Trip to the Cinema!

SO it was Wednesday and as mentioned in a post a few days ago, movie tickets here are exorbitant. I planned to watch Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, as it arrived Japan shores about 2 weeks ago.

What's special about every Wednesday is Toho Cinemas has a special deal for ladies. Tickets for female are cheaper on Wednesday, from the regular ¥1, 800 to ¥1, 000 (during the day) and ¥1, 200 ( for movies showing from 9pm).

of Banks & Mobile Phone Contracts: A follow-up

Following these posts that I've put up prior to my departure to Japan,

of Banks & Mobile Phone Contracts

Landline & Mobile Phone Services

FINALLY! a bank with NO service charge for cash withdrawal 24/7

I've now subscribed to Softbank mobile and opened an account with Shinsei Bank. There were several stuff that I've experienced that I could not find anywhere during my research. The guidelines provided by my prospective employer seemed to be a tad back-dated as well.

Alien Registration Card ( 外国人登録証明書) & National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) : A follow-up

ONCE you've prepared the necessary documents (refer to Alien??あたし？！) head down to the City Hall, submit these documents and you'll be told to fill up some forms.

They then process a document which will be stapled in your passport next to your Japan Visa that looks something like this.

お待たせしました！！

GREETINGS from Osaka!... More accurately, greetings from my humble room in Amagasaki-shi!

Howz everyone doing?

I realised my last post was in February when I was still in Singapore. Since that post, I was just busy packing, finalising accommodation via emails, finalising flight details, managed to sell my drum set 2 days before I flew off, and to meet-up with friends every day until the day I left.

The electronic drum set I had since early 2008. It's an empty spot now and my parents are happy that there's more space in the flat since I sold my drums.

MBS - Paiza

MY best mates scheduled last weekend to spend time with me before I leave, and I have the pleasure of staying at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) for the 2nd time since 2010.

Back in 2010, both the Arts & Science Museum and Louis Vuitton's "island" were still in construction. There were no signs to indicate which room level we were on, the pool at the SkyPark was almost empty during the day, the food court and half the building at the MBS Shoppes were also in construction. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable stay complements from a pal from university. I had no idea the room I stayed in 2010 was considered to be one of the privileged rooms for members until last weekend. 

Louis Vuitton "Island" (left) Arts & Science Museum (right) - Aug 2010

Pool @ SkyPark - Aug 2010

How to pay bills

I FOUND it extremely amusing when I read one of the documents from the organisation on modes of bill payments. I thought the method to pay bills and fines is similar almost everywhere in this world. You either send by cheque, pay at the ATMs, banks, online payment, post offices or convenience stores... and in some countries, the AXS machine.

But the information I received went a few steps further. Lemme break it down for the heck of it and since I've already gone this far in documenting almost everything one has gotta do when one decides to uproot to Japan.

Getting Around Kansai

HOW do you know which travel smart card works for you?

1) Check your routes 2) Check with a native