Heading to our host village in Kamikawa

Today we are moving to Kamikawa a small rural village to meet our new host. We mentioned that we gonna to work exchange for him to get to stay in Japan for us to experience the authentic Japan culture. I didn’t know for sure if it is a hostel, a cafe or a farm. Let go over there then we decide. 

Today we met another traveler from China Guang Zhuo named Joesph and he smoke a pipe and basically go travelling alone with his wife and son’s approval. We spoke to him and as usual the tone is very similar to Shen Ge. They are Chinese that want to run away from China. (Pro USA). We had a lunch at soba shop before we part way. Joseph agrees with us with the Japan’s product quality and he told us that product bought in Japan can be sold at a profit back in China. I believe I can do a 中古店 in Singapore. See. I told you I am a hogger. 

Afternoon, after he left we walked along the Motomachi street as we heading toward the train station to travel to our new host place. Along the way, we stumbled into a Japanese 中古店 where they sold used branded clothes mainly the winter 冲锋衣和羽绒服. You know I had put off many things when Jackie asked me to buy one in Uniqlo and the other logos park one. Cause my player had planned to make me find this instead. A Columbia titantium down jacket that is going for $35. Which met all my requirements and the jacket is highly adjustable via tightening strip. So I immediately placed my order. So you see. You are only looking at the price because you are not seeing the value. Jackie got herself a brown Uniqlo down with hoody. 

Along the way special mention another purchase which is the Japanese “standard” shop which priced between $1 to $10. Super great product and we bought a reuseable pocketable bag. Very small it is like a zippo lighter and can use to hand carry or sling. 

Then we took 1.5hrs to reach niino station. We thought that there will be food mart for sure as it is an mrt. I am so wrong. This station connects us to a village with old Japanese house and there are no amenities around. Nearest Lawson is 20mins walk away. Oh my god. The weather is 4 degrees and luckily we still have our newly bought down jacket. We met up with Hannah from Germany and took us to our host house and then we are surprised that the house have no host other than volunteers. Host will not be back for the whole week and he left the house to the volunteers. 

It was so cold inside and the only heater is the small heated table and then the toilet seat. Other place all cold as fuck. The bathroom is mechanical pump and we had to boil water and pour it in. Whao. That was really new for us. We skid bath and went to bed with 3 thick blanket. Tomorrow will update you with the work we do at the house. 

Went shopping in Kobe centre

Lunch at a soba place which looks different by picture

Today wake up early to have home made breakfast below the hostel. It is mayo egg with butter bread which we bought at family mart yesterday at a discount. We had decided to do shopping at Kobe today. So we doing our walk to Motomchi and then to Montbell at the city centre.

I thought Kobe is much quite like nothing to do. But I was wrong. It was still a good retail area just not as crowded as Osaka. At Motomochi street we saw a couple of hand made leather shop, we went in to research on new ideas. And Jackie bought a pink leather for $8. Leather hide isn’t expensive in Kobe. Which I could have the ability to communicate with the owner which only speak Japanese. 

Weather had drop to 10 to 6 degree for the day. It was too cold and clothes start to feel cold to touch like a fridge. No choice have to go to Montbell to see what choice we had to bring temperatures up. End up in saw a last piece of the widely popular pocketable sling bag. As it was the last black (medium) piece. I took it and pay it. Waste money again. 

Kobe city centre has lots of branded that is isolated in a whole building one. Near Daimaru. All the sport brand, like north face, patongonia are too expensive to buy. Although their cutting is really nice. We are looking for something like a 羽绒服. Then we headed over to Uniqlo to see. 

The heat tech is something I like to buy but the fitting isn’t the nicest. Also wanted to buy the lightweight down jacket at a discount of $49 but I feel women’s cutting and the feature is better. Still thinking if I should buy the logo park (counterfeit) or not. As tomorrow we need to go mountain to do volunteer already. End up I brought a green cargo pant just to add layer for my bottom. 

Today night was funny. We went to a fried chicken rice store to eat. And we find $11 a meal is too expensive for us to eat 2 set. Therefore we try to order a large set and share a rice or order extra rice if they allow. Then the waitress knew that we are sharing. So she place 6 piece chicken into 2 set and gave us each 1 more extra chicken. With 2 rice / soup / prickles. So end up we had 2 set of small fried chicken bento at the price of a large set. Very kind owner and stuff. We eat till a last drop and left a good google review. 

Kobe beef meal and 2 person we met on the road

Selfie with Shen Ge and Karen

Today our second day at the hostel and we saw the male owner Shen Ge from China, Wuhan. He had been a teacher / coffee enthusiast / author and he shared with us a lot of wise experience. 2 points I want to share is:

1. people waste too much money to do decor or interior design on their house. As a decoration will need to display item that resonate with your identity and best is a piece that you have a story behind. Instead of buying decor to just purely beautify your house. 
2. He shared that his inspiration idol is 王小波. He credit that he gain a lot of knowledge and world view from reading his book and other author that he mention in his book. End up he can become an author of many books himself. “Why Kobe” and “I am a virus” is written by him. 

Another fun person we met is Karen from USA who had relocated to Japan to teach for 3 years. To do a proper closure for her chapter in life, she went on a pilgrimage trip in Japan. Visiting all shrine in Japan by foot. Covering 1200km by walking over the span of 60 days. That’s crazy. The whole of Malaysia from Johor to Penang is 800km + she had basically walked from Singapore to Thailand in under 2 months. Super crazy. And I don’t understand why American can quit their job so easily and just take gap years without feeling anxiety for the future. 

When ask her how she kept her expenses low, she told her that she can hitch a ride all over Japan along as a lady as Japan is a relatively safe place. She also recommended me to do couch surfing and apartment swapping in Japan. This is something we like to try up coming. 

$150 Kobe set. That is the last good meal for year 2024

Lastly, something highlight of the day is that we when to eat our Kobe beef for $150 tonight. That so long before I spend so much on food. The beef is so tender and juicy it had moved me to tears. The meat is great with just pepper and salt. Every month should go with a mouthful of rice. Very godlike. Worth it bro. 

Nanning uploaded

Arrival at Kobe coffee hostel

Yesterday sleep on the sofa of the spa room, i think many like us that couldn’t find hotel on the weekend are here to sleep for the night. It is also not kinda cheap as morning when we pay the bill it was around $89 including our dinner. Cost of staying over the night is $30 each and we had $29 for our dinner.

We took another hot spring bath again in the morning and decided to leave early toward Kobe town which is 1.5hours from Osaka and the journey cost us $7.10. 

We then check in to a hostel in Kobe name Kobe coffee hostel where it is a cute old Japanese guest house that is run by 2 Chinese owner who is interested in both tea and coffee culture. Hui Jie the owner introduced us to the Kobe meat which apparently cost a lot like Wagyu and told us that this place will only cost us a fraction $50 each. Unfortunately the restaurant was fully booked when we got there and by the price and award we saw at the restaurant we decided to book the slot tomorrow so please stay tuned for our tomorrow update okie.

Japanese map inside Kobe coffee hostel

Sleeping over night in Spa when we can’t find hotel in Japan

 

Pauline from Mexico recommended us HelpX

Today we check out from the hostel. For hostel I don’t really recommend there. Unlike Krabi’s hostel which is clean and spacious. This Japanese hostel we stay in is small, cramped and stuffy. As one of the men in mixed dorm has a smelly feet I was like oh my gosh for the whole night. Jackie on the other hand enjoyed her stay as her room mate was better. 

There where she met our new friend Paulina from Mexico. We grab breakfast at a local coffee shop in Shinimatoza. There we met a well spoken Japanese old man who can speak fluent English. Very experienced as he knew all our culture from SG to MY to even Mexico. He shared some unique Japanese cultural difference. 

• like to beat around the bush and implicate things
• Surface and heart not align and you need to push 3x if you are gifting to a Japanese as it is their culture to have to reject you 2 times. lol

Paulina left us shortly with a super big luggage and she was impressed with our one bag travel. She don’t know how we can be so “compressed” and ultra light setup. We had coined a word call urban hiking which is like conventional hiking but less cooking gear and sleeping system. We hike with backpack and eat along the way using credit card and sleep in different temporary shelter every night. 

She also shared with us her last experience to do a work exchange in Japan. She found the volunteers work thru helpX platform. We might want to explore volunteering for the upcoming week. 

Just so light for 3 months travel

Jackie join me in 7kg travel but winter we need more clothes

As explained in previous post that accommodation has surge to > $300. So we end up sleeping overnight at a Spa from this week and we will see how we can still travel in Japan and see if weekday the price will come down a little  

Letting it happen vs making it happen

 

Splurge on puffer fish in shinimazato

Today we walked > 32k steps from Namba to Shinimazato. That’s 5km apart and 1.5hrs away. Walk until my leg going to give. 

The reason is that our hotel is fully booked on Friday. When we search online all hotel is either fully booked, do not accept foreigner, or price surge which triple the price. All above $300 and even so these hotel are not in convenient location and far apart. We are desperate as we search thru all platform like Airbnb and the price is really crazy on Friday and Saturday. We had decided that we will check in to overnight spa to pass the night already. 

Fortunately, last minute that we people cancel one of the hostel and we able to grab it at a last minute discount. So we able to get 2 bunk bed at $58. So our next destination is to get from sunplaza 2 annex to woodon in shinimazato. 

We could have taken the public transport for $4.50 each and will take us 30mins. But we opted for walking will is free and will take us 1.5hrs. Initially Jackie was hesitated to do the walking. But later agreed as she thinks she had sat too long today. 

We are so glad we took the path less travelled. Or many people will think that’s a waste of time as they time would rather be spend on getting there instead of being on the road. They might even justify themselves that they time is worth more as they could have earn more in that one hour compared to the cost of transport ($4.50). It is literally the saying it is not about the destination but the journey. 

Along the way we get to see the real Japanese street, the well beaten and ugly side instead of those touristy place where they want to build an image that japan is vibrant, clean and polite. Well, off those local street, there are still trash on the floor, businesses are shut down due to poor business and some places are like dead town. I even witness 2 old uncle fighting each other and throwing vulgar along a back ally of a slot machine shop. 

Beside able to see the authentic Japan. We are happy that we can get to see other interesting and busy street along the way. We enjoy walking the street which are quiet and looks and feel like Australia. Every corner is a new surprise for us and our senses are left open wide and alert to enjoy the 一期一会。embracing what the world throws at us and letting things happen to us and around us. 

I feel if you open in the faster route like taxi or train, you mind are hard wired into goal setting as if you need to rush thru the race to get to the finish line (meaning reaching the hotel faster). Along the way, the crowded place will kinda piss u and spoilt your day and mood. Although you making it happen and we reach the place earlier but the whole journey is like pointless. 

I mean life we should be like wondering around and not be like arranged to do things at certain age like school, work la. Marriage and save for housing mortgage and then hit target after target. It should be like exploring and enjoy life as it unfold itself. We are glad we had opt into this trip and Japan happen to our last minute impromptu decision. 

On the plus note, Jackie suddenly and point to a fagu shop which sell puffer fish, initially the place is full and they required advanced booked but I think one customer let the table go and we are so lucky to have gotten the chance to eat the puffer fish. It is so nice and chewy. Good food are cook in pure water so that we can savour the taste o the food naturally. We end up ordering another portion as it is too good. 

We settled Friday night, Saturday will still be fully booked, we might try for spa overnight tomorrow. Stay tuned. 

I finish my birthday budget with Montbell rain trekker jacket

Today whole day we are out for walking. As of now I had walked 22k steps. On average we walked > 20k per day. 2 reason really. Firstly, is that I ate too much from all the cheap bento from 7-11 and Lawson. And secondly, transportation is expensive so we save more by walking more.

Today my iPhone 13 mini start to have pink line flickering and purple tinting issue when facing bright sun. Dying soon. Walking around the 中古 street to find iPhone and MacBook Air. But japan keyboard layout a bit different from us so didn’t plan to buy these electronic in Japan. Unless 20 years ago, I will import docomo Japanese phone to play those with annetanna one and have to hang keychain and strip one. 

Finally today I buy finish my bday present. The rule is like this, every year we both have $300 birthday budget to buy things we like. Why this is better for us:

- as a minimalist we don’t like to be burdened with stuff which is not useful

- as a frugal man, I don’t buy anything at all, having this rules made me spend at least once a year

- we don’t like surprise and would rather have the money and decide our own present for the year.

- reduce the stress to do shopping for present but left not appreciated

My brithday is in Sept and Jackie’s in March, so we have basically 6 months each to buy our present and in the event if we cannot decide after 6 months, the balance will be pass over to the other people budget as penalty. So today buy finishing up my budget is a good thing for me.

Sitting outside Montbell to change into the rain jacket and Jackie’s toe socks

So this year my birthday present is as follows:

1. Nike short
2. Green long pant i am wear (in pic above)
3. Leather handmade wallet
4. Qiaodan short 
5. Montbell side sling 
6. Montbell Rain Trekker Jacket Men’s

Thanks Jackie :)

Our video of us doing the handmade money clip is up below:

Japan is opening up my consumerism capitalism mind

Street with lots of second hand electronic near Namba

Today took a me time to do shopping alone at Namba. Primarily one street that is full of anima, trading cards game, toys, electronics and lots of second hand phones and laptops. This street even have young girls standing at 2 sides of the street to offer some service. Don’t know what but I guess is like massage, talking, chit chat and palm reading I guess. As this street has lots of shops that attract otaku, therefore I think the demand for these services bah. 

The famous place to buy Optimus

Today is a shopping day. I almost brought my whole year quota. Usually I don’t spend on anything but today I brought quite a few items. Jackie buy one. 

• Aukey Omnia mini 30w
• Small extendable pen
• Montbell sling bag S size

Osaka is a shopping heaven as most item can really suck you in. All item allow you to touch and try. All product they will display a sample for you to feel. Really good experience if you are doing shopping. I must say the product usually is of better quality compared to China. And also very innovative and creative. Usually you never get to see this in Singapore. 

8 floor of shopping wonders

Japan is promoting single-hood. Many of their applicants are for single person. Like rice cooker, oven, mini grills, mini kettles. It is really cute to use if you stay alone. Many of their games, anime and adult material are so good. Vintage games, 3D games, RPG and lots of cartoons and anime kept young boy and girls able to fulfil many things just by staying at home. 

Interesting. Tomorrow will go montbell again to hunt for soft shell. 

Walk around Namba Murai and buy phone accessories

Today finally take back Google control. As we moved from China Nanning to Japan Osaka.

Why Japan? Just to renew Jackie visa, Malaysian only have 15 days visa free in China; Singaporean 30 days. Therefore we need to exit the country. So out of Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan we decided to proceed to Japan primarily is that the ticket one way only cost us $105. ($400 if fly from SG to Osaka). So we thought why not use this as an opportunity as we wanted to go anyway. 

First impression. 

• transport suck, confusing and super expensive
• Toilet very best of Asia. Even cleaner than Thailand. Hot plate for backside and water to wash your hole
• Food and accommodation is on par with Singapore price which is expensive 
• People all is introvert and weird. Mostly avoid eye contact

Today I brought 2 good stuff. One is a leather case for my iPhone 13 mini and the other is a Aukey mini power 30w for replacing my universal adapter. As most place I visit can you this in Vietnam, China and Japan. 

 

Today we visited the most busy place in Osaka. Namba Mariu and go to the famous street for second hand shop. 

First day in Osaka staying at hotel Sunplaza 2 Annex

 Life cannot be pause just because I am back log on my blog right? 14 days missing in action in Nan Ning. So many things to blog but don’t have the time Liao. 

Now jump over to now now now. I changed my travel plan to Japan. Now I know SG is 90 days visa. We start loving it already. The weather, the attitude and culture. Of course we love our small little Japan futon sleeping space. You see I don’t call it room cause it is so small it should be just called a space for us to sleep.

Today we went to 通天阁 street to walk around and then stay in hotel to edit our old video from Hanoi the one on the making of wallet. We start to love the place as we kept staying at ground floor at the common area to do work. Room is only for sleeping as too small so the whole day we will be staying at ground floor or go outside for meal.

At Denki to buy supper and store for tmr lunch

Japan is expensive on transport, accommodation and food. (Expensive I mean same price as Singapore). So to make our money worth we have to budget wisely and choose to buy only when the food goes on for discount at 11pm. But damn I put on weight, face has no jaw line and bloated with like water in the face. Why? Because unlike Vietnam where vegetable is so cheap and readily available, Japan on the other hand is so scarce in meat and vegetable. All their meal have little meat and veg so the only why to feel full is to eat rice. And rice make me fat!!! 

Lose weight!!!! 3 kg target

A short stay in Nan Ning, very best

I said I was going to commit to daily blogging right but unfortunately we crossed over to China, Nanning. So Google services was blocked in China. Including YouTube and blogspot. Therefore I could not post on a daily basis. Today I connect to SIMBA LTE to upload using the vpn. 

China amazed us. 2 things from which 

one, the technology and connectivity. You can buy almost anything with QR code and WeChat. From services, fruits to funny things inside the hotel. All can use QR code. 

Two, the electrical vehicle like car, bike to bicycle all using electric for better environment as air quality is better over Hanoi. 

One bad thing (some people may find it good) they had a lot of “one use” product like underwear, glove, towel, and daily products all made from plastic can be brought cheaply. I can see how one day I will be producing 4x more waste than Singapore. 

If you think Nanning is not 北上广, there is nothing to see here you are further from being right. Although it is 二线 but it had more things compared to the 一线。a lot of 网红 like to play in the city with these following. 

Unfortunately, we stayed in China for 2 weeks and due to firewall I am not able to post daily. So I compiled these week 10pm photo and upload all at once.