Cross Hotel Osaka

Planning a visit to Osaka soon? Wanted to shop like mad..but too heavy to carry all those bags for whole night long? Dun you wish for the hotel to be right beside the shopping street and you can drop your bags and go shop till you broke again? *LOL* Cross Hotel Osaka is the right hotel for you! 

Cross Hotel Osaka Entrance (Sorry got this photo from somewhere in the net as I forgot to capture one)

The location is superb as it is in the midst of Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. There is no lack of shopping and food at Shinsaibashi shopping street. You will be well fed all night long! It is less than 5 minutes walk to Namba station, which the underground network of shopping streets is also amazing. It practically connects you to everywhere around Namba to as far as Takashimaya, and Namba station itself seems like an interchange which easily connects you to the Kansai airport and other subways in Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. 

Although I find the the room is kinda small especially after fitting in another extra bed for 3 of us, the room overall was kinda clean, comfy and cosy.

Twin bedded room with extra bed

There is single room, double room, twin room and cross suite room. Price range is about 15,000JPY～34,500JPY (~RM450 to RM1000).  

Rooms are all modernly furnished and include facilities such as LCD TV, high speed internet, safety box, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, and various toileteries such as shampoo/conditioner, body soap, toothbrush/paste, razor, hair brush, cotton bud, shower cap, towels, pyjamas, and hair dryer.

Room is equipped with 32-inch liquid crystal TV

The bathrooms area is quite spacious..

Sink area

Hair dryer and basket of toiletries

Bath tub and Japanese shower stool

The hotel is also equipped with contemporary Italian restaurant, bar, and a beauty spa.

How to get here?
Cross Hotel Osaka
Address: 2-5-15 Chome, Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 542-0085
Tel: 0081-66-213-8281
Website: http://www.crosshotel.com/eng_osaka/

That's all for this month. Looking forward for my mid-year breakie to Singapore this weekend. Yahoooo...!!

For more of my previous Japan trip blog post, checkout part 1 and part 2.

Fuji Mihana Hotel

If you are visiting Mount Fuji and plan to put on a night somewhere nearby Mount Fuji, I will certainly recommend Fuji Mihana Hotel! 

Fuji Mihana Hotel signboard

Outside of Fuji Mihana Hotel

I believed this hotel has been in most of the travel agency itinerary as I did see a lot of my frens photos visiting Mount Fuji and taking the typical familiar shots in this hotel and wearing the same yukata..and in almost the same spot...LOL!

Why I super love and recommend this hotel? Believed me..stay on and continue reading my remaining post and you will see why it's really worth staying a night here :-) 

You will get a magnificent view of Yamanakako lake and Mt. Fuji at the court yard front side of the hotel. Remember to wake up early in the morning and dash out with your camera and start capturing as much nice shots as you can!

Sigh..so beautiful view..but too bad I have lousy camera la -_-"'

Another shot of the Yamanakako lake

At the courtyard of the hotel, you can have the magnificent view of Mount Fuji shots.

A shot with Jen, mummy and Rin (Daddy is missing, in the toilet perhaps..doing his early morning biz routine..haha)

Now a shot with only me inside

Now, let's see what is unique about the rooms in this hotel....you get to enjoy tatami room here! For those who din know what is tatami, its actually a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-styled room.

Tatami room

They have LCD tv..but too bad since we have 3 beds, so the arrangement is kinda weird not facing the tv directly

Writing desk

Kettle and packets of green tea provided

Yukata provided..pink for gals (*duh*) and grey one is for guys

Yukata is a Japanese traditional clothing which is considered as a Summer Kimono or a Casual Kimono. Yukata can be worn by Men and Women, and Children. You can find people wearing Yukatas at the Japanese Festivals all over the country. If you din know how to wear Yukata, checkout this link here.

Rin and myself in Yukata

Hangers to hang all your winter coats

Toilet is kinda small here though

The sink area

Japan super high tech toilet bowl..really luv it..especially to warm my bum..lolo

Remember the next morning, the moment you woke up..open your room curtain and be stunned by the magnificent Mount Fuji staring at you directly! Awesome...some more perfectly framed by the room window! Can't describe how awestruck I was that I keep taking shots of Mount Fuji.

*speechless*...too awesome!

Another awesome shot!

The food served at this hotel was good! I had Hokkaido Crab at the buffet dinner. It was really fresh and delicious! As for breakfast, it has good selection of local cuisine as well as international choices. 

Daddy's fav food..Hokkaido Crab..he can't help to take more and more of this :-)

And oh..before I forget...you can enjoy the spa in this hotel too! 

Onsen in this hotel..red color on is for ladies..and blue for guys

Btw, for those who never try Japanese hot spring or aka onsen before...you need to be totally naked! No bikinis, swimsuit, panties or undies..and no big towel to cover all your ahem parts! You are provided only with small towel..just enuf for you to cover either your top, bottom or whichever part you think you want to hide la. Haha..some of my tour ppl said..so small towel, if you dun wan ppl to see your body shape..cover your face la instead...lol..which I think it makes sense too! 

And since no camera is allowed in the onsen area, below photos are grabbed from the hotel site.

Onsen changing area

Onsen

How to get here?
Fuji Mihana Hotel
〒401-0501
195Yamanaka Yamanakako-mura,Minamitsuru-gun,Yamanashi Prefecture
TEL：0555-62-5210
FAX：0555-62-5211
Website: http://www.mihanagroup.jp/fujimihana/en.html

For more of my previous Japan trip blog post, checkout part 1 and part 2.

Preparation for Japan Trip

Just found out I still keep the information for my preparation to Japan travel previously. Probably some of you all are not sure what do you need for preparation to Japan upfront. You need to get a visa! *duh*

Well, the process is not as complicated as getting a US visa where you need to go for an interview, but you need to prepare the following for visa requirement:

• company letter (if you are an employee, you need to ask your company prepare a letter. Donno what to write, I provided a sample here where you can refer)
• Copy of Current Account or Saving Account or Fixed Deposit - REQUIRED minimum RM10,000 per person. And it need the photocopy with CERTIFIED TRUE COPY some more from the bank with STAMP, officer's name and signature
• Copy of Birth Certificate (for kiddies)
• Copy of Marriage Certificate (Husband/Wife)
• Copy of Form 9 & 49 (if you are sponsor by company)
• Original Passport - minimum 6 months validity
• (WHITE BACKGROUND) Photo - 2x2 inch colored - less than 6 months

Sample of company letter:

Link to download Japan Visa Application Form

Sharing of the hotels I stayed in my last visit to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. You can read more in these posts with more photos for you to enjoy :-)

Hong Kong & Macau 25 Nov - 1 Dec 2011

Okie..gotta admit..I kinda leave my this blog quite a while. Time to be hardworking and start blogging again :-)

Hmm..I forgot that I have left this post draft on my last year's HK trip a while. Altho it's old but I think is worthwhile to post it :-)

Here is the details..

Day 1 (25 Nov)

Hong Kong..here I come...

We booked Cathay Pacific airline, Flight CX724 from KL to Hong Kong

17:45 and estimate to reach there by 21:30 (about 3 hrs, 45 mins flying time).

@KLIA boarding gate

When we reached HK, we took the Airport Express Train (AEL) directly to Kowloon station. 

Inside the Airport Express Train

My AEL ticket..

From Kowloon Station, we have no choice but to take a taxi to our hotel - Cosmo Kowloon Hotel since we missed the last free shuttle to hotel. Gosh...the taxi queue is so damn long...*sigh*.. by the time we reached the hotel, it's already over midnight :(

Cosmo Hotel Mongkok is a boutique hotel in Kowloon that has become the chosen destination for discerning travelers. Situated on the cusp of exciting MongKok and Tai Kok Tsui, this 27-storey Mongkok hotel opened in mid 2010, offering a relaxing retreat from the busy streets. Surrounding the property also find a number of local interests such as the renowned Ladies' Market and Temple Street. Langham Place Mall is also nearby offering world-class shopping experience. A conveniently located hotel in Kowloon, Cosmo Hotel Mongkok has a selection of 285 refreshing, brightly lit rooms including 20 suites all presented with modish décor and functional design making them most well-appointed for any kind of stay. Mindful of the individual needs, we will greet with a warm welcome from the moment of arrival and ensure guests a pleasant stay. 

Total Price for 4 nights: HKD3900 + HKD390 (tax) = HKD4290 [MYR 1660.00]

• 25-Nov : HKD 1050.00
• 26-Nov : HKD 1050.00
• 27-Nov : HKD 900.00
• 28-Nov : HKD 900.00

Free Shuttle Bus by Cosmo Kowloon Hotel

Day 2 (26 Nov)

Breakfast at Australia Dairy Co. (澳洲牛奶公司), our second day in Hong Kong.

Australia Dairy is located at Parkes Street (白加士街), a famous food street among the locals with variety of eateries.

The restaurant is known for its pack customers, fast services, and scramble eggs. We ordered two set of breakfast, each with scramble-eggs + toast, soup pasta and a cup of Yin-Yeung (coffee-tea mix), which cost around HK$26 per set.

The food was decent. The scramble egg was as good as it could be, toast was ok, Yin-Yeung was just nice, nothing extraordinary about the pasta.

47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong (Jordan MTR, exit C2)
Tel: 2730-1356

Opens from 730 am to 11pm daily

You can read more about the food and photos in another blog which I found. 

Start our destination of the day at - Causeway Bay (Tong Lo Wan).

Times Square, a symbol of Causeway Bay, is the biggest emporium in this area and one of the top ten scenic sites in Hong Kong.

Times Square, HK Causeway Bay

So coincident there is Barbie Dolls exhibition in Times Square.

Barbie Dolls exhibition @Times Square

Basically there is nothing much in Causeway Bay, so we decided to go directly to Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Harbour City - is a large shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui. It comprises several parts:

• Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel
• Ocean Terminal
• Ocean Centre
• The Gateway
• Pacific Club Kowloon 

The complex is located along the west side of Canton Road, stretching from the Star Ferry Pier in the south to China Hong Kong City in the north.

We hanged out in the mall for quite sometime and slowly enjoy our drinks and light meal in Pacific Coffee :-)

@Pacific Coffee in Harbour City

By evening, we walked to the nearby Avenue of Stars, which is located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. It honours celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry.

We didn't manage to stay for the 8pm Symphony of Lights as it's too windy and the pain in my legs are killing me...so we decided to have dinner and go back early to hotel for a rest.

We managed to find one char chan teng in Tsim Sha Tsui for dinner:

I think it's beef noodle?

I forgot what noodle is this :-P..but it doesn't taste so good

Opsss...didn't realized my hair is kinda messy since outside is so windy..

Day 3 (27 Nov)

We had our breakfast today in MOS burger...my fav :-)

MOS burger

Looks yummy breakfast set..

I can't help but take a bite and forgot to take a photo :-P

Beside MOS burger, there is Hello Kitty exhibition!!

@Hello Kitty Exhibition

We had our lunch at City Hall Maxim's Palace.

Dim Sum @City Hall Maxim's Palace

Victoria Peak
We went to the Peak using the Peak Tram. The Peak Tram was first introduced in 1888. It was built for the daily commuters rather than a tourist attraction though nowadays majority of the passengers are tourists. The ride is quite steep and it climbs up to 396 metres above sea level. The panorama view of the harbor is spectacular.

 

Opening hour of Peak Tram:
7a.m. to midnight (Mon - Sun & Public holidays)
Tram runs every 10-15 minutes.

Peak Tram

Once we reached the peak, the first thing we visited is Madame Tussauds 
Opening times: 10am - 10pm daily (last admission 9.45pm)

Address:
Shop P101, The Peak Tower
No. 128 Peak Road
The Peak, Hong Kong

Ticket price: HKD165 (~MYR67.00)

Recommended to purchase the combo package:

• 2 in 1 combo package : 

       2 way peak tram + admission = HKD190 (RM79)

• 3 in 1 combo package : 

       Admission + 2 way peak tram + Sky Terrace 428 = HKD215 (RM87)

@Madame Tussaud

Then we dined in one of the restaurant in the peak - Hong Kong Day, about HKD117 for a 2 person meal.

The Hong Kong Style Café has become an important part of food culture in the territory. Classic dishes include Hong Kong style milk tea, french toast, luncheon meat and egg instant noodles, and stir fried rice noodles with sliced beef. Each of these East-meet-West treats has a flavour all its own and is characteristic of Hong Kong style eateries.

Tel no : (852) 2849 7855
Opening Hours :
12:00pm - 10:00pm (Mon-Fri)
12:00pm - 11:00pm (Sat, Sun & Public Holidays)

The breathtaking view of the peak at night....

@The Peak

Day 4 (28 Nov)

Wong Tai Sin - most popular Taoist ancestral shrine in Hong Kong. Built in 1921 on Rosy Garden, it is located southern of the Lion Rock, in Kowloon's Wong Tai Sin district which was named after the temple. It is often referred to as Sik Sik Yuen Temple, probably because Sik Sik Yuen is the actual Taoist organisation that provides administration for the temple.

How to get there?
Wong Tai Sin station is on the MTR Kwun Tong line. From Wong Tai Sin station taking exit B2 or B3 is a five minute, sign-guided walk to the temple. Admission is free, but a small donation fee is expected from visitors.

Opening hours:
Wong Tai Sin temple is open from 07:00 till 17:30 throughout the year, with the exception of the Lunar New Year Eve where it runs overnight.

@Wong Tai Sin

The rest of the day is shopping day in Mongkok! Hooray!

Day 5 (29 Nov)

Checked-out to Macau and we stayed in Hotel Sintra. I need to find back the details. Will re-edit this again if I remember :-P

The Ruins of St Paul

The Ruins of St. Paul’s (also known as Sam Ba Sing Tzik) is the most famous sight in Macau The front façade and the grand stone stairs are the only remains of the greatest church in Macau. It is said the original church was probably designed by an Italian Jesuit in the early 17th century. It reflects great Catholic history of this former Portuguese colony. 

@Ruins of St Paul's