Thank you!: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Japan - Tokyo Day 3

Goodbye Kyoto, we headed towards Tokyo on the 8:56am Hikari to JR Shinagawa Station, the Shinkasen on does not stop at Shinjuku.

As Fata and CF had a 1pm meeting in Tokyo, at the Tokyo Station, I got out earlier at Shinagawa to find my own way to the hotel. Thankfully there were clear signs pointing me to the JR Yamanote Line, platform 2. Shinjuku was just a few stops away.

The walk from Shinjuku south entrance to Shinjuku Washington Hotel was long via an underground pass. Kumxia Fata for the easy directions. Get out via the Shinjuku South Entrance, head towards Lumine 1 and take the underpass pass entrances 3, 5 & 7.

At lunch time I was 'heading up stream'. Sadly as I was early, it was around 12:20pm, the room wasn't ready. Left my 80l backpack at the hotel and went with the flow back to Shinjuku Station hoping to locate Guan's hole in the wall noodle shop. I couldn't find the limo bus counter plus I found a 'wrong' KFC so I gave up and just walked around Keio Store.

That was when I wandered through the food level and bag level and found myself on street level. Miraculously, there was Odakyu Department Store on the left, with a Uniqlo and the 'correct' KFC. Plus the cigarette stand with the Mild 7 sign where I made a right turn into the alley.

The yummy ¥380 cold tempura soba with tamago filled my tummy! There were a lot of noodles but I slurped it all, then watered down the remaining sauce with some hot water and drank it all, just like the locals.

With a full belly a walk through Uniqlo was a necessity. Happy with my new pairs of shorts it was the same long underpass walk back to the hotel to check in. I was so tired and sweaty it took over a half hour to cool off before exploring more of the Shinjuku retail scene.

The 10-floor Takashimaya in the same building as Tokyo Hands took up a couple more hours. Then it was back to Lumine and My Lord in anticipation of Fata's return. My Lord shops were having 'time sales' and it was my first time in a mall filled with screaming and yelling sales girls promoting their wares, they were like human loudhailers.

Fata and CF reached Shinjuku Station close to 6pm. After dropping off the bags, we went in search of the hole on the 2nd floor katsudon place, another Guan recommendation.

The thick and juicy Rosu Katsudon was so soft... no need to order anything else 'cos the set with very very yummy daikon soup and rice is more than enough. And I got a smaller bowl of rice without even asking for one :)

Now it's back to the hotel to rub my tired feet and rest up for tomorrow.

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Chopsticks 2011/19

At a yummy rosu katsudon shop in Shinjuku.

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Chopsticks 2011/18

At a hole in the wall noodle store. The tempura soba with tamago was yums!

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Chopsticks 2011/17

On the Hikari train from Kyoto to Shinagawa (Tokyo).

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Japan - Kyoto Day 2

We started our day with a Mc's breakfast at the Kyoto station, the cheapest we could find, 3 of us ate for under ¥1,000. Then Fata & CF headed off for their business meeting, meaning I had the time all too myself! Armed with the Kyoto city bus map & Guan's list of recommendations, my first stop was the Kyoto Tourist Information office inside Kyoto Station. Inside I found out that the tourist office is primarily for Japanese, there was a single rack of English brochures. A helpful English speaking lady helped point out the bus to take and where to find the buses.

It was off to either B2 or B3 bus stand for either bus 205 or bus 101 to Kinkakuji Temple. Bus 205 arrived first so I hoped on, later I found out that the bus 205 route is longer than the bus 101, but then again I didn't see a bus 101 either way. The journey to Kinakuji-michi bus stop took about 45mins?

Kinkakuji Temple was a 5 minute walk from the bus stop, around the corner on the right. It is a beautiful gold temple overlooking a lake. Problem was I was surrounded by 3 school groups, flooding that first viewing area with over 100 people. I took my time waiting for the people to leave so I could spend quality time with my camera. The stroll around the grounds wwas peaceful only between the numerous groups of students and tourists.

Just to the right side of the Kinkakuji temple exit is the Kinkakuki-mae bus stop, there I took bus 12 to Ryoanji Temple, which features a super zen garden. There were also students there, but thankfully the groups were much smaller and less noisy. There was an American high school group there too. Towards the end of the walk through those grounds, Fata called to say that they were on their way back to Kyoto Station from their work meeting, so I started to head back.

I had to take bus 12 from Ryoan-ji out to change to bus 205 back to Kyoto station. Now, never tell anyone you will meet them at JR Isetan without confirming an exact location in that 10-floor mall. I eventually found them on along the Ramen Street on the 10th floor, it was one my first food experience which needed you to pay at the vending machine outside before going inside to eat. It was a great recommendation by CF's girlfriend.

Allan and I then head back to Sakura Ryokan to grab a shower and drop off his stuff before heading out again in the stifling heat. There is a huge Hongkanji temple just 5 minutes from Sakura Ryokan so we started there, then we walked down to take a bus to Gion.

This is time in Gion we saw 5 geishas! They were gorgeous, perfect in every way :) I hope the shots turn out great! hahaha... Then we spent our time strolling the back streets of Gion 'til we felt lost enough to navigate back to the Duck River and walk back to the 3rd Bridge. Fata had a tonkatsu craving and we found a super yummy place at the covered street mall. Oiishi!!!

After walking around a bit more we decided to take bus 5 back to out Hongkanji, but we didn't know that there is more than 1 :P So the bus took us to the other one, which totally threw us off. We ended up looking up and heading towards the Kyoto Tower to re-navigate back to our ryokan. That walk back took us over 45 minutes and almost a liter of Apple Water from Lawsons.

Tomorrow we will be in the morning Hiakari Shinkasen back to Shinjuku (via Shingawa). Kumxia Kyoto for the great experience!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Japan - Kyoto Day 1

Our adventure started last night on a red eye flight from Singapore into Narita Airport. Customs took a quick 30 minutes to clear despite the snaking line of people. Our bags were already waiting for us at the baggage carousel when we got there.

Then it was down 1 floor to basement one to exchange our Singapore JTB bought JR vouchers for our Japan Rail Pass. The people there noticed that we had been overcharged for our 7-day rail pass, it was supposed to be about 28,300 yen per person, but we were charged 45,100 yen each. Anyhow, we were told by the Tokyo JTB office to sort it out when we get back to Singapore.

The guys at the JR office at Narita Airport were very helpful, they helped book our train from Narita to Shinagawa, and to Kyoto. The man helping us even told us if we waited a half hour we could get seats facing Mt Fuji enroute to Kyoto. Note the Mt. Fuji side seats are D and E in either direction.

Dozing on & off on the Hikari 511 I kept wondering if I had missed the mountain :P

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Okay, I missed the mountain :( will try to look out for it on the way back to Shinagawa…

It was very nice of CF to meet us at the Kyoto train station. Sakura Ryodan, a great recommendation from CF was about a 15 minute walk from the train station. The weather was H.O.T.! Perspiration was dripping from everywhere…

We were checked in by a very hospitable Iketani-san, originally from Tokyo but he runs this place now. It is our very first trip outside Narita Airport, so this is our first time in a ryokan. Our futon beds and yukatas came with an instruction manual :P

The rest of the afternoon was spent shrine visiting. The first one was Guan's suggestion, It was a 1,040 yen taxi ride from our ryodan, which coincidentally is just a couple of minutes from another large shrine.

We had matcha ice cream, peach & ramune gelato (yummy!) and a orange float to quell the afternoon sun. And yes, we had the triangle mochi my flight attendant cousin said we must have 'cos she says that it is available only in Kyoto. :) Moreover, she timing was impeccable, she SMS-ed me just as we were walking out of Kiyomizudera and heading into the street of shops.

We walked a lot, cross bridges and lots of roads into Gion. We spotted 3 geishas! I hope the shots are good :) CF then took us to buy beer and drinks to relax by the duck-river to wait for his girlfriend. It was a surprising way to spend a bit of time in Kyoto, sitting on grass with a beer in hand, watching eagles, storks and ducks fly by.

Dinner was at the leek izakaya place in Pontocho Guan heavily recommended. Very yummy for all 4 of us, but it was on the pricey side. But the important part was the good friends and great company. We later found out from CF's girlfriend that that restaurant grows their own leeks, and that it was an expensive meal. :P

Kumxia all who have made my very first day in Japan a truly enjoyable one :)

Monday, June 27, 2011

Chopsticks 2011/16

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Jane Goodall!

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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Damn You Auto Correct - SG Style!

now - how do i rotate this picture???

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Chopsticks 2011/15

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

MH - Oasis Water Node Trap

This is the 1st of the 3 Baron traps I got from the Fiery Warpath. The Oasis Bead was dropped by my 5th Warmonger Mouse.

Takaski Murakami is today's Google doodle

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/0621/Takashi-Murakami-brings-summer-solstice-to-the-Google-doodle

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Shoreditch fixed

Just after 6 weeks an eyelet fell off my Sanrio Dr Martens. Good thing the store helped to fix it, but the new eyelet albeit black is not exactly the same :P

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Que Sera Sera

Not exactly "what will be, will be',
more like 'however it turns out, it was meant to be'...

Monday, June 20, 2011

Walk On Water?

Got these directions from gothere.sg, to go from China Street to Marina Bay Sands.
Check out the 'bus only' option, it points you to walk over the bay... walk on water???
Now, if it said said 'swim'...