My Trip to Bali, Indonesia

Period : 30th August - 3rd September 2017

★ Flight : Malaysia Airlines
Price ￥44,000 (RM) Osaka-KL-Bali
Review : I had a layover in Kuala Lumpur. The flight to Malaysia was quite sparse. I had a whole row to myself, which was great. All of the flights were fine and left on time.
(It is crazy to me that tickets to Bali were cheaper than to KL which would have been the shorter journey. What gives? *shrugs*)

★ Accommodation : Bali Breeze Bungalows

View of our private pool and the lush greenery of the compound from the 2nd floor bedroom

Price : IDR 2,850,000 for 3 nights inclusive of breakfast served at our villa
Review : We stayed for 3 nights in the Main House. It was a beautiful little oasis for us. The beds were comfy and the whole place was very clean. The breakfast each morning of our choice of fruits and various eggs/pancakes was delicious; a great way to start the day. Ketut and the staff were polite and super friendly. The property is only a 5 minute walk to central Ubud where there are tons of restaurants, spas, and money changers. All in all a great place to stay.

Book with my code using this link, and you will get ¥1,800 off!
https://www.booking.com/s/44_6/liyana16

★Tour Guide : Dewa Alit Tours
I booked him for the whole duration of our Bali trip. The MPV was comfortable, clean and they also provide chilled bottled water for everyone. It cost USD55 for a full day, if I remember correctly. He also brought us to halal restaurants for lunch and snacks. I definitely recommend their services.

★ Schedule

31-Aug
10.20 pick up from airport, then visit Uluwatu
3.20 pm Pick the rest from airport then to Tanah Lot for sunset
7.30 pm Drop off in Ubud

1st Sep
11.00 am Ulun danu beratan temple
Twin lake buyan and tamblingan
Jati luwih rice terraces
Taman ayun temple

2nd Sep
Volcano hike(For 2 people)
2.30 am pick up from hotel
4.00 am Arrive starting point
Arrive on top of volcano at 6 am for sunrice
8.30 am Arrive at starting point
10.30 am Arrive at hotel/ rest

1.00pm Tegalalang rice terraces
Tirtha empul, or holy spring water temple
Luwak coffee and fruit plantation
Gunung kawi temple

★ Extras
1. Hiking up Mt. Batur for sunrise
Price USD60/person includes guide
My sister loves to go hiking and she wanted me to experience this with her. It took around 2 hours to get to the top and it starts fairly easily and gets progressively steep so wear proper shoes and have a windbreaker ready because it was quite chilly at the top. The view was amazing! There are a lot of people on the hike so you will not get lost and there is a general upbeat vibe the whole way.

2. Jains Spa
Bali is famous for their spas so the whole family went to this spa which was recommended by our driver. The service was great and we were given delicious snacks afterwards. My body felt so relaxed. Prices range from IDR80,000~300,000.

I love Indonesian food so this whole trip was just beyond amazing for me and I will definitely come back to explore a different part of Bali!

My Trip to Cambodia : Siem Reap and Phnom Penh

Period : 28th April - 5th May 2018

★ Flight : Air Asia
KIX - KUL 11:00 - 16:35 (I slept at my parent's house then went back to the airport the next morning)
KUL - REP 06:45 - 07:50
PNH - KUL 08:20 - 11:10
KUL - KIX 14:00 - 21:25

★ Accommodation : Sign up to booking.com with this link and get JPY1,800 as a reward!

Siem Reap → Nita By Vo Urban Resort
Review : I booked this resort on booking.com 5 months before our trip while I was daydreaming and thank God I did because a few months after that management changed and the prices almost tripled (but still what I'd consider reasonable for the level of comfort and service they provide)! They kept their T&C which stated I would pay the price agreed upon when I actually booked so that was great. We stayed in the Cabana Garden Suite. The room was huge and came with your own little garden. We had a chance to try out their room service menu because I was too lazy to go out and everything was delicious. This resort is pretty secluded and a bit far from the main city area but they have a free tuk tuk service on site.

Phnom Penh → Vacation Boutique Hotel
Review : We stayed in the "Deluxe Double Balcony" because I wanted a room with windows. The room was spacious and I loved the bathroom decor and tiles. For breakfast they have you tick what you want on a form with all kinds of drinks and foods written on it and prepare it fresh so allocate at least 30 minutes for breakfast. The location was good, close to a market and some restaurants. The staff were friendly and always had a smile. 

★ Schedule
Below is the schedule I set up. We managed to see and do almost everything you see there.

I booked a tuk tuk driver + tour guide for the whole duration we were in Cambodia. I highly recommend you do this if you are not great at haggling and want a more wholesome experience. Only licensed tour guides (they have a uniform and card) are allowed on Angkor Wat grounds and the surrounding temples.

Having someone explain to you the significance of the carvings, designs, stories of the temples and area is so much better than just trudging along with no back story whatsoever.  You will appreciate the whole trip a lot more.

Our tour guide while we were in Siem Reap used to be a monk and had also studied so much about other major religions in his youth so the way he explained everything and the depth of knowledge he possessed was just amazing!

Siem Reap driver + tour guide :
Angkor Tuk Tuk Travel
http://www.angkortuktuktravel.com/
I booked the 3 day package with a tour guide(+USD45/day) for 2 days

Phnom Penh :
Sophoarn (he doubles as a tour guide)
Sophoarn Tuk Tuk Phnom Penh Facebook

Both of them replied to my emails within 1-2 days and were very accommodating towards any changes of timing/places.

★ Extras
1. Use USD everywhere. It's used more commonly than the local currency.
2. Leave tips for drivers/ housekeepers/ waiters/ bell boys etc. Just USD1-5 (depending on where you're staying). Everyone we met was super nice and I know that wages are low so I want to help any way I can.
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Transferring money to different countries? Use Transferwise ! Great rates, low fees, fast service. Get JPY500 off your first transaction through my link.

Weekend at Yuzanso Onsen, Kyoto

Lobby

Room:

The outdoor bath and the view of Lake Biwa (not visible in this photo is the shower area next to the tub)
Don't worry about getting naked outside because nobody can see you due to the height/location of your room

[Accommodation Plan]　Please enjoy Muslim-friendly dinner and breakfast "This plan is for Muslim."
1 "Sanyaso Room (with open-air bath)" Total  49,680JPY    
　　　男性 24840JPY * 1person(s)
　　　女性 24840JPY * 1person(s)
　　　*male 1person(s) female 1person(s)  Total  2 person(s)
[Optional charges total] 300JPY  tax included (1)Bathing tax (02/24)　　300JPYｘ1

Food:
Dinners are served quite early at Ryokans because after dinner you are supposed to relax either by bathing in the onsens/ getting a massage/ having drinks at the bar etc. We chose to have dinner at 6pm. You will need at least 1.5 hours to get through the whole course. Take your time and ask your server if you are not sure how to eat/ prepare certain dishes. They are super friendly and will go out of their way to help you out.

Each guest/group has their own dinner space so you can relax in private in the dining area. Make sure to come to the hall on time as they set the table according to the time you asked for during check-in.

So much food! Really take your time so you can enjoy each course.

Breakfast menu

We liked the furikake (seasoning to sprinkle on rice) so much that we bought a bottle at the ryokan's gift store!

Service:

Service was amazing. As soon as you check-in, a personal greeter will guide you to your room and explain the layout of the ryokan. They will ask you what time you would like dinner and breakfast to be served. Make sure you arrive on time because each room gets their own private dining area but space is limited so they use a timetable to make sure everyone has a place to eat. If you have any questions, ask your greeter and they will happily guide you on everything.

Notes

1. Have your shower before getting into the hot tub/ofuro.
2. You are allowed/expected to wear the provided cotton robes(yukata) while on the ryokan grounds with the provided slippers.
3. You are not allowed to wear anything in the shared onsen bath tubs. No one is looking at you. Everybody is busy relaxing themselves.
4. Yuzanso provides POLA toiletries which I adore! I have facials at POLA's beauty salons and use some of their products as part of my daily regimen. 
5. I booked 3 months in advance. I suggest booking at least 1 month before your date to avoid disappointment. 

Review : I loved our stay and am already planning on coming here again during the winter in 2018!

Yuzanso's official English website : http://yuzanso.co.jp/f/e/
Information on the Halal menu : http://www.yuzanso.co.jp/english/muslim/
Book here http://www2.489ban.net/v4/client/planinbound/list/customer/yuzanso/lang/4

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Transferring money to different countries? Use Transferwise ! Great rates, low fees, fast service. Get JPY500 off your first transaction through my link.

My Trip to Vienna, Austria

Period : 11th - 16th February 2016

The Belvedere

★ Travel Agent H.I.S
Price → Around JPY180,000± for 2 people including travel insurance and private airport transfer to our hotel
Review → I booked the package online and made payment with a credit card. The website was user friendly and I got confirmation straight away. For this particular package the airline and hotel is chosen by the travel agent but they do have a set list to choose from and you can choose the star rating of the hotel you want. A week before the trip we received our travel package which included the e-ticket and hotel information.

H.I.S always has sales and offers throughout the year so sign up to their newsletter to be the first to know.

★ Flight : Turkish Airlines
Osaka - Istanbul - Vienna
Vienna - Istanbul - Osaka
Price → Included in the travel agent package
Review → The flight itself was uneventful and as expected the food was delicious. The seats were average sized and we took off and arrived on time.

★ Accommodation : Novum Hotel Kavalier
Price →  Included in the travel agent package
Review → The room was spacious and looked out on to the main road but because we were not in the city center it never got loud at night which I am thankful for. The hotel breakfast is basic but was enough.
Sign up to Booking.com with this link and get JPY1,800 as a reward!


★ Schedule

We ended up switching around a few items while we were there & I left Monday blank just in case.

Getting around Vienna is very easy with their subway/trams. We got the 3 day pass, if I'm not mistaken. It came with a coupon book and maps.

Information on some of the sights.

★ Extras
Apple Strudel Show at Schönbrunn Palace link
The show was very fun and the pastry chef had a bright personality. Grab a hot chocolate and enjoy the show!

Austrian Parliament Building Guided Tour link
I learnt so much from our guide. He was friendly, really knew his stuff and was open to all sorts of questions throughout the tour. A must do in Vienna!

https://www.wien.info/en : Use this link to get itinerary suggestions, book tickets to shows and a whole range of other services.

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Transferring money to different countries? Use Transferwise ! Great rates, low fees, fast service. Get JPY500 off your first transaction through my link.

My Trip to Taipei, Taiwan

National Theater and Concert Hall

Period : 13th - 16th August 2016

★ Flight : Jetstar
Price → JPY46,100 for 2 people with no add-ons
KIX - TPE 12:15 - 14:25
TPE - KIX 14:05 - 17:40
Review → The check in was smooth and the flight itself was okay. Crew were friendly and polite. We took off and arrived on time both ways.

★ Accommodation : Taipei Sunny Hostel booked through Agoda
Price → JPY 13,244 for Twin Room Ensuite Bathroom
Review → The room was comfortable and clean. The staff/owner was very friendly. It sits opposite a park with access to a train station 2 minutes away. Great place to stay.

Sign up to booking.com with this link and get JPY1,800 as a reward!

★ Schedule
Let me start off with I loved Taipei! I tried so many kinds of vegetarian dishes that were tasty and drank so much bubble tea! Also, I should have been more prepared for the walk(hike?) up Elephant Mountain. It was blazing hot and I was wearing skinny jeans, not the best workout gear. The view from the top was worth it.

We didn't manage to go to Tamsui but everything else went as planned

★ Extras
Book Taipei 101 tickets online to skip the long lines.

There aren't that many Halal places in Taipei but there are lots of vegetarian restaurants that sell so many kinds of dishes very cheap. Lots of mock-meat (made from tofu) cooked a hundred ways. Just search for vegetarian/vegan on Google maps or ask your hotel/hostel staff for recommendations.

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Transferring money to different countries? Use Transferwise ! Great rates, low fees, fast service. Get JPY500 off your first transaction through my link.

My Trip to Hong Kong and Macau

Period : 2nd - 6th May 2017

★ Flight : Hong Kong Express
Price JPY78,020 for 2 people with 20kg add-on for 1 person
KIX - HKG 16:45 - 19:40
HKG - KIX 12:30 - 17:15

Review : We checked in online so when we went to the counter everything was smooth. Staff were polite and efficient. Our flight to HKG was originally for a different time but was moved forward a couple of hours which would have inconvenienced us but we were allowed to change to a different time free of charge, all done online. I would suggest grabbing something to eat before boarding because the food/snack choices are meager.

★ Accommodation : We stayed at 2 different hotels because 1) our flight would be arriving quite late, 2) I planned to explore Lantau Island which was closer to the airport.
Sign up to booking.com with this link and get JPY1,800 as a reward!

1st night → Silka Far East Hotel
Review : The room was smaller than I expected but this being Hong Kong I guess that's fine. If you've been to Japan, then you know what to expect. Please be aware that there is a Deposit at HK300 per room per night, which is required upon arrival. Good thing I'd already exchanged some cash at Kansai airport. You get the deposit back no problem when you check out as long as you haven't damaged anything.

2nd night onwards → Butterfly on Waterfront Boutique Hotel
Review : I booked the 「Deluxe Harbour View Room with Free 4G Pocket Wi-Fi Device」so we had a beautiful view to brighten up the small room (but I will say that it was bigger than Silka Far East Hotel's room). There's a tram station 1 minute away and within walking distance there are 2 subway stations. I have no complaints. The 4G Pocket Device is a great addition and helped us navigate our way throughout our stay in Hong Kong.

I booked both hotels through Agoda but you should also compare with Booking.com for the best deals. As always, there are better deals the earlier you book.

★ Schedule
Below is the schedule I set up. We managed to see and do almost everything you see there. This is the format I use to plan all of my trips : separated by days with targets/spots, with money stuff at the bottom.

Click it to expand

Sorry that it's got some Japanese mixed in there but I think you can guess what they're referring to.

Check out Klook (click on it, sign up and get JPY349 to use on your reservations!)for any coupons/special offers on public transport/ activities/ entrance tickets etc.

Also, check out Trazy for offers!

★ Extras
I ended up using Uber Macau to get from one area to the next because it was raining on-off while we were there and we couldn't be bothered to wait for public transport but I just read that Uber is no longer operating in Macau.

While in Macau, we used HKD. It's widely accepted on a 1:1 basis to the MOP(Macanese Pataca) which means you lose a bit but not by much.

While in Hong Kong we enjoyed delicious foods from various places but I want to highlight two here :
1. Wai Kee Halal Food
The chicken and lamb curry we had was delicious. There is an English menu on the tables right in front of the booth. There was a male waiter/owner who took our order and we spoke in English with him. You can just find the menu sheet on the table and point to it if the English-speaking man isn't there.

Find the building, go up to the 2nd floor and look for this sign.

The menu. Prices are reasonable. Big portions.

Delicious!

2. Ma's Restaurant (Halal)
Everything we ordered was so good! With such huge portions too. They have a wide range of food so if you go in a group you can try out a lot of Hong Kong dishes. The menu has English and the owner who sits at the counter speaks English as well.

We ordered spicy fried rice, beef noodle, gyouza, and beef goulash.

Also, the Popeye's at Hong Kong Airport is Halal.

YASSSSSS

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.

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Transferring money to different countries? Use Transferwise ! Great rates, low fees, fast service. Get JPY500 off your first transaction through my link.

My Musee Platinum Experience

Taken from their website

I have seen the Musee Platinum branches all over Japan in the past couple of years but I've never given trying them out any thought. I've always had this image that they would be super expensive and kind of painful.

However, last summer in August, I noticed that they were doing a promotion. Only ￥100 for unlimited sessions for the armpit and V-area. At first I couldn't believe that it would truly be unlimited but after checking out their website for more information, turns out it really is unlimited with absolutely no hidden charges whatsoever.

So I booked an appointment at the nearest Musee Platinum branch near me. You have to book an appointment if you want to come their branches, doesn't matter if it's only for a consultation but there are a lot of time slots and they open on weekends so it's not a big deal.

When I came for my consultation, they explained the lasering process and I was assured that there would be little to no pain. They also explained that the ￥100 promotion had not other fees and I could book as many sessions as I wanted until I was satisfied. They reminded me that I would have to wait 2 months in between appointments to give the skin time to recover from the previous session. You are also advised to stop shaving(with a normal shaver), waxing, and epilating altogether and to start using a battery operated shaver which is softer on the skin.

I wouldn't recommend laser hair removal if you want instant results. It will take at least 4 sessions(which means 8 months) till you truly see visible hair reduction but it is permanent so for me that makes the time worth it.

My Experience : 
After the 1st session, I didn't notice any difference but after the 2nd session I noticed that the hairs on the lasered area were softer and less coarse. After the 3rd session, I noticed that there were definitely less hairs on the lasered area and the hairs were even more fine and softer than before.

I seriously felt no pain at all during the 1st to 4th session but during my 5th session it did feel a bit hot on the skin but it went away after a few seconds so I don't mind. After they've lasered the skin, a cold compress will be applied on the skin for a minute or two then they will apply the skin finishing lotion to help with any dryness you may have. (I love their lotion! It is super light on the skin, smells great and doesn't leave a sticky feeling. I like using them in the warmer months as a daily skin moisturiser.) Every body part takes less than 2 minutes to finish lasering so a complete session where I usually have 5~6 parts lasered takes less than 15 minutes.

I have since added multiple parts to my laser regimen. They have a few menus for you to choose from depending on how many body parts you want lasered. I just took the Free Select Course which allows me to pick any part I want for each session.

Musee Platinum always has some kind of promotion going on throughout the year so the prices will never be as high as they show on the website. When I bought my Free Select Course, there was a 50% Off Summer Sale and I also got additional discounts because I paid in cash instead of credit card.

You will also get Birthday Coupons which gives you a free session and if you introduce you friends then you'll get more discounts for yourself too!

Anyways, I'm not going to explain everything in this post because I just wanted to focus on my personal experience as customer for close to 1 year. You can check them out at Musee Website. They also have branches in Musee Platinum Malaysia Website and Musee Platinum Singapore Website.

If you have any questions, just comment below!

Review : NYX Slim Lip Pencil Lip Swatches ( 6 colours )

I have found a new love and craze - NYX Lip Liner Pencils. 

I love the finish and their lasting power. All the colours leave a matte finish except Tangeringe, which has a sheen to it. I can eat and drink and the worst that will happen is that they will rub off a bit. The darker colours don't stain my lips so taking them off at the end of the day is a breeze. Love love love it!

As you can see, my lips are quite pigmented so the colours have a different effect on me than they would on someone with lighter toned lips. I hope these lip swatches help you girls, who also have pigmented lips, make a decision when you buy these amazing lip liners.

NYX Lip Pencil 831 Mauve

I think Mauve would be great when you want some colour on your lips but you don't want anything too loud and colourful. This would also work great as a base for colourful lipsticks to really stand out on the lips. Some clear gloss on this and you have beautiful nude lips.

NYX Lip Liner Pencil 840 Rose

I'm a bit on the fence about Rose. It's a beautiful bright pink but I'm not sure if it's a good shade on my skin. I'm going to experiment a little more with this, maybe apply a darker pink lipstick on top?

NYX Lip Pencil 810 Natural

I love Natural! I think this gives a nude lip that doesn't wash me out. Because this colour is really simple, I can go a bit crazy on the eyes to balance the whole look on my face. I know Mauve and Natural look the same on my lips but that may be due to lighting. Mauve has a purple tone to it while Natural is more brown.

NYX Lip Pemcil 846 Tangerine

I have to admit, I am not a fan of the finish Tangerine leaves. I'm definitely in a 'Matte Lip Craze' right now so it doesn't really fit into my current tastes. I do like the peachy tone it has though, so I will keep it for future use.

NYX Lip Pencil 817 Hot Red

Merah mak ang ang ang! HAHAHA I love this shade! I think it looks really good on my tan skin. It doesn't bleed and I think my teeth even look whiter when I have this on. This + black winged lined eyes = Perfection

NYX Lip Pencil 812 Plum

The official lip colour for this Autumn. I adore how deep this colour is. I just fill in my brows and basically do nothing else when I wear this because all the attention will be on the lips so I'm not even going to bother spending time doing anything else LOL This is definitely my favourite out of all them.

I got these at either :

Amazon Japan - Rude Cosmetics . ￥477 each. It's a seller from the US so it'll take a week or two to get your stuff but it's worth it if you plan on buying more than 2 shades.

NYX Japan - Official Store . ￥800 each. Free shipping with no minimum purchase. Get yours here if you plan on getting 2 items or less. Takes 2-3 days to arrive on your doorstep.

Malaysia :

Colour Cosmetics Malaysia - website . Only RM15 each

Sephora - website . There are currently 9 Sephora stores in Malaysia. If you're going to go to Sephora, join their Card Program. You collect points, get discounts and get freebies when they have promotions. Definitely worth it!

Review : KATE Liquid Touch Powder Foundation

From the website : The KATE LIQUID TOUCH POWDER FOUNDATION formula in this foundation spreads smoothly and gives a moist finish. It stays put. It's super lustrous. The secret to irresistible skin.

I have been using this for almost 6 months now. I love it! It really does apply on smooth. It might seem a bit cakey at first but it will melt into your skin. My dry areas are also nicely covered and aren't highlighted like it would with other powder foundations I've tried.

I use the OC-D shade and it fits my skin tone pretty well. This also has SPF20++ so that's a plus. I notice that it doesn't oxidise and turn a darker shade during the day. I definitely recommend this for someone who can't be bothered with liquid foundation but wants an awesome finish to the skin.

Price: ￥2000(+tax)

Review : K-Colly Sweet 17

I've never been interested in trying out supplement products because I am big believer of getting vitamins and other nutrients through a healthy and balanced diet. Until one day when a friend of mine started talking about how K-Colly had helped her tremendously with her skin issues. Her problems started after trying out a local skincare brand that caused her skin to go crazy resulting in huge pimples that were not only uncomfortable but also painful. Of course, she immediately stopped using the skincare products and decided to try out K-Colly. K-Colly helped her skin clear up and in about a month, her skin was drastically better with about half of the pimples and irritations gone.

Because she wasn't trying to sell K-Colly to me and didn't pressure me at all to try it, I wasn't turned off. After reading a few blogposts about K-Colly reviews, I decided to give K-Colly a try.

Here is what I noticed after consuming K-Colly for about 2 months :

- my skin felt softer

- I was having some acne issues around my jaw area and the area is now completely acne-free

- my backne had reduced a lot; the acne that were already there dried up quickly and I hardly got any new ones

- my skin is less oily which results in products staying longer and better on my skin. I wear less foundation and hardly any concealer now yay!

You can consume it just as it is, 1/2 a scoop in the morning and night but it is too sweet for me so I usually mix 1 full scoop with a glass of water and drink this before I sleep.

I will probably continue consuming K-Colly but I am on my last bottle and I haven't found a stockist in Japan so I might have to stop for a while until I buy more in Malaysia HAHAHA

Anyways, if you have also tried out K-Colly, please feel free to leave your experience in the comment section below.

Getting A Job In Japan - Helpful Videos & Next Stage Asia

In addition to the preparation steps I've listed in my previous post (click this) you might also find these videos helpful. There are a lot of these kinds of videos on Youtube if these aren't to your liking.

These videos are from Next Stage Asia(link), a recruiting company that helps Japanese companies hire foreigners to join them. Create an account and they'll personalise updates for you based on the information you give them. They become like a bridge between the companies and you. This site caters to both students and working professionals. They also hold seminars in Tokyo to help you better understand the job hunting world and prepare you for it.

I did sign up for this in addition to Rikunabi and another recruiting agency that I'll discuss in a later post.

If there are any additional information that you would like to share, please feel free to comment below :D

Getting A Job In Japan - The Prep

As I'm sure many of you have read/heard, getting a job in Japan is a little different than how it's done in most countries. Japan's rigorous and, often times, exhausting practices are infamous. In this post I'll give a few advice about how to go through it and InsyaAllah get a job in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The job search season comes in full swing in December during your third year (if you're doing your undergraduate studies) so prepping would probably begin sometime during October. I actually started my job hunt a tad late because I had personal matters to attend to.

Preparation

1. Financially
Start saving a few months before you plan to start your job search. You will be travelling a lot whether to company briefings(会社説明会), job expos or interviews. All of this might not cost as much if you happen to live a stone's throw away from huge cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, where most of the aforementioned things take place. Take into account the travel expenses(交通費) and accommodation, should it be necessary. Companies usually(though not always) only pay for your travel and accommodation expenses during the final interviews. I think I spent close to ￥100,000 altogether, maybe more actually.

2. Mentally
2.1 SPI (Synthetic Personality Inventory) Tests
Most companies have tests as one of the first hurdles you have to overcome. These tests are usually the SPI Test, although some companies might have their own version of the test but it is very similar to the SPI Test. You can buy books that will help you prepare. Make sure you buy the most recent edition because the tests have undergone changes quite a few times over the years. Some websites offer free SPI practice questions. Google it.

2.2 Language
If it isn't obvious enough, you will be doing a lot of talking and writing during your job search. Having a strong grasp on the Japanese language will be a great advantage. Make a great impression on the interviewers with your communication skills and fluent Japanese. When filling out your forms, have a teacher or Japanese friend help you out. Get their input on your grammar and content.

2.3 TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) and JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
When filling in your forms, they will usually ask for your TOEIC scores too. If you haven't already taken the TOEIC then do so a few months before you start your job search because it will take a month for the results to come out. Oh yeah, TOEIC-IP ( the ones you did at college/university that was administered by your college/university) cannot be used.
Regarding the JLPT, some companies will insist that you take it while some won't. Because the JLPT only takes place twice a year I would recommend taking it just in case, anyway. Having an N1 level JLPT will further reassure your future employers that you have a strong command of the language and will be able to adapt and assimilate seamlessly into the company.

3. Documents
If you're a transfer student (編入生), some companies will also ask for exam results during your college (高専) years so have those ready too. I asked for 4 copies of my exam results and subject credits when I graduated from college because my college and my university are quite far from each other and I didn't want to go all the way to Ibaraki from Gifu for a slip of paper (-.-")
Personally, I have yet to come across a company that also wanted my SPM results, but having them on hand would be safer, just in case, you know.

Also, talk with your seniors about their own experiences and learn as much as you can from them. Now would also be a good time for you to start thinking about what kind of company you want to work with, what jobs you would be interested to do and where, geographically, you would want to work.

If there are any other preparation tips that you would like to add, please feel free to comment down below.

ps/ Below is the schedule for job hunting during 2014/2015 for 2016 graduates. It seems they've made more room for students to participate in internships, club activities etc by delaying the company briefing. Take that as a hint to use that given gap of time to brighten your resume with some extra-curricular activities.

Photo from MyNavi 

My Honeymoon in the USA (New York, Florida, Washington DC)

In this post I'm just going to give a rough outline of my itinerary on the trip. We actually managed to do most of the things on the list whoop whoop! Our second day in Washington DC was kind of messed up because the night before a freaking snow storm happened. It made for a very beautiful morning but it did result in a lot of places being closed the next day. Thank God at least one of the museums in the Smithsonian was open or I would have bleeding cried right there and then.

Oh, I'm super lucky that because my little sister is currently studying there, so I just let her plan everything and she became our tour guide. We paid her with Kinder Beunos and IndoMee. Apparently it is really hard to find Kinder Beunos over there. How depressing, those things are delicious!

We used Google Docs to plan things out. Made things super easy. Everyone could see the plans and edit as they pleased. Thank you Google for making planning a holiday with someone half a world away so much easier.

Below are screenshots of our plans. Enjoy and I hope it'll help, no matter how small in your adventure plannings.

I should tell you that the whole theme of our honeymoon (and sister adventures LOL) was inspired by Gossip Girls. My sister and I love the show and seeing the spots that were in the drama in real life are squeal-worthy moments I will treasure forever. I thank God that He gave me a husband who loves me enough to go on a honeymoon which had a Gossip Girl theme LOL

You can click on the photos for a better view, the words are a little small. Apologies.

Qatar Airlines Review :
The check in was smooth though the lines were long because there weren't many counters open. The seats were fairly tight, but the highlight of the flight has to be the food. Everything was delicious! We had a transit in Kuwait and it was the first time I have ever set foot there. While the airport was large and I think recently renovated, it could have been way cleaner and handled guests better (there were people smoking in non-smoking areas!). On our flight back to Japan, we again had a transit in Kuwait and our flight was delayed by a whole day. There was barely any announcements and they did not have anyone manning the counters where we should have gotten our coupons to spend on food in the airport due to the delay. Overall, definitely would not fly with them again.

If you have any questions regarding my travels, just leave a comment or contact me through FB/Line/Twitter and whatever else you can think of. Thank you :)