Walking Ixus

Actually, it's pretty easy when you're treated nicely. Then, you're obligated to return the niceness.

I checked in for my flight. Was pleasant and smiled (and flirted just a little). They didn't have me in an aisle seat. I asked (with a big grin) if I could be put on the list for an aisle seat. She said, "check at the gate".

This is my first full day in Tokyo and following tradition, I met Yumi-chan for lunch. Meeting Takeshi for dinner. Did some shopping and puttered around Takadanobaba. One of the more fun words to say here in Tokyo. Say it Arnold-like: TAKA-DANO-BABA! Heh heh heh.

Culture and shitamachi comes tomorrow. This is my first visit to Tokyo during warm weather season. Is ALL of Asia humid? Sheesh.

Haven't been too inspired to take pictures yet. But again, gimme a break! I got in late yesterday and didn't even go out! My outbound flight was delayed due to rain at SFO. That sucked big time. By the time we landed at NRT, it was after 1630. Perfect for a leisurely ride on the Keisei tokkyu (take this instead of the Skyliner-give 18 minutes and save ¥990).

By the time I got to the Juyoh, I was plain knackered. And after I paid for my hotel stay, I realized that I had already burned through ¥10,000! How, you ask? Here's how it pans out:

Train ticket:¥1000
Hotel Stay: ¥8970

After showering and soaking in the hotel's sento, I went out to Ginza for a cash run (nearest Citibank). And in a moment of weakness (because I was frackin' hungry!) I got some McD's for sustinance. It dun have the stigma it does in the US so I felt fine about it.

Got back and crashed face first onto the futon on tatami. Sleep! Mmmmm.

It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you and the amount of apostrophes I use when I write. I'm typing this on a Japanese keyboard and many of the usual symbols are elsewhere. I mean, really!

I often have to remind myself: This is a different trip (than before), see different things!

So today (since it was happening in the neighbourhood near my hotel) I went to check out the Sanja Matsuri. Apparently, this is the biggest matsuri of its kind of the year. It was really fun to watch but would have liked to have particpiated in it. But after watching everyone sweat and heave in 28+ degree heat and humidity, perhaps it was better just to watch. And have a beer...

Basically, each shrine has a deity. They get transported around in mikoshi, being shouldered by 30 or so people. Depending on the size of course.

Sometimes there are little mikoshi for little people.

The mikoshi of various sizes get taken to the Senso-ji Shrine in Asakusa. They expect a fun ride, so everyone on carrying duty (deity?) rock and roll in rhythm, lest the deity inside gets bored. Entertained deity = more blessings and good luck for district from where it came from. So the trip to the shrine has to be fun!

Once they get to the shrine, they pay homage and then they go around the back and park and the crew eats obento and drinks beeru. It's a lotta hard work!

Now the crews who shoulder the mikoshi are co-ed, but its amazing how the girls look great while the guys all look like me after a day in Singapore (sweaty and sweaty).

I think the secret is: blotting tissue.

This was my first Matsuri, hopefully the first of many. Stayed in Asakusa for most of the afternoon, just taking in the scene. It was fun, lah. More pix to come later.

I hate this leaving crap!

It's always the case when you have a limited amount of time somewhere. You try to visit different places while hitting all the familiar spots. Well, I definitely visited someplace different this trip. I visited the Yasukuni Shrine. I ran into a protest. I saw more cops in one place than in all my previous visits.

This is the shrine:

This is a protester:

And these are a bunch of Tokyo Metros who are covering the event. A bit camera shy, very unusual for Japan:

Yeah, that's me, always trying to stay outta trouble. Heh.

Speaking of trouble, I stopped by Akihabara on my way to NRT. They close the main drag on Sunday so it's all cosplayers, musicians and otaku.

And naturally, a lot of the people who hang out here on Sunday look like this:

Like I said, trouble! Next stop, HKG...

Quality advertising for a quality product!

Just dun try to take on airplane lah!

Langham Place is this huge mall/hotel complex smack in the middle of Mong Kok where the worst of the hom-sup district once was. It has a really nice MUJI and other similar shops.

There's art too!

Another entry in my series, "Emergency Motorcycles".
You saw the paramedic motorcycle from London last year? Now here's a HK Police bike. They use these little bikes in the city.

In the New Territories, I've seen full size BMWs just like back home. The universal ice breaker with motorcycle cops? "How's the bike"?

Somewhere in Causeway Bay last Sunday, 0200 hours.

Better add BKK to the category name.

Because I'm going to spend a few days in BKK! I've already been warned by Duker about the following facts:

A: BKK is hot.
B: HKG weather is cooler compared to BKK
C: BKK is definitely NOT SIN or HKG.
D: BKK is cheap! I'm staying here for three days, private double for US$40 TOTAL!! Wah!

Lots of photo-whoring forthcoming...

You know our favourite daan taat place, Tai Cheong Bakery is closing, right?

Since they announced their constructive eviction, it's been hella busy with 1-2 hour waits in queue becoming the norm.

Well I queued up

and got some daan taat. Mmmmmmm!

Too bad lah! They won't keep on the plane. But I got mine!

Burp!

Sigh...

Hopeful thinking lah!

Hanging here in the Silver Kris Lounge, having a Tiger Beer, using free wi-fi and just came outta the shower.

Now this is the way to prepare for a flight!

So I'm back in Singapore. It's been 18 months since I've been here last.

Useful to know: If your flight gets into Changi past 2300, forget about the MRT. Be resigned to paying for a S$35 cab ride instead. There are van shuttles, but they don't run much after 2300. I was there at 0000 and they wanted me to wait until 0100 to share a van. Yah, right. I'll cough up the extra dough to get to the guesthouse. This is where I'm staying. Right in Little India.

But some things haven't changed. Like how it's a freekin' blast furnace (83 degrees f) at 0100! That's 1 AM for you people who don't do time math...

Which means that it gets worse when the sun is out. Eeeeeeeeeee

Soooo I got in very late last night. And slept until 1000! Dammit! Half the day is gone!

Inn Crowd is at heart a hostel as evidenced by the big shared kitchen (pic forthcoming). Coffee here is instant so the morning was tough for a caffeine fix. As I finally dragged my butt out of the door into the 30+ degree heat, I couldn't bear it anymore and I stopped off at the Tekka hawker centre for breakfast/lunch.

I had the local version of wantanmee (AKA wontonmein). Not bad. Ran some errands and puttered around, trying to get re-oriented.

Yes the MRT is still spotless. And yes, the trains don't run as frequently as the MTR in HK, but I've had to wait no more than 5 minutes for a train. And in this oppressive heat, who wants to hurry?

I figure tomorrow will be a good day to do some truly touristy stuff. Maybe visit Changi village or something like that.

Oh yah, these really big signs are posted in areas with busy traffic.

Makes sense don't it. Won't EVER see this in San Francisco, will we?

Today turned out pretty full, despite the late start.

What started out with a short cigar and water turned into a long drinking session as only cigars and guys do. You can figure out the topics of conversation. Booze, cigars, women, money. But not in that order...

Note to cigar people reading this: The cigar lounge is in the Regent Hotel and it was once a La Casa Del Habano. Not anymore, but they still sell Habanos and a LOT of scotch! Macallan is the speciality of the house here.

Wound up closing the joint at 2100 and headed out to search for an Indian restaurant called A-1 Restaurant.

As you can see, I found it. Here's how to get here if you're so inclined.

Take MRT to Little India.
Exit C and walk toward Seragoon
Left on Seragoon and walk for a good 7 minutes or so.
You will walk past a mosque. Make an immediate left. You'll see the sign.

I got there right before closing time. Ordered some chicken and curry. Note to you all: wash your hands first!

It was pretty good lah!

Will be seeing Yi-Lin tomorrow for tea and Truc and San for Monday lunch. Wonder what I'm going to be doing Sunday? =P

It's 00:00 now and I'm all knackered out.

When two old frens meet after 2 years...

"you let your hair grow"

"you lost weight. How much?"

Lines that belong in a Deep Space Nine episode...

As I mentioned in previous post, this is probably my first (and last) unchaperoned time in Singapore. Each previous trip, I've been taken around by someone local (which is great, dun get me wrong) and seen part of their lives as demonstrated by where they chose to take me.

This time, I decided to let the MRT take me places.

I went to Geylang where Singapore's unofficial red light district is. Actually, it's a pretty nice, historic looking red light district. Didn't take many pix because I didn't want working girls hurling high heels in my direction. There IS some nice neon out there though.

After that, I chose to do a 180 and head out to Clarke Quay. It's one of the entertainment districts along the river. There's some neat looking restaurants and bars and coffee places. Also a Hooters. And all along the riverfront.

There's a river taxi too. But not running at the late hour I was there at tonight. See?

On the other end of the quay is appropriately, the new and old houses of the Singapore Parliment. Can you guess which one is which?

How bloody exciting. Went to the gym today. Unlike HK’s Causeway Bay gym, the Orchard Road gym had proper sized equipment so no backache and no pain...

Then it rained. A LOT. I’m not sure if this photo can accurately portray how hard it was raining, but it was hard! And cool! As in NOT HOT!

It cooled off about 30 minutes before it came down. Yeah!

Wound up going over to Johor Bahru for the afternoon.

It felt almost like going to Tijuana. Except maybe with nicer malls. And their Starbucks have free wi-fi! Wah!
You can see that there was a lot of planned construction here that didn’t pan out. Note the forest of rebar in this parking lot.

Awas! You see that a LOT around here.

There is a sign here that points the way to KL.

Then why did traffic come AT me after I took this snap shot? I’m told that this happens in Malaysia a lot.

Once I got back to Singapore, it was dinner at Newton Circus (food centre)!

I got some simple food, dry wontonmee and a big cup of lime juice. Great stuff, even when you’re drenched with sweat.

Tomorrow: Lunch with Truc and San and dinner with Sara-Ann (I hope)!

Met up with Truc for lunch today. She's been working in Singapore for a few years now.

Went to a local fish & chips place near Boat Quay. Apparently, she’s embarking on a round-the-world trip after she does the farewell party thing. In Cambodia (!)

The advantages of making good scratch and living in Asia. Sigh.

Kanna say you've not been warned...

So I met up with the lovely Sara-Ann tonight for dinner. We met up in her 'hood for Peranakan cuisine, something that would be ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to find in the states, lah! And something that many SIN visitors dun usually get to experience because it's out on the East Coast, waaay away from the CBD.

I took the MRT out there and Sara was gracious enough to meet me at a central spot (a petrol station!) and then off we went to eat. She picked out one of her fave places and in we went. (pic of menu coming shortly).

Now since I'm totally clueless, Sara translated the menu. Ordered some excellent dishes. And dug in!

It’s 0700. I’m at the MRT transfer station to get to Changi Airport. The sun rose like a flaming orange ball. And ALREADY it’s hot!

It was hot lugging my bags to Bugis MRT from InnCrowd. And why am I up so frackin’ early? I’m flying to BKK today on my first visit. I hear it’s hot over there. Hotter than SIN.

I half expect this building to transform into a big ol’ robot and start rampaging across the city.

So I'm puttering around downtown tonight when I found a snack bar inside one of the many Duty-Free emporiums that dot downtown Bangkok. I ordered a pint o' Singha. That's the premimum domestic beer here.

Wanna know how much? Look here and weep! Here's a clue: it costs 70 Thai Baht. Look at the conversion to US$!

Muhuhahahahahaha!

Apparently this is the beginning of the rainy season here in BKK. Which means massive huge ass big thunderstorms that turn streets into rivers.

Monsoon season. Wanna see a movie? Right Click here and save it to your desktop. (20 seconds, 13.3mb, AVI format).

I'd normally say something like "wanna see some Thai food?" Except here they just call it "food".

OK, not terror. I just thought that it would sound exciting.

Actually, it was hella fun! After spending the end part of the evening hanging out at the Suan-Lum Night Bazaar (the BKK version of Mong Kok’s night markets) walking past embassies and the most expensive, formal English Pub that I’ve ever seen, we decided to take a tuk-tuk back.

Basically, these are long wheelbase motortrikes that have no doors or panels. It’s pretty close to the same sensation of riding a motorbike except you’re sitting on a proper seat. I mean, when I’m getting this kind of speed sensation with the wind, I’m usually in leather along with a nice fitting Shoei helmet.

It’s exciting, especially when the driver is whipping through traffic. Did I mention, cheap? These are not metered like cabs so you gotta negotiate a fare before you get in.

Wanna see how it looks inside one as it whips a u-turn? Right click here and save it to desktop (21MB,AVI format).

Yet another in the "police bikes of the world" series.

This is a 125cc buzz bomb that the local cops here use. It's just like the 125cc buzz bombs that everyone else rides here.

You usually think: Police bike = big. It looks kinda odd when they're riding. But they are usualy not riding. They're usually dismounted and trying to rein in BKK's horrible traffic.

With a particle mask to combat the pollution.

Or what I saw walking around.

Is there a Sam here? Works for Royal Fashions?
Anyone? Buelllller?

I've had four days here and I've been able to scratch the surface here. BKK is big and sprawly but the sights are all mostly downtown and easily navigated.

Transit, food (as long it's local) and lodging can be cheap! Hella cheep! However, the same rule re: expats applies (expat friendly = wallet unfriendly).

People here have been friendly and helpful. But I've been hearing the same thing over and over: "if you wanna see Thailand, get outta BKK".

So I was thinking...you can fly directly into Chiang Mai and then rent a motorcycle...

Watch this space in a few months for more..! =P

I begin the long haul back home today. I fly outta BKK back to SIN and then tomorrow AM, fly back to HKG.

Then on Tuesday, I catch my transpacific flight back to SFO. That flight's gonna be rough. At least there's a stopover in NRT.

was Sukumvit Soi 1. It turns into a river when it rains hard.

It’s full of hawkers plying their wares near open sewer grates on really small sidewalks so you’re forced to walk in the street.
But on Soi 1 is the Number 1 Guesthouse, Bar, Internet Cafe. Take your pick, it’s all the same place. Check out the journey to my room.

I found out something cool today. I took the Skytrain to the Mo Chit terminus. Then hopped a cab. Took about 40 minutes total from Pholen Chit Skytrain station. Best of all, the cab ride was only 100 baht from Mo Chit to the Airport!

So in total, it was 135 baht. 35 more than what the hella slow airport basi would have cost, but saved a LOT of time.
Now with all that time on my hands (I got to the Airport 6 hours early!), I decided to check out the Royal Thai Air Force Museum that is supposed to be, according to Time Out Bangkok, “right behind the airport”.

Proof that these travel guides are great for general reference and they usually get the facts straight, but in this case, it seems that the writer just looked at a map and wrote about it. Because...
it was 10 clicks away! That’s 75 baht in a cab folks! Once I got there though, it was pretty cool. The museum looks like it’s in an old air base and the airplanes are parked all around so you can check them out up close and personal.

Curtiss Helldiver

They have old old planes and a lot of planes from the Vietnam War era inside.

Basically all the planes I made models of at one point in my youth.

There was also a Mark XIX Spitfire. Hella cool!

Got stuck in the beginning of rush hour as I was trying to get back to the airport. That ride took 95 baht because of that. Grrrr.
If I knew just how distant this was, I would have just hung out in the air con airport!

Next stop: Changi!

Sooo after taking an inventory of my wallet, I’ve got 80 baht left. Not bad. I took out 3000 baht for the three days I was here mucking and eating about.

If you’re not doing “farang friendly” things, you can save a lotta money cuz generally things here are cheap.

Examples: A bottle of water, 9 baht. Lunch with a Coke at a local place: 55 baht. One day pass on the BTS Skytrain: 100 baht.

80 baht sounds like a lot. Nope. US$2.00. Not even worth exchanging. Looks cool though.

This feels soooo weird. Waiting at the gate and not at a lounge. Of course, that really wouldn’t help me on this leg of the trip because I’m not on an Star Alliance airline.

Still, just weird. There are three farangs who pulled the trash bin between them and are chowing down on KFC. Funny, the further away from the states, the more it seems like home.

Disturbing. And many of the farangs are fat slobs too.

So the flight went off without a hitch.

Nice new Airbasi jet. Seats made outta cow. Nice service (better than Southworst) and decent prices.

So I've landed at Changi and am stuck at the airport. Boo hoo. There's actually a lot to do here.

There's free internet terminals everywhere, rest areas with reclining chairs, a spa that has massage, a gym, showers and snacks and napping areas, the transit hotel that rents rooms for six hour blocks and TV everywhere!

Oh yah, for a certain reader, the shopping is pretty cool too, I think. Gotta pump money into the Singapore economy, right?

Maybe, but not tonight! =P All the shops of interest close at 0000 and reopen at 0600. Feh.

Yup, that's me. Because I had to roll out of bed at 0445 to get to a check in counter for a 0645 flight back to HKG. I got in from BKK around 2330 and was updating the blog and talking on the phone until 0100. Then shower and shave and pack. Bedtime: 0200. Bleagh!

The A/C in the wing of the transit hotel where my room was was working backwards (blowing humidity instead of dry air). Because of that, my A/C in the room was also blowing cool humidity too.

If I could take that room and turn it into a walk-in humidor, that would have been perfect.

Then to add to my crankiness, my flight to HKG was on UAL. I ran into a "flight attendant" at the McDonald's near the gate. Apparently she's not too fond of the inflight food either?

It was a typical UAL flight. Screaming babies, indifferent service and crowded. I was sooo tired.

I ate what passed for "breakfast", had some coffee, slipped into superhero mode (sleep mask) and passed out for 2 hours.

Of course the movie on the big screen was "National Treasure"; that may have had something to do with it...

You know when people that live in humid, icky areas (not California) keep saying that "you'll get used to it", etc etc etc?

It's usually crap, because as they stand there in a full suit and tie, totally dry, I'm in sandals, shorts and a t-shirt, dripping sweat by the litre.

On the way in to HKG this AM (EARLY this AM), the pilot made his usual happy talk once we got to cruising altitude.

"Hong Kong is rainy with a high of 28 degrees". I then said to myself, "a cool day, eh?"

AGGGGGGGHHH!

Of course, let me preface this with the fact that I've been in BKK for the past 3 days, where it's usually 32-4 degrees with buckets of humidity...

But that's a bit freaky, dun you agree? I think I'm going to freeze my ass off when I get back to SFO.

Let me see...passport, got it. Money? Dollars, baht, RMB, yen? Hong Kong, yah, dollars. SIM Card...Hong Kong, New World.

Now THAT's a life!

Has to be the Chi Lin Nunnery in Kowloon City (near Diamond Hill MTR). It’s one of the more easily accessible of HKG’s attractions. Walk into the mall from the MTR and through the Marks and Spencer. Hang a right and go up a block. 5 minutes max. However, if there’s heat and humidity, your time may vary.

The nunnery was rebuilt in 1998 with the actual temple parts (the ones with the various Buddhas housed) made of wood and in the Tan’g Dynasty style of construction.

The gardens and foundations (there’s a garage underneath) are of course, modern stone and concrete.

It’s amazingly quiet and comfortable inside the compound. Like I wrote in the title of this post, it’s chill. Despite the fact that the Nunnery is surrounded by housing blocks, a big mall and an expressway, you don’t really feel or hear much of it.

Unless you look up...

When the British took possession of the New Territories, there was an Qing outpost there called the Kowloon Walled City. Although it was abandoned in 1899, there was still no real arrangement on who had jurisidiction over it. Over the years, tenements and slums grew up around it. Read here for more.

Anyhoo, it became a health hazard so the HK Government (with approval from the mainland), razed it and made it into an award winning park with history inside.

Looks so serene inside, right? There’s a neat garden too.

This is how it looks outside.

eeeeeeee

This is the famous Kosmo Coffee on Wellington Street in Lan Kwai Fong.

They make coffee and tea and they have snacks. They’re also down the street from California Fitness.
Now what makes them worth an entry? They are the only other place (aside from Zambra Coffee in Wan Chai) I’ve found in Hong Kong that has FREE Wi-Fi. Buy a drink or a snack and park your butt. Their internet is pretty fast too.

The last thing you see before you enter the confines of the Airport.

Kind of a Lost in Translation moment (or at least the DVD menu).

Here's a neat page about the Sanja Matsuri I checked out.

Just the daily scrum on the MTR lah!