Showing posts with label Events and Travels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events and Travels. Show all posts

Friday, September 19, 2014

Karuizawa (軽井沢)

DAY 1:

We took Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) from Tokyo station to 軽井沢 (Karuizawa). GranSta at Tokyo station is a perfect place to get Bento. My darling bought Sukiyaki Bento at 浅草今半 (Asakusa Imahan) and I bought a healthy organic Bento at ぎんざ泥武士 (Ginza Dorobushi)!

When we arrived at Karuizawa, there was a brief sprinkle and the heavy rain was expected… but glad it didn't hit the area we stayed! We strolled around Karuizawa Ginza then had a cozy coffee time at Mikado Coffee (btw their coffee ice cream is very popular). For dinner we booked レストラン酢重正之 (Restaurant Suju Masayuki). All of their dishes are simple yet delicious. For example their white rice and grilled fish were amazingly delicious. So, if you like typical Japanese food, you must dine out here ;)

DAY 2:

There are many nice and cozy cafes and restaurants in Karuizawa. We found a cafe called Natural Cafeína near our hotel to eat breakfast. Their Açaí bowl is served with Karuizawa's seasonal fruits! Yummy!!! Then we spent a whole day at the Outlet (Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza). It was such a fine autumn weather. Everyone was enjoying shopping and having fun in the yard~ we of course had a lunch outside :3 Actually, I didn't buy anything special but it was already 6pm when I realized! Time flies!!! For dinner, we had Tempura Soba at 川上庵 (Kawakami An). My mom recommended this restaurant. It was really good X)

DAY 3:

The weather on the last day was perfect, too! We had a breakfast at 沢村 (Sawamura) in Hoshino Area. Their morning plate is satisfying. After the breakfast you can enjoy shopping and walking around the area. I would definitely recommend going to 石の教会 (Stone Church)! It is an artistic church with a beautiful stone path. Obviously many people have a wedding here!!!

Another great place to visit is 軽井沢千住博美術館 (Hiroshi Senju Museum). You can enjoy the artwork and the space. Very relaxing and cozy. My darling and I were stuck at the fall room, sitting down and talking for a while. If you go there, you will know what I mean. haha

Our return train was at 16:24. I was going to shop souvenirs at the station but there was a huge traffic jam on the way back from the museum, so I ran out of time… Anyways, I bought at least one for a giveaway at the hotel when we checked out ;)

I would definitely go back to Karuizawa again with my child :)

SOUVENIR:

りんご乙女 (Ringo Otome) - Apple Senbei Crackers:


If you live in Japan, you can get it at Rakuten:

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Hakone 2

Last time, 2 days were not enough to enjoy Hakone, so we decided to stay 3 days this time :) Of course, we bought Hakone Freepass valid for 3 days (allows you to get on and off freely within a specified area, as well as providing discount admission to various attractions in the area, and also includes return transportation on the Odakyu Line)!!!.

DAY 1:

We took Romancecar to Hakone Yumoto (箱根湯本) from Shinjyuku. Since it was during the Bon vacation (8/13-8/17 this year) the train was fully booked!!! My favorite Bento is なだ万 (Nadaman). You can get this Bento at Odakyu department store!

I didn't want to push myself to go far on the first day, so we decided to stay close to the hotel (Harvest) and visited Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (箱根ガラスの森美術館) which is 5 minutes away from the hotel! If you like glittering and sparkling stuff, you will enjoy this place!!! The path to the museum was really pretty, crystals glitter in the sunshine :3 There are several workshops where you can make your souvenir. I can't wait to go back here with my child! hehe

We ended the day having early dinner at the hotel, and enjoyed swimming at the pool. It was a relaxing day~ no housework! haha

DAY 2:

We decided to use the Freepass effectively XD We took Hakone Tozan Cable Car (箱根登山ケーブルカー) and Hakone Ropeway (箱根ロープウェイ) from Gora (強羅) to Owakudani (大湧谷) where you can get black eggs (a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs). Eating one egg is said to add seven years to your life!!! One bag comes with 5 eggs, and they last for 2 days. My darling had 2 eggs and I had 1 egg at Owakudani. Then we had one each on the way back to home on the next day~. We are going to live long for our child!!! haha

Then we enjoyed the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (箱根海賊船) on Lake Ashi, and had lunch at Moto Hakone-ko (元箱根港). Shinsho Soba (深生そば) is a must visit restaurant!!! Their Tempura is very crisp and shrimp is amazingly huge and delicious. I will definitely come here again!!!

We took Hakone Tozan Bus (箱根登山バス) to go back to Gora (強羅). It was a great shortcut and took only 30 minutes!!!

For dinner, we found a famous Kamameshi (釜飯) restaurant called Kamaya (かま家) near the hotel. Kamameshi is a traditional Japanese rice dish cooked in an iron pot called Kama. Their Kamameshi was simple yet delicious XD It is better to call them and ask them to make Kamameshi before you visit or you must wait 40 minutes until cooked (of course we did call them! hehe). I think I want to go back here again as well!!!

Early dinner is always good because we could again enjoy swimming in the evening before taking a bath in hot spring ;) I am happy that I could wear my maternity swimsuit two days in a row. LOL

DAY 3:

We first visited Gora Park (強羅公園). No admission fee is required if you have the Freepass :) There are many workshops but they were all fully booked at around 10AM. I think we must line up before the park opens! Anyways, next time with our child! hehe

Then we headed to Hakone Open-Air Museum (箱根彫刻の森美術館). It was such a great place to spend quality time with your family!!! 2 hours were not enough. I think we need a day to fully enjoy the place! We had a quick lunch at Gallery Cafe. Their snacks are very fine and delicious.

Our return train was at 17:18 from Hakone Yumoto (箱根湯本). Time flies~ I wish we could stay longer!!!

BTW, you can enjoy collecting stamps during a specific period of time like in summer, and you can get a gift (this time 2 Anime file folders), so you don't want to miss it, too! hehe

SOUVENIRS:

Onsen Manjyu (温泉まんじゅう) @ Hotel: brown soft steamed bun filled with Azuki bean paste.


Ariheitou (有平糖) @ Owakudani: healthy sugar candies (peanuts, black soy beans, and black sesame seeds)


Earrings @ Hakone Venetian Glass Museum: my darling bought me XD


Ring @ Gora Park: 300yen!!!


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Sunday, May 4, 2014

Hakone

At first, we didn't have any plan for Golden Week holidays (a large consecutive holiday in May containing public holidays). When everyone is off, usually most places are packed and expensive. However, my mom happened to give us an accommodation coupon for one night at Hotel Harvest Hakone Koshien (ホテルハーヴェスト 箱根甲子園). So, we decided to go to Hakone =) yay!!!

Day 1:

We took Romancecar to Hakone Yumoto (箱根湯本) from Seijyogakuenmae (成城学園前), which is 2 stops away from our closest station. There is only one departure time (10:40) in the morning from Seijyogakuenmae but we thought that is more convenient than taking a train from Shinjyuku station.

It takes about 40min to Gora (強羅) from Hakone Yumoto by Hakone Tozan Railway (箱根登山鉄道). Worth to wait the next train if you think you cannot get a seat... we jumped on the train and it was a pain in the neck standing long...

We had lunch at Yamaji (山路) in Gora. The restaurant is famous for their Oyakodon, Katsudon, and Soba noodles =) I had Tororo Soba.

It was bit cold and raining in the afternoon, so we decided not to go far and headed to the hotel. Believe it or not, we had a nap for 2 hours. LOL

Before dinner, we enjoyed Ashiyu (足湯), foot bath! We decided to have a dinner at the hotel because there was nothing around the hotel. All-you-can-eat buffet was surprisingly good. We thought we wanna visit here again. hehe

After dinner, we enjoyed the hot spring.

Day 2:

Of course in the morning, we enjoyed the hot spring. The hotel breakfast was great, too!!!

Then we headed to Gotemba Premium Outlets! What a splendid day! The weather was really nice and perfect for shopping XD

Our return train was at 17:04 from Hakone Yumoto (again because the train that makes stop at Seijogakuenmae is limited), so we decided to leave the outlet at 2PM. Obviously, 3 hours was not enough for me to shop, so we missed our lunch…

On the way back from Gora, we waited for the next train to get a front seat =) I strongly recommend you to get a seat, otherwise, it is very boring and tiring. lol

We bought Bento and Kamaboko (fish cake is very popular in Hakone) for our dinner on the train. We didn't go many places this time, because we didn't get Hakone Freepass: allows you to get on and off freely within a specified area, as well as providing discount admission to various attractions in the area, and also includes return transportation on the Odakyu Line... but maybe next time!!!

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Kobe

Last weekend was a 3-day weekend, so my darling and I went to Kobe to visit my grandma to make Ikanago no Kugini (my favorite dish) together!!!

Ikanago no Kugini is a specialty in Hyogo prefecture. It can be cooked and eaten during a specific period of time around March. Thanks to the holiday, I could finally visit my grandma!!!

Day 1:

We took Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) from Shinagawa (Tokyo) at 6:27AM. We bought Ekiben (bento box sold at the railway station) for our breakfast. As soon as we arrived at 9:08, we strolled around 三宮 (Sannomiya) 元町 (Motomachi) China town and the bay area (Kobe Port Tower and Kobe Harborland umie). Obviously it was so early that most stores were still not open till 11AM. LOL We had lunch at Frantz (famous for magic pot pudding, if you know). The harbor view from the restaurant was amazing. Then we walked all the way back to 三宮 (Sannomiya). In the shopping street, you can find 生田神社 (Ikuta shrine), the god of marriage and longevity. For dinner, we happened to find a real good and inexpensive restaurant called 鹿鳴茶流 (Rokumei saryu). They use deer meat for their dishes. They were amazingly healthy and delicious!!! We stayed at the hotel called Crowne Plaza ANA Kobe. Very convenient next door to Shin-Kobe rail station. The hotel overlooks the city of Kobe.

Day 2:

My grandma lives 1 hour away from Shin-Kobe station. I visited her with my darling to make Ikanago no Kugini :) Hopefully, I will make a video of it soon!!! We had a real good bento lunch box together. Those plates are printed on the bento box, so you cannot remove them. hehe

Day 3:

We went to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens next to the hotel, and took a ropeway up to the mountain top! You can enjoy the panoramic view of Kobe. Also, you can enjoy herb dining buffet there! In the afternoon, we walked around Kitano area where there are many Ijinkan (foreign residences). The train back to Tokyo was at 19:46. We bought Ekiben at 淡路屋 (Awajiya). Their beef bowl bento is famous. We arrived back to Tokyo at 22:26.

I miss my oba-chan (grandma)!!! I remember I visited Harborland and Ijinkan with her many many years ago. Time flies. But she hasn't changed since my childhood. I will visit her again someday soon :)

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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Souvenirs from Kinugawa Onsen

On the weekend, my family and I went to Kinugawa Onsen to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday!!!

Kinugawa Onsen (鬼怒川温泉) is a popular hot spring resort in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan. It is located 2 hours by train from Tokyo. BTW, Bento on the train is nice! We always get it at a department store. Not Ekiben! hehe


Not many but there are some amusements such as Tobu World Square (東武ワールドスクエア) and Nikko Edomura (日光江戸村) theme parks.

Here are some souvenirs from the places we went!!!

Tobu World Square (東武ワールドスクエア):
A theme park with more than 100 famous sites from around the world, in 1/25th of the original sizes. You can also enjoy nighttime illumination from 12/1-3/2. It is freezing cold though. haha


Tom and Maimu Colorful Print Cookies (カラフルプリントクッキー)


Kinugawa Confectionery Castle (鬼怒川お菓子の城):
You can taste and buy all sorts of popular Wagashi (traditional Japanese confections) from Kinugawa. It is not a castle-like place, but they have great freshly made sweets!


Top 5
#1 ごま・胡麻クッキー (Sesame Seed Cookies)
#2 胡麻まんじゅう (Sesame Seed Manjyu)
#3 かりんとうまんじゅう (Deep-Fried Brown Sugar Manjyu)
#4 チーズケーキ (Cheesecake)
#5 塩羊羹 (Salty Yokan)

Nikko Hanaichi-Monme (日光花いちもんめ):
Begonias and more than 600 varieties of flowers are full in bloom all year round. You can also enjoy strawberry picking! I found a Hello Kitty strawberry XD


Strawberry Curry (いちごのカレー) *you can find at any souvenir shop


Tasty Salt for Boiled Egg (ゆでたまごの塩) *you can find at any souvenir shop
マヨネーズ (mayonnaise), 醤油 (soy sauce), 抹茶 (Matcha green tea), ゆず (Yuzu Japanese lemon) and さくら (Sakura cherry blossom).
It goes great with Tempura, fries, salad, meat, fish, rice, pasta, sweets, etc...


Tochigi is known for strawberries. Most souvenirs are in PINK :)


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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

Happy and Healthy New Year for everyone!!!

YES! I already made videos for some of the dishes ;)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4FA3DDE33084E166



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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

1981 台北藝術照 (1981 Taipei)

The photo album arrived!
(actually, it arrived last week on 12/11)



Well... I think the quality of the album is so so...
And, I liked the photos before the retouch, because I feel I am fake. lol

But our skin is flawless and nice, though. hehehe



Anyways, worth a try!!!
http://www.1981taipei.com/

Before the retouch pics are here and on my Instagram or Facebook page.
http://createeathappy.blogspot.jp/2013/11/souvenirs-from-taiwan.html

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Monday, December 9, 2013

My Birthday 2013

12/9 is my birthday :)

We are both busy on Mondays, so my darling took me out for a birthday dinner on Saturday♥

He was so kind that he chose a Washoku restaurant since after the news. hehe

金森 (Kanamori) @ Shibuya
Their fish especially sashimi was really good :)



And a surprise gift :)



He gave me a Panasonic Eye Steaming Massager (model: EH-SW01-P).
I always wanted to use this after editing videos! He knows me ;)



Today, I thank my mom for giving me this life, too.
Things not always go the way I want, but I am lucky to meet my darling in my life. hehe

Well... I have to go to the hula dancing class this morning. Then start shooting the next videos in the evening.

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Monday, November 25, 2013

A Day with Google in Taiwan

The "A Day with Google" event is designed to show how Google can be an intelligent personal assistant, making everyday life simpler for people.

The event was set in a venue modeled like a house, with rooms dedicated to different Google products.

I was asked to make sushi rolls and demonstrate mobile tools in the kitchen room that people can use to make cooking a bit easier.

My darling took this 360 degree photo with his gadget (RICOH THETA). Cool!!!


Google was nice, they let me take my darling to Taiwan (though I had to pay for his flight). It was my fist time talking in front of the journalists, so I was very nervous until the event day. But I thank to my darling for coming with me, we could fully enjoy Taiwan together in our free time, not thinking too much about the presentation :)

DAY1 (11/17):

We bought Bento for our lunch at なだ万 (Nadaman) in Shinjyuku, on the way to the Narita airport. We arrived in Narita on time, and everything seemed fine, but our flight delayed due to unexpected mechanical failure… We suppose to arrive in Taipei at 21:50PM but we arrived at 1:30AM… We reached our hotel (Palais De Chine) at 2:30AM… went to bed at 3AM…

DAY2 (11/18):

We just had an hour sleep, took shower early in the morning, then attended the rehearsal at 華山1914文化創意產業園區 (Huashan 1914 Creative Park) from 8AM-9:30AM. Then we had free time till 4PM, so we took train and walked around the city. I bought pineapple cakes at 犁記餅店 (Taipei Leechi) and 李製餅家 (Li zhi Bing Jia), where they are famous for their pineapple cakes. We had a lunch set at 徳也茶喫 (Deye Tea House). Their dishes are cooked with tea and tasted very mild and healthy. The rehearsal in the afternoon was about an hour, so we were free again. Actually, an hour rehearsal was not enough BUT to break the ice, I thought I shouldn't practice too much… We had dinner at 梅子餐廰 (Umeko Restaurant). Their 蟳仔米糕 (sticky rice with crab) was amazing!!!

DAY3 (11/19):

We arrived at the venue at 8AM to prepare the rice for sushi. My demo session started from 10AM-13PM, making sushi and talked about my channel and the mobile tools for each 8 groups of journalists. Thanks to Marty (from Google Taiwan), he was kind enough to support me. I am not good at talking in front of people, so I don't think I could do this without him. There were few interviews with journalists in the afternoon. It was a great opportunity to share my artist's statement =)

After the event, my darling and I were free again. So, we went to have dinner at 鼎泰豐 (Din Tai Fung). The restaurant was fast, clean, cheap, and delicious! I loved their 小籠包 (Xiaolongbao soup dumplings). We also had 酸辣湯 (hot and sour soup)!

DAY4 (11/20):

On the last day, we went to the photo studio called 1981台北 (1981 Taipei). In Taiwan, there are many photo studios where you can transform yourself into a beautiful person.

The photographer and the makeup artist were amazing. (I took photo with them!!!) We had to choose 18 pics out from 84 but I couldn't choose which photos to get! (The price changes depending on how many pics you want.)

These images here are without the retouch. I asked the studio to give me the original data because I cannot wait for a month! They gonna send me the retouched photos (which makes your skin smooth, your face smaller, etc…) and the album next month! I can't wait to see them XD

People in Taiwan were very kind and friendly. I think I want to visit Taiwan again! This time, we didn't have time to go to the night markets and Taiwanese shampoo, so maybe next time! hehe

Articles after the event:
CNET Japan
http://japan.cnet.com/interview/35040417/
http://japan.cnet.com/news/service/35040111/
Hong Kong newspaper
http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/lifestyle/20131121/00488_001.html
Singapore article
http://www.techgoondu.com/2013/11/26/the-rise-of-the-youtube-blogger/#.UpZ5euBdL9w
Voice TV Thailand
http://life.voicetv.co.th/living/90197.html

A Day with Google in Taiwan - behind the scenes


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Friday, November 22, 2013

4th Marriage Anniversary

Today is our 4th marriage anniversary, the day we filed our marriage paper!!!

I am editing the next video, so nothing special. haha

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Kyoto

It was a three-day weekend, so my darling and I have been to Hikone (my darling's hometown) and Kyoto.

I will make a very quick post about amazing meals we had + places we visited!!!

We took Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) from Shinagawa (Tokyo). Ekiben (bento box sold at the railway station) is always one of our pleasures of a trip. (IMG 1 and 2) We stopped by at Hikone on the first day. We had Soba noodles for dinner. (IMG 4) My darling's dad made breakfast for us the next morning. (IMG 3) He is a great cook so mom doesn't have to cook. hehe

Early in the morning, we headed to Kyoto. We have been to Kyoto back in 2009 and did a major sightseeing, so this time we decided to walk around and visit temples and shrines nearby.

We checked in at a Ryokan (Japanese style inn) called 日昇別荘 (Nissho-besso). It is located in the middle of the shopping street but the rooms are quite big and very cozy! Believe it or not, our room was way too big for 2 people. hehe (IMG 1 and 2)

At noon, we headed to 嵐山 (Arashiyama). We had Yudoufu (hot Tofu) course meal lunch at 竹むら (Takemura). They use 森嘉 (Morika - a famous Tofu shop)'s Tofu. We loved their Tempura, too! If you like Tofu, you must visit there once ;) (IMG 3 and 4)

After the lunch, we crossed 渡月橋 (Togetsukyo bridge) (IMG 3) then visited 法輪寺 (Horinji temple) famous for successful career, and 電電宮 (Dendengu shrine) the god of electronics, located on the grounds of the Horinji. You can make a wish for not breaking your iPhone for example. hehe Walking through Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves (IMG 2), you will get to 御髪神社 (Mikami-jinja shrine) shrine for healthy hair - one and only one shrine for that in Japan! I bought a comb shaped amulet there :) so cute♥ (IMG 1) 野宮神社 (Nomiya-jinja shrine) god of marriage is also located nere the bamboo groves. It has a pretty backyard garden. (IMG 4)

There were 2 big public bathrooms at the Ryokan we stayed. We took an early bath and had a relaxing dinner in our room. A serving lady will bring dinner to your room. (IMG 1) Their breakfast was also amazing. (IMG 2) On the 2nd day in the morning, we visited 河合神社 (Kawai-jinja shrine - a sub-shrine of Shimogamo-jinja shrine) the god of beauty. You can pray for your inner beauty there. They serve 美人水 (beauty water - quince juice). (IMG 4) We had lunch back in 祇園 (Gion) at a restaurant called OKU. They serve amazing Obanzai lunch (Kyoto-style homemade side dishes). (IMG 3)

Sorry the images are not in the correct order. IMG 1 here is 糺の森 (Tadasu no Mori) a sacred grove at 下鴨神社 (Shimogamo-jinja shrine) where we visited in the morning. 相生社 (Aioi no Yashiro) stands on the left side in front of the main gate of Shimogamo-jinja is the god of good marriage and the guardian of engagement.

In the afternoon, we strolled through the shopping streets in 河原町 (Kawaramachi). You can find many shrines and temples there, too. 矢田寺 (Yadadera temple) is the god of good fortune accepting your sufferings. 誓願寺 (Seiganji temple) is the god of art and entertainment. YouTubers must visit there! LOL 蛸薬師堂 (Takoyakushido temple) is the god of a good health. If you stroke the octopus statue gently it will heal the parts where you touched :) 錦天満宮 (Nishiki Tenmangu shrine) is the god of prosperous business. Obviously, it is located in the Teramachi shopping street, facing the famous 錦市場 (Nishiki Market)! (IMG 3) I shopped at 喜久屋 (Kikuya) where my mom bought the flower rice crackers that I used for my videos! (IMG 2) Last but not least, we visited 六角堂 (Rokkaku-do temple) the god of happiness and good marriage. We bought their famous pigeon paper fortune… what we got in there were pretty harsh words. Well… it sounds like we shouldn't depend on the god but do our best. I know we said too many prayers... haha On the way back to Tokyo, we bought 下鴨茶寮 (Shimogamo-saryo)'s bento box with many Kyoto-style side dishes. (IMG 4) I think we had enough 懐石料理 (Kaiseki-ryori - traditional Japanese course meal with many side dishes)!!!

Blog post about Souvenirs
http://createeathappy.blogspot.jp/2013/10/souvenirs-from-kyoto.html

More Pics on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK :)

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

3rd Wedding Anniversary



10/10 was our 3rd wedding anniversary.

It was my day off, so we went out and had a dinner in Shibuya.
Koibumi was an amazing Japanese food restaurant.
Casual and easy on the budget :)

Our wedding posts:
http://createeathappy.blogspot.jp/search/label/Wedding

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Australia Perth & Sydney

My middle sister of the three decided to have a wedding in Fremantle (Perth), so my whole family (including my darling) visited Australia for 8 days (7 nights) to attend the wedding.

Day 1 (9/13):

We bought bento for our lunch on the way to the Narita airport. There are a lot of bentos in the basement of Shinjuku Odakyu department store. I decided to get our's at Miyabi!

We left Narita at 20:30 and arrived in Perth (via Sydney) at 13:20 on 9/14. There is an hour time difference, thus it means it took us 18 hours to get there!

Day 2 (9/14):

As soon as we arrived in Perth, we headed to our hotel in Fremantle (Esplanade Hotel). It was surprisingly cold and stormy outside, so we decided to enjoy cappuccino at Dôme located on the cappuccino strip. Then we had a stroll through Fremantle Markets. We had a dinner at Little Creatures Brewery near our hotel because it was still stormy cold outside.

Day 3 (9/15):

The weather was fine on this day but it was still cold. We had a breakfast at Il Cibo. Their food was amazing. My dad rented a car and we enjoyed a beautiful drive way along the coast towards Scarborough Beach. We made a brief stop at Caversham Wildlife Park. Luckily, all the shows have just started when we arrived there, so we could meet and touch Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombat, Birds, etc… In the evening, we went to see black swans on the Lake Monger. We were lucky enough that we could spot them right away! After we joined a meeting for the wedding, we had a dinner at Cicerello's back in Fremantle. Their Fish and Chips were good but I liked their Seafood Chowder more!

Day 4 (9/16):

The weather was nice in the morning! My sister decided to have a wedding at St John’s Anglican Church Fremantle (not in Japan) because she wanted to get a nice and quiet wedding. Unfortunately, it started to rain after noon when they were having a photo session, but thanks God it didn't rain during the ceremony. The wedding reception was held at Villa D'Este Restaurant (a fine Italian restaurant) in Perth. All their dishes were very good. Their wedding cake was a shortcake based on a Japanese recipe but it was funny that it had a foreign taste. She should have ordered an Italian cake. hehe I'm not gonna write a lot about her wedding to protect her privacy but it was an amazing day ;)

Day 5 (9/17):

We joined a wine tour upstream on the Swan river with Captain Cook Cruises. Unfortunately, I am a cheap date, so I couldn't complete all of the wines (maybe 2 glasses in total) but I think we were being served with more than 10 glasses of wine!!! Also, we had an amazing lunch at Sandalford Estate before a dessert buffet and afternoon tea served back on board the vessel. The weather was nice on this day, so I had a romantic cruise with my darling and my parents. LOL

After the tour, we took Red CAT (a free bus) and had a walk at Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

On this day, we moved to a different hotel in Perth: The Sebel Residence overlooking the Claisebrook Cove. We had a dinner at Royal Siam (Thai Restaurant) near the hotel. Their food was pretty sweet overall but was tasty and good.

Day 6 (9/18):

We had a day trip to Wave Rock! Crossed vast dry farming plains before reaching the historic town of York. Traveled through the Wheatbelt town of Corrigin - noted for the "dog in the ute" national record. Headed to the town of Hyden, the town centre for Wave Rock. Visited Hippos yawn and had lunch at Wave Rock Wildflower shop. I am not sure what the dish was but the sweet simmered chicken was pretty good. After 5 hours, we finally arrived at Wave Rock! We enjoyed rock surfing ;) The views from the top were great and there were more than just Wave Rock to see: Humps and Mulkas Cave. On the way back to the city, we had a last stop for toilet break. There we had some sweets ($7 all-you-can-eat) made by local people. They were surprisingly pretty good! My darling accidentally ate a sandwich so we had to pay but they were worth to try. We couldn't have a dinner on this day because we went back to the city late and restaurants were all closed…

Day 7 (9/19):

We had a breakfast at Toast Bistro. Their savory crepes were amazing! We also tried Toast and Vegemite with avocado. I think I've got an idea how to use Vegemite for my recipe!

On this day, my dad rented a car again and went to The Round House and joined the Time Tour at Fremantle Prison. Then headed to Rockingham beach to meet the dolphins but it was obviously too cold to see them because of the unusual weather. We had an early dinner at Emma's on the Boardwalk. The restaurant offered fantastic food and the sunset was beautiful.

Day 8 (9/20):

We had a breakfast again at Toast Bistro. Then we headed to Sydney at noon and arrived at Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney at night. My darling and I finally went our separate ways with my parents. We enjoyed cocktails at Blu Bar on 36 and had dinner at Altitude Restaurant. Their food was outstanding! We enjoyed beautiful night views of Darling Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It was a dreamlike night :)

Day 9 (9/21):

Our return flight to Japan was at night (21:30) so we enjoyed walking around the city until evening. We first had a stroll through Rocks Market. There we bought an amazing 3D stamps (Paper Tole) for our souvenir. We had brunch at Pancakes on the Rocks suggested by my viewers. We had their Beef Ribs and HOT 'N' TROPPO (buttermilk pancakes with grilled banana, walnuts, cream, chocolate ice cream and home made chocolate sauce) Yummy!!! Then we took MyZone bus to Paddington Markets. We didn't have enough time to shop around but we had a great time in Sydney. One thing I regret is that I couldn't find Aesop at DFS Galleria or in the city where we walked around…

I think we went to the country other than the U.S. for the first time in 7 years?!

People in Australia were very nice with warm hospitality. I think we didn't see any rude people there. So, I was pretty shocked when I saw an unkind person at Narita… Some Japanese people are not nice to people with the same nationality… this happens pretty often. They make nice with foreigners though! X(

I heard food in Australia is not that good but every meal we had was amazing XD Thanks to my mom and my darling, they are good at choosing restaurants. Me and my dad are not. LOL

The thing we found inconvenient was many stores and restaurants close pretty early. So, we couldn't shop or eat out late but went to bed earlier than usual. Good for our health maybe?! Also, we found things are pretty expensive in Australia!

We didn't have enough time to find our souvenirs but thanks to my viewers, I followed my viewers' advice to get some in the last minutes. I will make a separate post about souvenirs later!!!

Thanks for reading :)

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