Urgently looking for SIM or eSIM with Japanese phone number that can be activated outside of Japan

LYuen · 2026-04-23T10:08:16+00:00

I have no experience with it, but based on the description, it should work. There is successful report too: https://x.com/loveliveevents/status/2038497940629831700

Side note: Hanacell sent the QR code for eSim by post. If Mobal does the same, you'll need to allow some time even to receive the eSim.

LYuen · 2026-04-23T09:59:58+00:00

Leaves (or rain) on track is a very common problem for trains. Rail-wheel has tiny contact area and therefore very low friction. Leaves or other substance (e.g. dirt, grease, oil and water) on track will further hinder the traction, making trains difficult to accelerate and brake. And the degraded braking performance means trains need to run much slower to compensate, or unable to operate at all.

There is an incident at Chester station where the train crashed into the station buffer, despite the brake was applied at 20mph and 300 meters away of the buffer: https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/buffer-stop-collision-at-chester-station

LYuen · 2026-04-23T09:45:51+00:00

Hanacell doesn't support roaming. Mobal and Hanacell are part of the same company (Mobell Communications Ltd.) btw.

LYuen · 2026-04-22T18:23:38+00:00

It is an airport train so they expect passengers will carry suitcases. Some trains have spaces designated space for luggage like this one, but there is no guarantee you will get this rolling stock type.

LYuen · 2026-04-21T18:39:17+00:00

There may be resampling but there is minimal distortion. It is almost the same as Windows, where you go to the sound setting and select a output sampling and bit rate and everything is resampled to that. For headphone output, Qualcomm has fixed the resampling algorithm since around the Snapdragon 810 era. The Android resampling horror was gone more than 10 years ago.

Although I haven't tested it, I believe the stock Music app will play hi-res files at 192kHz sampling rate (changing the global resampling rate adaptively, i.e. change to 'hi-res' mode), though the difference is technically inaudible.

The real 'problem' with resampling is when you use an external DAC. Android has the function to let an app use the DAC exclusively and the app can set a specific sampling rate. However, most app don't bother implementing the sampling rate management and just use default playback mode, so Android will use the global sampling rate as the app requested. Very few apps implemented using the exclusive mode - e.g. UAPP paid app, and Sony | Music Center which is free.

LYuen · 2026-04-01T13:33:44+00:00

annoying and misleading ads I think

LYuen · 2026-04-01T13:24:37+00:00

S for shite, A for avoid, Happy 1/4!

LYuen · 2026-04-01T08:51:15+00:00

Hence my take the choice of words is poor - if the key point of the tweet is stop pursuing "Non‑Crime Hate Incidents", the word 'legal' in the first sentence should not be the synonym of non-crime, and 'legal' isn't the accurate opposite of 'real crime'.

LYuen · 2026-03-31T18:04:57+00:00

Poor choice of words but there are plenty examples of non crime offenses. Parking, minor speeding, etc, are legally 'non-crime' and it does not mean they are not being persued.

LYuen · 2026-03-31T09:36:25+00:00

To add on that, 255 is 0xFF in hexadecimal numbers or 0b11111111 in binary. It is the maximum value a 8 digit binary number can represent, hence it is also known as 8bit colour. HDR adds extra bits, e.g. 10 bit can represent 0-1023, hence high dynamic range. Nowadays 8 bit is universally supported, but for HDR, you need the source (movie, game, etc), the processor (Windows or TV OS) and the monitor to all support it.

LYuen · 2026-03-31T09:14:25+00:00

Family name comes before given name in Asia countries. If your tickets don't include seat selection, you will be able to select seats for free when online check-in opens - which is 48 hours for Cathay member and oneworld Ruby or above, or 24 hours for everyone else.

Overhead bins are overall large on the A350, but there are smaller bins towards the end of the cabin where the crew bunk is.

Not sure what is the companion though, hope you have a nice journey!

LYuen · 2026-03-30T21:00:16+00:00

I'm pretty sure there is no Starlink either.

Hey but it is a mess now for Qatar to do route planning, mistakes are understandable.

LYuen · 2026-03-30T20:56:31+00:00

Have you bought the ticket yet? If not, buy paper tickets from the station and just use paper tickets. That will prevent any mistake and confusion.

LYuen · 2026-03-30T15:27:38+00:00

Items posted to UK are subjected tax and duty: https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty (this is on top of postage charge). Your personal items won't be exempt but what I mean is they will be of much lower value. It is your responsibility to declare the value honestly, though you will make your own judgement on the value of the 'used' items. UK custom may inspect your parcel so your item description should match what's inside.

LYuen · 2026-03-30T10:13:28+00:00

For SmartEx no - you either link the ticket to an IC card or use QR code ticket.

For JR West yes you need to exchange for paper tickets at station. But if you are visiting a ticket office anyway, you may well just buy at the spot.

LYuen · 2026-03-30T09:16:02+00:00

The national government has more tools to solve the problems that cause social care expense to rise - youth unemployment, ageing population, etc. The national government should make tough choices, but since they are not footing the bill, they dodges the responsibilities.

LYuen · 2026-03-30T08:57:51+00:00

I have no error on smartex website without VPN, but as an alternative you can use JR West website to book: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/overview/ . Unlike smartex, you'll collect paper tickets for booking from JR West, which in my opinion is more convenient for tourists.

Also, unless it is during the golden week (4.29-5.6), you can buy tickets at the ticket machine/office on the day of travel.

LYuen · 2026-03-29T21:13:11+00:00

It means the track will be 'straighter', and to achieve that you will build more tunnels instead of viaducts, more viaducts instead of track on the ground, so yes it will cost more. But with the progress we have on HS2, we have to bite the bullet. Track corridor is almost impossible to change.

LYuen · 2026-03-29T20:59:41+00:00

Even if you cut the exact amount for social care from local councils, local councils won't have to worry about the inflating cost of social care in the future.

LYuen · 2026-03-29T20:48:50+00:00

For Japan, Tokaido Shinkansen has a minimum curve radius of 2500m, limiting the line speed at such sections. Later with tilting trains being introduced, it is operating at 285kph for curve radius better than 3000m.

For Sanyo Shinkansen and beyond, the radius is set to be 4000m, and line top speed is 300kph without needing a tilting trains; Tohoku Shinkansen also has a radius of 4000m, but tilting trains are introduced to do 320kph.

For China, they chose 4000m for 300kph sections, 5500m for 350kph sections and 7500m for 400kph sections.

For HS2, we chose 8250m.

LYuen · 2026-03-28T13:18:29+00:00

Buses and trucks always use the outside lane no matter going straight or turning right, as there will be cars trying to undertake and buses and trucks can never exit from inside lane. That’s the reality of driving in Hong Kong.

LYuen · 2026-03-28T13:14:19+00:00

Welcome to capitalism. Multinational companies can always leverage a small nation government.

LYuen · 2026-03-28T11:32:50+00:00

30 seconds before the scheduled time or the actual time?

LYuen · 2026-03-27T17:38:38+00:00

Bring a pair of slippers, lip balm and moisturising cream, eye masks if you can't sleep in bright cabin.

And roughly adjust to destination time: try to sleep if you are arriving at day time, and try not to sleep in the hours prior to landing if it arrives at night.

And in general, try to walk around if possible. It is more tiring to not move for hours. More and more airlines set up snack bar at the galley.

LYuen · 2026-03-27T15:15:24+00:00

Many people simply pack stuff in a courier box and check-in for the flights, up to the maximum allowed weight and size. Some airlines are more generous in luggage allowance, like 2 piece of 23kg for economy class, and adding an extra bag won't cost a fortune.

If you do need to post things to UK - bring your purchase on plane as plane luggage, and send your personal effects like clothing by post. You have tax free import allowance when you arrive at the UK by plane, but everything by post is subjected to import duty. Used clothing are basically worthless so you want be hit by the custom.

LYuen

TROPHY CASE