tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491670946439367192024-03-14T03:42:11.305+08:00Travel - my loveIdea to create this blog is from a dear friend's suggestion.....Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-1560908364740439482012-08-07T22:31:00.000+08:002012-08-07T22:31:14.398+08:00Snacks to try when you are in Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Snack sampling is something for the adventurous travellers...
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Oily flat bread, appears as the big version of an indian roti. I found it too oily to try .</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy5AT56pS84UFPy_FuTu6Wpr1CdaGZB6FILoY-WfB0eD2sS1WuHM0FvyiDNTuJcTmSNCnCbDBN15flkBLFe47e3QkjF_kuJiSpgAgiOL5DS9nKCk3geagJXZiEF8iGb2Bu9SoLGahIYc/s1600/P1020212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy5AT56pS84UFPy_FuTu6Wpr1CdaGZB6FILoY-WfB0eD2sS1WuHM0FvyiDNTuJcTmSNCnCbDBN15flkBLFe47e3QkjF_kuJiSpgAgiOL5DS9nKCk3geagJXZiEF8iGb2Bu9SoLGahIYc/s640/P1020212.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>"Donkey Rolling" --I like this the most, should try.</strong></span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Another snack for the royal, nothing special.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D5rABz0aY7ulkLXc1eh8ThwjRQo5YvpfgjPWUdFTAbQKLDOWSbJ5-E4w90Gxe1I6rFtkBpy_z7zOwHDC1a-j1hnQkNocou2WmRBUb3BhIy5nqZnw9T2ujqzZ2RiwREICRdsmhsQ-zdE/s1600/P1020235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D5rABz0aY7ulkLXc1eh8ThwjRQo5YvpfgjPWUdFTAbQKLDOWSbJ5-E4w90Gxe1I6rFtkBpy_z7zOwHDC1a-j1hnQkNocou2WmRBUb3BhIy5nqZnw9T2ujqzZ2RiwREICRdsmhsQ-zdE/s640/P1020235.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Syrup coated sour plum, popular among the kids in the olden days when there were not many choices</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIfVbY7-8G-jqVrq6N8uf9xrbKOUQawCCglIRY-D3aAYaI4UF5fyw1Snj2vQ5fF7a_ZxCA4d-zf4t__A1Ex7F2l_XfaST7tr8NYz3SeJ9tY4fggK-ES3KEDzvDVpxr3XeSxj9JkV0ofo/s1600/P1020218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIfVbY7-8G-jqVrq6N8uf9xrbKOUQawCCglIRY-D3aAYaI4UF5fyw1Snj2vQ5fF7a_ZxCA4d-zf4t__A1Ex7F2l_XfaST7tr8NYz3SeJ9tY4fggK-ES3KEDzvDVpxr3XeSxj9JkV0ofo/s640/P1020218.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Yummy yogurt drink from a clay container, if melamine doesn't concern you</strong></span>.</td></tr>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-51600561192368282132012-08-02T23:23:00.003+08:002012-08-02T23:23:59.231+08:00Copper cooker for lamb steamboat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Steamboat meal is popupar in Beijing or rather the whole of China. But, copper steamboat are only found at Dong Lai Shun restaurant, a centuray old muslim restaurant which claims to serve the best lamb ever !!! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Waiting for the soup to boil , burning charcoal is added from the top opening.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRgqCd6XTFPjuKk4q59Sak2r8yJTke8Ii_wCnrG0xmap2XWYe2LJWJH_OSay5LsLat5SYUlqEUYrFEjCarTzjUc-E1-0-nepZLG80DyFt29iDD-hExkehPSMo68jGj7QzLgvgKSssY88/s1600/P1020227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRgqCd6XTFPjuKk4q59Sak2r8yJTke8Ii_wCnrG0xmap2XWYe2LJWJH_OSay5LsLat5SYUlqEUYrFEjCarTzjUc-E1-0-nepZLG80DyFt29iDD-hExkehPSMo68jGj7QzLgvgKSssY88/s640/P1020227.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>We had a very late lunch, very few customers at that time. Dinners streamed in from 5pm onwards --while we finished our late lunch.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LvtZ92Wwe3daMKB3dVNIqfjcPX4COZtVjY6f3Ds8aHKsLXNKP0TJPD7kFWk5jH_e-EjaDB8iKU5L8EKRISp1ZWwrNmNmaNgDsaUKYRZGUpTIRhSi_14kgIthATNLxW3VITjElSM1sO4/s1600/P1020229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LvtZ92Wwe3daMKB3dVNIqfjcPX4COZtVjY6f3Ds8aHKsLXNKP0TJPD7kFWk5jH_e-EjaDB8iKU5L8EKRISp1ZWwrNmNmaNgDsaUKYRZGUpTIRhSi_14kgIthATNLxW3VITjElSM1sO4/s640/P1020229.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Copper kettles, hardly found nowadays.</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy0yfeSaQfL4EdTB4mr4FY-_Gco_B6yrXXqkIJs9vPtpC8L_g7coHoAzmtIhz_rb45Rdvt2PI16FQ2kygtQ39_8WwEeWqoRE50X0X8Z_v9-kx9vTkmqLLmwpls6EBz5dL5nDKxAK0zZ4/s1600/P1020232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy0yfeSaQfL4EdTB4mr4FY-_Gco_B6yrXXqkIJs9vPtpC8L_g7coHoAzmtIhz_rb45Rdvt2PI16FQ2kygtQ39_8WwEeWqoRE50X0X8Z_v9-kx9vTkmqLLmwpls6EBz5dL5nDKxAK0zZ4/s640/P1020232.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Some of our lunch</strong></span></td></tr>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-87221514348237070242012-07-24T00:29:00.003+08:002012-07-24T21:38:00.111+08:00Beijing Marriot Hotel City Wall..rather disappointing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Travelled to Beijing last month as part of my job. We checked in to Beijing Marriot Hotel City Wall on 18June.<br />
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The moment when I checked in my room, I told my collegue that this hotel must have a low occupancy rate , as I saw a dusty plant on the writing desk. I tried to wiped it clean with a tissue and left one single leave uncleaned for the chamber miad.<br />
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But, that particular leave was still dusty on the day we checked out on 21June...<br />
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<br /></div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-16861301399679178052012-07-17T22:28:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:28:53.154+08:00Travel blog creation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Yes, I love travelling very much. This blog is created upon the suggestion of a very dear friend, who lives on the other side of globe. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Shall start to share my travelling experiences by posting my recent trip to the Kansai area of Japan. Went to Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe , each of the three cities has its own beauty and interesting stories to tell.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">This is my first time to see so many species of sakura in full bloom within just a short period of time, the beauty is just beyond speech, and I wasn't able to capture its beauty in full with my present camera skill !!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">I would say , Spring in Kyoto and Osaka is a must go trip for flower-loving travellers.</span></div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-84905919315747381922012-07-16T23:41:00.002+08:002012-07-17T22:32:00.689+08:00Nishiki market<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Going to Nishiki Market -- you may <br />
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From JR Kyoto Stn.<br />
・Ride the Subway Karazuma Line, get off at [Shijo] station then walk for 3 min.<br />
・Ride the Subway Tozai Line, get off at [Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae] station then walk for 10 min<br />
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From JR Kyoto Stn.<br />
・Take city bus route no. 5, get off the bus at stop "Shijo-Takakura (in front of Daimaru dept.)" then walk for about 2 min.<br />
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・Get off at Hankyu Kyoto Line [Karazuma] Station then walk for 3 min.<br />
・Get off at Hankyu Kyoto Line [Kawaramachi] Station then walk for 4 min<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXawcsHDKMia9gRc6MqTRDBL2EmfGv2NeSEnmV__eKQN2MRk7h9hrcl0goj5P3HnD3SP4rZxpfSEeLOzeTwVxzGj6CO5RJFRFrtGNFDaHSjjHKhBMjghpegi-lp-LYuHEfSPAxcRIMGDI/s1600/P1010365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXawcsHDKMia9gRc6MqTRDBL2EmfGv2NeSEnmV__eKQN2MRk7h9hrcl0goj5P3HnD3SP4rZxpfSEeLOzeTwVxzGj6CO5RJFRFrtGNFDaHSjjHKhBMjghpegi-lp-LYuHEfSPAxcRIMGDI/s640/P1010365.JPG" vca="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Pickled vegetables</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Puffer fish -dare uou try ?</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsc9HiatNpTPKMc1FyeBtgZoBKz3j5dQQXz0rYK-P7pXO6hFQWA5PGvo_GyEepbBD5AO0fsatdbpvW5-wQpyNoMPYoWaE0ZP4GuWN-L-qN7nli6JohrbCw3hhgue1dvFs4xHYrdY8DOc/s1600/P1010366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsc9HiatNpTPKMc1FyeBtgZoBKz3j5dQQXz0rYK-P7pXO6hFQWA5PGvo_GyEepbBD5AO0fsatdbpvW5-wQpyNoMPYoWaE0ZP4GuWN-L-qN7nli6JohrbCw3hhgue1dvFs4xHYrdY8DOc/s640/P1010366.JPG" vca="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Dried food stuff, home delivery available</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Japanese lady in traditional costume at Nishiki Market</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Squid stuffed with quail egg </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span> </td></tr>
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<br /></div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-82418607419124149742012-06-27T22:58:00.000+08:002012-07-16T23:42:38.398+08:00Beijing trip and the best Peking duck you can find !!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you are not a vegetarian, peking duck is a must try chinese cuisine when you are in Beijing . Almost every Chinese restaurant in Beijing offers Peking duck, sometimes it is referred as Peking roast duck.<br />
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Quan Ju De restaurant is one of the many chinese restaurants in Beijing that serves good Peking duck. There are at least two branches of Quan Ju De restaurant in Beijing itself -- one in WangFuJing and the other branch is located at the QianMen shopping area. <br />
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Though I'm a semi-vegetarian, I still accompanied my collegues to have an authentic peking duck dinner at the QianMen branch of Quan Ju De restaurant. <br />
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We arrived immediately after 8:30pm .. was late for the main restaurant and forced to opt for the fast food version of peking duck, where sliced duck was served in disposible plates and soup served in paper cups.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Peking roast duck served indisposible plates and soup in paper cups. The roast duck is best washed down by local Yanjing beer.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Main entrance of QianMen QuanJuDe peking duck restaurant in Beijing. Make sure to arrive before 8:30 pm ! Or just go for the fast food version of Peking duck.</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-128849325845544712012-06-10T23:10:00.001+08:002012-07-16T23:43:24.944+08:00Train ride from Cairo to Luxor, Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan during Mubarak's rule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glad that I visited Egypt long before the political unrest. If I had not done that many years ago, which was during Mubarak’s ruling, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the mid 90s, before the digital era. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly would not like to visit Egypt at this challenging period for the Egyptians.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Train ride from Cairo to Luxor, Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, Valley of the King and Valley of the Queen …Sipping a glass of chilled ruby red hibiscus drink and enjoying the sunset at river Nile, the busy egyptian bazaar in Cairo which filled with great bargains like leather goods, carpets, spices , perfume bottles and many more, are just unforgettable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And of course, there are the pyramids not to be missed. I am almost 100% sure that I must be the only tourist who visited Egypt without making a trip to the Giza pyramid. The pyramid was closed due to some security reasons on the very day that I planned my visit and I was leaving the country on the next day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I made it to Saqqara pyramid at the beginning of my trip, thinking that I should save the grand Giza and Sphinx to the last day. It thought me a good lesson since then, do not ever save the important or must see until the very last day. You will never know what is going to happen next!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I were to visit Egypt again in the future, I will make sure Giza pyramid would the number one spot to visit in my itinerary.</span></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-86099034390777462192012-06-02T00:06:00.000+08:002012-06-02T00:06:07.382+08:00Leraning to claim token from Technorati<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Claiming a token from Technorati to my travel blog needs several steps, the code provided must appear in a published post too. Here it goes....<br />
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CABN93YJECT8 </div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-33557841623909038122012-05-30T14:38:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:32:28.551+08:00Blooming sakura trees along Philosopher's path of Kyoto in April<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meditating under a cherry tree along the philosopher’s path , should be an experience of a life time. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to do it as a traveller, who is always on the move.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The philosopher’s path (</span></span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: SimSun;">哲学の道</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, Tetsugaku no michi</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) in Kyoto , is a pleasant stone path for pedestrians. It is about two kilometers long, which stretches between Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavillion) and Nanzen-ji <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temple . </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The stone path follows a canal, which is actually just a deep drain to me. Water level was not that deep during my visit in mid April 2012. Jumping across the canal, or rather the drain is certainly possible if you are a long jump athlete. Should you just miss the jump and fall into the canal, I'm sure you won't be badly injured. But, I can assure you that, other fellow Japanese travellers around , will certainly stop you from jumping, for you will very much disturb the serene environment, which the Japanese and most other travellers enjoy a lot.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hundred of cherry trees line the canal. We were just lucky enough to have come right on the blooming season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking along the path, under the cherry blossoms is such a wonderful experience. And I was not able to catch, even half of its beauty and serenity <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with my amateurish photographic skill.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The path gained its name after a famous Japanese philosopher, Nishida Kitaro, who practised meditation while walking this route to Kyoto University.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To experience the serenity of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Philosopher’s path, you can either start from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ginkaku-ji <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or from the Nanzen-ji Temple.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As mentioned in my previous post – “ There is no subway service to Ginkaku-ji Temple” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>, there are several buses that go to Ginkaku-ji. Please refer to this post for transport details for Ginkaku-ji.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you will decide to start the philosopher’s path from Nanzen-ji Temple, you may take bus No 5 or take the Tozai line subway to Keaga (T09),and walk to Nanzen-ji temple. However, I find it convenient to visit Ginkaku-ji fisrt and follow by the philosopher’s path.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Couple sharing a romantic moment</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Met no philosopher..a cool artist under a cherry blossom tree. Have you ever seen a man in purple trousers ?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Apart from cherry blossom, another type of flower in full bloom. Clusters of attractive yellow trumpets along the philosopher's path</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>I actually saw the owner feeding his doggie with fallen petals, but he didn't seem to appreciate it and kept turning his head away.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Just stunning , only when there is no rain !!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>The philosopher's path in spring is actually a lot more prettier than this photo, my amateurish photographic skill can't even capture 20% of its real beauty</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Ripe berries hanging across the clear canal. Kyoto tourism board has done a good job to keep the place and the canal in good shape.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>We ended our trip to the philosopher's path in Kyoto here,did not go to the other of the path,Nanzen-ji Temple. And walked a short distance to the main road to catch another bus to Heian Shrine.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">When trying to find out the correct bus to Heian Shrine, which is just along the same way , as with Ginkaku-ji Temple and Philosopher's path. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">We actually came across a lady from Osaka, who happened to be in Kyoto for business. Obviosly, she had no idea of the city bus system as any other tourist like myself. But, There is one thing good about the Japanese to their tourists....They will very often, try to find out the answer whenever they is an enquiry.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">This kind lady actually checked it out for us, and walked back to inform us, and at the same time made sure that we would not go to the wrong bus stop , at the opposite side of the road.</span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-47691394102162195082012-05-26T22:10:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:32:53.123+08:00There is no subway service to Ginkaku-ji Temple, kyoto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is no subway service to Ginkaku-ji. Taxi service is of course available in Japan, if money is not an issue.... A short distance of two subway stops, easily cost up to 22 USD.<br />
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Several buses go to Ginkaku-ji, like bus no 100 from Kyoto station is convenient.<br />
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Bus 5,32,202 also go to Ginkaku-ji . Most of the city buses are always packed, it may not be easy to find a seat and need to stand to the way ..We were lucky enough to find two seats.<br />
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After visiting the Ginkaku-ji, we went on to the Philosopher's path which is just next to the silver pavilion.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>The silver rooster on the roof-top of Kannon-den(Ginkaku)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Ticket to Ginkaku-ji, designed in the form of a fortune telling slip.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Around 50 meter long hedges at Ginkakuji, made of stones,bamboos and camellias bushes, lining on both sides , from main entrance to the courtyard</strong></span>.</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Stone garden</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Sand Garden</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPh-oc0W1JrnD7EOdy4pycBL3cZK6bLHRbypg5ZQiP2W7zlN9bO75pl0BccjtV287z_E7h0_0mMRiN1XFP8HyJ2__ntOBjMnGHm8_x0sQ22UogblXy4JlvbAKqm6y5o4YKbNMoMrHa0c/s1600/P1010226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPh-oc0W1JrnD7EOdy4pycBL3cZK6bLHRbypg5ZQiP2W7zlN9bO75pl0BccjtV287z_E7h0_0mMRiN1XFP8HyJ2__ntOBjMnGHm8_x0sQ22UogblXy4JlvbAKqm6y5o4YKbNMoMrHa0c/s640/P1010226.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>A corner of the garden</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>From the observatory, the highest point of the temple.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Stone staircase from the observatory</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Garden with velvetly soft grass , one or two workers are always found working quietly in different corner of the garden</strong></span></div>
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Ginkaku-ji or the Silver Pavilion temple is a zen temple in Kyoto. It represents the Higashiyama cultures of Muromachi period. The pavilion gained its name from its initial plan, to cover the temple's exterior in silver foil.<br />
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The temple was originally built to serve as a place of solitude and rest for the shogun. During Ashikaga Yoshimasa reign as shogun, he inspired another culture tradition, which later known as the culture of Eastern Mountain or Higashiyama Bunka.<br />
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It is said that Yoshimasa had been sitting and contemplating the calm and beauty of the garden, after he retired and moved into the villa. The Onin war worsened and Kyoto was burned to the ground ….<br />
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-41909605912660318222012-05-23T00:56:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:33:19.694+08:00Bamboo Forest, must not miss if you will visit Arashiyama in Kyoto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Stretch of cherry blossoms trees along the shopping street in Arashiyama. I even found cherry blossoms pickle here, wanted to buy some to have a taste,but changed my mind on second thought .. how was the collection carried out, from the fallen petals on the ground ?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Arashiyama in Kyoto prefecture, at the outskirt of Kyoto city. it certainly worth the effort to visit, though it may take much longer time to go. Apart from the Arashiyama Garden, bridge, river cruising, bamboo forest and temples. There are also hot springs (onsen) in Arashiyama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Kyoto may not be a popular spot for hot spring visit, Arashiyama should be a good spot, if you are only visiting Kansai area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pre-booking for hot spring visit is highly recommended, or you would not be accepted as a walk-in customer. Most operators offer over night stay, with meals included.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Japanese like to dress up in their traditional costumes for Sakura viewing or for travelling. I saw many locals, they could be from other prefectures, fully dressed at touristic places.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Tenryuji Temple is on the main road, the whole area is huge. We just made a short stop-over here, before proceeding to the Bamboo forest. Temple's staff ride a bicycle for their round.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Don't they look like a family of five ? These stone sculptures are found right at the fence area, outside Tenryuji Temple. There is a bus-stop nearby, where bus ride to Daikakuji Temple is available. Daikakuji Temple is far away from the main area... better view of Arashiyama from the temple apparently.</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbrBXrOvQiKD6mOXEg6KRCsmzmty999HA-gmn3NBqVk35l3D_LShX0FPsaBM342uN7GP_mf0BtNBC_2-_xU0fJQSVD9xlOr0_bsxURh_NJy4nv9a-22hqKdPYRL0fk22Sap4zo1rX3Fs/s1600/P1010169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbrBXrOvQiKD6mOXEg6KRCsmzmty999HA-gmn3NBqVk35l3D_LShX0FPsaBM342uN7GP_mf0BtNBC_2-_xU0fJQSVD9xlOr0_bsxURh_NJy4nv9a-22hqKdPYRL0fk22Sap4zo1rX3Fs/s640/P1010169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>A senior citizen home near to the Tenryuji temple. Arashiyama should be a beautiful and quiet place to retire. But not during peak travelling seasons like spring and autumn. The whole place could be just packed with tourists. Just wonder if there will be any foreigner choose to retire in Japan?</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXhJD8QWIBnTuPddsjSNkVSltU29Wnqcz05ThbHI180HpHWILpKWCnww8QHIUPV_0XVHIxneCdLmRKNsKBulnbOwEiPq1HcU07pgD9D51aJwcF2-XmNTHKyQeMRgHKG5TfNq5yb_fXSE/s1600/P1010166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXhJD8QWIBnTuPddsjSNkVSltU29Wnqcz05ThbHI180HpHWILpKWCnww8QHIUPV_0XVHIxneCdLmRKNsKBulnbOwEiPq1HcU07pgD9D51aJwcF2-XmNTHKyQeMRgHKG5TfNq5yb_fXSE/s640/P1010166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Colourful umbrellas on display, all the umbrellas were collected or all sold out ? For, there were no more on display on our way back to the station. It was raining, not long after we passed by this shop.</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznfVz3O4JPSyNYrSfWeB6-KiM781rnnF1kblx8GBBy4-39POGc6D8LZIvsJQfjyNGH_WDZUShRShwqTvIl3xbd1eXg2rdHvpv6VRU8Av3OgbDT6axuRvvMfrgYeAH0VMEKJ3iHyqpJng/s1600/P1010170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznfVz3O4JPSyNYrSfWeB6-KiM781rnnF1kblx8GBBy4-39POGc6D8LZIvsJQfjyNGH_WDZUShRShwqTvIl3xbd1eXg2rdHvpv6VRU8Av3OgbDT6axuRvvMfrgYeAH0VMEKJ3iHyqpJng/s640/P1010170.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Enough of cherry blossoms? Here are the camellia, again in full bloom.</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAkQq6XVTvrnhm1WIKqeIH1m57I62WUk0G5SuwnY7n2qWVu8pP8WJIjzGGyiT4XBIhfSe5YFNNaTw3mNYy0Bm9t2i4uxDaPg3e3ay2p_V1lcE5eP0fjd2Mg7384_oZ-Xv4IgfR6tr0qA/s1600/P1010172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAkQq6XVTvrnhm1WIKqeIH1m57I62WUk0G5SuwnY7n2qWVu8pP8WJIjzGGyiT4XBIhfSe5YFNNaTw3mNYy0Bm9t2i4uxDaPg3e3ay2p_V1lcE5eP0fjd2Mg7384_oZ-Xv4IgfR6tr0qA/s640/P1010172.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><strong>Tea house before reaching the Bamboo Forest. We would have checked it out, if we didn't have some snacks, just a short while ago. The only disadvantage of not having a tour guide, never know what to expect ahead of you!!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Cherry blossoms and Camellia welcome travellers side by side...</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Tourists on rickshaw ride, the rickshaw actually completes with a cover, passengers won't get wet in the rain, and a blanket for their legs, especially for female passengers. The driver automatically become a tourist guide cum photographer. They all know exactly the best spot for pictures</strong></span>.</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Quiet and serene bamboo forest, only if when all the visitors are gone. It was neither too busy nor too noisy during our visit....that could be due to the fact that, Japanese are generally quiet people</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnN4qosR1CxXtXv41NcOvXH7gG5sElTtE22v55vVUE86qUKBEnhfUOuqf60Jb0BtE91SrkuSN0czbtUTjg92kv0JwMQvuZJtym3iCyVWxUGIHp3OUEExfJuaXRgoITGGXg3NLjwVBmaA/s1600/P1010179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnN4qosR1CxXtXv41NcOvXH7gG5sElTtE22v55vVUE86qUKBEnhfUOuqf60Jb0BtE91SrkuSN0czbtUTjg92kv0JwMQvuZJtym3iCyVWxUGIHp3OUEExfJuaXRgoITGGXg3NLjwVBmaA/s640/P1010179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Another popular spot for wedding photo. I notice that, most of the photographers like close-up picture</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0Gv86-fvMhWcTtiq8apBuy67kB3yZquYIvXNLfrbBpngZuNqrOdAz3FrfhyrK0Q81WbKeReSOTMR3o2Sha8SmmG2OlyXgMzn_0qrBigb9BiTOQrEQZzc38NryEfJ3KhiWHSH9c086gA/s1600/P1010182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0Gv86-fvMhWcTtiq8apBuy67kB3yZquYIvXNLfrbBpngZuNqrOdAz3FrfhyrK0Q81WbKeReSOTMR3o2Sha8SmmG2OlyXgMzn_0qrBigb9BiTOQrEQZzc38NryEfJ3KhiWHSH9c086gA/s640/P1010182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Nonomiya Shrine at the end of bamboo forest. Both the Saya-Arashiyama and Toroko Saga lines stations are just a short distance away. It started to rain, immediately after visiting the shrine. All travellers, including the two of us ran over to a small house, opposite the shrine, can't remember exactly what was that. And waited patiently for the rain to stop...we suddenly realised that we had no lunch until almost 3pm. lucky enough to find a packet of biscuit in Agnes'bag. The rain lasted for quite sometimes, we could only turn our picnic sheet into a huge umbrella when it was not that heavy. </strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NLxTqyIDkVFBnWnW_59z_jfBC7x6YVznUxpYaOUj1jw3Vi8r4K0snaAPK9cmSe2UpOocF0b9QAdnxKv2persWyxuS9uYpTv4exaeBQsqv1AhPWn6-hRDHgtfRQIIOUW4E39AMP9iEDk/s1600/P1010193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NLxTqyIDkVFBnWnW_59z_jfBC7x6YVznUxpYaOUj1jw3Vi8r4K0snaAPK9cmSe2UpOocF0b9QAdnxKv2persWyxuS9uYpTv4exaeBQsqv1AhPWn6-hRDHgtfRQIIOUW4E39AMP9iEDk/s640/P1010193.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Rain washed sakura, delicate petals were found on wet pebbles covered ground, won't be muddy. It was not easy to walk around. Didn't feel like stepping on the petals at all.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Few pine trees are grown among the cherry blossoms trees. They smelled totally fresh after the rain.</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-29548039386257452032012-05-22T00:10:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:33:51.343+08:00What can you see along the GionShijo area of Kyoto ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kenninji Temple is just situated at the end of Hanami Lane, at the Gion-Shijo station area. This temple was never in our itinerary. We didn't check it out, even though it was just close by. There are really too many temples in Japan, if we will try to visit every one of them, I believe, we will need more than one whole year to complete this major task.<br />
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We also didn't take the main road , which was just packed with tourist when we were there, to return to Kawaramachi station area, we took a back lane instead. This back lane turned out to be equally interesting, and happened to encounter a lot of mini front porch gardens.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>This shop is found near to the Hanami Lane of Kyoto,which claims its business hours lasts till 26:00hrs. I initially thought, this must be the Japanese way to express their working hours, and started to pay close attention to other business hours and found out there are actually no other shops that has the same operation hours as this particular one.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Near the Gion-Shijo station</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>English road signs are available, all Japanese road signs are in Kanji, which is actually Chinese characters. At times, I even thought that I was in China, if only the Japanese will start to speak more louder.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Young rider enjoying herself on a Sunday evening, along Kamo River...I did not see other riders at this area.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Just immediately further down, I came across this sign on the river bank, it clearly states that bicycle riding is prohibited. And Japanese are highly law-abiding people , can't explain why did I still see rider, She is not a Japanese, any possibility ?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>At the river banks of Kamo river, young couples are often seen around here..both local residents and tourists like to take a walk along the river banks in the evenings. The yellow building in the backdrop is a century-old Chinese restaurant. We chose to have Japanese food anyhow,.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>It was getting dark. So, we didn't try to go over to the other side of the river. It would definitely be mush colder if we would to go very near to the water. I was feeling a bit chilly ,even though I was having my pull-over on.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>There are plenty of restaurants on Kawaramachi station area of the Kamo river. We actually had our dinner at the nearby kiyamachi street.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>A tired traveller or just another homeless local. Read an article sometimes ago, which reported that homeless people in Japan are increasing in number in the last few years, due to economy downturn.</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-42116959541555081522012-05-19T09:00:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:34:19.070+08:00Arashiyama in Kyoto. How to go ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are at least four ways,which a tourist can go to Arashiyama.<br />
First of all, the city bus from Kyoto ...If possible, I prefer not to take a bus, it could be caught in a traffic jam. And taking a train will normally miss out all these troubles.<br />
Hop on an Umeda bound Hankyu Kyoto line train from Kyoto, change train at Katsura, for Hankyu-Arashiyama line<br />
Check out the Randen-Arashiyama line, this train starts from the Salin station of Kyoto.<br />
Or, board a Saga-Arashiyama train from Kyoto station..<br />
I can't speak for other route, I took the Hankyu line, which I found it OK<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Katsura train station of the Hankyu line, transit station for Arashiyama</strong></span>. <span style="color: purple;"><strong>Station was romatically lighted in the late evening.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-60468150039110317462012-05-18T23:11:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:34:47.061+08:00Arashiyama Garden and Togetsukyo Bridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Arashiyama area is huge,one can easily spend one or two days here. Apart from the many temples, there were garden, bamboo forest and one long stretch of shopping street and the onsen . Agnes wanted to try out the hot spring (onsen). <br />
All the onsens at Arashiyama, will mostly accept customers with reservation. We started to look for one at around 4pm, all the onsens at that time , were already started to clean up for the day.<br />
I never wanted to try the Japanese onsen, for I know very well that, Japanese hot spring users enjoy themselves fully naked. <br />
Not having a chance to try out the Japanese onsen, Agnes was pretty disappointed. I suggested to just experience the hotel's in-house onsen. But, when she found out that she had to go naked to join in the other ladies, she chickened out !!<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Arashiyama garden in spring is always busy with tourists, even on a Monday morning. Most of the tourists on that day was either locals or from nearby Asian countries.</strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sCtD3gVVcM6aaMi5owUE7rLgFVfSyiH-4C_AKhPWowCUjYxHSqNmFGSH7wqkJDC7GB_cKStQLYsuEQ6hf25RVdW1T7Zw3aCXGUNTCkMfm6BWl7q5QWYZJ9W-TqqIddFv2TUIyh3dl1M/s1600/P1010117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sCtD3gVVcM6aaMi5owUE7rLgFVfSyiH-4C_AKhPWowCUjYxHSqNmFGSH7wqkJDC7GB_cKStQLYsuEQ6hf25RVdW1T7Zw3aCXGUNTCkMfm6BWl7q5QWYZJ9W-TqqIddFv2TUIyh3dl1M/s640/P1010117.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>All cherry blossoms were in full bloom. But surprisingly, there was no bees, no butterflies and not fragrant as well. No bees, does that mean there won't be any pollination ? And no cherry !!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Young bride having her wedding photos in a stunning Arashiyama garden in spring. It was pretty chilly on that day, she would just quickly put on her jacket whenever she grasped a chance.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Doves are commonly seen around cherry blossoms trees. Don't think that the tourists are feeding them, they appear well-fed anyhow. Most gardens in Kansai area are covered with pebbles and not lawn. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Public toilet under a full bloom cherry blossoms tree..Majority of the public toilets that I have visited in Japan, have been well kept, except just a few of them, which can be found at older subway stations. But, this particular toilet at the entrance of Arashiyama garden was filled with amonia gas when I visited it at the end of my Arashiyama trip in the afternoon. Was a bit disappointed !!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Another full bloom ,willow-shape cherry bloosom overlooking the Oi River at Arashiyama Garden. We planned to have a pinic under this tree before leaving this garden. However, was forced to cancel this wonderful plan, was raining in the afternoon. The well-prepared plastic sheet was used as a huge umbralla instead. And we became the most prepared tourists in Arashiyama that afternoon and attacted quite a bit of attention.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Togetsukyo Bridge , constructed above the famous Hozu River.Cruising up stream along the Hozu River should be a beautiful experience during spring and autumn . River cruising is highly recmmendated by most guide books. But, we opted it out... The bridge connects Arashiyama Garden and the shopping streets at the area.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>A monk expecting his alms at the Arahiyama Garden end of Togetsukyo Bridge, he left in the late afternoon. We didn't see him around on our return trip. Another monk that I came across , was near Kamo River in Kyoto, where there were plenty of tourists around.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>If you are too tired to walk around the area, just hop on a rickshaw , could be just another option. The driver will serve as a tour guide as well, provided that you do understand Japanese. Fees for richshaw ride is vey much dependant on the distance, that a tourist will prefer, if you are not too big-size, two persons should be able to share one.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>All richshaw drivers at Arashiyama, are young and fit, or they won't be able to take up this job at all. We were at one time, not very sure of our direction, and seek direction from one of the drivers. He just showed us the way happily, eventhough we declined his richshaw ride offer. They wear shoses made from cloth, which have the big toe and other toes separated. Could this design is for better grip, specially made for their profession.</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-68082919944737982432012-05-15T22:45:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:35:14.906+08:00Hanami Lane in Gion, Kyoto --Meet the Geisha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hanami Lane, 花見小路or rather flower viewing lane at the Gion area of Kyoto, was packed with both international and local tourists on a Sunday afternoon.<br />
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We were expecting to see, at least one geisha. However, luck was not with us. Saw no one of them. But we did see many local ladies dressed up in Kimono, only that their faces were not painted pure white.<br />
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Geisha, specially trained skillful art performers / entertainers to their patrons. They specialise in classical music and dances. They dress up in Kimono and complete with a special nape make-up during performance. The dressing up and make-up are time-consuming, which will normally takes hours to complete.<br />
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We stopped at the Kawaramachi station of Hankyu Kyoto Line, the last or rather the first stop of this line. Many other buses also stopped at Gion.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Tea house that bears the same name as this lane, we wanted to have tea here, but it wasn't open for business, even on a Sunday afternoon</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Did not see any geisha, but most local ladies around Gion on this day, dressed up in their traditional costume, Kimono. That was actually a fresh flower day ...worshippers brought fresh cut flowers to the nearby Kodaiji Temple. Also saw arranged flowers been left near the road side....</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Kimono for rent... Agnes wanted to try it out, but I wasn't keen.Just to spend hours to get-dressed and pose for a few photos</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Local tourist dressed in Kimono on a Sunday afternoon. This couple was just coming into Hanami Lane ..Looking at the cafe sign board, they could have just taken their afternoon high tea , haha....just being busybody !!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Young Japanese ladies, shy away from strangers' camera. They are gentle people, haven't seen any of these common ladies, would come up to tell a tourist off. Or, it was purely due to the fact that , they don't speak a second language, which will enable them to tell a tourist off !!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>These two young ladies were actually posing for their own photos, and we quietly joined in the fun without their consent. However, I found the colour of these two Kimonos are a bit beyond their age group. Passed down from grandma ?!</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-58354182893530584132012-05-14T00:29:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:35:41.115+08:002012 Wesak Day celebration at Santavana Forest Hermitage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It was Wesak Day Celebration at the Santavana Forest Hermitage last friday. Ling and I were invited to join in the celebration.<br />
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Activities on that day included Alms giving, Dhama Talk, Blessing, Sharing of Merits and Bathing of Little Buddha. Vegetarian lunch was served after all the activities .<br />
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We reached the hermitage soon after 9am, and the Alms giving had just completed. However, we joined the Dhamma Talk and the rest of other activities.<br />
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It was a wonderful experience, though a bit too crowded with few hundreds of devotees attending the grand celebration in Buddhish calender.<br />
Wesak Day or Vesak Day is a holy day, which signifying the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Buddha. It is observed by buddhishs around the world .<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">The Santavana Forest Hermitage , overlooking the South China Sea </span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>One quiet corner in the garden of the hermitage</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Hundred of devotees attending Dhamma talk on Wesak Day celebration</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Grand Buddha statue at the Hermitage</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Masters at Dhamma Talk</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Devotees queing up patiently for their turns to perform the " Bathing of Little Buddha" ceremoney</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Getting ready for the "Bathing of the Little Buddha" ceremony, highlight of the Wesak Day celebration.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>"Bathing the Little Buddha" ceremony in process</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>The "Little Buddha" used for the ceremony</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Devotees with happy smiling faces</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Simple ,yet strng zen feeling foral arrangement </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Another floral arrangement, was informed that the flower were from the hermitage's garden</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Huge urn in front of the grand hall, yet to find out if this is a bronze urn !!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong> Devotees leaving the grand hall after Dhamma Talk and "Bathing of Little Buddha" ceremony </strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_bwo435gTEBiPJfw0-SKVX1uPoqxAAldaZAUEt7smsk4K6KIDvFhAZnXiDMuCa9IsMXzZ28gZVK_bGJ1lAsYQK5idsFf1xPMMJJDYYwzyxUGsPSjXMYdRY56JXY8hDeqZpcRobxiiRw/s1600/P1020149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong><img border="0" dba="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_bwo435gTEBiPJfw0-SKVX1uPoqxAAldaZAUEt7smsk4K6KIDvFhAZnXiDMuCa9IsMXzZ28gZVK_bGJ1lAsYQK5idsFf1xPMMJJDYYwzyxUGsPSjXMYdRY56JXY8hDeqZpcRobxiiRw/s640/P1020149.JPG" width="640" /></strong></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>View from the Santavana Forest Hermitage</strong></span></div>
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Santavana Forest Hermitage is located at the Tuaran district of Sabah, about 30 to 45 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu.</div>
<img height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dgRHP1q-gywHk1fF3Fr8fcoKxyFTeX3mSy2243-AFaKXAjzxWyOzQUX7ihsZeNwhCz_xZpT0aQKJu82b8Q3ZYuiQpgAuihzhfDnuNrexEWtJcTwO1MzXRDGet4CSPzhmFaLV-mJfETY/s640/P1020138.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 648px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 6029px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /></div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-18481298924632348442012-05-14T00:27:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:24:23.433+08:00Fushimi Inari-Taisha of Kyoto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Fushimi Inari-Taisha was not in my original itinerary, but both Agnes and I found it quite interesting after checking it out on Michelle's photoes at the last minutes.<br />
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There are two types of transportation that I know of that will bring us to the shrine; JR Nara line at Inari station and Keihan Electric Railway Main Line and stop at the Fushimi-Inari Station. We used the later, not that it was more convenient, it was just because JR is not included in the day pass.<br />
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I did not try to find out if it is within the bus route, saw no bus-stop neither around the shrine or the train station.<br />
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Though it was not planned initially, it turned good !! We bought quite a bit of nuts and dried fruit from a stall , just before the long line of torri. And found out later from the vendor himself, most of the dried fruit were actually imported from USA, New Zealand ,Canada and the Philippines. When we decided to buy, we really thought that theses were actually Japanese local dried fruits !! However, he was honest enough to tell.<br />
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To be able to walk all the way to the inner monastery, under the long line of torri , would be a wonderful experience. We opted it out , or we would need a whole day at this shrine. If we didn't spend too much time at the shopping street before the shrine , we could have more time to visit the inner shrine. Just curious what is there to see over there ??<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">Chopsticks shop on the way to Fushimi Inari Taisha</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">BBQ Quails, Japanese like to BBQ or they will have it raw. However, it wasn't that smoky around this shop.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Cleaning up before entering the shrine, we also just joined in for the fun of it. Water was cold during spring time .</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Main Entrance to the shrine, guarded by two foxes holding keys in their mouths</strong></span> </div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>One of the two foxes at the main entrance to Fushimi Inari Shrine</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Monk or work form the shrine , preparing the bamboo(I think) scroll for sunning, Prayers are offered a fee. Prayer fees displayed on white board .</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Prayers for Good Health, Happy Marriage, Good Luck, Safe Journey, Prosperous Business -- 3000 yen and above.</strong></span> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">Coins will be thrown in the gully-shape structure in front of the prayers, follow by clapping hands and ringing the bells.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Another fox near to the shrine . All the cherry blossoms within the shrine garden were in full bloom during our visit</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Fortune-telling slips left behind by worshippers</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Huge number of torri lining the footpath to the inner shrine or monastery behind the main shrine. According to a tour guide , which we happened to hear about, this place is a popular spot for movie filming.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Each of the torri was donated by individuals or companies, donors details, which include the year of donation and their names are all found on the torri itself.</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-37602735856109322562012-05-10T13:26:00.001+08:002012-07-17T22:25:14.789+08:00Horrible experience at KLIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Landed at KLIA late at night by MH 2631, 11pm on 11April 2012, for my connecting journey to Japan the following day. No hassle at Custom clearance, proceeded smoothly to baggage claim. And that was a pretty long wait, considering there were only a few flights at that time, Kuala Lumpur International Airport was not busy at all at that time.<br />
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My bag came finally, with a torn handle . The baggage <span style="background-color: yellow;">claim</span> department then advised me to report to Baggage Services (Lost and Found Office) of Malaysia Airlines. The officer on duty said that it was only a small damage and their repair service contractor would not be able to do any repair within a short period of time. But, the office would provide me with a damage report and advised me to make a claim from my travel insurance . Left with no choice, I could only accept their advice and waited for the damage report , which was just a standard computer- print out with no signiture of any sort .<br />
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OK, I have a report now . But, what was I suppose to do with this torn bag ? Would not be able to lift it without the help of a handle, though I could still pull it !! I, hence requested the officer in charge of my report to look for a string or something which I could tie around the buckle ring. So, I could at least still be able to use the torn bag for the rest of my trip.<br />
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To my horrible surprise, I was informed that there was not a single string or a rope or anything of that sort , which can tie . And the officer keep emphasizing , the office is only a service department , which does not offer any other assistance other than report service. <br />
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Of course, I wasn't satisfied about the official standard reply, tried my luck with another officer ...don't be surprise if I was given the same answer again. <br />
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OK, I told both the officer ....it is impossible for a baggage department, not even able to provide a string or rope of any kind. And, I insisted that they would have to think of a way for me. I even offered to go to the back office to search for one on my own. Of course, I was denied entry .<br />
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Could not stand this kind of service any more, decided to raise my voice and continued with my complaint. They have no choice, one of the two officers , finally and reluctantly came out with a hard plastic yellow band, which is a common item in all airports. <br />
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He "helped" with the tying up. But, the yellow band is so hard and it was hurting so much , when it was used as a handle. I later suggest to have the yellow band "handle" wrapped with fragile tape and followed by cling film .<br />
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However, no further excuses were given !!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">the result after much arguements</span></strong> </div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-13941061495320991402012-05-09T23:01:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:25:48.680+08:00Dinner at Dotombori<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We had been walking and eating a lot on this day, and this is our 7th meal, all snacks inclusive !!<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Sushi at Dotombori , Osaka are super fresh !!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>BBQ giant crab legs. Ok, not that great as I had expected !!</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Was sitting right in front of this live fish , had difficulity understand the japanese menu. This chef spoke some English, it would have been very difficult to order for our dinner without his help .</strong></span></td></tr>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-30419725536244382212012-05-08T23:38:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:26:20.741+08:00Dotombori at night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Osaka is well known for its food, and Dotombori is the place where tourists and locals alike will find great food of Japan at this street. Dotombori is in the Namba area of Osaka, a single street with famous restaurants on both sides. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was packed with tourists when we were there, who are easily recognized by their cameras in hands. We haven't a chance to re-visit during day time; I believe it should be equally busy.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mechanical signs are gigantic and brightly illuminated ….Giant crab with moving legs is one of the main attractions, most official brochures and guidebooks to dotombori that I had come across , are featured by the picture of this giant crab. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>The famous giant crab with moving legs that can be found in every guide book and brochure of Osaka</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Was looking for Meiji chocolate for Jackie,the very moment I stepped onto Osaka ground . When I first saw this restaurant, really thought this could be the place for it . It failed me of course !!</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Actual size plastic food models on display in front of most restaurants, a great help for tourist like myself, for I know no more than 10 japanese word.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Squid is commonly used in japanese cuisine</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Puffer fish lantern --dare you try the puffer fish?</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSAFAgwM_ukREt3uxg3spC3aR7AMJ7XfY5QJ34JDZYiAJHmwt8sBCpilApN99bNx0ZBrhICxyDxhbty9WlZO3RJl0L4rr7jNm4ojdxKt1diLiEZl8y5o_7-Fg7LnZwHBAxX-p_-2B3bs/s1600/P1010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSAFAgwM_ukREt3uxg3spC3aR7AMJ7XfY5QJ34JDZYiAJHmwt8sBCpilApN99bNx0ZBrhICxyDxhbty9WlZO3RJl0L4rr7jNm4ojdxKt1diLiEZl8y5o_7-Fg7LnZwHBAxX-p_-2B3bs/s640/P1010007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>3D golden dragon</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Packed with local and international tourists </strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpwh4kc3WMmuYo1znzNZ-XwXI-eDxEKxU1uB2QVvNRGhyO2ntwrnZHt82bHr_HAIFfA783zon8NIBgmgfo8ioU7zdLNdC3nOXHYNoLbEsKwDnIQhIghHuY6zaS1kVWJ1YH6Q4S9FEwhM/s1600/P1010009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpwh4kc3WMmuYo1znzNZ-XwXI-eDxEKxU1uB2QVvNRGhyO2ntwrnZHt82bHr_HAIFfA783zon8NIBgmgfo8ioU7zdLNdC3nOXHYNoLbEsKwDnIQhIghHuY6zaS1kVWJ1YH6Q4S9FEwhM/s640/P1010009.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Kuidaore Taro-- the mechanical clown drummer, always surrounded by keen tourists who wish to have their photos taken together with him ...I waited for quite sometimes before I finally found him "free" from visitors.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Taro cards fortune telling , business looked good !</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-47577840649266970802012-05-07T23:28:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:26:58.925+08:00Osaka Castle (天守閣Osaka Castle Museum)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Osaka Castle, </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">one of the most famous Japanese castles which played a major role in the unification of Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the 16<sup>th</sup> century. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The main tower, Tenshu-kaku (</span></span><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "PMingLiU", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">天守閣</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Osaka Castle Museum)</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;"> is constructed on a plot, roughly the size of one square kilometer on raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer wall of cut rocks by Burdock Piling technique.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;">Most people will make a combined visit to Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park, and we did the same. The park charges no admission fee. However, entrance to the main tower- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tenshu-kaku (</span></span><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "PMingLiU", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">天守閣</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Osaka Castle Museum)</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;"> costsl 600 yen for adult.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tenshu-kaku</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;"> is a building of five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, the building overlooking inner and outer moats. The moats are dried up during our visit, no idea if all the moats are dry during other seasons as well.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Historical artifacts are displayed from 2nd floor to 7<sup>th</sup> floor. 8<sup>th</sup> floor serves as an observation deck which offers magnificent panoramic view of the whole of Osaka city.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>At the gate area</strong> </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3ReYzOMexHQHQtS4ALMF3S09qQP7oBpJkyuXZ0OsYl_1aEKSaxwtZj3syjk6NHizJ57awiiC0mF8gZioOVQCKMwmRx-5L4oM1eLbmys8OvlhQRjtJM8YAlH_3rCrewy0uKwBdbjz0Fk/s1600/P1000973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3ReYzOMexHQHQtS4ALMF3S09qQP7oBpJkyuXZ0OsYl_1aEKSaxwtZj3syjk6NHizJ57awiiC0mF8gZioOVQCKMwmRx-5L4oM1eLbmys8OvlhQRjtJM8YAlH_3rCrewy0uKwBdbjz0Fk/s640/P1000973.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Dried moat around the castle</strong></span></td></tr>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-68843061980929218972012-05-07T16:14:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:27:40.741+08:00Osaka Castle Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Osaka Castle Park, a public urban park which lies on the south of Okawa river . It <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is the second largest park in Osaka city . There is no admission fee to Osaka Castle Park.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Temmabachi <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tanimachi Yonchome , Osaka Business Park and Morinomiya stations on the Oskaka subway network and Oskajokoen station of the JR Osaka loop line are all near to the park.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Seasonal flower for sale under full bloom cherry blossom tree</strong></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dLM7PcPiGX_ntJrIRtfX2NIuGu9bYNekhyphenhyphenM2i68SyQC0fFBLMkboKs7AeRHN0yqEblKLp3xLO4kjy8IjCwq1P_mqIUOP5Txtlj2gh90wJZrCdXycVH6vQ9I7BfHCCoIRd6HkTbEPLkg/s1600/P1000942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dLM7PcPiGX_ntJrIRtfX2NIuGu9bYNekhyphenhyphenM2i68SyQC0fFBLMkboKs7AeRHN0yqEblKLp3xLO4kjy8IjCwq1P_mqIUOP5Txtlj2gh90wJZrCdXycVH6vQ9I7BfHCCoIRd6HkTbEPLkg/s640/P1000942.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="color: purple;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Flight of stairs leading to castle</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8RBCGiuMwdOaeJkeNKrWBwuf6W5vfMqzbK3XeCUtbNdzQFBzMQGheeJqmR2vCqETwetrhT8w4NsSxNsJ9bN8i8ifAVJ7iPPRx9YTdrayPzeBKzT394y16xf6361nlRWZoD_L9SVmhVg/s1600/P1000946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8RBCGiuMwdOaeJkeNKrWBwuf6W5vfMqzbK3XeCUtbNdzQFBzMQGheeJqmR2vCqETwetrhT8w4NsSxNsJ9bN8i8ifAVJ7iPPRx9YTdrayPzeBKzT394y16xf6361nlRWZoD_L9SVmhVg/s640/P1000946.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Fallen sakura petals covering the whole area, a strong zen feeling</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"> </span><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Groups of picnickers enjoying themselves under full bloom cherry blossoms trees . Japanese are basically quiet people, they don't make a lot of noise in the public</strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Along the walkway to Osaka Castle</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>A close-up view of Osaka Castle</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>One of the four gates to the castle</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Pigeons are well-fed by park visitors. Pigeons are often seen in the park area and they all look healthy and strong.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">Osaka Castle from near</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amateur </span></span> performer entertaining the crowd. In</span><span style="background-color: white;"> order to be able to fully enjoy the performanace.</span> </span><span style="background-color: white;">understanding of the japanese language is a must.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cherry blossoms viewing is popular in spring, we were just in time to join in the fun. </span></span></div>
</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149167094643936719.post-4088030511281785282012-05-06T21:35:00.000+08:002012-07-17T22:28:19.820+08:002012 Spring in Japan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Spring in Japan has been delayed this year, so is the cherry blossoms blooming time. But,it was just perfect time for us, we arrived in Osaka on 13 April, just the correct timing, if we were to arrive one week earlier, we could only see the buds and few blooms, and if we were one week later, most blossoms would have fallen.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Sakura in full bloom </strong></span></div>
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Of course, apart from cherry blossoms, we also saw lots of flower of the temperate climate......<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">No idea if this is purple leaves or purple flowers</span></strong> </div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Peony, found at someone's backdoor near Gion,Kyoto</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Another species of cherry blossom at Arashyiyama, Kyoto </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"> <strong><span style="background-color: white;">Willow-like sakura tree in front of Heian Shrine ,Kyoto </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>Line of full bloom cherry blossoms outside Osaka Castle where Japanese enjoy themselves in Saturday afternoon.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;">Small patch of tulip at the Path of Philosophy , Kyoto</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong> A corner of the Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Park, Osaka. Expo'90 commemorative park</strong></span></div>
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</div>Travellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00812892218213582447noreply@blogger.com0