Kansai Day 0: Osaka Arrival

Yeah! The bags were all packed! We have 2 huge luggage, 2 backpacks and 1 handcarry for all the winter jackets so that we wouldnt freeze our ass off if we lose our checked in luggage. There was plany of space left in the big luggage but we thought we could do with extra space for shopping. Haha.

Our flight was at 2pm and we intended to leave the house at 11am. We had wanted to bring the kids for a morning ride only to have heavy rain late into the night and wet roads in the early morning.

The boys still went ahead later the morning when the sun was up.

I opted out bcos I am a snowman. Lol. Lil Shauna is obviously not a fan of cycling. Duno what happened to our cycling genes; not passed down to her.

Then, things didnt move too smoothly. We left the house at the intended time, only to realise that one of the front wheels of our beloved American Tourist luggage was spoilt. On the way home to change into a different but smaller luggage, we realised that one of the back wheels of the other luaggage was also spoilt!!!! That is a total new luggage that we had never used before; must be the disintegration of rubber after prolong storage. Boo!

In the end, we had to quickly transfer and squeeze the stuff to the smaller luggage and still bring the luggage with the spoilt front wheel. There goes the hope for shopping. Zzzzzz. I supposed that is better than bringing 4 small luggage bags. Unfortunately, the troubles didnt end there.

We cleared the immigration smoothly and went in search of lunch.

Just when we were happily buying lunch and I recalled that we have forgotten to collect the wifi egg! Double boo! We had to frantically call Changi Recommend only to be told that there isnt any other way but to cancel the booking. We need the data plan to survive in Japan. Daddy Lim then had to quickly activate his data passport so that we could use data while in Japan based on his Singapore data bundle. Cold sweat. 

With 2 hurdles crossed, I crossed my fingers that it was finally the perfect start of our holidays! Please lah, enough headache already. 

May the angels protect us. Ehhh.. wrong angels. One of them too short somemore.

We had complimentary seats selection bcos we are traveling with kids. I took 2 window seats and the usual arrangement. 

The flight was very much survivable, other than the front seat passengers who reclined all the way, making it uncomfortable to watch movies. I "old flower" already, my poor eyes. Flying ettiquette 101, never fully recline the seat. Otherwise, the kids had their kids meal and there was a wide selection of movies. Woohoo! Zaky napped for a good hour towards the end of the flight and I had 30 mins of eye shut. Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna were the strong ones. 

Once we landed, it was to go for the Nankai express to Namba. The cold hit us the moment we stepped out of the airport but it was managable even with a light jacket. It felt like Perth!

The kids were busy trying to puff "smoke".

It wasnt as wintery cold as we thought it would be and I was worried that I had overpacked. 

Before we took the Nankai Express, we rushed to buy the Icoca cards, which are like MRT cards. Heng that they were still opened at 10pm. The Icoca cards are sold only in JR stations but usable on subways. Luckily the Icoca sales office was just right next to the Nankai express sales counter. 

The adults got the special edition Icoca cards. The kids only have the boring standard blue ones. Hoho.

The train was leaving in like 4 mins and that got us running to the platform. We were right on time and it was warm in the train. I read that it will take about 1 hr to reach Namba, which is the last stop and like 30 stops away. All the gadgets come out liao. 

It didnt take 1 hr, maybe it was express and didnt stop at all 30 stops. The hotel was 10 mins walk from the station and I made the kids wear their outer jackets instead so that we didnt have to lug them. Moreover, it was raining. T.T

Fortunately, it was really cold enough for the jackets and even more fortunately, I eventually decided to pack umbrellas. I had initially crossed them out from the packing list.

Daddy Lim was the scout leader alongside Google map. The rest of us simply followed blindly and made sure that we didnt poke somebody in the eye or step on water puddles. The latter was super hard and the kids and I ended up with wet shoes and toes. Our toes were freezing by the time we arrived at the hotel. Daddy Lim had semi water proof shoes that rescued his toes. So clever. 

We finally reached the hotel - Art Inn Namba safely and checked in. We were told that free bfast was provided. Sounds good! We arrived at our tiny room (budget hotel lah) to find a queen bed, a single bed and a mini bed. The mini bed is so small! See, Zaky barely fit into the bed. 

After dropping our luaggage, we attempted to look for dinner at Dontoburi, which is really nearby. It was still raining hard. Zzzzz. Bcos it was almost midnight, we didnt find anything interesting. 

Ended up, our 1st meal in Osaka was takeaway from the 7-11 but it wasnt at all sad. The triangle rices were seriously delicious. 

We had to turn in soon for an early morning the next day. It was after midnight when we finally did and it took me a long time to fall asleep. Yawn.

Mummy Lim

Goodbye Ah Yee and Athena

Yes, it had been 3 weeks. Yes, I cant believe how fast time has passed. It was time for Ah Yee and Athena to head home after squeezing with us cosily for 3 weeks.

The family went for one last dinner. Ah yee had been craving for crabs and crabs it shall be.

Family pictures time.

More pictures.

While ah yee feasted, I had the honor to ergo Athena for her overdue nap.

Then we all sent ah yee and Athena to the airport. We heard that were some Harry Porter activities at T3.

Changi made me post these pic on fb before the kids could partake in the activities.

The activities were quite silly actually. Lol.

By the time we were done running around for the pictures and the activities, it was time to send ah yee and Athena off.

We had to recreate this picture with the latest addition.

With the final family pictures, we bid ah yee and Athena goodbye.

Suddenly, I felt an immerse sadness - ah yee and Athena were really going home and it would be many more months before we will see them again. Poor ah yee had to ergo Athena and lug the hundreds of barang; flying alone with a baby is no joke.

Ah yee said that Athena didnt go to sleep till late. She must be enjoying the sights of Changi Airport.

While I was sad with their departure, I was glad to have my own bed back. Lol. We also took Felicia for the night in lieu of ah yee. The kids (including Zaky) played late into the night and slept on their own. I was dead tired from the 70km ride. Lol. Zaky said that he fell asleep probably bcos he was way too tired and he didnt crawl to our bed in the night. Thumbs up. 

The next morning, I woke up to a quiet and very clean house. Popo must had worked very hard to clean up. The baby floor mat was gone, as well as their barangs that were placed in the living room bcos the bedroom was way too tiny. Suddenly, the living room looked huge. 

I could still see hints of the baby - the leftover baby lotion on the TV console. 

Athena's little white hanky left to dry on the chair. 

Her onesies that were still drying and to be handed down. 

Awwww... I missed them already. I texted ah yee, hoping the Athena was well behaved on the flight and summoning the courage to ask if the 3 weeks had been comfortable. 

I have to admit that the 3 weeks havent been easy. To being with, Athena is indeed not the easiest baby and sleeps really poorly. Coupled with separation anxiety, teething and a bout of diarrhoea, some days and nights had been really tough, largely on ah yee, who is still her main caregiver. I had also belittled the fustration that we would experience from the dirupted set routine. Still, I had hoped that ah yee and Athena had enjoyed themselves. We had helped in ways that we could. 

Daddy Lim must be sad with their departure too bcos in the short span of time, he had been Athena's favorite uncle. She always reserved her big smiles for him. It had been a long time since I saw him played so gently and patiently with a baby. 

Ah yee reported her safe arrival in France later in the day and Athena had been really kind to ah yee on the flight back. Lol. It will take her many days to adjust back to the European time. Meanwhile, I am quite sure she is enjoying the cold weather. 

Till we meet the next time. By then, Athena should be walking. Daddy Lim will have to work hard to earn his "favorite uncle" title again.

Mummy Lim

After a Long Break + First 70km!

It had been 3 weeks since I last cycled bcos of the Batam trip and largely the rain. I got so freaking sick and tired of the treadmill and the step machine in the gym. Zzzzzzz.

Finally, we were back on the bikes on Saturday morning. The weather was beautiful. I put on the new jerseys that Daddy Lim bought for me online. It was skin tight. I can never understand how cyclists can feel comfortable in those tight fitting attire especially when the sweat starts pouring. Yikes! The only good are those pockets at the back of the jerseys that come in so handy. Even ah yee thinks that she could do with those extra pockets when managing the baby. Idea..

Cyclists usually zip their jerseys all the way up to the neck. I feel like I cannot breath already. Lol.

It was the usual route of about 35km to Labrador Park and back but it felt so good to be riding again with the WWF family.

We had bfast breaks at the prata shops enroute home; the same one during our very 1st ride with the WWF.

These are the times where we bond and build relationships. Well, the good food is always a bonus. It was also during bfast that we urged the gang to soon organise a Round Island (RI) trip but worried about our inability to complete having only done max 52km on our roadies. Decisions were immediately made: 70km in prep of RI the next morning. Onz! I love how spontaneous they are.

The ride on Sunday morning started at 6am so that we can try to escape the sun. We rode to Labrador, u-turn and on the way back, turn to head towards Tuas beloved LP1.

We were clocking 30km when we reached Tuas and I started urging the group to stop for bfast. We all cycled on an empty stomach and the break will definitely do us good.

Daddy Lim, being so familar with Tuas offered to bring us to a kopitiam enroute. However, we seemed to cycle on and on and it was fustrating when I was yearning for the stop break that never seem to come. Roarrrr...

Finally! Bfast tasted so good after the 30km ride. It was a much needed break.

We all had renewed energy for LP1, including my cateye, that decided to reset itself and I couldnt tell how many kms were done or left. Zzzz.

LP1! LP1!

The sun started shinning hard at this point, adding on to the difficulty. I was probably more tired from the sun and the heat than the actual peddling. We were afterall riding at a very comfortable pace with multiple stops at traffic lights or to wait for regroup. It was a fine balance between hoping that the ride ends soon and hoping that it would go on so that Daddy Lim and I could reach our 1st 70km. I was constantly asking how many kms we had clocked with the reset cateye. Zzzzz.

The last part of the journey was tortourous bcos the sun was merciless, the water has ran out and so has the will spirit. Finally home and clocking our 1st 70km!! Woohoo!!

Happy! Happy! Happy!
The WWF gang was so encouraging, telling us that we could definitely do a RI soon. Yeah! RI! The only thing that we lack now is time to do the RI. Haha.

Mummy Lim