“No trip to Japan is complete without getting an Onsen experience in the countryside” - so I have been told.
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For those of you who do not know what an ‘Onsen’ is, go here and here and here and here to read all about it. Am thinking it’ll feel weird having to scrub myself sitting on a stool prior to getting into the bath. Read about Onsen Etiquette here and here.
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The more I read up on it, the more keen I am to get one next week. The weird thing is, I have many friends who have been to Japan but most of them have never gotten an ‘Onsen’ experience. Most (men and women alike) prefer shopping at the many crazily huge shopping malls. Shopping is fun…but I personally prefer getting an authentic experience that cannot be obtained elsewhere.
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So in my research for next week, I stumbled across more interesting stuff. I discovered the ‘Romance Car’ (ロマンスカー). More reading found that it’s actually a fancy name for a train ride. *LOL* This is how it looks like. Read the Wiki definition here.
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Hmmm….I think I may replace my ‘Shinkansen‘ experience with a ‘Romance Car’ experience. 
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Ah, just found out today that I have ONE more day during the weekend to play tourist after work’s done for the week. Also found myself a travel partner. A fellow Malaysian too, we will be playing tourist together-gether next Saturday. Yipeee…!
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Considering that I’m gonna be showing off my birthday suit in the ‘Onsen’, I asked my galfriends if I should pay FLUFF a visit this weekend. Their answer - A resounding YES!!!! *LOL*
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So watch out, you Jipun-lang! A hot woman in her bald birthday suit is heading your way soon!!! 
Hahahaha…and we shall not expect photos of you in the onsen:p
On a serious note, I’ve also heard of this onsen thingy which seemed to be really popular in Japan…so do share of your experiences after you tried yea!~
And…enjoy…with the Jipun lang!!~:D
All this talk abt Onsen kinda reminded me of the days when I used to pour over Lat’s (the Kampung boy) comics and one of my all-time fav was the one when he visited Japan. I can still visually recall those funny strips he drew of his own Onsen experiences. *ROTFL*
I wonder if I can find those gems online…that’ll definitely make my day!
This story was reported in a local daily by the journalist herself.
Some 10 yrs ago, the young journalist went to Japan on an assignment and stayed with a Japanese couple.
One day she was taken to an mixed Onsen, little knowing what it was all about. In the changing room, she got a shock when her frens stripped in front of her.
She was asked to do the same. Reluctantly, she wrapped a big towel around her with awkward eyes looking at her.
In the water, she slowly took it off feeling a bit normal now. A while later the frens got up. She forgetfully also got up without the towel…
The next day, she received a email from a male colleague in the same Japanese city saying that he saw her coming out from the water… and he added, “Hey, I saw someone took away ur towel!” She panicked and asked herself, “Is it True??? He saw me???
LOL….u so vely the funny!!