Happy Wanderer

Time to say good-bye...

2007-09-18T19:59:00.000+08:00

After (yet) another scrumptious breakfast at Tsukiji, it's time to load up on tidbits from the market to bring home.

Taking a final tea break in a quaint famous Japanese dessert place in Ginza.

It's simply delightful!

Before you know it, it's time to head to the airport. But a great finale is needed. What better way than a bottle of Umi liquer, of course! Until the next time, Tokyo.

Harajuku!

2007-09-17T18:47:00.000+08:00

It's breakfast at Tiffany's...NOT!It's the wonderful Tsukiji!

Then it's off to Harajuku for some great shopping!

But it was an unbelieveably hot day...

So we took a pit stop at a cool lil cafe.

We might have finally shopped out....so off to meet Stanley & Lucy!

Nice way to end the evening :-)

Hakone open air museum

2007-09-17T00:09:00.000+08:00

Getting squished in the commuter train heading towards Gora.

Decided to take a stop to pop in the Hakone Open Air Museum.
And what a delight it turned out to be!

It was an amazing museum of sculptures set against a breathtaking view of the Hakone landscape.

Can you believe that I'm in a tower (about 6 storeys high) where we are surrounded by stained glass art pieces? Simply awesome.

Hakone, we are still here

2007-09-16T22:19:00.000+08:00

What a lovely day! With our Hakone Freepass, we are all set to do our round trip Hakone course.

A quaint machine that churned out like cute, tasty sweet pastries.

We are on our way to our first stop. The Old Cedar Avenue...

Taking a stroll through the Cedar Avenue, the old road to Edo, which was commonly used by the aristocrats in the old days.

Next step, a cruise on Lake Ashi where you can get a glimpse of Fuji Yama on a good clear day. Unfortunately, it wasn't. So with nothing more to look forward to, we found ways to entertain ourselves.

Ah, something interesting!

Ok, back to self entertainment. Now, that was a fun cruise!

Next, the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani to see the wonderful smoking volcano and of course, to get a taste of the famous "Black Eggs".

The rundown shack sells the famous eggs. Each egg was supposed to give you 7 years of longevity. People were just crowding around cracking and eating these eggs with salt. Think we will pass.

But took some souvenirs with us instead. Kawaii!

Hmmm, interesting message...sounds like a haiku?

Hakone, here we come!

2007-09-14T20:51:00.000+08:00

Guan was finally done with work and off to Hakone we go! Taking the Romance Car (nothing romantic lah), we would be in Hakone in 1.5hrs.

Armed with our bento boxes from Odakyu Food Street, we are all set. And boy, it was YUMMY! Down to the last grain.

Finally, we were in Ryokan Tachibana! Check out the view from our room.

Once settled in, we started getting in the mood...for onsen and a ryokan lifestyle of course! What were you thinking? Since no camera is allowed in the onsen, you would just have to imagine it.

In typical Lims' style, there's only one way to end the day....KAISEIKI!

Hanging out in Shibuya

2007-09-13T23:44:00.000+08:00

After a slow start, I met Yumi at Hachiko Sq in Shibuya. By the time we were done at the awesome Tokyo Hands, its time for tea break! Yumi brought me to a cool, bohemian hangout called the Attic (cos it's really almost like an attic).

And they serve pretty good dessert too - Mango Swiss Roll!

Shibuya in early evening as the light fades.

After a yummy ramen dinner in Ginza, Sam brought us to a happening Japanese dessert place in Carretta. The dessert taste better than it looks! What a great ending to the day.

Living it up in Ginza

2007-09-12T18:21:00.000+08:00

My first solo day (while Guan roughed it out in the office. Keke!)

The day started well with a soft and fluffy donut at a nearby cafe. It became my staple breakfast during my time in Shiodome....I sure miss it now :-(

It was a gloomy and wet day, but it sure didn't stop the Japanese from roaming the streets of Ginza carrying the most fashionable looking umbrellas. If not for the heavy rain, I'd forgo carrying Guan's drabby grey brolly. Oh well, I'll get something hip later.

Lunch was a cheap tempura meal, offering me a rest from some mega shopping and walking time in Ginza. Managed to squeeze in time to write my first postcard to Homie & Rapy.

Amazing building tucked away in dense Ginza. Fortunately, I saw some obasans taking busy looking up and taking photos. But how to look cool snapping pixz with some obasans? Oh well...I try looking hip later.

Ginza is prettier at night! Especially with the clock tower in the background.

At night, I met up with Guan, Sam and his girlfriend Yumi. We headed to a joint in Shiodome for some good old yaki type stuff. With good food, good Umi liquer again (of course ;-)) and good company, this trip is shaping up real nicely.

Tokyo Again!

2007-09-11T16:54:00.000+08:00

So we are here again after just one year!

After taking the red eye in, I can only hold up in the hotel sleeping the rest of the day, whilst Guan was holed up in the office having meetings.

But we are in AMAZING Tokyo, so we wasted no time in the evening! Off to a good start with a yummy Shabu-shabu meal! And oh, forgot to mention the happening Ume liquer which will continue to feature prominently in many of our meals.

LAST DAY!!!

2007-01-07T13:10:00.000+08:00

Naturally, we started our last day with food before we continued shopping in Stanley Market, primarily to buy an extra bag for all the shopping we have accumulated.

Taking a break to enjoy the scenery.

Then Liyen has to show me this amazing linen store! Too many things to buy and too little time AND WAAAAAY too little money.

Finally it's time to say bye-bye...

Zipping back to the hotel to pack and head to airport!

DAY 4 in HONG KONG!!!

2007-01-06T12:48:00.000+08:00

The day begins beautifully with yummy claypot mixed seafood porridge and XO carrot cake.

When food in the tummy, we headed off to Mong Kok.

And had time for not one but TWO coffee breaks, exceeding the expectations of the CMS (Carrying Mule Society).

So there WAS a limit to my super(shopping)powers!

Dinner celebrating the birthdays! (Mine and Liyen's!)

DAY 3 in Hong Kong!!!

2007-01-05T12:34:00.000+08:00

The day started with Kong Chai mee.

And betweem shopping at Tsim Sha Tsui, a tea break is needed.

Before we know it, it's dinner. Yummy liver sausage and siew ngor!!! Enough said!

DAY 2 in HONG KONG!!!

2007-01-04T11:36:00.000+08:00

Oops..food again. This time, it's Maxim at City Hall for Yum Char. We were there at 10.55am (they open at 11am on weekdays) and there was a queue!!! It sure filled up pretty quickly.

After brunch, it's the touristy sightseeing. Afterall, we must be seen doing more than eating right? So head off to gawk at Lei Yuan and Pottinger Street, took the elevator to Mid-levels, hiked up to the PEAKS. Hehe you got us, we took the tram instead.

What is this?...food again of course ;-)

We took a mini walk around the PEAK and then decided, it's about time for dinner. We had a scrumptious meal at the beautiful Peak Lookout.

When we are done with dinner, it was dark enough for a breathtaking view of HK Island again.

DAY 1 HONG KONG!!!

2007-01-03T10:56:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong here I come!

Right after we landed, we hunted down a Cha Chan Teang recommended by the hotel porter and tucked into our first bowl of wanton mee and yeang yeong.

After that, some bedazzling time in Time Square and....FOOOD AGAIN!!!! Mega overload on yummy seafood!

We felt really sinful eating ALL the time that we decided to hit Beverly Island (behind Sogo) after dinner and walked till the shops closed about 12mn. What a great concept!

DAY TWO

2006-05-01T15:16:00.000+08:00

Originally scheduled for an early visit with our friend Sam at about 6ish7, we finally made it to Tsukiji Market closer to 8am. Although the activities were winding down, the place was still teeming with people trying to close the final sales.

After watching all that killing and maiming, it seemed right to justify the fish's sacrifice by having...SUSHI BREAKFAST!!!! Heavenly!

Then, a spot of marketing outside Tsukiji Market...

Chilling in Tully's Coffee on route to Edo Castle for our re-booked
Castle tour.

Edo Castle grounds

DAY ONE in TOKYO

2006-05-01T12:13:00.000+08:00

Practising my kawaii shots in the SQ lounge.

After church, we chanced on a dog spa! Bet you, our cats will be green with envy if they know!

Vending machines GALORE!

Exciting Shibuya at nite. Teeming with cool looking people!