Sunday, March 30, 2008

First Sabbath in Japan

I was looking our church- Seventh Day Adventist Church for weeks now. I was looking for an English church but there was service at the base but they stop the service because nobody's leading it right now. I was not happy that the nearest place that we can go for a service they stop it. I found another English church but it is in Yokohama. This church was situated near at the Japan SDA Union Conference. There is Japanese SDA church near where the bus stop. I thought that is it but then it is on Kanji Characters then. We found a direction to get there. The hill was so hilly to climb and we got tired of climbing.

We got there before the Second service starts. We traveled for 90 minutes to get there. We thanks God for giving us directions on how to get there. God is so good. I have photos to share where the church located. Will uploaded it.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Yokohama Seventh Day Adventist Church English

We finally going to church and I am so happy to see our bretheren. The service went well and they invited us for their potluck. Hoping we can come back again. It took almost 2 hours for us to travel and it is so hard for the little one.

Here is our photos:














Cherryblossoms viewing here in Japan

Cherryblossoms is the popular flower in Japan during Spring. The flowers started to blossoms and most temples and shrines has plenty of cherryblossoms tree. Even on the side of the street, there are plenty. We did not go to Temples and Shrines yet but we were thinking this coming weekends. But I saw lots at the side of the road and even inside the base. The base has little park near at Mc Donalds and we were enjoying taking photos.

I will try to upload my photos and hope I can do it soon.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Cherry blossoms viewing here at the Naval base Yokosuka Japan

Since we are here in Spring in Japan. Cherryblossoms where blossomed started in late March and the viewing is until April 6. After April 6, the flowers started fell on the ground due to high wind. I just love to see those beautiful and this is the photos I took.

























Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Travel To Japan- great info for you

Currency

The yen(¥) is the Japanese currency. There are 4 types of notes and 6 different coins in circulation. The bills are in 10.000yen; 5000yen; and 1000yen denominations; and the coins are 1yen; 5yen; 10yen; 50yen; 100yen and 500yen. You can convert foreign currency at any bank; hotel or tourist facility that displays an "Authorized Money Exchanger" sign.

Credit Cards

All major credit cards such as American Express; Visa; Mastercard and Diners Club are accepted at all major hotels; restaurants and tourist facilities. Japan is still a cash based society; so you need to be aware that quite a lot of small restaurants and shops don't take credit card; particularly outside of the big cities.

Traveler's Checks

Only major tourist facilities and department stores accept traveler's checks. It is advised that you exchange them for yen at banks hotels and other exchange facilities.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary in Japan; so do not feel obliged to.
Hotels and major restaurants will usually add a 10-15% service charge to your bill.

Clothes

A jacket or sweater would be enough in the spring or autumn. Summer is hot and humid so you will only need light clothes.
In winter; a coat would be enough but if you are traveling in the north it is advisable to bring warmer clothes with you. Casual wear is suitable for sightseeing and a lot of restaurants.

Shoes

Bring a pair of comfortable shoes if you plan on doing a lot of walking. Do not expect to be able to buy shoes here if you have a large foot. Bring along shoes that you can take off easily because you will need to take them off when entering temple and shrine buildings and some restaurants.

Medicine

Make sure to pack any prescription medicines you need. Japan does have international standard medical services and facilities. Hotels can help you if you need urgent attention.

Electricity

The electrical current is 100 volts in Japan. Furthermore the current in Eastern Japan(Tokyo/Kanto area/Tohoku/Hokkaido) is on 50 Hertz and Western Japan(Nagoya/Osaka/Kyoto/Shikoku/Kyushu)uses 60 Hertz. Japanese electrical plugs are the flat two-pin type.

Toilets

There are two types of toilet. One is western style and the other one is Japanese squat style. Squat toilet is still common in public conveniences. Do not sit directly on Japanese style toilet bowl but squat down astride the bowl facing the hood. In the toilet cubical you should change your footwear to the slippers provided there. Most station public toilets do not have toilet paper and hand dryers. There is usually a vending machine at the entrance. It might be a good idea to bring along your own toilet paper and tissues. You will find packets of tissues handed out free as promotion useful for the toilets.

Smoking

The number of non-smoking cars has increased over recent years on long distance trains. Smoking is prohibited on all short distance and commuter trains. All train stations are non-smoking with the exception of train cabin with designated smoking areas. All subway stations are non-smoking. The number of restaurants with non-smoking sections is increasing but they are still rare. Do not be surprised if you see a Japanese person light up in a non-smoking area especially if they are standing in front of a "No Smoking" sign.

Mobile Phone Manner

All trains and buses have announcements that ask passengers to be considerate of others when using their phones on the train. Some train companies actually ban the use of mobile phones on their trains. It is basically a matter of common courtesy not too talk too loudly when using a mobile phone in public.

Taxis

You can find taxis all over Japan. It is only necessary to use one if you have large heavy suitcases to carry from the hotel to the station. In some remote areas taxis are the only reliable form of transport as buses do not run as regularly. The fares vary according to the taxi company. Empty taxis can be recognized by the red light in the front of their windshields on the passenger side. From 11pm to 5am a 20% surcharge is added. Most taxis only seat 4 people and only have room for 2 large suitcases in the boot. The left rear door is operated by the driver(None of the other doors are). Wait for the door to be opened for you to get in and out of the taxi. The driver will also close it for you. Do not forget to keep your fingers out of the door. Pay the exact fare when you have arrived at your destination and you do not need to tip.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Recycle Time in Japan

If you move in into your new home offbase then you better let them take all the cardboard boxes. Let them help you unpacking your stuff. It is a big mess in the floor but hey! it is a headache to recycle here in Japan. They collected twice a month on cardboard boxes and packing material. You better let them take it to minimize all the hassle. You will be overwhelm during your move.

Here in Japan everybody is doing recycle unless you eat out and pay too much money. But if you eat on base then it is not that much you spent. I will say, it is affordable.

If you live off base in a house, mansion or an apartment and your recycle is not sorting right. Your neighbor told you "recycle properly". But if you live in an apartment or a mansion then they have people or staff checker the trash in every bag.

We live in a mansion but back in the states we called this as an apartment. So we live in a mansion hehehehe. One day, I took out trash and it was PET 1 category of recycle and I use frosted plastic bag because I was out of clear plastic bag. The lady told me use clear plastic bag and I am glad she took my garbage. I saw that she check my trash inside the bag. Just to see to it that I did it right.

One time, it was green trash category. They collect this trash twice a month and if you missed once. You will live with all your trash the whole month. There was 3 bags of trash and it was not sorted the right way. The lady checker discovered it. The shameful thing is, it was own by an American. They could not get away with the Navy Exchange bag inside. They posted photos in every building and has a letter says; it is annoying and disgusting and what stuff inside in it. The bad thing is, there was wig, food trash, nail polish and some others. What a horrible thing. It was not my trash but then I felt shame because it was from my own fellow Americans.

Their trash is labeled burnable refuse (which includes foods, dirty diapers and some others), plastic packaging (which includes plastic bottle not PET 1, packaging and food trays (rinse it if there is food clinging on it), PET 1 categories,Non burnable refuse and Groups collections which is includes cardboard boxes ( properly bundled your cardboard or else they won't take it). There are so many things we learned in here which we don't do it in our normal life back in the states. If we don't follow their rules then you will be cited.

If you wanna live here in Japan. Prepare yourself of what is the law and rules here.

BACK TO HOMEPAGE

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Planning to go to US Embassy here in Tokyo

Before we left from WA, Brian and I were talking of getting my passport here in Japan but we don't have idea where is the embassy. When we got here Feb 1st, the following week we will be having an AOB class. It is an area orientation briefing for newcomer here at the base. They need to conduct briefing or else we will be looking bad by the Japanese people. Japan is the host country for US Military bases and we need to respect them. They are polite and nice people.

By the way, this coming Friday. We will be going to Tokyo and apply for my blue passport. We were using brown as an official passport. So then, we, family can go anywhere in asia. I wanna visit Philippines and show Mary to my families there.

We might hit Disneyland. Hubby was looking into consideration of visiting the parks.