Thursday, November 27, 2008

What I miss about Japan

Been back for 2 months and I still get the question "do you miss Japan?".
So here's a shortlist of what I miss about Japan, in no particular order. Mind you - there's another list of what I don't miss about Japan, and trust me, hubby would have a big say in that list *winks*

1. Clean (free) public toilet, especially those shower toilets, with built-in bidet.

2. The exemplary customer service. If one waits for long at a restaurant - chances are, we would be offered free drinks as apology for not being able to serve us quicker. Service is always with lots of smiles and greetings. Staff are ever helpful, and even when I had on a herot tudung and non-branded jeans, I still got 1st class service at classy departmental stores such as Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya. (No looking down on potential customer a'la treatment received by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman...)

3. The drivers make use of their signal lights.

4. Not that many motorbikes on road.

5. Koyou (autum leaves). And come Spring, it would be Sakura, then tulips, daffodils.

6. Fresh, sweet and tasty fruits and veggies. A lot of people seem to agree that fruits and veggies taste better in Japan than in Malaysia - sweeter, crispier, etc

7. Efficient public transport. Had to take public transport to work the other day, and it was such a hassle. Try comparing the two situations below:
Taking public transport from home to school in Tokyo would be;
Bike to Asakusa eki (7 minutes) -
Ginza line subway to Nihombashi (13 minutes) -
(5 minutes transfer time)
Change to Tozai line subway to Waseda (13 minutes) -
Walk to University (10 minutes)

Taking "public" transport from home in PJ to office in Putrajaya would be;
Asked Adik to drive me to Taman Paramount LRT station (5 minutes) -
Putra LRT to KL Sentral (15 minutes) -
(30 minutes transfer time)
KLIA Transit ERL to Putrajaya (25 minutes)
(20 minutes waiting time)
Asked cousin/aunt to pick me up at ERL station and drive me to office (15 minutes)

8. The automatic queue - no pushing, no cutting in

9. No smoking in public area, and even on the road too.

10. Play area for children in most public offices, shopping malls, etc. Diaper changing stations and nursing rooms included.

11. 100/99 yen shop.

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