End of a trip...
End of the SENS winning the Stanley Cup 2007...
End of hockey season...
Can it really get any worse?!
I suppose there will be other trips...
There is always next year...
76 days until pre-season starts!!!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Last Day in Japan
So this is pretty much my last day in Japan... I saw Anna off to the Airport train and I headed out to see a few things in Osaka.
From the guide there is pretty much not a lot to see here besides a whole whack of museums. Not really in a museum mood, I went to the hanging gardens which provides roof top views of all of Osaka from the 40th floor. Interestingly enough there was no garden but it had amazing views of the harbour and surrounding areas.
After that I took the subway to a place call Spa World. It`s basically a public bath house. I paid for a 3 hour pass to the womens only area which today was Asia. So each room had a different theme. There was India with massage baths, Japan with hot and cold osens. They had middle east which was the best area... it wasn`t too hot and it wasn`t too cold. They also had outside areas. It was a lot of fuん。
Then it was back to the hotel to check in and rest up. Flying home tomorrow!
From the guide there is pretty much not a lot to see here besides a whole whack of museums. Not really in a museum mood, I went to the hanging gardens which provides roof top views of all of Osaka from the 40th floor. Interestingly enough there was no garden but it had amazing views of the harbour and surrounding areas.
After that I took the subway to a place call Spa World. It`s basically a public bath house. I paid for a 3 hour pass to the womens only area which today was Asia. So each room had a different theme. There was India with massage baths, Japan with hot and cold osens. They had middle east which was the best area... it wasn`t too hot and it wasn`t too cold. They also had outside areas. It was a lot of fuん。
Then it was back to the hotel to check in and rest up. Flying home tomorrow!
Capsule Hotel and Japanese Gangsters
So arriving in Osaka we navigated to our hotel for the night (one night for Anna and two for me). We were all excited about out capsule hotel experience... that is until we saw it. We had to walk down this crazy alley of cafes and Japanese casinos. It was the first street I saw in all of Japan that was dirty and looked a little sketch.
We checked in and were shown to our capsules. We took photos and started to get familiar with out surrounds... the more we hung out the more we thought... this is not a good idea. There was something that just didn`t sit right. It turns out that the hotel is not only women but women only on two floors and there is no security to prevent men from coming on the women floors. I so was not keen on staying here alone the next night I decided to check out the hotel we passed on the way here (Swissotel Nankai). I went for the $150 night deal so I didn`t have to stay alone.
After some discussion we decided to forget the capsule hotel all together and get the first night at the Swissotel as well. This place is SWEET! They know how to do it up right. So we headed back to the capsule hotel to get our things. The owner was very understanding and even refunded my money for the second night. So it became a $25 photo op!
I knew we had made the right decision as we were leaving and we saw a sign that said no tatoos. Reading in my travel book Osaka is the main place for Yakuza (Japanese gangster) and one of their main identifiers is there great many tattoos. Yeah so basically this place had a sign that said NO Gangsters. I never want to stay at a place that needs to post a sign that says no gangsters!!!
We checked in and were shown to our capsules. We took photos and started to get familiar with out surrounds... the more we hung out the more we thought... this is not a good idea. There was something that just didn`t sit right. It turns out that the hotel is not only women but women only on two floors and there is no security to prevent men from coming on the women floors. I so was not keen on staying here alone the next night I decided to check out the hotel we passed on the way here (Swissotel Nankai). I went for the $150 night deal so I didn`t have to stay alone.
After some discussion we decided to forget the capsule hotel all together and get the first night at the Swissotel as well. This place is SWEET! They know how to do it up right. So we headed back to the capsule hotel to get our things. The owner was very understanding and even refunded my money for the second night. So it became a $25 photo op!
I knew we had made the right decision as we were leaving and we saw a sign that said no tatoos. Reading in my travel book Osaka is the main place for Yakuza (Japanese gangster) and one of their main identifiers is there great many tattoos. Yeah so basically this place had a sign that said NO Gangsters. I never want to stay at a place that needs to post a sign that says no gangsters!!!
Koyasan & staying at a Buddhist Temple
So after 4 trains and a cable car we arrive in Koyasan or Mount Koya. We also found out we could have got here by taking two trains and a cable car! AND in half the time!
There are no hotels on the mountain, we are booked at a Buddhist temple lodge. We arrived 10 minutes before dinner which was very tasty after our long trip. Everything was veggie so I got to try some new things (without fear of the little white fishies at appear in everything!) They live salt A LOT here everything is VERY well salted... so I was downing a lot of water.
After dinner we went to an onsen which is a large bathroom with showers and a kinda like a hot tub. It was very relaxing. When we returned they set up our beds on the floor and it was fairly comfortable if you sleep on your back... something I didn`t realize until more than half way through the night.
In the morning we visited the main attraction which was a mausoleum with laterns showing the way. It was really beautiful and we got tons of photos. After that we were on out way out. We took the cable car down and only one train (one train!) to Osaka. I slept a lot of the way while Anna watched our stuff (she figured out the back sleeping before I did).
There are no hotels on the mountain, we are booked at a Buddhist temple lodge. We arrived 10 minutes before dinner which was very tasty after our long trip. Everything was veggie so I got to try some new things (without fear of the little white fishies at appear in everything!) They live salt A LOT here everything is VERY well salted... so I was downing a lot of water.
After dinner we went to an onsen which is a large bathroom with showers and a kinda like a hot tub. It was very relaxing. When we returned they set up our beds on the floor and it was fairly comfortable if you sleep on your back... something I didn`t realize until more than half way through the night.
In the morning we visited the main attraction which was a mausoleum with laterns showing the way. It was really beautiful and we got tons of photos. After that we were on out way out. We took the cable car down and only one train (one train!) to Osaka. I slept a lot of the way while Anna watched our stuff (she figured out the back sleeping before I did).
Monday, June 4, 2007
Nara and Last Day in Kyoto
We woke up this morning and we had breakfast that we bought from the day before... bread, cheese and smoothies. We then headed out to the Kyoto JR (aka Rail way station) and realized we had a half hour before our train was leaving so we picked up some Mochas and headed to the platform... on the way we were tempted by the chocolate Belgian waffles. The waffles won and we enjoyed a second breakfast of Mochas and chocolate waffles on the train. Second breakfasts rock! Those little people from Lord of the Rings know where it`s at!!!
When we arrived in Nara and headed to Todaiji Temple which is the largest wooden structure in the whole world! It houses a gigantic Buddha. It is said that if you can fit through the hole the size of his nostril then you will reach enlightenment. Instead of climbing the Buddha they have a nostril size hole cut out of one of the pillars. Of course I had to try and squeeze through. It was successful but I need a little help from one of the guides to get all the way through. Enlightenment here I come!!! Outside the temple they have a tame deer area where you can feed the deer. Yeah... they know when you have deer food. Imagine 6 deers heading towards you mouths oven each jockeying to get at the food... if I didn`t keep walking backwards they would have surrounded me! It was great fun and Anna got it on video.
After the Todaiji Temple we headed to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. This is the shine of 3,000 lanterns and there must have been way more than that. They had stone ones, and green ones (probably bronze at one time), and gold ones. It was very beautiful. It would have been so pretty at night when they light some of them. Unfortunately, we had to head back to Kyoto. We stopped at 7-11 for lunch and headed to the train. We enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch on the train as we headed back to Kyoto.
Back in Kyoto, we headed to the Golden Pavillion. It is a pavillion entirely covered on gold leaf. It was so beautiful in the setting sunlight. After the golden pavillion we headed to the Kyoto Handicraft centre. I got a beautiful dish and a traditional wood block print. We could have continued to shop but the store was closing :(
We decided we wanted to have traditional Japanese Tempura for dinner. We headed to this place in the guide book (it didn`t steer us wrong the last time). But on the way there we ran into the nicest man who didn`t speak much English. We managed to communicate that we wanted tempura and he managed to communicate that he had tempura. At first I wasn`t sure but Anna made that call and we decided to take the man up on his offer. WE ARE SO GLAD WE DID!!! It was by far the best dinner I`ve had the whole trip. The man and what I assume was his wife brought us beer and fried us up traditional fish and veggie tempura. He also gave us a few gifts including special fish tempura and some sushimi. Oh baby it was good. He also offered us some Gumi which looked a lot like cherries but were longer and had golden dots. They were SO good. Better then cherries (Anna says they are just as good.) I LOVE new fruit! We gave him some gifts (really nothing big... Anna had some magnets and I had some Canada stickers and some pins) and he gave us some beautiful pictures he had taken of Kyoto. It was a fantastic night.
Anna and I got some plum wine at the liquor some so we are off to enjoy it before bed!
When we arrived in Nara and headed to Todaiji Temple which is the largest wooden structure in the whole world! It houses a gigantic Buddha. It is said that if you can fit through the hole the size of his nostril then you will reach enlightenment. Instead of climbing the Buddha they have a nostril size hole cut out of one of the pillars. Of course I had to try and squeeze through. It was successful but I need a little help from one of the guides to get all the way through. Enlightenment here I come!!! Outside the temple they have a tame deer area where you can feed the deer. Yeah... they know when you have deer food. Imagine 6 deers heading towards you mouths oven each jockeying to get at the food... if I didn`t keep walking backwards they would have surrounded me! It was great fun and Anna got it on video.
After the Todaiji Temple we headed to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. This is the shine of 3,000 lanterns and there must have been way more than that. They had stone ones, and green ones (probably bronze at one time), and gold ones. It was very beautiful. It would have been so pretty at night when they light some of them. Unfortunately, we had to head back to Kyoto. We stopped at 7-11 for lunch and headed to the train. We enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch on the train as we headed back to Kyoto.
Back in Kyoto, we headed to the Golden Pavillion. It is a pavillion entirely covered on gold leaf. It was so beautiful in the setting sunlight. After the golden pavillion we headed to the Kyoto Handicraft centre. I got a beautiful dish and a traditional wood block print. We could have continued to shop but the store was closing :(
We decided we wanted to have traditional Japanese Tempura for dinner. We headed to this place in the guide book (it didn`t steer us wrong the last time). But on the way there we ran into the nicest man who didn`t speak much English. We managed to communicate that we wanted tempura and he managed to communicate that he had tempura. At first I wasn`t sure but Anna made that call and we decided to take the man up on his offer. WE ARE SO GLAD WE DID!!! It was by far the best dinner I`ve had the whole trip. The man and what I assume was his wife brought us beer and fried us up traditional fish and veggie tempura. He also gave us a few gifts including special fish tempura and some sushimi. Oh baby it was good. He also offered us some Gumi which looked a lot like cherries but were longer and had golden dots. They were SO good. Better then cherries (Anna says they are just as good.) I LOVE new fruit! We gave him some gifts (really nothing big... Anna had some magnets and I had some Canada stickers and some pins) and he gave us some beautiful pictures he had taken of Kyoto. It was a fantastic night.
Anna and I got some plum wine at the liquor some so we are off to enjoy it before bed!
Olympic walks and breaking into a Temple
First walk we went on was downtown Kyoto which included Pontocho and Gion. It was so beautiful at night!! All the lights. We also went to a fan shop and saw two Geishas walking. We had dinner along the canal in Gion. I had udon noodles and egg. Very yummy. I don`t remember much... I was so tired I was falling asleep standing up. Anna was very good about getting us home in one piece. My head hit the pillow and I was out!
Next morning we had a traditional Japanese breakfast at out Ryokan. It included egg, fish, rice, and miso soup. Tasty but it had this really tiny white fishes that totally gross me out. I totally didn`t even notice that is until Anna mentioned it to the lady next to use who didn`t eat fish... Oh well... down the hatch!
Our second attempt at following a lonely planet walking tour was... well an attempt. It was suppose to be four hours... I think it took us at least eight! We did see some amazing sights including Kiyomizu Temple which had the really cool womb I mentioned in my last posting. It is nominated at one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Anna drank from this waterfall that is suppose to help with school and exams ... Go ANNA!
Then we walked down some cobble stone alleys with beautiful pottery shops. Anna got some great glasses and I got a really neat flower vase. We then had lunch at a little outdoor shop that served lots of veggies. Very tasty! Even the stuff I wasn`t even sure what it was!
We then lost the tour and found this gigantic Buddha. It was the memorial for the unknown soldier of WWII. We got incense with our admission and we put it in the huge pot. They have a LOT of incense!!! Most temples and shrines are very smelly (well, in a good way!)
After that we found the tour again and went to the park and had shaved ice and frozen coke. After that we walked about 2 minutes to this beautiful temple that we both really wanted to see... but it closed about 1/2 hour before we got there... so we broken in... well we actually went in the exit. We were able to see the main areas before they started to corral people out. We got to see most of it... whoo-hoo! We are such bad asses!
Then on the way home we found Liquor Mountain. Liquor Mountain is SO SO SO cheap. We are talking name brand stuff for less then 15 dollars a bottle!!!
We had dinner at Tomi-Zushi down a dark alley... it was in the guide book! It was SO good. I swear some of the sushi we ordered was alive when we ordered it! We just kept ordering and ordering. The sushi was melt in your mouth good! Beer and good sushi... it can`t get any betterr! Best of all, the total bill was $30!! CRAZY!
I was out like a light again... All day walking totally wore me right out.
Next morning we had a traditional Japanese breakfast at out Ryokan. It included egg, fish, rice, and miso soup. Tasty but it had this really tiny white fishes that totally gross me out. I totally didn`t even notice that is until Anna mentioned it to the lady next to use who didn`t eat fish... Oh well... down the hatch!
Our second attempt at following a lonely planet walking tour was... well an attempt. It was suppose to be four hours... I think it took us at least eight! We did see some amazing sights including Kiyomizu Temple which had the really cool womb I mentioned in my last posting. It is nominated at one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Anna drank from this waterfall that is suppose to help with school and exams ... Go ANNA!
Then we walked down some cobble stone alleys with beautiful pottery shops. Anna got some great glasses and I got a really neat flower vase. We then had lunch at a little outdoor shop that served lots of veggies. Very tasty! Even the stuff I wasn`t even sure what it was!
We then lost the tour and found this gigantic Buddha. It was the memorial for the unknown soldier of WWII. We got incense with our admission and we put it in the huge pot. They have a LOT of incense!!! Most temples and shrines are very smelly (well, in a good way!)
After that we found the tour again and went to the park and had shaved ice and frozen coke. After that we walked about 2 minutes to this beautiful temple that we both really wanted to see... but it closed about 1/2 hour before we got there... so we broken in... well we actually went in the exit. We were able to see the main areas before they started to corral people out. We got to see most of it... whoo-hoo! We are such bad asses!
Then on the way home we found Liquor Mountain. Liquor Mountain is SO SO SO cheap. We are talking name brand stuff for less then 15 dollars a bottle!!!
We had dinner at Tomi-Zushi down a dark alley... it was in the guide book! It was SO good. I swear some of the sushi we ordered was alive when we ordered it! We just kept ordering and ordering. The sushi was melt in your mouth good! Beer and good sushi... it can`t get any betterr! Best of all, the total bill was $30!! CRAZY!
I was out like a light again... All day walking totally wore me right out.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
SENS WIN! Thank you goddess of fertility
SENS WIN SENS WIN SENS WIN!!!
We went to the Kiyomizu temple and made a wish in Daizuigu Bosatsu womb... she has the power to grant any human wish... guess what we wished for!!!
It was such a breath taking experience that I forgot to wish the first time... so I had go again!
More later! GO SENS GO!!!
We went to the Kiyomizu temple and made a wish in Daizuigu Bosatsu womb... she has the power to grant any human wish... guess what we wished for!!!
It was such a breath taking experience that I forgot to wish the first time... so I had go again!
More later! GO SENS GO!!!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Hiroshima, Himeji Castle, and Kyoto
Last night in Hiroshima was the first day of their summer festival. Usually it is next week but they moved it up a week because of rain! It was a blast! Very neat to see what types of food they have for festival food... they had squid on a stick (very tasty) and hot dogs without the buns, snow cones, these egg rolls on chopsticks and various other ways to serve squid and egg. We tried a whole bunch of stuff it was really tasty. We also watched some Japanese dancing.
This morning we headed to Himeji Castle which is said to be tbe best Samari castle in Japan. You can go inside and climb the 6 floors. THey have all sorts of differnt holes in the wall that accomidated differnt weapons i.e. bow and arrows, etc. We explored this garden next door and we have tea at a formal tea ceremony (no amount of yoga could prepare me for sitting on my heels for SO long!) At the tea ceremony we met this nice couple from LA and they are staying at the same ryokan as we are.
So we just arrived at the ryokan and we are just about to head off to explore Kyoto. The ryokan is very nice they even brought us iced green tea after we arrived. We actually have a private balcony too!
Hope everything is going well over there!!! Go SENS GO!
This morning we headed to Himeji Castle which is said to be tbe best Samari castle in Japan. You can go inside and climb the 6 floors. THey have all sorts of differnt holes in the wall that accomidated differnt weapons i.e. bow and arrows, etc. We explored this garden next door and we have tea at a formal tea ceremony (no amount of yoga could prepare me for sitting on my heels for SO long!) At the tea ceremony we met this nice couple from LA and they are staying at the same ryokan as we are.
So we just arrived at the ryokan and we are just about to head off to explore Kyoto. The ryokan is very nice they even brought us iced green tea after we arrived. We actually have a private balcony too!
Hope everything is going well over there!!! Go SENS GO!
Friday, June 1, 2007
Hiroshima
I got here yesterday afternoon by train (an awesome way to travel over here!) and Anna was already off to Miyajima Island (I was suppose to go but I was booked on the milk run train from Osaka to Hiroshima...)
The hotel is amazing! I picked up the extra key, dropped my stuff and decided to go check out the city. Anna left me a note saying she would be back in town around 5pm.
I walked from the hotel to Peace Memorial Park. The park is beautiful (I took lots of photos!) I also went to the Peace Memorial Museum. Words can`t even begin to describe the unbelieveable sadness or this place... what are capable of people doing to each other.
After the museum I also saw the Children`s Peace Monument, the Flame of Peace (which will only be extinguished when there are no more nuclear weapons) and the Cenotaph. I ran into these ladies who are trying to learn English and trying to understand the word consequences. They did a pretty good job of cheering me up... they were very sweet.
Around 5, I met Anna back at the hotel! A great reunion! We went out for dinner and had a Hiroshima specialty... Okonomiyaki. It starts with a thin rice pancake on top of that they put a mound of cabbage and then noodles and then meat (mine had shrimp, squid, and pork) then they fry an egg really thin and put the pancakes/cabbage/meat layers on (pancake side up) then they flip it all over brush it with hoisen sauce (or a similar sauce) tons of green onions and then I had scallops on top of it all. It was SO good! I couldn@t eat it all though! It was a LOT of food.
I`m still experiencing some serious jet lag (India was no problem but it`s killer here) so my goal was to stay up until 10pm. I was so close... I fell asleep listening to CNN at 9:30! I was wide awake at 4am :( Anna said she was like this yesterday so hopefully tonight I will get full night`s sleep.
So today I went to Miyajima Island while Anna went to some talks. It was so easy to get to! I tool the tram to the train and took the ferry there. About an hour and I was there! I got some great high tide photos while Anna was able to get some low tide shots. I went up to the Buddhist temple it was amazing! Reminded a lot of northern India. I got a rice paddle (apparently they originate from this island) and some good fortune charms. I also got a used kimono (it was a great deal at 1050 Yen = a little less than $10) its black, cream, and brown... Very beautiful.
I met up with Anna for lunch (we ate at a 7-11!) and now she is back at to conference and I`m off to explore the temple on the corner near our hotel.
Tomorrow we are off for Kyoto! Hope everyone is doing fine!
I`m cheering for the SENS over here! Hopefully back it home we can kick some butt!!!
GO SENS GO!!!
The hotel is amazing! I picked up the extra key, dropped my stuff and decided to go check out the city. Anna left me a note saying she would be back in town around 5pm.
I walked from the hotel to Peace Memorial Park. The park is beautiful (I took lots of photos!) I also went to the Peace Memorial Museum. Words can`t even begin to describe the unbelieveable sadness or this place... what are capable of people doing to each other.
After the museum I also saw the Children`s Peace Monument, the Flame of Peace (which will only be extinguished when there are no more nuclear weapons) and the Cenotaph. I ran into these ladies who are trying to learn English and trying to understand the word consequences. They did a pretty good job of cheering me up... they were very sweet.
Around 5, I met Anna back at the hotel! A great reunion! We went out for dinner and had a Hiroshima specialty... Okonomiyaki. It starts with a thin rice pancake on top of that they put a mound of cabbage and then noodles and then meat (mine had shrimp, squid, and pork) then they fry an egg really thin and put the pancakes/cabbage/meat layers on (pancake side up) then they flip it all over brush it with hoisen sauce (or a similar sauce) tons of green onions and then I had scallops on top of it all. It was SO good! I couldn@t eat it all though! It was a LOT of food.
I`m still experiencing some serious jet lag (India was no problem but it`s killer here) so my goal was to stay up until 10pm. I was so close... I fell asleep listening to CNN at 9:30! I was wide awake at 4am :( Anna said she was like this yesterday so hopefully tonight I will get full night`s sleep.
So today I went to Miyajima Island while Anna went to some talks. It was so easy to get to! I tool the tram to the train and took the ferry there. About an hour and I was there! I got some great high tide photos while Anna was able to get some low tide shots. I went up to the Buddhist temple it was amazing! Reminded a lot of northern India. I got a rice paddle (apparently they originate from this island) and some good fortune charms. I also got a used kimono (it was a great deal at 1050 Yen = a little less than $10) its black, cream, and brown... Very beautiful.
I met up with Anna for lunch (we ate at a 7-11!) and now she is back at to conference and I`m off to explore the temple on the corner near our hotel.
Tomorrow we are off for Kyoto! Hope everyone is doing fine!
I`m cheering for the SENS over here! Hopefully back it home we can kick some butt!!!
GO SENS GO!!!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tokyo Rocks!
As some of you, who have travelled with me, know I LOVE to ride the subway (Yes, even in TO)... Tokyo is the MOTHERLAND! I was going to go with the bus tour but once I started on the subway I just couldn`t stop,,, I rode is all day long! With an all day pass for $10 I was set! My experience wasn`t as crowded as the video although there was one time where it was very packed!
As my last post mentioned I was starting the day really early and after some coffee & breakfast at local coffee shop (can you freaking believe that Starbucks here wasn`t open at 7am! Jody & Kim you feel my pain, right?) I realized nothing is open until around 9am to 10am. Well except the fish market! So I decided to go to the only thing open.
So not knowing where to go (after the subway exit) I followed I guy with a basket... because I figured if you are a guy with a basket you have to be headed to the fish market? Turns out I was right... I did get a positive sign when we crossed paths with a man, his basket and his fish. The Tsukji Market (especially early in the morning) is where all the locals and restaurants go to buy their fresh fish right from the ocean. Stepping off the subway there was a fishy smell but amazingly when you got closer to the market there was less and less smell. They had all sorts of fish and amazing amounts of things I didn`t even imagine! It was really neat to see the sushi grade tuna... I saw one place with two men sawing a huge tuna with a two handled saw (think old school lumberjack). I got some great photos!
After the Market... it was only 8:30 so I decided to walk to the Hama-riyu Gardens (most subway exits have signes in English and Japanese telling you how far in meters the tourist attractions are so I knew the gardens were walking distance). When I got there the gardens didn`t open until nine... It felt right out of amazing race when you get some place and you have to hang around outside until it opens. So I back tracked a bit to the 7-11 and bought my first drink of the day by label guessing. I figured made by coke was a good bet turned out to be cold tea! AWESOME!
The gardens are on the ocean and I believe is the only remaining garden in Tokyo that brings the sea into the garden (controlled by the tide and these fancy locks). Amazing views of the ocean and of the city. Not a lot of flowers in bloom but very beautiful trees. This place was originally a emperor`s duck hunting area (get this Dad, they used to hide in duck blinds, feed them rice to get them to come close and then catch them with a net! What do you think... would that work in Canada?) I also checked out the tea garden (which was closed) but this lady came running up to me saying excuse me, excuse me! She wanted to talk to me about my trip and where I was from. She was SO excited when I told her I was from Canada as she was just in Canada at Christmas... she went to Niagra Falls and Toronto. She went on about how excited she was that I had come to visit her country... she was even excited to learn that I knew how to use chop sticks (yes, she was an unbelievably excited lady!)
After the gardens it was getting on to 10 and it looked like the day could clear up so I figured it was the best time to head over the the Tokyo Tower. It looks like the Eiffel Tower but painted red and white. I rode the elevator to the top and the view was impressive... It was still foggy but I think (or I want to believe that I saw a bit of the Mt. Fuji) I was pretty quick with the tower... I realized I might be seeing things a bit too fast.
When I was in the garden I ran into another tourist that recommended I go to the Senso-ji temple... not originally on my list of things to do... it was the first place she recommended (so glad she did!) I stopped at the 7-11 for lunch and totally lucked out I got a chicken and a green onion rice ball (Thanks Kim for the tips!) and was a little shocked at the chocolate flavoured cold tea drink. The route to the temple was full of shopping so I picked up a few items and these yummy red bean and rice pancake cookies... you can see them making them fresh right there and they come warm. The actual temple was beautiful. I visited the main temple as well as the small on to the side that is based on your birth year. My budda had flames! I stayed here for a while and could have stayed longer but there were a few other things I really wanted to see.
After the temple I headed (across town) to a shrine for those who died in wars up to WW II. This place is where all the ashes of those who died in the war were brought regardless of the relative`s wishes. I can`t remember the name of the shrine off the top of my head but it was very beautiful and VERY big!
Next was the Imperial Palace. You can only see the outside (they only let people in twice a year for New Year`s and the Emperor`s birthday). The outside and the surrounding moat & garden were breathtaking! I got tons of photos through the rain (at this time it was POURING!) Luckily I`m not made of sugar & and I brought an umbrella.
I tried to base my day so I could end up at in Ginza as I could catch the JR Rail line to my hotel (covered with my rail pass) as my (insert quotations as I`ve still can`t find them on this keyboard!) all-day subway pass expired at 5:30pm. In Ginza, I saw the Mikimoto pearl store (the first place ever to sell pearls!) and a whole bunch of other haute-couture shore... Louis Vuitton (tons of really bags parading round this area on the high class ladies!) I went to the Sony show room which was really neat... I saw an HD video camera... and OMG it is SWEET! You can actually demo everything and the regular verus HD is completely unbelievable! I walked by and viewed the department store windows but I didn`t go in... I was pretty much soaked and not in the haute-couture shopping mood.
In my search for the Sony store, which I past 3 times (!) before I found it, I spotted a Shabu-Shabu restaurant. Highly recommended as an experiece I decided to go back after all my touring to check it out. After accidently being seated at a German resataurant (They even had pork knuckle!) I found the Shabu-Shabu place. You order at the front, I decided to go with the $50 Shabu-shabu but the host did a go job of trying to upsell me but, really, how would I know the difference between $50 Shabu-Shabu and $150 Shabu-Shabu? It was a great four-couse meal. I had this horseradish scallop thing to start (very tasty) and then some sashimi (I think that`s the right word) which was two types of raw tuna. Then it was Shabu-Shabu time! Basically you are giving a pot with boiling water and you swirl beef in the water to cook it. There are also tons of veggies and some bean noodles (you totally get to slurp the noodles!) after everything is cooked and eaten they cook some udon noodles in the water which has not become beef broth... they add salt and peper and you get a little soup. For dessert it was vanilla or green tea ice cream... I opted for green tea, I figured you can get vanilla anywhere!
I was home and in bed by eight completely exhausted! I slept until 1am (which is Noon I think?) and figured I would come and blog because I couldn`t sleep! Off to Hiroshima tomorrow!
People here are so so nice and touring around here is remarkably EASY! All the subway lines are colour coded (the trains have the colours) each station has a number each platform another number! There are signs everywhere most in English and Japanese (if you back track to the last place you saw Japanese and English and memorize the symbols for where you want to go you can make it by the Japanese only signs). They have people stationed at major metro stations and tourist attractions to help you and really so helpful... one lady got up from here post to give me directions to the metro station outside!
Okay it`s super late and I should at least attempt to sleep before I get up at 6am (luckily, it`s like getting up at 5pm right now) so I can be in Hiroshima before Noon.
GO SENS GO! We need the split! I will be sporting my SENS shirt all day! well, when it actually becomes day!
As my last post mentioned I was starting the day really early and after some coffee & breakfast at local coffee shop (can you freaking believe that Starbucks here wasn`t open at 7am! Jody & Kim you feel my pain, right?) I realized nothing is open until around 9am to 10am. Well except the fish market! So I decided to go to the only thing open.
So not knowing where to go (after the subway exit) I followed I guy with a basket... because I figured if you are a guy with a basket you have to be headed to the fish market? Turns out I was right... I did get a positive sign when we crossed paths with a man, his basket and his fish. The Tsukji Market (especially early in the morning) is where all the locals and restaurants go to buy their fresh fish right from the ocean. Stepping off the subway there was a fishy smell but amazingly when you got closer to the market there was less and less smell. They had all sorts of fish and amazing amounts of things I didn`t even imagine! It was really neat to see the sushi grade tuna... I saw one place with two men sawing a huge tuna with a two handled saw (think old school lumberjack). I got some great photos!
After the Market... it was only 8:30 so I decided to walk to the Hama-riyu Gardens (most subway exits have signes in English and Japanese telling you how far in meters the tourist attractions are so I knew the gardens were walking distance). When I got there the gardens didn`t open until nine... It felt right out of amazing race when you get some place and you have to hang around outside until it opens. So I back tracked a bit to the 7-11 and bought my first drink of the day by label guessing. I figured made by coke was a good bet turned out to be cold tea! AWESOME!
The gardens are on the ocean and I believe is the only remaining garden in Tokyo that brings the sea into the garden (controlled by the tide and these fancy locks). Amazing views of the ocean and of the city. Not a lot of flowers in bloom but very beautiful trees. This place was originally a emperor`s duck hunting area (get this Dad, they used to hide in duck blinds, feed them rice to get them to come close and then catch them with a net! What do you think... would that work in Canada?) I also checked out the tea garden (which was closed) but this lady came running up to me saying excuse me, excuse me! She wanted to talk to me about my trip and where I was from. She was SO excited when I told her I was from Canada as she was just in Canada at Christmas... she went to Niagra Falls and Toronto. She went on about how excited she was that I had come to visit her country... she was even excited to learn that I knew how to use chop sticks (yes, she was an unbelievably excited lady!)
After the gardens it was getting on to 10 and it looked like the day could clear up so I figured it was the best time to head over the the Tokyo Tower. It looks like the Eiffel Tower but painted red and white. I rode the elevator to the top and the view was impressive... It was still foggy but I think (or I want to believe that I saw a bit of the Mt. Fuji) I was pretty quick with the tower... I realized I might be seeing things a bit too fast.
When I was in the garden I ran into another tourist that recommended I go to the Senso-ji temple... not originally on my list of things to do... it was the first place she recommended (so glad she did!) I stopped at the 7-11 for lunch and totally lucked out I got a chicken and a green onion rice ball (Thanks Kim for the tips!) and was a little shocked at the chocolate flavoured cold tea drink. The route to the temple was full of shopping so I picked up a few items and these yummy red bean and rice pancake cookies... you can see them making them fresh right there and they come warm. The actual temple was beautiful. I visited the main temple as well as the small on to the side that is based on your birth year. My budda had flames! I stayed here for a while and could have stayed longer but there were a few other things I really wanted to see.
After the temple I headed (across town) to a shrine for those who died in wars up to WW II. This place is where all the ashes of those who died in the war were brought regardless of the relative`s wishes. I can`t remember the name of the shrine off the top of my head but it was very beautiful and VERY big!
Next was the Imperial Palace. You can only see the outside (they only let people in twice a year for New Year`s and the Emperor`s birthday). The outside and the surrounding moat & garden were breathtaking! I got tons of photos through the rain (at this time it was POURING!) Luckily I`m not made of sugar & and I brought an umbrella.
I tried to base my day so I could end up at in Ginza as I could catch the JR Rail line to my hotel (covered with my rail pass) as my (insert quotations as I`ve still can`t find them on this keyboard!) all-day subway pass expired at 5:30pm. In Ginza, I saw the Mikimoto pearl store (the first place ever to sell pearls!) and a whole bunch of other haute-couture shore... Louis Vuitton (tons of really bags parading round this area on the high class ladies!) I went to the Sony show room which was really neat... I saw an HD video camera... and OMG it is SWEET! You can actually demo everything and the regular verus HD is completely unbelievable! I walked by and viewed the department store windows but I didn`t go in... I was pretty much soaked and not in the haute-couture shopping mood.
In my search for the Sony store, which I past 3 times (!) before I found it, I spotted a Shabu-Shabu restaurant. Highly recommended as an experiece I decided to go back after all my touring to check it out. After accidently being seated at a German resataurant (They even had pork knuckle!) I found the Shabu-Shabu place. You order at the front, I decided to go with the $50 Shabu-shabu but the host did a go job of trying to upsell me but, really, how would I know the difference between $50 Shabu-Shabu and $150 Shabu-Shabu? It was a great four-couse meal. I had this horseradish scallop thing to start (very tasty) and then some sashimi (I think that`s the right word) which was two types of raw tuna. Then it was Shabu-Shabu time! Basically you are giving a pot with boiling water and you swirl beef in the water to cook it. There are also tons of veggies and some bean noodles (you totally get to slurp the noodles!) after everything is cooked and eaten they cook some udon noodles in the water which has not become beef broth... they add salt and peper and you get a little soup. For dessert it was vanilla or green tea ice cream... I opted for green tea, I figured you can get vanilla anywhere!
I was home and in bed by eight completely exhausted! I slept until 1am (which is Noon I think?) and figured I would come and blog because I couldn`t sleep! Off to Hiroshima tomorrow!
People here are so so nice and touring around here is remarkably EASY! All the subway lines are colour coded (the trains have the colours) each station has a number each platform another number! There are signs everywhere most in English and Japanese (if you back track to the last place you saw Japanese and English and memorize the symbols for where you want to go you can make it by the Japanese only signs). They have people stationed at major metro stations and tourist attractions to help you and really so helpful... one lady got up from here post to give me directions to the metro station outside!
Okay it`s super late and I should at least attempt to sleep before I get up at 6am (luckily, it`s like getting up at 5pm right now) so I can be in Hiroshima before Noon.
GO SENS GO! We need the split! I will be sporting my SENS shirt all day! well, when it actually becomes day!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tokyo Here I come!
Okay, so I thought it would be no problem to sleep after a 13+ hour flight and then navigating Tokyo but you know what I was WIDE AWAKE! I did my best to sleep but 5am (4pm) was all I could take so I`m the crazy early riser!
So getting in at １０pm （９am) I was STARVING so what did I have? McDonalds! It was the closest place! Honestly! and I didn`t want to be wondering the streets looking for food. In a touch of irony... I had Japanese food in the Detroit airport for lunch!
Okay it`s 6am and I`m off to see Tokyo... I believe just in time for rush hour! Check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUIVryiAGks （I would have made it a real link but I can`t find the quotation marks!) Well, I`m hoping the coffee place I spotted early will be open to avoid some of that!!
So getting in at １０pm （９am) I was STARVING so what did I have? McDonalds! It was the closest place! Honestly! and I didn`t want to be wondering the streets looking for food. In a touch of irony... I had Japanese food in the Detroit airport for lunch!
Okay it`s 6am and I`m off to see Tokyo... I believe just in time for rush hour! Check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUIVryiAGks （I would have made it a real link but I can`t find the quotation marks!) Well, I`m hoping the coffee place I spotted early will be open to avoid some of that!!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Osaka Airport!
So I`ve survived the longest flight ever! Now boarding to Tokyo! The keyboard is all messed up! It keeps switching to Japanese so I`m typing with two fingers!!
Can`t wait for sleep!
Can`t wait for sleep!
Monday, May 28, 2007
1/2 Marathon Done... Look out JAPAN!
With an official time of 2 hours and 14 minutes I'm heading off to Japan... Long flight with sore muscles for sure!
P.S. Special thanks to Beth for the post-half-marathon gummy bears!
P.S. Special thanks to Beth for the post-half-marathon gummy bears!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Japan for the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
I suppose I could have picked a worse place to be for the Stanley Cup Playoffs… they have Internet and TV pretty much everywhere but it still doesn’t look good for me to see or at least hear all the games. This is how it works out…
And I’m very sure the SENS will know that I’m there with them in spirit!
GO SENS GO!!!
And I’m very sure the SENS will know that I’m there with them in spirit!
GO SENS GO!!!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Japan Schedule & Accomodations
Japan is coming and coming FAST! So this is what our time in Japan is looking like! Check out where we are staying too! Anna booked most of the locations! GO ANNA!
Accommodations
Tokyo – Oak Hotel
Hiroshima – ANA Hotel Hiroshima
Kyoto – Japanese Guest Houses – Shimizu
Mt. Koya - Japanese Guest Houses – Sainan-in
Osaka – Capsule Inn Namba
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