Hong Kong – 香港 (pt.3)

So what did I see in Hong Kong?  I was only there for a couple of days and tried to stay as cool as possible during that time, so I didn’t see everything.  Here are a few highlights from the trip…

On my first day there I visited the famous Victoria Peak with my friend.  We took a bus up most of the way before walking the rest of the way to The Peak.  The bus ride was slightly terrifying at points as we were on the upper level of the bus and it looked as though the guardrails were basically nonexistent (combined with my fear of buses – yes, I’m afraid of riding in buses…), but at the same time, the views from the bus of Hong Kong as we rose above the city were beautiful.  Unfortunately I did not think to take any photos from inside the bus.

After exiting the bus we walked up a road lined with trees and all sorts of plant life.  The plant life reminded me of what I saw on a trip to Maui years ago, but my memory might be slightly fuzzy due to the passage of time (that trip was over half a lifetime ago). The plants growing on the trees were beautiful and the trees offered some shade.

On the way up to Victoria Peak

A downside of The Peak was that the day we went it was hazy.  That made it difficult to take a clear photo of Hong Kong.  Despite the haze, the view was nice (it seems the haze is more noticeable in photos than in real life).

View on the way up to The Peak

View from The Peak

While in Hong Kong I also took a day trip to Macau with my friend.  Unfortunately it was raining the day we went, but I still had a good time.  We took a ferry from Hong Kong in the morning (we had purchased tickets the day before).  After arriving in Macau and clearing immigration (yes, you need to clear immigration and customs when traveling between Hong Kong and Macau) we took a bus to a casino.  There are shuttle buses for the casinos, which makes getting to and from the terminal easy.  From there we grabbed lunch and did a bit of shopping.  The rain made it difficult to go sightseeing.  We returned to the casino and my friend returned to Hong Kong while I stayed behind to try my luck at the tables.

Did I win?  Well, it isn’t a straightforward yes or no answer.  I lost, then I won, then I lost, then I won and should have quit…but I wanted to try roulette.  Now, I was under the impression that roulette was a simple red or black, pick a number situation.  I lost for a while till someone kindly explained some of the rules/strategies.  After that, I did marginally better, winning some of the bets I places.  However, becoming a millionaire wasn’t in the cards.  I lost all my chips at the roulette table.  The people I had been playing with (we were having a great time joking around at that table) suggested I go to one of the many ATMs to get more cash to exchange for chips.  I declined, having come with a set amount of “goodbye” money, AKA, gambling funds.  After losing all of my chips, I exited the gambling floor to get some dinner before returning to Hong Kong.

Another highlight of Hong Kong was the famous Goldfish Street.  I went in the evening was impressed by the amount and variety of fish on offer, usually already bagged up and hanging on the doors and walls of the shops.  Many of the shops had posted signs stating no photos, so I didn’t get any pictures of the fish.  However, there are a ton of photos both online and on Instagram of Goldfish Street that will give you an idea of what it’s like.  Not all the shops had signs posted, but at the time I was tired and didn’t feel like asking (or assuming) it was okay to snap a picture at those shops.

These were just some of the highlights from my trip to Hong Kong.  I sure my next visit will be just as interesting (but hopefully a bit cooler!)…

Mongkok

Hong Kong – 香港 (pt.2)

The Bruce Lee Statue (Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui)

As I blogged previously, this past June I visited Hong Kong.  Despite the sweltering heat, I had a great time and plan to go back in the future.  In June 2013 I had a layover in the Hong Kong airport, but that was early in the morning while moving halfway around the world.  At that time I never left the airport or even really explored the terminal, minus trying to freshen up and track down breakfast .  So when people would ask where I’ve traveled to, Hong Kong never made the list.

June may not have been the best time for me to visit for one simple reason – the heat.  Hong Kong is hot, like really hot.  Dripping in sweat as though I’ve just finished running a race.  Oh, and humid.  Basically the kind of weather I detest.  If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you may have noticed there are multiple posts that mention skiing.  You know, that sport that requires colder temperatures and snow.

That being said, I survived the heat.  How?  Well, I drank a lot of water and iced tea.  I even ended up at Starbucks – for iced tea, air conditioning, and WiFi.  Hong Kong was sweltering outside, but if you walked past one of the many shops with their doors wide open you were hit with a wave of cold, air-conditioned air.  It seemed like every shop had their doors open.  I’m kind of torn on whether this is a positive or negative thing.  On the one hand, this seems like a waste of electricity.  On the other, it feels great and probably attracts shoppers.

Other than being hot, Hong Kong was delicious!  I didn’t actually take any photos of my food, but I did make sure to try a few different dishes while there.  The yum cha was amazing.  I’ve been craving it since returning to Japan!  Seriously, the food is a great reason to plan another trip (although maybe not during the summer months!).

On my last evening, I had dinner at Yan Toh Heen, a Cantonese restaurant at the InterContinental Hong Kong.  Apparently, it has 2 Michelin Stars and Forbes Travel Guide awarded it 5 stars.  Despite not having a reservation, I was able to get a table.  Even through it was not a window table, I was still able to enjoy the view (it’s located in the lower level of the hotel, facing the harbor).  I love Cantonese food, so deciding what to eat was a challenge.  Everything I tried was delicious.  It was a wonderful way to end my trip.

Eiheiji – 永平寺

This past Monday I drove from Kanazawa to Eiheiji (永平寺), a temple located in Fukui Prefecture.  It was actually my third trip there, but my first driving.  I had previously visited a few winters ago and then again two summers ago when I was writing an article for another site.  So why return yet once again to the same place?

To start with, I really like Eiheiji.  In the summer it is generally cooler due to it’s location and shade provided by the multitude of trees surrounding the area.  Because of heavy snow in the Hokuriku region, the buildings are linked by covered walkways.  In the summer this offers a respite from the scorching sun or pouring rain (Hokuriku is a wet region).  Additionally, it smells like where I used to spend my summers growing up.  Although it may sound strange, that’s a nice feeling 1000s of miles away.

Looking down towards the Butsuden (on the left)

The other reason is between the architecture and the setting, when combined with the right weather, Eiheiji can make for some dramatic photo opportunities.  When I was there this last time, it was hot and wet.  Not a real rain, but more than a drizzle.  However, the clouds weren’t low or heavy, so dramatic scenery wasn’t exactly on tap.  I hope to visit again this fall when the leaves are changing.  I imagine the mountains must be lovely that time of year (as seen here and here).  Another winter visit when there is snow is a must as well (as seen here).

Where to next?  I haven’t quite figured that out yet, but next week I’m back to work so careful planning is needed.  I would really like to visit Nikko, but I want to wait to see the autumn foliage.  Maybe the Botanic Gardens of Toyama?  Back down to Yamanaka Onsen?  Over to Hakusan?  So many options!

Life goes on…

I can’t believe it’s already August!  Where does the time go?

Right now Japan is in the grips of a heatwave (as is – or recently was – much of the world).  Staying cool is a challenge as I’ve never handled heat very well.  I’m more of a winter kind of girl in case you couldn’t tell by the skiing posts.

How am I staying cool?  Well, not very successfully if I have to be honest about it.  Mainly I am ok when I am inside, but if I go outside I will sweat for about 30 minutes after retreating to the gloriously cool air-conditioned buildings I find myself hiding in.  It’s a challenge as I am also trying to avoid getting too much sun (I burn no matter what I do) so any sunscreen sweats off and UV-cut clothing, although designed to be cool is still adding sleeves to a very hot situation.  Lots of cool drinks and cooling wipes are my main form of surviving.

I also recently bought a car – a Suzuki Jimny.  It’s a Kei car, so yearly vehicle taxes will be cheaper.  I bought it used and so far am very happy with it.  I usually ride a scooter (which I still have and find convenient, especially when parking), but when the weather is bad or I have a lot to do it can be a bit inconvenient.  The fact that the car has both air-conditioning and the ability to play music is a huge plus.

Having a car means I will also be able to take day trips and bring my camera equipment along a lot easier than before.  Bringing my camera equipment on the scooter was always quite troublesome – the weight, size, and keeping it safe was always a challenge.  Bringing my camera equipment on the bus or train presented the same issues.  So a car equals freedom but also responsibilities.

Take parking for example.  I have to pay monthly parking near my apartment.  If I go somewhere, most of the time parking fees are involved.  If I am shopping, some places will validate your parking and give you passes that pay for part (or all) your parking.  I’m getting as many of those as I can and keeping them in my car to use as needed.  This means planning my shopping and other activities to minimize parking costs while maximizing passes received.

Starting next week, my main job (the English school) will be closed for two weeks.  I hope to make the most of my summer vacation this year.  Usually I leave Japan – either for somewhere else in Asia or back to the United States. However, between purchasing a car and visiting Hong Kong in June, I’ve decided to be a responsible adult and stay in Japan.  Does that mean I’ve given up on fun and travel?  Nope!  But it does mean day/overnight trips and exploring my area more in-depth.

It also means focusing more on my Japanese.  I plan to take the J.Test in November.  I need a break from the JLPT madness.  That’s not to say I won’t take the JLPT again.  I plan to (next July), but I need a change.  The J.Test is offered 6 times a year and is given in three levels (A-C, D-E, and F).  I will be taking D-E, which corresponds to N4 and N3.

This means I have restarted my other blog, but it’s not about travel or life in Japan (not really – although I might write about it a bit), but about studying Japanese as well as writing practice.  You can read it here if you are interested.

That’s it for now!

The Scariest Photo I’ve Ever Taken

Okay, maybe the title is a little intense…Seriously though, this may be the scariest photo I’ve ever taken due to size of the subject.  It was possible the largest I’ve ever seen, and the without a doubt, the largest this early in the season.  She was at least palm sized with her legs, possibly larger.

Here she is, the jorōgumo…

A jorōgumo on the streets of Obama, Japan.

If you want to read more about this colorful yet poisonous eight-legged giant, take a look at this.  And if you want to read more about insects in Japan, take a look at this one.

Yum, Yum, Yummy!

As I prepare to write about my trip to Seoul in August 2016, I can’t help but think about how tasty this frozen treat was!  While in Seoul I visited the Shilla Seoul Hotel to try apple mango bingsu.  It was’t cheap (42,000 won or around $36 USD!) but was definatly worth it.

I first read about it while researching my trip.  I found a helpful site called Seoulistic which had a post about things you can only do in Korea.  Eating this dessert at the Shilla was the first thing on the list.  I decided to give it a go.

It’s sweet, but not overpoweringly so.  The red beans add a nice touch and compliment the mango flavor.  The serving is also massive and could easily be shared by a few people.  That being said, I ate every bite!

Summertime…

I apologize in advance for the photos – I took quick photos on my phone of a few things I wanted to share.  The photos are crooked and have strange cropping…

 

Summertime in Japan – hot, humid, buggy…

Not to worry though, Mint Pocky will get you through. That’s right, special edition Pocky for the summer. Mint is supposed to be cooling so I guess it works. It’s really tasty too.  

Mint Pocky!

 

It’s still rainy season which means it’s humid.  In an effort to save electricity, opening windows and doors while sipping a cool beverage works pretty well in place of running the air conditioning.  There is the issue of mosquitos, but never fear, Japan’s got that covered too…mosquito coils to the rescue!  Kincho is the original mosquito coil company .

Mosquito Coils

Summer also means time to eat うなぎ!  There is one day during the summer, said to be the hottest day of the year, that you are supposed to eat broiled eel.  It’s pretty tasty.  This year it falls on July 29th.  How do I know this, you ask.  Well, there is a huge banner hanging up announcing the date.  It’s big deal here.  Last year there were people lined up at all of the stalls in the market waiting for their chance to purchase some tasty うなぎ.

うなぎ Day is Coming!

うなぎ Day is Coming!

 

I read a great post on eel the other day.  Everyone should take a quick look at it – Unagi, The Japanese Eel: A Long Story.

In continuing with the rambling nature of this post, I’ve picked up a few books in the past year.  I love books.  Besides a few books for language study I’ve purchased some guides.  One is of plants and animals in different areas of Japan (town, countryside, etc.).  While walking in the evenings I often see geckos (and spiders, way to many spiders…).  They are super fast so getting a clean photo of one might take a bit of work.  In the meantime, enjoy the drawing from the book.

Japanese Gecko Drawing

The Guide Book

The second book is based on the seasons.  In one of the summer sections there was a passage on うなぎ.

Guide to the Seasons

Eel!

 

Anyway, enough rambling…maybe my brain has melted due to the heat and humidity?  I’ll leave you with a picture of a postcard that came with the copy of Anne of Green Gables I picked up.