TravelStream™ news feed for member gav.em on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/gav.em en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 07 May 2008 21:14:18 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209850500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209850500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209850500/tpod.html Wed, 07 May 2008 21:14:18 -0400 Tokyo on a whim

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Tokyo, Japan

Woke up late and out of the hotel door only at 12! Raining still- since last night. Getting later by the day. Borrowed an umbrella from the Hotel reception. Took a subway using the Odeo line next to Dentsu. Reached the Starbucks/Tsutaya at Roppongi just before 1pm- decided at last minute for Em not to join the lunch with Yuki.

Had lunch at nearby Udon place that is owned by THE Kurosawa family. It was a nice lunch. After lunch she brought me to meet her Japanese friend that opened a Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice shop behind- unfortunately her friend was off work. Met with Em again near the 'Spider' and then we walked to Midtown. She bought some Design Books at Tsutaya earlier. There was a busy Flea market at the atrium area of Roppongi. Not knowing which direction is MIdtown, we walked aimlessly for a while.

Midtown was crowded-maybe it was Golden Week and it was a Saturday. Then we looked for lunch at their Food Court -which was a cross between a Mall Food Court and Marche. Then walked to their new 21-21 Design Sight outside the building- they had a exhibition on but we didn't pay to get in. Browsed the Designers Flea Market which had Designers displaying and selling their wares- whilst others were lounging on the grass in the sun.

At 4pm. Then we took the metro back to Shimbashi to take the train to Odaiba. Reached Odaiba nearly at 530 and we spilt up shopping. Em is disappointed on not finding anything to buy which is different from when we were last here 5 months ago. Then we walked the decks- which was very crowded with young families and entertainment like acoustic concerts and comedic acts. Then we went to the other section of Odaiba and we spilt again to shop. I went to Sony Style Shop and found the Sound recorder I was looking for but they don't sell it there coz it is only a showroom. Then Em brought me to Right On! shop and bought a nice shirt she found for me-looked really nice. Couldn't find an Edwin jeans to fit me though. Then we head back to hotel by 8ishpm.

On the train-there was a bunch of young executives holding a drunk colleague up. Then we went to Caretta under Dentsu to eat our dinner. It was back to the first restaurant that the Dentsu guys brought us to eat here 3 years ago. It was our most expensive dinner so far. Then we went to but a drink and some chestnuts at Donki and then head back to hotel by 10ishpm. Em researched on how to get to Gotemba the next day and decided to sleep early but slept only about 1am. Time flies- going home soon...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209904500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209904500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209904500/tpod.html Wed, 07 May 2008 21:07:29 -0400 Tokyo on a whim

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Gotenba, Japan

Woke up early today to catch the bus to Gotenba. Took JR. Reached Tokyo station at 8:00am. Bought tix for 8:50AM and not a direct bus to the Premium Outlet Stores. It's been sold out. Then began our 4 hour trip on a jam-filled highway- this is the end of their Golden Week and thousands are leaving Tokyo- how lucky we are.

Reached Gotenba by 12:30pm We shopped selectively and looking only for things we think we want to buy. It is very crowded- Japanese really know how to shop- everyone has a dog and kids in tow. The Outlets are quite good in comparison to US ones. Em bought a handbag, a pair of shoes, a dress and a watch- me a Beams shirt. Success!!!! Imagine the long journey without any loot. We didn't even stopped for lunch- we bought hotdogs to munch. We decided to start our journey back coz we are now afraid that we may be jammed back to Tokyo. So at 4pm- we made our journey back. But we forfeited our bus- didn't like the idea of being stuck in a stuffy bus for hours again and we bought train tix back.

2 trains later, after about 2 hours- we are back in Shimbashi Station- alas and hungry- so we head towards Yamasana Beef that we passed by everyday. Ate in record time of maybe 15 minutes- so hungry. Then we head back to our hotel to relax and planned to shop later at DonKi for last minute stuffs to buy back. Going home soon:(
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1210034220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1210034220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1210034220/tpod.html Wed, 07 May 2008 21:03:37 -0400 Tokyo on a whim

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Tokyo, Japan

Woke up at 9 and packed and check out by 1030am. A little sad to leave our room for the last 5 nights. Bought our Airport LImousine tickets for 3:40pm. Then we walked to JR Shimbashi and took the train to Shinjuku. At Shimbashi we saw there was some traditional ceremony with many men in Jap Underwear and G-Strings waiting to carry some traditional idol.

Then we transfered to the Odakyu line to Shimokitazawa. Then was some being lost and hungry. Found the shop Jam Cover, recommended by Mari-san but it was closed and will open at 1pm so we went to eat at this place that had a TV award for best Noodles. Then we walked around Shimokitazawa- Em liked it a lot- actually thought we should come here earlier- lots of cool shops for the young. She bought a pair of shoes at one of this cool small boutiques that were part of a cafe. Walked back to Jam Cover by 1:35 and Em bought some cute stuff there. Rushed back to Akihabara to buy Mr Donut back home and me to get the Sony Sound recorder. We reached at 2:35 and Akihabara was crowded since this was last 2 days of Golden Week. Met up at 3pm and then rushed back to hotel by 3:30pm- walking briskly we just made it. Then began our journey home. The AL came at 3:40 exactly and we reached Narita by 4:50pm- early. The airport was not busy at all. The customs had no QUEUE!!! Checked-in and then shopped last minute gifts to bring back. Found the abalone snacks at last. Flew off Tokyo at 7:30pm and touched down at 1:05am Singapore.

The journey was calm compared to the flight going to Tokyo. Took a cab back and reached home at about 2am. The end of this nice but hectic trip. New places discovered and Tokyo still a great destination for us.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209688740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209688740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209688740/tpod.html Mon, 05 May 2008 21:11:55 -0400 Tokyo on a whim

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Tokyo, Japan

2nd day-woke up at 9:30am-thinking it was 8:30 because of Em's phone clock. Em read that Ling Ling the Ueno Zoo Panda has died yesterday- the Panda the whole family visited last November. Prepared to meet KIm and Venus?. Took a Metro instead which is only 15 minutes instead of JR's 35 minutes-doh! Caught up with Kim and Yuna at the head of the Green Train at Shibuya-waited for Venus? there was these singing and dancing rehearsals for this event called Shibuya Paradise. Then we went to eat at the Tonkatsu place above the shopping mall-think we have ate here before. Yuna is cute. Nice catching up with Hui Ying/Venus?-she's doing good in Boston for the last 14 years- we haven't contacted each other since 16 years ago- to think we met in Tokyo after all this time-fate? Then Hui Yng left at 1:15pm to catch a Train to Kyoto at 3pm- and KIm also left at about 130pm for home.

Went to shop-spilt up -I went to Mandarake and Medicom's shop and Em went to Parco. Went up at 2:30- visited the new Bathing Ape store opposite Parco-filled with Hongkongers- shoes, T-shirt and stuff don't look that god this time or have our taste changed? Then we walked to the DVD shop near the crossing. Bought a Special Edition Blu-Ray of Perfect Blue- my fave anime by Satoshi Kon- it came with a storyboard book.

Then we took the Metro back to Omedosando. Tired so we took a break having coffee at a coffeeshop for 20 minutes (420pm) . Then we walked around the Harajuku back streets. Visited some Used shops and thought they were or this area is full of americana apparel. Visited Muji shop and really wanted to buy a nice looking fan for 2500Yen! Only thing was the voltage. So maybe later. Then we spilt up- I went to Toyland and em went to Laforet tll 6:30pm. Nothing there really- then shopped at Hanjinro? and some cheap used clothings at basement. Then we ate at 'Volcano Head' again behind Toyland- and confirmed the dishes are better than the shop at Nakano. Then we walked back to the Metro station. Took a train back to Shimbashi (about 8pm) then rested at the hotel till 1030pm.

Then we shopped at Donki for the second time- amazing shop-bought snacks and Em bought a amazing black/white head device. Surfed internet-charged everything cos they are all dead-laptop, phone, iphone, camera etc. Nice trip so far.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209600600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209600600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209600600/tpod.html Mon, 05 May 2008 21:08:39 -0400 Tokyo on a whim

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

T3 for the first time. Its big and new but not that different from T2, I think. It's so hard to impress anyone these days. It was not a full flight- surprising said the 'counterboy'. Didn't sleep much on the flight-eventhough we have 2 free seats between us-so Em slept most of the flight lying down across 3 seats. It was very bumpy for 2 segments of the flight-near Thailand and then near Taiwan. Being shaken up quite badly-one of the worst we have been through.

Arrived at 715am, its strange that we were just here 5 months ago. Not much at immigration so we were out in little time. Saw Lum May Yee in the queue ahead of us- looked ordinary. Got out and we were rushed to take the Airport Bus straight away(didn't have time to visit the toilet) coz the next one is 10:45- no way we would want to be stuck at the airport till then.

We arrived at Ginza Mitsui about 9:20am. The lobby looks nice and again we are so lucky and we have the room immediately and not at 3pm. But they have nice contemopary furniture like Barcelona Daybeds, Egg Chair etc. We are on the 24th floor 2021. Great coz we wanted to freshen up and put down our stuff. Em was not impressed with the room coz it is small and the service isn't as good as Park Hotel. That is until we discovered the amazing electrical glass frosting pane at the toilet so you can lounge on the tube and watch the view. Found the free internet connection-yippee. Mari-San wrote to us to welcome us to Tokyo(she remembered) that she feel bad for not bringing us around coz of her English- so nice of her.

So we were out at about 11am. Took a JR train to Nakano. Ate at 'Volcano Head' here- Em said it isn't as good- feels good to me. Then we spilt up and shopped. Was supposed to meet her at Uniglo and I couldn't find the shop and her phone wasn't ringing at all- so panicked a bit till I called later and found her at Uniglo near the entrance. Didn't get anything till much later when we were about to leave at 3pm. Missed the 2nd floor and found a American Toys by Mandarake and found 2 great buys- a Takara Batman for 8400Yen (Singapore was $220) and a black Spiderman for 6300Yen (Sing Retail-$180). Also bought a Transformer Ultimate Bumblebee for 6300Yen. Bought 2 Fish desserts before we take the train. Took some street portraits shots near the station too.

Went back to Ginza, dropped our stuff and shopped around Ginza. Walked a bit at the Toy place. Shopped and bought stuff at Uniglo. Ate at Sapporo Beer Hall- a nice rowdy and smoky beer hall with Germanish food and beer. Surprised we missed this everything we walked pass in the daytime. Then we shopped at DonKi which is an amazing Mustafaish kind of everything-they-sell discount store. Went back to Hotel, internet surfing, checked out the forum on Seaview-everyone impressed with the development except the small rooms. Slept about 1ish.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209776760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209776760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/3/1209776760/tpod.html Mon, 05 May 2008 21:06:01 -0400 Tokyo on a whim

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Tokyo, Japan

Woke up at 8ish and wrote the first 2 days on TRavelpod. By the time we freshened up and get out of our room -it was 11ish. Think we are bushed from all the walking. Reached Meguro Station via JR by 12. Didn't know where to walk to the furniture shops. Walked down the hill then along the nice river then we asked someone on the street where it was and he gestured that it was back where we came from-urgh! Then after waking some more, we asked another guy and he said we had to cross the bridge and walked about 25 minutes to Claska. Then we set off and at a major junction, we asked another lady and she confirmed the right direction but said Claska was 20 minutes away. Then we were hungry so we ate at Mos Burger- we had Teriyaki Chicken Burger and Hotdog with fries- the Teriyaki was very good.

Then walked we did and along the way there were many retro Scandinavian Furniture shops, so we knew we in the right direction. Nearly bought a chrome seat Drummer seat? for S$150ish but it was a little bulky to bring back. Started to drizzle. Then we reached Claska-it was also a retro Scandinavian Hotel- what a surprise-we thought it was a new Hotel. It has character and loved the screening room/kitchen. Then we walked some more till Acme and the Volkswagen Classic Shop -then we asked for directions to walk towards a Metro- along the way we found streets of quaint neigbourhood shops. Started to rain more. Reached the station nearly 3pm.

Then we metroed first to Naka-Meguro to take the Hibiya Line. Tired by now from al the walking. Then at Akihabara we walked first to the Yellow Submarine building, there Em found a huge stash of cheap hugely discounted box sets like Hannibal Lector Box set Yen1500, Big Lebowski Box set Yen 1500, George Clooney's Unscripted TV series for Yen1500, hard to find Coen Brothers Miller's Crossing for Yen1500! Bought also Iichi the Killer Blood Pack set for Yen5500. What a find- nearly bought the Big Lebowski the last trip for the full amount of Yen7600. Then shopped for toys but nothing even at the new Mandarake at Akiba. BUt at the side stores, I found the Ultraman CG Girl in orange uniform for only Yen6900 where it was Yen12000 at store next door.

Then we went to Yobobashi Camera to eat our Indian food but went to eat Sukiyaki instead coz we have yet to eat Sukiyaki in Japan before and Sukiyaki is Emily's favorite. It is a buffet for about Yen2300 each. The beef was super nice- we had 3 servings of it. Finished about 8pm. Then we spilt and shopped till about 930pm. I just bought a Afro-Samurai Blu-ray which is discounted 40% to Yen3600-first it is obscure and it is discounted- I think it is the Golden Week Holidays that is creating all these fantastic deals. Then we took the Hibiya line back to Ginza and realised it was raining heavily. Then we took a Metro back to Shimbashi as it was nearly to run back to our hotel. The rain is getting heavier and we reached back to our hotel nearly 10pm- a little wet.

Then we surfed a bit and watched Unscripted which is my premise of my filmmaking film-must be fated fo rme to buy this and watch. It is good, intelligent and witty. Then we slept nearly around 130am. Body's aching.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/film_festivals/1170808200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/film_festivals/1170808200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/film_festivals/1170808200/tpod.html Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:22:55 -0500 Freezing our buns at Slamdance & Clermont-Ferrand Film Festivals

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Paris, France

Woke up at 9. Took breakfast again in the basement below. Packed till nearly 12noon. Checked out and left our baggage in the hotel. Then we went to take the metro to Opera to go to Printemps. Noticed the Leica shop just in front of the metro and later discovered that Bastille area is perhaps the photo shopping area in Paris when we found many other camera shops along the street. Reached Opera and it is a magnificent building with many gold ornaments and stautes on it. The tour costs 8 Euros so we gave it a miss. Walked into Galleries Lafayette- huge 2 building shopping store. Like Macy's in New York and Harrod's of London. Em walked in the women's apparel section whilst I wandered into the Gourmet Food section. Bought some cheese (to take home) and ham to munch. Nice selection-wanted to buy foie gras but it's bloddy expensive. Em bought a Puma designer sneakers for 50% discount and a skirt. The place is too big to shop for our limited time left in Paris. So at about 2:30pm, we took a Metro back to our hotel in Bastille. Wanted to look for a place to eat but many were closed between lunch and dinner. There was a small protest march going on opposite the road and many French riot police were standing by in their vans. Then we went back and caleld for a cab to take us to the enarest train station to the airport. Talked a bit to an Algerian lady that speaks good english and she mentioned she used to teach French in UK. Took the cab and we lugged the many and very heavy bags to the nearest train station-long long walk in the Metro connecting walkways. Reached Charles De Gaulle by 5pm- took a little longer than we expected. Had a sandwich at the cafe near our gate and then we're off to Amsterdam at 7pm- half an hour late.
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Singapore, Singapore

The flight was packed and it was again a old 747 with only a small 20 inch CRT TV hanging from the ceiling. The best thing was the audio was not working so we were flying 10 hours plus without any from of entertainment to wile our time away. Slept for some parts and kept awake trying to watch silent movies. Touched down at 3:30pm. Great to be home. Sunny and 32 degrees Celsius. Started to take off the layers of clothing on us. Home.
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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Reached Amsterdam late by 8:15pm. Rushed like mad to reach Section F which is 20 minutes away from Scetion C where the plane stopped. Didn't even have time to go to the loo. Full flight again. Wanted to shop at the very big airport here in Amsterdam but again foiled by late schedules of the flights.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/film_festivals/1170740580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/film_festivals/1170740580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/gav.em/film_festivals/1170740580/tpod.html Tue, 06 Feb 2007 04:13:00 -0500 Freezing our buns at Slamdance & Clermont-Ferrand Film Festivals

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Paris, France

9:35am. Had breakfast at this dungeon like basement- a little better than Athena Hotel's spread- this has ham. Went out by 11:30am. Wanted to go Eiffel first but it was drizzling so we went to The Lourve first. Took the Metropolitan from Bastille-lucky didn't listen to the Hotel recept's advice.-or else we would have gone the long way. It's an amazing place. Super huge, super grand and awesome. Took lots of photos. Paris is like a lot like London where there's old buildings everywhere but somehow Paris is prettier, roads wider and cleaner it seems. Explored the Denon wing, where the Italian art works reside. Rented audio guides-wanted to rent the Da Vinci Code ones but they were 10 Euros instead of 5 for the normal. Great collection- many we have only read in art books or magazines-nothing like seeiing it yourself. And there were 2 artists that were painting replicas of the masters in the galleries- how cool is that and what luxury that many other countries' artists can't afford. Of course the lynch pin of the whole Lourve collection is Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and it is set solely on a single custom built wall with special barriers around it. Seeing it in person is truly amazing and awe inspiring. 'Her' gaze really follows you anywhere you are in the room. Remarkable. Loads of Japanese-young and cool ones-Paris must be a big destination for them. Many were crowded at exhibits with Da Vinci Code significance-thanks to the movie. Then we ate at the cafeteria-shared a sandwich. Then left for Eiffel Tower at about nearlly 3pm. When saw the tower, we were so excited, so was many young Japs posing/jumping already at the start of the lawn in front of Eiffel Tower. Took countless photos again. Had a great vantage point of the whole tower and then a bunch of PRCs came and invaded our space-loud and must always be in front of your view. We approach the tower and it is light brown in colour. It is magnificent and we can't belief we are standing below it. Bought tiks to the top. 11.50 Euros each. We went to the 2nd platform and it was already quite high and had a good view of Paris around. Thne we went up the final elevator and the top view was splendid except of a little fog. Paris City is full of old charming builidngs as far as the eye can see-with only a smattering of new multistorey buildings in small clusters. When we were walking away from Eiffel Tower, we felt a little sad to leave like we may never see it again like Corcovado in Rio Dd Janeiro. Then we took the Metro to Champ de Elsee. Came up and saw the Arche D Triumph and walked along the famous Champ de Elsee. It's the place to be-we spotted Publicis office and Ovilgy's office plus the Loius Vuitton-maybe flagship store. Walked around-shopped at Fnac and bought the Spinal Tap Special Edition and Brain De Palma's Body Double (since reviewer at Clermont-Ferrand mentioned this movie as similar in style to 'HELLo?') then we went looking for dinner and found aa few chinese/japanese places but we thought since this was our 2nd last day in France-we should eat French so we found this swanky modern place called 'Libresens'. Had champaign for 4euros a glass (UP 8E) and then I had a beef flank and em had a potatoery dish. Then em shopped a little-bought a cute bag from Benneton then we walked across to the Arch. Saw a bit of the glittering Eiffel Tower, waving goodbye to us and then we Metroed back to Bastille. Bought some drinks and me a Hoegarden then we retired at about midnight-tired from all the walking and the cold.
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