Autumn Bliss in Japan Part 1

Hi all, I just got back from a Japan holiday. It was a bit a rush really. I wished I could have stayed for longer. Perhaps better planning, next time around, when I go solo. I have always love Japan, it is a beautiful place and what foodie doesn't like Japanese food, right?

We arrived in the morning and took the Limo Bus from Narita airport to Shinjuku where we were staying. On our first day in Tokyo, we spend the day exploring Shinjuku and went into the stores from floor to floor. I especially loved the food basement shops in Odaikyo, next to Keio store. You can easily go nuts shopping for food in here. There are so many choices and my eyes was bigger than my stomach. I bought bento lunch box, sushi rolls, french pastries and matcha icecream just for that first lunch ;)

On our second day, we brave the world and took on the Tokyo Metro subway system. To be truthful, there's nothing to it. If you don't have the exact change, the machine spits out your change after you insert your Yen note. The Info booth is never too far and someone will always help out if you seemed a bit lost, in translation or otherwise.

The photo above was taken at Sensoji Temple, in Asakusa. We enjoyed our day out strolling at Nakamise Street, just looking at the souvenir shops and cooking stalls. I watched the making of rice crackers and it was sold fresh, unlike your commercially packed "Sakata" crackers from the supermarkets.

After the Sensoji Temple, we took the Tokyo Metro subways again, this time to Daimon. My son had wanted to go to Pokemon Centre, ever since he was little. He is now a grown young adult, and thankfully, he still likes them. Yes, it did take me awhile to save up for this trip, our Australian dollar is now strong and made it possible for this trip.

To be continued ...next post, how to get to Pokemon Centre :) and some foodporn.

For more information about Japan, please visit JNTO. Sensoji Temple is located at Asakusa.

Oh hai, remember me?

Just a short note to let my followers know that I haven't abandoned my food blog, it's just been neglected at the moment whilst I am obsessed with sewing and travel plans.

The sewing was a renewed interest from school days when we had to do sewing and cooking in Home Economics class. I was terrible at sewing, my lines were always crooked as I couldn't control the speed of the sewing machine. I had terrible motor skills with my hand and leg co-ordination. Cooking, at least saved me from failing that entire subject all together. I didn't do too bad in embroidery, but I was a terrible bleeder! My poor fingers and hands and blood stained projects! I was probably given some mercy marks by the kind teacher on the account of my blood stained projects.

This is what I have been doing the last month. It started due to my lack of summer skirts in my wardrobe and being the cheapskate that I am, I refused to pay $80 for a skirt! That is just crazy! I started making simple gathered skirt. You can Google and get free tutorials and patterns online. I am a fast leaner when it is something that would benefit me or of interest to me. Other times, I am too old to retain data :)

I am still baking and cooking, although not so much now that the weather has heated up. I am reduced to having quick salads just because I don't have time, for anything else. I am getting ready to go to on another holiday and is a little apprehensive about falling sick overseas! Remember Bangkok, back in May? I was bedridden for the rest of my holiday from Day 3 and then some when I came home. So devastated that I didn't get to do much in Thailand.

Prep-ping for Japan means that I am having healthy juice, wholesome meals and walking exercises to keep fit for my many walking tours around the city and outskirts. I planned on a 3 day side trip to Kyoto to visit temples and to photograph the autumn leaves during the "Koyo" season.

I also plan on fabric hunting while I am there and obviously non-stop eating and bar hopping for sakes and pub menus. I love Japan and it's been ever so long since my last visit as a cabin crew. I missed travelling in general. But Japan has always been one of my favourite places to visit and it has taken me this long to save up for it, only because I keep getting sidetracked to other Asian countries and mainly to wait for Daz to finish high school so he can come along. I wanted him to experience other cultures and sights and remembers his holidays before he gets too "old" to travel with his mum ;)

He is growing up too fast for my liking. He is spending more time with his friends than with his old mum. I have to let go soon, I expect. Next year, he will be in Uni and has to stay home for his studies while Mum gallivant solo across Asia on a foodie grail again.