Currently...

Hey friends, I'll be back on Christmas! I'm so excited to meet y'all again . And, I'll say hello to Singapore in Jan 2010!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

鞆の浦 ( Tomo no ura )

If you're into Miyazaki Hayao's (宮崎駿) animations, I guess you might have watched his "崖の上のポニョ" (Ponyo on the cliff). Miyazaki Hayao got his inspiration for the film during his sojourn in Tomo no ura.

The view from Taichoro.対潮楼(福禅寺)

Tomo no ura is located at Fukuyama city ( 福山市).

The Homeishu (保命酒),from the name obviously you would know that this is an alcoholic drink which can protect your life...haha..Sounds amusing. Homeishu is the famous product here in Tomo no ura and it tastes pretty good, mellow I would say.

Nunakuma Shrine (沼名前神社)


Old light House (常夜塔)

Uwo no Sato (うをの里),where we were heading to make the traditional fish cake.

They call it as Tai Chikuwa ,which is tube-shaped fish-paste cake.



Technically, we have to chop the sea bream and make it into fish paste then mixing with flour and seasoning... and put it in shape with the bamboo tube. And grill it. Haha..but practically, we just had to put the fish paste in shape around the tube, that's all !

Before proceeding to putting the fish paste in shape, there's a important procedure to follow. We washed our hands and then dipped our hands into the wood bucket with cold water inside, which lowers the temperature of our hands so that it won't stick with the fish paste.

Oh see, that's mine!


And, this tour was sponsored by Hiroshima International Center, and opened for the foreigner in Japan, we just paid 500 yen for the whole trip.There were english , chinese and japanese speaking tour guides to bring you around and explaining the history of the city.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Move House (Part 2)

还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

Everytime pass by my apartment, feel like wanna sing Jay Chou's 稻香 haha... coz there is a patch of paddy field right in front of my apartment. There are quite many families here having their own piece of paddy field , not very large area, some of it just a small piece of paddy field .

Time to clean the house, I spent almost 2 hours30 minutes to clean the refrigeration inside out. Whew!

Everything was still in a clutter.


After a day of tidying up the stuff, I could finally sit down and had a cup of coffee...

I bought a kotatsu( table) thinking that it's would be helpful in keeping me warmer in winter.You may often see this appears in anime, japanese drama, and manga, the people having meal together putting their leg under the table.There is a heater attached underneath the table. Still lack the cover for the kotatsu.





My mom said that my kitchen even full-equipped compared to house back home. But some of them are lent from a friend's friend , coz she's going to Canada for 2 years, I was like keeping the things for her, when she's back I'll give back to her. Some of the electrical appliaces like refrigerator, rice cooker, water heater,oven, drawer,closet ... are given by some international students .

Still in the middle of adapting a larger space coz I already got used to the small room in international house. Everything in the small room is easy accessible ,within 1-3 steps .The current room size  is 23.80m2 but the previous one is 13.3m2. The room size almost doubled bigger.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Move House (Part 1)

Finally got the key for my new apartment,with a tiny bit of excitement,though I reluctant to move to new house.We only allowed to stay in the international house for only 6 months. Anyway,let's open the door!



































































































The things I brought when I first came to Japan, now became triple! But compared to my friends ,my stuff is still considered not-so-many haha..hence,spent not much time in packing my belongings. And, gotta clean my room secondly!



The bicycle shed in front of the international house building.














The international house returns to its basic again like the way when I first came in. Ahh, I'll miss here


















Sunday, September 20, 2009

Can't help buying them...

You may see this Choco product often appears in Crayon Shinchan anime. Actually, I've been seeing this for a long time ago,but they have Shinchan key chain as gift this time but not in every box . Just try my luck haha..You might think, why don't I just buy the key chain directly instead of buying the product with a very tiny odds getting the key chain. I can tell you , in between opening the box and hoping something you want will be inside is amusing. This is a scene where Shinchan gulping down all the choco biscuit.






As a result,I didn't get the key chain but the sticker of  his classmate ,hehe..



















The other cute stuff, ta..tang...the Snoppy handtowel This one comes with the Oolong Tea. There are four designs .I wasn't minded to buy them, these stuff are really cute and don't have to pay extra money to have them, so why not?!



























There are many Japan fashion magazines  come with various of gift, bags,handkerchief, cosmetic bag , hair band... Every month, the magazine collaborates with different brands..A pretty common gimmick to attract people to buy their magazine meanwhile to promote the brand itfself, double benefits.


Milk Fed is intended for those who favors California, Simple and Cute girly look .
Lowry Farm , this brand more inclined to casual style.

Frankly speaking, Im also one of those who just want the bag not the magazine. haha

Friday, September 18, 2009

Welcome to 台湾! <台北篇--最终篇>

8月9号
今天的行程非常紧凑,要去的景点Checklist:
1.淡水老街





淡水出名的,非铁蛋莫属.这件店是老字号.还有其他特产,例如鱼酥,虾酥..很多店都在卖.
之前在电视节目有介绍淡水'阿给',所以今天的早餐就吃'阿给'跟肉包.

原来里面就是冬粉,外皮吃起来带点韧度,好像很多层腐皮粘在一起,不懂它是怎么弄的.味道已经忘了,哈哈..


今天,台风已经走了但淡水这边还是风很强带雨,可能是靠海的关系吧!

看吧!

2.故宫





























































3.中正纪念堂+国家戏剧院
















































































































然后就从这里走去以小龙包闻名的鼎太丰.




























走了20分钟终于到啦!平常这边都是排长龙的,还好我们到的时候是5点半,不算晚饭的时间,才排了一下子就轮到我们了.






















































结帐柜台对面还可以看到制作小龙包过程.













台北的朋友之前提过吃了鼎太丰,一定要走到后面'冰馆'尝尝超级芒果冰




























之后搭信仪干线去台北101看台北夜景.


































































































双子星塔也有上榜















































7.五分铺























8.饶河夜市


除了豪大大鸡排之外,饶河夜市的胡椒饼也是蛮有人气的小食之一.
味道口感都是跟之前看电视形容的一样,外皮酥脆,里面的肉鲜嫩多汁.
最后,跟KANA两个人随便进了一家店来为我们台湾之旅(美食?!)画上句号.一进去就看见墙上贴有很多台湾电视主持人的照片和签名.

卤猪头肉














搭上最后一班列车, 已经很累了因为在台北市的这两天都马不停蹄的走了很多地方.有想回家休息的感觉了.Bye 台湾!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Welcome to 台湾! <台北篇-PART1>

8月8号
直到今天高铁还是停驶,多得吴妈妈帮我跟KANA订了巴士位子去台北.今天的风雨比昨天还大,而且台湾有些地方已经被淹没了.上巴士的时候真的很狼狈哦,我们踏着水渡过马路,两只脚都湿透了,可惜没有练过"轻功水上飘",哈哈.12中午左右,我们就向高雄说GOODBYE啦.上了巴士后就感觉完成了很艰难的任务.

说真的,这巴士还是我目前为止坐过最豪华的,座位上有小电视,附有按摩功能及自由调整的座位.整辆巴士只有12个座位,非常宽阔.小电视跟飞机上的没两样,都是一些电影片,流行曲,Music Video, Live Concert...


无惊无险经过4小时半的车程,终于到了台北了!!奇怪的是,这里竟然没有刮大风下大雨.

先要找的就是我们已经在网上订好的酒店,YMCA Hotel. 刚好我们的巴士停在靠近台北车站,所以走路就可以到.


因为昨天赶不上火车到台北,原本计划要去的"九份."被迫取消,所以接下来的时间要行动快. Check-In 没多久,我跟KANA就开始行动计划.在台北的第一站就去了西门町.



傍晚的西门町

有了五光十色的衬托,晚上的西门町显的更加有朝气.

 第二站,向'龙山寺'出发.


由于在西门町买了蛮多东西,之后我们又回到酒店放我们的东西再去'士林夜市'


YMCA外面还有很多商店还蛮热闹的.
要去士林美食物中心跟士林夜市要在剑潭站下车哦

一进去,就看到好大的豪大大鸡排的招牌,排长龙.

以前在电视看他们的介绍就看得多了,现在终于来到这里,果然没有另我失望!这里的人通常都一手握着鸡排,一手握着饮料.



大肠包小肠,其实大肠是用糯米做的,小肠就是肉肠.
真妙的名字.
朋友Amanda Siew问过我:"點解成pek野嘅?! 这是肉丸,台语念'Ba Wan',是我到台湾吃过最不好吃的东西,我相信只是这档口弄的不好吃,不是肉丸不好吃.应该是材料用的不新鲜的关系吧!

肉燥饭.


士林美食中心跟夜市就成为我们今天的最后一站!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Welcome to 台湾! <错过篇>

8月7号
今天本来就是打算搭高铁去台北,一大早就起身准备,看新闻 结果突然公布高铁会开到中午12点就会停驶. 大概9点半,我们就出门了.外面大风大雨,到了高铁站,我两位朋友先下车进柜台询问买票的事情,怕买不到票,因为在过两天就是台湾的父亲节.很多人也是要买票回家.我就在车上帮他们拿行李,过没多久就看见Goh san 冲冲忙忙,上气不接下气跑过来说"快!快!快!最后一班火车要开走了,可以先上车再补票,行李呢!?" "车子刚开走了,会兜个圈回来" 大概就在车子回来,我们拿了行李,立刻往入口处跑的这30秒,大家都陷入紧张状况,
结果最后一班的火车开走了!之后的班车都全天候取消,超级无奈因为就差那30秒.去不了台北.








高雄梦时代
这时候才懂原来台风天,全部人都去逛百货.人真的超多的, supermarket 的肉跟蔬菜都被抢购一空,价钱也比平常贵一些. 在梦时代逛到底楼的时候,



















看到这家买和果子的店,觉得他们的甜点做得蛮有质感,就买了一个.


































光看到这招牌,就很想进去看个究竟.里面的东西一点都不坏,哈哈...要拆他招牌了.<够坏堂>其实里面就买一些衣服,鞋子,包包..还有一些公仔,但都很有特色,独特风格.喜欢很炫衣服饰品的话,可以到这逛逛.里面还有卖一些T-shirt是跟艺人合作的商品,例如五月天,M-flo,L.N.K and Kame....


Friday, August 21, 2009

Welcome to 台湾! <垦丁篇>

感觉上这趟来台湾好像 HOMESTAY ,哈.因为每天都过得像个台湾人一样,朋友的家人每天都带我们去他们平常都去的地方吃好吃的,好玩的,好买的...今天早上也不例外, 带我们去吃烧肉饭. 跟马来西亚的烧肉饭不同,因为这烧肉饭不是用三层肉,味道像我们平常吃的叉烧饭.话说回来,我也好久没吃叉烧饭了, 这台湾道地烧肉饭还真的不错, 有让我想念马来西亚的味道(笑)










昨天看了新闻天气报道,台风圈即将在明天到达宝岛陆地,但原本计划依然照旧.可以套这句"明知山有虎,偏往虎山行"来形容今天的行程,所以今天往垦丁路上已经感到强风往脸上打.

从高雄到恳丁需要2小时车程,第一站就来到猫鼻头公园.

虽然是台风前夕但在猫头鼻的旅游客是很多.




恳丁大街

如果来到恳丁没有泳衣或海滩裤,没关系.这条大街都有在买你在海滩需要的东西.




今天的风真的超强的,浪也很大,而且还被吹起来的沙子打到刺痛的. 最后海滩上的游客都被救生人员警告要离开海滩.

结果,今天还是没有真正下海(笑),也可能被还吞掉吧!


回程经过屏东,朋友的爸爸带我们到这家以鲔鱼为招牌的餐厅吃晚餐.
也曾经听过,日本观光客包机来到屏东吃黑鲔鱼.还有,樱花虾也是屏东特产.如果是上午来还可以在一些养殖场自己钓樱花虾.

有看到吧,台湾屏东第一鲔.



看到墙上的照片,才发现台湾3 任总统马英九,陈水扁还有李登辉都有来过这边用餐.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Welcome to 台湾! <高雄篇>

第二天早上,朋友的爸妈就带了我们去他们家附近蛮有人气的小龙包店吃早餐.

搭配小龙包的酱料.

50元八颗.

随便拍的高雄市区照.


不得不介绍这间在高雄渡船头的冰店-海之冰.

可以看到汤匙叉进去都不到底. 我们叫的还不算大哦,还有比这个SIZE大个5倍吧.真的超夸张的.

吃完冰后,就走到附近的渡轮站打渡轮去旗津区看风景



旗津炮台.







晚上,就去了新潮,年轻,休闲,购物,饮食集一身的新掘江商圈和原宿玉竹商圈.这边逛一个晚上好象不太够,因为太多东西看了,很多店铺.衣服鞋子,包包,装饰品,还有吃的喝的都有.当然还有些店所买的商品有类似的.新掘江商圈卖的东西还蛮便宜的


问一些台湾朋友,他们都介绍这家'春水堂' 喝珍珠奶茶.价位都在100元左右.好大一杯哦.光看他们的菜单,就看了很久,非常多选择.


第三天,吴妈妈准备了非常道地,台湾人平常都会吃的早餐.

本人从小对有血有肉有毛的动物都有恐惧感. 这只看起来没什么杀伤力,名字叫'圆圆'的小狗,可是非常精力充沛,HYPERACTIVE! 动作太快,有时突然出现真的被它吓个措手不及. 我觉得我有进步了,哈哈.竟然可以跟一只陌生的狗住在一个屋檐那么多天,但我真的没摸过它.不过呢,圆圆还蛮好客的,一直都会衔着它专属麦当劳公仔,邀人跟它玩.

随手拍>


高雄巨蛋是在2008年9月才开始正式起用, 是2009年世界运动会比赛场地之一.


很好玩的看板
.

附近就是汉神巨蛋广场.里面有大牌子的专店, burberry, celine,coach,bvlgari....
也有中价位的. 逛的话还不错,大概有9层楼.


不懂你们有没有看过这一部动画片,火垂るの墓 (hotaru no haka - Grave of the fireflies), 1988年发行的. 是一部非常催泪的动画片,这部片是讲述打战后两兄妹的求生故事.记得在上文化课时,班上的有同学都泪流满面,连我们的男老师重复看了这么多次,问我们观后感时,都几度哽咽.
有时间的话,可以上 You tube 看部动画,非常有意思.

这铁罐包装的糖果是片中的小女孩最喜欢吃的糖果.

高雄的六合夜市.
夜市可说是台湾人生命的一部分!到处都有很多夜市,还是以吃为主.


鸭血糕跟鸡屁股最有人气.







Sunday, August 16, 2009

Welcome to 台湾! <新竹篇>

8月2号~8月3号


















我们的路程大概如下:

晚上,从广岛搭夜巴到福岡博多地铁站去福岡机场用时6小时30分钟吧,然后飞去台湾桃园机场才1小时50分钟.怪不得有那么多台湾人来日本旅行,还真的蛮近的.
Kana是这次的tripmate, 我们一起跟Goh san去台湾.



虽然这次飞机餐看起来不太怎么样,可是寿喜烧猪肉饭味道还不错

Wish to see you in Taiwan? 应该是Welcome to Taiwan 比较恰当吧!因为我们已经到啦,哈哈.

Goh san的朋友接机后,然后就载我们到新竹城皇庙四周逛逛,怎么连庙也走DIGITAL路线啊?!

城皇庙附近都是吃的,新竹米粉跟貢丸是相当出名的名产.


我还是第一次看见在小食中心里面有庙,而且被小食摊位包围,真妙.


来到新竹市中山路城皇庙附近,可以到这间叫"新復珍"买一些土产:
凤梨酥,猪油糕,绿豆饼,还有他们家最出名的-竹堑饼.


新竹另外一个景点-内湾,可是要去内湾的话,对背包客来说比较麻烦因为要转车换车.



内湾支线火车站


内湾老街


如果有时间的话可以找间民宿住个一晚,因为这里有很多民宿.

朋友介绍的黑猪肉高梁香肠,老板说早上时,两位<时尚玩家>的主持人'浩角翔起'才去采访过呢.
其实朋友还有带我们去吃其他的,野姜花粽子,客家板条...没有拍到照片

除了我去的地方以外,还有内湾吊桥,攀龙吊桥,附近的薰衣草森林...因为去的时候下雨,所以没去走那个吊桥.

晚上就从新竹搭高铁去高雄.