Greetings from Osaka
hey menrui and ooilingfan,
Glad to have u guys back.
So how's Japan?
Menrui, as a research student, what exactly are you doing? attending classes?
hi clockworkorange,
WARNING: long post
sorry for 'disappearing' for a few days.
We in Handai sorta having a communication breakdown/blackout since we arrived. Everything takes time here, unlike
kyoto and tokyo.
Our phones and internet might take weeks.
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Anyway, Osaka is great, the weather is cooling, just nice, like living in Genting Highlands everyday. Hanami is great, the blossoming delayed this year, if not we would've missed it as sakura usually falls at the end of March.
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I'll try to upload some pictures on my facebook or soemthing when i got the time. Still haven't go around taking pictures yet - too busy with orientation and shopping everyday.
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Well, a tip for malaysians coming in October, you may not find the usual brands on your daily essentials. And those brands that we are familiar with, it's much much more expensive here. So we have no choice but to adapt to the things here. For example, there are no Darlie or Colgate. Milo there is only 270g packs, and it costs like 400yen or more (it's like 10times more expensive if you convert to RM). I can't find any cereal drinks like Nestum in the smaller stores here. But if you can live without those, you're fine. Otherwise just ship from M'sia, it's still cheaper after the shipping costs.
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Oh, btw, forget about reloading your phone credit and bringing your phone. IT DOESN'T WORK HERE!!! Damn, and i load it full of credits..... Maybe a 3G phone works but my samsung D600 totally can't receive any signals.
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There are some good news though. I tried using my Maybank ATM card to withdraw money at the post office bank. IT WORKS!!! haha, so if you don't want to bring so much cash for security reasons. Keep your money in the bank and withdraw it here. DON'T BRING RINGGIT CASH. The conversion rates at money changers(only at airports) is super low.
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Btw, did the Yen just plunged these few days? I checked my Maybank account after my withdrawal, and the charges are quite acceptable. It's even cheaper than when i bought yen in cash back in m'sia.
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Regarding your baggage at the airport, you can carry 30kg +-5kg. You can even split your baggage into a few as long as the total check in doesn't exceed the limit. Of course if it's over 30kg, you may have to beg the person to let it pass without charges, but it's possible.
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As for inspection, they hardly even take a glimpse at my baggage. Everything just pass through smoothly. They are quite lenient now with Govt scholars. So you may stuff your burnt CDs in. No worries!!
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Last piece of advise. LEARN AS MUCH JAPANESE AS YOU CAN for these remaining months. Take full time courses, business usage type, so you can at least speak when you come. I am so retarded this few days. People at the post office, banks, city halls hardly speak any english at all. I can't even order a proper meal at Mc Donald's!
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Btw, Mc Donald's here is cheap, you can get a value meal at 400yen during lunchtime promotion. =p
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Guess that's all for now. Ja ne. Gambatte kudasai.