Since I got some extra time, I thought I might as well update on le long overdue Japan Trip story. HAHAHA. Yeah it was a few years ago but I'm glad I've wrote something back then on Microsoft Word LOL. Or else I might have already forget what really happened. Tbh I just found this writing by accident (it was on a folder on my lappie) and it seems like it captures the essence of my experience. So yeah...Enjoy!
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There are a
few things that I noticed upon going to Japan for the very first time in my
life. I think mostly are positive and it’s an eye opener. Since I’ve only been
there once and not long, I can’t say that this is a definite post. I’d say just take it as a view/perspective
from someone who only been there for 8 days. So yeah, here are a few things
that I noticed in Japan. (Ok basically it’s Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe,
Kyoto, Himeji since I’ve only visited these places. Hehehe)
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| Took this picture simply because my friend and I passed by this place countless times |
1. Escalator Ettiquete : Different
standing side for escalator (Tokyo vs. Osaka)
Unlike
my own country where people usually just stand on whichever side they want, Japan is more similar to Singapore. Except for one thing: Standing side. Been
to Singapore and witnessed first hand on how the people there tend to stand on a particular side to allow others to walk on the other side. Thus the view I saw in Tokyo doesn’t come as a
surprise. But once my friend and I set foot in Osaka (Can’t remember if it’s
Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka Station), all of the sudden we saw everyone standing
on the right side of the escalator. For a moment we were confused if we
remembered correctly. Yet our foot just followed automatically and mimic what
everyone else do. Like they say: “When in Rome, do like the Romans do”.
As
time passed by, it happened that my friend and I looked at each other (as we’re
going down the escalator). Both noticed about the escalator thing but wasn’t sure if we want to talk about it or not. Perhaps cause deep down we both
think that it’s too random. LOL! Nevertheless, we both ended up talking about
it and concluded that we didn’t remember wrongly. That's how we confirmed that
Osaka have different standing side compared to Tokyo: People in Tokyo stands on
the left and people in Osaka stands on the right side of the escalator.
I
am curious what makes different countries and cities have different standing
side. I did read a few theories but I still can’t find a solid one to share.
Hopefully someone with knowledge on this topic would pass by this blog and
enlighten us all? But one thing for sure is that I like the idea of standing
on only one side of the escalator. Especially in busy places where some people
are rushing to get from one place to another. Though I have read something
about how it’s recommended to stand on both side of the escalator and just use
the staircases when rushing (As in for train stations in Japan, coz malls
wouldn't have staircase right next to the escalator right?). What do you
personally think?
2.
Knock - knock
- knockin’ on heaven’s door
When I first “received” a knock on my
toilet door at public places with long queue, I wondered if I took too much time. To
be honest I don’t think that I took too much time inside the toilet cubicle till people would rush me.
If
it were to happen only once then it would be normal. But it happened to me like
3x in 3 different places. First was at a sightseeing place, secondly was at a
busy train station and lastly was at a Kobe beef restaurant. HAHAHAHA.
When
I talked about it to my friend, she said that she never had anyone knocked on her door at all…HAHAHAHAHA!!! So was it just my “luck”? And in these “lucky” moments I
realized that it happened when the toilet swarmed with people (long queue).
Except for the final place which is a restaurant lol. So I believe that people
can see (while queuing) if somebody have entered the toilet or not, right? And
unlike in Indonesia where people usually queue right in front of each door available, in Japan they queue in a single line. So if they see anyone have left the
cubicle then the one queued in front can proceed to the vacant toilet. Which means if anyone knock on my door, it would be because I took too much time right? Not because they wanna check if somebody is inside, yes?
It
was still a mystery to this day. Or perhaps it was a hallucination? Or did I
have Schizophrenia? Hmm…I wonder. Hopefully it’s one of these 2 or else it’s a
bit awkward.
Read
from somewhere that usually we have to knock back twice from inside to show that there’s
somebody occupying the toilet. But I didn’t do it as I’m shy and unsure if it’s
the right thing to do. *slapped
3.
Cashier
professionalism
Speaking
of travelling, there’s no way that you’d miss this one. And I’d say that is one
is something NEW for me! I’ve never encountered something like this
before. If you’ve been to Japan, then
I’m sure you will know what I mean. I’m not sure if other countries were like
this too. But in Japan, even cashiers were so professional and formal.
When
making a payment, the cashier would tell us the amount that we need to pay,
then we would have to place our money on a tray placed on the table. After that
they would give us back our balance. Starting with the banknotes, followed by
coins and lastly the receipt.
Personally
I think It’s cool on how they would count the money in front of us. Mentioning
the amount that they’ve counted, pass us the money, then they would move on to
count the coins, again mentioning the total amount to us again and pass us the
coins. Sometimes they might pass the money together with the receipt paper and sometimes
separately (after passing the coins).
What’s
amazing is I can’t imagine how much talking they need to repeat the whole
time…all the way till work ends…LOLOLOL…I don’t think I can survive talking,
repeating the procedure over and over again daily. Hahahha…so I really look up
to them. Plus most of them were so nice as they give smiles too.
4.
Politeness
even when they are not completely wrong and kindness.
Maybe
it’s true that Japanese people tend to avoid making problems. For an example, when
both people walk from opposite of each other and almost clash,
they would bow and said sorry even when we didn’t bump to each other at all. To
which it rather makes me feel guilty as well coz I don’t really fancy making
people say sorry to me…LOL. It’s rather awkward.
I
was impressed though. Coz most people here in my country would just bump to us,
acting as if nothing happened and just walk off without saying sorry or
anything. Not everyone is like that of course. But yes, many were like that.
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| Blurry but well. I only took this one pic of the store lololol |
5.
Paying
system at Animate
So
when the first time I came across Animate building in Akibahara (I think it
wasn’t the main branch coz it’s only a smol one unit building), I was so happy
and excited beyond words.
Browsing
through every item on every level is like a heavenly task and sure enough I
just put whatever took my fancy onto the basket that I’m holding (RIP my money).
Little
did I know that I would face a little problem upon reaching the cashier. So
when I handed my basket to the cashier, he was like browsing on every item inside the basket. Soon enough he asked me on which floor did i get so and so. It
was like a sudden KABOOMMM! HAHAHAHA…I mean I tried not to get myself into a
situation where I have to talk in Japanese other than "arigatou" but there
you go. FML I thought.
So I
am assuming that we need to pay each item on respective floor? Depending on where the book is located? lololol
I
told him that I didn’t know, that I forgot where they are from and that I'm sorry. There he was like holding the books again as if trying to find some clue
and called like each floor to find out if the books that I took is from that
floor or not.
Can
you feel anymore guilty? HAHAHAH I feel like I am a disgrace LOLOLOLOL. Some
more he was always apologizing to the one he called to ask. Saying something like he’s sorry to disturb, asked if book so and so is
from their floor or not. I feel bad ok. I wonder if there’s a sign saying that
we should pay on each floor. Hmm. I hope there’s that sign, written in English
so us, travellers could make everyone’s life easier by following the rules set.
Partly
coz I felt like a potato talking in my beginner level of Japanese. Lots of
“eto”, “sumimasen”, “wakarimasen”, “arigatou gozaimasu”. I didn’t manage to
build the right sentence due to panic. As in I keep mixing formal and informal
words. Sometimes I forgot to add -desu on my words. How much of a potato can
someone get? Sorry sensei. I think I failed my RL conversation in Japanese. OTL
Btw
the cashier was a young guy. Maybe someone in his college/uni years? And
it happened the one attending me was a tall young guy with shoulder length black hair, wearing black framed glass and
Animate apron. I’ve always thought that the person who worked there would look
like hardcore otaku. But they looked just like everyone else that I don’t think
that we can spot whether they’re a hardcore otaku or not.
Anyway,
I LOVEEEE the shop. Coz they would give freebies! For my case I was given 2
picture cards and a mini brochure? Though the picture card given is abit hmm. Yes
those with gigantic boobs hahaha…
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| My loots. I didnt take pic of the free boobies illustration card tho hahaha |
