2008 – Japan and Korea

Okonmyaki

Posted on by helenhmk


okonmyaki
Originally uploaded by Helen K

These were amazing. We tried to find find the shop that B & T recommended near Hep 5, but we wandered around for 30 minutes or so couldn`t find it – sorry!

That evening after we watched the soccer match, we went to a restaurant near our hotel that made okanmyaki. It had to be good as there was a queue out the front… we waited for about 30 minutes and it was worth the wait.

They are made with eggs and a variety of other ingredients, from meat to seafood, vegetables… and cooked in front of you. They were so good we went back the next day. The camera got steamed up through taking these shots….

Geisha having afternoon tea

Posted on by helenhmk


Geisha having afternoon tea
Originally uploaded by Helen K

While in Kyoto on the first day of wandering off the Higashiyma, we ventured into the Gion district, which is famous for Geisha wandering the streets.

We saw a poster advertising the fan dance of the Geisha and didn`t believe that it would be real Geisha. We bought tickets, for the show and the afternoon tea with the Geisha for the next day.

We discovered the next day on an organised walk, that the show is done each year, and this year is the 146th. The show is only held for one month during cherry blossom season.

If you pay for a seat and a ticket to the afternoon tea. Firstly you are waiting in in traditional Japanese garden area, then in large groups of 100+, you are ushered into a room where the Geisha is on stage preparing tea and another Geisha is serving the front row. The later rows don’t get the special treatment. Once seated you are served a traditional Japanese cake and tea. Once eaten and drank you are ushered out to wait to be seated for the next performance. There is just enough time for a few photos and you get to keep the plate the cake was served on.

Certainly an experience we hadn`t planned on!

Breakfast in Kyoto

Posted on by helenhmk


Breakfast in Kyoto
Originally uploaded by Helen K

We stayed in Kyoto for 5 nights, and slept on tatami mats with futons. They were slightly hard on the mat but very warm!

Every morning we had Japanese breakfasts. It consisted of samon, tofu (which was made by boiling in water in the metal bowl), rice with partly boiled egg (yummo), and the smaller plates of pickles. These small dishes varied each day. The food was fantastic here… I could happily have this food all the time.

Nozomi

Posted on by kymdt


Nozomi
Originally uploaded by kdt

Waiting for train at wet Shin-Osaka. Boy that mobile phone shutter is slow. When I pressed “take” the nose of the Nozomi could not be seen at all. By the time it took it, the nose had almost dissappeard. So this shot is lucky. Nevertheless the phone is fun for taking shots on the run.

Osaka Castle

Posted on by kymdt


Osaka Castle
Originally uploaded by kdt

We went for a long walk on Sunday. Our only guide was the Cherry Blossom, we walked wherever we could see blossom. It felt like the whole town was out partying! See a pile of photos on our flickr pages. Just click one of our Flickr badges.

Kym

Changes to blog…..

Posted on by helenhmk

Another city another manga cafe, with fast internet connection.

We,ve added a new photo box – these are specfically from my flickr photo page (HK).. and have gone back and added text with some of the photos we,ve live blogged. So please go back and read.

It is easier to take the photo and send it ~ due to the varying internet wifi connections we,ve had. plus it is more fun to take a photo with your phone.. and send it to flickr direct. Given we are in Japan we might as well behave like everyone else is here with their phones!

HK

Go Gamba Osaka

Posted on by kymdt


go gambia
Originally uploaded by kdt

Yes when in Osaka do as the Osakans do. Have a picnic lunch in Expo Park 70 (yes still lots of cherry blossoms) and then go to a game of football at Expo 70 Commemorative Stadium.

For the record lunch was a bento box from Hankyu Department Store (after we couldn’t find the San Diego Curry Bar　- yes B and T we need better directions and we didn’t have your number to call).

Also for the record our adopted team won 2-0 against Chizu (I think that is who they were playing.) The supporters were loud and coordinated and no doubt practice their team songs in karaoke bars!

Kym

Promises

Posted on by kymdt


Promises
Originally uploaded by kdt

Well Kyoto has certainly been enjoyable and to celebrate our last full day it turned on blue skies and 18c. It was so good I could even wear the one T-shirt I brought with me.

To live up to the expectations of those you left back in Adelaide, Helen and I continue to do the peace signs in our photos. We’ve also, god forbid gone to Mc Donalds. T and B (and their relatives) advised that it was a better experience than that in Australia! It is true that even the small Maccas in Nara had, for some reason, a grand piano. Helen did have a prawn burger. We can advise that the food still has the same awful consistency and generally poor taste, although I reckon the lettuce is better here.

To continue with the things we promised to do. Helen and I have had our photo taken in a “Astro Boy” booth. We expected stickers but rather got lots of little photos! Reading Japanese would help us there! We’ll try again for a sticker machine!

We’re having some fine Kaseki food served to our room tonight and a final sleep on our futons (yeah!!!) I am looking forward to our western bed on our return.

Kym

Proof

Posted on by kymdt


Proof
Originally uploaded by kdt

Yes proof that I am willing to be lead astray by my colleagues at work., I got say working those machines in Japanese can be pretty hard。Although I am getting better at the ticket vending machines.

We are currently in the Popeye Media Cafe! I have just ripped my new Gnarls Barkley CD so I can hear it using my Dell PDA on the Shinkasen (the trip from Kyoto to Osaka only took 14 minutes barely enough to time to have a drink and eat a pastry panda),

But these damn Japanese PC:s have all there menus in Japanese and a very tiny spacebar. If I hit the key next to the spacebar all the text I type turns Japanese　ぃけティs！You know I have know idea what I just typed, so if it is rude please forgive me.

Kym

Gate

Posted on by kymdt


Gate
Originally uploaded by kdt

Fushimi Inari gates are famous for there being a large number of them closely together in the hills near Kyoto and being bright red.

I suggest you google these to find out why.. its obviously too late and Ive forgotten why they are like this. usually someone has paid a lot of money to have the gate errected and it has their name on or the name of their company on the front. This is still popular practice today.