for the festive season and will resume posting at the end of January 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY 2009 EVERYONE!
Browsing Junkgirl™ blog archives for December, 2008.
(Sun, Dec 24 2006)
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We got off at Harajuku station and after some asking around (my first attempt at ‘doko des ka‘), managed to find Meiji Jingu, our first destination today.
Our first experience in a Japanese shrine. The cleansing area. Washed hands and rinsed mouth.
Also hung a wooden prayer tag..i think it’s called ‘ema’
Saw this tag and couldn’t resist a snap – this person must’ve had some really bad experience in Japan 
There were some preparations going on to celebrate the coming New Year
Next up – Harajuku for some funky stuff. Takeshita dori below
Apparently shoes need to be removed not just when you are entering a house (which is normal practice for us) , but also when you step into the fitting booth at stores.
Then walked back to the entrance of the Meiji Jingu to watch the well-known cosplayers of Harajuku, who are starting to gather near the bridge.
This group below was quite popular with the visitors
we took several with this lady below..she probably has the best costume and make-up that day
Some of the cosplayers were okay when you request to take photos with them or of them but there are also some reluctant ones. Perhaps if you pay them for professional shots, they will pose more willingly. We saw a girl posing for a man who looked like a professional photographer, maybe for a magazine shoot…
There were some giving out free hugs as well, as part of the ‘Free Hugs’ campaign. It started with this Japanese guy and later others joined him and turned into a ‘freehugs’ group
We continued to walk towards Omotesando which was swarmed by people
The Omotesando Hills Shopping Centre
and the Dior Building by day
and by night
We then tried to find Cat Street and by chance we saw a street map beside Chanel or Christian Dior and located Cat Street.
The TinTin shop on the way to Cat St
and this is a house opposite the Tintin shop…
I asked a sales assistant in a boutique next to the Tintin shop to confirm where Cat St is, utilising the japanese phrases I learnt prior to the trip – “Sumimasen.. Cat St wa doko des ka…”
on Cat St..
I liked Cat St…it’s unique, urban, trendy yet has this peaceful and quiet feel to it, perhaps due to the blend of commercial and residential area
Found the Burton store to look at snowboarding boots. It was dark by the time we finished on Cat Street
..back onto Omotesando and found Kiddyland which was on the places to go list..at least we didn’t have to go searching…
Omotesando Hills by night
outside Omotesando Hills
inside Omotesando Hills
another exhausting day…
(Sat, Dec 23 2006)
On Day 2′s itinerary – Akihabara – the well-known electronics town. To be exact, it is a blend of electronics, electrical, technology, a bit of toys/anime/manga/otaku town.
One of the first store we stepped into. I bought a ‘susuwatari‘ magnet. Susuwatari or ‘soot sprites’ are the black, fuzzy, spherical creatures that appeared in My Neighbor Totoro
There’s even a physical Dell store..in Melbourne there is only the Dell Online Store
We also saw Cameron Diaz……’s ad for Softbank. Brad Pitt was also featured in Softbank’s ad on TV, walking around India talking on the keitai.
A cool store for anime/manga/otaku fans – Craftmanship Kotobukiya
Also happen to be there during the Microsoft Vista promotional event, held at Akiba Square. Unfortunately, it was all in Japanese.
Then had lunch at a Katsudon place in Akiba Square. Second attempt at ordering food. This one was harder because it is not machine operated. I indicated to the waiter 2 with my fingers (for 2 person) and thought that’ll do it but…he said something and I was totally lost…I looked at him and ask “err…no seats?” and he asked (in English) ‘smoking?’. Oh so that was what he said…
We had katsudon and it was oishii. The meat was very tender
Kawaii ne….
This is how a typical store – usually a hobby/toy/anime/manga store or bookstore or music store, is like in Japanese cities. Levels and levels of goods. You’ll get to level 5 and discover that there is still stairs leading up. It gets pretty tiring…
and this was beside one of the anime/manga/hobby/otaku store. Not too sure what its for…maybe for ordering to-be-release products
Night-shopping on the streets of Akihabara
Yodobashi in Akihabara, just before we return to Shinjuku. Where else in the world can you find so much electrical, electronic and technology goods and gadgets in one store. They even have toys.
I didn’t shoot a vid inside Yodobashi as I wasn’t sure if that’s allowed. I found this vid of Yodobashi Akiba, shot by Akiba news. This place is huge
At the JR Akihabara station…
We have the SUICA cards so there is no need for purchasing fares each time.
Back in Shinjuku. Below: the yatai (stall) outside the Shinjuku Station west exit
and wandering around…came across another yatai selling ramen near the Shinjuku Post Office
More late night shopping…so Asia – so ‘alive not dead’, vibrant and ‘happening’. this is another Yodobashi
I think this is near the Kabuki-cho area
Welcome to Shinjuku…
The distributed tissue packets we managed to receive today, mostly in Akihabara.
A birthday gift, a christmas gift, a reward for passing an exam and for having worked hard over the years. All in one – Nikon D90.
Just an excuse…
“Little Diver” is located on the sidewall of Nicholas Building in Cocker Alley off Flinders Lane in Melbourne, Australia. The City Council has stepped in to protect this artwork by installing a piece of clear perspex screen. However, this wasn’t enough to prevent vandals from destroying it over the weekend, by pouring paint behind the protection screen.
Just a little over a month ago, i managed to go take a look at this piece of Banksy’s work, before it was ruined.
The feel of the festive season in Melbourne CBD
Children sending mail to Santa
Santa’s mailbox is located on Swanston Street, outside Westin Hotel
Christmas decor on Bourke St Mall
Mr. Stone performing on Bourke St. Mall
Santa Claus in a stone suit
reindeer antlers headband for sale
risking its own life to save another
It is heart-wrenching watching the dog getting hit and run over. It was just trying to get to the other side.
The translation of the announcer is as follows:
“These images seen from the surveillance cameras show a very common situation with our overpopulated highways. It is normal for us to see dogs run over. In the video, we can see this dog fighting for his life because he was run over by the vehicle.What is very touching is to see the very heroic actions of this other dog who is trying to pull him to the side of the highway. We are going to keep seeing things like this until we find a solution to the dogs living on the streets.”
China trip 2004 ~
Walking past the Beijing Observatory
shopping for winter clothing in XiDan
walking past the not fully completed National Centre for Performing Arts
Then the first and most favourite destination – The Forbidden City
An icon on another icon – Potrait of Chairman Mao hanging on Tiananmen – the first gate of the Palace Museum or popularly known as the Forbidden City
Walking towards Wumen where the ticket booths are. In the ancient days, beheading was carried out in this area.
At the Gate of Supreme Harmony
and after that, the Hall of Supreme Harmony – the most important hall in all of Palace Museum
Incense burners at the front of the hall
Looking into the hall, at the Emperor’s throne
Details in the Forbidden City
On the right side of the hall
Apparently this carving is one huge piece of marble, making it the longest marble carving in the world
Fire hydrant – ancient-style.
view from Jingshan Park
Tiananmen by night
Guarded 24×7
(19 June 2008)
As we’re flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia later in the day, we couldn’t venture far today. We took a taxi to nearby Yaowarat or popularly known as Chinatown, to soak in some culture. This has got to be my favourite area in Bangkok. So full of culture, a culture that i deeply miss…
One of my fav shots. I love the earthy tones
This is a type of vegetable known as water lily. Not sure what it is called in Thai. It taste even better than kangkung (water spinach). I have never seen or heard about this vegetable being consumed elsewhere.
Stir-fried water lily
Crispy pork skin – another local delicacy
Roasting chestnuts
