Things to do at Yokohama

Last month, I went to Yokohama. From my house, it's just a direct train with 2 different lines. So I thought, it won't be that different from Tokyo and her tall buildings. I was kind of wrong. Yokohama had tall buildings, yes, but it were sparse. It was refreshing seeing the sky and the bay together. I now see why people from Tokyo chose Yokohama to take a quick break.

the sunset seen from Yokohama Bay

When I went to Yokohama, I didn't have a set plan, moreover a budget. So my friend and I decided to just stroll around and enjoy Yokohama. And we did! We went to the red brick house, and on the way we encountered a wartime ship that is now refurbished as a museum. This year is its 100 year anniversary! Near the ship, there is a candy apple stall. It was the best, the candy and the apple complements each other really well. At red brick house, it was really crowded due to the festival being held there, the Oktoberfest (in May.. interesting). I liked the vintage interior in it though. Really pretty because it overlooks the bay too.

wartime ship. Do you know the name?

Red brick house. What do you think were the history behind it?

After that, we went to Chinatown. It was really pretty, especially at night when the lights turn on. Every great chinatowns has a gate overlooking the place, and Motomachi Chukagai has one of the prettiest I've seen. There were also a lion dance performance (Barongsai). I bought a pork belly bun. It was delicious, the bun is soft and the belly extremely succulent and well seasoned.

the Motomachi Chukagai gate

pork bun!

So, that is all what I did in Yokohama, if you guys had a different experience, feel free to comment down below! See you in another EigoTalkTalk session!

Pancake

Pancake is one of my favorite desert. It is very delicious. I often eat pancake when I hangout with my friends. Sometimes, I cook pancakes by myself at home. 

The Forbidden City in Beijing, China Part 1

Beijing is an old city, with 5 past Chinese dynasties had made this city their capital. It is now also the capital of China.

Inside the city there is a place that everyone has to visit; the Forbidden City!

This grand palace’s name 紫禁城 (translate into the Purple Forbidden City) actually has a astronomical root.

In Ancient Chinese mythical tale, it was imagined that the Emperor of Heaven lives in the center of the cosmos, namely a place called the Purple Forbidden Palace紫微垣宮.

As for why it has the word ‘forbidden’ in its name is because ancient Chinese often referred important places like Palace as the ‘forbidden’ places that they as civilians can’t easily get into. Thus if the Chinese emperor or empress is the son or daughter of the heaven, people think he or she should also live in a Purple Palace hence the name in Chinese the紫禁城 (Purple Forbidden City).

As for why the city wall is red, that's a different story!

Have you ever been to Beijing?

If so have you visited the Forbidden City?

The best Abura Soba place in Tokyo

For many foreigners, when you ask them what is the iconic food of Japan, most of them will probably say sushi. But for me, whenever people ask me what is most iconic and the most delicious food in Japan, I will always pick abura soba.

But not just any abura soba, I am particularly in love with Tokyo Menchintei honpo 東京麵珍亭本舖, ever since I started study in Tokyo I always go for this noodle place after class.

There is a perfect balance and composition between the texture of the noodles, oil and sauces. The store is also very generous when it comes to the meat; They give you a lot of chashu meat on top of the noodle.

I will never forget this place. Even when I eventually leave Japan, this noodle place will always have a special place in my heart.

So I highly recommend people to eat at one of their branches around Tokyo!

Tokyo Menchintei honpo, Nishiwaseda branch

The Green Island

The geographical region of Taiwan is made up of the main island of Taiwan and other smaller islands like Penghu (Pescadores) Island澎湖, Guisan (Turtle Mountain) Island 龜山島 The Green Island綠島, and Orchid Island 蘭嶼.

I went to the Green Island a few years ago with some of my friends. We were there to help cleaning the beaches around the island’s coasts.

Green Island is very small, and only a few hundred people live on this island. Often the island’s traffic will be cut off when huge typhoons strikes Taiwan.

The island is always sunny, perfect for tanning your skin!

However sides the beautiful beaches, the island is also famous for its deer meat dishes and a former prison building turned popular tourist destination.

If you would like to tryout Taiwanese deer meat and feel life on a small island or want to help protect the environment, Green island is a good place to start!

The unfulfilled goal

Have you ever climb Mountain Fuji before?

How was the climb?

I have been living in Japan for nearly 3 years now, however I have yet climb mountain Fuji and I will try my best to find the time and chance to do so.

I imagine the journey will not be easy, because mountain Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.

I also think climbing mountain Fuji is one of the most important thing to so in Japan, it is such an iconic national symbol of Japan. You can’t say you’ve been to Japan if you didn’t climb mountain Fuji!

Have fun travelling

Where do I want to travel? That is an important question that we ask ourselves once we have enough money to buy air tickets and a good hotel room.

So far I had travelled to many places, and so far my favorite destination is Thailand, the people and foods in Bangkok are amazing. There are so many temples each with their own unique stories to tell.

Thai milk tea is perhaps the sweetest beverage I have ever had, and I personally think Thailand has the third best 7-11 right behind Taiwan and Japan; The foods Thai 7-11s sell are the best, their fried chicken burger and beef rice burger are some of the most delicious dish I have ever tasted, I think is a must eat when you go visit!

So how about you?

Where do you like to go if you can?

What will you do there?

Assumption University, suvarnabhumi campus, Bangkok, Thailand

Why do I love カビゴン (Snorlax)

Generally speaking, many of us like hugging, whether is hugging your partners, parents, or pets, hugging make us relaxed and happy. And the feelings of happiness and relaxation are what Snorlax brings for me.

After a tiring day of school or work, I always come back home to see Snorlax sitting on my table or bed waiting to be hugged.

Hugging my Snorlax is like charging my battery, makes me alive again to face tomorrow’s challenges and works!

What about you?

Do you like Snorlax? If not then what Pokémon do you like? 

Where I am from

Taiwan is an interesting place. This little island is rich with culture and all kinds of people.

Because of it’s complicated history; being ruled by the Chinese, Dutch, and the Japanese, and heavily influenced by Westerners. Taiwan has old European Castles, old Traditional and Meiji era Japanese buildings surrounded by modern skyscrapers in cities around Taiwan.

Have you ever been to Taiwan before?

What do you think about the food and people in Taiwan?

Do you have any fun in Taiwan?

The Yummy Black Pearls from Taiwan

You see them everywhere, and on everyone’s hands. Recently bubble milk tea or Tapioca has become extremely popular in Japan.

Tapioca stores and stands are opening up everywhere in Tokyo like flowers blooming during the spring season.

Do you know about Tapioca? If so what do you think about it?

Actually, Tapioca is a national favorite in Taiwan. You can see people selling and drinking Tapioca everywhere.

For me I think Tapioca is an amazing kind of drink, that lets you eat and drink at the same time. It revolutionized the way people think about drinks.

I heard from many of my Japanese friends in university saying that having Tapioca is fun because the drink brings a different kind of experience.

Vending machines everywhere!

Why does Japan have so many vending machines?

Everywhere around the streets you can see vending machines selling all kinds of drinks and foods.

This is a very special for people outside of Japan. In Taiwan where I came from, we don’t really have that many vending machines.

The vending machines in Japan sell all kinds of drinks and foods, ranging from hot and cold tea, coffee, soft drinks, and beers, to foods like ice cream, sweet and salty breads, candy and chocolates.

I often buy things at the vending machines not only because they are convenient but also special.

What about you? Do you like vending machines? Do you think there are too many or not enough vending machines on the streets of Japan?

Walking at night

Do you like walking? Or should I ask do you like walking for a very long time at a special period of time? For me I like not only walking, but also I especially like to walk around Tokyo at night, from around 1 AM to 6 AM.

1 AM to 5 AM is a magical time frame. The scenes during this time are completely different from daytime Tokyo.

For me I think a city is like a human body, each street is like a blood vessel, and each person, car and animal are like individual cells that runs around the body, going the places that they are supposed to.

During daytime the street right in front of Nakano station is full with students and office workers, rushing back and froth from their homes to offices, you also see a lot of tourists from around the world speaking Chinese, Korean, English and many other languages. They walk along the street slowly to carefully view every products and items that came by their eyes.

At around 2 AM however, things change drastically. Trucks replaced people, parking right on the now empty street, unloading products and items for stores to sell tomorrow, and picking up trashes and recyclable packages and cleaned up the street. During this process the noises they make are comparable to the noises made by people during daytime.

Often we hear the phrase that a big city never sleeps, but we seldom have the opportunity to see how a city works at midnight. Tokyo I think is not dangerous, so feel free to try to have a night walk around this big city and see how it works at night.

Ice cream

Ice cream is my favourite food in summer. There are many flavours. But I love chocolate flavour most. I often eat ice cream with my friends after studying. Do you love ice cream? 

SUNSET IN SHINJUKU

Yesterday, I went to Shinjuku. I visited Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. On the 45th floor, I watched the sun going down. I stood next to a tourist. As any tourist there, he tried to capture the beauty of the city. It was very cold outside, but the sunlight made Tokyo look warmer.

WHY THE SKY IN JAPAN LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL?

I have watched many animes before I came to Japan. The sky in those animations was beautiful. I thought it was just art. However, when I got here, I was really surprised. The sky in Japan looks so blue and so stunning. Sometimes I feel as if I'm living in an anime world.

HOMESICK

I came to Japan as an international student. I love Japan and enjoy living here, but sometimes I miss my hometown. Ramen and Takoyaki are delicious, but I miss Pho and Banh Mi. "Densha" are convenient, but I miss my motorbike. Japanese green tea is fantastic, but I miss the smell of our coffee. Have you ever missed your Ramen, Takoyaki, densha or green tea?

A BRIGHT WINDOW

I usually have my curtains opened in the morning so that the sunlight could get into my room. A bright working area can boost my mood, and makes me feel more energetic. Compared with electric lights, sunlight is also more economical. Working next to a window like this not only helps me save some money but also helps me work more effectively.

I LIKE TRAVELING!

I like traveling. I like to meet new people around the world. Sometimes, foreign languages are hard, but making friends is fun. There are many things to learn from them.

20 STATIONS AWAY FROM HOME

One of my workplaces is near Ikebukuro Station. It is 20 stations away from my home (by semi-express train). It is quite far from where I live. However, I really love working here. Talking and playing games with my members are always enjoyable. -Jane-