Osaka-Kyoto-Shirakawago Trip Vlog

November 2016. Goal accomplished. Few years after HK Trip, me and my parents together with xt were off to Japan (this time without my sis).

To me and Xt, Japan is total new adventure. For my dad and mum, it was a trip walking down their memory lanes; they worked in Japan when they're young! *phew just like me and xt, we love to talk and reminisce our days in NZ; while my lovey dovey parents always talk about their old sweet time (though my dad always complained about the hard labors） in Japan.

Osaka, Kyoto and Shirakawago were our chosen destination this time! Hmm, what about Tokyo? Tokyo is not my cup of tea hermmm, for this moment i guess. I am not particular hype about skyscrapers, modern buildings and shopping malls but more of a heritage fans =P (declaration: might change my minds in near future who knows?)

9 Days 8 Nights Autumn Folliage Itinerary (29th October- 6th November)

Day 1: Arriving in Kansai Airport Osaka-Train to Kyoto (HARUKA)-Kyoto Ramen Koji京都拉面小路
Day 2: Kyoto Arashiyama -Inari Shrine (Kyoto One day Pass 750 yen ）
Day 3:清水寺,三十三間堂、東福寺，八坂神社，祇園(Kyoto Bus one day pass)
Day 4 :Kyoto-Kanazawa (Takayama-Hokuriku Pass) 3hours &30 minutes
Acommodation: APA Hotel Kanazawa-Katamachi
Attractios: kenroku-en, Motenashi Dome
Day 5 :Kanazawa-Shirakawago (Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)
Must call and book in advance (preferably one month before) and call again prior depart to confirm the booking. 

Day 6 : Shirakawago-Osaka -Namba千日前(Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)

Day 7 :Osaka-心斋桥-Kuromon Maret--Dotonburi道顿掘(Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)-Dinner: Ichiran Ramen

Day 8 : Osaka-Nara(Kintetsu Railway)-Dotonburi道顿掘(Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)

Day 9 :Kansai-KLIA2(Haruka &ICOCA)

 *Takayama Hokuriku pass coverage:

1.JR Train (limited express Haruka) btw Osaka & Kansai Airport

2.JR Train within Osaka city (via Hokuriku/Kosei/Tokaido)

3.JR train between Nagoya-Toyama (via Tokaido/Takayama line)

4.JR Train (limited express Thunderbird ) between Osaka/Kyoto-Kanazawa

5.Hokuriku Sinkansen between Totama & Kanazawa (via Shin-Takaoka)

6.Nohi bus between Takayama & Kanazawa via Shirakawago

7. Kaetsuno bus between Shirakawago & Shin-takaoka

* This deal includes 1500 ICOCA e-money and one way/round trip to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara or Kobe. You cannot use this deal to Himeji, Wakayama and other than Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.

The highlight of this trip was to Shirakawago. After contemplating for long, this would be the most ideal way to save money while being able to explore this beautiful village.

My Japan Vlog =)

Arrowtown--Queenstown--Glenorchy #WHPOST8

Post written on October.
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It's almost the end of the October. Time flies Gosh. I will definitely miss these carefree days.

This Thursday we were up in Arrowtown---a small town renowned for its beautiful scenery during autumn. But the way, autumn had long passed so we shall see it for spring.

Surprise me coz everything looks kinda SPRING. Even the residential area looks pretty cool, with trees stood green along both sides of the street and colourful flowers matching the view. Arrowtown ain't a boring city, it has got interesting shop in township and we spent longer than planned in this small town.

The first agenda of the day has to be breakfast. I was told to go for Arrowtown bakery and cafe and the servings didn't let me down. Had a decent nice breakfast and a cup of hot chocolate.

You can easily tell that Halloween is approaching merely looking at these decoration set up by the shop..

Next agenda--to visit Arrow River. This is where one of the scene of Lord of The Ring (LOTR) was taken. As a fan, there's no way to miss it.

I know right, no where near LOTR..Luckily, our brain is able to do wonderful job by taking you on an imagination flight.

Saw someone carrying a gold pan. What? Can pan for some gold leaves? xD This is totally my thing.. FYI, Arrowtown used to be gold mining area, this place is so rich at gold that you can actually pan for your own gold. Well, only valid if the luck is at your side.

Immediately me and Xt went back into the street and without hesitation, we rent a gold pan and a shovel at $3.

Well, everything is exciting when you first started it. Gold panning is no easy task. Mechanical agitation is tiring, and immersing hand is icy cold water is definitely not a fun thing to do.

Ended up ..we pan nothing but some little golden stone I assume they are gold. Well, that's alright to spend $3 for a lifetime experience don't we?

Off to Glenorchy---The Gateway to Paradise. Glenorchy, 45 minutes from Queenstown is famous for its spectacular landscape; and it has become one of the prime location in NZ for film scouts. Many scene from LOTR were filmed here, as well as Narnia movie xD

Enjoy its breathtaking beauty Woohoo!

One of the famous activity in Glenorchy is horse trekking. I really wanted to do that but.... it was way too expensive for us (some package was $100 and above, the cheapest we got from bookme was $79) .So, we decided not to go for it.

Despite our failing anticipation towards riding, we were so lucky to spot some horses and they came close to us xD Tried to lure them with some banana.

Let's the pictures do the talking.


How i wish we stay in this paradise forever.

Travelling to North Vlog #WHPost9

You possibly can't imagine how happy I was when I successfully secured a place in NZ Working Holiday Scheme. I almost jumped and screamed. Logged on to NZ immigration website at 4am in the morning and finally submitted my application around 7am. Approximately 10 minutes after I logged off, all 1150 places allocated for 2015 were full.

I was on cloud nine when I departed. And I am really grateful that I was granted such an opportunity to see the world, what's more to this extremely beautiful land.

I don't think I'll be given a second chance in life to go on an adventure like this anymore.But I've learned a lot throughout the journey.

Well, let's this Vlog summarizes my final part of the journey! Travelling to North Island xD

Franz Josef Glacier #WHPost6

I didn't expect it to happen so soon---a journey to glacier. NZ's Southern Alps have a number of glacier, the largest being Tasman Glacier (not accessible but can only view by taking a short walk in Mount Cook Village). The most famous glacier, namely Fox Glacier and its twin, Franz Josef Glacier sprawl along South Island West Coast; and it's 5 hours drive from Cromwell.

A big shout out to everyone considering this trip, it worth every penny you spent!

Another big money I've spent other than skydiving xD. One day when I browsed through bookme.co.nz to look up for some promo activity, I found this stunning activity and randomly asked Xt if he interested in joining.

A BIG YES. And so, we went on to book Ice Explorer which costs half a week of our wages $329. What comforting us is it comes along with free hot pools entry.

A 5 hour drive is totally exhausting. What pissed us off is there's no petrol station along the way to Franz Josef. Fuel a full tank before departing is definitely a wise idea.

What a stupid decision we made not to fuel in Cromwell, ended up we paid extra $20 atop of the fuels as service charge to reopen one of the tank. Also, petrol in Franz Josef priced 233.9cents/L which is skyhigh compared to other town.... Fox Glacier on the other hand 220+ *feel like banging wall

Arrived in Franz Josef Montrose (a clean and neat backpacker) at 11pm, definitely recommend this stay which costs us only $55/room.

We've joined the earliest tour at 8.45am. Upon checked in, we were equipped with free hat,waterproof over-trousers, gloves, socks and sturdy leather boots and crampons.

What to bring? Sunglasses, light snack, bottle (to fill up so glacier water) and sunsreen.

1.All ready to set off.

2.7 minutes walk to Heli Pad =D

3.There we were heli transferred to the glacier.

4.Approximately 4 minutes heli flight xD A bird eye's view of the glacier

5.Landed on glacier for the first time. We were guided to put on crampons on our boots.

6.Start our hiking. Unbelievably magnificent and stunning! Due to climate changes, the glacier retreats and reduces in level which is a worrisome issue.

7.Mason, our glacier guide explained that the glacier retreat is because the ice melts faster than it formed. Therefore, since 2014, the glacier is no longer accessible (not safe enough to walk) through walking up the valley. That's why today we need helicopter to transfer and land us onto the glacier face; and it's not cheap.

8.He also explained that the dropped glacier level means it is no longer pressing against the cliffs, leading to a lot of rockfalls.

7. I really like spectacular natural attraction

.Marvel at the beauty of Mother Earth!

8. Blue Ice Arches. We climbed through the cave and it's exhilarating! =D

9. Pretty turquoise ice!

10.The ice appeared to be blue because it is really dense and consolidated that bubble cannot interfere the passage of light. The ice on the glacier has been there for a long time that it's so compact that it is dense enough to absorb every colour except blue.

11. The glacier glistens in turquoise.

12. The brilliant blue crevasse inspire us with awe.=D

13. Glacier water. Quite refreshing but I'm presumptive about the purity of the water.

14.Squeeze through narrow ice tunnels. Fun yea!

15.Bumped into another glacier guide.

16. Awe-inspiring landscape.

17. Do you know 75% of fresh water on Earth comes from glacier?

18. Global warming has posed a hazardous effect on glacier. Previously, glacier retreats and recovers; finger cross that it is going to recover!

19. Mason and me.

20. The whole trip lasted for 4 hours, with 3 hours of ice time =D 

Simply Stunning! ...=DFranz Josef Glacier