Dear Friends & Relatives::
Between this past November and December, me and my sainted mother took an extended trip to the orients. We met up with my two beloved cousins, Glendy and Alice and my nephew Ian in Hong Kong. Together we went to Osaka, Kyoto and the hot spring town of Arima. Following that, me and mum went to Siem Reap, Cambodia to check out the fabled Ankor Temples. I usually don’t take pictures in my travels but this trip is a rare opportunity for my mother, my cousins and Ian to share some joyous times together. Such as it is that a visual catalog of these times simply cannot be pass up. Also in the age of Facebook and Twitter, I want everyone to know where I was in the afternoon of December 13th, what were my peculiar thoughts that day, and what appetizers I had for lunch. So, if you feel incline, onward to
Osaka, Japan
Nipponbachi, Morning Market, Approx. 8:00 AM
Mommy Dearest
Morning Food Stall
Decisions, Decisions..
Breakfast
Mom, Glendy & Alice snackin’
Yum
Japanese Preserved Veggies
Colorful, are they not?
Pre-Fried Fish and Seafood- I think the fish cost 3,000 Yen. FYI- $1 USD = Approx. 86 Yen
Fresh fruits are some of the more expensive food staple in Japan.
That’s almost $4.00 per appleand you have to take out a second mortgage for one of those tiny watermelon up top.
Unlike New York store’s biweekly policy, sushi and cooked food cannot be kept overnight so about a hour before the stores close, they go on sale-30%-50% off. For 300 Yen($4 USD), these looks pretty good!
I wonder what this restaurant serves?
Six pack.
The dreaded, deadly poisonous Japanese Puffer Fish- $70 bucks a pop. I think finding out how much it cost to munch down this darn fish would kill me faster than the deadly toxins.
As some of you might knows, vending machine are all over Japan. Blue label means cold drinks and red label means hot. Those hot drinks are actually quite hot coming out of the machine. The Espresso are fairly decent and by decent, I mean bad.
Osaka Castle. This is a modern day re-construction.
Mom is standing on the main bridge over the castle’s inner moat.
Mom at front entrance of the castle. The entrance fee for the castle is 650 yen.
Top level of the castle looking out.
POV-From top of the castle.
Castle ground and garden.
Shinsaibashi shopping strip- Lined with festive shops and cafĂŠ restaurants. If I have to guess, it runs at least 2-3 miles long. Great place to scope out babes...which I was NOT doing.
Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi-Bridge crossing
Shinsaibashi-River walk. Yes, that is a ferris wheel
I think that this is some sort of sport/game/ recreation complex. It’s about 10 stories tall. That’s a rock climbing wall in the middle.
Namba train station. A major train hub. We got off this stop from the Osaka/Narita Airport.
The Japanese toilet-Pinnacle of modern technology. I ‘m having one of these baby ship to my apartment.
I don’t know why it has a STOP button because frankly, you don’t want it to stop.
Kyoto, Japan
Mom on the small road leading to Kiyomizudera Temple. Approx. 7:30 AM.
Who’s that handsome devil?
Alice, Mom and Glendy
Entrance into Kiyomizudera Temple Alice shot this picture and I got a beef with it. I don’t know if it’s my posture, the angle of the camera, or the early morning light but she made it look like I’ve been carrying for 9 months and is about to burst. Sometimes, the camera DO lie.
On the day we visited, there were many kids on school field trip.
Mom on the terrace at Kiyomizudera Temple. Overlooking autumn foliage and Koyasu Pagoda
Koyasu Pagoda
There’s Alice’s wicked camera work again!! I’m telling you all, I can wear size 32W jean!!
Kiyomizudera Temple TerraceKyoto Tower in the background-way in the distance
Kiyomizudera Temple Terrace
Japanese school girls on the terrace. I told you the kiddies were on field trip
Prayer reading booth & prayer’s pricelist
Jishu Shrine-Dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking. Apparently, very popular with the ladies.
Prayer Wood Plaque You have to buy these and write down your wishes for the ideal mate. The rabbit is suppose to be the deity’s messenger delivering the good news. Sort of the Japanese version of the cupid.
Jishu Shrine I think the idea is to make a offering, submit your prayer informing the deity who do you want to score with and then shake that red sash with the bell alerting him of your prayer and wishes. You all notice that I am not getting anywhere near to this thing.
That it Ian. Shake it real good.
Otowa Waterfall Located at the base of Kiyomizudera. Its waters are divided into three separate streams. Visitors use cups attached to long poles to drink from them. Each stream is said to have a different benefit - longevity, success at school and a fortunate love life.
I was thinking of lining up and have a swig, but only one of the three aforementioned benefits appeal to me and I was afraid I could drink from the wrong stream.
Lunch by Otowa Waterfall Soba and udon noodles with dry tofu and a raw egg. They cost bwt. 600-700 yen per bowl and it’s pretty tasty.
Higashiyama Historic District The streets of Higashiyama are right below Kiyomizudera Temple. They are lined by small shops, cafes and restaurants. These businesses retain their traditional design selling local specialties such as Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets, crafts and other souvenirs.
As you can tell, Ian is Glendy’s kid
Geisha Babes There was a geisha school along the Higashiyama and I saw them came out of it. I was a tad embarrassed to bother them for a photo. Fortunately, the fearless Alice spotted them and stop them for a photograph which they were more than happy to oblige. I quickly snap this single image.
From Kiyomizudera Temple we stroll thru Higashiyama passing many other shrines and temple
Waiting for the rain to pass
Reconstructed Temple at Heian Shrine
Garden ground at Heian Shrine
Our tatami room in Kyoto- Good night
Arima Onsen, Japan
Mom at Arima Onsen’s town center
Night snackin’ at Arima. Mom had a very good appetite on this trip.
This is a yakatori(skew food)place. I tried to buy some cuttle-fish ball there. This quaint corner stall sell steaming hot bun with sweet red bean paste filling. Too bad there wasn’t a Starbuck around or else I was set!
The mere fact that I posted this picture proves how secure I am in my masculinity.
This is shot from the connecting bridge in our hotel, the Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsusanso. There are 3 bath houses with 3 hot spring pool facilities for each sex. It is a communal thing. This it the first time for me and I was told it is both relaxing and medicinal. While it was relaxing to sit at a hot pool of water, I didn’t felt particularly healthier. Regardless, whatever medicinal benefit I might receive boiling in the hot springs, it was canceled out by the sights of naked old Japanese dudes with their junks hangin’ about.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Mom at the North Gate entrance of Bayon Temple. 8:00 AM.
Bayon Temple is an awesome site.
South gate into Bayon Temple
Raman, our trusty Cambodia guide directed us to climb up the earth embankment on the left of the south gate so we can see up close a well preserved stone head.
Aspara Dancer There are hundreds of these relief carving on all the Ankor temples and every one of them are different. I love these carvings.
Ankor Thom Ankor Thom is actually a vast temple complex that encompasses the Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the Suor Prat Towers...it is a huge place
The Elephant Terrace
Entrance into Ankor Wat Scratch one off the bucket list.
Our guide, Raman. A very sincere and knowledgeable dude.
Banteay Srei All the guidebook and travel reviews say that this place is worth the 30+ minutes drive from town center and they are right. It’s not large. The red sandstone Hindu carvings are very intricate and well preserve considering it’s almost 1,100 years old.
See what I mean
My buddy Raman shot this picture, NOT Alice. Now hurry up and turn the page so I can breath out.
Ta Prohm Temple
Cambodia is very hot all year around and it was around 90°+ for all five days we were there. I hired a guide and driver. We took our time and lot of breaks in between but still, it couldn’t be easy for mom at her age. She still did it anyway because of me. I just want people to know that.
Hong Kong
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Kowloon. 9:00PM
Hong Kong, Central District Shot from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade East. The building on the right is the 2 International Finance Center. The tallest building in Hong Kong until 2014.
Inside of the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car On my last day, I wanted to ride the Ngong Ping Cable Car to Lantau Island where the giant Buddha bronze statue sits. I know i t’s a tourist-y thing to do but what the heck. You know...now that I study this, I got a really big head.
Hong Kong International Airport-POV from the cable car
The first time I read about this cable car service were website stories about couples reserving a car for themselve so they can do what couples do. Sort of the poor man’s version of the Mile High Club.
Mom at Ngong Ping Village, just below the statue.
That’s it everyone. Thanks for looking. John