Shin bistro with Daichi

20150730 I was not feeling well and only got up at 3pm. One of those usual days for me that I can never get used to :( 

dinner at a place I really wanted to go, with Daichi. I’m sorry I always don’t reply his msgs.. And he tells that straight to me but still forgives me :P he’s really a nice friend with a foreigner viewpoint so it’s easy to talk to him.

The place is called Shin bistro at Meguro. It’s packed even at 6plus. I thought japanese do OT?! Its concept is actually standing bar.. Not that anyone mind standing because the food is good. I wonder if in Singapore would people want to stand ?! It’s very space saving this way.

Then later Daichi was still hungry :/ 
So we made our way to Shibuya to the beef tongue chain store called Negishi. Pretty good and not expensive. The rice is mixed with barley grains and eaten with tororo. Yummy. But I was so full… Can’t wait for our international firework festival haha!!

Ayako sensei's last cafe session

20150727 Ayako sensei’s last session :( today’s topic was very interesting, we learnt a new poem called 生きてる by 谷川俊太郎. When I have the time I will do a translation. Made a new Korean friend. Time for Korean food!! :D

Zushi Beach

20150726 beach with Alan and Dani :) it was again a super impromptu trip with Alan telling me the night before, and the location on the day itself. it was about 2 hrs away and I was reluctant to go because he was going with some pretty sexy Japanese ladies too…and I am really quite a typical Singaporean when it comes to dressing for the beach. but i decided to just hack care and go. No one else is going to ask me to go beach in Japan anyway. LOL.

met Alan at Zushi station, initially Kamakura, the popular beach destination near Tokyo. Dani joined us and i adore her!!!! she is such a nice person. apparently the rest backed out LOL but we had fun!!!! it was hot and I sprayed so much sunblock hahahahah. we ate Alan’s bday cake at the beach and just talked and drank… then we went for a walk but Alan fell asleep at the beach! lol

the sunset... love it

Dani decided to contact her mum’s friends who took care of her, they stay in Kamakura. And Alan too spontaneously contacted his friend Keita, an instructor he met while snow sledging in Hokkaido. Keita arrived while we were playing volleyball, he joined and we took many pretty pictures. and he pointed out Fuji san to us!!! :D (LEFT OF THE PIC BELOW)

keita!!!

Happy, funny dinner gathering at a restaurant with nice view but the food sucked. hahahaha. yappari companion is the most important! we HTHT on the train back…. most real I have ever felt in Japan. Friends are so important :)

隅田川花火大会 Sumidagawa Firework festival

.20150725 sometimes life brings you to places you don’t expect. My senior from university, Alan, invited me to go for a fireworks festival on Sat evening. So grateful for a bit of Singaporean in foreign Japan. Alan has been working in Toshiba for 3-4 years. I wasn’t planning to wear a yukata because it’s 1)expensive, for a night only 2)no one was wearing with me 3)too hot?! .. but Alan said his friend was buying it too at the mall we were supposed to meet so I thought I would do it too.. 

I reached there first so I went to choose mine. So many pretty ones but I managed to find a good one that was not so cheap. The staff who did the fitting for me brought over a obi (the belt) that cost 7900 yen ($80~) and I asked her for a cheaper one. She told me the cheapest is 5900yen so I thought well, not much of a difference until she brought it over and I realised it’s 5900 yen before 50% discount. YAY. So in the end, with the koshi himo (ties), it cost a little less than 10000yen… expensive X( 

When I made my final decision and asked them if they can wear it for me, they said no!!! wtf. i tell you it takes them less than 10 mins to help me wear it. But they keep refusing. I was so mad… a yukata shop that doesn’t help you to wear your yukata. seriously? i began to panic and left the shop without buying first. They suggested for me to search online for a store that provides service of wearing the yukata for me…. seriously wtf. like that is even a suggestion. i was in fking Kawasaki, my first time there. i walked around the mall and peeked into several salons, but they were hair salons, not dressing salons. I texted Alan and he said he will help me with the obi, but i will have to wear the yukata and koshi himo myself. Hence I bought the yukata and went into the handicapped toilet to try. i even youtubed “how to wear a yukata” :( i was really struggling until Alan reached and he told me it’s not so complicated! i heard his instructions and ta-da! i succeeded :D came out and he left me with the obi and within mins i was ready to go!!! still very mad at the shop - It’s Nadeshiko on the 4th floor of Lazona Kawasaki. Anyway my advice is never to be too last min, be sure you have your yukata and your friends are available to help.

Nevertheless, we had fun and Hiroki, Alan’s junior joined us. He couldn’t find a yukata he liked so he went without one… we rushed back to Asakusa for the fireworks but we couldn’t find a good spot eventually cos we were too late. Yuki says he is staying over for a night next week with his friends for the festival next Sat so hopefully we can see better ones!!

We left Asakusa for Shinbashi to meet Ivan but… it didn’t went very well because I am not the kind to go karaoke with 15 people whom I have never met before, and Hiroki wasn’t comfortable to pay 4000 for 3 hours, which we will only stay for an hour (catching last train is really a pain in the ass). So Alan was very nice, he accompanied us for dinner before he went to join Ivan =)

Although it wasn’t very smooth-sailing, my first hanabi taikai and yukata-wearing experience… it was fun and I am thankful and grateful to Alan and all the people who were nice, including the mall staff who explained the salons to me… everyone but the bloody Nadeshiko. I will remember forever ^_^ 

edit: btw 隅田川花火大会 is known to be not able to see the fireworks properly. Hahaha. Skip this next time…

Taiwan Summer 2015 #7

20150723 7-11 is hidden on level 2 of T2 Taoyuan airport. Prawn Mayo onigiri so good. Seaweed is wasabi flavoured. Beat Japanese’s onigiris hands down. Ironically. Anyway I was really quite unhappy with the airport customs because they threw my stuff around and I have fragile items. I’m not any rowdy tourist and I think I should be treated with respect. So mad!! My toys :( 

Went to the gate D6 and got confused as the screen wrote “gate changed to D9” but it was a general notice for another flight instead :/ finally boarded and some Japanese had to comment the plane is small and it might fall -_- and small planes are slower -_- such groundless comments.

And WTF THERE IS NO IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT WHY?!!!!!! There was, for TYO-TPE. I don’t get it WTF? I was so looking forward to it. I want to watch finish my KINGSMAN :( [edit: shock! Kingsman is not on screens in Japan yet!!! And my flight was delayed by an hour, and with my lousy directions I reached home at around 1230am :/) 

Good bye Taipei! See you soon!

Taiwan Summer 2015 #5

20150721 lovely lovely evening I had today. At first I had difficulty looking for this eatery so I gave up and tried the 北鴨 鴨肉羹 and oh boy was it delicious!!! A little expensive but it was so good. The weather was so humid and hot and I was really glad that the eatery had aircon.

after that made my way back to 碧潭風景區 碧潭水灣餐廳 to hear 鄭又軒 live :) the main reason why I am in 碧潭 in the first place. it has been more than a year since I’m back in Taiwan and I’m very lucky to be able to catch him live. Recorded every song like a stalker :)

Strolled to the riverside after the performance and saw people playing with flying toy - no idea what that is called. Lol but I joined in the fun and the boss was really nice - he taught everyone how to play it and he will fix your toy if it’s damaged, instead of selling u another. Competed with kids and I must emphasis again that I think that Taiwanese people are really one of the most friendly people in the world!! I had so much fun! And I ended up buying 4 more of the toy and got one free :D

The boss knocked off and insisted to bring me to supper - I know it’s mad but once again I hopped onto a stranger’s car :/ we went for 四神湯 and juice and he drove me around 萬華區 and back to Ximending. It was fun talking to him about everything about Taiwan and Singapore. Probablyyyyyy no ill intentions but I’m safe and sound. Might go back to play the toy tomorrow again. It’s so fun :D and I’m so grateful for today because I had lousy thoughts in the afternoon and was feeling super moody. As expected, when you are down, don’t be alone, don’t stay moody, get out and get fresh air, be happy and happy moments will happen too. Thank you, the people who made my day today :) May, Amy, Emily and Ceci who texted me today, love Ya all !!!

Solo in Kyushu (Summer 2015) 4/7: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival

Famous volcano in Kyushu: Sakurajima 桜島

Having lived in Singapore all my life, I always thought hot weather is not a problem for me. 

But summer in Japan? Do not underestimate! Especially in Kyushu, which is warmer than other places in Japan. However personally I feel that Kyushu is a really, really lovely place, although many tourists tend to flock to the North of Japan. My interest in Kyushu started when I worked part time for a Kyushu food event 10 years ago, and that love for it has never wavered. Since then, I have been to Kyushu 3 times, and every time I am greeted with the warm hospitality of the people there! Not to mention the food in Kyushu tastes so heavenly good!!! (I strongly believe that Kyushu has the best cuisine in the whole of Japan. I can write a whole post just on Kyushu cuisine!! Haha!)

However, despite the heat, summer is exactly the time to GET OUT AND HAVE FUN! There are so many events and festivals happening in Japan during summer you will often find yourself in a dilemma on which to attend. I visited Fukuoka in July 2015 with one main purpose in mind - HAKATA GION YAMAKASA FESTIVAL!

The festival is held from 1-15 July every year. It goes on for 2 weeks and events include display of the huge kazariyama floats, rehearsal races and the actual race. Prior to this festival, I have also attended the Torigoe festival in Tokyo, which was also an eye-opener. But what is so special about this festival in Fukuoka is that they RUN with the one-ton kakiyama floats! You will be amazed with how fast they can run!!! (I will be posting a video too! See for yourself!!)

I went to the festival with my friends, the Ozaki family on a Sunday, travelling from their house in Kokura for this event. We couldn't attend the weekday actual race because of Mama Ozaki's work. Not the actual day, but the town was bustling and getting ready for the festival.

We stopped by Ichiran ramen for lunch, the most well-known Hakata ramen. How can we miss out on Ichiran at its home base?!!!

YUMMY AS USUAL :)

After that we proceeded to the area around Reisen Park (冷泉公園) where the Kushida Shrine （櫛田神社）is, to find the best spot to view the race. 

Wow, I was surprised to see so many participants in loincloth :P The participants were all getting ready for the races.

A kind soul gave me his route map of the race when I randomly went to ask him about the route. Talk about kind Japanese people :) After figuring out the routes we walked around the shopping area since it was not time yet for the race.

The interesting themes of the big kazariyama floats. Look, Doraemon!!! This is just one of the many floats around the area. 

At some of the floats there are gigantic ice blocks with toys inside, placed in front of the kazariyama floats. The kids were rubbing the ice and trying to make the ice melt faster so that they can get the toys! It was very interesting. Later on I did see it on the making-of the ice on TV. It's a long process as the ice blocks are SO big!

Waiting for the races to start

Time to get down to business!!! The races started about 2pm in the afternoon. There were so many participants, vying for victory for their "clans". When the commentator counted down to the start of the race, I got nervous for the participants as they got into their ready-get-set pose. The race timings are announced after each team's race.

Look at the very well-made kakiyama floats!!

Kids and adults of all ages participated too!

The races started about 2pm in the afternoon. There were so many participants, vying for victory for their "clans". They usually represent the neighbourhood they stay in. When the commentator counted down to the start of the race, I got nervous for the participants as they got ready. The race timings are announced after each team's race.

The most awesome thing about this event is actually Japanese's community spirit. Families and shop vendors joined in the fun by cheering for them, and also spraying water to lessen the friction on the road. This is something you don't see at other events.

Kids were trying their best too!

Look at this racing video to experience the speed and action!

When I was there, there was actually a mini-accident that abruptly stopped one of the races! and it was such a coincidence that I was taking a selfie video... (to be uploaded)

I really think one cannot go to Japan and not attend a maturi!! Especially Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival!

Along the area there are also a lot of delicious Japanese food, some of which have very long history.

I had the A don in this restaurant. It is said to be called “A” don because the owner named the meals in the restaurant as A, B, C for convenience during busy hours. It was similar to Katsu-don but fish instead of pork. It was really delicious!

Can I also mention that Tenjin has a crazy underground shopping area. So big I got lost!! 

Solo in Kyushu (Summer 2015) 2/7: Gunkanjima and Huis Ten Bosch

16 July 2015
Nagasaki: Gunkanjima (Hashima Island), Huis Ten Bosch
長崎：軍艦島、ハウステンボス

I booked my Gunkanjima tour with Gunkanjiima Concierge days before I arrived in Nagasaki. Check out their calendar to see if there are seats left for the day you are going for the tour. You don't want to be disappointed after making your way there do you!

By the way if the weather is bad, they will not get off the ferry and get on the island because it's too dangerous. It's a deserted island with no toilets (hence the repeat announcement for you to go to the washroom before the ferry leaves the dock), and the tide often engulfs the island's shore so it's not safe. It was sunny and bright today so no problem :)

Gunkanjima has just been awarded as a World Heritage Site!

Gunkanjima once used to be a place to stay for people and their families who worked for Mitsubitshi for the nearby undersea mining area. The island was once so populated it housed 5000 people! However, the mining industry was not so lucrative anymore and there was nothing left to mine so the residents left and the island has been left deserted.

Arakawa san, another solo traveller I met on the trip.

They offer English translation kit, best if you understand Japanese though. The content is slight different ^^v

FINALLY!

Like some horror movie, looks super scary!

Some zoomed-in images from the ferry. Can't wait =P

On the island now!

The island housed a shrine, hospital, school etc.. It is in ruins because of the weather conditions, especially the frequent typhoons and the high tidal waves.

Yay =)

Yup, it's still super hot :( I'm in jacket because Japan's UV rays are crazy!!

I really think it is worth a visit if you are here in Nagasaki!

Champon lunch with Arakawa san

Nice, but the one I ate yesterday was slightly better? No more champon for me for a long while.....

(By the way Champon is always super big bowl because it originated as a filler meal for poor Chinese students in Nagasaki. It has seafood like squid and clams to give it a flavourful soup base!)

I wanted to try that black oden but I was so full...

The reason why I am here. Fukuyama Masaharu HEHE

To end with another Gunkanjima photo =)

After I left Arakawa san, my plan was to travel about 2.5h to Huis Ten Bosch. It was recommended by Shin san, far but I had no other itinerary so why not?

The only thing is I didn't know that Huis Ten Bosch is a themepark!!!!! I was going to a themepark alone! @.@

But anyway I only realised when I stepped into the park. I thought it was, you know, a garden, a park.

 I bought the tickets for the special summer evening illumination so entry was at 5pm. Tickets can be booked online and paid at Lawson convenience store (but you need a Japanese tel. no for the payment, I used the hostel's tel. no. LOL) But actually it was not crowded at all since it was a weekday, so tickets can be purchased at the door too.

Timetable back to Nagasaki from Huis Ten Bosch. VERY IMPORTANT! Huis Ten Bosch is built at a place with nothing but the resort so unless you plan to stay overnight there you better catch the last train back! (Directions to Huis Ten Bosch)

Am I in Europe?

It's actually hard to find the entrance of the themepark. The place is so big but look, the door to the entrance is so small... -_-

Inside the park! =) 

Now the realisation that I was in a themepark, when I started to see rides and attractions.... #fail

まあ　いいんじゃない～！

I love this umbrella installation!

Walking around before it turned dark for my illuminations.. 

Shall keep a secret of what's behind this wall, find out when you are there ^^

it's by the sea so it gets kind of cold in the evening..

Finally I found the entrance to the palace!!! It's located at the end of the park and I got lost for at least half an hour even with a map in hand. 

What a nice house~

Went to one of the exhibitions inside since the sky is not dark yet. Lovely! It's a tribute exhibition to a famous manga in Japan, The Rose of Versailles. (Actually no photos allowed but it was too pretty!)

There was also an ikebana exhibition

Don't you just love summer skies =)

This was my first stop, more illuminations to go!

Back garden of the palace

The palace at night

Lovely!! with Megane bashi (Spectacle bridge, referring to the reflection of the bridge with curved bottom) =P

I took the boat ride in the end, missing my second last train back. I thought it wasn't really worth it because I had to wait for the last train in the cold, for about 40 mins :\ I forgot to check the time chart for the train. But then I also got lost in this big park, and there was only a short time frame from 7-11 pm that you can check out the illuminations. So it wasn't exactly in my control. Some are very far from each other so it was already lucky that I managed to cover all that I wanted.

I arrived back at the hostel very very late but Nagasaki was safe so I didn't had any weird encounters on the road. Went back to the hostel with new roommates sound asleep....

Very happy that I came to Huis Ten Bosch! Hidden gem =)