This was on the third day of new year in Nagasaki.
We woke up early morning and had breakfast in Sukiya!
Given a choice we didn’t really want to have fast food after flying all the way to Nagasaki, but the thing about Oshougatsu is that it is also the only time all the good local restaurants close for business. It’s the time for family. Once in a year.
It is also Jiji’s only off days in a year.
So on the 3rd Jan 2015, we had a 3-generation overnight family trip to a hot spring in Nagasaki called Unzen. The Kanji is 雲仙. This would be the first time the danna spent a night together with his father in… decades. And also the first ever time Junya travelled with Jiji.
The danna’s grill salmon breakfast set.
So simple but so complete. White rice with raw egg, miso soup, lots of green onion topping, natto (under the green onion), seaweed, hijiki and grill fish. I would say that this is the perfect Japanese breakfast.
For me it was Yakitori Don. Hot rice topped with juicy chicken and extra sauce. Nyummmm.
And how much would a perfect breakfast for two like this cost?
1155 Yen. RM34.
RM17 per person. I bet that’s what you spend in Starbucks nowadays with GST. Minus the cake.
After the morning nom, the danna drove to pick Jiji up.
And on our way to Unzen with Jiji!
Stole a kiss from my little lover when nobody was looking lol <3
IT SNOWED!!!
I was quite happy because there wasn’t any snow in Tokyo nor Hakone yet, (although i saw floating snowflake at Haneda airport on the way to Nagasaki) and there won’t be any in Nagasaki city.
But snow!!!!!!!!!
I was so happy i just ran over to the puddle of leftover snow with JunJun and took tons of pictures XD
Junya’s first snow experience! He won’t remember it so we need some proof ma.
He was very happy also wor!!
My fav picture!
Somebody built snowmen on a bench.
Ahhhhh so happy!!! Please forgive me! I’m a Malaysian! The only snowman i have seen in the past few years is Olaf. Hahaha
And then we reached Hell.
No i am serious.
“The entrance to the Hell of Unzen”. (So the wooden stick says.)
No i am serious. The white vapor emanating from the bowholes underground make the place indeed hellish. Or heavenly, i guess. Depends whether your glass is half full or half empty hahaha.
To me it is heavenly la because last time all the Chinese New Year MTV i saw had little girls in fairy costume dancing around in a misty smokey background saying gongxinigongxini liddis.
Welcome to the heaven of Unzen.
Your fairy in a recycled smelly down jacket and a little cherub in fluffy blanket. *cue dry ice effect*
This is what the fairies cook.
Onsen eggs hahahhaa.
Unlike the black eggs in Hakone, the eggs here are normal beige color. (Actually beige is not really normal in Japan. Their normal egg color is white.)
Taste like normal boil egg XD
After the tour in Hell/Heaven, we drove to see the volcano and also the Volcano Memorial Hall.
Mizunashi-honjin Fukae Road Station.
In here you can find the most ridiculously cheap groceries you can ever find in Japan.
A bag of Daikon for 50 yen (RM1.50). And a whole bunch of carrots for 70 yen (RM2). Six kiwis for RM6. REALLY????
Not really.
A sack of carrots enough to feed a whole village for RM17. Say whaaaaaaaaaat.
The road station also sells some of the most bizarre souvenirs. One of them is Champon Drops. (I don’t mean the downfall of my pet. Again. Just to make it clear. You know.) Which is a candy in the most popular Nagasaki noodle flavor.
Unzen milk. I just love trying all their local milk in different places. Just to evaluate how their cows perform. I mean, as a cow myself, it’s natural for me to be competitive ok. Don’t judge.
After that we checked in to our Ryokan in Unzen. Junya slept like a baby.
Oh wait. He IS a baby.
The thing about having a baby is that… it really does bring people closer together. Thank you Junya. Without you maybe your papa won’t even have a chance to have an intimate quality time with his own father.
More about the amazing ryokan in the next post! Now i want to go sniff my baby.
White egg is salted egg for Malaysian hehehe.. but I just love Japanese food. Wish to go one day… (hello babydaddy, did you see as I type this? yes buy me ticket so i can go with Isaac plss…. ) 😛
you don’t plan to include babydaddy?? hahaha
Babydaddy very ‘sei ban’, keep thinking Japan still not safe to travel (due to radiation). But if he gets a free tix he will go. You say-lah I’m speechless or not. hahaha… Can’t wait for the day to travel to Japan. I already love it before I get to go.. hehe..
Omgosh I have actually been to Unzen! I went on a school trip like 6 years ago hahaha. The rotten egg smell actually made me feel like having eggs XD
wow that’s amazing!! You studied in japan?
Hey cheesie!
I’ve been your reader for a few years now, this is my first comment as I just had an impulse to let you know that you’re an amazing blogger and person!
I first chanced upon your blog when I was researching for my trip to Japan from Singapore and ever since then I was hooked. I love reading your posts so much! They are extremely informative, descriptive, insightful and at the same time lighthearted and entertaining! Your blog is really one of substance – both in terms of quality and quantity! Unlike other blogs – which are short blurbs of writing, all about fashion and adverts, yours really feels personal and this is really precious. Whenever I visit your blog I seldom feel disappointed as there will be updated with a new awesome post! It’s really something I look forward to at the end of the day. I know you’re definitely busy with junya but thank you for not giving up on blogging (:
Also I am really touched to see how you bother with the comments. I remember feeling really impressed at your patience when I was researching for Japan because you will always answer all questions as tiring as they may be! In particular I rmb the posts about a ryokan. A few people asked you the same question – on the name of the ryokan – and you answered them one by one. Recently I read another post where you apologized about the accidentally deleted comments and I couldn’t help feeling moved again. That was what probably spurred me to write this thank you note!
i wish you and your family happiness, you really deserve it, you’re such a nice person! !
Hi Dorothy!! Thank you so much for dropping your first comment here!! And the sweet encouragements…You are too kind T____T
Actually i don’t reply all comments… *guilty*, i try to but sometimes i miss out some, and sometimes i don’t feel the need to reply certain comments, so i’m not as patient as you described T___T *ashamed*
But it’s so so nice to see comments like yours, i guess that makes all the effort worth it!! Thanks again, it really motivates me to continue blogging here :))
I remember I once saw this documentary on the 1991 eruption that killed many people, among them three foreign volcanologists. It really irked me how many of them didn’t listen to the Japanese authorities when they were warned not to go/stay there :/ But it’s definitely beautiful there, I love going mountain trekking and something I always do when I go to Japan 🙂 Junya looks like a little bear cub in his padded suit =^.^= so cute!
yea, it was such sad news T_____T
Haha yea the UNIQLO quilted down really makes him look like a teddy XD
Have you climbed Mt Fuji before? I want to do it one day with Junya heheheh
Climbed Fujisan last summer! It was amazing, but unfortunately in the morning at the top it was foggy so I didn’t get to see the sunrise T__T but nonetheless an amazing experience! My goal is to do the hyakumeizan before I die, but now I only have 5 of them covered lol XD I’ve usually gone to other mountains that are not on the list.
If you get the chance, I definitely recommend climbing Fujisan with your family, when Junya is a bit older as there are some boulders to get over towards the top but it’s definitely manageable 🙂 Also, I’m always amazed how fit older Japanese people are!!!
man..its always a torture to come to your blog when I’m hungry. I’m gonna chew on Sophie’s thigh now to compensate.
Nice post. I see motherhood hasn’t change your humour. I think it has gotten better actually.
Can’t wait for the next update. Cheers.
Huh. Then you cannot read my next post ok if Sukiya already made you drool lolol.
I hope Sophie is a fried chicken hahahha.
And thanks, when i read it myself i don’t think it’s funny though XD
Hi Cheesie!! Sorry for asking.. Could you please tell me what camera are you using?? I planned to buy one but don’t know which to buy. Thank you!!
Baby so happy and defnitely enjoys the snow. =)
I rarely comment, and usually I just like lurking/stalking your blog. But I want to thank you for consistently updating it! *u* It really makes my day when I check your blog and see you’ve updated. It looks like your family is having fun— I’m glad to see that you still get a little bit of time at the end of some days to write and wind down. Junya is becoming more and more handsome! 🙂
I really wish to visit Japan ! But so worry about where to go! read your blog make me feel i really wanna go to those nice onsen and some very nice far area!
Hi there… Really love your Japan trip post… You are like the Japan travel ambassador… Hahaha… May I know how much is your trip there? Feel like planing for a trip there..
Hey! 🙂 I really enjoy reading your posts and I also really like your blog, it’s amazing! 😀 Keep up the great work, I’m a fan! ♥
xoxo Ana
PS: I’m new in blogger business and it would mean the world to me if you could check out my blog! 🙂
http://www.the-secret-life-of-ana-g.blogspot.co.at
I am definitely going to an onsen when i’m in Tokyo this summer. and also NALU! already booked my appointment 🙂
After blogging so much about Japan, you still keep coming up with so much more appealing Japanese stuff! Omg!!!! So much enticementsssss >.< Can die of jealousy!
so much to comment! cute snowments! i wanna go to unzennn!!! the groceries are so effing crazy cheap! sure real??? champon drops! *jaw drops* did u try? or did you let champon try some champon drops? haha..
http://tenshichn.blogspot.com
Hahahaha did the bench say “lawless area” because 6 of the snowmen murdered the one on the extreme left? Btw, you are my FAVOURITE BLOGGER EVER!!!!!!! ^___^