Travelogue Tokyo-Day 6 Odaiba and dinner

I took the long way around to get to Shimbashi via the northern end of the loop rather than heading back south or even cutting across.

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 6 Ikebukuro

This is a quick visit to Ikebukuro.  I came.  I ate.  I left for Odaiba.  Heading down Green dori towards the Sunshine City complex

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 6 Shibuya

I heard the wind blowing pretty hard last night.  Forecast had some rain and it turned out to be blustery in a few places.  So I opted out of Fuji Q and worked my way around the loop starting with Shibuya

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 5 Recon

Before heading to Tokyo station, I had to check off the takoyaki.  They were done just right with a crispy outside and hot gooeyness inside.  But not so hot that you wished you never had a mouth.  I went to Tokyo station because Im thinking about taking a bus to Fuji Q Highland the next day.  Got some literature and went to see that the ticket office opens at 6:00am.  I didnt buy the tickets right away.  Im going to see what the weather report is going to be like.  ON the Fuji Q webiste, a number of rides including Fujiyama were closed due to high winds 

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 5 Ramen Festival

This wasnt exactly on my radar before the trip.  I had just found out about a few days ago.  More can be found at http://dai-tsukemen-haku.com/ (japanese).  Its a 6 week event that began last week.  Each week runs from Thurs to Sun and a different theme in the city of Machida.

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 4 Dinner in Akihabara

I wanted to get some curry at Coco before the trip ended.  there are many locations but I come back to the one in Akihabara the most

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 4 Harajuku and Meguro

On the way back from wherever it was that I was at, I needed to get something at Daiso.  The closest and one of the larger ones is located in Takeshita dori at Harajuku

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 4 Ramen lunch and JR station signs

Got off at Ichigaya on the Chuo/sobu line that goes straight across the loop line from east to west.

Travelogue Tokyo- Day 4 The Imperial Palace

Back at Tokyo station.  The station's exterior on the Marunochi side was renovated a few years ago.  Now they are doing something to the area in front of it.  Cant tell.  Maybe its in prep for the Olympics?

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 4 Vending machine

Vending machines are placed all over Japan and run all hours of the day.  The provide products ranging from food and beverages to cigarettes and other goods.  They are a great convenience for a quick cold drink or even a hot one all in the same machine.  The hot drinks make a great impromptu hand warmer before imbibing .  This machine is located right beside a regualr drink vendor

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 3 Akihabara

Not a trip goes by where I dont stop into Akihabara.  In most cases, inside the station, they will have tables set up for regions of the country to highlight their goods and make them available to those who may not otherwise visit or have access

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 3 Walking the Yamanote Line

We start this leg of the walk at Shinagawa station.

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 2 Ueno Park Part 2

I came back to Ueno Park in the evening to see what the vibe is after dark.  When I got there, the rain started to pour with thunder and lightening, very very frighteing, began in earnest.  I didnt catch an actual bolt of lightening but here is a flash in slow motion

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 2 Ueno Park Part 1

 An alternative to viewing the cherry blossoms is Ueno Park on the east side of the Ymanote loop.  Unlike Shinjuku, admission is free, they highlight the areas of interest on the map, and for many, they allow alcohol

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 2 Shinjuku Koen

Its that time of year in Japan when the sakura bloom and everyone flocks to see them while they can.  I had to get this out of my system so headed over to the park near Shinjuku station

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 2 Meiji Jingu

Not sure why but its been a while since Ive walked the grounds of Meiji Jingu.  It was early and I was in no hurry to get to my planned events.  A torii marks the entry

Travelogue Toyko- Day 1 Meals

Yay!  Shinatatsu is open again.   It was closed for renovation last year and all the shops were closed.  I went to Tetsu for a bowl

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 1 Kawasaki Daishi temple

The name of the station comes from the nearby temple.  I walked back and forth between the 2 temples during the time neither celebration were completelyt set up yet.  Like in Asakusa, there is a Nakamise that leads into the temple

Travelogue Tokyo-Day 1 Arrival/Kanamara Festival

Fair warning, if you do not like to see penises, or peni??, or the faint of heart, do not read further.

You release me from any liablility by clicking on the link below.

Travelogue Bangkok-Last Day

There was a crazy storm that moved in this early morning.  Alot of rain and thunder bolts and lightening, very very frightening.  It woke me up around 3am when I was hoping to get some sleep since Im flying out later tonight.  The bright side to the rain brought more mild temps when morning broke.  Did a bit of researh on another item people like to buy when in town.  Most would reccommend Jim Thompson, the godfather of Thai silk in these parts.  Great quality but you will pay mightily.  An alternative place is Queen Thai Silk.  They sell quality items at a reasonable price.

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 5 Paragon Food Hall

This was the first mall I went to when I first arrived but I had not eaten at yet

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 5 Wat. What? Which Wat?

I had to decide whether to go to Wat Pho with a reclining Buddha or Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.  Since so many people have spoken so I highly of Arun, I chose to go there.  Pho is the next block over while Arun is across the river.

Travelogue Bangkok Day 5-The Grand Palace(really)

The rains came down pretty heavily during breakfast.  It caused a spike in humidity just like a few days ago.  When I tried to document the downpour, the lens kept fogging up.  

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 4 Snacks part 2

I sampled the other bag of chips and alternative bag of macadamia nuts.  I was not enthusiastic about the flavor and the regular thin style of chip as opposed to the ridged version.  I couldnt quite make out the flavor but I didnt finish the bg.  The honey mustard nuts were more honey than mustard.  It was ok but regular honey roasted would be a better option

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 4 Dinner at you know where

Thats right, I went back to Pier 21 again for dinner.  For those keeping count, thats 1 lunch and 2 dinners.  I had to choose between the fried chicken or roast duck over sesame noodles.  Wasnt bad and portion was just right.  The size is big enough if you arent hungry but small enough so you could sample many dishes if you were very hungry.  The additional sauce they poured over everything was a bit much.  A sugar free est(cola) for the pairing

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 4 Snacks

Earlier this morning, I went to the supermarket to get a big bottle of Coke Zero.  I browsed for other snacks and purchase the following: 2 flavors of Lays chips and 2 bags of macadamia nuts.  These are 2 new flavors of chips.  Im making guesses but one is a grilled shrimp with some kind of sauce and the other looks like a pork with a barbecue sauce?  The shrimp one wasnt bad.  The shrimp flavors come across but it took several ships before I could discern the flavor of the sauce with some ginger and other spices.

The larger bag of nuts come with the shells intact for the most part.  There is a slit cut into the shell and a special tool to pry the shell apart to get at the meat.  Im not sold on the butter roasting but I wouldnt say it was bad.  I would much rather have the dry roasted variety. 

I will report back after I have tasted the remaining items

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 4 MBK

I rpomise this will be the last mall I visit, or at least I will admit to visit or post.  MBK center is off National Stadium terminus on the Silom line

Travelogue Bangkok-Terminal 21 Edit

A correction.  I forgot that the top level housed a multi screen movie theater.  The theme is Hollywood.  So, San Francisco is not the only American city but America is well represented.

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 3 Patpong Night Market(Silom)

Out in the Silom area, there is a well known night market.  Before heading there, a small street, Thaniya, has a number of bars and restaurants aimed at japanese tourists

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 3 Yaowarat(Chinatown)

Been to a number of Chinatowns from several places domestically to Japan and Vancouver.  Trekked to Yaowarat fromHua Lamphong MRT station

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 3 Terminal 21

As mentioned before, I had taken notice of Terminal 21 mall a single stop down from where I was staying.  Since it was so close, I walked down Sukhumvit and was there in no time

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 2 Khao San Road, The Grand Palace(not really), and Asiatique

The heat was building throughout the day and it had not wuite peaked yet but it was still very hot for me.   My hands were sweating from the humidity and I could not dry them for the life of me

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 2 Chao Phraya River

Got to the last station before the Skytrain crosses the river.  One of many ports along the river lies beneath the beneath the highway at Sathorn pier.

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 2 Lumphini Park

I had not planned on visiting the park.  But I had to transfer from the subway back to the Skytrain.  Since the park was right there, I thought I'd take a look

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 2 Klong Toey Market

Another morning, another breakfast at the hotel.  The items do change.  There was a chicken curry this morning.  But the western items stay intact.  Heading over to one of the largest fresh markets in Bangkok just south of where I am staying.  Have to head over to the Sukhumvit subway station near Asok Skytrain station.  Terminal 21 mall adjoins the station

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 1 Late afternoon

Theres a mall that caters to the japanese.  Its Gateway and its at a station that sounds japanese, Ekkamai.  There is a japanese word, ekimai.

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 1 Midday

A few stops down from Nana is the transfer point between the 2 Sky train lines.  Connected to the station is one of the larger shopping malls, Siam Paragon

Travelogue Bangkok-Day 1 Morning

Last night I fell asleep to this.  Expecting the same weather the next.

Travelogue Bangkok-Outbound w/pics

Update:  I arrived safely and got to sleep around 2am after getting settled.  Its raining this morning and it gave me a chance to update this first post.  As mentioned there were some celebrations for the flight of this new bird.  

Travelogue Bangkok-Outbound

I’m waiting at the Hong Kong airport for my 2130 flight on Cathay Pacific to Bangkok.  I should be arriving around 2300.  This would not be a significant message were it not for the little things that occurred along the way.  Read on for the long story.