Toilet theme restaurant

I am always amazed how Taiwanese are imaginative when it comes to foods. But this one is really beyond my reasonable imagination: Toilet theme restaurant in 西門町 in Taipei.
Tables, plates are all toilet themed. I almost doubted whether the food are. Somehow related but no no, How I dare to ask?!

Yayoiken & Ootoya (Home cooked style Japanese food)

Japanese food is not all about Sushi, Sashimi, tempura, ramen. Most of the so called home made food set consists of rice/miso soup/ main dish of one or two. As a native Japanese, I cannot help but to try out those home made food once in a while even outside Japan. And is widely available nowadays especially in South East Asia. I will nominate two of such restaurant run by a large chain store.

1st up: Yayoiken(やよい軒), located in basement of Liang Court next to Meidiya supermarket. sets are available from 15-20SGD.
2nd up: Ooto ya(大戸屋), located on 8th floor in Orchard Central. Price range 15-25SGD per set.

Lion Dance

Lion dance troop came to our condo for CNY annual visit.

My favorite Unagi outlet (Singapore & Tokyo)

One of my favorite dishes from childhood have been Unagi (eel) Kabaysku or Donburi. Though I tried several versions in some cuisine, nothing can beat the Japanese version!

First up to try, if in Singapore, is in Chikuyotei (竹葉亭), either at Intercontinental Hotel(1F) in Bugis or at Japanese Association(4F Akane Restaurant) in Adam Road. Both serve the Unagi Kabayaki set at 50SGD. Sound expensive but good ones comes with price tag.

Second up is in Tokyo. My most favorite one is just a few minutes walk from JR Koenji station, Suekawa (寿恵川). As most Unagi shop there is three class to choose from: 松(Pine)、竹(bamboo)、梅(plum), in expensive order. The more expensive the more amount of Unagi included.

Third up is noboritei (登亭). It is a fair 3 min walk eastward from JR Shinjuku station south exit, near the crossing to Meiji dori.

The first photo is the 松 course in 登亭, second one is set for 梅 and third is at 竹葉亭in Japanese association.

New style lift

I may be a late follower on technology, despite the fact that I do make my living in the very industry, but anyway I am still struggling with this lift that I use everyday to reach my office: I need to press the floor which I want to reach before embarking. So once I get on board, there is no change of plan, unless I abort my trip on lift. Photo shows the number type keyboard on each floor and how inside the lift looks like.

First I thought these kind of new stuff comes out in developed countries, but the reality seems to be quite the contrary; the first such kind of lift I encountered was at Hanoi Vietnam.
I so far have not identified such lift either in US, UK, Australia or in Japan.

MRT in Singapore

MRT or mass rapid transport system is seen in many developing economies to serve for fast growing need for carrying commuters from newly developed suburbs to CBD. Singapore has created the system decades ago and is maintaining in good shape. I am closing my eyes for the recent accident that halted the car for hours; well, at least it did not claim for casualty of life!

Though the technology can overcome most issues, there is one thing that is beyond control: passengers' good manner. I find most Singaporean behave quite well, such as giving up seats to elders, disabled, pregnant women etc. I so far do not hear of any perverts touching women and sexually harassing, as often notoriously heard in trains in Japan, or drunken adults hovering around annoying other passengers as often seen in London tubes. However I sometimes encounter unpleasant smell on train. In fact this sometimes occurs on taxi as well. I suspect some people do not bother to take shower therefore radiating a fantastic strong nose-pain smell!!

2012 Yusheng (LoHei)

What is YuSheng (LoHei)? I had the same question, until I witnessed people in Chinese restaurant poking and raising the salads with their chopsticks. 
I will leave the detail description to the wikipedia, but in a nutshell, this is a ceremony for Chinese New Year to wish for wealth etc by having this mix of salad and salmon with the chopstick raising ritual.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng

Now I will show you how the YuSheng is prepared:

ANA/ Star Alliance Gold Lounge

Lounge in Haneda (International Terminal) plays an important role: most flights depart/arrive early in morning or late at night therefore gives frequent travelers such as myself hard time looking for place to rest. This ANA/Star Alliance lounge fulfils most of our need, as it provides dining, shower, internet access etc.

Kakiyasu Dining (Japanese Buffet restaurant Yokohama)

There are heaps of all you can eat type buffet in Tokyo/Yokohama, not only in Other Asian cities (Singapore)

A lot of my favorite sites are in Yokohama. First up is 'Pastel' in Yokohama Bay Sheraton hotel 2F. My family have been using here for quite a while.
Second up is Kakiyasu Dining buffet in B2F of Soutetsu Joinus. The restaurant is run by a popular Japanese Food outlet shop in major department basement floors (デパ地下), Kakiyasu dining.
The photo image is one of outlet in department store in Greater Tokyo area.

Spa in Tokyo

As a diligent?! Spa fan, I have tried as much local spa as possible whenever I travel. Sadly there are none in Singapore. The closest I can think of is in mountainside of Kota Kinabaru in Borneo island of west Malaysia.

Speaking spa, Japan has many nice spa, natural or artificial. Let me introduce some in Tokyo as a starter.

When you arrive in Haneda airport early in the morning and looking for a place for shower but do not have access to the airport shower facilities, how about trying the Heiwajima Onsen Kua House (平和島温泉クアハウス) www.heiwajima-onsen.jp/? If accessing by trains or bus, you take the Keihin Kyuko line towards Shinagawa and alight at Omori Kaigan (大森海岸) station and walk ten minutes or take a bus to Bigfan Heiwajima.
This place is open almost 24 hrs and would charge you 1200-1500JPY per entry for max stay of 5 hrs. They will provide towel shampoo etc. I recommend this place if you are looking for any place to relax and fresh up before/after Haneda Airport.

Another nice spa is Tokyo Dome Laqua. www.laqua.jp/
This is located just aside the Tokyo Dome. They are almost open for 24hrs, and charge 2625-JPY per entry. The facility is more advanced than the Heiwajima one and provide lots of massage service, eating area. Situated in the middle of Tokyo, it provides all the relaxation option that most busy adults would hope to enjoy.



Ooedo onsen hakubutsukan (大江戸温泉博物館) in Odaiba (お台場) is another nice candidate for spa, but in my opinion, this is more lean to amusement of the old Tokyo (Edo) feature.

Photo is a screenshot from Laqua looking out towards Tokyo Dome

Gong Cha (Taiwanese Tea outlet in Singapore)

One of my favorite soft drink outlet in Singapore is Gong Cha (貢茶). The variety, the taste, quality of drink is supurb (much much better than Starbucks or any equivalent coffee house). The queue speaks itself of how people in Singapore support the service.

                                                                      (Shop Plaque in Marina Bay branch)

                                                                    (Queue in front of shop in City Hall branch)

Shinjuku Gothic theme restaurant (Sumire no Tenmado, Christon Cafe)

Having a wife with enthusiastic Gothic theme hobby, there is no doubt that she would request to visit those hidden Gothic theme restaurant. So here we go. First up is "Sumire no Tenmado (すみれの天窓) in the famous Golden Gai (ゴールデン街) in Shinjuku 3 Chome area. The town itself is crowded with various small bars, ranging from gay bar, Okama bar, Karaoke bar, small standing bar, etc...

                                                                        (Bar counter)

                                                                      (Tim Burton's graffitti?)

Next up is Christian Chapel style bar in Shinjuku 3 Chome area, along the Yasukuni Tori (靖国通). The name is Christon Cafe (キリストンカフェ). Though the name is cafe, but it is actually a restaurant with various western dish, pasta, meat etc.

                                                      (Restaurant view from entrance)
You should especially try the Paeria with boiled shell on a blue rice.

China Town/ Korean Town in Tokyo Metropolitan Area

China Town/ Korean Town in Tokyo
Yokohama is famous for its largest China Town in Japan, whereas Okubo/Shinjuku-ku Tokyo is famous for the Korean community, which is also like a Korean Town. The distinct difference between both town, in my opinion,  is what kind of audience is attracted. China Town is more for tourists especially Japanese, whereas Korean town is for the local Korean community.

                                                            (China Town restaurant on Chinese New Year Eve)

                                      Major Discount Shop chain Don Xiote in Korean Town area (Shinjuku/Okubo)

Coming back from Taiwan just recently, China town did not attract my interest so much. However Korean town has dragged my attention to a great extent. During my 5 days stay, I already stepped in twice to a local Korean BBQ restaurant.

                                                                     (Korean BBQ "Sam Gyop Saru" Pork Steak)

Mitsui Garden Hotel Italia-Gai (Hotel with big bath in Tokyo)

One of the fun stuff I always look forward to trip to Japan is the hot bath.As for trip to Tokyo, Mitsui Garden Hotel Italia-gai in Minato-ku is the hotel with a large size bath space available for guests. It is situated in between Shinbashi (新橋) station and Hamamatsucho (浜松町) station of Yamanote line (山手線) in a newly developped Italia-gai (イタリア街)

(image of Italia-gai)

I stayed here for 5 nights, and had fairly nice experience. The hotel room is equipped with study desk, double size bed, and all the standard facility. Per night stay may go up above 10,000JPY, but would recommend this as above standard per price.

Singapore Airlines Changi Airport T3 Star Aliance Gold Member Lounge

Since I achieved the Gold Status of Star Aliance, my business trip spree suddenly stopped. So it took a while to taste what is like to be a privileged member of Star Alliance. For your info, i have been a Sapphire member of One World for quite some years. Anyway, it
was my first time to check out the Star alliance Gold Lounge in Changi Airport Terminal 3. My impression? Not so fancy. I was hoping something like the one in Narita Airport Terminal 1 star alliance lounge run by United Airlines or Japan airlines lounge in Narita terminal 2, or the Premier club lounge in Taipei Taoyuan airport.

Pictures are photo of Premier Club Lounge in Taipei Taoyuan airport

Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku

My debut for life journal in Year 2012! I will try to share my past travel/daily experience as much as possible. Now I am traveling to Tokyo on my business trip. This time I have decided to stay in a hotel in Okubo area of Tokyo. Okubo is famous for Korean community, with lots of Korean restaurant. But to my surprise I was amazed how this place is conveniently located in the middle of Tokyo (next station to Shinjuku). 
I have chosen a foreigner friendly service apartment type hotel, Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku.
http://www.hundredstay.com/
I booked via Agoda ( http://www.agoda.com/ ) and only cost 12000JPY (155USD) for two person. They have laundry room, gym, spacious lobby space, and a breakfast area. Another unique feature is the rooms on the top two floors. They have spacious (over 50SQM) special rooms with kitchen, dining tables and specially designed bathroom with a great view of the city of Tokyo.

                        (a view from my room looking outside toward West Tokyo area, seeing Mt Fuji in the background)

                                                                             (Hotel Dining and Sofa area)

                                                                             (Hotel entrance)