After a couple of months planning, booking, and researching, we are finally in Tokyo, Japan! I couldn't be more grateful with this opportunity to explore my favorite country once again!

Much needed airplane snacks!

So we started our planning for this 2-week long trip last October, where we started reservations to different accommodations at least 4 months prior to our trip, in this way we can make sure the rates are not yet exorbitantly expensive compared to booking for stuff in a shorter notice. I'll talk more about the whole Japan trip planning in a separate post 😉


So our day started at 7:00 am, where we made a couple of last minute checks before Ken's friend, Jay, pick us up to drive us to the airport. Given that our flight is on a Monday, even though we fly at around 2 PM, we made sure to be as early as possible. I suppose my hellish experience with the immigration part during our latest Hong Kong trip last year sort of traumatized me into going to airport 4 hours prior to any flight I'll take in the future.

Go away huhuhu!

But as much as I want to go earlier, there's a big hindrance to this. Prior to the actual day of this trip, I had a huge mishap with Klook and its courier of choice, LBC, with regard to our Osaka Amazing pass. The Pass I ordered via Klook did not arrive on time, and this is solely LBC's fault, because upon checking of the status of my parcel it says there that the parcel was already received by a certain ARCHIE FRANCISCO!?!?! I was like...

with mouth gaping yes.

I truly cannot comprehend why would the LBC guy give my package to this Archie Francisco entity when:

1. I did not give any proof of authorization to receive this parcel to anyone.
2. I do not know any Archie Francisco.
3. My name, Nicole Alejandro, is sooooooo far from Archie Francisco.

Some people would probably rebut,"Why didn't you just choose to pick up your Osaka Amazing pass at the airport?". I would if I could, however the Osaka Amazing pass pick-up point is at the Kansai airport, unfortunately our point of entry is Narita Airport since we'll be spending the first half of our trip in Tokyo, then Kyoto, and lastly Osaka- Hence the reason why I opted for delivery.

After a loooong email thread, 3 calls to Klook's customer service, and a couple of Facebook comments pointing out LBC's inability to follow the most important rule, don't give the package to anyone unless that's the rightful receiver, Klook decided to give me brand new passes instead, to be delivered via Grab, to be received by me at Terminal 3,  Departure Area, Bay 4. Good job, Klook!



After finally receiving my Osaka Amazing passes, we decided to have lunch at Tim Hortons and grab my favorite Chipotle Chicken wrap and thick potato wedges. By the way, the Tim Hortons at Terminal 3 doesn't serve ice blended drinks, so if you want a frappe-like drink just go to Starbucks after going through immigration.


And that's what I did! However I did not buy a frappe, I just got myself a tall cold brew to jump start myself into finishing a report that I have to send within the day - I KNOW, I SHOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT WORK DURING MY VACATION! 🤷🤷🤷

Pahabol P.O. ✌

Finally we arrived! After 4 hours of turbulence-filled flight (it was cloudy that day huhu), we arrived at Narita Terminal 2! For some reason I don't get as scared during turbulence than before, I suppose it's because our bus rides in Edsa are far more rambunctious than this flight 🤣

Keep calm and enjoy the ride.

We are still oblivious with how cold Tokyo is outside.

The train station is conveniently situated below the airport. As far as I can remember there are different kinds of train lines available, heading to different parts of Japan (not only Tokyo). Among the train lines we took the Keisei line, where it connects to JR Yamanote line and from there we were able to transfer to a specific line going to Minamisenju.

After checking in at &And Hostel Minamisenju, and leaving all our bags safely in our tiny room, we headed out for a late dinner at a quaint local Japanese fast food, and got ourselves some ramens for ¥ 600 and a yummy Gyoza.

Such a good welcome-to-Japan meal <3

And that's it for our 1st day in Japan! It was so cold, that our acclimatized Manila weather bodies were freezing off hahahah! Note: Bring gloves!

Will be posting more about this trip, but in the meantime I shall go take a shower and prepare to transfer to Osaka 😉

Love Always,
Nicole 💓


P.S.
Tuna Mayonnaise Onigiri for the wiiiiin!

I am a firm believer of, 'better late than never', hence let me start with that time I went up North... on my own.



As I have mentioned in a couple of posts from before, I don't like travelling domestic. Things have 'sort of' changed when I began working as a brand manager, where I ended up being sent to different places locally to check out branches, and to help our employees in selling our motorcycles.

I have also mentioned before that before my Candon, Ilocos Sur trip, the farthest I have been was San Fernando, La Union. Oh boy, I guess God wanted me to go further, because destiny sent me speeding to Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

After 12 hours of non-stop bus ride, I don't think I could manage to be this cheerful

  Just a funny thought, I actually stayed in Laoag for only 2 hours, and after that I rushed to the bus terminal for my next trip to Batac.


Going to Batac from Laoag, it only took me 30 minutes riding an ordinary bus. While I would opt to ride an air-conditioned bus since November in the Philippines is a sweltering 30 degrees, sadly there are no available ones at that time. Despite the heat, the warm wind coming from the windows are actually calming, enough to make me fall asleep HAHAHA




After an hour, and a good empanada, I left Batac for Vigan, and there I decided to stay for the night. What's funny about staying in Vigan was my accommodations that night. Since I wasn't able to book for a hotel prior to the trip, I decided to wing it and let my colleagues working in Vigan choose a hotel in my behalf. They ended up choosing Coffee Swings, which is a good budget hotel perfect for big group accommodations- and yep, that's when the plot thickens...

*stroking my non-existent beard*

Because of my late reservation, the only room left for me is a big one, how big you ask? It's good for 10 people! Yup, it's a Barkada room, perfect for a big group of friends who are travelling together! This means I have a spacious room with 5 beds ALL TO MYSELF! I remember being scared with so much space, where I can't help but imagine that soon a ghost will manifest in front of me or something! Good thing nothing bad happened to this lone girl.



For day 2's itinerary, I left Vigan in the morning to make sure I was able to cover our branches in Candon, Ilocos Sur, San Fernando, La Union, and Agoo, La Union. That day was a series of hop-in, hop-on of provincial buses, where no matter how drowsy I was, I made sure to sleep with one eye open in case we arrived to my destination earlier than expected.


But not all bus rides made me drowsy, the ordinary bus I took from Agoo going to Baguio was akin to riding a rollercoaster- sans the heart pounding drops. Much like in Laoag going to Batac, there are very limited air-conditioned buses going from Agoo to Baguio, hence why I opted for this buwis buhay ride with an ordinary bus.

I also remember sitting next to a kid whose knuckles are firmly gripping the back handle of the seats, asking his mom, 'Ma, baket ang alog ng bus?' Same sentiments my friend.



During my time in Baguio, I stayed at Elmar's Cabin, which is a hotel but feels like a home. Almost similar to my experience at Coffee Swings, my room in Elmar was big with a bunker bed that could accommodate 4 people. Although at Elmar's Cabin the room I stayed at has a TV, and a Wi-fi, so I was able catch up on my favorite show.

Oh nanny Fine <3

Sinabi mo pa!

After doing all my tasks for that day, I decided to wander around Baguio and try to recreate one of my favorite activities as a kid, and that is...







All throughout this trip I remember feeling kinda lonely, because it's my first time to go to the northern parts of the Philippines on my own, and well it sure helps if you have someone to talk to after a looooong day of branch inspections, and bus rides. However all the loneliness seemed to have vanished away when I found myself sitting at the very spot where me and my dad always sat on when I was little. For some reason, I felt his presence reassuring me that I am not alone appreciating this wonderful view, and like for the little coconut head Nicole he's there with me in spirit ♥

YUMMEHHHH HUHUHU!

Road in Baguio en route to Manila

Back when I was a kid I remember having a tinted lipbalm that tastes sooooo much like a Vanilla candy, I think I have gastronomically enjoyed it more than actually putting it on my lips.

You're probably thinking, 'Umm Nicole, you shouldn't be eating your lipgloss, it's still toxic, it might kill you', emphasis on the MIGHT 🙃 but hey, I still am a sucker for flavored make-up, and here I am still alive! What doesn't kill you make you stronger pa moooore!

So imagine my delight when my cousin surprised me with a delicious lip tint fresh from South Korea!

Indeed, Natasha.

Aside from the plastic part, the packaging itself that holds the tint doesn't feel flimsy, which is a good assurance that no matter how many times this baby will slip out of your make up bag, it will not cause a messy spill!
It's very watery, which is not surprising for a lipgloss. Don't be fooled by the name 'tint', thinking that you can use this in your cheeks or even your eyelids, since it is better suited as a lip product-to be honest this is better suited to be categorized as a lipgloss than an actual tint. Unlike other tints, particularly the creme ones, this is not suited for multi-use purposes since I don't think you'd like to have greasy sticky eyelids if you put this as an eye-shadow.

As for its pigmentation, it's a tint, a very watery one to be exact, which makes it appear sheer in one swipe, but it's pretty build-able. BUT just to manage your expectations, putting 3-4 coats won't exactly make your lips turn Coral Orange, but you can definitely see the color...

Not pink enough.

...And at last, let's briefly discuss the staying power of this product. To cut it short, it'll be gone after 5 sips of coffee but hey while at it your lips are moisturized 👍

VERDICT:

Well, of course when my cousin asked if I like it, I said I like it hahaha don't wanna appear ungrateful yow. But if you are unlike me, who is planning to buy this product to try out, here's my classic PROS and Cons to kind of help you decide whether that Php 400+ should be spent on this tint.

PROS:
- It tastes good, HAHAHA!
- It's moisturizing.
- Cute packaging, doesn't break easily when it fell off the floor.

CONS:
- False branding, this is a lipgloss haha!
- Lacks staying power.
- You have no idea if you have used up the product because of concealed packaging.

Sooooooo, will I buy this Peripera Sugar Glow Tint for mah self? Hmmm, I don't think so, but I'll definitely enjoy every drop of this sweet sweet lippie before I go Con te Partiro with it.

Love Always,
Nicole ♡