Going hyper at HyperJapan!

Yesterday I ventured into the cavernous Earls Court Exhibition Center to check out HyperJapan. In case you don't know, I love, love, love Japan and my visit to see the cherry blossoms a couple of years ago only cemented that. I didn't really know what to expect from this exhibition but i can tell you, i found myself grinning ear to ear on so may occasions. About 5 minutes in I texted my friend "I want to book a trip to Japan. Like right NOW!"

It was a fluffy eared, sushi filled, j-pop extravaganza. The Kawii corner had all things cute and fluffy, and was home to Londoners singing Japanese pop tunes. There were stalls for visiting Japan, learning Japanese, buying manga, samurai swords, bonsai, kimonos and of course there was sushi and sake galore. There were manga sketch artist turning you into a comic charachter, manga drawing workshops, origami workshops and what I assume to be Japanese checkers sitting alongside a boxing ring with fake wrestling on one end and martial arts demos on the other. Oh and lets not forget the cosplay parade. Even people who were not in the competition dressed up. Talk about a major people watching opportunity.

It was a fun way to spend a few hours over a weekend and I may or may not have succumbed to buying a pair of fluffy ears...

Apparently they will be holding HyperJapan Christmas markets in November. Yeah, you know I'm going to that one too. And why not?

Have you been to any exhibitions recently?

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Best Meal While Travelling - Travel linkup

So many yummy dishes, so little time! I have eaten my way through some places but the one place that really takes the cake in every regard, flavour, presentation, price, ambiance and service, is Japan. I did not a have a single bad or below par dish. So what is the most memorable? Funnily enough it had nothing to do with the food at all.

Dishes from a Kaiseki dinner - see the little green bird?

I was in the Akihabara district in Tokyo, Japan with my friend trying to find a place for dinner. We came across a wooden shopfront that looked like it was transported from rural Japan and looked busy, warm and welcoming. We stepped inside.

Tempura nettle leaves and soba noodles

A sweet waitress greeted us and apologised saying they had no tables then, as a second thought, asked if we'd mind sitting at the back. I had no problems with that, the smell of food was intoxicating and I wasn't going anywhere.

Okonomiyak - a type of savoury pancake

It turns out that the 'tables' at the back were sunken tatami mat seating. I think maybe she thought foreigners preferred tables, but not me, this was exactly what i wanted :) I clambered into my seat, ordered a bunch of food and then sat back to take in my surroundings.

Vegitarian Bento Box

The walls were covered in traditional Japanese murals, and the entire space was filled with 'Salarymen' (office workers) getting drunk and creating a ruckus. Some were passed out, their heads resting on the tables, some were getting more drinks, some were slurring lines to the karaoke playing on one screen and others were watching some sports game on another.

Did i mention dessert? They tasted so good!

They would call to each other from across the room, faces red, swaying slightly before getting distracted with another drink. All of them were in almost identical suits, jackets off and tossed aside with their bags in a heap, ties loose, shirts rumpled. It was hilarious and fascinating to watch. I'd heard about this work tradition but seeing it was entirely different.

Crab miso soup and clam rice

I don't remember the food. I think there was a fish and some sushi and I'm sure it tasted great but my attention was on these guys. It was really brilliant. Id never seen anything like it and haven't seen anything like it again.

Clam miso soup and chicken teriyaki with rice

Since I was so distracted I didn't take any photos of the meal. Instead, here are some photos from other meals I had around Japan which were all absolutely delicious. And now I'm craving Japanese...

What was your memorable meal while travelling?

As always thanks to the lovely girls Emma and Kelly and Rebecca for this travel link up.

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Pinch Me Moments - Travel Linkup

I have been quite privileged to travel as much as I have and to continue to experience moments that take my breath away. 

The beginning of my travels started in a conference room in a hotel somewhere near Sydney Airport where I was told I had just been picked to join an airline in the sand pit. I was so shocked that I hugged the a girl who i'd only met 5 hours earlier just because I needed an outlet for my emotions.

That job led me to several travel a pinch me moments including my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in Paris which seemed to cure me of how sick I had been that day. It also led to my first layover in London which was 2 full days of pinch me moments not to mention the truly amazing moment where I was able to pet a lion cub in Johannesburg.

More recently...One day I received a visa in my passport granting me 2 years to live and work in London. Up until the moment I saw that visa I didn't think it would happen. I was stunned, speechless, my eyes hardly able to believe it - it was the quiet before the storm - soon I was running around the house, bouncing off the walls with a smile so big my face hurt. A life in London, the whole reality of it exploded inside me but I still needed someone to pinch me because it was a dream come true.

Living in London still takes my breath away, from glimpsing the dome of St Pauls Cathedral to spotting old London in the every day like the traditional gas lamps. And two years there allowed for some great adventures and pinch me moments.

Outside of London my trip to Japan in April 2012 was full of amazing moments. There were the bright lights of Shinjuku, the cherry blossoms in bloom, real life Maiko and Geisha in Gion, Kyoto (let me tell you they are rare and when one exited private ochaya (teahouse) right in front of me I was like a deer in headlights) and the A-Dome in Hiroshima.

Also, there was seeing the Coliseum in Rome bloom out of nowhere as the bus from the airport took me to the centre of town. Cruising down the Grand Canal in Venice at night. Seeing the mesmerising Northern Lights in Iceland, though admittedly if someone had pinched me then I wouldn't have felt it i was so numb with cold, hehe. Arriving in the heart of New York City and pretty much my whole time there was unbelievable I just could not get past how surreal the whole thing felt.

Looking back on all my travels and experiences, it strikes me that I have been living an amazing dream. Being able to travel and see the world was a big dream for me and up until I was 23, I never thought it would be possible. Its truly amazing where life takes you.

As always thanks to the lovely girls Emma and Kelly and Rebecca for this travel link up. Anyone is welcome to join in the linkup, visit the hosts pages for more details.

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Photo Tour: Miyajama, Japan

For a change of pace from my Italy/Greece posts, i thought I'd swap Europe for Asia and take you all back to Japan this week. 

During my trip to Japan last year i visited the island of Miyajama which is most famous for its "Floating" Torii Gates. As part of my day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima, i did a small extension to this picturesque island. Its not far from Hiroshima, the tram and train lines will take you right next to the ferry port and there are frequent services to the island.

I hope you enjoy this little photo tour. Let me know if you do!

Views of Miyajama Island and Torii Gates

Miyajama Deer

The deer here are "wild" dear that have the run of the island but they are so used to having people around that they have no qualms approaching adults and kids alike in search of food - at one point i even saw a man chasing one that had nicked the luggage tag off his suitcase and was chewing it happily.

The Miyajama Torii Gates at Sunset

It really is worth staying till sunset at Miyajama. There is a certain stillness and peace that descends on the island. Just be sure not to miss the last ferry back to the mainland. There are hotels where you can stay the night and have the island to yourself after all the tourists and day trippers have gone if you fancy it.

Miyajama Temple

Its hard to miss the temple. When i was there the tide was low enough you could walk out between the buildings. When the tide is in, i can imagine that the look of the temple will be very different, almost as if it was floating of its own accord. I simply loved the reddish orange of the temple and how it seemed to frame its surroundings.

I do recommend making the effort to visit Miyajama. It is an easy trip from Hiroshima and i managed to do both Hiroshima and Miyajama on a day trip from Kyoto. Granted it was a bit of a full day but it is worth it if you are limited on time.

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Tokyo and Kyoto accommodation

Dreaming of Shinjuku...

For those of you who are interested, i thought I'd post about the two places i stayed while in Tokyo and Kyoto. Both places were different and have their pros and cons but i still recommend them and i would definitely stay there again given the chance.

In Tokyo i stayed at the Shinjuku Prince Hotel, in Shinjuku. The hotel is in a FANTASTIC location. it is not the cheapest but if you can get it on sale,its worth it. It is a few minutes away from Shinjuku train station which is serviced by the Narita Express (Express train that serves Narita, one of Tokyo's main airports). All the lights, sights, sounds and bustling urban atmosphere is right on your doorstep. And it doesn't matter which side your room is on, your bound to get a great view.

The thing you will need to bear in mind is that if you are a non-smoker, you have to specifically mention that you want a non-smoking room when making the booking or you will find yourself on a smoking floor which is not pleasant. This happened to me. The first leg of my trip I'd mentioned i wanted a non-smoking room but the second leg I'd neglected to mention it in my booking. But the staff were quite understanding and efficient in sorting out a non-smoking room for me to move to.

The other thing you will need to bear in mind is that hotel rooms in general all over Tokyo are on the smaller side. The bathroom was like something out of a spaceship and the room was....ultra-compact. They had all the necessary amenities such as shampoo/conditioner/body soap/shaver/body sponge/toothbrush/comb etc.

The tea/coffee facilities were limited to green tea and a small thermos that could be filled with hot water from a machine on the landing near the lifts. Also, there was no minibar but there was a vending machine also near the lifts.

Pics of the hotel and views from the hotel

Shinjuku Prince Hotel - 2 bed room

Shinjuku Prince hotel vending machine

Views of Shinjuku

Japan is known for a different type of accommodation called the Ryokan. It is a sort of inn which is usually desgined in the traditional family style home. They have tatami mats and futons on the floor and usually a small garden. They can be VERY expensive. Luckily my friend A- knew of one in Kyoto - Ryokan Rukucho - that didnt cost an arm an a leg and that was family run. 

This Ryokan did not have a meal package (which can be the norm where breakfast or dinner is included in the nightly rate) and was located slightly outside the main bustle of Kyoto city. This was probably why it was so affordable. An added benefit to staying here was that it had a small shared kitchenette and washer and dryer. My favorite touch however was the electric blankets :) Bathroom facilities are shared but they had both a western style bathroom (ie shower) and Japanese style bathroom where you wash yourself before getting into a deep tub of hot water.

I actually enjoyed being located a little bit outside of the city centre as it gave me a better sense of what local life was like. But as it was serviced by an underground line and buses direct to the city centre and many of the sightseeing spots it didn't feel as though i was far from anything or missing out.

Ryokan Rukucho - Sakura room

Pretty sweet view

A little thank you note i left for the owners

Considering i was visiting Japan for the Sakura, it seemed an apt room to stay in.

The Emergency Exit ladder

High tech toilet control panel

The lovely owner seeing me off after my stay in the front garden

So thats my 2 cents on where i stayed while in Japan, i promise that they are my own views and experiences and that i wasn't paid to write this post. If you find yourself in Tokyo or Kyoto then check them out for yourself :)

Vanishing Point

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