Learn to Speak Few Japanese Phrases

As you know, Japanese people highly appreciate their language, even more than English as International language. Hence, when you're in Japan, if you say in English, "Do you speak Japanese?" do not confuse when they have "No" as the answer.
So I recommended you to learn some basic Japanese phrase before you travel to Japan. Here are some useful words and phrases:
Notes: Remember that Japanese pronunciation is more like Indonesian than English, example: "A" is pronounced as "A" not "Ei" as in English.
Yes = Hai

No = Iie (it sounds like: iiiie)

Thank you = Domo Arigato

Thank you very much = Arigato gozaimasu

You're welcome = Douitashimashite

Excuse me = sumimasen

Goodbye = Sayonara

Good morning = Ohaiyo gozaimasu

Good afternoon = Konichiwa

Good evening = Konbanwa

Good night = Oyasuminasai

I don't understand = Wakarimasen (read: wa ka ri ma seng)

Japanese = Nihongo (read: ni hong go)

I don't understand Japanese = Nihongo wakarimasen

How do you say this in English? = Kore wa Nihongo de nan to iimasuka?

Do you speak English = Eigo o hanashimasuka? (read: ei-go-o-ha-na-si-mas-ka?)

What is your name? = Anata no namae wa nan desuka?

Nice to meet you. = O-ai dekite ureshii desu.

How are you? = Ogenki des ka?

Onegai shimasu = please *
We can use this to order food, ask for help, etc. You can also use "kudasai" for ordering something. Example you want to order mineral water, you'll say "Mizu kudasai". "Kudasai" is used more in sentences.

Where is ... = ..., doko desuka?
For example you want to ask, "where is the toilet?". Toilet is "otearai". So you'll say: "Otearai wa doko desuka?"

What is this? = kore wa nani desuka?

How much is this? = kore wa ikura desuka?


For more phrases and words and how to pronounce them, please see this videos from Yuu Asakura, I think her video is very helpful to learn basic Japanese quickly :)

Have fun learning Japanese!

xoxo,
Travellicious

Bad News: Euro Trip is Postponed :(

As seen on the title, my Euro Trip must be canceled due to problems in applying the Schengen Visa. We waited for hours outside the Swiss Embassy just to receive this bad news, here is the detail of what happen there:

1. The travel agent has registered us early in the morning to get the queue number. The registration open at 6am. We got number 9
2. At 9am, the interview was started. We got number 13 due to there are 4 applicants which didn't get the chance for interview from yesterday's queue.
3. At 10am, the security told us that the interview is postponed until informed again and due to reason which is not informed to the security. That's suck! We were waiting on the streets, under the heat and polluted air and they just informed like that, which is very unclear. Ow, and moreover, the last number who just got in is number 7 and the interview closed at 12pm.
4. At 11am, finally the interview was started again and the security called for number 8 - 12. Ouch, i didnt think we'll have enough time before our turn. Luckily, the number 11 was looking fo r exchange queue as the person was not ready.
5. Not very long, we met the madame, and she told us that we cant apply visa through Swiss Embassy as we will arrive at French first. Later she blame us as we used unfamous travel agent and the travel agent should inform her first to make interview schedule with us (how come most travel agent, not just mine, dont know any of that?).
And just like that, we can't continue this trip, as the interview schedule at French Embassy is fully booked until Sept 9, 2009; which means not enough time for the visa to be processed (10 days). But as I promised you before, I'll post here the requirement for applying Schengen Visa:

• Passport, which has valid date more than 6 months from arrival date and old passport.
• Color photo size 4x6, 2 sheets, with white background and clear appearance.
• Sponsored letter in English, printed in the Company's letterhead from the company you work. Also mention the name of others/family member which travel with you.
• If you were General Manager, Director, President Director or Commissioner, you must provide a copy of NPWP and SIUP. If you have your own business and do not have company's letterhead, then letter is printed on white paper and stamped by company's logo.
• If you were sponsored by your child, then provide the birth certificate. If sponsored by son-in law, provide the marriage certificate also.
• If you were a retirement, provide a letter stated your status and signed.
• Copy of savings account from the first page to the last page of transaction (minimum Rp50 million/ person)
• Reference letter from Bank (original). Must be the same bank of your savings account. The letter must mention the name, savings account number, amount and the first date of transaction.
• Copy of credit card
• Copy of family cards
• Rename letter, if any
• Marriage certificate, if your spouse is travelling with you.
• If your children are travelling with you, provide: student card, birth certificate and school reference letter
• Print out of ticket reservation / original ticket (fyi, they trusted original ticket more, the madame told us that printed electronic ticket is not acceptable).
• Hotel confirmation during your stay in Europe (all hotel, if you miss 1 night, they will ask it)
• Travel insurance during your travel in Europe with total amount of US$50,000 or 30,000 euro.
• Visa Application form, which has completed and signed.
• You must come to the embassy to perform interview. Attach the passport with the supporting document and separate per person.

Basically that's what you have to prepare before you applying Schengen Visa. You must pay fee of Rp890,000 and the money will be gone if your visa is rejected, unless you are rejected during the interview, you dont have to pay.

Sadly ones,

Travellicious

Next Destination: Europe

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything lately since I was busy preparing for my next trip: EUROPE! Yeay! I'm planning to go on September 16 - 27, 2009 with the whole family except my biggest sister. We decided not to take a tour as most of the tour schedules are not fit to ours. Luckily, by arranging all of the trip by ourselves, I have plenty of things to share with you :)

For a start, I'm gonna give tips of what to prepare when you plan to go to Europe on your own:

1. Determine how many days you have and what countries you would like to visit.

• Be rationale, having too many countries to visit while you only have few days means you will be very tired and not enjoying the trip.


• Use google or trip advisor to do your research.


• Make a list of every countries to visit and places to visit in each country.

2. Open the map and arrange the sequential of countries to be visited. For each country, arrange the sequential of places to be visited.

• Try google map!


• When you already knew the starting country and the final country, arrange the flight and book. Try Emirates or Etihad; or look for bargain prices from other airlines' promotion.

3. Considering the visited places in each country, determine how many days and night you would spend on each country.

• By doing so, now you would be able to search for hotel and train schedule.


• For hotel, I prefer to read the review on tripadvisor because it is very detail and including rank from the most recommended to the least.


• For train, you could open the euro rail website to check schedule and fares. The website has just renovated, unfortunately i think the previous one is easier to use than the new website.

4. Book your hotel and train once you are sure about the schedule. Obtain confirmation of hotel booking for your visa application purposes.

5. Prepare for visa application purposes (I will listed down all documents need for visa Schengen application in my next posting). You will have to come to the Embassy by yourself to submit the documents and perform interview with the embassy officer.

6. List down your itinerary, write down the addresses as well as the timing to prevent from getting lost and late.

7. Pack your belongings

8. Go have fun in Euro Trip!

Cherrios,

Travellicious

Holiday Tips #1: Photos are The True Holiday's Memories

It's important to take photos of your holiday moments and places as after holiday is over you have no memories left except the one in your brain. Here are some few tips from me:

1. Bring your camera everywhere you go, because you'll never know what you'll see or meet on your holiday. SLR is recommended but camera pocket is lot more easier to carry.

We were at Regal Hotel in Hongkong and we were about to swim when I decided to bring my camera along instead of leaving it in hotel room. Amazingly the color of the sky was breathtaking. So glad that I did not leave it in the room.

2. Don't take only narcissm faces pictures, expand your photos to your surroundings. No one interested that much to see faces in the whole holiday pictures. Showing the place is more essential.

Photo is taken at Disneyland Hongkong, the city looks colorful and bright contrast to the dark night sky.

3. Take unordinary photos such as jump shot or model-alike pose! Ask your holiday's friends to be creative. It would be so fun!

Their ridiculous faces and poses brings smile to everyone who sees it.

4. Find interesting spot to take photos so your photos would be memorable.

5. Forget about photography technics, just push the button wherever and whenever you like. Just remember to bring extra batteries and memory cards.


So, what's your best holiday photo? Let's share!


Cheers,
Travellicious