Kyoto 2D1N - Day 2

[Sep 6, 09]

Morning we took train from Kyoto station to Inari Station. Once get out of Inari station, will get to see Fushimi Inari Shrine after few mins walk. This place famous for its Torii which leading to inner shrine. For me, i know this place because of the movie "Memoirs of Geisha". Still remember a little girl running under Torii in the movie? It might be takes up to 1 hour to reach the top, so we give up. :P

I tried to run like the girl in movie... hehehee... :P

After that we walked around Kyoto station. Kyoto station actually link with few shopping center. Since we will be taken afternoon Shinkansen back to Tokyo, so for the time being we searched for a famous Japanese restaurant named "中村藤吉". It is famous of its green tea dessert. We nearly failed to find this restaurant.

After dessert, we walked around in the shopping center to grab for the last minute souvenirs for family and friends.

Time for home! =)

Kyoto 2D1N - Day 1

[Sep 5, 09]

It will be a long journey from Tokyo to Kyoto. By bus, it takes around 7 hours but cheaper. By Shinkansen, it takes only 2 hours but expensive. Therefore we decided to take night bus from Machida, Tokyo to Kyoto station on Sep 4 and come back by Shinkansen.

More information about the bus booking and Shinkansen timetable in Japan:

Bus123 - bus booking

Shinkasen - shinkansen booking / timetable

We reached Kyoto station around 6am in the morning. We felt extremely tired by taking this long-journey bus, but still we have to find our booking hostel - K's House Kyoto. It is not that easy to get to this hostel, but one thing i liked the most is their cleanliness and cozy environment.

After breakfast at hostel and bought the city bus all day pass (500 Yen) at Kyoto station, we headed to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion). It is well-known for its gold-coloured architecture which situated at the center of the lake.

And then we took the bus to Nijo-castle. It is quite easy to travel in Kyoto, normally people take bus. Therefore you can see many people squeeze inside the bus during the peak hour. So as us. -_-''' Nijo castle is one of Kyoto's UNESCO world heritage site. We even stepped in the castle and try to imagine how people live inside. Hmmm... must be very boring then.. :P

There are many of temples and shrines in Kyoto. We cannot really visit all of them, so we choose in particular. We passed by Yasaka Shrine before we had our lunch.

After lunch, we headed to Sanjusangendo temple. It is famous for its 33 halls and 1001 statues of Kannon, the godness of mercy. We decided to give ourselves a rest in hostel after this temple visit because we are extremely tired due to long journey traveling. Luckily this temple is near to our hostel.

At first we planned to rest for 1 hour and then headed to Gion to see geisha, but can't believe that it was already 6pm when we woke up. Erm, no doubt we are extremely tired. hehehe... :P Well, we still headed to Gion. Pontocho is Kyoto's nightlife district where might be able to spot geisha. And very lucky we saw 1 passed by us and rushed for her performance. Erm, we only can spot her back. -_-''' That night we had our dinner and green tea dessert in Pontocho.

Update

I have nearly abandoned this blog. Have been came back from Japan for about 1 month, but my travel diary only update until Aug. Many things happpened after I came back from Japan. First, Went for body checkup and discovered that I have to undergo a surgery. Anyway I'm ok right now. Back to normal again, I think. Second, my passport spoilt due to the leak of antiseptic. I thought I just need to renew my passport during my recovering period in Pg. I thought it just need 1 day to settle this issue but it is NOT. Have to go through many procedures and new passport can only be collected after 1 month for investigation purpose. Well, means I cannot go anywhere within 1 month. Anyway I have settled this too by renewing my passport in Sg. :P Third, overseas medical leaves issue. I'm still thinking how to settle it. Btw wish me good luck. Wish that everything will back to normal asap. ^_^

Photo taken on the way to my company during the time in Japan. Look like blueberries. Unlikely blueberries can be survived along the roadside right?

Autumn is here!

Cool! Autumn is in Japan now! The weather is so cooling and it is so sunny after typhoon. It is even colder than Genting Highlands. Everything look so calm, right? But not my heart. Arhhhh, I LOVE Autumn in Japan! Suddenly not feel like going back to Sg. How?! ^.^

Typhoon No. 18

The Typhoon No.8 hit Japan with full force this morning. Our umbrella also spoilt due to the strong wind. Luckily those umbrella are not belongs to us. :P

We walked all the way to our workplace. Normally it takes 20 mins to reach our workplace. Therefore we have 20 mins to 'experience' the typhoon. It is not as serious as what I think. Maybe because my working area is not really near to coast side. Furthermore there is not really heavy rain in this morning. Just strong wind which can push you move forward.. :P

And unbelievable it turns into sunny day after we reached office. ="= Unfortunately I was not able to take any photos when i was in such embrassing situation - untidy hair, wet shoes and clothes... :P

秋天 | 秋雨

外面好冷，
房里也好冷。
又下雨，又刮大风。
最近几天出街都必须带把伞，
衣服也多穿了几件，
但怎么都抵不过病魔。=”=


每晚走路回家，
总是弄得湿湿的。


在这么冷的季节，
假如有碗东炎汤，多好！
猪骨汤也不错！
哦，好久没喝苦瓜汤了。


看来，我是病傻了。:P

Sanrio Puroland

[Aug 29, 09]

Sanrio Puroland is also known as Hello Kitty land. It is indoor type theme park. It is a great place for "mature" lady like me who cannot take up too challeging games always... So, NO roller coaster here! :P

The admission ticket for Sanrio Puroland actually have 2 types: Welcome ticket and Passport. Welcome ticket (3000 Yen) is only for entrance and all free shows. Passport (4400 Yen) is for entrance, ALL shows and ALL games. With the discount coupon which you can be get from their website, we have another 300 Yen discount from the actual price. ^.^

First time, I was able to catch ALL rides, play ALL games and watch ALL shows in theme park. You no need worry about the unexpected changes weather because it is indoor theme park.

Hello Kitty in the magical land of Oz [Musical show]

Hello Kitty Black Wonder: Rescue hello kitty and dear Daniel [Game]

Sanrio Character boat ride [Ride]

Cinnamon's secret door [Musical show]

Ge-Ge-Ge No Kitaro [3D show]

Kitty's house

Tokyo O-Edo Museum

[August 23, 09]

Had been planned for this gathering with Lee Chyi before I went for Hokkaido trip. We met up at Ryogoku station, which is well-known as SUMO town. Once I get out of the train, I saw one BIG guy wearing like a Sumo. He is H-U-G-E to me.. :P

You will be able to see a row of sumo restaurants once you get out of the station.

Lee Chyi and I spent whole afternoon inside the museum and we chat a lot of about our current life. I never know that museum can also be a great place for girl's chit-chat... Anyway this museum is unique. I able to see how ancient people live in Japan and how they develop Tokyo.

we had our lunch at once of the Italian restaurant in the museum. The pasta is delicious.

Enoshima / Kamakura

[August 22, 09]

We bought 1-day pass from Ebina station. This pass can be used as unlimited boarding ticket for the Enoden train (between Fujisawa station and Kamakura station) and Odakyu train (between Fujisawa station and Katase-Enoshima station). Round trip between departure station and Fujisawa station is allowed only one time. Furthermore this pass can be presented to get further admission discount at some attractions. It costs 1110 Yen from our departure station- Ebina.

After had our early lunch at MacD (the cheapest lunch), we headed to Enoshima Aquarium. The admission fee for Aquarium is actually 2000 Yen. Since we have 1-day pass, we got 200Yen discount on it. We spent about half day in Aquarium.

Next we went to Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha). We reached there about 3pm+. Due to more time have been spent in Aquarium, we were not able to visit other temples at Kamakura. Another 200 Yen admission fee have to pay for entering Kotokuin temple.

Before we headed back, we passed by Hasedera Temple. We were not able to enter the temple because it closed at 5pm.

There are one souvenir shop near to Hasedera Temple. Those souvenirs are cute and lovely! and... expensive too...

Yokohama

[Aug 15, 09]

We almost went out every weekend after came to Japan. I am easy-low-batt person. Long journey short trip is not suitable for me. Yokohama definitely a good choice to visit. It near to my dormitory.

We went to Ramen museum which dedicated to the popular noodles dish. There are various kind of souvenirs sell at the 1st floor of museum. At the basement, you can explore some streets or houses of Shitamachi (old town of Japan). It is unique! It is cool!

We had our lunch here. We don't understand Japanese, so we choose the shortest queue. It takes around 20-30 mins to our turn. We ordered Shoyu pork ramen. Erm, at the end we know we choose the wrong one after reached our turn. We should choose Tonkotsu ramen. It is more suitable for us. T_T

After that we went to Minato Mirai (Harbor of the future). The landmarks of tower is one of the tallest building in Japan.

Yokohama chinatown is Japan's largest chinatown. Here, you will notice most of the visitors speak in same language like us... hehehe... Finally I found fried rice here!! but... I have taken my lunch at Ramen museum... I miss Penang food!!! T_T

The tallest lighthouse... in Japan? in Yokohama? in the world? Find out yourself... :P