Using SUICA (travel and convenience card) in Japan

If you have been to Japan, you might have seen signs for SUICA at train stations, or you might have seen other travellers (probably Japanese/locals), using a card for transit travel.  

The video above shows how to get such a card, charge it, and use it for train travel, buying from vending machines, and convenience stores.

The Kindness of (Japanese) Strangers

From a previous post:

I did not realise that there were TWO terminals at Haneda, and we were at Terminal 2 looking for JAL when it was ALL ANA flights. 30 minutes before our flight we were still at Terminal 2, and we approached ANA ground staff to ask about our flight. They told us we were at the WRONG terminal. So I tried to find my way to Terminal 1... with less than 30 minutes to spare.
Fortunately, the ANA staff ran towards us, checked our flight and bookings (I had a print out of the details), and ran with us to the shuttle bus (shuttling between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2), caught the shuttle bus to Domestic Terminal 1 and put us on it. At Terminal 1, we hunted for the JAL check it, connected with their "Smile" service, and the woman immediately sprang into action! 

(We had also asked a security guard for help and he sent us to the second floor to the check in counter). 

The JAL ground staff took our documents, and checked us through.
It was less than 15 minutes to our flight.
She tagged our luggage to be checked in and we ran for the gate. 
Fortunately, the flight was delayed for 5 minutes. For us? I do not know. Didn't think so,
The flight crew did not mentioned that. We did not seem to have caused any undue delay, so the 5 minutes holdup might just have been lucky coincidence.

Putrajaya Sept 2018 - A limited visit and review.

My wife had a conference in Putrajaya (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) recently, and would have been gone for a few days.

When she had a similar conference last year (in another city), I took on the task of single parenting my daughter (two and a half years old) for a few days.

She was fine the morning my wife left.

She was fine that evening.

But when it was dark and she was supposed to go to bed, she started to tear, and said that she missed her mommy and finally sobbed herself to sleep.

I got my wife to video call us while she was there, so my daughter could see her. And it was clear she really liked being able to see and talk to mommy.

I got my wife to send video messages via WhatsApp and that was precious to my daughter.

But bed time was still sad times. And lonely times. And times she missed her mommy acutely.

The Penguins Parade of Phillip Island (Melbourne)

The Penguins of Phillip Island, Melbourne is well known.

And also Puffing Billy, the heritage steam engine train.

So when I heard of the offer from iVenture Card, and since I was going to be in Melbourne for 3 nights, I thought it was a good deal.

Especially since I checked their brochure and found that they had Puffing Billy, the Werribee Open Range Zoo, and a Werribee Park shuttle from Melbourne to Werribee (this counts as one attraction!).

There was an option for a 3 Attraction card, so that seemed perfect.

So I bought the card/pass online.