2-day work week, 3-day weekend

Well the week went bye quote fast having only been to the office twice this week. Anyway today's Friday and Monday has been declared a holiday for Independence day on the 12th so I hope I could get some rest by then.

Anyway I'm quite frustrated with my Japan plans, because I forgot to consider one single most important thing. My Entry Visa, for those who are lucky enough to get a lot of visa waiver programs you have to understand the pains people have to go through to get their visa. Well thankfully I still have a US visa but I heard that getting one for Japan is just as worst. Personal appearance and a truck loads of documents still won't guarantee entry. Plus I have to submit invitations and all that's stuff because I'm not traveling on a tour package. Why on earth would I want to do that? I've only been on a tour group once and I promised never to do it again, not unless its a private group.

So there, I still don't know if I want to do it. Hong Kong just doesn't work for me as much so I really don't know if I should really go there. And as much as I have lots of friends from Singapore I still don't wanna go there if its not for work, for one its bloody expensive and two I really don't know what else to do after I'm done shopping. Hahahaha...

Comments

[Michael]

applying for a visa at embassies/consulates in the Philippines is too much of a hassle and quite frustrating (even if you have all the money and all the bank accounts that they require). thank goodness i don't have to do that ever again...

[Closet Conundrums]

Hey Michael, Good for you...it's really sad how legitimate tourists carrying Filipino passports get the harsh treatment by embassies and consulates here. I really can't blame them knowing that there are a lot of undocumented Filipinos staying illegally in many countries...but you can't blame them for that either...oh well.

[Closet Conundrums]

Here are the requirements for applying a tourist visa to Japan from http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/visiting/new%20visa/tourism.htm :

1. Philippine Passport
2. Visa Application Form
3. Photo
• Specs: 4.5cm x 4.5cm with white background
• Photo must be pasted on the application form.
4. Birth Certificate of applicant
5. Marriage Contract (if the applicant is married)
6. Daily Schedule in Japan (TAIZAI NITTEIHYO ）
7. (if visiting friend) Documents or photos etc. to prove relationship
8. Invitation Letter from Guarantor in Japan
• (Must have handwritten signature)
9. Bank Certificate
10. Income Tax Return (Form 2316) original and photocopy
11. Residence Certificate (JUMINHYO)
[11. is only applicable if Guarantor is a Japanese ]
12. Foreign Registration Certificate from City Hall
[ 12. is only applicable if Guarantor is not a Japanese . ]
>
1-A. Guarantee Letter (MIMOTO HOSHOSHO )
1-B Income Certificate (from City Hall) (SHOTOKU SHOMEISHO) from City Hall, Tax return certificate (NOUZEISHOMEISHO: form2) from Tax office, KAKUTEISHINKOKUSHO HIKAE or Bank Certificate (YOKIN ZANDAKA SHOMEISHO)
• “Gensen-Choshu-Hyo” is not accepted.

[Disco Valante]

Hong Kong is great. East meets West in a fusion of great culture and food in a city of skyscrapers, mountains and ocean. I'm also a big HK action movie junkie and therefore love to get those movies not available to me in the US. I am going there in August, too. We might bump into each other. You have an awesome blog.

Disco
http://discovalante.wordpress.com

[xiaohu]

hey, you always talk about going here and there, have you ever been to taiwan? why don't you come here? :)
and if u get bored of taipei, u hop on the HSR and in 2 hrs you'll be in kaohsiung

[joseph]

I don't have great expereince of visa! so I cann't help you in that matter ! but I really think you new banner and layout are very good!

[Michael]

If ever you wanna visit taipei as hsiaohu has suggested, i know somebody who can do the visa processing... the taiwan office is also notorious for rejecting visa applications.