Japan Trip - Ichiran and Kabukicho

Best Ramen in the world!

Being lied of the so call Japanese citizen, we start hunting food via our Google Maps. In before we found any restaurant, stumble upon this Ichiran Ramen shop. One of the most famous Ramen chain in Japan, and so we decided to give it a try.

Ichiran Ramen

Inside the shop, we have to wait for a small que as it is dinner time. However the que wasn't long, when we finally reached the vending machine, we have to wait again for the remaining customer to finish their delicious ramen to free up the seats.

Button indicator to show which seat is empty or filled.

So during the que or waiting, we were handed with this small leaflet to customize our ramen along with the coupon you purchased just now from the vending machine.

Customise sheet to design your own ramen

Some good 20 minutes waiting while chatting with other tourist, is finally our turn! But we got separated due to there's no 5 free seats in a row.

In front of you, there's a tap water valve for your free flow of iced water.

Free iced water

Beside there's a wooden panel that can be open if you are seated with friends. But normally is closed because lone customer want to have his/her ramen in peace.

Japan Trip - Shinkansen to Shinjuku

Speed of Bullet Train

Upon arriving to Shin-Osaka, we quickly rush out from Haruka platform to find where is the entrance for our Shinkansen. The ticket lady schedule us the train ride is just mere 30 minutes after arrive to Shin-Osaka, and due to the fact we're first timer and just arrive to the land of the rising sun, took us quite some time to locate the correct platform.

Shinkansen Entrance Banner

Just as planned, we went to the bento vendors to get ourself some bentos. So many choices, we can't read Japanese, can't made up our mind and the Shinkansen is leaving. Intense ; we were battling against time.

Quite expensive for just a bento

Man, Japanese with their packaging

Japan Trip - Izakaya, Shinjuku

Japanese Mamak

On our way back to Shinjuku Train Station, we came across this huge food sales. Crowded with people, and food and freebies. Staff there are pretty generous and nice, explaining what kind of food they selling in English and free taste. YUM! But is super packed, I can't even bring out my camera to take a good shot.

Food Market

Our friend here is leading us to the suppose to be Yakitori stall, knowing a good stall serving those, so we followed him, but tragedy happens.

Before of that incident, lets enjoy the Shinjuku street.

Pachinko - means casino specialise in mechanical gambling 

People everywhere, keep walking, I mean walk fast!

Japan Trip - Kansai Airport

Konichiwa

Is time! Our long planned Japan trip is finally here! We bought our tickets around Nov 2013 during the Air Asia sales, a couple of return to Osaka. Then we revised our plan, again and again and again, and we got greedy; at the end we decided to both Kansai and Kanto region in 11 days. 

During the planning phase, only 2 of us will be travelling, but as times goes, 2 more innocent travellers decided to join us. Revise everything again to take the best advantage of 4 travellers, sharing cost and such. Talking to our host in Japan, liaising with our friend in Tokyo to make sure everything is settle.

Then we were lucky enough to experience the new KLIA 2 just after few days later from the official launch. 

Snacks booth inside KLIA 2

KLIA 2 was huge, and tiring to walk. However the interior design was OK, just some design flaw of being inconvenient. Tons of potential empty spaces being to utilized. 

Resting bench

Can you see the design of those chair? It is not design to be slept on! Bad choice of chairs for airport., especially for those who decided to overnight in the airport. Guess KLIA 2 want to make extra profit from their hotel services.

D7 0532 - Kansai Osaka

Taiwan - Overview

The Master Plan of Taiwan

So you are thinking about travelling to Taiwan and have no idea where to start? Here's some information of my itinerary for my trip. Guide for 7 days in Taiwan.

Day 1 - Arrival
Our flight ticket was just Rm900 with return flight, however this consider a mid range priced(can get even cheaper if we purchase earlier with AirAsia free seat promo). We ain't complain much on winter season.
Due to night flight, we stay our night at City Suite @TaoYuan for Rm300.

Day 2 - TaiChung
Took bullet train to TaiChung from TaoYuan that cost NTD540. Then we checked in to our Ming Shu which can be found in HERE.
Feng Jia Night Market, our night activities. Forget about dinner, snack your way through this night market and be a happy kid to sleep at night.

Day 3 - Qing Jing Farm(清境农场)
We have hired a local tour of 4 days to ease our trip, because some places are just too difficult to go. His name is Panda, although is a bit expensive as compared to other, but his service is very good.
We visited Taroko Gorge (太鲁阁),Qing Jing Farm(清境农场), Carton King(纸箱王) and Small Swiss Garden(小瑞士花园).

Day 4 - Sun Moon Lake(日月潭)
We visited Sun Moon Lake(日月潭) and Paper Dome.

Day 5 - Jiu Fen(九分)
Visited Jiu Fen and Jiu fen Old Street(九分久道)

Day 6 - Yang Ming Shan( 阳明山)
Visited Yang Ming Shan, have lunch at Kuang An Temple(广安庙). Then headed to Dan Shui(淡水).

Day 7 - 故宫(National Palace Museum)
Visited 故宫(National Palace Museum), then Xi Men Ding(西门町).

Day 8 - MaoKong, Shi Lin Market
Visited MaoKong for some tea. Then Shilin for the food.

Day 9 - Taipei 101
Visited Taipei 101.

Total Cost : Rm2.5k

Ok I lied, it surpose to be 9 days, but 1st and last day doesn't consider full day, So make it a 7 day guide?

Anyway, have fun in Taiwan.

Day 9 Taiwan - Country with love and food

I'll be back

The last day at Taipei, and is rainy. Finish packing, and is time to say good bye.

Rainy 

Before we leaving to the airport, we always wanted to try the Taiwan's origin, the best franchise restaurant in the world. Ding Tai Fung(鼎泰丰).

Xiao Long Bao (小笼包)

Their signature dish, Xiao long Bao. 10 piece for NTD 100. Pretty good deal, and it taste superb. Be careful thou, as when you take a bite, the meat juice inside will burst and might burnt your tongue. I did.

Vegetarian Bun - Chai Bao(菜包)

Fried rice 

Tan tan noodles - 担担面

Beautiful cooked Ramen served with minced pork sauce.

Pork Chop w/ Omelet rice - 猪排饭

Eight Precious Pudding - 八宝饭

Cloth to cover our bags, and jackets

Satisfying breakfast, but is still very early and our flight is at night. We decided to park our luggage in a locker on the main station of Taipei then walk to Taipei 101 tower and have a look.

Taipei 101 - Fog

We unable to witness the majestic of Taipei 101 due to heavy rain and fog.

Rental bike

Taipei 101 and its shopping mall

Beneath the tower, there's a huge shopping mall. Just like KLCC

Entrance

Wall of fame to those help in building Taipei 101

Wall of Fame

Time for lunch!

Food court

Even is the food court food, the food here is delicious and not that pricey surprisingly.

Food

While we on the street, we encounter a pack of protestors marching on the main street of the Government Office.

I think the protest is about the transparency of the government and the high tax of the country.

Random Art

About 4pm, we took a bus and back to Tao Yuan international airport.

Taipei, Always more Delights

At the airport, we found this lovely booth. Hello Kitty theme Eva Air. I wanted to ride one!

Kawaii!~

As usual, before we leave, final round of Taiwan's delicious!

NTD 100 - Deep Fried Pork Chop Udon on a Sizzling Plate

These huge portion of food, only cost NTD 100, and it is so good!

NTD 100 - Deep Fried Shrimp with rice along with mushroom on a Sizzling Plate

Time to check in.

Long que before 3 hours of the flight - just to check in

The long que of the check in counter, luckily we arrive early!

Immigration 

This is it, is time for us to leave. Wonderful trip I say.
Good bye to food, good bye to pretty ladies, good bye to the warmth hospitality and good bye Taiwan!

Day 8 Taiwan - Tea

Day 8 Taiwan - Tea

Relax

Almost the end of our trip, we have our last day as a more relaxing day trip to any where we want. After some serious voting and discussion for 30 sec, we choose MaoKong for some tea tasting and the infamous Shilin Night Market to beat our curiosity.

Let's go!

Crowded as usual in the early morning at Taipei Train Station.

Gondola to the Moutain! Maokong

Day 2 Hakyai - Mango

Sawadee!

While everyone is embedded with Hakyai's praying routine, well you are out of luck for my Day 2 literary.

Blame it all on the message we had on Day 1, it was too relax and distress so we woke at a godly hour - 9 in the morning. Well the driver we hired already used of our 'time'. Totally not recommend to woke as late as us as you'll miss all the time for your vacations.

Rui Dian bakery
Passed by many time, have no chance to buy and sample it. Both my stomach and bag have no space.

Tuk Tuk car to temple in the morning~

Coffin donation department
Poor people cannot afford buying a coffin, this is where we can help them :)

See those papers? They are actually the prove for the donations. Prove you have done good.
Just like coupon for Karma.

I've been asked to offer 3 joss stick to the god for praying and receive lucks.

The Afternoon market. Love this place

250 baht (still can nego)