Tag: world

Revisiting The Japanese Break!

Japan is not just a country but a culture!

The moment had arrived when we were not just thinking about Japan! 

But, had actioned our vacation in 2018! 

The flights were getting booked! The hotel, Train Tickets and Visa process had begun. 

The countdown was inching closer! 

Japan was happening! 

The first stop of our Journey was Singapore! We travelled by Singapore Airlines which gave us the option of exploring Singapore City while we had a layover at Changi Airport. 

The flight landed at Haneda Airport. We Did not choose Narita. As Haneda was closer to the city! 

Tokyo! Huge! One of the largest cities in the world! With millions of people staying in MatchBox homes. 

We passed by the Tokyo Tower! And soon reached our hotel! The Prince Tower Hotel Tokyo! A centrally located hotel for major tourist attractions and landmarks neighbourhood. 

The first night we explored our surroundings the Roppongi a buzzing neighbourhood with nightlife and walked through the Meguro River a prominent river of Tokyo! 

Oh! We witnessed the city landscape from the rooftop bar at the hotel before we called it a night. 

Next, we explored the city’s sightseeing landmarks Meiji Jingu, Imperial Palace and Senso Ji temples and the Tsukiji market the largest fish market in the world.

They also have a tuna auction daily at 5:30 am. Since it’s limited seating you need to be there as early as 3 am to get in.

We explored the Akasaku neighbourhood which is traditional cultural side of Tokyo.

The neighbourhood had a very interesting hostel Bed & Books Tokyo! That was a cute little place filled with books and bunk beds! 

On another day we visited Harjaku & Shinjuku which was filled with restaurants and shopping stores! While going  Banana in Tokyo! I visited a Pokemon Store! Had relived those childhood moments. And little did I know I had entered the Animated  neighbourhood of Tokyo Akihabara

While exploring ourselves and the city we were sometimes naturally lost! When the locals not just helped us but held us through to our final destination. Ginza! Felt like the futuristic side of Japan with Nissan cars armed with robotic gizmos and Ginza is also known as the Haute couture neighbourhood of Tokyo.

Omestando another neighbourhood about the luxuries of Japan with Architectural buildings and interiors you wouldn’t get enough of. 

One of the stores worth visiting is Nicole Bergman’s Floral store in the neighbourhood. 

The other side of Tokyo that we witnessed was the industrial side where all hospitality-related goods were available and to spot that there is a life-size chef Cap that you need to watch out for. And so we crossed over to Shibuya the busiest crossing neighbourhood in Tokyo whose sight can be enjoyed from a Starbucks across from the crossing and Hachi statue a dog that waited for his owner to return at the same spot over the years until the Hachi had passed away. 

Before we left Tokyo we enjoyed the glimpses of Central Tokyo Station while it started to pour and we got ready for the next few journeys across the country. 

The long-awaited Bullet Train shin-shaken to Kyoto had sped away. 

Kyoto felt like a mystical small town in Japan that  preserved the Japan of the past with temples like the Golden Temple that was surrounded by trees. The day trip to Nara Deer Park was unbelievable getting clicked and witnessing so many Deers under one roof.

The evening we enjoyed at another temple that was surrounded by trees. 

Kobe! A destination that’s not on tourist Radar while visiting Japan! 

But, the city had one of the oldest traditional cafe Nishimura that’s popular for its setting and Coffee Jelly a dessert that’s made of coffee and is also known for Wayu Steak! A popular beef-style steak from Japan. 

Osaka! AKA The Food Capital of Japan!!

We got a taste of the Okonomiyaki traditional Japanese pancakes that are cooked live on your tables. 

Amerika- Mura a  neighbourhood in Japan that’s very youthful and inspired by American

Dotobori is the Shinjuku neighbourhood of Osaka that has a landmark icon of a runner. 

Shinabasi an entertainment hub of Osaka that that would remind you of Times Square. 

Tseutanku Tower which is sponsored by Hitachi is a sight that can be enjoyed from a rooftop space & Osaka Castle is the sightseeing to go for. 

Also, Osaka the city that has a Japanese Liquor store based allow only one miniature of Yamazaki to be bought and carried by a tourist. 

Important things:

  • Book your JR Pass at least two weeks before you travel. 
  • To travel within Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka buy metro/Subway tickets from the station or airport.
  • Download the Google Translate app. 

Eat in Japan: 

  • Tokyo Banana 
  • Ramen from Ippudo 
  • Coffee Jelly Nishimura Kobe 
  • Tiger Gyoza in Tokyo for Japanese Raw Food 
  • Okonomiyaki in Osaka 
  • Wagyu Beef in Kobe 
  • Senbei Rice Crackers 
  • Seaweed Potato Chips 
  • Mochi 
  • Matcha Tea 
  • Cheese Tart from Secret Tokyo 
  • Japanese Cheesecake.
  • Shashimi 

Experience : 

  • Tokyo Hands departmental store 
  • Conveyor Belt Sushi 
  • Nerman Bergman Store 
  • Shibuya Crossing from Starbucks 
  • Cheese Garden Store 

Stay:

  • Prince Tower Hotel Tokyo
  • Westin Osaka. 

Sightseeing: 

  • Tokyo Tower & SkyTree 
  • Imperial Palace, Tokyo 
  • Osaka Castle 
  • Arashiyama bamboo grove, Kyoto 
  • Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto 
  • Kobe Port Tower
  • Deer Park, Nara 
  • Hachi Statue 

Cafes: 

  • Starbucks Reserve Tokyo 
  • Here cafe in Kyoto 
  • %Arabica Kyoto 
  • Nishimura Kobe.
  • Hoshino Cafe Tokyo 

Read: 

  • Haruki Murakami -Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki
  • Sayaka Murata – The Convenience Store 
  • Meiko Kawakami – All the lovers in the night 
  • Hiro Kawakami – Strange Weather in Tokyo 
  • Toshikazu Kawaguchi – Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. 
  • Banana Yoshimoto – Kitchen 
  • Natsuo Kirino – Out 
  • Ryu Murakami – In the Miso Soup 
  • Keigo Higashino – Malice, Salivation Saints
  • Yoko Ogawa – The Housekeeper and the Professor

Watch:

  • Hachiko 
  • Drive My Car 
  • The Tokyo Project 
  • Seven Samurai 
  • Spirited Away 

The world !!!

world2.jpg

The World is moving around and round,

But  our heads are still, still.

Still understanding,How everything still fits the bill.

The bill of our will.

 A will  of our till.

A Till that is endless than our will.

Yet still.

Our Head Is on the  Ground and 

 we are standing tall 

And having a ball.

Rolling on the wall.

Till we  fall.

And Become a Bomb.

A bomb that sheds tears,

Tears that taste like beer.

Beer that’s still not clear, 

Oh! Dear 

The world is moving around.

Yet , I am standing still there.

And my mind racing, 

There,There and everywhere.

Wherever I could imagine.

It travels, with just the thought of being there

There,Where everything is the same and nothing changes.

But,Ranges from  an accepatations to some expectations.

Yet, We are still stationed.

 The world is moving around and round.

Round, still to be found

And bound to  still  be lost.

Lost  and to be tossed.

World is moving around and round.

 – Akhil Nanda 

       

     

 

 

Road less travelled ?


Travelling ,There are a lot of people who haven’t even started traveling the globe and then there are a few who’s work doesn’t keep them apart from travelling the globe but have you wondered what’s these groups have in common ,” food “well the most of them its to make a choice from the options given on the menu ,with being on the “safe ” side the one which you would pick at home too ,but to travel the globe is also an experiment with the local cuisines ,which we traveller are skeptical about or are mostly clueless about ,since we depend on the travel agencies or are willing to do little research about the place .And with so much of information on the net the traveller haven’t really become active but lazier to plan more than what they can do .

US visa !!!

The past 10 days were really stressful ,since we were applying for the US Visa finally after nearly three years of contemplation and so we were going through it if the in ,were all correct and more importantly if we had got the appointment for the 13th&14th we were getting excited as well as nervous ,what will they ask us ,will they be moody to reject ,how long will we have to wait to know ,it seemed like one of the toughest exams ,so after going through FAQs ,we were now even more worried who will have to answer the question ,what if we fumble ,pause for a while .
So the day finally came where we had to go through our biometric test and we were going in for the final interview to really know whether or not we were going to get a visa
So we joint a long queue ,with all professionals ,students ,senior citizen ,families in the queue and some seemed so ordinary too .
So we have now entered the premises ,like a high security cell with a garden and a few seating space after a security check .
Now here we see people phone getting confiscated since they were strictly prohibited ,charges being thrown away since again no electronic allowed and then we are finally going to a AC room where we have about 40 counters and 100s in the queue .while we again had to do the biometric test to cross check our identity .also that moment when I was handed my passport before the test was a moment of shock and a little worry but was taken before the interview .😊
And now the last five minutes of actually knowing whether have we or haven’t we .
So while our turn had just come ,we just saw a few visas being rejected and were a little worried again .
Then came our turn and the question were answered with ease and then a few minutes later got the visa approved .A sigh of relief
It’s USA this year ..

brief history of Travel guides !!

the world has changed .

*The first travel guide was the form of a periplus (a latin word for a “sailing around”) a manuscript that charted portsand landmarks (and the distant between them)that a sailing vessel  would expect to find along a shore .later ,pilgrims tales of their religious travel around europe became popular guides .

  • Between 15th & 17th centuries ,published accounts of aristocrats grand tours around Europe  became the standard for many travellers Richard lassels ,priest and travel writer ,published the voyage of Italy in 1670 .
  • The early 19th century ,marina starks’s guide to travelling in France & Italy recognised the of the budget traveller in UK .The first travel guide to be published in the US was gideon Minor Davison The fashionable Tour (1822)
  • The modern guidebook came into being in 1830s when long -distance travel became a trend .Murray’s handbook for traveller covered destination in Europe,Asia and Africa.
  • The 21st century the iPad and smartphones have induced publisher to look into e-book and apps .world is  just  a touch away .