Fly Me To Love

There is something deliciously dangerous about making an impulsive decision, like travelling to Tokyo to see a concert in less than 2 weeks. It is a sudden rush of excitement that can hardly be described as rational, but it is so nice to receive so much support for making this decision.

The nicest compliments have been that I deserve this for the love I put out there and I am truly flattered, though the rational side of me nags about the frequency that I have holidays (especially after some of the conversations I had with the people that I work with). I don't know if it is jealously or a plain complaint that I seem to idle around, but if they wore my shoes for one day at work, they will understand my need for re-energizing at various intervals.

I have told myself today that I am going to leave the sadness (and hopefully the sickness too) behind and bask in the glory of this seemingly impossible decision. I am going to Tokyo in about 1 week to see my favourite idol and it is a 22 year dream come true. I am very lucky to have an aunt living there who will probably be there only till early next year and it will be another trip down memory lane for us. We had a little laugh last night just reminiscing about my first trip to Tokyo.

I remembered making the excited decision only to be partly dampened when I heard my beloved grandma say that my aunt wanted me to bring 100 rice dumplings to Tokyo for her. Before you start screaming or squealing in fright or delight, my grandma is a Nonya woman (half Malay, half Chinese), and the rice dumplings that she makes are smaller than the pyramid types that are more common. Still, a hundred sounded really daunting, but I was so excited that I said "Yes, anything is possible." When I arrived to collect the dumplings the day before I left, I was told that she only packed 50 in the bag and another 50 of the more common pyramid dumplings becuse my uncle said those were nicer. She had made more than 100 and was giving the rest away.

My mother tasted both and said that my grandma's were definitely better, so we changed the ratio to 70 or 80 of hers and 20 of the pyramid dumplings. There was a myth then that we had to wrap them up as presents, because the Japanese customs did not permit food, so we placed them in boxes and then wrapped them up in beautiful paper. I eventually left for a 10 day trip with 4 pieces of luggage. When we realised we could only check in 2 pieces of luggage (due to weight), I had to carry my backpack, and one of the big bags containing half of the rice dumplings. It was easily over 30 kgs and I tried my best to act cute and innocent so that they would allow me to carry such big bags into the cabin. I was very lucky because after various attempts to fit it into the overhead compartment, we gave up and the stewardess placed it in one of her compartments.

When I arrived at the airport and went through customs, I was stopped by a Japanese customs officer who wanted me to open 2 of my bags. Thank God the rice dumplings bag was not opened. He took out the items one by one, many containing tidbits like peanuts, biscuits and stuff like that, and stopped at one. He shook it, and then asked "Okashi?" (Tidbits?) I knew a little Japanese then, but somehow in my state of excitement and fear, forgot what it meant, but I knew I couldn't say food. So, I quickly replied "No, rocks ... stones ... rocks", hoping he would understand what I meant. He did but he shaked it a little more and then put it back into the bag. I heaved a sigh of relief because I thought he was so kind. It was a pack of groundnuts, so it was too light to be rocks/stones, but he probably thought the language barrier was too great to bridge and I looked too innocent then to carry drugs, so he let me go.

The big laugh occurred when I reached Shinagawa Prince Hotel, which is where Akina is holding her concert this year. After I alighted the bus to the delight of my aunt and Leslie, who was studying there then, they were suprised to see that I had so much luggage. I told my aunt that grandma said you wanted 100 rice dumplings and she nearly fell over. She felt so bad because she had only said 10 or something like that, but out of my grandma's love and longing for her, she made it up to be a hundred.

So, this is the story of my first trip to Tokyo. This new trip holds promises of many new adventures and the strengthening of my friendships with Tien, Eugin, Danny and Joy. It will also mark the end of a chapter of my travels with my aunt in Tokyo since she will migrate to London next year. I will miss the times but I am keeping them all in my mind, heart and sharing them with all of you here.

An additional bonus will be that I will be stopping over in Singapore on my way back for 4 days, so that I get to see my lovely family again, whom I do miss a great deal. Unlike some of you, I can't just stroll up to my parents' place anytime I want, and though I like the distance, I understand the longing we have for each other, and I will always take any opportunity I have to show them the love back.

So, wish me luck and lots of fun. I will still be updating this site before and after I leave for Tokyo. If you have any suggestions about where to go in Tokyo or what I should do, please leave some comments and I will try my best to experience them.