August 2007 – Post Highlights

Usually at the end of each month, I would do a roundup of the most interesting and popular posts in that particular month. For August, the 11-parter series I blogged for my trip to Japan happened to be the most read blog posts. Here’s a summary:

• Japan (Day 1) – Arrival in Tokyo — we arrived in Tokyo and realised that the Japanese spoke startlingly little English! Luckily many Japanese restaurants display plastic food replicas outside. Check out the interesting way in which we ordered our food despite not knowing a single word of Japanese!
• Japan (Day 2) – Tokyo Disneyland — our first trip to Disneyland, ever! Even in the hot Japan summer heat, we spent the whole day in this beautiful theme park, marveling at all the pretty buildings and taking various rides. Picture galore!
• Japan (Day 3) – Shibuya, Gay Parade & Ginza — Shibuya is a very popular shopping district where you can find beautiful people and hip and trendy clothing. Ginza, on the other hand, is a highly upmarket shopping district. Surprise of the day: chancing upon a full-fledged gay parade!
• Japan (Day 4) – Shibuya & Tokyo Tower — ahhh… Tokyo tower, one of the most beautiful sights in Tokyo itself. At the observatory, we got a great panoramic view of the city at night. On my way back to the hotel, I lost all the shopping I had done for the day in the cab!
• Japan (Day 5) – Harajuku — I travelled solo on this day, visiting Harajuku, the favourite haunt of cosplayers. Most fruitful outcome of the day: getting myself some rare vintage Care Bear merchandise at a little shop over there.
• Japan (Day 6) – Sanrio Puroland & Takahatafudo — I ventured out of the city and paid a visit to the land of kawaii-ness — Sanrio Puroland, home of Hello Kitty! I also went to Takahatafudo, a suburb, where I dropped by a prominent Buddhist temple.
• Japan (Day 7) – Marunouchi, Sony Building & Odaiba — during my last full day in Japan, I explored Marunouchi, the financial district of Tokyo, played with gadgets at the Sony building, and visited Odaiba, a large entertainment island off Tokyo bay.
• Japan (Day 8) – Kyoto, Part 1 — took the bullet train to Kyoto where I would be spending the next couple of days. Saw traditional wooden houses and climbed a long uphill slope to the world famous temple — kiyomizu-dera, a world heritage site.
• Japan (Day 9) – Kyoto, Part 2 — picture-taking at the architecturally remarkable Kyoto station, Doraemon exhibition, castle visits, geisha sightings. Need I say more? This is one of the most fruitful days on the trip.
• Japan (Day 10) – Ueno — back in Tokyo for the last night (to catch the flight back to Singapore the following morning), we stayed in a hostel where we mingled with a bunch of cool people staying there. We also shopped at Ueno and dropped by Hard Rock Café!
• Japan (Day 11) – Homebound — 11 days passed by so quickly! We had to say goodbye to Japan already and almost missed our flight early in the morning! Home sweet home :) it’s been an incredible holiday to an incredible country.