Team A - Ready, Steady... GO!!!!

Been spending the past two hours packing my bag for the trip, so decide to give everyone a sneak peek into what I brought along!

Finally.. After a few weeks of planning and preparation.. Our very first Singapore team is ready to go over to Tokyo! In fact as I am sitting down blogging this, one of our team member (Joy) is already on the Singapore Airlines flight, one-third of her journey towards the land of the rising sun! We will link up with her at our accomodation place once we reach in another 14 hours time.

Woohoo!!! Will make effort to blog once every two days when we are in Tokyo, so as to keep everyone updated on how we are and how things are moving there!

Japan Youth Culture - Harajuku

Part of our teams' objective in this MOL Tokyo trip is also to understand the youth culture in Japan. And what better place to kick start than the well-known Harajuku... The place glittered with the most extreme youth culture and fashion styles. In order to experience the teenage culture at its most extreme, visit Harajuku on a Sunday, when many young people gather around Harajuku Station and engage in cosplay ("costume play"), dressed up in crazy costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc.

Not only is Harajuku the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but it also offers shopping for grown-ups and some historic sights.

Daiso Harajuku - 100 Yen Shop
This is one of the largest 100 Yen Shops in central Tokyo, offering a wide array of goods, including clothing, kitchenware, food and stationary on multiple floors at 105 Yen per item. It is located only a few steps from Harajuku Station along Takeshita Dori.

Snoopy Town
A wide array of Snoopy goods is sold in this store, located directly across Harajuku Station.





Watch out for our next featured youth culture epicenter.... GINZA!!!

MOL Location - Mielparque Hall

Location of Mielparque Hall - 1/8000 Magnification

Location of Mielparque Hall - 1/3000 Magnification

Access to Mielparque Hall:

Mielparque Hall is an 8 minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station (JR/Monorail); a 2 minute walk from Shiba-Koen Station (Toei Subway Mita Line); or a 4 minute walk from Daimon Station (Toei Subway Asakusa Line or Toei Subway Oedo Line).

Team A update: Our accomodation

Presenting to everyone our accomodation in Tokyo..... KHAOSAN TOKYO GUESTHOUSE!

Gosh! We really went through alot to get the room books done! Relatively cheap pricing at an average of S$35.00 per person per night. And it is located just next to a subway station (Asakusa Subway Station), which makes travelling about an ease.

Take a look at the guesthouse's website and you will see many more photos, detailed map and interesting people whom have been bunking by in this place!

Khaosan Tokyo Guesthouse website

Tokyo subway system map

(Click on the image to get a clearer and larger image)

Check out the Tokyo subway system map! Millions of colored lines (rail & subway lines) crossing around! Just when you think that the SMRT system is complicated with the MRT and LRT lines.. complex that another 20 times! Oh and not forgetting the zillion rush of people in the Tokyo subway system!

Am really excited about this whole new experience! Heard so much about it.. now I am going to witness and experience it for myself! Woohoo... Tokyo here we come!!!

Note: For rest of Team Singapore, if you are keen to know more about how to travel around Tokyo via the subway system, you can check out some of the links below. I have also listed them in the sidebar.

Tokyo Metro Subway Guide

Check out the really good and colorful maps here of the subway system!

Tokyo Subway Transfer Guide

This one is the best! Just log in your boarding and alighting stations, and you will know the travelling time, train transfer and fare prices!

Team A update: Magic of Love sponsorship tickets

As part of each team's objective in this Tokyo trip, we are aiming to acheive sponsorship of at least 20 MOL tickets so as to bless the youths and underprivileged in Tokyo.

As we gathered for meeting this morning to plan for the trip, we decided to take action on the spot, giving it a try by seeking sponsorship from some of our friends and family in church. The response was amazing! In a short span of 20 minutes, we managed to get sponsorship for 9 MOL tickets! Everyone was eager and excited to help out in getting the tickets to bless our friends in Tokyo!

Now what we need to do is to get to know more Japanese youths through online channels i.e. Friendster, MSN, Blogs...etc so as to bless them with these tickets. Currently we have only managed to have one contact through Friendster.. but we will keep trying and sourcing new channels... =)

Singapore is coming to Japan!!!

Team Singapore A will be flying into Tokyo on 1st September!!! Look at what some of the team members have to say.....



"I am excited and full of anticipation because of the challenges of visiting a new land and new language! Being a leader to the team, I want to have a heart for Japan!!" - Adrian




"I am eager and excited to see the city and meet the youths in Tokyo! Am also looking forward to experience and understand the culture more. Felt so blessed to have the privilege to go on this trip.." - Julee




"My very first trip to Japan! Have heard and seen so much about Japan on Discovery Channel.. now is the time to experience the people, culture, traditions myself! Japan here I come!!!!" - Ee Jay




"In the midst of my busy schedule, I'm excited, but also unsure of what is in stored for us as we go ahead. But I just sense this excitement in our hearts as we go into Japan!!" - Dy




"I am excited on goin for this trip, especially after overcoming all the obstacles faced. I believe we are going to have wonderful time in Japan!!" - Joy

Get Discounted Magic Of Love Japan Tickets! Magic of Love is performing in Tokyo from 6 – 8 October. Invite your Japanese friends and business associates to MOL with specially discounted MOL Tokyo tickets. Or purchase them as a blessing to the Japanese students and the underprivileged. Available now at the Service Counter in Singapore EXPO Hall 9.
Visit http://www.magicoflawrence.comfor more info. Send Ecard!

Dates: 6 Oct(Fri)-7:00PM ; 7 Oct(Sat)-2:00PM & 7:00PM ; 8 Oct(Sun)-3:30PM

MelParque Hall, Tokyo (near Daimon Station and Shiba Koen subway stations)
Tickets available now at S$45 (usual price S$90)