Thursday, June 5, 2008

Singapore

Singapore! I've been here for about 4 days and am trying to get adjusted to a number of things. The humidity is completely disgusting and I haven't dared to wear jeans since I've landed on the island. I'm finally settling into my dorm with Matt, and thankfully we've been blessed to be situated in the only dorm on campus with air conditioning.
Since landing in Singapore, everything has been non-stop eating and ongoing outings in the city. Everyone seems to go, but at this point it's financially and physically taking its toll on me.
Sadly, I feel that I failed to document my trip in Japan as well as I have in the past. I have a good number of photos from Tokyo with my Singapore buddies, but not so many with Yuki and his parents. All in all, Japan was amazing and I had the chance to utilize Japanese again! -this was probably the best part after the food. I became more familiar with the subway system in Tokyo and am now potentially considering a semester there.
Today we finally got our cell phones! I can receive free incoming calls, so if you have good international rates or have Skype, by all means, call me!

My phone number is (011-65) 8116-9633.

And now for some photos from Japan until recent activity in Singapore! Click on the images to view them in an larger size

Photobucket

Mr. and Mrs. Iida were kind enough to take me on a two hour drive to go see Tokugawa Ieyasu's grave. Breathtaking!

Photobucket

Place for prayers

Photobucket

Mrs. Iida working in the amazing garden in front of their house.

Photobucket

I picked out fresh strawberries.. delicious!

Photobucket

Mr. Iida got me tipsy before dinner.
Photobucket

Pre-dinner.

Photobucket

AMAZING Ramen dinner Mrs. Iida made at my request despite the long and tiring day of taking me out.

Photobucket

HEAVEN. Tokyu Hands at Machida.

Photobucket

Yuki and the awesome shirt I gave him! Wanted to keep it for myself.

Photobucket

Takoyaki with Yuki from the grocery store!

Photobucket

Station that gets to central Tokyo from Machida

Photobucket

After leaving Yuki's, I met up with the rest who were in Japan staying in Asakusa. It was raining that day, but we went out to go check out Kappabashi Street (where Japanese fake display foods and restaurant supplies are sold).

Photobucket

Kappabashi!

Photobucket

Fake meat!

Photobucket

My lunch!

Photobucket

Fake dessert! Looks so real doesn't it? The previous egg roll and dumplings were also fake! SO REAL!

Photobucket

We went out to a cook-yourself Okonomiyaki restaurant that night! Now, this, was real!

Photobucket

Taito Ryokan that I crashed at for two nights with the rest.

Photobucket

Heh, we were all waiting for this guy to magically wake up for his stop to get off the subway like all the other Japanese people do it.

Photobucket

Matt was eye-ing this guy's shoes.

Photobucket

The Tokyo Metropolitan Building located in Shinjuku.

Photobucket

View from the top of the building.. the picture does no justice!

Photobucket

The group! From left: Whitney, Georgie, Matt, Yesenia, Anita, and Me.

Photobucket

Everyone wanted to do things I've already done once before, so I decided to split from the group and spend the last day in Tokyo by myself! First stop was the area surrounding Shinjuku station.

Photobucket

More of Shinjuku.

Photobucket

LOVE Japanese mega ads!!

Photobucket

I was looking around Shinjuku for lunch and saw this huge line of people waiting to eat at this ramen shop, so I got in line and ordered this mega ramen dish with all the sides from their menu in it.

Photobucket

I decided to further indulge since it was my last day in Japan on this trip and ordered Shiso Gyoza. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mm!

Photobucket

Spotted a wedding!

Photobucket

Show stoppin' dogs.

Photobucket

Went to Harajuku! (sign: Harajuku Eki "Harajuku Station")

Photobucket

Prada building in Harajuku constructed out of glass.

Photobucket

Amazing store amazing prices

Photobucket

Awesome Uniqlo shop in Harajuku that exclusively sold limited edition Uniqlo shirts!

Photobucket

The Harajuku scene lived up to what I thought it'd be and more!! This girl was nuts!



Photobucket

This guy's attire was nuts!

Photobucket

The scary girls of Harajuku. I asked them to take a photo with them only to be rejeectedd.

Photobucket

More Harajuku.

Photobucket

The crazy Harajuku girl was later confronted by the police..!

Photobucket

Funny drunken old guys!

Photobucket

LOL



HAHAH this guy was dancing to Me and U by Cassie

Photobucket

After Harajuku was Shibuya!

Photobucket

Dinner at Kaiten Zushi (restaurant style of eating sushi from a revolving conveyor belt).

Photobucket

Was a cozy little Kaiten Zushi place in Shibuya.

Photobucket

Panning shot of my favorite: Yaki-salmon!

Photobucket

The day we all left the Ryokan to go to the Airport for Singapore.. sad!

Photobucket

On the way to Narita Airport.. Matt's expression accurately represented how everyone was feeling.
Photobucket

Sadly it was time to leave Japan.. but excitingly for Singapore!

Photobucket

Japan Airlines was MUCH better than American Airlines and had amazing service! The plane wasn't that full and Georgie had an entire row for herself to sleep in!

Photobucket

6 hours.

Photobucket

Fun islands close to Singapore?

Photobucket

Driving from Changi Airport to Nanyang Technological University.

Photobucket

Our amazing-looking dorms with air conditioningg.

Photobucket

We got passes to the Hippo Bus Tours that we used for the first couple of days we were in Singapore.

Photobucket

One of my FAVORITE BUILDINGS... the Durian Building!!

Photobucket

Singapore has ENDLESS ENDLESS and NEVER-ENDING shopping centers.

Photobucket

But there is ALWAYS Bread Talk! My new obsession and demise.

Photobucket

Curry-filled pastry.

Photobucket

BEST raisin bread EVER to date + chocolate pastry

Photobucket

Things have been crazy and there hasn't been one night where I haven't been anything less than exhausted, so more pictures on activity in Singapore to come!

1 comment:

Anita @ Simplyfitspired said...

nice picture blog!

it was good looking at japan pictures...love them.