Read the paper this morning during breakfast and it was reported that there was a earthquake of 5.1 last nite at 8.36pm. Lilian felt it during dinner last nite and I didnt really believe her coz i didnt feel anything. Maybe i was too busy munching on the stewed beef cheek to notice. Perhaps Shunju was at the basement and so i couldnt really feel much movement but it was only like for the split second sort of thing.
Anycase, headed out to Mt fuji today. Was really lucky coz the sun was out and the clouds were nice enuff to make way for a clear view of Mt Fuji! Actually, it looked alot like Mount Matterhorn in Zermatt in switzerland to me except in swiss, there were more snow and the cap was more snow covered. Still i am not complaining! It is pretty but unfortunately i couldnt see the view from the second mountain across in Hakone.
What was even more a pity was i didnt get to go up the 5th station coz of the snow last nite and the people havent cleared the road from snow yet. So we only get to stop at Fuji Subaraline to get some view frm there. The road was half cleared of snow and all still by the side. But the weather looks really perfect! And if u notice, i actually got warmer and took off my yellow sweater, left with my blue top coz it really was not cold.
Sigh. Oh well, god made it fair. At least i did have a super clear view and got to take a nice picture with it at the tourist visitor center observatory deck.
The guide brought us to Peace Garden in Hakone in exchange and it was pretty quiet and serene. However, the peacefulness of the place was ruined by the chinese tourists as usual. It was a Gold Goddess of Mercy (bigger than life size) housed in a dome shaped white structure that looked a cross between Thai and india style. There were even 4 statutues of the goddess in 4 different style just like the 4 faced gods from thailand. And it has a row of lions that had Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and India plates on it. Since there was no english explaination, i didnt know much was it meant.
I even had a go at "ringing" the small bell with the wooden log! Despite the small size, the sound was loud and clear and could be heard for far distances! Now i understand why back in olden days, bells were used as a form of alert or alarm as the whole villages can hear it loud and clear! Effective and "music" to the ears. It was those sharp shrill ringing like we get in cities....
We headed to the second highest mountain next to Fuji to try to get an eve view but Alas, the clouds totally hide Mt Fuji. I could see it with naked eyes of the obscured Fuji but it wasnt worth the shot. So i didnt take much pictures there. It was cold up up there, really cold. The only place apart from Nikko where i needed gloves on before it feels numb. The grounds were covered with thick snow at the downslopes, which i used to clean my shoes covered with mud when i climbed the hill to get to the top.
I booked to return to Tokyo via shinkansen since i wanted to try almost everything, plus i didnt trust the road conditions at nite to come back. The last thing i want is to be stuck in a jam. In fact, i was lucky coz i reached the train station early and got back earlier by 40mins while the rest of the poor folks prob suffered on the bus.
Was tired and so i didnt wanna go far tonite for dinner. the front desk recommended teppanyaki steak at Seryna at roppongi. It was located in the seedier part of roppongi full of nite clubs which i didnt realise much later after dinner.
It was an excellent recommendation. ordered the super chief set (cost abt 16 000yen = S$250) and the lobster was sweet and the beef was superbly done to pink. When i pop the cubes into my mouth, the juices oozed out and it melts into my mouth. It was the best beef i have ever tasted. It was soft, juicy and tender. The portions wasnt exactly small either, just the usual slab. The desserts was so so. I guess dessert isnt very well done in japan no matter where I go so i have learn to tone down my expectations. but food wise, they really do it supremely well and with all the fresh ingredients, there is no doubt that every penny is worth while.
As i head out and try to take the picture of the Tokyo Tower, i realise i was in a rather seedy street! It was full of Black guys trying to lure men into the bar and nite clubs. one black guy even asked ME to go to have massage! I was like "Duh?!" I politely declined and hasten my speed back to Hyatt which is on the other far end and certainly more up market. I felt like i was in the outskirts of new york rather than tokyo for a minute. So i didnt take any pictures till i reach back Grand Hyatt.
I hopped over to the supermarket and bought more strawberries and jellies! i love the jellies here esp the mandarin ones. Strawberries are to die for!They are sooooo juicy and sweet! incredible. Of coz we can get it back at isetan scotts back in singapore but they are much much cheaper here. Also, i fell in love with this Jersey Milk cream pancake and its sooooo soft and delicious. Not every supermarket sells it though and only seen it in this 24hr supermarket called "Foo:D magazaine" place at Roppongi.
Did i happen to mention i see alot of China women in Japan and in Hyatt? Whoever says that China is full of poor people or average earners prob havent seen these people hoarding their cash at home. These people are cash rich. They have like wads of cash and its impossible to imagine whatever they are working as to earn their keep. Does china really pay them THAT well? And the few couple i saw doesnt even speak english well so i dun think they works in MNC. I find it incomprehensible. maybe the rest of the world have been big suckers and plonking money there and all the failed businesses are making these native people rich in return. ha ha. of coz i am speculating but it really make one wonders. Afterall, one has to realise alot of joint ventures do fail unless u know someone or rather, you can trust someone there. Even so, its better that you are there yourself.
okie I digress.. i am straying from my trip memo. So much things to write but so little energy. So i prob forget here and there. Will load the pictures later when i get back to Singapore.
Hopefully i get to see some bean featival tomorrow but i so wanna sleep in since i have to fly back on sat. Oh i so hate to leave Japan. I really really love it here. its the sort of place i think all the world shld emulate with the good traits of coz. I dun like the suppress or repress culture nor the heavy smoking. I do not like the traditional old timers being so sexist and discriminating towards the female and i canx believe they are still debating about having the princess ascending the imperial throne for fear of her marrying a "blue eye" boy as written in the papers (like as if the guys wont marry a blonde chick). But i certainly do love the "consideration", order and discipline they have in this society. Everything is so well thot of and well placed and automated. Food is great, people are polite and service is great. Hygience is great too except the train stations toilet are great. Then again, train stations world wide are the same, they stink. haa haaaa.
i like the peace and order. Oh how i wish for world peace and that everyone can have this sort of ideal place to live in without all the silly fighting and war. Why built nuclear when u shld build gardens. Why use technology for war when you should use it for enhancing food harvest? People are just so strange. The only species who loves destructions and stop at nothing to ruin what is left beautiful by mother earth.
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