Sometimes i miss home.
Browsing Junkgirl™ blog archives for March, 2009.
(6 January 2009)
Yokohama is today’s destination. Arrival at the Chukagai station in Chinatown, which is the largest in Japan.
a knee-weakening attempt to take a shot
One of the gates to Chinatown
The police station in Japan are not only for solving crimes. Ordinary citizens often stop by to ask for directions. There are maps at most police station. It is probably one of the first point to go to for lost travellers.
Chops or Stamps
Mooncakes
breakfast was…
I found that most of the locals here are from Taiwan, either as a recent migrant or from the Chinese Diaspora. I overheard some women speaking Taiwanese accented Mandarin. And some speaking the Taiwanese dialect (otherwise known as Min-nan or Fujian dialect). And they spoke perfect Japanese. Well, to me, it sounded like they do.
very traditionally packaged
a vending machine for purchasing incense, at the temple
Panda mantou
It seems that pandas are the icons, here in Chinatown
Panda Kitty, outside the building where we had lunch
The food court on level 3
dumpling with glutinous rice wrapped inside
Panda mantou
chinese desserts
the stall where i got the Panda mantou from. The Dragonball figures aren’t for sale though.
Tian Hou Gong. Temple of the Heavenly Queen, literally. Also known at Mazu. My grandmother told me that we shared the same surname as Mazu and that Mazu was from our hometown in Fujian, China. It was said that Mazu saved her father and brothers from drowning at sea and so, people started to worship to her after her death.
I lit incense at this temple. A lady templekeeper said something to me in Japanese. I looked at her and said “Nihongo wakarimasen” which translates as Japanese not understand. She then asked me in Mandarin, if i understood Mandarin. I nodded. She told me that i was suppose to light 3 incense in each of the incense holder. I had only lit 1 in each. So i had to add 2 to each. Now i can recall that it is 3 for the Gods and Deities and 1 for Ancestors.
a decor on the ground
to keep the head warm
Mobilephone covers
These looked like mooncakes, fancy ones
Stuff
Doraemon
Rickshaw
Chinkiang Vinegar is available here too
It is actually a little touristy here in Chinatown
snacks
heaps of restaurants like this all over Chinatown
fresh fruits
and vegetables
Heaps of stalls like this. The black and yellow cat logo on the glass is the logo for a popular transport or courier company in Japan – Yamato Transport
On top of the entrance to a dumpling shop
A building constructed in 1955
a little Shanghai feel
a selection of.
Kill Bill Whistle from here
I want to get high from here
Paper Planes from here
Pulp Fiction from here
Imperial March from here
Imperial March (hip-hop version) from here
Feel Good Inc from here
Location: Yokohama, Japan
CS4 Notes: +28 contrast, increase levels centre slider, smart sharpen 103% 0.5 radius
(5 January 2009)
Soba is great when you’re on a budget
a closer look
Gyu-don & soba
Looking out from the soba shop. The food ticket machine on the left.
The menu display at the window
dogs at Tokyu Hands
Tokyu Hands within the Takashimaya Building
a knee-weakening view for me, from the elevator at Takashimaya
the rails of Shinjuku station
The Shinjuku Docomo Building
Takashimaya Building
Kind of Empire State Building look-alike
Krispy Kreme. This is probably the busiest one in Tokyo.
There is already a queue at 5 minutes to opening time
Tokyu Hands is an interesting lifestyle/variety store
near the Gap/Ships Building
The rule in Tokyo is to stand on the left of the escalator. In Osaka, it is the right instead.
view as soon as the escalator ends at the bottom
Gap/Ships Building on the right. There are always some guys handing out pocket tissues at the escalator, as a form of marketing.
In Tokyo, people falling asleep in public is a common sight
Workmen going off to work
lockers can be life-savers sometimes
Things for sale at the station
Onigiri
Pocari Sweat is a popular drink in Japan. It probably doesn’t sound appealing (the Japanese come up with strange names sometimes) but it taste quite alright. Kind of like 100plus with a little more lemon taste in it.
Subaru Car-do in Tachikawa was on today’s itinerary. Unfortunately, it was closed when we got there. It took about an hour to get there by train and then a first-time bus ride in Japan to get there, and it was closed. Great.
waiting at the bus-stop
the petrol station next to the bus-stop
walking around Tachikawa town.
a monorail passing above
ice-cream at ColdStone
even though it’s about an hour from Tokyo, the crowd doesn’t feel any lesser
stopped by Nakano on the way back to Tokyo as it is on the same line, to go to Nakano Broadway
figures for sale
fish roe
secretly captured snacks and candies
a hot coffee vending machine
ramen for dinner on the way back to the apartment
ramen with shoyu base
chashu ramen with miso base
(4 January 2009)
Garbage has piled up in the apartment. Following the instructions in the lift.
The garbage room at the bottom of the apartment. Recycling is serious business in Tokyo. Even a take-away cup from Starbucks go into different recycling sections. The lid is supposed to go in a different bin from the paper cup.
Just outside the garbage room
A hot soba to beat the cold. Itadakimasu
Walking towards Shinjuku station
took the JR Yamanote Line to Meguro
Meguro is a quieter suburb
An underground eatery
This shop is still closed for the New Year
a pigeon’s hole
View of Meguro River. The bare trees are cherry blossoms, so in spring, the view should be terrific
walking along the Meguro river
delivery bikes
heading back to Meguro station
via a steep street
last look before leaving Meguro
got off the train at Ikebukuro to see Toyota Amlux, which was on the itinerary but was closed when we here a few days ago.
More shouting by the store attendants
Re-hydrating at Subway
After visiting Toyota Amlux (photos seemed to be prohibited), saw a sign on the streets and came up to this Teppanyaki restaurant
We were given japanese menus and the menus had pictures in it. However, it will be better if we know the ingredients in detail as some of the pictures are similar. Unfortunately, i got a ‘No’ hand-signal when i asked “Sumimasen, eigo no menu o arimasu ka”. Oh well…
We got beef
Squid. The green condiment beside the squid is a mixture of wasabi powder and salt. I find that it’s always served with deep-fried dishes.
teppan-salad
okonomiyaki
takoyaki look-alike but tasted like some sort of potato
A little pricey
waiting for the train at JR Ikebukuro station
There is always people at the train station, even though it’s say 10pm on a work-day. The trains run till midnight.
the JR Yamanote Line train
i love Hot Lemonade
Reviewing the purchases made today. Unpacking the Midori‘s Traveler’s notebook and refills
Snacks
Candies. The little stars are kompeito
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