Tahun lalu sempat ada teman yang merekomendasikan drama ini, namun karena judulnya "Mother" saya mengira drama ini adalah melodrama yang sedih mewek semacam Reply 1988. Tahun ini, karena keinginan menonton yang berkualitas dan memiliki moral values, akhirnya memutuskan maraton menyelesaikan drama yang memenangkan Baeksang Awards: Best Drama.  Hot Stove League (2020) okay! Signal (2016) Okay! Mother (2018) Keren! Drama ini unexpectedly suit my taste karena meskipun tetep melo tapi drama ini dibungkus dengan alur thriller. Cerita utamanya tentang penculikan dan kekerasan. 

Drama ini menceritakan empat sosok ibu dengan latar belakang yang berbeda. Yang satu menjadi ibu karena menculik anak (Kang Soo Jin), yang satu menjadi ibu karena mengangkat tiga orang anak (Cha Young Shin) dan terakhir menjadi ibu karena hamil diluar nikah (Shin Ja Young). Ada satu lagi yaitu ibu kandung Kang Soo Jin yang cukup merasa bahagia melihat anak dari jauh (ini tipikal drama sih). 

Cerita ini berkembang di titik Kang Soo Jin menculik Kim Hyena, salah satu murid di sekolahnya yang dicurigai mendapatkan kekerasan dari orang tuanya. Kim Hyena merubah namanya menjadi Kim Yoon Bok dan memanipulasi orang-orang bahwa dia hilang karena jatuh ke laut. Dari situ konflik antar keempat ibu dimulai. Kang Soo Jin versus ibu angkatnya, Kang Soo Jin versus ibu kandungnya, Kang Soo Jin versus Shin Ja Young (ibu kandung Hyena) dan Kang Soo Jin versus dirinya sendiri.  

Moral values yang ingin diceritakan oleh drama ini adalah bahwa setiap ibu memiliki nature sayang kepada anaknya baik ibu kandung maupun ibu angkat. Sejahat jahatnya dan se-egoisnya Shin Ja Young terhadap Hyena, dia tetap merasa kehilangan saat ditinggal Hyena. Moral values dalam drama ini secara eksplisit banyak diceritakan via statement Cha Young Shin seperti, "Anak bukan milik orang tua", "Menjadi ibu berarti mencintai anaknya melebihi cinta kepada diri sendiri". Selain itu drama ini menceritakan pengorbanan yang dilakukan oleh setiap karakter ibu untuk anaknya. 

Konflik batin yang dialami tokoh utama diceritakan dengan baik dan komprehensif. Proses dimana Kang Soo Jin mulai berempati dan memutuskan untuk menyelamatkan Hyena dijelaskan dengan jelas. Keputusan untuk menyelamatkan Hyena membuat Kang Soo Jin menelusuri kembali masa lalunya, bertemu dengan tokoh-tokoh masa lalu dan berdamai dengannya. Setelah berdamai dengan masa lalu, Kang Soo Jin masih harus berkutat dengan konflik batin terkait ending hubungannya dengan Hyena. Saat berkonflik, Kang Soo Jin banyak dibantu oleh Dr. Jin Hong. 

Soal aktor, I was so amazed with Kim Hyena yang diperankan oleh Heo Yeol. Heo Yeol memerankan Hyena tanpa cacat. Cara bicara yang digunakan dia dalam drama menggambarkan Hyena sebagai sosok anak yang lebih dewasa dibanding teman sebayanya, bahkan dibanding dengan ibunya. 

Review

5:54 AM

Adalah sebuah keluarga standar, terdiri dari ayah, ibu dan tiga orang anak dengan karakter serba standar. Anak pertama independen, pintar, perfeksionis dan pekerja keras. Anak kedua tipe yang sangat toleran dan selalu berseberangan dengan anak pertama. Anak bungsu yang selalu dianggap bocah, cengengesan tapi sebenernya sosok yang sudah dewasa. Yang membuat cerita keluarga ini spesial sebenarnya konflik antara ayah dan ibu dimana sang ibu mengusulkan untuk menjalani apa yang dia sebut dengan kelulusan pernikahan. Cerai tapi ga cerai. Wkwkwk. Ada hikmah dibalik musibah. Di saat emosi semua orang carut marut, karakter ayah mengalami kecelakaan dan hilang ingatan sebagian. Ingatan sang ayah berhenti di hari dimana ia melamar sang ibu dan tetiba menjadi orang yang paling romantis sedunia. Yah. kata sedunia lebay sih. But I like it! Alhasil, rencana untuk lulus dari pernikahan terhambat. Di sisi lain, masing masing karakter dalam keluarga mengalami polemiknya sendiri-sendiri. 

Cerita drama ini menarik meskipun simple, heart-warming dan realistis. Karakter anak pertama hingga ketiga dibuat cukup umum dengan konflik antar saudara yang cukup umum pula. Konflik Ibu dan Bapak diceritakan secara sederhana terkait miskomunikasi yang terpendam berpuluh puluh tahun. Tidak ada karakter antagonis dan tidak ada korban cinta segitiga di film ini. That's why I love it.  Selain itu, konflik pernikahan anak pertama dibuat tidak umum yaitu karena orientasi seksual alias LGBTQ+. Layaknya drama bertema family, rasa sayang antar anggota keluarga juga diceritakan secara apik dan simple. Berbekal dukungan dan rasa sayang ini lah, para tokoh menyelesaikan konfliknya dan mendapatkan kebahagiaan masing masing.   

Kritik? Mungkin bagi para penggemar cerita seru yang suka gaya bercerita cepat tidak akan suka dengan drama ini. Karena konflik drama ini sangat simple.  Selain itu, karena drama ini bergenre family, cerita cinta tokoh utama (anak tengah) tidak diceritakan secara mendalam dan ribet, jadi ga ada sisi berdebarnya gitu.  Yang suka cerita romantis lewaaaattt~

Ada beberapa hal juga yang bisa dijadikan pelajaran terutama bagi orang yang memiliki background mirip. 

1. Marriage is not easy. Yah. Who said marriage is easy. Having family means dealing with upgraded problem because there many people to be considered on decision making process. Dalam hal ini, Ayah Ibu berangkat membangun keluarga dari scratch. Tanpa dukungan keluarga, karena masing masing sudah tidak memiliki keluarga. Dan juga tanpa modal dana yang cukup. Kedua hal ini membuat mereka cepat lelah secara emosi dan akhirnya berpotensi terjadi miskomunikasi. Miskom dan kelelahan emosional ini dipendam masing-masing berpuluh tahun dan muncul lah konsep pernikahan bertahan demi anak tanpa cinta. ditekankan lagi: berpuluh tahun bertahan demi anak. Super exhausted but many did it.  Satu lagi konflik pernikahan diceritakan oleh anak pertama yang menikah dengan dokter pemilik klinik, kaya dan baik hati. Eeh setelah beberapa tahun, akhirnya si dokter memutuskan untuk come out as a gay dan akhirnya bercerai.
2. Pada dasarnya butuh saudara. Meskipun tidak cocok dan tidak saling bicara, anak kedua selalu mencari kakaknya saat ada masalah. Saat anak bungsu tertipu pun, adalah saudara yang pertama khawatir dan mencari. Blood is always thicker than any relationship. :)

Review

3:12 AM

Drama Hot Stove League merupakan salah satu drama yang populer di Korea, bahkan drama ini mendapatkan penghargaan Best Drama pada Baeksang Arts Awards 2020.  Drama ini memiki tema yang tidak umum yaitu sports khususnya baseball dan tidak ada unsur percintaan di dalamnya. Bagi sebagian besar orang, termasuk saya pada awalnya, menganggap remeh drama ini karena tidak suka dengan temanya. Setelah berhasil mendapatkan Best Drama di Baeksang Awards, barulah saya penasaran dan akhirnya menonton drama ini. 

Ending taste yang didapat adalah "It is a good drama indeed". :)

Drama ini sangat berkorelasi dengan kehidupan sehari-hari seorang pegawai seperti saya. Bercerita tentang seorang pekerja keras dan pintar namun kurang beruntung. Luar biasanya, meskipun tidak beruntung berulang kali, tokoh utama dalam drama ini tetap bekerja keras sepenuh hati untuk mencapai tujuan tim, dan tidak pernah goyah meskipun tidak ada orang yang mendukungnya.

Adalah Baek Seung Soo (a.k.a Nam Goong Min) yang baru direkrut menjadi general manajer tim baseball Dreams. Seung Soo diangkat karena memiliki reputasi bagus dalam mengelola tim olahraga Sumo dan handball. Sayangnya, meskipun memenangkan liga, namun kedua tim yang pernah dikelolanya sama sama bubar. Saat itu, kondisi Dreams sangat terpuruk, tidak memiliki satu pun anggota yang kompeten selain Lim Dong Gyu dan berada di posisi terbawah liga baseball Korea selama 4 tahun berturut-turut. 

Baek Seung Soo mulai mempelajari permasalahan yang ada di Dreams dan melakukan pembenahan yang bisa dikatakan ekstrim seperti menjual Lim Dong Gyu ke tim lain. Awalnya, Baek Seung Soo mendapatkan perlawanan baik dari manajemen tim maupun dari anggota tim baseball. Selain itu Baek Seung Soo juga mendapat tekanan dari owner Dreams yang ternyata berniat membubarkan Dreams karena rugi. Atas tekanan dan perlawanan tersebut, Baek Seung Soo tidak goyah, tetap cool menjalankan strateginya dan membuktikan bahwa sebagian besar strateginya memang membawa perubahan bagi Dreams.

Selain Baek Seung Soo, tokoh utama lain adalah Lee Se Young, manager operasi Dreams yang diperankan oleh Park Eun Bin. Se Young merupakan manajer termuda di Dreams dan memiliki karakter positif dan optimis. Se Young menjadi tangan kanan Seung Soo dalam menjalankan pembenahan Dreams dan juga jembatan antara Seung Soo dan tim manajemen lain. 

Singkat cerita, Dreams kembali mulai diperhitungkan di liga baseball Korea dan tidak jadi bubar. Namun plot twistnya adalah meskipun terbukti berhasil membawa kembali kejayaan Dreams, kontrak Baek Seung Soo tetap tidak dilanjutkan dan dia harus mencari pekerjaan lain kembali. Not really a happy ending. :')

Ada beberapa catatan dari drama ini yaitu:

1. Strategi. Dalam melakukan pembenahan organisasi, kita harus menemukan terlebih dahulu sumber utamanya. Nah, ini dilakukan dengan belajar dan riset mendalam mengenai sejarah dan statistik dari suatu organisasi. Setelah ditemukan baru strategi dapat disusun dengan memikirkan seribu satu dampak yang dapat diakibatkan dari menjalankan strategi tersebut. dan Jangan Goyah karena akan selalu ada perlawanan. 
2. Trust. Dalam membangun Dreams, salah satu strategi Baek Seung Soo adalah membangun trust dalam tim dan boost confidence level posisi-posisi strategis seperti pelatih. Baek Seung Soo juga membangun trust bawahannya terhadap dirinya dengan membuktikan strategi strategi ekstrim yang dia jalankan secara riil memang membawa efek bagus terhadap Dreams.  
3. Communication. Nah ini nih. Notes. Pola komunikasi Baek Seung Soo adalah dengan melakukan evaluasi secara ekstrim atau terlalu straight forward. Dia tidak segan segan menunjukkan kesalahan-kesalahan yang dilakukan Dreams dengan gaya cool ala komik ya. Hal ini tidak sesuai dengan rumus negosiasi yang diajarkan Dale Carnegie dalam bukunya How to Win Friends and Influence People, best seller sepanjang abad. Dale Carnegie mengatakan untuk menjadi negosiator yang baik, jadilah pendengar yang baik dan jangan secara langsung menunjuk kesalahan orang, karena tidak ada orang yang suka disalahkan dan hal tersebut secara tidak langsung membangun keengganan orang untuk mendengarkan perkataan kita. Nah, gatau ya yang bener yang mana. I am not a negotiator and tend to become pacifist than arguer. Hahaha.

Untuk aktornya, paling suka sama Oh Jung Se (sebagai Kwon Kyung Min) meskipun antagonis. Aktingnya sangat oke dalam menggambarkan seseorang yang complicated, penuh dengan hatred tapi berusaha membawa hidup dengan tegar. Setelah dicari di Asian Wiki ternyata bapaknya cukup senior di area drama dan film, bahkan mendapat Best Supporting Actor di When Camellia Blooms. 

Oh Jung Se sebagai Kwon Kyung Min

Review

12:08 AM

Waw. Rasanya sudah lama sekali tidak membaca buku hingga selesai. Buku ini sepertinya adalah buku pertama non fiksi yang dibaca hingga selesai. Bukan karena buku ini tidak menarik, namun yah, karena penurunan minat membaca secara gila gilaan akhir akhir ini. :')

Dikarang oleh Dan Ariely, seorang profesor Psikologi dan Behavioral Economics di Universitas Duke, buku ini menceritakan lima belas fakta tentang irrasionalitas manusia dalam membuat keputusan ekonomi. Selain itu, Profesor Ariely juga mendebat teori ekonomi klasik tentang pembentukan harga pasar. 

Buku ini bagi saya sangat menarik, meskipun sebenarnya adalah sekumpulan jurnal ilmiah. Fakta-fakta yang dibahas menarik, bahasa jelas dan sederhana dan sistematika penulisan membuat buku ini tidak membosankan dibaca.  

Setiap teori dan fakta dijelaskan melalui eksperimen-eksperimen yang telah dilakukan oleh Prof Ariely sendiri. Selayaknya jurnal, metodologi buku ini diawali dengan latar belakang dan pertanyaan-pertanyaan skeptis tentang perilaku manusia yang katakanlah aneh. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan hipotesis, akankah begini dan begitu. Selanjutnya berangkat dari premis dan hipotesis tersebut, Prof Ariely menjelaskan metodologi eksperimen yang telah dilakukan olehnya berserta kolega-koleganya. Dari hasil eksperimen tersebut profesor menjelaskan hasil dan rasionalisasi atas hasil tersebut.  

Buku ini cocok sekali buat yang ingin 

mengembangkan critical thinking. Berangkat dari satu masalah, Prof Ariely tidak hanya berhenti di satu titik. Pertanyaan-pentanyaan skeptis yang mendasari dikembangkan kembali. Begitu pun model eksperimen yg dilakukan. Setuju sih dengan review yang diberikan pada buku ini dan tidak heran juga kalau masuk di serial New York Times Bestsellers. 

Di akhir, Dan Ariely menekankan bahwa manusia itu bias dan tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan selain menerimanya. Setelah penerimaan tersebut, kita selayaknya lebih mendengarkan nasehat dan feedback dari orang lain serta melakukan sesuatu untuk memperbaiki proses pembuatan keputusan yang dipengaruhi oleh kebiasan tersebut.

Berikut saya share beberapa fakta menarik menurut saya yang dibahas pada buku ini :

1. Seorang manusia tidak dapat mendefinisikan apa yang mereka inginkan sebelum memiliki pengetahuan tentang hal tersebut. Karena itu lah manusia cenderung mengambil keputusan dengan cara membandingkan satu hal dengan hal yang lain. Masalahnya adalah apakah hal yang dibandingkan sudah sesuai, sedangkan manusia cenderung membandingkan dengan hal hal yang berada dekatnya atau yang pernah dialami. Problem ini sejalan dengan teori yang dikemukakan oleh buku Thinking Fast and Slow karya Daniel Kahnemann tentang Sistem 1 manusia yang bersifat intuitif dan cenderung mempermudah dan menyederhanakan masalah. 

2. Terdapat dua norma di masyarakat dalam memandang materi yaitu norma pasar dan norma sosial. Kedua norma tersebut tidak dapat berjalan beriringan. Teori yang dikemukakan adalah bahwa jika barang barang yang biasa memiliki nilai pasar (bisa diperjualbelikan) digratiskan, maka manusia akan lebih memperhatikan sesama. Teori ini menjelaskan kenapa saat makan bersama selalu ada sedikit sisa makanan. Dan sebaliknya jika barang yang biasa dinilai dengan nilai sosial kemudian diukur dengan nilai pasar/uang maka kepuasa atas barang tersebut akan hilang. 

3. Manusia cenderung membuka opsi seluas luasnya karena takut akan kehilangan kesempatan. Padahal semakin banyak opsi yang diambil semakin tinggi risiko bahwa tujuan tidak tercapai secara optimal.

4. Ekspektasi terhadap suatu hal/barang secara tidak sadar akan mempengaruhi hasil/tingkat kepuasan marginal atas utilisasi barang/jasa tersebut. 

Review

8:18 AM

Because of Prison Playbook, I tried to watch another Shim Won Ho masterpiece, the Reply Series. Started from one which has the highest rating, Reply 1988. As the title, the time setting is in year 1988. I don’t know how it is like. I haven't born that time and I am not Korean so some jokes is just blank. Hahaha. But I enjoy watching this series. It hit my soft spot. I cried (almost wailed) in the ending. I was so sad that everything would never stay the same. Everybody should move on. Everyone has to :')

There is a monologue :

"In the end, fate and timing do not happen by coincidence. They are products of countless earnest choices that make up miraculous experiment. Giving up and making decisions without reservation or hesitation. That is what makes timing."

Then I cried again. :')

This is my first time watching K-Drama with this kind of emotion. Good job PD nim! It deserves its rating indeed.

The story lies in a housing block in Ssangmun-dong, Dobong, Seoul. When I search google maps, it is located near Bukhan-san, rather far from the heart of Seoul. There are five families there whom very close to one another. Never knocking the door when visited and always sharing  the food three times a day. If it is real, I would wonder if any conflicts ever happened to them. But it is just a story. Go away you skepticism~

Those five families has children who is in the same age. They are Sung Deok Sun, Sung Sun Woo, Kim Jung Hwan, Ryu Dong Ryong and Choi Taek. Deok Sun is the only girl here. But it didn’t make her get special treatment. The special treatment goes to Choi Taek, a master in Go game (baduk). He got some blank personality and not good into anything besides the Go game (another Kim Je Hyuk Prison Playbook). The other children is so protective around him. Choi Taek's room is like a basecamp though the owner hardly be there because of the competitions. In 1988, they are in high school age. Taek is not going to school and focusing on Go game. Like other teenagers, they start a romance story among them.

Their love story is not exaggerating and more realistic than any other drama but that what makes it sweet. Most fan of Reply would vote for Junghwan-Deok Sun couple because it has the best chemistry. In the end they are dating for real but I am just disappointed that it is not happened in the drama. In the early episodes, they give us some clues about who would be Deok Sun's husband. But the clues are just deception until two third of the story. I feel betrayed. Whyy~ you make Jung Hwan lose and force him to let go of his first love. Then, after being angry for the rest of the episodes, I would just accept that maybe it is what PD-nim want to tell, how to let go a long love like the title for episodes 18 Goodbye My First Love. Wkwkwk. The OST "Youth" by Kim Feel and Kim Chang Wan is a good choice, it makes the ending sadder.

Besides teenage love story, there is also a love story between father and his eldest daughter who are not good in expressing their feeling. Love that does not require a reply. Just watching their daughter happy or her father proud is enough. In that housing block every parents are the same. Always care for their children and would do anything just to make sure they eat well and not to worry their parents. The story is well told and the parent actors are veteran. The ending of this story is very touching. Another letting go story. :')

The PD-nim does not forget his time travel signature. Comparing with Prison Playbook and Hospital Playlist, this is the smoothest one. The theme is time travel to 1988 after all. Hahaha. Unlike Prison Playbook, I dont really find the comedic side of this drama. The touching side is more impactful. 

I would like to give a thumbs up to all parent actors, Hyeri who I never expect would acts so well, Ryu Jeong Yeol (he is not handsome but his acting covers that :p), Park Bo Gum (He feels manly here) and Lee Dong Hwi (He is the oldest among the children actors but he can suit his character)

The contra is I don’t really feel a good chemistry from Sun Woo and Bora. And I don’t really agree about Jung Hwan confession that turns to jokes. It is a plot twist but yeah hurtful. :’)

I would recommend this drama to everyone who bored with usual storyline and who needs consolation. I would continue watching another Reply stories, but I need time to reconstruct my emotion. I don’t want to cry a river again. Wkwk.

All pictures credit to Asianwiki.com ( http://asianwiki.com/Reply_1988)

Review

7:52 AM

I started trying some language learning application about three years ago to learn Korean. And then nowadays, I want to get better in Arabic. From my experience, the language you learn is deciding the application you used. I would recommend Memrise and Duolingo if you want to learn Korean but not Arabic. For Arabic I dont have any recommendation but an offline tutor. 

For Korean, I've tried to learn via Memrise, Duolingo, Mondly and Catch it Korean. From those application, I think Memrise is the best. Why? Because it helps you consistently memorize the vocabulary. If you miss reviewing for a day. The words you need to review would be accumulated in the next day. It is a good things so I dont dare to skip any day. 

Memrise provides us with an interesting word game interface. Besides, it also has mems to make us understand the definition of the word. It also has sounds just like the dictionary application. Actually the first reason is why I am loyal to this application.  

At first, Memrise is only about vocabulary. But when I look for another course recently there are option for Korean 1, Korean 2 and Korean 3. I dont know since when it exist, but those course is allowed us to learn about how to make conversation in Korean. In Korean 1 is about basic expressions used in general conversation. 

When I see the lesson plan at the preface of Korean 1, this application already put the grammar lesson. I havent reach it yet, so I couldnt comment. But still, it is a wonderful improvement. Claps!

Second, I tried to use Duolingo because playing with words only is rather boring and like I dont really improve. This application is pretty good as expected from the review. It is allowed us to memorize the words and show us how to use it the sentence.

It comes with themes in every lesson like foods, pronouns, animals, etc. It is good for understanding the grammar and very practical but for me, it is still not enough to understand Korean drama and music. So I would suggest to combine it with lesson from Memrise. Then it would be the best combo. And there is a famous Youtube channel named Talk to me in Korean. It provides us the detailed information about Korean Grammar and I am surprised they also has mobile application now. For a visual learner, maybe it could be better alternatives because they has summary in PDF though the Youtube one is more complete. A must watch video is here https://youtu.be/TUSNTV7VkcI . 

There are another good application I havent tried. I intend to try all of application reviewed here https://www.lingualift.com/blog/best-language-learning-apps/ , just to find the best. Hahaha. Would create the review later. 

For Arabic, I still could not able to find a good tutor online, even in Memrise and Duolingo. The Arabic grammar is rather complicated, and even if I try harder in online, I still could not understand it without an offline tutor. But for a beginner Duolingo is better though Even I already read a grammar book, I still would need a real tutor. 

Ah. There are one more application to improve language I would like to introduce. Especially if you are learning English. It is Elevate.

Elevate is a brain training program (it is said) designed to improve attention, speaking skills, processing speed, memory and more. It is not a language learning application but it helps me get more fluent in English. I think I improved my English skills alot because of this application. 

It provides us with interesting games to identify some wrong grammar in the sentences by reading or listening. Identify the definition of some difficult vocabulary and the opposite. Identify the wrong in pronounciation and so on. Besides it also teach us how to read and calculate faster as the bonus. Pretty complete lesson huh? 

Moreover, the application has a detailed performance tracking which hardly provides by other application. The only negatives from this application is the subscription is pretty expensive but the free version is enough to make your brain entertained. 

If you have another recommendation or suggestion please comment below. :)

Review

7:34 AM

There are multiple option to go to Osaka from Tokyo:

1. By Shinkansen. It is a well known that bullet train in Japan is superfast and comfortable. By Shinkansen it takes only 2.5-3 hours with no transit from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station. The cost for one way is about 11.000-14.920 yen but sure you will save a lot of time. In our calculation, for 8 days we would need transportation cost about 15.000 yen excluding from Tokyo to Osaka covers Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. The 7days JR Pass would cost about 30.000 yen. Thus it is not a big saver I guess.  There are local train also but I am not pretty sure how to ride this.

2. By Bus. It is the cheapest way to go to Osaka. It takes 7 hours for us to reach Osaka-Namba but the ticket is only  3.650 yen and depart in midnight means would save us another money for accommodation. The bus is pretty comfortable to sleep. I was not really sleeping though. Hehehe

Osaka Castle

After heading straight to our hostel near Dobutsuen mae station, we ate and wash first. Then went to Osaka Castle. Osaka has very different vibes than Tokyo. It is not so crowded. Everyone is not in a rush. More classics and not many skyscrapers. I found more peace there. Osaka castle has a huge and beautiful garden. There are Japan Museum of History just besides the castle. 

From Osaka Castle we were heading to Shitennoji Temple, walked along the way of Tennoji Park and then found Shinsekai, a conventional shopping district. Actually at that time, we were confused. The path is unusually quiet. So we were unsure if we were in the right way. In Shinsekai, there many colossal shop but I don’t find any which not selling pork. The district is pretty interesting though. After that, just by walking ten more minutes we arrived again at our hostel. So we took a rest.

Park before Osaka Castle

At night we went to Dotonburi to sightseeing, shopping and eating. It is so crowded. The most crowded place in Osaka maybe. There is the biggest Don Quixote in Osaka which has Ferris wheel in front. The shop was pretty complete, you can find anything at affordable prices. We bought most of our souvenirs there. Don Quixote deployed many  discount coupon. You could get it easily at your hostel, restaurants or even in front of their store. It helps you when you are in a tight budget.

Next day we went to Universal Studio of Japan. The queue line is amazing, especially for Harry Potter ride. You'll need to be patient and focus on what you want to ride. It is almost impossible to try all the rides. In a day we only got to rides five kinds. For me, Osaka version is better than Singapore. In USJ you could ask the customer service to provide you a room to pray. They would allow it for 10 minutes only (IT IS ENOUGH! #happy). You would have to take ablution in the toilet nearby.

Hogwarts at noon

Hogwarts at night

At the third day, we went to Kyoto which famous for Japanese traditional temple. From Osaka, it took about one hours by train. We supposed to go to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, but we were too tired to do more walking. So we decided to delete it and head straight to Fushimi Inari. In Fushimi, we only walked halfway to save more energy then went to Kiyomizudera. From the Kiyomizugojo station we walked about half an hour, then walked again along way to Gion and then Nishiki Market.

Kiyomizudera

It is tiresome. Hahaha. I am not complaining, it is real! In Nishiki we bought shoes and snacks. Then went to Dotonburi again. To shop ! :')

Temple just before Fushimi Inari

Gion

Kiyomizudera

Ah yeah. We buy Kansai Through Pass which covers most of the train lines in Kansai except JR. FYI there are Hanshin lines, Hankyu lines, Keihan lines, Kintetsu, Metro etc. We thought it would save the budget buuuut not really the saver if you dont go to faraway place like Himeji. Lesson learned; Just buy Suica/Pasmo card:)

The fourth day, we reconsidered our plan to go to Nara. Why? Because from what we search in Nara there only Nara Park which interesting to us. So cancelled it and head to Sawanotsuru Sake Museum in Nada Ward Kobe. We departed around 9a.m by using Hanshin Line and hop off in Oishi station. From there we walk for about 15 minutes. At 10am, Kobe is still quiet. We rarely pass anyone in the street and it amazed me. The museum is pretty interesting. It told us about how to make sake in Japanese old tradition. There was no entrance fee, love it. Hahaha. They provided us with free samples and my friend tried all the taste. She said it is tasty and bought the sake ice cream. I didn’t try because I don’t drink.

a display in Sawanotsuru Sake Museum

 From the museum we went to central Kobe. Walk to Kitano-cho district, but didn’t find any interesting spot. So we back to the station and eat Steak Land which is another restaurant that has a very long queue line. The restaurant located just right in front of Kobe Station. The steak is delicious but I prefer Gyukatsu Motomura. :)

Kobe from a temple in Kitano-cho

After that I parted ways with my friend, she said she would back to Dotonburi while I had no interest in shopping. Dotonburi sure is the shopping heaven in Osaka. I continued my journey to Himeji, the farthest city you could go with Kansai Through Pass. My battery was so low, I don’t know what get through my mind, but I still go. The journey took about 1 hour and half to Sanyo Himeji Station. I need to transfer to Motomachi station and that’s when my phone died. In that confusion I still managed to arrive at Sanyo Himeji Station by hop on any train to Himeji. Hahaha. What you need to know the Hanshin line has many types of train. There are direct limited express, rapid express and express. It depends on the station you want to take off. Direct limited express only stops in big station, while rapid express in semi big station. The express type would stop on every station. Whatever, I didn’t even know what types of train I take. Hahaha. I arrived at Himeji Station at 5p.m.

Himeji Castle

Himeji castle is bigger than Osaka Castle and full of white color. At that time, there was lampion festival for 500 yen, so I went in. The festival allowed us to take tour inside the palace which is full with light illumination. The tour last about half an hour and then I went back to Osaka. Lesson learned from previous journey so I took the direct limited train and arrived in Dobutsuen Mae at 9p.m. aaaaannndd my friend havent finished her shopping yet. Waw.

Next day we continue our journey to Minoo Waterfall. It was an exercise indeed. We need to walk for about 6km from the Minoo station, 12 kilos in totals for about 4 hours. But it was one of the best autumn spot in Japan. You can see autumn foliage along the way. I bought fried maple in the way. It was tasty, but I prefer Taiyaki next time. :)

Then shopping time in Dotonburi again. And the day after, the only thing we do is catching the flight.

Minoh Waterfall

 From those experienced, there are some lesson learned ahahha:

1. If your destination in Japan is only those 5 cities I guess we don’t need to buy any pass. Using Suica and Pasmo would be enough and flexible.
2. For Muslim, you could easily find prayer room in many famous tourist place, like Shinjuku, Tokyo Station and so on using halal trip or other application. But halal food is something very rare. Most halal restaurant is hard to find . I spend my day eating onigiri from convenience store. Sushi is not sold in many convenience store. I only find it in at Family Mart Shinjuku Bus Terminal and my friend said it is not halal.
3. Again, don’t be greedy about places. Many ambitious itinerary just wouldn’t work. Or dont do jastip if you are being ambitious. 

Travel

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