My friend introduced me a nice wine shop: Cave de Re-Lax at Shimbashi/Toranomon,Tokyo.
He also introduced me a nice Chilean fullbody Cabernet Sauvignon red wine: Echeverria.
I will open it when I have a company.
Coincidentally, another wine shop, Pieroth Japan, called me to invite me to their wine tastings in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
I love wines, but I don’t have a wine cellar; I’m afraid this heat will spoil wines.
Do I want a cellar…?
Do I want to keep many wines…?
This thought is dangerous…hummmm
I took Seibu Ikebukuro Line to go to Ekoda Station.
I was on Ginga Tetsudo 999 (Galaxy Train 999) wrapped train!
For others, it is a normal commuter train; but for me, it is special.
I was the only person taking photo of a train from the platform. hahaha
I had a nice Healthy Italian @ Pran Pone, Ekoda.
I started my Saturday by going to hair salon.
After beautifying, went for lunch at my favorite Tenpura shop, Mikaku @ Roppongi.
Ummmm delicious!
It is a Hoozuki Ichi (Chinese Lantern Plant Market) day at Asahi Shrine.
Hoozuki protect us from bad lucks.
So beautiful.
I didn’t buy it but I got blessed by looking at them and praying at the Shrine.
I got these cute shoes as sourvenirs from Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam.
Soles are also cute!
Thank you!
I had Ichiran Ramen for dinner.
There are many foreigners at Ichiran tonight.
Ichiran opened a branch in Taiwan recently and there was a news that many people queue in line.
I like their noodle.
Their ordering system is unique.
If you are interested, please check my old post for how to order at Ichiran.
Tonight is a Foodie report.
I had a traditional Japanese for dinner.
Sitting at the counter, drinking Umeshu (plum wine), eating fresh food… and laughting with an old friend.
It’s a nice way to spend Friday night♪
I had a busy morning.
I woke up 4:30 am to send my friends to Tokyo Station to catch a 6:10 airport limousine bus for Narita Airport.
Tokyo was peaceful at 6:00.
Imperial Palace
Parliament
Hiejinjya (Hie Shrine)
I woke up early so I needed a strong booster for today.
I made a large cup of Coffee Bean coffee.
I brought few coffee Bean coffee packets from the States because they are precious.
There are only eight Coffee Bean shops in Japan; thereofore, I felt rich drinking Coffee Bean Coffee at home!!
I had a nice brunch at Eggcellent, Roppongi.
Everything is so eggy there.
Ta-dah!
I had a Beauty Bowl!
A coffee cup wished me a nice day.
Today, I went to sightseeing Tokyo: Shibuya, Omotesando and Ginza.
Today, I had fun visiting LINE Friends Store @ Harajuku, Tokyo.
There are three LINE Friends Stores in Japan: Tokyo, Sendai and Fukuoka.
It’s a LINE’a characters merchandise shop and we can also take a photo at Brown’s Room.
Interesting.
My Malaysian friend asked me to buy tickets to Ghibli Museum because he couldn’t buy them online.
I also checked online, but tickets are sold out for July 2017.
I thought there are some tickets reserved for Loppi.
Loppi is a ticketing machine placed at LAWSON convenient shops.
We can buy tickets 24/7.
This is Loppi like an ATM machine.
Unfortunately, all tickets are sold out on any dates in July 2017!
On 10th of every month, tickets will be available to purchase for the next month.
Well, my friends need to plan to visit Tokyo again!
I visited MAST Asia 2017 Tokyo – International Maritime/Air Systems and Technologies for Defense, Security and Safety.
It’s a niche market, very niche.
I’m lucky to have friends that can explain to me about this industry while enjoying cups of NESPRESSO coffee and cakes.
It was a NICE DAY to escape from the office.
I had Spanish lunch at Ginza Espero with my colleague.
I highly recommend the lunch menu because its cost performance is high.
The cost for lunch is JPY 1,100 and we can choose appetizer, main dish, bread or rice and drink from a list.
We shared appetizers so that we can enjoy salad and paella.
We have only one hour break for lunch, but it’s always fun to have a girls’ talk!
Tonight I was invited for Olympic Concert 2017 at Tokyo International Forum.
I enjoyed collaboration of Olympics video and music: orchestra music and musical singers singing.
To be honest with you, I didn’t care about Tokyo Olympic 2020.
Now I’m inspired by Olympians (Olympics athletes) and look forward hosting Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Unfortunately, it was raining in the morning.
But it didn’t discourage me to enjoy Chinese breakfast at the Grand Hotel.
First, I visited National Revolutionary Marty’s Shrine to pay a respect for people who lost their lives for the WWII.
A war will create many victims and they are all victims.
We should not start any war.
Next I went to National Palace Museum.
There are so many great things there and I could share some great master pieces with you.
I have no idea how these were created.
This is must to see at this museum: Jade Cabbage.
And a set of carved openwork concentric ivory balls with cloud-and-dragon decoration.
There are 24 layers and each layer/ball can move!
There are many more.
I don’t mind to visit the museum again to spend more time admiring these arts.
Next, I visited Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan.
He is a Mascot of Taipei 101.
It is 101 floors building and it takes only 37 seconds to reach observation floor, 89F.
There are many unique buildings in town according to Feng Shui.
There is a twisted green building that is currently under the construction.
It’s lunch time!
I really look forward for Din Tai Fung (Dim Sum) and I enjoyed, really enjoyed every bites!
Their XiaoLongBao (soup dumplings) is highly recommended!
MUST EAT!!!
I ate five today. hehehe
I requested additional dessert.
I wanted to try a famous Taiwanese style Mango Snowflake Ice.
Since I didn’t have time to eat there, I asked for a take away.
It supposed to look like this.
It’s so Mango because ice is not normal water ice, it tastes Mango!!!
And it’s so soft and melt like snow!
A take away style is like this.
After lunch, I visited Longshan Temple.
The stone curving on pillars are just amazing.
I’m here to pray, but at the same time, I get anazed by these breathtaking arts!
After praying, I watched the ceremony of changing the guard at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Last stop was Jiufun.
This little town is located in the mountain because it used to be a gold mining town.
Now it became a hot tourist spot because it’s traditional looks and there is a rumor that Mr. Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese Animator, got an inspiration from this town to design a town for a story of Spirited Away.
We need to go up stairs to go to a main road.
A main road is narrow.
I tried Taiwan’s Stinky Tofu!!! Mmmmmmmm
I think trying once is enough for me.
To my surprise, many people, even youngs, like these Stinky Tofu.
Well, I love Chinese tea and one of my missions for this trip is to get nice Chinese tea.
This tea house strictly controls quality of products and I love their products: smooth, delicate, nice aroma and delicious.
I bought varieties of tea and even bought new kinds.
Chinese tea is like herbal medicine; it can assist to detox, beautyfy and slimming.
After tasting Chinese tea, my skin improved drastically.
My parents already asked me to mail order before I open my tea.
I haven’t touch my stock!
I can enjoy them for quite some time.
I continued to walk the town.
I reached the building/area that Mr. Miyazaki got inspired…
This is a tea house, but in the movie, it’s a bath house.
If you watch a movie, you can easily spot the scene.
I left Jiufun for dinner for a nice Taiwanese local food at Shin Yeh, Taipei.
It’s very delicious or was I too hungry…? hahaha
Earlier I achieved one of my missions.
Now I’m achieving another one: to try papaya milk.
My friend recommended me to try papaya milk.
(Hummmm, same friend recommended to try Stinky tofu…ahhh.)
Papaya milk is nice and I also recommend it to you.
I also tried a nice dragon fruit smoothie; it’s not a guava juice.
Guava Juice is the name of shop. hahaha
sonokotchi 