DAY 7

That morning we checked out from our hotel in Sendai because we were returning to Tokyo. Programme has almost ended and by this time a lot of us were exchanging email addresses and adding each other up on Facebook and promising to keep in touch.

And  so we’re back on the Shinkansen and were all bound for Tokyo, one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been.

From Tokyo Station, we had to walk a short 5 minute or so distance from to the bus station where our buses were already waiting. The night before I stopped by Don Quixote to buy a trolley so it was very easy for me to lug my luggage around hohoho. Many others suffered shoulder pain. Lalala~ Some more we had to wear formal clothes (complete with blazer) as we’re heading to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan again to deliver our joint statement to the representative of the ASEAN Secretary General so they may present it at the ASEAN Summit.

Prince Hotel, with the Tokyo Tower very clearly seen behind it. 😀

Tokyo Tower (東京タワー, Tōkyō tawā^?) is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 332.5 metres (1,091 ft), it is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world and the tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.

From here.

We were directed here, in this cute little greenhouse thing that looks like the little house on the prairie for lunch.

Lunch menu of the day: a bento of delicious fish furai, rice and vegetables! 😀

Accompanied by the prettiest can of Javanese tea I have ever seen! 😀

Then back to work: we went to the MOFA, Japan and here is the country representatives submitting the Japan-ASEAN Student Conference 2009 Joint Statement to the representative. It was all very formal.

Later came a question and answer session and the floor was opened for all questions regarding the Japan-ASEAN cooperation. Here is Andrea asking about how Japan has been giving out financial aid for all of ASEAN and such for such a long time already and it seems as if they’re not getting anything out of it. So she was like, “What is Japan getting out of this?”

MOFA rep said something along the lines of, how ASEAN promotes peace and stability in the region of South East Asia, a region that is their immediate neighbours. If there’s peace and friendship in the region it is much easier to create and stimulate economic growth within Asia, including Japan.

Interesting right?!

Then we went off to the Prince Hotel for a farewell party. From here we will part from our Japanese friends and the program would’ve officially ended. Here is an immaculately dressed lady from MOFA, Japan giving a speech. I felt like a slob next to her.

We did performances too! Here is the memorable performance from Group Regional Identity and Doraemon. Hahaha.

Received the obligatory end of programme certificate. 😀

And at night we went to awesome place Akihabara. It looks awesomely happening and crowded but actually it’s closed hahaha.

So we ate instead. 🙂

Then we went back to the hotel cause I’ve a date with PORI!!!! She’s one of my cabin mates during SSEAYP and definitely one of the most awesome people on Nippon Maru! I’m reeeeeallly lucky to get awesome cabin mates as all three of us share the same sense of humor. Hahaha. We have awesome pillow talk before we go to sleep every night. Sigh, I wish I had more time but she had to leave before the last train home at 11.30pm. Sigh! But I’m glad I get to meet her at least even only for a short while.

DAY 8

Packing our luggage into the bus. We’re finally heading to the airport. Homebound! 😦

Last photo before my battery died. Excuse me please look at the temperature so cold okay!!! After a long nap, I was back in Brunei.

What a great trip! 🙂