Rajeev's World

再見香港 - Goodbye Hong Kong!

2017-02-12T23:51:00.000+05:30

After two relaxing days in this amazing city, we are now heading back from Hong Kong to Incheon...

A display in one of the MTR passages, and that has important financial lessons...

The BMW ahead of us has a license plate "THE CEO"...

And there it goes...

We chase the CEO through the streets of Central...

These vanity license plates are quite a rage in Hong Kong and are often auctioned off to the highest bidder after a wait period, which could be incredibly long!

Checking out the 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon...

The 1881 Heritage was the headquarters of the Hong Kong Marine Police from 1884 to 1996. The site has since been restored and besides several buildings and artefacts of historical interest that have been preserved and restored, and the site also features a shopping mall, a heritage hotel and an exhibition hall...

The 1881 Heritage is a combination of Victorian colonial and neo-classical architectural designs...

At the airport and ready to depart, I must say, it's always a treat to visit Hong Kong!

The Culinary Pilgrimage...

2017-02-11T22:32:00.000+05:30

We're in Hong Kong, we love being here for many, many reasons. The vibe and energy of Hong Kong is instantly energizing. The frenetic pace of the city reminds me that no matter what, life has a purpose...

And today we had a purpose, a larger than life, an irresistible urge, at least for the moment to visit Din Tai Fung again. And we made a dash for the MTR to head to Causeway Bay...

Water spinach with garlic...

Waiting for our xiaolongbaos...

Don't get me wrong - I was so hungry that when xiaolongbaos finally came I gulped them down without even taking a pic...

And Din Tai Fung is quite my idea of an ideal Michelin-starred restaurant - simple yet flavourful, focused and unpretentious...

The story of Din Tai Fung...

And thankfully, there was no kimchi today!

And the prophecy for a delectable 2017 seems to be coming true, the juggernaut rolls on with this culinary pilgrimage...

Hong Kong, Here We Come!

2017-02-10T19:22:00.000+05:30

Today we are heading out to Hong Kong to meet and bless our new born nephew...

And as we left Songdo, the sun was setting on Incheon, making for a wonderful view...

This will be a short trip to Hong Kong - we will be leaving Hong Kong on Sunday night to get back to Incheon on Monday morning. And we will be travelling on Korean Air Boeing 747-8i - the newest version of the Jumbo Jet! This is my third flight on the Boeing 747-8i and is Neeti's first and are eagerly waiting for that!

Hong Kong, here we come!

ありがとうございます, 東京 - Arigatou Gozaimasu, Tokyo!

2017-01-31T01:47:00.000+05:30

From Andhra Dining, we headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags. And imagine the convenience - we ordered an Uber taxi. We had been using Uber in Mumbai, and always found it super useful, but little did we imagine that the app would be of use to us in this alien land, where the language barrier makes communicating with taxi drivers really hard...

After a 30 minute Uber ride, we reached Haneda airport and had to wait a while for the Peach check-in counters to open...

As we waited, we reflected on our trip to Tokyo. We were pleased we finally made it to Tokyo and enjoyed Japanese hospitality to the fullest. We got to experience the peace and calm that Fuji-san and its surroundings had to offer. And not to mention, the incredible and diverse culinary experiences we had in Tokyo, including the spicy tastes of home...

As we get ready to board our Peach Airbus A320 flight into Incheon, all we can say ありがとうございます, 東京 - Arigatou Gozaimasu, Tokyo, or Thank You, Tokyo!

Andhra Dining - A Surprise In Ginza!

2017-01-30T21:30:00.000+05:30

Roaming around Ginza, we were left with a massive appetite and what we discovered next was quite a surprise, something that we did not expect to find!

While we have developed a deep love for Japanese food - curries, ramen, sushi and tempura, but nothing can compare the way we get drawn to Indian cuisine, especially since we moved out of India. And finding a place that serves South Indian food was quite really the icing on the cake - we could not really believe our luck!!!

And Andhra Dining was rated as the best restaurant in 2014...

Scanning the options...

What a pleasure to see Japanese office-goers going crazy over spicy South Indian food - truly our cuisine is a potent weapon of Indian soft power...

I could not resist ordering vada sambhar...

...and masala dosa!

...followed by cold payasam...

...and filter coffee!

Our last meal in Tokyo was indeed satisfying, a pleasurable end to this trip to Tokyo! And now we will head out to Haneda...

Glitzy Ginza...

2017-01-30T19:54:00.000+05:30

Back in Ginza, it was time to soak in the vibe of the glitzy and vibrant district...

Ginza looks amazing at dusk...

A store called Madras!!!

A stationary store...

Passing by one of the most recognisable landmarks of Ginza - the Wako clocktower. From 1894 to 1921, the Hattori Clock Tower stood on the site that Wako occupies today. In 1921, the Hattori Clock Tower was demolished to rebuild a new one. The reconstruction was delayed due to the earthquake of September 1, 1923. The new tower was completed in 1932 as the K. Hattori Building. In homage to its predecessor, the new store was also fitted with a clock...

As dusk descends on Ginza, the lights start to come up...

Ginza is well known for shopping, drawing hordes of Chinese tourists, especially to the duty free stores...

At Wako again...

And Ginza is known for designer stores as well!

Everywhere you look around in Ginza, you find a designer store...

Yoga studio...

And with all the walking, we are famished. We have to find a good place for a hearty meal before we leave for Haneda...

Sumida Park - Another Perspective On Tokyo...

2017-01-30T15:31:00.000+05:30

And here we are at the Sumida Park, which is a beautiful park in the east of Tokyo, by the banks of Sumida River...

Walking towards the park, we get unrestricted views of the Tokyo Skytree...

The 634 metre tall Tokyo Skytree was completed in 2012 making it the second tallest structure in the world after the Burj Khalifa. The tower serves as a broadcasting tower, and also houses restaurants and an observation tower.

The view of Tokyo Skytree from the Sumida Park...

It surprising that the trees over here are still green in winter...

We rested in the park for a while, watching the clouds floating in the bright blue sky...

...and the breeze felt amazing!

And we didn't realise but we dozed off for a while...

And then we headed back to Ginza...

I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always! -- Part XLVI - The Perfect Tsukiji Brunch...

2017-01-30T11:10:00.000+05:30

With our visit to Tsukiji's inner market completed, it was time for some brunch and we headed to Sushizammai, a sushi place recommended by locals in the outer market...

The menu on offer...

Japanese restaurants have a neat layout...

Waiting for our sushi platters...

And here it comes...

This was freshest sushi we ever had - some of the fish would have been auctioned in jōnai-shijō this morning...

And we were pleasantly surprised to see three sumo wrestlers dining next to us...

With the freshest sushi and my wish for a delectable 2017 coming true, we could only say "I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always!"...

A Wonderland Called Tsukiji... Part II

2017-01-30T10:39:00.000+05:30

Our journey in this wonderland called Tsukiji continues as we made our way from the jōgai-shijō to the jōnai-shijō...

The jōnai-shijō or the inner market is home to fish, fruit and vegetable wholesalers. The inner market is well known for its tuna auctions that take place early in the morning. To witness the auctions, visitors real early in the morning, going back to as early as 2 AM. At 5 AM, a group of 120 visitors are let in, on a first-come, first-serve basis. A first group of 60 visitors is admitted to the auction between 5:50 and 6:05, while a second group of 60 visitors is admitted between 6:05 and 6:20. Visitors who make it in are able to view the auction from a designated visitor area. It is not allowed to view the auction from anywhere else or to use flash photography or to interfere with the business action in any other way.

When we got in, it was past 10 AM, and the market closes by 11 - we did get a chance to roam around and check out the stuff on sale...

Puffer fish hangs from the ceiling...

Fugu, as the Japanese call the pufferfish, is notorious for the highly toxic poison—tetrodotoxin—contained in its organs. Despite its deadly potential, fugu is considered as a delicacy and has been eaten in Japan for hundreds of years. As it was initially unknown how to properly prepare the fish, there were many fatalities from fugu consumption, resulting in a ban on the fish that lasted from around 1570 to 1870. These days fugu is commonly available in restaurants and supermarkets throughout Japan, but must be prepared by a licensed chef, who have have to train for over 11 years.It is prohibited to prepare fugu in the home even today, and the Japanese royal family is forbidden from eating it. It is said that fugu has a distinct, subtle flavor and unique chewy texture, it is also low in fat and high in protein.

Tuna being carved!

Eels...

Lots more tuna...

A chain saw being used to cut up a frozen tuna...

Watermelons in various shapess...

Avocados...

A Wonderland Called Tsukiji... Part I

2017-01-30T10:24:00.000+05:30

Our visit to Tokyo wouldn't have been completed without a visit to Tsukiji, which happens to be the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world...

Not too far from our hotel in Ginza, Tsukiji is right on the banks of Sumida River...

Tsukiji market has its origins in the Edo period, when the market was set up to provide food for Edo castle (nowadays Tokyo). Fishermen from Tsukuda, Osaka were invited to Edo to provide fish for the castle. The catch which was not bought by the castle was sold near the Nihonbashi bridge, at a market called the uogashi (literally meaning fish quay).

In August 1918, following the "rice riots" (or Kome Sōdō), which broke out all over Japan in protest against food shortages hording by wholesalers, the Japanese government was forced to create new institutions for the distribution of foodstuffs, especially in urban areas.

Following the earthquake of September 1, 1923 which devastated much of central Tokyo, including the Nihonbashi fish market. the market was relocated to the Tsukiji district. And the layout and structure of the market was well designed.

The "inner market" (jōnai-shijō) is the licensed wholesale market, where approximately 900 licensed wholesale dealers operate small stalls. This is also where the auctions and most of the processing of the fish take place.

The "outer market" (jōgai-shijō) is a mixture of wholesale and retail shops that sell Japanese kitchen tools, restaurant supplies, groceries, and seafood, and many restaurants, especially sushi restaurants. Most of the shops in the outer market close by the early afternoon, and in the inner market even earlier.

We began our visit in the jōgai-shijō before we head into the jōnai-shijō...

White strawberries selling alongside the conventional red strawberries...

Cans of whale meat on sale...

...and yes, I picked one!

Blubber...

Dried fish and squids...

Sweets...

A variety of buns...

Fish flakes...

Seaweed...

Visiting the Namiyoke Inari Shrine, a Shinto shrine located within Tsukiji, Chūō. It was built on the Sumida river's edge when this part of Tokyo was created from landfill after the great fire of 1657. The name of the shrine literally means "protection from waves"...

After the Tsukiji fish market was established here, the Namiyoke Inari Shrine became an unofficial guardian shrine for the marketplace and its traders...

The courtyard of the shrine is dotted with various memorial plaques and carvings donated by trade groups in the marketplace...

Sake barrels at the shrine...

Soya beans..

The making of Japanese omelettes...

The outer market is bustling...

Dried fish hangs...

Dried mushrooms...

Blocks of Himalayan pink rock salt...

Squid...

Grilled oysters...

Fish skewers...

A smorgasbord of various marine crustaceans...

Giant crabs...

Bean jelly...

Tea...

And now, heading to the inner market...

I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always! -- Part XLV - Asakusa Ice Creams...

2017-01-29T17:59:00.000+05:30

Around Sensoji Temple, there are quite a few shops selling Japanese sweets and ice creams...

And we were tempted to have ice creams - they did have quite a few different flavours that we hadn't seen before...

Sesame ice cream had quite an interesting flavour to it...

...while the peach ice cream had a subtle and delicate flavour to it!

Walking along the street, eating our ice creams, we could only say "I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always!"...

Sensoji - Keeping Faith Alive...

2017-01-29T17:45:00.000+05:30

Our visit to Tokyo could not be complete in anyway without a visit to Asakusa's Sensoji Temple...

A wall of sake barrels at the temple, which is so typical of a Japanese shrine...

Look at the crowds...

Sensoji temple is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon (or Avalokiteśvara). According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 AD by two fishermen. The chief of their village, Hajino Nakamoto, recognized the sanctity of the statue and enshrined it by remodeling his own house into a small temple in Asakusa so that the villagers could worship Kannon...

The first temple was founded here in 645 AD, which makes it the oldest temple in Tokyo. During the early years of the Tokugawa shogunate, Sensoji was dedicated as a temple of the Tokugawa clan...

The shrine was really crowded...

...with little space to step in!

During the Second World War II, the temple was bombed and destroyed only to be rebuilt later and is considered as a symbol of rebirth and peace to the Japanese people...

A symbol of modern Tokyo as visible from Sensoji Temple...

I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always! -- Part XLIV - Craving For Kare Raisu カレーライス

2017-01-29T15:21:00.000+05:30

Ever since we had chicken curry and rice in Osaka last May, we had been drooling over it in our dreams. Back in Japan, we had to have kare raisu again...

Walking through Ueno, we were crazily searching for a curry house...

...till we found one 30 minutes later!

And then we had to wait for another 15-20 minutes for a place in the restaurant...

Speed and efficiency is the hallmark of any Japanese restaurant...

And we had our curry rice in no time...

And as always, we enjoyed it, enjoyed it so much that we licked the plate dry...

And then we headed towards Asakusa, to visit the Sensoji temple and came across great views of the Tokyo Skytree...

That reminded me of Hachi...

Stopping by for tea...

And we couldn't resist the temptation of having crème brûlée...

...and tiramisu!

The delectable 2017 is proving to be a sweet and spicy 2017, we can only say "I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always!"...

Stunning Modern Japanese Art...

2017-01-29T11:37:00.000+05:30

Located at the periphery of the Ueno Park, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is home to some stunning artworks...

Our visit coincided with the display of works by the graduating class of the Tokyo University of the Arts...

Black, white and red...

A lighting display...

I sometimes find it difficult to comprehend this kind of abstraction...

Those are amazing...

That's a beautiful piece...

Trying on shoes...

That's amazing...

An elderly couple trying to use a computer...

Rail tracks in the snow...

The Japanese lady in the red sari stood out...

Lady performing Bharatnatyam...

Relaxed...

Apples...

This is so good...

Another nice one...

Roosters...

Beautiful Ueno Kōen...

2017-01-29T10:32:00.000+05:30

In our exploration of Tokyo, we headed out to Ueno Park this morning...

A quick breakfast at Ginza's Caffe Veloce before heading out to Ueno on the Ginza subway line...

Being a Sunday, the place wasn't too crowded - we were done with our sandwiches and coffee in 20 minutes flat...

Getting off at Ueno Station, we walked towards Ueno Park and on the way we witnessed this man playing drums...

A bronze statue of the Imperial Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito in the Ueno Park...

Prince Komatsu Akihito served the Meiji government in a diplomatic capacity. He established relations with England, France, Germany, Russia and the Ottoman Empire on behalf of Emperor Meiji...

These appear to be cherry blossoms...

This park was one of Japan's first public parks, established in 1873 on lands formerly belonging to the temple of Kan'ei-ji. It was laid out in the styles of the early Meiji period...

The park is quite popular and is believed to draw over ten million visitors a year, making it Japan's most popular city park...

The park also hosts performing artists who entertain passers-by...

The park is home to a number of major museums, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum that we will be visiting today...

I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always! -- Part XLIII - Tokyo Station Or Ramen Station...

2017-01-28T20:24:00.000+05:30

Back from Mount Fuji and Shinjuku, we were in a mood for some good ramen, again. And were told by the internet told that Rokurinsha in the bowels of the earth - the basement of Tokyo Station was really quite the best ramen establishment around...

Finding our way to Rokurinsha...

Rokurinsha is located in the first basement near the Yaesu South exit of Tokyo Station, along what is called "Ramen Street" - a corridor within the station building...

Food in railway stations is indeed special. We, back home in India, fondly cherish the poori-alus, bread omelettes or cutlets at railway stations and little did I know that Tokyo Station did have a food tradition as well!

A display...

A huge queue of hungry people waiting for their turn to be ushered in, into Rokurinsha...

30 minutes between us and our bowls of ramen...

Queuing for ramen at "Ramen Station"...

I wonder what that says...

Queue etiquette at Rokurinsha...

Women queuing up to use the restroom right across the corridor from Rokurinsha...

The entrance into Rokurinsha...

Making our way, and taking a peek into the Rokurinsha kitchen...

Our counter...

Diners at Rokurinsha heartily slurping their ramen...

Here comes one meal - a hot thick broth made from chicken bones, with chashu (slice of pork), naruto (fish cake), menma (fermented bamboo), a small sheet of nori (seaweed) and gyofun (dry fish powder). Cold Tsukemen or thick ramen noodles with eggs are on the side...

Here comes the second meal...

The noodles have to be retrieved from bowl with chopsticks and dipped into the broth only to be noisily slurped, that is the perfect way to enjoy Rokurinsha ramen...

A peek into Ramen Street...

Checking out interesting kitto-kattos (as the Japanese call them) in the chocolate shop opposite Rokurinsha. And they have wasabi Kit-Kats here...

With a delectable 2017 proving to be true, we can only say "I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always!"...

Tokyo, From Above...

2017-01-28T19:06:00.000+05:30

Back in Tokyo, we got off at Shinjuku and walked across to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building...

The 243 meter tall building has two towers, and each houses an observatory at a height of 202 meters...

The building had been the tallest in Tokyo until it was overtaken by the Midtown Tower in 2007...

That's the Tokyo Tower, which bears a queer resemblance to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and I understand that there had been some consternation from the French when the tower came up in 1958...

Striving for a better shot...

Shinjuku District below us...

At The Foothills Of Fuji-san...

2017-01-28T16:41:00.000+05:30

On our way back to Tokyo, we passed by the fourth station on the foothills of Mount Fuji...

The snowclad slopes...

The views from the 4th station...

Looking up...

And off we head to Tokyo...

I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always! -- Part XLII - Snow Moon Flower Delights...

2017-01-28T12:31:00.000+05:30

The lunch break brought us to Oshino Shibi no Sato...

The place has wonderful views of Mount Fuji...

With the snow on the ground, the view looks amazing...

Red lanterns - a very oriental look...

Moving towards the Snow Moon Flower restaurant, we noticed the place was adorned with traditional Japanese decor...

That's Mantou Mikoshi - a portable shrine with lanterns that's original to this village...

Shinobi Kachu - the armour worn by a Kouka Ninja warrior...

Jingi Chushin - the most important lesson for a Ninja to have the right thoughts...

We opted for vegetarian cuisine - soba noodle soup - soba noodles are made from buckwheat which are unique in this region, enriched with underground water from Mount Fuji...

And it was quite a revelation that vegetarian Japanese cuisine can be real delicious and flavourful...

With all the natural flavours of Mount Fuji bursting in our mouths, we can only say "I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always!"...

The Serenity Of Oshino Hakkai...

2017-01-28T10:38:00.000+05:30

From Lake Kawaguchi, we headed to the heritage village of Oshino, located between Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako,...

...passing by snow clad mountain slopes...

...and quaint fences guarding the slopes!

Oshino is famous for the Oshino Hakkai, a set of eight ponds that are fed by snow melt from the slopes of nearby Mount Fuji that filters down the mountain through porous layers of lava for over 80 years, resulting in very clear spring water that is revered by the locals...

The ponds are quite deep and teem with life - plants and fish...

The ponds look very inviting...

Views of Mount Fuji from here...

Strawberries on sale - notice the white strawberries, which are quite a delicacy...

The snow on the roofs looks quite neat...

A beautiful tree...

A beautiful slope in Oshino...

Soft and fluffy snow...

Mount Fuji does look impressive...

The Majestic Fuji-san...

2017-01-28T09:43:00.000+05:30

And today we make our way to Fuji-san, or Mount Fuji, which is regarded as an enduring and a much loved symbol of Japan...

We are on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi, in the Yamanashi Prefecture...

Mount Fuji is nearly 19 kilometres away on a straight line, but by road the distance is nearly 60 kilometres...

We are blessed with an exceptionally clear morning, which they say is quite unusual here...

And the scenery is incredibly beautiful...

And the nip in the air heightens the sensory experience...

At 3776 metres, Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain. Its exceptionally symmetrical cone is snow-capped for about 5 months a year. The mountain has quite a lot of significance in Shinto mythology and is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in traditional art...

The peace and tranquility of Mount Fuji has to be experienced...

Love In Tokyo...

2017-01-28T08:15:00.000+05:30

This morning, we are heading out to Mount Fuji and we are to catch our bus at the Shinjuku I-Land Tower in Nishi-Shinjuku district. We were instructed to wait by the Love Statue...

This was the first time we were seeing the Love Statue - apparently there are over thirty of them around the world, with the majority located in the United States...

This pop art image by an American artist, Robert Indiana. The letters are in bold Didone type, with the O slanted. The original image, with green and blue spaces backing red lettering, served as a print image for a Museum of Modern Art Christmas card in 1964, and then the design appeared on a popular postage stamp in the United States.

LOVE's first sculpture was made in 1970 and is displayed at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Then the world caught on to it...

And we were reminded of the 1966 Bollywood hit, Love In Tokyo that starred Asha Parekh and Joy Mukherjee that featured the still popular song, Sayonara, Sayonara! (The movie was incidentally shot here in Tokyo, besides Hiroshima.)

As for us, it was Sayonara Tokyo for a few hours!

Back To Ginza...

2017-01-27T22:08:00.000+05:30

Back to Ginza, we walk back towards our hotel...

We quite liked being in Ginza...

Ginza was decked up...

Pedestrian lane for walking with kids...

And it's time to relax back in our room. The hotel room, as we previously experienced in Osaka and Kyoto, was fairly tiny with only a little space to move around. The bed too was really small. And the bathroom, was barely double the size of an airplane toilet. Despite this, the room was pretty organised and quite comfortable. And the thing that we really love about hotels in Japan are the yukatas or the cotton nightgowns, which are super comfortable. The nicest touch was that of the origami cranes which were placed on our yukatas...

Before turning in for the night, we watched the Richard Gere's Hachi: A Dog's Tale - an adaptation of the story of Hachikō and Hidesaburō Ueno...

Postcards From Shibuya...

2017-01-27T19:28:00.000+05:30

In an hour or so, Shibuya will have a different feel to it when the neon lights come up...

Crossing the junction...

The vibe around here is electrifying...

Colonel Sanders in Japan!

The neon signs come up...

Crossing the junction again...

That's the Starbucks which has a great view of the crossing...

The streets of Shibuya...

What a name for a shop...

The Shibuya Crossing - Finding Zen In A Sea Of Humanity...

2017-01-27T19:19:00.000+05:30

If you haven't experienced the Shibuya pedestrian crossing, in Tokyo, you really haven't seen Tokyo. The pedestrian crossing is located right outside the Hachikō-guchi of Shibuya Station and is called the “The Scramble”.

The Shibuya area is full of trendy fashion shops, departmental stores and restaurants. That brings in quite a few people in to the area. That makes the Shibuya Crossing quite a busy crossing - it is considered to be the busiest intersection in the world.

When the traffic lights at the junction turn red, they all turn red at the same time in every direction. In a moment, traffic stops completely and pedestrians surge into the intersection from all sides, like water gushing out of a dam.

As advised by quite a few guides on the internet, we headed to the Starbucks located in the Tsutaya building on Shibuya crossing's north side, and patiently waited for a seat by the window...

It is indeed interesting to see masses of people dodging each other while crossing the intersection...

Despite the massive crowds, it is interesting to observe how the crossing remains orderly and efficient, perhaps a reflection of the Japanese at their efficient-best...