Truly, one doesn't have to look hard to find
-- and spot -- Hello Kitty in Japan :)
And ditto re places where old and new
meet and look to comfortably coexist
In addition, rest assured Puppet Ponyo fans that there were plenty of
photo opportunities for my kawaii travel companion on this trip too! :)
For those wondering why I haven't blogged for the past few days -- it's because I've been away on another trip to Japan! This time around, I spent the majority of my vacation in Kanazawa, Japan's second largest city (after Kyoto) to escape destruction by air raids during the Second World War, but also paid visits to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawa-go (specifically the village of Ogimachi) and the city of Osaka (a culinary capital which I've visited twice before, most recently back in 2008).
Suffice to say that I did a lot of exploring and walking (more than 20,000 steps a day, according to my pedometer!), and also eating and drinking, and photo-taking, during my six day holiday! Before I went on my vacation, I told a friend who regularly checks this blog to expect lots of food-centric photos from this trip.
But as it turned out, I also have lots of non-food photos to share -- including of a magnificent garden (which is considered to be among the top three landscape gardens in Japan), a wonderful contemporary art museum (with exhibits that actually could be considered fun as well as aesthetically impresive), and a village so rural that I actually spotted a snake slithering across the path leading to a small shrine that I was heading to!
For the record: I didn't manage to take a photo of the snake -- not least because I was too stunned at my coming across the sight of it. (In all honesty, it already can be unnerving to spot snakes when out hiking in Hong Kong, so imagine my shock when coming across while being a tourist in Japan!) However, rest assured that I did take plenty of really cool photos that day -- and that they show a side of Japan that has hitherto not been highlighted on this blog.
At the same time, there also were plenty of spottings of sights that I've come to associate with Japan -- including of the cute cat that's celebrating the 40th year of her existence this year. As for Puppet Ponyo: suffice to say that she'll be making further appearances on this blog over the next couple of weeks or so, and that I do love her she was able to make a few more friends while out and about on this latest trip (back) to Japan. :b
9 comments:
Hi YTSL, lovely to see puppet Ponyo traveling again. She looks beautiful, but also the background behind her. I'm looking forward to those food entries and more Puppet Ponyo appearances. Btw, yikes on the snake.
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip.
YTLS--
I stumbled across another use for the ubiquitous Kitty although she would have to displace Peiqia--shouldn't be too hard since she is yards ahead in the personality department.
http://slide.ent.sina.com.cn/star/jp/slide_4_704_81351.html#p=1
Have a fabulous trip YTLS and Ponyo! Looking forward to more informative posts and must show the food you eat :P
Hi Trekcapri --
Be rest assured that there will be a number of food entries (and pics) and also Puppet Ponyo appearances.
Re the snake: more than BTW, I spotted it not too far away from where Puppet Ponyo was standing in that very picture posted on this entry! :O
Hi ewaffle --
Ah yes, the Moomin cafe... BTW, I have a 3 foot tall Hello Kitty and a 3 foot tall (and wide) O Totoro back at home in Penang who's been known to occupy a chair at the mahjong table along with my mother and myself... make of that what you will! :D
Hi EastCoastLife --
Sadly, I'm back from the trip! (Sorry but I don't think to post on trips -- I rather use my time enjoying myself... ;b)
Hi ytsl,
Nice preview (teaser) blog about your recent Japan adventure.
Did Puppet Ponyo fall down or was it the light and angle of the photo.?....looks to me like she has a bump between her eyes. I love reading about her adventures with you!
Hi sarah sbk --
I know what you mean about the bump between Puppet Ponyo's eyes. Don't see it in other photos, so think it's just a case of the fuzz in that area (temporarily) not being smooth when she emerged from my backpack for that photo! ;b
Hi again ytsl,
I'm relieved!
Hi Yvonne,
Enjoyed this first entry of your return trip to Japan. The links you provide to Kenrokuen Gardens and especially to Shirakawa-go, introduced me to a part of Japan I wasn't that familiar with. The farmhouses are captivating.
Looking fresh and nearly immaculate, Ponyo is right where she always looks at her most exhilarated: posing in the foreground, providing a visual introduction to a village kingdom below...Those farmhouses must be quite a sight after a snowfall!
Bill
Hi Bill --
I'm glad you enjoyed the first entry of my most recent trip to Japan as there'll be more blog posts about that vacation coming up!
As for Puppet Ponyo: she was really happy to have many chances to get out of my backpack during this trip. :b
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