Sunday, August 28, 2016

Day 25 of Overseas Trip 2016


After waking up in the middle of the bright morning, I walked for 30 minutes to Fuji-Q Highland.

What is Fuji-Q Highland? It is full of roller coaster machines.



It is my first ride. I had to take off my glass, shoes and bag and kept them to the storage. Watches must be taken off too!





It is 360 degree turn ride. I felt that blood went up to my brain. What a effect. I never felt it before.






It is easy mode of roller coaster. Kids can ride on it. It is about pretending mouse, being running away from cats.






There are a lot of up and down at many points. Great ride!







This ride does give me a feel of panic. Short but powerful ride.






It is ultimate roller coaster drop!
It is 4D indoor thing that you feel like sitting on the planes' wings during the fly.

Very enhancing and beautiful 4D ride.




It is some sort of Eve-theme museum.








To sum up, I had 5 high quality roller coasters and 3 normal type of roller coasters.

End of Day 25.

Book

Title: Value: The Four Cornerstones of Corporate Finance
Author: Tim Koller et al.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: There are good discussions on the four cornerstones of corporate finance. However, there are some points where I disagree slightly.














Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 3:37 pm

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Day 24 of Overseas Trip 2016

On day 24, I took JR subway to Otsuki station. From there, I had to transfer to Fuji Railway subway. That will bring me to Kawaguchiko station.





Finally, I arrived Kawaguchiko station. This area map is just outside that station.

I was able to leave my backpack in host's hostel.



Surprisingly, it is relatively easy to locate Lake Kawaguchiko. What am I doing?






There! I am admiring the imposing Mount Fuji. I am fortunate that it was so clear to see Mount Fuji in the morning of Day 24.





After few hours exploring, I went back to host's home after host's friend took me from his hostel to his home. I was so tired that I had a afternoon nap.

After my nap, I went back to the same location at evening. The cloud blocked Mount Fuji. Timing is everything if you truly want to see Mount Fuji.





End of Day24

Movies

Title: Now You See Me 2 (Hollywood Movie 2016)
Synopsis:
5 magicians were trying to expose something in the press conference of a technology firm. It was conducted by FBI cop. Somehow, something went wrong.
Rating: 7/10
Remark: It is still interesting to watch.

Title: Money Monster (Hollywood Movie 2016)
Synopsis:
One tip from Money Monster TV show caused someone to lose $60K due to the stock tip. That someone held the show to the random, asking why this stock lost $800 million overnight. He insisted an proper explanation that he can understand.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Entertaining!


Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 11:48 pm

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Day 23 of Overseas Trip 2016

My Tokyo host has few properties to rent out. He realised that the one I reserved is occupied. Therefore, he let me to stay the other property at Otsuka on Day 22. I moved to another property of his at Ochanomizu on Day 23.

Ochanomizu is about 10-15 mins walk from Akihabara. Rather walking, I took JR subway to get there.

I wanted to see what Akihabara is like because anime/manga protray it as electronic, anime, and manga mecca.


Yeah, it is true but it feel like smaller scale to me. I had an impression that Akihabara has bigger scale of aforesaid mecca.

I wanted to check this out but I discovered that it is closed for some reason. Sad.






After a afternoon rest, I took JR train to Tamachi station. What am I doing there?

I am walking from Tamachi station to Rainbow bridge!







On the way to Rainbow bridge, I saw this huge poodle. It was my first time to see this kind of size.






Finally, I found the Rainbow Bridge. It was about 30 minutes walk.







I am walking towards the lift that bring me from ground floor to Rainbow bridge.














I walked on the left side of the Rainbow bridge facing Odaiba area.







After exiting the Rainbow Bridge, you will see Odiba Marine Park nearby. It is quiet park.














At the Odaiba Marine Park, there are many ways to take nice pictures of it. It is one of them. Is it beautiful?






It is my first glance of what Odaiba looks like. It is about 30 minutes walk from the Rainbow Bridge.






Not checking further in that shopping centre at Odaiba, I decided to return back to Minato area so that I can see how beautiful sunset is on the left side of the bridge facing Minato area (right side if facing Odaiba).



Awww, I love Tokyo. It is truly beautiful city place.

End of Day 23.

Drama

Title: Good Partners (Japanese Drama 2016)
Synopsis: A divorced couple work in the same law firm. They quarrel over petty things while winning the cases for the firm. One day, the owner of the firm suggested the divorced husband to consider his ex-wife as good partner. Does it work?
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Great chemistry.
Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 11:48 pm

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Day 22 of Overseas Trip 2016

I left Yokohama in the early morning. Therefore, I should expect heavy crowd in the normal train when I reached Tokyo area.

It did happen. Somehow, I did not bother Japanese workers.


After careful locating the host's home at Otsuka area for 30 minutes, I managed to leave my backpack there. I have no problem travelling to Ueno station.

Rather than transferring to non-JR train, I choose to walk from Ueno station to Todai.

I am very curious on how Todai looks like.



It took me 1 hour to locate Todai. I first found Akamon gate, iconic area of Todai.

Some Japanese did bother taking picture of it before walking.



Getting inside Todai is relatively easy as no one is stopping you. It is about 10 minutes to locate Sanshiro pond from Akamon gate.





Yasuda Auditorium is about 15 minutes away from Sanshiro pond. Apparently it is a popular spot in Love Hina manga and anime.





Walking back to Ueno station, there are many museums nearby Ueno station. I did not buy admission ticket because I had enough of it for given wonderful tour in similar museum at Washington, D.C.



I return to host home so that I took a afternoon nap. Being refreshed, I went to Ueno station again.

I am walking towards Asakusa area.




I went to see Senso-ji. It is very popular place. Very crowded in the afternoon.






It is about 10 minutes walk from Senso-ji. Very gold plated windows all over in that building. Apparently, it is Asahi building.





I walk and walk through poor-looking area towards Skytree tower. It took me around 1 hour from Senso-ji.

The admission ticket for Skytree tower is quite costly. The route to buy at the counter is quite confusing. It was good thing to have many employees to guide us which counter we should go to.

There is another plus. At the initial counter, you are allowed to buy admission ticket to Tembo Deck. I was told that you can buy admission ticket to Tembo Galleria at Tembo Deck. It is great way to think carefully. Seeing cloudy thing, I was able to save the cost of Tembo Galleria admission by not buying one.


I took 1 hours to take aerial pictures of Tokyo in different sky shades. Tokyo is truly beautiful city.



















After that, I went to Sumida area to have ramen. I waited for 1 hour for my turn to make an order and 10 minutes to get a seat. It is worthwhile wait.

End of Day 22

Books

Title: Hidden Champions of the 21st Century: Success Strategies of Unknown World Market Leaders
Author: Hermann Simon
Rating: 7/10
Remark: It is heavy read but there are many interesting facts about hidden champions.

Title: The Ten Commandments for Business Failure
Author: Donald R. Keough
Rating: 10/10
Remark: It is very easy to read all pages. The contents are very interesting and relevant.


Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 2:58 pm

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Day 21 of Overseas Trip 2016

I was now familiar with Yokohama area. It is easy to walk from host home to Yokohama JR station. From there, I took normal train to Kamakura.

Surprisingly, Kamakura station is a tiny station.


I am getting ready to walk to Great Buddha statute area. Noticeably, I see black guy walking in front of me towards the same route as me.





There are a lot of houses around Kamakura. One way road is very common around the houses. Tourists and visitors tend to take most of the space of one way road en route to Great Buddha.



It is amazing that Japanese drivers are patient. They don't really honk at them unlike Singaporean counterparts.

Unfortunately, there was setback. The google map is correct but there is no open path to Great Buddha. It took me a while to walk detour, additional 5-10 minutes, with much serious analysis.




At last, I found Great Buddha area. It took me 1 hour to explore that area. Magnificent.

After that, I decided to alter my travel plan from visiting to another shrine/temple at Kamakura to Suntory Musashino Brewery at Tokyo.

It takes one train transfer. One long underpass transfer without gate exit.


It is about 30 mins walk from Fuchuhommachi station.

Without reservation, the counter at Suntory Musashino Brewery gladly welcomed me to take the afternoon tour.


After one hour tour, we were given three cups of any beer choices. I decided to try one by one as per that picture.

Brilliant. I learnt the difference between Suntory beer and Asashi Beer.

I think Asashi beer tour is better than Suntory one.

End of Day 21.






Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 10:57 pm

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Day 19 of Overseas Trip

On day 19, I scheduled myself to wake up in the early morning at Hakodate. I walked from host's place toHakodate station. On the way there, I saw a lot of bicycles being collapsed, i suspected, which was caused by win.



It took me 1 hour to reach there. I had enough time to buy sushi for breakfast from 7-11. After finished eating breakfast, I decided not to follow the suggested schedule by Hyperdia application.



I took normal train to reach Shin-Hakodate-Hakuto station with no problem. I have about 1 hour to wait for shinkansen to come. That is why i reserved only Shinkansen seats.




It is about 6-7 hours to reach Tokyo station. Finally! I have to transfer for normal train. Where am I going to? Yokohama!





At Yokohama, there was drizzle rain. The underground at Yokohama station is quite messy that I took 30 minutes to figure out which exit I need to head for.

Finally, I found the host's home and left my backpack there.

I had to take normal train from Yokohama station to Shin-Yokohama station. There are fewer exits at Shin-Yokohama station. I had no problem to find Ramen Museum.




This picture left was taken in Ramen Museum. I was disappointed to learn that they don't sell very small bowel of ramen. I would prefer this so that I can try all kind of ramen available.




After that, I went home. End of Day 19.

Day 20


This picture was taken at the location which is about 5 mins walk away from Yokohama station.






I was trying to find the cup noodles museum. Slight confusing but I managed to find.






It was easy to buy admission ticket since the counter lady seems to be trained to communicate with simple English.

I made my own cup noodle in there.



It is about 20 minutes walk from the place where I ate chinese meal for lunch.

Behind the ship, the building is the landmark tower. That is where you can go to top of that building for sky garden.

Rather than going to sky garden, I went to Chinatown in Yokohama.







It is Yokohama Marina tower. It is shorter than landmark tower. It is located in Chinatown, Yokohama.














End of Day 20.













Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 5:22 pm