Mad Tokyo, Day 4

12 Dec 07, Wed

It's Day 4, and days passed by quickly here. A big part of the reason could be due to the weather also. Hmmm...The original plan was to visit either Mt Fuji or Yokohama where Chinatown is. Both were abandoned for Ueno (again!), Takashimaya Times Square (again!) and Tokyo Dome. My adventurous Missy 'psycho' us to take on the exciting roller coaster with her. She exclaimed it would be an unforgettable ride. Well, it's true for them. I wasn't in the mood and became the locker-lady in the end.

Breakfast: Pancakes and donuts from AM/PM store.

Sakura has a small 'meeting room' where guests gather for meals, serve internet and watch tv programs. Right now, we're busy having breakfast and checking out the itinearary for the day.

Yap! We would need to alight at Suidobashi station to get to Tokyo Dome.

Little Red Letter Box

While on our way to the train station, saw a cool owner with his cool dog. Wonder if dogs are allowed on the train?

It's a great sight to behold at Shinjuku. I'd gone back there to help my Sis purchased some cosmetics at Takashimaya. They were closed at about 8.30pm the previous night.

Another reason was Krispy Creme donuts too!

Hot donuutss rolling out.

Watching the sugar glaze pouring down on the donuts... *slurp*!

Why didn't we have it back home??

All these for tonight's supper and tomorrow's breakfast!

Back at Shinjuku station, out favourite locker awaited for us. We kept our purchases in here before we went on to Ueno.

By the way, here's just a mini guide to the different exits at Shinjuku station. They are depicted by colours then numbers.

A small school girl. She looked like some western cartoon character, called Madeline??

Orange and his nap again.

We're here to shop for sneakers this time.

Majority of the retail shops were selling these range.

Can't help but buy these sweet-looking strawberries at Yen 200.

Missy was captivated by the BIG Chinese Pau at this stall.

But we all had our eyes on this Taco Pachi stall.

The sauce and bonito flakes were placed at a nearby table for you to add yourself. Free-flow!

Ohhh.. we had prawn and/or octupus. They were very fresh, and I think the lady had gotten the fresh seafood straight from the wet market opposite!

I couldn't recall if we happened to be there or Ms Chew suggested going to Sony building. Anyway, she was enthusiastic.

Well, I must say VERY! But, we each ended up with a new camera by the time we walked out of there. By the way, the sales staff assured us that the guarantee is valid internationally. Unlike if your were to purchase it at home.

Well, time to move on to Tokyo Dome. I know Missy couldn't wait!

WOW...!!

While they were rolling crazily on those hot wheels, I'd made myself comfortable inside Baskin Robbins with my favourite strawberry ice-cream. Frankly? I would prefer Baskin Robbins to Ben & Jerry's. I'd definitely order the largest cup with my friend when in Kuala Lumpur.

Missy and Ms Chew had their cravings at a vending machine on the train platform.

Couldn't recall where we had this ramen for dinner. May be some forgotten dinner.

Donuts for supper! Luckily, they made up for the ramen we'd.

Mad Tokyo, Day 3

11 Dec 07, Tue

It's Asakusa, Ueno and Ginza for the day. There's lotsa photo-taking and more food this time round. Yet, we're still almost starved to death before it's time for dinner again

While on the train towards Asakusa, we saw this courtesy seat sign that was slightly different from ours.

Yet again, Orange dozed off.

Oh no I've forgotten if this unique designer building was Asahi Beer Tower?!

It looks like a golden bitterguard.

Believed this to be Kappabashi Shopping Street. It serves restaurants, sale of uniforms and furniture.

The sign for Kaminarimon Gate spotted.

Musical Huge Seiko clock on the center’s façade performs every hour from 10am-7pm.

Rickshaws

Kaminarimon Gate

Check out the enormous lantern! By the way, if you've not eaten breakfast, you can look forward Tokiwado Confectionary shop and Kaminari Okoshi – rice-based sweets (9am-9pm) on the left of the gate.

Rickshaw pullers that look like ninjas. They offer rides packages but kinda expensive. I rather spend my money on food!

Souvenirs

Nakamise shopping street where you can taste traditional cakes. Daily 9am-7pm.

Spotted some camera-crew workers.

And a beatiful actress! (courtesy of Orange)

Traditional rice cakes.

It's not really sweet and fragance from the black sesame is not over-whelming too...

Tidbits! Owner is making them on the spot.

We saw this shop selling some old army stuff and all. Trying take pic discretely.

Another gate before Sensoji Temple

An Orange tree

Buy your fortune by putting Yen100 into wooden box and shaking it until a long bamboo stick emerges from small hole.

Base on the no. on the stick, find the box with the same no. that holds your fortune.

I'd gotten a bad fortune!

If you have a bad fortune, remember to tie the paper to this rack.

And if you have any pain on any part of your body or gotten a flu, sweep the smoke from this incense burner to that particular part. Said to cure illness.

Remember to drink some of the water too.

And wash your hands.

Sensoji Temple

Giant sandals

We caught students from 2 schools and got their teacher to take pic of them with us. They really enjoyed it!

Semi-round sliding toilet. I never counted how many cubicles there were but each cubicle was quite small and was the squatting style.

Shin-Nakamise shopping street, perpendicular to Nakamise shopping street. Time for lunch. (Photo courtesy of Missy)

We decided on this sushi shop operating by conveyor belt.

Green tea powder is provided freely for your own brew. Turkey feedbacked that the green tea was so effective in clearing the oil off her system after the meal. You know what I mean?

Crab meat (not stick, mind you!) sushi

Look at that sweetened egg roll!

(Photo courtesy of Missy)

This is a combo of salmon eggs, salmon skin and salmon. Very mixed up but still good taste and feeling. (Photo courtesy of Missy)

My favourite. I always go for the tuna 1st.

Follow by Unagi. It's gigantic!

Salmon belonged to Turkey.

p>

Couldn't remember what this was. Tuna may be? But it's crunchy and leaves a tangy feel on the tongue.

Surrender! The most rice I'd eaten this trip so far. Even though I'd shared them with Turkey.

The verdict? See for yourself!

We made use of the lockers found at the Shinjuku station and packed away our purchases before we went off to another location.

Ameya Yokocho - a narrow shopping street selling sneakers and clothes at discounted price (10am-7pm).

Fresh seafood. The sellers will start cutting the prices once it's late.

There are so many retail shops of sneakers.

I found this particular pair very cool.

Right after this, we spotted 2 huge stores selling tidbits, choc and dried seafood. You can imagine us went amok and stuffed them all into our shopping baskets.

We found a cafe to rest our legs and quench our thirsts. Both smoking and non-smoking areas were within the cafe.

Hard Rock Cafe

Takashimaya Times Square @Shinjuku

Spotted Krispy Kreme opposite Takashimaya Times Square. There was a long queue and it was getting late plus we were starving.

We went back to Shinjuku for our dinner. We walked quite a distance and after a few eateries before we found here. It was about 9+pm thus most of them were already closed. There was one that was operated by ordering and paying via a machine which we missed the chance.

Another set meal ordered. I wonder how do Japanese manage to stay slim when their set meal always combine a rice bowl and a noodle.

Back at hotel where we started packing our goodies. My luggage was dedicated to all these delicacies only! These included wasabi pistacho X 2-3 big packs, dried scallops X 2-3 big packs, assortment of choc X >5 packs, assortment of sweets X >2 packs and etc. Ooh! And not forgetting those from Asakusa.