My take_pre GST

GST will take effect tomorrow, 1 April 2015. Everyone is talking about it, how it will burden us the consumers once it is introduced.

No point talking
Actually not sure what is my say about GST.  Of course I hate it because it will increase prices of everything although the government claims there are some stuff will not be affected and in fact will be cheaper (huh?). I don't think I can do anything to stop it. It won't be withdrawn because a lot of countries do it, unless Malaysia would like to practice Islamic tax system.

The only thing I see useful if everyone does it (and actions are taken) is to complaint to KPDNK. That way, the shop will be penalized for profiteering. Yet to see the effectiveness though....

Make complaints to KPDNK

• Check whether shops charging GST are registered.
• Check prices before and after implementation. If increase is more than 6%, don't buy and boycott the shop

My way to survive GST

• Be aware of the items that are zero rated GST as well items previously charging 10% service tax. These are items which prices should remain or cheaper (don't put your hopes high). Some listed here
• I have to look back what I can afford and amend my budget
• Start bringing home packed lunch to office
• Reduce dine out activities
• Plan to refrain from buying anything for at least 6 months until the prices are stabilized

Panic buy before GST?
Well there are 4 things I bought with the thought 'buy now or pay GST':

1. Herbalife
2. Michelle Lazar
3. Mayfair
4. Gold

I've spent on these 4 items pre-GST. Other than that, I will just have to pay additional 6%!

Observation #1: Toilets

There are lots of things can be said interesting, amazing and different about Japan. Generally, on high level note, most of them are similar to list here. I'll write my observation according to topics and this observation is based on my comparison with UK and Malaysia.

Toilets

1. The state-of-the-art toilet
2. The cleanliness of the toilets
3. The similarity of squat toilet with Malaysia (although different in shape). Maybe because we are Asian!
4. There are seats for little ones in the toilet while waiting for mum 'doing her business'
5. No one misuse toilet for the handicapped/parent with kids

Save for LV bag

This is how I felt after my trip to Japan, about getting an LV bag for myself.

Looking around in the subway, Japanese people seemed very properly dressed. Common colours were black and brown, probably because of the coats and they were going to work. Most of the ladies carried branded handbags, or at least interesting, quality unknown brand handbags. I found an article that agrees with my observation, point #7 and #8 http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/08/24/the-top-9-things-that-surprise-foreigners-the-most-about-japan/

However, there was a feeling of 'of course they deserve to indulge' in me when I was comparing to my own desire to own branded bags. Maybe because to my eyes, branded goods seem to fit perfectly with their well manicured dressing. They deserve good stuff because they take care of themselves. As written here Japanese aesthetics , Japanese appreciate taste and beauty and it has be the norm or their habit long time ago.

Worth of an LV to me?
Well, my point is I need to ask myself why do I need to save for a LV bag? Why not any other bag which may cost lower or higher? It came to my senses that if I need to save for a bag, I must not be able to afford it under normal spending. What is the worth of an LV bag to me? Why LV? I've been asking the questions before this but ended up writing it as one of my Wish List.

The observation from the Japanese has finally bud some sense in me which I finally accept. I want an LV just because of the name. Because it is still a symbol of status in Malaysia. If you own an LV, you have lots of money. But an LV in Japan is 'nothing' as in anyone can own an LV. I felt as if Japanese own an LV because of it's quality, not because of the status it symbolizes, which is not the same feeling I get in Malaysia.

I have nothing against LV, I have nothing against people owning LV. I have just shifted my indulgence in something else. I will cross LV bag from my wishlist but will never know I might put it up there again.... Once I decided to own an LV because of its quality......

Post TOKYO

Alhamdulillah, I'm back from Tokyo. Didn't get to write during the trip although laptop and internet was accessible. All I can say at the moment is my gratitude towards Allah SWT for granting my wish. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah......Subhanallah, Maha Suci Allah.....

I felt so fortunate I dropped tears this morning reminiscing the time we had together in Tokyo. I'm impressed with Japanese attitude that I've started looking and reading on what have make them the way they are.

I got to see most of what I wished to see and did most of what I wished to do.

I've managed to stride Tokyo with 4 kids. My host was very kind and our apartment was 'kawaii'..... Love! Love! Love!

My children seemed to enjoy Tokyo very much despite there is no swimming pool. Although they firstly complained when trying to get used to a lot of walking, they managed to blend in the fast paced Tokyo in the end.

I will definitely write a lot about Japan.....

Lastly, I relate much with this article Things that surprise foreign women in Japan

Ready...Set.....

It's already 5.50 pm. I've packed some dry ingredients because I plan to cook simple dishes such as fried rice, fried pasta, fried chicken and chicken curry. Also plan to cook fresh salmon and buy ingredients such as eggs, milk and bread at their convenient store (apparently named Lawson). My helper also made for me 'sambal tempe', good to have with rice or just snack on it. I'm determined to cook and use up all because I don't want to bring any of these back to Malaysia.

Done with packing and we'll be bringing 3 luggage in total. Decided to ditch the big suitcase and bringing only 24 cm luggage x 2 + a cabin size bag. All luggage will be checked in and I asked the kids to bring their own bags to put whatever they want to bring.... including Lutfi.

Nervous? Yeah... My wish is about to come true. Have been wanting to see Japan since I learned Japanese language during my secondary school.

Can I do it? Can I manage the kids in Tokyo?

7 hour flight
This is the first time the kids are on a long haul flight (7 hours). I've been looking up for tips from the internet. I'm also a bit worried because Lutfi and Kasyif are not in their best of health (they are having coughs). Luckily it's a night flight, so I hope they can sleep throughout the journey.

My walking shoes
Hmm...decided to keep the Scholl and used plasters to cushion my blisters. Actually I bought a heel protector which is to be placed at the back inside the shoes but it didn't serve the purpose that I expected.

Reflect
I'm taking a deep breath to reflect what I am expecting from this trip.....

This is my time for the kids. Follow their pace, not mine. I won't have the same moment twice. Enjoy the trip and create the greatest memories for the kids to remember.

I hope everything will be ok, In Sha Allah.

Walking shoes for Tokyo

Currently I don't have suitable walking shoes for my trip to Japan.

Potential shoes but not suitable
The problem with my pink Adidas sports shoes is it doesn't go with my outfit. My neutral brown Bonita flats which I find very comfortable although after hours of walking, may not withstand Tokyo's cold and rainy weather. Thus I decided to splurge on a new walking shoes because it would be extremely important for my trip in Tokyo.

Without doing any research (i.e googling the internet), 2 brands came to mind. It is either Hush Puppies or Scholl.

Hush Puppies
I had a pair of Hush Puppies sandal for my Europe trip back when I was at the university. I didn't remember complaining so the sandal must be very comfortable. Went to Alamanda (although Parkson was on sale, no suitable style that I like) and Jusco Sri Kembangan (no sale, no shoes). Couldn't find anything nice at IOI City Mall too.

Scholl
People keep saying Scholl is so comfortable. I surveyed at Jusco Sri Kembangan and didn't see anything that I like. Yesterday, I went to IOI City Mall and the Scholl store there offered wider choices.
Since I decided to splurge, I went on buying a pair under 'Memory Cushion' category. Actually I was torn between this pair and a 'Massage' khaki shoes. I decided to buy the former because I was told by the shop assistant that our feet won't get tired after hours of walking in it because it's light.
Okay, since I'm paying RM208 for the shoes (the most expensive shoes I've ever bought to date) I expect the shoes to be immediately comfortable on my feet. I decided to wore the new pair straight away!

Scholl: What Happened Next
So I was hunting for the next item in the IOI City Mall, a jumper for my son. The shoes started to feel tight after about 30 min. I felt tight at the front as well as the back of my heels. After an hour, I successfully gained blisters!

I went back to the store and decided to change to the 'Massage' khaki pair because it did feel softer when I previously tried it on. 'Massage' technology features massaging sole to improve blood circulation (sounds very innovative, isn't it) only that it's heavier than the 'Memory Cushion'.

Today, I tried to wear the new pair with socks on to the office. It did feel a bit tight but I couldn't really comment on the comfort factor because of the blisters. It actually felt comfortable without socks on yesterday but I need to wear socks in Tokyo!

I'm currently contemplating whether to continue using or exchange it for something else. Maybe something for my mum. Have I made a wrong decision?


My verdict
Most of the time, 'comfortable shoes' is what I've heard about Scholl so am I missing something here?  Apparently Scholl needs time to be comfortable because it is correcting our feet and it will expand after a while. Thus I may have to give some time to Scholl before I can give a verdict.

We'll see.....

3 days before travelling_Itinerary and all

14 days checklist
Has completed most of the 14 days checklist:

Itinerary
Our planned itinerary is as follows.

Deciding what and when

1. For Tokyo, I need to check with certain attractions as some are closed on Monday thus I choose to visit the Fire Museum on Tuesday.
2. You might get the chance to visit certain attractions such as museums, parks or zoos for free when they celebrate their anniversaries. Lucky us, Ueno Zoo Park celebrates its anniversary on 20 March, thus the plan to go there on Friday (saving of RM20)
3. Miraikan, The Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation give kids free admission on Saturday, so take advantage of that! (saving of RM68)
4. For Hakone and Disneyland, my decision will be based on the weather and crowd.

Other options

• Hakone_depending on the weather to make it worth a visit
• Skytree
• Mitsui Outlet Park in Makuhari
• parks & temples
• sightseeing tour bus

Disneyland and its crowd

Meg, the host of our accommodation doesn't recommend to go to Disneyland at the moment as it will be packed! There's a useful crowd calendar that you can check out http://tdrnavi.jp/forecast/disneyland?lang=en.

Meg also commented on our itinerary and suggested other places we might want to consider....

Though, I'm not sure when we will get the chance to go to Disneyland again and next time will be different because this moment won't be the same as when the kids are grown up.

Weather

Factors that may affect this itinerary is Tokyo's weather. I refer to AccuWeather.

Although it shows occasional rain during our stay there, today's forecast looks far better than 2 weeks ago. Previously all were grey clouds and no sign of the orange sun....

I need to bear in mind too, that I need to keep my options open since this is my first time traveling with kids to a cold place. My journey obviously will be dictated by their mood and cooperation!

Passport cover

My daughters were looking at passport covers sold right in front of the Immigration Office in Jalan Reko, Kajang. At first, I thought it would be a waste, costing RM10 for plastic covers and RM20 for a thicker material. Normal accepted passport covers sold by the Immigration Office is RM3.

But then it struck me 'What a good idea to differentiate the bunch of passports we have to hold!' and bought them.

Apart from having more 'fun' appeal to the passports, I think it's useful to differentiate whenever the group leader i.e. my husband need to show our passports for check-in, buying tickets, immigration clearance etc (he holds all of our passports to avoid misplace).

We have different passport covers each reflecting the personalities of my children... Maybe more of reflecting their age. Can you guess whose which?

Renew passport at Jalan Reko, Kajang on Sunday

Didn't get to renew our passports last week. We only have a week left before we fly. We thought the Immigration Office at Putrajaya open on weekends so decided to renew ours on Sunday. Luckily, I check the official website and they actually don't! They have ceased weekend operation but other offices in UTC centres still operate on weekends as normal. As if god sent, the Immigration Office in Kajang still open on weekends so we aimed to get things done there.

You know the drill if you go to all these public service centres... on weekends. As AirAsia tagline says 'Now Everyone Can Fly', more people travel overseas these days and so queue at immigration offices may be exceptionally longer. Also weekend is the only time working people could allocate to settle their errands including applying or renewing their passports.

Immigration Office, Jalan Reko Kajang
Long queue up to 200m is a normal sight at the Immigration Office at Jalan Reko, Kajang (NO! I'm exaggerating on the 200m! Hoho). You have to be there maybe half a hour before the office opens if you want to be the first 100.

The office opens at 8.00 am. Someone came at 7.55 am and her number was 145. I came at 8.10 am and received my number at 9.40 am. I was number 160.  I think they only issue max up to number 200 because they close at 1.00 pm.

The flow
1. Before getting your number, show your IC (birth certs for kids) coupled with passports in order. It's logical thing to do to ease the officer's job checking whether you have complete documentation before proceeding.
2. The office also reminds you to check you kids' height right after that. This is a major change, saves tons of minutes when the measuring wall is neatly located near the number counter.
3. The most impressive change: no need to fill up application forms! Another logical improvement when you leverage on technology. Everything is electronic based. No paper, all softcopies and databases. Totally a relief of burden to the applicants. So just wait for your turn to get your photograph taken.
4. No. 160 got called just before 12, about 11.40 am. About 2 hours after we took our number. Remember, no need to bring recent passport size photos because they will take your picture with their in-house cameras. Cost savings for you there!
5. Then you wait for payment. It's not long after no. 4
6. Then wait to collect your passport. Also not long after no. 5

So roughly, hours spent to

1. get our number = 1.5 hours
2. get to our turn for application process/ photograph from no. 1 = 2 hours
3. pay and collect our new passport after no.2 = 30 minutes

Take note that we came 10 min after the office opened so we had 159 applications before us. If you come earlier, the time taken should be shorter than 4 hours.

Distraction for the kids
I think I prefer Kajang to the big Putrajaya office because it's in a complex so it's easy to buy food if your kids are hungry. Furthermore, it's nearer to my house which is only 8 min drive. I was preparing for a nightmare because I was managing the kids alone. Somehow it was manageable and was not a problem at all.

Efficient service
Immigration Office has improved tremendously from the last time I renewed my passport in 2013 at Perlis office. No forms to fill, no need to bring passport sized photos and the instruction and process flow is clearer. The staff also are more courteous and pleasant. They have leveraged on technology to improve at-the-counter services and 4 hours waiting was well, seems acceptable.

All in all, I'm relieved I've renewed the passports and despite the 4 hour process, it was a good experience. Everything seems..... in place.

Useful blogs on Tokyo that I refer to

I've read a lot from people experiences in their blogs and sites when doing background reading for my Tokyo trip. There are a lot of information out there and I find below blogs and sites are particularly useful for my situation:

• Reinforce my belief why I want to go to Tokyo with the kids My Little Nomads
• Ideas to keep kids occupied when traveling Best Living Japan
• Lists of kid friendly places and insights from someone living in Tokyo in English Tokyo Strollers
• Where to find something cheap when you on a tight budget but still want to shop in expensive Tokyo Cheapo Japan
• List of food you can buy that is halal in Japan with pictures Cara murah melancong ke luar negara
• Alternative to Suica or Passmo Japan Travel Info

My Little Nomads

I find this particular post from My Little Nomads relates so much to how I feel towards traveling with kids. Very well said. Go on, read it! Go and click the link.




In contrast to how I 'expressed' my feelings in the opening paragraph with my limited vocab here,  (I wrote about Krabi, our first overseas trip as a family).


I did get 'they won't even remember because they are small' remarks from my hubby, referring to our boys when I said I want to bring the kids to Tokyo. I countered back with something about kids are like sponges. They absorb.
One of the comments posted to the My Little Nomads post has another point that I can use...

It shape kid's personality from what they see, smell, experience....

I'm gonna follow the blog. The 1st blog that I tag on my blog.