. This was my longest vacation so far traveling with B. 2012 has been a great traveling year for me. I've been to quite a number of places for that year and it really gives me so much joy. For this year only, I've traveled to Chiang Mai, Bali, Singapore and Japan. Also, for all these places I've been, I've traveled on Air Asia. Damn!

Anyways, our Japan trip lasted 18 days in total and it started on the 20th of December. Our plan was to spend Christmas and directly extend it to the welcome the new year there as well. This Japan trip was actually not planned and was a fortunate accident. On a winter's night of 2011, we were taking our chances to buy tickets to Bali during the Air Asia Big Sale. We had 2 computers running simultaneously in order to get pass the queuing zone when midnight struck. After a freaking hour, we managed to get into the payment section of our Bali Booking, only to find out that my bank transaction has been closed down after midnight and will only operate in the early morning of 5am.

So, we woke up at the early hours of 5am and managed to get our Bali tickets booked. After being so excited that we've booked our Bali tickets, our itchy little hands tried checking out Tokyo's ticket price. We were so shocked to find out that it's so freaking cheap. After adding up luggages and meals, one person only costed RM700 to and fro. It was a miracle and we 'accidentally' purchased the ticket and didn't know that we'll be in Japan for a mere 18 days.

From then onwards, we have been doing researches on the internet and books on what to see and where to travel in Japan. After months of research, it felt like we're already there and can remember most of the city's main railway station names. Fann was the one who was most excited as she went on days and months talking about the trip and even had our itineraries HTML-ed for easy reference.

The sky is casted with the setting sun's warm rays

For those who are uncertain, traveling to Japan requires a passport, a Japanese visa and lots of cash (I do mean A LOT). Although credit cards are widely acceptable around Japan, it is advisable to use cash because of the exchange rate and also because most hostels and restaurants only accept cash. The Japanese visa can be obtained at the Embassy of Japan located at Persiaran Stonor, Jalan Tun Razak. Please check what things require preparation before going to the embassy to assure a smoother and faster process of your visa. All the details and info needed can be found here.

Just remember to fill in the forms accordingly and don't be an ass while you're inside the embassy. The visa is free unless you have the travel agent do it for you for a small fee. Don't be alarmed when they ask for your certified bank statement, because it shows that if you are able to financially support yourself while you are there because everything in Japan costs.

Last but not least, please learn some Japanese before heading over there yourself. It would be quite difficult for you to communicate with the locals because they don't seem to handle English very well. If you are able to read and understand Chinese characters, then that would help greatly as well. Many of the shops and train stations uses Kanji (Chinese Characters for the Chinese).

Our trip to Japan this time, will mostly cover Tokyo. However, we also travelled to a few places like Karuizawa, Yokohama, Shirakawa-go and Kawasaki. That means we got the chance to ride on the Shinkansen. As tourists, we are able to purchase this thing called the JR Pass. Which allows us to travel in most of the trains under the JR company within a certain period, which includes the Shinkansens.

To get your JR Pass, here's some simple steps to follow:
1. Get your Japan Visa approved and prepared
2. Bring along your passport that has your visa
3. Head on down to the JAL office (Sepang) or the JTB office at Jalan Imbi.
4. Prepare Malaysian ringgit, because they do not accept Japanese Yen.
5. Once you have reached Japan, use your receipt and exchange it for the actual pass.
6. Enjoy your pass (and DO NOT LOSE IT, there are no substitions)

After everything was set, hotels and hostels were booked. It's time to roll. Flight to Japan via Airasia is a rather hectic experience. Not only is the flight long, the seats were pretty cramp. Another thing is that there's only one schedule for it to go Tokyo and reaches the destination at a extremely late hour. The only good thing about it, is it's a direct flight and it's really cheap.

Fortunately, there were no crying kids on board the flight and I was able to get some rest. Here's a view of Tokyo before we touched down at the Haneda International Airport. A scene full of sparkly lights and dark ants moving about. Welcome to Tokyo!

I know many of you have been asking us this question for a really long time. Alas! We have a date! The big day is fast approaching and we can hardly wait. We want you to celebrate with us, So watch this video and be sure to save the date! Don't forget to help us to spread the word! Cheers


Reuben & Fann's Save The Date from Design Bar Studio on Vimeo.

Visit http://www.reubenplusfann.com for more info

After two days of intense touring around the island of Bali and getting all our butts numb on the bumpy rides in the van, it's finally time to pamper ourselves and go walk around afoot. As our hotel is situated right in Kuta, it was best that we walk to the nearest Kuta Town to explore and see what's hidden inside.

Walking in Bali is extremely hot. The heat burns your skin and applying enough suntan lotion helps keep you from turning into a hot potato. After walking for just about 10 minutes, it felt like we've been under the sun for 6 hours. It was crazy. We ran into the Discovery Mall nearby only to find that their air-conditioner wasn't really helping as well. Don't forget to bring an umbrella along, it helps A LOT!

Enough about the heat, let's talk about Kuta. Kuta is famous for it's sandy beaches and also to the infamous Bali Bombing attacks back in 2005. It is situated in the southern part of the Balinese island and the town is very near to the International Airport. Kuta is the center of an extensive tourist-oriented urban area that merges into the neighbouring towns. There are lots of hotels and restaurants here. Mostly ang mo people here as well.

A trip to Bali is not complete without pampering yourself nicely with the famous Bali massage. Bali is famous for their traditional massage. However, prices vary very much here. Ranging from a IDR100,000 to IDR500,000. Well, that's what our first thing to do when we land on Kuta Town. To find a nice and cozy place to have a massage.

We checked out this shop called Sole Pantai Kuta. It looked pretty decent and the staff were quite friendly too. It's easy to spot because their reception is placed outside of the shop with a huge hanging sign of their services. Overall, their massage was pretty good. The aunty that helped me loosen my back was absolutely fantastic. The strength from her magic hands are just fine and after an hour of massage, I felt like a new person. Only then, we can continue to walk around this terrifying hot weather.

Our next stop was to lunch. We came across the famous restaurant called Made Warung. If you're looking for delicious and affordable eats, then this is your place. A very Balinese warung with a taste of Balinese heaven. Reviews of this place is great as you can find out on the internet. The interior of the restaurant is very unique and has that extremely Balinese feel to it. They also have a lot of vintage photos decorated around the walls. It felt pretty comfy.

They are famous for the nasi kandar with pork satay but, we ordered our favourite fried rice with beef and chicken porridge instead. Also, with a delicious can of Coke to cool down. The portion was quite big and Fann couldn't finish her porridge too. The food was pretty good and even on a hot day, it tasted quite good.

Fann wanted to purchase some Bali clothes and shoes and girly stuff. So, we walked around to explore ourselves. Turns out that Kuta square is scattered with boutique shops and massage parlours. Each and everyone of them basically sells almost the same things but it's not harmful to walk in and try your luck with your bargaining skills.

Fann tried out her skills at this shoe store in Kuta and managed to get a nice pair of red flats at a very cheap price. The owner knows we are Malaysians and gave us a friendlier discount compared to the caucasians who walked in with us. Shhh.. We quickly left after paying the shop keeper. She bought some clothes and I bought some magnets back for my fridge. There were many surfing gear and apparel shops around. Not to mention a lot of Billabong shops too. Due to the heat, we really couldn't stand it. We finally took a cab back to our hotel and rested for a while.

After chilling out at the hotel, Fann suggested that we head to the beach behind our hotel to watch the beautiful sunset. The beach was only about a 5 minute walk away. This beach was next to the Holiday Inn hotel and the beach was in pretty bad shape. It seems like trash has found it's way here and awfully polluted the sand. My feet hurts when walking on the garbage sand. I was pretty disappointed.

However, upon walking a few metres away towards the west and the direction of the airport, the sand was much cleaner and softer. We found ourselves a good spot and chilled on the sand.  The sea was calm and it was a fantastic place to rest and enjoy the view. We saw many parents coming over to the beach with their kids to enjoy the sunset and I thought that it was such a great way to spend time with your family. In the city, you don't normally do that, unless you're on vacation. It felt rather pleasing.

As the sun sets, the beach turned into heaven. It was one of the most romantic sunsets I've seen so far. Spending the last hours of the day with your partner in this kind of setting is just absolute Perfection! Our days in Bali were amazing. Despite the rough sides of the people trying to con us of our money, Bali has the sceneries fit for the Kings. Sandy Beaches, Friendly People, Beautiful Sunsets and Affordable Massages, just what paradise is all about!

Our last day in Bali ended with more pampering and we tried out the spa at the hotel. It costed us about IDR450,000 for a couple and it was absolutely amazing. After our 1.5 hours of massage, they gave us a nice tub for a flower bath. Absolutely heavenly.

I will definitely come back to Bali again some day. It's one of my favourite destinations to chill for a vacation. It's a very different expérience for me and a great way to escape from the big city. Thanks Boby for driving us around and showing us most of Bali's famous sights. Good bye!

There are a huge number of beaches on the island of Bali, but one of my most favourite is the Padang-Padang Beach. Sounds familiar? Well, that's the beach where Julia Roberts filmed the famous movie "Eat, Pray, Love". As we were already in the South part of Bali, our tour guide suggested us to visit the beautiful beach of Padang-Padang.

It's a very small beach but what's unique about this place, is the entrance to this hidden gem. Upon entering the beach, you have to pass through a kind of limestone cave inlet that is rather narrow and stairs that is downwards that lead to the beach itself. Makes you feel like a tomb raider, plus the ang moh tourists.

Once you have entered the beach, you will be awestruck by it's beauty, it's white sandy beach and the turquoise waters. Despite all the tourists sunbathing along the beach, the awesome scenery just blows you away.

The water is crystal clear and by looking down at this angle, I can hardly see any water over our feet. The serene scene of the beach also consists of people sunbathing in the hot sun, kids running around and building sand castles, hot chicks in bikinis and also lots of people holding surf boards ready to get a taste of the beautiful waves.

We didn't stayed very long at the beach because we weren't properly dressed for it. The heat was so strong that I could feel heat coming out from my camera. If we could come by next time, I'd choose a time that's close to sunset, so that I can enjoy the beach without burning my skin. Thanks to the beautiful scenery and the number of shots I took here, at least I didn't feel like it was such a loss.



As we walked up the limestone pathway out of the beach, Boby, our tour guide picked us up and we headed further south to the cliffs of the famous Uluwatu Temple. We had to move out to the cliffs as soon as possible in order not to miss the beautiful sunset that is going to happen at Uluwatu.

Uluwatu Temple is one of Bali's nine key directional temples that protects the sacred island from evil spirits. The temple is famous for it's wild monkeys, where they'd attack tourists and might also steal their valuables. As we approached the temple, our guide warned us to keep our spectacles and earrings inside our bags and away from the monkey's sight.

What makes this place so special to me, is the magnificent cliff. As a person who is afraid of heights, I have never in my life stepped so close to a cliff facing a gigantic ocean and enjoying the sunny breeze and sounds of the ocean. Fann & I chatted away as we enjoyed the scenery and waited for the sun to set.

However, after packing all our photography gear, we quickly walked back to where the van was waiting for us. The sky was getting really dark. While strolling back, we came across a group of monkeys passing by. I told Fann, let's walk slowly and not make a sound, because it was kinda scary after what we read about the monkeys being violent. Suddenly, there was a loud crack sound! I seemed to have stepped on some trash. Suddenly the group of monkeys stop and started to argue amongst themselves and they started chasing each other around. We got terrified as they were running towards our direction. My only reaction was OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! They were biting each other's heads and punching like a group of bullies. Luckily the ran pass us and didn't touch us at all. After the scene, we quickly ran to our van and was so reliefed. Phew~

Anyways, I'll leave you guys with some photos of Uluwatu that I took. Enjoy!

Our day ended with this awesome view from the cliffs of the Uluwatu Temple. Thank you Boby for bringing us here and my beloved Fann for accompanying me to wait for this moment.