[Travel Log - Japan] Day 3: Kyoto

Click here to read from the first post of this travel log!😊

Day 3: Kyoto

15 June 2019, Saturday

With our one day bus pass on hand, we were ready for our day in Kyoto. 

Kinkaku-ji Temple

Map: 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan

I was really excited about the Arashiyama bamboo forest, so we headed towards Arashiyama right after, but before that, it was lunch break!

Oku-no-niwa （奥の庭）

Map: 31 Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8384, Japan

My dad by then was already quite tired out so he was hanging around the station while I rushed around with excitement, but... 

Sometimes, things don't go quite as expected... 

So turns out, I mistook the Bamboo Forest (on the map) for the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove... 😭

I suppose this is just a very small replica of the actual bamboo grove.. SOB

It was already late in the day, and the actual grove was quite a distance away from the station, so.. that's for exploration in the near future if I get to go back again. 😔

McDonalds' for Dinner! Well well, different country sells different menu right. 😇

Next post: [Travel Log - Japan] Day 4: Kyoto to Osaka
Previous post: [Travel Log - Japan] Day 2: Osaka - Nara - Kyoto

[Travel Log - Japan] Day 2: Osaka - Nara - Kyoto

Click here to read from the first post of this travel log!😊

Day 2: Osaka ⮞ Nara ⮞ Kyoto 

14 June 2019, Friday 

Making the most of our short getaway, we decided to stop by Nara en route to Kyoto. 

大阪から京都へ行く途中で、奈良へ行った。

Most stations in Japan have a locker area that you can store your luggage/bulky items so it makes it really convenient to do stop-overs while travelling from one point to another in the country (I did that in my Fuji trip as well!).

Kintetsu-Nara Station (Map) 

Nara - The town of deers 🦌

Kōfuku-ji

Map: 48 Noboriojicho, Nara, 630-8213, Japan

Just walking distance away from the Kintetsu-Nara station is the Nara Park that houses several religious buildings. For us, this was pretty much all we could do in Nara as it was just a stopover.  

Yamato An Kintetsu Nara

Map: Japan, 〒630-8215 Nara, Higashimuki Nakamachi, 4 2F

An early dinner at the station's shopping street before continuing on our journey to Kyoto!

Mimaru Kyoto Horikawa Rokkaku

Map: 249 Tsuboyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8255, Japan

Our accommodation for 3d2n... I remember this to be quite a distance from the train station, but it was a really nice and quiet neighborhood to be in. 

Next post: [Travel Log - Japan] Day 3: Kyoto 
Previous post: [Travel Log - Japan] Day 1: Singapore to Osaka 

[Travel Log - Japan] Day 1: Singapore to Osaka

Day 1: Singapore to Osaka

13 June 2019, Thursday

2010 was the year I got to travel to Japan for the very first time and visited Osaka (part itinerary for 3d2n) with the whole family... That trip was so epic because we spent most of the time underground at Namba Station. 

I got to explore Osaka a little more in-depth in 2013 when my 2nd sister took me on my graduation trip (just the two of us as it was a graduation & V6 concert trip).

Fast forward 6 years, I get to bring my parents back to Osaka and re-explore the area. 

Ebisu Bashi-Suji Shopping Street

Map: 4, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0076, Japan

By the time we settled into the hotel, it was already night time, hence we decided to take a chill walk around the vicinity to look for dinner.

私たちホテルにチェックインした後で、もう夜だ。晩御飯を探しに近くに歩いた。

The iconic crab and Glico man!

Next post: [Travel Log - Japan] Day 2: Osaka - Nara - Kyoto 

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2021

あげましておめでとうございます！新年快乐！Happy New Year! 

Its yet another year, the year of the Ox. Today is the 10th day of the Lunar New Year and I had been thinking that it would be interesting to document the tradition that my family goes through on the 8th of every Lunar New Year (for praying at midnight of the 9th).

农历正月初九：拜天公 (9th day of the Lunar New Year: Praying to the Heaven God)
Full detailed explanation (in mandarin) on the whole custom can be found here. 

On the 8th day of every Lunar New Year, my mother would be extremely busy with the preparations of all the necessary offerings. Preparing the boiled eggs, cooking the fish, making sure she gets the sugar cane, folding of the incense paper... etc... etc... 

The emergency squad (aka me & le sisters 😄) is usually self-activated on the night of the 8th day to finish with the folding of the incense paper, and the making of the incense paper lotus. (I'm usually just in charge of folding though) 

Past midnight (when its officially the 9th day of the LNY), my daddy would throw two coins to see if we were allowed to end the whole prayer and proceed with the burning of these offerings. 

That's pretty much the custom that we follow every year. 😊

MaplestoryM - Kerning Tower Floor 50

あけましておめでとうございます！🎉

Happy 2021. May the new year bring good health, happiness & and end the corona pandemic! 

Onto my MSM updates:

I finally... finally cleared KT50~! [screaming internally 🙌]

 

I can retire from the game in peace (who am I kidding, but who knows 😏). 

Christmas 2020

It's the last week of December... もう12月の最後の週。。。

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! メリークリスマス～！🎄

Last Wednesday, my friends and I took a break from work and went on an 'excursion' to River Safari. At that gathering, we did our Conspiracy Santa gift exchange but the gift for me wasn't ready yet. Turns out, they got me a snack box from Munchees!

先週の水曜日、友達と一緒に休みを取ってリバー・サファリへ行った。その時、友達とクリスマスプレゼントを交換した。スナックの箱もらった！😋

Have always wanted one of these... hahhaa

ずっとからこの箱を注文したかった。。😂

In the spirit of Christmas, I attempted making 'Potato Dauphinoise' today, and I'm glad it turned out well. 😍

今日はクリスマスのでポテトの料理を作った。。。美味しかったよかった。。。👏