Under the Queen's Umbrella.
8:14 PM - Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Hello,
Past few days, i have been watching Under the Queen's Umbrella. It is a korean drama where you can watch on Netflix. I really recommend you guys to watch it. It has a great storyline. Really recommend everyone to watch.
The story is about a queen who protecting not only her sons, but also the kingdom. Go go watch it. PS i cried on one of the episode. I know i know, im such a sensitive person.
Go watch if you have a spare time.
Xoxo
Syazie. <3
End of 2022
8:10 PM
Hello!!
2022 going to end soon and i have been jobless since September 2021. I did a bunch of things this year but non was successful. Have been struggling with a lot of things but im trying my best to be strong.
I havent update my Japan trip, im sorry. I think i will continue it when im free. Tomorrow I have an interview. Wish me luck. I hope i got a job and plus hoping that that job is mean for me. Im tired of quiting job. I hope this will be the last.
2022 is a crazy year. My mental health is like a rollercoaster. I always show my strong front but deep down im a weak person. Health have been a crazy thing for me. I got Covid after my birthday, which is on October. I found out I have a chronic illness in the early of the year. Maybe one day i will share here. Good news, my chronic illness is in good condition. All this while didnt know i was very sick. After finding out, hope i able to make myself stay healthy.
I know this blog is like my diary but im so sorry for always neglecting you. I will try my best to change this blog again to something like my diary. Nothing too personal but something that i feel that i can share here.
Thats all for today. See you again, which im not sure when.
xoxo
Syazie <3
End of 2021
7:32 PM - Monday, November 29, 2021
Hello, long time have not post at this blog. Have not use my laptop for quite long.
Finally using my laptop as today I have a zoom lesson. 2021 almost end and this year the time past just like that. I left my 3 years job due to burn out and had countless of break down. It really affect my mental health. Left the company for good. By the way i planning to change industry, so wish me well and hope I able to cope it. I need to go through 4 exams. So far have gone through 2 classes and my brain literally fried because I need to make a lot of effort to learn new things. Doing something out of my comfort zone and hoping I able to do it. Lets challenge myself and hope luck is by my side. Going to a different industry shows that I am done with healthcare industry. My parents might not be supportive of my choice but you know what, this is my future. I should find myself a job that I think it is best for me and not based on people opinion or whatsoever. As long as I know I have someone who is supportive of me and wishing that I can do it, I will just do it and prove my parents that healthy environment job is better than stability job.
By the way I know I still owe My Japan trip part 2 story but I don't know where and when to start. I will try my best to find time to update My Japan trip part 2. Just an advice, care for your mental health. If you think that workplace or person is/are toxic, leave them. Learn new things, find yourself and don't depend on people words/opinion. Remember, it is you who are working and facing the situation and not them.
Stay Strong and Wishing Everyone All The Best. XOXO.
Syazie.
2021 - Boring 1st post
2:41 AM - Sunday, January 10, 2021
Hi there!!
Been away for quite long. I have been lost in touch with my laptop. Been busy with work and super tired.
2020 is a crazy year. I will still consider myself lucky that I am able to fly overseas during the year 2020. Let's start in 2021 with a great start.
So what is my plan for 2021, 2021 is going to be the year I concentrate on my health. Lately, I am not only busy with work and also busy visiting doctors due to my health. So I am really sorry that I am unable to continue my Japan post. Will try once I have the mood to update. I really need to concentrate on my mental and physical health. See you when I see you.
xoxo
Syazie
My trip to Japan (Osaka & Kyoto) part 1
1:36 AM - Sunday, September 20, 2020
Hi there,
I suspect this post is going to be another long post since I went to Japan for 1 week. So before starting the long post, I travel to Japan from 29th February to 6 March. So let's tell you all which airline did I used to travel to Japan. I took SQ to and fro Japan. I enjoy riding SQ, they have the tip-top services. This is my 2nd time taking SQ airline. My 1st was to Japan, Fukuoka. This trip, I made a lot of mistakes in Japan and I'm not proud of it. I felt bad about it but nevermind it is a lesson learned for me.
So let's start the story. Woke up at 5am on 29th February as I have to catch an early flight. Called my bestie as she plans to send me to the airport. Called grab to fetch both of us and head to the airport. Was super early n due to COVID-19, the airport was not crowded. Both me and bestie had breakfast at Macdonald before I catch my flight.
After eating at Macdonald, both I and my bestie heads toward the departure gate. Before entering the gate, I have anxiety. I keep on asking my bestie whether I am not dreaming. Like I'm 25 and going Japan SOLO with limited Japanese language. Till today I do not know what am I thinking. Like literally book a ticket to Japan for a SOLO trip. I told my bestie to always check her WhatsApp because I will need some companion while waiting for my flight. Entering the gate, my anxiety going from bad to worse. I keep texting my bestie that I started to get panic and want to u-turn. My bestie keeps giving me encouraging words.
Got into a 6 hours flight to Kansai International Airport (KIX). My 6 hours flight includes me videoing the clouds, taking pictures of the clouds, listening to BTS/Monsta X/Twice music on the flight entertainment plus watching all sorts of shows. Lesson learn, should never watch an M18 movie on the flight. Hahahaha I didn't know that the movie "Parasite" has some obscene scene. Kya I was so shy because beside me was 2 Japanese ladies(a mom and daughter). Oh and not forgetting me asking for a lot of plain water and orange juice.
After those long 6 hours flight, I finally reach Osaka, Japan. I'm such a lost sheep. I followed all the passengers to the checkpoint and I get into the wrong lane. I do not know why I follow the Japanese people and not other foreigners. Facepalm to me.
After exiting the gate, I went straight to the toilet because I need to search for my jacket which I put inside my bag pack plus fixing my makeup. By the way, I'm a petite girl standing 150 cm. A petite girl with luggage plus a big bag pack. If I'm not wrong I reach Japan at 4pm and I had my early dinner at the airport since there is no takeaway. I bought a bowl of curry rice for my lunch since I have been really really want to know how Japanese curry rice taste.
Then I went to search for a vendor where I purchase my train card. Another mistake I did, I thought the card I purchase has no value, guess what, there is a value in it. Another facepalm to me. Since this girl thought there is no money in the card, she went to the top-up machine and...... you might think I top up it right?? Nope I did not top up the card. I literally bought another train card. Third facepalm of the day. Omg Wani!!!!🤦♀️
Ok, so I took the normal train from KIX to Namba. Since my apartment is at Namba which is where most attractions are located at Osaka. It takes about 45 min to 1 hr for me to reach to Namba from KIX. Once at Namba, I was lost. The owner of my apartment actually does send me a map on how to exit the place. BTW Namba Station is huge. It has a mall in it. It was huge that I have a hard time reading the signage. Like one thing, why do most signage always misleading for me? Even in Singapore, I always have a hard time reading signage. Like they always misleading me hence I will be walking one big round to find the place that I wanted to go to. It takes me 5-10 min to exit the building. After that, I just follow the map that was given to me by the owner.
If I'm not wrong I reach Namba about 5 plus and it is already dark. While walking halfway, it suddenly rains!!! It was super cold!! My glasses started to get foggy. Like how do people who stay in cold countries wear their glasses?? Like mine was super foggy that I have to remove my glasses and walk half-blind. Luckily from Namba station to my apartment was a 10-15 mins walk. Btw I was shocked by my apartment as it looks old but luckily my apartment is not in the alley area. Thankful for that. Went into the apartment and straight to the lift. The lift was super small, it reminds me of the old Singapore lift. Nowadays in Singapore, you couldn't find those small lift anymore. Most lift in Singapore is big already. The lift actually scares me as it is full of graffiti.
Reach my floor and look for my apartment number and hurriedly key in the door lock. One thing about the Japanese apartment door is that the door opens outward not inward to the house. What I meant is that you pull the door and not push the door. It is like opening my house gate. So my colleague told me to put my luggage at the block the door but it is useless since the door is going outward.
So here comes the bad thing happen to me. I was super tired after a long flight and walk. I was soo happy I got a Sailormoon room for my apartment. Guess what??? I came to the apartment looking Super messy. It was not clean. I was super pissed off. Like I already have a long journey and I already plan to dip myself in a hot bath and goes to sleep but my apartment was untidy.
I message the owner as I remember he told me to only come to the apartment after 4pm as they have to tidy the room. I look at the time and it is 5pm plus almost 6pm. How can my room be still untidy? I message him and took all those photos to show him. The owner was super shocked. He apologies to me and ask me that he will give a change of room. So I agreed, soo end up I have to go to the room 1 floor above my original room. So I got the Totoro room. I was happy coz it was super neat and pretty.
Then another bad thing happens to me, the water heater spoil, and the gas stove doesn't work.🤦♀️ End up messaging the owner again. Inside my heart, I'm like "Omg I don't want to be known as the most annoying tenant but since I'm paying, I need to have my facilities to be working." So he asks his staff to come and his staff came to check and the staff apologized to me. So he texted me, he will ask his staff to clean the Sailormoon room and I have to move back to that room. Just a reminder, I was super tired due to the long journey plus I am having a huge bag pack plus huge luggage with me.
So my 1st day in Japan is like this. It wasn't a good start but I learn a lot of things on this trip. Will continue in another post. No promises on went I will do part. 2. Like I said it is going to be a long blog since I was in Japan for 1 week. Ok, see you in the next post. No promises okay??
xoxo
Syazie
ps. should I post the picture of how messy the room is??
9th August 2020
11:03 PM - Sunday, August 9, 2020
Hi there...
Today is Singapore National Day. Singapore turning 55 yrs old today. Happy National Day to you all. Sorry for not posting anything. The post that I promised to post, is still not up yet as I still have not finished typing.
By the way, these few days, the temperature in Singapore is scorching hot. Like it is 32 degrees Celcius. Like I saw many still out and about and here I am staying in my room playing mobile games or watch some Instagram/Facebook live. Like literally all these online shops are trying to tempt me to spend on my money. ERGH!!!!
Okay, I'm gonna end here because I really do not know what to update. I will try my best to finish the other post that I promised to post.
Updates: My close friend just gave birth. OMG!!! Her baby is born on our National Day!!! Wow!!! Btw do you know that when you are born on National Day you will get something special from the government? Ps only apply to Singaporean. Thumbs up close friend. Going to see you and your baby soon.
2020 - First blog
2:10 AM - Sunday, July 19, 2020
Hi there,
It's been a long time I update this blog. 2020 is the most boring year due to a pandemic called Covid-19. Btw I was able to enjoy 2020 as I am super lucky enough to able to travel to Japan before all the countries go for lockdown and also shutting their borders.
So today I would like to share my experience with Japan, the year 2020. This is my 2nd trip to Japan BUT......This is my 1st SOLO trip there. If you all know me, my 1st trip to Japan was with my Poly schoolmate. We have an exchange program and it was at Fukuoka.
So my 1st Solo trip to Japan was at Osaka and Kyoto. I enjoy the trip and I won't mind going there again SOLO. Btw this post is more about the planing of the trip. Soo lets the story began.
October 2019
This was the time/period where I was planning for my Japan trip as I manage to secure a 1-week leave from work. Working as a healthcare professional, it is hard to get 1 week's leave. Actually not all healthcare workers have a hard time getting 1 whole week's leave, it is just my workplace. Soo working as the counter staff, many of my colleagues here, love to travel, hence it was hard for me to secure a 1-week leave. Ps, It was my birthday month(my 25th birthday) and I have been wanting to go to Japan again. Soo after my manager announce to me that I receive that 1 wk leave I'm like super excited.
Btw the date I manage to secure was 2 March 2020 - 6 March 2020. I wanted the 3rd week of March so that I can enjoy the Sakura season but I able to secure the 1st week of March which is like winter to Spring in Japan.
After securing the 1 week, I was super happy and told my bestie that I would love to book a tix to Japan. This lead to me going to the SQ website and see the tix pricing. It made me goes nut as there are discounts for the tix to Osaka. Soo hence without planning, I book a tix to Osaka.
After securing a tix to Osaka, if I'm not wrong, 1 week later, I regret it because there is literally nobody who wants to tag with me to Japan. So it means that I have to travel to Japan ALONE!! So I'm like "Since I'm alone, I should have booked a tix to TOKYO!!! OMG Wani!!"
Hence I texted my bestie on whether I should just go on with this trip.
November 2019
My bestie texted me to check on whether I have started planning my trip. This was the period where my mood goes high as I was super excited planning for the trip. BTW during this time, I totally forget that I am traveling alone. 😄
I did a lot of research on whether I should book a hotel or Airbnb. After looking at the price of a hotel in Japan, their price was super expensive even though it is a 2-3 star hotel. I'm like, okay let's forget about the hotel. Let's try Airbnb as I never have any experience with Airbnb. I use to check out Airbnb a lot hence I'm like "Guess what, I guess there is no harm using Airbnb"
So the pricing compares to the hotel was a big gap. Soo at that period I found about 5 places to stay in Osaka. So I manage to deduct the number of places I wanted to stay by having thoughts on whether this place is near to the bus/train station, near to Family Marts/7 Eleven/Convenience Shop, or places that are not deserted.
So I manage to book a place which is near to a Family Mart and it was at a cheap price. I'm so happy coz I wanted to have low-cost travel since my salary is not that high and also I was only 1 year old in my current workplace.
December 2019
My plans cock-up. Anxiety kicks in as reality hits me hard. I suddenly remember nobody tagging me to Japan. I'm rushing on my plans as I did a wishlist of places that I wanted to go and also last minute I decide to go to Kyoto and Nara. My anxiety level can't be controlled as I read news about Japan where there is a shooting case happen there. The shooting was about gang members there and one of the gang's higher rankers being shot and died.
Yeah, I am good at making myself worried. So I did more research on the place that I book to stay at Osaka. Guess what, it is at a secluded area and needs to go through an alley. My colleague who travels Japan solo told me that it is good to avoid walking around the alley area.
Soo after reading the news online and found out the apartment I book is around the deserted area, I cancel that booking. Luckily I able to get a full refund. So after canceling my 1st apartment, I did more research and found out in Osaka that tourist spots are mostly located near the Osaka-Umeda station and Namba Station. Considered those areas like town area for Osaka
Sooo the place that I ended up booking is at the Namba station area. Mor precise, I stayed at Naniwa-Ku Ward. Btw I will share my experience in Japan on another post.
As I mentioned above, I was having bad anxiety, coincidentally I watch a Japanese drama name Scams on Netflix which actually worsen my anxiety. I am crazy, I should have to watch another drama but I decided to watch that. *facepalm* Due to my anxiety, I ended up canceling Nara on my plan as I think I unable to go there. I also ended up booking an apartment/Inn at Kyoto for my Kyoto stay. (I love my Kyoto stay)
December is the craziest month for me as I have a whole lot of things to do by listing my plan and also I was doing last-minute financial planning. Like in December itself, I started to save money for my Japan trip. Soo I did financial planning myself on how much I can spend for January and February so that I able to reach the amount of money I want to bring for my Japan trip.
Btw my financial planner is my Excel sheet. Which eventually I tell you, it is useless as hell as I ended up using my phone memo. I will share my financial planning/savings method in another post.
January 2020
New Year came and it hit us, healthcare workers, badly. Covid-19 was out on news but it was not that serious. Since at that time the spread was only at Wuhan. The WHO spokesman even said "Do not need to worry. It is not that serious." At this period, I started to be paranoid, and this is the month where I started to take precautions for my health. But guess what??
January was a bad month for me. From getting sudden bad/worse allergies (btw I am not allergic to anything) to getting a lung infection. I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I used to get lung infection before but was not that serious as pneumonia. Last time I got bronchitis. I was really really ill. Having pneumonia is a no joke. I was having a fever for 1 whole week. My body temperature for that 1 whole week was 40 to 41 degrees celsius. It was a high fever and I have chills all over my body. Btw Singapore climate is humid but I was freezing and wore double layers(shirt + thick jacket).
Going to cut some unnecessary talks and let's get back to my Japan trip planning. As I said Covid-19 was on news but the whole world did not take it seriously. At this period, I noticed that the Japanese Yen drops, hence I change my SGD to Yen. I was soo happy that I was able to get more Yen. Since Yen is stronger than SGD.
Before January ends, local news informs that the Covid-19 case has spread to Japan and South Korea. Soo working under the healthcare sector, higher-ups were like telling all their staff to cancel all overseas trips. My boss is paranoid and she knew I was going to Japan and a few weeks ago I was having pneumonia, she was scared for me. Like Covid-19 symptoms affected the respiratory system. So my boss actually told me to cancel my Japan trip. Btw sidetrack, when I was diagnosed pneumonia, my boss thought I got Covid-19. Everyone at work was scared and hoping nothing happens to me. Thank god it was just pneumonia. (Not a joke okay!!!)
February 2020
February came and Covid-19 became uncontrollable. One of my colleagues went to South Korea. After she came back, South Korea's cases hit skyrocket. Japan and Singapore were still very low at that time. I was really worried at this period because I was scared I am bot able to go to Japan as higher up still deciding whether should give me a green light to travel. Supposed to go to Malaysia, Johor for a short trip but my company was strict about it and not letting any staff go to Malaysia without permission. I'm so lazy to see my boss, I ended up canceling my Malaysia trip with my friends.
At this period, I already started wearing a mask wherever I go. Taking care of my health as I did not want to get another lung infection and also I still have not fully recovered. Long story short,3rd week of February, I went to see my boss for seeking permission to travel out of Singapore. Good thing able to get a green light to travel out as both Singapore n Japan case was low.
Sooo on 29th February, I took my flight to Japan.
Okay, I will end here. Will continue my trip to Japan in another post. Wow!!! I'm shocked that this post is super long and boring. Hahahahaha!!! Ok, seriously going to end here. See you all in another post.
xoxo
Syazie