Archive for the ‘travel’ Category
Hiroshima.
The Atomic Bomb Dome
5/12/2009
Hiroshima
A stark and melancholic reminder of the horror of the atomic bomb dropped directly above this building. It serves as a reminder of the atrocities of war and the innocent deaths that were taken away.
A poignant remnant of a city devastated by just a drop of a bomb. That mushroom cloud. An experimental bombing.
at a drop of a hat.
And I’m off to Taipei!
See you in a few days!
Sing me a little serenade.
Ann and I visited Seoul, South Korea, last week, and before I forget some thoughts I have in my head, I’ve got to write some down. Photos are still in my camera, so that’ll have to wait.
Here is a soundtrack of our days in Seoul.
If you’ve been to Seoul, or seen ads from there, this gets stuck in your head. Ann and I had it stuck in our brains for a long time.
Chick Habit by April March
Ann’s song:
All Star by Smash Mouth
For the Oasis-love in all of us. Where the lyrics speak to me.
“The things that you’ve seen, slowly fade away.”
-
“My soul slides away, don’t look back in anger I heard you say.”
Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis
My most favourite song, ever. Sing it to me, and I will melt. (I’ve probably quoted this song twenty thousand times).
“I know you know we’ve had some good times
Now they have their own hiding place
I can promise you tomorrow
But I can’t buy back yesterday”
I’ll Be There For You by Bon Jovi
(And I chose an awesome vid. Old school!)
I love it, Ann hates it. Its awesome. And I got 100% on it, with a certain someone. How am I to deny this song?
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Frank Sinatra leaves me speechless. And a simple promised serenade?
Under my Skin by Frank Sinatra
Back at One by Brian McKnight
Someone dance with me?
Day 3 meant Tsukiji.
(Warning: LOTS of photos.)
A cold morning, waking up at 5am to get to Tsukiji market before the Tuna auction ended. Took the first few trains heading toward Tsukiji and then it started drizzling and got really wet. Maybe that’s why there was no smell at all in the market, cos of the cold! Best fish market ever. I hate the smell of wet markets in Singapore, I think I never breathe through my nose when I’m there.
We weren’t sure where to go when we arrived at the station. So we just followed people. We assumed they were going to the right place. And we did end up at the right place. So all was good. (:
- First views of the fish in Tsukiji Market
- Roe – lots!
- Unagi! They look kind of scary and gross swimming in there. But… just think of the taste!
- Tuna sold at the auction (I’m assuming). They are huge! Its just so amazing seeing the whole huge tuna go pass by you, and then another one over there, and there. And then being cut up, being sliced, apportioned. Its just so amazing seeing it as a whole instead of being in my food alone.
- Here are my parents with the tuna!
- Fishy fishy, all in a row.
- Tuna being mistreated and hauled around, and cut up. They are so big, and heavy! They just chop off bits of it and its like all over the floor – okay not all over, but you know what I mean! – and there was a tail on the ground, then fins were coming off too.
After checking out the fish market, we then found the auction room, where the tuna auction was being carried out.
- Its all busy busy in the auction room. Bells will be ringing where the tuna to be sold will be. They will be shouting all sort of numbers to the crowd, hands will be raised, and then the tuna will be sold. So exciting.
- Look at the rows and rows of tuna.
- Dragging away the ones that have been sold.
- So much going on at 6am in the early morning. All the tuna to be sold, all the buyers busy calculating their worths and their ability to purchase.
- Dragging the tuna about.
After the auction was over, for us at least because tourists were only allowed in during a fixed time period, we headed back out and checked out the rest of the market!
- Here I am in the middle of the huge huge super cool Tsukiji fish market.
- And here are my parents in the cool Tsukiji Fish Market.
- Here is the anago man! Slicing the anago. I thought it was unagi, but he corrected me. And he also warned us when those crazy car things were zooming around next to us, how nice. (:
- Check out the cool octopus!
- Here is Pa with the man cutting up the fish
- And now Pa & Me
- Here I am.. somewhere in the middle of Tsukiji
- Slicing up the fish. With full concentration.
- Check out the long knife. I’m just imagining the sounds of swords slicing through the air. *shing-shwhing*
- Slicing up the tuna with precision.
- Tsukiji. Wow.
- Here I am with a whole fridge full of tuna pieces!
- And my parents with same fridge of tuna.
- Then whilst trying to get out of the fish market, we ended up in the fruit & vegetable market. Those are people buying the veges/fruit. It was quite amazing.
- Here we are in the fruit/vege section
After finding our way out of the market, and finding out where the other market with all the food was. We made our way there, and went to find breakfast! And I got to choose unagi! 
My parents love me.
- Then we went to eat unagi. Because I’m pathetic and don’t enjoy sashimi.
- Here is Pa with his unagi-don!
- And Mum with hers!
- And happy me with mine! YAY!
After this, we went back to the hotel to sleep. I wonder why.
After waking up too soon, forced to by my parents, we went to get my apartment stuff done. And check out awesome ramen we had for lunch!
That night we dumped all my stuff in my apartment. And I had Takopachi! LOVE!!
Day 2 of our Japanese Journey
Here is the second day in Tokyo! Not much comments, just pictures. Enjoy!
Lunch before headng to Asakusa.
Parents in front of Asakusa temple.
Asakusa!
Asakusa!!
The massive lantern at Asakusa!
They burn incense in the pot there and then people come by and pat the smoke on themselves, for blessings. Its cute watching people do it.
Pa at the water fountain area at Asakusa temple. At all temples, there is an area to wash hands/face, drink water from. For blessings I suppose.
A random green building we walked past. SO CUTE! I would love my house/aparment building/office building to be like that too.
From the rainbow bridge! NICEEEEEE view!! *Click for bigger view*
Here are the parents on the Rainbow bridge!! The rain lightened up and it got less cloudy.
Me and Mum on the rainbow bridge. WINDY!!
A random event we chanced upon, its a charity event if I'm not wrong. For Fuji-Television. The music the group was performing was good though.
Look at the massive crowds.
