This is what we should have . . .
We are going to miss this one—self-warming seat, warm water from bidet spray, self-flushing, self-deodorizer—what a treat to have especially in winter. Here are photos of our friend from Japan.
Back in Tokyo Again
Every place has its beauty and flaws. How we as tourists perceive a place depends on many factors—weather at that moment, the environment, its people, the place we stay (accommodation), where we go (attractions), time of the year, how we feel (mental, physical and/or emotion)—sometimes we come away being either too complimentarily or too critical. Often, tourists put the exotics into a place especially when they are in a tour group. We were able to sit back and watch the…
Slowing Down in Kyoto
What a difference between Tokyo and Kyoto—the change of pace is evident once one is out of the Kyoto Station and the small downtown Kyoto areas. It does not have the pace of Tokyo and shops close early, some starting at 6 pm. Kyoto’s 1.5 million people must be overwhelmed by the masses of tourists at certain time of the year. We felt the difference in the number of tourists once the cherry blossom season is over. No matter—one can…
Tokyo in a Rush
With 38 million people living in Tokyo (30% of Japan’s population), the world’s most populated city feels like it never sleeps and is in constant motion—an undercurrent of adrenaline rush. It is a shock to the system from where we come from and it takes a few days to adjust especially when using the subway system. It is good to experience the pulse of other cities and places—we become too insular if we stay too long in our little corner…
Singapore the Second Time Around
We went back to Singapore after our Malaysian trip and stayed for 12 days. Even though Singapore is a small island, we only saw a small portion of the city, barely stretched its surface. But the short stay gave us a good idea of life on this island. It is expensive place to live—especially housings and vehicle ownerships. But if one goes beneath the surface, one can still find better deals than other cities—like our $6 CAD haircut, healthy meals…
The Pearl of the Orient
Penang Island is also known as the Pearl of the Orient, Gateway to the East, and the Isle of Temples. Penang Island is less than an hour flight from Kuala Lumpur. Penang’s Georgetown and Melaka were designated by UNESCO as the Heritage Cities of the Straits of Melaka in ten years ago. Georgetown is not a pedestrian friendly city. The historical centre has narrow streets and often one has to walk on the streets with traffic zooming by—inches away. By…
Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
My elementary/primary school friend (from Grade One/Primary One)—took us to an authentic Malay lunch and then drove us around Putrajaya to get a glimpse of this federal administrative capital which was purpose-built in the mid-1990s. Everything here is grand: government buildings, monuments, public spaces. The city is a showcase of urban planning and post modern architecture—wide boulevards, unique precincts, ostentatious bridges, man-made lakes, large green spaces. Next door is its twin, Cyberjaya, where high tech and ex-pats/foreigners resides. Here are…
Chinese New Year season in Singapore
We arrived in Singapore from Taipei during the Chinese New Year festive season (Chinese New Year is technically celebrated over 15 days). We had the good fortune to celebrate the joyous season in three countries, starting in Taiwan, followed by Singapore, and finishing in Malaysia. We were in Singapore for two nights before hopping over to Kuching. We would be back in Singapore again after our Malaysian trip. We joined the festivities on the waterfront, the entrance to the Singapore…