Wishing For A Vacation Rant

It's the year-end. Holiday/vacation time for those lucky people that gets to get away. *envy*

Last year, I had the opportunity to not only enjoy my vacation-to-Japan-since-2002 with the family, I also got to run/jog around several places in Japan, which I blogged about here.  It's somewhere in this blog. Just search for "Head not screwed right" heh heh

For runners, what can be more ideal than combining a vacation with a run or maybe ten! Hahaha

Anyway, a look back to those lovely time I had, enjoying crisp, cool air in Japan... and missing Japan more and more in the process. Sigh. Can't believe it's been a full year since our last visit. We've got another 24 months to go before we step on Japan (Nara to be exact) soil again! *double sigh*
Would you wake up at 5am on your vacation to run in the rain? Plus, would your significant others went out too, to check on your safety? I did and Zaini did too. Although he left me soon after, as he gauged the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama as a safe place for me to run. I wasn't the only crazy one. Bumped into a few runners there doing their morning run too!

It gotta be a 5am run because I need to finish breakfast and get ready to be out by 8am!
 
The day after, I did my run way down in south of Japan. On the island of Kyushu and in Yufuin, to be exact. The autum colours at Lake Kinrinko was (and is!) simply magnificent!
Running towards this lighthouse in Takamatsu, in Shikoku was particularly nice. So nice, I ran twice there! Watched the sunrise during the two runs I did there, as I also need to finish my run early and embarked on a 9am-4pm sightseeing which then continued again from 6pm to 10pm.  Total respect to Raimie for putting up with his parents (walking & sightseeing wise) and tagged along without too much of a grumble. ^^
Running by the Sumida River in Asakusa, with Tokyo Sky Tree was particularly awesome too! I bet Ru would agree with me. ^^

And what do you get when you go out at 5am to 7am there?
Sensoji (this is the Kaminarimon or the Thunder Gate) devoid of tourists or crowd.
Beautiful scenery, of course. And again, no tourists...
The sunrise. Especially nice to view it alongside friendly locals.

Raimie and Zaini had fun sweating out too, like enjoying a few game of ping pong with Minoru-san who generously invited us to his home.
I have to say though, as much as I miss Japan, I do not want to visit the country from now till the end of winter. My tolerance towards cold season is low. *brrrr*
Holiday for us this time? What holiday? School is opening soon! No more waking up at 6.30am! 5.30am routine will be back soon! Uuuwwwwaaa!!!

Oh yeah. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that to those who celebrate it. :-)

Comments

  1. That picture of the snow is breathtaking!

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  2. Nice place, very expensive and when I went in the 80s, had a problem communicating with the locals. Hard to order food at small roadside stalls and even paying them was a problem. Would prefer going to less oriental/Asian destinations for a change.

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    1. You like Mat Salleh countries more, STP? ;)

      It's better now than in the 80s I think.

      I don't have much problem communicating or much of anything else in Japan, unlike when we travelled to China!

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  3. It's like u have an athtletes vacation k.lina.. hihihii..

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    1. Kahkahkah...

      Kak Lina cam poyo jer. ^^!

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  4. MERRY CHRISTMAS to Mak Rempit, Raimie and Zaini.. errr, if you are also celebrating it, of course not a religious celebration for you but a celebration for the sake of festive and "a day off", haha!! :D

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    1. Having a fun day off so far. :)

      Fing Fing and Daddy SK celebrate where, how and with who, this Christmas day? ;)

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  5. haiyah, you have been to Japan so many times and yet ranting here and there.. how about this Thambee SK who has not even stepped his foot on the piece of land of the rising sun?? must go sulk at one corner lah?? :p

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    1. Feel weird mah, not going to Japan this year.

      Thambee balik Chennai so many times. Some more I bet Thambee go to London, the adopted mother land to meet the Queen so many times too.

      This Mak Rempit never went to Mat Salleh countries yet, you know.

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  6. errr, nope!! definitely i will not wake up at 5am, and don't even mention about waking up to go for a jog when i'm on vacation!! i will totally make myself a tourist and relax throughout, haha!! :D

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    1. Relax vacation = seaside vacation.

      Otherwise, sure where got relax one. Must spend whole day and if possible whole night sightseeing. Right or not? ;)

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  7. but i think i have not been traveling during year end especially during xmas time.. everyone is going for holidays and it would be so pack.. and most probably you will be saying "hi, what a surprise to bump into you here" to some friends several times when you are in another country!! hahaha~~

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    1. I've never bumped into anyone in foreign countries but had done so in Malaysia! LOL

      Parents with school going kids no choice to go vacation during the time when everyone else goes on holiday too. ;p

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  8. but one thing i like about going travel is to meet up friends and get invited to their house.. that would be really a bliss, you can really experience the culture and tradition.. something worth to spend a day to do from your touristy itinerary~~

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    1. It's such a privilege to get to visit someone and with them opening their house to us.

      We really appreciate it. :)

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  9. no more ranting, go to Miyagi or Pasta Zanmai *again* to celebrate your christmas and as a compensation for not able to go to Japan this year~~ geez :p

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    1. Eating at Miyagi still cannot compensate a trip. Geez~
      hihihi

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  10. Wowww I bet going for Osaka Marathon 2013 sounds pretty tempting, crispy late autumn air, chilly some more, shud b electrifying enuff for a hardcore runner... Huhu...

    Happy hollidays kak lina hubby n raimie kun!

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    1. Marathons are held during the cooler/colder season. Take your pick. Osaka? Tokyo? Nagoya? Hokkaido? Tazawako? Naha? Kobe? Fuji? There are loads.

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  11. I hope you're enjoying the holidays even if it's not in Japan :) Happy Holidays Lina and wishing you, Raimie and Zaini and a Happy New Year too!

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    1. Thanks Jellybelly.

      Have a happy holiday too. :)

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  12. You're amazing, jogging while on holiday.

    Even though there is a beautiful swimming pool or a well equipped gym in our hotel, we don't use them, because we are busy exercising our legs and mouths - shopping and eating. LOL

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    1. Well, walking for the sightseeing and shopping are good enough exercise, right?

      I don't use the hotel gym either. ^^

      And anyway, it's just a short jog. I got to jog and I got to see the neighbourhood too. ;)

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  13. I know that feeling! I forgot why you won't be back in Japan again for all that time, it is tough. Hope you get the chance for an extra visit all the same n 2013 and that the new year will be a good one for you.

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    1. No big reason. It's just something Zaini & I agreed on. And anyway, I may need to use a bit of my leave to travel around Malaysia for my runs in 2013. ^^

      Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Jenny. Hope everything will be great in 2013. ^^

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  14. Uuuwwwwaaa!!! Uuuwwwwaaa!!! Uuuwwwwaaa!!!
    Wakakakakaka!

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  15. Eh! How come your tolerance towards cold weather is low? My wife swore no more WInter Holidays after the Korean Ski trip. Nah! She went to climb Huashan Mountains in Winter and for got about its cold.

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    1. Anytime that I need to wear thick coats, I don't like. But then, I still go lah... Hahaha

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  16. Sky Tree! Wheee! Kaminarimon! Double wheee! Autumn! Triple wheee!

    Ru is very happy. Ru is also very late with this comment, because she's having her usual mid-week chaos at work. I'm usually a write-off on Wed and Thurs. (+_+)

    When do schools start again? Just after New Year?

    PS: This morning when I got up, it was 0 degrees. Pity us, yes, and enjoy your weather on our behalf!

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    1. Just for Ru. ^^

      It may be 0 degrees today but in a few months' time, you will be enjoying a lovely Spring season. Hpmh. xD

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  17. dream~dream~dream~...all i have to do is Dreaaaammmmm~

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    1. Aiyoh, don't only dream la.. Just go. Life is short, Meow! :)

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  18. sigh...that's why old folks say go travel before having kids

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    1. Got kids also can go travel what. Just different experience only.

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  19. but then u and zaini so young....another 8-10 years you'll be free to travel lor. Raimi grow up and dont wanna follow u anymore

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    1. We've been saying that he might not want to follow us when he's 12 already! *sob sob*

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