The theme was arranging it as a paint.
I felt like arranging it as Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
I replaced sunflowers with Dahlia because it’s not the season of sunflowers yet.
Pork Skewers Torishige @ Gotanda, Tokyo
This is my first time to dine at Pork Skewers only restaurant.
Torishige has been serving only pork skewers for 63 years.
This restaurant serves only pork; however, the restaurant named Tori (Chicken) Shige (Shigeru).
These days, skewers style cooking is all called Yakitori (Grill Chicken); therefore “Tori”, then the founder of the restaurant was a fan of the former Prime Minister, Shigeru Yoshida, so “Shige”.
Look at their secret receipt sauce!
I tried many parts of pork!!!
This restaurant is absolutely MUST DINE restaurant!!!
I will definitely go back again!
Personal Training
I trust my chiropractor.
I asked him whether he trains people and to my surprise he said “yes”.
He might be able to teach me suitable training menu for my body and needs.
Let’s fill up the registration form.
Golden Week Holiday in Okinawa (Day 4)
Today, it’s a sightseeing day.
We rent a car from Times Parking.
Once become a member, we can rent a car by our requested hours at the nearest Times Parking.
First, we went to Yoshinoya for breakfast.
I ordered a normal Gyudon (Beef Bowl) to compare it from Tokyo one’s.
Hummmm, it tastes the same.
Last night, uchina (Okinawan) recommended us to visit Gyokusendo (Cave) at the Sushi Restaurant Hagama Zushi.
Gyokusendo is located at the Okinawa World.
To my surprise, it’s a huge park, comprehensive Okinawa cultural park.
We started with Gyokusendo, the cave.
It’s a huge cave.
Ao no Izumi (Blue Fountain)
Ogon no Sakazuki (Golden Sake Cup)
There is a natural eel!
He swam slowly occupying the place to himself.
We exited the cave at the other side of park.
We walk through many parks back to the entrance/exit.
There is Ryukyu (Okinawan) glass park.
We can make crafts or simply enjoy shopping.
I shopped Ryukyu Glass Chopsticks holders here.
There are many cafe as well.
I enjoyed Uchina Zenzai (Okinawan Style Bean Ice Shave), shekwasha (citrus) juice and a bite of vanilla Blue Seal ice cream.
There are many more shops and cafe to enjoy.
This is Okinawa Style Traditional House.
This is Okinawa’s traditional costume.
I also tried Okinawa’s Buku Buku Cha (Foam Tea).
I need to chew the foam to prevent from choking.
This is my first experience to chew the tea. hahaha
I also watched Eisa (Okinawa Dance).
Another big event at this park is Habu Snake (poisonous snake found in Okinawa) vs mongoose.
Mongoose catches Habu; however, Animal Welfare Society protested to stop the fight.
Today, we cannot watch the fight.
They race to swim faster.
Mongoose won. hahaha
You will watch and even can touch many snakes here.
After enjoying this huge park, I went to walk on Shuri Kinjo-cho Ishidatami Michi (Shuri-Kinjo Town Stone Pavement).
It’s normal residential area, but I felt like I’m walking at the different time zone.
Luckily I walked down this slope.
It’s time to return to Tokyo.
Sayonara Shisa (Okinawa’s Lion/Guardians)
It’s the last day of Golden Week Holiday; therefore, all flights are sold out!!! Wow!!!
Had dinner at Kirin Bar also planning about next trip to Okinawa if any. hahaha
Sayonara Okinawa for now; look forward to visiting here again.
Golden Week Holiday in Okinawa (Day 3)
Today, we went to Kerama Shoto (Islands) area by this boat.
It takes one hour to reach diving points.
The first point: Kuroshima Kita (Kuroshima North).
We enjoyed landscapes; there are many corals (hard, soft and fan), crevasses, cracks and fish in cracks.
Kasago (Rockfish/Scorpion Fish)
I took a photo of boat from ocean.
The second point Kamigu.
Again enjoyed landscapes.
Reminded me of Oolong Channel, Palau.
Small Umiushi (Sea Slug).
Nimo! Kakure Kumanomi (Crown Fish)
I had lunch on the boat.
Then last dive in Okinawa at Jizuru.
We again enjoyed the landscapes.
HoshidaKaragai (Tiger Cowrie)
And there are many fish at the crack.
There are few Umiushi.
Kakure Kumanomi
At last, meeting a turtle.
On the way back to Tomari Port, we are lucky to watch Naha Hurley (Dragon Boat Race) 2018 from the boat.
I had a good look of it because I didn’t have to worry about people in front of me
For dinner, first, we went to Korean BBQ Roins, Naha, Okinawa.
Then we went to Hagama Zushi, too.
I enjoyed too much of Awamori (Okinawa’s strong rice distilled liquor).
I went to bed at 9 pm. hahaha
Golden Week Holiday in Okinawa (Day2)
Yeah, this is my first Okinawa dive!!!
Today, went to Onnason, Okinawa.
We took a boat to the first point: Dream Hole.
I haven’t dived since last September in Palau; it means I’m so-called blank diver???
I wished I had some time to get familiar with diving before entering to a cave.
I had to enter the cave from a small hole…
Nonetheless, I managed to enter/drop through a small hole to dive narrow path.
When I see an iseebi (lobster), I finally could control buoyancy a bit.
Then a narrow path led me to…Pikachu!!!
So cute!!!
We also dived through Pikachu.
There are many corals and fish.
Kasago (Scorpion Fish)
Next point was Cross Line.
I managed to see famous heart shaped back anemone fish: Touaka Kumanomi (Toe Red Anemone Fish.
They are so lovely!!!
I also see a rare fish: Kaeru Anko (Frogfish).
Yes, his eyes look like Frog! hehehe
Close look.
We also dived through a channel.
Then met Nimo: Kakure Kumanomi (Crownfish)!
They are cute.
We took lunch break at Kinchichi Soba.
This soba is not typical Okinawa Style Soba, very unique in tsukemen (dipping) style.
We ordered extra porks for additional topping.
After we finished noodles, we asked for soup to add in sauce to enjoy sauce as a soup.
The last point: Overhead Rock.
We enjoyed landscape here, too.
We dived through crevasse.
This is my first time to use GoPro.
It didn’t function right or I operated wrongly.
I saw Pygmy Sea Horse and took few photos; but these photos are not in my camera. Ahhhh
Hopefully, I operate it right tomorrow.
For dinner, went to Jack’s Steak House Okinawa.
I had Orion (Okinawa’s Local Beer) and Tender Lion Steak Medium Rare.
Now I better study about GoPro and sleep early. hummm
Golden Week Holiday in Okinawa (Day 1)
It’s Japanese National Holiday (Constitution Day) today, but my office was opened.
Usually, morning of Ginza Station is crowded with people, but today it was quiet.
It was a quiet day at the office as well.
The office building was closed and we were the only office opened on Golden Week Holiday season, but it was fine with me.
I enjoyed long lunch with my friend from Malaysia at Tempura Restaurant, Ginza Tenkuni.
We chatted for a while and she departed for Shibuya to join other group of friends.
At 5 pm, it’s my turn to enjoy Golden Week Holiday in Okinawa. Yeah
I already polished my nail for beach.
I quickly packed up and departed for Haneda Airport.
it’s dinner time, but food won’t be served on domestic flight.
I bought my favorite Maisen Katsu Sand (Maisen Pork Sandwich).
The packaging is cute airport version – with many airplanes!
I ate it with Aojiru (vegetable juice) at ANA’s Lounge.
After satisfying my stomach, proceeded to the gate.
It’s night flight so I could not take a sharp photo due to the reflection of the glass.
I see an airplane in strange colour.. in yellow…?
OMG, YODA greeted me at the entrance!!!
My seat is decorated in Star Wars as well!!!
I found my airplane model on inflight shopping magazine.
The cup.
Yoda is seared at one of seats like us.
I was protected by the FORCE so safely
arrived at Naha Airport.
Mensore (Welcome in Okinawa ben (dialect))
I finally reached Naha West Inn.
It’s a nice cozy room.
Oyasuminasai (Good Night)
Golden Week in Kyoto (Day 5)
The other night, my friend introduced me Inaba Yakushi.
This temple is known for preventing cancers.
Since my family is cancer family, I could have it in my genes.
I decide to go for praying.
This temple is located conveniently nearby the hotel (Kyoto Karasuma Hotel).
At all temples and shrines, first, we need to purify ourselves by washing our hands (gargling mouth is excluded today due to the hygiene reason).
It brought peace in my mind when I saw flowers floating on water.
It’s simple action but memorable.
Then I prayed.
We returned to hotel to check out and proceeded to Kyoto Station with our luggage.
Left our luggage at coin locker (JPY 700) which is located nearby Shinkansen (bullet train) exit: Hachijo Exit.
Then we took JR Abiko Line to Ohtsu Station.
Went to Enjo Ji (Enjo Temple) or commonly known as Mitsui Dera (Mitsui Temple).
There are many places to visit and pray in the premises.
Shaka-Do (Buddha Temple)
The area is so green and large; I enjoyed walking the premises.
I hit the Kane (bell) to bring peace to ancestors.
Kane weights 2 tons.
At Kindo, we could prey to three special Buddhas at the period of 28 April to 20 May 2018.
I’m blessed.
Akai Ya (Holy Water House)
Today, this temple is commonly called Mitsui Dera; based on its Chinese characters, it means Three Wells.
However, it originally meant Holy Well (Mii).
The water from this well is offered to Buddhas.
The dragon was engraved by Hidari Jingoro to calm Biwako (Biwa Lake).
I can see fresh water welling out.
There are many more to visit and pray.
Benkei Sho (Benkei’s Bell)
There is an interesting omikuji (fortune slip).
This is the instruction.
Pick a bell shaped fortune slip from a pot; float on water to read the number that appears on it; go back to the shop to get the numbered slip to get fortune/advise/lessons.
I pulled No. 42; it’s Kichi (good fortune).
Issai Kyozo (Storage for Sutras)
Some Japanese movies are taking here.
I can understand that because the premises are well kept.
I walked through its gate and looked back;
it looks nice.
Even from the path way.
There is a small paths.
There is even a half ruined bridge.
According to the map, I’m still half way.
Bimyoji (Bimyo Temple)
Shuho Kannon (Goddess of Mercy for People)
There are still many more to visit and pray.
Finally reaching to Mitsui Dera Kannon Do (Mitsui Temple’s Goddess of Mercy Temple/the Main Temple).
We need to climb these stairs.
Hondo (the Main Temple)
We could meet the special Buddha today.
The temple has a nice Japanese garden.
There are many more to visit and pray in the area of Hondo.
Noh Butai (Noh Dance Stage)
Hyakutai Kannon Do (the temple for 100 Goddess of Mercy through out Japan)
Shoroh (House for Bell)
Mani Guruma (Prayer Wheel)
If you turn a stone once, it means you recite sutra once.
We can take a break overlooking Biwako (Biwa Lake: Japan’s largest lake)
Finally, the last place: Suikanji (Suikan Temple)
It was a nice day to walk through the temple.
It’s cooler compared to Kyoto because the wind from Biwako lower the temperature.
I took a train back to Kyoto to catch Shinkansen back home (Tokyo).
We had Lundi (Lunch and Dinner) at Japanese Restaurant Kurama, Kyoto Station.
Though I stayed at the hotel in Kyoto, I visited Shiga (Ishiyama City twice and Otsu City once) three times and Hyogo (Akashi City) once.
For next trip, I will plan to visit temples in Kyoto.
Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto (Day 4)
Took the train down to Akashi, Hyogo today.
Today, we plan to visit Akashi Tenmondai (Akashi Municipal Planetarium).
Could it be this building that I could see from the train and platform of Akashi Station?
I saw a big clock and letters, SEIKO – the company name of Japanese famous watch/clock manufacturer.
Another interesting structure that I found from the station platform is …. is that the castle….?
Later, Mom’s friend explained to us that that is the ruin of Akashi Castle; the actual castle does not exist today.
I had donuts for breakfast at Japanese brand donuts shop, Mister Donut.
I picked a matcha donuts collaborating with Kyoto’s famous Matcha (green tea) shop, Tsujiri.
I had to have this since I’m in the area. hahaha
After catching up on each other for over one hour, we departed for Akashi Tenmondai.
Akashi is Japan’s Standard Time Meridian where 135th Meridian East is located.
I was fortunate to listen to the music to indicate 12 o’clock noon.
If it’s noon in Japan, it’s 3 am in London.
From the observatory floor, we can enjoy the great view of Akashi Ohashi (Akashi Big Bridge).
After enjoying the great view of Akashi city at the observatory floor, we went down to the planetarium.
Reminded me of my childhood…I enjoyed the show very much.
I even stopped by at the exhibition area.
Now it’s time to enjoy Akashi local food!
Akashi is famous for Akashi Yaki (Akashi Balls) which is family of Tako Yaki (Octopus Balls), but it’s actually omelet balls dunking in dashi (soup).
The taxi driver highly recommended us to go to Akashi Yaki Shop Funamachi.
We see the queue, but I persuaded Mom and her friend to queue as well.
I know they want to continue talking; I thought it’s no harm for them to talk while we are queuing.
Then after some time we found a cone says, “it will take two hours from this point”.
We mentioned it loudly, but we managed only people behind us to leave.
The queue remained long.
The signboard was right; we waited for nearly 2 hours.
We finally get a table!!!
Akashi Yaki!
Yes, waited these for 2 hours!
First, I enjoyed these Akashi Yaki (omelette balls) simply dunking in dashi (soup).
Then for half of them, I added toppings: sauce, katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and aonori (seaweeds), then dunked in dashi.
These are yammy!!!
It’s worth waiting for 2 hours!!!
It was nice Lundi (I made it up the word for lunch and dinner. hahaha).
We started queuing around 3 pm; we ate at 4:30 pm.
After satisfying our stomachs, we walked down to Uo no Tana (Akashi’s Fish Market).
We reached to Akashi Station, but we went to Wa Cafe Conana (Japanese Cafe Conana).
I had Japanese style Warabi Parfait set (bracken-starch cakes parfait with Hoji-cha (Japanese roasted tea).
It was fun sightseeing Akashi♪
Golden Week Holiday in Kyoto (Day 3)
I had these for breakfast.
I, again, visited Ishiyama, Shiga this morning
to visit Ishiyama Dera (Ishiyama Temple).
It’s guarded by Nioh (guardians).
It’s Spring so Temple is so green.
Walked through old aged stone for fun.
On the way to Hondo (the main temple), there are many temples to visit and pray.
Daishi Do (Kobo Great Buddhist Priest Temple)
When I look up from here…I see…
At Hondo (the Main Temple), I prayed to Nyoirin Kannon (Goddess).
After visiting Hondo, there are still many places to visit.
And the path are beautifully decorated by azalea.
This is the map of Ishiyama Temple.
You can see that there are many places to visit in the premises.
We are half way now.
We continued walking down the path.
Then we reached Kodo (Light Temple)
The door for this temple is opened specially from 28 April – 20 May 2018, allowing us to meet three special Buddha.
We are so lucky to be here today.
The first Japanese lady love story writer, Murasaki Shikibu used to visit this temple to get inspirations to write Genji Monogatari (Mr. Genji’s Story).
There is Kanro Daki (Kanro Fall).
And nice Shobu En (iris garden).
I cannot enter, but there is a path to the sacred place looking mysterious.
There is a holy stone.
According to the signage, it says Ooyuya, meaning a big bath…?
I also prayed to the very important God: Daikokuten (God of Wealth).
At last I prayed to Kinryu Ryuoh (Golden Dragon King) for preventing bad luck and bringing good luck.
After visiting Ishiyama Temple, we took a breath at tea room, Kanou Shojuan, to enjoy Ishimochi (stone rice cakes).
Ishimochi presents strong stone foundation of this temple, wishing for prevention of bad luck and establishment of strong tie.
These are delicious.
I had dinner appointment with my old Kyoto friend.
She took me to a nice Japanese restaurant Izama at Mitsui Garden Hotel Shinmachi Bettei, Kyoto.
I absolutely enjoyed food, drink and chatting!
Kyoto Local Beer (Dark Beer)
Three Types of Kyoto Local Sake
After dinner, I went to Bar Islay Mojito with her to continue girl’s talk without Mom. hehehe
sonokotchi 