Wednesday 20 January 2010

Japan Day 3-4

Continued from Japan Day 1-2
The Shinkansen ride was lovely. We could see the transition of the urban Japan to the more modern Japan along the way. The first thing that crossed my mind during the ride is - if a war should break out, Japan is very highly to survive. Almost every household have their own small farm for food!! Everyone seems so self-sufficient.

I was already in Tokyo by Day 3. I was trying to cover more of Tokyo area rather than Kyoto-Osaka in this trip. I was lucky to have planned it this way. A typhoon hit Japan and Kyoto-Osaka were badly affected. A lot of buildings were damaged and transportation was totally disconnected for the whole area. Tokyo experienced strong wind but no major damaged were reported. I had to cancel my initial planning and make do of my limited time here. We went to Akihabara because at least most things are indoors.

As expected, we did not miss the maid cafes here. Their kawaii-ness were out of this world!!!! Its feel like a pub, with waitresses n all. Minus the beers and horniness, plus a LOT LOT of mushy and kawaii stuffs. Mew Mew, Phew phew and super high pitch girl voices. Ok, maybe not minus the horniness.
You'll need to spend a lot if you wish to indulge in this kawaii environment. They charge by the hour AND also the food/drinks you order. Good business huh? Didnt scan the pics, so no underage kawaii maid pics for u.
We didnt have any plan for that night so I was just doing my trial on "lost tourist" project. I ended up in a very interesting place called Shin-Osaka (dunno correct o not). At first, I thought its just a dull place with Asian restaurants all over, especially Indian food. A few streets later, I discovered a red light district you can never find in Malaysia. Its sort of like Geylang, but much bigger, indoor, bright, colourful AND more choices, including services for the ladies, more specifically, aunties. There were more guys posters than the chicks. I even wondered if its a gayguy area. Damn sweat.


It was still raining in Day 4. The typhoon was still wrecking chaos in the south. Chamness. We went ahead with outdoor plans as the wind was not too bad then. And I dont wanna waste my money just sitting idle in the hotel.
We went to Meiji Shrine. Nothing much to do here except to witness the serene environment at the city. Its sort of like "Tin Hau Gung" of KL. Minus the altitude, smoke and noise.

Actually Im confused between Shinjuku and Shibuya area. I didnt really know when I was in Shinjuku, and when I was in Shibuya. Or I was zigzagging between them all the while? All I know is I did a lot of window shopping, and also physical shopping.



Im not sure if I mentioned this, but all of our food were of different varieties in the entire duration in Japan. We tried a different style of Tepanyaki where we need to cook it ourselves. Damn. Need to pay, then need to cook. I had no choice but to seek help.

Guess thats the end of Day 4. After makan its just the continuation of shopping shopping and shopping!!
We almost miss the last train home too. Chamness.

Friday 8 January 2010

Japan Day 1-2

Im trying to recap the whole journey. Many details will be left out because Im too old for recaps of this nature. Sweat. Its a 2-3 days in one short because it will be too many posts if it was day by day recap. Let me see what I can churn out from my elderly state mind.

Once upon a time, I reached Osaka airport. Osaka because i arranged the trip to be a one way Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo trip thingy. Save the transportation time. Aint got that much time in the NihonLand u know?


This place is near where i stayed. A landmark of Kyoto me thinks. Some tower just outside the Kyoto Station.




I went to Himeji Castle as a start. Not so ok to my liking. I took a round and head straight to another location ( i fogot where). I know getting lost wandering around looking for night life in Kyoto. Apprently they dont have one there. More happening place will be in Osaka. Ouch. Why didnt i chose to stay in Osaka???

There're many more activites on Day 2. As a start, we went to Kinkaju-ji (Golden Temple). Its around the same as Himeji plus the crowd. Malaysia has a lot to learn from Japan's own local tourism industry. Almost everywhere I went, I was thronged by local Japanese students. Its not even the holidays yet. They are proud to visit their own temples and other attraction spots.


One of my favourite temple is the Sanjusangendo. They have those Goddess of Mercy statues all over the place. Not all over the place as in scattered. They are arranged in one long hall along with other priceless artifacts. Quite an impressive view into their religious history.


Another favourite place of mine is the Kiyomizudera. I spent most of my day here. This is one of the 'must go' of Japan, if not Kyoto. They have impressive buildings with outstanding architectural technologies. We have a few things to learn from their long-ago technologies. Its a shame that the weather (the cloud) was not too kind to me for that entire trip. Kiyomizudera would have make a very fine photography venue for me.






Night time is obviously Gion time in this area. Nothing much here though. Mostly are food and not much geisha spotting here. i encountered prettier (and younger) ones during the day in the temples. You can skip this place if you are planning for Kyoto in the future.

Food wise for these 2 days was ok-ok la. I never heard of Japan being a food-haven until I came back. I never really tasted any really really hard-to-forget food here either. Malaysians are too spoilt with their own food back home + others.
I did try their local street stalls food too. They were great but nothing to shout about.

The next day, we took the bullet train Shinkansen, the fastest version to Tokyo. More or less the same price as an air ticket. But the services and speed can match with an airplane!!

Here goes - Japan Day 3-4

Thursday 7 January 2010

Avatar 3D

I didnt bother to take a second look when its 1st advertisement was out. With the good reviews, curiousity will always kill the cat. And I just watched it with my friend just now. Its proven that you can ask gals to do any technical stuffs. Despite all the guidance, she insists that there are only a few seats left in all of KL/PJ cinemas. Internet booking, phone, u name it, she's tried it. One quick check revealed that ALL the cinemas are having plenty of seats.
Getting on with the movie.

I cant phantom watching it non-3D after watching the 3D version. It was awesome. Sure, 2D is great as well but 3D was on a whole different level. I used to dread so called "3D movies" because the trying-so-hard effects distract me from the actual movie. I guess movies gearing for 3D versions are maturing fast.

Story-wise it was good. Not as superb as I heard but its good. The ending could've left a bigger impact if the hero dies. Then it'll be the director's trademark - just like in titanic.
Sort of like - the cabin is shatter prove n all. And the only thing the heroine can do is to watch the hero dying inside. They having a few last words, to keep on living or fighting, stuffs like that ala titanic. Then an OST playing behind, titanic style.
I bet it gonna sell more. Many will watch it over n over again - titanic effect.

No cun chick though. Sad case.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Japan

This is a long long due post. I was too bz (lazy) to post this up. I was thinking that I should edit the pictures before posting anything on the web. I gave up. I dont have the patience to edit so many pics. So I'll just post a short review on my trip there.

The 1st day I was there, I was welcomed by hordes n hordes of leng luis. Leng zais oso got but I didnt really notice them. Their profiency in english is very good too. Almost everyone know what I was saying and able to give me feedbacks. Nice.
My first real bento


Eh, I realise that I am now seeing impressive photos from my mum's camera. I thought its mine. My memory is getting worse.
So for this post, I'll just spam with her pics which you'll never find from my camera.


OMG....
I uploaded all and waited so long only for blogger to fail me and uploaded just one.
Crap. Well, just head to my FB to view the pics. Sweat

Monday 4 January 2010

Holiday

Hmm. In KL now. Till the 10th perhaps. And now its only the 4th. I was just thinking - What? tomorrow is already the 5th?!!? 4th and 5th is so far apart for me somehow. Today is still early. Tomorrow is already so late. Such an unstable state of mind.

Just like yesterday in Lum's wedding. Actually in every wedding, I dont really drink. I have had a bad experience with the man in uniform previously, long ago. I dread everytime I think about having liquor then having to drive home. Yesterday I was trying to yumseng like I was the host. Chamness. Luckily no one took up my challenge. Luckily there wasn't any beers around too. Mixture of spirit, wine and beer will do wonders to most people. Not me me thinks.

I've got tomorrow and a day planned. Lets see about the rest.

Saturday 2 January 2010

Too many with too few

It has been a very very complicated end quarter for me. Too many things happened with too few updates here. Career-wise, personal-wise, love-wise, money-wise. More down than ups for all aspects. Everything came crushing down together at the same time. In some aspect, they are still tumbling all over.

Too many fresh beginning to welcome 2010.
One cant say they are not good beginnings. Maybe they are a mean to an end. End of the last quarter avalanche. I am not sure whether I am being slapped back into reality, or that I am being pulled out from reality. The blue pill and the red pill taste so similar.

I need a holiday.
A real backpack. I need to let go and let free.
Joe, interested? Come.