My First Solo Trip (Part II) - KAMIKOCHI TAISHO POND

Kamikochi is a popular resort in the Northern Japan Alps of Nagano Prefecture, offering some of Japan's most spectacular mountain scenery. It's only open from mid/late April until mid-November so I guess I was lucky to choose to go there in May, the weather is perfect!

I took bus from Shinjuku to Kamikochi and the journey took about 5 hours. There's only 2 timings everyday (7.15am & 10.15pm) from Shinjuku to Kamikochi Bus Terminal so make sure you arrange your time wisely and book the bus ticket in advanced. I took the day bus which is at 7.15am and reach Kamikochi Bus Terminal around 12.15pm. You really need to plan your itinerary and timing  properly as transportation at Kamikochi is quite limited. The last bus timing at Kamikochi Bus Terminal is around 5-6pm, so please make sure you book your bus ticket before you started trekking or sightseeing.

There's 4 popular spots to sightseeing/trekking in Kamikochi which is Tashiro Pond, Taisho Pond, Kappa Bridge and Myojin Bridge. Out of these 4 spots, the nearest one will be the Kappa Bridge which is the most popular spot with lots of tourists as it's just few mins walking distance from Kamikochi Bus Terminal. I decided to go Taishiro Pond and Taisho Pond on my first day at Kamikochi. You can refer to the trekking route via this website.

I stored my luggage at the baggage room at Kamikochi Bus Terminal before I started my trekking, please note that the baggage storage only available until 5pm everyday and they don't allow overnight storage. There's so much to see along the way and I'm really amazed by the view and the fresh air there! The trekking route is really well organised and the signboard is also very clear, no worries of losing your way. Met some monkeys along the way and I was actually quite afraid of them, told myself to keep calm and keep walking without having eye contacts with them hahaha! Taisho Pond is so so so pretty and the good thing is there's literally no one there, hahaha! If you only have time to visit one place at Kamikochi, I will definitely recommend you to follow the route that I have highlighted in the map below! You won't regret it! ;)

IMPORTANT TIPS: There's 2 route to get to Taisho Pond which is Forest Course and Azusa-gawa River Course. I strongly suggest you to try 2 different routes when you trek to and fro. Forest Course is the one that consist of wooden trail and Azusa-gawa River Course is where you can see the amazing Azusa-gawa river which blow me away with its breathtaking view.

Transportation:
Shinjuku to Kamikochi: http://willerexpress.com/en/
Bus to get around at Kamikochi: Alpico Bus

Accommodation:
Okuhida Yakushi No Yu Honjin (奥飛騨薬師のゆ 本陣)

-This onsen hotel is the most luxurious stay in my trip, hahaha!! I stayed at the Japanese Standard Family Room (it's the smallest room already, lol).

Meal:
Bought a really big sweet potato for my breakfast and snacks on the bus to Kamikochi. Dinner is at this cosy small homestyle restaurant うな亭 which sells unagi don! Chanced upon this place at Google Map and decided to give it a try, by far the best unagi don I've eaten in my life!

To Be Continued...

My First Solo Trip (Part I) - TOKYO TEAMLAB PLANETS

My First Solo Trip (Part III) - KAMIKOCHI MYOJIN

My First Solo Trip (Part IV) - MATSUMOTO/TOKYO

My First Solo Trip (Part I) - TOKYO TEAMLAB PLANETS

It has been almost a year since I went on a solo trip to one of my favorite country-Japan! I have been to Japan for 7 times yet I still find new things to see and experience in every single trip, guess that's the magic of Japan. Gosh, i miss Japan so much!! Not sure when can we travel again coz of the Covid-19..hopefully everything will be better and everyone please be safe. Since I have more time by working from home, I should document down my first solo trip to Japan.

I was actually looking for some place to go after my break up, lol! Chanced upon this article on The Smart Local and I fell in love immediately with Kamikochi so yes that's how I chose my destination for my 1st solo trip..haha! This place is rarely visited by tourists and it's only open from Apr-Nov every year. All the route planning and transportation booking really kill my brain cells a lot. I decided on a 5 days short trip in the end since I'm only going to Tokyo and Kamikochi. The reason why I decided on Tokyo besides Kamikochi is because I wanted to visit this exhibition-TeamLab Planets!!

So yes I will start my solo trip documentary with this awesome exhibition!

TeamLab has two exhibition in Tokyo, Planet and Borderless. After research and read the reviews vigorously online, I have decided on TeamLab Planet as it's more unique! Borderless is quite similar to the Future World Exhibition in Singapore which I've visited with my friend years ago. I booked my ticket online and you will have to choose the time slot that you wish to visit. There'll be a short briefing before you enter the exhibition but no worries they have the instructions in English too. We have to take off our shoes and store in the locker they provided before we enter the exhibition as there's some part of exhibition involve water! Remember to dress appropriately else you might need to change your bottom to the shorts that they provided..lol!

Out of the 7 artworks that TeamLab Planet showcase, my favorite is the Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and the People-Infinity (what a long name..lol!). The movement of the koi is influenced by the presence of people in the water and also other koi. When the fish collide with people they turn into flowers and scatter. It was really magical, so pretty I can't even. Another favorite would be the Floating in Falling Universe of Flowers. You will be instructed to lie down or sit on the floor to view the artwork. You will feel your body floating and dissolve into the artwork world where you can see flowers grow, bud, bloom, and in time, the petals fall, and the flowers wither and die. It was really quite emotional to watch this when you lie down and let yourself immerse into the artwork.

I spent around 2 hours in this exhibition and I totally recommend everyone to visit this place if you are in Tokyo! Would love to visit TeamLab Borderless next time when I have the chance to!

teamLab Planets TOKYO
6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City
Tokyo 135-0061, Japan

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Oh, and here's the food I had on the 1st day of my Japan Solo Trip, hehe! Everything is so yummy!

To be continued..

My First Solo Trip (Part II) - KAMIKOCHI TAISHO POND

My First Solo Trip (Part III) - KAMIKOCHI MYOJIN

My First Solo Trip (Part IV) - MATSUMOTO/TOKYO

Taiwan 2019 - Apple About Pie 烤蘋果派的方法

During my recent 3D2N short trip to Taiwan, I managed to meet Debbie in Taipei on my last day of the trip! We have been talking about this precious one day for so long as it's really rare for me to visit her in Taiwan..haha! She told me that she has to bring me to this home dessert place called 烤蘋果派的方法 (Steps to bake an apple pie), the name is super cute! I didn't know this place is so hard to book until she told me, lol! 

So here are some information about this place:

-Reservation based, strictly no walk in

-Open for reservation on every 15th of the month, 9pm

-Slot available: 1-3pm and 3-3.30pm (2 groups of customers per slot)

-Reservation must be made on Facebook Page

-Dessert Choice: Homemade Apple Pie, Seasonal Dessert Platter (3 types of dessert) and Crepe Cake

-One dessert per person (you have to pre-order after your reservation is confirmed)

-No pets, no children under 12 yrs old

-Only accept reservation from 2-5 person

The owner will only release the date that she decided to open for reservation for that month few days before 15th of every month. Now this explain why this place is so hard to book! We were really lucky to be able to get the slot on the only day that I was at Taipei, haha! This place is located at the residential area in Da An District and the owner will open the gate for you after you ring the doorbell one time (yes, one time only).

The place is very very homey and the owner put a lot of efforts into those tiny details. It was literally entering into someone's house to have high-tea there, lol! Every corner is so pretty and photogenic I can't help but to keep pressing the shutter of my camera. 

We had the homemade apple pie and the seasonal dessert platters which consist of 3 different types of dessert according to the current season. This means that the owner change the menu every now and then to make sure you will always have new things to try when you visit again. The homemade apple pie is really delicious and comforting! The crust is so crispy, not too flaky, just the right amount and the filling is so generous with big chunks of apple which were slightly spiced with cinnamon, 吃了會有幸福的感覺！As for the dessert platter, we were given peach & blueberry jelly, mango and passion fruit cake and caramel banana cake tart. Everything is so nice especially the caramel banana cake tart!

烤蘋果派的方法

台北市大安區安和路一段24號

791 Days

“I do keep him at the back of my mind for those times I get my hopes raised about something. So then I can slap myself into reality and remind myself of what happens when you let someone into your sacred space.”-Melina Marchetta

This year has past by too quickly, so many things happened and to be honest it was really overwhelming to me. Went through a hell of roller coaster in the first three months of year 2019, first two month was tough but bearable, but I can't really handle what happened in March, lets just say it was something that I have never expected it to be happened.

It was the first time I know what a heartache truly is, you can't do anything but to immerse in that sadness. So many things, so many emotions I don't really know how to put them into words. Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair and I don't even know if it can be repaired? Well, I guess it doesn't matter already.

Let's hope the remaining of 2019 will be good, I will do better.

BKK 2018 (Day One)

My annual trip to the land of smiles was with my bff Joanne this time! Met at airport on Friday late afternoon with matchy matchy outfits..hehe! Flew by SQ this time as we got the promo ticket, hehe! 

DAY ONE

We reached BKK around 7 plus at night and went check in at our airbnb after we landed. Love love this airbnb so much! It's  called Sleep Industry, a space which combines cafe and accommodation. Free breakfast is provided if you are staying there! The room looks exactly the same as shown in the pictures and we really love how strategic the location is, just few mins walk from Thonglor BTS hehe! We freshen up quickly before we left for a drink at Pink Flamingo by Prelude. It's a hidden cocktail bar behind Prelude's dining room. It's themed around the Retro 80’s, offering quality drinks that is inspired by events and music from that era. We ordered the Flamingo Sling and Peat and Eat and both are nicely done! A perfect place to just chill with your friends over top notch drinks and delicious bar food.

Sleep Industry

764/10 Sukhumvit Rd. Klongton, Klongtoey

10110 Bangkok, Thailand

Opens everyday: 0800-2000

Pink Flamingo by Prelude

225, 15, Arena, Soi Thonglor, 

Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, 

Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, 

Thailand10110 Bangkok, Thailand

DAY TWO

Had our breakfast at the Sleep Industry before we started our shopping spree at Chatuchak! Got myself the avocado shrimp toast and Joanne got their signature big breakfast. Headed to Chatuchak afterwards and man we spent a good 7 hours there shopping, omg! Lunch was at this chicken drumstick noodle stall in Chatuchak, not sure if this the famous one but it was very yummy! 

Back to our hotel to put down our loots and head to the supper place which I anticipated the most in this trip..haha! We actually made the reservation first (tips!) so that we don't need to spend so much time queueing there! One thing to note they only started selling the tomyum mama noodles at 11pm and they close at 1am..so ya only 2 hours to get your tomyum cravings fixed..lol! 

We ordered the spicy salmon sashimi and one pot of tomyum noodle mama to share! The sashimi was damn spicy omg hahaha but it was so so so good!! And of course the star had to be the glorious pot of tomyum mama noodles!!! It's not like the ordinary tomyum soup but enhanced with lemongrass, chilli, lime, spices which made it very flavourful! What a satisfying meal to end our day two in BKK!

Jeh-O-Chula

Banthat Thong Road, 113 Charat Muang Road, 

Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 (National Stadium BTS)

113 ถ.จรัญเมือง เขตปทุมวัน, Bangkok, Thailand 10330

Tel: +66 64 118 5888

Opens Everyday: 5:30pm – 1am

To be continued...