Kimono experience in Asakusa

Friday, March 20, 2015 3:39 AM Posted by wens
I have always wanted to have some photos of myself taken in a Kimono. It's Spring and I initally wanted to have pictures in the cherry blossoms and kimono. Sadly, very little sakura had bloom at this time.

There are many studios in Asakusa that offered kimono experience and photoshoot. I managed to find a reasonably priced one. It's called Sakura photo Kimono. http://www.sakuraphotokimono.com/english/

They have a few packages
Simple Plan - 3000Yen
Basic Plan - 5000 Yen
Luxury Plan - 10000 Yen
Photo service at another 5000 yen.

The difference between the simple and basic plan is the waist band and the Basic plan was definitely more elaborate and complicated. You can walk around with the kimono till 5pm, so its pretty worth it. For Luxury plan, it was only an hour of walking around.

I took the package which was 10,000 yen - includes the Basic Plan kimono and a 1 hour photo cum walking tour.

I only made up my mind one day before the photoshoot. I did ask some colleauges if they were interested in it but they don't really seem interested. Then this girl told me this kinda thing have to do it with friends. So I was thinking, yea it's true, they are just colleauges which I wouldn't see in future so I probably prefer my personal portrait. It was late at night after dinner, I emailed the lady, Sakura and the next morning she replied that my timing wasn't possible. I gave her a call and somehow it was possible! It was quite impromptu and I'm glad it managed to work out.

Putting on the Kimono was rather tedious. There was 2 aunties putting on layers of cloth on me and tying it with a string. Then I chose my kimono. I was contemplating between a few design but decided on one that Sakura recommended. The waistband tying took up quite some time as the 2 aunties put on layers of bands, twirl the colourful strings around, and folded the back sash into an elaborate pattern! I was impressed. The whole process took about 20 mins.

The photographer is Hiroshi and he basically walked though Asakusa with me and explained the history and culture of Asakusa. Asakusa is a very old and cultural place full of history so it was interesting to know more about it.

It was quite funny how while he was snapping pictures of me, other tourists especially the China peeps all started taking pictures of me. I felt like I was an exhibition item.

The photos took 2 weeks to edit and process, and I'm super pleased with the turnout!



























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Spring in Tokyo, Sakura

Sunday, March 15, 2015 5:04 AM Posted by wens
I always make it a point to make a trip to Japan during the sakura season. I wasn't able to catch the full blooms but I still managed to capture some of the early blooms.

My favourite park is still Shinjuku gyoen over Ueno Park. Ueno park is way more crowded and touristy while shijuku gyoen is more of a local picnic place. More space to breathe and enjoy the blooms. Just pretty annoyed with the troops of chinese tourist stealing my photo spots and loitering in my background. I'm pretty anal when it comes to photobombing.

I was still pretty happy I managed to snap some nice shots.















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Star Struck in Hollywood

Friday, March 13, 2015 5:58 AM Posted by wens
This is my second time to the Hollywood Sign in 2 months. I remember how badly I wanted to go this place yet no one wants to go, so I was with another colleauge and attempted to drive here. We got lost and gave up! This time, just when I'm not exactly keen in visiting, it happened that most people wanted to visit. It's always the case - Murphy's Law.

Address is: 3000 Canyon Lake.


On the other side of the hilltop, this is the breathtaking view of the city and a beautiful lake.

Always welcome the view of this 2 rows of palm tree - which is oh so califonia! But I do love California for its abundance of sunshine and everthing-seems-so-chill, yet so lively and happening. It's hard to get out without a car and at times you have to just tag along whoever drives.


Stopped by at Hollywood downtown and we split for an hour to do our individual shopping.

It came as a surprise that we could get into the filming of  American Next Top Model Cycle 22. We had to register, state our hair skin clothes colour and get a Orange band, then the staff was taking an individual picture. We are all getting excited!



While waiting, this cameraman was going around interviewing the audiences and this chinese guy pointed to our group and said we seem interested appearing in the video. Well, since he already laid us a chance why not! It's an experience anyway and I doubt its easy to come by.




 Was supposed to start at 4pm but only near 5pm did they fashionally arrive at a fashionably late hour. 1+ hours of waiting! This open-top bus drove and parked right behind! The models are all so skinny and gorgeous! There's this particularly attractive male model with tan skin, well built. Guess he will be quite popular! Girls in their nipple popping unpadded swimwear, guys in their tanktop which they take any possible chance to take it off.

 J-Alexandra strutted in, did his stuff.
then TYRA BANKS strutted in and gave a speech which had the crowd roaring. She spoke about how a model doesnt need to be a size 0 or size 2 as long as she's confident, so inspiring.



Didn't catch the entire show as we had plans to catch the sunset at santa monica.

It was a memorable trip to the hollywood and I didn't regret or got upset a single bit that my friend went to Disneyland without me! But i really do wanna go Disney my next trip . Ive been a disney fan ever since watching Cinderella on theatre!!


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Florence, the City of Romance

Thursday, August 28, 2014 2:32 AM Posted by wens
Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region in Italy. Florence is famous for its rich history: a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, it is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art, artistic architecture and monument, and has been ranked by Forbes as ont of the most beautiful cities in the wold, and also declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It is also one of my favourite cities in the world! 


Piazzale Michaelangelo

This is one of the MUST DO in florence - sunset viewing from Piazzale Michaelangelo. It is atop a hill that overlooks the entire city and gives a panoramic view. Every evening, tourists flock here for a breathtaking view of the sunset against this beautiful city. 


Awww, how romantic, taking wedding shots in the sunset in this romantic city.


Here's the legendary statue of David by Michaelangelo.
Every meal was pizza and pasta. The food was so good that I couldn't get sick of eating it! 



Academia Gallery
Academia Gallery is one of the most popular museum and we had to queue early to get tickets as it would get crowded later in the day. Tickets are at 15euros and the ticket office is just steps away from the Academia Gallery.

Former hospital in the 14th century, then an Academy of Fine Arts, it houses ”David”, the absolute masterpiece by Michelangelo, a must for all visitors of Florence. Sculpted between 1501-1504 to be an outside decoration of the Cathedral of Florence, it became instead a symbol of the commitment of the Florentine State to freedom and independence, as well as a symbol of the Medici's defeat in 1494. It still personifies energy, vigour and courage, symbolizing the whole mankind fighting for survival. His anatomy, later reproduced by Michelangelo’s contemporaries, was carefully depicted, thanks to the in-depth studies carried out by the great artist. In addition to David, 4 statues of the Slaves commissioned by Pope Julius II as a decoration of his grave, the “Mourning over Jesus Christ” and “St. Matthew”. The museum houses an interesting collection of paintings from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early 17th century.
(Wikipedia)








Duomo di Firenze

Florence's Duomo is the city's most iconic landmark. Capped by Filippo Brunelleschi's red-tiled cupola , it's a staggering construction whose breathtaking pink, white and green marble facade and graceful campanile (bell tower) dominate the medieval cityscape. Sienese architect Arnolfo di Cambio began work on it 1296, but construction took almost 150 years and it wasn't consecrated until 1436. In the echoing interior, look out for frescoes by Vasari and Zuccari and up to 44 stained glass windows.
The Duomo's neo-Gothic facade was designed in the 19th century by architect Emilio de Fabris to replace the uncompleted original, torn down in the 16th century. The oldest and most clearly Gothic part of the cathedral is its south flank, pierced by Porta dei Canonici (Canons' Door), a mid-14th-century High Gothic creation (you enter here to climb up inside the dome).
(Lonelyplanet)






Got tickets for the climb to the top of the duomo - it was quite hard to find as it's tucked in between rows of shops. Had to ask a few locals before finding the ticket office, which was located in one of the galleries. 

Majestic view of the interior of the dome, painstakenly hand-painted by the artist. Couldn't imagine the amount of time and the risk involved in getting the roof painted.


The hike up was a dungeon-like stairs which was pretty managable at the first 10 minutes. After which, the steps got steeper and narrower, only enough for one person at a time. I was already panting by then but still perservered by looking through the little peepholes to the exterior of the building and told myself how near I was to the top. The final few steps were very challenging and it was a flight of ladders up to the top of the duomo.

The breathtaking city view was all worth it! Had to spend longer time here to make it worth while.

The climb down was much easier. There was times when 2 groups of people are in different directions, and that's where the guide came into place by controlling the traffic in the narrow stairways.

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Santorini Loving - Fireworks iFestia Dinner at Mama Thira

Sunday, August 24, 2014 4:33 AM Posted by wens
24 August 2014 - ifiesta Volcano fireworks festival.

Every summer, there would be a firework festival to commemorate the formation of Santorini and its Caldera. It was through a volcano eruption that the flow of lava formed the cresent shaped Island and the remainings forming forming the caldera.


We recee the area earlier in the day and decided on Mama Thira - it has the best location amongst the other restaurants which could have a blocked view. All the restaurants on that day didn't entertain ala carte order. The set menu at Mama thira looked quite good. It's 70 Euros with some side dishes, and the maincourse is a freshly caught fish.









Finally willing to settle in and start dinner after getting several pictures with the sunset. The sunset is indeed the best I've ever seen.


Side dishes. Ordered my favourite tomato balls after one of the guides recommeded it. Loving it!
The fireworks started at 9pm and we had a very good view albiet it being a little far. But could still see the entire show. It was a good 15 minutes of fireworks. There were many cruises specially organised for the fireworks. Once the show was over, each started to cruise off.
It came as a surprise that these fireworks were put off near us! Excited by fireworks.

Food serving came to a halt during the fireworks. The main course came right after the fireworks was over. A generous portion on a whole fish. It was sooo fresh I could taste the sweetness in the flesh. Definitely one of the best meal in Santorini thus far, and a memorable one!



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