Day 1 - Brompton Japan 2013

We are back in Singapore safely ! :)

Really enjoyable Trip for me. especially the ride & visit to the Japanese old postal towns.
we experience a bit of hick up though. no spoilers for now but it will be reveal in future postings. :-p
overall, it is pretty smooth sailing. didn't get to visit some places due to time constraint but its ok.
i have learnt that it is the company that is more important compare to places.

Day 1 is pretty average IMO. nonetheless, it is Japan !! we are just glad that we're there. :-D
Enjoying a cool 15 degrees climate & not the hot humid singapore. LOL

Setting off photo from my home

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At Changi Terminal 2 checking in with our stuff.

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Just Happy to be onboard

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Arrived safely. thats all i had besides my backpack.

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Keisei Line ticket counter

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First Expenditure in Japan. Ride to Tokyo.

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Second Expenditure. Lemon drink as mini celebration. LOL

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Train is here already !! Come on, folks !!

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Wua !! Cabin is nice & very Clean !!

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Big Luggage spaces ate all our Bromptons

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Love this picture. clean lines . nice fonts wz depth of field.

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Kris didn't rest well on flight. i wonder why he chose this position
when the seat can actually recline. hahahaha... so funny this pic !

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Unpacking "pig style" at Ueno park entrance

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Setting up my Brompton.

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Wow! its so tall with the Brompton boxes.

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Full gear ready to go !!

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View in front of Ueno station.

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Interesting bus we encountered

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Passing by Akihabara cycling to Shinjuku.

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Took this pic after getting our Bus tickets to Matsumoto.
And accidentally captured his butt shot. wa lao eh !! hahaha

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Visit to Meiji Shrine. Unfortunately, shrine is close for the day already.
but check out how big is the gateway relative to my size. o_o

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Yoyogi train station 

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Visit to Karahashi Table Tennis shop at Yoyogi.
Table Tennis is my main slimming program. LOL

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Dinner at First Kitchen. Trying a Night shot with my Sony NEX-5N

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Our room wz attached bath. very big lo !!

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common area and PC for internet.

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stairs leading to our room on left at corridor end.

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Thats all for now, folks! hahaha

will post more when time & motivation allows .

Cheers

Japan Packing List.

alright, just for the record, i shall log my packing list for future reference
& the team to go thru in case they miss out on stuff.

Clothings & Cycle wear
. 5 sets top
. 3 sets bottom, 1 x shorts
. 1 set shoes , 1 pair slippers
. 5 pair socks
. 1 x small sports towel
. Jungle Hat , Head Buff
. cycling helmet , gloves

standard toiletries. Buying shampoo in Japan.

Rain & Cold protection
. Rain gear (top & bottom)
. 1 x fleece , 1 x Dickies Storm (wind breaker type jacket)
. Brompton bag rain cover , Back pack rain cover.

Tools for Brompton
. Brompton toolkit . 1 x small adjustable spanner
. small plier (just in case need to take out stuff stuck in tyre)
. front & rear lights . Cyclometer.
. watch compass
. cords & carabiners
. 1 set small ropes . (got many use for it)
. spare inner tube
. 1 x water bottle. the other one will be flavored drink japan bought.
. various adhesive tape. use for packing bicycle.
. big stapler and ammo. also for packing bicycle use.

Electronics
. Nikon P300 compact camera & 2 x batt.
. Sony Nex 5N camera & 2 x batt.
. Acer Laptop & cables
. HDD & LAN cables
. 3DS & cables
. Power adaptor
. Galaxy Note & cables

Other stuff
. washing powder
. scissors & penknife
. Japan guide books

Shopping in Japan

Stuff i wanna shop for in Japan :

Sailor Prera fountain pen & Sei Boku Blue Black ink

Brompton Cover

Hua ! finally finish sewing 3 Brompton covers for Japan Trip. ^_^
Thanks to Mum who taught me how to set up machine & basics
for Sewing & handling textiles.

First cover i made is really shetty. i threw it away already. not proud
at all about it. good thing i pick up quite fast! from second cover on wards
is pretty acceptable for me already. *Nice*

Me on the sewing machine

The fouth attempt Brompton cover. i am happy about it ! ^_^

Cover features overlapping sides so no need for velcro / string / zipper

Just last week, i bought me self a 40 litre backpack as well. Model is Vertikal Carnaby.

i like it cos it has a zipper that u can use to make the bag into 2 sections internally.

this is useful sometimes for separating dirty clothes from clean stuff. or maybe dirty

stuff like tools ...etc from main compartment.  also features webbing back to help 

ventilate perspiration. for abt $10 cheaper, this feature will be taken out. i think

it is worth the extra dollar. More comfortable too ! 

Vertikal Carnaby (40 litre) 

Zipper to separate compartment

Webbing back feature

Goodness !! it is just 11 more days to departure !! the thought just excites, is'nt it !!  :-p

New Japan Schedule

Alrighty !! i am done wz the Trip's daily schedule !! :-D
i can say it is 80% firm. i have almost all transfers & accommodation info ready.
As well as Places of interests. the rest will have to be done on ground.

Home Work for team :
. research a bit and list wz ranking what would u like to do, eat, go for in :
-Tokyo
-Nagoya
-Kyoto

Generally, there are 4 areas to look into for inspiration.
(Places, Food, Culture / events, Museums... etc)
i try to include them in the plan as much as possible.

. consider protection from rain & cold for rider & Brompton.
-i will be sewing brompton covers for all.

. think abt clothing sets to bring. i am having generally :
- 5 sets top
- 3 sets bottom
- 1 set jacket / coat for cold protection.
so basically i will need abt 3 washes during the trip.


Japan Trip Schedule :
M= Morning
A= Afternoon
WD= Whole Day

Day 1 : 13 April Saturday
M : Arrival Flight from Singapore to Narita
. Transfer from Narita to Ueno eki. (Keisei Line)
. Cycle from Ueno to Kurame K-house
A : Imperial Garden . Koishikawa Korakuen . Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden . Meiji Shrine
. Go Shinjuku eki to get bus ticket to Matsumoto tomoro. 
Dep : 14/4 Morning 9am approx
. Nite @ Tokyo

Day 2 : 14 April Sunday
M : Tokyo Shinjuku -------> Matsumoto (Bus Trip)
A : Matsumoto Castle . Kyu Kaichi Gakko . Folklore Museum
. Get bus ticket to Takayama @ Matsumoto eki. 2 ways return
. Nite @ Matsumoto

Day 3 : 15 April Monday
M : Matsumoto --------> Takayama (Bus Trip)
A : Sanmachi Suji dori . Takayama Jinja
. Nite @ Takayama

Day 4 : 16 April Tuesday
M :  Hida Minzoku Mura . Teddy Bear Eco Village
A : cycle / tour Hida Furukawa Area .
. Nite @ Takayama

Day 5 : 17 April Wednesday
M : Takayama --------> Matsumoto (Bus Trip)
. Matsumoto --------> Shiojiri (10km)
A : Shiojiri --------> KIso Village (27km)
. Kiso Village --------> Harano eki (11km)
. Harano eki --------> Kiso Ryojoan Ryokan (6km)
Total approx : 54 km 

. Narai Postal Town
. Nite @ Kiso Ryojoan Ryokan

Day 6 : 18 April Thursday
M : Harano eki --------> Nagiso (40km)
A : Nagiso --------> Tsumago (20km) *option to take mountain route*
Nite @ Tsumago

Day 7 : 19 April Friday
M : Tsumago --------> Magome (12km)
. tour Magome
A : Magome --------> Nakatsugawa eki  (12km)
. Nakatsugawa --------> Nagoya (JR limited express)
. get Bus tickets to Kyoto @ Nagoya eki
Nite @ Nagoya

Day 8 : 20 April Saturday
M : Cycle / walk Yamazaki RIver (watch Cherry Blossoms)
. Atsuta Jinja . Tsuruma Koen .
A : Osu shopping street . Nagoya - Jo
Nite @ Nagoya

Day 9 : 21 April Sunday
M : Nagoya --------> Kyoto (JR Bus)
A : Kyoto Gosho . Pontocho dori Dinner
. find & book for Villa Tour tomoro
Nite @ Kyoto

Day 10 : 22 April Monday
M : Shugakuin & Katsura Villa 
A : Tetsugaku no michi . Ginkaku-ji . Kinkaku-ji
. Get Bus Tickets to Tokyo @ Kyoto eki
Nite @ Kyoto

Day 11 : 23 April Tuesday
M : Arashiyama Area
A : free & easy . pack for bus ride
. Kyoto --------> Tokyo (overnite Bus)

Day 12 : 24 April Wednesday
M : ARR 6-7am . Tokyo Towers . Roppongi Hills
A : Shibuya Junction
N : TMG Building for night view
Nite @ Tokyo

Day 13 : 25 April Thursday
M : Tsukiji market . 
A : Free to plan
. Nite flight to singapore

Kick start Ticket

Yea ! we got our tickets already !
unfortunately, entry & exit is via Tokyo. so a different schedule is in plan.

Generally, new schedule is to do a round about around Central Honshu (Central Japan).
Starting from Tokyo, overnight bus to Nagano first. After that, transfer to Matsumoto.
From Matsumoto, cycle along the Nakasendo (old merchant route) to Magome.
Then, to Nagoya followed by Kyoto before heading back to Tokyo via overnight bus.

Magome looks something like this. :-)

Also, i got meself 2 special Brompton stuff.

the Brompton T-shirt and Brompton toolkit. :-)

Thanks to Debbie for ordering for all of the Bromptoneers.

I will be doing a lot of updates from now on. A lot to log in especially regarding detailed schedule.

January Febuary 2013, important months for trip

things to do in January, Febuary 2013 :

• purchase air ticket around end of January. (look out for good deals)
  enquire abt Tokyo entry and Hiroshima exit.
• with tickets confirm, furnish details for trip's itineraries & transfers
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• see if there are more riders interested to join in. hopefully not a lot.
• learn sewing and make custom Brompton covers for riders.
  (required for Japan Train rides)
• buy tools
• buy spare tyres. learn how to change rear tyres.
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• buck up on my Japanese Language. 30 min daily online.

Ideas about travelling with a foldie

i want to note down some of the ideas / features i have about travelling with a foldie.
it will affect how i organise a tour if i am tour lead. these are just guidelines not hard rules.
i try to achieve them whenever possible.

• main emphasis of tour will be on enjoyment & fun.
  means no long suffering rides over boring landscapes in favor
  of taking public transport instead.
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• limit ride to about only 30 km per day complementing public transport.
  not only it will be more enjoyable as group will not feel rushed,
  there will be sufficient time for experience capture along the way.
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• encouraging capturing of experience with picture taking & videos
  means if possible, all members will learn basics of good photo taking.
  and most should be at least taking pictures for themselves & group.
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• consolidation of media after trip.
  all will submit medias for video/photo DVD making. all will get DVD
  as memories with original media files collected.
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• budget within reasonable comfort.
  nothing too extravagant, affordable basic accommodation in a safe area.
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• allocation for spontaneous activity.
  have 1-2 buffer days for ad-hoc plans on the road, breakdowns, delays..etc
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• have assigned groups when situation calls for it. eg, japan city riding
  3-4 riders per group for easy management. buddy system.
  maybe walkie talkie for comms?

 these are initial ideas, they probably will change somewhat as i gain more experience.
at least they provide initial guidelines that i can follow for time being.

further, i am thinking of japan in this case. if it is other countries, its will be slightly different.

My Brompton & initial upgrades

i realized i haven't really posted pictures of my Brompton by itself yet.
its been a month or so since i got it. so here are the current ones . :)

simply love the ride !!

Lovely sage green !

Champion of folds

as usual, all riders will pimp their rides. so did i. :p
i mean how can you not help it? i have never known a rider who does not
itch to do upgrades to their bicycles. i think it is a deep seated desire.

anywayz, one of the first things that i did was to protect the paint from wearing off
at the rear triangle area where the fork hooks on when in folded mode.
the product is Lizard skins. its a common product found in Local bike shops.

its quite long actually but this one is already cut
on both ends. one for me, the other for my fren.

this is where it goes. also takes up lubricant spills from chain.

i got free rear & front lights from my purchase. but i broke the front one when my bike fell
sideways in folded mode. lesson learn not to have any attachments sticking out too much
from the M handlebar.

in replacement, i got meself a cateye HL-EL135 front lights. very happy with this ! ok, its
not the brightest of lights but it is small enough IMO, lasts long on 2 AA batteries.

HL-EL135 . 150 candle power & 80 hrs on constant mode.

next upgrade is the cycle computer from Echowell, a taiwan company. Mine is Echowell BRI-10W
model. its wireless, have 10 functions & is splash proof too. it is mentioned that the circuit is being
condomised (wrap rubber ...LOL) to prevent water entry. best thing it costs $50 SGD only !! wuhoo !!

Echowell BRI-10W cycle computer

last but not least, i gotto get it !! the Brooks B67 saddle (Honey) !! * fwah ! so nice !! *
altho it is new, i tell you the ride on this thing is just heavenly on the butt !! plus extra
plush feel with the springs, it actually made me wanna ride more !! * looking forward *

Quality product with generous butt real estate. * nods *

Hugh springs for that Limo ride. * nods again *

i cannot emphasis enough for all to get a Brooks saddle. think about it, something must be wrong
right when riders dun buy anything else after their first Brooks saddle, it is really good shit !
i was skeptical and got a couple of other saddles before. And then the Brooks. And i thought,
" what the hell ! i should have gotten this from day one !! -_- " * waste money *

so this is the message, (Jokingly extract from Russel Peters) " Be a man, DUU the right thing !! "
* Laugh off my chair * hahaha.....